#apex quest spoilers
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autumnslance · 2 months ago
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FFXIV Write 2024: 16 Third-Rate
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(Dawntrail Role Quest spoilers, especially Tank, in 560ish words and a bonus screenshot below)
Aeryn grit her teeth, fighting off the last wave of thugs so they could go after Leophryne herself.
She was so tired of this ‘Passage of the Unbound.’
First there was that foolish boy in Thavnair, disrupting her home, sowing discord and thinking he could raise a rebellion against Vrtra. If his command of the Perch of the Apex hadn’t been an actual danger to everyone around him—including himself—she might have laughed off the boy’s blowhard behavior.
Dark’s report from Ala Mhigo wasn’t much better, about the rabble-rouser who had stolen another Turali treasure and mislead various down-on-their-luck folks, including a Hoobigo mercenary. C’oretta seemed to have her hands full enough to actually be frustrated in Vylbrand, something about alchemists and mammets and a poisonous treasure. Iyna’s reports from Kugane included facestealing and promising a tale of an embarrassing moment for their favorite Little Sun with justified comeuppance upon the perpetrator of said humiliation. Iyna also seemed fiercely protective, almost motherly, toward the young Shetona seeking her village’s treasure—but the rest of them weren’t going to mention that.
And now, instead of meeting Thancred and Urianger in Tuliyollal before they began exploring Xak Tural, what was supposed to be only a quick trip back to Ishgard (it was never a “quick trip” to the cold, grim, gray city, she ought to know better by now), here she was dealing with an ex-knight who couldn’t deal with the fact she had failed her duty and so been drummed out.
Was Ishgard’s rule harsh? Often, yes. With the death of Leophryne’s charges, Aeryn didn’t think so in this case. There was little room for leniency, especially during the war, and a knight...lived to serve. Everything she had heard of Leophryne portrayed a selfish woman whose lack of discipline harmed others. That Leophryne took out her frustration on other knights who had done her no harm, were in no way responsible for the censure she had received for her actions, was a mockery of the ideals of those true knights Aeryn called friends.
Zoissette. Haurchefant. Aymeric. Lucia. Artoirel. Laurisse. Sidurgu.
This woman didn’t even fight like a knight, but a criminal thug with far less grace in her dual blades than the newest colts in a particular Limsan convent.
It really wasn’t much of a contest, and truth be told, Aeryn left most of the fighting to Tentoawa and Loazenikwe, supporting them. Alone they would have struggled against Leophryne, but the disgraced knight really didn’t pose much threat to Aeryn’s experience with blade and magic both.
So it was with no thought, no hesitation—simply pure instinct—that Aeryn did what any honorable warrior of Coerthas should, when Leophryne brought the artifact’s power to bear one last time.
It was actually the best sleep she had had in some time.
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Another member of the Unbound defeated, another artifact restored. All five now accounted for, Aeryn let out a sigh of relief in the blessedly hot and muggy shores of Tural, Tuliyollal’s vibrant colors and boisterous sounds—so much like Radz-at-Han—surrounding her after the solemn, gloomy chill of Ishgard.
There was still the matter of the mysterious woman who had collected the annoying band of third-rate villains, but without any leads, Aeryn could put that to rest for a moment, and finally get ready for her trip to the northern continent with Erenville.
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haru-sen · 1 year ago
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Through the Gates of Horn and Oak
Caught the BG3 Brain Rot AND a deep love of the tieflings, hithero referred to as "my cabbages!" No, seriously, I've been screaming about them like the guy from ATLA.
Anyway, WIP preview, playing with some Tav X Zevlor, which will eventually be some Zevlor X Halsin, and maybe some poly dynamics. Look, I just want to poke sad old men with a stick and then feed them cheese.
This preview has light spoilers for early Act I side quests. I have not beat the game, I'm still in Act 3, so please be mindful of spoilers. This is spicy but not explicit.
“How do you do it?” you grumbled, perched on a crate and resting your forehead on the cool stone table, your eyes closing as you reviewed your day. “From harpies, to bugbear assassins, to evil druid-controlled child-tormenting serpents, how do you keep these people alive? I mean, honestly, Zevlor, I’ve only been at it for like a day, and I’m exhausted.”
Zevlor, the tiefling-wrangler in question, gave a dry humorless laugh. “You assumed it was easy?”
“No,” you muttered. “I’m just gobsmacked by the sheer variety of ways they get into trouble. You have my deepest respect and my most heartfelt sympathies.” You stayed facedown while you spoke, which might have detracted from the authenticity of the delivery, but alas.
About a meter away, Tilses snorted. “Have you met Mol yet?”
“Have I met Mol?” you laughed, and it might have been a sob. “Have I met the future legendary patron of the Thieves Guild, you mean? Have I met a force of chaos constrained in a tiny tief package? Have I counted my purse half a dozen times today? Where do I even start?”
Zevlor groaned, clearly not interested in delving into that subject.
Tilses laughed. “You should have seen the time she-”
“Tilses, it’s getting late: you don’t have to stay,” Zevlor said.
“But-”
“Tilses, it’s getting late: you’re dismissed.”
You didn’t need to use your illithid powers to read the subtext in the room. Small talk aside, Tilses didn’t want to leave Zevlor alone with an outsider. Zevlor, however, didn’t seem worried. It could be that he thought you were trustworthy, but it was more likely that he knew that it didn’t matter if she was here. If you decided to turn on him, her presence wouldn’t make a bit of difference.
You could picture his expression easily, that no-nonsense frown, accentuated by the severity of his hellfire eyes and sharp ridged bones. He wasn’t exactly scary, but he had a quiet dignified gravitas that you and Tilses lacked; the kind of man was used to being in charge. Still, Tilses wouldn’t argue, not with you here.
“Understood, sir.”
Military discipline was a hard habit to shake, or so you heard. You smiled as you as her steps faded in the distance and the stone door grinding open and shut. And then there were two.
“I don’t blame you for Mol,” you said. “Obviously, the circumstances are shaping that one, and it would take more resources than you, me, or the entire Grove has to alter her trajectory.”
Zevlor sighed. “...I don’t think I’m capable of discussing Mol’s future right now.” There came a soft grunt and you didn’t have to open your eyes to know that the tiefling was sitting on the table across from you, just a few handspans away. If you lifted your head, he would probably move away, so you stayed there, the slight dissonance of his aura making your ears ring. You didn’t mind though. Things that might have bothered you a week ago couldn’t really match up to a godsdamned mindflayer tadpole swimming through your brain.
Some tieflings possessed a discomforting presence, akin to knowing you were being stalked by an apex predator, or that feeling of something alien crawling across your skin, or that screaming gut instinct that warned you when truly dark magics were abound. It was an involuntary inheritance, a side effect of being part devil, or at least having their human bloodlines tainted by a Hellish pact. But you knew better than most that biology didn’t override character.
Zevlor was a striking model of an Asmodeus tiefling: deep red skin, sharp features, and a pair of thick black horns twisting out of his skull. From what you heard, that strain got well and truly screwed over by their progenitor devil lord’s plotting.
“Would you like something to drink?” A cork popped and there was the clink of metal cups sitting on the table.
“Is it poison?” you asked. “Because I’ve got some lovely wyvern poison of my own. No need to dip into your personal stores.”
“That would be a poor repayment for all the help you’ve given,” Zevlor said, his tone mild.
You didn’t think he was offended. Hard to say. He was difficult to read, unless you decided to use your illithid powers, but then- People didn’t like it when you did that. You didn’t always like it when you did that.
He poured the drinks, and you slowly raised your head, lured out by your own dry mouth.
Zevlor was standing now, he gestured to the uncorked bottle, which sat beside the cups in front of you, all of it available for your inspection.
“Ashaba Dusk?” you asked, sniffing the common wine.
“It’s not so bad,” he said.
It figured that he liked red wines. You wondered if he smoked a pipe too. “You seem like the type to prefer a Gulthmeran Reserve.” It was a dryer red, complex with stronger mineral taste. Something suited for the palate of a stoic older man.
Zevlor’s lips twitched. “Is that so?”
“Am I wrong?”
“I wouldn’t say “no” to a bottle. But finding one out here might prove difficult,” he said as you chose your cup, pretty certain that none of it was poisoned. After all, they still needed your help dealing with the goblins, defanging Kagha, and rescuing the Archdruid. Logic made rationalization easy, even though you had no logical reason to be here alone with this man.
The wine wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either. You drank it though. Today had been long, and you weren't going to turn your nose up at his hospitality.
The two of you finished your cups and sat in an almost comfortable silence. Your shoulders lowered incrementally and you basked in his calm company. You were on your second round of refills before he spoke again. “Was there something you wished to discuss?” he asked, fixing that burning stare on you.
Your stomach flip-flopped, but you just raised your cup and took a drink, buying yourself a few seconds to compose your words. “Just enjoying the ambiance.”
His brow furrowed, and he looked around the cave, clearly trying to figure out what you were referring to. The air in the chamber was cool, there were a couple shelves lined with books, and the candlelight was warm and golden. There were no fleshpits, no bloodstains, and nothing was trying to kill you. Best of all, you could not hear Shadowheart and Lae’zel bickering. To be fair, Lae’zel sniped at everyone, but Shadowheart got so damn shrill about it.
“Look, my...friends are nice and all, but sometimes they’re a bit much,” you said. “I’m taking a break from being mediator.”
“Ah,” he said. He rested his chin in his hand, thoughtfully. “I can lend you the chamber. Would you like some privacy?”
You winced. “No, no, I’m enjoying the company too.”
“I see,” he said, brow furrowing momentarily. He refilled your cup, sitting on the edge of the table farthest from you.
You studied the map of Elturel on the desk, while sipping your unpoisoned wine. And then a thought occurred to you much too late. “Oh gods, I’m intruding, aren’t I?” you groaned. “Look, don’t feel obligated. I’ve found a ton of great hiding spots in the Grove. I can take a dip in the sacred pool. There are some very private corners in the library. Hell, I can even go camp out with Mol.”
“...Don’t do that,” Zevlor grimaced.
“You’re right. She absolutely doesn’t need access to wyvern poison. I’ll go sit with Dammon. Aside from the hammering and the smithing, he’s pretty quiet.”
You’re not intruding,” Zevlor said, forcefully. “My hosting skills are simply rusty. I...welcome the chance to practice.”
“Oh,” you said, a smile tugging at the corner of your mouth. It wasn’t a believable reason in the least, but it did seem that he wasn’t trying to shoo you out. At least, you felt more confident that you were not unwelcome.
Zevlor studied your face. “How do you find Dammon’s company?”
“He’s a good kid and so cheerful in the face of everything that’s happened. I’m impressed by his attitude and his skills,” you said. “He’s helping me keep my tiefling in good shape.” Karlach was a certified badass, but she still needed extra special care. Gods, now that you thought about it, tieflings were like exotic fish, it was a real struggle to keep them alive.
Zevlor nodded. “We’re lucky to have him.” He set the empty bottle down and looked over his shoulder at the worn down storage crates, clearly considering the state of his supplies. He was a lean man, and while the kids were small, it was clear that the adults weren’t letting them go hungry. He likely didn’t have a lot to spare.
“Oh! I’ve got a bottle of Ithbank in my pack – the good kind.” You quickly dug into your bag and pulled it out. You were considering trying to bribe Asterion with it, but honestly, he would probably just turn his nose up at the unimpressive offer. You rummaged around your supply pack and found some cheese wedges, ham, a loaf of sourdough bread, and the treasure you scored while exploring. Looking around furtively, you pulled a small ripe sunmelon out and winked. “I know everyone is eating apples, but I’m sick of things trying to poison me-”
“You’ve mentioned poison very frequently today. How often does this happen to you?” Zevlor asked, looking concerned.
“Well, just this week-” You tried to think back. “The bandits, the goblins, some traps, the swamp apples, Nettie-”
“The healer?” Zevlor sounded alarmed.
“Yeah, because of the whole parasite infection thing,” you muttered, the wine loosening your tongue. Only a select few knew that you were carrying mindflayer tadpoles, and he was one of them since you had to explain to him why you were able to just walk into the Absolute camp without raising the alarm. “Look, the point is, I’m put off apples for awhile.” You pulled out a clean food knife – not a dagger, people applied all sorts of deadly coatings to their weapons – and eyed the cheese.
Zevlor rose and brought over clean plates and more cutlery. There was an economy to his motions, a careful precision to everything, no wasted movement. No tells either. This man tried to keep his cards very close to his chest.
It was very different from the first time you met, when he was shouting orders and coming down from the post-battle fury and the loss of one of his charges. Rage uncoiled all those carefully suppressed feelings and destroyed self control: you understood that feeling all too well. The contrast was interesting, you liked watching him.
You made a nice little plate cubes of cheese and ham, slices of bread, and cut your half of the melon into long wedges. Zevlor made a neat sandwich and chopped his melon into bite-sized chunks. This time you poured the Ithbank while Zevlor watched.
He took a sip. “This is nice. Thank you,” he said quietly.
“It really is,” you smiled, biting into the melon and getting some down your chin. The flavor was honey sweet, the flesh luscious and crisp under your teeth. You happily licked your fingers, slurping down the juice. Fuck, these were so much better than apples, and absolutely worth fighting a bunch of bandits for.
When you looked up, Zevlor was staring down at the table.
“I’m being messy, aren't I?” you muttered, wiping your mouth off. The heady combination of too much wine, sweet melon, and the company was making you sloppy. “Sorry.”
“No, no, you’re fine,” Zevlor coughed and poured himself some more wine, averting his eyes. He carefully bit into his melon cubes. His tongue flicked out and he licked his lips, closing his eyes. “That is delicious,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble, his tail swishing behind him.
Satisfied that he was enjoying his fruit, you devoured your slices too quickly, eating them down to the rind. When you looked up, Zevlor was only half finished, clearly taking his time and really savoring the experience.
“These are better than apples,” he said, glancing down at your empty plate. He speared a chunk of melon and extended his fork. “I don’t know if I can finish all this though.”
A damned lie if you ever heard one, and between Wyll and Asterion, you heard a lot of creative truths. You took a swig of wine and met that burning gaze, your breath catching. “I’ll take a bite,” you said. “But you clearly aren’t eating enough. You really should take better care of yourself, Zevlor.”
You leaned forward, delicately took the melon between your teeth, and pulled it off the tines. You gave the utensil a light parting bite, never looking away from Zevlor’s face.
He swallowed audibly, but his hand did not shake and he did not draw back. He just watched you with narrowed eyes, his jaw clenched, those sharp nails digging into his palms, his tail snapping from side to side. That tension was familiar. You remembered a similar strained look back when he got into a confrontation with that asshole mercenary. Maybe you were pushing him too far.
“Have I offended you?” you asked a little sheepishly. You did just take his food from him while insinuating that he was bad at taking care of himself.
“No,” he said gruffly, his voice an octave lower. “But are you going to claim that you don’t know what you’re doing?”
You smiled, lowering your eyes in amusement. “I’m just enjoying the ambiance.”
Zevlor gave a low exhalation, those orange eyes burning intently as he regarded you. “The situation is difficult enough,” he said, his voice harsh. “Hells, teasing an old man is cruel.”
You blinked. “I’ve seen you fight, Zevlor. I’d hardly call you old.” You met his gaze. “And teasing is only cruel if one doesn’t intend to follow through.” You stood, the wine giving you a cocksure recklessness that you would not possess sober. You leaned over the table, nearly nose to nose with him, baring your teeth in a grin. “I’ll deal with Kagha tomorrow. We’ll figure out the goblins after that. And then, if you’re still interested, let’s do something about it.”
Zevlor stiffened, his eyes widening, his lips parting in shock.
You took a swig of the Ithbank, and slammed it down next to him, lifting one of those calloused hands to your lips. You brushed your mouth against the inside of his wrist and then caught his index finger between your teeth. You sucked it down to the knuckle, tasting the blended salt and sulfur of his skin and the sweet stickiness of the melon. The heat of the digit made you want more than this, but you had to be careful with those sharp nails.
Zevlor’s nostrils flared, those brimstone eyes burning as he gritted his teeth, your name a hoarse curse in his mouth.
“And if you’re not interested,” you said, lowering his hand gently. “That’s fine too. It’s entirely up to you. We can just blame the wine.”
And with that, you turned on your heel and left, before you did something really stupid. It didn’t matter though, the fire was already in your veins and the taste of him lingered on your tongue.
Fic posted on AO3 now.
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nya-vivi · 6 months ago
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Thoughts on Focalors and Focalors only (okay maybe I lied, about Furina and Neuvillette too). Uhh spoilers for absolutely all Fontaine Archon quests because is 3 am and I don't want to search which one is each.
Not proofread.
Focalors being the archon of justice because it is only rightful to give back usurped power, even if that means losing one's own life.
Because if we look at the problem in a pragmatic way, which Focalors was (that was why she divided Divinity and Humanity) using usurped power for generations only creates resentment (Apep) and resentment will only create conflicts. And we all know how conflicts end. With innocent people perishing and the powerful not. And usurped power is not fully yours. And it has drawbacks.
And Focalors knew all of this. So she created L'Oratrice. She created L'Oratrice to be worshiped in her stead. Not because she didn't believe in Furina, the exact opposite, she believed that Furina would perfectly play her role: to watch humanity, learn about it and reach the apex of humanity's visualization of divinity.
And that made Furina famous. And with fame unfortunately comes dehumanization, but in the end it helps. Divinity = not being human. And so, she creates L'Oratrice to be the idol. And we know that Archon's powers come from worshipping (that's why like a lot of ppl think Venti is one of the most powerful archons, but I won't talk about that). Anyways. She creates the thing that would hold all of Fontaine's belief. And she will put Neuvillette just above of it.
It paints a clear picture: Neuvillette = L'Oratrice, ergo, Neuvillette = Justice, ergo, Neuvillette is to be the next head figure in case anything happened to the Hydro Archon.
Did you see what she did there? She is manipulating everyone and I think it is fantastic. Anyways.
So she knows the pieces are perfectly placed. She needs the time to collect all the belief and become powerful enough to destroy the throne. No more hydro archon. No more usurpers in power.
And she loves humans. She loves humanity, and loves Furina above all. Her idea of humanity and everything she had wanted to be.
So she decides rather quickly, truly. Because time is of the essence and her people, humanity, deserves to be allowed to live in peace and not destroyed because of her predecessor's actions, as noble as they were.
And she knows usurped power is not powerful enough to defy heavenly decrees. So she waits, she waits and waits. She makes Neuvillette like humanity (how could not he, if Fontaine's humanity before this was simply one of them?), she avoids as much conflicts as she can. She makes amends. She makes Neuvillette Iudex, the judge, the law. And she makes Neuvillette understand the concept of Justice (how could not he? He understands injustice very well. It is in his own skin, in his predecessor's. But now he has three perspectives. Now he can be called just without bias).
And she is terrified, but she decides to die. She decides to stop Celestia to protect her people. Because usurped power creates conflicts. But if the usurper is not there anymore, what conflicts can be made?
And she dies. She destoys her throne. And Neuvillette becomes the next figurehead. And Furina can finally stop faking and suffering (a necessary sacrifice, unfortunately). And everything continues without anyone being none-the-wiser. She is only remembered by the people she wanted to be remembered.
Celestia loses this one. Humanity wins this one.
Because that's how it was meant to be, too, since the very beginning.
No archonhood. No hydro usurped power.
The thing about the hydro archons, above all, is that they loved their people. One doomed their people without them knowing, because she wanted them to be happy. Another doomed herself to make sure the people she (both) loved to much would make it. Even if she had to sacrifice herself. Because that was the only rightful move to do.
Because, above all, she is the Archon of Justice who can even judge the Heavenly Principles.
And she declares them guilty.
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echoequinox · 1 year ago
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Starfield spoilers but you know what I'd kill for in the DLC
There are two big things I'd love. 1. Va'ruun. Obviously. The embassy is there so it's likely they're gonna show up, and also their WHOLE ASS HOME PLANET isn't in the game yet so. I hope we get a real serpent. I hope that the serpent is either a legit fucking big scary beast or that the Va'ruun leader is a Starborn
SPEAKING OF, you know what I'd kill for? An endgame story quest. You make it through your tenth run, you have a maxed out Starborn ship, armor, X level powers. And then you find other Starborn do too. They're at the apex of their power, just like you. The Hunter and Emmissary are back, as per usual, but there's so many MORE Starborn now. You all keep going back, and that means universes are absolutely full of Starborn.
So there's war. The Hunter and Emmissary are like, opposing and hesitant generals, neither wants to LEAD really but people follow them - maybe a lot of Yous, or Thems, or Constellation members - and they feel obliged to not leave them behind.
And so now there's REAL stakes. The universe torn asunder. Entire cities under new martial law by superpowered time traveling freaks. The UC and Freestar in shambles trying to deal with this new threat to their world.
The option to cut everyone in the current universe off from Unity FOREVER - yourself included! - in an attempt to stop these newly powerful armies from moving forward.
Maybe you get a set of Constellation companions who have seen it all. A Sarah who loved you and watched you die, and ventured into the black to find another you. A Sam who lost his little girl, and a version of his daughter - all grown up - who lost her daddy. Andreja, fully realized, a Va'ruun badass with deadly powers. Maybe Barrett found his husband, and wants to make this universe good for him, somewhere they could live in peace. Fuck, maybe Matteo, Walter, and Vladimir took the plunge, maybe you have their fully realized versions, too.
A final confrontation with fate and destiny. One last hurrah. Rather than the simple question of Hunter v Emmissary your first go-around, you now have to truly reconcile with eternity. Is it right to let these people flow out into every universe? Is it right to keep them here when they've touched infinity? Is it right for the people of this universe to damn them to being in a universal terrarium with the Starborn?
Maybe if you play it right, the Starborn get their own cluster of planets like the UC/Freestar. Maybe they get an embassy in New Atlantis, and people are offered the opportunity to touch the same powers that the Starborn had. Maybe there's even post-ending quests where you can see how the factions interact with each other.
Also permanent Hunter/Emmissary companions, fully romancable. This Emmissary is you, so you dont have to figure out randomly which Constellation member it is, also you can fuck yourself. I just really wanna fuck the Hunter okay I really wanna kiss that dirty old man.
Man idfk!!!! Starfield feels like the prologue to such a cool story and we never get there
EDIT: SECRET FINAL BOSS IS THE VERSION OF YOU IN UNITY, THEY'RE INFINITY INCARNATE AND THEY'RE MAD YOU'RE TRYING TO SEAL OFF UNITY AND ALSO WE GET A BRIEF GLIMPSE AT WHO MADE THE ARTIFACTS
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wol-blackthorne · 4 months ago
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Transcription of Tural Travelogue, pt. 2: Ok'hanu
(Dawntrail All Quests Spoilers ahead)
[Master Post]
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4A/3S - Raha asleep with Salina. Checked in on the missing artifacts. Ishgard knights embarrassed but handling the attacks well. Checking in on Rads & Limsa soon. Also working on that qualification. Clan member in Yyasolani[sic]?
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"Justiciar" in Thavnair seems to be a clown. Apex seems to be luck-oriented? Weal/woe
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4A/4S - Returned Napikwe's bestiary to Bol Ogaw. Took some bills but may need to hand them to another hunter for now. Not sure when I'll have time again. Not that that's a bad thing. The hunters have things well in hand on the Tural side. S9 [Solution Nine] may need check
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Perhaps I am the clown. Nearly lost to a water monk in Kozama'uka that was surprisingly strong. Got away safely! Limsa tomorrow
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4A/5S while turning in yesterday's bills, Bol Ogar asked for more information on the beasts within the dome. Napikwe did find data in Living Memory's banks. If the creatures appear near settlements, adventurers can handle them. Limsa soon.
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Found Loashkana of Tural in Limsa. I should have known from the initial vision—these "villains" are all mischief and little bite, were it not for the relics. Poisoning in Limsa tied to a Lalafellin man posing as a merchant and an unknown woman. Something about puppets? Don't remember much of the vision unfortunately. Thus, a notebook. Returning home for the day.
--
6A/6S - I managed to drag Raha away from compiling reports at last. As duty-bound as he may be, the thought of seeing what he had missed in Tural swayed him. And as the areas we will travel first are populated, we felt it was safe to bring Salina. She's been fussy since the boat over, but I'm sure fresh air will help. If nothing else, the Hanu have been a great distraction for her.
We came to Ok'hanu first, as I had during the trials. Salina took to them [the Hanu] immediately. Calls them "fwee"? (Fluffy?) I'm not sure we'll be able to tear her away without a bribe, so I'm putting together a doll that looks like them. Incidentally, I was offered a demonstration of their work with the Landsguard. The L's armor is decorated with molted Hanu feathers. A soldier came to collect and process the feathers, and I commandeered some of the unusuable broken feathers and dye for Salina's doll.
The guard, Nahanshe, reminds me of some old Stone Torch recruits. Not fond of "busy work" but he's learning to appreciate the craft that goes into his armor. Spent the evening dying and oiling feathers.
An archaeologist form the Studium caught be on our way out of Tuliyolal[sic]. Dig site near Yyasolani[sic]? Will investigate when we get there. I had hoped the gleaners for Living Memory had arrived, but my request is currently in a backlog. You would think we could pull a favor but "there is a Process and it must be Followed." At least things have calmed down now. We have time.
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4A/7S - Beautiful clear sunrise. Hands forever stained. Today we're blessing the feathers.
--
Weather changed for the worse. Clearly I'm not attuned to the wind currents here yet. Blessing also took a turn as younglings scolded Nahanshe for his griping. Smells like hazing.
Helped with repairs on village structures until the rain set it. May want to see the nearby cave at night. Kikitola—overflowing with many stars.
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4A/8S - Headache from the weather changes. Raha is gathering fruit for an offering while I nurse willow tea. The horrors persist but so do I. Salina's doll had a nameday and he is Nunu.
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I'm told it's the wet season and I'm inclined to believe it. By the afternoon, I felt well enough to hunt beetles for the Hanu to make brushes from their shells. I may ask to trade for one for Artemis.
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4A/9S - Artemis is getting a good workout running errands between Ok'hanu and Kozanuakiy. I took a short detour to see the bridge near the falls that they call "Breath Between." Or maybe that's the basin. In any case, much of their fish comes from those clear waters before it picks up the forest silt. Also ran into some adventurers dealing with tegu preventing repairs to the stairs, and a hunter looking for poisonous frogs.
I ran into Nahanshe while transporting reeds. He was definitely subject to hazing of a sort. I'm reminded of Gosetsu when we met the Dotharl of the Steppe—so confused by the culture, but willing to accept and learn in the end. Nahanshe is determined to learn more of the Hanu and their relationship to the Landsguard now, which was the point of Lanuhanu's scheme. I suppose I can't question the method if it works.
Busy with repairs the rest of the day.
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straynoahide · 2 months ago
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he was seduced by evil promises, and becomes a seductive evil himself. the cycle of corruption, the succubus becomes the incubus and the succubus again if necessary
it's not just about his appearance even, but about his behavior - divinity and its opposite are inherently genderfluid because they contain both the masculine and feminine and confuse them.
he's more masculine and warlike or more feminine and diplomatic depending on his goals - military, statecraft - who he's dealing with - he will use cruel force or subtle persuasion, blade or poison, armor or courtly dress.
there is a dialectic and it is gendered not intrinsically on his end, but on the other- attraction is a question his body answers. a brave warrior with a mission, a skilled craftsman with an ambition,... what kind of person, what kind of body do they desire?
an admiral turned covetous king on a doomed quest for immortality
that's partly why i'm looking forward to the númenor plotline. halbrand was galadriel's sauron. annatar is celebrimbor's sauron... who's going to be pharazon's sauron?
vae victis, but ultimately, vae tyrannis
[silmarillion spoilers]
pharazon's sauron, in akallabêth, begins as the humiliated and vanquished, but will rise to apotheosis by proxy
a courtier, a power behind the throne, the leader of a bloodthirsty melkorian/satanic cult
a false advisor encouraging a King to challenge the Powers, an apex nation to defy God - a man to unravel himself
One thing I love is that Tolkien never gives any specifics about Sauron's appearance in the Silmarillion, beyond the facts that he is "fair" and "beautiful." Unlike with many other Tolkien characters, there's no mention of his hair or eye color, his height, or anything else about his physical appearance as Annatar or any of his other fair forms.
It could just be because he is a shapeshifter and such details aren't important, as they aren't permanent, but I think Tolkien was a clever enough writer to have an additional purpose for it.
It allows the reader to picture Sauron as whatever is most fair to them.
In a way, it grants Sauron with the very power of shapeshifting that he has in the books; he can appear different to each reader and form himself into whatever is most fair and seductive in their own eyes.
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ohthatsviolet · 4 years ago
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Wraith: We didn't choose the bad path. We chose the worst path.
Pathfinder:
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mozambique-and-a-dream · 4 years ago
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Tom on Twitter: yeah lol Bloodhound and Loba are totally friends, BH is very cool with being misgendered by her because they both just really understand and respect each other
All of us after today’s quest:
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cynical-sprite · 4 years ago
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Okay, but why is no one talking about this?? Like... he's learned to make jokes/puns now!😆 He's come so far! I'm so proud!!!☺️
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wiresandwifi · 4 years ago
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I wonder how the people who Really Hated Caustic are doing now...
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apex-legends-never-die · 4 years ago
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Caution! Apex Comics Spoilers Ahead!!!! (Not major, not really a surprise either)
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He might not be straight!!!!!!!! Our bamboozle boy is questioning his sexuality!!!
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oathweave · 4 years ago
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just a psa if you're worried about missing out on lore if you haven't played titanfall 2:
the campaign is short! i blasted through it in a day and it's so, so good. the game is also really cheap atm and you'll understand so much more about the lore- and if you can't buy the game there's so many playthroughs on youtube.
also! the multiplayer is super fun! the playerbase is quite small but hopefully apex breathes some new life into it.
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ask-octane-mirage · 4 years ago
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(quest spoilers for mod) octane did you get your legs back????
Octane: I did! We just finished up prepares a few minutes ago, so I'm getting to put them on right now! My babies...I've missed you!
[He jumps down from the bed, and wobbles slightly].
Octane: Whoa.
Mirage: Hey, hey. Careful.
Octane: [Stretches out]. Oh, hell yeah! Don't worry, amor. I'm all good!
Mirage: Promise?
Octane: Promise!
Mirage: Well then...since you're free to go now...What do you say we head home for a bit for some...alone time?
Octane: But we've been alone in this room this whole time. Why do we need to go home to be alone, again?
Mirage: ...Let's just...go home. I'll explain when we get there.
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dracenathe6th · 4 years ago
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All the voicelines from Ash
youtube
Enjoy
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robobee · 4 years ago
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revenant is my main they BETTER not get rid of him :(
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clownbasedintrigue · 4 years ago
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IM ALSO ABOUT TO CRY THIS WAS BETTER THAN I HOPED
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