beyondtheroll

[beyondtheroll]

WHEN WILL I BE HOME?

When will I be home? I don’t know.

In the mountains, in the rainy night,

The Autumn lake is flooded.

Someday we will be back together again.

We will sit in the candlelight by the West window.

And I will tell you how I remembered you

Tonight on the stormy mountain.

Li Shangyin, c. 827 (translated by K. Rexroth)

[beyondtheroll]

((I updated Strix's bio page with their art, but I'm gonna share it here as well! The artwork was done by the incredible @nightrizer! <3 Unfortunately I had to crop it a bit because the main file is to big, heh, but the full version can be found on their dA which is here!

[beyondtheroll]

@tarnishedxknight - continued from here

Strix remained silent, remained still, as the strangers spoke. Their gaze unblinking as it raked over the haggard group, before it locked onto the man at the front. He was respectful, at least, and he confirmed their suspicions. They were heading to Mt Bur-Omisace, just like everyone else who managed to find their way into Halivaara, but...

Their gaze moved to the boy who had been ushered to the middle of the group - the young Solidor - but before they could ask why they were traveling with him, the woman in front spoke, and drew their attention. An interested glint caught in their eyes as they lifted their head slightly, now far more curious than suspicious. "You are supposed to be dead," they said, but they almost sounded... amused. In truth, if she truly was the lost Dalmascan Princess...

By the gods, that was a spot of hope in these dark times.

But that did not change the fact they had a Solidor in their midst, and Strix's curiosity faded as they looked once more to the boy. "Yet you travel with a Solidor," they said, and saw the way the boy wince. "Forgive me, Majesty-" if you are who you claim to be "-but I have my reasons to be--"

Larsa felt his heart lurch as his breath caught in his throat when the Rev-like being stared at him again. He was grateful for the way Vaan and Penelo had moved to stand in front of him, but... was this not something he would have to continue to face? With a deep breath, he lifted his head and squeezed between his friends - ignoring Vaan's startled, hey, wait! - and stood beside Ashelia. Doing his best to ignore the way his heart pounded, and the renewed interest in the stranger's gaze. Doing his best to ignore the arrow still drawn and poised to be fired.

"I am Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, son of Emperor Gramis Gana Solidor," he said, interrupting them. His voice steady despite his nerves and racing heart. "I understand your distrust, but we have traveled this way in the hope of the Gran Kiltias would recognize Princess Ashe as the rightful ruler of Dalmasca so we can call an end to this war. We mean--"

It was Strix's turn to interrupt.

"You will not find the Gran Kiltias in Halivaara," they said calmly, and eased the tension from their bow as they lowered it. Expertly removing the arrow from its place before they slid it back into their quiver. Their torn ear twitched again beneath the hood of their cloak. "Mt Bur-Omisace lies further west. You will not make it before the storm arrives."

Around them, the wind was beginning to kick up. Shaking the snowy branches as a light dusting began to stir along the ground. Larsa's eyes widened in distress, but before he could speak, Strix cocked their head to the side in a quiet gesture for them to follow.

"Come. We can make it to Juna Outpost before the storm, and there you can wait it out. I reckon it will not last the night." They paused as they scanned over the group again, and knew that their father would not be pleased with the sudden arrival of Humes. Nor would most in the village, but... in truth, they did not have the heart to turn them away. Not if this truly was Princess Ashelia, and not if Lord Larsa was genuine in his hope.

And who could deny the chance of an end to the war?

With a slow breath, Strix dipped their head as a show of respect. "I will warn you, you will not have a warm welcome upon arrival, but I can assure you your safety will be guaranteed. My people will not deny others shelter or passage to Bur-Omisace, although they are not the most trusting of outsiders."

"And why is that?"

They glanced at the man standing toward the back beside the Viera, and smiled in return, though it did not reach their eyes. Not bitter, but not kind, either. "We Tabaxi are not known to be the most forgiving."

The way he tilted his head made it clear he knew what they meant.

With a quiet huff, Strix shook their head and turned away. "Follow me. I will answer other questions once we reach Juna Outpost and are sheltered. I care not to wait around and get caught in this storm, and I do not recommend you try to wait it out here, either."

[beyondtheroll]

@pretty-isnt-pretty-enough (Catalina) sent: if you're acting, you're fantastic at it.

"Acting?" Strix echoed as they stared at the woman with a small frown. Surprise and confusion evident in their gaze as their torn ear flicked. "I can assure you, I am not acting. I do not even know what I would be acting for." Unless this woman felt their personality was an act? It would not be the first time their deadpan nature was mistaken to be some sort of front, and if that was the case, it hardly bothered them. They could not force others to think a certain way of them, and they saw no need to present a faux cheerfulness when it wasn't who they were.

They shook their head. "I apologize if I have given you the wrong impression, {ma'am}, but perhaps I can remedy any confusion. Why do you think I am acting?"

[beyondtheroll]

Tabaxis*

(*please note, while based on the dnd race, this deviates away from dnd!)

Tabaxis are closely related to the Rev, although they're not quite the same. Although humanoid, much like the Rev, Tabaxis are considered more feline-like than their Rev counterpart - having noses, muzzles, eyes, and teeth like felines, as well as (most) having longer tails and retractable claws. Their hands are also padded at the fingertips and palms, much like a cat's paw, although their fingers are human-like, and their feet are closer to that of paws, which are also padded. Fur patterns vary from Tabaxi to Tabaxi, although they're usually stripped or spotted in some way, with few being a solid color. Also, despite being humanoid, it's normal for Tabaxis to have twins or triplets. Most families have two to four kits (children), and although having a single kit is uncommon, it's not unheard of.

They're an uncommon race and can primarily be found living in Halivaara, although they can be found in various other locations throughout Ivalice, such as Balfonheim, Mt Bur-Omisace, Bhujerba, and Rozarria. They can be found in Nabradia and Dalmasca, though in smaller numbers, and even fewer can be found throughout Archadia - primarily there because they have been unable to leave the Empire. Most Tabaxis used to live in Orkala and some in Landis, but both kingdoms have since been wiped from the Ivalician map because of Archadia's bloody expansion.

The spoken history of the Tabaxis is that Halivaara had been their place of origin. While their religion is similar to the one found across Ivalice, Kybris is the god they primarily worship, rather than Faram. They say that Kybris dug into Halivaara twice, and that Halivaara bears the healed scars to prove it. The first time she dug, she dug to find mud and clay to create the Tabaxi, and left behind the Starfall Basin - a large body of water found in the mountains of Halivaara that, at night, mirror the stars perfectly, as if they had fallen into the water. The second time Kybris dug, she dug into the side of the mountain itself to create shelter for the Tabaxi, which allowed them to build a village safe from the elements. That village still stands today as Juna Outpost*, though the original name had been lost to time. *(Juna Outpost takes inspiration from the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings!)

Their history also states that Kybris had shown them the way to Orkala, which is why most had left Halivaara and why Orkala became their kingdom for generations, because she wanted them to protect the magistonite mines. In turn for their guardianship, she taught them how to find magistonite and how to handle it with ease, and that is the reason why the Tabaxis keep magistonite a closely guarded secret, even with the resource lost. They rarely sold anything made of magistonite, let alone raw magistonite, and it was the reason why they refused to grant Archadia access to the magistonite mines. It was also the reason why Reyhana and a handful of other Tabaxis decided to collapse the mines during the Siege of Larnwick.

Tabaxis tend to keep to themselves, although they don't isolate themselves like the Viera, and are more peaceful in nature, though most found in Halivaara are cautious, if not hostile, of Humes because of Archadia. Those living outside Halivaara, however, are more open to interacting with Humes. And before the Siege of Larnwick, those who lived in Orkala had also been more open to interacting with Humes, with some even traveling to Landis to trade and sell various goods. They often brought with them various other resources found within the mines, herbs found throughout Orkala, various weapons, and handcrafted jewelry and leather goods.

Aside from Common, Tabaxi primarily speak Kaalabi - an evolution of their original language, Payrit, which is now considered to be dead. Kaalabi is both a verbal and written language, while Payrit had been strictly verbal, and is even spoken by those who did not come from Orkala. It's unknown why or when Payrit was replaced by Kaalabi and where Kaalabi originated from, though some Tabaxis say that they're separate languages altogether. They also communicate through vocalizations like hissing, growling, and purring; sign language; and eye contact, such as showing trust through long, slow blinks, and distrust through unwavering stares. They can also reveal their emotions through their ears, such as pinning them back when upset or perking them when interested, and their tails can fluff up when frightened or angry. Kits have been known to actually hold onto their tails for comfort, or onto the tails of their friends or family to stay close.

Tabaxis will bump their heads together as a sign of comfort, affection, and trust, and there have been times when a Tabaxi will do that to someone of another race without thinking about it. It's considered polite and respectful to dip their heads at each other, especially to those in authority or when meeting someone new. Young kits tend to have fun with it by seeing who can be "the most respectful", and it's not uncommon for them to end up literally butting heads in the process.

They're primarily carnivorous, although they have a broad diet like that of other races, which allows them to digest fruits, vegetables, grains, and other non-meat foodstuffs. They can eat more raw meat than most other races outside of certain fish and shellfish, but they primarily tend to cook their meats - it's just normally more on the rare side than anything else. Their food tends to be savory with certain spicy dishes, and they're primarily known for their stews and soups made from whatever they have available. They're also known for their game jerky, usually made of venison or rabbit, and it was something they would occasionally sell in Landis from time to time.

Tabaxis age similarly to Humes, and have a lifespan of around 100 years, with the oldest known Tabaxi having lived until they were 127 years old. They usually follow the laws of whatever kingdom or Empire they live in regarding age, but in Orkala and Halivaara, they have their own laws and social customs surrounding it. At 16 they're able to work certain jobs (usually helping their family if their family owns a business, but work is usually considered "low-risk"); at 18 they're able to drink, join the militia, and have more career options; and at 20 they're considered adults, which allows them to have their own home or business, get married, and have kits. Tabaxis are also able to leave Orkala or Halivaara when they turn 20 if they desire, but that is purely a social norm - it hasn't stopped Tabaxis from leaving sooner, and that norm was shaken up after the Siege of Larnwick.

[beyondtheroll]

((with that, I'm going to head to bed! I will be posting a hc post about magistonite soon as well, so I will be diving into that as soon as I can!

[beyondtheroll]

Tabaxis*

(*please note, while based on the dnd race, this deviates away from dnd!)

Tabaxis are closely related to the Rev, although they're not quite the same. Although humanoid, much like the Rev, Tabaxis are considered more feline-like than their Rev counterpart - having noses, muzzles, eyes, and teeth like felines, as well as (most) having longer tails and retractable claws. Their hands are also padded at the fingertips and palms, much like a cat's paw, although their fingers are human-like, and their feet are closer to that of paws, which are also padded. Fur patterns vary from Tabaxi to Tabaxi, although they're usually stripped or spotted in some way, with few being a solid color. Also, despite being humanoid, it's normal for Tabaxis to have twins or triplets. Most families have two to four kits (children), and although having a single kit is uncommon, it's not unheard of.

They're an uncommon race and can primarily be found living in Halivaara, although they can be found in various other locations throughout Ivalice, such as Balfonheim, Mt Bur-Omisace, Bhujerba, and Rozarria. They can be found in Nabradia and Dalmasca, though in smaller numbers, and even fewer can be found throughout Archadia - primarily there because they have been unable to leave the Empire. Most Tabaxis used to live in Orkala and some in Landis, but both kingdoms have since been wiped from the Ivalician map because of Archadia's bloody expansion.

The spoken history of the Tabaxis is that Halivaara had been their place of origin. While their religion is similar to the one found across Ivalice, Kybris is the god they primarily worship, rather than the Great Father. They say that Kybris dug into Halivaara twice, and that Halivaara bears the healed scars to prove it. The first time she dug, she dug to find mud and clay to create the Tabaxi, and left behind the Starfall Basin - a large body of water found in the mountains of Halivaara that, at night, mirror the stars perfectly, as if they had fallen into the water. The second time Kybris dug, she dug into the side of the mountain itself to create shelter for the Tabaxi, which allowed them to build a village safe from the elements. That village still stands today as Juna Outpost*, though the original name had been lost to time. *(Juna Outpost takes inspiration from the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings!)

Their history also states that Kybris had shown them the way to Orkala, which is why most had left Halivaara and why Orkala became their kingdom for generations, because she wanted them to protect the magistonite mines. In turn for their guardianship, she taught them how to find magistonite and how to handle it with ease, and that is the reason why the Tabaxis keep magistonite a closely guarded secret, even with the resource lost. They rarely sold anything made of magistonite, let alone raw magistonite, and it was the reason why they refused to grant Archadia access to the magistonite mines. It was also the reason why Reyhana and a handful of other Tabaxis decided to collapse the mines during the Siege of Larnwick.

Tabaxis tend to keep to themselves, although they don't isolate themselves like the Viera, and are more peaceful in nature, though most found in Halivaara are cautious, if not hostile, of Humes because of Archadia. Those living outside Halivaara, however, are more open to interacting with Humes. And before the Siege of Larnwick, those who lived in Orkala had also been more open to interacting with Humes, with some even traveling to Landis to trade and sell various goods. They often brought with them various other resources found within the mines, herbs found throughout Orkala, various weapons, and handcrafted jewelry and leather goods.

Aside from Common, Tabaxi primarily speak Kaalabi - an evolution of their original language, Payrit, which is now considered to be dead. Kaalabi is both a verbal and written language, while Payrit had been strictly verbal, and is even spoken by those who did not come from Orkala. It's unknown why or when Payrit was replaced by Kaalabi and where Kaalabi originated from, though some Tabaxis say that they're separate languages altogether. They also communicate through vocalizations like hissing, growling, and purring; sign language; and eye contact, such as showing trust through long, slow blinks, and distrust through unwavering stares. They can also reveal their emotions through their ears, such as pinning them back when upset or perking them when interested, and their tails can fluff up when frightened or angry. Kits have been known to actually hold onto their tails for comfort, or onto the tails of their friends or family to stay close.

Tabaxis will bump their heads together as a sign of comfort, affection, and trust, and there have been times when a Tabaxi will do that to someone of another race without thinking about it. It's considered polite and respectful to dip their heads at each other, especially to those in authority or when meeting someone new. Young kits tend to have fun with it by seeing who can be "the most respectful", and it's not uncommon for them to end up literally butting heads in the process.

They're primarily carnivorous, although they have a broad diet like that of other races, which allows them to digest fruits, vegetables, grains, and other non-meat foodstuffs. They can eat more raw meat than most other races outside of certain fish and shellfish, but they primarily tend to cook their meats - it's just normally more on the rare side than anything else. Their food tends to be savory with certain spicy dishes, and they're primarily known for their stews and soups made from whatever they have available. They're also known for their game jerky, usually made of venison or rabbit, and it was something they would occasionally sell in Landis from time to time.

Tabaxis age similarly to Humes, and have a lifespan of around 100 years, with the oldest known Tabaxi having lived until they were 127 years old. They usually follow the laws of whatever kingdom or Empire they live in regarding age, but in Orkala and Halivaara, they have their own laws and social customs surrounding it. At 16 they're able to work certain jobs (usually helping their family if their family owns a business, but work is usually considered "low-risk"); at 18 they're able to drink, join the militia, and have more career options; and at 20 they're considered adults, which allows them to have their own home or business, get married, and have kits. Tabaxis are also able to leave Orkala or Halivaara when they turn 20 if they desire, but that is purely a social norm - it hasn't stopped Tabaxis from leaving sooner, and that norm was shaken up after the Siege of Larnwick.

[beyondtheroll]

Stray No regret 'cause I've got nothing to lose Ever stray So I'm gonna live my life as I choose Until I fall

[beyondtheroll]

((as a little fun fact while I still figure out my tabaxi hc post, Juna Outpost is based on the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings!

[beyondtheroll]

What songs did you use for your verses?

((I'm gonna list the songs in order of my verses!

Centuries by Fall Out Boy

Brave New World by STARSET

Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park

Final Masquerade by Linkin Park

What I've Done by Linkin Park

Prayer of the Refugee by Rise Against

Cut the Bridge by Linkin Park

Blood Upon the Snow by Bear McCreary feat. Hozier

Waiting for the End by Linkin Park

The Last of the Real Ones by Fall Out Boy

[beyondtheroll]

@notyourdumblonde (Thea) sent: ❛  nothing comes of the songs people sing.  ❜

Strix's gaze slowly slid toward the girl with a twitch of their torn ear. Their expression unreadable as ever. What a strange thing, that. Was this a common belief amongst humes, or just to this one in particular? No matter. They would entertain this conversation, as they were now curious themself, and mulled over their answer. Over the words said, and shook their head.

"I would not be so certain of that," they said - their voice low and steady. "Songs can give hope and inspire others. They can rally the lost, spark a new flame, or bring even the most hardened to their knees. To dismiss songs as no more than mere entertainment is a disservice, {kit}."

Though, with him being the possible cause of this conversation, Strix nodded in the direction of the nearby street performer. His voice was loud, clear, and melodic, though mayhap not enough to ring out from a stage. "Although his song may not be a driving force, even those sung for entertainment can earn a gil or two. And what harm is there in trying to make a living?"

[beyondtheroll]

((Strix's vc is Charl.ize Th.eron, specifically her role as Monkey from Ku.bo and the Two Strings! (audio example here)

[beyondtheroll]

((tag drop 2

[beyondtheroll]

available verses

v; and i can't stop 'til the whole world knows my name - pre-Siege of Larnwick

v; you think you're enemies but you're all the same - post-Siege of Larnwick and before Strix returns to Juna Outpost

v; i wanna let go of the pain i've held so long - pre-ffxii and prologue, with Strix splitting their time between Juna Outpost and Mt Bur-Omisace

v; standing at the end of the final masquerade - during ffxii

v; while i clean this slate with the hands of uncertainty - post-ffxii

auv; i'll tell you stories of a better time - general au verse

auv; sabotage it all just to watch it fall - resistance fighter au

auv; i've no more hunger now to see where the road will go - sky pirate au. Strix lives in Balfonheim and works alongside Reddas.

auv; all i wanna do is trade this life for something new - general crossover verse

auv; 'cause you're the last of a dying breed - mcu crossover verse

[beyondtheroll]

((I'll continue working on verses when I get back from dnd! And then I'll try to get to my other blogs tomorrow after work, heh

[beyondtheroll]

((as a heads up, anytime Strix speaks in Kaalabi, I'll type their speech within these brackets {}, like {so}!

[beyondtheroll]

((I might... move my rules and mun page to my hub and link it there for all my blogs