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Do they empathize with non-sentient things (dolls, plants, books…)?

Not especially, though he sometimes treats fiddly bits of machinery as if it has a will of its own (and may need to be sweet-talked around so it will either keep behaving or stop actively thwarting him).

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An interest check for Crystal: Ishgard religious RP

I’ve already got one mini-event series planned for 2019 – an Alpine Greening Institute farm stand. (Psst, if you’ve been hyped for Ishgard reconstruction and farming since FanFest, we’ve got a cross-FC RP group along exactly those lines, Greening Coerthas, with an open Discord where we’re planning 2019’s activities right now~)

But, following @ser-rex‘s knight investiture, there was some interest expressed in more Ishgardian Orthodox religious events. And that’s definitely something I and my characters would also be interested in – religion’s often a huge part of an Ishgardian’s life, Church is a locus of community activity in pseudo-medieval-Europe, it’d get different classes and professional groups of Ishgardians interacting and expressing that side of themselves, etc. etc.

But outright sermons or Ishgardian mass is a little fraught, since we really don’t have a lot of doctrinal detail, and while we can lift some things from the history of Catholicism, plenty of things just… don’t make sense in this fantasy setting. (Plus lots of other considerations like the fact that we’re mere players all with different headcanons, and real-life religious sensitivities, and so on…)

My husband DOES have a priest character, and if there’s a real demand for sermons we could work together to try to write some. But… I’ve been nursing the idea of an alternative, something more casual and egalitarian: a sort of Enchridion Study* or theology club.

Keep reading

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oc asks that reveal more than you think

Do they sleep with a stuffed animal? If they have multiple, who’s the favorite?

Can they take care of a plant? What about a pet? What about a child?

Ask them to describe their love interest.

Do they look good in red?

Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Will they give one, and what about?

Who will they take advice from, no matter what it is? Who won’t they take advice from, no matter what it is?

Describe them in three words. Now let them describe themself in three words.

Do complex puzzles intrigue or frustrate them?

Do they empathize with non-sentient things (dolls, plants, books…)?

What age do they most want to be right now?

They’ve won the lottery. Spend, or save?

Do they like romance in the books they read (or in the book they’re in)?

Name one thing their parents taught them.

Would they agree with the term ‘guilty pleasure’? Do they have any?

What would they consider a waste of time– other than school or work?

If money wasn’t a limit, what would they wear?

Do they like children?

Kissing: tongue or no tongue?

Do they study before tests? Practice before job interviews?

What do they like that nobody else does?

What would it take for them to break up with someone? What would be the last straw?

Do they like being called pet names? Do they call other people pet names? What’s their go-to?

Stability or novelty?

Honesty or charity?

Safety or possibility?

Talent or effort?

Forgiveness or vengeance (or…)?

Would they date a fixer-upper?

What recurring dreams do they have?

What would they do if they knew it would be forgiven?

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Early 19th century paint set

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artfully seethe on a snow-swept bank overlooking the cathedral, wearing three layers of fur and drinking spiced brandy; hurl snow at all who approach

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Crossbow Brooch, Medieval Art

Gift of Miriam N. Rosen, 2002 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY Medium: Silver

http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/473296

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Machinist Lore: Firearm Origins and Prominent Designs

I had an idea! Why not transcribe the rest of the weaponry lore? Yeah? Yeah!

Let’s start with our origins, shall we?

Allagans and Garleans

“Scholars have yet to determine the exact period in time when the first firearms were conceived, though two distinct paths of evolution have been identified: Allagan and Garlean. The first was confirmed with the recent discovery of small handheld cannons at Allagan dig sites in Mor Dhona. These simple mechanisms dating back to pre-imperial Third Astral Era, were powered by a powder of finely ground fire and wind crystals that would be ignited using a simple incantation of flame. The resulting explosion would cause air generated by the wind aether to rapidly expand, forcing a stone or metal projectile from the cannon’s barrel in the general direction it was pointed.

The Allagans went on to refine these firearms, and by the time of Emperor Xande’s second reign had created some of the most powerful weapons to ever have existed - veritable killing machines capable of slaying hundreds in but a matter of moments. For better or for worse, techniques for creating both the powder and the weapons it powered were temporarily lost when the Empire fell to the Calamity of Earth.

Firearms experienced a second, independent evolution in northern Ilsabard during the early Sixth Astral Era. A lack of natural affinity to magic forced the Garlean tribes to look elsewhere for a means by which to achieve prosperity - a means they discovered by way of machines. It was during this industrial revolution that the Garleans discovered black powder and applied it to create the weapons that would see their rise from a humble republic to an empire spanning half the world. Knowledge of these creations soon spread across the Three Great Continents, carried on the back of Garlemald’s expansionist policies, and would serve as the basis for many of today’s modern firearms. Outside of a few isolated factions in Limsa Lominsa and Ishgard, their usage in Eorzea remains quite limited, the magically adept denizens of the realm oft finding them unnecessary.”

Moving on now!

Prominent Designs

Handgonne:

“Also known as the hand cannon, the handgonne is presumably one of the realm’s first firearms. Whereas early models consisted solely of single metal barrels tapered into crude handles, modern handgonnes come equipped with stocks and triggers, rendering their appearance similar to other firearm types.”

Arquebus:

“Essentially a portable cannon, the recoil generated by a single firing of an arquebus can oft prove as fatal as the shot itself. To offset this, most arquebuses feature lugs on the bottom of their barrels which can be hooked to ship railing or battlements, steadying the weapon and improving accuracy.”

Culverin:

“A precursor to the musket and musketoon, the culverin is considerably smaller and lighter than the hand cannons that came before it, yet still too large to effectively wield with one hand by all but the stockiest of races. As such, grips are added to the underside of the weapons’ barrels to improve stability when aiming.”

Musketoon:

“By significantly reducing barrel length, gunmakers were finally able to create a weapon that, while lacking in force, could be aimed and fired with a single hand, leaving the off hand free to carry a shield, grasp rigging, or even fire a second musketoon. Their compact size and ease of use made them popular amongst sailors who did not require the power or range of a long rifle when confined to the deck of a ship.”

Flintlock:

“Having already perfected lock mechanisms for use in naval cannons, Lominsan gunsmiths proposed the use of flint ignition in pistols carried by ship crews. While improperly knapped flint and frizzens dampened in sea spray would come to be the cause of frequent misfires, the problem was solved (albeit only to a certain extent) by the addition of a second or even third barrel.”

Revolver:

“For many years, the use of firearms in battle was limited, the reloading of a weapon too time-consuming to see it fired more than once or twice before armies finally clashed. The invention of the revolver and its mechanically indexing cylinder by the Garlean Republic changed all this, allowing for a swift, continuous barrage of lead without the burden of constant reloading.”

There you have it! The entirety of page 204 in Lorebook 2! On page 205 it goes into detail of other guns such as: Quick Silver, Gjallarhorn, Blue Steel, Nightsteel Blunderbuss, Armageddon, Outsider, Allagan Pistol, Magnatus, and Deathlocke. I will make a part two on those!

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Machinist Lore: Firearm Origins and Prominent Designs - Part 2

Hey everyone! I’m back with another lore post for machinists! You can find part one right <here> . It goes into detail about Allagans and Garleans, as well as the types of guns we see today IC. For this post I will be transcribing guns that we find as dungeon drops or as artifacts from page 205.

Quick Silver: “Desiring a weapon unlike any that had come before it, a wealthy Ul’dahn socialite commissioned Gerolt Blackthorn to create him a dueling pistol. Not overly familiar with the mechanics of firearms, Gerolt simply copied the design of a traditional culverin, adding a few embellishments to the stock and barrel so that his client might not soon become wise to his ruse. That said, being a creation of mastersmith Blackthorn, the quality of the resulting product was unarguably second to none, despite its run-of-the-mill origins.”

Gjallarhorn: “Named for a mythical battle born whose blast could “be heard in all worlds,” and decorated with an elaborate web of iron wyrmrings and pair of all-seeing eyes, the compact firearm is another relic from an age in which man and dragon put their differences aside to live together in harmony. Why such a powerful weapon was needed in a time of peace is a question that may never be answered.”

Blue Steel: “A portable flintlock carried by House Haillenarte cannon operators, Blue Steel has fixed to its barrel a short bayonet that can be used in close-quarter encounters when reloading is no longer possible - a feature that has earned this style of firearm the name “knifelock.”

Kunitomo: “A matchlock musket of Far Eastern design, this particular firearm was crafted in Kunitomo, a region of Hingashi renowned for its gunsmiths. While the isolationist bakufu strictly prohibits the export of these weapons to the mainland, several have found their way to Doma and beyond, where they are quickly bought up by collectors and locked away from prying eyes.”

Nightsteel Blunderbuss: “Created at Ishgard’s Skysteel Manufactory, the nightsteel blunderbuss is not actually a blunderbuss - a type of firearm that is defined by its long, flared bore - but a modern handgonne. It earned this misnomer from the retractable flared scope which rests above the barrel.”

Armageddon: “This jet black revolver crafted by Gerolt Blackthorn employs a pepperbox firing system that, instead of rotating a multi-chamber cylinder around a single barrel, sees the firearm’s triune barrels revolve around a single axis. The reservatory affixed above the stock serves to house synthetic souls of Allagan design known as “anima.”

Outsider: “Another of the Skysteel Manufactory’s creations, Outsider employs a revolutionary drum-shaped magazine that is able to hold up to ten times more ammunition than a traditional revolver. For many years following its conceptualization, the invention remained shelved in a Machinists’ Guild storeroom, its approval for mass production consistently denied by the Holy See’s more conservative officials.”

Allagan Pistol: “The Allagan pistol - standard-issue weaponry for the empire’s infantry in the late Third Astral Era - uses a complex crystal injection system that sends concentrated wind energy into an atherochemical accelerator where it is simplified to increase maximum projectile velocity.”

Magnatus: “One of two gifts (the second being the bow, Kaman) presented to Anshelm Cotter by a Near Eastern emissary at the great unifier’s coronation ceremony. The word “magnatus” can be translated from the Ilsabardian into “baron”, “magnate”, or “great man”, a detail that most certainly pleased the newly crowned regent. As to whether its beauty also rendered Anshelm speechless, history leaves surprisingly no mention.”

Deathlocke: “Deathlocke is the culmination of countless moons of research, reforging, and refining by mastersmith Gerolt Blackthorn. Whereas the anima vessel in its predecessor, the Armageddon, required quarantine from the main body of the weapon, no such separation is required in this marvel of Allagan technology recreated for a new age.”

 Aaand there ya go! Page 205 transcribed. I hope you all enjoyed this post and were able to find it useful for your character(s). There is another section for Machinist gear that I might transcribe as well. 

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Machinist Dual Wielding

I managed to get my hands on Lore Book 2 and it answers a question that I’ve had for a long time, “Can we dual wield?” Answer is yes! Yes we can! (I used to joke if only Naharé could dual wield a la Lara Croft)

Per Lore Book 2, page 204, quote under the “Musketoon”:

▪"By significantly reducing barrel length, gunmakers were finally able to create a weapon that, while lacking in force, could be aimed and fired with a single hand, leaving the off hand free to carry a shield, grasp rigging, or even fire a second musketoon. Their compact size and ease of use made them popular amongst sailors who did not require the power or range of a long rifle when confined to the deck of a ship.“

There you have it, folks. I hope this helps my fellow gun slingers!

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Fears meme

Bold any fears which apply to your muse. 

Italicize what makes them uncomfortable. the dark ⋆ fire ⋆ open water ⋆ deep water ⋆ being alone ⋆ crowded spaces ⋆ confined spaces ⋆ change ⋆ failure ⋆ war ⋆ loss of control ⋆ powerlessness ⋆ prison ⋆ blood ⋆ drowning ⋆ suffocation ⋆ public speaking ⋆ natural animals ⋆ the supernatural ⋆ heights ⋆ death ⋆ dying ⋆ intimacy ⋆ rejection ⋆ abandonment ⋆ loss ⋆ the unknown ⋆ the future ⋆ not being good enough ⋆ scary stories ⋆ speaking to new people ⋆ poverty ⋆ loud noises ⋆ being touched ⋆ forgetting ⋆ being forgotten

Tagged by @hasty-touch; tagging @rabidpocketmonster and @elezenaccountant for whatever character(s) they might like to do it on -- doesn’t have to be ffxiv-related if you want to do someone else!

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Useless Details Ask Meme II

Send one of the following symbols to find out more about my muse! Part I: (X)

Getting closer:

× what does your muse smell like? what perfume/cologne are they using? � do they shower often? every day or just every couple of days? ♻ how about brushing teeth? three times a day, or just in the morning? ⌘ do they rather shower or take a bath? ♀ how long does your muse usually need for a shower/bath? ⚣ how long does your muse need to shave? (this is also for the ladies!) ♂ does your muse put on make-up? how long do they need for it every day?  ⚢ what kind of make-up does your muse use? favourite colours? how much do they use?

Exploring their body:

♤ does your muse have any scars? where? what do they look like? how did they get them? ♧ any freckles/moles/birth marks? where? ♡ are their fingernails dirty or clean? cut/long? ♢ how much do they weigh? ♠ any ‘weird’ characteristics on their body? one leg/arm longer than the other? ♣ are their veins particularly visible when they’re angry/upset/sad? ♥ do they have more muscles or more fat on their body? ♦ any tattoos? where? what’s the story behind them?

Open your closet:

⦂ what clothes do they sleep in? ♚ do they have a favourite piece of clothing? ❅ what do they usually wear when they’re not working? ☏ what do they wear when they’re at work? ₤ how many shoes do they have? what kind? Σ how many purses do they have? ⌚ how long do they need to decide what to wear in the morning? ⌛ do they go shopping for clothes often? how long do they usually need? $ how much money do they spend on clothes every month?

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@hasty-touch tagged me to do the alignment test but, to be frank, for Giroux here several of the questions just don’t make sense -- specifically, the ones having to do with family. There are no “family elders.” It’s just his mom and dad. He doesn’t know any of his grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. For those questions which imply “family elders” “family leaders” or arranged marriage, I’ll have him answer like he thinks he would if suddenly his father’s people (minor noble Ishgardians) had a sudden interest in him and began giving input. However, for questions like “Would you betray a family member to advance your own career?” I will answer for his actual family situation.  I’ll discuss other individual troublesome questions below.

Neutral Good- A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment because when it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.

Detailed Results:Alignment: Lawful Good ----- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (25) Neutral Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (28) Chaotic Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (27) Lawful Neutral -- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (18) True Neutral ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (21) Chaotic Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (20) Lawful Evil ----- XXXXXXXXX (9) Neutral Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXXX (12) Chaotic Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXX (11)

Law & Chaos: Law ----- XXXXXXX (7) Neutral - XXXXXXXXXX (10) Chaos --- XXXXXXXXX (9)

Good & Evil: Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (18) Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXX (11) Evil ---- XX (2)

“Would you give up a promising career to aid the family in time of need?“ This question is not very applicable to his particular situation, since a promising career is probably a career that will be lucrative, and the best way he could help his family would be to make money to share with them. So maybe if he’s having to consider giving up a money-later career for a money-now job, it would make sense? He’d do it in a heartbeat.

“How do you view lifelong commitment to a single romantic partner?“ Giroux has some complicated baggage in this department (roleplay with him to find out more!) His heart says one thing, while his head says another. Which to answer with?

“Are you still in touch with childhood friends?“ No but that’s because they’re all dead. Does praying count as corresponding? Does “I’m alive and they’re not” count as no longer having shared interests? 

“Your country is wracked with famine. Would you...” Hey where’s the option to steal from the bread-rich to give to the bread-poor? Steal for me and my community?!

“Do you respect the lawful authority of the rulers of the land?“ Who’s that now? There are questions about whether or not Aymeric is the lawful authority, it says so right here in this pamphlet.

“If guilty, would you confess to a crime?“ Which option is most likely to avoid me being tortured? Like, if I confess, will they stop there or will they decide there must be something even worse I’m hiding?

It looks like Giroux is pretty overwhelmingly Good, but not very consistent when it comes to the Lawful/Chaotic end of things... which probably means that he doesn’t really care about the Lawfulness/Chaoticness of an action when he considers what to do. So Neutral Good sounds like a good fit honestly.

As for “advancing mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable,” maybe that’s an acceptable price to pay for limiting the actions of the truly capable-but-evil, hmm?

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chickens only have one political alignment and its pro-banana or anti-banana. there is no in between. they either would kill for a banana or want to kill every banana.