#a long time ago before the ala mhigan invasion | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

semi-imaginary-place · 8 months

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ffxiv in which i finally return to the msq

ah yes let's take the blind girl to sightseeing vistas.

oh great now we're going to extract resources from the azim steppe. yikes.

jp notes. sadu uses ore and y'shtola calls magnai bouya (romanization bleh. like little boy)

"let expanse contract" where have i heard that spell before. so we got ascians, hydaelyn, and now this. sadly i did get spoiled for a lot of shadowbringers

oof alisaie is going through it. she's losing everyone she's ever been close to. hmm is alphinaud also got yoinked where's his body at?

hmm ga bu as the summoner is also.. whats the word for primal brainwashing so even if he does recover he'll feel titan's influence.

oh so its edilbus puppetting zenos' corpse. varis spends every day getting heckled by 2 ascians wearing the skins of his grandfather and his son. i almost feel for him. this is great comedy, its so funny. solus' voice actor is having so much fun. varis really is the black sheep of the family especially if they incorporated ff12's solidors, you have drama queen solus, you have feral zenos, and then there's boring duty oriented varis.

alphy hasn't been yoinked!

oh hey i did the black rose side quests!

still dont get why the writers make some text via the dialogue box and others overlayed as an image on screen

4.5

hmm will the othard forces arrive in time. and of course we still don't know how long an ocean trip will take. wont the garlean military totally notice a large fleet travelling to eorzea. remember that was a plot point in stormblood.

emet is more effeminate than fandom makes him out to be. could also be the jp voice actor but bro does his eyebrows and full make up every day.

i think we should play to varis ego that's he's nothing but an ascian puppet and if he wants to be a player or remain a pawn.

damn aymeric really let him get the better of your should have compared thorden to varis

the timeline doesn't match up. the burn was drained of aether from repeated summonings which solus used as rational to conquer the world. solus's original campaign was what like 40 years ago. but primal summonings weren't possible until 15 years prior to arr when midgarsormr got blown up by the agrius at the battle of silvertear falls. but then again ancient mercyldia(??) dragons summoned bahamut so why was summoning sealed before the battle of silvertear falls.

huh sounds like you're playing into their hands. buddy you aren't going to be here if you're rejoined.

hey did you guys forget that we're suppose to buy as much time as possible by drawing out negotiations. not shutting them down within an hour.

i wonder if kann-e's boytoy will ever get a name

and then my the game disconnects right as my sub ends so i can't even finish the quest EEEOQQQAAAIIUUUOSCHHSCHHCSSHCHCSHCSHHSCHSCH

some thoughts from discord:

the burn thing confused me because i thought solus was claiming that he saw the religious wars and summonings that drained the burn in person because that's a contradiction azys lla was built over 5000 years ago which means the burn has been there was over 5000 years and summonings were only possible again starting 15 years ago but solus starting his invasions like 40 years ago. however it all makes sense when i realized he just lied. As we found out in this patch the burn is from the creation of azys lla when when they needed to cut off the aether to the chunk of land that theywanted to send up into the sky. claiming the burn was from primal summonings was just solus's excuse for invasion and subjugation.

i actually really like how propaganda and garlean propaganda specifically is dealt with in stormblood. foldora especially like her family bought into it full stop that if only they sold out the other ala mhigans they would have a place at the table and of course we see the lies that always was like when even full citizenship doesn't move the solder standing 20ft away to intervene when her father is stoned to death by angry ala mhigans. the fact that she knew that she would have to work harder to prove herself equal to a full blooded garlean and still went into the military to perpetuate the empire really shows she believes the propaganda.

I do like the interpretation that the garleans empire was built in part to break the seal on silvertear. it makes a lot of sense given how much emphasis has been given to the battle of silvertear falls and gives an answer to why it was so important both for the ascians and empire and for midgarsormr and hydaelyn.

Thinking things over some of the supplementary or side quest information really recontextualizes Stormblood. For example in 4.0 Zenos with a katana is iconic that's his weapon it is even part of how to recognized that he's body-hijacked some poor elezen, but then we learn that he only learned about katanas a year ago when he slaughtered the Doman rebellion. Which means he's only been using and collecting them for less than a year. Katanas are not an intrinsic part of his character, they're a whim which also makes his skill with them that much more impressive. Yotsuyu is another example, from the novella sidestory we learn she literally was just a random prostitute she had absolutely zero administrative, management, or leadership experience. Zenos just yoinked a random prostitute and made her governor of a whole country on a whim. I'm surprised Yanxia wasn't more on fire and starving.

#ffxiv #ffxiv 4.x

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ahlis-xiv · 5 years

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character details - ahlis ildilayan

Pronunciation: Ah-liss Ill-de-lay-an

Nicknames: None

Height: 5′8″

Age: Late twenties (just about pushing 30 if we’re honest)

Zodiac: Capricorn/born in the First Astral Month of Halone

Languages: Eorzean common, some ancient languages due to academic study (Mhachi, Belah’dian, Nymian, and a wee bit Amdapori)

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

Hair colour: Light golden brown to auburn; Titian in hue (aka a damn chameleon)

Eye colour: Gray

Skin tone: Light, can retain a tan pretty easily

Body type: Healthy, lean, with some added muscle to boot.

Accent: None really to speak of aside from an adopted tone and inflection of speech common in Ul’dah from those in learned circles (which has started to wane upon living in Limsa Lominsa...she doesn’t speak like a pirate yet though!). Her Ala Mhigan tendencies to say particular words and phrases peeks though whenever she gets inebriated, much to her chagrin.

Dominant hand: Right

Posture: Decent and proper in public, becomes much more of a slouch in private or in good company.

Scars: Her most prominent one is on her chest, from right shoulder down across her sternum to her left side, just under the breast. It’s well healed and has begun to fade. Other scars exist but are nondescript.

Tattoos: None

Most noticeable features: A red headband that she’s never seen without, her bright gray eyes, and of course her gorgeous long hair.

CHILDHOOD.

Place of birth: Ala Mhigo

Hometown: Ala Mhigo (until about age six), and Ul’dah (at age twelve)

Birth weight / height: An average sized babe!

Manner of birth: The birth itself went well, following an entire day of numerous thunderstorms and rain. It was taken as a good omen by her family.

First words: “Mama!”

Siblings: None

Parents: Darem (her father) and Maliah (her mother); both deceased

Parental involvement: Ahlis does not recall much of her father before he perished during the Garlean invasion. Her mother raised her on her own until her death in the Coerthas lowlands. Much of what Ahlis knows of Ala Mhigan customs, dance, combat and song are because of her mother.

ADULT LIFE

Occupation: Brass Blade in Ul’dah and student/assistant in the Arrzaneth Ossuary pre-Calamity. Currently field researcher/part-time tutor of the Arcanist Guild in Limsa Lominsa (and on indefinite sabbatical).

Current residence: The Rising Stones in Mor Dhona is her more current and stable place of residence, although she always has a room waiting at Fortemps Manor (although now I am sure she is going to make a point to spend more leisure time at a certain lord commander’s abode).

Close friends: Alyx Vance, Lorelei Syren, Proxima Bisenoire, Serella Arcbane, Rothe Aubrey, Hyana Geriel, Rhodry Vance, the Leveilleur twins, Aymeric de Borel

Relationship status: It’s complicated Maybe not so much anymore...? (but who am I kidding)

Financial status: Stable, and thank god for it. Ahlis dislikes handling money and is more than happy to hand off financial expenses and the like for Scion-related business to others.

Driver’s license: She knows how to handle chocobos of varying types and sizes.

Criminal record: Garlemald’s Most Wanted (sorry @aethernoise I had to steal this lmao it’s perfect)

Vices: Overworks, can be emotionally unavailable, the fine things in life (especially shinies and body/hair care), her temper

SEX & ROMANCE.

Sexual orientation: Asexual/demisexual

Romantic orientation: Panromantic

Preferred emotional role: submissive | dominant | switch | unsure (y’all ain’t getting anything outta me!)

Preferred sexual role: submissive | dominant | switch | sex repulsed (ahahah)

Libido: Wouldn’t you like to know.

Turn ons: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Turn offs: nope.jpg

Love language: Quality time

Relationship tendencies: Being in a relationship with Ahlis is very much like climbing a mountain or going through a maze: it’s challenging, there can be pitfalls and surprises, but when you reach the end the rewards are worth it. Once someone has proven themselves time and time again will they be given her affections, her loyalty and stalwart support.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Hobbies to pass the time: If there is any time to spend, hah! Reading, writing in her journal or grimoire, embroidery, playing the harp

Mental illnesses: Likely has PTSD, definitely anxiety, memory loss

Physical illnesses: Unstable/chaotic aether, the onset having occurred at Carteneau. Aether manipulation (personal and environmental) along with spellwork kept in check via arcanima formulae (plus discipline & sheer grit). Prone to headaches in particular areas laden with corrupted aether.

Fears: Imprisonment, falling back into poverty, small enclosed spaces, extreme heights

Self confidence level: Took a while to get there but fairly high!

Vulnerabilities: Cold climates, areas where aether is unstable, her companions/loved ones, chaotic/unstable aether syndrome

tagged by swiped from: @aethernoise, although I think I was tagged ages ago, oops...

Tagging: anybody! this is kinda old I know so, feel free to swipe and tag!

#prompts #ahlis #this took way too long lol #but hey #patch time downtime

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coreshorts · 5 years

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Protector

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“E-eh? What? I-I, uh...!” stammered the portly, blond raen, midway through getting clothed that she might don her uniform armour. Having just joined the Crystarium guard not a month or two ago, not a year after their fated arrival in Lakeland in a world wholly unfamiliar to them, Asashio no Haruhi, or “Holly Morningtide”, as she’d begun calling herself in an effort not to have undue attention drawn, had been reporting for regular training exercises.

Of course, there was but a single delay of late - or, more accurately a pair of them - in that, following a peculiar series of events, Dahlia, having gone by the moniker “Odellia Morningtide” in the Crystarium, her wife for nearly two years by then, had borne not just one child, but a pair of twins: Suisei Soleil and Ryūsei Lunette - or, translated from their Hingan first and Ishgardian middle names, Comet Sun and Meteor Moon - or simply “Siana” and “Rhiannon” to those in the Crystarium.

“I said,” the dark-haired witchling sighed, looking somewhat impatient, her Ishgardian accent still somewhat strong, “I need to change Suisei. Ryuu is done, but I need you to keep an eye on her. Here, take the baby.” Once more, Dahlia offered forth the infant, the beginnings of platinum-blonde wisps starting to show in number, uneven scales and tiny nubs of horns having grown in just enough, and curious violet eyes wide open peering around as she burbled idly.

“I-, um, a-alright,” Hali said softly, looking between her tired wife and the two half-auri children, one of whom, with nearly a full head of short, dark hair and dark brown eyes, her own scales and horns starting to grow in just enough to be noticeable, as well, lying atop a pad set down for changing the two.

“It won’t kill you, stars,” Dahlia quipped with a smirk, Hali gingerly accepting Ryūsei into her arms, carefully cradling her, “Besides. I think you’ve died to worse, non? You’re not allowed to leave for good, now, if you could.”

This got a snort and a roll of the eyes out of the self-proclaimed “immortal,” the noise seeming to amuse Ryuu, who began laughing and grabbing at the raen’s long blond-and-silver locks, causing her to wince. Her retort forgotten, all she could do was let out a string of, “Ow, ow, ow...!” This, of course, only served to amuse the baby in her arms all the more, causing her to swing her arms, and, by extension, the hand yanking Hali’s hair.

“Have fun~,” Dahlia cooed tauntingly in response, clearly enjoying not being the only one to be taking care of the girls, for once.

The time spent humouring just one of the twins was an experience far too foreign for Hali, having never really dealt with a child in all her adult life. She generally harboured fears and anxieties that caused her to avoid them whenever she could, always worried that she’d do something wrong and, in so doing, face the wrath of the child’s caregiver(s). Now, however, she was one of those caregivers. Worse, Dahlia - the one woman in all of the world who she feared to cross more than any, mostly for fear of losing her love, though she wouldn’t often say so aloud to any other - was the other. Now, holding a child of her own, she found herself unable to really flee the situation, instead trying her best to embrace the situation, though as cautiously as she did the baby herself.

“W-what do I do...?” she asked the witchling as she sat on one of the nearby chairs in their apartment, the blinds drawn just enough so that the horrible, eternal light of the world outside did as little harm as possible. Ryūsei gave her hair another giggly yank. “Ow.”

“How should I know?” was Dahlia’s response. Preoccupied with changing a dirty diaper on the other girl, all she could do was roll her eyes, hair tied back into a tight ponytail to keep it from her face, especially as she gagged a little. It had been taking some getting used to, to be certain, but the reaction was not quite as bad after a few months of it. “You seem to be doing a fine enough job. If she’s happy, she’s happy.”

“Isn’t there - ow - something - ow! - I can do besides let her - ow, ow! - scalp me barehanded?”

“Ugh. Fine, fine. You picked up a couple toys from the neighbours, non? Find one of those.”

Rising with Ryūsei in her arms, Hali, “ow”-ing the whole way across the room, carefully shifted the little girl into one arm while grabbing for a small rubber rings with various nubs on it, rattling the bits and bobs inside to draw attention.

“How about this, sweetie?” she asked Ryuu with a pained smile, her tone as sweet as she could make it, sounding almost obnoxious were she not talking to a baby, “Try waving this around instead - nnnngh, ow ow - i-instead of momma’s hair, huh?”

This, thankfully, grabbed Ryuu’s attention, and violet eyes immediately diverted their gleeful gaze to stare at the little toy in her mother’s hand. No soon did she sees and hear it that she decided that it must be hers, and, releasing Hali’s hair, began making grabby hands, cooing incoherent baby-speak in what could only be a demand for the thing.

“You know,” Dahlia spoke up, sounding amused, “You’re better with them thank you think. I don’t know why you’re so nervous about it. After all, your parents were wonderful, quite unlike mine own. Ah, there. Much better.” With a small incantation, she lifted the diaper, only to have it immediately sucked through a dark tear in reality, opening by the woman’s magic, summarily sucking the dirty diaper into the void.

Strange, they had both thought, how doing so never seemed to attract voidsent. At first, it had been done as an experiment once Dahlia was capable of safely casting again. When nothing occurred, time and time again, the witchling had seen fit to start tossing their garbage into it, as if to continue their insults to the very world of nothingness itself as a replacement for killing its invasive, ravenous denizens.

Handing the toy to Ryuu, who immediately began bludgeoning her poor mother in the horn with it, Hali took on a brief dazed look before angling her head to that it was impacting her cheek instead and muttered, “Really? She’s really trying to kill me, I-I’m, uh... pretty sure.” At that, the toy impacted her glasses, knocking them clear of her face and sending Dahlia into a fit of laughter, then Suisei, seeing her mother laughing, as well. After a moment, Hali could only laugh, as well, a softening smile on her face as Ryuu began, instead, chewing on what was until moments ago her weapon of choice.

“...all the things we’ve faced,” Hali muttered, laughing dying down to a soft sniff of amusement, Dahlia walking out from the small bed loft to regard her warmly, “And this is... probably going to be the, uh... s-strangest. And most difficult. Heh.”

“You’re telling me,” was the brunette’s only reply, though it was hardly resentful, the look on her face speaking of a happiness that served to melt just a little more of Hali’s apprehension, “But we’ll make it through this, as with all else. I have faith, mes etoiles. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted and more. We will face this together. No matter where or when or how.”

With a deep breath, the erstwhile shinobi could only look down at the little girl in her arms and smile, saying, “...you’re right. It’d be, ah... awful of me to shirk any of it now. And... a-and I wouldn’t dream of it. Not now. Not ever.”

Looking at the beaming woman and the two tiny children that had been brought into the strange, apocalyptic world in which they’d found themselves, Hali could only feel that apprehension further melting away, little by little, and she cast her gaze out toward the light-bathed landscape outside. She couldn’t be the hunter, the killer, she was any longer. Her honour, she was taught, was to her duty, and to those who depended on her. Now, not only did Dahlia rely on her, despite her considerable power and magicks, but they had two daughters - their daughters, of their flesh and blood and aether - that had to, beyond all else, be assured of a life that could be safe, secure, and, above all... happy.

A new duty called for a new role, and, hers was, above all, as a protector.

(( This short was done as a response to @renataturner‘s post in the Ala Mhigan Born from Blood Discord server! Thanks for the prompt and good luck to everyone else writing their own responses to enter the contest!

Also, of course, featuring @umbralhearts‘s Dahlia! ♥))

#hali #hali naras #asashio no haruhi #haruhi asashio #dahlia blake #dahlia de bellechier #holly morningtide #odellia morningtide #suisei asashio #ryuusei asashio #the first #crystarium #norvrandt #babies #twins #children #offspring #UNHOLY SPAWN OF THE TRASHFIRE WIVES

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xirelluniyt · 6 years

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Into the Fire

Xiran and HIro had finally begun to sleep after crying for what seemed to be a lifetime. The news that their mother had died so soon after arriving in Eorzea broke their hearts. Hiro withdrew into silence. Xiran couldn't stop asking questions that Johan didn't have the answers to. The old monk had little experience with children, often asking the boy to stay quiet just to hear himself think about the last six questions he was asked on the way to Rhalgr's Reach. Johan stood outside the door to the room he had secured for the children. He listened as their silent sniffles turned to steady, deep breathing. He took a step back from the door and sighed, hanging his head.

Another monk walked up to Johan, a much younger Highlander female with long black hair and a scar across the bridge of her nose. Her features were sharp and strong as the muscles she bore. Her ice blue eyes met Johan's with a nod, holding extra blankets in her arm. She went to the door but Johan stopped her. “They just fell asleep not too long ago, best leave them be,” he whispered. She stood back and crossed her arms, a sad look on her face. “Those poor boys, to have lost so much in so little time...”

“They'll be fine, as long as we keep them safe,” Johan reassured.

“Will they be trained?” she asked in return.

“A good question that I wish I had an answer to, Selene,” Johan answered, pensively. “I doubt their parents had any inkling to have them trained in any art. Hiro has his daggers, but good luck finding anyone here that knows the Shinobi arts. Xiran, he's far too young. Perhaps, in a few years, they can decide for themselves.” He thought back to Himari's last words, wondering how serious she was.

“So what happens for now?”

“We keep them safe, as I said. We owe their father a debt. Kyland's dealings with the Garleans in Doma and Kugane gave him insight into the Garlean infiltration of Ala Mhigo. We need to begin investigating as soon as possible.”

“What did he give us, exactly?”

“Correspondence from Garlean spies detailing plans of invasion, I read them on the ship. The Garleans seem ready to pounce, but something is holding them back. We need to know what that is.”

“With Theodric's insanity at its peak, that will be very difficult. Perhaps we'd be better off leaving here, getting the boys as far away as possible,” Selene's tone took a serious turn. Johan became annoyed at the notion.

“You doubt the power of The Fist? Theodric would certainly be mad to even try attacking us.”

“With his claim to be Nymeia's chosen and banning worship of Rhalgr, does it really seem so far-fetched? He's putting a target on our backs. I don't think it's safe here for anyone as long as Theodric draws breath.”

Johan thought hard about Selene's words. He sighed and gave her a stern look. “I'd tell you to watch your tongue, but you make a good point. In the morrow, I'll have a word with the elders about taking them elsewhere. It'll take a while to figure out where to take them, but I'm sure we can figure something out.” He sat on a small wooden chair by the door of the room, his old bones starting to settle. Selene put a hand on his shoulder. “Why don't you let me keep watch tonight? You've had a long three months at sea, I'm sure you'd like to sleep in a real bed.” Johan growled lightly in admittance.

“Very well, but if they need anything you make sure to attend to them right away.”

Selene smiled at the old monk's concern. “For a jaded warrior, you certainly care for them,” she teased.

“If you knew what the Rayne Clan once meant to this order, you'd be more concerned as well.” Selene looked at Johan with curiosity. “I'll tell you in the morning, it's late and you're right, I would like a bed for once.” He slowly opened the door and peeked inside. The boys were sleeping still, the comforter rising and falling rhythmically to their breathing. He closed the door and looked at Selene, nodding. She smiled and nodded back. Johan walked down the hall to his room, Himari's words once again echoing in his mind.

Xiran nudged his brother. “Are you awake?” he whispered.

“I am now...” Hiro grumbled.

“What's a clan?”

“It's like a family, but bigger.”

“Oh...so papa was part of a big family?”

“I guess...”

“Are any of them still here?”

“I don't know, ask Johan in the morning.”

“Ok...I miss mama...”

Hiro rolled over, facing his back to his little brother. “Go to sleep, Xiran.”

Xiran closed his eyes, a few more tears beginning to streak down his face. “Ok...”

The screaming woke Johan from a dead sleep. He ran to his window to see the commotion Dawn had broken to soldiers attacking the Reach, fires burning all over the compound. Johan had fallen asleep in his pants and boots. He didn't bother with putting his robes as he rushed out of his room and up the hall. Selene was not in the hall. The chair was in pieces on the floor. Johan slammed the door with a kick, bursting it open. Selene charged with a yell but stopped upon seeing Johan. “Thank the Destroyer, I thought you were another one!” she sighed with relief. Johan looked around for the boys, finding them under the bed as Selene closed the door again. They were dressed in small tight robes used for child-aged initiates of the Fist. “Come on, we have to go!” he said in a hushed voice. Johan stood and looked back to Selene as the boys came out. “What are we dealing with?”

“Looks to be Ala Mhigan soldiers, but from what I've seen some of them are too strong for us! I've never seen it before!”

“Then we can't waste time, we need to leave now!”

“We can't go out there, the place is crawling with soldiers!”

Johan thought for a moment. “The Temple, there's a secret path from the cliffs that leads to the Fringes. If we can get that far we have a chance.” He kneeled to be eye level with the boys. Their faces were scared. He put a hand on each of them and squeezed lightly. “I know you boys have had it rough thus far, but I'm sorry to say it's about to get worse. Some bad men are here and we need to leave. Selene will carry you, Xiran. Hiro, you're with me. Keep your eyes closed and your heads down, am I understood?” They nodded and Hiro went to the bedside table, where he retrieved the daggers his father gave him. Johan took the daggers and wrapped them up, tying them to Hiro's waist. “Can't lose those now, can we?” Johan asked lightly. Hiro shook his head, squaring his jaw to hide his fear. Johan took Hiro's hand and lifted the boy to his back. Hiro's hands wrapped around the monk's neck. Johan tied a blanket around them to secure the boy. Selene held Xiran the same way, wrapping another blanket around them. Selene nodded to Johan and he nodded back. “All right then...into the fire we go!” He darted into the hall at full speed, Selene right on his heels.

The soldier had no chance to react as Johan's knee broke his jaw. Direct strikes were all he could manage with Hiro on his back. Amid the chaos, they stuck to what shadows were left in the structure. Most of the fighting was centered in the main area of the reach. The water under the feet of the statue of Rhalgr was littered with bodies of monks and soldiers alike. The run into the tunnel of the temple was short, much to Johan's relief. Bodies of his fallen brothers also lay within the cave. It seemed the soldiers hadn't bothered to enter the temple yet. Johan opened the door and let Selene enter first before closing and locking the door behind him. “We have to hurry, who knows if anyone saw us.” Johan jogged ahead with Selene right behind. His heart sank as the continued. The soldiers had indeed made their way inside the temple, killing those who had sought refuge inside. “Seven hells...”Selene muttered as they ran on.

At the cliffs, they were above the statue of Rhalgr. Johan could hear soldiers clamoring ahead of them. He motioned for Selene to get low as they hid behind a cart. They watched the soldiers came around the bend before them. They stood facing the carnage below, laughing. Johan's blood began to boil. He looked at Selene and spoke as low as he could. “I'll get the left, you get the right. Send them down. Boys, hold on tight.” He felt Hiro's grip tighten around his neck as he tightened the blanket's knot. Johan took a deep breath, waiting for the right moment. An explosion rang out from below and he took the opportunity. The echoing blast masked their footfalls as they ran. The monks jumped in sync, drop kicking their targets off the cliff. The soldiers yelled as they fell. Johan and Selene landed on their feet, fists raised as the last soldier dropped his lance and ran further into the Temple. Selene went to give chase but Johan stopped her. “To the statue, the path is in there!” he said as he ran again.

As they neared the statue they found five more soldiers ahead of them. The soldiers were unable to cross the stone obstacles that were pushing out towards the statue. Johan once again saw an opportunity. “Follow my lead,” he whispered to Selene. She nodded and followed as Johan snuck behind the men. He timed his steps so he could kick one of them in front of the pushing pillars, launching the soldier off the cliff. Selene did the same, pushing another soldier into the next pillar while they were distracted with Johan. The monks backed away from the stone pillars as the remaining three soldiers approached. One of them lunged forward with his lance. The tip glanced Johan's side, tearing into the blanket. Hiro screamed as he felt the lance catch his daggers. The boy reached back and grabbed one that came loose. Johan broke the lance with a palm strike, pulling the rest of it forward with the soldier in tow. Johan punched the soldier, who tried to return with a knife stab. Hiro reached over and drove his dagger into the soldier's neck, stopping the soldier. Johan pulled back, slapping Hiro's hand away and taking the dagger out of the soldier. “Damn it, boy!” he yelled. Selene was busy holding the other two at bay, but getting close to the edge. Johan took one by surprise, stabbing him in the back, but the other managed to thrust his sword into Selene's gut. Both Selene and Xiran screamed in pain. Johan grabbed the last soldier by the next and squeezed until his neck snapped. Selene was on her hands and knees, blood dripping from her abdomen. The blanket that held her and Xiran together was turning red with blood. She untied the knot and Johan took a crying Xiran off her back. The sword pierced his leg, but it wasn't life-threatening. “Is he ok?!” cried Hiro.

Johan ripped part of the blanket and tied the wound on Xiran's leg. “He'll be fine, but we need to move now before-”

“Johan!” Selene cried out as a soldier grabbed Hiro and pulled, ripping the blanket. Hiro screamed at the top of his lungs and flailed with his dagger as he was taken up. Selene attacked the soldier, trying to get him back. “Selene, no!” Johan called out. Selene looked back and pointed at Xiran. “Get him out of here, I'll get Hiro!” She gave chase, ignoring the sword wound. For the first time, Johan had to stay out of a fight. He wanted to follow and save both boys but Selene had the right of it. He wasn't hurt and stood the best chance of getting either child to safety. “Rhalgr give you strength, sister...” He kneeled and put Xiran on his back. The boy was still crying, overwhelmed by the chaos. “Pull yourself together, boy! You'll need to steel your nerves for what lies ahead!” Johan said sternly. He picked up Hiro's dagger and tied it to his hip. Xiran could barely speak between sniffles. “Wha-what do you mean?” he asked frightened. Johan ran to the statue, the head of the god Rhalgr just below the edge of the cliff. He jumped the wood guard onto the head and leaped off again. Xiran felt his heart freefall inside his chest. The drop from the statue's head to its outstretched hand felt like an eternity for the young Au Ra. Johan landed with ease, sliding to a stop at the edge of the deity's palm. He stood and carefully walked to the base of the palm where the arm started. Xiran was hyperventilating, his grip tight around Johan's neck. Johan grabbed Xiran's hands and spoke softly. “Listen! You need to center yourself. You know how I made that jump? I remain calm at all times, like a summer breeze. You need to calm yourself as well because we need to get to the statue's elbow.” He pointed and Xiran's eyes followed.

“Close your eyes and steady your breathing, this is the core of every monk's training. Center yourself, and breathe.” Johan took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Xiran followed, breathing in sync, his heartbeat beginning to steady. “That's it, keep that up, and don't look down,” Johan tightened the knot of the blanket and began his balancing act. He and Xiran continued to breathe in sync as Johan made his way down Rhalgr's arm. Halfway down he heard shouting above him. More soldiers managed to make their way up. “Shite...” Johan muttered. He quickened his walk, careful to keep their balance centered. The soldiers began shooting arrows down as he drew closer. Most of the shots went wild, the winds carrying the arrows elsewhere. One, however, stuck Johan in the shoulder in front of Xiran's face. The boy shouted and jumped in place. “Easy, boy, I've dealt with worse! Keep breathing!” Xiran's breathing picked up despite his attempts to stay calm.

Arrows began to get closer to them as the archers adjusted. Reaching the elbow, Johan kicked the bicep of the statue with staggering force. A segment sunk in and slid upwards, revealing a set of stairs that followed the arm into the mountain. He quickly ran inside. The wood and stone mechanism was rotten down from moisture, unable to close itself. Johan moved the stone segment back into place. He sighed, dejected. The reality of the last ten minutes began to sink in. The Mad King had struck with a force he had never expected. To see his brothers and sister of the Fist of Rhalgr be taken so easily, it was unreal. Johan pulled the arrow out of his arm, taking one of his hand wraps off to apply pressure. He held it for a moment when Xiran's hand lay on top of his. Johan moved his hand and Xiran's took its place, pushing down as much as the youth could manage. Johan smiled slightly. Despite everything, the child wanted to help. “We'll make a monk of you yet, Xiran,” he said, his motivation reignited. His order was gone, but he still had his mission. 'Teach them to be strong...' Himari's words echoed again. They stung because of Hiro now in The Mad King's hands, but he moved forward. The dark cave through the mountain led out to the Fringes. The river flowed before them, so he followed it until he found a beaten path leading away from Rhalgr's Reach. Johan could hear the sound of battle echoing from afar and see smoke rising over the cliffs. He made his way until he couldn't see the smoke anymore. Early morning turned into early afternoon as he walked. Xiran had fallen asleep on his back, the excitement proving too much for his little heart. Johan sat on a large boulder, catching his breath and thinking about his next move. So lost in thought was he that he hadn't noticed the caravan stop in front of him. “I said, do you know how to get to Ul'dah? Hello?” said the driver, mildly annoyed. He was a portly man but seemed well-to-do with his covered carriage. Three more followed, all stocked with products. Johan sighed and thanked Rhalgr for his blessing. “I do, my good man! My grandson and I are going there ourselves! We were in our own carriage, but the Mad King's men took it from me this morning. Must have been something to do with that smoke I saw back in the fringes,” Johan loved spinning a good story.

“Well, that's certainly a spot of bad luck, indeed. If you can prove useful, I'll grant you a passage on my carriage and we can travel together. What good are you?” he asked with a finger to his chin.

Johan smiled a big toothy grin. “These muscles aren't for show! I'm a gladiator looking to strike it rich in the Coliseum of the desert! The Saltery just isn't for me anymore.”

The portly gentleman thought for a moment, looking Johan up and down. “Well, you certainly look the part. That wound on your shoulder must have been from a fight and yet here you stand carrying a child. Come then, you may join me.”

Johan bowed, careful not to let Xiran slump too far. “You are too kind, sir...?”

The gentleman was beside himself. “Oh my, where are my manners? Sir Reginald Gunther, is the name.”

“And I am Johan Bludfyst. This is my grandson Xiran Rayne.” He pointed his thumb back to the sleeping boy. As Johan climbed into the carriage, he set the boy down on a pile of blankets. Sir Reginald eyed the boy curiously. “Does he have...horns?”

Johan chuckled. “Aye, he does. His mother was an Au Ra, from the far eastern reaches of Othard.”

Reginald had a gleam in his eye. “How very...interesting. Very well then! Point the way, my stone-faced friend!” Johan chuckled again and detailed the path they would be taking through the Black Shroud to the sun-baked south and the city of Ul'dah.

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#ffxiv #ffxiv story #ff14 story #xiran #hiro #selene #johan #story time

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