#liya al amundi

[shardssystem]

WIP Ask Game

We got tagged in an ask game! Joy! Thanks for the tag, @brasideios! Always love having a chance to ramble, but feels weird to do it unprompted.

At the moment, I’m caught in a three-way dance, to use the wrestling parlance. In one corner: the long-awaited (I hope!) 5th chapter of A Planeswalker Story, the MTG/OC fanfic that’s been nearly 10 years in the creation (oof) In another corner: part 8 of Holiday In Eorzea, our MTG/OC/FFXIV crossover… thing. Look, it’s a bit tricky to describe. 😅

And in the third corner: that dastardly heel tag team of Mental Health & Writer’s Block. (boo, hiss).

But despite that, I still do my best in writing whenever I get the chance.

So first, we have A Tale Of Two In The City, which is the next part of APS. In the last chapter, we follow Liya’s travel to the plane of Ravnica, as she escapes imprisonment on Innistrad. This rewinds time a bit to introduce a couple of important characters, and tell some events from their point of view. Here’s a snippet of the latest part written:

“Boy, girl, whatever! It’s all made up anyway. You want to be a boy? Bam! Magic; you’re a boy now, it’s as easy as that.” He waggled his fingers in a dramatic flourish.

Zoe looked at herself; nothing had changed. She was still a girl.

“Nothing happened?”

“Exactly!”

It’s a careful line to walk, because it shows a character grappling with dysphoria and what it means to be transgender as they age. Especially because it’s a transmasc narrative, and it’s not an experience I share, so I’m trying my best to be faithful and respectful. Hopefully it’s a good piece!

Next, we have Holiday. Given that it’s a retelling of the main storyline (MSQ) of the game, it’s easier to source the material. The challenge is to personify a typically mute/blank slate player character in a way that still works with the existing work. Another issue is that although a different story, it’s still tied into the main APS “canon”. So there’s chapters and chapters of character development that lives only in my head, but is supposed to be already known at the point shown. The next chapter tentatively has the title of Back In The Saddle, and continues with Liya recovering from a shattered ankle from a fight to the death. Here’s a piece from that:

Try as I might, my musical ability was lacking, so trying to memorise one particular song I had fallen in love with, a sad flute piece named "My Home, Sweet Home" was a challenge by itself. I had also discovered a fictional tale within the collection entitled "Refraction", where a man has to face up to different versions of himself to solve some kind of mystery; I hadn't finished it yet. And, true enough, T'sutu's promotion of the chocobo races was indeed as exciting as her claim. A little overwhelming to the senses, but exciting nonetheless. Just before a midday meal was delivered, I watched a Miqo'te woman by the name of Rin Chalko bully her way to victory with a chocobo as black as night named Optimal Shield. Her tactics were normally something I would be against, but for some reason I felt myself cheering her on.

References are fun to sneak in, but it’s not something you can do too often without it being disruptive. Still, managing 3 in a paragraph is pretty good!

But that’s what I’ve got in the tank at the moment, thanks for following along! You can follow the written works on AO3, or here on Tumblr. And to finish off, I’ll tag (with no pressure to participate!) @writer-raven, @kosmosxipo, @cyndakip, and @leafdrake-haven! Yay, games!

[holiday-in-eorzea]

Blade Of Night

Upon entering the Quicksand, the source of trouble was hard to miss. Another of the Lominsan marauders, though this one wore a covering on his head, and appeared to be more solidly built than his comrades. I assumed they signified him to be the leader of the troupe. Typical; leave the subordinates to do what they will outside in the heat, all while relaxing and drinking in shade and comfort. Although, it seemed something had riled him up, as he towered over the Lalafell waitress, shards of glass and remains of ale staining one of the nearby walls.

"Me poxy arse this is yer best brew! I’d sooner drink a pint o' me own piss than this swill!” the charming individual bellowed at the girl.

“I- I’m sorry! Just l-let me...”

The marauder raised his hand, as if to strike her. I called out. “Hey! What are you doing?!”

He paused, and turned to face me. “Just who the 'ells do ye think yer speakin' to, maggot!? I'm Pfarmurl the Driven, an' me an' me Bloody Marauders've been reavin' so long, mothers scare their children with tales about us!”

“It doesn’t matter who you are! I won’t allow harm to an innocent person, especially not over something so idiotic!”

The marauder scoffed, and stretched in an attempt to intimidate me. “Don't believe me words? Then I'll let me axe do the talkin'!” Sure enough, he began to reach for the wicked axe strapped to his back. In response, I moved towards my blade’s scabbard and prepared to draw.

Suddenly, a voice called out from a table behind us. “Oho, this is lively, even for the Quicksand. You two going to put on a show for us?” Both the marauder and I turned to see a rough looking man finishing a drink, dressed in a billowing red shirt, and loose pants; a long blade strapped to his hip.

“What's this? Another godsdamned fool? Show some respect when ye talk to...” the marauder started to say before the man in red cut him off.

“Pfarmurl the Driven, leader of a troupe of bloody mummers or some such. Aye, I heard you the first time - your voice carries quite well.” The man waved away his own interruption with a relaxed, casual air.

Pfarmurl, the marauder, took clear umbrage to the attitude. “Then unless ye want me to split yer skull with me axe, ye better-” He paused mid-sentence, taking a more measured look at the man’s sword. It was certainly imposing; wicked black spikes were worked into the shaping of the false edge, with runic lettering down the flat. My knowledge of languages failed to provide a translation.

“Th-That sword!” Pfarmurl stammered. “It couldn't be... Frenzy!? But only the Sword of Nald would - Bloody hells, it's you!”

The man in red smiled, but it was a predator’s grin; there was no joy in those eyes. “You know, I've never been one to stand back and watch. Mind if I join the fun?”

Pfarmurl held his hands out in defense, scared stiff. “B-B-Beggin' yer pardon, sir!” was as much as he got out before turning tail and running as fast as he could muster.

The man in red just sighed, and scratched at the back of his head. “Why do they always do that...? Looks like it's just you and me.” I once again reached for my sword, as he laughed, face softening. “No no, I didn’t mean to suggest we fight. I merely wanted to compliment you. Standing up to that Lominsan was quite brave of you—and quite foolish.”

“I was simply doing my duty; one that I would hope anyone would do likewise, but I know many don’t.” I replied, relaxing my posture; noticing how much I had been tensing only as the muscles released.

“I think I like you, gladiator. Name's Aldis, and I'd buy you a drink, but I'm afraid I just spent the last of my coin.” The man gestured to his now empty mug.

“That’s alright. I’m not much of one for drink, but thank you for the offer regardless. I’m Liya.”

“Liya, huh? I used to be a young gladiator like you. Back then, I...” Aldis trailed off, as if lost in a memory, but quickly returned to the present. “Ah, but that hardly concerns you. These days I'm just an explorer of the unexplored, a seeker of as-yet-unknown experiences...” Aldis sighed wistfully and looked towards the ceiling. “...Like that beautiful stranger keeping my bed warm right now. Gods, I've missed this city; this wonderful desert jewel of debauchery and sin. Now, if you'll excuse me.” Thankfully, he either didn’t notice, or at least didn’t call attention to the reddening of my cheeks as he made his way towards the interior stairs.

I took a brief moment to compose myself, and made my way over to Mistress Momodi, the proprietor. “Is everything alright now, M- Momodi?” I had to catch myself of speaking out of habit before inadvertently insulting her again. Using one’s title was customary at home, but she had already indicated her preference.

“It’s fine now that seadog’s been run off. I swear, if I hadn't seen Aldis with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it was him. Everyone here thought he died years ago.” She let out a dejected breath. “Listen, Liya. Do me a favor and don't tell Mylla about meetin' Aldis, alright? She doesn't need this sort of drama.”

“Why? Is there something I should know about? He’s not a threat, is he?”

Momodi shook her head. “Well...let's just say some folk ain't good for one another. If you catch my meanin’”

“Ah, like that. Well, in that case, I don’t think I need to include that detail when I return to Mylla about the job.”

“My thanks about that. I suspected the guild would be quick to dispatch someone, and I had even money on it bein’ you. Those mercenaries occasionally keep the peace in these parts, but their patrols seem to come round as they feel. I’ve sent a runner ahead to Mylla about your performance here and from what I could gather from outside. It’s good to have someone that cares handy.” She smiled and gave a cheeky wink. “Now, you must be thirsty, havin’ to lug that armor around in this heat; how about a drink?”

I was instantly reminded of the cracking of my lips, and the rasp of my throat. It had been far too long since I wore my own skin, and I considered myself lucky to be relieved of the need of arms and armour in my life. Even if it meant needing to become acquainted with them after the fact. “A cup of water would certainly be appreciated, I admit.”

“No freebies this time!” Momodi called over her shoulder, already pouring the cool, clear liquid from a jug. She said it with the tone of a teasing joke, so I chose to take it as such. She passed the cup across the counter, and I returned the favour with a small pinch of coins from my pouch, still unsure about the currency and its value. Momodi took one and pushed the others back. On inspection, I noted she had effectively charged 3 of their “gil” for the water, though I wasn’t sure if that was a reduced price, inflated, or simply the standard rate. As I had no reason to argue, I accepted the fare and returned the remaining coins to their place.

Though the respite from the heat was welcome, I still had my duty to accomplish, so begrudgingly I exited the cool interior of the Quicksand, to traverse the streets of Ul’dah back to the Gladiator’s Guild. I passed the returning messenger on the way, exchanging a brief look of acknowledgment as they went on their way.

Mylla was in her customary position, overseeing the guild members training with their wooden blades. I gave a salute, but she was quicker than I in starting the conversation.

“I've already heard of your exploits at the Quicksand, Liya. You did well to send those marauders packing. I wish I could say we've heard the last of them. Alas, we've received reports of axe-wielding raiders assaulting merchants traveling through Scorpion Crossing.” She shook her head lightly in disgust.

“They move quickly then. Did they already have this planned as a distraction?”

A frown crossed the guildmaster’s face. “It seems words will not suffice. after all. I want you to finish what you've begun, Liya. Head to westem Thanalan and see that Pfarmurl fellow and all those who have shared in his crimes never trouble the people of Ul'dah again.”

“To what end, guildmaster?”

“I trust your judgment, and your ability. Should it come to it, I have arranged for your prior allowances with the Brass Blades to extend further, under my authority. No crime would be decreed if it were a necessary step.” Our eyes met, as if the full meaning of her statement was conveyed through vision alone.

“I will do my best, and hopefully it does not come to that.”

Mylla nodded, a grim demeanour colouring the expression. “Good. Then, be off. The trade outpost of Scorpion Crossing is the nearest settlement in the area. I advise asking there for more precise information.”

I gave a crisp salute, the habit still forcing itself from my training, and exited the guildhall. The western gate, identified as the Gate of the Sultana was not far from the guild, as I passed through the streets into the afternoon sun. The weather was cooling, but still warmer than I would typically prefer. The more temperate climate of Ravnica had caused more of an adjustment than I thought. I exhaled as of to chase the heat away, and set off.

Everywhere I looked as I walked reminded me of home, of Melenas. Though the climate here was harsher, the wildlife and greenery had adapted well. Farming had always been somewhat of a struggle; trying to find suitable groundwater sources to feed our crops and what livestock could manage. I could imagine the soil here would handle thoumfruit and jazar in greater abundance. I shook my head; Kolya was insistent on my learning the proper names of things, least of all for his understanding; garlic and carrot. The words still felt foreign in my mind, but to his credit, the names he used seemed to be more common across a number of planes compared to my own. Of course, getting the seeds here was an entirely separate issue; while inorganic materials traveled the Blind Eternities without issue, the same could not be said of more natural things. I had tried to retrieve some herbs for baking, only to find handfuls of dust on my arrival.

By the time I had made it to the outpost, the sun was all but swallowed by the horizon, as dusk swiftly approached. Asking around, it seemed that accommodations could be found, as it was a popular trade route, and merchants were often passing through. It was dangerous to continue in the darkness of the open road, with unknown terrain, strange wildlife, and even knowing that my quarry was out there somewhere, so I opted to ask about a bed for the night. Much easier to seek people by light of day, and if they wanted easy prey of merchant caravans, they’d be unlikely to move on. Though, that would also solve the issue. The beds were rough cots, clearly sourced from military surplus despite the wealth of the city and surrounds. Not much in terms of comfort, but there was a lot to be said for the relative safety and security offered by the fortifications made to the outpost, and by the Brass Blades stationed by the gates on regular rotation. Memories of having to do much the same in prior lives came to mind, as I felt a touch of guilt of not envying their position. 

The night was still early, so folks had gathered near the center of the outpost to share tales of the road, both tall and mundane, and to come together to share meals, showing more of a community than I had gotten from just a general impression of the city proper’s populace. On one side, there was a merchant complaining about misplaced packages from his shipment, asking his compatriots to assist in locating them overnight and subsequently being laughed off, with assurances that there was plenty of time in the morning for that. On the other, one of the established traders of the outpost told tales of living plants, whose blood had such apparent power as to keep a person from appearing to age. I nearly scoffed myself, before remembering that I knew practically nothing about this plane, so for all I knew, it could very well be true. I’d certainly experienced enough things I had thought mere stories if I thought about them at all prior to my execution. Soon though, the merriment wound down, as caravan leaders took to rest for the day ahead, and others made themselves weary; from the day’s labour or drink, I do not know which. I found my way to my allotted cot, removed the heavy chain coat and highboots, and allowed what I had come to appreciate in the gentle ache of a healthy exertion take my mind in slumber.

Another morning, and another push against my spark. And unfortunately, another nullified response. Not that I would necessarily abandon people in need, but it was always useful to know whether you had a backup plan if required. I sourced a light morning meal from one of the departing caravans, and had managed to eat most of it before a yell could be heard from the gates leading away from the city.

[niuttuc]

“Tell Me About Your Characters” post:

Liya al-Amundi

Human/Spirit — White > Colourless > Variable — Born -2840 AR (2669 ZC), Died -2813 AR (2696 ZC), aged 27.

Plane Of Origin: Melenas

First Planeswalk: Jund

Currently residing on Ravnica

Main Abilities: Possession of potential, unsparked individuals; access to host’s abilities.

Oooh, quite an old soul. Do they typically spend their time possessing another or do they spend more time outside of any host? Is it generally long-term possession or something that only last a short while to resolve a matter?

[shardssystem]

Liya in Final Fantasy XIV? It’s more likely than you think!

As for how she fares; just have to wait and see!

The last character you drew/wrote about is now stuck in the last game you played. How screwed are they?

[shardssystem]

It was only a matter of time before I sent this ask around... What kind of animal would your oc turn into on Bloomburrow?

Had to do a bit of a dive into what’s available; not just what’s represented in the set, but what constitutes a “woodland animal”. Not a lot of woodlands in Australia. 😅

Liya, I feel, would become a rabbit. She has the sort of personality that lends itself to the form, and I remember watching (and reading) Watership Down, so there’s a non-zero amount of childhood trauma to tap into.

Yri is showing up as a hummingbird. Needing to fly and be zippy is a large part of her moveset, as it were, and I strongly get the impression she has the energy to pull it off.

Vasil, I see as a hedgehog. But leaning more Hellraiser than Sonic. Pain and keeping people away are also core elements of his being. Now if he could be a skeletal version…

Caidi, even for their genetic makeup, would be a frog. It’s a Simic staple animal, and I also just love the image of seeing a slime-style frog. No solid skin or bones, just a translucent jelly.

Kolya would become a badger. He has the temperament and feeling of being able to represent himself well in that position.

The Coterie is interesting. Would they all become identical creatures, or would there be enough variance between them that they would be a diverse group? For my vote, I think they would be practically identical weasels. The popular interpretation of the characterisation of a weasel really fits their vibe.

Thanks for the ask, @little-red-rabbit!

[shardssystem]

Now that March of the Machine story has been fully released I can ask, how did your ocs weather the Phyrexia invasion of the multiverse?

Liya, still being held in an unknown plane against her will, is completely unaware of the Phyrexian invasion, and got off scot-free. Maybe even better than that, considering what could've happened on Theros, and what that means for her bond with Erebos...

Yri helped manage some of the communication and logistics as the mechanical forces descended upon the city-world of Ravnica. Her size and speed kept her safe, and still able to continue her job, though for more important reasons than pure income.

Vasil fought against the wishes of the Mother of Machines to join the frontline, and instead returned to his homeland, in hopes to awaken the Old Phyrexian sleeper cell deep in the heart of Melenas. When that proved fruitless due to a conflict of ideology, he attempted to assail the keep of the Knights of the Hallowed Order, knowing them to be the true seat of power on the plane. Caught on the back foot, the Knights had hell's own time keeping the warrior at bay, eventually dealing a near-lethal assault, forcing a retreat. But not before Vasil had done a reasonable amount of damage to the integrity of the Order.

Like Yri, Caidi assisted from the back, aiding where they could with telepathic communication, and mental projections designed to disorient the occasional Phyrexian. There were a couple of close calls, but luckily Kolya was around to bear the brunt of things.

Speaking of; Kolya helped marshal the Sixth District, using his precognitive abilities to the point of exhaustion to allow the native Ravnicans to gain the upper hand where possible. Unfortunately, that exhaustion proved problematic when a previously expected force showed up in an unexpected place, throwing off his expectations, and leading to a potential crisis, ultimately leading to the loss of Kolya's left leg. He's currently being attended to by physicians, but his field days may be at an end, even with the prosthetic assistance.

The Coterie, surprisingly, backed their homeland of Plin in defense, though still from the shadows, and through subterfuge. Couldn't be too careful in revealing their full identity when too many people remembered the triplets from their pre-ignition days. If Phyrexia were to take the plane, there wouldn't be any solid way for them to take their revenge, and that was not allowed. Enemy of my enemy, and all, but never a friend on either side.

Thanks for the ask!

[shardssystem]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let's spread the self-love 💞

Luckily, I have written at least five things! <sigh of relief>

In no particular order:

Once Was Lost - The start of it all. I still ���enjoy” the feeling that the inevitable approach to the gallows gives.

To Tame A Tiger - We are all miss Blaseball, RIV, and all that. I wasn’t as active as I would’ve liked, but I’m still proud of this piece, and how it gives a bit of character to an underrepresented player.

Future Past - While Once Was Lost is the start of things, this is where a little of the meat of the story starts coming into play.

Pulling Loose The Threads - Escalation is the name of the game here, and shows a solid link to the established canon, which I’m always wary about doing.

Holiday In Eorzea - Not just a Dead Kennedys reference! This is easily the most ambitious thing I’ve written to date, and it’s far from over. The sad thing in my mind is that it comes after a lot of other parts that are yet to be written. But sometimes, stories have their time and demand it.

Thanks for the ask, @brasideios! I’ll leave the floor open for anyone else who would like, but I’d like to hear from @kosmosxipo , @mossy-kit, and @cyndakip - Talk some Spit!

[shardssystem]

Who says they’re still alive? 😉

why is your oc still alive? 

[shardssystem]

This was inflicted upon us by @kosmosxipo, so now I get to inflict it on you all! Yay! It’s the WIP post!

RULES: make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

A Tale Of Two In The City

Downtime

Learning To Forgive

Going The Distance

Countdown

Into Dust

Perchance To Dream

The Spirit Of Man

Dearly Beloved

The Ties That Bind

Spoonful Of Sugar

Of Sand And Ruin

Deus Ex Arcanum

Silver Tongues

The Coming Storm

Heart Of Darkness

Dead Man's Hand

Within The System

The Long Walk

Something Borrowed

Lock Ourselves In

As for tagging, I never have a good idea about who would like to do these, so I’ll leave it off for now, but consider this an open tag and/or invitation!

[shardssystem]

So I saw a post about this concept and thought it would make for a interesting ask. Magical damage, like a necromancers fingers slowly turning black and losing sensation or a wizard with lighting bolt scares across their arms. What dose it look like when your oc's push their magic beyond what their bodies can handle?

Sorry for the delay!

So for Liya, like most cases of magic, it mostly depends on her host. Outside of a host, she becomes anchored to the ironwood tree that makes her grave on Melenas, or to the former heart of the Selesnya conclave in the 10th District on Ravnica, where the leylines meet. The more she fights against it, the more transparent she gets, and the foggier her mind becomes. It’s like a slower acting anaesthesia.

Though Yri’s magic is small to match its user, she can still push herself too far. Her hair starts losing its fight against gravity, and it becomes harder for her to fly. Less obviously, food (especially sweets) loses its flavour.

Vasil’s magic is basically what’s keeping him alive, so using too much means he starts drying out, as it were, and his bones start weakening their connections. Like Liya, he starts getting fuzzy around the edges before becoming a temporarily inanimate pile of bones.

Caidi’s magic powers her telepathy and projection, along with their shapeshifting. They remain sentient, but become unable to communicate effectively.

Kolya unfortunately finds himself in this position too often. Utilising precognition puts stress on the brain, so he develops nosebleeds and sharp headaches as a warning sign to avoid damage from continuing. He’s pushed himself into a coma before, and could risk death.

Conversely, The Coterie rarely push too hard, being able to channel power through all three of them. Unless in a literal life or death scenario, they don’t tend to fight together, meaning there’s at least one of them in reserve. If it comes to it, they collectively start weakening and aging, their shared mind generating screams internally. This heals over time with rest, but leaves the triplets vulnerable in the interim.

Thanks for the ask, @little-red-rabbit!

[shardssystem]

🍲🍥

🍲When did you start writing and why?

In general, it would’ve been maybe 1990 and because of a school assignment. Shameless ripoff of pop-culture elements at the time, but enough that teachers were minorly impressed.

A more relevant answer would have been 2015, when a random inspiration from a question of “Can MTG Planeswalkers become planeswalkers from positive experiences, or is it only trauma?”. This was the inception of Liya as a character, and I basically started writing and designing from that day on. (Also, I cheekily suspect it may have also inspired the creation of The Wanderer, so I fully accept credit for that 😅)

The post in question, from @dougbeyermtg’s blog:

🍥What's your favorite fic you've written?

So while To Tame A Tiger is far and away the most popular work I’ve written, I consider Future Past my strongest writing to date. It’s really helped set up a number of plot elements, but beyond that, I don’t think it’s all that bad either.

Thanks for the ask, @yrael!

[shardssystem]

Always interesting to think about characters in different ways! Here’s Liya:

Just saw this cool D&D/OC character development chart by @ cparrisart on Twitter. Instead of a regular Fan Character Friday post, I figured I would post this so anyone can try it out also! I’ll probably try to do some this weekend :D Happy new year everyone!

[shardssystem]

Doing the WIP thing that @cryinginblaseball, @polkadotpatterson, @luckyowl21, and other friends have done, and hoping this also kickstarts a couple of them. 😅

RULES: Reveal the titles of the documents in your WIP folder and tag as many people as there are documents. Let others ask questions about the ones that interest them and post snippets or explain the contents as you see fit!

A lot of these are not final titles:

A Tale Of Two In The City

The End Of Things

Learning To Forgive

Countdown

Going The Distance

Into Dust

Perchance To Dream

The Spirit Of Man

Dearly Beloved

The Ties That Bind

Spoonful Of Sugar

Of Sand And Ruin

Deus Ex Arcanum

Silver Tongues

The Coming Storm

Heart Of Darkness

Dead Man's Hand

Within The System

The Long Walk

Something Borrowed

Lock Ourselves In

I honestly don't know if there are that many people on Tumblr (I think most of the blogs are sideblogs upon sideblogs for like 5 people having fun), so if you feel like doing this too, feel free!

[shardssystem]

seeing as it is the spooky season I thought I would ask about the time your OC was the most afraid.

For Liya, it would’ve been her first planeswalk after the Mending. Freshly freed from the Helvault, just discovering that her possession ability had changed, immediately confronted by her new phobias of confined spaces and angels as the PTSD kicks in.

Yri’s moment of greatest fear was actually her spark ignition. Faced with the threat of a memory-erasing remnant Aurora wave, she planeswalked to avoid it, leaving Liya behind.

The time that Vasil was most afraid was also the last time he felt an emotion other than anger. Having condemned Liya to her death by his actions, he believed he was free and clear of retribution from the army he had fled from. He didn’t reckon on the mob justice of Liya’s friends and neighbours.

For Caidi, it would have been their first moments of sentience, pre-sapience. Trapped in an enclosure, being experimented on by an insane goblin, it’s little wonder they broke out and fled to the sewers of Ravnica as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

Kolya is tricky. I feel it’s a tie between coming out to his parents, unsure of their reaction, and the time when, still a child, he was assaulted by bullies who didn’t understand the difference between precognition and causation. He’s had hard times since then, but any fear was tempered by a sense of duty and pride.

Though you might think that for the Coterie, it would be when they faced an entire town bent on their destruction according to their beliefs, but the answer is simpler: having to face the imminent passing of their mother and the subsequent life without her, all owing to the accepted belief that only children in a duo should be allowed to live properly. Single children are to be pitied, and three or more are a sin.

Thanks for the ask, @little-red-rabbit!

[shardssystem]

What is Countdown? That sounds ominous...

Countdown is where Liya meets Yri, and they work together to stop or escape a memory erasing wave headed in their direction. Notable for Yri's introduction, and her spark ignition.

[shardssystem]

“Holiday In Eorzea” - A Planeswalker Story

We finally managed to do a thing! This has been a while in the making, and will be continuing for (I’m told) quite a long while, but I feel it’s in a good enough position to begin posting - Presenting A Holiday In Eorzea, a MTG/FFXIV/Fanfic crossover... thing. Following the story of Liya al-Amundi and her journey across the Multiverse, and the line between life and death, this is a take on the epic tale of Final Fantasy XIV through new eyes, and I hope people enjoy it. More to come as it happens!