#Umbral Skies

[just--space]

A Jewel on the Flower Moon : Cloudy skies plagued some sky watchers on Sunday as May's Full Flower Moon slipped through Earth's shadow in a total lunar eclipse. In skies above Chile's Atacama desert this telephoto snapshot still captured an awesome spectacle though. Seen through thin high cirrus clouds just before totality began, a last sliver of sunlit crescent glistens like a hazy jewel atop the mostly shadowed lunar disk. This full moon was near perigee, the closest point in its elliptical orbit. It passed near the center of Earth's dark umbral shadow during the 90 minute long total eclipse phase. Faintly suffused with sunlight scattered by the atmosphere, the umbral shadow itself gave the eclipsed moon a reddened appearance and the very dramatic popular moniker of a Blood Moon. via NASA

[starrysnowdrop]

Lalapril 2024 🌬️ Day 12: Zephyr

One of Hali’s favorite places in Eorzea is the Sea of Clouds, where she loves to relax and take in the cool, gentle breezes high in the skies above Coerthas. It is also where an interesting weather phenomenon occurs: the Umbral Wind, in which an abundance of umbrally charged wind-aspected aether turns the sky a glowing green color.

[definegodliness]

Wistfulness glints

Besotted, I drift off in fantasy, Enamoured by a faint, yet timeless smile, Alleviating every ache, worldly, Until I am unsullied (for a while). That smile — it is the heart you so beguile Into its lost essentiality, For wistfulness glints, and mirroring eyes Undo the umbral weight of emptied skies; Lo, all those stars… so you do shine to me.

--- 22-4-2024, M.A. Tempels ©

[tgrailwar-zero]

First World? Oh, do you mean Earth?

…do we even have any memories of Earth?

You hadn't really thought about it. You had barely any memories of the Moon, and Earth seemed so far away in comparison.

You tried to think about it.

You remember greed.

Violence.

Hatred.

Shame.

War.

Deterioration.

Stagnation.

A world destined to go nowhere. A promise of glory in the skies above. And you didn't receive that glory that was rightfully yours.

But if the Umbral Star descended, and wiped everything back to how it was, then perhaps--

...You decided to stop thinking about the Earth for now.

CITT: "Yes, the First World before the Solar Cell was devised. The Earth."

[ghostlyshoes]

FFXIV WRITE - #2 Horizon

Horizon

[Iara Vanu - Vanu Vanu Machinist]

Iara Vanu was lighting. Whirlwind. The most reckless amongst their tribe. Free as a gale, torn apart from the orders of their brothers and sisters they were seeking further heights, further and further than the blissful winds of the sparse islands that they were born into. 

The airships that the new netherlings had brought. With machines of metal, the stench of burning and the rumbling of the aether. Everything about them seemed unpleasant, unpalatable to the average inhabitant. But, the great wind that Iara Vanu was this had only brought them a deadset feeling of curiosity. To them, this was chance, the winds of fate turning in their direction. 

An outcast amongst their own people, Iara Vanu, had always searched for a way to prove themselves worthy. No hurricane, born for naught but destruction, but someone capable of being a petal on the breeze, in tune with how each member of the tribe carried themselves through the skies. For once they had their purpose, their endless hunt against the tribe’s flow would be over, their ambition would cease. 

Iara Vanu watched the netherlings, day in day out, with their crates and boxes, their featherless bodies and their pointed ears. They ferried all sorts of goods between their islands and a place so far below it made even Iara Vanu dizzy, sickly. 

But they had to take their chance. If none of their people’s arts could make them belong, then they’d take a new one for themselves. There was not exactly a need to make oneself ‘stealthy’ upon the sea of clouds. Comparatively, Iara Vanu stood miles above any of these netherlings, even the ones with the knife-like ears and their rich cerulean feathers didn’t make them blend in with these whirling ‘air-ships’. Sneaking aboard wouldn’t be a good idea. There was no way they could pretend to be one of the crew members these netherlings had brought with them. The best way to reach their underground world, would be to hide within their many boxes. Stuffing themselves into the most cramped of spaces to reach yet some other, likely dirty cramped space sounded like a nightmare but was a small task for Iara Vanu who needed to find their way of being amongst the flow. 

Even within that tiny box, Iara Vanu felt the skies shift, bright green umbral winds, sunlight, the setting fiery horizon, the night’s darkness. Their breath heavy against the wood, their throat clawing at them. So long in a place with no sky.

No, it would all be worth it in the end. 

They burst out of the box. The world around them cold, starless, breezeless. Beset by dull grey stone and full of mutterings in foreign words. The falling snow falling upon their ill-equipped feathers, they snuck out. Only a taste of the violence that these netherlings lived through, no wonder they would seek other worlds. The only presence of light came from a building just ahead of them. 

Only just able to enter the door, Iara Vanu found themselves surrounded by contraptions of steam, unkind metal. Utterly alien compared to the wind magics of their tribe and the world above. Great chambers, golden windows with crossed bars, wheels turning, unusual rectangular shapes strewn across wooden tables. Iara Vanu grasped one of them upon their wing. So much complexity in such a small device, what did it do? How would it compare with the beauty of the winds? 

While the Vanu Vanu was encountering some internal storm, behind them appeared a netherling; taller than most with hair the colour of straw. 

“Excuse me, are you looking for anything?” 

-

It had been several suns before Iara Vanu returned. Instead of being nestled in a box they were given a comfortable seat in their ride back to the skies by the netherlings. 

“So the one of storms has returned, although we feared you had met your end, may you explain what kept you from our tribe for so long?” 

The corners of Iara Vanu’s beak twisted to a smile, “I’ve got a gun.”

[tsunael]

×—ʙᴀꜱɪᴄꜱ—×

ɴᴀᴍᴇ:

Tsuna Wasaishi

ɴɪᴄᴋɴᴀᴍᴇ(ꜱ):

none.

ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ(ꜱ):

'of the Eastern skies' // 'The Seventh Dawn'

ɢᴇɴᴅᴇʀ / ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇʏ ɪᴅᴇɴᴛɪꜰʏ:

Cis female.

ʀᴀᴄᴇ:

Au Ra / Raen

ᴀɢᴇ: 32

ʙɪʀᴛʜᴅᴀʏ:

10th Sun of the 3rd Umbral Moon // (6/9)

ʙɪʀᴛʜᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ:

Yanxia

ɢᴜᴀʀᴅɪᴀɴ ꜱɪɢɴ:

Oschon // Gemini

ɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ:

Yanxian

×—ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇ—×

ʜᴇɪɢʜᴛ:

4'11

ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ:

130 lbs

ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴛʏᴘᴇ:

Hourglass with a dancer physique

ʜᴀɪʀ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ:

Black (purple undertone)

ᴇʏᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ:

Heterochromia (blue and green)

ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇxɪᴏɴ:

Fair

ʙɪʀᴛʜᴍᴀʀᴋꜱ:

Back of shoulder, inner thigh.

ꜱᴄᴀʀꜱ:

Undecided.

ᴛᴀᴛᴛᴏᴏꜱ:

None.

ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ 🇺​​🇳​​🇮​​🇶​​🇺​​🇪 ꜰᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇꜱ:

More scutes than an average Au Ra. Sides are covered from thigh-to-breasts.

ᴄʟᴇᴀɴʟɪɴᴇꜱꜱ / ɢʀᴏᴏᴍɪɴɢ:

Thorough.

ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴅᴀʏ ᴄʟᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ꜱᴛʏʟᴇ:

Femme. Skirts and loose, cotton dresses.

ᴀᴄᴄᴇꜱꜱᴏʀɪᴇꜱ:

Her mother's gold ring & a gold chain for her horns.

×—ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ—×

ᴀʟʟᴇʀɢɪᴇꜱ:

Undecided.

ɪʟʟɴᴇꜱꜱᴇꜱ:

Undecided.

ᴅɪꜱᴀʙɪʟɪᴛɪᴇꜱ:

wol-only: Infertile from SHB. Weak leg from injury post-EW. Hard of hearing post-EW.

ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ ʟᴇᴠᴇʟꜱ:

Med to high.

ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ʜᴀʙɪᴛꜱ:

Hearty. Vegetarian.

ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ʜᴀʙɪᴛꜱ:

Early to bed, early to rise.

ꜰɪᴛɴᴇꜱꜱ:

Good.

×—ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ—×

ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴠᴇʀᴛ / ᴇxᴛʀᴏᴠᴇʀᴛ:

Extrovert.

ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴀᴍᴇɴᴛ:

Easy to anger.

ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ꜱᴛʏʟᴇ:

Avoidant.

ɢᴏᴀʟꜱ / ᴅᴇꜱɪʀᴇꜱ:

Domesticity. A life that is hers.

ᴠɪʀᴛᴜᴇꜱ:

Kindness, chastity, charity.

ꜰʟᴀᴡꜱ:

❂ will not ask for help.

❂ burns herself to keep others warm.

❂ naive and an idealist about love.

❂ is a bit of a prude & a traditionalist.

ꜱᴛʀᴇɴɢᴛʜꜱ:

❂ Altruistic. Merciful.

❂ Pacifist.

❂ A romantic.

ᴡᴇᴀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱᴇꜱ:

Can't tell a lie.

ꜰᴇᴀʀꜱ:

Being alone, losing control of a situation.

ᴏʙꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴ���:

Love and being loved.

Qᴜɪʀᴋꜱ / ᴛɪᴄꜱ:

Her tail exposes her emotions.

ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛꜱ:

❂ The reason for leaving her homeland.

❂ wol-only: Her relationship.

ʀᴇɢʀᴇᴛꜱ:

Not cherishing the time she had with people who are no longer there.

×—ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘꜱ ɪ—×

ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ:

Suzume Sui Wasaishi

ꜰᴀᴛʜᴇʀ:

Kartal bin Yildiz

ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ꜰɪɢᴜʀᴇ(ꜱ):

Her 'mother' at the Okiya.

ꜱɪʙʟɪɴɢ(ꜱ):

Her 'sisters' at the Okiya.

A half-sister on her father's side.

ɢʀᴀɴᴅᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛꜱ:

Undecided.

ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ:

None.

ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ:

A family friend who smuggled her into Kugane.

×—ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘꜱ ɪɪ—×

ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ / ꜱᴇxᴜᴀʟ ᴏʀɪᴇɴᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ:

Romantic / possibly bisexual.

ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘ ꜱᴛᴀᴛᴜꜱ:

Single.

ꜱᴘᴏᴜꜱᴇ:

None.

ᴘᴀʀᴛɴᴇʀ/ ꜱɪɢɴɪꜰɪᴄᴀɴᴛ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ(ꜱ):

None.

ʟᴏᴠᴇʀ(ꜱ):

None.

ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ:

Wol: Alisaie, Thancred, Tataru.

Non-wol: Sierra Gamduhla

ᴀᴄQᴜᴀɪɴᴛᴀɴᴄᴇꜱ:

Valtyrja Eruyt

Leofard Myste

Sidurgu Orl

Cirina Mol

ᴄᴏᴡᴏʀᴋᴇʀꜱ/ᴄᴏᴍʀᴀᴅᴇꜱ:

The Scions.

ʀɪᴠᴀʟꜱ:

Yotsuyu Naeuri.

ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇꜱ:

Gestures vaguely.

×—ʟɪꜰᴇꜱᴛʏʟᴇ—×

ᴏᴄᴄᴜᴘᴀᴛɪᴏɴ:

Dancer-turned-conjurer/white mage.

ꜱᴏᴄɪᴀʟ ᴄʟᴀꜱꜱ:

Lower-Middle.

ᴇᴅᴜᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ:

Learned basic academics with emphasis on the performing arts.

ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ʀᴇꜱɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ:

Gridania

ʜᴏʙʙɪᴇꜱ:

Salve-making, embroidery.

ᴠɪᴄᴇꜱ:

Sweets, smoking.

ᴄʀɪᴍɪɴᴀʟ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅ:

Voluntary manslaughter, resisting arrest & a fugitive from justice.

ꜱᴘᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ʜᴀʙɪᴛꜱ:

Frugal.

ꜱᴏᴄɪᴀʟ ᴏʀ ʟᴏɴᴇʀ:

Loner.

ꜰᴀɪᴛʜ / ʀᴇʟɪɢɪᴏɴ:

Pious. Worships the Kami & Elementals.

×—ʟɪᴋᴇꜱ & ᴅɪꜱʟɪᴋᴇꜱ—×

ꜰᴏᴏᴅꜱ:

Likes: Bavarois, custard, peach tarts, mushrooms...

Dislikes: Meat.

ᴄᴏʟᴏʀꜱ:

Likes: Rolanberry red & currant purple.

Dislikes: Void blue

ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇꜱ:

Likes: Gridania, Vylbrand.

Dislikes: Coerthas, Garlemald.

ꜱᴏᴜɴᴅꜱ:

Likes: Crickets & morning birds.

Dislikes: Loud noises / gunfire.

ꜱᴍᴇʟʟꜱ:

Likes: Sandalwood & florals.

Dislikes: Iron, blood, gunpowder.

ᴛᴇxᴛᴜʀᴇꜱ:

Likes: silk & leather.

Dislikes: none.

ᴡᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ:

Likes: sun & rain.

Dislikes: snow.

ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ:

none.

×—ᴄᴏᴍʙᴀᴛ—×

ᴊᴏʙ / ᴄʟᴀꜱꜱ:

White mage & Dancer.

ᴀʀᴍᴏʀ ᴛʏᴘᴇ:

Light leather armor, something easy to move in.

ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ(ꜱ):

Nirvana & Gyosei.

ꜰɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ ꜱᴛʏʟᴇ:

Kiting. Agile.

ᴍᴇʟᴇᴇ ᴄᴏᴍʙᴀᴛ ꜱᴋɪʟʟꜱ:

n/a

ʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴍʙᴀᴛ ꜱᴋɪʟʟꜱ:

n/a

ᴏꜰꜰᴇɴꜱɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ꜱᴋɪʟʟꜱ:

n/a

ᴅᴇꜰᴇɴꜱɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ꜱᴋɪʟʟꜱ:

n/a

ꜱɪɢɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ:

Wishing star.

×—ᴍɪꜱᴄᴇʟʟᴀɴᴇᴏᴜꜱ—×

ᴘᴇᴛꜱ / ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴏɴꜱ:

Chuchu, her red 'horsebird'.

ᴘʀɪᴢᴇᴅ / ᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴘᴏꜱꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ:

Her mother's ring.

ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇꜱ ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ:

'Hingan' & the common tongue.

ꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ᴛᴀʟᴇɴᴛꜱ:

Playing the shamisen & lute

ᴘʀᴇꜰᴇʀʀᴇᴅ ᴍᴇᴛʜᴏᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟ:

By carriage.

ɴᴏᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀᴄᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪꜱʜᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ:

❂ Graduated to Geiko at age twenty.

❂ Received a patron by age twenty-one.

❂ Gained passage into Gridania.

❂ wol-only: Received A-Towa-Cant's will.

ᴀɴ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱʜᴀᴘᴇᴅ ᴡʜᴏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ:

Her mother's kidnapping.

OG template by @alannah-corvaine !!

[shroudkeeper]

It was a habit to dampen and numb her emotions, and thoughts when in combat, it is the only way she could ensure that she stayed focused, but also remained in control of the umbral force she was manipulating. There is always a risk of being rejected and misunderstood by those who would assume her nature was all but benign. Afterall, wisps of darkness and twisting shadows did not always indicate the best of intentions.

Thus, one could only fathom what he may have thought at that moment, when she had not taken notice of his presence, until she turned and met his startled gaze. Oh, she wished his glasses were resting on the bridge of his nose instead, to shield her from the language of fear reflected in his eyes.

The reins of her control were loosened and caused her worries to arise; the anxiety of this moment toppled over any foundation of control she had set in place. This beautiful sound of birds, of the gentle breeze, the whispers of spirits, it all became deafening silent, even the sudden change in weather hardly warranted her acknowledgement as the skies darkened around them and the first droplets of rain declared the approach of a storm.

Kikyo desired to slip into the comforts of the mottled shadows cast around them, but her feet were affixed to the ground, she had lost grip of her scythe, and became as still and breathless as the protection stones that led them up the mountain.  

“Mistress Takahashi,” all became still and time froze as her mind raced with different outcomes of this encounter. It was not until his voice broke through that she dared to breathe, riddled with confusion but a tenderness she did not think would come when speaking to her.

And when he sees the recognition of her name, not even the sound of the downpour can conceal his approach against the puddles made by the forceful water careening sideways from the gusts.

❝ Please, my lady. ❞ Hancock tentatively reached for her hands whilst speaking gingerly, fighting against terrible conditions they now faced. He gathered courage instead of falling into fear realizing an audience of small spirits that were witnessing his approach from behind the gorin-tō near them.

She wanted to pull her hands away, afraid he may feel her frigid touch, but he did not stray and only closed the distance between their bodies.

❝ You gifted me your trust when I already deceived you prior and then offered to protect me this entire journey. I will not turn from you now, even if I may not understand what is happening. I want to see every facet of you, even the parts you are afraid may scare me from your side.

I'm not going away, I will bear it with you, if you would allow me. ❞

Against her ear he spoke, shielding her from the pelting rain shower as he brought his arms around her slowly, carefully, until her smaller form pressed to his own.

[voidsentprinces]

Estinien was a young sheep herd who lost everything to Nidhogg's vengeance. He then survived training in Coerthas only for the Seventh Umbral Calamity and the fall of Dalamud to take everything from him once more. Reducing his homeland to a now frigid and unforgiving wasteland. From there he continued to train hard and become a dragoon to fight on even grown with the Dravanian Horde. Driven only for his need to avenge his family and his fellow Ishgardians. He closed himself from all others and took leaps and bounds to try to obtain a way to face the monster from his nightmares. Breaking into the Holy See and stealing an Eye of Nidhogg for himself. Only to be consumed by it and vengeance briefly. Whereby, a young secondary Azure Dragoon in the Warrior of Light intervene and gave Estinien the chance to get a grip on the power he now held. And so for a time, Estinien let the vengeance fester and smolder in his breast while keeping the eye's influence at bay. Knowing he'd be used as a weapon should he falter. Vowing to go and defend where the horde went. So when it soon arrived on his door step at the Steps of Faith. He fought alongside the Warrior of Light and their comrades to lay low one of Nidhogg's brood. Before retreating into the walls and hunting the remnants by himself.

After another Dravanian attack on Ishgard, he makes his way home only to overhear the mission Alphinaud suggests. And seeks to accompany them, on the condition that if he can not find peace with the Dravanians. He would use this opportunity to finally put an end to Nidhogg once and for all. And so he partakes in this mission, facing off against beasts in the eternal winter snows that are now Coerthas. Tracking down heretics who become dragonkin themselves and meets Ysayle, the leader of the heretical sect which now plagues Ishgard. The twos ideas clashing as they trade verbal blows in the snow and the woodlands of Dravania proper.

But it is here where Estinien slowly begins to change, he sees Ysayle is a woman of her word and believes so completely in her mission just as he does his. She is willing to face off against Ravana, the War God of the Onemind. She tells him of a history, that Ishgard has erased and listens to the visions, the Warrior of Light has through their venture. He then sets himself a secondary goal of learning the full picture of the war and reason behind his family's unnecessary death. In fighting through the Churning Mists and speaking to Hraesvelgr. He is given the information that it was Ishgard who started the war, betraying the Dravanians. And so, as Hraesvelgr isn't in control of Nidhogg's brood. Estinien must leave Ysayle to her revelation and make good on his own promise. Peace is dead, so long as Nidhogg lives. He seeks out the Aery with the Warrior of Light who understands this as well. Before falling back to Ishgard when they have no way to enter the nest.

Eventually, the innovations of Cid Garlond and the Ironworks grant him a way to fly into the nest of Nidhogg. Where he is immediately confronted by the great wyrm. And takes to the skies to battle with the beast while the Warrior of Light cuts a path through the Aery to reach the final battle ground. Using the eye, the subdues Nidhogg and the Warrior of Light aids in weakening the wyrm. Before Estinien clutches upon his vengeance and strikes a deadly blow on the beast. Removing its final eyes and mortally damaging its body, so as to kill the beast. And so Nidhogg fades and Estinien once the symbol of Ishgard's hope in war as the Azure Dragoon. Is coated in the blood of all who came before, choosing only solitary vengeance, the aether from Nidhogg paint his armor a crimson.

The Warrior of Light then has a vision of the knights who came before, of the defeat of Nidhogg having already claimed both his eyes. At the cost of Thordan, his heir to the throne who exiles himself out of shame, and several knights who abandon the cause. And the forming of Ishgard's four great houses. Estinien believing fully in his ally, seeks out Hraesvelgr to find that he had knowingly and willingly allowed for more innocence to suffer. When Nidhogg demanded Hraesvelgr grant him an eye. To avenge their fallen sister, with the full picture now painted. Estinien now has nothing left to avenge, Hraesvelgr will not send his brood against them. Nidhogg is dead and his horde withdrawn. And Ishgard is safe...or so it would seem.

Ishgard burns as the heretics make their play to lay siege to Ishgard. Ysayle however arrives to quell the riots and it is found that the Holy See goaded them in order to use this chance to show their true colors. For without an enemy for Ishgard to unite against, the power of the Holy See falters. The heretics were to be the next force to fight against, but having safely withdrawn. The Holy See selects the Warrior of Light and their foreign allies as this. Estinien watches as Aymeric is made prisoner and Haurchefant is felled. All for knowing the truth of the Dragonsong Wars. Estinien falling back to aid in quelling the riots that break out as Aymeric takes control and Thordan and his Heavens' Ward take wing to Azys Lla with the Warrior of Light in hot pursuit. Eventually returning with a way into Azys Lla from their newly revived companion Y'shtola. Using the eye of Nidhogg, Estinien is able to shatter the barrier surrounded Azys Lla. Only to have to stand by as Ysayle makes her final stand against the Garlean forces. Vowing to avenge her death as they descend into Azys Lla and strike many of the Allagan's beasts as well as full range of Garlean forces.

When the deed is done and Thordan has finally fallen, Estinien feels at ease. At long last, he can rest knowing that the Holy See has paid for their part in his family's death. But that brief respite is all that Nidhogg needs to fully possess his being and become the very thing he raged against himself. He then is made, unwillingly to ruin the peace offering between Dravania and Ishgard and push his horde against its walls once more. Transforming into the shade of the great wyrm himself. Ignited and possessed by its eyes of vengeance. He fights against his allies and friends. The Warrior of Light weakening the Great Wyrm with the aid of Hraesvelgr's eye now set on lasting peace. Both Alphinaud and the Warrior rushing to his side and with the aid of the ghosts of Haurchefant and Ysayle casting the eyes into the abyss. Estinien is finally able to be freed from the influence of vengeance. And find his way in a world of peace.

Ishgard has Aymeric, Dravania has Hraesvelgr. The Azure Dragoon is no longer needed. He now means to make a journey of self-discovery just as the Warrior of Light and Ysayle did themselves. Vanishing from the annuals of history as he wandered the lands. Only to learn through whispers that Nidhogg's eyes remained and they were use to break open a war in Ala Mhigo. And so, feeling it is his duty to see the eyes destroyed. He travels to the Peaks and destroyed the cannon in Castrum Albania. Opening the way for the "little lord" and his allies to strike out at Zenos and find Shinryu. The Warrior of Light doing battle with the Garlean possessed beast. When the body is removed and the victory is sung, Estinien returns to destroy the eyes once and for all. Finally free of his task, he dons the armor of Iceheart. And seeks to become as Ysayle was. The aspect of truth, lighting the path forward to reveal the corruption of man and find peace and solace in it. He would become its spear and so he ventures to the Far East. As whispers of a Dravanian beast arise in the mists. There he befriends the whelp Orn Khai and aids in the freeing of Faunehm from their madness. Reuniting them with their lover Vedrfolnir. He bids the Warrior of Light farewell as he travels the East for a time.

Until, he hears of the Scions disappearing from consciousness one by one and the war between Eorzea and Garlemald reignited. He makes his way to the battle field. Only to meet the ghost of Zenos there. And the Warrior of Light falling unconscious, he quickly spirits them away from the battlefield. And trusts them to Aymeric's care, before falling back once more to the Far East. To learn if any of its ancient healing could revive the Scions. His stay is interrupted by being approached and chased down by Krile and Tataru. Where he is more or less forced to join the Scions and go in Garlean territory.

As he is now the spear of truth, he wishes to get to the bottom of the happenings in Garlemald. Destroying Black Rose factories and coming face to face with another ghost from his allies' past, Gaius van Baelsar. The two make a tentative alliance and begin destroy Black Rose factories and cloning facilities. Until finally hearing whispers that Elidibus is puppeting Zenos. Seeking to strike at the heart of the matter, Estinien joins Gaius and sees the death of Varis and Zenos fully revived. While also uncovering the machinations of a new Ultima Weapon project upon escaping. He takes concern in reporting this as the Warrior of Light falls to one of their echo visions once more. Concerned for his friend, that they might be under possession of some power as he once was. He makes his discomfort known about the echo before going on his way.

Only to once again learn that a horde of dragons is being sent against the Eorzean Alliance. He immediately sneaks into Ishgard to charter a ship to Azys Lla. Only to be reunited once again with the Warrior of Light and ticking off Alisaie in mistaking her for Alphinaud. Along side meeting G'raha Tia returned in the flesh. He is confused but joins them as they make for a mission to speak to and release Tiamat from her binds. Riding her into battle as she finds the resolve to make amends for her past by destroying the tempered Meracydian legion controlled by Fandaniel. He goes toe to toe with a lunar Bahamut and once grounding it, the Warrior of Light slays the shadowed beast. Estinien then shadows Alphinaud to make sure no harm comes to his friend. And defends him against Fordola's cynicism. Joining the Scions soon after to fight against the end of the world. Finding comrades among the Scions. He aids in the journey to Sharlayan and heads into Thavnair with Thancred, Urianger and the Warrior of Light. Where he is more open than he has ever been.

The once, Azure Dragoon showing signs of flaw as he is swindled by a merchant for a hairtye. But also caring as he fetches lassi for his companions to aid in the aether sickness they experience. Immediately upon meeting Vrtra's avatar, he is distrusting of his role in all this. But agrees to aid Thavnair in the coming days as he finds a wyrm who cares for his people. And wants only what it is best for them, knowing Ysayle would approve of such a thing. He throws his all behind Thavnair. Bringing down the Tower of Zot and then igniting the flame of battle in Vrtra's breast when they take to the sky upon the Final Days' arrival. Aiding in the defense of the dragon's kingdom. And doing as the Great Wyrm cannot in his stead. Coming to the aid of Garlean refugees in the north and finally delving into the Aetherstream via the Aitiascope to face off against Fandaniel manifest as Amon and finally Hydaelyn herself. In a final trial for the future of the star. He watches Eorzea's final god fade away, the path now open to question but his duty clear.

Facing his greatest trial yet by meet Alphinaud's mother for a cup of tea. And then flying off to Ultima Thule with his companions. Where he finds the shadows of the Dravanians from their original planet. Twisted by Meteion's despair, not standing for them to wallow in defeat. Igniting the flame of hope in them and unleashing a wind and a path for the Warrior of Light and the Scions to move forward throughout the various dead stars that make up Meteion's nest. Summoned back to full form by the Warrior of Light with the aid of Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus. Diving into the visions of Pestilence, War, and apathetic famine, that Meteion witness and taking the fight to the Endsinger. Even though he is eventually teleported away by the Warrior of Light. He offers up his prayers for their safety and their hope to light their way in the battle. And when the dust settles and they return battle and bruised. They immediately leap to their friends side to offer aid and hope that they awaken. Just as they had when he was bedridden after being freed of Nidhogg's possession.

Here is Estinien, a boy who was made to face a great tragedy. Forged by vengeance, humbled by compassion. Given a second chance at life but scarred by the past. Once only caring to avenge his family but then coming to care for all in Eitheirys. Becoming compassionate, not seeking war as the first action. And finding friends and companions while holding Ysayle's dream as his very armor. Enemy to all dragons now resting in the Kingdom of one. Aiding the Warrior of Light and Y'shtola in the Thirteenth and seeing to the future of Thavnair and its people however he may. A boy hardened by tragedy, a man softened by love and care. Free from his past but using it as a cautionary tale of how to proceed. Showing that kindness is not a weakness but a strength and that we are better than our worst fears. We shouldn't shackle ourselves by the wrongs we have done but by the good we can still do. And to give it our all.

...or maybe its just a tale about dressing a hot elf in various armors and then making us watch him half naked doing push ups as our companion suggest we disrobe with him as well.

Either way, he is an amazing character. Once a one off chump to be the bad guy of a Dragoon Questline. Now a fully fledged companion for us.

[levin-stepper]

Elftober 2024

Day 3&4: High Up and Transport

Figured given the time of late posting to roll these two into one since I ended up gposing with the mount I was gonna use for day 4 anyways.

Talaani favors her Rose Lanner when taking to the skies, especially when she want to fly through an Umbral Static storm, her favorite weather phenomenon.

[yloiseconeillants]

VIERAPRIL - Day 12 : Journey

Ne'er till astral hopes dim can umbral dreads fear, Waters spout silver swords, skies rain blue spears. By ancient truths shall Archons carve men of stone, Foe blades chip and shatter, great victories be known.

as always, balor belongs to @azure-dragonsinger ; leanashe belongs to @hermits-hovel ; anatu belongs to @lilbittymonster

[zeikhorru]

Remembering Home

Prior to the Seventh Umbral Calamity, the tribe Zei grew up in the pocket of the Black Shroud between Gridania and Coerthas, just outside of the majorly settled areas, home. Or they did before the second moon Dalamud fell from the skies and wiped the West Shroud and all it's lakes off the map. Back then four families stood together, led by Seda, the matriarch of the Khorru clan--a family well versed in medicinal and healing traditions and magics. At the time, she was providing aid to those on the front at Carteneau despite the slight protest of her peers in the tribe. Most Keeper of the Moon families kept their distance from other civilizations of man. Seda however, thought at the least fostering relations with their neighbors and helping those in need would be important for the survival of their tribe. After some convincing, the other family leaders and some of their younger hunters joined in the fight and aid efforts. This left Zei and a handful of other, younger members of the tribe behind to be looked after by the sole elder that could not offer battle-side aid in Fallgourd Float. The small group stayed within the Bobbing Cork for a time to be closer to Gridanian sentries that would be relaying messages from the front. This is where they learned of the tragedy of Carteneau and that their leaders, including Seda, had died.

[trozeikylis]

I finished Dawntrail yesterday. (FFXIV 7.0 spoilers, ofc)

It’s weirding me out that I’m simultaneously elated and disappointed in the MSQ. It could’ve been so much more and yet, we’re not given much reason to like these characters as they grow. More on this later.

Wuk Lamat interested me back in 6.5x. Seeing her at fanfest made me excited and seeing her in Endwalker made me wonder with glee what Tural could possibly be. And yet she screams nothing short of girlfailure and delusional optimistism, two traits that don’t mesh well with being a fitting ruler.

Speaking of the Rite of Succession, our cast of warmonger, warmonger, slightly TOO optimistic tech nerd, and girlfailure didn’t do it for me. Granted, they’re gross oversimplifications of what they (mostly) are, but it’s still enough to call to mind who each of them are. Also: feels a tad bit off to make both the zealots for war the same race, if you ask me. It’s also a shame since Zarool Ja is one of the cooler designs I’ve seen XIV do and I wanted him to be more.

The cultures we learned about were cool (especially in the last 2 sections), but I feel like we didn’t need such detail in the MSQ. Shadowbringers had to do something similar, but we didn’t have to worry about a time crunch nearly as badly since a lot of details about how each society worked were either brief (read: didn’t require the Echo) or were engaging, like in Mord Souq. Instead, we get hours upon hours of exposition and reveling in the glory of Ms. Third Promise. Don’t get me wrong, I was interested in learning and read every line. I just wish they didn’t put ALL of the info in a straight line. I found myself practically screaming to want to fight. Perhaps it’s the sense of urgency that’s taken away since the rites didn’t necessarily have time constraints, but the fact that everything happened to line up perfectly with making friends (or trying to) out of everyone agitated me since it’s not realistic.

I’d imagine if someone tried to kill you in this world, you’d not want to save them for the sake of your sanity and safety. And yet, Wuk Lamat does just that to the radical giant. It doesn’t make sense why it goes unpunished with debts and repayment despite the fact that yes, they’re still enemies in game.

And despite it all, I still loved this expansion.

Going past Shaoolani, breaching through Vanguard, did I find the last final emotion within Pandora’s box. Heritage Found is a purposefully bleak place. I wish it didn’t look so miserable to be there, but past the doors into Everkeep’s ninth level did I find solace in the reality of this chapter.

To be stored and kept forever, to be cherished for one more day, to be locked away in a prison of eternal bliss did the bleak, golden skies past the Cenote greet me.

Alexandria was wonderful. The regulators and the artificial lifestream as a form of currency was a very interesting though, especially after just watching a video about time’s toll on the human psyche (the Daryl Makes Games one, I highly recommend checking it out). The Unlost being so umbrally charged and the challenged introduced by it, yet solved with even more specific solutions shows how the hardships of humanity causes it to evolve, and yet, stripping it away also surrenders what makes you, you.

I think about the Gondola scene in Canal Town a lot since I watched it. I think it’ll be like the 87 scene from Endwalker for me. I think about G’raha’s 200 years of torment he had to endure while we were frolicking in the fields. The apocalypse he saw time and time again, and how Living Memory spat it all back in his face. Truly, a moment of melancholy arises when he gazes at you so while the soundtrack reminisces of a bygone time, a mall long since closed, a moment hanging by a thread of nostalgia.

And speaking of sad boys, I was chatting with a friend going through it at the same time, and we immediately thought of Amaurot. After all, the spiraling architecture of the Meso Terminal couldn’t help but remind me of Emet Selch’s feat all that time ago. And to think one unsundered soul did all that when an unsustainable amount of aether was required to maintain something similar.

It saddens me you cannot return to the golden skies once it is done, and yet, it’s heartening that the terminal’s shutdown forces you to move on with it. It’s a bleak future, but one we must hold onto and carry with us. After all, so long as we are remembered, we live on vicariously.

So, I think I will do the same. I am saddened by the plot, the narrative, the flat characters, and yet, the little moments will forever shine to me. Otis, Cachiua, Gulool Ja, Maya’s parents, Erene- I mean Erenville, and the cast of the backrooms will be in my heart as I move on from this experience.

Here’s to hoping that patch content allows those that fell short to shine properly like the others.

[hyrtwynwrites]

[Spoilers!] Light's Falle Timeline

Updated 18 July 2024

Note: Links only go to the first chapter referenced per day - e.g., a link on Ch.12-15 will go to Chapter 12.

Key

AM - Astral Moon

UM - Umbral Moon

SQ - FFXIV Canon Timeline Dates

LF - General Light's Falle Dates

GP - Book 1: Gridanian Prelude

WT - Book 2: White Towers, Deep Waters

OT - Book 3: An Oasis at Twilight

Timeline

6th Astral Era

1 4th AM 1527: Vivail Aikiria is born. [LF]

ca. 1535: Papalymo Totolymo and Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn are born. [SQ]

4 5th AM 1536: Aebba Falle is born. [LF]

ca. 1545: Y'shtola Rhul and Thancred Waters are born. [SQ]

ca. 1546: Yda Hext is born. [LF]

ca. 1549: Kan-E-Senna and Adalberta Sterne are born. [SQ]

ca. 1550: Jacke Swallow is born. [SQ]

ca. 1552: The Ala Mhigan Civil War begins. [SQ]

22 1st UM 1556: Yenifer Falle is born to Aebba. [LF]

ca. 1557: Ala Mhigo is conquered by the Garlean Empire. [SQ] Yenifer and her mother escape Ala Mhigo. [LF]

ca. 1558: Yenifer and Aebba settle into life in the Gridanian hamlet of Quarrymill along with other Ala Mhigan refugees. [LF]

ca. 1562: The XIVth Legion is defeated in the Battle of Silvertear Skies. [SQ]

ca. 1572: The events of Final Fantasy XIV 1.0; Dalamud falls, unleashing Bahamut and the 7th Umbral Calamity. [SQ] Kan-E-Senna leads the Gridanian element at the Battle of Carteneau. [GP Ch.32] Aebba is killed during the Calamity. [LF]

7th Umbral Era

Year 5

18 2nd UM: The start of Light's Falle and Gridanian Prelude; Yenifer digs a ditch outside of Quarrymill and makes a fateful decision. [GP Ch.1]

24 2nd UM: Yenifer leaves Quarrymill for Gridania, joining the Lancers' Guild and encountering her rival, Foulques, for the first time. [GP Ch.2-9]

32 2nd UM: Yenifer is recruited by the Twin Adders to assist in a manhunt. [GP Ch.10]

3 3rd AM: Yenifer meets Scions Yda and Papalymo for the first time, and finds her Crystal of Light. [GP Ch.10-12]

11 3rd AM: Yenifer encounters Foulques for the second time, and stumbles into what would be called the Battle of Spirithold; she experiences her first Echo vision in the aftermath. [GP Ch.13-16]

29 3rd AM: Yenifer has her spear taken for repairs, and has a brief altercation with gawking Gridanians. [GP Ch.17-18]

30 3rd AM: Yenifer has her third encounter with Foulques after he kidnaps a Guild member. She finds herself stumbling into aiding the Gridanians in a battle against the Ixal. Yenifer has her first encounter with a Paragon, only narrowly surviving, and for her heroism is made Emissary. [GP Ch.19-29]

31 3rd AM: Yenifer fulfils the role of Emissary for the Greenbliss, but an Echo vision interrupts the ceremony. [GP Ch.30-31]

32 3rd AM: Yenifer is made Envoy of Gridania, and is dispatched by its leader, Kan-E-Senna, to deliver vital missives across Eorzea; end of Gridanian Prelude. [GP Ch.33-34]

ca. 3rd AM: Legatus Gaius van Baelsar of the Garlean XIVth Legion makes an inspection of Castrum Occidens. [GP Epilogue]

1 3rd UM: Yenifer arrives in Limsa Lominsa and delivers Kan-E-Senna's missive to its leader, Merlwyb; she also makes the acquaintance of several locals, most notably the rogue, Jacke, the Scion, Y'shtola, and the marauder, Vivail. Yenifer and Vivail are recruited by Y'shtola for an adventure to the Sastasha Seagrove to begin the following morning. [WT Ch.1-9]

2 3rd UM: Yenifer, Y'shtola, and Vivail travel to the Sastasha Seagrove; while investigating, Yenifer and Vivail become separated, and together fight through a pirate stronghold to liberate kidnapped civilians. Reunited afterwards, the three return to Limsa Lominsa, where Yenifer says her goodbyes to them, and to Jacke. Vivail is recruited by Y'shtola to join the Scions. End of White Towers, Deep Waters. [WT Ch.10-Epilogue]

2-3 3rd UM: While en-route to Ul'dah, Yenifer is incapacitated by the Echo, and is treated frantically by the airship's crew. Lost in the vision, Yenifer accidentally enters the memory - and then the present - of an Ala Mhigan, Arenvald. Surprising them both, Arenvald is able to see her in the vision, and strikes her, jolting her awake. [OT Prologue-Ch.1]

3 3rd UM: Yenifer arrives in Ul'dah and encounters yet another Scion, Thancred, while trying to get her bearings. Yenifer is abused by Brass Blade mercenaries after she attempts to save the life of a fellow refugee, and is in turn saved by the Miners' Guild's master, Adalberta. When Adalberta asks Thancred to investigate the Copperbell Mines going silent, Yenifer forces the Scion to take her along. Thancred allows her presence, but goes to recruit an ally of his for the mission as insurance: Arenvald. [OT Ch.2-13]

[androgynousbirdtale]

Get Ready for a Hybrid Solar Eclipse (total and annular combined)

On April 20, parts of the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions will experience a rare type of event called a hybrid solar eclipse.

Hybrid solar eclipses shift from total to annular as the moon's shadow races over Earth; in some places, the moon completely blots out the sun, whereas in others a ring of light is visible around the edge of our natural satellite. These eclipses are quite rare, occurring just a few times every century — and one will grace our planet's skies less than two weeks from now.

While not observable from the U.S., the hybrid eclipse will be visible from western Australia, East Timor, and eastern Indonesia beginning at 21:36 EDT on April 19 (0136 GMT on April 20) and ending at 2:59 a.m. EDT (0659 GMT) on the following day, according to In the Sky. (It will be April 20 in those regions where the eclipse is visible.)

Some skywatchers in this region will be treated to a total solar eclipse, whereas others will see a "ring of fire" annular eclipse. Still, others will witness a partial solar eclipse, with the moon taking a bite out of a portion of the sun.

There are two points on Earth where the eclipse will transition from annular to total to annular again. However, those two spots are remote locales in the middle of the ocean, Space.com’s Jamie Carter pointed out in an explainer about the April 20 hybrid eclipse.

This hybrid eclipse will appear as a total or annular solar eclipse when viewed from Western Australia from 10:29 p.m. to 10:35 p.m. EDT on April 19 (0229 to 0235 GMT on April 20), in East Timor from 11:19 p.m. to 11:22 p.m. EDT (0319 to 0322 GMT) and in Indonesia from 11:23 p.m. to 11:58 p.m. EDT (0323 to 0358 GMT).

The celestial event will appear as a partial eclipse from many more countries, including the French Southern Territories, where 93% of the sun will be eclipsed; Papua New Guinea, where 87% of the sun will be blocked; and the Marshall Islands, where 95% of the sun’s disk will be covered by the moon, according to In the Sky.

Hybrid eclipses happen due to the fact that Earth is curved and the moon’s shadow has different regions, particularly a darker central region known as the umbra and a lighter outer region, the penumbra. Hybrid eclipses occur when the moon is as far away from Earth as it can be in its elliptical orbit, while still having the umbra meet the surface of our planet.

"The moon is just at the right distance from Earth for the apex of its cone-shaped shadow to be slightly above the Earth's surface at the beginning and end of the eclipse path, causing the moon's antumbral shadow to move across Earth, causing an annular solar eclipse," Carter wrote in his explainer piece. "However, in the middle of the eclipse path, the apex of the moon's umbral shadow strikes Earth's surface because that part of the planet is slightly closer to the moon."

The last eclipse of this type occurred almost 10 years ago, on Nov. 3, 2013. The next hybrid solar eclipse after this month's will occur in November 2031 and will be visible from some parts of the contiguous United States. After this, the next time skywatchers will get to see a hybrid eclipse is on March 23, 2164. 😳

[wereh0gz]

OC lore dump because. Yes

I already talked about Eterna's creator deity, Null and The Little Traveler (that was. Months ago. Lmao) so now it's about time I talk about Zephyr, Sage, and Siren, the world's Guardians.

Let's start with some general facts.

Each one has a specific "domain" they watch over and protect- the skies, the earth, and the oceans, respectively. Each one is specifically attuned to their domain, with their appearances and powers being influenced by it. They are not bound to them, though. They can explore as much of the world as they wish (to the extent their physical limitations will allow.) Their appearances are also somewhat influenced by the creatures and people they have met over the many, many years they have existed, so they didn't always look the way they do now.

(More under cut)

Zephyr, Sage, and Siren didn't exist when the world or the universe were first created. In fact, they were made long after the first sentient creatures came along. There's a lot of myths surrounding how exactly they came to be. Some say they are lost souls who died among the elements they now watch over and control, given a new lease on life by Null who took pity on them. Others think Null just made them outright for the sole purpose of protecting their elements from the greedy who choose to exploit nature.

They're all the same age, a couple hundred thousand years old (which I'll say is the god equivalent of late teen-young adult in this universe. Time gets funky when you live forever.)

They don't remember how or why exactly they were born, and, frankly, none of them really care. The circumstances of their creation aren't too relevant to their current lives. They're mostly worried about the world slowly dying from the Penumbra.

Now moving on to more specific facts about each Guardian, in order from when they first meet The Little Traveler.

Starting off with Zephyr!

Zephyr is the Guardian of the Skies. He watches over the atmosphere, up until where the air meets space. He's made up of solid clouds, so his form can shift slightly, dissipate, or even produce rain, lightning, or snow when needed. He's very light and cool, and if you were to touch him, it would almost feel like there's nothing there at all. Some say he is a piece of the sky itself given eternal life.

He has full control over the winds and the weather. He can summon great storms at will, though sometimes he'll summon them involuntarily if angered or saddened enough. He's usually very chill and carefree, though, but that demeanor only came after many years of being unable to control his emotions or the storms that came from them.

He's a bit playful and quite sociable. Most people see him as strange for a deity, as he'll regularly visit villages and towns to rest after a long flight or to talk to people and make friends. You wouldn't really expect that from such a powerful being. It makes him quite well known among what remains of the population, and though he's still revered as a deity, some people see him a bit more like the person that he really is. He doesn't like being worshipped, anyway, so he doesn't mind his relationship with people being as casual as it is. In fact, that's exactly how he wants it to be. He often calls himself lazy, but he can be more determined than anyone, given the right motivation.

He enjoys flying, adventuring and exploring (especially when it's with Sage and Siren), and chatting about said adventures. Sometimes he likes to test how high up into the sky he can fly. He can reach high enough to see the stars beyond, even in the day, but that's about as far as he can go. He doesn't get to do the things he likes much anymore, though, due to the all-consuming darkness taking over Eterna.

When he first meets The Little Traveler, he is the only Guardian who remains. He doesn't know what happened to his siblings, but he fears the worst, and is on a quest to find and save them. But he's at his wit's end, having exhausted himself fighting off Umbral Beasts and keeping what remains of civilization safe.

If I had to give him a voice, I'd say he sounds a lot like Pit from Kid Icarus: Uprising.

Next up, Siren!

Siren is the Guardian of the Oceans. She watches over Eterna's oceans, down to their deepest, darkest depths. Her body is made entirely out of liquid, so she will freeze or evaporate depending on the temperature in the environment. Her form is very malleable, able to change shapes at will, and will blend in with surrounding water almost perfectly. Despite her fish-like appearance and lack of legs, she can move out of water just as easily as she can in it by swimming through the air itself.

She can easily control the water around her, able to create large waves and change the tides by just raising a fin, and can draw out water molecules from the air and condense them into liquid form. She can also create ice or burning steam at will. She can swim at great speeds underwater and reach down into the deepest parts of the oceans without the pressure affecting her. (She knows what's down there, but refuses to tell.)

She is energetic and very mischievous, though she's never outright malicious with the tricks she plays on people. She is also confident and headstrong, and not afraid to try something new and take risks, which leads her to butt heads with Sage a lot. Many people see her not as a deity, but as a sea monster, or a force of nature, and she is the least known out of the group because of it. She seems almost unbothered and perhaps even unaware of the majority of the population's perception of her, though.

She enjoys pulling pranks on people, especially sailors at sea, scaring them by causing the water's to become rough suddenly or even pretending to be a monster. She never goes as far as to truly hurt anyone, she just gives them a spook. She also likes to sing, and has a beautiful, almost hypnotic voice, which some believe is how she got her name. Though she greatly enjoys company, she also values her time alone, so sometimes she will swim off as deep as possible and simply remain in the darkness for a while to relax.

A lot of the seas have been consumed by the Penumbra, and by the time Zephyr and The Little Traveler find her, she had already fallen to the darkness. She is frozen inside a cavern by a beach stuck in eternal winter, unable to do anything about the Penumbra except silently pray that her siblings are still safe out there.

This isn't the first time The Little Traveler had seen her, though. They'd been to this cavern before on their adventures, before they met Zephyr. But they thought her frozen body was just a strange ice sculpture, and it wasn't like she could speak to tell them otherwise.

And last but not least, Sage!

I had a hard time coming up with a voice claim for her and Sage, but the recent release of Sonic Prime gave me the perfect voice for her (yes I'm bringing Sonic into this. Shut.) She sounds almost exactly like Rouge the Bat and her Shatterverse counterparts (especially Rebel Rouge).

Sage is the Guardian of the Earth. They watch over Eterna's continents and their flora and fauna. They were once just a sapling who created a body for themselves using their roots, molding it from the dirt, clay, and stone of the land they were once rooted in. They often smell like flowers (usually lavender) and wet earth after rain.

They are fully capable of molding the earth around them, as well as understand and communicate with animals, and grow and control plants to their will. Sometimes grass and wildflowers will sprout from their back when they're in a particularly good mood. Their appearance and energy levels also change depending on the season of the area they may be in. Just like a tree, their leaves will wither and fall during autumn, and they may go into a state of hibernation during winter.

They are very introverted, preferring solitude and the company of the animals and plants around them. They take their duties as deity much more seriously than their siblings, and they are not afraid to raise hell if people harm the nature they were made to protect. Because of this, they are seen as a mysterious being, and some believe they are more volatile and frightening than they actually are. And while they do dislike a lot of what people do and how they can cause unnecessary harm to nature, they don't hate them. Deep down they yearn for a connection with the people of Eterna, but their sense of duty gets in the way of that.

They enjoy order and calm above all else, and especially like listening to the sounds of nature and studying critters as they do their things and go about their lives. They also particularly enjoy creating flower arrangements by growing certain flowers on the ground below them, and making sculptures out of dirt and clay. They prefer their siblings' company in moderation, as they seem to take pleasure in annoying them (especially Siren.)

Their domain is mostly shrouded in the darkness of the Penumbra. They have unfortunately fallen it, their body being consumed by Umbral Rot, leaving them unable to do anything but watch as the world around them- and their own body- rot away in darkness. It's up to Zephyr, Siren, and The Little Traveler to save them.

The Little Traveler had seen them before on their adventures, too. But they couldn't understand Sage's weak cries for help. Their body had deteriorated too much to speak at that point.

The closest I could find to how they sound in my head is Howell Wizard from Bee and Puppycat.

And that's about it for now! Thank you for reading this far! Here's a picture of my cat for your troubles.

[snowflowers-ffxiv]

FFxivWrite2024 - 15: Moongazing (Free Day)

In the moonlight the willow sways On this roadside I am but a stone Visions of you come to me

—Tsuki Wo Miteita

How fitting that it would a full moon when night returned to the skies of Norvrandt for the first time in a century.

The celebration was still ongoing in the streets below and it would not surprise him the slightest if it continued long into the night and lasted until the crack of dawn. He could not fault them for it. One Lightwarden. One region returned to night. But it was a start and irrefutable proof that what the people of the Crystarium have been fighting for was not only possible, but potentially within reach.

The Warrior of Darkness has come at last.

The Crystal Exarch did not make a habit of gazing down at the city and its people from above but tonight found himself seeking the tranquility of one of the upper balconies when he caught a glimpse of the moon shining full and bright.

He was not the only one who seemed to have done the same.

On the Source, the moon was the dominion of Menphina, the Lover. In some distant past, a young scholar immersed in the study of Allagan history had been more interested in the existance of the lesser moon Dalamud never had much reason nor desire to offer prayers to her specifically. Here and now, with the very same Warrior of Darkness that brought back the night sky, the Crystal Exarch found himself enraptured by the sight of her bathed in Her light.

As though responding to his thoughts, Estrild looked over her shoulder. “Lord Exarch?”

“Forgive me. I did not realize this balcony was already occupied.” He nodded towards the ground below. “There are celebrations abound, but peace and quiet is a scarcity tonight it seems.”

She let out exhale and he could hear the sound of a slight smile in her voice as she said, “I quite agree with you, Lord Exarch. I thought about retreating to my room in the Pendants, but…” She turned back to look up at the skies. “I have not seen the moon in only a few days. I can only imagine what it must like for those seeing it for the first time.”

“For a hundred years, the people of the First knew only the oppressive light of the sun,” he murmured. “It is inescapable. Domineering. An ever-present reminder of the Flood that brought this land to ruin. The light of the moon is… gentler. A guide in the darkness. Much like…”

“Warrior of Darkness, servant of death, take care of our souls at our dying breath Let sinners and eaters of sin go with three That all may return to the sunless sea.”

Ah, that old bedtime story. He had laid the foundations of her arrival during those years wherein he journeyed the lands of Norvrandt. What had began as sharing the stories of hope that kept those in the Eighth Umbral Calamity going in hopes that they would being a similar succor to the aching souls of the First, had turned into prophecies over time.

“Where did you learn that rhyme, if I may ask?”

She paused for a moment, bringing her hands together and closing her eyes in what could be called a prayer. “A carer at the Inn at Journey’s End by the name of Tesleen. She was Alisaie’s friend and she turned into a Sin Eater when she tried to save a child. We fought her in Holminster Switch. It was her… I’m sure of it.”

“I see. That explains why Alisaie was so…” A moment of grief settled upon them then. Tesleen’s fate was far from unique and the Crystal Exarch himself had been forced to put down someone—someone he had known—who had been turned on more than one occasion.

“Lord Exarch?”

“Yes?”

“I wanted to thank you. For suggesting that we keep my involvement in the Lightwarden’s defeat a secret. I knew it was a pragmatism that drove you, but I would have preferred it that way regardless.”

Pragmatism was not the sole reason for his suggestion, but he nevertheless chose not to correct her on that assumption. Those many, many years ago, when he had met a hero who seemingly walked right out of his childhood storybooks, he had been shocked to discover that in reality she had been rather ill-at ease with her newfound fame. He had always intended to gauge how much that had changed—if at all—before making a decision on whether or not to make her identity as the fabled Warrior of Darkness public and it was a great relief to know that he had made the right one.

“You are very welcome,” he replied. “There are no words to express my gratitude for what you have agreed to do for me—for the people of this world. The least I can do is ensure you are not burdened with anything less that what is necessary.” Though it seemed it was normal for her to take on more than what was asked of her. Not only did she slay the Lightwarden, but she had also tended to the wounded in the aftermath alongside the Crystarium’s healers and chirurgeons.

“I will not let you down.” She turned to gaze back at the moment for a moment before saying. “I believe I will turn in for the night. My battles here have just begun.”

The Crystal Exarch nodded and gave her a low bow ere she could depart. “Goodnight, Estrild. Sleep well.”