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Daily Writing Challenge August 2023 Day 3
Ominous / Possibility ( @daily-writing-challenge @serararku )
World: Final Fantasy 14
Theme: Runahild - Urseid
The air was calm. The land was still.
S’era gazed upon the sword with the sun setting in the horizon behind it in silence. It was another day for rest, another day to gather herself. Yet S’era’s heart could not be tamed. Fury still coursed through her veins. Hatred gripped her heart like an accursed hand. Her tribe rejoiced in the complete annihilation of the shelled men, the Garleans, but there was no joy for her. Thanalan’s thirst for blood had been quenched, but not hers. Her beloved S’tage was still dead, the ones responsible for that have passed beyond the veil as well– she made sure of that. Yet her heart still yearned for revenge, her soul still ached for justice. With the shelled men all dead or gone, could she ever truly know peace? For years she’s devoted her life to their destruction, and despite drenching the land in their vile blood, she found no peace from her torment.
Perhaps she was broken. Perhaps Azeyma Herself was punishing her for going against the decree of her tribe’s former matron. She was not of the warrior caste yet she bore their scars and spilled blood in their name all the same. Would the Goddess really rebuke her for such acts? She never had a more loyal servant, truly?
S’era closed her eyes and listened to the distant celebrations far below. Eventually she would have to join them, lest they go searching for her and discover this grave. A brave face is what she needed– soon– but not now. Now she struggled with her inner demons, and for the first time in her life since taking up the sword she no longer had a clear goal to pursue. The shelled men have been driven from their castrums, their homelands burned, their people scattered. No longer would their children hide in fear of their golems of steel and flame! No longer would their black helmets haunt their dreams! Today should be a day to celebrate, should it not? The great enemy of the Miqo’te has been brought low by Azeyma’s chosen people, never to return and taint the badlands of Thanalan ever again. Surely this should make her happy.
But it didn’t. S’era was cursed to know no peace from this hatred until she was capable of letting it go. IF she was capable of letting it go, that is. For now she would have to find more enemies of her tribe to slaughter… or perhaps this maddening hatred would leave her once she did what she was destined to do– settle down and help bring more children into the world. Her Nunh, S’vahli, was not a terrible ruler by any means… she could provide him with fierce daughters, surely. However the thought of that only seemed to make her angry. Thinking made her angry. Kneeling here made her angry.
Perhaps it was time to return to the others and revel with her family.
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3 aaaand 39
3. What is/was your character’s relationship with their father like?
“Complicated.”
(Osric is actually a bastard. His mother’s husband never bothered to hide his disdain of Osric - or the fact that the expectations for Osric were very different from those placed on his sister. Part of the reason why Osric was...pushed into the military after his mother and her husband died was to maintain the facade of the ‘perfect family’ while allowing his sister - Edalene - to inherit what had been left. Osric couldn’t run anything if he was dead.)
39. Has your character ever been bitten by an animal? How were they affected (or unaffected)?
He has not - surprisingly. He was almost bit by a dragon or two - but that was kind of part of the job.
Thanks @ijirothehero!
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03: Do you regret anything?
“Not leaving my tribe sooner than I did. There are a few women I should have said no to. Um, I have mixed feelings about Era’s trip back to her tribe. I know she needed to do it, but...it’s been difficult.”
Thanks @ijirothehero !
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Meeting The Confessor
► Name ➔ “Kaevia Sun’rael”
► Are you single ➔ “That depends on who you ask, of course. But since you’re asking me? No.”
► Are you happy ➔ “Yes. I seem to be in a better place than I was a few years ago. Experience is a wonderful teacher.”
► Are you angry? ➔ “No. Disappointed? Possibly.”
► Are your parents still married ➔ “Til death do they part.”
NINE FACTS
► Birth Place ➔ “Suncrown Village.”
► Hair Color ➔ “Black.”
► Eye Color ➔ “Yellow.”
► Birthday ➔ “January 29th.”
► Mood ➔ “Crestfallen”
► Gender ➔ “Female.”
► Summer or winter ➔ “Winter.”
► Morning or afternoon ➔ “Morning.”
EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE
► Are you in love ➔ “I suppose that is what you might call it.”
► Do you believe in love at first sight ➔ “No.”
► Who ended your last relationship ➔ “I did. It was the best decision for me and my family.”
► Have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔ “Perhaps, it’s not my problem even if I did.”
► Are you afraid of commitments ➔ “Perhaps a little.”
► Have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ “No.”
► Have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ “A couple here and there but they pass like the shifting of the days.”
► Have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ “No.”
SIX CHOICES
► Love or lust ➔ “Love.”
► Cats or Dogs ➔ “Cats.”
► A few best friends or many regular friends ➔ “A couple of friends. I don’t trust people enough to have someone any closer than that.”
► Wild night out or romantic night in ➔ “Romantic night in I suppose”
► Day or night ➔ “Night.”
FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS
► Been caught sneaking out ➔ “No.”
► Fallen down/up the stairs ➔ “No”
► Wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ “No.”
► Wanted to disappear ➔ “Yes and when I want to, I do.”
FOUR PREFERENCES
► Smile or eyes ➔ “Eyes, they tell several truths while the mouth lies.”
► Shorter or Taller ➔ “Taller.”
► Intelligence or Attraction ➔ “Intelligence.”
► Hook-up or Relationship ➔ “Depends on the moment.”
FAMILY
► Do you and your family get along ➔ “We all get along quite well for the most part but we have our problems as any other too.”
► Would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ “No.”
► Have you ever ran away from home ➔ “No.”
► Have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ “No.”
FRIENDS
► Do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ “No.”
► Do you consider all of your friends good friends ➔ “That depends on them, for now, yes.”
► Who is your best friend ➔ “I don’t have one and the reasons were stipulated earlier.”
► Who knows everything about you ➔ “No one.”
Tagged by: @dae-shadowvale and @autumnblade-sorrows ty ladies! <3
Tagging: @whitstanwilhelm and @ijirothehero who usually don’t do things like this and anyone else wishing to partake who hasn’t done so yet. =)
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42. Is there anything in your character’s past that they regret, haunts them, or they wish they could change? 44. Is there a particular event that would emotionally devastate your character? 47. Is your character outgoing? Would they be the leader of the friend group, or the quiet one that gets dragged along?
42. Pyraelia is currently very haunted by the knowledge that her elder sister sold their father’s soul (effectively killing him) to a demon to temporarily cease the effects of Pyra’s chronic illness and save her life. She’s alive right now, but the cost was, in her mind, too high.
44. The confrontation with her sister after finding out about the above emotionally devastated her pretty good; she hasn’t been “herself” again since and has had to assume all the duties and titles left to her after her sister’s “death” at the same time. It’s been very draining and personally compromising, but she can’t appear to be weak.
47. Pyraelia’s very outgoing! I’m not sure if she’d be the “leader” but she would definitely enthusiastically agree with and participate in most friend-group activities and suggestions.
Thank you @ijirothehero!
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Daily Writing Challenge August 2023 Day 5
Wanderlust / Violation ( @daily-writing-challenge @kthalentia )
World: Final Fantasy 14
Warning: Blood, Violence, Sexual Themes
Theme: Berserk - Murder
The Black Shroud was unusually quiet. Normally the singing of birds overhead could be heard in the canopy, or the warning calls of opo-opos alerting their troupe of potential dangers. Yet despite it being midday and along an old beaten path, there were no animals around at all. He couldn’t quite place his finger on this terrible feeling… maybe it was instinct, maybe intuition. The hairs on the back of his neck were stiff, and his tail was bristling; the sooner they left this area and started stumbling across animals again, the better. K'thalen stopped so abruptly the humming girl trotting behind him bumped into his back with a thud. “Oof…! What’s the big idea?” Coroh grumbled, rubbing her nose as she stepped to his side. Her grimace dropped once she saw the piercing glare on his face. It wasn't until she followed his frozen gaze did her heart stop and her stomach drop.
Two merchant wagons were overturned and destroyed, with one of them burning and all the chocobos dead and butchered. There were hyur and elezen bodies everywhere--at least a dozen people, some older than K’thalen, with a few even younger than Coroh. None of these poor souls died well either, with one woman in particular that looked like she dragged half of her body across the grass trying to reach someone else. K'thalen hadn't seen such merciless brutality in decades; and with a gentle pull of his hand, he guided Coroh back behind him, hoping this memory wouldn't forever mar her psyche forever. "What happened here…?" She asked with a raspy whisper, seemingly unable to catch her breath after witnessing such a gruesome spectacle. K’thalen didn't answer– instead he slowly began to back away, holding onto her shoulder to stop her from looking.
His heart sank when a wagon popped open, and out stepped a man covered in blood, still adjusting the belt on his pants; inside the overturned cabin was a naked woman recently slain--and by the contorted rage still lingering on her swollen face and the terror in her blackened eyes, she too did not go down without a fight. "What do we have here?" The man asked, spitting into the grass as he took a step closer. He pushed two fingers into his mouth and let loose a sharp and wet whistle, causing several others to emerge from the nearby shadows.
"Just travelers passing by." Was all K’thalen said, keeping his eyes locked onto the man while his ears turned independently of each other to keep track of his buddies; they were surrounded, and the last thing he wanted was something terrible and irreversible to happen to the girl.
"Travelers…" The man repeated, wiping the blood from his face with a filthy rag retrieved from his pocket. "You're a long way from town."
"He's armed." A Roegadyn warned, tightening his grip on a huge battleaxe that was still dripping with blood.
"It ain't loaded." Shrugged the man. "They rarely are. And even if it was, well… doubt he has enough." He smacked his lips as he leaned over to the side, catching a glimpse of Coroh. "You shouldn't be here, girly. This is no place for angels."
"She’s so beautiful…" Called out another, this one from his left. "Look how soft and fluffy that tail is…" A shiver ran up her spine as she clung to K'thalen, almost pushed up against his side like she was desperate for warmth. He could feel her trembling, but he said nothing– his mind was racing for a way out of this precarious situation.
"From where I'm standing you have two options." The man adjusted his pants while he stared down K'thalen with malice in his bloodshot eyes. "You keep walking and live… and we take her. Or you fight back and die… and we take her." They reeked of death, of lust, and of filth. The Woodsin permeated off their skin like a foul musk, threatening to choke the two Miqo'te caught in the middle of this nightmare. "So? What will it be?"
"One Hyur with a sword, two Roegadyn, one with an axe, the other unarmed. One crossbow wielding Viera, and whatever is behind us." K’thalen clenched his jaw with a hundred different possibilities; his heart slammed against his chest and he couldn't hide his fear for much longer– all he could think about was what they were planning to do with the girl. "Coroh." His voice was barely a whisper but it startled her all the same. "Soon as I move… run. As hard n'as fast as ya can." One of his ears turned behind them, hearing the faint crunching of the grass as the bandit crept closer.
“Last chance!” The man spat, wrapping his fingers around the hilt of his sword. “What’s it gonna-”
K’thalen shot his hand up, grabbed the butt of his rifle, and in one fluid motion he whipped around to face the biggest threat; the enemy Elezen had just enough time to drop the knife in his grasp and gawk at the end of the barrel! BLAM! In an instant his blue eyes and the top half of his head disappeared in a bright flash and turned into jellied paste! K’thalen didn't hesitate– he turned back and went after the next biggest threat! BLAM! The Roegadyn dropped his axe and crumbled to the floor, with a ceruleum slug entering his chest with an ilm-wide hole and leaving his back with a four ilm-wide exit– taking his heart along with it!
"RUUUN!!!" He didn't stop to look down at Coroh, but he heard her panicked breath and the scurry of her feet! A sharp pain burrowed into his shoulder, a stone arrow shot from the Viera pinned his arm to his waist near the elbow! Even amidst his stagger he shot from the hip! BLAM! His shot was off the mark from aiming with one hand, but he still took the archer at the knee and sent him rolling and tumbling down the hill!
"AAAAHHH!!! THALEN HEEEELP!!!" Her ear-piercing shriek pulled him away from the next threat to see the other Roegadyn grabbed her by the tail and yanked her to the ground!
"Come here gorgeous!" He held her down with one giant hand and tightened his fingers along the stitches of her tunic to tear it off! "Just a taste…!" He cackled, high from his lust! "Just a-"
BLAM!
The back of his head split open like a crushed melon, causing the Corpse to collapse on top of the terrified girl! K’thalen turned back just in time to block a thrusting stab from the Hyur with his rifle, but the force still caused him to stagger! Tripping on the Elezen’s corpse, he fell back hard, knocking the wind from his body! The Hyur jumped on top of him, discarding the sword lodged into the rifle in an attempt to clamp his hands around his throat!
They rolled with each other further down the incline, stopping only once they slammed into the overturned wagon– disoriented and still trying to catch his breath, K’thalen was unable to stop the man from climbing back on top of him, this time keeping his arrowed-arm from interfering by planting his knee over it! K’thalen pulled a knife from his waist and thrust upwards, desperately trying to find purchase somewhere in his chest, but he caught it with both hands!
"Aargh!!!" K’thalen roared like a trapped animal, summoning all his strength into his arm to prevent the Hyur from turning his wrist– but it was not enough! "RAAAAAGH!!!"
"Shhhh!" Cooed the man, smiling fiendishly as he overpowered him! Saliva dripped from his lips as he exhaled through his mouth, with two empty green eyes wide with murderous intent glaring down at him! "It’s almost over. It's almost over." The edge of the blade scraped across the iron buckle on his coat in its way to align with his heart, and the Hyur then leaned forward to begin pushing it into his chest! All K’thalen could do was kick and squirm beneath the man in a desperate rage, but he was out of options; his eyes widened with fear and pain as he felt the cold steel piercing his skin, plunging deeper and deeper into him! The man’s grin grew from ear to ear while he watched the panic in his eyes, the one last moment for a dead man!
“HURK!”
In an instant the man was off him, slumping over onto his side after what sounded like bones snapping filled K’thalen’s ears; he let out a painful gasp, instantly pulling the knife out and tossing it away as he laid there in shock. He could hear the sound of metal striking flesh, and he slowly looked over with bloodshot eyes to see Coroh over the Hyur; she raised a dented and bloodied frying pan over her head before bringing it down onto the man’s face, again, and again, and again. The man no longer had much of a face by the time K’thalen had summoned enough strength to roll over onto his stomach and rise to his feet.
“Coroh…” He coughed, rubbing at his chest wound– if it weren’t for Coroh wiggling free of that Roegadyn he shot and grabbing something heavy enough to help, he would have been a goner. Slowly he took a few steps forward, before collapsing onto his knees again. That snapped the girl out of her frenzy… she blinked as her senses returned, and she dropped her murder weapon before rushing over to his aid.
“Are you okay…?” She asked, even as the tunic she was wearing was torn and destroyed. Blood covered her face from the bludgeoning, but she didn’t even notice– she slipped underneath his good arm and hoisted him back onto his feet. K’thalen was about to pass out from the exhaustion… or at least he would have, if it weren’t for the faint cries coming from the other side of the overturned wagon. His eyes widened as he struggled forward, hope flashing in his eyes at the possibility of a survivor from these depraved bandits; but as they rounded the corner, his hope was replaced with hate.
The Viera was clinging to his ruined leg that was hanging on only by a few tendons. He was in pain trying to move, trying to escape. He looked up at the two Miqo’te and raised a bloodied hand. “W-wait..! Don’t kill me, please! I-I-I’m new…! I didn’t kill any of these folks! Honest! I was just following orders… p-p-please…!”
K’thalen didn’t speak. He planted a boot on his rifle and pulled hard on the sword stuck inside, eventually freeing it with a grunt and a stumble. Slow steady breaths filled his lungs to calm himself, with enough strength returned to allow him to walk by himself. He picked up his rifle and brushed off the dirt and mud. Coroh stepped aside as he approached the wounded bandit again, who was still trying to beg for his life. “N-n-no! Please! Wait!”
Click!
Empty. K’thalen was already reaching into his coat pocket to reload despite the Viera flinching hard enough to soil himself. “Thal…” Coroh warned, gently placing a hand on his wounded arm. He stopped to look down at the girl, before following her gaze; up on the hill was a diremite, staring down at them with eight glistening eyes.
“The Woodsin really is real…” K’thalen clenched his jaw as he shouldered his rifle. He didn’t like the idea of these innocent folks becoming bug food, but there were no survivors. The Viera noticed the diremite skittering down to investigate further, followed by three or four more of the vilekin.
“Wait! Don’t leave me with them!” He begged, but his voice fell on deaf ears. “WAIT! WAAAAIT! AAAAUGH!”
K’thalen and Coroh hobbled away long after they could no longer hear his screams.
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Writing Challenge August 2023 Master List
Day 1 - Beginnings / Endings
Day 2 - Enchanted / Horror
Day 3 - Ominous / Possibility
Day 4 - Relationship / Somber
Day 5 - Wanderlust / Violation
Day 6 - Truth / Permanent
Day 7 - Growth / Ruin
Special thanks to @daily-writing-challenge for hosting another one of these! I'll try not to vanish until the next one!
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Daily Writing Challenge August 2023 Day 7
Growth / Ruin ( @daily-writing-challenge )
World: Final Fantasy 14
Theme: Gurren Lagann OST - Libera Me From Hell
Lord-Commander Vushant collapsed to one knee, as embers licked at his body! "Argh…! So… much… power!"
"Commander!" Cried out Ishami the Moon Maiden, rushing over to his side! "Stellar winds of hope, wash over thee!" Her magick leapt from her staff and surrounded the paladin, allowing him to slowly rise back to his feet; despite closing his wounds he was still out of breath and could barely focus!
"Hahahahaha!!!" The portal yawned wide and out stepped the Demon King himself! Wreathed in flames he threw his head back and laughed, reveling in his victory! "The air here… it is sweet! Fresh! The perfect place for my hellish minions to dominate and destroy! After I defeat you two FOOLS there will be nobody left that can stop me from burning Eorzea to ASH! BWAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!"
"You'll never win! I can repel your armies with my majestic moon magick!" Ishami waved her staff in the air before slamming it down into the ground between her feet! "There! Now you can no longer summon your minions!"
The Demon King sneered while he stepped forward. "Bah! Your pathetic spells are no match for my evil!"
"Yes they are!"
"NO they are NOT!"
"Yeah-huh!"
"NUH-UH!"
Vushant placed a hand on her shoulder and quickly decided to play the mediator. "Okay how about this… your magick can stop Samson from summoning his army but barely, so we have to defeat him super quickly!" Both Ishami and Samson rubbed at their chins in quiet contemplation, before eventually nodding in agreement.
"Bah!" The Demon King barked, starting over. "Your precious moon can only hold back my power for so long! You two cannot hope to defeat me by yourselves! Hahahaaa!"
Lord-Commander Vushant raised his shield and puffed out his chest. "If we can just buy a little more time…"
"FRET NOT, FELLOW HEROES!" All three looked to the north and saw a silhouette in the glaring sunlight! "For I have come to answer your call! Let us seal this wicked devil in the accursed pit he crawled out from!" He bent at the knees until he was squatting, before launching himself with his Miqo'te strength, doing a front flip before landing beside Vushant and Ishami!
"Cool…!" All three of them cooed, gazing in awe of his blazing crimson outfit!
"My name is Berserker Wolf Nolas! Guardian of the Radiant Dawn and Warrior of Light!" He raised his fist into the air before pounding it against his chest! "All evildoers beware! The Wolf has your scent! AWOOOOOOOO!!!"
Demon King Samson pointed his sword at Nolas and channeled his aether into the blade! "So you like fire, do you?! Well feel my wrath! Hellmaw Inferno Blaaaast!" Vushant had just enough time to raise his shield and create a barrier of light to protect himself and the Moon Maiden! As the searing flames of the hells subsided, they peeked out from behind the blackened shield to see Nolas unharmed! "Hey! That's not fair! I got you!" Cried out Samson in protest! "My flames devour all!"
"My Ferocious Deity cloak protects me from all fire attacks, holy, hellish, or otherwise!" He proclaimed, dusting some ash off his shoulder! "You will have to take me down with steel! Now it's our turn! Ultra Mega Vortex Punch!!!" Nolas took a step forward before vanishing into thin air, reappearing right in front of the Demon King in a blink of an eye!
"He's fast-!"
The Demon King lowered his claymore to block, cushioning a deadly blow that sent a gust of wind so strong that it stripped the bark off the trees behind him! "Raging Wolf Kick!" The Berserker flipped upside down for a handstand and spun his feet around to slam into the Demon King's impenetrable armor! Before he had a chance to attack a third time, Nolas’ ankle was grabbed and he was yanked off the ground, only to be whipped back down to smash his head hard against the dirt! “GRAVEROBBER GUILLOTINE!” All Nolas could do was cover his face and brace himself for that giant flaming claymore to come crashing down upon him!
“Sentinel Shield!” Out from his left came Vushant, shoulder-checking the Demon King before he could finish off his new friend! He reached down and hoisted the Berserker Wolf to his feet! “Shake it off! We stand and fight as ONE!”
“Come on!” Taunted the Demon King! “Leap feet first into your deaths!”
Vushant didn’t need to be told twice. He raised his shield and lead the charge, keeping his shortsword safely behind him while he did his best to keep the villainous fiend’s attention! Nolas dashed fast and low– sprinting on all fours off to the side in order to search for his opening! Ishami, however, remained stationary, clasping her hands together and beginning her muttering chant to empower her spell; the Demon King was too strong to destroy, of that she was certain– but perhaps the day was not lost just yet!
“Ward of Winter!”
“Worldcleaver!”
“Feral Fang Fist!”
“Hammer of Justice!”
“Tornado Toss!”
“Belching Hellfire Barrage!”
“Howling Blizzard Slash!”
“Ribsunder Punch!”
“SOUL RENDER!”
“SHIELD OF LIGHT!”
“SEISMIC SLAPDOWN!”
Blow for blow, strike for strike, no matter how crazy the names for their attacks became, they could only break even against the crushing might of the Demon King! The land was cleaved in twain and drenched with hellfire, the sky turned black from his swelling evil power! Both Vushant and Nolas were hanging on by a thread, pushing beyond mortal limits just to keep this fiendish foe busy! “WILL OF THE DAMNED!!!” The Demon King drove his sword into the scorched earth and sent forth a blistering wave of sweltering heat, knocking both his opponents flying back! “A-HA! I TOLD YOU MY POWER WAS UNMATCHED! NOW PREPARE TO DIIIIEEE!”
“NOW OR NEVER MOON MAIDEN!” Vushant shouted, using the last of his strength to grab hold of Nolas to pin him down!
“SUPER LUNAR ECLIPTIC COLLAAAAAPSE!” She shot her hands up into the sky, ripping a hole into their dimension in the shape of a half moon! As the crescent sucked up air and rocks alike, the Demon King clung to his claymore still stuck in the ground and held on for dear life– but white runes started to crawl across his face and arms!
“WHAT?! NOOOO!!!!” He bellowed, feeling his feet rising up from underneath him. “CURSE YOU, MOON MAIDEN! DEFEATED BY MERE MORTALS?! THIS IS NOT OVER…! I SHALL HAVE…! MY…! REVEEEEENGE!” The burning claymore broke free of the earth and the Demon King was hurled into the portal, spinning and screaming with rage and hatred for all mortals! “I’LL BE BAAAACK!”
“Nolas!” Called out a familiar voice, snapping the children out of their vivid imaginations. “It’s sundown, so you know what that means! Avanta and Mom are getting up, so come inside and wash up for dinner!”
“Yes Dad!” Nolas’ heart was still pounding from play, his tail wiggling wildly as he looked to his friends. “Okay… I have to go eat…”
“Awww…” Samson kicked at the grass, still clinging to his ‘claymore’ which was little more than a big stick he found on his way here. “It’s sundown already?! I’ll never make it home in time before my parents start looking for me… oh man… I’m so dead!”
“Cool moves, Nolas.” Vushant kept his hand on the wooden sword his father made him a few days ago, but his other hand reached out to place on the young Miqo’te’s shoulder. “Everyone had really good names! I need to work on mine tonight…”
Ishami came trotting up to Nolas as he turned to leave. “Wait! Where did you get that cool outfit?! I really like the flames!”
“O-oh… my father made it for me. He’s a Weaver– and a really good one.”
Her eyes lit up with excitement. “D-do you think he could make me something too?! I need better robes…!”
“Me too!” Cried out Samson, still not hurrying home. “My Demon King outfit needs more pizazz! More oomph, you know?!”
“I could use a real cape…” Mused Vushant, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully.
Nervously Nolas rubbed at the back of his head, not entirely sure his dad even had the time to make so many outfits, especially for free. Unwilling to neither squash their hopes nor lie to them, he scrambled to reach a middle ground by saying, “I uhh… I’ll ask him and see if he can! But he’s really busy so…”
“Nolas?!” His father called again, slightly more impatient. “Hurry up!”
“C-coming!” And with that he turned around and scurried down the road back to his house, only sparing Ishami an infatuated second glance to see her smiling and waving at him while he ran.
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Daily Writing Challenge August 2023 Day 6
Truth / Permanent ( @daily-writing-challenge @corohveldha )
World: Final Fantasy 14
Theme: Hollow Knight - Greenpath
It was finally time to take his boy out into the Black Shroud for his first ever hunt. The sun was starting to set and there was a thick fog rolling through the forest, with news of a storm coming soon; if he wanted to show Nolas how to track beasts without simply following its scent, now was the time to do it. Leo was constantly looking over his shoulder, always overestimating how slow the one year old was with his stubby legs, or more accurately, how much distance he was covering with his long strides. He had to be careful out here– plenty of arial, terrestrial, and amphibious predators wouldn’t think twice about snatching up such an easy meal, and nothing these beasts would do to him could compare to the wrath of his wife. “Are you doing okay, Noly?” He asked, calling out to his son.
“Yeah..!” The boy followed his father like a duckling, occasionally hopping into the footsteps he left behind. Blissfully ignorant of the dangers around him, Nolas kept his eyes on his father’s legs as best as he could– but he could only make it a few paces before stopping to gaze at something else. “Papa look!” He excitedly pointed out into the distance. Leo looked to see a small critter darting across an open field and straight up a tree. “What is thaaaat?”
“A squirrel.” Leo almost forgot there were no squirrels in the Lavender Beds. The boy, satisfied with the answer, maybe took four more steps before pointing excitedly at something else.
“Wuuhhh! What is thaaaat?”
“... a ladybug.” Leo decided to walk up and scoop the boy into his arms; it put his mind at ease over the boy’s safety and they were never going to get to their destination at this rate otherwise. Nolas kept squirming in his arms, sometimes looking over his shoulder, sometimes twisting around to look ahead, and occasionally even leaning all the way back to look directly above them. “We’re almost there~” He smiled, noticing his boy’s eyes were filled with wonder. It was nice to see him so happy at everything. Nolas’ joy was contagious and he was more than happy to let his imagination flourish.
Unlike Coroh, these weren’t his woods. His hunting grounds were malms away– out in the searing heat of Thanalan. His wife was born under these trees, as was their son Nolas, as was their daughter Avanta– deep down he still felt like an outsider, but his family did everything they could to make him feel welcomed and included. Just thinking about them made him feel better about himself. He felt a burning gaze drilling into the side of his face. He glanced down to see his son staring at him with his mother’s big purple eyes. “Are you sad?” He asked, reaching up to touch his cheek in the same way he’s seen Leo comfort his mother.
He planted a kiss on Nolas’ forehead and gave him a reassuring smile. “Of course not! Come on, let’s go see if our fish traps worked!”
“Feesh feesh feesh!”
They came down by the side of a stream. Sure it was harmless and perfectly safe for Leo, but Nolas could easily lose his footing and be swept away if he wasn’t careful– and he was anything but careful. Leo lifted him up and placed him on his shoulders, letting the boy grip at his hair for balance. With his hands now free, he was able to check the traps he had set earlier this morning. “No luck, Noly…” He lifted the traps out of the water for the boy to see for himself. “No fish.” None of the traps were even triggered but all of the bait was gone– Black Shroud fish are far more craftier than their Thanalan cousins it seems.
“No feesh!” Nolas started drumming on the top of his head; either he didn’t understand or he didn’t care. “No feesh feesh feesh.” Although he was disappointed his wife wouldn’t be making dinner with his catch this time, he couldn’t help but smile at the carefree drum solo his son was doing on his head. There were a few more traps further down the river they could check but his confidence in caught fish were next to nil. Holding onto one of the boy’s legs as he rose to his feet, he decided to turn back early and head home before Coroh and Avanta woke up. “No feesh?” Nolas asked again, twisting his body to look down at the stream.
“No fish.” Leo repeated, smiling; but his smile vanished once he felt the ground quaking under his boots. Something was coming this way and that something was gigantic! He looked around for some cover and found a thin tree to hide behind. Plucking his boy off his shoulders and interrupting his drum solo, Leo tucked him into his lap as he sat down, hoping whatever it was would pass by them unnoticed.
Leo leaned out and saw the biggest boar in his entire life. The beast lumbered out of the darkness, flesh like armor and tusks so old and yellow that they surpassed his scarred snout. The head alone was as big as a chocobo, with arrows and spears sticking out from his thick hide– some of which could possibly be older than Leo himself. The old bull stopped in the middle of the stream and sniffed at the air inquisitively, before immediately turning to look in Leo and Nolas’ direction!
“Shit!” Leo had the wherewithal and forethought to think it instead of saying it. He clamped his hand over Nolas’ mouth and slowed his own breath, hoping not to give away their position. However Leo was smart enough to know better, but for some reason this gigantic beast didn’t charge them. How easily a boar of that size could run them down! Any sudden movements might have pissed the old bull off, so instead of trying to make a break for it, he remained as still as stone.
Suddenly a dozen more boar came trouncing out from the wilderness, a mother boar and her eleven children. Just like Nolas a few of them seemed blissfully unaware, eagerly lapping up the stream water or running around, eager to play– that is until a short grunt from their mother spooked the joy and splendor from their bleating snouts. The family drank their fill of water and started to depart to the other side of the stream, with the old bull keeping his watchful gaze on the closest thing to a threat to his mate and children; it wasn’t until the coast was clear did the beast slowly look away and follow them.
“Piggie.” Nolas mumbled against his father’s hand. Relief washed over Leo once they were gone, now that his son was no longer in danger. With a pounding heart he rose to his feet, scooping up Nolas and sliding him under an arm. It was time to return to civilization.
Coroh will never hear of this.
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Daily Writing Challenge August 2023 Day 4
Relationship / Somber ( @daily-writing-challenge @corohveldha )
World: Final Fantasy 14
Theme: Misha Mishenko - Decadence
Coroh gently stirred awake as the last remnants of the setting sun faded from the top of a nearby window. Bathed in the soft blue glow of her mushroom lamps along the walkway, she slowly pushed herself onto her hands and knees, arching her back as far as it would go and popping her lower spine in multiple places; she then used the bed frame as support to roll her shoulders with a satisfied grimace flashing across her face. "Goooood evening, my little pudding cup~"
Avanta was curled up in her blankets beneath her mother, but only woke once her plump round face fell victim to a barrage of smooches. Angrily she wiggled a hand free of her swaddle and rubbed at her face to block Coroh's annoying lips in protest! Her mother planted one last kiss on her forehead before throwing her feet over the side of the bed, and rising up to her full height– only to yawn and stretch again. Coroh could hear her firstborn Nolas running amok upstairs, likely keeping his father Leo from doing any work for more than ten minutes at a time; but before the nocturnal women of the family could join them, however, they needed to bathe.
She stripped herself and her daughter down into their birthday suits and hurried across the basement to the tub, where the water was already waiting for them. As per tradition she started to hum softly to soothe Avanta, before she even had the chance to wiggle and complain about the water; she hated the feeling of being wet, just like her older brother did when he was her age. Yet her will to resist vanished the instant her body was gently lowered into the hot water, washing away any stress she accumulated from her sleep during the day. "I think someone likes their bath." Coroh beamed, balancing her with one hand and keeping only her face above the steamy water. Slowly she rubbed soap into her golden crown, her nails carefully scratching at her scalp and behind her ears. Avanta was in paradise, her eyes half open, her hands flexing and unflexing, and her drawn out exhales turning into the softest purrs Coroh has ever heard. They stayed like this for as long as it took the water to lose its heavenly warmth. Avanta was dried off and put into her extra-comfy moogle pajama onesie, with her mother preferring a simple silk gown.
"Good morning sleepybones!" Cried out Nolas once he noticed them appear from the stairs. He ran over excitedly to show his mother a new toy; an aldgoat with a cowboy hat. "Look! Look!" He lifted it over his head and pressed the single button on the nose, causing the automaton to start singing in a familiar and drunk voice.
"Raain! Suuun! Haaail! Don't matter the weather, me love fer ye ain't never gonna… *buurp* … FAAAIL!" Nolas laughed hysterically every time he pressed the button and it got to the burping part. No doubt Augusta and K’thalen are planning to send more of the loudest and most annoying toys possible to Nolas.
"Very cute…" She gave him a tender smile and a comforting scratch behind his ears. "I'll have to thank Uncle Thalen for his… gift… later. Go have fun Nolas!"
"Fun! Fun! Fun!" The boy darted upstairs to the second floor with the toy under his arm, most likely off to harass her husband.
Avanta had already dozed off on her shoulder by the time Coroh made it to the kitchen. Another barrage of kisses stirred her awake long enough to plop her down on the counter nearby, freeing her mother's hands to check up on their dinner; a succulent dodo sizzled in the oven, marinated in bubbling juices and glazed and seasoned just right. Simply looking at it made Coroh's stomach flex– with luck this bird was tender enough to fall off the bone.
"Roooaar!!!" Shouted her husband upstairs! Nolas came scurrying down as he giggled hysterically, almost falling over twice before jumping behind a potted plant to hide. Stomp, stomp, stomp! Each foot coming down the steps caused the boy to jump, his ears pinned to the top of his head and his big purple eyes dilated as large as they could go. Coroh pulled out the dodo and set it on the table, catching a glimpse of her husband in a hastily made vanu vanu suit! "WHERE IS THE BOY?!" He demanded in a low and gravelly voice. "I! MUST! EAAAAT!!!"
Coroh locked eyes with her son, who stared up at her from across the room with both fright and excitement in his dinner-plate eyes. He was covering his mouth with both hands, trying to stay quiet and out of sight– but Avanta had no such restraint. Their daughter wiggled and writhed on her back, excitedly kicking her stubby legs in the air as the cloth monster came lumbering around the counter.
"WHAT’S THIS?! A SUCCULENT AND UNATTENDED CHILD?!" Carefully he scooped up Avanta and lifted her to the mouth opening of his suit, mercilessly tickling her with his hands and his kisses. "MMMMM… DELICIOUS! BUT NOT QUITE RIPE ENOUGH I THINK!"
Coroh couldn't help but chuckle at how delighted Avanta was in her father's grasp. She was laughing harder than ever before, futilely pushing against Leo's face as he dove in to kiss at her neck and belly. "Okay, vicious beast~" She cooed, showing Avanta mercy by plucking her from his grasp; she didn't want the infant to pass out from laughing too hard. Leo gave her wife a big grin before leaning forward and planting a wet smooch on her lips. "Good evening, handsome." Coroh whispered to him, before quickly planting a smooch on his lips in return. "By the way, he's behind the plant~"
Leo immediately turned and locked eyes with the boy! Nolas squealed in delighted terror once he was found, with barely enough time to slip out from his hiding place before Leo was whipping around the counter to give chase! The boy made a fatal error trying to go outside– the door was locked and he was still too short to reach!
"Noooo….!!!" Nolas squealed when his father's hands grabbed him by the legs and flipped him upside down! "AAAAHHH!!!"
"OM NOM NOM NOM NOM!!!" Coroh watched her husband stuff the flailing boy into the mouth of the suit, listening to him giggle and scream all the way down! "MMMMM…. THAT HIT THE SPOT! SCRUM-DIDDLY-UMPIOUS!!!"
Sure enough the knife sliced through the bird like butter, the succulent dodo practically falling apart in her hands while she prepared the plates. Coroh let her husband wrestle with their son for a little bit more until the food was ready; she needed their energy spent if they were to enjoy dinner as a family together. When it was finally time to eat, Nolas and Leo were out of breath and almost lethargic, with the boys’ stomachs howling for food– and with that Seeker of the Sun wild-side to them both, it wouldn’t be long until they were darting around again.
“Yummy!!!” Nolas eagerly tore into his haunch the moment he licked his greasy fingers. He was a loud chewer of course, taking on the same terrible habits of his father; like a duckling he followed his every move, with nearly everything he’s learned coming from watching Leo. His father, upon seeing his boy going crazy for the meal, decided to taste it too… and like father like son, he too dug in!
“This is really good, dear!” He beamed at her, before stuffing his mouth. Coroh didn’t answer, gently squeezing their daughter as she silently breastfed with a blanket over her head to avoid any distractions. She sat back and listened to the loud smacking of their chewing. Normally it would be an insufferable sound, but Coroh loved it; it was the sound of her family thriving, after all. At the end of the day the beautiful melody of her family was all that matter-
“BWAAAARP!” Leo’s belch vibrated the table, causing Nolas to roar with laughter!
“AUGUSTUS LEO VELDHA!!!” Coco couldn’t believe her ears!
“... bwarp!”
“NOLAS!!!”
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Daily Writing Challenge August 2023 Day 2
Enchanted / Horror ( @daily-writing-challenge @zoronadotatanado )
World: Final Fantasy 14
Theme: Guilhem Desq - Cicatrices
"Yes! Yessss!" Leleni squealed with delight, successfully extracting her very first materia from her spellstaff. It was no larger than a pearl but thrumming with aether, and it glowed with a unique brilliance previously unseen by her bright emerald eyes; and it would be the first of many.
Her maniacal laughter caught the attention of her loyal knight in the kitchen. He was tasked with keeping the stew from burning on the bottom of the pan by constantly stirring it while it cooked; he couldn’t see what exactly she was doing, but her bewitching glee did bring a smile to his face.
She carefully waddled across the room with her powerful materia floating between her palms. "Now I just need to…" slowly she lowered it over his sword, causing the precious materia to fracture and split into a cloud of shards before liquefying. Then with a soft exhale she spread it over the blade, enchanting it with a bit of magick she handcrafted herself. The glimmering armsword rested still and silent, even as Leleni’s magick coursed through the weapon from edge to hilt. Zoronado's weapon was now self-repairing, so not only would it keep its razor sharp edge during prolonged skirmishes, but he would never need to bother carrying whetstones. At least until the spell wore off. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect." A big grin spread from ear to ear– she was beyond proud of herself. "Zoronado! Come quick!"
He didn't need to be told twice. The halfling hopped down from the stepping stool and waddled into the back of their shared apartment to find her handiwork. "What did you do to it?" He asked, stroking his chin. "A fire enchantment? No no… ice! Maybe lightning?"
"I did none of those!" Leleni wagged her finger at him. "I don't want you hurting yourself with wild magicks… just pick up the sword and stop asking such silly questions!"
Zoronado shrugged before approaching. To an exiled Bulwark Knight such as himself, the arcane arts were lost on him. At first, second, and third glance, the weapon seemed like any other finely crafted tool; but upon wrapping his fingers around the leather-bound hilt and turning it in the light, he could feel the difference. Immediately he could tell it was lighter, with the weight of the armsword seemingly shifting between the base of the blade and the iron ornament at the tail of the hilt when he turned it in his grip. There was something otherworldly going on beneath the surface, of that he was certain; but he wouldn't know the limits of this enchantment without taking it into battle. Zoronado effortlessly twirled the blade in his hand with a flick of his wrist, before pointing it downward and sliding it into its metal scabbard. "Thank you, Len-Len…"
"It’s not as glamorous as the sword you ruined… but it will do for now." Leleni did her best to ignore the cute nickname he gave her, but her rosy red cheeks told a different story. The longer he gazed at her, the bigger his smile grew, and the harder it was for her to maintain eye contact; they stood there marinating in an awkward silence before Zoronado moved first, stepping over to the table nearby to turn on the vinyl record player. "Music?" Leleni watched him with increasing curiosity; he almost never touched it himself. "What are you doing…?"
"Dance with me." Zoronado spoke plainly, reaching out to her with a gentle hand. "Like we did in the ruins near Idyllshire a summer and a half ago." He set the sword down on the nearby table before adding, "Or have you forgotten?"
How could she? It was the night she learned her father had revoked her birthright to the throne. It was the night Zoronado was stripped of all his accomplishments and titles. It was the night they both became outcasts. Telling him the news was not easy– she was certain he would leave once he realized he was no longer bound to her by an oath he was no longer required to keep; she treated him more like her personal pack mule and servant than any true adventuring companion… but he didn’t. He chose to stay by her side against all expectations, and it was that very night that they truly became friends; or maybe something more.
Without another word she gently took his hand and stepped to him, letting her loyal knight entwine their naked fingers. His other hand slipped around her waist and drew her in, pressing their bodies together. Leleni could feel his heart pounding against her chest, which only made her heart pound back– and as the music began to swell, they began their slow waltz in their apartment. Zoronado led while Leleni followed. Back and forth, left and right, side to side they stepped again and again. She couldn’t stop herself from gazing up into his eyes, from staring into the windows of his soul. As she drowned in his big baby blues her mind began to wander, and despite her somber bliss locked in his embrace, she was plagued with fear and doubt. Leleni wanted nothing more than to be the one to bear his children. She loved him, that much was plain– but she could not cross that boundary without losing herself. Nald’thal was her god, their god, and she could not claim Zoronado for herself; she was already sworn to another before not just Nald’thal, but all of the Twelve.
Vows made before the gods cannot be unmade– not without a royal decree. Nonobira was her husband, and it would stay that way until either he or Leleni perished. Only a king could undo her vows– only her father, King Fafasasho, had the authority she needed to free herself of her eternal bond. “Does he think less of me for it…?” Leleni clenched her jaw as she danced, her doubts reared their ugly heads again. “Does he hate me for being someone else’s wife…?” She could no longer look him in the eyes– the shame was too much to bear. Suddenly she didn’t want to dance. All Leleni wanted to do now was leave.
She turned her head away and they stopped swaying back and forth. She was quick, but he was quicker– Zoronado released his hand from her waist and caught her by the chin. “Wait…” His voice was barely a whisper. Slowly and gently he turned her face back toward his. Surely he could sense her shame, it was written all over her face, after all. Reluctantly she gazed back into his eyes, and then down to his lips. It was all the invitation he needed.
Zoronado closed his eyes and kissed her with a gentle tenderness Leleni didn’t even know was possible. It was there that she surrendered, her eyes fluttering closed and her body relaxing. Her hands rose up to his collar as he wrapped his arms around her, and they stayed like this with their skin aflame for longer than either one could remember.
With only their hearts dancing now.
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Daily Writing Challenge August 2023 Day 1
Beginnings / Endings ( @daily-writing-challenge @kthalentia )
World: Final Fantasy 14
Theme: DIM - Of Molten Stars
K’thalen collapsed onto a wooden stump with a short grunt and a shorter sigh. He had just spent the morning hunting with no luck; most of the traps weren’t even sprung, and the few that were only had bits of fur leftover from the critter’s escape… which means breakfast will have to wait until it’s lunch time. Again. He ran a hand through his hair to steady himself, but it was hard to think on an empty stomach. What he really needed was some venison– but getting close enough to an elk for a clean shot to avoid any woodsin in this accursed forest would be impossible with his companion.
“That’ll be a first.”
“Have you ever been in love? I want to be in love!” Coroh began to orbit him immediately once she started talking again; and K’thalen knew if he tried to move she would just follow him like a duckling. “What do the round-ears do again? What is it called, Thal? Mare-rage?”
“Do ya mean marria-”
“I want to be mare-raged! Am I saying it right? Mare-rage sounds amazing!”
K’thalen pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes as the rambling started. He was a fool to think she was actually asking him how to pronounce marriage. Sometimes he would simply press his hand against her mouth for some peace and quiet, though that only worked half the time. Instead he just pressed his ears against the top of his head and stared off into space, hoping she would run out of batteries and tire herself out. It never happened.
“... I want to have lots of babies!” Coroh chirped, giving K’thalen mental whiplash– he definitely picked the wrong time to tune back in. “I want ten! No, twenty! All with big pretty eyes! Have you ever seen baby Miqo’te, Thal? They’re so cute and soft and playful…!” She vibrated with delight, likely imagining her arms full of the infants. “I want to hug them and kiss them and love them!”
“I pity the fool who tries to settle down with you, lass.” He thought to himself, exhaling slowly. Bringing his canteen back up to his lips, he took another modest swig of his whiskey to help fill his stomach since food wasn’t going in anytime soon, especially with this woman’s squeaky voice scaring off all manner of beastkin within a two malm radius. K’thalen caught something about what her babies would look like somewhere amidst her excitement, but he stopped paying attention again.
She’s lucky she can cook circles around him, otherwise he would have abandoned her in this forest the first time she went to go make water.
Once again he was brought out of his stupor, this time from her leaning up against him. “What do you think my man will look like? Will he have blonde hair? Black? No no, red hair! I really like red hair! Do you think he’ll have big muscles, Thal? Do you think he’ll be nice and sweet and gentle too?!”
“He’ll definitely have muscles if you plan to conceive twenty crotch goblins.” K’thalen tried to gently push her out of his personal space but she was stuck to him like flies on feces. “... and he better be gentle about it too.” Hopefully by the time she was old enough for the birds and the bees talk, someone else– preferably a woman– could explain to her how all that works; he wouldn’t nearly be as elegant with his choice of words if the task was left up to him.
K’thalen looked up to realize the sun had already set. His canteen was now empty and the buzz from his whiskey was wearing off; it was always easier to listen to her prattle while tipsy, but being black out drunk remained his preference. Coroh had to sleep sometime– and when she finally settled in he would be able to tag and bag them some dinner. The thought of a savory elk steak was making his mouth water, and he remained so distracted that he didn’t notice her hopping into his lap until it was too late.
“Aaargh!” I wanna grow up right now! Why is it taking so long?!” The excitement in the girl’s voice had all but evaporated, replaced with impatient longing for adulthood… apparently. “The longer it takes for me to grow, the longer I have to wait for mare-rage! It isn’t fair!” K’thalen could feel the tingling in his toes– his legs were falling asleep with this brat and her loud complaining. He had to get her up and off for the sake of his own sanity. “Can I drink a potion to speed it up?! Thal? Thaaaaal?!”
“Enjoy your youth while you still got it.” Was all he could think as she finally slid from his lap to stomp around him like an angry infant. It was surreal, watching a girl like her yearn to be old; she reminded him of himself, in some ways. It’s strange, as children we long to be adults, and adults would trade it all to get their childhoods back. Most of them would, at least– but not him. Not K’thalen.
“Hey! I’m talking to you, sleepy-bones! Can’t you see I’m having a crisis?!” He was jostled awake by the annoying grip of the girl. It was nightfall and she was still going… “Stop zoning out, this is important stuff we’re discussing! I need answers! Why does growing up take so long, huh Thal?! Why?!”
He kept his mouth clamped shut, as he did for the entire day. He could hear her losing steam in her ramblings. Surely she was at least getting thirsty.
“Hellloooo…?! Eorzea to Thalen, come in…?! Are you ignoring me on purpose?! Come ooooon! Talk to meeee!” The whine in her tone was akin to claws on a chalkboard. Never before has he been so tempted to just… tie her up and leave her at their camp for a few hours. “Hello?! Thaaaal! Stop ignoring meeeeeeyuuuhhh!!!!”
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Daily Writing Challenge August 2022 Day 1
Silver / Darkness ( @daily-writing-challenge @kthalentia )
World: Final Fantasy 14
Theme: Opeth - To Bid You Farewell
“I’ve outlived every single person I’ve ever loved.”
He was halfway through a long drag of his cigarette when it dawned on him. His father, his brother, his lover, his friends– all gone, all dead. Today was K’thalen’s 35th nameday as well… making him older than even his own father when he was killed. His eyes flickered and shimmered for just a moment, frozen in time and unable to do, say, or think of anything. Then the moment passed. He blinked, he exhaled, and then he watched the silver cloud of smoke flee from his nose to scatter into the crisp desert air. Namedays were never anything to celebrate, not for K’thalen at least; for him it was just another year further from his birth and closer to his death. Another day of working… another day of drinking… another day of dead memories.
The sudden tapping on his hat and shoulders was so gentle and welcoming, and it could only mean one thing. He glanced over to his left to witness travelers and merchants alike running for shelter against the rain, but they were too late; by the time they realized what was happening, the showers came pouring from the starless sky to turn the dust bowl known as Thanalan into a mud hole instead. Not three heartbeats later and the man was soaked, feeling the warm desert rain seeping through his jacket. He didn’t bother running for shelter however– a storm this sudden and violent wouldn’t last. Instead he pinched his cigarette between his lips and breathed deep, filling his lungs with just the poison he needed tonight. A quick reach into his coat pocket reminded him of his missing canteen… which meant no drinking until tomorrow morning. That was a pity.
“Fuckin’ Augusta…” He muttered under his breath to no one. The spunky girl must have swiped it from him right before his smoke break! She was determined to help him quit drinking it seemed… whether he was willing or not. “Promise s’a promise.” He closed his eyes and took another long drag, puffing out smoke as he crossed his arms and stared down at his own boots. He did ask for her help to get him to quit drinking, but now he risked being completely sober by the time he would crawl out of bed on the morrow. Sober K’thalen was angry… and bitter… and depressed. Alcohol helped keep his memories just hazy enough to ignore. But he couldn’t outrun his demons forever.
The Tia that dashed his father’s head upon that tree was likely long dead by now. No Nunh, large or small, has ever held that title for over twenty years; and that also applies to the Nunh that brutally butchered his brother right in front of him. The pirate bastard that shot his one true love was having his bones picked clean at the bottom of the briny deep, he was sure of that when piracy was outlawed in La Noscea. But that still left a dozen or so friends rotting in their graves without recompense. No, the murderers that took their lives still resides among the living– breathing the same air, drinking the same water…
It was the Black Adder Boys. Traitors one and all. Butcherers, thieves, and even worse. The absolute lowest scum of this star and all others in the great dark beyond! Just thinking about them made K’thalen’s blood boil; he didn’t even notice biting his cigarette in half until buckled under the pressure and fell apart on its way down to the rain-soaked mud. He blinked again and regained his composure, choosing to simply spit out the remains instead of trying to salvage it for later. “They’ll have their day in the sun…” He thought to himself, gazing up at the giant crystal in the center of town. All he needed to do was find where their hideout was… a clue, a hint– any slip up on their end would reveal their tracks. But these monsters were trained by the Twin Adders of Gridania– many of whom trained directly under K’thalen himself. The ones in charge knew what they were doing… so he couldn’t count on them making any mistakes. Still… he knew they had to be here in Thanalan. That was enough to keep hope that he would root them out of their hiding place sooner than later. “They can’t rest until all y’all are burning in the bleakest, darkest, foulest pit of the hells. So we can’t rest neither.”
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August 2022 Writing Challenge Master List
Day 1: Silver / Darkness
Day 2: Forever / Displaced
Day 3: Sentimental / Feral
Day 4: Impress / Exhaustion
Day 5: Fluff / Shiver
Day 6: Zealous / Rot
Day 7: Peace / Unforgiven
Special thanks to @daily-writing-challenge for making this challenge in the first place. For some reason I decided to check tumblr just on time to start these!
#augustdwc2022#ijirothehero#{ the blackened barrel }#{ the desert demon }#{ the halfling hero }#{ the sunlit sonata }
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Daily Writing Challenge August 2022 Day 4
Impress / Exhaustion ( @daily-writing-challenge @corohveldha )
World: Final Fantasy 14
Theme: Chrono Trigger - Corridors of Time
Coroh stood in front of her mirror for what felt like ages. She couldn’t stop staring at herself– the pearl-white gown flowing down her figure, the crown of flowers adoring her head, how the soft sunlight bathed her dressing room in an angelic glow– all of it was perfect. And yet… she felt incomplete. Inept. Disappointing.
“Why is this happening to me?”
A year ago she was just a lonely woman surviving with a roving band of homicidal bandits, fearing every time she closed her eyes to catch some sleep would be the moment she awoke with one of them pinning her to the grass and having their way with her. She was afraid for Thalen’s life when he took that sword to the shoulder and was fighting for his life in a prison cell, waiting for the hangman’s noose. She was at rock bottom, robbing innocent merchants at gunpoint so she could eat, breaking into houses to steal just enough soap to bathe, and taking any job she could find for money until they discovered she was homeless and kicked her out.
And then she met Leo. Interested the first day he approached her despite being so nervous and sweaty, smitten when he told her his name with a voice that cracked twice, and infatuated the day he ran his trembling hands across her back at the end of their first date. He wasn’t the gritty and dangerous man she’s surrounded herself with for an entire year prior, nor was he the stoic and silent man she was obsessed with before that. He was kind, and sweet, and gentle, and the morning after they shared a bed together, she realized just how safe she felt in his arms. That’s when she knew he was the one.
“Miss Veldha?” A soft voice called from the other side of the door. “Is something amiss? Do you need assistance?”
“No no, I’m coming.” Coroh called back, adjusting her bra and swiping up the bouquet of flowers before turning on her heel to leave.
Click, clack, click, clack
The sound of her heels was distractingly loud in the empty hallway. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she could feel herself trembling; was she afraid or just nervous? Under her gown she was sweating but incredibly cold, with her lunch sitting like a rock in her churning stomach. Her gaze shot to the door leading out of the cathedral and her instincts told her to run! Her first thought was to run away and never look back, to escape from this anxious dream! But what would Leo think? How would he handle the love of his life abandoning him at the altar? Guilt and shame coiled around her chest like a serpent, turning the already laborious chore of breathing into an all-out struggle. Then she felt weak and light-headed. If this continued any longer she would faint!
She turned the corner to the sound of Leo gasping and covering his mouth. He looked amazing in his pure white suit, dressed sharp enough to kill a man. His fiery red hair was combed a hundred times and neatly trimmed, with a single blue rose resting beneath his ear. And he looked like he was about to cry.
"Coco…" his voice was but a trembling whisper. They turned to stand shoulder to shoulder but he never took his eyes off her. "You are… breathtaking."
She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, but she did her best to ignore the tingling in her face, as well as his blissful stare. "You aren't half bad yourself." She could hear the smile in his voice as he let out a nervous sigh, causing her to smile too. Then they stood in silence, staring at the door as voices shouted on the other side. "I'm not scared anymore…!" She realized, taking a quick peek at his polished white shoes; she had to visualize those before they were stained forever. Coroh was still nervous of course, and still trembling… but standing so close to him again caused all her fears to scatter.
A shiver ran up her spine once she heard the music rising, and the tall doors unlocked to slowly swing open.
"I'm right here." Leo reassured her, drawing her gaze. He couldn't stop smiling and his eyes were brimming with tears. "Now and always."
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Daily Writing Challenge August 2022 Day 3
Sentimental / Feral ( @daily-writing-challenge @serararku )
World: Final Fantasy 14
Theme: Rúnahild - Urseid
They call it a Grrangr. A gathering of Nunhs to plan a course of action that no single tribe can perform themselves– a moot to decide the future of the Miqo’te living in Thanalan. There were only six nunhs in attendance but several hundred surrounded the secluded clearing on the side of the mountain facing westward, so they could watch the bountiful sun slip beneath the horizon for his brief slumber… a great place for meditation, if they were here for less pressing matters.
“We cannot defeat them.” T’ketchu of the Condor Tribe spoke first to break the chorus of whispers behind him. “The walls of Ul’dah are too high and too thick. Their armies are well fed and armored. Defying them can only mean death for our people. It’s as simple as that.”
A patronizing snort on his left caught his attention, and up rose J’mindi the Gnarled. “Only a fool would strike a hulking giant across the nose. There are other ways of dealing with the halfling city… ones that are far more… subtle.”
“You mean poison.” R’yaach the White Maw crossed his arms over his wide chest before spitting into the dirt. “Am I surrounded by cravens? What glory is there in such cowardice?!”
S’vahli the Hrothblood rubbed at the bridge of his nose as soon as the uproar started; they couldn’t go five whole minutes before they started hurling insults at each other. He did his best to drown out their incessant howling, focusing on the flickering bonfire and the dancing shadows. He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes to block out the noise but it was no use; every passing moment of their uproar was filling him with anxious dread, his body physically reacting in ways he couldn't afford right now.
Yelling turned to screaming. Metal tubes and iron clamps. Needles, needles, needles. Round eared monsters with three eyes staring, watching, observing. Pain unmatched. Glass prison. Knives sever the flesh. Syringes pumping poison. Fear and rage and hatred. Kill to be free. Kill to be silent. Kill. Kill. Kill. KILL! KILL! KILL! KI-!
A tiny hand gripped his shoulder and the nightmare receded back to the corner of his mind. S'vahli turned to meet S'era's soothing gaze… two sparkling eyes deep and blue enough to drown in. Only now did he realize he was trembling and sweating. He half-expected her to scold him for his strange behavior, but she didn't; all she did was hold his shoulder and steal his attention until the trembling stopped. "I should tell her." He thought, even as shame washed over him. "She deserves to know what they did to me." But no sooner did he open his mouth to speak did the shouting match between the other nunhs suddenly fall silent.
Tap, tap, tap!
Everyone dropped to their knees and bowed. Everyone.
A woman whose flesh turned into bone with even the slightest injury stirred for the first time in forty summers. A large crown of bleached goat horns and antlers sat slanted on her head, adorned with heavy chains of gold and amber. Paralyzed from head to toe, her face was permanently facing the north star, so she could gaze upon the cosmos and commune with both Azeyma and Menphina. Wiser than all, and far older than anyone could possibly fathom, she was the greatest treasure and best kept secret the Seekers of the Sun tribes had. Miraan the Eldest has her life prolonged by mystical and divine power, and despite how delicate and helpless she has become, it was in all likelihood a certainty she would outlive everyone here.
"This mountain… is holy… our ways… are ancient." Her voice was barely a whisper, but every word carried the weight of the world. "To spill blood… in this place… without first… declaring a… Urru'thun… is sacrilege. It is… known."
"It is known." They all repeated, settling down… for now.
"S’era… Firstborn Daughter… of Rarku the… Red…” She paused to catch her breath– every inhale sounded like splintering wood. “Tell them… your plan.”
She stiffened at the sound of her name; not once has she met Miraan the Eldest, but she not only knew her name, but also her title? Slowly she glanced over and met S’vahli’s gaze, before rising to her feet and straightening out her back and shoulders. “You are all right to fear reprisal from Ul’dah and the other free cities. Even with our combined strength we could not outlast them in an all-out war. We have the numbers, this is true… but they have powerful magick, and the Warrior of Light on their side. Facing them in open field would be suicide.” A few nunhs nodded in agreement as subtle whispers echoed in the crowd sitting before her. “They know they could crush us if they willed it… but it would also cause unrest and chaos within their walls by the Miqo’te living there. They cannot attack us directly until we deal the first blow, so instead they mean to drive away our hunting game and starve us out.”
R’yaach the White Maw spat into the dirt again. “Cowards and traitors.”
“Be that as it may…” S’era continued, shooting him a furtive glance. “I have a solution that can resolve this conflict peacefully. Or at the very least… get them off our backs and out of our lands.” That certainly caught their interest, but only a stark few seemed to care for what she had to say. “Our answer lies in the Shelled Men. Along the coast deep in Amal’jaa territory lies an incomplete castrum that was serving as an armory before their armies were scattered. If Ul’dah will not listen to the Miqo’te through reason, we will make them listen with a display of force. Tribes gathering near their towns with magitek weapons are sure to get their attention.”
“Your plan is to threaten them? They will slaughter everyone involved and tighten their grip on the rest of our necks!” Cried out a tribewife from the crowd, a babe to her breast. “Suicide!” Cried another from the opposite direction. “Madness!”
“WE ARE STARVING!” S’era shouted at the top of her lungs to get them to shut up. “Your children… our children are going hungry! There isn’t enough meat to survive through the winter! We can’t rely on raiding merchant wagons for food! If any of you fools have a better idea then let’s hear it!”
I’vazu Stone Tongue rose first, clutching his walking stick and grunting from the still-fresh wounds on his stomach from defending his breeding rights against a Tia just yesterday. “The halflings will not take threats idly. We should instead barter… learn what they want and offer a trade!”
“COWARD!” Another shouted, causing the wounded man to flinch. He turned red in the face as he spun around to face the direction of that accusation.
“Who said that?! Speak up and face my wrath-aaugh…!” He clenched his teeth in pain and his legs almost buckled; this was going nowhere fast.
Miraan the Eldest opened her eyes. Pale blue pearls that glimmered like the stars in the night sky– gazing into them was like gazing into the cosmos, the realm of the very gods. “They are… outsiders. They have… no respect… for the land. Look at… Mor Dhona… as proof of… their greed. We Miqo’te… have given them… enough. It… is known.”
“It is known.” They all repeated again, some less enthusiastically than others.
“She is right.” S’era added. “Anything we have that they value will be picked off our corpses once we start dropping from starvation. Or perhaps they want us to kill each other off competing for food? If we do not stand united, we will die divided. This is the plan. You will follow the Zu Tribe to prosperity or you will be left behind to rot.”
“Who made you the leader of our people?” E’zohl the Howler finally spoke up, unable to remain silent any longer. “The Zu Tribe angers Ul’dah the most. Why not throw yourself at their stone tents and rid us all of your reckless stupidity!”
S’era barely looked in his direction, but pointed her finger directly at him all the same. “We are among the few brave enough to stand up to them. I don’t see the Eft Tribe doing much of anything these days. Terrified of creatures half your size?”
“Bite your tongue and drown on your blood!” E’zohl snapped, earning her undivided attention. “You are no nunh! You are no elder either! You are just a tribewife pretending to be some self-appointed savior! You are no warrior! Go back to your hut and spread your legs, as is your duty!”
“I’ll take your tongue for that!” S’vahli shot up to his feet, but S’era raised a hand to calm him down.
“When the time comes for us to march on the shelled men’s sanctum, you will answer the call.” She declared with a threatening calmness. “Or the Zu will destroy you.”
“You forget your place!” E’zohl rose to stand, his warriors rising behind him; S’era’s warrior sisters returned the gesture, and now two tribes were at each other’s throats once more. “The Eft Tribe will see you bloated in the sand before we march to our deaths! This I vow!”
“You vow?!” Eyes flaring, teeth clenched, ears pinned down, and tail bristling, S’era shouted back, “THEN I DECLARE URRU’THUN ON THE EFT TRIBE! SEND OUT YOUR GREATEST CHAMPION, E’ZOHL, I KNOW YOU ARE FAR TOO MUCH A COWARD TO FACE ME YOURSELF!”
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