#need more lalafell practice

[gigifujijifu]

Our kind and helpful FC leader, Zofia.

[tainbocuailnge]

realistically this is the biggest and broadest female hrothgar were ever gonna get purely because of how the game engine was structured back in ARR. we know a lot about how player models work thanks to how far modders have broken things open. like there's still very blatant gender biases at play here and it's fine to dream of more but there's very practical considerations behind this too that would've been clear if you know a bit about the game's inner workings. which not everyone does which is why i'm about to explain.

the game has five different base skeletons for playable races, those being male midlander, male highlander, male roe, female midlander, and lalafel. every other playable race is one of those skeletons scaled slightly differently, male miquote, elezen, au ra, and viera are all the same male midlander stretched into slightly different shapes. all female races save lalafel are all stretched from the same female midlander (incidentally this is why female gear mods always work for everyone but male gear mods tend to exclude highlander/roe/hroth).

every piece of gear needs at minimum five models in the game files to match those five skeletons. i say minimum because if the male and female version look significantly different there's two lalafel models and if the autoscaling looks too off they put in a separate hand-tweaked model (which ive most often seen to accommodate male au ra's itty bitty waists). which means if they wanted to make femhroth any bulkier than femroe (who are already stretching the femmidlander-shaped gear about as far as it gets basically) and not have all the gear look like shit on them they'd have to make a new skeleton that is broader at base instead of stretched out to be, which means making an extra model for EVERY piece of gear in the game, both the ones that already exist and every new piece they'll make from then on. it'd be a significant increase in both immediate and long-term workload as well as game size. it just wasn't gonna happen man.

[azems-familiar]

Mimodi

did this for Seika, since they start in Ul'dah and Lelesu doesn't, haha. ~1k words, most of it under the cut for length!

The Quicksand’s evening bustle is like a heartbeat, steady and rhythmic and pulsing with Ul’dah’s lifeblood. Momodi watches it all from her place behind the bar, listening to the scattered conversations she can hear - at one table an adventuring party discusses the next job they want to pick up, at the end of the bar a lalafell thamauturge flirts with the burly roegadyn woman next to her, in the corner of the room a pair of Brass Blades are making their way through their fourth round of the night; earlier she’d overheard them mentioning Lolorito’s coin, and had filed that away for later. Whatever he’s planning, she’ll keep an eye and an ear out, and relay anything of import to Papashan - it’s always in her best interest to keep the Sultansworn apprised of whatever the Monetarists are up to, and let them decide if they want to intervene or not. Affairs of state are only her business when she picks up gossip on them.

But they’ve got a missing crown, and the Syndicate once again pushing for more power, so if Lolorito’s bribing some of the Blades…well. 

The thaumaturge seems to be making some progress in her flirting - she waves Momodi over and asks for a round for the two of them on her tab, which Momodi fills with a wink - there’s some line about learning the secrets of the craft that’s terribly cheesy but makes the mercenary eye her with undisguised interest. Momodi chuckles to herself, leaning on the bar and noting the drinks down in her book, and as she glances up again she catches the sound of the front door opening over the voices.

The woman who steps in is one Momodi has never before seen in Ul’dah - she would remember an au ra adventurer, as rare a sight as that is in Eorzea. This one’s got pearlescent tan scales all across her face, arms, neck, and chest, peeking out from her sturdy brown traveling attire, and even from across the room the pale purple limbal rings in her eyes catch the lamplight and glow with it. Dark reddish-brown hair that fades to pale green frames her face and is pulled back from her head in two long tails, and she carries a sword of solid steel on her hip and a round shield on her back, walking like someone familiar with the weight of them. An adventurer, there’s no doubt about it…but there’s some indefinable quality about her that draws attention, beyond the strangeness of her horns and scales. She almost seems to glow with a light from within, something neither heard nor seen but felt.

Fairy tales and fantasy, Momodi wants to scoff, but that don’t explain the hole in her memory when she thinks of those heroes who fell at Carteneau, does it?

Conversation dies down for a moment as the newcomer weaves her way carefully between the tables, walking with a light step, then picks back up again in a flurry of furious whispering. The adventurer ignores all of it with a practiced ease, stopping in front of the bar, then hesitates a moment.

“Welcome to the Quicksand,” Momodi greets with her customary cheer, and shoos away another customer she knows is only here to gawp. “What can I get ya?”

“Wymond sent me to you,” the adventurer answers, and ah, of course he had. “I’m new to Ul’dah, and…looking for work. He said you could aid me with both of those things.”

Her voice is soft, and lilted in a way that takes Momodi a moment to place as Ishgardian, which raises a whole lot of questions she’s not so sure she needs or wants the answers to. Since the Calamity, Ishgardians don’t make their way into Eorzea unless they’ve got any other choice - some fled the snows, or poor fortune, but the majority are either disgraced, runaways, or so-called heretics…or a mix of all three. And a dragon-blooded girl raised up in that city? Poor thing.

“Well, he was right,” Momodi says, nodding with emphasis and gesturing for the girl to sit. She does, after a moment, and Momodi rummages around under the counter to bring out her Guild records, humming to herself. “I don’t just run the Quicksand - I’m in charge of the Adventurers’ Guild here in Ul’dah, and if you’re willin’ to answer some questions about what sort of work you’re lookin’ for, and your skills, I can get you on record and start makin’ connections between you and any patrons what might have a use for you. I’ll need a name for that, though, Miss…?”

She startles slightly, as if the thought hadn’t even occurred to her. Up this close, Momodi can see that her eyes are a dark indigo - lovely color, really, she’s a striking young woman. “...Seika,” she says. “Seika Valeriant - I’m an Ishgardian-trained paladin with a grasp on the fundamentals of spellwork, and an attunement to Light-aspected magic.”

Light magic? Well, isn’t that just rare…and Momodi thinks of her initial impression of Seika and wonders, even as she notes the adventurer’s name and skills down on an empty page of her log. The little customary interview and lecture on the basics of Ul’dah and adventuring go by quickly enough, and Seika pays for dinner and a drink and tucks herself onto a stool at the opposite end of the bar from the thaumaturge (who, halfway through, comes over to settle her tab with a pleased expression on her face, the mercenary standing as well and waiting for her). Momodi serves her up and settles back in for the rest of the evening, and keeps wondering all the while.

She’s been in this business for a long time, after all, and she’s got instincts aplenty from it - and looking at Seika, all she can think of is that this one is going to bring change wherever she walks. Whatever reasons have brought her to their desert rose of a city, whatever she’s running from, whatever it is about her that puts Momodi in mind of the long-lost Warriors of Light…something is coming, following along in this adventurer’s wake.

She just has to hope Ul’dah is ready for it.

[olenbluu]

New day and new challenges.

While thaumaturgies' guild was facing some dirty family drama between the brothers, Astaria took on herself to extent her help to others in need. That's how she found herself in Central Thanala, near Black Brush Station and over the deserts of Thanalan.

Wind full of sand that got into eyes, she finally finished her task. She quickly made her way back to Black Brush Station to Warin, who was happy to get her quick report of the area being more secure now.

She was just about to leave the place to report back to Momodi at the Quicksand, when she over heard lalafells talking about young researcher or a miner that was looking for a way to get the rights to do some archeological diggings and research for Sil'dihn. What really made her curious was lalafell mentioning Lord Lolorito - Astaria didn't yet know all the wealth names, but this one she had seen on numerous occasions pop up - in same sentence as thaumaturges' guild.

She offered help and was told an almost truth speculation that Lord Lolorito was feeding gil to the thaumaturges' guild to lobby them keep laws beneficially for the business. This probably had something to do with the Sil'dihn ruins and guild having close relations with the religious practice within Ul'dah.

Nevertheless, it was worth looking into. Especially now that brothers leading the guild, and eldest Cocobuki was occupied with his little brother.

[a-pink-beau]

FFXIV Write 2024 #13 - Butte

Summary: Ar'beunti early in her journey, switches from a summoner to a black mage with Papalymo's assistance.

Content Warnings: None

Spoilers: None. Set during ARR

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ground shakes as rocks and rubble tumble down the cliffside. Another explosion strikes the side of the cliff, rocks fly in all directions. Another blast, larger than the last, the rubble flying its furthest so far. Small rocks clatter against the ground and roll past a tattered boot. Wearing this boot is Ar’beunti, wearing dark robes and readying a large staff, fire growing around the gem sitting atop of it. She throws her arm forward and fire flings from the weapon and screams toward the wall of rock, detonating in impact, crumbling the butte all the more.

“Ah, yes- now would be about the time you should switch to channelling ice aspected-”

Another explosion interrupts Papalymo as Beau casts Fire once more. Beau focuses her energy into the staff yet again, but finds herself straining. A few sparks flash from the staff, but nothing more. Papalymo closes the distance between them, patting some dust from his robes. “Hmm. Yes. Now this is what I was trying to help you avoid. Thaumaturgy is more than just fire, fire, fire, Ar’beunti. It requires at least some semblance of balance between ice and fire.”

Ar’beunti pants as her exhaustion catches up with her. She wipes her brow and places her hands on her knees as she gives the Lalafell a dirty look. Papalymo furrows his brow. “If you don’t want to acknowledge the fundamentals, then you can return to being a Summoner. No one is forcing you to take up a new craft.” Beau stands upright.

“Summoner isn’t for me… and I need to catch up… to where I was before…” Beau says, still out of breath.” Papalymo places his arms behind his back.

“Then you better start listening. You have a lot of ground to cover.” Papalymo takes a deep breath, pacing in front of Beau, swishing the air with his hand. “Thanalan is fairly warm today. Do you know what will help you cool off? Help you regain your energy?” Beau side eyes Papalymo. “Switch. To. Ice.”

Beau tightens her grip on her staff and focuses, the air beginning to cool around both of them. Papalymo nods his head in approval. A small blue glow forms at the staff and Beau throws her arm forward, Blizzard flying through the air, over Papalymo’s head and striking the butte once more. “Very well done! Now keep that up and-” the ground begins to rumble. Papalymo slowly turns to look toward the large rock formation the two have been using as target practice. Cracks start splintering from the crater, the large pillars of stone start to tilt. “Ah. Well. We should vacate the area now, I would think.” The cracks zip down and along the base of the butte and large sections start tumbling away, before the entire mass of rock starts tilting toward the pair. “Yes. Yep. Now would be a good time to ruuuuuun!”

The two quickly fall into a sprint, Papalymo zooming past the tired Ar’beunti as they outrun the avalanche of rock and stone. The novice’s adrenaline is able to compensate for her exhaustion and she catches up and keeps pace with the man half her size. They raise their hands to cover their heads as pebbles start raining down from above. They’re heads down, they see a shadow start to engulf them. They were not quite outrunning the otherwise stationary structure.

Papalymo, quick on his feet, draws his own staff and quickly fires off a orb of fire up into the tip of the butte that had shaded them, blasting it to pieces before planting his feet and charging another blast. Beau slides to a stop as she looks back at Papalymo taking the danger head on. Another Fire is flung off his staff and Beau watches as the lalafell becomes a silhouette among the light of the blast that crumbles the falling rocks. The main body of the rock slams into the ground, dust first engulfing Papalymo, then everything else in sight.

The deafening sound of rock crumbling and crashing settles. Beau coughs dust as she looks for Papalymo in the cloud of destruction.

It isn’t long before the sun shines through the settling rubble and she spots the small stature, standing upright, staff still at the ready. As the landscape becomes more and more visible, Beau finds there is solid rock all around them in a large U shape. Papalymo had cleared a strategic chunk of the butte to create a safe space for the pair.

Papalymo puts his staff back on his back and turns to face Ar’beunti with a smile. “Now remember. Fire, Fire, Fire, then Blizzard, Blizzard, Blizzard.”

[yoki-doki-then]

FFXIV Write 2024 - Q U A R R Y

"Cactusflower, does this dress say 'I'm both elegant and a cold-blooded killer?"

So says Yoki Yokiki as she shows off a newly acquired azure gown, swishing it around her knees. It catches the sun's light with a reflective twinkle, glistening with pride. Her boots are soft black affairs, the soles painted a vibrant red. Legs clad in tights, a subdued tone to bridge the gap from paradise to abyss. Here and there are accents of gold and ruby red. She sticks out like a sore thumb.

Cactusflower, chocobo, merely stares at his master. There's no head tilt. There's no 'kweh'. He gave those sounds as a chick before he met the Lalafell, and ceased soon after. He recognizes, because it's impossible not to for a bird, that there is no environment he would not spot her in. There is no practical bend to Yoki, whether in personality or practice. Each day she plays at this new school of magic, she throws herself into the jaws of death, and it's usually him plucking her from them.

Somehow, he wouldn't have it any other way. He'll accept her for all eternity... and the eternity beyond that if he's so lucky.

"Oh, don't be silly," she says, pulling out a pocket mirror to inspect her 'war paint' as she calls it. It's just her usual makeup routine, but with a touch more flare of eyeliner, a bit of glitter on the cheeks. "The point is to be seen. I'm asking if I would be feared, but in a way that says 'I would like to fall into the arms of this striking villainess'.

A villain? This causes his head to tilt.

"It's a character, Cactusflower. I'm working on an identity. It's very in for Blue Mages. I need to convey grace and murderous intent both, preferably with a basic adjective-into-noun name. Like... Murder Grace. Murder Face? No, no, that's stupid. Ugh. Cactusflower!! Help me, please."

Well, he has no intention of coming up with an evil moniker. That goes against his very nature, his beliefs. A dark and brooding 'bo he might be, but it with valor and dignity he serves, not blind obedience. Perhaps she could pull from that, instead?

"I'm hardly a knight or paladin, Cactusflower. I can't really use a name along those lines. Besides, I want to be taken by one, not be one."

Can a savior not be saved themself?

"I've read novels about that sort of thing, where the heroine is somehow simultaneously hyper-competent but also hopeless in ways that break my sense of immersion. The hunt for a persona truly is vexing, isn't it?"

Must it be a persona?

"Must it be a persona?" Yoki pauses now, tapping her index against her chin. "Do I really need to go into an arena with some farcical name? I'm more than just a singular aspect. Do I want to constrain myself to a stage presence? A hero does more beyond a title, and few dictate their own titles."

"Kweh," Cactusflower helps, an ilm more enthused than his norm.

"You're right. We should just go on until someone offers a title."

Cactusflower nods with shallow speed.

"... But it can't hurt to come up with a signature move and phrase first! I'll announce it boldly, and all will know they're to be bested by... by my signature move! Perfect!"

"... Kweh."

[argentrenard]

cash - for the single-word fic prompt!

It shouldn't have had to come to this point. He shouldn't be in this position.

Argent Renard was Bertrand Blandevornne this evening (of the Burgandy Blandevornnes) and he was losing every high-stakes Triple Triad game he had played. Bertrand was a noble persona he had created, a man who owned a moderate fortune, wore hand-me-down everything from an ancient house that had lost its prestige over the years, and lived in a dilapidated mansion in Ishgard. A recently created false identity, he had not used him yet in any high-profile cons, thus he was in the early stages of building the alias' history. Eventually, once he reached Bertrand's peak reputation, he most likely would pursue a large score and then be forced to burn the boarish bastard and retire his reputation up on the shelf where all his created characters went. For now Bertrand needed to appear as a somewhat bumbling noble with more money than sense.

The difficult part he had to deal with now was tonight showcased him as a bit more bumbling than intended, and he was further coming across as having a lot less sense than the norm. He'd brought a sizeable sum to the tables at the Saucer tonight, at least 4 million gil, his winnings from a recent lucrative operation. Yet, he had only about 200,000 left. His reserves should never have gotten this low, he should have stepped away as soon as he'd lost half, but he had been feeling particularly reckless this evening. It was one of those sunsets that had spurred him to risk it all. He was sure (positive, in his gut) that something special was going to happen tonight.

So he'd kept going. He'd lost, then lost again. He nursed the remains of his now watered-down whiskey, adjusting the red ascot at his neck, and looked at his cards. Sitting in his stolen and shabby Ishgardian tailored coat and vest, at least he also looked the part of a noble who had fallen on hard times. It was just a shame that the hard times were actually accurate and not at all a scam. If word spread he had been spotted losing vast quantities of money at the Saucer, that could help him appear as bait to someone he might want to entice, but actually losing all his gil wasn't usually part of the plan.

So he mused, chewed his lip, and thought about the others at the table while he waited for the hand to play out. He'd lost what, ten times now or so? The dealer was certainly flirting with him, but she wasn't giving him any advantage. The Ul'duh merchant on his left and the Limsa captain on his right all had won at least a few rounds. They kept giving him sidelong glances of pitty. That was good for 'Bertrand's' image, but it still rankled a little bit.

He must have really pissed off the Weaver this time. He grunted. At least he was used to pissing off Gods and Goddesses.

The captain, a Roegadyn woman, leaned towards him from his right, "No shame comes from heading back home when the seas look rough, friend. Your hull has taken… quite a beating!" She guffawed and gave him a glance that suggested even though she thought he was cute, he had no chance with her.

'Bertrand' laughed, a little sheepishly, as if embarrassed. Argent did not have to strain his acting skills to accomplish this, what with how his luck had actually suffered thus far.

Two hundred thousand left. It would make sense for Bertrand to step away from the table, maybe go find a date to go home with. He'd hoped to pick up the dealer, but while she was nothing but smiles and twinkling eyes for him, she gave that look to all three of her patrons this evening. He had a feeling she was as skilled as he in flattering those she talked to.

The merchant, a Lalafell gentleman with a meticulously maintained goatee, offered some advice without even looking up from his own cards, "Were I you, I would lick my wounds so I could come back for more another time. The house has practically swindled you, my friend," and he too chuckled, placing the back of his hand over his mouth as if this made laughter at Argent's expense more polite.

Why did everyone call you a 'friend' when they sought to insult you?

The noble he was tonight, however, just grinned with them, as if completely unaware he was being mocked and assumed he was in on the joke.

"Well, perhaps… perhaps you're both right but… well it's just gil, to me. I have more than I know what to do with, as my family always said!" He laughed loudly with them, an obnoxious and somewhat buffoonish laugh. Then he went on longer with the laughter, eventually making them uncomfortable so they both quieted and returned to their cards.

"Are you going to stay with me then, and keep me company a little longer, Ser Blandevornne?" the young hyur behind the counter asked him, almost batting her eyelashes.

Argent pursed his lips, and then pushed his chips across the counter. All of them. He made it look like she had won him over with her charm. In reality, he was positive this hand would be the turnaround win he needed. He still had that feeling. A tingling that something magical was about to happen. He'd be going home with a huge win, he could just feel it.

"All in!? My my, Ser, aren't you bold and brave," she sweetly said. It was all he could do not to roll his eyes. Instead, he hung his head as if he was blushing.

The cards flipped. Argent stared. It looked like this might be it. First, the merchant lost and clucked his tongue. He'd only bet a small amount this round. Then the captain lost, and she plopped her drink down with a curse. Her wager had been a bit more sizeable this time around.

Then the the final round hit and Argent was practically on the edge of his seat as…

The card flipped over and his fortune was told.

Silence met the table for the span of a few clinks in his glass as the last of the ice settled into the dregs of whiskey.

After a beat, Argent muttered, "I'll… cash out now."

The dealer, chipper no matter the circumstance, brightly said, "Very well, Ser Blandevornne! Here you go, your cash out!"

She slid one chip across the table to him. He looked at it, then looked back to her.

"Keep it," he sighed, and tossed the last chip back to her, along with a wink. He then swept up his glass (which was now mostly whiskey-flavored melted ice), and walked away from the game table.

It wasn't a good night for him, but then again, it wasn't a bad night either. He had experienced much worse, and this evening had only left him broke with no one on his arm. He glanced about at all the patrons, from those clanking around in full armor to those wearing the tiniest of bikinis, and everything in between. Perhaps he could salvage some of the night, at least.

It was only cash, after all, and he should have known it would end up this way. The House wins. The House always wins.

[ecosystem-administrator]

Stamp

Timeline: Early 5.0, spoilers for HW character death and in-character speculation on the identity of the Crystal Exarch

When they confessed their feelings for each other after the liberation of Ala Mhigo, Mayhem promised to write letters to Aymeric as they traveled. This is the first such letter, delivered via pixie from another world.

To the handsome, generous, charming, patient, and ever-so-gallant Lord Speaker of Ishgard,

You asked me to write you of my travels when we confessed our feelings for each other, and while I don’t know if this was exactly the kind of travels you were thinking of at the time, I have found someone who claims they can deliver these letters all the way to the Source. So here I am, writing to you. It’s more difficult than I expected to think of what to say, honestly. Writing to Haurchefant was just an excuse of sorts, a way of keeping some kind of connection alive, pretending he was still there to listen while I learned to cope with a world where he never would be again. The dead don’t judge your words, and the practice turned itself into a journal pretty quickly if I’m honest. But you…if I say the wrong thing, you’re there to be hurt, or worried. I’m not used to considering whether people worry over me. It’s new, so…please be patient with me if I make some mistakes. This is a strange and beautiful land. I arrived in a forest of lavender-pink trees, under a sky that glowed with roiling golden light from one horizon to the other. Soon enough, I learned the terrible truth of this: the light in the sky is unending, unchanging. It’s a world that has known no night or stars for a hundred years, suffering under a surfeit of light aether. Stranger still, the Crystal Tower is here as it is in Mor Dhona, and indeed I’m writing to you from a room in a building near the base of it. They’ve built up a whole settlement of people who came together after the world was nearly destroyed by surging waves of light, working hand in hand to rebuild a functional society. It’s all rather inspiring. Their leader is the one who called me here, a man they call the Crystal Exarch, perhaps due to the crystallization of parts of his body: one hand is fully composed of living crystal the same color as the Crystal Tower, and more seems to be creeping up his neck. However he came by it, it’s clear his connection to the Tower is profound indeed. He apologized for the abruptness of his means of calling for our attention, and for the stealing away of the Scions. Apparently the spell meant to contact me was of his own creation and needed a few attempts at refining, and I can well imagine that few have ever come by the knowledge and power needed to reach across the rift between worlds. Despite everything, he seems quite reasonable, and his people are happy. Besides…there’s something I noticed that I haven’t told anyone else yet. I don’t know if I’m right, but… The thing is, he’s just a little bit shorter than I am. Maybe that doesn’t mean much to you, but I’m pretty short as male-born Miqo’te go, and we’re shorter on the whole than Hyur or just about any other race aside from Lalafells, which he is assuredly not. There is one Miqo’te man I met in the past who was about the same height, though…a scholar and expert on Allagan history, who collaborated on an expedition into the Crystal Tower in our world, and upon gaining a deeper connection to it, locked himself inside it to seal its power away. I don’t know how he could have gotten here. The Crystal Tower and its Exarch arrived on this world shortly after the Flood of Light, so they say, nearly a hundred years ago. Even if time flows differently here, I don’t understand how any of it’s possible, but it’s just too much of a coincidence to ignore. And…I liked that young scholar, quite a lot, when I knew him. So I’m going to take an inadvisable risk and try trusting this man, for the time being. I guess I’m probably not doing as well as I hoped at avoiding worrying you. Other things not to worry about: any weird dreams you might have before receiving this letter. I’m given to understand that the pixie (I hope I spelled that right) who has volunteered to help me transfer objects between worlds travels via dream, and they seem a bit mischievous. It’s probably better just to disregard any strangeness and not think too hard on it.

I love you so very much, and I promise I’ll write more soon,

Mayhem Moondrop

[dualcastimpact]

dawntrail impressions pt. v

In this installment: the Feat of Pots, pathetic wet meow meow Wuk Lamat, and a mysterious summons...

Spoilers under the cut, as always:

Sareel Ja: "If this power truly exists, then I humbly beg a fair share of it."

Sareel Ja: "Time is passing, and I would put my plans in motion without delay. The useless tool is cast aside, after all."

Sareel Ja: "And just so there is no misunderstanding... You consent to this course no matter who is made to suffer?"

Oh my GOD, it's just red flags everywhere with this guy. They really could not be more heavy-handed with the foreshadowing, truly.

Foreshadowing aside, this scene shows exactly why Zoraal Ja is unfit to rule, aside from the whole warmongering expansionist thing. It speaks volumes of Zoraal Ja's character: that he's working with this shady-ass royal advisor of some sort (I forgot his exact position, but I know he's part of the royal court), going along with his plans like sheep and disregarding any and all harm it could incur just to achieve their respective goals. Wuk Lamat and Koana rely on their allies not to tell them what to do, but to guide them throughout this contest. They make their own choices. This is not the case with Zoraal Ja; he's clearly under Sareel Ja's thumb and goes along with his plans, and he's willing to risk everything — even the lives of those he may or may not care for, as hinted here — for his aims.

Those traits do not a good ruler make.

———

Wuk Lamat: "If there's one thing I've learned on this journey, it's how practiced you are at aiding those in need."

Wuk Lamat: "And I mean to make the most of having such an incredible mentor at my side!"

Obvious jab at the Warrior of Light's saviour tendencies and nod to the player aside — that is meant as a nod to the player, right, with her looking right at the camera as she says that? Does she look down if you play a Lalafell or something? — the way Wuk Lamat refers to the Warrior of Light as her mentor encapsulates everything I just said about Zoraal Ja.

———

Koana: "Surely, it would be more effective to engage a uniformly trained collective. I cannot understand their fixation on individual contracts..."

Again, the game's being extremely heavy-handed with how they're showing each claimants' flaws and all that so I can't say too much about this. I just think after a certain point it gets a bit grating, is all.

———

Koana: "Even Sharlayan goldsmiths could not easily replicate such exquisite artistry."

One thing that personally irritates me about Koana is the way he keeps acting like Sharlayan's this absolute pinnacle of excellence, from technology to science to craftsmanship — to everything! — when he hasn't even seen what the rest of the world has to offer. He's like those people who've only gone overseas maybe once or twice and then never shut up about their trip, ever. "Even Sharlayan goldsmiths could not easily replicate such exquisite artistry" has he been to Ul'dah, the literal home of the Eorzea-renowned Goldsmiths' Guild? Has he seen the delicate metalworks of the Ala Mhigan Ananta? Does he know there are other goldsmiths than Sharlayan ones? Does he know that Sharlayan is not the greatest nation on Hydaelyn?

I get that he's mostly well-meaning and this stupid, blatant idolisation of everything Sharlayan is more to highlight the flaws in his character but good god this specifically pisses me off so bad.

———

The Feat of Pots required the claimants to bring one (1) craftsman back to Earthenshire to become a contracted potsworn; presumably the goal was to get the claimants to understand the importance of the collective's system of contracts in facilitating trade and commerce across Tuliyollal. This is where Fonjeantaine comes into play — he agrees to go to Earthenshire to hone his craft and become their contracted potsworn as thanks for Wuk Lamat's earlier encouragement of him.

This required us to travel back to Tuliyollal and discuss things with Fonjeantaine, however, which led us to...

Landsguard Messenger: "Oh, and one more thing: you are not to mention this visit to Wuk Lamat."

What's with the secrecy? Hello?? Without even giving me a chance to take a break after two riverboat rides, a whole-ass dungeon run, running errands all around Earthenshire and hunting down that damn Elezen in Tuliyollal??? Do you people not understand the concept of rest????

———

Sunperch Guard: "The Dawnservant awaits you within. While I was not informed of the reason for your audience, in terms of attire, I would suggest full battle regalia."

OH, COME ON!!!

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "Judging by the sailors' gossip, you are a warrior of renown in your homeland."

Lowkey cackling at the absolute neutrality of Raginmar's expression here, like he is not bothered at all (laughs)

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "Yet I wonder—with all your deeds done and victories won..."

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "Are you warrior enough to stand against me?"

He's so dramatic, did he really need three scene changes just for that one piece of dialogue??? Also if Raginmar can take down the literal embodiment of despair, he can absolutely take Gulool Ja Ja down. I know the game makes it so that the Warrior of Light is constantly challenging stronger and stronger enemies and I'm not saying Gulool Ja Ja wouldn't pose a challenge, but he wouldn't make Raginmar resort to his summoning abilities or go all out in his Lightwarden form, is what I'm saying.

———

What will you say? > Why don't we find out? > So long as neither of us gets too carried away. > I'm not interested in fighting you...

Because accidentally killing the ruler of a nation would be bad, yes.

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "The battle rage is upon me! I'll stop short of killing you, of course...but expect no other mercies!"

Good for you, Gulool Ja Ja! I've mentioned it before but it bears repeating again: Raginmar doesn't know how to spar. If you challenge him to a duel, he will fight as if his life is on the line. He will fight you to the death. He literally doesn't know how else to fight, so if you're challenging him to a 'spar' then you'd best not hold back.

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "I've brought my full strength to bear against opponents before, but you are the first to withstand it."

(jazz hands at Raginmar and his whole deal)

Like, what part of battled the literal manifestation of despair and then 1v1'd Zenos Viator Galvus in a fight to the death right afterwards and won do you not get? Granted the whole ordeal was bad enough that it killed him, but that's neither here nor there.

Jokes aside, the solo duty instance against Gulool Ja Ja was actually really fun! It was a good fight and I enjoyed it a lot.

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "Now, a confession. I said I craved a challenge, and that was no lie...but I had another reason for calling you here."

Oh of course you had an ulterior motive, I don't know what I was expecting.

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "I had to judge for myself if you were fit to attend my beloved daughter."

I prefer the term 'mentor' to 'attendant', thanks.

Also, I just want y'all to know that in the JP dub, he calls Wuk Lamat his "cute daughter" — かわいいなむすめ — which had me bursting into laughter. Doting father, much?

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "But one with your talents could easily dispatch the threats that bar Lamaty'i's way.

Overprotective father detected! The whole point of this was for Wuk Lamat to grow and learn to fend for herself. She doesn't need Raginmar clearing the road for her, although I suppose just the knowledge that he can if she ever needed him to is comforting.

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "Will you hear my question and answer me plainly? Address me not as the ruler of Tuliyollal, but a concerned father."

Just so you know, Gulool Ja Ja, this is what we commonly call a death flag. Good fathers who also happen to be kings don't tend to survive for very long in JRPGs.

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "Then tell me, given your journey together thus far, what is your impression of Lamaty'i?

What will you say? > She is young, but has potential. > She is not ready to rule.

You wanted an honest answer, that's what you'll get with Raginmar (laughs). None of them are ready to rule, which is actually pretty concerning when you think about it. Gulool Ja Ja outright says that if none of the claimants impress him enough during the rite of succession, he simply won't give the throne to them and will remain Dawnservant himself. He's been ruling for around 80 years, how many more years does he even have in him?

My bet is none. The death flag is way too strong with this guy.

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "Lamaty'i thinks she understands our many peoples—their histories, their cultures, their beliefs. But she knows only what she's seen in the capital."

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "With outsiders dragged into my game, I am also hopeful that the different perspectives you and your companions have to offer will inspire them to grow."

I get where he's coming from but, uh, with the exception of Raginmar literally every single one of these 'outsiders' are Sharlayans. That's not really what you'd call a diverse range of perspectives, truth be told.

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "I imagine you in particular have traveled many lands. Known many peoples and cultures—loved them and been loved in return."

He is absolutely correct and even echoed what I literally just said, but also his wording drove me to tears, what do you mean you're telling me that Raginmar's loved and been loved throughout his journey in those exact words, you can't just say that. This one throwaway line makes me so emotional, gah.

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "Guide Lamaty'i as you think best. Walk at her side and, when needed, push her to walk ahead."

Gulool Ja Ja asks us to keep this whole discussion a secret from Wuk Lamat and like, now I have an inkling of what Urianger felt back in Shadowbringers (laughs). Granted it's not as a heavy a secret as help me enact this suicide plan to save the star and the Warrior of Light without letting anyone know, especially the Warrior of Light, and the Warrior of Light has had plenty of people confide to them throughout the game, but I think this might be one of the rare few times that they're explicitly implored to keep a secret.

I wonder how the Mamool Ja age in comparison to Hyurs — are they like the Viera who live for hundreds of years, or like Elezens who live around 100+ or so? Gulool Ja Ja sounds like he might be in his 50s or 60s in human terms, honestly, which I think reminds Raginmar of his own father.

It's worth noting that he's already went through this sort of thing, albeit from a different perspective — Gulool Ja Ja is a father looking out for his daughter, while Raginmar was a brother looking out for his sister. A father's and a brother's protectiveness are not the same. Even if the age gap between them is more like father and daughter (20 years), Raginmar saw Hyllizirn as his sister and treated her accordingly, which meant that he was a lot less worried about letting her get into and out of trouble by herself. He trusts that Hyllizirn would be able to take care of herself and learn her lessons along the way, and so leaves her alone to it and won't interfere unless she asks him to; so does Gulool Ja Ja believe in Wuk Lamat, but the way he's imploring the Warrior of Light to protect and guide her shows that that faith is not 100%.

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "You needn't worry, Daughter. I took care not to inflict lasting injuries."

I like to think this line is him downplaying how fighting Raginmar took the wind out of him and he's just acting tough in front of her (laughs).

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "Koana's recruits are no less sharp—as one might expect of Galuf's countrymen. They saw the flaws in our claimants from the outset."

Now I'm wondering if he'd summoned Thancred and Urianger as well, like he did Raginmar. But if that's the case, why didn't he summon the twins and Krile as well?

———

Vow of Resolve Gulool Ja Ja: "The other two, though... They dismiss comrades willing to point out their shortcomings, and no good can come of it..."

It's beyond that — Bakool Ja Ja and Zoraal Ja are both Mamool Ja; they both have that added pressure of being the 'rightful' kind to inherit the throne. There's the issue of bloodlines and inheritance coming into play. And was it intentional on the devs' part, to have the two stubborn claimants who refuse to engage with outsiders to be Mamool Ja? To be from a race that's historically been enemies in Eorzea, and arguably more bestial and non-human than the X'braal and the Hhetsarro?

———

I'm going to stop saying what's coming up next (laughs) I feel like there should be a concluding paragraph or something summing up what I feel for this post, but really I'm just doing my best to fit as many screenshots into a post as I can while keeping the commentary flowing cohesively. I took about 400+ screenshots and I just hit level 95 in the MSQ, so there're a lot of screenshots to comment on and a lot of posts to make, and I think summarising my thoughts at the end of every post is an exercise in futility.

I'm mainly writing up these impressions? commentaries? for my own enjoyment but if you've been reading along and have comments of your own, I'm more than happy to hear from you!

[lucinata]

FFXIVWrite, Prompt #30: Two Heads Are Better Than One

“Hey, Thancred?”

“Hm?” Thancred looks up from where he’d been draped across several pieces of furniture, staring at the book Urianger had recommended to him. (Couldn’t for the life of him make heads or tails of it, truth be told.) With some surprise, he realized that the voice calling out with trepidation from the doorway was that of the Warrior of Light. How unusual for her to sound so unsure. He puts the book down on the nearest flat surface and rights himself, bringing his hands to his lap. “What brings you here, my friend?”

She shuffles her feet, and checks that the hallway outside was empty of people. “I was just wondering… well, we all know you’re great at stealth-ing and such,” she said, entering the room and shutting the door behind her. “Got your Archon marks for it and everything! And, well, since you’re so good at it, I was wondering if maybe… you could, perhaps… give me a… y’know, a couple of… pointers. Maybe?” By the time she’d gotten to the end of her request, the tips of her ears had flushed a color almost as dark as the scarlet sap she’d spilled on his favorite boots, and her cheeks seemed sure to follow. (As apology, she’d made him a new pair. They were even better than his old ones, though he’d never admit it.)

“Pointers? For you? I hardly see why you might need my help, considering all the sneaking around we’ve had to do already, combined with the seemingly fathomless talent you have for everything from bladework to magics to crafts…” He trails off. The lalafell had buried her face in the collar of her robes, and seemed to be trying to let her hat swallow her whole.

Ah.

“…but of course, since you’ve asked, I’d be happy to tell you all that I know.” He tried to soften his attitude, like he wished he’d done more often with Ryne. He forgets that Halala is yet young. Not quite as young as Ryne, perhaps, but younger than him. And with everything asked of her, all the pressure and reputation on her shoulders… I shouldn’t’ve been so flippant.

He runs his hand through his hair and sighs at himself, watching the already-small hero of the world trying to shrink even smaller. Eventually, she takes a deep breath, and straightens, taking off her hat to wring in her hands. Her lips are pressed tight together, but her brows are set in that determined expression he’s seen time and again when she’s charging into untold dangers where nobody else can follow.

“Would you like to show me what you already know, and I can work with you from there?”

She nods, and he gets up from his chair to sit on the ground, where he can better observe her form. She demonstrates how she walks when she sneaks, with and without weapons, and he’s reminded at once of both when he was teaching Ryne, and of Halala’s early days as a Scion, where he’d go months without hearing a single word pass her lips. He’d almost forgotten how reticent she could be.

But eventually, she relaxed, and they settled into a rhythm of demonstration and correction and discussion. After a while, something seemed to click for her, and she thanked him for his time with a satisfied look on her face. Thancred glances back at the book he’d abandoned. Mayhap I should practice a bit myself, lest I get too rusty…

He exits the room, the only trace of his passage the movement of the air around him… and the mess he’d made when rearranging the furniture.

[valdiis]

FFXIV Site Write #25: Perpetuity

"Augh!" Vy'thanis cried out as he slumped back in his chair. "Again?!"

His mentor chuckled at his dramatics and gathered up the cards on the table. "It'll take more than a few fancy new cards to beat me, my boy," Rianan said. The Lalafell sorted the cards back out to their respective owners before pushing Vyth's across the table back to him.

"Yes, but I'd rather hoped the five-star one-"

"Still won't do you any good if you don't have the head for strategy to use it."

The Elezen scrubbed a hand down his face and sighed. "How about a round of dama?"

Rianan laughed. "Alright. You're far better at dama than you are at triple-triad. Go fetch the board and pieces?"

Vy'thanis rose from his chair and went over to the shelf where Rianan kept all his games. As familiar as he was with the house, he didn't have to be pointed where to look. He pulled out a board made of wood inlaid squares of all the same color and a bag of flat discs in red and white.

"I'll even let you be white," Rianan said.

"How magnanimous of you," Vyth drawled in return as he sat back down with the game.

The Lalafell chuckled and helped Vyth sort and lay the pieces on the board. Once the game was set up, he settled back in his chair to watch Vyth deliberate for a moment.

White went first. Vy'thanis may not have had the best head for strategy, but neither was he awful at the game. He chose a piece on the front row and moved it forward one square. Rianan followed suit with one red piece.

As the game continued, Rianan decided it would be a good time to broach a delicate subject. "You know," he said as he jumped one of Vyth's white pieces and captured it, "it's been nigh on twenty summers since I found you."

"More like I found you," Vyth said. "I practically threw myself at your cart."

That made Rianan chuckle. "Fair. But it's been many summers. I was already in my middle years when we met. I've been thinking forward another twenty summers and I want you to know I'll be leaving this house to you in perpetuity."

Vyth's hand froze over a piece. "You say that like it's immanent," he said softly. His chest hurt at the mere thought of losing his friend and mentor.

"Psh. Hardly. I'm not even fully grey yet." He reached out and tapped the hovering hand. "Move. Besides, you need someone to help you keep house. I've seen your apartment."

Vyth blushed and selected a white disc to move. "I know where everything in my apartment is," he claimed.

"You still could do with dusting it."

"Stone-cutting generates dust!"

"And I know you're perfectly capable of just ordering it to clean itself up." Rianan clucked his tongue at Vyth as he captured another disc.

"It doesn't work quite that way."

"Oh, near enough. The point being, you need someone in your life. I already know this place is too big for just one person. I rattle around in it like a marble in a tin. When I leave it to you, promise me you'll have someone else to fill it with you."

Vyth's eyes prickled a little and he blinked hard to keep from tearing up. "Nan," he said, using the affectionate nickname he rarely pulled out now that he was older, "I don't need you matchmaking for me. Or meddling. I'll find someone when the right someone comes along."

"Better sooner than later, my boy. I won't live forever."

"Don't say that..."

Rianan smiled warmly at the Elezen he'd adopted some twenty summers ago. "Gives me some time to go grey first. King me."

Vyth sighed and put one of the red discs he'd captured on top of the one that had reached the line of squares nearest to him. "I mean it. You'd better have plenty more summers in you."

"I do, my boy. I do."

[irrya-ainivi]

Thankfully, adventurer-type work here is plentiful. All know of somebody in need, and a quick round of chitchat with nearby folk quickly turns up a job otherwise. One thing leading to another, I delivered a pumpkin, thinned a coblyn infestation, and found myself in front of Wystan, a successful self-made upstart from Stonesthrow of all places. He wished to found businesses with fair labor practices and wages for those living in the same poverty he did. Of course, this wretched city instantly crushed those noble dreams.

I did the best I could, but unfortunately that only meant saving him from an attack by the Brass Blades. The local guard! Attacking a lawful citizen! They were under orders of one Lolorito (another Lalafell..?), who I quickly learned is part of a faction whose wealth truly runs Ul'dah. The white-haired Hyur returned, just slightly too late, and quipped about my presence in these situations. But his own sent me into another bout of aether sickness, and I saw… his past? If these visions are more than dreams, then…

Wystan fled from Thanalan, and directed me to seek counsel from Momodi. She commended my actions, and offered me permanent accommodation at her establishment. She is truly a woman of her word, giving as much as she gets, and her passion for her city moves me.

I shall go enjoy my rest on a bed my size.

[worstcrystalbearer]

Day 11 - "Surrogate"

"Right... So stamping here doesn't make me her mother, correct?"

Jana had been very sure when she ordered the paperwork that would make Uzuki her ward that she wasn't going to accidentally adopt the girl, but she couldn't help being paranoid. Their verbal agreement was going to be a little more official now and Jana would technically be in charge of what was left of the Katakura clan's wealth until Uzuki could come of age. In practice, Jana planned to let her do as she wished with both the money and material goods... But legal protection was always important, especially in Ul'dah.

"That's right, madam," replied the mustachioed Lalafell behind the counter. "You will be her guardian and guarantor for the next few years, but nothing more. Though if you wish to adopt..." The short man cut himself off as Jana shook her head.

"This is enough for both of us. She just needs a little protection while she gets back onto her own two feet." The look her reply earned her seemed to say, "Why simply 'protect' anyone? This is Ul'dah," but if the clerk was thinking about it, he didn't voice it aloud. Perhaps because his tact (or anyone's, really) could totally eclipse Jana's, he instead nodded and slid the forms across the counter.

It was a question worth considering though, and Jana had spent a good, long time doing so, but even she didn't have a singular answer. Maybe this was just a simple act of pity, maybe she just needed to feel better about herself after taking so many lives (not that she would stop doing so). But deep in her subconscious, a feeling that she would never be able to verbalize had already taken hold: She simply couldn't bear to see someone with potential have it snatched away, especially by the kinds of vultures that had circled the girl on that dock in Vesper Bay.

A few signatures and stamps later, and the paperwork was finalized, and the clerk collected them up to file away. "Very good. By the authority granted to me by the City-State of Ul'dah, Jana Ridah is now the legal guardian of Uzuki Katakura." With a small bow, he then turned and left, leaving Jana alone with nothing but her thoughts... The first of which was why she had been allowed to do all this without the teen girl present.

[the-littlest-kojin]

List Of My Characters, Haphazardly Sorted

The following page will be a list of all of the characters I am open to being approached about for RP, questions, or interactions, divided into categories to try to make the list easier to sort through.

First, my main!

Shio - Female - Identifies as a Kojin, Warrior of Light. My canon WoL. All over my blog. She’s snarky, strong, studies the cultures and languages of everywhere she meets, always eager to make friends and only has a harsh word when she feels taken advantage of. Accordingly, dislikes the Scions, who she feels take advantage of her. Loves fishing.

Further categories can be found beneath the read more! Not all of them have screens yet, but I will be adding more screens as my energy permits!

Basic Concept Characters - This category is for characters who are pretty basic, easy-access characters - ones that won’t require a huge amount of context or lore knowledge to grasp.

Conroy - Masculine, gender apathetic - Viera Archon of Aetherology, lives in Sharlayan. Very soft spoken, teaches people who can think "outside the box". Cannot cook. Has loving family.

~

Brilliant Caladium - Female - Roegadyn, adventurer. Blessed with the Echo but choosing not to overreach her limits in heroing. Does small scale jobs and tries to get other WoLs to relax and pace themselves. Jovial, friendly. Very fit.

~

Ava - Female - Viera brawler, adrenaline junky. Occasionally makes out with Sadu. Born in Rabanastre, was part of the Dalmascan Navy before Garlemald invaded. Has travelled the land since. Mainly wants to get in fights and find her family again.

~

Gologa - Male - Hrothgar soldier, was at Bozja when it got nuked, old and haggard and scarred. Can't use magic. Recently adopted a Garlean toddler. Very taciturn but very physical and practical.

~

Statera - Female - Miqo'te engineer, student of Conroy. Likes to tinker with machines in very reckless ways. Probably needs a few lectures on workplace safety. Very gung-ho, big hyperfocus energy.

~

Omikhle - Male - Lalafell, once was an infamously powerful black mage, made a deal with a demon for long life, now is a full time healer teaching students in Sharlayan. Brusque, rude, will set unruly students on fire.

~

Nith - Androgynous Agendered - Viera Ronin, wandering the land going where there are things to fight and teaching samurai arts to fellow travellers. Has no interest in politics, always interested in a drink and to hear tales of far off lands.

~

Ban - Male - Roegadyn ex-pirate, once cannoneer on the ship Thal's Mercy, now works a quiet life as an attendant at the Bokairo Inn. Very pragmatic, very rough spoken but ultimately kind in his recent years.

~

Gloyn - Feminine, gender apathetic - Viera botanist, was once a Warrior of Light but didn't like hurting people and so retired from it after some very unpleasant shenanigans. Took up healing and botany. Very short attention span, very bubbly personality. Likes glitter. Cannot hold still.

~

Odori - Female - Miqo’te singer, dancer, and entertainer. Hingan-born, spends her life travelling the world. Flirty, sultry, happy, and unusually tall. Enjoys being unexpected.

~

Khusel - Feminine Gender Apathetic - Xaela, left the Steppe after some familial clashes. Now wanders around, doing odd jobs. Travels a lot, kind of useless - vibe of “rat that went through the washing machine’s spin cycle.”

~

Alatyr - Male - Hrothgar, middle-aged traveling merchant. Travels the star over with a caravan of goods, always happy to buy or sell whatever is needed. Very relaxed, very calm, very friendly, very soft. Often found with a local beauty in a tavern, pub, or inn, drinking and smoking and laughing.

~

Blooming Arrowroot - Feminine gender apathetic - Roegadyn, full-time miner. Has two loving parents who she insisted should be able to retire, as such, works six days a week dawn to dusk to provide for herself and both of them. Permanently tired, very overworked, and can be found on her weekly days off drinking cheap swill in the Drowning Wench. Wishes she had the time or money to go see a play.

~

Unique Concept Characters - This category is for characters who I have come up with one or two unusual traits for, that come up commonly in their interactions and stories.

~

Amis - Feminine gender apathetic - Au Ra songstress, mute Qalli, writes music for a living in Radz-at-Han. Very short and explosive temper, communicates exclusively via music. Best songwriter you've ever goddamn heard of.

~

Lihtbryda - Female - Roegadyn mercenary, has a weird condition with her aether that makes her physically hot to the touch. Wants to save people and make friends but is very emotionally starved.

~

Saltsong - No Gender - Sea-deity given form, shapeshifter, usually takes the form of a coral-horned Xaela woman. Size shifter. Is the spirit of the ocean with all that entails.

~

Galdra - Feminine Gender Unsure - isn't sure what race she is, suspects artificial lifeform. Every time she dies, she wakes up again in the ruins of Nym. Has become blasé towards danger and death. Cordial but distant, has memory issues.

~

Acras - Female - Xaela, cursed by a Voidsent into becoming a vampire. Hedonistic, enjoys high society events, travels a lot. Likes to have blood from willing donors.

~

Amga Qestir - Feminine Gender Apathetic - Xaela, completely mute Qestir. Travels the world, despises civilisation. Friendly and gregarious, welcomes anybody to their campsites as they travel the world - as long as they do not speak. Lives off the land, and travels to everywhere on the planet, with the exception of any kind of town, settlement, or city.

~

Lore-Dependent Characters - This category is for characters who I have written to try to explore some particular facet of the FFXIV lore or story. Spoilers for the MSQ will inherently exist in this category.

~

Orinitt - Male - Dwarf blacksmith, had the Stoneblight that made him lose sight in one eye, shenanigans got him to the Source. Now lives in Limsa and is determined to become the best smith in two worlds. Alcoholic. Rivals with Gerolt. Very very grumpy.

~

Taraine - Genderfluid - Elezen knight, noble and heretic, lives in Ishgard. Extremely cruel and sadistic, incredibly angry at the Church and the Temple Knights, spent her life during the Dragonsong War undermining them. Now that peace has been found, does not trust the Church, is trying to find her new place.

~

Surya - Androgynous Agendered - Viis singer, lives in Eulmore and literally sings for their supper. Has no interest in anything beyond the now, wants to help people relax. Hedonist, kind, but uninterested in the long term.

~

Nehir - Male - Garlean deserter, son of Gaius. Was a sas in the Garlean army, posted on the walls at Ala Mhigo before deserting in disgust at Zenos's disregard for the men under his command. Believes in the Garlean message, hates the colonialism. Wants to help uplift people. 

~

Blaidd - Male - Elf Werewolf, given the power of the wolf by the Shadowkeeper on the First, then was stranded in the Void for years. Managed to get out to the Source, now lives in the wilderness in isolation, very uncomfortable in society. Has a very feral wolf side, keeps very tightly controlled most of the time.

~

Reson - Male - Viera escaped experiment, was in Garlean captivity for many years. Likely not his real name. Has the Resonant but can't control it, experiences physical agony if someone lies aloud near him. Very quiet, very distrusting. Has prosthetic legs, ending in hooves.

(Shadowbringers Spoilers) Amaurotine Characters - This sub-category is for Amaurotine characters I have created, who are by nature related to another character.

~

Thalassa - Female - The Amaurotine whose Sundered soul would become Shio. Once a Word of Mitron, designing microbiology for aquatic biospheres, she was given the responsibility of the Seat of Azem - against her will, but she took the duty seriously.

~

Kolokasia - Female - The Amaurotine whose Sundered soul would become Brilliant Caladium. Nobody of any particular important position or prominence, a mere florist in the Unsundered World. Collects flowers, and gives them to people who she likes.

NSFW Characters - Most of the characters listed above can be found at @the-lustful-kojin​ for NSFW content! However, there are two characters who are inherently NSFW in some fashion - be it violence, dark themes, or erotic content. They will be contained on their own blogs, which will be linked here.

Additionally,

~

Elucia - Gender N/A - Voidsent (succubus), mainly tries to seduce people and eat their aether, as well as keep their head down and not get slain by a hero. Very sexual, shapeshifter. Is NSFW for sexual and erotic themes, as well as violence. ( @thedemonelucia )

~

Nahla - Female - Elezen pirate, quartermaster on the Scorpio Siren. Is not nice. Is very ruthless. Never raises her voice. Mainly wants to keep sailing free. Hates chains. Is NSFW for reasons of torture and other dark themes, both in her backstory and her current actions. ( @quartermasternahla )

[tk-duveraun]

Lian and the Capitalist Fuckboy AU 7/?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 (here). 8.

Featuring @illogicalghost 's Umumi Umi

“Blessings are not free.”

-

Lian meets the Warrior of Light and her entourage in Onokoro. She's more than halfway to horrified: they're all children. Lian is not ignorant of Lalafell, the way she was when she was younger, but Umumi is still perilously young, though still older than the Leveilleur twins. Even Lyse Hext is barely more than a teenager.

Lian feels a heavy instinct to hide all of them behind her sleeves and deal with matters herself, despite her people's non-intervention with the Domans up to this point.

"You'll have to forgive my rudeness, Madam Feng," Alisaie says, "but how can we trust you? It doesn't make sense for you to get involved now of all times. Far more likely you're here to sabotage us." She's all brash, sharp edges like Lian's sisters.

"My spouse is Eorzean," Lian answers easily. She shows them the wedding ring Hancock gifted to her for their wedding. "He asked very nicely that I might add my magic to the cause."

Umumi rocks on her feet, clutching her head in the grips of a vision from her Echo. She clutches Lyse's stabilizing hand and then stares up at Lian with wide eyes. "You have the Blessing of Light, too!"

Lian nods, "So it's called by your people, yes. It is thanks to the Blessing that I recently survived an illness that should have been fatal. As such, my people believe the Heavens wish for me to aid in fulfillment of the Blessing's purpose."

Alphinauld's eyes are bright. "Your people don't think it's a blessing from Hydaelyn?"

Lian covers her mouth with a round, hand fan. Ah the willful inquisition of the young. "The Blessing is from the Heavens; there's no need to introduce conflicts of faith."

Alisaie rolls her eyes so hard they look about to roll out of her skull.

Lyse laughs. "Spoken like a true politician!"

"Alright, then," Umumi says with friendliness, though some reservation. "Right now, we're planning to strike against the Red Kojin..."

Lian's frown deepens as she listens to their plans. "Assaulting someone's faith is quite cruel."

"It's not like that!" Umumi insists. "They're using stored aether to summon a primal! It's not a real god."

"Even if they weren't allied with the Garleans, the Red Kojin having summoned a primal is a problem, not just for us, but for them as well," Lyse adds.

"Primals draw on large amounts of ambient aether when summoned, not just what was used to manifest them. They don't deplete aether to extent of, say, the Burn, but there are measurable impacts on the surroundings. Then, once you add in tempering, they're indiscriminately dangerous."

"I see, but I will ensure the proper respects are paid. Destroying a facsimile of a god, even a dangerous one, maybe easily be seen as an insult to the heavens."

After the defeat of Susano, the Eorzeans are more comfortable with Lian.

"I've never seen magic like that!" Umi says with stars in her eyes.

"It felt very similar to Black Magic, but like nothing I've seen practiced before."

Lian nods. "I believe the Black Magic practiced in Eorzea follows from Mhachi traditions. They were admirable mages, no doubt, but my people's practices come from our own traditions. The similarities are formed from the inherent properties of aether and the fundamentals of aetheric manipulation. While purely offensive, my magic has more of a living base than Black Magic. While my staff is metal, many, including my own brothers, practice with living wood, much like your White Mages."

Umi barrages Lian with questions about both the links to White Magic and her brothers.

"Do you think Nature magic is more intuitive? My little sister Pinene can already channel White Magic and she's only twelve!"

"How we manipulate aether is informed by the culture in which we're raised, even if we don't seem to be learning about magic," Lian says. "Your family is from the area where White Magic is most often taught, yes? That would be most intuitive."

Umi considers this. "So if we lived in Ul'dah do you think she'd be doing Black Magic?"

Lian chuckles. "My understanding is that most buildings in Ul'dah are made of stone due to children accidentally creating fire as their talent for aetherial manipulation grows."

"Oh, you just need to meet Y'shtola!"

[yoki-doki-then]

FFXIV Write 2024 - Z I P

“I play Bomb in the upper-right quadrant! This attack allows me to take both the center-top and middle-right through the Plus ruleset! Furthermore! It chains into...” a breath is taken. Then two more. “It chains into here! I think? I think I win? I do, right?”

“Incredible. High level Triple Triad play, sister,” says Totolili to the younger Yoki, cheek resting on an upturned palm. “You did maths.”

“I did do math, yes, thank you for noticing!” beams the littler Lalafell. “It helps that the Twelve gave me a Bomb to use!”

“I appreciate this phrasing,” says the man, smirking at the tween. “May you have all the Bombs you need in the future. Right. I'll put the cards away. We're holding up dinner, I think?” He looks to the warm chamber's doorway, one of the estate's maids standing in it. The most important one, he likes to remind himself. She nods to his query, and ushers for Yoki to depart with a hand. The little lady does, inconsiderate of the mess of cards she leaves behind, but caring enough to give a curtsy to the servant. With a sigh, Totolili gets to his firstborn duty of tidying up after younger people.

“Did you win at all?”

“No, of course not.”

“It might be unwise to let repeat victories get to her head.”

“Maybe.” He sighs, picking up the victorious Bomb card. “I think later I'll crush her dreams at being a card shark, once she has some time properly living. She spent so much of it confined to a bed chamber, I'm not inclined towards sending her back there for fear of losing to me in a children's card game.”

“Fair,” says Aiaika, who comes over to tidy up the things only a background actor would notice. “... It is improbable for her to keep winning, though. She's going to notice. Especially since you tend to play the more random rulesets.”

“I doubt it. I'm fairly good at cheating.”

“Cheating against your own sibling?”

Totolili pauses to look up at Aiaika. “I cheat constantly. Hold on, I don't get to talk about this sort of thing often. My father has this whole ridiculous philosophy about Nald'thal holding your life's events to a coin flip.” He rolls a wrist dismissively. “Mother has her own that's a bit more practical, if mean. Limsa things. Mine's a bit more simple than either of theirs.” Totolili flourishes the Bomb card, holding it in singular, before making it vanish in a flash of motion.

“... Just cheat?” Aiaika guesses.

“Yep. Why bother chancing a coin toss in the first place when you can rig the whole thing? Pick what face the coin will show through your own skill? Sod the Twelve – respectfully.” His fingers twinkle at the mundane magic performance.

“But what if I know you're cheating? Doesn't that bring us back to it just being a coin toss?”

“Do you know how I'm cheating?”

“... It's in your pocket. Or your sleeve. Or your collar. Somewhere.”

“Are you sure?”

“I'm just going to check, Toto.”

“See? I didn't even need to flip a coin to get what I wanted.” Aiaika blinks her eyes wide before the two share a smile, one more mischievous than the other. Dinner's delayed.