#No cameo for we got Thancred!

[storytellers-and-co]

Tansui's Adventures - #9, Allies and Enemies

By the time Tansui had delivered the treats and gotten the news, it was starting to be evening again - and he was more than ready to just curl up by the stairs and sleep. However, Papashan informed the thaumaturge about something alarming… 

Someone of importance had gone missing. And the rounds were to find some clues. And now, knowing someone was out there, alone and possibly in danger, how was Tansui supposed to sleep? Answer, they couldn’t. And thus, the new mage set for searching this missing person. 

Thankfully, it didn’t take too long - natural curiosity and their ability to attract situations was for once playing in their favour… until, as the roguishly handsome stranger with white hair and quick with so fittingly put it, the dead came out to play. 

Tansui hadn’t fought against Voidsent in what felt like years, and yet they’d always remember the stench of one. Thankfully though, they had some help this time - the stranger taking majority of the heat while Tansui could focus on slinging his spells. Magic from both the mage in training and the Voidsent flashed in the night, illuminating the otherwise dark landscape - the steel of the strangers sword glinting at every spell and attack slung. 

Even when additional company was brought in, or when the claws came far too close for comfort, or when they were starting to run awfully low on fire-power for a short moment, Tansui felt oddly at ease - knowing someone was there, had his back for however short of a moment, that they weren’t in this alone for once was a comforting thought. 

One last Astral Fire was what finally took the Voidsent down, allowing Tansui to take a step back, catch his breath, and let the stranger help with the lady. She was apparently his responsibility, or some sort - Tansui might’ve slipped on his focus roughly there, distracted by a crystal on the ground….

[autumnslance]

LynMars FFXIV Write 2023 Master Post

This year's challenge completed! Congrats to everyone who wrote anything at all this month, even if just one prompt! Thanks again to @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast for 7 years of this!

Previous Years Master Posts: 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022

Anything wolcred ship-related is marked by an asterisk* as usual. Commentary and stats for anyone interested below the Read More.

01. Envoy: ARR; Aeryn makes her Grand Company choice. 02. Bark: Dark has the wrong pie thief suspect. 03. Free Day! 04. Off the Hook: EW; Lucia & Maxima explore their new HQ. 05. Barbarous: HW; Aeryn's frustrated by the land of her birth. 06. Ring: EW; keepsakes & memories of Aeryn's mother. 07. Noisome: Dark & Iyna contend with ubiquitous seasonal flavors. 08. Shed: EW; Aeryn answers Zenos at the edge of everything. 09. Fair: EW; Azem's brother tries to ensure the future has his aid. 10. Free Day! 11. Once Bitten Twice Shy: ShB Bozja; unwarranted concerns. 12. Dowdy: Backstory; Aeryn's always had Opinions about fashion. 13. Check: Iyna discovers C'oretta's personal business. 14. Clear*: ShB; semi-poetic sweetness of coming together. 15. Portentous: Backstory. Zaine speaks to Tanzel about a decision. 16. Jerk: EW; Aeryn meets an old friend as the Final Days loom. 17. Free Day! 18. Fish Out of Water: Shb: G'raha gets used to his new life. 19. Weal: EW; Vrtra sees to his people and their home. 20. Hamper: In a possible future, Iyna answers academic questions. 21. Grave: Legacy; Zaine Striker returns to his childhood home. 22. Fulsome: C'oretta sorts through her parents' old promos. 23. Suit: ARR; what the Scions wore that most fateful night. 24: Free Day! 25. Call it a Day: Pre-ARR; Iron Summer contemplating his daughter. 26. Last: EW; a final conversation between ancients. 27. Sole*: Post-ShB; Thancred vs the perils of Aeryn's flip-tastic jobs. 28. Blunt: Post-ShB; working with Gaius, like it or not. 29. Contravention: EW; "In from the Cold" violates laws of nature. 30. Amity: EW; Varshahn & Aeryn discuss Thavnair & Garlemald.

Only 2 short shippy prompts all month! All 4 modern girls got a couple spotlights, various family cameos and backstories, a future prompt as is tradition, Zaine had a few posts, a few NPC-only scenes, a LOT of Endwalker, and even Ancient Icarus got a story, tying into 2021's "Destruct" prompt and how/why the siblings' souls have been connected through time and reincarnations.

A few of these are alternate takes on scenes I've touched on before, but it's interesting what a new prompt at a different time can get one to say, how we change as writers in what we focus on and how we say it.

This comes in roughly 300 words shorter than last year, at 18,493. The week of the 18-22 I had off work for my birthday, and that had the most 1k+ prompts, with a word count nearly double the other 3 full weeks. While the longer prompts are good, I'm really happy with how so many of the short ones turned out!

I was again trying to be realistic about my time, energy, not pushing free write days...and also working on an original writing project on the side, so I actually did do more writing over the month, just not FFXIV related!

(Also why some of my responses were in just under the wire...)

But this was a good break and exercise from that other writing, and let me try a few new things.

And comparing to earlier years--especially 2017 and 2018 when I was getting back onto the writing horse and feeling out my OCs--I feel like my growth as a writer, especially to be more succinct yet still evocative when needed, is evident. I've gotten a lot of practice in over time, and this challenge is one of the things that helped me get to where I can write an original story on top of my fanfic!

Breakdowns for funsies: Longest: 21 Grave; 1,652 words Shortest: 14 Clear; 106 words

Between 100-500 words: 1 Envoy; 2 Bark; 4 Off the Hook; 5 Barbarous; 7 Noisome; 8 Shed; 14 Clear; 15 Portentous; 26 Last; 27 Sole. Between 500-1000 words: 6 Ring; 11 Once Bitten, Twice Shy; 13 Check; 16 Jerk; 18 Fish Out of Water; 22 Fulsome; 23 Suit; 25 Call it a Day; 28 Blunt; 29 Contravention; 30 Amity. 1000+ words: 9 Fair; 12 Dowdy; 19 Weal; 20 Hamper; 21 Grave.

I didn't look at the totals until the end; I only checked some of the shorter ones during the challenge to see if they hit my personal "500+ words" cut off for adding a Read More to the posts.

"Grave" honestly could have been a lot shorter; I started the plot too early, and much as I like Zaine making one last visit to his childhood Nana, for the purposes of the challenge, I could have just focused on going to the lichyard to save myself time and energy, and wrote about the visit on my own another time. On the other hand, it's done now!

Not sure which is a favorite; there's a lot I like.

As usual, these will be revised at...some point (some more than others, probably) and added to Ao3, in my various series and threads.

[voidsentprinces]

FFXIV feels like a weird tv series in terms of how I feel about each expansion

1.0 is the pilot season that people agree was bad but there was charm to it. It had its moments and if given a better writing staff and perhaps more budget. It could of been something great. But the season’s cancelled now so we’ll just have to post on the forums about missing its charms.

ARR feels like the reluctant second season after they got cancelled after the first season. It airs on SciFi (or however the fuck they’re spelling it nowadays) at a 1am dead block in hopes to never see it again. Its rough around the edges, the writing has some spots to be desired, the costuming is iffy but functional and all it all it becomes a cult classic.

Post-ARR is a lost season, extra materials, some unconnected filler but a few episodes that actually link back and boy does the finale really shake things up. Causing a massive fandom to grow around it and pester executives for a third season.

Heavensward is the return of the king. Final Fantasy XIV is back, it has budget, production, and cast and man with the special effects blow you out of the fucking water. After the Post-HW you hear stories about the cast loving their time on set and with the directors and really getting invested in the “characters”.

Stormblood is the unlucky season which has big shoes to fill cause its coming up after Heavensward and like thats like being the Dark Knight Rises after the Dark Knight right? And while it comes close to Heavensward. Some studio heads got involved and wanted to change stuff up because they saw another TV show do it and thats super popular so why don’t we do that? It returns to being a bit rough around the edges but the new villains really are here to chew the scenery and be memorable as all get out.

Post-SB is uneasy, it feels like the execs aren’t happy it didn’t bring in billions like the Heavensward Season did. Some actors go on to different projects and its really up in the air where its going to go. Are we going to stay in Ala Mhigo? Are we going to stay in Doma? Going to Garlemald is on the table. And this new Solus character just seems like Lahabrea but then BAM! The Call Episode happens and everyone is fucking LOSING THEIR GODDAMN MINDS! There are leaked trailer footage online and Y’shtola is now Master Matoya, Urianger is half naked and IS THANCRED WIELDING A GUNBLADE?! WHAT THE FUCK!?

Shadowbringers hits and it is the best thing on television since sliced bread. Everyone is invested, the budget is back, the writing hits hard, the Solus character is changed and given new dimension. Everyone is up in arms about fist fighting Thancred over his initial treatment of Ryne. There’s fan art of Runar and Y’shtola even though the actors are just good friends. And that Finale? Holy shit. There is some sleeper episodes like the second Amh Araeng arc but the emotional pay off of seeing Minfilia return for a last cameo is well received.

Post-Shadowbringers is making the most of the new world sets. Tying up lose ends, here and there. Setting up the next big bad with this Fandaniel dude and Zenos being back by fandom demand. But the mid-season finale has everyone hooked, I mean after the Seat of Sacrifice arc, who can top that?

Endwalker hits, a love letter season. Some stuff feels overtly long, like was an entire half an episode necessary to show extras turning into monsters. But the baby rescue episodes has people emotionally invested, the loporitts are beloved, everyone loses their shit that Zodiark is introduce and fought only like five episodes into a 24 episode season. Speculation flies left and right and then they get the Elpis and the Ancientsona Fandom from Shadowbringers’ initial season is reignited. People are getting into fights whether to fight or protect Meteion and everyone cries at the finale of the Ultima Thule arc.

Now we’re in the after season of Endwalker, its had sort of monster of the week villains. We’ve seen some cool set design in the Thirteenth Shard and this Golbez character seems like a stand in until they figure out what to do next. But everyone is absolutely LOVING this Zero character. Nidhana’s fandom is also reignited. And there is some debate over Vrtra and his avatars but everyone is also absolutely losing their shit on whats going down in Pandaemonium and with the Twelve. Though its getting close to the end of the season and people are wondering where we’re off to next.

...if that makes any fucking sense whatsoever.

[starrysnowdrop]

Patch 6.4 MSQ Reaction

Here are my first thoughts, opinions, and overall reactions to the 6.4 MSQ. Since I had a lot to say about Pandaemonium Anabaseios, those reactions were written in a separate post, HERE. Note that these are my personal thoughts, and not meant to be a critique on the MSQ story in any objective manner.

I’m in love with the opening scenes of the patch! The bonding with Zero over eating the spiciest ass curry imaginable was fantastic, and it spoke to me so personally, as my favorite food is Indian curry, and it’s something my mom and I have always loved eating together. So that’s probably way different from most people’s experience, but I took a ton of screenshots of this scene because it felt so personal for me.

Then we got the Estinien fan service scene and ohhhhhh boy, I was DYING laughing and giggling at it!! This is because I’m not an Estinien shipper myself, but I have some friends who are, and I knew that they would die of thirst. Then I got to thinking: WHY can’t we get a scene like THAT with Aymeric?? Throw us Aymeric shippers a bone, I beg of you Yoshi-P!!

Maybe the best part of that scene was Zero’s reaction… Ma’am please!! You are killing me over here!!

Then we got to go back to Labyrinthos briefly and I am just personally so excited for Hali to be coming home to Labyrinthos and Sharlayan soon, but alas, I had to play the patch on Yume, so it didn’t have the same feeling as it would be if it was Hali being there. Nonetheless the brief Sharlayan scenes were really good.

Fourchenault’s backside comments are going to spark a thousand smut fics, I just know it…

I’m so happy that Krile seems to be more in the spotlight going forward, as I love her and I’ve always felt that they’ve done her dirty by always having her stay behind. I’m glad that it looks like she’s going to get more love soon!

Also glad that Erenville made a cameo, as I find him to be a very cool character and like an Everyman. He gives a good perspective that kinda gets lost sometimes when the Scions are always talking with the leaders of nations and such.

The Aetherfont is very likely my new all time favorite dungeon in game. It’s absolutely gorgeous, the music was great as usual, and the fights were really fun! Once Hali gets there, I’m going to take a ton of gposes there!

The Thancred cameo was really nice, but my only beef is that he leaves immediately afterwards. WHY?!?! I’m so annoyed at that.

Probably my favorite part of the patch, storywise anyway, was the Garlemald section. I’m SO glad they are finally addressing how Garlemald and the Garlean people are going to rebuild and their future going forward. It was a nice touch, and I appreciate how Vrtra was able to come up with a great compromise and to let the Garleans have some dignity. Very good stuff in my opinion.

Then the Thirteenth Moon section was pretty much how I expected it would be. Meet the lopporrits and have a cute scene again, open portal, find Azdaja, fight Golbez, yadda yadda yadda.

I will say though, I loved the Golbez trial! The mechanics were challenging yet fun, and I actually enjoyed it very much. The gamer in me was pleased, regardless of the writer in me being just meh about it all.

What I wasn’t expecting, however, was that this Void story arc would still continue into 6.5. To be perfectly honest, this has been my least favorite part of the entire MSQ, in the whole game. Yes, it has trumped everything else as the stuff I least care about. Outside of Zero being an awesome character and wanting Azdaja freed and brought home, I really could care less about everything else. It still feels like an anime filler arc, and though it has gotten a bit better, I’m still not sold. I just want to get to 7.0 like immediately. And if it has anything else to do with the Thirteenth, I might scream. I’m so sorry if anyone is liking this arc, but I just can’t get into it myself.

With all of that being said, I very much loved Pandaemonium way more, and that’s where my mind has been since I finished it yesterday. Therefore, that’s all I’ll say about the MSQ, and I have probably much more to say about Pandaemonium in my next post. Thank you all for reading, and feel free to tell me your thoughts about it all as well!!

[wind-up-thancred]

a few months ago, the night before the 6.4 trailer (and during the infamous year+ long thancred drought), i managed to successfully manifest a thancred viewing in the live letter by creating a disgusting shitty MSpaint summoning circle with his stupid smug face on it. i would like to replicate those effects again for the 7.0 trailer tomorrow so i have made a new, fresh, but equally as shitty thancred summoning circle.

featuring the very unsettling faceapp fake smile thancred that's haunted my nightmares ever since i made it, and also some flaming cooltext for extra spice. hopefully this will bring stronger effects than the fucking single dungeon cameo we got from him in 6.4. stop running from me you goddamn hyur ill chase you to the fucking ends of etheirys i swear to FUCK

[linelpisffxiv]

So, the XIV men in the tournament:

Varis - Has canonically fucked at least once, given he has a son. Is a garbage man who is one of a few I don’t think any fan of the game wants to fuck

Cid G - Unknown if he fucks. Parts of canon insist he keeps divorcing this other guy we know. A side character who is generally well liked, but I don’t think Popular is a word I would give him. I would put upper mid tier in terms of popularity. Most would vote for someone else in the franchise before him, but few would actively vote against him. (It's me, I'm the few. But I know my hatred is not shared)

Urianger: Nerd. Had a potential girlfriend and has a maybe boyfriend. Speaks in Early Modern English. Was kind of present but not really remarkable until the third expac, where he threw off his clunky robes for sexy ones. Generally well-liked, with a mild to moderate sized base of headcanoned relationships, though he’s more usually shipped with one of two other characters (or both). Fandom is generally friendly with Thancred's, in part because of shipping, but also becuase they're coworkers. There's some who dislike him becuase he is capable of deceit, even though he tries to do it only for the greater good, and is trying to kick the habit.

Emet-Selch - Has canonically fucked at least twice, given he is Varis’s grandfather and has another son who was alive who warred with Varis over the throne. Is one of the powerhouse characters of fandom, and a very popular villain. Has a decent hatedom as well because he has some very good reasons to be ("I don't see you as alive, ergo it would not be murder if I kill you. But Moral Relativism and all that.") There are people who would counterpick to get him out, but I don't think there's really an organized one, just able to be found here and there. His fandom is generally friendly with many other in-game villains (His great-Grandson Zenos, his associates Lahabrea and Elidibus, his lost friend Hythlodaeus who isn't a villain, just a dead neutral party who's a troll)

X’rhun Tia: fact: Tia isn’t his last name. He doesn’t have one. Tia is a clan indicator of non-leader/breeding male status. Doesn’t mean he hasn’t fucked, but definitely that he doesn’t with purpose. Has a cameo in msq in the background, but otherwise is side-content. Generally well-liked by people who’ve read the text of the Red Mage quest chains, but I only know one or two who have him dating their WoL. People would probably vote against him if they don't know much about the RDM questline, and even some who do.

Godbert: Has canonically fucked at least once, unless Mandervilles reproduce some other way. Primarily relegated to the comedy side quest about his son, but had shown up in MSQ as a sensible person. Very rich. I’m not big on the quests, but I am very much in the minority here. Also owns a casino.

Haurchefant: In Japanese, at least really wants to fuck. Got tamed down in English (And to a lesser extent French and German) translations cuz we don't do the pervert-with-charm trope anymore. Is the bastard son of one of the four “secular” leaders of the very religious elf city that’s been in a thousand year war with dragons. A character of decent to major importance, and is a very well-liked character who frequently tops lists of favorites despite dying halfway through the first Expac (we are on the fourth, and they are all 20+ hour games in and of themselves). Doesn't really have an active hatedom to my knowledge. And more a chill fandom who pops out of the woodworks now and then. Fans focused on him are friendly with Aymeric, Estinien, and G'raha due to similar tropes/story overlap with them.

Aymeric: The Elf pope’s Bastard son who was secretly given to a childless low-ranked noble family. Was the head of the army when we meet him, but after we killed his dad, he created a republic. Is very well liked and a frequent choice of spouse in headcanon. He also is quietly into the PC if you read into some statements a little. Again, I can't think of much of a hatedom on the character, and again, many friendly sub-fandoms with him.

G’raha Tia: See X’rhun for fucking status of his name. A minor character when introduced in a side quest. Had a bratty personality but stepped up and was thought to be never seen again. Until he got promoted to major character. His devotion to the PC quickly had a sizable chunk of the player base return the favor. However, his devotion can be seen as too much and has a sizeable hate-dom well, though not as large as the fans. Fans are admittedly loud and obnoxious and live up to XIV evangelism memes, myself included. Also the community is extremely close knit and there’s a handful of big names that can cause accidental brigading of stuff. His fandom is close to the three Ishgardians, though not as much a circle as the three Ishgardian boyfriends' are to each other. It's often on its own as well.

[inviouswriting]

Madness

Kivera centered. with polyship shown to it.

Cameo character from @snow-covered-moon​ ‘s Shuri. Ongoing story series of their interactions.

Mild warnings include - character death and talk, necromancers, and relation to a story dialogue in ARR and mild spoilers for Endwalker content.

Soul magic. Kivera hates it, she remembers the feel of it from Vanth. She recalls every single person she had ever come across afflicted by it at least once, unending madness to their eyes. She keeps a close eye over the interactions regarding the tempered, and those with specific instructions from the healers. She overlooks the slight “raises” from the conjurers and white mages.

What she doesn’t let slip are the ones who are too far gone, and gives them a swift and painless end. It is tedious work when one is brought to her. She had given those around her firm warnings that necromancy is forbidden. 

Shuri and Estinien left her, they worry over her, the far off stare the reaper has. The same one she had when she attacked G’raha Tia for tampering in her realm. She has grown to accept him, a necessary person to instruct the new ones.

Kivera still hates the set up, yet she understands them wanting to save so many from enthrallment. Green eyes flit to orange as she takes another life. A simple touch of her hand to theirs and they are gone, then carried off to their tribe or to be sent to their appropriate places to be handled. 

When did she become so docile, she lets heat run through her fingers letting the surge leech the life of the next ones. When another is set in front of her, she almost instinctively touches them, but something about them feels off. She hovers her hand, waiting for her to come to her own senses. She recognizes this feeling and scent.

“What did this one do before they were tempered...” She recognizes the appearance as a former Gridanian, but they were off to her.

“That one was brought back after they were found outside Tam-Tara. They have been wandering for a while. It’s a surprise they lasted this long. No one is sure what they did before they were tempered.” One of the Twin Adder’s answers her. 

Kivera observes the person. Orange eyes giving to red when she looks into their past. The scent of undead heavy on them, and the vacant expression like they had lost their world.

“Tam-Tara? Didn’t Shuri have to deal with someone trying to raise their loved one through necromancy there?” Kivera glances towards Thancred for an answer, he shrinks back seeing her eyes red.

“It was sealed off from that incident.” Alphinaud explains, as he looks up. A little unnerved by the demeanor change, Kivera keeps her hand off the soul in front of her.

“What of the books that were left behind, notes, the scryed and things left over from the psicodemon and Dantalion?” Her questions specific, she knows better than the rest does. That this person before her tampered with it. 

“We left it all buried in the chamber when we sealed it? Why are you asking so many questions about it, aren’t you just going to take their life?” Thancred questions her about why she is so interested.

“One more question, how long was this person missing before they were found.” The timeline, she needed it before she can determine the soul in front of her.

“About... three months ago? We were busy with Sharalayan and Thavnair around that time, so any minimal quests were done by freelance adventurers. What’s wrong? From what was gathered, they got tempered by something inside there. They’re too far gone to save.”  Kivera lowers her eyes to the clasped hands of the former conjurer. 

“Something is wrong. They’re not tempered. They performed soul and blood magic.” Kivera eases off her death touch, to tug apart the hands, seeing carvings of runes into the palms. Her own eyes hold sadness to them while blazed with red irises. 

Alphinaud catches on first and shrinks down from her stare when it lands on him. Kivera continues to search the person over, she finds a journal, when she touches it, the person seems to snap out of their vacant stare. They reach for it, and Kivera swats their hand off it.

“What’s in it?” Thancred approaches the reaper, her eyes glance over to him.

Kivera had wandered Tam-Tara following after a group of adventurers. It was there she first encountered Shuri, Kivera had watched her grieve for a former acquaintance driven to madness by the thought of going without their loved one. What she never expected was Shuri to change her views and become someone she changed fate for, breaking taboos and extending a world’s lifespan.

“Notes... laments... they went in there because of the rumors from Edda practicing a “miracle” there. They lost someone during the raid there, and instead of going through grief, they thought to use the books there to fix the problem.” Kivera flips through the translation book before she sets it in her lap catching it on fire in her hands.

The person before her tries to pry her hands off it, to keep the book from burning to ashes. While she watches the person touch the ends of the book and feel it slip away as ashes. 

“Aren’t they in pain?” Thancred rushes to the side now to pull them away from Kivera’s flames, when he touches their hands, he is surprised to not feel heat or see his own hands on fire the flames dance on his hands as a warning. He stares at Kivera who matches his stare with a solemn stare.

“Remember I am a master of my elements. I won’t harm anything I don’t intend to hurt.” Ruby eyes dim down to amber, yet one side of her sclera tints black in warning to Thancred for doing that.

“They still have a chance of reasoning.” 

“No, they don’t. Their mind is too far gone to madness. I just want you all to see this. A price and reason why I am against this kind of magic. While you all play hero and use similar magicks for curing tempered souls. There is one other side that is still unforgiveable. It marks them, it makes them unable to accept even their own deaths. They become parasites in the spirit realm. You’ve yet to see the horrors I see as normal.” Kivera would have dispersed their soul without hesitation, yet right here she wants everyone in her vicinity to witness the aftermath of it.

“So you’re prolonging their end for a point?” Thancred sees a flash of red again. 

“Mind that tongue of yours, you are still in the presence of an underworld being. I am bound to my role, and what I can and cannot touch. This soul has tampered in necromancy. You know. The most forbidden magic. The magic I myself have been exposed to and used on. The very magic that gave birth to that lich I speak of. The laws of the Underworld are specific when regarding a soul who held these rituals, judging by their reaction... they were unsuccessful to the date when they were found. Chances are, they would have kept going.” Kivera picks up the bags that were found with the person and dumps the contents out at her feet.

More scrolls and tomes spill out, her eyes regard it with a sigh. 

“What do you intend to do then?” Thancred has heard half of her story loose from Shuri and Estinien. Both said the same thing. That Kivera will tell them herself if she thinks it is important enough. Divinity gave them a stern warning that the reaper does things with reasons behind them. She wanted to teach them a lesson.

“Their existence will be extinguished. They will not return to the ether, nothing of them will remain. It is the fate of all those who use this magic. The taboo they performed is a grave offense to the underworld, and as a result. We do not accept these souls. Hades himself and Thanatos are certain of this law. No good comes of trying to bring back what is dead.” Kivera feels eyes on her from the person, the gravity sinking in of what she said.

“I can’t be with the ones I lost?” Kivera’s attention is drawn to them.

“No. There are reasons the magic has severe ramifications. If you had stopped at one, it could have been forgiven.” The reaper recalls what was written in the notes of their failures exceeding thirty others. 

“But you sacrificed so many for your own selfish reasons, you trapped those souls into unwilling bodies.” Kivera snares their hand now, once reality settled in and she saw them moving to get away from her.

“I won’t perform the magic anymore.” Kivera’s eyes look over to Alphinaud and Thancred.

“Silence.” She snaps at both before they can reason with her. Thancred wanted to speak but finds his tongue dry and Alphinaud doesn’t attempt it. Her spell.

“You won’t perform the magic again. Indeed. I’m sorry.” She says last as she digs her nails into their hand using her touch to end their life, along with burning them to ashes. She does make it painless, the soul had suffered enough in their own head. The moment her hand had touched theirs they were gone.

Kivera looks at the soul in her hands now, she regards how it appears dark before she disperses it in her hands leaving nothing of it behind. The books, tomes and scrolls at her feet, she sets those on fire the same way minding not to scorch the wood beneath them.

“I’m done here for now. Go about your saving them. Remember my warnings, if you encounter another necromancer summon me.” Kivera says as she stands up letting the ashes dissipate under her feet.  She ensures nothing remained cleaning off and preventing the remains from floating around. She gathers them to spread them at Tam-Tara. 

Thancred feels the spell lift and chases after her. Kivera shakes her head hearing him follow her. In his chase of her, he doesn’t see or feel a vine snare his ankle tripping him. 

“What in the?” Thancred goes to untangle his foot giving her the opportunity to leave him. Kivera stretches her wings when she is outside but waits for one more minute letting them breathe. Thancred catches up to her.

“Kivera, you know you can trust us. We won’t make that mistake.” She looks at him.

“I know you won’t make that mistake, you already endured the magic from that blasted miqo’te with the First. Quagmire.” She folds her arms to regard him walking closer. She sinks a foot into the earth itself to cause a small ripple under his feet making him sink to his knees changing it.

“Why then do you shy away from us? You talk more to Alphinaud and Y’shtola than the rest of us. Urianger gets a few sentences out of you too.” Thancred begins to pull himself out of the ground while she hovers over it.

“It’s because they don’t question my motives and understand what I am and why I do things. If you beseech me for my role, expect my role to be carried out. If you question my motives every single time I’m around and don’t trust me, why would I extend trust where I have not earned it. I clearly do not have yours yet, since you keep interfering with what is my assigned role itself as my title as death. I did not have a choice when it was given to me. I merely carry it out. Alphinaud and his sister, Y’shtola, Urianger, and G’raha Tia have seen my memories. You haven’t. There is a reason for it. You do not accept my being. Until you do, you will be kept in the dark about what and why I am this way regarding soul magic.” Kivera begins to ascend higher, her eyes on him, to ensure he doesn’t follow her she snares him with vines again at his feet and hands to hold him in place.

“Let her go.” G’raha Tia waves Kivera off, letting her go carry out her mission for disposing of the ashes back in Tam-Tara. G’raha breathes a sigh of relief once she takes off and helps Thancred up.

“It would be wise of you to not challenge her every single time about morals. It took us ages to get her to warm up to us enough to fight along side our cause. I think we have asked enough of her. Lest you earn that scythe pointed at you for a change. I still recall the day she nearly took my head off. She reacts out of a place of pain from this subject.”  G’raha explains a little to it. 

“She knows I’m not a stranger, not with risking everything.” Thancred folds his arms trying to piece together more. He knows of her past and mentioning of a creature that used soul magic. But not the extent that everyone else has seen.

“You don’t trust her though. If you do trust her, you wouldn’t question her so much. That’s part of her very being. We asked her help to give rest to the ones that couldn’t be saved. We didn’t know that one practiced that magic. Otherwise we would have given them to someone else. She knows the intentions of spirits better than any of us. If that one would continue the practice, they would have caused more damage and be marked for death later.” G’raha tries his best to defend Kivera’s hand in her choices.

“It’s hard to trust someone who takes life so easily. Without it impacting her on the outside.” G’raha Tia looks up at the sound of other feet joining them. Kivera had brought Divinity with her, and heard some of the commotion. 

“It does impact her. More than she lets on. She knows every single name that is on her never-ending scroll, their faces, the way they died, she doesn’t forget them, the wealthy ones, the poverish, the deceitful, the blessed and kind-hearted ones. The old and young.” The spirit’s vision returns as she reduces her healing abilities, not needed for now, to replenish her mana and go home for the day.

“She’s hard on you because you remind her of one of ours. Aiden. He always challenged her methods and morals the same way. You two would even be friends with how you both rush into things. Kivera trusts you more than you know. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have lingered longer.” G’raha watches the Libra spirit as she fixes her clothes, they wouldn’t have gotten through half the healing without her.

“You should chance on her one of these days in Ishgard, in the Brume. See what she does there. It might change your opinions on her. From the cold-hearted reaper you often see. Just don’t tell her I said anything. Small secret? She visits the Brume every evening while waiting for Shuri and Estinien. If you want to catch a side of her you don’t normally see.” 

Divinity is joined by Y’shtola and Krile for getting something together.

Thancred and G’raha are joined by Alphinaud after hearing the suggestion. They head towards Ishgard under the hint. When they catch up to the reaper, they observe her with a flute. 

Kivera plays a quiet melody on it, that brings children out in droves. As if they had been waiting on this all day. One of the few times they see her keep her wings out, and let them be touched. Kivera doesn’t mind their curious hands on the black and white feathers, even letting a few of them keep a feather to marvel at the serrated edges, her explaining how owls have the same kinds enables them to move so quiet. Even demonstrating with how quiet she is when she flaps them.

“Quite a sight isn’t it?” Thancred looks up to see Aymeric. 

“She does this every day for them. She lets them hang off her and fly around a few times, she plays songs, sings even.” Aymeric watches Kivera as she warms the young ones up for the evening, allowing them to cling to her for warmth.

“She does this every day?” Aymeric nods to their question. 

“Every day. Except when she was traveling with you. They understood why too.” Thancred sees Kiya in tow behind with Alyse barely walking with her. It is rare to see her now, with how she has stepped down from adventuring and world saving for the sake of the small family. He finally connects the reasons Kivera does things, is so others don’t have to suffer worse. The potential of death was too great for Kiya. Not for areas they needed Kivera’s hands. The reaper was right, the events in Sharlaya needed her more than Kiya. What with the atrocities of those driven to despair. Thancred realizes just how much Kivera’s expertise in the field was a godsend. She spared Kiya the horrors of seeing people eaten alive as they changed to monsters. 

“I owe her an apology. Can’t believe how selfless she really is.” 

“You’re only now realizing that?” Another voice behind them in Estinien, it was the time frame that they collect the reaper from indulging the young of Ishgard. 

“Shuri wouldn’t have loved her so much if she was selfish.” The auri under his arm leans in closer before going to meet Kivera and help soothe the lingering auri children with a familiar face to their own.  Kivera greets Shuri with a nuzzle to her horns. It is then she realized their is an audience this time. Three she huffs a little for.

“Forgive them.” Shuri draws her attention out to dance with her for the children. The group joins Kivera and Shuri, with the guys having small strength matches or racing around till they were tired out and called to their homes. Kivera leaves fire barrels lit with her magic to keep them burning longer.

Thancred leaves with G’raha and Alphinaud leaving the fallen angel to be with her loved ones. Estinien can feel something off with Kivera with her staring at the backs of them hard. A judging stare on their souls.

“What did you encounter?” Estinien asks once Aymeric with Kiya and Alyse leaves too.

“A necromancer. Like Edda. Someone mistook them for being tempered, and brought them to me since they were so unresponsive. Thought a death would be better.. they didn’t know.” Shuri’s expression dims at hearing Edda, remembering also the place where she first encountered Kivera. She had been glared at fiercely the same way she stared at the guys. As if warning not to go down the same path.

“That explains your lack of enthusiasm with the guys. They pestered you too?” Kivera nods, and he shakes his head.

“You should show Thancred soon then. He’s the only one you haven’t.” The reaper is lifted under one of his arms to prevent her from flying off. Shuri walks along side the side Kivera is on to take a hand.

“I am perfectly capable of walking. He doesn’t trust me yet. It goes both ways, it’s not that I don’t trust him, it’s he doesn’t accept me, and I can’t show clouded minds and expect them to understand what I show them.” Kivera folds her arms but lets Shuri take one hand.

“You are also capable of flying away when questioned like this. It’s been a while since we’ve been here, and rather you not avoid us at least.” Shuri notes, tugging some of Kivera’s hair to weave a braid into her bangs.

“I won’t fly off. You two make it tolerable. But I can’t promise to be kind on the next necromancer I come across. It’s bad enough to deal with certain ascians and those in Mor Dhona curing the tempered. Give me at least that.” Kivera folds her wings away, and marvels at how contrasted her dark skin is to both Shuri and Estinien’s are. Her tail behind her whips the back of Estinien’s thigh to let her down.

“You’ll be set down soon enough. It’s sunset here, indulge us.” They climb the stairs to Last Vigil. It is on the platform that she is finally set down, then guided to sit with both of them. Kivera allows herself to be pulled into Estinien’s lap, then Shuri follows being the smallest of them.

The sight over the abyss below was washed in gold and pink hues. Kivera likens the sight to one she remembers from Caelum, when she first took flight and soared high above the cloud space. How free she feels and is.

“It’s your turn for a reminder in how you don’t always have to act the way you do. Trust them a little more, even if they’re insufferable sometimes. We wouldn’t be here without them. Thancred isn’t terrible as he seems, just like you have had moments that shaped you, he has had them.” Kivera notes Shuri being colder than she should be and starts warming her up.

“He reminds me a little of someone. Stubborn, set in her ways, argumentive, and maybe a little pig-headed when it comes to reasoning, but underneath it knows when and where to drop it and accept others.” Estinien gets a jab in his side from Kivera.

“Call me pig-headed again... I promise you, I’ll make you suffer Urianger’s lectures. I’ll gladly tell him you want to have a long chat about Eorzea and Sharlayan history. I can tell him right now you can’t wait to talk tomorrow!” Kivera’s ears stick straight up, and she sees fear behind those blue eyes. Shuri laughs at both of them.

“You wouldn’t dare... subject me to that.” The gold in Kivera’s eyes hold her jest, and they settle to watch the horizon.

“Only if you call me pig-headed again. You know me to keep my promises. Or I can make you suffer in... another way.” Their banter enough to make Shuri roll to the side in her laughter.

“Like what?”

“Ameliance~ Even Shuri loves her. We could all sit together and chat.” That was all Estinien needed to tug Kivera back and pin her down.

“You do that to me, and I’ll ensure you unable to walk for three weeks.” Kivera reaches over to Shuri who slips in next to her.

“Sounds like fun to me. Shall we get started then?” Playful gold eyes accepts his undertones, and scoots closer to Shuri to be gathered up by their dragoon.

“You two are in for a tireless night then.” He collects them both to head to their home they acquired there in Ishgard.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Shuri, he sounds so scary, you’ll help me take him on right?” Kivera exchanges looks with her, and sees the equally amused look.

“Of course I’ll help you.” Kivera leans in to give her a quick kiss, letting the day melt off to her now with her loved ones.

Kivera accepts them both easily, and is grateful Divinity chose this world to allow her to see again. She wouldn’t have met the ones who healed her a bit more.

Changed her very views for better.

[nutley-rp]

Endwalker commentary - part 4

SPOILERS. Buncha stuff between 5th zone and 6th zone, but not quite making it to the 6th

Elpis leftovers

So Meteion’s answer is that everyone else in the stars strived to do their best and got wrecked and thus - not existing is preferable to the suffering that awaits. Extreme downer. I hold out hope that the one Meteion we met will come back in some shape or form

Hermes is. Just a very depressed individual. :(

Man Venat is so badass. Since she put a tracker in Meteion I now wonder if the final zone is like...the edge of the universe. Idk how we’d get there but ahaha

And then everyone forgot everything - except WOL and Venat! As Hydaelyn, I wonder if she’s waiting for the WOL to execute her plan?

....oh this is. Really depressing. Emet and Hyth’s last moment in Amaurot before he gets zonked. Zodiark protecting the world by shrouding it in aether, keeping dynamis away. Ascians making things worse with their OP creation magic.

And blind faith being bad...better to rely on yourselves, each other, and what’s real. To not turn away from suffering, and to not fall for false dreams of paradise. OH HOLY SHIT Venat really just like, removed everyone’s powers?? By herself?

:( aghhhhhhhh

Garlemald again

Yup, world burning down in the meantime! Thavnairian refugees, Garlemald and the final days? That. Sounds bad.

The Garleans coming to the aid of the refugees. Brings a tear to my eye.

Uhhhh HOT DAMN GRAHA....wtf. Why didn’t I have an awakening in SHB. Why is it EW, why now. Many questions, no answers, just a stupid cat boy.

Lmao WOL slow cool walk into the battlefield. I cringe.

Hmmm. Maybe the vessel to deliver people to the moon...is in the 2nd half of Labyrinthos. But it gets repurposed to bring me to Meteion?

ZENOS???????

Ohh...this confrontation between Jullus and Zenos. Man, Zenos is such a clown and I love him for it but oof, the pain.

You tell him Alisae. Ahaha, he just exits stage left tho. What a stupid boss.

Estinien and Dad Leveilleur, a combo I never knew I wanted. 

Ohhhgod what are the loporitts and Urianger in his STUPID BACKBEARING OUTFIT IN THE COLD doing here. Puddingway, god damnit. But anyway with the rabbits here...shenanigans are sure to follow.

Labyrinthos part 2

I love Sharlayan grandpa. Charlemagne. Champagne.

Ahaha Kokkol is a riot. Also the aetherburner is literally just, a car engine. Aether go boom.

......Hhfdsfkl HAHAHA HOW MANY TIMES. How many times will Alphinaud’s skill of “gathering firewood” come into use. How many times will we be saved by this. He needs to write that down on his resume.

Watching all of the city-states answering the scions call...yesss. The music adjusting to each realm. Ala Mhigans helping Gridania. Dragons and Ishgard. The poetry in motion.

Urianger has carrot-trauma pwahaha, but helping the Loporitts talk with the engineers is a nice change in pace!

Thancred gazing upon his husband in soft adoration. No, I’m not seeing something that’s not there. Nope. Yup.

HUUUUUGGG. UGHHH. This made me tear up for the first time. Camera whips around to his exposed back and I’m like, GDI, this shit is too moving but gdi. Urianger.

...hmm. Akasa, and prayer. Prayer, and primals, and transformation. Dynamis and blasphemies. It’s all related somehow, in a deeper way, I feel.

Interesting musings from G’raha and the qualities Amon shared with Hermes. It does seem that certain aspects of the soul transfer between them, even in lieu of the memories.

Sicard my beloved

BwWAHHH EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER TO HELP AGAIN. Ten million cameos and I love each and every one.

AWww...Fourchenault reconciling. Finally. 

Aitiascope

Memories of the deceased? This sounds promising!

Ah. Ilberd and Lousoix. (Also, the boss music is so good)

Moenbryda. ;_; (...GRAHA STOP SAYING “HOLD STILL” How many times have you said it now)

....Hauchefaunt. MINFILIA.

Seeing Shiva gave me actual shivers. :<

Herme’s voice actor is so good. Honestly, so many great voice performances. Where did square find all of these low and rumbling voices because I. I am deceased.

So when souls get recycled and cleansed, concealed memories become revealed and oft show themselves in future lives as vague dreams - memories that are seared deep into the soul. Zenos has this going on too - I wonder who he was? Hyth didn’t know who he was.

ASAHI????!!!!!?? Um, I guess...the two of them are gonna go torture each other forever.

Oh interesting I can do this trial with trust. Uhh I hope this doesn’t KILL Hydaelyn?

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ummmmmmm

.....Ghhhskdjf the scope of the story and what’s at stake. I’m reeling. I have nothing to say other than, one final push and it’ll all be over.

[fheythfully]

Putting all my thoughts on the 5.3 MSQ under the cut. Beware of course of spoilers! Overall I really enjoyed the patch. There were a lot of times where I sounded like an excited dinosaur.

So first things first, the way the patch started with the kids was so cute. I was expecting more with the Ardbert-esque kid, especially when he said he wanted to adventure with friends because he felt like he was missing something... but then they didn’t? I’m not sure what the point of that line of his was then. Ardbert’s soul is inside ours, and also has been shown to have moved on, but I wonder if some fragment of it--the part that is bound to the specific world’s Lifestream--can be reborn? Anyway. A bit bummed we didn’t get more with that train of thought but it was cute nevertheless. Also, apothecary. I was going “IS THIS A HINT?” the moment the kiddo said she wanted to be one as a WoL.

Also, I am totally writing a shortfic of the twins, Satella and Ryne hanging out in the Crystarium library with Moren bringing them books of interest while they sneak in tea and snacks. Ryne falls asleep and is eventually found by Thancred. Alisaie teases him for being a doting father. When everyone leaves, Satella is left cozily snuggled up as the evening turns feeling almost like home at the Arcanist’s Guild.

I really liked the bit where Alisaie’s desire to surpass the WoL and competitive nature is shown, and that some part of it is due to insecurity. I love the character depth and growth SE gives her over the patches. I just about had a heart attack when she started getting woozy with a noise in her head.

Elidibus feeling summoned by the WoL and seeing an Amaurotine in their stead gave me feelings, because it means we are whole enough now to form some sort of connection to the Ascians. Only sundered ones are left now though, so I wonder if that will still stay true.

I did have a heart attack at hearing Thancred collapsed. I was not expecting him to be okay when we got back to see him. Dawn’s Respite scene was very sobering and set me up for something entirely different than the ending we got (thank god).

Alisaie being stubborn and sullen with the Exarch made me wonder if she’s seeing the past with Louisoux in him, and Alphinaud’s comment about how she handled their grandfather leaving all that well all but confirmed it. That’s very sweet.

I made a very loud note as I was playing at the fact that a Rejoining soul must recognize its part on the Source as itself. Not sure if that was just for the Exarch’s case (though there are comments about how we and Ardbert fused very easily too) but I have Filed This Away.

Seeing Shtola collapsed gave me another heart attack but she’s definitely possessed of nine lives. The duty with Elidibus was fantastic, though the lack of voice acting caught me off guard (covid? are duties never voiced?). Fighting the baby Scions made me full of glee and then it got even better from there. Answers playing over the city, and then the HW theme, and then SB--fantastic. I especially paused when it started snowing. I appreciate a lot what Elidibus was doing, which was trying to show to us that the people who seem so ancient and recreated only as puppets had once meant something to him and his own. The fight was a lot of fun. I took a screenshot of berserk-Ardbert for kicks.

Also, the bit where he calls you by your name, and the name is switched from Elidibus to Ardbert. My heart. I have a lot of notes about this for future writing.

Elidibus as Zodiark’s heart and primal weren’t a big surprise as it’s been confirmed before (I think?) BUT he’s basically the primal for the idea of the Warrior of Light and I think that is magnificent. I still don’t have a full grasp on Elidibus as shown in this patch: his memories are fractured, whether by age or Zodiark; he’s driven both by his own ambition and Zodiark’s influence. He’s all over the place and I’m going to have to take better measure of him as I replay everything in NG+.

I have a note that says, “Ella why are you picking up random things off the ground that your enemies have dropped???” but it all turned out even better than okay. I don’t understand how he could have dropped all those Convocation crystals other than as a plot point but whatever. It was a great sequence. “All that remains is to pray. To pray that we will one day meet again, beneath a blue sky.” Made me tear up. The twisting of the Convocation from the gentle, kind Amaurotines to what they are today is brutally heart breaking.

I made a note of how the trees in Amaurot are starting to wither--I am not sure if we’ve always had that? But if not, definitely a small sign of Hades’ magic fading?

Bear with me now but I CAN’T STOP SCREAMING ABOUT AZEM. I of course didn’t get the title right (my 14th is Altima), but I got the duty/job so almost right. My Altima is the Shepherd, though to the souls on the planet living and departing to create and live alongside the Lifestream. The entire scene with Hyth had me shaking in my chair with excitement over how perfectly it described my headcanon 14th--down to her wandering the planet when she wasn’t in the city. Granted it fits with all our WoLs and is specifically made to be so, but I am so excited. Not sure what I’ll do with this when I write, whether I will alter my canon to fit the game or plow on ahead, but we’ll see. I’m just so excited. And the new TITLE fits my OCs to a T. God, thank you, SE. I also love that we are the “sun” and can’t wait for the future connections and theories about the 14th and Azeyma and Azim.

“After all, I cannot say whether I act of my own volition or by the will of my recreator!” Made me laugh-cry.

Scions confirmed that seeing Amaurot awoke a great grief in them, which was then supported by the random Eulmore NPC crying at the sight of it. So, it’s not even reliant on how whole your soul is: everyone who sees it feels something, a soul-genetic memory, maybe? I can’t wait to use this. Also makes me wonder if this is why in the patch the Scions are more wont to encourage you to talk things out with Elidibus, as in SHB they were pretty set against Emet-Selch.

The new dungeon was okay. I need to replay it again and look around more (is there a hint of Hildibrand there??). The Necromancer and Berserker class, though the latter may be Warrior same way Arcanists are called Ink Mage, made me pout a little. I want Necromancer. Also, THIER White Mages get Protect? Pffft.

I didn’t take any notes for the trial but. It was brilliant. The run through Crystal Tower with the Exarch was a wonderful callback (there were so many callbacks, it was great) and then when he told us to go ahead I was like, you better mean it that you don’t plan to play your trump card unless we’re present! The trial itself was breathtaking. When the Amaurotine first showed up I thought it was Azem, then when they snapped their fingers I was like cool we can do that too, and then they did the Emet-Selch wave and I lost it. HOW!? Shtola has a theory that even she admits is far fetched but. Wow. I am wondering which one it may be: Emet-Selch truly somehow having his soul live (we were just in the space where Ascians’ souls go between bodies) and assisted us; or was he called by Azem’s crystal as a memory; or was it a memory entirely? Just. That cameo. I miss you, Emet-Selch. For yours is the seat of the fourteenth broke me also and I’m just all over the place. Elidibus as the Warrior of Light was great.

I don’t understand why he went Baby in the end there. I can’t imagine the Convocation recruited and sacrificed a child. My headcanon is that it’s just meant to represent his childlike devotion and drive to his goals. He wanted to help his brothers and sisters so badly he detached himself from Zodiark. Seeing him sitting there cradling the crystals and talking about how it’s a beautiful day and they’re not there to see it was heartbreaking. The Amaurotines lost so, so much--and there’s no way to bring any of it back. I am glad the Unsundered have finally a chance to rest.

The goodbye scene with Ryne was a little lacking to me. I wanted Thancred to hug her, damn it. At least he told her he’s proud of her. She’s so brave with how she tries not to cry before them. She’s coming into her own, with her own ideals, but also so like Minfilia’s that it made my heart full. I will act as her post moogle to Thancred any time, kupo.

Also the one line she has in Twine about how Gaia is her friend who will be there for her is sweet and I laugh at the idea of Gaia’s reaction.

Okay, so, the ending. Probably the thing I did not expect at all. I expected death. No one died. The animations were beautiful, and Alisaie was such a joy to watch. Just. I don’t have words for it. I was so overcome with happiness at how perfect they all were: Alisaie sinking into her chain in a sulk, the Archons fondling their weapons, Alphinaud with tea and a book. Alisaie jumping off to go find a fight and Alphinaud’s brotherly exasperation. The banter between Urianger and Y’Shtola. My heart is so, so full.

On to the topic of the Exarch, which I did not expect to have this many feelings on: first of all, I expected him to die. We all did. How can one man survive SO many death flags!? When our WoL ran out of the Stones like a wound up mammet I was there with her, heart pounding praying for it to have worked. I am bummed that we didn’t get to experience him actually waking, but that means I can write about it... which I already did, actually. Because: I came out of this with a very unexpected, slowly unfurling Ella/G’raha ship. This was a surprise because ARR G’raha was not someone I even remembered all that well, as I played CT when it came out, but I remember thinking he was a bit too immature for romantic ships; and the Exarch always felt too distant and too much. I was fond of him in SHB but in a passing way, also because I was a little bitter that he put the Scions in such danger in the first place (though I understand all the good that’s come as a result, like uncovering the true Ascian plots). Seeing him at the end there, as a fusion of G’raha and the Exarch, somehow turned my view of him on its head and in that moment, I could easily see Ella and him running off and having proper adventures together. The driving attraction to all my ships is a form of shared experience, or at least understanding of what it’s like to bear a heavy burden on your shoulders. The Exarch was again, too much in his role, and I couldn’t see Ella feeling comfortable being close with him. But now, with this ending? Watching the two of them run off together? Oh, I am excited.

I even wrote four pages of fluff on how he got those bobby pins in his hair and I never write fluff. Please look forward to it being posted soon.

Lastly: Ardbert. If you’ve been around my blog long enough, you’ll know that I’ve been an Ardbert shipper since HW. SHB was so good to me in that regard. Personally, I got closure regarding him in the scene of him offering us his axe and was happy with it. I was overjoyed to see him get closure with Seto now, too. I’m not happy with Elidibus using his body and then tearing it apart as he did, but: it made for great angst and sometimes that’s actually okay with me. The confirmation that he can talk to and through us is interesting and I imagine that he does so rarely, as his soul is finally at rest with his friends--where it truly belongs. He lets us live our life, and a part of him is always with us, now. I imagine him and Ella at one point having a conversation about her burgeoning feelings for G’raha, as in my canon she’s never felt quite a strong enough connection or level of comfort with anyone but Ardbert, and him giving her his “blessing” and encouraging her that it’s okay to chase after the comfort and happiness G’raha can bring her. Especially since all of SHB she was in a very very bad place and this ending we got gives me such a sense of respite, no matter how fleeting.

Speaking of fleeting: Zenos and Asahi/Fandaniel. I am still hoping Zenos gets more interesting because I just can’t bring myself to like him, and seeing him destroy the Garlean empire before we even step foot into it is making me a little pouty. Fandaniel is interesting on a few accounts: he’s a sundered Ascians, so what will that mean? Clearly he’s been unhappy with the Unsundereds’ plans. He’s also pretty crazy for “the bringer of order”, if we follow the FF12 Espers. We didn’t get a lot so I am hesitantly interested. But also, Asahi? I hate that kid...

My last thoughts on this are: the Ascian storyline was meant to come to an end with this patch, but clearly we’re still getting content. So I am hoping that was for the Unsundered Ascians and we’ll find out more about the summon of Hydaelyn and all that. I... have exhausted myself typing all this. Wow.

BUT I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THIS PATCH AND WILL REPLAY THAT HAPPY ENDING MANY TIMES. I can’t wait for the future.

[inviouswriting]

For my October list.

1. Spell

Cameos - @snow-covered-moon ‘s Shuri for polyship.

Kivera is use to the way magic feels. Depending on the spell she uses, she feels the prickling of ice as it leaves her fingertips, or the burning sensation of the flames she casts. She wonders sometimes when did she get so use to these sensations.

All of her spells become second nature to her now, as if she can just breathe one out without effort. Her feelings regardless are the same, it is a necessary tool for her now. Part of her as much as her ability to change form.

Maybe it is the bickering that got to her, hearing those around her argue over what to do next. Not taking the moment to relax between fights, the different perspectives between the Scion’s. She isn’t meant for idleness, she could be anywhere else, but another meeting.

Kivera had tuned them out hours ago, her mind drifting to an internal library to pick something other than listening to the same subject on repeat.

“What to do about the telephoroi.” She dismissed any question directed at her, they know her answer, yet prod her for a different one. Her attention drawn to the candles on the table, she finds the flicker of fire more entertaining. Even toys with the flame under her own mastery.

Kivera lets her eyes drift towards Alphinaud watching her mess with the small element, making it dim down to the smallest of ember before igniting it tall, matching her annoyance when the subject of soul magic comes up.

“You’re going to catch something on fire.” Kivera feels a nudge to her side. G’raha Tia, she noticed he had taken an interest in her magic, her spellcasting. She tolerates him, he noticed her hand waving over the flame before the flame expanded.

“The flame is too small to catch anything on fire.” Kivera keeps an ear towards the ones talking, another argument between moral obligations from Y’shtola and Thancred. How many times has she heard this?

Kivera was there in place of Estinien and Shuri, Estinien taking a wise trip at the mention of another meeting, while Shuri needed time with family around her. One of them had to attend, Divinity assured her to go.

It was on the fifteenth recurring subject that Kivera had enough of the arguing over the same thing.

“Is this meeting going to go anywhere? Or is it like the other ten you had to have?” Attention drawn to her, Kivera raises her head, eyes flickering to orange.

“We would get somewhere if some weren’t so stubborn about what we’re doing.” Kivera breathes out a sigh under her breath as she gets up to leave.

“So no, I’m leaving.” She could be anywhere else, she itched to stretch her wings.

“We’re not done.” Thancred chases after her, Kivera speeds up to get out the door faster. The others who had things to do in a day followed her out. Leaving the bickering behind.

Stepping out into Mor Dhona, Kivera sees the gloom over head and sighs seeing how late it actually is.

“Kivera, I know you don’t like these meetings, but they must be held.” Thancred approaches her from behind, she casts a stare over her shoulder.

“You’ll have another ten of them before we get to Sharlaya, I know. There isn’t much to be done until we approach that continent. So why not spare the busy ones with the idleness. You almost had Aymeric bored to tears in there.” Kivera folds her arms as she faces Thancred, the knight in question glances over as he makes his way to head home. Mouthing a quick “thank you” to her.

Kivera waves Aymeric off quickly while she has Thancred distracted. Kivera soon turns on her heel to leave Thancred, under her foot she leaves a little spell behind. Thancred sees her walking away again, then follows after her, only to be tripped by something. He looks down to see a vine had wrapped around his foot. He glares at Kivera who looks at him as she smirks.

“Stumbling over yourself now? You must be tired, why not go relax, like the rest of us want to do.” Kivera sees his bewilderment at her using an earth element on him.

“I thought you only knew fire and ice, then destruction.” Kivera humors him.

“With destruction, you must also know how to give life. My mentor was very firm about what I learned.” Kivera crouches down to Thancred and pats his head.

“Go relax before you catch your death from stress. We all could use a break.”  She says before she walks off, letting the vine retreat back into the ground freeing him.

She chose a less powerful spell to bother him with, but to knock him down a few pegs. Thancred follows after her, as she rounds a corner, when he reaches the same spot she had vanished. He resigns himself to her words and heads back to find his friends.

Kivera looks down from her spot, just above where Thancred was, arms folded and shaking her head.

“You’re more elusive than normal.” Kivera looks to see Alphinaud, she had just gotten away from one scion only for another to pop up. She needs to work on her escapes.

“Can you blame me when all they talk about is diplomacy? What is proper, what magic should and shouldn’t be used?” The reaper doesn’t mind Alphinaud, she straightens and regards him with a gentler look from her eyes. 

“You could change the subject anytime in there you know.” Alphinaud points out, and Kivera returns her stare down towards the busy little settlement. Thancred returning back to the group, she spies G’raha Tia, she owes him for his side jab on her.

“That would mean engaging in talk I don’t want to and keeping conversation from circling back. I’m afraid if I ever get Urianger talking we’d be there for two days.” Kivera makes a face at the idea of exchanging with the elezen in anything beyond just work related to her. She isn’t blind to Urianger poking about her being. 

“Got me there, but can’t blame him when you are still a mystery to alot of us.”

“I intend it that way. Anyway I think I had enough prodding into my life or self for one day. Want to see something?” A hint of amusement to her voice, Alphinaud rarely hears her tone anything above serious.

“Sure, what do you want to show me?” Kivera waits for him to stand next to her and she points in the direction to G’raha, he’s curious now. Kivera has a look of mischief as she focuses energy into her fingers and sends a bolt of water to the back of the miqo’te’s head. G’raha looks around and rubs his head wondering what hit him. 

Alphinaud sees Kivera grin when her magic goes unnoticed, and he sees her sweep her fingers down creating a little wind to knock G’raha down. Kivera ducks down behind the wall when G’raha looks their way, Alphinaud almost gives them away if the reaper didn’t pull him down by his braid. 

Alphinaud forgives her for pulling his hair, then watches as she observes the red haired miqo, looking for another opportunity to use an element on him. Kivera sees one, and Alphinaud sees one of her abilities in her hand slipping into the ground sending a surge into it, vines like the one she tripped Thancred with raise and G’raha is stumbling over himself.

“Forgive me, but why are you doing this to him?” Kivera eyes him.

“No reason other than a little bored and he is a nice target for it. I’ll leave him be now.” She waves her hand to dismiss her magic. 

Alphinaud had seen her use countless spells, all with a breath or not even a murmur from her tongue. He wonders if he would accomplish that, use a spell with only a thought.

“How did you learn to do all that?” 

“I can’t tell you that.” She cuts him off, a little sad.

“It’s from another world. and you’re better off not knowing it.” Kivera turns away, she bides her time till it is time for Estinien to come grab her. She entertains the lalafellen children that are in Mor Dhona with light spells, demonstrating how spells are beautiful in dazzling light. 

Soon enough she is collected for home, choosing to wait for her two loved ones rather than flying off. Taking respite in the comfort of them rather than hiding away.

She leans on Shuri, giving her loving nuzzles to her horns.

The greatest spell she has fallen under has been love.

[autumnslance]

👀

send me a 👀 and i’ll post a snippet of art/writing that i never got around to finishing this year (r.i.p) 

I think I've yet to share the initial short blurb I wrote that eventually morphed into “Downtime”.

Like so many of my NPC-focused fics, “Downtime” keeps the WoL generic to focus on the other characters. So this initial blurb never really fit in there, though this is what that thread grew from.

Maybe someday it will find a home in Aeryn’s series, but for now, here are the Leveilleur twins, Ryne, Taynor, and Cerigg (with a cameo from our favorite waitress) on the night the Warriors of Darkness returned from the depths of the Tempest...

-------------------------------------

“What a night,” Alisaie yawned as the trio of younger Scions stumbled into the Wandering Stairs. Glynard waved to them as they found a seat, Ryne slumping into her chair and managing a weak smile for Cyella as she set down three glasses of water.

“Probably need this far more than any other drink,” the elf said, fixing a fierce eye on each of them. She was always polite and helpful, but there was just something about her that set an instinct in the back of Ryne’s mind on edge. She couldn’t explain it any better than that, so said nothing aloud. Instead, Ryne nodded up at her and let Alphinaud do the talking. He was the best of them at that, anyway.

“I wonder where Aeryn got off to; I’d thought we’d have seen her by now,” Ryne said once Cyella had left their table.

“That isn’t going to happen tonight,” a new young voice piped up from behind her.

“Good evening, Taynor,” Alphinaud said, nodding to the young mage. “Enjoying the festivities?”

Taynor grinned and shrugged. “Cerigg and I returned from a job to the night sky and the whole place in an uproar. You lot certainly know how to throw a party.”

“What were you saying about Aeryn?” Alisaie asked, before chugging down her own water glass.

“Well,” Taynor said, leaning on a chair. “As we came in, we saw her and that Thancred fellow dancing across the Quadrivium--”

“Dancing?” Alphinaud asked, surprised. His smile, though, seemed also...relieved? Happy? Ryne wasn’t sure.

Taynor nodded, scowling only a little at the interruption. “Music was playing, they were having a grand time. Others joined in--someone tried to cut in, get a dance with our famous Warrior of Darkness, but your man was too quick for that.”

“He certainly is,” Ryne said. “Are they still here at the Stair somewhere?” She began to look around, wondering if they had somehow missed the pair.

Taynor shook his head. “Oh no; he escorted her into the Pendants once the band’s set was done. That was more than two bells ago.” He paused. “They haven’t come out since.”

“That is enough gossip for one night,” a man’s voice growled. Taynor’s guardian, Cerigg, strolled up, gently tossing a money pouch to the elven boy. Taynor caught it easily, immediately claiming a spot on their table to inspect the contents. “You are all far too young to be concerned about any of that.”

“I beg your pardon,” Alisaie bristled, glowering up at the hume hunter.

He met her gaze dispassionately, then shrugged. “You and your brother are almost old enough for that sorta nonsense,” he amended. “But still no call to be poking into Aeryn and Thancred’s business. For all we know, they’re playing a few vicious hands of Triple Triad--Aeryn losing them all, of course. I value my hide too much to ask ‘bout it later, though.”

Alphinaud shook his head. “I’d rather not think about it anyway,” he admitted. “Ryne, if you’d like to stay with us again tonight, you’re more than welcome.”

[autumnslance]

20. Tell us the meta about your writing that you really want to ramble to people about (symbolism you’ve included, character or relationship development that you love, hidden references, callbacks or clues for future scenes?)

As said previously, it’s hard for me to recall a lot of meta well after the fact; it’s much easier, with the amount I write, to want to poke the meta soon after. Otherwise i’m likely to forget my own initial ideas, until/unless I reread—and maybe not even then!

I add cameos, lore details, and other “easter eggs” mostly to ground the work in the setting, if I do it for any reason.

Going back to “A Constant Distant Thunder” though, that started very differently from how it turned out, and I spent a lot of time in edits and rewrites, with whole scenes being revised or cut out. Initially, the concept that brought it to mind were the scenes of Thancred drinking a couple times in the ARR patches, and a drinking rhyme/song; I seem to have deleted the initial notes, unfortunately.

But, as I drafted and spoke with others for feedback, it came to mind that Thancred probably wouldn’t get intentionally blackout drunk in the immediate aftermath of Lahabrea’s possession; after having time and control lost, willingly putting himself in that state wouldn’t be a thing he could likely do. Accidentally in an ill-advised drinking contest with Moenbryda is one thing, but just drinking to unconsciousness every night probably wasn’t happening. And there’s no indication he went full alcoholic, though his drinking a bit more than previously seen does seem highlighted. I did do some light research into sake drinking, as I don’t really drink myself and have only a vague idea that there are certain ways to drink certain things, and just needed enough for the scene between Thancred and Homei.

Also along the way, thunder/storms crept into the story somehow. So I backed off on the drinking aspect—it’s still there, and he’s still using it as a way to poorly cope and self-medicate—but it focused more on the interpersonal relationships and time. “Thunderer” is the Ascian conflict theme, especially in ARR (and we got it again in 4.5 and Shadowbringers a few times), and in the ARR patches we get the actual conflict with Ramuh finally, the primal representing the Lighting element, so I let that throughline run and ended it at that conflict.

And now of course, that fic references quests that were tragically cut down/removed from that patch sequence (of all the things to cut, they dropped some of the best Scion interactions in ARR!), adding another level of meta to the story I wrote.