aywren

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I discuss the things I had to learn as someone new to VR Gaming when playing my first VR action game - Dungeons of Eternity. It's not as easy as it looks!

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The story of how I was taken in by a kind (and unusual) player clan in OSRS. Most happy!

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You take the breath right out of me You left a hole where my heart should be You got to fight just to make it through 'Cause I will be the death of you

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Want to see how I make Wayrift Webcomic pages? Have a speed paint video of colors for Ch91 Pg15!

-See the finished page here!-

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Mountain Illustrator: Randy Gallegos

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Sygnus Stories: Introducing Tai

TsuYa Tai – most often called Tai – was a character I created for my web novel Dreigiau back in 2002-2003. He was originally just supposed to be a walk-on side character, but he made himself very much known through his sheer willpower and attitude, and was quickly elevated to a main character status.

I hesitate to call him an antagonist because much of what happened to him was fiercely against his will. So maybe an anti-hero? Deep down, he always fought tooth and claw to do the right thing, and thankfully, his life is in much more in his own control now days.

Tai’s one of those little guys that you don’t want to underestimate as he’s one of my most dangerous physical-fighters despite his size (I couldn’t make the Hyur slider go short enough to do him justice). He’s also full of snark, unafraid to speak his mind and bluntly inform everyone of what he thinks.

He’s not a WoL, but I sometimes jokingly think of his FFXIV iteration as the Grouch of Light. I even thought of running a Tumblr side blog of that name (I have it on reserve).

Despite that, he’s a passionate individual who cares deeply about friends and family, and is fiercely protective of the good of the common folks. He’d make a good WoL, actually, but it’s just not in the cards.

Tai was my first alt in FFXIV, a character I rolled in December of 2013. For a long time, he was a Dragoon main.

But then, I was absolutely over the moon when Reaper released because it was very close to EVERYTHING Tai actually is – from being able to teleport short distances, using a scythe in battle, the blue glow of the job’s skills, to having a bestial-type transformation (which Tai also has).

In fact, I’m quite proud of Tai’s character in FFXIV because it is super, super close to my actual character design. Probably the closest in appearance out of all of my alts! Tai has been a character in many MMOs I’ve played over the years, but there’s no doubt that FFXIV does him best.

Tai has been in so many of my stories with different iterations of himself. Most recently, though, he’s often a part of the Wayrift webcomic.

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Sygnus Stories: Introducing Kip

Kip was a character I created back in 2003, specifically to be an antagonist to my first OC, Ben.

But you already know how I work, don’t you? Yeah. Redemption arc time! 🎉

Kip may look messed up, but he’s a good guy deep down who struggles with a very troubled past.

I’ve been trying to roll Kip in FFXIV for years, but just never found a Hyur hairstyle that worked well enough for him. I finally ended up rolling him as a Bun instead due to the Bun-exclusive hair. They also released eyepatches as faceware options in 7.2, so I took that as a sign it was time to bring Kip to Eorzea.

I'm still looking for a hat that works with his style and will allow him to hide his ears. I know it's a sin that I'd roll a Bun but want to hide the ears, but he's not meant to be a Bun, and not all that Bun-like. XD

There’s no cosmetic I know of in game that can match his face plates, so I went with the Bun Side Feathers to represent it. And, of course, he’s a Machinist because he has to be.

Kip is found throughout so many of my stories, in his various iterations. There’s a younger Kip, before he was subjected to experimentation, and then older Kip, who is often called OMEGA – a code name I used for him, long before FFXIV existed.

He’s often a part of the Wayrift webcomic storyline, and his past is going to be explored in the new Shimmer Redux webcomic!

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Want to see how I make Wayrift Webcomic pages? Have a speed paint video of inks for Ch91 Pg15!

-See the finished page here!-

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I talk about my continued adventures in OSRS this week. Making good progress (at least, I think so)!

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Wayrift Webcomic Update 🌟

"I bid you one more chance, Sygnus..." -Leviathan

-Read Chapter 91 Page 15 here!-

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Sygnus Stories: Introducing Ben

I wanted to spend a little time introducing some of the OCs that are both a part of my Sygnus Stories projects and are also alts in FFXIV.

I’ll start with one that those who have read my Spot of Mummery stories might already know a little about – Ben!

So, Who is Ben?

Ben was my very first OC/NPC, created back in 1992 - yes, 33 years ago. This was in response to the ending of FFIV (FFII on SNES for us old folks). He is, to say it outright, my version of Golbez.  

-More below the cut!-

Ben is also the start of me writing redemption stories for the misunderstood and ex-villains. Even as a teen, I knew that was my most loved trope. You’ll see that’s a common thread among most of the characters I introduce here, actually. Amon is in good company.

Originally, Ben’s story was my first ever fanfic – written back before there was an Internet in my life and I knew that the term “fanfic” existed. This is still up on the web as Coming of the Darkstar.

When I first wrote it, I could claim that it was in line with game canon, even though it has a lot of wild teenage fanfic ideas flowing through it. But then, the revamped story in the DS version of FFIV came out, as did The After Years, so now I have to claim my stuff is AU. I did not change my characters or stories to fit the change in canon (it happened 16 years after the original game came out!). :P

This story is where the term “Darkstar Dimension” comes from – something I often use to differentiate my characters from other FFIV AU verses, and also the Reflections of FFXIV. Ben's a bit of a dimension-hopper, so he fits right in with the concept of Reflections and dimensions in the game.

Ben is most commonly a part of my webcomics Wayrift and the re-release of Shimmer (which explores Ben’s not-so-happy adolescence).

In FFXIV, I’ve translated him to being an Elezen and a Red Mage, which is as close as it can get for him.

Fun fact: I tired to set up a FFXIV RP blog around Ben a very long time ago, and it just didn’t stick for whatever reason. So now he hangs around as a part of the Spot of Mummery side-character crew.

I'd like to change that if I could figure out how!

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I'm going to move some of my Sygnus figment FFXIV content posts from @spotofmummery over to this blog. Mostly because I spent a chunk of time on them, and I'd like to keep them around.

I want to make some changes, so I won't just do a straight reblog.

I'm still struggling to figure out how these characters can fit into the FFXIV universe, though, which is why I wasn't successful in doing much with them on my other blog. Sometimes I think I overthink these things, though, and it keeps me from doing anything of note.

Ah well! The life of a creative!

[aywren]

Shopping sales and snagging deals on Nintendo Switch physical games lately. Here's what I've added to my collection!

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The bun returns - in painter style!

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FFXIV Shadowbringers poster art recreation in GPOSE

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Want to see how I make Wayrift Webcomic pages? Have a speed paint video of colors for Ch91 Pg14!

-See the finished page here!-