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“We might meet again, someday between dreams at dawn.”

— Shuntarō Tanikawa, from Catch You Later (tr. by William Elliott & Kazuo Kawamura)

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You crawl out of the sea onto foreign sands. The trees are taller here; salt tipped grasses hiss in the wind. Look up and see the stars– so far away, their light harsher the than breaking waves– you know these skies are not your own. But half-moon midnight murmurs your name and lingers on your shoulders. “You are lost here, but you are not alone. Let us walk beside each other until you are home.”

“And what if we never find it?” You say.

“Then we will walk in stride and look ahead, and our home will be in our footsteps, in our clasped hands, swinging as we go– home will be the walking, the waxing moon and you.”

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They clean up nice

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Wyda is officially retired...for now. She had a good run, and I loved writing for her! GOD the existential dread I felt as I drew closer and closer to running the event that would end her.

Her story continues through another. Give a follow here! :D

I’ll be keeping this blog up as an archive, although I might still post every now and again. But since her arc is done, here goes! An unedited, unfiltered slurry of words-directly-from-brain-to-keyboard about Wyda! I’m warning you, this is true farm fresh to you stuff. And spoilers for many events in FF14. Read on if you dare.

Strap in, it’s going to be a long and bumpy ride.

Did I say that I love Primals?

Primal lore gives the FF14 devs a lot of creative freedom when it comes to designing bosses. Want the arena changed? Want something/someone to look absolutely wack? Want to spin up a threat without having a villain train for years prior? Bam, primals.

It also gives us, the players, the same creative freedoms when it comes to roleplaying!

The requirements to summon one are humorously low. At first, primals result from misguided and zealous beastmen shenanigans. Ifrit, Titan, Ramuh, Leviathan, Garuda...but then we get a bunch of weird summonings. Like when Ga Bu summons a funky version of Titan through his despair alone. Or when Yotsuyu brings forth Tsukuyomi because she really, really wants to see the world burn. Hell, Gilgamesh just thinks about his friend Enkidu in the presence of some crystals, and that’s enough to bring forth a primal. So I guess the only requirements for a primal summoning are 1) crystals and 2) thinking kinda hard? Strong feelings, especially negative ones, seem to be more effective but then again! What the heck happened with Gilgamesh? Who knows?!

But this is one of my favorite things in FF14. It’s a powder keg of a situation that will, and HAS, gone off multiple times.

Being tempered, meanwhile, is a fate worse than death. You’re forced to change sides and fight for the enemy. You don’t even find peace when you die - tempered souls linger in Eorzea thanks to how messed up they are by the process. But you don’t become a mindless servant either. *Points to Emet-Selch who is....kinda...on your side (???) but also on Zodiark’s side*

Things aren’t nearly as dark now that tempering can be cured. I’m very thankful, since otherwise my campaign would’ve had a very, very depressing ending. One that I originally planned for but STILL. I’m weak. ;_;

Riding off the Rails

Primal lore is flexible. In ARR, the rules are established, but later expansions took those rules and went “Well, what about this? And this? And this?” In other words, this is me admitting that I’m shameless and will stretch this lore until I reach the moon.

Developing Wyda was a ‘chicken first, egg later’ sort of situation. Though trite, I gave her amnesia in order to give myself an excuse for knowing nothing about FF14 lore (and because I was new to roleplaying). When I finally sat down to flesh her out, my mind kept returning to primals. I love ‘em and their potential for drama! So yeah, I was determined to make it work.

There were a lot of questions I had to answer. If Wyda is a primal, then why isn’t she tempering everyone she meets?! How is she getting away with being a ‘normal’ person? And how do I avoid power creep? I know, for a fact, that if I walked into an RP event and just said...hey. My character is a primal, are you cool with that? The answer would be a solid no. Nooooo! I’d tell that to myself! So I wanted to solve these questions in a fair way that would allow others (and myself) to remain immersed in the roleplaying world. Luckily, FF14 lore is like a bottomless chest of building blocks. It was just a matter of stacking them carefully.

Primals are summoned when someone thinks around some crystals (Ah, Gilgamesh...)

The primal’s purpose is based on the summoner’s desires, but with a monkey’s paw twist (Ga Bu’s Titan punching the other kobolds away is indicative of this)

The amount of aether used in the summoning determines how powerful the primal will be (Shinryu being beefy as hell)

Primals can be summoned out of thin air, or be channeled into someone’s body

When a primal is channeled, the summoner needs the Echo to resist (Ysalye and Ryne). Otherwise the summoner is tempered by their own creation.

Now, with those blocks in hand, I started spitballing...and it led me to this thought. If a primal’s purpose is to NOT be a primal, what happens?

Would they know that they’re a primal?

Can they still use their primal powers?

What happens when the primal is based off of someone who still exists?

For Wyda, I chose to swing this way.

Her memory is garbage because she’s a primal based on someone else. Even if you know someone really well, you can’t perfectly recreate/emulate them.

She’s normal-powered because all her primal magic is going towards suppressing her powers. Extremely inefficient. And she’s very human-like because she’s possessing someone else’s body, as opposed to being made purely of primal aether.

Primals temper whether they want to or not - aether leaks, and it corrupts. To solve this for Wyda, instead of leaking aether out of the wazoo...thanks to the nature of her summoning, she just leaks a tiny bit all the time. Not enough to temper.

But I also wrote myself into a corner. If Wyda isn’t going to behave like a primal, then how does she exist for so long? They need a constant source of aether to survive, and she’s not doing primal stuff since she’s too busy being human. And so...the answer is that she doesn’t. Once her aether runs out, then poof.

See? Fun! (But also pain. So much pain.)

Playing with Fire

Eorzea (like most fantasy RPG settings) is a nightmare factory. Most, if not all, who make their living ‘adventuring’ are scarred from what they have to face. For every success story (WoL), there are countless more tragedies (Avere). And even if you survive...who wouldn’t get trauma if you were an adventurer and it was normal for your buddies to be eaten by a beast, tempered by a primal, possessed by a ghost?

Which is to say, Wyda's scars run deep. Shit goes down. 

To repeat that in slightly more words: Wyda is an accidental byproduct of Cravendy’s grief and longing. At her lowest moment, Cravendy (a Seawolf pirate) thinks of her friend Dots and the unfairness of it all. And oops, there are crystals nearby. So now, we got Wyda walking around in Cravendy’s body, thinking that she’s someone named Dots. By the way, Dots is still alive! Very awkward.

Wyda is a denial incarnate. She is Cravendy’s dream for safety, family, and happiness for Dots. But denial does not erase the past, nor does it change how you feel. By existing, Wyda suppresses those feelings for Cravendy and freezes the other woman in the past. With the both of them like this, Cravendy will never accept her trauma and Wyda will be plagued with a stranger’s guilt.

Primal souls are weird. I have no idea where they come from, but they seem separate from the summoner’s. So as Wyda’s influence wanes, Cravendy’s soul begins to resurface. This forces Wyda into a cycle of self-discovery and self-destruction that, unfortunately, convinces Wyda that she ought to disappear. It’s a tragic conclusion she reaches after having her worldview shattered. She’s a copy of Dots, she’s a primal. What’s real, and what’s not? What even matters?

The Power of Love

Love is a persistent theme for all of my characters. For Cravendy, love is why she hurts, so she would rather forget it than bear any more pain. But Wyda is the opposite - she loves too much. When all else is a sham, Wyda trusts that the love she feels is real. And ultimately, this love dooms Wyda and saves Cravendy.

Wyda’s fatal flaw is her self-destructive selflessness. Thanks to being mistaken for Dots all the time, Wyda develops a low sense of self. Then events of the campaign erode that into nothingness. She’s a second rate copy full of brittle memories, she’s a fake! And discovering Cravendy’s sleeping soul only pushes Wyda further into her flaw. Here is my purpose, she thinks! My original! And I’ll save her no matter what, because she deserves to live!

But it’s a mistake. Certainly, Cravendy is saved, but Wyda deserves to be saved too. Although she loves with all her heart, Wyda never learns to love herself and see her own self-worth. She doesn’t understand that her friends don’t share her view of herself - as a worthless copy that can only find value in saving another. Her selflessness loops into selfishness.

Maybe Wyda will come back...She certainly has a lot to learn still!

The TLDR version of all this is that I accidentally pulled a Kingdom Hearts plot with this character, and now I understand, Nomura. I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU BRING BACK YOUR CHARACTERS. ;_;

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It’s okay to be afraid.  It means we got something worth livin’ for.

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(( How can I convey even further how much I love your writing...... ;_; ))

Into the Tempest: How It Ends

She can’t remember nor understand how she makes it back to Heartwood. Somehow she is still whole, she didn’t understand that either. Surely she had splintered and fractured apart back there on that lonely stretch of beach. Her body protests as she leans heavily against the solid oak doors, pushing her way into the House. Burned, bruised, bloody and broken. Yet it is as if her mind has left the physical pain behind, drifting high and away from such mundane concerns. 

As Aislinn stumbles into the foyer, her dimly lit eyes catch on Bertram standing there anxiously, not knowing where they had gone or how to find them. He was supposed to be with them. She had asked him to be there. Why wasn’t he there? An unfair thought shoots across the dark of her mind; Ren would have been there. When had he become the brother she could depend on? There is a beat of silence in the air between them, loaded and ominous as the hush of an axed tree just before it hits the ground. 

The sight of him brings her to her knees for the second time that horrible day as she sinks down right there, unable to take another step. Her lungs tighten. A collapse of order as pain and loss rush to fill the void in her. And then she’s sobbing, unable to hold all the fractured pieces of herself together any longer. Not the anguished screams that were torn from Mivo’to’s throat when Wyda fell. But the bone deep tears of a person who has been here one too many times before. She simply doesn’t have the strength to get back up. 

She knows by now that the last pieces you carry of a person, no matter how small, take up a big space inside you. She carries so many pieces.

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INTO THE TEMPEST

Skiffle and rag, shuffle and waltz. A tempest grows, borne from a forbidden dance of half truths and secret power. Join Wyda in this series of quests as she confronts a threat that endangers the whole of La Noscea. Till sea swallows all…

Red Argos, a bandit crew of Sahagin, Seawolves, and Garleans, had to be stopped. Using a powerful Allagan artifact known as the Helm, they tampered with aether currents in order to create a new font of aether underneath Western La Noscea. Heartwood and friends chased these evildoers from place to place until finally, finally they were brought to justice. But Red Argos’s connections to Wyda pull her under, and her allies step into one last battle…into a war waged deep within her heart.

Spanning over 9 main quests, 4 side quests, and several independent sessions, well over 200 pages of content was created together as a part of this RP campaign! A key part of the campaign was the investigation. By recovering evidence after quests, players would further research along specific tracks, and unlock a variety of optional content. And by playing through this ‘extra credit’, they directly influenced the finale and epilogue quests.

Now, this is all available for you to poke through. Take a look!

[ Investigation ] [ Main Logs ] [ Epilogue ]

Nutley here! I want to thank my players for being AMAZING and for coming along for the ride. Thank you for the unbelievable patience as this campaign rolled out, bit by bit, for over half a year. Thank you for being invested in the characters, the twists, the turns. Thank you for being hilarious, for being understanding, and for all the fun and memories! I’d especially like to thank Lin, who’s maybe (???) had an idea where this ship was sailing but hung on regardless. Trust me that when I say that the finale was just as painful for me as it was for you.

Also, check out our FC, Heartwood Ventures! Even if you can’t join, know that many of those who participated were members of our crossworld linkshell, or friends of friends! For future campaigns of mine, you don’t necessarily need to be part of the FC to participate and have fun. This is me telling you to just go for it!

Finally, I want to pay due respect to what inspired me to run this - the Heartless campaign, by the abundantly talented Meishali.(https://borderbipoline.tumblr.com/) And to the others reading this, I hope this can inspire something in you. Don’t get caught up in numbers and create what YOU want. Indulge! Have a good time! You don’t need anyone’s permission to go wild.

And now, I rest…….aaa

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Produced for the finale quest of the INTO THE TEMPEST campaign, REVERIE.

Read the full logs here!

reverie [ rev-uh-ree ]

a state of dreamy meditation or fanciful musing. a daydream. a fantastic, visionary, or impractical idea. an instrumental composition of a vague and dreamy character.

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Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will always love you.

Sarah J. Maas, Empire of Storms  (via quoted-books)

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RP Log: Some time in the past, Wyda welcomes Sven to the company! 

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn has spent the afternoon tending to the front yard. ‘Gardening’ (if you could call basically drowning plants in water that) and keeping everything tidy! With a broom gripped between her hands, she sweeps the stepping stones leading to the company building with a hum and a tune.

Sven Anovsch walks up slowly, seeing the person 'tending' to the lawn and stepping stones.  This unsocialized Hrothgar walks just enough to not step on the stones before clearing his throat and speaking. "Ahem, you are employed here?"

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn stops sweeping and gives Sven a beaming smile. “Hello! Oh, yes! I’m employed.” A beat. She clears her throat. “I’m one of the officers of Heartwood. What can I help you with?”

Sven Anovsch blinks and forces his head back at the sudden almost excited and quick response. "A-ah. Well good then." He takes a few steps forward. "I have been loitering around that tavern? Hall?" He shrugs before continuing. "In Ul'dah.  I saw a few fliers of other companies but figured I'd see if this was a proper one for me...." He realizes he is just talking to much. "I'm just looking for a position is all, what can I do to start that?"

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn steps to the left for a moment to lean her broom against the wall, and returns with her hands empty. She then presents an open hand to Sven and waits for him to shake it. “A recruit then? Welcome! All you have to do is shake on it.”

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “...Okay, there’s a bit more to it. I can walk you through what you can expect to do here, if you decide to join. Ahem. But we can get into the nitty gritty stuff inside over a cup of tea.”

Sven Anovsch cants his head looking down to her hand. "That...Is it? Ah, what of questions o- I see, I see.  I will agree to that so far." He extends his hand to take hers for a shake.  If it was just a normal shake, and no funny business, it would just be a normal but firm shake.  Expected of an average Hrothgar.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Let’s head on in. If we stay out too long, then we might get a nasty sunburn.” She eyes Sven curiously, and is about to ask him if Hrothgar can even get a sunburn...but she holds her tongue. Wouldn’t be polite. Wyda steps away and pushes the building doors open, ushering the recruit inside.

Sven Anovsch just perks a brow, but nodding as he follows her lead. "Thanks." He says as he is ushered through the door.

Sven Anovsch takes a decent look around. "Interesting floor." He just stares at the ground now.  Obviously completely confused on it and how it is even maintained here inside, though he focuses his attention back on Ais. "A nice building though.  A lot better than some dingy building that some companies have." He gives a quick chuckle.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn grins, suddenly feeling a little bashful even though it’s the house being complimented. “We take good care of the place...and we take good care of the members. One sec.”

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn grabs a folder of documents from the front table and then dashes over to the cafe. Bam, the papers go on the table. Bam, she brings over a pot of tea and a couple of sweets from the bakery. And then bam, she sits herself down and gestures for Sven to join her.

Sven Anovsch gives a nod. "It seems your company does take good care of the place." He follows along and sits down across from Ais. "Do you treat all recruits like this? Or is it a ploy to persuade anyone who wishes to join?" He smirks lightly.  Is this a joke? Who knows, but now his eyes lay on the papers.  A sigh and nothing further said as he stares.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “All genuine! Nothing fake about this.” She grins, and then pulls out a pencil with the intent of filling out the form in front of her. She stops the moment she tries to fill the first square. “Shoot! What’s your name...what’s my name! I’m Wyda. Ahhh, I was so excited that I forgot the first step in talking with people.”

Sven Anovsch widens his eyes as he forgot himself as well. That's it...He blew it...Another awkward social interaction. He shakes his head before finally speaking. "Sven, it's Sven.  Apologies." He sighs, shaking his head.  He is better suited for working rather than talking most definitely.  Stupid hermit Hroth.

(Sven Anovsch) Love it xD ) (Sven Anovsch) Sven just literally hasn't talked to anyone since he was like 14 or 15 and he is in his early 30's now haha ) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) he's pretty good at talkin for someone who hasn't talked for 15 years! O_O )) (Sven Anovsch) Lmfao well he's been here for like a few months aaand I don't feel like typing like that xD ) (Sven Anovsch) May seem awkward, but he's smartish.  He tried suuuper hard to learn the language.  We will go with that lmfao )

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Sven! That’s a nice name. S-v-e-n...Sven.” Wyda fills in the first box. “So, we’re a group of adventurers from all sorts of places. Limsa Lominsa, Ul’dah, Coerthas...you name it. Why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself?”

Sven Anovsch is obviously not too excited to talk about himself, though he knows he must. "Thank you. Ah, well I am a warrior, of course.  I have only recently came down from way up beyond Ishgard.  You can imagine why I am sure.  Though, I am not opposed to groundskeeping, brewing or stilling.  But I still flourish with fighting, as it seems typical around here to be anyways." He wonders if that suffices.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn nods as she listens and jots down notes based on what he’s telling her. Ishgard. Warrior. Groundskeeping. Brewing. “Quite a journey if you made it on foot. Now, we’ve got a gardener already, but I’m sure she won’t mind a helping hand now and again. But brewing...now that’s interesting! Erm..” Her eyes light up as her inner alcoholic tries to make itself known. Wyda scrunches her face for a second and forces it back down.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn:  “Ahem. ‘Fighting’ is generally how we pay the bills. Guard jobs, hunts, you name it. It’s dangerous, but everyone here is someone you can trust your life with. And if you -do- get hurt, we’ve got a clinic in house.”

Sven Anovsch actually smiles and nods. "Yes, was mainly on foot until I got a bit of coin to be able to afford going down to Ul'dah.  A fellow Hrothgar told me it is friendliest to travelers there? Or at least to him.  But...I've been stilling a few things for many summers, I've tried a bit at brewing.  Not as tasty as like stilling mead or just the stuff that makes you pass out, but good regardless." He chuckles for a moment before continuing. "Seems with at least fighting, I fit in, yes?"

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn leans back in her chair. Ah, Ul’dah...the city of opportunity, but also the city of shady deals. “Before I found Heartwood, I went to Ul’dah too. Nice enough place, but I’m glad to be where I am now. And I think you’ll fit right in - you’ll find we’re all weird in our own way.”

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Do you think you could show me how to brew alcohol sometime? I’m a bit of a...” Her mind searches for the right word. Drunk? Accurate, but no. “I’m a connessier.”

Sven Anovsch smiles warmly at that. "It's a bit barren down in Ul'dah.  Opposite of what I am used to, but I suppose it does have good food." He chuckles before continuing. "I'd be happy to show you though.  It takes a while, but if you do it right, it comes out quite good.  By my standards at least."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn fills a cup of tea for herself and Sven. “I’m sure I’ll enjoy it! When you make something with love, then it will always taste good.” Wyda says this with absolute seriousness, completely unaware of how cheesy she’s being. God, the cheese.

Sven Anovsch blinks at that.  Feta cheese. "Yes...Or just the good quality hops." He chuckles looking down to the cup of tea she poured for him.  He reaches to pick it up, giving it a sniff before continuing. "How many members are working here?"

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn similarly picks up her teacup and wraps her hands around it, appreciating its warmth. “Hm...60 to 70. But some folk are the type to return home in a blue moon while they’re doing their own thing. Certainly, there are regulars like myself. And if you hang around the bar, you’re sure to see the same faces quite a bit.”

Sven Anovsch gives a nod. "Then perhaps I will linger around here more often.  I'm assuming this company also partakes in contracts that require bigger groups?" He sips at his tea which leads to an odd reaction.  Not a displeased one, but one of just curiosity as he sniffs the tea again? why? He takes another sip and just holds it under his face a bit as he waits for her response.

(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) lmao what is this strange hot leaf juice xD )) (Sven Anovsch) Lmfao, he's used to his shitty teas he learned to make which are essentially just random shit mixed together.  Comes to Eorzea and holy shit there's good tasting tea? Not just 'medicinal' kinds? haha )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) now he's in the lap of luxury, comparatively ))

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Yeah, maybe...once or twice a month. Depends on whether Eorzeas on fire or not.” She shrugs her shoulders with a lighthearted chuckle. “We’ve fought all sorts of things. Amal’jaa, robot spiders, an aether sucking auracite...It can get pretty dangerous, not gonna lie. I much prefer the time between jobs where we can just kick back and relax.”

Sven Anovsch cants his head. "Robot spiders...?" That's a new one to him.  Robot?  He shrugs. "Complacency can kill someone, so don't let yourself get too comfortable and relaxed." There it is, the boneheaded Hrothgar attitude. "So, you have me convinced.  I'd like to join.  What all must I do?"

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn sighs. How she wishes she could relax forever...but she can’t. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she was slacking around while others risked life and limb for the good of Eorzea. “Not much. Just sign here, and here.” Wyda points to two spots on the forms. They’re the usual stuff found on free company applications. The company isn’t responsible for any untimely deaths, a promise to represent the company in a positive light, etc...

Sven Anovsch can't read...What does he do...He looks over where she pointed but somehow already lost his place on where he is supposed to sign...Sign..? What does that exactly mean. "Uhm..." Is all he says.

(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) oh noo )) (Sven Anovsch) Lmao BUT HOW DID HE FIND THIS PLACE?!?! wonder of the universe lmfao lots of awkward interactions in asking for help lmfao )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) the universe is a magical and mysterious place............... )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) wyda isn't much sharper tbh ))

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn looks up at Sven, then down at the paper, and then back up. You can practically hear the gears move in her head. “Oh! Umm, just. Just do this. Please hold still.” Wyda tries to blacken the Sven’s fingertip with the end of her pen, in an attempt to use his fingerprints in lieu of a signature.

Sven Anovsch just lets her do what she is doing. "I think I understand..." He then takes his freshly inked fingertip and just makes a smudge with it.  Not a fingerprint...A smudge... He looks up smiling. "There! It all works, yes? I must admit, I am quite excited to see where this company can take me.  It smells positive here, which is a good thing before going out and fighting or something like that, yes?"

(Sven Anovsch) I try to fill in logic holes as I go lmfao. )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) fdsf this is cracking me up ))

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn picks up the paper and holds it against the light. The smudge is immediately noticeable, like a bowling ball in a field of snow. “Hm.”

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Perfect!” She practically glows with positive energy.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “And I’m excited to welcome you to Heartwood! So I’ll say it again...welcome, friend!”

Sven Anovsch perks up even more. "Great! I shall eventually bring all my brewing stuff over.  I'll even let you use it as you wish.  Best way to learn is just experiment." He chuckles. "But, I look forward to working with the people here." And a confident nod at the end there.

[blooms-of-ice]

“long ago, between a dream and a dream”

— E.E. Cummings, from “long ago,”; Collected Poems: 1904-1962

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Into the Tempest

Blood Price

Mere moments before the ritual, Momori would have a small group sneak deep into the Sahagin’s base in order to rescue the would-be sacrifices. Getting in unnoticed won’t be easy…so to help even the odds, you’ll be provided with an annotated map detailing patrols, rooms, and traps, as well as plenty of supplies. The rest is up to you.

Participants:

Momori Mori (GM)

Aislinn North

Haila Wetyios

Nagisa Miyumi

Summary:

The job is performed perfectly. With the Sahagin none the wiser, the captives have been located and snuck out of their base. Afterwards, everyone holes up in a hidden cave and waits for their allies to come pick them up. And when the group reunites, news (both good and bad) is shared…

Full Logs: https://tinyurl.com/y48nvodt

Song of the Sea

Drive a submarine past Sahagin forces and make it to the ritual grounds! With La Noscea on the line, a sizable crew of Maelstrom soldiers will be assisting you in this treacherous journey. Red Argos will try to conduct the ritual no matter the circumstance…So you’ll have to interrupt them at the perfect moment - right after they finish the ritual, but before they tap into the aether. If all goes according to plan, the aether will be safely trapped within the Cloudy White Auracite, and the Helm finally recovered. May Nymeia, goddess of fate, be on your side.

Participants:

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn (GM)

Amasar Iriq

Mivo'to Laaski

Krystblyss Haerulmwyn

Rising Lotus

Rolanda Deschain

Summary:

At just the right moment, Heartwood strikes! Missiles fly, and a battle breaks out. Red Argos unleashes a monstrous beast in the image of Leviathan against Heartwood while Perry, Red Argos’s arcanist, flings spells their way. Both are brought down, and Kurr’s attempt to summon Leviathan is stopped. Momori would classify the mission as a success - Red Argos has been captured! The Helm is recovered! And the aether underneath La Noscea is no longer at threat of bursting.

But she would be leaving out one key detail…for at the end, it was not the Cloudy White Auracite that absorbed the excess aether. It was Aiswyda. As some kind of low power, long release primal, the aether was instead drawn into the Seawolf, triggering her transformation into something purer. Crazed. Now, the former Heartwood officer is on the loose, determined to use her new power to rid the world of suffering.

Momori wonders: Perhaps this is why Aiswyda resembles Dots? She shelves that mystery for later, and busies herself with one final mission…

Full Logs: https://tinyurl.com/y3bsw8e4

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“(…) I watch the dreaming sea With isles like flowers against her breast,”

— Sara Teasdale, from Song At Capri “The Collected Poems Of Sara Teasdale”

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I guess I have to face That in this awful place I shouldn't show a trace of doubt...

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Into the Tempest: Before the Raid

The way Wyda had nearly fallen asleep at the table during the meeting with Dellont hadn’t escaped Aislinn’s notice. As she dealt with the fall out from that meeting, in the back of her mind was the niggling reminder she needed to go check on her friend. Everyone was preparing for the raid on Red Argos but Aislinn was more concerned about where Wyda’s head was at. This whole business had taken it’s toll on the Seawolf, she knew that. Poking her head in the roegadyn’s chamber had her coming up empty so she wandered around the House, knowing the woman had taken to sleeping in odd places.

“Of course.” she murmured to herself as she came upon Wyda fast asleep on the floor before one of the fireplaces. She gingerly stepped around the Seawolf and sat down on the rug, studying the woman with a look of consternation. There was a brief pause before she reached out and, after a bracing inhale of breath, set her hand on Wyda’s shoulder, shaking it gently. “Wyda.” she said, quiet, like always.

Aiswyda was hot to the touch, a possible result of being toasted by the fireplace for the entirety of her slumber. After a few shakes, she mumbled a bit, blinking through bleary eyes. “Hrrgh…Lin? What is it?”

She felt a deep sense of deja vu. The last time this had happened was in the Lominsan gaols. While her friend was always a welcome sight, she cursed internally at being caught in the open like this. Guess she didn’t make it to her room this time…

The corner of Aislinn’s lips tugged down in a frown as she pulled her hand away. Wyda was feverishly hot. She glanced over at the fire, hesitantly deciding that might explain it. Or perhaps she just wished that to be the case. In any event, she sat back. “Not sleeping well? Kinda noticed the same thing in that meeting with Dellont.” she said simply, leaving room for Wyda to make of her question what she will.

Aiswyda‘s mind raced with potential excuses, but the stern look on Lin’s face convinced her otherwise. An excuse would be a lie, and it wouldn’t be right to fool her friend…Wyda chuckled lightly. Not that she had a chance of sliding something by Lin anyway.

“Yeah. I haven’t felt rested in a long while.” She shrugged to herself and leaned back slightly. “…Dellont. What became of that guy, anyway? ‘Fraid I haven’t kept up with recent news.”

The woman let go a breath as she leveled a ‘look’ at Wyda. Pointed but forebearing only in a way a good friend can manage. She knew by now when Wyda was trying to divert her or change the subject. But for now, she followed along. It was important news, after all.“As I understand it he and Vanriri were ambushed on the way home.” she said, glancing away. “The Wailers found him. He’d been knocked around a bit. He kept saying something had taken Vanriri. Not hard to imagine just what that something was.” there’s an edge to her voice as she finished.

Aiswyda shifts back forward and hugs her knees tight against her chest. The news alarmed her. Taken? But…by who? Maybe more robots?! And why now? She stared back up at Lin and hesitated. The other woman was likely just as concerned about the situation, and Wyda didn’t want her to worry any more than she was already.

“…Well, we’ll get them all back. Just like when we got ol’ Nazyl back, eh?”

The question made Aislinn realize she had grown tense, staring at the fire, her hand having curled itself into a fist. Slowly, she took measure, loosening her hand, her shoulders. Though she still wasn’t quite able to translate that tension into words. Instead, she refocused on Wyda. “Have you tried any sleeping draughts?” she asked. “Last thing you want is to go stumbling into this raid half asleep.”

Aiswyda finds the topic (uncomfortably) back on her sleeping woes. Without thinking, idle hands begin to toy with the fringes of a nearby throw pillow. She looks away, gaze settling comfortably on the crackling fire.

“I…I have! Falling asleep isn’t the issue…Don’t worry Lin. This’ll be sorted out before then. I know it.” Her words fail to convince even herself, and she can’t bring herself to look Lin in the eye afterwards.

The noise of disagreement made its way out of Aislinn’s throat before Wyda had even finished speaking. “If it’s not the falling asleep part of it, then what is it?” she hesitated to be her blunt self but before she could stop herself she went on plowing ahead. “Because you honestly haven’t looked rested ever since you came back from the gaol. Why would it suddenly sort itself –” she stopped. That last part even she could see would not be helpful. What point could there be in pointing out the obvious right before they shipped out on this job?

Aiswyda flinched. Lin was right - but knowing that didn’t stop her from falling into old habits. She wanted to run - leave this situation behind! Focus on other things - anything - and hope for a miracle, because she couldn’t bear to deal with her shame. What’s one more problem swept under the rug?

“I….I don’t….” She stammered, mouth suddenly dry. Instinctively, she glanced behind her and noted where her exits lay. Words tumbled out without second thought.  “Lin. I’ll be fine. I’ll be fine! I’ve always been. And…Wh…We have to just. Just keep going. It’ll work out.”

Aislinn clamped her jaw tight against whatever she might say next. Wyda had that look about her. Like a cornered cat about to make a mad dash. And she hadn’t come up here to chase the Seawolf away. She blew out a long breath and shook her head. “Sorry. I just…we’re losing people left and right lately. And honestly, I just want you to come out of this Red Argos business in one piece. That’s all.” she says lowly.

Aiswyda continued staring past the fireplace, frozen. But she listened. And eventually, she shook her head no. “No…you’re just being a good friend, is all. And with so many missing at the moment, the cost of being in this profession are all too apparent.” She takes a deep breath and tries to center herself. “…To be honest, I’m scared too.“ she paused. "But when the day comes…Whether I’m able or not, I have to be there. To see things through. To protect my friends, old and new.” She pulls her gaze from the fire and looks directly at Lin.

Aislinn dropped her head and nodded. It was the answer she was expecting. "Well, you’ve never really been one to sit back. And I…hope we’ll manage it. Protecting everyone. Your old crew and new.” An unvoiced question sat squarely in the middle of Aislinn’s chest. What if Wyda had to choose? It was one she hoped Nymeia would never lay at the Seawolf’s feet. “And I supposed it’d be foolish not to be scared.”

Aiswyda did her best to give Lin an uplifting smile. “It’s okay to be afraid. It means we got something worth livin’ for.” She let out a long sigh. “….what I wouldn’t give to have this all over with though. Relax in a cold creek and just watch the blue sky, an’ all that.”

It was just like Wyda to paint a picture and pull them both out of their current troubles. Aislinn’s lips twitched slightly at the thought. Her smile was odd thing where the corners of her mouth barely lifted, her eyes sparked and the smile sat there in their depths. “Let’s make that first thing on the list of things to do when we get back.”

“You know I’ve got a never-ending list of such items! In fact, they’re scattered in notes all over my room’s floor. Stuff like eating a pineapple. Or skipping stones.” Aiswyda grins, though her heart can’t quite shake off the blues this time.

Aiswyda sinks under the weight of the coming days. This could be the last time she sees Lin. Hell, any day could be their last but right now….in this moment, she strongly feels the need to reaffirm what she assumes is common knowledge between the two of them. “You’re a great friend. You know that, right? So don’t go doing anything stupid without me!”

Aislinn nodded along with Wyda’s list and even added to it. “Indoor picnic. Trip to Camp Bronze Lake. We should go back to the Golden Saucer and see if those tight-wearing Highlanders are still practicing.” a huff of laughter escaped before she can stop it. But the lightness disappears like so many soap bubbles in the wake of Wyda’s declaration. Something inside tightened a fist around her heart at the words. Because she saw them for what they were. Parting words. Despite wanting to shy away from acknowledging their meaning, she took a moment to summon a response. “And you’re without a doubt one of the best people I’ve ever known. But that sentiment goes both ways. If I’m not allowed to do anything stupid, neither are you.”

The farthest thing from Wyda’s mind had been those frolicking highlanders. And to have her mind be brought there, of all places. Of all times! She starts to laugh uncontrollably as she thinks about their earnest dance routine.

Lit by firelight, the two recounted previous escapades and mused about the future long into the night. It was one certain to be full of laughter and love. Because in this moment, despite what they knew to be true, they created a shared belief that the future couldn’t possibly be anything less than certain.

[blooms-of-ice]

Blur

Wyda wakes up exhausted, so she goes back to sleep. A day passes until she stirs again, sunbeams burning lines on her face. But she never feels rested. With every waking moment, more and more of her slips away. Sleep slows her descent, though it does not stop it.

But to lose, is to gain.

A layer peels back, and her blood seethes. Through the heat, Wyda forces herself to gaze deep into the burning abyss within her heart. She has repressed this for so long. Fought against it with every fiber of her being, and yet she cannot find peace until she comes to terms with it. This is the contradiction that gives rise to her soul, though it masks dark truths and painful traumas. Wyda hesitates. 

And reaches out.

Fire licks at the palm of her hand, but it leaves no mark. She presses on. The flames around her flare out like a web of infinite threads, each racing out with hungry ferocity. Something clicks in her mind as she watches, eyes aglow. Set against the inferno, her shadow extends.

She is not Dots. She is not Cravendy. 

She is not even a Sea Wolf.

Wyda trembles with every breath. Her mind is chaos - full of shooting stars that shatter against her skull. Against the weight of this realization. That she is not Dots, not Cravendy, not something normal. All of that is just tinder and kindling and firewood.

For Wyda...Wyda is a walking dream of hellfire and happiness. And so long as she burns, deeper truths would remain obscured by her blinding light. She wets her lip as she considers her options once more.

She could live in willful ignorance, like a frozen flame. Ever burning, ever consuming, and yet kept from reaching its natural conclusion. She would forever be haunted by something that is not quite her own.

Or she could let time pass and fade away. Her pulse quickens...The very thought terrifies her. But the only way to heal this festering scar would be to reopen old wounds. To rip off the bandaid and start over, from when and where it all began.

Her mind is not yet made up, and there is much that comes before this. Heartwood, her old crew, the Helm. For now, she slumbers and bides her time. She will need all her energy to fight for what matters, and what comes next.