#apkallu falls

[theshadowsong]

I wish there where a Aethernet Shard at Apkallu Falls. You have to go to that place so…many… times. Pray return to Apkallu Falls ;w;

[mimble-sparklepudding]

🧁What's their dream date place?

For Humble he would want it to be somewhere the other person felt happiest, as he is used to putting others desires before his own. If pressed however, he would probably prefer somewhere reasonably private - he would be anxious enough about making a good impression on his companion, without worrying what any curious observers might make of his efforts.

Other things that he might prefer to avoid would be formal dining (as he is less than confident about his table manners) or anything involving dancing.

This doesn't leave terribly many options, but somewhere secluded, perhaps with a pretty view and some drinks (purely to settle his nerves of course) would be ideal. Some places that Humble felt were quite romantic include the bridge in Kugane - especially at sunset - and Apkallu Falls in Old Gridania.

[paintedscales]

Sightseeing Log entry #10 :: Apkallu Falls

"When I first came to Eorzea and spent my time in Gridania, I thought that the Apkallu Falls were named after someone -- maybe a Lalafell named Apkallu Kallu. Turns out, they were named after a failed attempt of some Gridanian merchant to breed apkallus within the area. I'm...pretty sure I only learned that after I encountered actual apkallus during my time in Vylbrand..."

Extras:

[tsunael]

might of, uh... had too much fun at Apkallu Falls.

[little-birdseeker]

Growing Wings - Ch.7 - The Problem With Magic

[<- Chapter 6: A Not So Subtle Style]

“So, what’s the matter, Namo?”

“You know very well what i want, Jon”, R’namo answered more harshly than she intended to. After all she had only told him to come to this pier where she was now sitting, her feet dangling just above the water.

“How should I know? You were the one that-” “The girl, Jon. Isa.” “Again? What is it this time? She is doing well, you know that.” “It’s not- just. Listen. Maybe sit down, I don't know, do whatever you like.”

With a shrug, Jonathan let himself fall down on some nearby ropes.

“Always the ropes, right?” “Never sat better.” “Of course… Well, as I said, you know the problems.” “A lot of them, yeah. She is just a quirky young girl, nothing more. With some godda-”

“I know! Everyone knows, we have eyes! Gods can you- well, whatever. I mean the other stuff. You know?”

“I know?” “Yeah, I mean… Listen, the other day she sneaked to me without making a single noise! The third time this week!”

“Sounds like her, yeah. Happens everyday if I don’t check the time when she should arrive.”

“But that’s to be expected, Jon! Like, everyone does that to you, once in a while. But tell me another person that sneaked up on me lately!” “Uhhh… let me think… Uh…”

“No one, Jon! Not a single person!”, R’namo exclaimed without waiting for Jonathan to finish mentally checking everyone from the guild.

“Okay? So?” “And. And. She does not make one single sound! As if the air itself is suppressing everything around her! And you have seen her fighting or running!” “We already talked about that, Namo. And I told you, she is fucking fast.”

“Exactly! She- when I brought her in, she had jumped on Speedy George. The legend! The one who had mastered sprinting itself! It’s not normal, Jon!”

“You know what I said the last time?” “I- Listen, it can’t be that. Have you seen the Birdseekers?” “Never seen them having red hair like she does.” “And? Coloring the hair is a thing.” “Do you think she is that obsessed with red that she- well, okay, yeah, hold your tongue, she is, you won. But still, she would have told someone about it. You know how much she likes to talk about everything.”

“...yeah. Yeah, you’re right”, R’namo sighed. “But she is still a Birdseeker, through and through. No adoption, no affair or something. I checked that.”

“So you still want to deny that it’s magic she just cannot control?”

“It’s not that I am denying it, it’s just… Apkallus can’t fly. It’s that simple.”

“And even if one would fly directly in front of your nose, would you still deny its existence?”

“I, for one, would check my sanity first.”

“And would still have to accept the reality afterwards.”

“...” Silently, R’namo looked down to the ocean at her feet.

“Hey, still there? Okay, yeah, fine. You are the Miqo’te, you know more about the kitties and the families and all the stuff. But look at the signs! Just… told you, go to-” “I was!”, R’namo shouted, which in turn made Jonathan sit up straight in a matter of moments, as he had further and further been dragged into the ropes he had placed himself on.

“And?”

“Routine check. Talked with one Lalafell. Asked him about his opinion. You know. He said he can see potential in her.” “And that’s it?”

“Seems so. Well, I asked him to show her some stuff as well. Cause, you know how she is.” “If it's interesting, she will move mountains, yeah. But it did not help, it seems?”

“Well. She liked everything sparkly.”

“And the carbuncle?”

“And the carbuncle”, R’namo chuckled. “We could not stop her from petting it all the time.” “Why did I even ask…” “Right? And she asked how to summon one herself.” “Woah, wait. She would love to have one, so that must have-”

“Three minutes”, interrupted R’namo her friend, who in turn looked at her dumbfounded.

“...what?”

“Three minutes. That’s all it took.” “...to? “To make her lose interest in all the circles and patterns and whatever.” “...oh.”

“Yeah.”

They went silent for a minute, listening to the sounds of the waves and the seagulls nearby.

“She is really not built to be an arcanist, right?”, Jonathan broke the silence. “Yup.” “Could have seen that myself before I made that suggestion, huh…”

“Well, yeah. But it was worth a shot.”

“It was, yeah…”

Both of them nodded in agreement. Sure, it was magic, but both knew well enough how they made it happen. Books and quilts and ink. Magical formulas, lots of them. And even with a magical affinity… they both knew how much interest Isabelle had ever shown in mathematics and complex concepts: Basically zero. Well, she had learned how to do simple maths, after all, but it was clear that it was rather something she had learned out of necessity rather than out of interest. Well, kind of - the interest was just something way different. Namely the acquisition of cloths for sewing, and most importantly being able to deduce how much sweets she was able to buy with her allowance. And it had turned out to be something handy to have here and there. But besides that…

“So, what’s the plan?”, Jonathan finally asked.

“Hey, that’s what I wanted to ask!” “Not my fault you haven’t asked it yet!”

“Urgh, you- fine. I have no idea. And now?”

This time, Jonathan sighed, for once. “Okay. Namo, for real. I think we have to do something.” “Yeah, duh. But what?” “No idea. We can’t teach her, can we?” “And the Arcanists can’t either…”

“Let’s… well, okay, let’s just keep an eye out for her. Or maybe two.”

“As if we weren-” “Yeah, of course. But we have no other option. Arcanists won’t help, we have no other mages here, I really don’t wanna ask an adventurer for it, so we have to wait and plan ahead. Like… bring her to Ul’dah or something.”

“…fine, yeah. You are right, Jon. But we should still do… something.”

“Keep an eye on her. And search for someone that could teach her stuff. And worst case, bring her somewhere else.” “Don’t think she will like that…” “Of course, but it’s for her best. And besides, I have a real bad feeling about doing nothing. Like. Something is basically bound to happen in the future. Dunno when, dunno where, but if she does not get some proper education… best case she destroys some market stalls or something similar. And worst case she might burn someone alive, or cut them in half or whatever.” “You- She would never-” “Yeah she wouldn’t! Tell that her magic once she is upset!”

“I- Fine, right…”

Once again, they grew silent, while the sun slowly sank, now nearly hitting the ocean in the distance.

“Do you regret taking her in?” Jonathans question hit R’namo unprepared.

“What?! No! I mean… well, sometimes I think about how relaxing everything could be without her…” “So you do regret it?”

“I told you, no! I mean, she is a handfu- fine, more than that, literally, but like. It would be boring without her, wouldn’t it? Yeah? See? And… don’t forget how much joy she brought, just with her smile. After the calamity, everyone was so… gloomy. And now? Look at them!” “...yeah. Right. She brought some light into the Den.”

“Right? I don’t regret taking her in. I just ask myself every now and then why she has to be like… this.” “Yeah. I get that.” Despite the kind of grim talk, both of them just had to chuckle a bit.

“So, that’s the plan? Waiting, searching for a mentor? And adjusting to whatever the hell she is doing?”

“Yeah. Or you got a better plan?”, Jonathan asked the catwoman.

“No, even though I wish there was one.”

“But better than nothing.” “Right you are. Well, we’ll handle it. And the others will help as well.” “True. Well then. Let’s get going. Care for a beer?” “Oh hell yeah, count me in!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Thanks for reading <3 I hope you enjoyed it! More will be added the coming days and will be linked here and on Isabelles story page!)

[Chapter 8: Weaver Among The Rogues ->]

[dawnslight-aegis]

7. morsel

It began with a feeling one evening, right before she drifted off to sleep – a brush of a hand over her cheek, of lips against her forehead. Blinking awake in the gloom, she murmured a soft “Mama?” before shaking her head to dispel the feeling. A dream, no doubt, or perhaps the whisper of an elemental – ever since coming to Gridania, her ears had become even more sensitive to what her mother would have called the Green Word. It was the reason she had been permitted to become a Hearer, despite not being one of the forestborn. At times, their voices took on familiar tones – this must have been one such occasion, that her sleeping mind had associated with her long-distant mother.

Half a moon later, while walking through Stillglade Fane, she caught the quiet conversation of two traveling traders, and flicked one large ear towards them. Hyur never realized how keen viera hearing was, if they had even noticed her at all.

“A friend of mine who does some trading in Radz-at-Han, he heard from some associates from Dalmasca that Bozja Citadel is just gone. A flash of light so bright it illuminated the whole sky, and an explosion you could hear in Rabanastre. The whole city just a hole in the ground.”

“Imperials’ doing, no doubt. Serves them right. If it’s even true – probably some story cooked up to make us think they’ve got some weapon that can bring us to heel.” The second man shook his head dismissively, and they walked away, the distance and the rush of water from Apkallu Falls covering any other words they might have spoken.

A chill ran down her spine at the mention of the city of her birth, and though her logical mind agreed with the second man’s assessment, she could not shake the discomfort, even as she went about her duties for the day. The dread twisting in the pit of her stomach continued to grow, until three days later, without a word to anyone, she walked out of Gridania’s gates and into the eastern Shroud. The empire had recently begun construction on a great edifice against the corruption and influence of eikons, but it was simple enough to find a place on the fringes of the Shroud where the border between Gridania’s domain and Ala Mhigo’s was unattended, and slip across, as she had done years before the other direction.

Eirys Tswarra shed her forest name and became Linnaea eir Galanthus once again, passing unremarked through imperial-occupied Gyr Abania. The missives she had passed to her superiors in the XIVth Legion, full of half-truths and exaggerations – enough morsels of information to keep the Empire satisfied and wary of Gridania’s invisible protectors – bought her passage on an airship across the Ghimlyt Dark, to Locus Amoenus, but no further. The supply routes that had once connected to Bozja Citadel now ran to the port city of Kralja instead.

All along the journey she had attempted to make subtle inquiries about the city, but had been met with nothing but unsettling silence. To every imperial she encountered, it seemed as if it had never existed at all.

Linnaea’s dread and certainty that something was indeed very wrong only grew as she traveled from Kralja inland, and the land was silent. No flowers murmured, no trees sang. And when finally she reached the last leg of her journey, where she should have seen a sprawling sandstone city, replete with trees and brilliantly blue streets, there was only a crater full of twisted crystal and half-melted buildings.

And somewhere in the center of all that destruction had been her home, where her mothers had lived, quietly, tending gardens and teaching local orphans.

There had never been much love in Linnaea’s heart for the Empire itself – her stepmother’s status had given her citizenship, allowed her to escape the poverty and deprivation that most Bozjans who were not born into nobility faced. But she had not been blind to its sins. Bozja was isolated, no one allowed in or out, save the military, and this alone would have made her chafe under its yoke, even if she did not hear word of the wars of conquest waged against Dalmasca, or see the cruelties suffered by those few left in Bozja who did resist Garlean rule. Indeed, it was that very doubt that had made her the ideal candidate to spy on Gridania, for the operatives the Empire had sought to place there before her had been loyal, and thus taken by the greenwrath before they could even enter the city. It was only the implicit threat that her family would suffer for her defection that had kept her from walking away and never looking back.

Looking out over the desolate wasteland that was all that remained of her home, her childhood, her family, the last flicker of gratitude to Garlemald in her heart died, and she was left with only the deep-seated certainty that for the land to live, the Garlean Empire must be scoured from its face.

But where could she go? Gridania had doubtless discovered her duplicity, or would soon, making Eorzea a dangerous prospect. A viera traveling alone would be easily identifiable – something that Empire had always made sure to remind her of, as a way of ensuring her compliance. Garlemald’s reach extended to the entirety of Ilsabard and most of Othard. Hingashi did not accept outsiders, and Radz-at-Han was on strained but peaceful terms with the empire. She did not have enough gil to her name to buy safety there. Indeed, all she had left was herself – her mind and her magic, the secrets of Garlemald and of Gridanian conjury.

Of everywhere on the star, she could only think of one place where a viera might not raise eyebrows. One place that might hold the answers to the question of what sort of weapon could obliterate a city overnight. One place where knowledge and information was more valuable than currency.

Old Sharlayan.

[crossroadsdimension]

Cross found Clive...odd. Not a bad odd, but a good odd. The kind of odd that comes with finding a kindred spirit, but also knowing that there is something strange about him. Secrets kept in his past, perhaps, that he has yet to fully reveal -- or realize, considering the state of his memories.

His awe at riding an airship, despite knowing what they were and never having seen one fly, made Cross wonder where he had come from. His confusion at the aetheryte -- and then amazement at learning it wasn't a source of energy, but that it was a teleportation beacon.

("I...I don't believe teleportation is common, where I am from," Clive said slowly. "We likely use chocobos to travel everywhere, or moved on foot."

"Really?" Cross blinked in surprise. "You must have been quite remote, then. Aetherytes are everywhere across the star, or at least across Eorzea and Doma."

"Hm." Clive looked at the aetheryte thoughtfully.)

It wasn't until the minstrel remarked on his being another world that she could partially put a finger on what made Clive odd. And then there was the fight with Ifrit, afterwards.

("You can transform into a primal," Cross said flatly after their return to Apkallu Falls.

"Eikon," Clive corrected. "Judging by your expression, I assume Dominants aren't common here?"

"Common?" Cross shook her head. "Primals are summoned through crystals and faith, and the ritual to do so has been proven to be dangerous to the summoner. The only one who thought to summon the primal in a way that placed her as its vessel was Ysayle, when she summoned Shiva."

Cross did not miss the way Clive's breath caught. She gave him a curious look. "You...you're familiar with Shiva?"

"Yes," Clive said, voice heavy with something Cross couldn't identify. "My friend -- Jill -- is Shiva's Dominant, just as I am Ifrit's. Although...Shiva was expected. I was not."

Cross frowned.

"An explanation is likely in order," Clive grumbled. "On my world, there are supposed to be only seven Eikons -- one for each element. Phoenix for fire, Shiva for ice, Garuda for wind, Titan for earth, Ramuh for levin, Leviathan the Lost for water, Odin for darkness, and Bahamut for light. There can only be one of each at a time, and when one Dominant dies, someone of their blood in the next generation is chosen as the new one. A second Eikon of fire -- Ifrit -- is not only unexpected, but impossible."

Cross couldn't imagine it. Seven people -- now eight -- at any given moment, capable of transforming into a primal whenever they pleased, without the repercussions of tempering. "Your world is very different from ours. Primals represent a deity of a given group or region; I have seen many that share elements with others, or even combine elements together. There is a settlement to the north made up of vilekin-like beings, and their primal is fire and earth-aspected. Another far to the east is water and levin-aspected."

"Truly?" Clive's eyebrows shot up. "To my ears, that sounds almost too good to be true."

"I would show you myself, but not only has primal summoning fallen out of favor with those once afflicted with tempering, but you also have a place where you are needed." Cross looked at the wolf Clive had summoned from the aether, after destroying Ifrit.

"...yes, that would likely be the wiser course of action.")

They discussed their worlds similarities and differences on the way back to the Burning Wall. Learning of some of each other's hardships and how Cross overcame hers seemed to lighten burdens and strengthen what they already carried with them.

(Petting Torgal along the way was a delight. Cross made sure Clive knew he had a very kind and loyal companion.)

When they send Clive home, Cross makes it a point to grab hold of him and offer a beacon. If there is a chance, and their words are connected, perhaps she could be called to his world to offer aid.

("There's no confirming that this will work," Cross said. "But I feel like having it as an offer of assistance will help you in some way."

Clive closed his hand over the half-formed crystal. "Thank you. Even if it will not work on my return, the offer is appreciated.")

The gift of a wolf mount so similar to Torgal after Clive left was a welcome delight.

[janzoo]

🎄Emmanellain and Sicard show up for the Starlight Celebration🎄

I wasn’t expecting Emmanellain, and I definitely wasn’t expecting his boyfriend rival to show up. I love it!

(They show up if you do the little post-event visits around Gridania with Laurenssen - choose “Apkallu Falls” option.)

[enkindlephoenix]

Sightseeing Log ARR 010 ↳ Apkallu Falls, Gridania.

[scionshtola]

#29. having a romantic picnic - for Cori and Shtola? 🥺💕

ty for the prompt! 💗 sorry i did not have it ready for valentine's day!

29. having a romantic picnic || 962 words || rated G || set some time in the nebulous future after SB, no spoilers for anything just a lot of fluff

“Are you certain ‘tis the best day for a picnic?” Y’shtola asked with a slight frown. She walked beside Corisande as they wound their way through Gridania, away from the inn. “The skywatcher said ‘tis due to rain today.”

Corisande glanced up at the sky. Gray clouds hung over the city in the distance, but the sky over them and their destination was blue and cloudless. A slight breeze blew past, but it was plenty warm enough for their plans. “We will be back at The Roost long before the rain arrives,” she said cheerily, and looped her arm through Y’shtola’s.

Y’shtola made no further objections, though they did not miss her quiet but doubtful hum. They pressed on anyway, content with her acquiescence. It was not long before they arrived at Apkallu Falls, and they were surprised to find no one else around. Even Y’mhitra, who always seemed to be waiting by the waterfall whenever Corisande wandered by, was nowhere to be seen.

They were not deterred. The two of them left to their own devices, away from the public eye, on a sunny afternoon in Gridania? She could hardly have planned a better day if she tried.

Corisande spread the soft, red and white checked blanket on the ground near the waterfall. The two of them knelt on it, and she began unpacking the food that the cooks at The Roost had very kindly packed for them. They had made their way to the kitchens, hoping that they could beg or buy a few things for their lunch, and was surprised to find that the head cook was something of a fan. Normally, she did not like to abuse her fame in such a way but before she could finish offering to pay, the woman had already shoved the basket into her hand.

“’Twould seem you were correct,” Y’shtola said. She turned her face toward the sun, closing her eyes. “The rain seems to be holding off for now.”

The small smile of contentment she wore warmed Corisande far more than the sunlight they were sitting in. Y’shtola deserved a moment of peace more than anyone she knew, and she was more than happy to do what she could to provide it.

A shadow fell across their picnic. She glanced up, searching for the source, only to find that the gray clouds that had seemed so far away when they’d set out had rolled in far quicker than she anticipated. The comforting breeze now made her shiver, and they watched as the sunlight faded, their hope sliding away as fast as the light slid from Y’shtola’s face.

“About that,” Corisande said, heart sinking as the first drop of rain fell on them. How had those clouds moved so fast? They’d been certain they would have at least an hour or two before it began to rain. “I think I may have been a tad optimistic.”

“I cannot say I did not expect as much,” Y’shtola said with an amused expression, wiping a drop of rain from her cheek. “Though I hoped for more time as much as you did.”

Despite their disappointment, they could not help but smile at that. They quickly packed the food back into the basket and folded the blanket. There was a crash of thunder when they stood, so loud that Corisande nearly dropped the blanket, and then the sky opened up on them.

They both burst into surprised laughter. Corisande grabbed Y’shtola’s hand and the two of them ran through the rain, still laughing, until they reached the tunnel heading back into New Gridania. Y’shtola leaned against them, her hand still warm in theirs, both of them breathless.

They tipped their head to look down at her, and lifted a hand to sweep her wet hair away from her face. Y’shtola’s eyes closed briefly as she pressed her cheek against their palm with a small hum. Their breath caught at the movement, their heart beating faster. Unwilling to be the one to break contact, she brushed her thumb along her cheek. She felt warm, too warm, despite the cold rain still dripping from their clothes.

“I’m sorry the rain ruined our plans,” they said quietly, hardly daring to break the silence.

Y’shtola opened her eyes, and her hand closed over their fingers on her cheek. “There is no need to apologize. I enjoyed the rest, brief though it was. One could hardly argue that we do not deserve it.”

“Oh?” Corisande said with a smile. She swept her thumb across her cheek once more and Y’shtola blinked, as if realizing for the first time just how close they were. “Did you not argue with me all morning about taking the afternoon off? Or was that someone else I practically had to drag from all the books she brought with her, ‘just in case?’”

“Before you begin casting stones, pray tell how many books you brought,” Y’shtola said, a smile playing on her lips. She squeezed their hand, expression softening. “Jests aside, I very much appreciate the effort, Corisande. Mayhap we can resume our picnic at the inn after we have dried ourselves off?”

Corisande dropped their hand from her cheek, though the warmth of the touch did not fade from her fingers. She shifted, looping her arm through Y'shtola's once more, and started them both toward the inn with a smile. It hardly mattered to them how they spent their time together, so long as they had a moment’s rest together. “Of course. But we are eating in my room, away from all of your books, lest you get any grand ideas.”

Y’shtola tucked her face against their arm and laughed serenely. The sound of it kept Corisande warm the entire walk through the rain.

[alixennial]

Gridania & The Black Shroud (1/3)

The Leatherworkers' Guild, Gridania

Crafters for the realm-famous Atelier Fen-YII(?), the Leatherworkers' Guild boasts the finest tawers and tanners in all Eorzea. In recent years, the workshop has come to be known for its Geva patterns, which outline methods of working and cutting hides, pelts, skins, and furs in a way that honors the elementals within by minimizing waste.

Apkallu Falls, Gridania

Named after a failed attempt by an ambitious Gridanian merchant to hatch and breed apkallus in the linn, Apkallu Falls is most remembered for serving as a place of meditation for the late Louisoix Leveilleur, Circle of Knowing Archon and hero of Eorzea.

Bentbranch Meadows, Central Shroud

Once Moogle's Gift Mounts was established and its rookery stocked with Ishgard's finest birds, it was not long before an entire settlement had grown up around the stables. The trademark balloon tethered to the main building is actually an Ixali war vessel claimed by chocobokeeps after it became tangled in a nearby tree and was abandoned by its riders.

The Sanctum of the Twelve, East Shroud

This sky-scraping ivory cathedral was built following the Age of Endless Frost--a dark period in which the realm was overrun with famine and disease--to serve as a place of refuge and respite for all who sought succor. Soon after, however, it fell into ruin and was all but forgotten… until the advent of the Seventh Umbral Era saw need for its rise once again.

Little Solace, East Shroud

Little is the solace granted to those sylphs who would voice their opposition to the summoning of the Lord of Levin. Little is the solace bequeathed upon those who would abandon their homes in the Sylphlands and shun their frenzied brethren. Thus, it is only through fraternity that those sylphs may ultimately find solace, however little it may be.

Indie's Sightseeing Log

Limsa Lominsa & La Noscea (1/3) Limsa Lominsa & La Noscea (2/3) Limsa Lominsa & La Noscea (3/3)

Gridania & The Black Shroud (1/3) Gridania & The Black Shroud (2/3) Gridania & The Black Shroud (3/3)

Ul'dah & Thanalan (1/3) Ul'dah & Thanalan (2/3) Ul'dah & Thanalan (3/3)

Mor Dhona (1/1)

Ishgard & The Coerthas Highlands (1/3) Ishgard & The Coerthas Highlands (2/3) Ishgard & The Coerthas Highlands (3/3)

Dravania (1/4) Dravania (2/4) Dravania (3/4) Dravania (4/4)

Abalathia's Spine (1/3) Abalathia's Spine (2/3) Abalathia's Spine (3/3)

[cidnangarlond]

emmanellain and sicard having another gay little fight at apkallu falls

[hqmillioncorn]

heal up the world,

I cant let anyone else get involved its my fault that mom and dad even found babycorn if i hadnt talked with mom so much when i meet her again none of this would have happened! How could I have been so stupid? I have to find her i have to (Excerpt from Butter's personal Diary)

Lalapril 4/8: Soul with @windupnamazu's Butter.

Butter has a mysterious visitor in the middle of the night

It had been about a month now since Butter’s parents had come back into his life and it had been almost more than a week since they disappeared off the face of the world, taking Babycorn with them.

His mother had pretty much told them to their faces everything that she planned to do. The one thing she wanted most in the world was to go home, to her real family, the place she actually belonged.

Obviously it didn’t matter who she hurt along the way. That was what worried Butter the most.

The way both his parents had casually just tossed him and Pancake aside. All those years they spent waiting for them to come back, had they just been wasting their time?

Waiting for someone that didn’t even want them? Where did they even belong now?

Not only that, they were putting Babycorn in grave danger.

Once Butter had found out from Tilika that whatever his parents planned to do could end up killing Babycorn, he had gone and put everything he could into finding her.

There was a point where Butter had convinced himself that this was something he needed to take care of on his own. While he did think this, it wasn’t stopping anyone else from looking alongside him.

Lunya in particular was worried about him but Butter assured her that he was doing fine, despite everything. The only thing that mattered was finding his parents and stopping them.

Today and yesterday were particularly hard days. Butter hadn’t slept since the day before, because there had been a tip that came in from Coerthas. He traveled all the way there to investigate himself.

Though, the furthest he got was entering Gridania. As it turned out Lunya was way ahead of him. ‘No you don't! We can take care of this! You go and get some rest!’ She urged him. Lunya assured him that she and Tsuna were going to search for any signs of his parents in Coerthas. ‘I know it’ll be hard but just try your best. If I let you pass out like that-Pancake would have my head!!’

Butter knew Lunya only wanted the best for him but resting was easier said than done. At this point he had been lying down on the bed of inside his inn room for what felt like hours. He didn’t know what time it was, the only thing he knew was that it was nighttime.

Butter sighed and sat up, he grabbed his sword and walked over to open the door to his room.

If he couldn’t get to sleep then maybe a walk would help him clear his head.

There was something about Gridania at night that felt oddly calming.

There weren’t too many people out and given just how much Butter had been running around crowds lately it was a nice change of pace. That wasn’t stopping him from looking around more than usual, for any sign that either his parents or Babycorn had been here.

Butter stopped in front of Apkallu falls. There was something strange about it that Butter couldn’t quite place. It looked like there was someone standing in front of him. Someone who looked like they were almost see-through.

He rubbed his eyes. Could he have been more tired than he thought?

“Hey. Who’s there?”

As Butter walked closer he could feel heart beginning to race. The mysterious figure in front of him turned to look at him, so he must have got their attention. At least, that’s what it looked like.

The closer that Butter walked closer to the figure, the more clearly he could see them.

Until…

Butter froze. A chill traveled up his spine.

“Babycorn…”

It was definitely her. Plain as day.

Babycorn’s hair was down and she was wearing a plain white dress. It almost looked like she was glowing but that couldn’t be possible. Butter was too stunned to speak, to do anything.

Babycorn walked closer and closer to Butter until she was standing right in front of him. Her eyes widened as she smiled wide, “Butts!” There was a slight crack to her voice. As if she was holding something back.

At the sound of Babycorn’s voice, Butter was able to finally gather his thoughts. “Babycorn! Did you escape?! How did you-?! Where were you?!” Butter tried to reach out and embrace her in a tight hug, only to find himself going right through her.

Almost like she was nothing more than thin air.

Butter looked down at his hands and then back at Babycorn. “What are you doing?” He was almost scared to hear the answer.

“I’m just projecting myself to you!” Babycorn waved her hand, “It’s a neato little trick I figured out!” Honestly it felt like she was discovering new things she could do almost every other week. “I already visited Cherrypit so I wanted to see you next! Sorry if I scared you.”

“No that’s okay…” Butter was still trying to wrap his head around what Babycorn had said.

It was clear to him that Babycorn had seen better days. There were dark circles under her eyes that no doubt matched his own. He had no idea what was happening to her but he knew he needed to find his parents and put a stop to it. “Babycorn, can you tell me where my parents are hiding? So we can come help you!”

Babycorn’s smile slowly faded, though not for long. Her smile was strained and her movements were very easily betraying the facade she was trying to put on. “I…can’t tell you. Because I have no idea.” Babycorn explained that all she knew about where she was being held captive was that it was dark and she could see small plants growing from the ground.

That could honestly be anywhere.

Butter looked absolutely dejected. This was probably their best shot so far and to see it crash and burn so easily was absolutely agonizing. “I’m sorry…” Butter said, trying not to break down in front of her. He didn’t want her to lose hope. Just like he was slowly starting to.

“It’s okay!” Babycorn tried to place her hand over Butter’s shoulder. Butter could see the exhaustion in her eyes. “I know you and everyone are gonna come and help me really soon! So I’m not too scared!”

Butter also couldn’t help but notice that Babycorn’s ears were pointed more downward than they usually were.

“It was easier to talk with Cherry before but I don’t have a lot of time right now so I stopped time for an itty bitty so we can talk more!”

Her voice also sounded a lot more tired than usual. He had heard her sound like this before, back when she first woke up in Old Sharlayan. But that was then and this was now.

Wait.

“The…You…WHAT?!”

Butter looked all around them. Everything still looked the same but now that he looked closer he could notice a few leaves floating in mid-air and in a pond about eight fulms away a duck was sitting almost perfectly still. Butter looked back at Babycorn and twirled a piece of his solid hair between his fingers. He giggled, trying to cover his embarrassment with his other hand. “Wow…You really stopped time for me…” He was beyond flattered.

“Oh course!” Babycorn brought her hands together, her face had a slight tint of pink. “I think I only had enough energy to talk with Cherry but I really wanted to talk to you so I had to find a way to do it…”

Butter was shocked out of his yearning at what Babycorn had just said. “Wait-?! Energy?! Babycorn don’t tell me…” Now that he looked at her more closely Butter could tell that something wasn’t right with her. It almost felt like Babycorn was flickering in and out of existence.

“You…” Butter didn’t even want to say it. “You aren’t using your powers to do this are you?”

Babycorn laughed and stuck her tongue out. “Ha ha! Guiltyyyy~!”

“Babycorn! You shouldn’t-! You can’t-!” Butter didn’t know Babycorn could do this and at this point he didn’t care.

If what Tilika said in her letter was true then the more Babycorn used her powers the more she was at risk of being killed. “Isn’t it dangerous for you to do this?! I don’t want you to…to…”

“Butts don’t worry it's okay!” Babycorn tried to wave his very valid concerns aside but judging from his face it was clear she wasn’t doing a very good job. “I promise I’m okay! It’s like I told Cherry once-stopping the flow of time is…” Babycorn paused, it looked like her eyes were following something Butter couldn’t see. “…it’s easy.”

“What are you talking about?!” Butter couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Nothing about what Babycorn was doing looked or sounded easy to him. The whole world around them was stopped in its tracks. Somehow Babycorn had just plucked both of them out of time’s continuing flow and Butter was just supposed to think that was easy?!

“Easy!” Babycorn grinned from ear to ear, posing with two fingers close to her eye. “I promise! I’m doing okay! I wouldn’t be talking to you right now if I wasn’t! Your mom and dad made me use my powers earlier yeah but…they’re doing something else right now so I get a break! Hehe!”

Butter didn’t know what to say. There was a part of him that just wanted to apologize for everything. Another wanted to yell at his parents for what they were doing, not that either would do any good now.

“I actually wanted to come and ask you something.”

“Huh?”

There was a bright green glow coming off from Babycorn, then out from her hands a familiar necklace appeared. Butter recognized it immediately.

“I promise this won’t take long! I’ll let you go in a second!” Babycorn laughed.

Butter desperately wanted to tell her that he wanted to spend as much time with her as he could.

Babycorn closed her eyes and took a deep breath. With a slight movement of her hand, something that Butter could only describe as some sort of crystal window manifested in front of them. “Woah…” There was something about it that grabbed his attention, he could see his own reflection in it but there was something off about it.

He didn’t look like he expected to look.

“Groovy isn’t it?!” Babycorn’s voice was peepy and joyful, this was something she had been working on for a long time. She’d done things like this before but never on this large of a scale.

While Butter was busy looking at what she did, she quickly wiped some sweat from her forehead. As carefree as she was acting this was taking a toll on her, as much as she didn’t want to believe it.

Babycorn walked closer to the window and placed her hand on it. When she did, a ripple echoed through the entire thing as an image slowly faded into view. Butter could slowly make out more things besides himself. First he could recognize a bright blue sky, then the green grass below. Very soon, the home he grew up in was in clear view, alongside that he could see Pancake, Cinnamon and

his mom and dad.

“W-What…?” What was he even looking at?

Suddenly his reflection moved, without him doing anything. Butter took a step back in shock as he watched his own reflection run over to where his parents stood. Their mouths were moving but Butter couldn’t hear anything that was being said. He stared in silence as he watched what looked like his mom hug Pancake and then hug him.

“It’s a perfect world! A world where everything turns out right!” Babycorn grinned, “I had a lot of trouble making it so Cinnamon still existed but I managed it! Aren’t you proud?!”

Butter looked at Babycorn, her smile was somewhat unsettling. “Are you saying that-you made this?” For someone to make a whole other world…? Was something like that even possible?

“You betcha!” Babycorn stood proudly, raising a fist in her air. A gesture that was done very cutely by the way. Though as much as Babycorn was proud of herself she had to admit something first. “Well the truth is I haven’t made it yet. Right now it's sorta like the thing someone does before doing something…?” It had a name but it always slipped her mind. Mostly because she tended to never do it.

“Do you mean a plan?”

“Oh yeah! That’s it! It’s a plan!” Babycorn looked at Butter like he was the coolest guy in the world. “You’re way too smart Butts!”

Butter laughed just a little. “If you say so…”

“My plan…” Babycorn eyes shined a bright yellow, as the image in the mirror became clearer. “…I could rewrite the world. With Cherry’s help I could make a world where everything is better and you and Pancake are happy with your parents! Your mom wouldn’t be from another world and she would love you and want to stay here! Everything would be perfect!”

Butter didn’t like this.

“It would all be so much better! I think I did a great job!” Babycorn happily explained, with a wide smile on her face. All she wanted was for Butter to be happy, to be safe, and content. For completely normal reasons of course.

“Babycorn that’s…” He didn’t know what to say.

“Of course…I might not survive making the world.” Babycorn’s smile never wavered. “It might end up killing me. But that’s okay right?!”

Without even a second thought, Butter rushed up to Babycorn, grabbing her hands. Somehow he was able to hold them in his. Even Babycorn was surprised he had managed to do that.

Butter looked up at Babycorn with tears in his eyes. She was taken aback at just how angry he looked. This was not at all how she was expecting to react. “No! No! That’s not alright! What are you talking about?!” Butter cried out, “Don’t even joke about doing something like that!!” The image in the mirror started to fade out of reality.

“W-What are you talking about…?!” Babycorn raised her voice as high as she could, “Isn’t that what would make you happy?!”

“No! Not at all! I could never be happy in a world that didn’t have you in it!!”

The mirror started to crack.

“If you do this…If you do this…I…” Butter struggled to even understand why Babycorn would even consider doing this for him. “I…IF YOU DIE THEN…!!! I’LL JUST KILL MYSELF!!!”

“HUH?! HUH?! HUH?! HUH?! HUUUUUUUUUUUUUH?!?!”

The perfect world that Babycorn had created shattered into pieces. It had to, there’s no possible world out there where she wanted Butter to die himself. He couldn’t! He had to stay safe! There was no way she could live or die in a world without h-

Babycorn’s image flickered. She took her hands and held them up to her cheeks. “I…I’m sorry Butter! I didn’t think…” Tears were coming down her eyes. A leaf shook in the wind. “I thought I could solve it…I thought I could solve everything…” Babycorn fell to her knees and continued to apologize.

Butter wasted no time in kneeling right next to her. He was surprised when he found he could still touch her. “Babycorn it’s okay…! I didn’t mean to scare you but you scared me too…” He placed his hand on her’s. “I would never want my happiness to come at a cost to yours. No matter what.” He looked right at her, he needed Babycorn to understand this.

“…I’m sorry about your parents.” Babycorn whispered. “I think they’re stupid for wanting to leave.”

“It’s okay.”

“You’re going to find me right?”

Butter nodded. “I promise.”

The sound of the waterfall behind them began to get louder and louder. Butter found it harder to hold Babycorn’s hands.

“Butter…I just wanted you to be happy.”

Babycorn mouthed something to Butter but at this point there was no sound coming from her and then the very next second, she was gone.

As if she had never even been there in the first place. A small leaf landed on Butter’s empty hands as he stared at where Babycorn had been just a few seconds ago.

As time continued to move forward Butter stayed right where he was. If only for a minute or two, hoping that somehow Babycorn would come back. Someway, somehow. Butter waited for so long it wasn’t long until he had fallen fast asleep.

Babycorn tried her best to send Butter the nicest breeze she could.

[ronacaldera]

New Glamour Plate 3: Warrior Princess

On September 30, 2023, I wiped out Hideous and made a new plate 3. Arel had been giving me gear and accessories, and I had also been shopping, won some things on missions, and traded for things at the Gold Saucer, so I had plenty more stuff to work with.

I was and am pretty pleased with this one. It just looks cool.

The image at the top of the post as well as the following ones are /gpose pics from October 7. The top one is from a little trip I took to get the Black Summer top and bottom. This pretty pool is Apkallu Falls in Old Gridania. The others I just took in Ul'dah.

I wasn't bothering to change my facial expressions or poses yet, but these are still pretty decent. The only thing I've done to them outside the game is crop two of the Ul'dah ones.

Head: Exarchic Circlet of Fending, Gloom Purple dye Body: Manor Scale Mail, undyeable Hands: No.2 Type B Gloves, Soot Black dye Legs: Bunny Chief Tights, no dye Feet: Glade Shoes, no dye Ears: Aetherial Silver Ear Cuffs

The only change I've made since creating this plate is adding the "Emperor's New..." jewelry to the empty slots.

[ffxiv-swarm]

prompt 15: portentous

Somewhere far to the southwest, Dalamud is falling. Tonight, thousands will die. The land will be irrevocably scarred by Bahamut’s rage. Lancifer Habelliard, on patrol in the western Twelveswood, will lose an eye to flying debris as the moon comes down.

In Gridania, his parents know nothing of this. At least, not yet. Their concern is for their daughter, Lancifer’s younger sister Rinette, who’s always been...strange. Gridania prizes stillness and tranquility, harmony above all, and surely that shouldn’t be difficult? But Rinette is troubled. Angry. Some of the things she says verges on blasphemous, and they all pray that Stillglade Fane never hears of her fascination with the Gelmorran ruins. As if that isn’t enough, she’s also terribly sickly, with frequent debilitating headaches only a dark room can cure. She sees things that aren’t there, speaks of ancient history as though it happened yesterday. Sometimes she blacks out or spends long minutes staring blankly at nothing.

She’d been listless and complaining of a headache all day, lingering over her chores in a manner that they’d first attributed to worry over Lancifer. They couldn’t blame her; they’re all worried about him. But she’d never before been so worried as to not eat—and then, as the sun set, she’d fainted. Fredirec had just barely gotten her to a flat surface and then to a proper bed in time. Now she’s tossing and turning, her long hair tangled around her own limbs, and though she’s not running a fever—thank the Matron—her mutterings resemble no language her parents have ever heard. They can’t call a conjurer. All the best ones are at the front, and the ones that are left...well. A family of Duskwights, of middling means, is unlikely to be so blessed by the spirits.

So they wait. And Rinette Habelliard dreams.

“Hear...feel...think...”

A dragon’s roar that coalesces into words, coalesces into agony. “I will burn thy bones to ash!”

Clicking. Beeping. Soft mechanical whirrs; gloved hands and masked faces lit by strange bright lights. “Second internment hulk is holding steady...steady...”

An old man, his face lines with the tracks of many years, addressing a small crowd with a kind voice. She’s seen this one, hasn’t she? At Apkallu Falls? But she’s never dared to step closer, not with how angry her parents get if she speaks to strangers. “To ignore the plight of those we might conceivably save is not wisdom. It is indolence.”

Thousands of voices praying, though the flesh is being stripped from their bones and their worlds have been reduced to blue glass and pain when once the entire sky was their dominion. “Bahamut, brood-brother, brood-father—save us! Save us!”

Silence. Bahamut does not hear.

A woman in white armor, the eyes behind the mask alight with a horrible fanaticism as she gazes upon the lowering crimson moon. This...this is her god, her true religion, and soon it will come to earth and smite the unworthy and leave all clean for the Empire. “Videte! Testate adventu Dalamud!”

Fire.

Falling.

Blind, unthinking, bone-shaking rage.

Light and fury and the slow, grinding tones of iron bells and a voice like a thousand crystal chimes in her head, in her bones, in her very soul—

Rinette stiffens, screams, and goes limp.

“Rinette!” Pierrine gasps, nearly sobbing with relief when she realizes that her daughter is still breathing, that she’s only fallen into a deeper unconsciousness.

Fredirec is pacing the floor, hands clasped together behind his back to hide their shaking. He can’t do anything about his ears, though. “Nophica,” he whispers, “spare her. Please. Please. She’s a good girl, truly, she doesn’t deserve this!”

Maybe the Matron hears them, because after three days—three days alternating between deep, nightmare-filled sleep and stirring only enough to accept water and thin porridge, her voice raspy from screaming as she tells them that her head hurts—Rinette wakes, and stretches, and says she’s hungry. While her mother hugs her tight enough to bruise, her father steps out of the room before anyone can see him cry.

But then Lancifer limps painfully into the house, and over time her parents forget about Rinette’s episode. She hasn’t suffered any lasting harm, after all, whereas the pride of their family—the child who will make them truly respectable, such that people will look past the gray in their skin and the odd vowels in their surname—has been maimed, and will need a great deal of time to recover. Who can blame them for focusing on him?

In hindsight, perhaps they should have noticed the books their daughter was reading. Perhaps they should have allowed her to explore their heritage, or encouraged her to follow her dreams. Perhaps they should have done a lot of things.

And yet, when Rinette disappears a few years later—under suspicion of murder! Two Wood Wailers in good standing are dead, and everyone is saying it’s their daughter who did it!—they are shocked. Appalled. Rinette couldn’t have done such a thing; she can only cast the simplest of spells, and she’s never been strong. But all evidence says she stabbed one and burnt both of them to death, and that takes a great and terrible strength. The only saving grace is that she’s nowhere to be found, and a lone girl in the Twelveswood couldn’t possibly get far. She’s probably dead, but at least they can mourn her in peace.

Then Lancifer comes home waving a broadsheet, swearing that the masked adventurer on the front page—Ritanelle Soleil, the one everyone calls the Warrior of Light—is their little girl.

[aliulo]

(SPOILERS) Starlight Celebration 2022 Notes

SPOILERS FOR Starlight Celebration 2022 (I guess)

- marks a new thought. ! marks what I felt was important. + marks new section

+"Reindeer Fame" -Oh boy! It's (not) Christmas! -Amh Garanjy; Mih Khetto's Amphitheatre, New Gridania -Shorthanded for the TRULY extraordinary festivities -By the Twelve, a RABBIT PERSON; Amh is a Celebrant? Wow, I didn't think I was working with the Zerg -Associate Professor Laurenssen of the Studium of Sharlayan, Faculty of Folklore; ha, NERD -I'm gonna help this guy !What creature symbolizes the Starlight Celebration?; Reindeer, obviously, but I really want to shout yah-YEEET -Everything to do with Starlight has a reindeer -When did Starlight start to use the reindeer?; Reindeer aren't present in the original tale -Book from Ishgard, a magic reindeer that entertained children -Blitzen; WOW a celebrity; That's a straight up reindeer -"Reindeer magicks" Do you think reindeer is an elemental aspect? !This dude can cast fireballs. Or at least illusions; Laurenssen thinks Blitzen is a descendant of the original magic reindeer, and wants him to do magic but he will nae -I guess we're getting a reindeer to cast magic missle into the candy store, HERE WE GO; I'm on child collection duty, obviously to feed to the deer to power his Christmas Spirit, and then go to Apkallu Falls -Off to the markets -Bright-eyed Boy; Has to put up decorations -Cautious Child; Has to "buy a cake"; I don't think anyone wants to watch a magic reindeer -Lively Lad; Woah, he actually wantsta go -I acquired a single child -This is embarrassing !The deer won't magic -Gods, this Laurenssen dude is such a NERD; He's off to sulk in the Greatloam Growery !Beefy legs -Why you sulk so? -"The children of Gridania are insufficient" OH MY GOD YOU ARE INSUFFERABLE YOU'RE TRYING TO FORCE CHEER YOU DINGUS -Ah, of course, going to Ishgard will solve everything !So whatsabout Blitzen? He's gone -I can't believe Blitzen's heckin' dead, dude

+"The Ghost of Starlight Present" -He's freakin' out, gotta give him a foot massage -Off to find supper. I mean our friend. Off to the amphitheatre! -Happy Holidaymaker; Deer was dashing through the snow -Charmed Citizen; He kept going -Frost Fanatic; This dude loves him some snow, didn't see Blitzen, but may have heard him going by -Found him, all the way at the aetheryte plaza -Whatsa matter, Blitzen? -"Gwoooaaahhh!" Truer words have never been spoken !Ho ho ho!; Ah shit it's Godbert. Or, "Saint of Nymeia", here to teach us how to Christmas -Yeah, because he's not here to spread joy, just to do nerd stuff !The Starlight Celebration is held for the benefit of the children; Blitzen refused to act because it was all about the nerd stuff, not the kids -You got this, nerdbunny -Later, Godbert; Celebration time! -Tearful Tot; Sounds like we got a missing child -"How do we figure out what ails her?" I mean, she's alone and crying for her mother, it's pretty obvious !REINDEER MAGIC -Got separated from her mother on the way to the markets -Holy heck, you suck at this Laurenssen; It worked, I guess -You deed eet, Laurenssen; Back to Amh Garanjy -Job dern -Eh, Godbert would've snapped you out of it even if I weren't here, I trust that guy -"Blitzen's ancestors conjured magic in response to feelings of love and kindness" -Reindeer used to be plentiful, and even used as domesticated animals, but are now declining in number; That's not, uh... good -The final mission: Spread joy

Mewwy Chwissmass :3