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sootcloak · 3 years ago

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Day 14: Commend

Admiral Merlwyb Bloefiswyn looks for a path forward regarding one of her officers, whose repeated sacrifices have left her more machine than aught else.

Roughly 1800 words.

AO3 Link

The Rhotano is calm, the sun bright, and the skies clear. The fair winds off the ocean makes sails and flags billow. Down below, the Admiral can see her people going about their lives. Traders shouting from their stands, noiseless from here. Artisans working diligently, sharing brief words with their guild colleagues. Travelers, new to the city and veterans of her winding, spiraling streets both, arriving at the docks. Adventurers near the Aetheryte, enjoying the sun and one another’s company. Another peaceful, quiet day.

There’s a knock at the door. Merlwyb glances away from her city and people to the signed forms on her desk. She hesitates, a moment. But then, loud and clear, she says,

“Enter.”

The doors swing open noiselessly, the guard directly outside speaking firmly.

“Admiral. Captain Aceris, as requested.” He gives a sharp salute, and stands stiff as a board.

“At ease. Leave us.” She says, arms folded behind her back as she gazes out the windows of her office. He says nothing, simply steps outside and closes the doors behind him.

Vavara stands loosely, waiting with an easy patience. Merlwyb continues to stare out over the Rhotano.

“Ma’am?” Vavara asks, a quiet familiarity there.

“Forgive me.” She turns her head to look over at the soldier, “Have a seat.”

Vavara moves on of the chairs slightly closer to the desk, and then sits with both her knees under her, giving her just enough height to have her shoulders rest above the edge of the desk. She takes her hat off, and rests it in her lap, and pulls the loose hair from inside it into a loose tail. She quickly ties it off with a length of black ribbon. Merlwyb lets out a thin, long breath, and then sits down at her desk and faces Vavara.

“Something need doing, Ma’am?” The earnest way Vavara always asks sends a cold chill running through Merlwyb’s chest - is it guilt? Shame? Either way, it doesn’t show.

“No. You outdid yourself at Paglth’an, and by all reports deserve nothing less of a medal.” A restrained, convincing smile works its way onto the Admiral’s face. “Or some other reward.”

“Last we had this conversation was Ghimlyt, Ma’am. Respectfully, I decline.” A weight slides off Vara’s shoulders. Barely-concealed relief. “I would prefer to have my name appear on as few official documents as possible, for all our sakes.”

“I remember.” She says, sagely nodding. Her eyes close a moment, and she seems to gird herself. When they open, her face is steely.

“Captain Vavara Aceris,” The authority in her voice shakes Vavara from the comfortable banter she’d begun to slip into. Her eyes widen a moment, and then she straightens and listens.

“You are hereby removed from service, effective immediately. I had wished to send you off with honors, but if that is not your desire, so be it.” The shock on Vavara’s face stings, the betrayal written in her eyes cuts deeper. “You are discharged of all privilege, authority, and responsibility granted to you by your rank.” The Admiral pauses for a breath, and Vavara swiftly cuts in.

“Ma’am!” There’s a desperation there, raw and open, “I swore to follow you until I could go no farther, I have served faithfully and-”

“Any possessions granted to you by the Maelstrom for your service are yours to keep.” She stands suddenly, her chair squeaking on the floor. “From this moment forward, you are a civilian in the eyes of Lominsan law.”

Vavara sits still as death, eyes glimmering with unsteady light. Her hands are balled into her coat, and her jaw is clenched. Her body trembles, here and there. Merlwyb closes her eyes, and takes a breath in.

“Why…?”

The answer is there, tangible and present in Merlwyb’s mind, but her voice falters a moment, and she does not speak. Instead, the air hangs heavy and bitter.

“I never failed you. I always, always returned with reports of success, of victory.” Vavara speaks between sharp cuts in her voice, as though she were trying to take a breath though she has no lungs. “Have I angered you, Ma’am?”

It stings the Admiral, that she’s directing blame back at herself. The wounded look, the jittering trembles. This hurt her, and she’s trying to find what she did wrong. In her head, she feels this justifies the measure, that she’s right to do it. In her heart, it burns and aches.

“Victory has a price.” She says, quietly and steadily. She has to force her words out evenly. “But I willingly allowed you, my subordinate, to pay it in full. I saw you pay it again, and again. Each time, returning beaten and broken, a report written in blood landing on my desk. After Ghimlyt, I decided it would not happen even once more.”

“I wasn’t injured, and even if I’m damaged I won’t be a liability! If you’re worried of me falling into enemy hands, I prepared a-”

“Stop. Please.” Merlwyb looks away and out to sea. “I took advantage of you, knowing you would bear that weight gladly. But I cannot send you to Garlemald or beyond, knowing I would send you to die for me again. Possibly for the last time.” She turns and stares back into Vavara’s eyes. It’s a piercing, intense look. “You aren’t a ship, to be damaged and repaired as a necessity demands, eventually consigned to sink. And I’ve asked you on more than one occasion to not treat yourself as such.”

“I wish for you to retire. To take a well-deserved rest. You’ve died more than once for the Maelstrom, for me, and each time you did so willingly. I will not lean upon you again.” The Admiral leans on her desk with one arm, pushing a small sheaf of papers forward towards her.

“Ma’am.” Vavara straightens her back, the temperamental, unsteady trembling steadying bit by bit. Her hand moves to her eyes, as though to wipe away a tear, but stops halfway through the gesture. Muscle memory, realization. “Regardless of whether you order it or not, I can’t retire. Not yet, maybe not ever. Even as a civilian, my path leads me back to Garlemald. Whether I do so alone or not has yet to be determined.” She pushes off the chair and slowly stands. She brushes off the top of her cap, and holds it gently in both hands.

“When I was found-” She steps lightly around the Admiral’s desk, and looks out to sea. Merlwyb turns away, grimacing. “As an Imperial, I mean. Detained and questioned. My future was uncertain. I was scared. And then you and I shared words. I had seen Vlybrand by then, of course. The troubles of its people. The shadows made by the sins of your past. I had thought to myself you were ‘Another pretender, claiming hers is the righteous cause’. I had few options, at the time, though. And so I took your deal. Kept my freedom. Lent you my aid.”

“I remember. You’ve stood by us since then. Though I did not know you thought so poorly of me.” The Admiral says.

“Aye. But there was a point, both a long while ago and rather recently, at which my mind changed. Do you remember the Crystal Braves? The banquet?”

She nods.

“You stood by them, and helped me hide and recover when I was presumed dead.” Her gaze is unbroken on the horizon, body steadier now. The ease with which she holds herself, working its way back into her stance. “You proved me somewhat wrong, there. I had thought you shortsighted, more concerned with your own power and influence. But those decisions cost you. They cost you time, reputation, and coin. But it was what was best for the realm, for those other than yourself.”

“And then you upstaged yourself. Reckoned with those looming shadows, faced your own mistakes and those of your forefathers. Were ready to pay for it all, too.” She glances up at Merlwyb’s belt, where the pistols hang, “I do not regret joining the Legion - much in the same way you cannot regret being caught in a landslide. It was the wrong choice, but it was the only one left to me.” Her eyes trace down to the city itself.

“But the Maelstrom? This was the right choice. If you wish me to leave, I will abide by your orders. But I cannot retire. If you would have me, though, I would prefer to continue on with you. Although, I would not complain if my missions in the future are less dangerous, or not as solitary.”

“What, then? Am I supposed to send you back into the storm? Accept that eventually, I’ll send you out to never return?” Merlwyb’s eyes could bore holes into the papers on her desk, and the wood beneath them. “Am I supposed to accept that, when I’ve been given a chance to repay you for your deeds?”

“We all have to play it by ear. Have to keep the faith.”

“If you die, it will have been-” Her hands slam down onto the wood.

“Who says I’ll die again?”

“An educated guess. You’re certain? We could set you up with a workshop, a home on the Rhotano. You could leave the rest to us.” Her voice is leaden with frustration left to sit and tangle. The dismissal forms and property deeds sit neatly stacked between her planted fists.

“I’d certainly be leaving things in good hands. But no. I’ve chosen my path, Merlwyb. I don’t intend on straying from it so late in the journey.”

She turns from her desk, and follows Vavara’s gaze into the city. It’s high sea pillars and white stone bridges nearly glisten in the sunlight. She listens to the tiny sounds of gear and cogs ticking, the soft omni-present hum of her core. Dimly, some part of her has a realization.

In the deafening quiet, in the peace, her whole body sings. Not a corpse, fetid and possesed. Not a thing created of violence and death alone. A music-box, the spirit of its creator alive within. It would be cruel to disregard her wishes. Would it be crueler to let them go unopposed? In her position, what would Raubahn have done? Or the Seedseer? What would her father have done?

Answers rush forward, but none of them find purchase.

“Very well. I’ll see the dismissal redacted.” She concedes. It feels like all the wind rushes out from her, a fatigue setting in immediately. “But afterwards, I’ll see you take that rest.”

“As you say, Ma’am.”

#ffxivwrite2021 #vavara kir aceris #merlwyb bloefhiswyn #i originally misread this prompt as 'command' rather than 'commend' and that led me to some very different responses #but im happy with this one - but maybe im insane and its terrible #i had planned on taking screenshots to use with this before work - but i have to leave in like twenty minutes so i won't have time for that #its a shame too - i was looking forward to posing with the admiral

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illegiblewords · 5 years ago

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FOR CONFUSED BYSTANDERS

I know that I have a lot of followers who have been (very patiently) witnessing a stream of pictures, commentary, and general posts related to Final Fantasy XIV. This is going to be my attempt to present the game and its story with context for you guys who have no idea what’s going on.

I’m doing this for two reasons, the first being I LOVE THIS GAME. If I can share the positive experience I’ve had with other people, I’d like to do that. The second reason is, for people who still follow but aren’t necessarily going to play themselves--it might offer enough background info to make posts that go up more entertaining at least. I know I don’t personally mind seeing bloggers, writers, artists, etc. share something I’m unfamiliar with, but it gets more fun when I have some clue what it’s about.

Parts of this post will be just about my own subjective experience, some will be recapping the story, some will be going over different ways I’ve seen people play in case that appeals. So on and so forth. I’m aiming to offer an honest reflection on whatever seems important.

Putting this under a cut because really, this is fucking long. Not as long as it looks because pictures are included but even still. For anyone who reads, I hope you enjoy and if you have questions don’t hesitate to hit me up! :)

BACKGROUND - NON-MMO PLAYER LOVES THIS MMO

I have never played an MMO before this. I’m pretty apathetic about them for the most part. When I play games I like to design things, get good pictures, and kill baddies for stress relief. I'm here to immerse in an exciting world and story, meet characters I can invest in. Stuff in that vein. So far as gaming goes I’m pretty simple.

There are people who put heavy emphasis on the social elements of FFXIV. They’ll play with their friends specifically, either because they’re focused on fighting together or because they want to roleplay or just to hang out. I’m not really in that category.

I entered knowing no one, and while I’ve made some friends through FFXIV I mostly interact with them outside the game itself. This can happen on tumblr, on forums, on the official blog platform, etc. In-game, I encounter other players all the time but it is generally something like “I was running around the city doing stuff and other people were also running around the city doing stuff”. You can approach people. You can message them and do little emotes like waving or hugging or slapping or whatever. You can do these emotes directed at nobody and just see your character go through the animations, which can be fun for taking pictures.

More detailed encounters with other players happen in dungeons, trials, and raids. These are called registered duties. Guildhests and PVP (player versus player) exist too, but I haven’t done them. I’ll elaborate later, but the gist you need to know here is that you are grouped in with a fixed number of additional players and then placed in a setting with a pre-set encounter or encounters to overcome. Some of these are straightforward, some require strategy.

In FFXIV, people usually chat to varying degrees during duties. Most are polite, pleasant, and focused on gameplay. At least where I am, which I’ll also go into later. Occasionally there are people who are jerks in the sense that they are inconsiderate or rude to other players. Also occasionally, people are incompetent. More often though I’ll encounter someone with a great sense of humor or people who have helpful tips to improve.

This is a game where, if you see a player marked as new struggling with low level monsters, a more experienced player might pause to oneshot that monster so the newbie can escape. People are casually nice most of the time.

Since I’d normally be doing single-player anyway, for me this is very refreshing. I get to do all the things I’d be doing in a single-player video game, but I also get light exchanges with other fans in ways that aren’t disruptive. There’s enough meat to the Main Quest Scenario (MSQ) and side quests that I don’t feel bored or lonely at all.

FFXIV does cost money to play and has a subscription. This can be paid in varying increments. I personally think it’s worth it because 1) the developers are adding new content on a pretty regular basis 2) the developers actually care about quality and having happy fans 3) the game keeps getting better over time 4) there is SO MUCH you can do in the game. It is truly expansive beyond anything else I’ve seen. I might not be ready to do a subscription with every game, but for this one absolutely.

This essentially plays like a normal final fantasy game in most respects. You might run around solo by-and-large, but there is an NPC supporting cast. They and the villains get fleshed out very well. Same goes for civilians and other background characters. The biggest difference off the top of my head is the story’s beginning...

OBSTACLES

I’m going to get this out of the way early, but in essence I think there are two main obstacles as a beginner. The first and most notable of these is that the game’s entry point, called “A Realm Reborn”, is less well-written and EXTREMELY LONG.

Seriously. I’ve only gotten one character past this point and it took me a stupid amount of time. Some of the quests at this stage are things like “my dad doesn’t like the stinky chocobo please spray it with perfume so it is less stinky”. Or “jump through all these stupid hoops so you can fight the exciting boss you’ve been waiting for”.

However, the length at least is slotted to be fixed in the future. I’ll probably announce that when it happens in case that’s the deal changer for anyone.

On writing quality, it starts off mediocre. However, later writing is so strong that it actually manages to make past scenes WAY more interesting. The initial setup also kind of lures you into a false sense of security, at which point shit gets real very fast.

The second obstacle for beginners involves a degree of not knowing what you don’t know. For example, there is an extremely powerful attack that can be used in registered duties called “Limit Break”. Initially I didn’t even know where to find it to put in my move hotbar. Then I didn’t know that using it would take limit break away from other players in the group. Then I didn’t know that the limit breaks of different jobs needed to be used under different circumstances. An example of this would be that spellcaster SHOULD use a limit break attack on freakishly large groups of enemies, but SHOULD NOT use limit break on a lone boss unless there is literally no other damage class (DPS) available to do it. This is because the overall impact of caster limit break is comparatively low, but effects more enemies at the same time. Using limit break inappropriately can frustrate people.

There are other things similar to this, such as when you use Duty Finder (a roulette that sets you up with completely random people interested in the same registered duty) and when you use Party Finder (where you announce what registered duty you want to do with what circumstances, then people volunteer to join), or being aware of which moves are supposed to be used in which order for top efficiency. That said, if you tell people you’re completely new they’ll usually be willing to explain.

If it’s something like “how do I use the glamour plates to switch into designs I made easily” or “how does crafting even work”, youtube is very helpful too! Overall just take initiative and communicate to people your experience level while in groups and things tend to work out.

THE STORY

Disclaimer: Recaps get less detailed over time to avoid spoiling too hard.

SHORT VERSION

You are a god-slayer, or more precisely the slayer of false-gods. False-gods drain the land to make it lifeless and are prone to brainwashing people. You also regularly fight the rough equivalent of angels who believe the world as you know it has gone horribly wrong and are trying to force things back into their natural forms. Excessive death ensues anytime they are successful, so high stakes. Meanwhile, an authoritarian and technologically advanced nation is causing issues on the regular and has to be stopped.

PRELUDE/LEGACY

Final Fantasy XIV had a rocky start with patch section 1.0/the true beginning, which I did not play. While there are videos online of what it was like for those curious, the gist is that five years before the current opening the world was stricken by a terrible calamity. The nation of Eorzea (an allied collection of city states) was at war with the Garlean Empire--otherwise known as Garlemald. During this war, one of Garlemald’s scientists implemented a genocidal strategy against the Eorzeans by dragging the lesser of two moons down upon their heads. This moon was called Dalamud. However, what took this situation from bad to worse was that Dalamud wasn’t actually a moon but a prison.

Thousands of years prior, the technologically advanced nation of Allag had been performing experiments using dragons and entities known as primals. Primals are summoned into being using a combination of aether (life energy, the source of magic), ritual, and the belief of their summoners. One of Allag’s experiments involved murdering a powerful dragon then using the tortured prayers of his lover and his kin to summon a warped, primal imitation of him. This primal was then trapped as a power source and left to fester in rage and insanity.

The dragon’s primal is Bahamut. Dalamud was his cage.

When Dalamud burst open above Eorzea, Bahamut was released in all his apocalyptic glory. A collection of heroes, allied to an organization called the Scions of the Seventh Dawn (dedicated to eliminating primals for the toll they take on the land and its people) stood against Bahamut. A man named Louisoix Levellieur, leader of the Scions, cast a powerful spell by summoning the Twelve Eorzean gods to stop Bahamut. This spell cast the primal, Louisoix, and the heroes five years into the future. It also wiped the heroes, known thereafter as the Warriors of Light, from memory.

Part of what makes 1.0 really cool looking back--when the developers saw how many problems existed in the MMO, they knew they would need to reboot it. There was a date set for that to happen, which would involve taking Final Fantasy XIV offline until an improved version could be released. Players knew the real world reasons behind all this. What they didn’t know was how the hiatus and reboot would be presented within the narrative.

People who were up-to-date in the storyline knew that war had erupted and that the moon was falling. They also knew that a particular time, the game would be taken offline.

This is what they saw.

A REALM REBORN

The average player, and likely anyone reading this, will not have played patch 1.0. For us, Final Fantasy XIV begins five years after Bahamut’s calamity. The world is still recovering and has been irrevocably scarred in the dragon’s wake. Refugees from both that event and Garlemald’s conquered territories pour in even as the empire bides its time for another invasion.

The player is a fledgling adventurer endowed with a gift called The Echo. The Echo is an ability that first, prevents them from being brainwashed (or “Tempered”) by primals. This is important because like I said before, one of the things that gives primals their power is belief. This extends to prayer. If a person is tempered, they will worship and empower the primal responsible until they die. This means most people can’t even approach primals safely, much less fight them. More than one character (including NPCs) possess The Echo, but it remains a rare ability.

Another aspect of this gift is that it allows someone (without any deliberate control) to see into the memories of others, superimposing emotions and perspectives of the event over the witnessing Echo-user. It also translates all direct speech into an understandable form to the Echo-user. There are additional abilities that become unveiled over the course of the story, but these are most important and consistent going in.

The player initially is just one of many such adventurers, a guild of independent mercenaries willing to undertake odd jobs using their skill in combat. After coming into conflict with a mysterious, masked organization, however, it becomes clear that the player has been chosen as champion to Hydaelyn herself.

Because you see, Hydaelyn isn’t just the name of the planet. This is also a sentient mothercrystal claiming the role of protector to all life on Her surface.

The masked organization consists of spirits with varying degrees of immortality. They also have the ability to body snatch. These are called Ascians. Ascians argue that the world was split into fourteen pieces thousands of years ago by Hydaelyn, and that their dark crystal god--Zodiark--is the true will of the star and represents a natural state of being that must be reclaimed. Their way of pursuing this objective requires causing a series of apocalypses or near-apocalypses, always coming with innumerable casualties.

As Hydaelyn’s champion the player joins the Scions of the Seventh Dawn in combating primals, fights against lingering threats from Garlemald, and thwarts Ascian plans to continue rejoining the world through calamities.

A trailer for this arc can be viewed here.

HEAVENSWARD

Shit goes pear shaped in a big way and you have to flee territories held by the Eorzean Alliance--city states including Ul’dah, Limsa Lominsa, and Gridania. Ishgard, now a frozen, mountainous landscape ruled by a religion dedicated to the goddess Halone, takes your character in.

Ishgard has been at war with the draconic nation of Dravania for thousands of years. Dragons are immortal by natural means, but can be slain. Ishgard no longer remembers, by and large, why the war even started except that they have been losing loved ones in horrifying ways for as long as they can remember. They refused to send aid during the struggle against Garlemald specifically because they couldn’t spare forces from their war with Dravania. They have a reputation for being hostile to outsiders, having extreme class divides, and inquisition-style zealotry. Nonetheless, there are good people here and over the course of A Realm Reborn the player manages to befriend some of them.

This arc delves into Ishgard’s war, and involves the player taking part while clearing their name in the Alliance. Toward the end, it is also extremely important to note that the player encounters a group calling themselves “Warriors of Darkness”, who are in-league with the Ascians. It comes to light that they hail from one of the divided worlds, that their world is in terrible danger, and they believe the path to survival comes from confronting you.

A trailer for this arc can be viewed here.

STORMBLOOD

One of the antagonists we encounter forces the Alliance to involve itself in freeing Garlemald’s conquered territories, namely the nations of Ala Mhigo (largely Middle Eastern) and Doma (East Asian). In undertaking this task, the hero comes into repeated conflict with Garlemald’s crown prince, Zenos yae Galvus. Zenos is basically a serial killer with the resources of a prince but no actual investment in being a prince. It’s pretty wild.

A lot of this plot focuses on the consequences of Garlean rule. Over time though, it comes to light that the founder of Garlemald was a high-ranked Ascian and is still very much alive.

A trailer for this arc can be viewed here.

SHADOWBRINGERS

The plot set into motion with the Warriors of Darkness resumes as the player is forced to travel to their home world. Dealing with a setting on the brink of Armageddon, this current arc has a ton to do with examining different perspectives while getting much clearer insight on lore metaphysics. Most notably, we finally learn why the Ascians act the way they do and discover more about the nature of the player character and Hydaelyn.

I’m aware this is vague, but honestly this is my favorite of all the expansions/arcs so far. Seriously it is fucking killer.

A trailer for this arc can be viewed here.

YOUR PROTAGONIST/THE CHARACTER CREATOR

The main character of Final Fantasy XIV is known as the Warrior of Light, regardless of whether you play from the Legacy version of the game or A Realm Reborn. Similar to the Dragon Age games, in Final Fantasy XIV you get to design your own main character and shape their identity to varying degrees through the story. Some people like to imagine their protagonist as existing within a completely different role in the world of Hydaelyn for roleplay purposes (so not a Warrior of Light), but that involves essentially disregarding the main quest scenario narrative provided. It’s fine to do that of course, but I’m going to be explaining things that essentially fit within the canon approach.

There are currently eight playable races for the Warrior of Light. These include hyur (human stand-ins), elezen (elf stand-ins), roegadyns (orc or giant stand-ins), miqo’te (cat people), lalafells (dwarf or gnome stand-ins), au ra (tiefling or draeni stand-ins), viera (female-only bunny people at the moment), and hrothgar (male-only lion people, the beast race).

Each race option has two subraces attached. The most dramatic differences between subraces come up for hyur, where there are Midlanders (shorter and slighter frames) and Highlanders (taller and beefier/curvier). Otherwise it’s more minor differences.

It is common for players to develop their own personal interpretations of who their Warrior of Light character was before the story begins and how that impacts progression. This can be shaped by what race they belong to and what lore is attached to that race according to region. It is also possible to shape things according to which of the Twelve (Eorzea’s pantheon) the Warrior of Light worships. These deities are loosely described and made available for selection at the beginning of the game.

It isn’t unusual for people to pick names in-keeping with lore. A good site to turn to for this is over here, although there are also spots that go into what different names actually translate to. Other people just go with whatever they feel like. I think I saw someone named Cheese Whiz once.

Stat variation is pretty negligible between races, and it’s mainly an aesthetic/tonal choice. Currently there is some pressure on game developers to make Viera and Hrothgar playable for male and female gender options both, and it seems likely that at some point this will happen. Currently there are indications that the release for Viera and Hrothgar was somewhat rushed due to some behind-the-scenes circumstances, so while they are less versatile than other options this is likely to change at some point.

As someone who is a sucker for character customization, I want to mention that while it might be easier to get some of the fantasy races to fit a particular ethnicity--Final Fantasy actually does a great job in terms of visual versatility and has made it possible to hit a wide range of options well. For example, it might be easier to make an East Asian au ra or a French elezen, but you can easily break with that in totally believable ways. You might not have the precision adjustments of Dragon Age: Inquisition or Bloodborne, but the options presented are pretty flexible.

In terms of how the Warrior of Light works through the game, again while there is some wiggle room there are certain aspects to their identity that stay pretty consistent. They get jaded and worn out by the narrative as time goes on, they experience loss, they become increasingly chatty and sarcastic. They have powerful neck muscles from years of communication by nodding. Commonly, the personality of the Warrior of Light is also influenced by the job they choose.

THE JOBS

Something I wish got explained to me early--you only get certain jobs as options starting out, and any others you hear about getting added are only accessible at higher levels. In Final Fantasy XIV, basically when it comes to combat you start with a very basic class, which graduates to a job (better versions of the class) when you fulfill certain requirements.

There are notably three main roles a combat class or job can fall into. These include tanks, healers, and DPS. Tanks are responsible for leading the charge, provoking aggression, directing mobs, and enduring attacks in groups. They don’t deal the most damage but have the highest defense and are generally right in the thick of the action. Healers can deal damage but their main purpose is to keep themselves and everyone around them from dying, especially in groups. At the moment all of the healer jobs use magic. DPS (Damage Per Second) are the jobs that are mainly responsible for taking chunks out of the enemy’s health. Within DPS there are additionally three subcategories, these being Melee DPS (non-magical and close-range), Physical Ranged DPS (non-magical and fighting from a distance), and Magic Ranged DPS (magical and fighting from a distance). There is also a limited job and Crafter/Gatherer classes, but I’ll get to those later.

Some DPS jobs, additionally, focus more on playing support to other party members while others are geared toward boosting their own damage output.

The classes you can choose from in the character creator include:

Gladiator (Tank, Sword and Shield)

Marauder (Tank, Axe)

Lancer (Melee DPS, Lance)

Pugilist (Melee DPS, Fists)

Archer (Physical Ranged DPS, Bow)

Conjurer (Healer, Wand)

Thaumaturge (Magical Ranged DPS, Staff)

Arcanist (Magical Ranged DPS, Tome)

At level 10, if your armory system is unlocked (you need to complete a quest for your starting class NPC mentor to do this) you can approach an NPC in Limsa Lominsa to unlock the Rogue class as well. This is a Melee DPS class and uses twin daggers. If your character starts with Marauder or Arcanist this takes less time.

To graduate each of these early classes into a job, the following requirements need to be met:

Paladin (Sword and Shield): Requires Gladiator level 30, Conjurer level 15.

Warrior (Axe): Requires Marauder level 30, Gladiator level 15.

Dragoon (Lance): Requires Lancer level 30, Marauder level 15.

Monk (Fists): Requires Pugilist level 30, Lancer level 15.

Bard (Bow): Requires Archer level 30, Pugilist level 15.

White Mage (Wand): Requires Conjurer level 30, Arcanist level 15.

Scholar (Tome): Requires Arcanist level 30, Conjurer level 15.

Black Mage (Staff): Requires Thaumaturge level 30, Archer level 15.

Summoner (Tome): Requires Arcanist level 30, Thaumaturge level 15.

Ninja (Daggers): Requires Rogue level 30 and completion of quests Sylph-Management and Cloying Victory.

I’ll describe these in more detail in a bit, but there are waaaay more combat jobs than this. Currently the others are:

Dark Knight (Tank, Greatsword): Requires having purchased the Heavensward expansion and having completed all of the Seventh Astral Era Quests up to Before the Dawn, which is needed to unlock the city of Ishgard. This job starts at level 30.

Gunbreaker (Tank, Gunblade): Requires having purchased the Shadowbringers expansion and having a Disciple of War or Magic job at level 60. This job starts at level 60.

Astrologian (Healer, Star Globe): Requires having purchased the Heavensward expansion and having completed all of the Seventh Astral Era Quests up to Before the Dawn, which is needed to unlock the city of Ishgard. This job starts at level 30.

Samurai (Melee DPS, Katana): Requires having purchased the Stormblood expansion and having a Disciple of War or Magic job at level 50. This job starts at level 50.

Machinist (Physical Ranged DPS, Firearm) Requires having purchased the Heavensward expansion and having completed all of the Seventh Astral Era Quests up to Before the Dawn, which is needed to unlock the city of Ishgard. This job starts at level 30.

Dancer (Physical Ranged DPS, Chakrams): Requires having purchased the Shadowbringers expansion and having a Disciple of War or Magic job at level 60. This job starts at level 60.

Red Mage (Magical Ranged DPS, Rapier): Requires having purchased the Stormblood expansion and having a Disciple of War or Magic job at level 50. This job starts at level 50.

So total, right now the jobs include 4 Tanks (Paladin, Warrior, Dark Knight, Gunbreaker), 3 Healers (White Mage, Scholar, Astrologian), 4 Melee DPS (Dragoon, Monk, Ninja, Samurai), 3 Physical Ranged DPS (Bard, Machinist, Dancer), and 3 Magical Ranged DPS (Black Mage, Summoner, Red Mage). Total is 17 jobs. When I describe these combat based jobs, I’m not going to focus on the actual gameplay aspect because frankly I don’t know how to play all of the jobs. This is gonna be a quick and dirty explanation based on the scientific approach of “idk that’s just my impression”.

Paladin: You are a holy knight and you can heal a little sometimes maybe (???) and you are very good and noble with great defense.

Warrior: You are a beserker who loves to release your inner beast and kill shit in really violent ways and are kind of a badass and do the most damage of the tanks.

Dark Knight: Super super edgy and kind of magical but also straight up crazy, you hate corrupt authority figures and are willing to get your hands dirty and darken your name in order to protect others. One of the most beloved job questlines.

Gunbreaker: You have a sword that is also a gun and you can shoot people with it, soldier style. Basically if you have ever fantasized about having a knifegun this is like that but better.

White Mage: Very pure, focused on nature and communing with elemental beings, all about that land/sea/sky thing with ties to the elements earth, water, and air. One of three magic traditions that got involved in a next level magic fight, this one stemming from the city of Amdapor. Amdapor is full of fungus and poison spores now.

Scholar: Takes a highly intellectual spin on magic with ties to weird geometries and so forth, figured out how to summon fairy familiars from aether. Does a lot with shields and preventing people from taking as much damage in the first place. One of three magic traditions that got involved in a next level magic fight, this one stemming from the city of Nym. Nym is a floating city and is basically hovering in ruins now, with any surviving residents having been transformed into tonberries. Tonberries are little green creatures that like to stab people.

Astrologian: A fortuneteller take on magic that combines tarot cards, astrology, and crystal balls. The idea here is that Astrologians are messing with fate and time in order to heal you, sort of undoing damage. Snazzy dressers, intimidating moveset.

Dragoon: Jumpy people with spears who struggle to live down their legacy of animation lag-related deaths, my understanding is that today’s Dragoons do solid damage and are decent at survival. Their reputation, however, is that if someone is going to die in a fight it’s probably them. They are very broody and like to hang out in high places with capes billowing in the wind. They also wear spiky armor and fight dragons and have the soul of a dragon. People make jokes at their expense a lot but with affection.

Monk: You punch people to death and get gauntlets of varying levels of sharp. You also get to master chakras and go through forms associated with different animals. In a series like Final Fantasy where people carry swords bigger than they are, you’re the job that said lol who needs that and made your body the weapon.

Ninja: Very very sneaky, used to be sort of a state-sanctioned criminal. If anybody is a spy it’s you. You are very fast and can basically turn invisible and sometimes smoke bombs go off. Mudras are used and I don’t understand.

Samurai: Deal a solid amount of damage and are very flashy and cool, probably one of the highest damage outputs for Melee DPS. Very neat and fancy katanas.

Bard: Draws a connection between the strings of a harp and the strings of a bow, is able to both shoot the crap out of enemies, make enemies more vulnerable with some songs, and make allies more powerful with other songs. I think Bards are very pretty and fancy.

Machinist: These are tech nerds who realized that guns are an option. So are flamethrowers. So are robots. This job has a reputation for being ungodly complicated to play but this has apparently been rectified recently.

Dancer: Similar to Bard in that they do a lot to boost allies in a fight, do lower damage as a result but damn do they boost their allies. Also have ridiculously swanky outfits and are super flashy in fights.

Black Mage: The edgy magic users, they are disciples of Eorzea’s death god and all of their magic ties into destruction. If you wanna make the biggest explosions Black Mage is where you go. Magic ties to fire, ice, and electricity but primarily puts focus on the shift between fire and ice. Black Mages also have a reputation for being involved in demon summoning because they were kind of the assholes in that magic war against White Mages and Scholars. Black Magic as a discipline has ancestry in Mhach, which is of course now crawling with demons. Black Mage is the DPS king in the sense that if you want the biggest numbers of damage dealt, this is where you go. They are however tragically slow and squishy so expect the Black Mage to be somewhere between standing right where an attack will land or dodging frantically between spells.

Summoner: Has the ability to summon small familiars in the form of defeated primals, these being namely Ifrit (fire-based), Titan (earth-based), Garuda (air-based), Bahamut, and Phoenix. Apparently their questline is covered in Ascians too. One of two DPS capable of raising fallen allies.

Red Mage: Very fancy, fast-moving swordsmen covered in ruffles. The founders of Red Magic were Black and White Mages who came together in the wake of that magic war mentioned above. They essentially work to balance Black Magic and White Magic alongside physical attacks. They don’t get the numbers of some DPS but are again extremely fast and are also capable of raising allies. Versatile.

The limited job is called Blue Mage, currently being lamented because it’s unable to fight in dungeons or main quest situations to the extent of other jobs. Blue Mage gets abilities by fighting monsters and learning magical abilities from them. They use a cane and are massive dandies who will hopefully get the opportunity to do more in the future.

If you want to actually make in-game money without blood sacrifice, you want to get involved in a Crafter or Gatherer job. These don’t deal with combat but instead let you acquire, develop, and sell in-demand resources to other players.

Gatherer jobs include Fishers, Botanists, and Miners. Crafter jobs include Carpenters, Blacksmiths, Armorers, Goldsmiths, Leatherworkers, Weavers, Alchemists, and Culinarians. I am not good at these and so can’t explain them properly, but some people do play the game exclusively so they can level these jobs. I think that besides getting mad cash, this is probably because Crafters and Gatherers also get to make really fancy houses and get very pretty clothes with their vast amounts of wealth, skill, and resources.

THE SETTING

There are three city states that, at the start of A Realm Reborn, comprise the Eorzean Alliance. Your character becomes a hero to the Eorzean Alliance before any other nation. The three nations are Ul’dah, Gridania, and Limsa Lominsa. Ul’dah is a desert city (someone mentioned it being Byzantine), ruled by a Sultana, and watched over by the dual-aspected god of death and commerce. Gridania is a forest city (to me it looks Western European but unsure?), ruled by a spiritual Elder Seedseer, and is watched over by the nature goddess Nophica--her will embodied in the form of spirits called Elementals. Limsa Lominsa is an ocean city (Greek influenced, although some territories read Caribbean), ruled over by an Admiral, and is watched over by a sea-goddess.

Ul’dah is a major trade center and known for having a solid amount of crime and corruption, harsh wealth divides, huge reverence for the dead, and general canniness. Gridania is super spiritual and has massive reverence for the forest and maintaining both it and the boundaries necessary to co-exist peacefully with Elementals. Limsa Lominsa is literally pirate town and have the most kickass military/naval fleet ever.

Depending on what job you choose in the character creator will effect which of these three cities you start out in. It’s ambiguous where the Warrior of Light comes from so conceivably you could be a native to that city state or a foreigner from somewhere else. It mainly matters in terms of if you’re making a story up for your character or not.

Another city state is Ishgard (technically Eorzean but isolationist), which has parallels to Norse mythology, France, and the Catholic church. It is covered in snow and full of mountains. Ala Mhigo is also a city state, and while like Ul’dah it is also a desert environment this one seems to place higher emphasis on different regions within the Middle East and India. One part looks strongly reminiscent of the Dead Sea, for example. Idyllshire was formerly a territory of the nation Sharlayan, which dedicates itself to the scholar-god. However, Sharlayan up and bailed when Garlemald showed up so that whole city got evacuated.

Those city states are all based on the continent Aldenard. Garlemald comes from a continent called Ilsabard that we haven’t gotten to see yet. It’s supposed to be cold and shitty there. Also worth mentioning, Garleans are on the one hand atheists and on the other hand borderline worship their emperor.

Othard is the Far Eastern continent and represents Asia. The two main city states we’ve seen there are Kugane (Japan) and Doma (China). There are other nations in the surrounding areas that we know about as well but haven’t explored. Both Kugane and Doma worship entities known as kami, omnipresent spirits who appreciate treasure and sometimes play a role in manipulating the fates of mortals. There are also animal spirits who through wisdom and longevity gain power and the ability to change form. These are called auspices. Special shout out to the Azim Steppe of Othard as well for representing Mongolian tribes and a plains environment.

There at least two other continents around but we don’t know a lot about them yet. One is The New World and draws from pre-Columbian North America. The other once housed a nation called Meracydia that opposed the ancient Allagan empire.

Shadowbringers takes place on a world called The First, which is one of the fragmented realities split by Hydaelyn. This world is called Norvrandt. It parallels Hydaelyn in some ways but not others. The desert environment of Ahm Areng geographically resembles the red deserts of the Southwestern US, but the architecture doesn’t match. The Rak’tika Greatwood is an A+ perfect jungle setting and heavily modeled after Mayan civilization. Eulmore kind of reminds me of the idea of pre-French Revolution excesses surrounded by poverty but with almost neon circus aesthetics married in. Il Mheg is rainbow fields and glassy lakes and fae creatures fucking with you 24/7. Very pretty and art nouveau.

The Tempest is full of secrets.

THE COMMUNITY

People focus on different things in this game. It’s huge enough to make that extremely doable.

One group involves the combat-focused players. These are people who just want to take on content labeled Extreme or Savage and beat it as smoothly as possible. Very talented bunch but tend to be short tempered sometimes, also often can’t wrap their heads around people playing any other way.

Glamour hounds are people who are in this for the A E S T H E T I C S. They want their characters to look a very specific way with certain gear in certain colors and god damn it if they have to run savage to achieve their goals they are going to do it. Often also are very into exciting mounts and housing, will frequently do artsy screencaps and share them online.

Lore hounds are people who focus mainly on the main quest scenario, overall storytelling, NPCs, setting, metaphysics, etc. Some of these people just want to analyze and make predictions. Some are independent fan creators. Some are roleplayers.

Worth noting--the most active roleplay communities are on the Crystal server, on the worlds Balmung and Mateus. My understanding is that these worlds are pretty packed and come with their own collection of pluses and minuses. More drama and a high likelihood of being ambushed for erotic RP, but fun community storytelling too. You can absolutely join servers outside your geographic location, by the way.

I’m on Primal server. It’s pretty chill.

Crafters, gatherers, and gamblers as far as I can tell are out to get top tier gil and fabulous prizes. I think some just honestly like the process too tbh and it happens to pay swimmingly. By the by, yes there is an in-game casino.

Last major group off the top of my head is the people who are mainly, specifically there to hang with friends and otherwise socialize with the game as a medium for that.

OKAY BUT I FOLLOW YOU SPECIFICALLY, WHO THE HELL ARE THOSE CHARACTERS YOU KEEP REBLOGGING?

EMET-SELCH

He is an Ascian who showed up fashionably late, would rather be napping than villaining around. Massive troll and also responsible for single-handedly making the fandom care about Ascians after four arcs of apathy. Secret sad boi. I am omitting a bunch because he’s basically a walking spoiler, but someone once described him as having absolutely relentless theater kid energy and I have yet to see it put better than that.

ELIDIBUS

Another Ascian known as the Emissary. Talks more about balance than ZODIARK!!!??!!!?11111!! and sometimes tries to have conversations instead of fistfights. Is not as good at having conversations instead of fistfights as Emet-Selch but is significantly better at it than Lahabrea, who will be described next. Elidibus is notable for spontaneously adopting a child and then passing that child off to the heroes as discreetly as he could.

LAHABREA

The third major Ascian and the first recurring one players meet in A Realm Reborn. Lahabrea seems like he is probably a few screws loose, fucking loves to blow shit up, embarrasses all of the interns who get stuck with him, and spent years in charge of PR before his colleagues realized that was a mistake. Makes very poor life choices. Apparently he used to be a fantastic orator and was praised for his imagination but these talents have since been replaced by ZODIARK!!!??!!!?11111!! and explosions. Has been described as an idiot by Emet-Selch and “unique” by Elidibus, who needed to take a very long pause before saying so.

G’RAHA TIA/THE CRYSTAL EXARCH

Honestly this is only pseudo spoilers, basically everyone figured out who he was well before Shadowbringers got released. Catman is currently doing battle with another character called Haurchefant for the position of #1 fan to the Warrior of Light. Has some wild misadventures with you that involve exploring ancient ruins, excessively long fetch quests, clones, and getting sucked into a demon world. Later runs across time and space to save your life but kind of almost gets you killed in the attempt. Says he is very sorry for this later. Just doing his best.

NERO TOL SCAEVA

A scientist who fights with a massive hammer, formerly worked for Garlemald but finds himself unemployed later. Is better than the engineer Cid, who gives you all your tech. He is also a troll, an egomaniac, and fucking hilarious. It takes a while for the extent of this to be revealed because A Realm Reborn still had some issues.

AYMERIC DE BOREL

Basically in charge of Ishgard, for a while literally but now only mostly. A very reasonable authority figure, runs the the Warrior of Light across several countries when you get injured in battle then chills at your bedside. Thinks you should relax sometimes. Encourages this by taking you to dinner once.

ESTINIEN WYRMBLOOD

Broody Dragoon McAngst of Ishgard, fucking hated dragons for the longest time because they murdered his whole family. Goes on an extended journey with you and in the process reveals he also hates moogles with a burning passion. Chills out a lot later, has demonstrated he is in fact a real bro.

YSAYLE DANGOULAIN/ICEHEART/LADY SHIVA

Delusions of grandeur and good intentions, also chosen by Hydaelyn and possessing The Echo. Figured out she could use her possession of The Echo to literally become a primal without losing her mind or body. Wants peace at any cost and will kill shitloads of people in the name of peace. Morally questionable but an interesting lady. Disagrees strongly with Estinien about moogles.

HAURCHEFANT GREYSTONE

Name sounds like a sneeze, is currently fighting G’raha Tia for the title of #1 fan to the Warrior of Light. Apparently there was an event where he said he wants the Warrior of Light to be his pony, as in he wants to ride you. Has shirtless men doing squats in his office. Saves your ass when shit gets real for Heavensward and then saves your ass again when the Pope’s bodyguard tries to murder you. It does not go well.

ZENOS YAE GALVUS

Absolute serial killer who feels like you complete him and give his life meaning and are his BFF. Probably wants you to fuck him. Also the crown prince of Garlemald and has spent years trying to engineer situations that will produce someone who can actually fight him as an equal. Doesn’t give a fuck about most things but jesus does he go yandere.

FRAY

If you become a Dark Knight, Fray becomes your NPC mentor and basically takes the Warrior of Light on a journey in becoming batshit insane. 10/10 Best teacher hands down.

SOPHIA THE GODDESS

A primal who I love to pieces, basically shows that the only way you can have perfect balance forever is if you are literally dead. We know this because the song that plays during her fight is about her murdering an entire family because they were unstable.

SRI LAKSHMI

Another primal who I love to pieces, just full throttle lotus eater in action where she encourages you to go fuck everything and be happy. Super pretty.

SEPHIROT THE FIEND

One of my top fav primals, pure id and distorted Kabbalah. I have a lot of feelings about him and have analyzed his fight to pieces.

CENRIC ASHER

Lol he just my Warrior of Light. I have a story for him but it is not official or anything.

THE FIVE BILLION OTHERS

Probably other people’s characters! I just really love seeing what people come up with, whether it’s their version of the Warrior of Light or going full-throttle into OC territory. It’s really refreshing to me, seeing how passionate and inventive people get. ^^ There are plenty of other important NPC characters, some I would even consider favorites of mine, but I just don’t post them as much.

IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR JESUS CHRIST GET YOURSELF A COOKIE OR SOMETHING. GOD DAMN.

#final fantasy xiv #final fantasy xiv screenshots #final fantasy 14 #ffxiv #shadowbringers

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teenynyxpersonal · 5 years ago

Text

When first they told him everything, he could scarce believe it. So many years, decades, lives, come and gone. They explained how they came to find him, how much time had passed from the beginning of his isolation until now, and then finally, of the Eight Umbral Calamity.

The mention of it, however surprising it might be to others, was not what he had wanted to hear right away. Certainly, it was a predictable thing. Umbral comes after Astral, a slate wiped clean, and people rebuild, as was the case with earlier civilizations. It is only when he hears the part she played in it that he feels dizzy, sick, and an inconsolable despair swells his chest.

His crystalized hand comes to cover his mouth, red eyes screwed tightly shut as he listens. He doesn’t want to hear it, doesn’t want to know the details, and yet he knows this is important.

“How...?” He manages quietly as the man across from him, Biggs, not the first of his name but a descendant, finishes describing the devastation. “I don’t understand how she could have died. She should not have been able to die so easily...”

“Ah, then you know about that.” He sits down, sighs and takes a drink of the warm tea he had poured them. G’Raha had yet to touch his beyond the first sip. “It wasn’t common knowledge, but yes, The Warrior of Light was essentially immortal. Both her and her sibling were blessed with finding those crystals long ago, which gave them strength and longevity. The ability to rise to any occassion and from any wound, no matter how fatal. They were to become Her champions, and Nyxia did follow that for the most part.”

“I am told after the mess with Ala Mhigo, she wandered, saw many things, touched many lives. Reverence for her actions grew in those who she met, and it is those who come from the ones she saved that labor today to pick up the pieces.”

He pauses, looks at his cup. It seems his words are too heavy, and G’Raha waits with bated breath, unable to look up from the floor.

“In the end, she was alone. Her sister Taja had perished from the corruption of Aether that seeped into the crystal she beared. Her comrades suffered a similar fate. Perhaps because she was the Warrior of Light, she did not suffer that. Hers was worse. The effects of that which caused the Calamity was that aether no longer flowed, was stopped, and stagnated. She could not recover, could not draw from outside sources, and so she had to use her own.”

“Alone with the looming of a terror too large to handle, she gave everything to put an end to it. I am told it was a beautiful and sorrowful event. The energy she harnessed and used was likened to starlight, and they say it did not stop raining the stuff for a month. At the end, when the dust settled and rescue crews could finally enter that empty ground, there lay her belongings, but not a trace of her.”

The miqo’tes hands clench in his robe, and he feels hot wetness welling behind his eyes. How scared, she must have felt at that moment, knowing she was about to die. Alone, afraid, desperate, she did what she had to. It saved many, but at such a cost... such an inexcusable cost!

“Eorzea plunged into darkness from then on. Riots broke out, the Grand Companies collapsed, chaos took hold. Garlemald ruled for a time, then perished, and order was never restored no matter who tried to take control. Murders happened in the streets, the world crumbled with her loss. Yet here, in this final place, you will hear stories of her, songs sung of her final moments and of her bravery.”

“Bravery.” G’Raha scoffs, angered, hurt. “Not a single thing to be said about the woman behind the Hero. Even then, even in our time, they held not a thought for her, but for what she could do for them!” His jaw clenches, teeth grating as he stands. He is furious, the most angry he has felt in such a long time. Even longer than he realizes perhaps, but that is beyond the point.

“She was more than a Champion to Eorzea! More than the Warrior of Light! More than anything, she was-! She was My Inspiration! My everything! Before she was a Hero, she was Nyxia, the woman who I-!” He chokes, his chest tight, and he sputters, coughs.

“Easy, easy, calm yourself. Getting worked up will only hurt you.” Biggs encourages, a big hand guiding him back onto the sofa. G’Raha lets him, only because he has not the strength now to stop it. He had only just woken up a day ago.

Nothing but the sound of labored breathing fills the room for a time, and then a choked gasp, a near silent sob. G’Raha shakes as he does his best to gain composure back.

“I knew... I knew I would likely never see her again.” From all those years ago, the events from then reoccur before his eyes. Bright ruby eyes to match his, snowy hair, a brave smile sitting on too tight lips. But she had smiled for him, had told him she would wait.

“Just you wait to hear what I tell you when you wake, ‘Raha! You’ll have so much to catch up on, it’ll make your head spin!”

“I wanted to believe that I would wake to find her waiting, but knew it was impossible. Still... still to know that she has been forgotten, that she left the world in such a cruel way...”

“Hey now, she hasn’t been forgotten. Did I not tell you that they still tell stories of her?” Biggs says and he snorts, shakes his head.

“Of her actions as a Hero. Not the actions of Nyxia Oni.” Not the life of his greatest companion, only distorted memories of her battles.

“I wouldn’t be so quick to judge. Was that a flaw of yours from before? I think I read in a journal somewhere about your stubbornness, and your habit of jumping to conclusions, but this is excessive.”

Another flare of rage flashes through him, and he looks up, mouth open and ready to give a few choice words, but he is met with an old, leather bound book instead. He blinks, looking at the detailing, the dragon pressed into the cover, the title neatly inscribed in silver ink. Heavensward, penned by Count Edmont de Fortemps.

“Give this a read, will ya? Before you go off again, why not play a bit of catch up?” Biggs says, handing it over. G’Raha examines the tome, the old but preserved pages, and huffs. He’s of course interested, but is now really the time? He flips it open, reads the dedication page, and therefore loses himself to the words penned.

The author paints an intimate picture of the time, of the snowy landscape he had never seen first hand, a civil war taking a nation by storm, and in the middle of all of it, she was there. Count Edmont writes of her fondly, dearly, like a father of his child. His pride and care for her tear his heart at times, and make him laugh at others. The scolding tone when addressing her fashion sense, his adoration when recounting their conversations...

Several times, he has to wipe his eyes, pause to catch his breath, but by the end of it, he too is proud, triumphant. He had been wrong. His earlier hope, that she would be remembered in full, it was all here in this book. It is but a shame that he could not speak with the Count himself, praise his accurate depiction.

History had remembered her, and not just what she was. His earlier anger was misplaced, and from then on, he involved himself with the others, learned more of her deeds. In each tale he heard, her personality, her generosity, her self was present, and his heart swells with each new one.

“Each life she touched, she left for the better. Each action she made, she left a piece of herself to remember. History did not forget her. I am... so very thankful.” he finally confides to Biggs, the man who but a week ago, he was ready to brawl. In hindsight, he might not have gotten far... and he is embarrassed that he allowed his temper to get the best of him in such a moment.

With time to cool off, and the situation now clear to him, he thinks on what the true purpose of the dive into the Crystal Tower had been.

“Using technology from her foray into Alexander, and that of Ancient Allag, you and yours seek a way to undo that past Calamity.”

“That is correct. We had not expected to find you before we found our answer, though the Cid from years ago did leave record of your sealing.” Biggs tells him, and a lalafellin girl, Wawaru, she is called, nods. “We are still searching, for it is only a matter of time before this place too falls.”

The threat that she gave her life to stop had only been delayed. That is the true unfair outcome from all of this. Why should she have had to die not only alone, but for nothing? G’Raha will not stand for such a thing, oh no, and now that he is mostly over his despair, he is ready to get to work.

“I will be blunt. Even should you find a way to traverse time, it will not undo the Calamity, for that is not an action that was brought on by our particular star. The same events would simply repeat, perhaps with increasing consequences.” G’Raha begins. “In order to fix that which caused the death of the Warrior of Light, one must first look to the source of it, which is to say, which shard was destroyed.”

He lifts his hand, and a grid of light forms, showing thirteen orbs, and a fourteenth at the center. “Each Calamity that befalls us is the death of a shard. We here on the source suffer for the tragedy that engulfs another world. In order to prevent such a thing here, we would need to fix the problem of that shard. The question is... which do we start with, and ultimately, how.”

“We had hoped that using the Tower, we might gain insight to find a good solution. Is there not a way to single out which shard brought on the Eighth Umbral Calamity?” Wawaru asks, and G’Raha considers, going through the vast knowledge he had accumulated through his years. While he slept, he had absorbed much knowledge about the Tower. As the only one capable of using it in present times, surely there must be something...

“Ah. Yes. There is a way to single it out, and I do believe there is a way to even traverse that aetherial sea that lies betwixt each shard. Or rather there should still be.” He looks up, smiles smugly. “In fact, it has been managed before and none other than our Champion had made the leap.”

“You mean-!” Biggs is beside himself with excitement, and G’Raha nods.

“That is right. Nyxia had traveled to one of the shards before. The one that had fallen to Darkness to become the Void, home to Cloud of Darkness. The Allagan ruler from centuries before had found a way to patch into that dimension, and it held for all those years. If he can manage it, then surely I could as well.”

“Amazing... that you should know so much is truly something.”

He grins, ears twitching as he crosses his arms and sits back.

“I was told long ago that a man could study for two lifetimes and never know as much as I do. Let us put that knowledge to work then, and fix that which should never have happened. It will be an ultimate test, a message sent back to her from all of us. She was remembered, she was loved, and she is still needed.”

He will save her from that, surely. No one else will do to deliver the her from that fate.

“History is my passion, the study of ancients thrilling and endlessly entertaining, but if we must undo everything that has happened since the Calamity, then I will be the first to strike it from the books. There is no way I can allow it to happen, if it can be prevented.”

#Hi this is a mess and I lost steam toward the end because everyone was yelling but lol #FFXIV #Shadowbringers #G'Raha Tia #I think I was going somewhere with this #I might write more later who knows #also I guess if anyone wants I could find the post where I explain what I mean y immortal #but I doubt anyone wants that much depth lol

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jenovahh · 5 years ago

Text

KYKM - 12 Months, 20 Days

The buzz about the town is audible, even past the double doors of the workshop as Zenos glares at the two men stand across from him.

“And pray tell, what do you want from us, my lord?” one asks, a slight tremble to their voice.

“My lord?” The other mocks, with a chuckle.

“Not all of us are so used to being rebellious children and defecting from their homeland Garlond. This was a superior to me but a year ago.”

He can’t kill them, he reminds himself once more. As much as he’d like to threaten them, he can’t. That would only make matters worse.

Nero tol Scaeva and Cid nan Garlond stand a casual, but safe distance across from him in their large workshop, one eyeing the door every so often while the other stares him down.

“I came here expecting information, Scaeva.” Though Garlond did not seem to be easily intimidated, as Nero had said he was still a superior in his eyes.

“Pertaining to...?” Cid prompts, clearly seeing his game at pressuring Nero and stopping it.

“What else? The Warrior of Light.” it takes all of his control to keep his voice calm and even, not letting any of his frustration or impatience slip through.

“Is it matter of that you cannot find them?” Nero asks, running a hand through his hair nervously. “The Garlean hunter, unable to find his quarry” he murmurs to himself with a chuckle, making Zenos growl audibly.

“They are obviously hiding some place I cannot find them. And I will not lower myself to speak with savages to ask for their whereabouts.” he continues haughtily, not missing a beat. Cid lets out a loud laugh at that, clutching his sides.

“You mean the remaining Scions won’t tell you where they are. I’m sure you must’ve scared poor Tataru witless.” Cid chuckles, clearly amused. He misses the look of disbelief Nero throws him, at having the audacity to openly ridicule the prince of their former nation.

And sadly, it was true. He had spent days searching for you, unable to find hide or hair of where you had gone. He had searched over every town, every region, every nation and it was as if you had turned into mist. As if you had left the realm altogether.

“How are you to know I did not slaughter her where she stood?” he growls, hand already itching to draw his blade.

“Because I am still alive. And naturally we would have any reports about any happenings with the Scions.” He shrugs, his own glare sliding back into place. “It’ll take more than a mean look to scare me prince. I’ve been by the Warrior’s side fighting gods and Garlean forces alike. Which is why I must now ask; why should I tell you where the Warrior of Light is?” Cid inquires, his stare hard and cold.

Zenos only regards Cid coolly, seeing just how it was so easy for him to abandon his homeland and all he had known. With an iron will like that, it would be easy to turn from all you had ever known. He finds himself building a begrudging respect for him, if only to calm his blood to keep the thoughts of slaughtering him at bay. “They owe me a duel.” he states simply.

“I’m sure there are many who have challenged the Warrior to a duel.” Cid responds in turn, making Zenos clench his teeth at this how stubborn he was being. Perhaps it was a Garlean trait, rather than familial.

“I’m not the only one who cares for the Warrior of Light. Just the one with the least responsibility.”

The dragoon’s words floated through his head, and now it made more sense as to why he could not scare the answer out of them.

Even in the face of what could be certain death, they cared and it was probably more than obvious that something occurred between you two when you ran to wherever you were without him.

“Seven moons ago the Warrior had their Magitek armor repaired.” He begins, watching recognition dawn on Nero’s face. “They had described that it had a problem; a lurch. They had brought it here to have it repaired.”

Recognition and shock now shows on Cid’s face, his jaw agape as he continues. “Scaeva gave the Warrior a list of items that they would need to repair the armor. I chose to remain.”

The two are speechless, processing this new revelation. A shite-eating grin slowly spreads on Nero’s face, while Cid’s mouth still hangs open in disbelief.

“By the emperor...I knew it!” Nero nearly shouts. “That cadence was unmistakable! One unique only to Lord Zenos!” he pauses for a moment as another thought hits him, looking over to Cid. “Then that means...”

“Twelve above...” Cid whispers, his voice torn between anger and awe and...amusement. “You’re in love with the Warrior of Light.”

The accusation hits him like a physical blow, too stunned to immediately retaliate. Baring his teeth, he growls low, nearly ready to throw his consideration for your friends to the wind. “Do not try my patience.” he seethes, reaching for his blade.

Cid starts forward, being held back Nero. “And do not play us for fools, prince. It all makes sense. Why you’ve spared anyone close to the Warrior. Why you had followed them everywhere, why they looked at you with stars in their eyes,”

“Perhaps you should speak in a way our, ahem, friend might understand, Garlond.” Nero murmurs, having not stopped his grinning for a second. “My Lord, if you would allow me, I can explain how Garlond would come to such a...conclusion.” He’s obviously entirely amused by the prospect of the situation, but he’s at least showing him some semblance of respect.

Taking his silence as the go ahead, Nero continues, “You see my Lord, though it might not seem so, we could recognize the signs of something more than just being traveling companions when you two had arrived. It was in the way you two moved around each other. The way how you spoke to the Warrior, the way you looked at them. We meant it when we said the Warrior’s wont was to travel alone, and to hear they had a longtime travelling companion made you special.”

“Speak plainly, Scaeva.” Zenos growls, heart thudding in his chest.

“What I mean my Lord, is that the actions you exhibited around the Warrior of Light are ones of affection. Love.” Nero says hurriedly, quickly averting his eyes.

“Impossible.” Zenos spits, teeth bared.

“Or you do not know what it is to be loved.” Cid finally interjects, his eyes a tad gentler now. “Maybe even, you do not know what you are like in love, to see the signs. How would you know something you’ve yet to experience? What other reason would the Prince of Garleans leave Garlemald, descend upon Eorzea without a care, all to ask where the Warrior of Light is?”

That thought alone silences him, alongside with being unable to feel like he can refute the two men’s words. He could deny it with words, but each time he thought about it his tongue felt like ash, his heart twisted in pain. His memories fluttered through his mind, assaulting him in striking clarity.

Could Garlond be right? He had never wiped anyone else’s tears. Never before had he allowed someone to be held against his person only to enjoy their nearness. Never had he reveled in the joy of training with anyone else. The feeling he had felt blossoming in his chest...could it be love?

Pursing his lips, he looks away from his former countrymen, unsure what to say. He was far too prideful to acknowledge that they were right, but couldn’t deny the truth without it paining him to do so.

“The Warrior of Light is in a place you cannot reach.” Cid speaks up, pulling him from his daze. Nero looks to Cid in confusion, but otherwise says nothing. “The Scions have fallen to a mysterious deathless sleep, and the Warrior of Light has left the realm altogether to find them.”

Pausing to scratch his head, Cid releases a reluctant sigh. “I only tell you this as a favor to the Warrior of Light.” At his continued silence, he sighs once more. “I’m not the best one to assume the Warrior’s feelings, but it’s safe to say that they were seriously hurt by you hiding your identity, now that I have the truth. You owe it to them to make it up to them.”

“As I said earlier, this is your mistake to fix. I’m sure you know that. You know as well as I do that they’re waiting on you. Don’t let them down.”

“It would seem I have to find a way to journey to this realm then.” Zenos rumbles, already pouring over theories and ideas.

“Start at the Crystal Tower. That is the last of my help I will give you.” Cid finishes, staring the prince down.

“Very well.” Moving to leave, he pauses at the door, knowing that a crowd is waiting to see if the two men inside still remain alive. He cannot blame their assumptions, his own reputation proceeding him after all. However, he has much more important matters to take care of than slaughtering two defectors. “I will say you are still mistaken Garlond.” he calls, pulling the door open to a throng of people standing outside.

“I do not love the Warrior. They owe me a duel.”

#zenos #zenos yae galvus #FFXIV #ff14 #Final Fantasy XIV #fanfic #fanfiction #writing #my writings #kykm

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catte-bard · 6 years ago

Text

We Were Once Thick As Thieves

(SPOILERS FOR 4.5)

Six Years Ago. . .

The winter air was crisp; fat flakes of snow drifted down silently. Grey winter clouds hid the sun from view. Most had retreated to the warm safety of their homes. Garlemald’s bitter winters discouraged many from venturing outside too often. The few individuals that dare brave the outdoors hurried about bundled up in their thick coats.

Ceruleum burning at a nearby plant wafted on the breeze. It gave the air an almost metallic tinge.

Bellona and Atticus sat perched atop a stone wall, watching people rush by to escape the cold. No one paying much attention to either youth. Too occupied with getting to their destinations.

“You’ve been quieter than usual today. Something wrong?” Bellona was the first to break the silence between them. She swung her legs back and forth, glancing over at her seeming sullen companion.

Atticus brow was crease and his gaze cast down. Lost in thought, at first it seemed her didn’t hear her. “Hm?” He eventually looked up. “Ah…no. Something’s just been on my mind.”

She arches a brow. “Your father?”

“Yeah…” He sheepishly admitted. “It’s the longest he’s been away from home is all. And I guess I’m just worried…”

Bellona gave a sympathetic nod. “I’m sure he’s okay. He’ll come home eventually like he always does. I’m sure his work in Eorzea won’t keep him there for too long.”

He nods but the somber cloud above his head seemed to remain.

She tilts her head at him. It wasn’t like Atticus to act so serious. She wasn’t used to such sullenness and silence from him. To be honest, it was a bit worrying.

Alright then, let’s move on to a different subject. Maybe he’d cheer up talking about something that’d take his mind off his worries?

She drummed her fingers against the cool stone as she thought. “So have you heard about that magitek that fell through the ice a few days ago?” She eventually asked.

“Hm?” Atticus perked up. “Oh, yeah, Quintus told me about. I hear it some new prototype for something, wasn’t it?”

Bellona nods. “I was there when I saw it happen.”

“Oh really?” Her friend arched a brow.

“I was.” She insisted. “They were doing something out on the lake—I don’t know what. But the ice started to crack, and all the engineers started to panic. When it started looking like they couldn’t save it, they just abandoned it and ran to land to avoid falling in with it.” Her brow creases. “Though I think they said two of them didn’t make it.”

A truly awful turn of events. Especially, to see it unfold. The sound of ice breaking and people shouting in panic...

Bellona shook her head, ridding herself of the thought.

“Sounds like quite the screw up.” Atticus mumbled. “Would’ve hated to be the person who had to report that to my superiors. I bet that project was expensive too. You think they’re going to try to get it back?”

Bellona shrugs. “If they do, it’ll probably be in the spring when the lake has thawed.” All the ice would make such a retrieval too risky.

The boy chuckles. “Yeah, someone definitely got a lot shite for that one. Feel bad for that one poor bastard who had to take the brunt of the blame.” He tilted his head in thought. “Quintus also told me about those two engineers. You know one of their bodies washed up yesterday?”

Bellona shook her head. This was news to her.

“Yeah, it supposedly wasn’t a pretty sight to behold.” He grimaces. “The skin was blue and grey. The nose had frozen right off and—” He pauses dramatically to lean close to her. “—Their fingers were run down to the bone from them scratching at the ice to escape.”

Bellona leaned away from him, giving her friend a skeptical look. She searched his face for any sign of deceit. What he was saying sounded like a load of horse shite.

It sounded like something he was making up just to scare her. She certainly hadn’t heard of anything like that.

“That’s gross.” Bellona finally said, wrinkling her nose. “You’re gross.”

Her friend laughed. “I’m only telling you what Quintus said.”

“Your brother’s gross too.”

“Gross? I thought you had a crush on him?”

Her face went a deep shade of red.

“No! What makes you think that?!” Her voice shrill and indignant.

“I remember it.” Atticus told her. He casually traced his finger through the snow that had collected atop the wall. “We were nine and you told me you thought Quintus was cute. And I thought that was the most disgusting thing you’ve ever said to me. I had never felt so betrayed.”

Bellona shoved him in the arm. “That was when I was nine, you arse. That was years ago!”

He arches a brow. “Alright, but do you still think he’s cute. You do, don’t you? Oh, I think I might barf.”

“I do not!”

“Oh, so you think he’s hideous? Thank gods, finally someone agrees with me.”

Biting back another response, Bellona simply rolls her eyes.

“I only tease out of love, dear Bella.” Her friend laughs. “Though I am curious.” Atticus tells her as he wipes a tear from his eye. “If you don’t fancy my dear brother, then who do you fancy? Come on, there has to be someone who’s caught your eye. Someone the proud Bellona bas Marcellus is trying to court?”

“That’s none of your business.” Bellona mumbled, feeling her cheeks grow hot again.

“That’s not fair. I told you about Clovia when you asked.” He pouted. “Your turn to tell me who you like.”

And when Bellona refused to answer he said. “I bet I can guess who it is.” A mischievous smirk plays across his lips when he saw her ears perk. He had her attention. “I know who it is. Because you got in trouble for sneaking around with her past your curfew, didn’t you?”

Bellona merely grunted, refusing to confirm or deny his guess.

But that was all Atticus needed to know he was right. “Ha! I knew—ARGH!”

“Oh, Atticus! Are you alright?” Bellona called out to him.

She looked down at him, fallen from his perch and lying on the ground behind them. It wasn’t a far fall and a large drift of snow had also ensured he hadn’t been hurt. At most, he seemed dazed.

The young Garlean blinked up at her. “You pushed me.” He sounded shocked.

“Did I?” Bellona feigned innocence. “Must have been some weird spasm or something.”

“You’re going to pay for that, Marcellus.”

“You’ll have to catch me first, Vitalion.”

Childishly sticking her tongue out at him, Bellona quickly hopped down from her perch and took off before he could climb back over the wall.

Present Day. . .

There was chaos and fighting all around. Fires blazed and ceruleum ran in bright blue rivers across the ground. All around was the sound of steel clashing against steel, explosions rumbling in the distance, men and women shouting.

The disorder was overwhelming, but Bellona helped where she could as she navigated her way through the battlefield. A hail of arrows here, a potion given to injured ally there.

It was a terrible scene to view everywhere. Such carnage rivaled that of the Battle of Ala Mhigo. Cries of agony and anger. Soldiers on both sides dragging their injured to safety while trying to fend off attackers. Men and women laid dead or dying in the dirt. A few times, Bellona had to watch where she was going so as not to stumbled over one of the fallen.

The sight of it all left her feeling ill. This bloody battle could have been avoided. No one would have had to die today. However, Varis could not be swayed from his madness. And his arrogance today—his ignorance, would cost so many people their lives.

Perhaps it was that Ascian heritage showing itself?

It’s quiet here.

Bellona paused to study her surroundings. Somehow, she had found herself in a part of the Ghimlyt Dark that wasn’t busy with clashing soldiers. It seemed both Alliance and Imperial forces had moved on from the area. Aside from the few wreckages of burning magitek machinery and abandoned standards, nothing stirred within the barren field.

There was nothing here. Better to move on to somewhere she was needed.

However, just as she were about turn away, a single gunshot rang out. The bullet whizzed by mere fulms away. It seemed the field wasn’t as empty as she thought…

Bellona looked over her shoulder, in the direction the shot had come from. And emerging from behind one of the burning wreckages was a single imperial soldier.

Had he been there the entire time?

The woman’s eyes darted about, looking for anymore potential hiding places. This could easily be an ambush she had just walked into. However, no other soldiers emerged. It seemed this one was alone. A straggler left behind by their cohort? Or a coward trying to run?

Either way, she could handle one legionnaire on her own. The Miqo’te lifted her bow, readying for a confrontation.

The soldier paused before Bellona; their gaze hidden but she could feel them studying her. Leering at her. They stabbed their blade into the ground before slowly reaching up to remove their helm.

Her heart sank when she saw the face underneath.

No…

Her bow slipped from her fingers.

She couldn’t hurt him. She wouldn’t hurt him…

Atticus tossed his helmet aside and took up his weapon again. Golden eyes cold in the amber light of the blazing fires around them. Slowly he approached with his weapon brandished before him,

“Take up your bow.” The man demanded. His tone cold with anger.

Bellona’s ears flattened and she shook her head. No… Perhaps, somewhere at the back of her mind, she knew that eventually she’d actually have to confront him. However, now to be actually faced with it… “Atticus…”

“Take up your bow, right now.” Atticus snarled.

“I…I don’t want—”

“You don’t want to fight me.” He mocked. “Tis too late for regrets and pacifism. Especially when you already have the blood of your own countrymen on your hands.”

And you think I’m ever going to forgive myself for that? She wanted to say so badly. She wanted to tell him how she hadn’t wanted any of it to be this way. That she hadn’t wanted to fight against friends and family. That she hadn’t wanted to be a traitor.

However, words failed her. Her tongue frozen by terror as she looked her former friend in the eyes and saw killing intent staring back at her. No more pleading. No more mercy. No more chances. She was just another enemy of the Empire, and he another imperial soldier who would cut her down should his emperor will it.

And Bellona felt like all sorts of remorse in that moment.

She stepped back. “Atticus, please—”

“No.” He interrupted. “I gave you so many chances to redeem yourself and to return to Ilsabard, but you never heeded me! Now look at where it’s gotten you. Why must you be so bloody stubborn?! I could have spared you this fate!”

He swung his blade through the air and Bellona stumbled back, tripping over a piece of debris and fell to the ground.

Is this how she died?

Her bow laid feet away, too far out of her reach for her to use it to defend herself. And looking at her surroundings, she found nothing else within reach that would be useful.

Defenseless.

Atticus now stood above her; his blade pointed in her face.

“Go on…” Bellona urged him when he wouldn’t deliver the killing blow. “Do what you must for your emperor and country.”

Atticus narrowed his eyes at her. And she saw such disdain within that gaze that for a moment she thought he’d really do it. However, he abruptly lowered his weapon and stepped away from her. A growl of frustration came from him.

Bellona laid there for a moment. Then realizing that he wasn’t going to attack, she slowly got to her feet. “Atticus?” She timidly called to him.

The man stood with his back towards her. His grip on his blade was trembling.

“Why isn’t this easy?” He muttered.

“Taking a life should never be easy…” Bellona softly told him. She walked over to him and attempted to place a comforting hand on his arm. However, the man shot her a dark look and immediately shied away from her.

She tried not to feel too hurt from the look of disdain he gave her. It was a look she deserved anyway…

“Why did you leave?” He asked. “You had a good life in Garlemald. Family and friends who loved and supported you. Why would you run away from all of that?”

He shook his head. “What could possible be worth betraying your kin and country?” He gestured around him at the flames and ruin. “Is this what you wanted? Men and women dying all around in bloody war?”

Bellona opened her mouth but couldn’t find her voice. Atticus’ barbed words left her without the courage to speak. He was right to be angry with her. Every criticism, every insult, she deserved.

What could she even say? Sorry? That wouldn’t fix things. All the terrible things she’s done.

“Have you nothing to say for yourself?” Atticus sneered.

She shook her head. “I…This isn’t what I wanted.” Finally, her voice came to her again. “I wanted peace.”

“Does this look like peace to you, Bellona?”

Her eyes cast down to the ground in shame. Peace? How could she claim to strive for peace when she led the way, carrying the bloody war banner?

“This isn’t what I wanted.” She repeated. She hadn’t ever wanted to fight.

Her hands balled into fists. “But I’ll not be to blamed alone for the bloodshed today. The Eorzean Alliance didn’t want a fight. But your emperor rejected their offers of peace! We could have all laid down our arms today but Varis is too much of a zealot and a mad tyrant to listen to reason!

“That is not a man who sits on the throne, but a blood-thirsty beast. That is what you’re fighting for.” Even now, Varis’ confession still echoed in her head. It made her shudder just thinking about it. He was mad—a puppet of the Ascians. “He’s doesn’t want unity, Atticus, he wants destruction.”

The man narrowed his eyes at her.

“Enough. I’ll hear no more slander of my lord.” The man snapped. “He gave Eorzea a chance. He offered his hand forth for them to join the Empire. He offered his friendship.

“Lord Varis longs for peace. And he knows the only way to achieve it is by uniting the entire realms under a single standard. It is the Eorzeans who crave destruction. Their rejection shows that.”

He sounds just like him. Bellona thought in horror. Just like that madman. Too blindly loyal to see that Varis meant to lead the world into its undoing.

“Atticus, please.” She tried to reason with him. “Varis—the Galvus family, even the entire Empire. There’s more to it all.”

“I said enough of that! Now, it’s time for you to come home, Garlemald misses its lost daughter.” He held his hand out in beckoning. “Our emperor can be a merciful man. If you ask for forgiveness now, it will be given. Please, all you need do is come with me and swear your loyalty to him and all will be forgiven.”

Bellona took a step back and shook her head. “I can’t abandon Eorzea.”

“But you would abandon Garlemald and all you love? Help its enemies burn it to the ground?”

“No!”

“Do you think you can have both?” Atticus asked her. “This is war, Bellona. You need to choose which one matters more to you.”

Again, she shook her head. “Why do I have to make a choice?” She demanded. “I love Garlemald…and I also love Eorzea. I don’t want to see something happen to either.”

Couldn’t she save both? Couldn’t there be peace between them? Why does it have to come to war and choosing sides?

“You know better than that.” He told her. “That’s not how this works, Bellona.”

And his grip tightened on his weapon and he lifted it to point at her. The blade gleamed amber in the firelight.

“I need to know. Which will you stand with? Garlemald—your home,” He took a step forward, weapon brandished before him, “Or Eorzea?”

Her heart pounded in her chest and her mouth had run dry. She opened her mouth but found her voice gone. She couldn’t will herself to speak.

“I told you before. I can’t abandon them.” Bellona quietly said, finally finding her voice. There was an ache in her throat. “I’m sorry…”

I’m sorry I had to do this. I’m sorry if I hurt you or anyone else who cared about me. I just wanted to do the right thing. I wanted to help people the Empire had hurt. But I just ending up hurting those close to me instead and I’m so sorry for that…

She wanted to say but swallowed her words when she saw Atticus’ face. Many emotions flashed across his features. Irritation, shock, disappointment. But she mostly saw hurt. Hurt and betrayal.

However, the pain on his face was quickly overshadowed. Sorrow quickly melted into trembling anger. An anger unlike anything she’s seen in him before.

“As am I…” His teeth bared.

And for the first time, she actually felt afraid of him.

“Bellona!”

Atticus’ head snapped up at the shout and he immediately backed away. Moments later Yugiri and Hien were there. And upon seeing a hostile imperial soldier, moved forward to confront him. Standing protectively in front of the warrior.

Atticus leered at them, as if debating on taking them all on. He was outnumbered. It would be a risky fight—a foolish fight. One that he’d lose quickly. There was no honor in recklessly charging into a confrontation which had odds stacked against you.

He gritted his teeth in frustration and took a step back. His gaze shifted to Bellona one last time. Anger and hurt—so much hurt burned behind that glare.

Then turning around, he retreated. Disappearing amongst the smoke.

“Coward.” Yugiri murmured.

“Are you alright?” Hien asked as he helped Bellona to her feet.

“Yeah…” The Warrior mumbled. Shaken but fine. “He…he didn’t hurt me.” She stared off into the direction Atticus had run.

Had Hien and Yugiri not arrived in time he probably would have…

She had seen that look in his eyes. That was not the look of a merciful man. That was not the look of a friend. The thought of him willing hurting her was too outrageous—too painful to bear. But that look. So much anger—so much disdain in that one look.

What little bridge that had remained between them before seems to have crumbled away now…

“We should move on.” Yugiri suggested, looking in the direction Atticus had run as well. “That one might come back with reinforcements.”

Bellona nodded her quiet agreement. And with an aching heart, turned away.

#final fantasy xiv #ff14 #ffxiv rp #writing #bellona and atticus #tumblr mobile decided to be temperamental so had to repost this

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onwesterlywinds · 7 years ago

Photo

Ashley Rosenheim: Grey, isn't it? Grey Riot is visibly uncomfortable with the situation, unsure if he should be welcoming or ready to defend himself. Grey Riot: Aye. Ashley Rosenheim is a little confused as well. Ashley Rosenheim: You... know what I look like. Grey Riot: Bernard 'as a painting of you. Ashley Rosenheim lets out something that sounds like a cross between a laugh and a scoff as he mumbles to himself. Ashley Rosenheim: Why am I surprised...? Grey Riot: So. Uh. You're not dead, then. He was actually right? Ashley Rosenheim nods. Ashley Rosenheim: He was. Ashley Rosenheim steps a little bit closer, and now he can see the young man who had been sitting beside Bernard Undertaker during his dream communication. Grey Riot: ...So, uh. Was that weird shite actually real, then? I kinna just thought Bernard was crazy. Ashley Rosenheim: It was. I'm sorry he forced Ashelia's hand as he did. And yours. Grey Riot shrugs. Grey Riot: So like. D'ye breathe fire or flap your arms and fly or can you turn into a shadow or make things explode by thinking about it, or something? Ashley Rosenheim hesitates. Ashley Rosenheim: No? Grey Riot: Bernard made it sound like you were gonna kill all th'Garleans yourself and free Eorzea and then you were gonna punch Halone in the face and take her place in the pantheon or something, but you don't really look that special. Grey Riot: Just wondering.

Ashley Rosenheim gives a self-deprecating chuckle. Ashley Rosenheim: I've told Bernard. I'm in no fit state to tear down twenty years of occupation. Not yet. Grey Riot: ...So are you just gonna lift weights first, or... Grey Riot sounds highly doubtful of all of this. Ashley Rosenheim hesitates, then deems Grey Riot trustworthy enough. Ashley Rosenheim: I need to learn as much as I can of what took place over the last twenty years. Whether or not the XIIth yet hold some degree of influence over me and my memories. Grey Riot: Uh. So there's this city, right? Doma? They got pretty much wiped out, and th'ones that made it out came here and Ul'dah was all 'no, foreigners suck, we already have too many' and send 'em off to Mor Dhona and Limsa because Limsa isn't full o' shitehead merchants. And some of 'em are ninjas. Or. Uh. 'Shinobi'. And they're REALLY COOL. Are you one of those? But Ala Mhigan? Ashley Rosenheim blinks. Ashley Rosenheim: A refugee? Grey Riot: A ninja. You know, like this! Grey Riot raises his hand and brings it down in a practiced motion, a puff of smoke appearing where he was standing, and appears on the other side of the room. Grey Riot holds his arms wide. Ashley Rosenheim tenses as the action is performed, unsure of what to expect or if he is in any danger; once Grey Riot reappears behind him, however, he gives an impressed nod. Ashley Rosenheim: No. I can sneak about as well as your father, but that is beyond me. Grey Riot: He can't sneak as well as me anymore. You can hear him breathing. Ashley Rosenheim nods. Ashley Rosenheim: I imagine so. Ashley Rosenheim sobers as he realizes that Bernard's years of living in squalor are at last catching up to him. Grey Riot: I figured out how to tell if he's lying, too. Ashley Rosenheim: Hm? Grey Riot: His lips are movin'. Ashley Rosenheim chuckles before he can help himself, then stops just as suddenly. Ashley Rosenheim opens his mouth to voice his own suspicions, but knows that that ahriman is likely watching their every word. Grey Riot: Somethin' wrong? Ashley Rosenheim shakes his head. Ashley Rosenheim: Between Ashelia and Edge and you... something went right these past twenty years. I've no doubt of it. Grey Riot: Really? Ashley Rosenheim motions with his head toward the entrance to the tunnel. Grey Riot shrugs, decides he has nothing better to do and follows Ashley Rosenheim. Ashley Rosenheim leans out over the canyon, looking remarkably like his daughter in his carefree posture. Ashley Rosenheim: Long before Ashelia was born, before I met her mother, there were three of us: me, Bernard, and Marco. Grey Riot: So when'd Marco die? Ashley Rosenheim has had his suspicions on the significance of that day, but he keeps them to himself. For here and now, they are irrelevant. Ashley Rosenheim: Before Tia and I were wed. Before Ashelia was born. Grey Riot: Right. Makes sense. Bernard didn't talk much about all that. Ashley Rosenheim: He was... words can't describe him. Nor the ways he changed people for the better. Grey Riot: Why'd he hang out with Bernard? Ashley Rosenheim: They were friends long before I met him. But Bernard was... even then, he was a sort of mercy that the Undercity sorely needed. Grey Riot: Wha's that mean? Ashley Rosenheim: It sounds strange, and it is. But Bernard did what he did, even at a very young age, to ensure that certain criminal factions did not create tyranny. And there were many who tried. Ashley Rosenheim: Marco kept him in line. Kept us both in line. Made sure we did everything for the right reasons. Grey Riot: Yer tellin' me Bernard did good things at one point? Ashley Rosenheim: He saved more lives in his youth than any of us may ever know. Grey Riot: Like feedin' puppies an' shite? Ashley Rosenheim: No. But he would intervene to ensure that one crime lord did not threaten countless innocents, even when doing so was a drain to his own resources. Grey Riot: So he'd, like. Kill people. That sounds about right. Ashley Rosenheim sighs, but cannot think of any other way to reply to that, so he goes back to talking about Marco. Ashley Rosenheim: I know too few things, now. But when I see Ashelia and Ger- Edge, I know Marco would have adored them. Just as I knew it when they were children playing on street corners. Ashley Rosenheim: So too do I know some part of him has survived through them to this day. And through you as well. Grey Riot: ...Wait, what did you almost call Edge? Ashley Rosenheim: Apologies. I promised I'd leave his birth name in the past. Grey Riot: ...His name isn't 'Edge'? Grey Riot is way more interested in this than in some dead dude he never met. Ashley Rosenheim: It's a nickname he coined for himself when he was five. We and his parents thought it to be a phase. Grey Riot: Not gonna try t'pry it out o' ye since yer...uh, you promised and all that. But I'm gonna find out now. Ashley Rosenheim: Try the company roster. Ashley Rosenheim knows full well it's been edited out of the company roster. Grey Riot smirks. Grey Riot: That's a GREAT idea! Ashley Rosenheim: Any other questions? About Bernard, Ashelia, Ala Mhigo? Grey Riot: Why's Bernard such an asshole? Ashley Rosenheim sighs, wondering why he had to ask the most difficult question right out of the gate. Ashley Rosenheim: Most would be, if they lived the life he's had. Grey Riot: He said he grew up the same way I did. I don't think I'm an asshole. Ashley Rosenheim: He told me explicitly that he wants you to be better than him. Grey Riot: ...Huh? Ashley Rosenheim: In the Grand Steward's office is a book, and within that book is a carefully-hidden message. Bernard kept a journal of each of your milestones, from his plans leading to your birth to your first steps and beyond. When he and I met in the Shroud, as I was preparing to submit myself to the XIIth Legion for inspection, he told me in no uncertain terms to ensure that you did not end up like him. Like either of us. And he told me of the book, and of the message within it. Grey Riot: ...That's. What? Why? He wants his city freed or something. Right? Ashley Rosenheim nods. Grey Riot: So doesn't he want me to do his shite job or whatever? Ashley Rosenheim: Not if it will turn you into the man he's become. Grey Riot: ...He doesna seem like sommat would know 'isself good enough t'say that. Huh. Ashley Rosenheim: I will support Ashelia. She is, I believe, Ala Mhigo's greatest hope. Grey Riot: Maybe. Don't much care about Ala Mhigo, but I'm not gonna let her get killed or anything, so. Ashley Rosenheim nods. Ashley Rosenheim: Where would you go, then, if you had the choice? Grey Riot is lost in thought. Grey Riot: I like Limsa. Kind of wanna see Othard sometime, too. There's supposed to be cool shit out there. Ashley Rosenheim: I've yet to go to either. Grey Riot: Think Ashe would want to? Ashley Rosenheim: Perhaps. If she felt she could spare the time. Grey Riot: I mean, Ala Mhigo's gonna be freed eventually, right? Ashley Rosenheim: One can hope so. But even then, there's a matter of creating and maintaining peace. An impossible task, even before Garlemald. Grey Riot: Was it? Ashley Rosenheim: Under the Mad King, it certainly was. Though I tried unceasingly to convince myself otherwise. Grey Riot: Right. Never learned much history. Ashley Rosenheim: I would recommend doing so. You may be living it before long. Grey Riot: What's that supposed to mean? Ashley Rosenheim: Eorzea is changing, and the Riskbreakers have been at the center of that change. Grey Riot: I guess. Ashley Rosenheim: Regardless of whether or not you choose to fight alongside them, you will need to be as prepared as you can for whatever lies ahead. Grey Riot: Look. You're Ashe's dad and all, but like. You remind me of Bernard. A bit. And I don't want anything from him. He's a manipulator. I don't want him pulling my strings anymore. You know? Grey Riot: So. Thanks, but no thanks. Ashley Rosenheim hesitates, then nods. Ashley Rosenheim: Understood.

#Ashley Rosenheim #Grey Riot

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