klath-diary

[klath-diary]

21th, Rhalgr, 1583

Its been a while since those pages saw any ink. While so much has happened, nothing really worth reporting. The company is doing well. Several people got trained into full-fledged knights, got their own squires and trained them to become knights as well. Its been a few busy months, but Klath has nothing to complain about. They are a bit loud and make a mess on the company estate, but they also help cleaning it up. Sometimes he is just happy to watch them cause a commotion, so he can scold them later on for their misbehavior. Still, they listen and they learn. He couldnt be in better company.

His personal studies slowed down, but did not halt entirely. The alchemy papers are progressing. The rune magic can now be imbued into rune jobs, and he has a few of them prepared for the first generation of new rune knights. Special training on both thaumathurgy and military combat is needed, but there are a few who have shown potential to learn it. Not a lot of progress on blood magic, though. He still has dreams about the succubus, she appears every now and then, they chat and share dreamscapes of each other's homeland. He has seen much of the Fourteen in the past few weeks. There is so much more to it than he has seen before on his few trips there...

[klath-diary]

12th, Llymlaen, 1583

Klath is ready for when the creature appear this time. He found a book on gubal about lucid dreaming, by doctor Gwenoille, that also explained basic concepts of oneiric battle to fend off spectral invaders, such as dreameaters voidsent. He spent days, or should I say, nights, learning how to communicate or even use his aether in dream battles against invisible opponents, knowing full well that his invisible observer is around, lurking somewhere.

One night, she decided to show up, muttering a few words “So much…life”. He understood her and answered back “Yes.”, as the dream flickered for a second, “Yes. And I know you hunger.”. The creature, female in appearance, as that is the best to lure men to their deaths, looked up at him as if surprised, “How do you…?”. Then her surprise turned into a hideous shape, she got angry, maybe due to fear, but who knows. Her claws got ready to jump him.

Then, he put his mental training to work, and absorbed all the aether from his body into his mind, taking full control of that dream “world”, he turned it into a dreamscape, or his own personal pocket dimension inside of his dream, where he had full control of anything and everything that happened in his mind. 

The creature felt trapped, she looked around fruitlessly looking for a way out, and hissed like a large feline who knew she was trapped. He then smiled, as his body kept growing, as a way to show just how much more aether he had, much more than she was thinking, much more than she could handle. He was no prey, he was a predator, and this was a display of strength. She stared at him with her claws out, and he knew what she was thinking.

“Fear not. You are hungry. Here, have some.” He extended his hand, which was larger than the creature herself. She looked confused, that surely was a trap for her. “Fear not. You can have it, just eat.”. She yells, angry “Why? Why are you giving it? What is this?”. To which, he replies with a smile “Because you need it. I have plenty and you need only some of it. Right? Take it.”. The creature is obviously confused, so he decides to act, and opens his palm, focusing his aether out of his hand and into the creature. “Just have it. It's yours. Just promise you will come at me when you are hungry again. Dont hurt anyone else.”.

She feasts on his aether, absorbing as much as she can before being overflow and having to step out of it. She feels heavy, full of life, her expression changed, maybe a smile, maybe just ecstasy. “Why… It makes no sense... It's not how it works.”.

“Doesn’t matter. If you need it again. Come to me, and just ask.”, he drops the dreamscape and wakes up briefly after. A smile on his face as he looks at his hand, briefly dried out of aether.

[klath-diary]

22th, Nymeia, 1583

The dream again, inside a moving train this time. Where is this? Garlemald? Impossible. Unless… There must be parts of the empire where those machines still work. That can be the only explanation. Regardless, Klath has never been to one of those. Yet, here we are. He awaits for the creature to appear once more. And then it does. It looks curious, intrigued, as if wondering why her charms don't work on that man. The creature floats around him, knowing he won’t harm her, as he would have done so before. She looks curious at him. What he doesn't realize is that the creature is analyzing his aether, not his actual appearance.

She says “How are you so full of life, when there is so much darkness inside of you, so much death around you?” He doesn’t understand what she is talking about. How could she know those things? How could she even say anything if her mouth didn't even move? Telepathy? Right, this is a dream. He visualizes the words in his mind, and she reacts surprised. They are communicating. Shortly after, he wakes up. He needs to dominate this technique if he wants to truly engage in conversation with these beings.

[klath-diary]

15th, Nymeia 1583

Klath walks around a deserted Ishgard, a few hours after the final siege. Strangely, there are no bodies anywhere, no blood, just smoke and destruction... Everything is very familiar to him. It's a recurring dream, after all. But this is no mere dream. It's a dreamscape.

A voidsent is after him, once more. They never give up. Too much light can attract beings of darkness. But Klath never understood why those beings are attracted to him, as his aether is umbrally-aspected. This type of voidsent is commonly known as a *succubus*. They invade people's dreams and extract their aether by fulfilling their darkest desires. 

Is this what he desires, he wonders. Destruction? Ruins? Emptiness? No, it cant be. He looks around, wary for the creature, which normally lurk invisible in the corner of his eye, waiting for him to show a sign of weakness before they attack.

But not this time... Why not? The creature is in plain view. Not disguised as someone he knew. Not in the form of a luscious beautiful lady. Not offering food, wealth or anything he could desire for. What is this creature thinking? Before his words could escape his mouth, the dream ended.

[klath-diary]

8th, Nymeia 1583

For the longest time, probably about an entire decade, Klath didn't want to be remembered at all. Being a survivor was his curse, and he hated it. He became an adventurer and soldier for hire to try to find death in battle, to seek a glorious death, to be forgotten as a knight with no honor, and maybe be remembered by the people who died to save their lives, as a hero.

But destiny is a cruel mistress, and did not grant him his wish. He is much older, much wiser, and no longer cares so much about things that happened so many years ago. He lost many friends and loved ones throughout the years. But he started to accept that he cannot save everyone. Some will be lost. He lives in the present now, making those around him happy, if possible. 

He learned to be dependable, instead of just throwing himself at danger on all opportunities. He also learned that he cannot, or rather, should not do everything by himself, and now depends on others too. Even if he could do everything by himself, why not let others have that chance? Every problem is an opportunity for growth.

His free time is spent studying the past, rediscovering what was lost, and making something new out of it. New technology, perhaps, or mostly just a new way to look at history and learn from it.

If he can make the world better for the future generations, somehow, he will try to do it. And he doesn’t need to do it alone.

[klath-diary]

Whoever made this, may your pillows always be fluffed and cool and may you never hit a red light as long as you live.

I haven’t laughed this hard in a long mf time.

[credit to liffeh on twitter!]

[klath-diary]

31th, Thaliak, 1583

Klath believes his sword is a tool of justice, not used for vengeance, anger or personal gain.

But there are times he questions himself. Should he take the path of the greater good? Should he finish that life in front of him so others don't suffer even more? Isn't he the villain in that person's history right now? These questions keep him awake at night. 

All the lives that he took in the past, answering to a "higher call", which ended up just being wrong. How many more lives he took believing he was doing good, being "the Savior of Eorzea", as they called him so many times... But what about all of their families? How many mourned soldiers that he put down while chasing the Empire out of Eorzea? Is this "right"? How? 

As a friend once told him, "conflict is inevitable, we all have to fight for what we believe in". But that was a few weeks before he had to put down his friend too. 

*So, what's the point? Why so much conflict? Why do so many lives have to be lost?*

He is very calm, calculating and sometimes even serene. But when he *snaps*, he can barely remember what happens afterwards. He doesn't like being pushed to his limits. He doesn’t like feeling even more regret for lives taken unnecessarily. Who’s to judge who is right or wrong? Certainly not him.

He will rather leave conflicts behind then have to take yet another life in yet another pointless dispute.

[klath-diary]

29th, Thaliak, 1583

Klath, coming from a knight-related family, became a squire at age of 8. Under supervision of Ser Sephirin the Just, who back then was fighting the stigma of being a knight who specialized in fighting with a greatsword. Still, Klath looked up to him as a great hero, wielding a sword almost as large as him with ease, something unheard of. He was one of the most favored to join the Heavensward by the archbishop for his accomplishments and valor.

At age 15, however, the Tribunal saw Klath's potential to become an inquisitor. He never knew why, but he was following the footsteps of other great knights who joined the Heavensward and didn't think twice. Then began his studies and training, in parallel to his other obligations. Two years later, he was knighted after successfully uncovering a heretic cell in the Scholasticate. A few months later, he was going on his first mission to hunt down witches, which he became known for within his rank. Even then, he had a knack for identifying aether traces. Though not capable of seeing aether, he could use other methods to identify if the aether residues left behind belonged to a heretic they captured later. Something he learned by studying both astrology and the inquisitorial methods of using alchemy to find traces of blood left behind in a crime scene.

That technique was later shared with other inquisitors, and led to *many* witches and heretics being captured by the Tribunal. Klath never took credit for it, as he didn't "invent" anything, he just applied two different studies together to achieve better results. 

Something he still applies to this day on everything he works on. After the dragonsong war ended, he left Ishgard to become an adventurer, and apply his training as knight, scholar and inquisitor to redeem his actions. 

To be the "hero" he wished that others had to save them from people like "him".

[klath-diary]

19th, Thaliak, 1583

Klath found an interesting read in the library of Miss Liliana Anaila. It’s a gridanian cookbook by Miss Olette Sivame, already deceased. She studied under mister Ajaux Jemaneire, one of the last scholars to still study and practice the alchemy of Amdapor. More specifically, the work of a renown amdaporian alchemist, master Adolt Jerane, which incorporated white magics into his alchemical concoction. 

There are very few books about amdaporian alchemy, but it is said to have been crucial during the War of Magi, as the white mages of Amdapor would quickly go out of mana when supporting the frontlines of the conflict. While the black and void mages of Mhach had an enormous supply with their voidsent minions. Without this alchemy, the war wouldn’t have lasted as long.

This knowledge was not completely lost, and a lot of herbal teas we have today can be traced back down to this period of time, especially the ones that calm the mind, such as Chamomile. Not only that, but the famous gridanian dish, the Woodman-style pasta with mushrooms and bacon, the Penne Boscaiola, was actually originally created by a disciple of master Jerane. It would use a mix of mind-calming mushrooms, like cordyceps, lion’s mane and ashwagandha, some milk cream, tomatoes and, of course, bacon.

It's fantastic to see how two, seemingly unrelated, fields of study and their inventions are so intrinsically connected by story.

[klath-diary]

17th, Thaliak, 1583

Klath revisits the Great Library, and the ruins of Mhach, looking for inspiration, insight, something that he could use to help understand what little is known about void magic. The black mages imprisoned voidsent to be used as weapons, that much is known. But those voidsent were never under their control, they were under their shackles. They were slaves, not weapons, not allies, not reliable resources. Why did they not realize that Diabolos would trick them? They wanted to use the knowledge given by a voidsent against them. Of course there would be a trick, a safe way out, a loophole. He would never teach them how to properly bind his own kind. Not without a way to escape somehow later on, after his own schemes were complete. What's the pattern? Where is the mistake? Klath gotta dig deeper into the library…

Another night lost in the books. However, Klath came into a mhachian alchemy book. So simple, yet so effective, were their alchemists. Rigid formulas, granted results… Of course! Umbral aether isn't supposed to be shackled. It 's free. It 's chaotic. It 's unpredictable. It is bound to escape any prison. All of this makes so much sense now…

[klath-diary]

11th, Thaliak, 1583

Klath met with that young elezen, Sebastien, from Pelagio, once more. He had helped Kori with a personal issue a few months back. Sebastien said he had some questions for Klath, and it was actually quite an entertaining conversation. Sebastien was reluctant at first, but Klath kept his composure and tried to lead the chat into an entertaining direction.

Apparently, Sebastien and Klath have met before, about a decade ago, on the courts of Ishgard. Back then, Klath was working as a bodyguard for Haurchefant, on behalf of his family, and knew absolutely nothing of the court etiquette. Sebastien was also one of Sir Greystone's many friends, and the two of them had a bunch to talk about for a couple of hours.

Apparently, Sebastien was a pianist, back then. Klath remembered the music, but did not remember his face. He was not amused by the young nobles socializing, at all. It seemed frivolous, they chatted and discussed meaningless topics. It never made sense to young Klath to discuss which color fits best on a shirt for a bonding ceremony… It does now, though.

Klath told him that back then, he was still an active inquisitor, just being sent to the Fortemps family on a covert mission to identify possible heretics and traitors that could be hiding among them. The Holy Seer was worried that the Fortemps' closer connection to outsiders could expose Ishgard, and a few inquisitors were sent to other families to weed out possible threats. Sir Greymane was in charge of Camp Dragonhead, which was one of the only ways by land into Ishgard from Eorzea. Klath served many years as Sir Greystone’s bodyguard, and his mission proved to be fruitless. The threats to Ishgard came from inside, as their own outdated views of how to become stronger: isolating themselves and sacrificing their own.

Well, it's all over now.

[klath-diary]

8th, Thaliak, 1583

Klath arrives on Ul’dah, to meet his squad and issue new orders to them. When this elezen girl, probably in her 20s approaches him and says “You… I remember you. In the mountains…Do you know who I am?”. Klath apologizes, as he has zero recollections of a girl with her facial features. She looks ishgardian, but other than that, nothing. His mind is blank.

Then she continues, “My name is Camille Maumame Zoubulaire. You took my mother. She was charged with witchcraft and hung. My father went to Ishgard to claim her body, and he was sent to jail for heresy.”. Then, she pulls a knife out of her back, a large one, probably a skinning knife, which then refreshes his memories. Yes, they were hunters, who lived on the outskirts of Ishgard. 

The mother could create ice magic just by touching things, which the Holy Seer was deemed as heretical as that was the ability of the Winter Witch back then. She was probably just a distant relative, but the Tribunal deemed her too dangerous to stay alive. The father… Well, he doesn’t remember why they took him, but he remembers having to fight the man and knocking him unconscious when he and his squad went after the mother. He was ready to fight to the death to keep her safe, and Klath wasn't willing to have even more blood on his hands on that day.

“You killed my mother and my father. Prepare to die.” he hears as she plunges towards him.

All these memories flashes in front of him, his eyes gazing into hers, as the dagger crosses through his chest and pierces his back and hits his sword, still sheathed, causing a loud sound of metal being hit. He had all the time in the world to defend himself, draw his sword and block the attack. Yet, he didn't. The girl was crying. This wasn’t just anger, he couldn't feel rage coming out of her. Only tears, genuine tears of someone who was too young to have lost both parents to injustice. Someone who had to live with that trauma for nearly a decade, and only now, could have some relief.

The tears also flowed out of his eyes. He knows what she went through. And it was his fault. Only his fault. Klath puts his hand on her face to clear her tears, his hand shaking, as he is struggling to stand still. Her hands are also shaking, she drops the knife, now hanging out of him, pierced through his chest.

He falls on the ground with his vision murky, and sees the guards seizing her just before his mind goes completely blank…

[klath-diary]

6th, Thaliak, 1583

There are many sounds that Klath likes. The sound of a bird chirping in the morning after the last snow drop from last night. The melody of a violin or harp from a musician in love. The giggles from a student that is just truly happy about learning something from you. But the "*sound*" that he truly felt at peace was the *complete silence* he felt on his first visit to the aethereal sea. It was so quiet he could hear his own body, his own blood pulsing, his own thoughts as loud as his own voice. He truly felt alive at that moment.

He can't stand loud noises. Sound of explosions, gunfire, and obnoxious people yelling at someone to do something, to name a few. Those give him headaches. Lucky for him, he met a friend that had the same problem, and she had created a special geometric sigil that helped dampen sounds, by softening the air aether around the caster. Which he now applies to all of his clothing since then. Its not enough to get complete silence, but enough to stop his ears from ringing.

[klath-diary]

5th, Thaliak, 1583

Klath is looking over the cities of Uldah, admiring the influx of new adventurers. The new generation of young people who have yet to explore the world, face dangers, make friends, have a good laugh at a tavern later. He was a young adventurer once, a long time ago. There is a new bard playing on the streets, a hyur lad. He skips a few notes, but you can tell he is loving his song, and it reflects on his music.

There are two young lovers on a bench, holding hands. He wonders what they are talking about. Maybe their latest adventure, or their next? He is too wondering what his next adventure will be...

[klath-diary]

2nd, Thaliak, 1583

The thavnairian believe that colors can affect the emotions of those looking at them. As such, they have a rich industry of paints, mostly internal, but you can see their brands all around Eorzea too. Anyway, part of their belief system is this thing called 'Akasha', which is the energy of emotions. By using vibrant colors, they set a lighter mood, make everyone happy. The fancy thavnairian clothing isn't just for show, there is meaning behind every little detail. The small cuts, the silver and golden accessories, the embroidery on the fabric. Everything is done to bring joy to whoever is interacting with you.

They follow those principles even on their food. Which is amazing to me. Vibrant colors from spices and vegetables to increase happiness and satisfaction of having a good meal. Even their meat isnt simply cooked, its boiled with vegetables and then mixed with spicy sauces. It was quite a surprise to learn all of this. And the roots are in their ancient alchemy.

[klath-diary]

1st, Thaliak, 1583

Her dress was green, similar to that of summer leaves. Her hair was yellow, almost white, and he had no idea how to make that yellow tone. And her eyes were as blue as the sky. Of course, as one of his first paintings, it came out terrible. Completely different from the artistic painting of his mother that decorated their dining room. Still, his mother kept that painting saved somewhere, he was sure of it.

His memories of his mother are faded now. He barely remembers her smile… But somehow, he was reminded of her when walking through the ruins of his house, looking for something salvageable. But the fire was strong, only stones were left standing, and not even all of them, as several walls had collapsed. If there was ever anything of value, it was looted already.

No. All he had left of any of his family now…  Are their memories.

[klath-diary]

29th, Menphina, 1583

Klath walks through the Fortemps manor halls, then suddenly stops as he realizes a familiar face on the wall that he had not seen in years. Same eyes and mouth, for a second he thought he was seeing himself in the painting. But no, it’s been so long that he almost forgot the face of his own father, still head of the house Cayden back when this painting was hung on this wall. For some reason, Lord Fortemps decided to keep this here. Klath was very young when this was painted, and only now realizes the semblances between the two.

He kept going, as it was almost time for his audience and he never gets late. Klath was there to request for the Holy See to return his house’s lands, and learns that, as expected, they were auctioned to the merchant houses that moved to Ishgard, as part of the restoration process a few years ago. Still, he insisted on reclaiming the land back, willing to pay whatever amount the new owners asked for it. Lord Fortemps said he would take the matters to the other houses, as this topic keeps being brought up by descendants of other families that also wish to return to Ishgard after a long mourning period…

Klath walks through the Fortemps manor halls, then suddenly stops as he realizes a familiar face on the wall that he had not seen in years. Same eyes and mouth, for a second he thought he was seeing himself in the painting. But no, it’s been so long that he almost forgot the face of his own father, still head of the house Cayden back when this painting was hung on this wall. For some reason, Lord Fortemps decided to keep this here. Klath was very young when this was painted, and only now realizes the semblances between the two.

He kept going, as it was almost time for his audience and he never gets late. Klath was there to request for the Holy See to return his house’s lands, and learns that, as expected, they were auctioned to the merchant houses that moved to Ishgard, as part of the restoration process a few years ago. Still, he insisted on reclaiming the land back, willing to pay whatever amount the new owners asked for it. Lord Fortemps said he would take the matters to the other houses, as this topic keeps being brought up by descendants of other families that also wish to return to Ishgard after a long mourning period…