#it's her fandaniel phase

[stormbabylore]

Glamtober | Day 31: Spooky or Supernatural

...alksdjflajksdf. (° - º ς)

Anyway, so I have the hots for a completely OOC AU evil version of my character, now. Aeryn as Ascian, maybe? (♡⌄♡) This might officially be my favorite set.

[karthedense]

Ranking ff14 villains based on how well they work a grill

Gaius Van Baelsar: As a father of 100 he is likely the best at working a grill on this list. But he has gone through a phase of intentionally scorching the meat to be barely edible believing that if the consumer was strong it would not bother them. 5/10 is trying to be better about this but the damage has been done

Nidhogg: He hates mankind, He hates the grill for it is a creation of man. 0/10 More likely to burn the cookout than participate in it

Thordan VII: One, he's too up his own ass to work the grill himself, he made the Heavensward knights do it for him. two, even if he did bother to do it himself he's more likely to burn his beard. 1/10, he atleast has hands to work a grill

Zenos Yae Galvus: Despite the saying about autism and working the grill this sadly does not apply to Zenos. his rich boy upbringing ensured he would never touch a grill much less a spatula. 3/10 he can chop meat like a champ however.

Yotsuyu: Able to cook the perfect well done steak even while high off the opium she's smoking from her pipe however she has bad memories of doing it and would rather not touch a grill again. 6/10 the skills are present but they are not used

Lord Vauthry: Only thing he can cook is Meol which i will not explain why that's an issue. 0/10

Emet-selch: Hate's the grill, despises the grill, rejects the grill, The grill hates him back. 0/10

Fandaniel: he is the master of the grill but he doesn't use his skill to make good food, he uses his skill to kill everyone in the room including himself, whether it be propane explosion or food poisoning. 10/10 His skills cannot be doubted but nor can they be trusted.

[stxrmnight]

Endwalker Story: Elpis replay

Unfortunately, I got the impulse to actually write down and solidify more the venatnemi dynamic, but I needed to remember more the specifics of the plot and, how everything else affected Nemi.

Huge text block under the cut. Many details of the story until before meeting Venat

It was hard to skip through Thavnair's arc, even though my goal with this NG+ was to get to Elpis while resting some sickness. It's just, it felt like losing context of what mental state Nemi would be stressing in from seeing these people be lost with no trace left but distorted echoes of their dying pain. She fought firmly and with, confusion if this is really something anything would want on purpose, or instigate, even with how far and beyond Fandaniel went to traumatize her. But Matsya's prayer and the way Thavnarians got together to endure against the risk of transmogrifying, it was much like processing natural disasters... but what was the nature of this disaster? You could see tornadoes coming. You could sigh after the earth quaked. But this had no sense or turn from the earth... It was a relief the First wasn't dealing with this at least.

And now, it was time to speak with Elidibus as G'raha suggested... she elected to not mention the Azem memory his demise awakened. It would add nothing to the situation at hand... she was surprised by his deliberation her kind was now carrying the burdeen of the past, rather than condemn her for not seeing into Fandaniel's plans. She not only apologized for the "unsolicited act" of restoring Elidibus' memories of the convocation, but also for letting it happen...

He might have caught wind of this, and thus frame her actions as "Freeing Zordiak from Fandaniel's servitude" and put stock in her success from one vision. She didn't know what to make of this disposition. All she knew is that, she didn't hate him Elidibus anymore

...

Tossed into the future, she found herself imperceptible, immaterial. Not even obscenities got the attention of people that looked no different... aside of being bigger and, wearing the same clothes for some reason. So the shades were that close to the fashion... how, oddly stale to just wear the same thing. Did they not get bored of it?

[note: she definitely yelled "they're fUCKING OUR PUSSIES!" or something of the sort lol]

She found she couldn't phase through a door, when the stench of one voice made her freeze. Emet-fucking-Selch was here? Of all places? But the figure at his side drew her attention. He looked far more formidable and with good taste, and he called him "handsome face..."

Jokes aside, she hurriedly put on a headdress when Hades perceived her, fearing to be recognized in the future before it's time for the new warrior of light to be even noticed. Being verbally addressed by Hythlodaeus made her panic and stutter, though a poor comment from Emet made her go, "Give me a second you fucking mop face!" Hythlo just laughed Hades was making a poor show of his character, baffling Nemi by next insisting he give her a "full form" as an apology. He really was as friendly as the shade of himself...

She struggled not to laugh when Hythlo kept dragging Hades, and gave him the name "Neirmer." Hythlo is surprisingly friendly, but she isn't sure if he's kind. His curiosity seems noisy, so she isn't gonna talk him like he would any other adventurer of the temperament.

"haha im in danger" .png

She pressed on with the group, staying more to Hythlo's side and thanking him for the robe, even if she found killing a study specimen for materials very odd. Was this really the norm, or a flaunting of privilege?

As they advanced through the facility, she kept making detours to gawk at the little critters around. She didn't find Elpis stunning in its flora, but seeing animals frolick peacefully after the chaos in Thavnair's jungles was, relieving in some way. Hythlo had to call her back while Emet grumbled, wishing she would just get lost even though claiming he'd find her secrets. Which was it really? He dismissed her as a whim from present Azem Thanatos making him like, a very spontaneous person. It seemed like Emet could not fully understand him. Given his yikey comment of uniqueness being unseeming, she could see why though.

When Hythlo made the observation excuse to not use soul echolocation, she thought he's turning this errand into a date. Not a bad idea since the day sky here was quite romantic, even if his taste was questionable... Separating him from future Emet took effort.

Finally then, she saw who could be Hermes and, a little child? When she heard her eerily familiar mental voice, her heart sank. This poor baby that struggled to speak, no way! She looks just 12! This impression sank further as she melted her heart with chirps of excitement. When was the last time she saw a baby be so sincere and full of life? She didn't get to interact with children much she realized... Is that why she postulated so quick to babysit Meteion while searching for the Ambystoma? It's sad that Hermes seemed surprised. Did he not catch breaks from parenting?

They were so silly too... unlike Eemet calling the ambystome sorry limbs, and telling Neirmer to behave while away. Nemi could just raise her hands and scoff. She did nothing but keep her in sight. It was the right choice as Hermes insisted to have her at the talk from the Convocation. He recognized her kindness and excitement as valuable.

Good thing she was present since, her jaw drop of horror must have made this more bearable for Hermes. Hythlo's whole speech of Return to the Star was about just, dying as soon as you ceased your job? How was that a retirement? Why wouldn't there be a period of rest and commune with loved ones inbetween at the very least? No wonder Hermes felt abandoned by his mentor taking this decision. And for Hythlo to call this death, vacation a privilege to earn... what happened if one didn't feel accomplished ever? If everyone else passed away in, satisfaction and their request to "rest" was not approved? Are elders asked to rest if too many are alive at the same time?

Then she is asked to take Meteion outside, and gets concerned at how easily she takes emotions... it is natural in normal kids too, but wouldn't this make processing of emotions harder? But well, she was here to provide her some space and community at present

What did she tell Meteion about, in the walk outside? - She found the story change fun. She told her she is from a place facing a great threat, a place of hot winds and imposing red trees, where the rocks and the salt is rich... and ah, she had little time travel slip

When Meteion tells her about her emotion power, her affection and want to know her complex thoughts with respect to Nemi's privacy, she got totally demolished. She got Meteion today and if anything happened to her she would blow everyone up and then herself. She decides they need to play to share more, and is sad to hear Hermes has no concept of such. How the hell is anyone growing up well adjusted without a sense of having some fun? She taught her to play hide and seek making racoon noises, to rock paper and scissors, to gamble a choice on finger turns, to picture a snow man called "Father Frost" to usher the needed rest of nature.

Later, Nemi insisted to Euanthe to make the kid an apple, or tell her where there is a kitchen... to learn there is no kitchen. What manner of lifestyle is this? Would, would she even get to have dinner? Good thing she had taken those pies from Lyna cause, by Byregot. But well, this was part of Meteion showed she inherited the likes of her parent, and now for Nemi to say what she likes... She tell her she likes gardens, thinking of he Royal Menagerie, but in wolship verses where she's fallen in love... she thinks of the other person, and is embarrassed to try to explain her "like" thought was different, since poor Meteion got a mental image of them.

Back with the other adults, she finds Hermes' meekness except when taking care for Meteion worrying. everyone else seems to be a pushover and, not get he is the kind of person you gotta be easy on, specially Emet. And with how every seemed to commend this guy... sure, he did no real bad actions in the past, but some passes made for others to feel more ostracized.

To this, Nemi responded: "Well, this is clearly his passion. is this office of Fandaniel very different? It doesn't seem he would be happy with that role even if he is skilled." Later when he scoffed at Meteion: "I get it Emet, You're a kid hater." Emet: "what?" Hythlo bursted laughing probably

Learning more of dynamis, the elpis flower and entelechys, she is surprised the flower can be so white when it changed to so many things in the present. Were the Ancients unfeeling bitches? But most importantly, Meteion's concept being close to Y'sthola sight of the blasphemies gave more weight to a depressing possibility. But then her aether was compared to Meteion who thought her an entelechy from describing limit breaks... what is happening?

At least her saying they're "friends in thinness" is cute. Bumpfist.

She asked Hades why he joined the convocation.... and giggles when Hythlo tried to tattle and FUCKING SULKED from not getting to. She did not expect vowing for a Charibdys innocent of, not fitting some breeder expectations would lead to more antics. Hearing present Emet talk of transformation like it was intimate and almost as shameful as nudity... Surely the Emet of the future didn't see his the same way, but this one, how would he feel to hear he had to take his cock out to fight until his dying breath?

"You are reporting him for nuding in private? What slutshamers"

Then calls Emet a bitch when asking the favor, enjoying getting to be an annoyer. Old and recent dialogue choices here

WHEN HE DOES THE FINGER POINTING OF AMAUROT, SHE IS JUST SMILING WITH HER JAW DROPPED. THIS IS TOO DELICIOUS GOSSIP. If the world wasn't literally ending in the present, this would make the best of drinks tales to laugh over

Hythlo's speech on Emet's tsundere tendencies didn't make her any impression, but it did make her respect Hythlo for pushing his friends to be their best versions of themselves despite pride. "Did he accept because he wanted to or because you all made puppy faces?" she had asked, getting a laugh from Hythlo that died when she stared at a researcher in disgust... He sawno problem with calling a living creature an "anomaly" from being the result of the mixing of genes. But then what of anyone born blind, deaf or, mute? Hythlo was for first time angered at this assumption of poor treatment of his world, and Nemi raised her hands with a frown. Could she be faulted for not seeing good in a protocol that treated animals vulnerable at their mercy this way? Hythlo couldn't respond to that.

Continued here due to image limit on posts. Apparently that's a thing.

[cfabyssal]

Looking over at her, he looks down at the reports before gently taking them as he looks over. "Yes, after what happened, some of our cells and floor levels were destroyed and need to be properly rebuilt and approved before housing any dangerious creations. To which case we will have to temporily house them with seals. We will not be able to examine them, but we cannot also risk our Wardens' saftey..." Hearing her joke, it didn't phase him that it was just that, but as usual, taking it at face value and literally, a downfall of his. "I will hope not. Being that you are Azem, I would think such things should come to you with ease now." Looking up, ruby eyes peer behind the mask at her.

"Now then, I asked Fandaniel for some help, he should have some Wardens that can be of use to cover for the lack of ones we have until we get more. As such, he also offered to help build some of our housing departments. But because of this, he asked that we talk to some of his helpers if there is anything any of his lesser creations need taking care of while he does so." More so his own creations that he let the man care for while he worked here full time.

It was at those words he stops at the doorways and turns his head at the other. "Hm?..." Ember eyes look out into the darkness at the member before him. How long has it been since they were together like this? Has it been so long already? He lost track after she took part in the Convocation of the Fourteenth. Still, better now than never to see if she was still up to par in her knowledge of all life made by creation magic.

Looking away, he undoes the doors and opens them before walking out to the teleporter and stopping as he waits for her to join him before taking it to the outside world. Once there, he hums before looking up and wincing at the sudden burst of light before putting his mask back on. "Right...we should have gotten reports of possible new creations needing to be contained, however with how low we are on staff now due to the incident, and due to the destruction, we will need to make due to temporary housing... Also...as you know... you can keep your mask off, as is required by those who do not work here."

[unbloomingmoonflower]

thirteen (interlude).

AMORPHOUS TRACK 6.

I'm not someone I want to be Felt this way since I was 13 Thought I'd gotten better but It was just a phase Yeah, it was just a phase Yeah, it was just a phase

I always end up back at the keys I play in A minor 'cause it feels like me Thought I'd gotten better but Still can't really play Yeah, still can't really play Yeah, still can't really play

Just keep going Just keep going Just keep going Just keep...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Someone had approved the concept of what was known as musical instruments. Certainly it was something Hythlodaeus found delightful before he was at the bureau, as far as rumors go.

There was one Lilith found kinship with. She wasn’t sure what it was really called, but her heart felt exposed when she touched the black and white keys. Her creator loved this instrument; he played it too, she remembered, from when she was much smaller. 

Lilith had said that she sat in her father’s lap to learn how to play. Her papa was so patient, teaching her the scales and how to create such beautiful sounds. Music. He had composed those sounds for her mother and for herself until Lilith was able to do so herself. Whenever she felt lonesome, she would sit at this instrument and start playing. 

The songs she played dripped with pain she could never say aloud, words she could never form. The notes that hung in the air conveyed far more than what could ever fall from her lips. Whenever she played, she didn’t wear the usual robes that those of Amaurot wore--she wore light dresses that she preferred. Her hair was always down, a waterfall down to her waist and framing a delicate face that was twisted in sadness.

Hermes had encountered Lilith playing the instrument before, in the company of Lucifer. Lucifer was sitting beside her, fingers threading through the ebony strands in a way that Hermes longed to do, while listening to Lilith baring her heart in the throes of music. 

And Hermes felt like he was intruding, tainting such an intimate moment; yet was also wracked with searing flames within his core that he should be the one beside her. He knew her better. Lucifer barely knew her at all. 

Lilith never knew that Hermes had seen her playing the instrument in the company of her lover. He never brought it up to her, still wanting her to be happy over his own desires. Whenever he happened upon Lilith by her lonesome playing the instrument, he would stay out of sight and listen.

The entelechy carried woe in her heart. However Elidibus created her, it was clear that the pain she was carrying, trying to convey without words, was not heeded. Hermes had witnessed her smiling all too often before he mustered the courage to ask Lilith why she forced herself to smile, for how long did she feel the pain she felt.

“Since my thirteenth winter,” she had answered with that same flicker of sadness before it faded behind the smile. “It is easier to smile. I have to keep them happy.”

Hermes wasn’t sure what overcame him; he hands had shot out to take Lilith by her forearms, aqua irises clashing with silver. He could hear the chords in the air, pounding in his head, at how Lilith was screaming inside that the only way she could let it out was through the music.

“Just leave it alone, Hermes,” Lilith had murmured, pulling free to walk away from him. 

Even when Hermes finally accepted the seat of “Fandaniel”, Lilith still played a song of sadness, of pain. Knowing that Emet-Selch--Hades--was her brother, he wanted to know if there was ever a time Lilith created much happier songs.

“When we were younger,” Emet-Selch had began his tale, arms folded over his chest, mask adorning his face. “She is older than me by a summer or two. Father never really did say when her birthday was. She already knew how to play before we became siblings...”

“She was happiest when we played in the fields together, and she was even more happy to create music just as father had. She had written silly songs even, for my own birthday. There was a song she wrote when we both were close to eight or nine winters. It was the happiest I’ve seen her. She had written a song in regards to how we were so close, the best of friends, and how she treasured our bond.

“It wasn’t until her thirteenth winter, when my abilities began to grow, that her songs became more...sad. I could not tell you why. When once we shared everything with one another, she began to distance herself from me.”   

[astralartefact]

Thinking about YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse... FFXIV's best quest line some unrelated ew theorizing below

just so I can say I predicted it if I'm right:

The second EW trial is going to be Amaterasu as Fandaniel's true form. It has to be a name that we could recognize and figure its deal out and Fandaniel -> Asahi -> Yotsuyu's sibling -> Tsukuyomi's sibling is right there. And I just want FFXIV to have an Amaterasu q_q

There's so much sun symbolism* going around too that it's almost weird that we haven't talked about the sun much "lore wise" and knowing the name alone Amaterasu would kind of highlight that, which is another reason why they might not want you to know it already. (Also, and this isn't exclusive to her, but they also didn't show Tsukuyomi's name before release)

*notable sun symbolism includes - Azem - the moon and the sun are a pair, moonlight is just reflected sunlight - The sun is a notable part of ew's loading screen - The expansions represent times of day, which is just the position of the sun - The EW Amano artwork revolves around the sun, not the planet (the 'moon' in zodiarc's hand is actually the planet, you can see another orb below it that casts another shadow, they also said that the poster gets another meaning after playing the story which could be that)

and if i'm already here:

I think Pandaemonium is going to be a way to make us fight the real forms of the rest of the ascians. I already theorized this before the Live Letter, but then they also revealed that the first tier is called Asphodelus, which is a plant linked to the greek underworld and who better to fight than dead ascians! The Asphodel Meadow was also where ordinary people went after they died, so it could represent a "lower tier" of ascians and then we move on to higher tiers in the next raid wings. (Also Asphodelus is called Affodill in german, which sounds really funny)

///update!!!/// I think the nautilus spirals seen in the tower of zot dungeon and old sharlayan might be symbols representing the heart of sabik? i rewatched a uwu clear which made me remember that during the last phase these thingies at the side rise up and charge energy. i always wondered what those were about, but then i saw that they also had spirals on them (at least most of them, a few look like elidibus's sigil) (which makes sense, elidibus -> ophiuchus -> sabik is a star in ophiuchus) (but only the second brightest, after rasalhague) and since ultima weapon's core is the heart of sabik~~~

[miqo-tales]

5.5 daaaaaaays a week

(I loo-oo-oo-gin for ya)

Dragoons! Weird towers! Windows updates! Bahamut v2! Poor choices! Robots! Retcons! Aliens! Ikaruga! Creepy girls! Gamefaqs! This patch has it all folks!

MSQ

Arenvald would be a terrible poker player.

Also, the only thing missing from these scenes is someone standing behind Arenvald waving a giant black flag with the words "HE GON' DIE" on it.

I fail to understand how Estinien is so hard to find. I don't expect he has many hobbies or interests outside of "kill dragons", and that work has certainly dried up lately. Where does the man go?

Not much to say about the whole Azys Lla section, other than to note that the tempering cure has gone from 'that's convenient' to 'ok really?' very quickly.

Also you'd think Mr Has-Absorbed-the-Essence-of-Nidhogg could spare some aether.

Tiamat is green!

Also shocked she didn't die!

OK, so is that Amalj'aa chief not tempered? Or is he just that impressed that everyone tried to help them?

I'm mildly interested in what the Lunar versions of all the different Primals look like. But I also know they'll just be purple, so meh.

Oh, Sharlayan, interesting. So it sounds like we're probably not going there ourselves in 5.x, but I wonder if maybe in 6.0?

I'm REALLY surprised that Alphinaud did not volunteer to go with Krile. He's broken up over Arenvald, he just had an argument about his idealism, we know his father is not keen on what he and Alisaie and Louisoix have been doing. Really seemed like the ideal situation for his current character development.

I'm amused at the cruel tease of Zenos choosing a weapon out of sight. Also, interesting how genuinely angry he is in this scene. More so than we've ever seen before.

But I also have to wonder, what exactly was Fandaniel's goal in sending the dragons and soldiers to Pagl'than? Clearly wasn't trying to abduct more, so... just plan eradication? Spreading fear? Zerg rush?

Paglth'an

I like that the music is a re-arrangement of the music in Zanr'ak.

Kinda surprised at the kind of pulls you can do here. Breaks a little from their usual trend of gating it to only allow two groups at once.

Man that second boss is... lazy?

I mean, I get all three of these bosses are callbacks to Bahamut's Coil, but damn. Almost no effort in coming up with that second one.

Sorrow of Werlyt

Was not expecting Allie to have already run off. Also was not expecting Severa to be so attached to her already, but sure.

Allie clearly went to the GIJoe / Imperial Stormtrooper school of shooting accuracy. I mean damn girl, giant uber-powerful robot weapon of death and you can't manage to hit anything but bridges and walls?

Good job, Cid, you built a robot bus.

OK, fight is pretty interesting. I'm glad they didn't do yet another second phase. But I wish it had gone to armor-less mode a second time. Just to break up the fight a bit.

The area the Diamond Weapon crashed in looked so much like a battlefield that I was expecting a second fight in a solo instance.

"Haha Gaius, I know all your moves! OH SHIT YOU'RE GLOWING FUUUUUUCK"

Valen desperately scanning that BradyGames guide on Gaius.

Gaius creeping out the entire town with that Jedi holocron.

I kinda wish this hadn't ended with Allie completely recovering. Maybe just have her eyes change back or say something simple, dunno. Think that would have had more impact.

Nier - Tower at Paradigm's Breach

Yea, honestly, I got nothing. Like, what?

I mean seriously, what? This just feels like a retcon or a completely different story. Maybe the weekly questline will fill in some of the details, but I'm not sure it'll help overall.

Now, mechanically, this raid is fine. I think I like it the best of the three in terms of mechanics. Visually, ehhhh, I think I liked Puppet Bunker more. In terms of music, that's a bit harder. I think I'd say Bunker again. Tower is a really close second, but Factory still has the best final boss theme.

In the end I think Tower really only accomplished two things for me: 1) yea, sure, I'm interested in playing Nier to figure out what the fuck this references, and 2) fuck Komra.

Also, like every Nier raid so far, I needed a nap after some of those bosses. Yeesh, exhausting.

Summary

As usual, it's hard to give a concrete judgement of the .5 patch, cause it's split in half. However, this time I feel like it's a bit harder to guess where the part 2 patch will take us. So it's made this kinda interesting to me.

For the Sorrow of Werlyt, it's still kinda eh? I will give this part some credit that it did an okay job finishing it up. But it still depends a bit too much on Gaius himself. And the noble soldier thing that this storyline has been pushing for him still feels a little forced.

On top of that, I have to say that I think I wouldn't have so much trouble with this storyline if Allie and her siblings didn't refer to Gaius as "Father". Like if they just called him "Teacher", or "Sir Gaius", or "General" or anything else and there wasn't this father/children thing going on, I think all this would come across as less bothersome. It wouldn't fix everything for me, but it would help.

For Nier, I dunno. I've only ever played Drakengard 2 and 3 (fuck #3 btw) (also, never done 100% of either). So I don't know what a lot of this shit really means. And unfortunately, the story is too inconsistent and incoherent for me to really care about it without the knowledge of what's being referenced from those games. But in terms of mechanics and music it's been amazing, so I still like it overall.

[valebatcattus]

seatedsacrifice​:

Ophiuchus grinned, taking the opened part and resting it against his shoulders as she leaned against him. “I would say you are, yes. Hades will be the final verdict, but you seem steady on your feet now, and I believe we are safe so long remain in the same area as each other.” It helped that she had routine check ins with both the local sages and both him and Hades monitoring her throughout the days. “I would recommend another week to rest and recover, before we do anything like traverse across half the star in search of answers.” He glanced out to the ocean, the waves choppy.

“Fandaniel’s been active,” she murmured finally, a little unhappy. “From what Thancred and the others have brought back from forays to Garlemald...” And yet, he hadn’t enacted whatever final phase he seemed to be waiting for. And she didn’t know why.

Not knowing felt incredibly dangerous, right now. Hestia sighed, resting her chin on his shoulder. “Let’s think about it in a few days.” Right now was them time, after all. They could help the Garleans later. “Tomorrow let’s go visit Labyrinthos. I was to show you some of the interesting things down there.”