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#i must hone my writing skills further

ofoceansandtombsanew · 2 years

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also experiencing a rengoku brainrot but as much as i wanna write for him idk if i could do the man justice jfnsdkfjsnd

(y’all don’t understand the hino satoshi phase i had. daichi from hq, kamui from gintama, sai from naruto, that crybaby dad from gakuen babysitters. rengoku was already fine but my fate was sealed the moment i heard that voice)

#look she's not writing #rengoku kyoujurou #he's so perfect i love him #i must hone my writing skills further #for him and them nice ass legs he has #my heart has definitely been set ablaze

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sapper-in-the-wire-old · 2 years

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METI’S SWORD MANUAL

Argument

1. Glory to the Divine Corpse, o breaker of infinities.

2. I am Meti, of no house but myself. In my 108th year I am surrounded by fools. My compatriots cling obsessively to their destiny, and my only apprentice is an idiot speck of a girl with more talent for eating than skill with the blade. Therefore I have decided to die drowning in the boiling gore of my enemies, of which there are many.

3. My master was the greatest lord general to the king Au Vam, Ryo-ten-Ryam, who first coaxed me into learning the ways of turning men into ghosts. As his interest quickly turned to the wholly uninteresting and most useless parts of my body, I returned the favor and relieved him of his.

4. It is my personal opinion the straight sword is best if you can obtain one, but I also favor the sabre. The spear, stave, or club are peasant's weapons of which I am wholly unfamiliar and so will not speak on them.

5. Upon meeting me, you might find that my appearance is quite dreadful and unkempt. I have been spat upon by priest, king, and merchant alike. I have no retainers, and possess nothing except a straight sword six hand spans (five and a half kret) long (this is the proper length). This is because I am Royalty and the undisputed master of the principal art of Cutting. I will fight naked with ten-thousand men.

6. From the age of thirteen I practiced every day with the straight sword. I followed a strict vegetarian regimen, and harsh training of barefoot sprints (five) between cities, squats and breathing exercises (two bells), and sword drills and resistance training (three bells).

7. By the age of sixteen, my body was a steel edifice. I was so often mistaken for a man I began to wear my hair long with no pins and unbind my breasts. I could break stone with my hands with no effort, I could sprint between the Yellow City and the Lunar dominions in a day or less and barely strain my breath. My mastery of the sword complete, I enlisted in the Middle Army's third legion, where I was widely respected as a swordswoman of incredible power.

8. When it came time to face my first real opponent, the Colossus of Pardos, in my youthful pride and immense skill, I brought all my training and mastery to bear. Scarcely half a day passed before my sword was shattered into thirty pieces, my right leg was almost torn from its socket, and my honed body was broken pathetically in a hundred and forty places. I defeated him by gouging his brains out through his breathing valves. My thumbs, in this case, proved far more useful.

9. At that moment, with my thumbs in his brains, I had a revelation. I had trained far too broadly. Existence and the act of combat are absolutely no different, and the essence of both, the purity of both, is a singular action, which is Cutting Down Your Opponent. You must resolve to train this action. You must become this action. Truly, there is very little else that will serve you as well in this entire cursed world.

10. I hope that by reading this manual, you will be thoroughly encouraged to become a farmer.

Mastering the Sword

1. YISUN's glory is great, and you may know this by two paths, the sanctioned words, and the sanctioned action.

2. The sanctioned words are YS ATN VARAMA PRESH. The meaning of these words is YISUN and their attainment is Royalty.

3. The sanctioned action is to Cut.

4. To Cut means division by the blade of Want, that parer of potentials that excises infinities.

5. To train with the sword, first master sweeping. When you have mastered sweeping, you must master the way of drawing water. Once you have learned how to draw water, you must split wood. Once you have split wood, you must learn the arts of finding the fine herbs in the forest, the arts of writing, the arts of paper making, and poetry writing. You must become familiar with the awl and the pen in equal measure. When you have mastered all these things you must master building a house. Once your house is built, you have no further need for a sword, since it is an ugly piece of metal and its adherents idiots.

The 18 Precepts

1. Consider: there is no such thing as a sword.

2. Your stance must be wide. You must not be spare with the fluidity of your wrists or shoulders. You must have grip on the handle that is loose and unstrained. I heard it said you must be tender with your sword grip, as though with a lover. This is patently false. A sword is not your lover. It is a hideous tool for separating men from their vital fluids.

3. Going onwards, you must adjust hands as needed, do not keep the blade close to your body, keep your breathing steady. This is the life cut. You must watch your footwork. Your feet must be controlled whether planted on fire, air, water, or earth in equal measure.

4. Breathing is very important! Is the violent breath of life in you not hot? Exhale! Exult!

5. You must strive for attachment-non-attachment when cutting. Your cut must be sticky and resolute. A weak, listless cut is a despicable thing. But you must also not cling to your action, or its result. Clinging is the great error of men. A man who strikes without thought of his action can cut God.

6. To cut properly, you must continually self-annihilate when cutting. Your hand must become a hand that is cutting, your body a body that is cutting, your mind, a mind that is cutting. You must instantaneously destroy your fake pre-present self. It is a useless hanger on.

7. A brain is useful only up until the point when you are faced with your enemy. Then it is useless. The only truly useful thing in this cursed world is will. You must suffuse your worthless body with its terrible heat. You must be so hot that even if your enemy should strike your head off, you shall continue to decapitate ten more men. Your boiling blood must spring forth from your neck and mutilate the survivors!

8. You must never make 'multiple' cuts. Each must be singular in its beauty, no matter how many precede it. You must make your enemies weep with admiration, and likewise should your head be shorn off by such an object of beauty, you must do your best to shed tears of respect.

9. When decapitating an enemy, it is severe impoliteness to use more than one blow.

10. A man who finds pleasure in the result of cutting is the most hateful, crawling creature there is. A man who finds pleasure in the act of cutting is an artisan.

11. Man always strives to cut man. Therefore he who draws his sword the fastest is the survivor. To pre-empt this, you must live, eat, and shit as a person who has their sword drawn. It doesn't matter whether your blade, in actuality, is always out of its sheathe, though you will look like an idiot if it is.

12. Consider: The undefeated swordsman must be exceptionally poor.

13. The weak swordsman reserves his sword strokes. He clings excessively to his blade. His footwork is unsteady. His grip is too hard and he is afraid to crack the earth with his step. He has a shallow and wandering gaze, his tongue is sluggish and pale. He refuses to exhale the hot breath of the Flame Immortal.

14. The weak swordsman clings to victory. He thinks of his life, his obligations, the outcome of the battle, his hatred for his opponent, his training, his pride in his mastery. By doing so, he is an imperfect vessel for the terrible fires of Will. He will surely crack. He will not laugh uproariously if he is cleft in two by his opponent’s blade. When his sword is shattered, his hands will be too reserved to tear his enemies’ flesh.

15. The weak swordsman strikes his enemy down and thinks his task done. He relishes in victory. He casts away his sword and returns to his lover. Little does he know his single cut will encircle the world five times and strike him down fifty-fold.

16. The weak swordsman clings to his instrument. It is better you have a sword, but death must lie under your fingernails, if need be. Learn death with your elbows, death with your knees, and death with your thumbs and fingertips. It is said death with the tongue is useful, but I find words too soft an instrument to smash a man’s skull.

17. In manners of terrain, you must learn to cut yourself from it. You must cut even your footprints from it, if need be. Have complete awareness of each crawling thing and each precious flower, each blade of sweet grass and each clod of bitter earth, each beating heart and each being that thrums with love, hope, and admiration. Only then are you qualified to be their annihilator.

18. Excess heat and excess coldness are undesirable. Learn to read the weather.

Closing

1. It is said the greatest warrior-kings may sublime violence and forget all they learn about the sword. This is true. But the only true path to kingship lies through regicide.

2. Moreover, only the worst kind of idiot strives to be king.

3. My extreme hope is that some measure of wisdom will penetrate the thick skull of my apprentice. If not, may reading this manual demonstrate your powerful disinterest in it, and may its true value die with me.

4. Reach heaven by violence.

#k6bd #kill six billion demons

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retroactivebakeries · 1 year

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Argument

1. Glory to the Divine Corpse, o breaker of infinities.

2. I am Meti, of no house but myself. In my 108th year I am surrounded by fools. My compatriots cling obsessively to their destiny, and my only apprentice is an idiot speck of a girl with more talent for eating than skill with the blunt. Therefore I have decided to die drowning in the boiling gore of my enemies, of which there are many.

3. My master was the greatest lord general to the king Au Vam, Ryo-ten-Ryam, who first coaxed me into learning the ways of smoking weed every day. As his interest quickly turned to the wholly uninteresting and most useless parts of my body, I returned the favor and relieved him of his.

4. It is my personal opinion the bong is best if you can obtain one, but I also favor the blunt. The joint, spliff, or one-hitter are peasant's weapons of which I am wholly unfamiliar and so will not speak on them.

5. Upon meeting me, you might find that my appearance is quite dreadful and unkempt. I have been spat upon by priest, king, and merchant alike. I have no retainers, and possess nothing except a glass bong six hand spans (five and a half kret) long (this is the proper length). This is because I am Royalty and the undisputed master of the principal art of Blazing It. I will get stoned naked with ten-thousand men.

6. From the age of thirteen I practiced every day with the pipe. I followed a strict vegetarian regimen, and harsh training of barefoot sprints (five) between cities, squats and breathing exercises (two bells), and blunt-rolling drills and resistance training (three bells).

7. By the age of sixteen, my body was a steel edifice. I was so often mistaken for a man I began to wear my hair long with no pins and unbind my breasts. I could break stone with my hands with no effort, I could sprint between the Yellow City and the Lunar dominions in a day or less and barely strain my breath. My mastery of blazing it complete, I enlisted in the Middle Army's third legion, where I was widely respected as a stoner of incredible power.

8. When it came time to smoke out my first real opponent, the Colossus of Pardos, in my youthful pride and immense skill, I brought all my training and mastery to bear. Scarcely half a day passed before my bong was shattered into thirty pieces, my right leg was almost torn from its socket, and my honed body was broken pathetically in a hundred and forty places. I defeated him by gouging his brains out through his breathing valves. My thumbs, in this case, proved far more useful.

9. At that moment, with my thumbs in his brains, I had a revelation. I had trained far too broadly. Existence and the act of getting stoned are absolutely no different, and the essence of both, the purity of both, is a singular action, which is Blazing It. You must resolve to train this action. You must become this action. Truly, there is very little else that will serve you as well in this entire cursed world.

10. I hope that by reading this manual, you will be thoroughly encouraged to become an investment banker.

Mastering the Bong

1. YISUN's glory is great, and you may know this by two paths, the sanctioned words, and the sanctioned action.

2. The sanctioned words are YS ATN VARAMA PRESH. The meaning of these words is YISUN and their attainment is Royalty.

3. The sanctioned action is to Blaze It.

4. To Blaze It means ignition by the flame of Want, that devourer of potentials that immolates infinities.

5. To train with the bong, first master sweeping. When you have mastered sweeping, you must master the way of drawing water. Once you have learned how to draw water, you must split wood. Once you have split wood, you must learn the arts of finding the fine herbs in the forest, the arts of writing, the arts of paper making, and poetry writing. You must become familiar with the awl and the pen in equal measure. When you have mastered all these things you must master building a house. Once your house is built, you have no further need for a bong, since it is an ugly piece of glass and its adherents idiots.

The 18 Precepts

1. Consider: there is no such thing as a bong.

2. Your stance must be wide. You must not be spare with the fluidity of your wrists or shoulders. You must have grip on the neck that is loose and unstrained. I heard it said you must be tender with your bong grip, as though with a lover. This is patently false. A bong is not your lover. It is a hideous tool for separating men from their vital fluids.

3. Going onwards, you must adjust hands as needed, do not keep the bong close to your body, keep your breathing steady. This is the life blunt. You must watch your footwork. Your feet must be controlled whether planted on fire, air, water, or earth in equal measure.

4. Breathing is very important! Is the violent breath of life in you not hot? Exhale! Exult!

5. You must strive for attachment-non-attachment when blaze it. Your weed must be sticky and resolute. A weak, listless bowl is a despicable thing. But you must also not cling to your action, or its result. Clinging is the great error of men. A man who blazes it without thought of his action can outsmoke God.

6. To blaze it properly, you must continually self-annihilate when smoking. Your hand must become a hand that is blazing it, your body a body that is blazing it, your mind, a mind that is blazing it. You must instantaneously destroy your fake pre-present self. It is a useless hanger on.

8. You must never smoke "multiple" bowls. Each must be singular in its beauty, no matter how many precede it. You must make your enemies weep with admiration, and likewise should you get high off your tits smoking such an object of beauty, you must do your best to shed tears of respect.

9. When decapitating an enemy, it is severe impoliteness to use more than one blow.

10. A man who finds pleasure in the result of blazing it is the most hateful, crawling creature there is. A man who finds pleasure in the act of blazing it is an artisan.

11. Man always strives to smoke weed. Therefore he who packs his bowl the fastest is the survivor. To pre-empt this, you must live, eat, and shit as a person who has packed a bowl. It doesn't matter whether your bowl, in actuality, is always packed, though you will look like an idiot if it is.

12. Consider: The undefeated stoner must be exceptionally poor.

13. The weak stoner reserves his weed stash. He clings excessively to his bong. His footwork is unsteady. His grip is too hard and he is afraid to crack the earth with his step. He has a shallow and wandering gaze, his tongue is sluggish and pale. He refuses to exhale the hot breath of the Flame Immortal.

14. The weak stoner clings to victory. He thinks of his life, his obligations, the outcome of the smoke sesh, his hatred for his boss, his training, his pride in his mastery. By doing so, he is an imperfect vessel for the terrible fires of Will. He will surely crack. He will not laugh uproariously if he is cleft in two by his opponent’s herb. When his bong is shattered, his hands will be too reserved to tear his enemies’ flesh.

15. The weak stoner smokes his enemy out and thinks his task done. He relishes in victory. He casts away his bong and returns to his lover. Little does he know his single bowl will encircle the world five times and get him blazed fifty-fold.

16. The weak stoner clings to his instrument. It is better you have a bong, but blazing it must lie under your fingernails, if need be. Learn blazing it with plastic bottles, blazing it with tinfoil, and blazing it with apples. It is said blazing it with the tongue is useful, but I find words too soft an instrument to smash a man’s skull.

17. In manners of terrain, you must learn to get stoned in it. You must get even your footprints stoned, if need be. Have complete awareness of each crawling thing and each precious flower, each blade of sweet grass and each clod of bitter earth, each beating heart and each being that thrums with love, hope, and admiration. Only then are you qualified to be their annihilator.

18. Excess heat and excess coldness are undesirable. Learn to read the weather.

Closing

1. It is said the greatest stoner-kings may sublime violence and forget all they learn about the bong. This is true. But the only true path to kingship lies through regicide.

2. Moreover, only the worst kind of idiot strives to be king.

4. Reach heaven by violence.

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cheritzteam · 1 year

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[The Ssum] The Ssum : Forbidden Lab Update (29/3 KST, v1.1.13)

Hello, dear lab participant.

You can now download the new version of <The Ssum : Forbidden Lab>.

Google Play Store (Android) - link Apple App Store (iOS) - link

This update includes bug fixes, so you will receive 10 Aurora Batteries as Study Support upon accessing the game.

Make sure you access the Lab by the 1st of April 2023 (KST) to get your compensation! *You must collect your reward within 3 days.

The following are the details of the update we have received from the Lab.

[Feature Improvements]

> Carry out your studies with peace of mind, even when your special ssum-one is away!

Ever find yourself in the middle of a chat with your special ssum-one and they leave for an extended period of time? Now, when they return after being gone for more than 10 minutes, a dedicated notification will help you stay on top of new messages.

> Make sure you get that Special Call!

Have you unlocked a Special Call with your Aurora Batteries in chat? We've improved the UI so you can tell at a glance if the unlocked call is an incoming call or outgoing call - check out the color of the handset icon!

> Because details matter with your record with your special ssum-one!

Calls logged in the Milky Way Calendar can also be distinguished as incoming calls and outgoing calls by the icon’s color.

> From the Infinite Universe to the Main Screen!

Have you ever been in the middle of a study and suddenly wanted to meet up with Ssumone? We've added a home button that will take you straight to the main screen, so you can meet up with your Ssumone even if you're wandering the depths of the Infinite Universe.

> Commenting just got a little easier!

You can now use the copy/paste feature in the Infinite Universe not only in the post, but also when writing comments. Enjoy a more convenient study experience!

> Let's immediately catch the culprit who interferes with writing!

Have you ever been frustrated by being warned that your content contains inappropriate words when nothing seems to be wrong? To address this issue, we've added the ability to index your posts for banned words.

> Rejoice, Legendary Comedians!

We've finally released a Trivial Feature just for our Legendary Comedians! If you haven't yet achieved Legendary Comedian status, why not hone your humorous skills further in the Mountains of Wandering Humor?

[Bug Fixes]

> I can’t log into The Ssum with my account…

An error that caused the app to crash when using social login was resolved.

> My chat completion level for Harry decreases by itself…

A bug that caused the completion levels for Harry’s current final bedtime chat to drop to 80% was fixed.

> I can’t replay our past chats in the Milky Way Calendar…

An error that blocked access to past chats after completing the current final Day’s chat of your special ssum-one was resolved.

[Others]

(Fixed) Your special ssum-one’s name shows in Korean on the loading screen after switching language settings from Korean to English.

Minor bugs were fixed.

We appreciate your reports and your activities as a part of the Lab.

Thank you.

-Cheritz-

#TheSsum #TS #Cheritz

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xenodile · 1 year

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A while back, I decided to do a proper write up of my Stormblood Fix AU where I address my issues with the story while trying to stay as close as I can to canon. I’ve been working on it bit by bit for several months and I’ve got it to a point where I’m for the most part happy with it.

My basic thought boils down to the entire 61-70 section needs to be just Doma, and then Ala Mihgo is addressed in an extended post-game. Like it doesn’t fit nicely in the usual x.5 patch cycle or even the standard number of dungeons/trials but sacrifices must be made.

So first off, I’m begrudgingly leaving the 3.5 patch and Baelsar’s Wall unchanged because I haven’t planned far enough ahead to account for Papalymo being alive. Overall, the set up is the same. Ilberd unleashes Shinryu and frames the Eorzean Alliance for attacking Baelsar’s Wall, the Alliance moves into Gyr Abania.

The biggest tonal shift is the Scions’ motives. Though the Empire is the enemy of all Eorzeans, the Scions aren't soldiers. Their goal is Shinryu, and the danger a primal on the level of Bahamut presents to the realm. However, Shinryu and Omega’s abrupt disappearance into Garlean-held Ala Mhigo after their clash will make any kind of investigation extremely dangerous.

Lyse is in favor of taking the fight to the Empire and assisting the Resistance in freeing Ala Mhigo, and by extension making it easier to search for Shinryu.

Alphinaud has sympathy for the Resistance and the people of Ala Mhigo, but fresh out of Ishgard and the Dragonsong War he cannot in good conscience support instigating a new war, regardless of Ilberd’s actions.

Alisaie tries to meet them in the middle, carve a path through the Garlean ranks and cut off the head of the snake. It worked well enough against Ultima Weapon, Thordan, and Nidhogg, and the Warrior of Light already has two Legatuses under their belt, what’s a third?

The WoL has the chance to agree with any one of them, or say they’re unsure as a fourth option.

Y’shtola, Thancred, and Krile are all of the mind that it’s too early to make a judgement call. Too many unknown factors in regards to the Garleans forces, Shinryu itself, and even the terrain of Gyr Abania. Each of the three approaches has its merits and its dangers, and there is no pressing need to come to an immediate decision as Shinryu appears to have gone dormant following its battle with Omega.

Thancred offers to begin scouting Imperial territory, while Y’shtola and Krile will set about learning more about the land from those in Rhalgr’s Reach, leaving Lyse, WoL, and the twins to take to the field for the standard Fringes/Ala Ghanna starting quests.

Zenos’s introduction mostly goes the same, but a greater focus is on Grynewaht directly telling of how he failed and was the sole survivor of his squad, to which he is reprimanded by his superior, whom Zenos kills after his whole “The XIIth Legion is no place for cowards that hide in their castrums” bit. The biggest change is Zenos must keep the helmet on the whole time, we do not see his face, just the scary horned skull helmet, and he takes note of Grynewaht mentioning that the WoL was among those that attack the Garlean patrol. He has heard of this eikon slayer, the peerless hero of the savages, and wonders if perhaps he has finally found worthy prey. Zenos promotes Grynewaht for his tenacity, transfers him to Doma, and urges him to hone his skills further. At this point, Zenos addresses the rest, and opens the floor to the assembled captains/commanders how they should respond to the presence of the Scions and Eorzean Alliance in Gyr Abania. Fordola speaks up, and that sequence goes the same.

The attack on Rhalgr’s Reach plays out the same, save for the WoL’s duel with Zenos. The crown prince is surprised and intrigued that a single person is able to match him blow for blow, and yet he does not feel any intense drive to live, the furious hate that he’s come to expect from enemies of the Empire. Also Zenos can just DO magic, that’s why he’s so insanely strong compared to everyone else, he’s the only Garlean that can actually manipulate aether. Zenos and WoL fight to a standstill, culminating in Zenos’s blade snapping in half after the WoL blocks a particularly heavy hit. Raubahn arrives with the Eorzean alliance forces, and Fordola begs Zenos to retreat, and he begrudgingly does so, irritated that his hunt has been interrupted.

With the Resistance crippled and Y’shtola critically wounded, the Scions have to reconsider their options.

Alphinaud moves to withdraw from Gyr Abania, as it was the Scions' presence, especially that of the famed Eikon Slayer, that brought the Empire’s wrath down on Rhalgr’s Reach.

Y’shtola’s injuries are too severe to safely move her, so Krile opts to remain and see to her treatment. Thancred also elects to remain so he can continue scouting Gyr Abania, and hopefully locate Shinryu while the rest of the Scions figure out a course of action to actually reach it.

Back at the Rising Stones, WoL, Alphinaud, Alisaie, and Lyse consider what to do next. Getting directly involved with the Resistance put more people in danger, just as Alphinaud feared, and defeating the Legatus seems less viable having seen Zenos’s monstrous strength firsthand. A new approach is necessary.

It’s then that Tataru chimes in that perhaps going after Gosetsu and Yugiri might be the way to go. She’s no tactician, but she's overhead a lot of chatter from the Domans about how there's only a token Garlean presence, and the Domans specialize in covert action in small group, better suited to how the Scions themselves operate. Alphinaud agrees that drawing Garlean attention away from Gyr Abania will do much to ease the hunt for Shinryu, but is wary of getting involved in another liberation movement after the disaster at Rhalgr's Reach. The gang discusses it, and then heads to Kugane like usual.

Events in Kugane play out the same, WoL, Lyse, Alisaie, and Gosetsu make for the Ruby Sea, Alphinaud remains in Kugane to gather information and build connections.

Things progress as usual til the group finds Yotsuyu in Isari, demanding tribute from the poor villagers and ordering they divulge any information they have on Hien's whereabouts and the Resistance, reminding them that withholding information is treason against the Empire. Rather than Gosetsu going in alone to buy time, Lyse is reminded of Fordola's troops beating a villager in Ala Ghanna, Gosetsu is perturbed by WHO the Viceroy is, and Alisaie can't stand to sit idle when she can do something. The group rushes in to defend the villagers, WoL and Grynewaht go another round, forcing him and Yotsuyu to retreat.

While the element of surprise is gone, it feels good to be able to save people. Before the party departs however, Alisaie proposes investigating the Ruby Sea further. With the Scions' cover blown already, they'll need allies and information, and it wouldn't do to leave Isari unprotected after they stuck their noses in things. Of particular concern are the Kojin of the Red, who are openly allied with the Empire. The gang agrees to disrupt the Red Kojin and organize the defense of the Ruby Sea before going further. Things go pretty much the same as usual, Alisaie takes point and the gang goes between the Confederates, the Kojin, and Sui no Sato getting everyone on the same side and agreeing to look for one another while the Scions draw the Empire’s attention in Yanxia.

Violet Tides and Kurenai’s questline are mandatory because I said so, and also Kurenai takes up the role of healer for the dungeon in duty support. With things taken care of in Sui no Sato, the gang goes back to Tamamizu, and then Soroban and Bunchin send them to hit the Isle of Zekki where we get the Susano fight.

Instead of all the faffing about, the party of WoL, Gosetsu, Lyse, and Alisaie just fight Susano, who challenges them to battle and doesn’t permit the Red Kojin to interfere. The gang triumphs, and the Red Kojin begrudgingly allow them to leave having earned the kami’s favor.

Susano appearing just because of the treasures and not actually being summoned by anyone has Alisaie and Lyse spooked, because up to that point it was believed primals always needed a person to give them form. With business wrapped up in the Ruby Sea and everyone on the same page, Alisaie breaks off from the group to go back to Kugane and inform Alphinaud of the new information while WoL, Lyse, and Gosetsu rendezvous with Yugiri in Yanxia.

Meanwhile, as the party splits up, Yotsuyu and Grynewaht arrive at the Isle of Zekki to reprimand the disobedient red Kojin. Yotsuyu extracts information on the Scions from the Kojin, and confiscates a number of treasures, including an impressive katana and a lunar mirror.

In Yanxia, WoL, Lyse, and Gosetsu head to Namai and things play out the same, where the villagers are fearful and urge them to leave. They meet up with Yugiri at the House of the Fierce and discuss the situation. Yugiri delivers Hien's ultimatum, his sword or his head, whichever the people want, and set about determining the mood of the people.

It's bad. In the course of exploring Yanxia, the gang gets a history lesson on Doman culture, learning of the oppressive control of the nobility, the ideals of fealty and honor unto death, and how they choked the life out of the common folk even before the Empire invaded. Gosetsu also speaks from experience that there are a massive number of Doman conscripts abroad, and those in the mainland fear for their compatriots safety if Doma rebels again.

Meanwhile, in Kugane, Alisaie finishes sharing the findings on Susano when a message arrives at the Ruby Bazaar inviting a representative of the Scions to the Garlean embassy. Deciding it's better if Alphinaud keeps his cover, Alisaie elects to go, and there meets privately with Yotsuyu.

Yotsuyu is well spoken and courteous with Alisaie, but remains guarded. Yotsuyu tries to explain the futility of opposing the Empire, and requests the Scions cease assisting the Domans. When Alisaie refuses, Yotsuyu says that if Alisaie really wants to protect her brother and the WoL she'd be better off currying the Empire's favor. She goes on to say that she understands Alisaie's position, to feel powerless and second best compared to her "perfect" brother, and that serving as an Imperial spy would give Alisaie the leverage to make real change happen, as Yotsuyu herself can demonstrate.

Alisaie doesn't reject the offer outright, stating she needs to think on it first, mostly to hide how shaken she is by Yotsuyu knowing so much about her at their first meeting. She returns to the Ruby Bazaar and relates what little she learned to Alphinaud, omitting Yotsuyu's offer, speaking only of the Viceroy's uncanny knowledge of Alisaie's personal history and her request that the Scions stand down. Alisaie then departs for the Ruby Sea, to reunite with the others.

Back in Yanxia, the WoL, Lyse, and Yugiri have had little success in rallying the people's spirits. The mood is dour everywhere they go, either with resignation and acceptance of Imperial occupation and Yotsuyu's cruel whims, or fear of a return to the old ways, where landed nobles could use common folk like chattel. The people have simply given up.

Gosetsu in particular is much less boisterous than usual, especially whenever Yotsuyu is mentioned. Lyse is surprised to see his spirits dampened so, and prods at what is bothering him. After a bit of coaxing, he finally regales WoL, Lyse, and Yugiri with a tale from Doma's heyday, of a poor sickly peasant girl whose parents died of illness and poverty, only for her aunt and uncle to beat and abuse her while forcing her to work as her neighbors looked the other way. How the beautiful young girl caught the eye of a wealthy noble from Lord Kaien's court, and so he bought her from her "parents" to be his bride and paraded her about the court, all dressed in fine clothes to cover the marks he'd leave on her. After the nobleman died, his young bride simply disappeared, never to be seen again, until now, to exact her terrible revenge on the country that abandoned and tormented her.

The group is stunned, Lyse in particular taking the news hard. She had been grappling with how Fordola could betray Ala Mhigo and side with the Empire, so hearing of Yotsuyu's past, she begins to understand how someone could have no attachment or even resent their homeland.

Yugiri is still determined to fight and unwilling to let Hien sacrifice himself, and fortunately, the Empire makes a move on Namai and we get the sneaking mission with Yugiri. That plays out the same, and saving the people of Namai convinces them to open up at least that of COURSE they want to be rid of the Empire and live their own lives, but they just don't have the people, the weapons, the anything to make a rebellion possible. They can't risk their lives and the lives of their families on a hopeless cause.

That's enough for Yugiri to be satisfied that they can truthfully answer Hien that the will to fight remains in the hearts of Doma’s people. The party reconvenes at the House of the Fierce and discuss their next move as Alisaie arrives. She shares information she learned from Alphinaud and Yotsuyu, while Yugiri shares what they’ve learned of the situation in Yanxia. Upon hearing Alisaie’s account, Lyse has an epiphany. Recounting her own familiarity with the WoL and Minfilia’s experiences, Gosetsu’s testimony, and Alisaie’s account, Lyse suggests that Yotsuyu may possess the Echo, with her supposed poor health in childhood being her gift awakening, and explaining how she could learn so much about people so quickly.

While the revelation does give them more to consider, there’s little they can do about Yotsuyu herself at this juncture. Yugiri suggests it’s time to find Lord Hien, now that they have an answer to his ultimatum. Alisaie volunteers to remain at the House of the Fierce and help coordinate the Rebellion’s limited forces and correspond with Alphinaud about what resources they’ll need. WoL, Lyse, Yugiri and Gosetsu set forth to the Azim Steppe, where Hien has been hiding.

MEANWHILE, at the Royal Palace of Ala Mhigo...

Zenos sits on the throne, regarding the katana he broke during his duel with the WoL at Rhalgr’s Reach. Fordola attempts to discuss strategy with him, but fails to gain his attention. A messenger arrives bearing word from the Acting Viceroy of Doma. Rebel forces have taken action against the Imperial garrison, and Yotsuyu requests Zenos bring reinforcements, as Doma is still technically under his rule. Not to make an offer without incentive, Yotsuyu adds in that she wishes to pay tribute to the Crown Prince that can only be delivered in person.

While initially unconvinced, the messenger continues, stating that the Eorzean insurgents known as the Scions of the Seventh Dawn have been sighted in Yanxia, the Warrior of Light among them. This grabs Zenos’s attention and causes him to consider Yotsuyu’s offer. Fordola is taken aback that Zenos would just leave when the Scions’ absence from Gyr Abania means the Alliance and Resistance forces are ripe for the crushing, and Fordola pleads with Zenos to seize the opportunity to stamp out the Empire’s remaining foes.

Zenos chides Fordola, stating that she is free to do as she wishes in his absence, but striking at the Resistance now will give her no satisfaction. Chasing the Resistance when they’re wounded will make her seem fearful and desperate, inciting further insurrection. She would be far better served by waiting until they have gathered their strength and rallied their spirits, ready to throw themselves entirely upon her blade and destroying them utterly. Only by laying low her foe when they are the peak of their rage and power will she get what she wants, or so he says. Zenos makes ready to depart for Yanxia, eager to see what tribute Yotsuyu has prepared for him.

(It’s also critical that we the audience do not see Zenos’s face in this scene. His helmet is off, but every angle is posed in such a way that Zenos is being seen from the back or his head is obscured. More focus is placed on Fordola as she reacts to Zenos’s words. At most we get a glimpse of Zenos’s eye reflected in the broken sword as he talks about facing a foe at their full strength.)

Lyse, WoL, and Gosetsu arrive in the Azim Steppe and rendezvous with Yugiri. Events here mostly play out the same, the gang meets Cirina, get introduced to the Xaela, and finally find Hien.

Yugiri relays what they learned in Yanxia, that the people of Doma yearn for freedom from the Empire, but lack the strength to face the might of Garlemald. It will fall on what limited forces still muster under Hien's banner to defeat the occupying forces. Hien is in agreement, assuming that to be case even before he spoke with Yugiri. As their leader, it falls to him to save the people of Doma, not demand they give their lives in his service. Before they can leave the Steppe however, Hien must repay his debt to Cirina and the Mohl by helping them win in the Nadaam.

Events in the Steppe play out mostly the same, Lyse hangs with the kids of Mol Iloh and grapples with the meaning of "a country" as she tries to process Yotsuyu's past, Fordola's actions, and her detachment from her own Ala Mhigan heritage due to living in Eorzea as a Scion. Deals with a bit of internal bias as she initially thinks the xaela kids have a difficult upbringing out here on the Steppe, but sees them happy and content with their nomadic lifestyle, realizes her idea of what makes a nation and a culture are biased by her time in the Eorzean city-states. Meanwhile WoL, Hien, and Gosetsu go hunting and help prepare dinner like usual.

After dinner, we get the scene of Hien and Gosetsu sparring, and Gosetsu calls Hien "Shun", his childhood name.

At this point, WoL has an Echo vision. In it, they see a younger Gosetsu, his hair and beard still dark, supervising a younger Hien speaking with a girl in fine clothes that looks uncannily like a younger Yotsuyu. She and "Shun" are chatting cheerfully, until a Doman noble walks in and calls Yotsuyu away, her expression darkening as she diligently obeys, and the noble, clearly drunk, grabs her by the arm and roughly leads her away. The young Hien is frustrated at the sight of the Yotsuyu being taken away, and moves to speak up but Gosetsu stops him.

No matter how detestable he may seem, the noble is an honorable man that has served Lord Kaien for many years, and it would be ungracious to butt one's nose into the domestic affairs of such a prestigious house. Hien grimaces in dissatisfaction as the WoL returns to the present.

WoL explains what they saw and asks if Hien knows Yotsuyu. Sheepishly, he confirms, he and Yotsuyu were of a similar age when she was brought into the court, and was her only friend in those days. It is why he first gave his ultimatum to Yugiri. Yotsuyu is as much one of his subjects as any other Doman, and the cruelty she faced at the hands of her family and the nobility weighs on his mind. He worries about how he will lead Doma should he return, refusing to become the kind of ruler that allows or fosters the treatment that Yotsuyu went through, wanting to build a better Doma but not really knowing how.

As the Nadaam draws closer, WoL, Lyse, Gosetsu, and Hien go through Bardam's Mettle and get their yols, and meeting Sadu and Magnai goes the same.

While Lyse and Hien are prisoner at the Dawn Throne, they discuss their respective concerns about their cultures. Hien fearing a return to the old ways, Lyse wondering what it means to be Ala Mhigan now that it's been an Imperial province for so long. They come to the conclusion that it falls upon individuals like them with the strength to fight for what they believe in to inspire others. Hien will personally shape Doma into a nation its people can be proud of, and tells Lyse that he believes she is capable of the same.

At the Dotharl camp, Gosetsu comes clean about his crimes in the Empire's service as a conscript, and his own desire to seek death to atone for not only failing Kaien and Hien, but all the people of Doma that looked to him for protection, including Yotsuyu.

Meanwhile, in Yanxia...

Alisaie sets out from the House of the Fierce to scout the the surrounding area. At least, that is what she claims. In truth she has arranged a clandestine meeting with Yotsuyu, to tell her that WoL and co. have gone after Hien in the Azim Steppe.

Thinking she's won, Yotsuyu applauds Alisaie making the right decision to side with the Empire. Alisaie corrects her, saying that she's telling Yotsuyu this to give her a chance to surrender.

She's thought on Yotsuyu's offer, and decided against. She knows she's weak, feels powerless and angry, but she has seen what people are capable of. She believes in her brother, the WoL, their friends, they WILL succeed. And knowing what she does of Yotsuyu's past, she tells her that things need not end in bloodshed. Alisaie knows what it's like to feel helpless and alone, at the mercy of fate as she lost everything that was good in her life. But rather than give up and wallow in anger and grief, she clung to the memories of the good and fought to change things for the better. She reminds Yotsuyu that as someone that was so hurt by the old system, she is the best qualified to change things, and it's not too late to seize a better future.

Yotsuyu lashes out at Alisaie, angry and humiliated that Alisaie called her out so hard, spitting venom about how Alisaie is a privileged brat that could never understand Yotsuyu's hate, and she will never let go of it. Alisaie leaves Yotsuyu, warning her that if she wants a fight she'll get one, and no amount of forewarning will save her when the Scions come knocking. Yotsuyu is left glowering as Alisaie departs before regaining her composure as a messenger informs her that the Crown Prince's airship has arrived.

Back in the Azim Steppe, it's time for the Nadaam. It starts with a brief solo duty that leads to the second trial, consisting of a three phase three way fight between players, Sadu, and Magnai. The battle culminates in WoL and Lyse holding off the khatuns while Cirina claims the ovoo for the Mol.

Cirina is declared Khagan and the other tribes defer to her and the Mol as the new authority of the Steppe. As Cirina humbly accepts and gives thanks to Hien and company for their assistance, Grynewaht and a massive regiment of Garlean troops and war machina arrive, demanding the immediate surrender of the Scions and the Domans.

Hien is preparing to surrender himself but Cirina steps forward and declares that she speaks for the xaela, and the ones Grynewaht seeks are her honored guests. When he persists, Cirina rallies the tribes, asking if warriors of the Steppe will allow invaders to intrude upon the sacred Nadaam and threaten the Khagan's allies.

The combined Xaela forces route Grynewaht's army, sending him fleeing back to Yanxia. From there, we get the regular send off. The gang says good bye to Cirina, and she promises to confer with the khatuns about sending aid to their new Doman allies. WoL, Lyse, Gosetsu, and Hien return to Yanxia to plan the attack on Doma Castle.

As the group enters Yanxia however, Yugiri arrives bearing urgent news. The Crown Prince and the Viceroy have been seen outside Doma castle with only a token escort. The mood immediately turns grim as everyone present recalls how brutally Zenos put down the Ala Mhigan Resistance and previous Doman rebellion.

Hien is undeterred, reminding everyone that the House of the Fierce is still secure, and they need only be patient until Zenos leaves Yanxia again to make their move. Yugiri however, is of no mind to wait and believes it would be easier and safer to assassinate Zenos and Yotsuyu than go through with the plan. Hien advises against doing anything rash, but Yugiri won't listen and leaves. Lyse and Alisaie ask WoL to go after her and try and talk her out of it, because regardless of how they feel about the plan, they've seen what Zenos can do firsthand and know that Yugiri trying to face him alone is tantamount to suicide.

Upon catching up with Yugiri, she confesses that even if doing so goes against Hien's wishes, her honor as a shinobi will not let Hien risk his own life in the attack when she could defeat his enemy here and now, and her pride as a Doman demands justice for Yotsuyu's and the Empire's crimes against her people.

Rather than discouraging her, WoL can say they have their own reasons for facing Zenos again, that they too want payback for Rhalgr's Reach and Y'shtola, or that as a friend, they won't let her do this alone. Yugiri is surprised and relieved to know the WoL will have her back.

Night falls, and Yugiri and WoL get ready to ambush Zenos and his retinue. Yotsuyu is obviously tense and sticking close to Grynewaht while Zenos is out at the front, alone. One by one Yugiri silently dispatches the guards, before making her move on Zenos himself. Zenos blocks the attack effortlessly, commending Yugiri on her technique and the fire in her eyes, but laments she has not the strength to give it meaning. Zenos repels Yugiri, and Grynewaht springs into action to stop her from attacking Zenos again, as the WoL steps out to face the Crown Prince.

Zenos is pleased to see his quarry alive and well, musing if their travels in the fallen nation of Doma have stirred something in them. Hate? Or perhaps something more.

WoL has the option to respond with wanting revenge for hurting their friends, confronting Zenos for the sake of Ala Mhigo and Doma, or that they have their own reasons for wanting him dead, to which Zenos responds with amusement, disappointment, and intrigue, respectively.

During the solo duty it plays mostly the same as the initial duel in Rhalgr's Reach, but WoL clearly has the advantage. Zenos's health drops faster and he is taken aback by just how much stronger WoL has gotten since their last encounter. At around the 40% mark, Zenos stumbles and begins laughing. He unsheathes the Ame no Habikiri and the music changes. In phase 2, Zenos gains significant damage resistance and the frequency of his raidwide and AoEs increases to the point that it is not possible to avoid everything. The fight continues until the player is reduced to 1% health or Zenos is brought to 15%. The entire time Zenos is clearly enjoying himself, cackling and goading the WoL to fight harder.

Regardless of how the battle ends, in the scene that follows Zenos clearly overpowers the WoL and sends them reeling. Even bloodied and his helmet broken, Zenos is the unambiguous victor of the duel. Yugiri breaks away from fighting Grynewaht and his guards to come to the WoL's aid.

Zenos is panting and tears off his broken helm, throwing it to the ground. This is the first time the player sees his face. He speaks in glowing terms of how ferocious WoL has become, and how he was right to put faith in them, before giving his "Live, hero." speech, and turning to leave. Yotsuyu orders the remaining guards to finish the WoL and Yugiri off, but Zenos countermands her, stating that their business here is done, and all troops are to return to Doma Castle. Before Yotsuyu can protest, Alisaie, Alphinaud, and Lyse arrive with reinforcements from the House of the Fierce, and Zenos mockingly warns that the Viceroy seems to have overstayed her welcome. Yotsuyu bitterly warns Alisaie that she now has proof of how her hero will fail her, and that it's not too late to surrender, before she too takes her leave.

Alphinaud is almost in tears as he heals the WoL, and scolds them for being so reckless because he wasn't there. Alisaie teases him for worrying so much, and he shoots back that she was practically frantic when he arrived.

The party returns to the House of the Fierce, and Yugiri apologizes for disobeying Hien, to which he replies that he is just happy she's unharmed. Now that everyone is settled in again, Lyse calls attention to Alphinaud's unannounced arrival, and asks what brings him to Yanxia. He explains that he heard of Zenos's arrival ahead of time via his connections in Kugane, and realized things in Doma must be coming to a climax, so he began making preparations. We get a brief flashback montage of Alphinaud in various parts of the Ruby Sea as he explains that by working with Hancock, he was able to strengthen the foundation that Alisaie laid and secure the Confederates, Kojin, and Sui no Sato as allies to the Doman Liberation Front.

With the addition of a fleet and the Kojin, the chances of actually cracking Doma Castle seem greatly improved, and spirits rise at the House of the Fierce. Hien's return is met with great celebration, and some small amount of worry, as Hien is surprised to find that a significant portion of the Liberation Front are former nobility, and many expect to return to their previous authority once the Empire is ousted.

Hien needs time to think, so he leaves the House of the Fierce to visit Monzen. Lyse goes after him, worried about him being alone so close to enemy territory. Hien contemplates his history, that of his people, their culture, and what it means to be Doman. How so many fight to regain what was lost in the occupation, but he cannot in good conscience restore if they win. Lyse voices similar doubts, admitting that it was her Ala Mhigan heritage that motivated her to push the Scions into conflict with the Empire, but she doesn't really know what Ala Mhigan culture is, and that her father and sister, the residents of Little Ala Mhigo, those in the Fringes, and someone like Fordola that lives in the city proper, can all have very different versions of what being Ala Mhigan means. She regrets that trying to build a better future means doing so on the ruins of these other ideas.

"Ruins" gives Hien a flash of inspiration as he looks at Doma Castle, and he tells Lyse that he's figured out how they will take it. The two return to the House of the Fierce. Hien gathers the Liberation Front to make an announcement. They’re going to destroy Doma Castle.

The castle is too well guarded to facilitate infiltration, and they don’t have the resources to outlast the entrenched Garleans in a siege. Trying to preserve the artifice of the past will cost lives in the present, and that’s not a sacrifice Hien will make. If Doma is to have a brighter, better future they must let go of the past, and the greatest symbol of Doma’s inequality must go with it. There’s a lot of rumbling of discontent from the older members of the Liberation Front, but even Gosetsu speaks in favor, saying that it is long past time for the nobility to repay the debt they owe to the commonfolk they failed so long ago.

As if to vouch for the young Lord of Doma, the screeching of yols heralds the arrival of Cirina, Sadu, and Magnai. Cirina says that having discussed with the khatuns of many tribes, they have agreed that it is in the best interest of all people of the Steppe if the belligerent Garleans are expelled from their neighboring nation, and so the Dotharl and Oronir have pledged a number of fighters to assist the Domans.

The House of the Fierce is abuzz with activity as everyone prepares for the coming attack. WoL heads back to Kugane to meet up with Tataru and get Cid's manual so that Alphinaud can assist with deactivating the magitek gate, Hancock is coordinating with Rasho and Soroban as to how the Confederates and Kojin will blockade the Castle and secure the Enclave, Hien and Lyse talk with the xaela leaders about shutting down the Imperials' air support.

Meanwhile, at Doma Castle...

Zenos stands on the balcony overlooking Monzen, contemplating his now broken helmet. Behind him, Yotsuyu is prostrated, apologizing for her failures to curb the rebellion sooner, swearing she will crush the insurgents, and so on, but Zenos interrupts her, saying she played her part well. He believed she had, in her hatred, completely snuffed out the will to fight in Doma, and is pleased to see otherwise. Yotsuyu hopes this means he will stay and help, call for reinforcements, reward her loyalty with protection...but he does not. Zenos states plainly that he and the troops he brought will be returning to Ala Mhigo, and it falls upon the Viceroy to see to her own fate. Fight, kill, and survive, or die and whet his prey's bloodlust. He cares not which. Yotsuyu breaks and asks him as a friend to save her, which he does not dignify with an answer. Grynewaht attempts to comfort her as Zenos departs, but she lashes out at him, tears in her eyes, saying that the Prince's orders were clear. They are to fight, unto the death, and she will not be a flower waiting to be plucked, as she clutches the lunar mirror in her hand.

We go back to the House of the Fierce where final preparations are made. Hien and Gosetsu raise a glass to victory or death come tomorrow, Gosetsu thanking his master and the Scions for their beliefs in him and a chance to make things right.

The next morning, the siege begins. Alphinaud leads the Shinobi to capture the moon gate so the Confederates can secure the Enclave, the Xaela take to the skies and bring down the Empire's airships, and WoL, Alisaie, Lyse, Hien, Yugiri, and Gosetsu enter the flooded Doma Castle. Yotsuyu watches from the balcony and waits, eyes cold.

The party defeats Hypertuned Grynewaht, shocked at what the Empire has done to one of its own, and proceed up to the balcony chamber at the top of the castle where Yotsuyu has taken refuge.

Hien confronts Yotsuyu, demanding her surrender and an end to the conflict. She refuses, disinterested. If she fights, she'll die, if she surrenders, she'll be executed, even if she escapes, she'll be branded a failure by Zenos and disposed of. At least if she fights to the last, her death will be on her own terms.

She fires on Hien, but he deflects the bullet and closes the distance. As she fires again, he cuts the shot and disarms her. She hisses at him to do his country proud and finish her, but he sheathes his sword.

Hien kneels down to eye level with Yotsuyu tells her that honor would demand her death, but that is not his way. The old ways fall with Doma Castle itself, and he would give her the chance to live that she was denied all her life as a daughter of a new Doma, a better Doma than the one that destroyed her. The party each steps up in turn to ask Yotsuyu to listen to Hien, that there is always time to change things and be better, that no matter what mistakes and wrongs we commit, culminating in Alisaie asking her if this is really how she wants things to end, or if she's willing to have faith.

Yotsuyu falters, speechless and reeling. Finally, Hien and Gosetsu apologize. They admit they saw her pain and looked the other way in the name of honor and "propriety", and they were wrong to do so, asking if she will forgive them, and accept the chance they offer.

Yotsuyu doesn't immediately answer, looking away and trembling. Then, her voice seething with anger, she asks if they really think they can fix everything with just a few kind words while she's powerless and at their mercy. She asks if they were so repentant, why they never bothered to look for her in the years after she was sold to cover her husband's debts? Why did it take destroying everything they ever worked for to get them to suddenly grow a conscious and admit their failures?

It was by her action, her will that she clawed her way out of the hell that Doma trapped her in, and be it her parents, her husband, her owner, or Hien, she will not suffer to live by another's "kindness" ever again. Her fate is hers and hers alone. She pulls out a magitek remote and hits a button, detonating charges throughout the castle, and it begins to collapse.

Hien gives the order to retreat but is stopped in his tracks when a naginata of ephemeral light thrusts towards him, narrowly missing his heart. Yotsuyu rises from the floor, clutching the lunar mirror with conviction in her eyes as the skies darken. She is shrouded in radiant light as she manifests Tsukuyomi, and declares that no one shall escape the castle alive.

The Tsukuyomi trial plays out identically, only with memories of Hien and Gosetsu coming to her aid to defend her from the shade of Zenos instead of just Gosetsu.

After the WoL defeats Tsukuyomi, Yotsuyu collapses, her hair turned white. The battle against the moon kami has cost the party precious time to escape, and the roof finally gives out. Gosetsu catches the collapsing ceiling and tells Hien to get Yotsuyu out. Hien protests, refusing to leave his old friend behind but Gosetsu insists that Hien must not give in to anger and grief. If he is to build a new nation, it must start with saving Yotsuyu. The party has some rushed good byes and escape, as Doma Castle collapses on Gosetsu.

Hien is grief stricken as he comes to terms with Gosetsu's death, and his wish that Yotsuyu be given a chance to live in a new Doma. The mood is melancholy as the Scions reconvene with their allies and explain what transpired in Doma Castle. From there, things play out the same, Hien puts on a brave face to address the people of Doman Enclave, telling them the new nation they build will not be one of nobles and kings, that he would be their protector rather than their master, meanwhile Yugiri and the Shinobi discreetly get Yotsuyu to a secure room within Hien's new estate. Celebrations are had and credits roll, then post credit stinger has Zenos looking up at Shinryu, contained by Omega in the Royal Menagerie, talking to himself of how he eager he is for his and the WoL's next meeting. Alphinaud goes back to Kugane to do what he does best, Alisaie and Lyse remain at the Doman Enclave to help people adjust to life without Imperial occupation.

Now we move into the post-game, or rather, part 2 because as I said before, Stormblood dearly needed more time to let everything going on in it cook, similar to how Heavensward and Shadowbringer's post-games up to patch x.3 was really just a continuation and finale of the plot started in the x.0 MSQ.

So, Yotsuyu finally awakens after the battle with Tsukuyomi in Doma Castle, and everyone is taken aback when she remembers nothing, her memory a blank slate. There's a discussion about what to do with her because yes it was Gosetsu's last wish that she be shown mercy, but it doesn't change what she did as Viceroy and seeing her may cause unrest among the populace, but they can't exactly keep her locked up forever. The matter of her amnesia is also a worry, since it wouldn't be right to hold the innocent "Tsuyu" responsible for what the Viceroy of Doma did. Before any kind of decision can be reached, Alisaie gets a linkpearl call from Alphinaud saying that an Imperial airship arrived in Kugane and an ambassador has requested an audience with the Scions at the Garlean embassy.

Lyse, WoL, and Alisaie are all a bit weary of speaking with a Garlean politician after assisting in Doma's revolution, but head to Kugane all the same. Once there, the party goes over what to say, make sure they don't do anything to incriminate themselves, basically let Alphinaud do the talking.

At the Embassy, the Scions are introduced to Maxima, of the Populares. After a bit of initial tension, Maxima explains he is here to negotiate peace between the Empire and Doma in the wake of the rebellion, but he wished to consult with the Scions as a third party given their history of conflict with Imperial forces despite their shared interest in destroying primals. Everyone gives their most level headed take on the Empire and its foreign policies and why the Scions have been opposed to them, which Maxima takes in stride. He shares his own history of touring the provinces and being appalled by the treatment Imperial citizens face just for not being Garlean, citing Doma as proof that the current Imperial model is unsustainable. Maxima goes on to share the goals of the Populares as a political group, seeking to empower the citizens and establish peaceful connections with other nations. Maxima then says that Gaius van Baelsar was one of their more prominent supporters, and his reign in Ala Mhigo was a huge step in the right direction for the rights of provincial citizens.

This takes everyone off guard, Lyse in particular, who speaks up about the awful treatment that the people of Gyr Abania face, and their opposition to the Garlean occupation.

Maxima takes a moment to consider, surprised himself by the news of tension in Ala Mhigo. He then divulges a bit of history on the relations between the two nations prior to the Imperial occupation. How Garlemald had quietly assisted the Resistance in the form of funds and materiel, and aid to civilians all while His Radiance Emperor Solus maintained a cordial relationship with the Mad King, enabling the Empire to maintain a presence in the capital in spite of the Ala Mhigan king's rampant paranoia. When the Resistance overthrew the king and began infighting over leadership, Garlean forces stepped in to establish order. To the more radical elements, it was seen for the foreign takeover it was, but many welcomed beneficent Garlean rule after suffering under the Mad King. From there, van Baelsar and van Darnus made their moves on the rest of Eorzea, and the outer reaches of Ala Mhigo got less attention due to their proximity to the Black Shroud.

Lyse pieces together how this lead to the difference in perspective between Ala Mhigans in the capital that grew up with an Imperial education and security like Fordola, vs those on the outskirts like her that only saw the Empire as tyrants.

Alphinaud is grateful that Maxima is willing to share so much, but questions what he hopes to gain by divulging such secrets to enemies of the Empire. Maxima reasons that such information is commonly taught to Garlean children in school, and is not something to hide. If anything, His Radiance encourages the study of history so all can understand the necessity of the campaign and the good that Imperial rule can bring to others, and the danger that outsiders pose, such as the sabotage of the Ultima Weapon.

The WoL's interest is drawn when Maxima's account of the Praetorium neglects all mentions of Lahabrea, saying it was Ascian influence that caused the devastation that broke the XIVth Legion.

Maxima is shocked, having never heard of any such beings as Ascians. This triggers a discussion over glaring discrepancies in the Scions' accounts and the official military reports, as the group piece together that the existence of the Ascians had been carefully expunged from Imperial records and their actions attributed to the "barbarous nature of magic-tainted savages".

The group realize it is highly likely that the Empire's foreign policy may have been influenced by the Ascians specifically to sow chaos that lends to the summoning of primals. Maxima is shaken to his core, and announces he must return to Garlemald with all haste to investigate the Scions' claims. However, his mission is unchanged, and he leaves the Scions with a proposal to deliver to Hien. A prisoner exchange between the Empire and Doma, to calm the waters after the revolution, and recognize Doma's independence and sovereignty.

As the Scions return to the Ruby Bazaar to mull over what they've learned, a missive arrives for Tataru from Eorzea. As she reads through it, she reveals it is a coded message from Thancred, saying he's located Shinryu and requesting the gang return to Gyr Abania. The course is clear.

The Scions go to the Doman Enclave and give Maxima's message to Hien, as well as the startling revelation that the Empire may be under Ascian influence. Hien is wary of trusting the Empire, but for the sake of returning the many Doman conscripts home, will consider the offer and discuss with his advisors. Yugiri speaks up, and asks if Hien would permit her to go with the Scions. Having left when Gosetsu arrived and been unable to assist in the hunt for Shinryu, she feels she owes it to her friends to see their mission through now that hers is finished. Hien agrees, and sends her off with his blessing. The Scions say goodbye to their Doman friends, then go back to Kugane to make the journey back to Eorzea, sans Tataru, who elects to stay in Kugane and work her mercantile magic.

(Tataru here offers the quest to unlock Hell's Lid, with the trigger for her financial venture being recovering all that was spent to set up the Doman Liberation.)

The Scions reconvene in Rhalgr's Reach, where Y'shtola has recovered from her injury and is back on her feet, and even Urianger has stepped in to lend what aid he can in the hunt for Shinryu. Everyone shares what they've learned from their time in Doma, and Thancred explains he's confirmed Shinryu is in Ala Mhigo proper, contained in a magitek field. Knowing first hand from the Meteor Project and Warring Triad that the Empire and sealed Primals is a recipe for disaster, the Scions are resolved that they'll have to help the Resistance if there's to be any hope of stopping the Primal.

The Scions confer with Raubahn and Conrad if there's been any progress in Gyr Abania and how they can help. They go on to explain that things have been quiet and Imperial patrols are few and far between, almost like the Empire assumes the Resistance was broken by Zenos's initial attack. As a result they've had plenty of time to regroup and rebuild, and rumors of the Doman Liberation have spurred many to action in other provinces, keeping Imperial forces distracted and divided.

From here, the Ala Mhigo story proceeds as normal, with a few changes. The Scions are witness to Fordola messing up and killing the Qalyana Matriarch's daughter after her forces are routed at Castellum Velodyna, and the subsequent summoning of Lakshmi. Fordola escapes during the panic as the WoL steps in to deal with the primal. As Lyse, WoL, and the twins recover at the Peering Stones with M'naago's family, they talk about why Fordola would take a Qalyana hostage when they've been model Imperial vassals, and they come up with it being a result of Fordola being cityborn and Garlean-educated, and thus out of touch with the non-hyur members of the Ala Mhigan community, confirming what they learned from Maxima.

When Lyse, WoL, and the twins return to Rhalgr's Reach, they get the news that a number of Imperial agents infiltrated Resistance headquarters while the bulk of their forces were occupied at the bridge and abducted Krile. All are shocked and their motivation to fight is reaffirmed. Alphinaud stops and wonders however, what the Empire could be planning, as trading such a vital strategic location for a single prisoner hardly makes sense from a tactical perspective. Urianger offers that it may have something to do with her Echo, given the interest Zenos had shown in both the WoL and Yotsuyu.

Meanwhile, Fordola reports her defeat to Zenos, preparing for the worst. Zenos chides her for failing, but says it ultimately is of no consequence, as her bumbling served another purpose, revealing that Krile has been captured by his personal guard. When Fordola questions how a single captive is going to help them secure Ala Mhigo's future, Zenos cryptically answers that stoking their foes hatred will make them vulnerable, but only if Fordola herself is willing to seize the opening at any cost.

The combined Resistance and Alliance forces move into the Peaks and set up in Ala Ghiri as usual, questioning why the Empire would leave the town unguarded, but not looking a gift in the mouth. Things proceed at Specula Imperatoris, culminating in Fordola bitterly carrying out Zenos's order to fire on Imperial forces to hit the Resistance, and as before, Estinien intervenes and damages the cannon before it can fire again.

The group reconvenes at Ala Ghiri to lick their wounds and take stock of their losses. Conrad names Lyse his successor before dying, much to her surprise, but she swears to do him proud.

Estinien arrives shortly after, to the Scions' surprise. He explains that he had been travelling in the Far East when he caught wind of a terrible wyrm that wrought havoc on Eorzea, and came to investigate. If the player has done the level 70 DRG quest, it will be referenced here. WoL and Alphinaud explain the deal with Shinryu being born of Nidhogg's eyes, and Estinien decides he's going to stick around and do his part to deal with the primal, as anything Nidhogg related is his responsibility. (Alisaie is absent in this scene, preoccupied with something else, to preserve her and Estinien not meeting until post-ShB.)

The gang set their sights on Castrum Abania and taking out the giant cannon before it can be repaired, and the Scions set out.

Meanwhile, we cut back to Ala Mhigo where Fordola delivers her report of the battle at Specula Imperatoris to Zenos through gritted teeth. Still hurting from the loss of her friends, she blames the Resistance for continuing to prolong the bloody war when she and other loyal Ala Mhigans have only been trying to preserve their future. When she remarks as much though, Zenos descends upon her, demanding she drop the pretense and say what she really wants. That’s when she snaps and admits that she wants to kill all the Resistance for ruining things. That she’s angry and spiteful and wants to make the ingrates pay for looking down on her and other cityborns for being happy with their lots in life.

With her rage exposed, Zenos offers to grant her the power to capitalize on her fury, a taste of the power that even the Warrior of Light cannot match. Fordola readily agrees and that’s where Aulus steps in and she undergoes the Resonant treatment.

Back in the Peaks, the gang moves in towards Castrum Abania. Estinien and Yugiri run interference on the outside while Thancred, the twins, and WoL plan to take one route, and Urianger, Y’shtola, and Lyse take another. Dungeon proceeds as usual, and both parties meet up at the cannon control room.

Fordola angrily tells the Scions that life in Ala Mhigo was perfectly good until the Resistance started making a mess of things. How Ala Mhigans were respected and trusted Imperial citizens until the greedy rurals started refusing to pay their tithes, stealing from supply lines, and killing soldiers. How she and the Skulls were trying to save Ala Mhigo and redeem their culture’s place in the Empire by being loyal and dutiful soldiers, and they were succeeding before the Scions stuck their noses in and destroyed everything they worked for.

The fight goes the same as before, Fordola’s Resonant powers let her go toe to toe with Lyse and Alisaie at the same time. Fordola wounds Alisaie and escapes, and the Scions take Castrum Abania.

The Scions fall back to Rhalgr’s Reach to see to Alisaie’s injury, and discuss what the hell just happened. Everyone comments that Fordola’s abrupt leap in skill and strength is unnatural, and Lyse in particular describes Fordola as somehow knowing what she was going to do ahead of time. Urianger has the eureka moment and wonders if somehow Fordola has gained the power of the Echo, and if so, it may explain Zenos’s interest. Alphinaud adds on that Krile was particularly gifted at “hearing” the emotions and intentions of others, and Fordola’s ability to “see” her opponents moves before they happen may be a manifestation of the same trait. Y’shtola connects the dots and suggests that if Zenos has the ability to forcibly confer the Echo on others, it is likely he has undergone the same process, and may go some way to explain his inhuman strength. Furthermore, if they can find where Zenos gave Fordola her “gift”, it may lead them to Krile.

The WoL takes a moment to check in on Alisaie, who is understandably frustrated that she lost and needed to be saved again. Despite Alphinaud’s fussing, her wound is not so severe that she cannot fight again, but she will need some time to recuperate. Urianger meanwhile, makes plans for how to deal with Fordola, and Estinien goes on ahead to try and pin down Shinryu’s location for himself.

Lyse and WoL have their moment on the Palm of the Destroyer, Lyse gets her new outfit, talks about how she still doesn’t feel like she’s ready to lead the Resistance, but for the sake of everyone that believes in her, she’s going to step up, and knows she has the WoL and the Scions to put her on the right track if she starts to slip up. Good vibes all around.

The lead in to the battle for Ala Mhigo remains the same. The Alliance forces mass in the Lochs to prepare for the siege, Urianger continues his experiments with a countermeasure for Fordola’s Resonance, Thancred and Estinien go ahead to scout the city, Alphinaud, WoL, Lyse, and Y’shtola investigate the settlements to gather intel.

Thancred finds a way in, Estinien confirms Shinryu’s location, Scions get the key, and Urianger produces his mystery device. The plan is all set, and the Scions share their intel with the Alliance. Scions infiltrate Ala Mhigo and open the door, Lyse and WoL confront Fordola, using Urianger’s funny doodad to overload her artificial Echo.

Rather than have Lyse call Fordola a traitor, the scene where Fordola is captured focuses more on Fordola’s crushing realization that despite everything she and her friends have sacrificed, they’ve lost. The Ala Mhigo they believed in is going up in flames around them, and the Resistance has seized the city. Even if the Scions are defeated by Zenos, he doesn’t care about them, and he never did. Lyse is resolved but still sympathetic. She understands that Fordola truly believed she was fighting for Ala Mhigo’s future, and the peace and prosperity that that the cityborn knew under Imperial occupation is as much a part of Ala Mhigo’s culture and history as the Mad King, the Autumn War, the Fist of Rhalgr, and the Resistance. Lyse promises Fordola that the future will be brighter, and that those lost will be remembered.

With Krile rescued, and the Scions reunited, it’s time to take the fight to Zenos. Instead of Hien swooping in with the Doman forces, Yugiri vouches for the Scions and de-escalates the situation with Hakuro and the lupin, and Estinien fills the role of decimating the Garlean air support while the Scions enter the palace on foot.

Ala Mhigo dungeon happens, we got all the Scions available for duty support since the plan for them is to ignore as much of the Imperial forces as they can and beeline to Shinryu in the Royal Menagerie.

At the end of the dungeon, Zenos gives his usual spiel and goes off, and WoL tells the Scions they’ll deal with Zenos and Shinryu alone. Everyone objects saying Zenos is too strong. WoL has a few options to explain themselves: The risk of Tempering is too much, they need to face him alone for their own sake, asking the group to have faith in them.

Alisaie is the first to vouch for the WoL, followed by Alphinaud, and they convince the rest of the Scions to go back up the rest of the Eorzean alliance. Everyone says their piece, wishes the WoL luck, and Alphinaud and the Scions depart. Alisaie gets a parting moment where she makes the WoL promise that they’re coming back, before she too heads out.

Royal Menagerie sequence is unchanged. Same Zenos speech, same options, same fight.

Zenos is beaten, Lyse hears him explain himself, how everything was solely so he could finally have a foe worth fighting, and he cuts his own throat.

Ala Mhigo is freed from the Empire, the Resistance raises the Ala Mhigo flag, credits roll as Lyse gives her “monsters are made, not born” speech as the camera shows Yotsuyu and Fordola. Post credits, we get the stinger of Gosetsu fishing on the island out at sea.

Now we move into the ShB lead in. Lyse officially leaves the Scions to stay as Commander in Ala Mhigo, Alphinaud, Arenvald, and WoL have their silly Skalla adventure, Urianger heads back to the Waking Sands to further study a strange thinning of the land’s aether that he had observed prior to his arrival in Gyr Abania, and Estinien disappears into the night as per usual.

Alphinaud helps catalogue the Mad King’s hoard and assists with getting the Saltery trade set up with Nanamo and Lolorito, and we get the crowd calling for Fordola’s blood. Lyse settles the crowd same as before, talking about how taking revenge won’t bring anyone back, and Fordola deserves a chance to be better. Finally, Raubahn and Nanamo have their moment to say goodbye as Nanamo dismisses him as Flame General so he can stay in his home.

To finish things off, we get the Lakshmi duty with Raubahn and Lyse organizing the meeting of community leaders to decide the future of Ala Mhigo, including the Tempered Ananta. However, rather than it being some clown shoes nonsense of “all the guards were tempered and crystals were hidden in the throne room” the Qalyana that summon Lakshmi sacrifice their own lives to power the summoning, and Lakshmi produces like, a wall or something to barricade everyone in, necessitating Arenvald tagging in Fordola. She gets her moment, the day is saved, everyone’s grateful that you were present to pull them out of the fire.

With things just about wrapped up in Ala Mhigo, it’s time to return to Doma, as Yugiri receives a message from another shinobi that Hien has at last received word from Maxima regarding the prisoner exchange. WoL, the twins, Yugiri, Y’shtola, and Hakuro depart for Doma. Krile is still recuperating from her captivity and experimentation at Zenos’s hands, and Thancred stays in Gyr Abania to help Lyse keep on top of things and watch for any suspicious primal activity.

Upon arriving in the Doman Enclave, Hien welcomes the Scions and the returning lupin conscripts, then gets to business, recounting the letter he received from Maxima. In it, Maxima explains that his proposal was met with some opposition in the Garlean senate. While some are open to more diplomatic peace with the “independant provinces”, others are critical of peace being a show of weakness, especially in light of the recent Ala Mhigan insurrection. In particular, a rival political group known as the Telophoroi have been pushing against peace at every turn, as they seek an end to conflict worldwide via total Garlean dominance. However, the leader of the Telophoroi, one Asahi goe Brutus, has surprisingly agreed to meet with Hien and discuss terms instead of stonewalling the Populares further.

Upon hearing the name, Alisaie remarks that “Brutus” was Yotsuyu’s Garlean given name, and Hien confirms that Asahi is the same brother that manifested as a hateful shade when Yotsuyu manifested Tsukuyomi. The group cannot help but be suspicious, but Hien is determined to see it through, as it is his responsibility to bring home the Doman conscripts in Garlean custody if he’s able.

But there is much to be done before Ambassador Brutus arrives. Alisaie means to inquire after Yotsuyu and see how she’s doing after the whole Tsukuyomi thing, to which Hien talks about how she’s been well behaved, but laments his inability to actually let her out of his estate lest the sight of her cause unrest. Already there are rumors of the late Viceroy’s ghost haunting the Enclave from citizens catching glimpses of her in the windows or when she occassionally wanders out after dark.

Yugiri vouches that “Tsuyu” truly has forgotten everything and is effectively not the same person she was as Viceroy, but remarks that it is cold comfort to those that suffered under her reign. Hien too has to bite his tongue, recalling Gosetsu’s parting words that she deserves another chance and struggling with his own desire for revenge for his friend and mentor’s death. Alphinaud offers some consolation that the right thing is rarely the easy thing.

Y’shtola speaks up, inquiring about the aether thinning phenomenon that Urianger spoke of and noting that she has noticed the same in Doma with her aetherial sight. Hien mentions the Burn and its lack of aether, and Y’shtola asks to investigate it. The Scions head out for the Burn and we get the dungeon.

It plays out as usual, we find the Allagan shield generator, and Y’shtola sees an aether current leading back to the Azim Steppe, so the party heads back that way, while the twins break off. Alisaie returns to the Enclave to check on Tsuyu, while Alphinaud heads back to Kugane to see how things are going with Tataru and Hancock.

We get the same events in the Azim Steppe, WoL duels Sadu, Y’shtola emasculates Magnai, we find out the Burn is where Azys Lla came from and thus predates the rise of the Garlean Empire and Emperor Solus using it to justify his imperialism.

Before we can explore that historical inaccuracy further however, WoL gets a linkshell ring from Alisaie. Tsuyu has gone missing.

Y’shtola opts to remain in the Steppe to continue studying the Allagan device in the House of the Crooked Coin. WoL and Hien return to the Enclave with all due haste and reconvene. Yugiri explains that Alphinaud returned from Kugane with urgent news, having learned from his contacts of a giant Doman samurai resembling Gosetsu that was recently seen in the Ruby Sea. Tsuyu reacted strongly to his name, but the twins and Yugiri were preoccupied with discussing what to do and their amnesiac charge escaped the Enclave.

Fearing what will happen if Tsuyu is seen out and about, the gang sets out for Namai to find her before it is too late. WoL and Hien arrive in Namai shortly after Tsuyu, who has already drawn a crowd.

Tsuyu is frightened and confused, unsure why everyone is angry or afraid of her. Some of the crowd call for her blood, demanding retribution, and she doesn’t understand what it is she’s done wrong. Azami, the little girl from earlier in the Doma story, comes to her defense as Hien arrives and explains who she is. The people are unmoved, beseeching Hien to punish Yotsuyu for her crimes and the sake of their lost. Hien grits his teeth and considers it for a moment, before refusing. He restates his belief that the old laws of honor would demand blood for Yotsuyu’s actions, regardless of circumstances, but that is not Hien’s way, and he will not execute an innocent, nor would doing so undo any of the pain of the past.

The crowd disperses, accepting Hien’s decision, and tragedy is averted. Before the party returns to the Enclave, Jifuya, prominant member of the Doman Resistance, stops them and asks for a word with Hien. WoL recognizes Jifuya as someone they interacted with during the Doman Liberation, as well as one of the voices that called for a return to the old ways when the Empire was removed.

Jifuya asks Hien if he can speak in private, or at least, away from Tsuyu. Yugiri and the twins escort Tsuyu back to the Enclave while Hien, WoL, and Jifuya go to the outskirts of Namai to converse discreetly. Jifuya opens up that he was Yotsuyu’s master, the one who bought and put her into bondage as a courtesan after her husband died, and requests Hien’s permission to leave Doma. Hien is outraged that a slaver was among his ranks, but Jifuya retorts that he has ever been a loyal and true ally of Doma, as a noble and then as a soldier. Honor dictates that his service earn him clemency, and if Hien will not respect the old ways, then this new way of mercy and forgiveness that compels Hien to forgive someone as wicked as Yotsuyu demands he let Jifuya go as well. Or is the young lord of Doma a hypocrite?

Hien stumbles, but before he can say anything, a familiar voice rings out, asking Jifuya if seeking to escape the consequences for his crimes is truly the actions of an honorable man.

Gosetsu walks in, using his sword as a cane, limping as he goes. Without missing a beat he approaches Jifuya and asks again, if he is so honorable, why was he among the first to incite the crowd to call for Yotsuyu’s blood, why would he flee if he had done no wrong.

Jifuya falters, looking for an escape, sheepishly saying that he only did what was common for the time, he cannot be blamed for what one stupid girl did in response. Gosetsu sternly states that Doma’s fall was brought about by selfish old men like them that cared more about their pride and honor than the people they were meant to serve, and that same honor now demands they repent for their failings, in whatever way their victims see fit.

Jifuya attempts to run, stating he refuses to be at Yotsuyu’s mercy for what he did to her, but before he can escape, Gosetsu draws his blade and cuts him down. Gosetsu himself falls to his knees after his strike, saying to Hien that he seems to have slipped, and hopes the Lord of Doma will forgive his retainer’s clumsiness.

Realizing that Gosetsu has spared Hien from having to publicly go back on his principles, he obliges and helps Gosetsu back to his feet. The trio return to the Enclave and Gosetsu is welcomed home. Yugiri and the twins are apprised of what transpired with Jifuya and Gosetsu regales the party with stories of his adventures following the collapse of Doma Castle. All the while, Tsuyu dotes on him, fussing over his injuries and making sure he’s comfortable, which he finds unsettling.

Yugiri explains to him what became of Yotsuyu, and her new life as Tsuyu. Gosetsu dryly suggests the mercy fate has shown them both must be the work of the kami, to be forced to live on in spite of their crimes, to atone by bearing the weight of a guilty conscious. Gosetsu’s injuries combined with his age are too much for him to fight as a samurai again, and he needs assistance in his day to day, and Tsuyu has no memories of her old life, only that she committed a terrible crime she cannot remember or even who she hurt.

MEANWHILE, IN GARLEMALD, we get the conversation between Varis and Elidibus, with the stinger that Elidibus is up to something.

When we next pick up in the Enclave, Hien has received word from Maxima that Ambassador Brutus’s ship is en route and should be arriving soon to carry out the prisoner exchange, and potentially a proper ceasefire between the Empire and Doma. Last minute preparations are made, including keeping Tsuyu hidden, given the bad blood between her and Asahi. The only other concern is a strange increase in activity from the Red kojin of late, given they had settled down since the Empire left Doma and Susano was defeated.

Asahi and his retinue arrive alongside Maxima, he is welcomed to Hien’s estate as an honored guest.

Contrasting with Maxima’s prior letter, Asahi seems positively thrilled with the idea of the prisoner exchange and peace between the Empire and Doma as equals. When questioned about the politics of his party, the Telophoroi, he says that the militaristic stance is born of precaution, not hostility, and so long as Doma does not seek further conflict he has no reason to pick a fight. But that does entail the return of all Imperial prisoners...including the missing viceroy, his “dear” sister Yotsuyu.

The group is shocked that Asahi is aware of Tsuyu’s survival, and Yugiri tentatively explains that she lost her memory after the battle of Doma Castle, and was given a new identity for her own protection. Hien states that Tsuyu would likely not wish to leave Doma to go with a stranger to a strange place, and Asahi, surprisingly, agrees. She is a Doman citizen now, through and through, though he would like to see her for himself, if time permits.

Back to business, Asahi says that in addition to ceding prisoners and pursuing no further restitutions from the Empire, Doma and its people must never again summon eikons. Alisaie speaks up, saying the people of Doma never summoned to begin with, which prompts Asahi to mention Susano and Tsukuyomi, TWO summonings by Doman citizens in less than a year. WoL disputes this, as Susano manifested without being summoned by anyone, and Tsukuyomi was called by Yotsuyu, the Imperial Viceroy.

Asahi insists that these are semantics, and it was ultimately Doman religious practices that gave rise to the primals. The Empire will not demand an end to all worship, only that such “incidents” be prevented.

At this point, Asahi suggests going around and touring Doma a bit, estranged as he is from his homeland by his time in Garlemald. Hien, Yugiri, WoL, and the twins escort him around Yanxia, from the Enclave to Monzen, Namai, and Castrum Fluminis. It’s there that we get the encounter with the Red Kojin attacking Isse and Azami, and the gang rushes to the rescue, Asahi included.

With enough excitement for one day, the group returns to the Enclave, and Asahi retires for the evening. Afterwards, the group plus Maxima discuss how odd the whole situation is, Asahi knowing of Yotsuyu’s fate and her summoning Tsukuyomi at Doma Castle, the unusual actions of the Red Kojin to travel so far inland, especially on the same day Asahi arrives, the bizarre change of heart compared to Maxima‘s initial report. Something is obviously strange, but no one can quite pinpoint it, and Maxima hopes it is simply nerves.

The next day, Asahi sets about preparations for the prisoner exchange at Castrum Fluminis, but as before, requests he be allowed a chance to meet with his sister. Hien tentatively agrees, not wanting to jeopardize the safety of the Doman conscripts by refusing, and the group travels to Castrum Fluminis with Tsuyu in tow.

From here, things play out more or less the same, Asahi surprises Tsuyu by bringing out their parents, and Yugiri notices a number of suspicious crates that Asahi’s retinue seems to have brought with them. Asahi and his forces fall back to the fortress, leaving the WoL with his parting vitriol and the Echo vision of his first meeting with Zenos, and Tsuyu is very agitated following the unexpected reunion with her parents. At this point, all involved are aware the prisoner exchange is a trap, but for the sake of bringing home the Doman conscripts, they’ll have to follow through for now and just be ready to react to whatever scheme Asahi tries to pull.

The next morning, Hien’s estate is throw into a tizzy as Tsuyu has disappeared overnight. Yugiri takes responsibility, saying that she had grown lax in her observance as she became more accustomed to Tsuyu’s every day routine. With the airship bearing the conscripts on its way, there’s no time to dispatch a full search party, and Hien asks the WoL and the twins to investigate while he travels to Castrum Fluminis.

WoL and the twins split up and search for Tsuyu, WoL goes to Monzen and finds the bodies of Asahi’s parents and gets the Echo vision. Tsuyu, having regained her memory, cannot live with the guilt of being shown such kindness and mercy after what she’s done, and plans to kill herself when her parents arrive and begin harassing her. She turns on them and murders them both, then Asahi arrives on the scene and congratulates her on the miraculous recovery. He tells Yotsuyu the plan to regain her place in the Empire by summoning Tsukuyomi again at the prisoner exchange.

WoL meets up with the twins and they rush to the Castrum proper to warn Hien. They arrive just as the Doman conscripts are being brought through, and Alphinaud calls out that it’s a trap. Asahi seems shocked at their arrival, but carries on, giving the signal for Yotsuyu to show herself. The crates Yugiri identified are opened, showing off a number of crystals, and Yotsuyu uses them to once again turn into Tsukuyomi.

Asahi cackles madly, laughing that a Doman citizen has summoned an eikon in direct violation of the peace agreement in what can only be called an act of war. His victory is short lived however, when Tsukuyomi runs him through with her lunar swords, voice seething as she recounts that he more than any other she hated, her own brother that beat her and used her, never protecting her from their parents, leaving her to suffer as he reaped the benefits of her abuse and enslavement. As Asahi chokes on his blood and curses her for being the one Zenos chose over him, the transformation fades, and Yotsuyu collapses, the lunar blades holding Asahi aloft disappearing as he plummets to the ground. Yugiri and the twins run to Yotsuyu’s side as Hien and Wol look over Asahi, with his last breath saying that Zenos will come for them and avenge him.

WoL gets the Echo vision of a somehow still living Zenos giving Asahi his mission to sabotage the prisoner exchange, and shares what they learn with everyone present.

Alphinaud is bewildered, asking how Zenos could have given the order when Zenos died at the Royal Menagerie, to which Maxima reacts with shock, saying that the crown prince is alive and well at the Imperial capital, already recovering from the wounds he sustained at the Ala Mhigan insurrection. The contradiction presents only one possibility. An Ascian has taken possession of Zenos’s body.

In spite of everything that has occurred, Hien asks Maxima if they intend to go through with the prisoner exchange. Maxima agrees, as the ambassador’s plan was as much of a shock to the Populares as the Scions, and he still believes in the mission.

Yotsuyu then awakens, her hair evenly split between black and white, much like Tsukuyomi. She is unharmed, if exhausted by the summoning, and bitterly asks what the Scions intend to do with her now that she’s finally had her fill of revenge. Hien states that her amnesia was her only defense against the peoples’ ire, and he may not be able to protect her if she remains in Doma, to which Yotsuyu replies she has no desire to remain anyway.

Alisaie offers Yotsuyu join the Scions, as they’re always looking for people with the Echo, and it’s a politically neutral group far from Doma. Yotsuyu wonders aloud how long Alisaie has been waiting to turn Yotsuyu’s initial offer on its head, to which Alisaie only smirks.

Yotsuyu makes no commitments, as she will need time to decide what she wants now that her life is actually in her own hands for the first time. Yugiri escorts her back to the Doman Enclave.

Alphinaud then addresses Maxima, asking what he intends to do now. With the news that Zenos may be an Ascian, he must return to Garlemald forthwith and resume his investigation, and regrettably, it might not be wise to bring the Imperial prisoners back to the capital in such circumstances. Hien volunteers to help see the prisoners back to their homes with the help of Doma’s shinobi, as most of them are foreign conscripts anyway, and with the Ambassador dead on Doman soil, the prospects of peace are well and truly off the table.

Alphinaud volunteers to join Maxima in the journey back to the capital, believing he would do more good helping the Populares fight the Ascians politically and potentially prevent further conflict at the source. The WoL has the option to encourage him, stay neutral and advise caution, or disagree with Alphinaud’s decision as too dangerous.

Regardless, Alphinaud and Maxima depart, and the WoL, Hien, and Alisaie return to the Enclave. When they arrive, Yotsuyu and Gosetsu are waiting for them, both in new outfits. “Tsuyu” states it’s better if she let go of her old name for good, and Gosetsu declares that the two of them are going on a pilgrimage of atonement, to understand where they belong in the world as a pair of sinners who were denied honorable death. Tsuyu comments she’ll keep Alisaie’s offer in mind, and the two depart.

At the same time, a yol arrives dropping off Y’shtola, who explains that her research in the Steppe has reached a satisfactory conclusion. WoL and Alisaie tell her about all that has transpired in her absence, and she grimly wonders if Alphinaud has not made a rash decision. On a happier note, she says that she has undone the stifling of aether caused by the Allagan device, and it is possible the Burn may recover in time.

Hien thanks the Scions for their assistance, and swears he will pray for Alphinaud’s safety in the coming days. He then asks if they can deliver a letter of introduction to the Eorzean Alliance, pledging Doma’s friendship. The Scions graciously thank Hien for his friendship and hospitality, and depart for Eorzea.

From here, things proceed pretty much as they do in the original story.

Thancred, Krile, Lyse, and Urianger are updated on the Zenos situation, and his grave is confirmed to be empty, as we get the shot of the unknown Elezen soldier watching in the distance. Thancred departs for Garlemald to find out what’s going on.

WoL and Alisaie deliver Hien’s message to the Eorzean Alliance, pledging Doma’s support against the Empire, Maxima and his unit arrive in Ala Mhigo, and the WoL and Alisaie learn of the attack on their ship and how Alphinaud went off with the mysterious Shadow Hunter. We get the introduction of Emperor Solus and the big reveal of Garlemald’s founding.

Thancred returns, bringing grim tidings of imminent conflict with Eorzea and retribution for the Ala Mhigan and Doman rebellions. As Thancred delivers his report, the mysterious voice happens and he goes comatose. Alisaie and WoL return to the Rising Stones to tell Urianger and Y’shtola, who soon follow suit.

WoL and Alisaie travel to Doma together one last time to let Hien know what’s coming, he informs them that he has been in contact with Cid and the four of them head out to burn to get the Allagan shield up and running to protect Doma while the army travels to Eorzea to assist the Alliance, Gaius delivers Alphinaud’s comatose body to the Scions and warns of Black Rose. WoL and Alisaie return with the Doman forces then take some time to check on the Scions, visit with Matoya and Krile to diagnosis what’s wrong, visit Ga Bu in Limsa, then attend the big meeting with Varis and the Alliance leaders prior to the battle of Ghimlyt Dark, and the 4.5 story plays out unchanged.

And so that’s my edit of Stormblood, how I would modify events to keep things mostly the same, but tie the narrative together a bit more smoothly and keep things consistent. The big points I want to focus on are developing both Yotsuyu and Fordola, giving them more screentime to actually understand and sympathize with them before the game tells you you’re just supposed to, giving Zenos more build up as a character, making Lyse’s growth as an individual more pronounced, and removing or reording some events I felt were particularly unsavory or jarring with the rest of the story. And of course, Yotsuyu lives so she can do stuff in the future. If you’ve made it this far, thank you very much for reading, I hope you enjoyed my ideas for how Stormblood could be improved as a story.

#David plays FFXIV #Stormblood #Final Fantasy XIV

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proofperfect · 2 days

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dailycharacteroption · 11 months

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Retrograde Revision 1: Acrobat Archetype for Rogue

(art by Robyn Bond on Artstation)

So, some of my peers on tumblr (whom I should really talk to more) sometimes go back and redo old content on their blog in an attempt to apply modern reflection and a more defined writing style to them and bring them into the modern era.

So that’s what I’m doing this week! I’ll be taking a whole week’s worth of entries from the blog’s past and redoing them, starting with my first entries back in… 2014?

Good heavens, has it almost been 10 years? It’s amazing how much of your life can change, and how much stays the same.

In any case, let’s jump right in. I won’t be doing all of my previous entries with this series, but up to a certain point when I started properly using paragraphs in them rather than the hot mess I started out with.

Our first entry is the Acrobat, an entry with literally 3 short paragraphs in the body before the adventure hooks. Definitely in need of expansion.

Without further ado, let us begin!

The human body has a fascinating relationship with physics. After all, our bipedal gait essentially means that we controlled-fall our way through our lives, to say nothing of our efforts to go beyond the limits of our bodies and go real fast, whether it be by taming fast animals and riding them or inventing wonders of engineering that go fast, sometimes in directions usually reserved for birds and marine animals.

But before we were runners, riders, and fliers, our ancient ancestors were jumpers and climbers. That lovely opposable thumb we use to engineer and build and affect our environment started out as a way to hold on nice and tight to tree branches, while the limbs themselves were powerful, able to help launch them from branch to branch, all things we can see in the rest of our primate cousins.

So what do you get when an arboreal tree climber switches to being mostly on flat land with the brain and limbs to alter their environment and most importantly, understand it? A lot of things, but the thing we’re focusing on today is how some humans develop the art of jumpling, climbing, and balancing into an art form.

Enter the profession of the acrobat! Death-defying leapers, tumblers, and balancers who perform such deeds not just to prove they can, but also give a thrill to onlookers who have not perfected these arts. It is very dangerous work though, and such individuals spend years honing their bodies and minds to finally do these things without the safety nets or cushioning pads. But even then, accidents happen.

The Pathfinder acrobat, which has it’s roots in one of the old subclasses of rogue from the early days of the hobby, uses their skills not just for performance, but also for more directly practical uses. Turns out a lot of doors (or more accurately windows) open up to you when you can just climb and leap to places that are possible entryways, but are less secured because nobody without that training would ever consider them a method of ingress.

They might be performers that moonlight as thieves, or they might be “second story specialists” in their local thieves guild, or they might simply be enthusiasts in the acts of running, jumping, and climbing that apply their skills as spies and sneaks. Either way, they are masters of going where others can’t and avoiding notice purely because nobody every looks up.

Agility is a must for acrobats, so they train with and/or modify their armor to remain flexible in it, bolstering their ability to perform physical activities while wearing protective gear, and making them even better when not wearing it.

A bad fall can spell the end for such daring leapers and climbers, so they develop good instincts and reflexes for catching themselves at the last moment, though even that can fail.

This archetype favors rogue talents that provide additional advantages to balancing, leaping, and climbing, as well as those that let them use their nimble moves in other situations such as combat.

A fairly simple archetype from the early days of Pathfinder, but still a good one. Obviously these rogues never want to be seen or engage in combat in the first place, but aside from building for their utility in moving about swiftly and with agility, definitely try building them with tumble checks, flanking, and using their mobility against foes in mind. Most importantly, use the environment whenever possible.

Being any sort of athlete requires paying a lot of attention to the needs of your body, so I can imagine that there is actually a curious dichotomy with acrobats in their relation to risk. Certainly all are daredevils, but many may not take certain risks if they would ruin their ability to perform, while others throw caution to the wind.

The arid desert steppes of Vollak are home to the indigenous catfolk population called the Mlei Mlei. Extremely distrustful of outsiders, the Mlei Mlei specialize in unique ambushes wherein each member of the war party anchors themselves to a piton driven in the rock, rappelling down and running along the walls of the canyon expertly, staying just out of reach as they deliver attack after attack.

High above the clouds, the flying city of Urbrisk is in constant competition between mages, flying warriors, and the thieves guild, all vying for mastery over the city’s airspace. For their part, the thieves guild keeps up, mastering stolen trinkets of flight, and moving so swiftly they barely seem to touch the ground.

The local lord, paranoid about thieves, guards his keep with cunning traps and locks, keeping his most prized possessions in a tower too high to be climbed… Or so he thought until they went missing. He commissions the party to retrieve his property, and capture the nimble thief so that he can avenge his wounded pride.

#pathfinder #archetype #rogue #acrobat #retrograde revision #catfolk #advanced player's guide

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handoverthekawaii · 1 month

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Tyranny of the Heart | Enver Gortash & You | Chapter 4

Lord Enver Gortash’s meeting with the Baldur’s Gate Harbormaster goes about as well as expected. You observe firsthand how Gortash navigates the tension with practiced ease, providing a thorough explanation of how the warehouse’s location allows raw materials to be delivered in the most cost-effective manner possible.

He even offers the first batch of Steel Watchers, when completed, to shore up port security under the Harbormaster’s personal direction. The city official agrees with the eagerness of a child reaching out for a shiny, new toy — so, although the matter may not be resolved forever, you expect Gortash will have no further trouble with the Harbormaster for some time.

After the meeting ends, the two of you are served lunch in a private chamber within Wyrm’s Rock. As you eat, you turn the day’s events over in your mind, thinking of more questions for Gortash with each passing moment — Is the Harbormaster more concerned about security breaches within dock facilities, or onboard the incoming and outgoing vessels? Could the docks be extended further into Gray Harbor to add back some storage space?

Many people would have tired of all your inquiries by now, but Gortash seems to all but revel in them. He goes over the finer points of his answers with you in exquisite detail, at times even taking your quill and writing out lists or drawing frenetic diagrams in your travel diary. Both of you are taking pleasure in this opportunity to talk over real-world problems with a well-matched, equally enthusiastic conversation partner.

“You continue to impress, my dear,” Gortash proclaims a little later. You and he are back in the carriage now, this time headed toward the Steel Watch foundry. “You have already demonstrated a greater interest in this city’s workings than many patriars ever will.”

“It must please the Grainlord that, one day, Triel shall be guided by your hand.”

Lord Enver Gortash is perceptive, a skill honed over years of dealing with fickle and volatile personalities. He notices the way his words make your body tense and your jaw set — apparently he has touched a nerve. After a pause, you respond,

“You flatter me, my Lord. But I shall never rule Triel… and the only way I can please my father is by staying as far away from home as possible.”

Gortash raises an eyebrow at your response. He had assumed that your studies, your many questions, stemmed from your status as the Grainlord’s heir apparent. Like generations of bright-eyed, idealistic young lords and ladies that came before, you wanted to be the best village leader that you could be — or so he had thought.

Still, the man is even more intrigued by your remarks about your father. Ever since the evening he met you, Gortash had suspected there might be more to your situation than meets the eye. He knew from his far-flung emissaries that children of Triel’s ruling house are styled Lords and Ladies —yet, though you hail from the same house, you are called Shield Maiden. The title honors you, yes, but it also serves to set you apart from the rest of your family.

There must be something different about you, he realizes now. Something that causes your family to keep you at arm’s length. And, though you seem to genuinely enjoy learning, your travels are less of a leisurely pastime… and more of a forced exile. A circumstance that Gortash understands all too well.

“Then your father is a fool,” the Chosen of Bane declares. His words bring a small smile to your face, emboldening Gortash to continue. “Yet, on behalf of the Sword Coast, I must thank him for his dim-wittedness…”

“Because Triel’s loss will surely prove to be all our gain.” [continued on AO3]

#ao3 writer #fanfic #lord enver gortash #lord gortash #enver gortash x y/n #enver gortash x you #enver gortash x reader #enver gortash #baldurs gate gortash #bg3 gortash #gortash

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vibrantbirdy · 1 year

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Pursuit: A Ben Solo Star Wars Story - Chapter 4

Title: Pursuit Fandom: Star Wars: Skywalker Saga Genres: Sci-Fi, Action/Adventure, Romance Setting: Post The Rise of Skywalker (Ben Solo lives!) Chapter: 4/? Main Character: Ben Solo (Kylo Ren) Warnings: Canon-typical violence; adventure peril; minor angst, mild sexuality/mutual sexual feelings - slow burn be slow burning; any further warnings will be specified by chapter Main Pairings: Ben Solo/OC Other Pairings throughout: Poe/Finn; Mentions of Ben Solo (Kylo Ren)/Rey Author's Note: My postings have finally caught up with my writing so I'm breaking new ground now, but I still hope to get a chapter out once a week. I'm also playing Jedi: Survivor at the moment, so there are other distractions...

Pinned Post: Please find all completed chapters of Pursuit here.

Read: Chapter 1 ; Chapter 2; Chapter 3

Summary: Three years after surviving events on the planet Exegol, Ben Solo is carving out a solitary life for himself in the New Republic against the backdrop of reconstruction. His pursuance of quiet redemption is interrupted when a new threat to the Galaxy emerges from an old and terrifying enemy. With the help of new friends and unlikely allies, Ben must set out into Wild Space to defeat the darkness rising and put his own demons to rest once and for all.

Chapter 4 (Word Count: 6330)

Grand Inquisitor, Endo Seris, stood on the bridge of the Imperial Star Destroyer he had rechristened Seeker. A bit on the nose perhaps, but why beat around the bush? He'd never had the patience for subtlety.

The old relic was one of many Imperial ships he'd salvaged over the years from various places across Wild Space - junk yards, pirate strongholds, abandoned Imperial and First Order outposts. His fleet was growing day by day, although only one of his ten Destroyers, this one, was in good enough condition to fly as far as needed for this mission.

Second Sister and Third Brother flanked him on either side. Both had proven themselves worthy apprentices over the past three years. Second Sister, an adept Force wielder, had showed particular promise.

After bearing witness to the demise of the Emperor on Exegol at the hands of the traitor Ren and the Jedi girl, Seris had fled with remnants of the Sith Eternal into the very depths of Wild Space.

There, Seris had found them. His new kin. There had been slim pickings in terms of prey out on the very edge of the Galaxy to hone his students' skills but he had managed. Now, both young warriors were adept hunters of the Force sensitive.

“Officer Denkins,” Seris turned to the Officer at the helm. “Have we been detected by the New Republic?” “No Sir,” the Officer answered with a hint of pride.

Seris reached out through the Force and detected the pulse of ambition coursing through the young helmsman's veins. That was acceptable. Like all of Seris' skeleton crew, this young man was the result of generations of families with Imperial loyalties. Like his ships, Seris offered those faithful to the ideals and legacy of the Galactic Empire a new purpose.

Officer Denkins was wearing an Imperial uniform which Seris suspected had belonged to his father's father. It was worn and faded with age, but young man obviously took pride in it. There was not a crease, nor speck of dust to be seen.

Seris turned his attention back to the small freighter on their flank. The Force works in mysterious ways. How convenient that Kylo Ren and this Force sensitive youngling had found their way to each other. Seris had already been briefed on his chief engineer's conclusion that the old Destroyer's capability to lock on to their target was not yet operational. A shame today would not be the day he made Ren pay for his treachery, but it was no real matter. There was no rush. That day would come in time.

“They are getting away,” Third Brother growled in frustration, as they watched the small freighter carrying Ren and the girl from Bakura power up its engines to make the jump to light speed.

Third Brother, able warrior and skilled hunter though he was, had a tendency to look at what was right in front of him and miss the bigger picture. Second Sister had no such weakness. She was gifted with almost unnatural patience and she was sage with it too.

“Second Sister,” Seris asked, “What do you think Ren is going to do now that he understands we are not a mere manifestation of his pitiable, damaged psyche?”

“I feel the conflict raging within him, Grand Inquisitor,” Second Sister answered, eyes closed, a hungry smile spreading across her face.

“Ren has a pathetic desire to prove himself useful to the New Republic, to be worthy of their forgiveness. He is weak and he will not be able to resist the pull to the Light. He,” she paused as her wolfish grin widened, “will come to us.” “Precisely,” Seris said, pleased with her intelligent evaluation. “And when he does, he will lead us to the very heart of the new Jedi Order.”

He clenched his fist thinking of the sweetness of the victory to come. He watched Ren's ship stretch then disappear in a flash of light as it made the jump to hyper space.

Then he turned on his heel, giving Officer Denkins the order set a course back to Wild Space as he strode off the Seeker's bridge. He was satisfied, if not pleased, with the day's events.

********************************************************************

Poe Dameron found himself questioning his own reality as he stood in the middle of a large forest clearing on some backwater planet in the Mid Rim face to face with Kylo Ren.

Ren's ship sat at the opposite side of the clearing from Poe and Finn's borrowed HWK-290 light freighter. It was an old ship, but boy was she still fast, and they'd needed to take something quick and light to make the rendezvous on time. Poe had taken immense pleasure in flying it at the very limit of its speed threshold, much to Finn's chagrin.

Ren's face was different. More open, almost placid. Certainly much less like he was walking around with the world's worst tension headache. It made him look younger somehow despite the short beard he now wore. This man looked like your everyday variety cargo pilot.

Still, the intensity of his eyes, though less feral, had not faded.

“What do you want, Ren?” asked Poe, determining that this time, he definitely would talk first.

Poe could have sworn that the former Supreme Leader of the First Order had flinched at the mention of his old name. Poe revelled in it, although he knew he shouldn't.

He felt Finn, ever his conscience, move slightly at his shoulder, and Poe knew well enough that that was a subtle message for him to behave.

Solo from now on then, though Poe hardly thought he deserved to use the name.

“I need your help,” Ren - Solo – said, having regained his composure annoyingly quickly, “What do you know about the Inquisitorius?”

Silence.

“Nothing,” Poe admitted after a beat.

He spread his hands theatrically, gesturing to Solo that he should continue if he really had to.

“Please. Why don't you enlighten us.”

Solo explained that in the time of the Empire, an Order of Inquisitors, ruthless Force sensitive warriors, some former Jedi who had been turned to the Dark Side, had specialised in hunting down and slaughtering any Jedi who had survived Palpatine's purge. These Inquisitors would often capture Force sensitive children, brainwashing them and turning them into killing machines for the Empire.

Poe had thought he'd known everything there was to know about the depraved depths the Empire had sunk to in its domination of the Galaxy - how had he never heard of this? He had a sudden and unexpected rush of – what? Sympathy for Solo?

Maybe not quite. Perhaps he could best define it as a new perspective on the deplorable path that Solo's life had taken as Kylo Ren. From what he'd heard, Solo had been little more than an impressionable, lost kid himself when Snoke had corrupted him and turned him to the Dark Side.

“They're back,” Solo said, “They are searching for me and...”

“Ah, now we're getting to it,” Poe scoffed, so incensed he was physically unable to let Solo finish his sentence, “What are you asking? You want us to waste Republic time and resources because you're finally going to get your comeuppance from these guys for being a turn coat? C'mon!”

“That's not it.” Solo's tone was irritatingly level.

“OK, well,” Poe threw up his hands, “Whatever it is, this sounds more like Jedi business, so isn't it time you and Rey just...”

“No,” Solo and Finn said simultaneously.

They shared a strange look of knowing agreement which Poe found to be infuriating. The first time Finn had opened his mouth since they'd got there and he'd used it to agree with Kylo kriffing Ren.

“No,” Ben repeated still looking with a sort of mild curiosity at Finn.

“If they capture me and I know where Rey's Temple is...”

He trailed off before redirecting his piercing gaze towards Poe.

“Do you understand what I'm saying?”

Poe nodded grimly, clenching his teeth and trying to keep his anger at bay. He did understand, boy did he understand. Memories of his own desperate attempts to resist Ren's excruciating probing of his mind for information; his futile efforts to protect his friends; the abject failure that followed.

He felt Finn's hand come to rest on the small of his back, a small gesture of comfort, but one which allowed him to refocus.

“It's not just about me, Dameron. They will hunt down and eliminate any Jedi that they find in whatever manner they see fit.”

Solo's words were quiet but steady as he continued in that deep monotone of his.

“They're building their numbers and amassing a fleet.”

“A fleet?” Finn asked incredulously. “From what? Scraps?”

“Yes.”

The answer was so simple, neither Poe nor Finn it seemed had any comeback prepared.

“I've seen it,” Solo continued. “They tracked me on an Imperial Star Destroyer from Wild Space to the edge of the Mid Rim.”

Poe rolled his eyes and he thought he even heard Finn let out an exasperated sigh. He was glad to know they were finally on the same page about this.

What a load of Bantha crap.

“Old Imperial ships don't have that tech...” Finn started, but Solo cut across him.

“No, I mean the Inquisitor tracked me. Not the ship.”

“They can do that?” Finn asked tentatively, “Using the Force?”

Solo nodded.

“They specialise in it.”

Then,

“If they go unchecked, they won't stop until they raze the New Republic to the ground.”

Solo's ominous words left a wake of empty, sober silence. The three men stood looking at one another for a moment. Poe sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He turned to Finn who shrugged. Poe heard his affable voice in his head. Let's hear him out.

“Okay, what are you suggesting, Solo?” Poe asked, finally.

“I play them at their own game. I track them through Wild Space, I find their stronghold, take stock of their forces and I report back to you.”

Solo's face broke into a crooked grin which was so unexpectedly charming it was almost shocking. Poe had never seen the man smile before.

“And then the New Republic blow them all to hell.”

At this, Poe couldn't keep a reluctant smirk of his own from lifting the corners of his mouth.

“Well,” he said, turning to Finn who grinned back, “I gotta admit, I kinda like the sound of that.”

“There's something else...”

“Oh perfect,” Poe quipped under his breath as he exchanged a nervous glance with Finn.

Solo took out a transponder and spoke into it.

“You can come out now,” he said.

*********************************************************************

Ada listened intently as Ben and the two strangers explained to her about a woman called Rey who was master of a new Jedi Temple. The Temple was safely hidden on a planet deep within the heart of the New Republic. Even Ben didn't know where it was. Poe Dameron and Finn – just Finn apparently – would take Tallah there and this Rey would help her hone her abilities.

Tallah stood between her and Ben, one little warm hand in hers, the other enveloped in Ben's.

“Tallah,” Ada said softly, moving between the girl and Ben and dropping to one knee so that she was level with her niece.

She tucked a stray blonde lock behind the girl's ear.

“I think you should go with them. Their friend can help you with your gift. But I won't make you. It's your choice”

Tallah nodded. “I want to go, I want to learn.”

She leaned in conspiratorially with a furtive glance at Finn and Poe and whispered, “I think they're nice.”

Overhearing this, Poe shrugged in an exasperated but not unkind sort of a way. He was clearly slightly bewildered at the whole situation. From the way they reacted to one another, it was obvious he, Finn and Ben had some history. Finn just smiled reassuringly.

They did seem “nice.” Or at least good enough to take on the responsibility of transporting a child in danger somewhere safe. And they certainly seemed capable of it. Ben had filled her in on the way – these guys were apparently Resistance war heroes.

It was a strange thing for Ada to even be considering letting her niece go with these two men she'd never met before. She'd spent the past few months hardly daring to even let her out of her sight. But she'd learned to trust Tallah's assessment of character and her ability to read people's intentions implicitly. It had kept them alive up until now. And besides, she found herself trusting Ben's judgement too.

Tallah looked over the top of Ada's head.

“Ben, will I get a laser sword?”

Ben let out a short burst of laughter, a pleasing wrinkle appearing on the bridge of his nose. Dameron and Finn were staring at him with a sort of disbelieving fascination. It was as if he'd just grown another head. Ben must have noticed it too because he quickly dialled back his mirth.

“Maybe kid,” he patted Tallah on her golden head.

“Ada's going with you,” she said to him simply and a little sadly, although Ada hadn't discussed it with her and it broke her heart to know that Tallah had worked it out on her own.

She could feel Ben's eyes burning into the back of her head and just knew he was looking at her with that that appraising gaze of his.

Great, she thought, standing up and dusting the forest floor off her knees in preparation for an disagreement. She spun round to face him. Infuriatingly, she realised she only came up to his chin.

“You know damn well you'll be more efficient with a navigator, someone who knows the terrain,” she said defiantly, refusing to let Ben get the first word, “I grew up in Wild Space.”

“I thought it was just space to you,” Ben shot back, but there was a lightness to his tone and Ada realised with some embarrassment that he'd not been intending argue with her at all.

“Are you sure, Ada?” was all he asked.

“Tallah will be safe with this woman, Rey?”

She answered his question with her own. The only one that mattered.

“Yes,” all three men spoke the word at once.

Ada was almost as amused as she was reassured by their uniform certainty.

“Tallah?”

Ada fixed her niece with a meaningful look. Tallah gave her a brave smile and a determined nod.

That kid. So much like her mother, Brenna. Ada's heart gave a little leap of pride that was mixed with melancholy and grief.

“Then yes, I'm sure,” she confirmed, “I can't just sit around and wait and do nothing, not when I can help. I have to do this.”

Ben considered her keenly. Ada wondered if he were using the Force to read her and whether it would even bother her if he was.

Tendrils of wild black hair drifted across his face in the breeze. She wanted to reach up and brush them out of his golden eyes so that she could see them better.

He nodded.

**********************************************************************

Ben glanced over at Ada who had fallen asleep in the Swift's copilot's chair. She would have looked wholly content if it weren't for the droplets of water still clinging to her long lashes, despite her slumber.

Ben knew that the choice had been a difficult and traumatic one. When she'd said farewell to Tallah, she'd embraced her neice so tightly and for so long, that at one point Ben thought he might have to intervene before the girl turned blue.

He allowed himself a small smile, remembering how Tallah had sprinted at him to say goodbye. He'd picked her up and she'd buried her face into his hair, whispering in his ear to look after her aunt. The Swift was quiet without her and he was surprised at how much he felt her absence.

He was both grateful and surprised that Ada had decided to accompany him. A co-pilot familiar with the territory of Wild Space would be invaluable, especially as they'd need to avoid the busier, well-travelled navigation routes.

Ben might be a skilled navigator and an excellent pilot, both talents heightened through his strong connection with the Force, but he'd spent very little time deep in Wild Space. The times he had ventured out that far, he'd really rather forget...

The meeting with Dameron and the ex-Stormtrooper, had gone better than Ben had expected. Still, as they'd all turned to depart, Dameron had caught his arm roughly and taken him to one side away from the others.

Ada had raised her eyebrows at Ben but she hadn't stopped, instead making her way back to the Swift alone. Ben was relieved. Ada had clearly sensed that it was important that he and Dameron hash out whatever unfinished business this was in private.

Ben had watched her retreat, her arms crossed and shoulders hunched slightly. Although it wasn't cold, he saw her pull the fawn shawl that was draped across her shoulders tighter around her. Ben could feel the worry and guilt coursing through her at the thought of leaving Tallah. Still, as ever, he sensed that steady and constant determination burning bright at the very core of her being.

Meanwhile, heading in the opposite direction and with only a passing quizzical glance at Dameron, Finn made his way back to their ship with Tallah in tow. He and the girl were chatting animatedly to each other and Ben felt a rush of gratitude towards the ex-Stormtrooper.

Ben had never forgotten his first encounter with FN-2187 in the village on Jakku. Even then, Kylo Ren had sensed that the Force was strong within him although untrained and undisciplined, perhaps even unnoticed by the Trooper. He suspected that FN-2187 had been relying on his heightened instincts for years - like a sixth sense – not realising that this was something more than feelings.

What had really alerted Ren to the Stormtrooper's presence that night his First Order Division had descended upon the tiny village to intercept Resistance intel and capture Dameron, had been FN-2187's refusal to follow the order to open fire on the villagers. This, despite knowing the possible consequences he could bring upon himself. Even Ren, his head swirling with ambition and fury had the insight to recognise that this was not an act of cowardice. It was an act of courage.

Finn was clearly a man strong of heart and generous of spirit. Ben understood now why Rey had valued his friendship so deeply.

“Look, I really want to believe that you've turned some corner,” Dameron had said when he was sure the others were out of earshot, “but if you're playing us, or her,” his eyes flicked to Ada's retreating back, “in any way, I will come for you.”

Dameron's tone was low and dangerous, and Ben could feel the sharp, hot edges of his temper rising. With effort, he pushed it back down. While Dameron's suspicion riled him, he knew he couldn't blame the pilot for his caution. In fact, it was one of the reasons he trusted the man so much.

They might not like each other, but Ben knew more than most about Poe Dameron.

After capturing Dameron that night three years ago on Jakku, Ren had tortured him for information, using the Force to break his way violently into the pilot's mind.

The more he delved into Dameron's head, the more infuriated Ren had become. Dameron was so sure of who he was. A man so able to accept the life he'd made for himself; the person he was. A man who celebrated his successes, mourned his failures and learned from these experiences, from his loves, his losses. All of it.

Even after getting the information he needed, Ren could not stop himself from probing Dameron's consciousness with a twisted sort of fascination. It brought into sharp, painful focus the limitless failings Ren knew resided within himself.

Ren's inability to face his own fears paralysed him. His hopeless fury at his own inadequacies left him unable to learn from them. And the Dark Side, ever present, compounding his potent desire for power had left him unable to change any of it.

Ren had looked into Poe Dameron's very soul and had found an individual of great conviction, loyalty and bravery. It was how Ben now knew there was no safer place in the Galaxy for Tallah.

Except maybe with Rey.

“I understand,” he had replied, simply.

Dameron had given Ben a strange, hard look before speaking next as if he were weighing up whether or not to tell him something.

“Go to Theod first – it's just another backwater moon right on the edge of the Outer Rim. I'll patch coordinates through to your ship. We have a listening outpost there looking out for any remnant First Order activity. They might have heard something.”

Dameron paused and cleared his throat.

“Chewbacca's there.”

Ben felt all the air leave his body, as if he'd been punched in the gut. His calm expression must have slipped because when he refocused on Dameron's face, he was surprised to see a glint of reluctant sympathy in the man's eyes.

“Look, he knows what you did on Exegol. And he knows you saved Rey... I just... I can't promise he'll be happy to see you,” Dameron offered awkwardly.

Ben nodded, hoping he'd regained some of his external composure.

“Thank you.”

As a parting gesture, Dameron slapped Ben on the shoulder, probably just a little harder than was strictly necessary. Then, he'd stalked off to his ship, leaving Ben alone, cutting a tall, solitary figure in the still forest clearing.

Now, as he sat in the pilot's chair on the Swift, he inhaled deeply, trying to remember and recapture the scent of pine and damp earth from that afternoon in hopes it would quiet his roiling thoughts. He desperately needed to recentre himself, to ground himself in the Force. His mind was in turmoil at the very thought of seeing Chewbacca.

The last time Ben had seen the Wookie had been the day he'd killed his own father. When he thought of Han Solo's death, he did not try to escape culpability by separating the actions of Kylo Ren from his own. Ben Solo had been agonisingly present on that metal gangway too, suspended high up above the mechanical insides of the First Order's Starkiller Base.

More than anything, Ben had wanted to take his father's proffered hand that day, to escape the hell of the First Order and of Snoke's iron rule and to go home to his family. His greatest shame, his greatest regret was that the moment the chance to turn back to the Light had presented itself he was just too weak to take it. Too weak to resist the seduction of Dark Side.

All the nightmares of his father's death were accompanied by the echo of Chewbacca's anguished roar as Kylo Ren finally ignited his crackling, red saber and sent the blade straight through Han Solo's body.

That howl from Chewbacca as he was forced to witness his best friend fall into the mechanical abyss below was seared into Ben's mind like the white hot pain from the crossbow bolt fired into his left flank soon after from the Wookie's weapon.

Ben had grown up knowing the Wookie as part of his family. “Uncle Chewie” had even taught him some Wookie fighting methods before Leia had sent the boy away to her brother to train as a Jedi. In fact, that was one of the reasons behind Ben's forward leaning fighting stance.

Wookies used their size and strength to their advantage in combat, and Ben had integrated that principle into his technique with a lightsaber. Luke had recognised this immediately and had always found this amusing. He'd never corrected Ben's form. It worked.

All of Ben's fond memories of the Wookie were sullied by his own reprehensible actions. He couldn't imagine a universe in which Chewbacca could forgive him, and he certainly could never forgive himself. To see the Wookie again would force him to relive the worst day of his life. He had no idea if he was strong enough to do so.

Still, Ben knew that if he wanted to track the Inquisitorius, he hadn't much of a choice. If there was even a slight possibility that Chewbacca held intel....

Not only had the sudden and brazen appearance of the Imperial Destroyer in the Mid Rim convinced Ben that the threat was even greater than he could have possibly even imagined, worse still, when the colossal vessel had dropped out of hyper space, his link with the Force had abruptly alerted him to the presence of not one Inquisitor, but three.

For a few seconds, Ben closed his eyes and buried his head in his hands, pushing his fingers through his hair and trying to clear his mind. He sat up and conducted a check on the Swift's flight and navigation settings. They were on course to make Theod in five hours at light speed. Hyperdrive looked fine, surprisingly.

It was no use sitting staring out at the stars whizzing by and ruminating, Ben decided. He would run some lightsaber drills instead in the hopes that physical exertion might quiet his racing mind.

Ada was still sleeping peacefully in the chair beside him and Ben didn't see the need to wake her. She could probably do with the rest. He noticed that her beige shawl had slipped off one shoulder and her pale skin beneath was starting to rise into little goosebumps.

Ben stood as quietly as he could, reaching over to Ada and pulling the wayward material back up over her shoulder. He crept through to the Swift's living area, returning a moment later with a woollen blanket which he draped gently over the sleeping woman. He allowed his eyes to linger on her face for a moment.

Force, she was beautiful.

He shook himself, not wanting her to wake up and find him standing over her like some idiot. He left her slumbering in her chair and padded silently out of the Swift's cockpit, through the living area, and down the arterial passageway to the storage room he used for training.

************************************************************************

Ada was pleasantly cosy. She was cocooned in a blanket and nestled in a surprisingly comfy high backed chair. As she slowly came to, she realised that must have fallen asleep in the cockpit of the Swift. Ben must have covered her with the blanket to keep her from getting cold.

The soft hum from Swift's engines was so soothing, it was almost impossible for Ada to even contemplate moving. But there was another noise, something above the gentle roar of the ship. A strange, low buzzing sound in the distance.

The Swift's copilot chair squeaked as Ada sat up with a jolt. Her thoughts were muddied with the confusion of sleep. She'd heard that sound before. That night on Bakura. The night the Inquisitor had come. A lightsaber. He couldn't be here. Could he? No.

Ben? It must be Ben.

Throwing the blanket around her shoulders, Ada tiptoed out of the cockpit and through the ship, following the oscillations until she came to the storage room on the main passage.

She pressed her ear against the cold metal, imagining Ben's movements within, blade in hand twirling, rising and falling to that steady, electric thrum and swish. She couldn't say why, but Ada thought it an entirely different sound to that which had emanated from the Inquisitor's weapon. Less abrasive. More melodic.

She pressed the green door chime button and it rang out with a pleasant trilling sound.

“It's open,” came Ben's slightly muffled voice from the other side.

Ada passed her hand over the entry controls and the door hissed open. Ben was standing in the middle of the room, lightsaber in hand, his breathing heightened slightly with exertion. He was wearing a loose long-sleeved black t-shirt. The v at his neck hung low and slightly squint, allowing Ada sight of that strange white scar that trailed down the right side of his face and past his collar bone. It was so faint it was almost non-existent. She wanted to trace her finger tips down it to make sure it was really there.

Around the edges of the room, durasteel crates and containers of different sizes sat at varying heights and angles against the walls, clearly put together as some kind of makeshift obstacle course.

“Are you coming in?” Ben asked, a spark of amusement in his eyes.

He thumbed a switch on the weapon's hilt and the blue blade retracted as Ada entered and the doors swished closed behind her.

“I don't want to interrupt, I was just …. curious.”

“I was just finishing up anyway.”

“Oh,” Ada tried to hide her disappointment.

It felt childish, but Ada had wanted to see. As a kid, she'd loved listening to her grandfather's stories of Jedi Knights, their daring exploits and their skill with their legendary blades. He'd been a boy during the very last days of the Republic. Before the scourge of the Empire. His mother had once taken him on a visit to see family on the vast city planet of Coruscant. He'd begged her to take him to see the Jedi Temple, and Ada remembered how reverently her Grandpa used to speak of his memories of standing outside the sacred, gargantuan building watching the mighty Jedi sweep past in their robes on important business, lightsabers clinking at their hips.

But apart from the Inquisitor's dual bladed nightmare, Ada had never seen a lightsaber. Not one carried by a Jedi at least. Then again, Ben had insisted that he wasn't a Jedi...

Ben secured his lightsabre to his belt, then went over to a small trunk in the far corner of the room. He took out two wooden training sabers and tossed one to Ada. She caught it easily and grinned at Ben, throwing her cloak of a blanket off and into a corner of the room with a dramatic flourish.

Ada's grandfather had fought in the Rebel Alliance against the Empire at the very height of its dominion. Inspired by his boyhood obsession with the Jedi, Grandpa had substituted a vibroblade for lack of a lightsaber in ground combat, rather than use a blaster. Whenever he visited, Ada begged him to give her lessons although she was only little and he was very old.

She tried to remember the basic stance Grandpa had taught her. Left foot forward, right foot back, weight distributed evenly. She held the grip with both hands, right above the left, and raised the hilt of the weapon to shoulder height.

“Perfect, just widen your grip a little.” Ben placed his own weapon on the floor and moved close behind Ada.

She bit her lip to suppress a gasp as his breath tickled her right ear. He readjusted the position of her hands beneath his own on the hilt of the weapon. In this way, Ben manoeuvred the weapon in Ada's hands so that she got a feeling for a high block, a low block and then a strike. They repeated these movements a few times until Ada had the flow and positioning right.

“Good,” Ben's voice was so low it was almost a whisper.

The single word reverberated through Ada, making her flush as she felt the stirrings of desire deep in the pit of her stomach. There was something intoxicating about his closeness to her. That heady scent of Endor pine wood again, pleasantly mixed with the heat of physical exertion. Their proximity, his chest pressed against her back and his large hands on hers meant that she could feel Ben's heartbeat pulsing through his whole body. It was beating a steady rhythm, but Ada was certain it was slightly elevated. She wondered if he could feel her own heart which was beating so wildly in her chest, she thought it might burst.

Ben disengaged from her, moving away to pick up his weapon and face her. Ada felt a flash of satisfaction to see that he did indeed look a little flustered. He disguised it with a crooked smirk, raising his weapon to strike the first blow.

He moved slowly and deliberately, allowing Ada to parry, parry, then strike. Then Ada moved towards him - strike, strike, parry – the same pattern in reverse.

They repeated this back and fore over and over again. Ada found she was able to pick it up with ease, her training as a child not so forgotten after all. She and Ben gained speed and momentum until they were going so fast and their movements were so ostentatious, so deliberately ridiculous that Ada couldn't help but burst out laughing. Ben joined her, folding at the waist.

He was more animated than Ada had ever seen him. It was the first time she'd seen him really and freely enjoying himself. Ever since they'd met, he'd been a mystery. A reserved but capable man with a mysterious, perhaps dangerous past. The way he'd showed no fear when the pirates had boarded the Swift or in the face of the violence and threats that followed. The way Tallah had described his ferociousness in combat with the Inquisitor. But the obvious truth Ada had learned about Ben was that he was clearly burdened with an overbearing and inescapable sadness.

It lifted Ada's heart to see this side of him. His amber eyes crinkled with mirth, cheeks dimpling as a grin stretched across his face, his long nose crumpling as he laughed.

“Ok, time to improvise,” Ben said, once they finally managed to get a grip of themselves.

Ben raised his training saber and Ada followed suit as they circled one another. Ben's strikes became more unpredictable as he started forcing Ada to block at odd angles. He began to land strikes on Ada's body.

She could tell he was being easy on her, going gentle. Still, she had to admit that he cut an imposing figure even with a training weapon and she was glad she didn't have to fight him for real.

Finally, determined to get back at him for the several stinging blows he'd inflicted on her, Ada used her smaller stature to her advantage. She deftly blocked an overhead attack from her opponent, quickly ducking and twirling under his arms and... Yes! She landed a strike on Ben with a satisfying thwack across his bottom and down the back of his right thigh.

He yelped and then laughed in delight at her success. Ada was almost certain he'd allowed her to land the blow, but she revelled her in her victory none the less, beaming from ear to ear.

“You've done this before,” he chucked, theatrically holding his backside and walking a little circle.

“A little,” she admitted, smirking, “My grandfather taught me some moves. It was a long time ago.”

Ada dropped down to the floor, cross-legged, pleasantly exhausted and satisfied with her little win. Ben sat down opposite her and they relaxed in comfortable silence while they caught their breath.

“So. Theod?” Ada asked, breaking the quiet as she suddenly remembered the brief conversation they'd had in the cockpit before she'd fallen asleep.

Ben nodded, “We're going to see a Wookie.”

“A Wookie?!” Ada exclaimed in delight.

“Yeah, well, this one's not going to be pleased to see me...”

“What? Why?”

Ben fixed her with a look that said she didn't want to know. Ada really, really did want to know, but she saw in Ben's eyes the encroaching shadow of that sadness and turmoil which seemed to simmer, always, within him. She suddenly found she had no desire to press him further. Not right now.

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pryceofwisdom · 2 years

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Blog 10: Final

I had no idea how much work went into getting published in a literary journal. While the task was quite daunting. I learned a lot during my research. Initially, I did not know where to start. Thank goodness for Google! I immediately typed in “popular literary journals accepting submissions.” I also searched “African American literary journals.” I found several literary journals that sparked my interest.

Three platforms in particular stood out to me. They are Moko, Virginia Quarterly Review Online, and The Sun. The Moko is an online literary journal that publishes work about the Caribbean and its diaspora. Its platform is comprised of work from many Caribbean creators. I identify as Caribbean American and I was drawn to the Moko for this reason. After reading the many guidelines, I decided against publishing my short story on their platform because of the decision time. Six to nine months seems unbearable. Also, Moko does not offer any payment for submissions. While money should not be the end all be all it is something that I would like to be an option. Who knows, maybe later down the road, I will publish some of my poetry on their platform.

Next, I look into Virginia Quarterly Review Online. The Virginia Quarterly Review has been around for quite some time and has featured some of the most well renowned authors. Some of those authors are Joyce Carol Oates and Robert Frost. While most people would be further intrigued, I on the other hand am quite the opposite. I do not think this is the right choice for a beginning writer. I was feeling very discouraged. Their response time is similar to Moko, but only 6 months. In the future, when my writing is more refined, I’ll consider submission to their platform.

Finally, I take a look at The Sun. The Sun submission guideline page made me feel most comfortable. It wasn’t a lengthy page with several bullets detailing the many restrictions in submission. It wasn’t overwhelming at all. It encourages writers to “surprise us; we often don’t know what we’ll like until we read it.” It gives writers the feeling that they don’t have to live up to this rigid construct of writing. Writers should be able to be themselves. The Sun doesn’t accept submissions over 7,000 words so there’s no need to add too much more to my current draft. The Sun offers $300 - $2000 for fiction submissions which is more than admirable. In order to submit a story, you must have an account. I recently found out that I already had one. I’m not sure when this happened, but one less step for me.

Thankfully, The Sun doesn’t require writers to submit a bio. When tasked with a bio I never know what to say. When I was still considering other platforms, I researched sample author bios. Many of the bios include achievements, awards, and previous or upcoming publications. However, I don’t have any relevant awards or previous publications. I combed through a few more samples, until I found a bio that resonated with me. This bio, unlike the others, featured the author’s educational background, her interests, and what inspired her to write her debut novel. When I am ready to submit to another platform, I will be certain to follow this model.

The last thing to be considered is a cover letter which The Sun requires. A cover letter for a submission is similar to a cover letter for a job. Tell them why you they should select your piece and what makes you qualified.

Aside from submission guidelines, I will be working on my short story according to the feedback provided to me. My hope is to submit by the end of June or earlier. This process has been humbling as beginning writer. I have learned many things along the way that I will continue to use as I hone my writing skills.

Happy Writing!

#final countdown #published

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musicarenagh · 10 months

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Battling Mortality Through Music With Hákon Hjaltalín In this interview, we delve into the musical journey of the young and vibrant artist, Hákon Hjaltalín. Hákon, known for his latest single "Battle with Mortality," is an aspiring multi-talented artist determined to make a positive impact on the world through his music. Drawing inspiration from classic rock and the musical influences of the 60s, Hákon's songwriting takes center stage in his compositions. We learn about Hákon's early introduction to music, starting with his sister teaching him a simple melody on a keyboard at the tender age of four. Growing up in a family with a strong musical background, Hákon's passion for music continued to blossom. Influenced by iconic bands like The Beatles, Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd, he honed his skills in playing various instruments such as the violin, guitar, piano, bass, and drums. Through his creative process, Hákon emphasizes the importance of songwriting and crafting compelling lyrics. His musical style has evolved over time, but he remains determined to push his boundaries further. Instead of focusing on external competition, Hákon sees himself as his main competitor, constantly striving for personal growth. With an album titled "Shadows" on the horizon, Hákon Hjaltalín embraces the concept of battling mortality through his thought-provoking lyrics. As he continues his musical journey, Hákon's passion and determination promise an exciting future filled with artistic collaborations and further exploration of his craft. As we conclude the interview, Hákon shares his aspirations for the future, including extensive practice, band rehearsals, and gaining a broader musical knowledge. He also expresses the desire for recognition and sustainable income within the music industry, as well as more constructive feedback for aspiring artists. Listen to Battle With Mortality below Follow Hákon Hjaltalín on Facebook Twitter Spotify Soundcloud Bandcamp Youtube Instagram What is your stage name? Hákon Hjaltalín Is there a story behind your stage name? I got it when I was born :) It's an Icelandic name which might be hard to pronounce for non-Icelandic people, but I chose my own name rather than coming up with another one, though things might change in the future. Where do you find inspiration? I tend to enjoy older music, I grew accustomed to it through my childhood and in many cases I find it more interesting musically. Some of the 60's influences are very audible in my music, but I've contemplated developing a more unique sound for the future. What was the role of music in the early years of your life? My first memory of playing music must have been around age 4, my sister, who is 6 years older, taught me a very simple version of Ode to Joy on a small keyboard she used, and somehow I could pick up very simple melodies by ear. Soon after I started playing the violin with a teacher. Are you from a musical or artistic family? Music and art is prominent on my mother's side. Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry? The interest has grown throughout my entire life, since I started learning music from a teacher very young. How did you learn to sing/write/to play? Aside from the instruments I learned as a child (violin and guitar), I've been able to pick up the other instruments that I play in my music (piano, bass, drums) on my own, and writing is also something I had to experiment with, I've listened to The Beatles for a long time and they knew songwriting, so they taught me as well in a way. Singing did not come naturally to me, but I've worked with a teacher during some time and improved at my own speed. [caption id="attachment_50575" align="alignnone" width="1333"] Singing did not come naturally to me[/caption] What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform? It must have been a show in the town I grew up in, a small town in Iceland. I don't remember for sure who it was, but I doubt they were known far outside of Iceland.

How could you describe your music? Songwriting-focused. I think the strongest factor in the music I've recorded so far is the writing of the song and lyrics. Describe your creative process. Usually the chords/melodies come first. I might think of some chord progressions in my head or on the piano maybe, and when I think of something clever, for me it's a matter of finding a following melody or chord progression that makes sense in the context. I write the lyrics on top of that in the majority of cases, and one part of that is making the flow fit to the song melody properly. What is your main inspiration? Up until now, my inspiration has been limited to a fairly small number of bands from the 60's-70's such as The Beatles, Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and such bands. I'm working to expand my musical knowledge including listening to a bigger variety of music. What musician do you admire most and why? The Beatles have always had a place for me, their playing was fairly simple but their composing and songwriting skills were groundbreaking. The main pioneer of it all I think is Chuck Berry, his work was most revolutionary. Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career? Somewhat, but I'd like to evolve it further. Who do you see as your main competitor? Myself I'd say. Getting better at something means getting more advanced than you were before, and I try to compare my progress to myself only. What are your interests outside of music? I'm interested in programming, science, math and physics specifically. I also self-study business and finance. If it wasn't a music career, what would you be doing? I work part-time as a programmer for a government institution which is a demanding job and needs active study. Having programmed since I was a child I'd probably do that aside from music. What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music? Temporarily losing interest to some degree. When you stop practicing you lose the abilities you've been honing for all this time. https://open.spotify.com/artist/0V1YJohm23yGt198cwV8LZ If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be? Recognition and sustainable income. There is also a lot of competition, and detailed feedback on what must be improved is valuable, rather than rejecting someone without further explanation. Why did you choose this as the title of this project? Battle with Mortality speaks for itself in the lyrics. The album title, Shadows, is a diverse concept that appears in the lyrics in some songs on the album. What are your plans for the coming months? Practicing a lot, planning and organizing band practice, and learning about music and the industry. Do you have any artistic collaboration plans? I will be performing live following the album release in a 5-person band, and we have been discussing further creative collaboration under a band name.

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lncrkv · 1 year

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Looking Through Dr. Arlene's Craft of Creative Teaching

If there is someone from my high school years to which I’m most thankful, that would be Dr. Arlene Paralejas, my former school paper adviser for our publication, The Isotopes. I remembered how I struggled to find my starting ground back then to lead to further growth in various aspects. As a campus journalist, I greatly owe Ma’am Para, or simply Madam, as we fondly call her, for guiding me in forming my voice, principles, values, and the courses of action I want to take in life. She witnessed my journey from being a laggard News Writer who worked his way to becoming the Editor-in-Chief during the pandemic. Through it all, I can say a passionate, creative professional previously honed my creativity in the person of Ma’am Para. Being creative, in her perspective, is one’s ability to think differently and beyond what is usually expected.

Ma'am Para and I in an award ceremony in 2019.

“[Creativity] is both a skill and challenge present in all professions — since this unleashes one’s talent to make innovations,” she told me in an interview. Marking her 20th year as an educator, Ma’am Para shared how her creativity has been naturally integrated into her life, especially when she needs to come up with quick solutions and proposals. Her office (and our former Journ Room) in my high school, Rizal National Science High School, and her residence in Binangonan were her spaces for creativity. The lesson plans and activities she works on every week, the outputs of her students that she needs to provide feedback on, the tasks she needs to complete outside her teaching load, and other things are all done in her dedicated places. “As I have also conducted studies and was assigned to spearhead school and district-wide programs, creativity has been vital in presenting my proposed solutions and interventions in my action research and key indicators and strategies for implementing programs,” she added.

A teaching career might seem grueling initially, especially with how overworked and underpaid our teachers are. But for Madam, the spark for creative thinking throughout her two decades has kept her in love with teaching. “The art of teaching, as a work of heart, requires passion, dedication, and creativity for one to appreciate it fully,” she said.

“A teacher must never lose their spark to think differently and creatively and not become stagnant.”

Her secret, perhaps, in maintaining her spark through these years? It's simply drawing doodles or writing notes in her journal after waking up every morning to already switch her brain on.

Maam Para’s creative passion for her profession has paid off in the previous years. In 2021, she was awarded the Most Outstanding Secondary School Teacher in Rizal by the Guronasyon Foundation for her efforts to uphold the quality of education in the province. In the DepEd Sub-office in Binangonan, she has been recently awarded as Outstanding Master Teacher. She is currently nominated for the DepEd Rizal Gawad Kampilan 2022 Awards for the Outstanding Researcher category. Seeking to impart her knowledge and expertise in campus journalism to future students, Ma’am Para also launched her book CAMPUS Journalism: A New Era, a relevant guide in the current disinformation plague, last June.

Ma'am Para's award from Guronasyon Foundation Inc.

With the accolades and recognitions she received, Ma’am Para doesn’t fail to acknowledge that these would not have come to fruition without her fellow teachers and students. Feedback from her faculty peers and school officials has greatly helped in becoming a better educator through her teaching methods and initiatives.

“We all have our own way of looking at things. When my viewpoint is combined with the perspectives of others, I’m enabled to come up with better outputs on my tasks."

Looking back to her moments with her students through the years, the bond and connections she formed as a mother to her anaks in The Isotopes (including me) were the most significant examples of empathy she has shown. I recall that she even welcomed us to her home and treated us as part of her family when we were working on our school paper. “I would always look back to those days as good times I had as a mentor, where I also had the opportunity to feel like I was a student because of empathizing and being with all of my anaks which helped me later on in grounding myself and when I need to imagine how might my students think or respond,” she shared.

Some of our moments while participating in campus press conferences.

Indeed, Ma’am Para has exemplified what it means to become a creative professional in education. Describing creativity as her “creative companion,” she flourished in her chosen career as she remained steadfast with her time, dedication, and perseverance despite her struggles and challenges. A valuable insight from my Madam is how holding on to your creative spark would go a long way in your career. When our work and environments in the future might seem to be the same, the spark unlocks more surprises of appreciating and falling in love with our chosen field again and again. Creativity, after all, directs us to new things in our fields. According to Ma’am Para, this invaluable skill kept her seeking answers and solutions.

“Teachers are creators, after all. They ingeniously create new ways to impart knowledge and values to their students. I hope future teachers will see and appreciate teaching that way.”

#comm111 #creativeprofessional #campusjournalism

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josephblakesmithar · 1 year

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5 Tips To Improve Your Cooking Skills

Interested in improving your cooking skills? These cooking tips may help you by Joseph Blake Smith AR.

1. Start With A Positive Attitude And Set Goals

Being optimistic about your learning and improvement mindset is the most important attitude you must practice to ensure success in whatever endeavor you choose to pursue.

Do I want to improve my cooking skills? If yes, think about why you want to improve your skills. These reasons become your goals. Write them down and imagine how you can achieve them. This allows you to focus on what you have to do.

2. Spend Time Understanding Cooking Terms And Learning Basic Techniques

It is a prerequisite to learning the basics of cooking. If you want to improve, you need to understand at least some of the terms used in recipes and cookbooks and be able to use basic cooking techniques. If you want to learn how to bake a cake, at least try a simple bake. My previous posts on the definitions of cooking verbs are good for understanding common terms used in recipes and cookbooks. It’s the place.

3. Choose the freshest ingredients

Various ingredients are needed to cook. The quality of the materials you use determines your success or failure. This may sound like a metaphor, but you should know that the success of any dish depends largely on the ingredients you use. You cannot cook seafood dishes. The best way to ensure fresh ingredients is to get them on the day you need them.

If you don’t have time to go to the market every day, you can also refrigerate them as long as you consume them within the next 24 hours. I can do it. If you’re used to freezing meat and seafood, use freezer bags to preserve freshness and avoid burns. Of course, fresh food is better than frozen food.

4. Investment In Cookware And Kitchen Appliances

This is one of the most neglected areas. Many of us may think that a frying pan, a spatula, and a knife are enough to get things started. If you’re serious about honing your skills, you should consider getting extra cooking supplies and kitchen appliances to help you further and make your cooking experience as easy as possible. serves a specific purpose.

Frying pans are used for frying and saucepans are used for preparing stews and soups. The chef’s knife is used for slicing and the paring knife is used for peeling and carving. If budget is an issue, try pans instead of pots and pans. A frying pan can sear meat beautifully. It can also be used to prepare roasts and casseroles. When he’s not filming cooking videos, he uses his favorite cast iron skillet for quick cooking.

As for knives, a set of kitchen knives would be great to make the job of cutting and slicing quicker and easier. If the set is too expensive, we recommend having at least one chef’s knife, one paring knife, and one fillet knife. Some stores carry a limited range of kitchen appliances and tools. I usually buy my kitchen

5. Know The Characteristics Of each Ingredient You use

It is important to know the properties and characteristics of ingredients. If you know how your ingredients will behave or react when you cook them, you can plan and determine the order or steps to prepare your food. Take squid for example. We all know that the main ingredient in calamari (calamari) is squid.

Squid has a rubbery consistency, so don’t cook it for too long. Knowing this, I try to limit the frying time to get the optimum texture of the squid. This also applies to vegetables.

Let’s say you need to make vegetable soup with potatoes and spinach. Put the potatoes in before the spinach because it takes longer for the potatoes to cook. If you put the spinach before the potatoes, the spinach will be overcooked and tasteless.

6. Don’t Be Afraid Of Mess, Clean Up

It is normal for beginners to use utensils when handling ingredients and plates. Joseph Blake Smith AR guides, This is perfectly fine (and recommended for hygiene reasons), but it’s fine to use your hands if you wash them first (of course, using tools is highly recommended). ). Don’t be tired of using your hands when marinating and serving.

Also, sometimes it is inevitable that there will be a mess while cooking in the kitchen, and that is normal. Don’t worry if your kitchen is messy. Cleaning is part of cooking. Make it a habit to clean up after you finish cooking. Always remember that a clean kitchen is a healthy kitchen.

#josephblake smith ar #blake smith ar #j blake smith #blake smith arkansas

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fadingsublimenut · 2 years

Text

Why Choose IELTS Coaching in Bangalore?

What IELTS Exam?

IELTS means International English Language Test. This exam's major goal is to assist you in working, studying, or migrating to a nation where English is the native language. Assume you're planning a trip to one of these countries, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States. The IELTS exam is a must-take for you.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF IELTS EXAMS

IELTS Academic is for students seeking further education, whereas IELTS General Training is for professionals and anybody seeking to relocate for whatever reason.

The Speaking Module for The IELTS Exam Consists of Three Parts

1. Part 1: You'll have a 4–5-minute conversation with an IELTS examiner about your profession, family, hobbies, and other interests.

2. Part 2: You'll be given a topic and a cue card to work with. Before a one-minute presentation on the topic, you will have one minute to take notes.

3. Part 3: the examiner asks you a few questions about the topic from part 2 in this session, usually to elucidate it further. It normally takes 3-4 minutes to complete this phase.

Here Are a Few Tips That Will Help You Maximize Your Score on The IELTS Speaking Test

·Don't try to jam too much information into your first response. You may feel compelled to reveal more because it concerns your personal life but refuses. You'll have plenty of room to talk, later on, thanks to examples and proper progress.

·When giving your responses, practice using a lot of verbs and adjectives. In basic sentences, being grammatically correct isn't enough.

·Your performance will be judged on how well you apply your skills to a variety of detailed and difficult sentences.

·If you must utilize the question, do not use the question's precise wordings in your response. It has to be redone.

·Avoid employing complicated or huge terminology in order to impress the examiner. There's a chance you'll make a grammatical or usage mistake.

·Your accent is the last thing you should be concerned about. The examiner is well-versed in a variety of accents. As long as the other things are correct, don't worry about your accent.

IELTS ACADEMIC

Undergraduate and postgraduate students seeking admission to international universities as well as professional registration need to take this test. This test will evaluate if you are ready to start studying or training in an English-speaking environment.

Exam Pattern

IELTS evaluates your abilities to read, write, listen to, and speak English. IELTS is broken up into two sections: Academic and General Training.

IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TEST

This exam is for professionals and migrants who desire to live in an English-speaking country permanently. The goal of the exam is to see how at ease the candidates are in real-life situations involving English. If you want to improve your chances of settling in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia, you'll need a high score.

HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY IELTS SCORE?

The majority of students have more than three months to learn about the IELTS exam and prepare for it, yet many just put in a small amount of effort at the start. The exam arises out of nowhere, and they appear all of a sudden! I'm at a crossroads in my life where I'm both perplexed and unprepared. Allowing this to happen to you is not a smart decision. So, what are your alternatives?

·First and foremost, during the time coming up to the exam, you should avoid undertaking any non-essential duties.

·These time-wasters waste a significant amount of time that may be better spent honing your skills and reaching the intended outcome.

·This may sound harsh, but if you want to achieve a really high score, you must put in a lot of effort. It doesn't matter how brilliant you are or how naturally correct you are at studying English; if you put in the effort, you will achieve your goals.

·Make yourself a to-do list. These should be unique and practical, such as a study approach for the second portion of the speaking test, daily podcast listening, daily reading of four English newspaper articles, daily practice test, and so on

Exam Duration

· Reading will be of 60 minutes

· Writing will be of 60 minutes

·Listening will be for 30 minutes

·Speaking will be of 11-20 minutes

Students and teachers alike believe that in order to receive a band-9 (the highest possible score on the exam), one must be a native speaker. It is, however, nothing more than a legend. This exam can be passed by anyone, whether a natural speaker or a non-native speaker. Getting good grades is a result of an individual's efforts. You are more likely to receive outstanding grades if you work hard on the appropriate path.

Another IELTS illusion is that asking your examiner to redo the speaking section may lower your overall score. It is, however, an incorrect statement. In the speaking section, asking for the question to be repeated will not influence your score in any way.

Last but not least, using advanced vocabulary and complicated words will help you score well in the writing section. It's just one of those sayings, once again. The writing section assesses your ability to write in English with correctness. It makes no difference whether you use formal or informal language. It's how you write and structure your sentences that counts.

IELTS Preparation and IELTS Coaching in Bangalore?

A Culture that Encourages Candidate Development and Education

Some of the greatest IELTS coaching in Bangalore not only helps students progress but also helps them stand out from the crowd.

In Bangalore, there are now 218 IELTS Tutors and 56 Institutes accessible. Almost every tutor has accomplished something in their lives that serves as a testament to their positions.

IELTS Coaching in Bangalore has around 2 lakhs+ students preparing for the IELTS exam on an annual basis. Furthermore, when it comes to IELTS Coaching in Bangalore, a student's daily life in Bangalore is pretty manageable. Because it is a student-oriented crowd, students can become involved socially.

Top 4 Benefits of Preparing for IELTS Exam in Bangalore

•A more positive student culture.

•The opportunity to interact with a variety of native speakers.

•Education of high quality.

•It has a better environment than any other major metropolis

How do you pick the best IELTS tutor in Bangalore?

Choosing the proper kind of Coaching for your IELTS exam preparation in Bangalore has always been a difficult undertaking after you've decided to take the exam. There are several criteria by which you can evaluate the finest IELTS Coaching in Bangalore. One ranking technique is also offered here to rate IELTS Coaching in Bangalore based on several variables in order to obtain a general idea of which IELTS Coaching in Bangalore is the best and which is the worst.

Tips for choosing the best IELTS coaching in Bangalore?

•Before making a decision, go to more than one institute.

•If at all possible, attend a demo class.

•Examine each of the factors mentioned above.

•Do your homework – both online and offline

•Speak with Alumni

•Don't just look for well-known names; do a thorough evaluation.

•When choosing an academy, it should be beneficial to you.

Common Mistakes in IELTS Reading

•Do not try to read each and every word.

•Carefully read the question

•Giving Two Responses

•Don't Base Your Decisions on Assumptions

•Don't Read the Entire Passage If You Can't Find an Answer

•Time Management

•Failure to strictly adhere to the directions. As an example,

•Correct Spelling Is Important

•Grammar is number nine.

•You Shouldn't Answer T/F/NG Questions With Y/N/NG

According to my research, the majority of people have made these errors, therefore rather than repeating them and wasting your time, I recommend speakengIndia for the best IELTS coaching in Bangalore.

To conclude, proper coaching from a knowledgeable teacher is essential. In order to acquire a decent IELTS result. Join SpeakengIndia for excellent IELTS guidance and a high exam score. Because They have experienced and carefully selected trainers on board, Also they can promise you the best-in-class study resources and test assistance.

I hope the Details which I have given to you regarding IELTS coaching are useful.

#ielts #ielts institute #ieltslistening #ieltscoaching #ielts test

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 3 years

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Hi! If it’s not too late to ask, could I please request Vil, Jamil, and Cater with an s/o who is super talented at writing, but has no confidence in their stories because a relative destroyed their self-confidence? Btw, I love your blog! You’re my favourite TWST writer😊

***Mild spoilers for every character’s backstory!***

Curiouser and Curiouser...

As one who is constantly in the public eye, Vil knows that support (or lack thereof) can really impact morale and motivation. While his father has supported his involvement in the entertainment industry, Vil has gotten his fair share of negativity and hate, simply due to the reach of his stardom, so he knows firsthand it doesn’t feel good.

His best advice to you? “Enjoy yourself, and what you do. You won’t be able to please everyone--that’s simply a fact of life--but fixate on the naysayers, and you will no longer be able to find joy. There are many others who will appreciate and applaud your work, if only you would give them a chance.” Vil smiles, patting you encouragingly. “Come now, pen in hand, and best face forward.”

Vil has learned to grow thick skin and to not let ugly words get to him, but he knows this may not come as naturally to others, such as yourself. Just as one nasty comment alone doesn’t immediately breed low self-esteem, Vil is aware that one nicety won’t automatically “fix” you. A slow and steady diet of support is what you need to get back on your feet again, and Vil’s there to provide that for you.

He’s of the mindset that constant flattery holds little merit and breeds dependency rather than confidence. Because of this, Vil won’t blindly praise or compliment everything you make. You may be a talented writer, but to Vil, there’s always room for improvement, and you should never be satisfied with stagnation.

His eye for detail comes in handy when pointing out plot holes and continuity errors--but no matter what he catches, Vil remains kind and constrictive with his criticism. He aims to help you improve, not tear you down as your relative has.

When you’re stuck on writing certain parts, Vil reads your draft out loud to help you gauge the flow of the story. He makes for a great narrator, and his acting abilities really bring your characters’ dialogue come to life. It’s as though Vil is putting on a private performance, acting his heart out just for you.

You and Jamil are birds of a feather. He, too, was discouraged from showing off his abilities--and by his own parents, no less! He still feels quite resentful about that facet of his childhood, and that bitterness makes itself well known when he learns of your circumstances.

“Restraining talent, purposefully holding back... It’s a scenario I’m familiar with. If there is anything I have learned from it, it is that you must continue to hone that talent in spite of what others may say,” he advises. “And if scorn or ridicule should come your way, then do as I have and relegate your skill to the shadows. Keep it, guard it, polish it... like a fine jewel, and allow only your closest confidants near.”

Jamil encourages you to channel your frustration into your craft. According to him, you may as well put that energy to some use rather than sit on it and sulk. Let spite fuel you, he whispers--a snake’s forked tongue in your ear. Make a masterpiece. Prove them all wrong.

When he knows you’re planning to sit down and write, Jamil ensures the environment is a quiet and peaceful one for you. He lights incense to bring a pleasant aroma to the room (or, if it gives you a headache, opens the window to let fresh air in), and provides a small plate of fruit (speared on toothpicks) for a healthy and non-messy snack to keep your energy up.

With time, Jamil ends up being your proofreader and editor. As Kalim’s caretaker and party planner, Jamil is very pragmatic when it comes to details. He’ll let you know certain points are unrealistic or require further research to more accurately portray--in fact, he’ll accompany you to the library and help you look up reference materials!

He snidely jokes that now he’s finally able to demonstrate his abilities--and how fitting, he’s lending his power to help you, someone in a similar situation as him. Jamil doesn’t even see these tasks as work. Instead, they’re oddly liberating bonding experiences for the two of you.

Cater’s been on Magicam long enough to know about the toxicity and bullying that sometimes takes place online. From that alone, Cater can only imagine what it must be like to walk in your shoes--it can really harm someone mentally, especially when it’s coming from family!

“It’s best to not pay too much attention to that kind of stuff, (Y/N)-chan!” Cater reassures you with a sunny smile. “It’ll really bum you out and weigh you down. Let’s try to get your mind off of that and thinking happy thoughts again~ Just leave it to Cay-kun to make it all better, okay?”

He’ll do what he can to help inspire you and get your creative juices flowing! (Look at this moodboard he put together--doesn’t it just speak to your soul? And check out this cafe with the cute ambiance! You two should definitely go together and experience it for yourselves~)

To help you slowly rediscover your confidence, Cater decides to start off small and work your way to bigger pieces! He’ll give you random one word prompts and tell you to try writing something inspired by it. The twist? You’re only allowed a small number of characters or letters maximum for it--just long enough for a social media post. Next, Cater might send you a string of emojis and ask for a few posts’ worth of words, then maybe a photo with the challenge to write a short story inspired by that image...

Of course, he always eagerly reads your work each and every time you’ve completed one. His comments may not be super in depth or analytical, but he can tell you’ve put your heart into everything you write, no matter the length or the inspiration, and Cater cheerily praises you for your efforts.

It’s difficult to get his façade to crumble, but there’s a few times when he genuinely comes close to tearing up from reading your works. The way you convey emotions in writing--whether with a few words or with many words--strikes a cord with him. As you gradually open up again to the world of writing, so, too, does Cater gradually open up about his own dark feelings that he so readily stashes away. You share your stories, and Cater shares his emotions--equal parts give and take.

#twst x reader #Jamil Viper x Reader #Jamil Viper #Vil Schoenheit #Vil Schoenheit x Reader #twisted wonderland headcanons #twisted wonderland #twst #Cater Diamond #Cater Diamond x Reader #Reader #self insert #curiouser and curiouser #spoilers

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