#Ffxiv writing reference

[stars-and-clouds]

How to Curse Like an Ishgardian

I was coming up with ways to make my ishgardian characters swear and exclaim for my upcoming story and decided to share it =)

Some of these are my own, some are from the game itself and others are from others relevant media.

I read somewhere that when thinking of how to make curses and prayers think of what each culture values most and values the least. Whatever they value the most will be their prayer and the thing they least value will be their curses.

In Ishgard family name, religion and valor is valued the most. So, instantly, nameless people, bastard, orphans, heretics, rebels and cowardly people are looked down upon. This logic should help you make your own curses. You can also add some racist slurs against non-elezen and sometimes non-hyurian people. They also hate dragons, so pre-dragonsong war, a lot of dragon cursing would be common.

Small warning, some really foul language follows ahead. I will keep updating this list whenever I find new curses or come up with them.

1. Prayers, Exclamations and Blessings:

Halone, have mercy

Fury, save me

Halone, grant me strength

Halone's blessings be upon you

Halone/Fury, preserve me

Fury, guide me

Halone, shield me

Spear me, Halone!

Halone be praised!

By the Fury's fire!

By Her Lance!

By the Fury!

2. Insults:

Use these as an insult or add injury to another insult. For example, 'frostbitten whore,' or combine two insults like, 'nameless brume runt.'

frostbitten [insult]

'Greystone' in general can be used as an insult as bastards are really looked down upon. Haurchefant was very lucky to have a father like Edmont.

spoon ears; used against hyurs

Insults used against AuRi as superstitious Ishgardians believe them to be related to dragons:

wyrm fucker

scaled [insult]

dragonspawn

Mixed race couples are looked down upon in Ishgard so, their children face racism and bullying:

weakblood

mongrel

half-breed; all can be used to describe mixed blood.

knife ears; (stolen from Dragon Age) used against elezen

brume runt

street rat

highling; can be used to insult a highborn by a lowborn.

-your grandiosity; can be used to insult a highborn by a lowborn. You can be creative with these!

heretic

nameless [insult]; this is to imply that they do not belong to any house, not even a small one.

[ruling house name] leech; for example, a person sworn to house Durendaire to misuse their power, they can be called a 'Durendaire leech.')

[any house name] bootlicker; anyone who flatters and sucks up to nobles and those in power for their own benefit.

3. Exclamations and curses:

Shiva be damned!

voidspawn

Halone's tits!

Thordan's balls!

Fury strike you!

Holy Crozier!

wolves take you!

dragons take you!

Twelve curses upon you!

Fury's curses upon you!

Nophica be damned! ; Nophica and Halone didn't get along according to myth.

Godsdamnit!

Halone's cunt!

Please feel free to use them in your works! Happy writing! =D

[asleepinawell]

ffxiv fans will see a chunk of quartz and be like that's my mom

[watcher-servant]

A Knight's Test

After the dam had bust and the outburst with Ruby, Jaune looked down at the water and the bridge. The screams of the people still echoing in the ears mixing with the sound of the water, as mist would start to rise and the ghostly whine of horse echoes. Jaune stands up, his face twisting in shock and turning to the other 3 before settling on Weiss.

Jaune: "Weiss, take Juniper and go with the others after Ruby."

Weiss: "Wait, what do you mean we should be going together?"

Jaune: "Weiss I'm begging you go with the others and take Juniper with you to find Ruby. She needs you more than me right now."

As he says thus Juniper would get close nuzzling against him

Jaune: *Pets her* I know, girl, but right now they need your speed and nose. I'll catch up when I can."

Weiss: "Jaune, are you -"

Jaune: * turns towards her face in anger* "GO NOW! He only wants me anyway, and there's no chance he'll let you interfere."

Weiss would approach Juniper as a small glyph that appears to shoot out a chain to create makeshift reins. Yang and Blake would hop on Juniper's back as the four of them would ride off. Juniper would call back jaune, wanting to stay at his side, but knows she cannot.

Jaune: *Turns to the mist as he would draw sword getting into a stance as rain droplets start to come down* "Come on....I'm right here."

From the mist, another whine of a horse is heard as walking ethereally across the water appears a knight clad in black armor with a horned helm on horseback. The horse snorts puff of smoke as the knights visor act as it eyes showing that glowing red pupils at Jaune

???: "Finally done running, Rusted Knight?"

Jaune: "Yes...I am."

???: "Do you know who I am?"

Jaune: *Lowers his stance slightly* "I do...well, I know the legends...the stories, but I didn't want to believe. I thought it was just my mind playing tricks, but I need to accept what I'm looking at."

???: "Then say it. Say my name."

Jaune: "....Spirit of Chivalry!!"

A bright flash of lightening lightens up his form as azure flames would appear casting the spirit's grisly and dark form in the light of a phantom.

S.O.C: "Indeed I am he, and who are you vagrant knight? You who lost his path clinging to the past acting a shield knowing in truth its nothing more than your shackles? Tell me vagrant...WHO ARE YOU?"

Jaune: "I....I'm Jaune Arc, only son of Nick Arc. A family of warriors that served as guradians and knights for generations."

S.O.C: "Ah...a legacy then. However, a knight doesn't stand before me. What I see is nothing more than a coward boy playing fantasy. There is hope, though, for I see a spark no matter how small or how fleeting I shall test you to see if you possess strength."

Jaune: "Strength...what strength? I've trained and pushed myself to improve so I could protect everyone! Yet.....yet when I thought I reached a good spot, it all slipped through my fingers. I wasn't strong enough....I never was."

S.O.C: "Foolish Boy!" *His horse would stomp its hoof as lighting would crash down* "Strength does not come from physical form alone, blind reliance on it shows your weakness. You may be dammed like me, faltering when the crucial moment comes....I've seen countless disappointments like this, and all met their end with my blade."

*As he says this, multiple warriors and knights would appear in the mist looking on the new victim of their lord's trial*

S.O.C: "Be it blade or shield, lance or ax, no matter how grand or well made they are it holds no power if the weilder lacks inner strength to use it. No victory is won with just muscle it must be backed by mettle and focus. Now show me your resolve...show me what lies within your soul. Or else you'll fall here....AS YOUR LIFE BECOMES NOTHING BUT RUST ON MY BLADE!!!"

*A flash of red would appear on his gauntlet as a sword handle would grow from it. Gripping it and unsheate it showing a blade that glows with dark energy. With a loud whine of his horse, spectral spears fly down from the sky, making jaune dodge backward. Jaune would come out a bit unscathed, leaving him no room to breathe between them. The S.O.C would appear before him swinging his blade down, shattering Jaune's shield and gauntlet. Letting out a cry of agony, Jaune would try to counter with a slash only for it to meet the spirits blade, causing a flash of blue light breaking the remains of crocea mors and destroying his other gauntlet. The S.O.C would let out a mirthful chuckle as his horse would knock Jaune back.*

S.O.C: "Yes that's it! Show me your resolve, your will to fight! Show me how hard you're willing to push yourself to achieve even the slightest of victory!" *His horse would let out another whine as it dances back as more spears would rain at Jaune.*

*Jaune would dodge the barrage but would take some hits as the spars would hit his leg armor, destroying them both. With no chance to counter the S.O.C. would come in for another swing of his sword, destroying Jaune's plate mail and with a follow-up slash destroying his helmet.*

*Jaune would be sent tumbling back as his vision would darken with his shallow breathing. He considered laying there and letting his death happen, but then a myriad of voices would come to him as memories would play in his mind. Pyrrha's smiling encouragement, her sacrifice as he was helpess to stop her. Penny's words of reassurance, her sacrifice, he was forced to assist... and despair. Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang....Nora, Ren, Oscar, stilling waiting on the other side in Vacuo. They would need him... Winter as well, they need allies. He just needs to stand up and survive.....but should he fall here, what's left? What would happen to a broken team RWBY, would they make it out alive with their sanity intact?. He had to help those in the Ever After....it was his duty as the Rusted Knight.

S.O.C: "Foolish child, you cling to a false prophet. The Rusted Knight is a hollow soul, his armor rusted because he does not possess the strength to stand on his own and take care of himself. He does not trust others, but a true knight does not treat his oath as shackles to hold themselves down. They are treated as reminders to boost himself, perhaps had you not feel sorry for yourself instead of steeling your resolve until no problem couldn't stop you, then maybe you would've succeeded and survived. Now stand up, and face your death like a proper knight."

*Jaune would slowly pull himself up as a spear would come down, piercing his chest. As he coughs up blood, his vision would darken as the voices of more poisonous comments come to mind. His father's words saying knights are no longer needed, no worry to continue the legacy. The derisive words of all the people at Beacon and Qrow's harsh words*

Jaune: *Thoughts* "Then...if they were stronger than him why aren't they here. Why am I the only one standing?"

????: "You know the answer....for those in the dark who's voices aren't heard. For the fiends that would slink back into the shadows thinking they're safe."

*A small light would come through the shaft of the spectral spear making jaune look down. It was small and it flickering, he had to reach it...to strengthen it. Jaune would grab the spear trying to force his aura through it slowly but surely making the light grow.*

*Outside the S.O.C would look down at the man, his body still skewered by the spear. His head looking down as if dead.*

S.O.C: "A true knight isn't strong because of their weapon. The only thing they would need is the balance of strength and will to their mettle. You have failed child of Arc...fall into the shadows and take your spot along with crowd of lost warriors." *Turns away from Jaune's body only to stop as sense a pulse*

*Back with Jaune in his mind, the glowing in the spear shined bright like a star as it would crumble absorbing into his body. The dark landscape would would reel back from the light forming into another figure wearing grey armor as he places his hand on Jaune's chest.*

???: "You are close...don't forget those that trust you why we still fight."

Ren's Voice: "Despite everything, when I look at him, Yang, I see no fear in his heart."

????: "Now come we have test to past!" *The armored figure would force his hand into Jaune's chest, making him scream as light would engulf them both*

*Back in the real world, the spectral spear that held Jaune's body would crumble, absorbing into his body as light sparkles would come from his body*

S.O.C: *Turns back seeing the light coming from Jaune* "Hmmm has he figured it out*

Jaune: *Screams out as energy would cloak his right arm, forming a flickering blade of aura... yet despite the bright color and fragile appearance there's a hint of black keeping it stable* "I'm not done yet...there's still much more for me to do *Points his new blade at the spirit*

S.O.C: "Hmm so you come to me bearing new power...very well let's see if it's enough! *Would pull his arm back blade ready to strike as his horse would kick the ground ready to go*

*Jaune would get into a stance ready for anything as the horse would rear up and speed towards him the S.O.C ready to strike. Both warriors would run to each blades ready to strike as they would even clash with a loud boom.*

*Meanwhile, other parts of the Ever After would shake and rumble as the residents would turn towards a large column of black and white would pierce the sky scattering the rain clouds. With Ruby and little, both would feel the ground shake as they look to the column. With the curious cat, it would hiss at the column feeling a dangerous intruder over there. With WBY, as they rode Juniper, they would stop seeing the column, hoping Jaune is fine.*

*Back at the mist covered area Jaune and S.O.C would have their backs to each other as Jaune would fall down trying to keep himself up*

S.O.C: "Good...very good" *As he says this, one of the horns on his helm would crack and fall down. On his chest, it would bear a gash showing a eerie blue* "Your light has shine strongly, you walk the path of Sigurd, slayer of demons....no I sense darkness in your blade as well. You walk the path Taivas, warrior that overcame a infecting darkness making it hos own. Do you why I say this....what did they have in common?

Jaune: *Gets up and turns to the spirit* "They didn't lose their way...so nothing could hold him"

S.O.C: *Turns his horse towards jaune* "Very good you have passed my trial young arc come close wield your new blade." *Holds his sword out towards Jaune*

Jaune: *Summons his new sword feeling the aura cloak his entire hand as it makes the flickering line of aura and clash it with the knight's own blade*

S.O.C: "Hear me now young arc, fear and doubt only leads to death. One that doesn't acknowledge his faults doesn't deserve to be called a knight...however with you understanding this and making peace with yourself, have shown you have earned it. Do not forget this lesson if you do I will come after you again*

*With his peace said the S.O.C would disappear in a flash of light as the mist would finally clear up*

Jaune: *Turns towards the water, looking at his reflection....then back at his new sword. Grabbing his ponytail, he would hold it enough as he used the new aura sword to cut the pony tail off. Looking down at it showing it still holds the last remnants of Pyrrha's sash, Jaune would let it fall from his hand into the water, making it disperse* "Goodbye Pyrrha....Goodbye Penny."

*Jaune would turn only to be greater by another armored figure. Waiting to see if they would try something, the armored figure only plants his greatsword in salute before disappearing, leaving the blade. Jaune, confused by what he saw, walks up, grabbing the blade as it turns into a hooded button-up grey coat.*

Jaune: *Thinking on it for a bit, he would put on the coat buttoning up near his mouth, making it look like a cape* "Time to make amends....and to catch up." *Starts walking towards the dark Acre sensing Ruby and the others in that direction as he would put the hood up*

[ferrocyan]

the entries about the shadowbringers role quest characters from encyclopedia eorzea 3!! i love learning about our friends the virtue slayers so damn much

[menphinaswhitemage]

Decembhyur2023 | Day 8 | Market

(short drabble below the cut)

Walking up to one of the stalls, a young hyur places down a small pouch of gathered medicinal herbs onto the counter, standing on her tip toes to see the man clearly, "Excuse me mister! I would like something...something to eat! Papa told me I could get all sorts of items here! I have these to trade."

The shopkeeper stares amused at the small redhead. She looked to be no more than six summers of age. And by the way she places something other then gil on the counter she's no doubt from outside the city. Before he can respond he hears a mirthful laugh from a man catching up to her. "My lady!-" He embraces her (his daughter no doubt, the resemblance is clear) taking a moment to catch his breath. "My dear lady you've gotten a sudden surge of confidence running off so. I'm afraid this man trades only in gil for his goods- none of which provide sustenance!"

"Oh..but you pointed in this way didn't you? What does he sell then?"

Clearing his throat the shopkeeper waves his hands in reassurance, "Well now! I can't say I sell anything you might need but I'm always open to help the youngin's with a barter or two!" He picks up the bag, examining it with minor exaggerations. "Let's see...how about I give you twenty-seven gil for this fine bundle?"

"Thirty-one, please!" No hesitation in her voice, "That purple one is from last moon, mama said you can't gather them again until five moons after the New Year!" She may have never dealt in gil before but she was always told to not be so eager in settling for a first offer in any trade. Not wanting to haggle down to the wire with a literal child he hands her the gil, pointing to the shop across.

"You've a deal young lady. Now, that kind Elezen 'cross the way makes the most delectable pies you'll find in the city. You've enough for a whole pie I reckon." With a grateful smile from the girls father and an ecstatic "Thank you!" he watches them disappear into the crowd...

[avirael]

FFxivWrite 2023

Day 10 - Stranger

It was a particularly warm day in Thanalan. There wasn’t a single cloud to be seen in the sky, just endless bright blue and the hot sun that relentlessly beat down on the sparse landscape and everyone who dared to set a foot into it. A'viloh, raised in the Sagolii Desert, was used to the heat, so it didn’t bother him much, but he wondered if the noblewoman he was sent to find shared that sentiment.

Papashan had asked him for assistance in their search for a girl from a noble family, a certain Lady Lilira. A'viloh didn’t know exactly how the nobility of Ul'dah lived but, with everything he had seen and heard so far, he expected it to be a rather luxurious way of living, not to say pampered. He wondered how long a carefully sheltered young noblewoman would survive so far away from the pleasantly cool temperatures of her palace.

Up until now he had barely seen any soul out and about. At this time of the day and with the blazing sun so high in the sky, every reasonable person looked for shelter indoors or at least beneath the shadow of a tree. As he let his eyes wander over the area that thought suddenly gave him an idea: The Sultantree! This had to be the coolest place around here at the moment, even if cool was a giant overstatement…

With quickened steps he walked towards the big tree. From afar he could already see a tiny, Lalafell-shaped form crouched in front of the Sultantree. He already feared that she wasn’t feeling well but as he stepped closer he noticed that the girl dressed in pink had only kneeled down to pray.

Quietly he stepped closer so that he wouldn’t disturb her prayers but she didn’t seem to notice him at all. After a moment, while he still considered how to address her, she suddenly spoke up.

“Show yourself!”, she ordered loudly and with unexpected confidence in her voice.

A'viloh startled. For some reason he felt caught and was about to stammer out some explanation, when a unforeseen voice and footsteps behind him made him jump in surprise.

“As you command, O Lilira.”, said the voice with a cheeky tone, while A'viloh turned to face the person it was coming from.

A man stepped beside him with a carefree and confident gait. It was a white haired Hyur, quite a bit taller than A'viloh and probably stronger too. He was dressed in black and white clothes and A'viloh couldn’t help but think that he was quite handsome.

Then he noticed the pair of daggers at his hips and immediately his mind jumped back to the young noblewoman. Oh no! Was this man here to kidnap her?

But the Lalafell girl seemed to know the Hyur already, at least considering the way she spoke to him. She sounded unpleased to see him but also not surprised. It all sounded more like he was one of her guards than a thief. However the nonchalant way the man spoke to her didn’t quite fit that picture.

After a short conversation with the Lalafell the handsome stranger turned to face A'viloh, as if he just noticed him for the first time, and flashed a smile that caught A'viloh off guard. It was a charming kind of smile that made you feel warm and welcome. Like it was only meant for him. But at the same time a voice in the back of his head hissed at him like a feral coeurl, that he shouldn’t be stupid and that it probably was just a well exercised and clever trick to lure him in. Maybe he was a thief or some creepy stalker after all…

“You must be the one Papashan mentioned. Congratulations on finding our elusive young charge. You should return with us. The stationmaster will be eager to thank Lady Lilira’s protector in person.”, he said still smiling so amiably that A'viloh almost felt bad for mistrusting him.

Just as A'viloh wanted to answer, the sound of flapping wings in the air distracted him. All three of them looked up and saw a strange dark monster swoop down from the sky on leathery wings and shriek at them.

The handsome stranger shook his head and protectively stepped in front of Lady Lilira. With a joke on his lips, he pulled the daggers from his belt and looked at A'viloh for support. Just as the ugly beast swooped down on them, A'viloh jumped to the side and gripped his knuckles.

“Let’s attend to our uninvited guest, shall we?”, the Hyur asked as he jumped towards the monster slashing at it with his daggers. A'viloh followed his example and tried his best to put the techniques, which the pugilists had taught him, to good use. Occasionally it was difficult to hit the flying creature but fortunately it was not particularly fast. Every now and then the stranger threw another quip at A'viloh or the monster, and at the later also his daggers, until after a while it finally fell down defeated.

While the stranger turned to check on the Lalafell girl, A'viloh noticed something shimmering by the monsters corpse. He bowed down and picked up a shining blue crystal but just as he stood up again he suddenly started to feel very dizzy. His head started to spin and his view began to blur. Is the heat finally getting to me after all these hours in the sun, was the last thing he thought before he fainted.

***

He didn’t know how long he had been unconscious, when he woke up again. All he remembered was a weird dream about a giant blue crystal and a strangely familiar female voice that spoke to him. He was sure he heard it before somewhere and it all had sounded rather important but he didn't really understood the meaning of it.

“Ah, coming around now?”, he heard the voice of the handsome stranger as he started to blink. Slowly his view got clearer again and he saw both, the Hyur and the Lalafell, looking down at him with worried faces.

Carefully he tried to sit up and the stranger extended a hand for him to help him up. A'viloh took it and with one strong jolt he was on his feet again. Maybe the man had misjudged A'viloh’s weight or the Miqo'te simply was still a little dizzy but his tug had been strong enough to make him stumble forward, right into the Hyur’s chest.

Embarrassed A'viloh tried to put some distance between them and muttered his thanks. You should have apologised instead you idiot!, he scolded himself in his thoughts.

“You’re welcome.” The man said and chuckled, while he helped him steady himself. “No need to throw yourself around my neck though, really…”

He winked at him and A'viloh would have sworn that the midday sun got a few degrees hotter all of a sudden.

“That was a little too much aether for you, wasn’t it?”, the Hyur asked and looked a little worried again.

A'viloh, still a little too perplexed to answer, just nodded.

“I hope you at least had a pleasant dream.”

Before he really thought about how stupid it sounded A'viloh had already blurted out: “I dreamt about a giant crystal!”

That of course earned him a quizzical look and he immediately kicked himself for it.

But before any of them could say anything else, they were interrupted by Lady Lilira, who loudly cleared her throat. “Would you mind telling me what that was?”

A'viloh looked at her in confusion before realising that she hadn’t spoken to him. The stranger explained that the monster probably had been a voidsent but he didn’t have any explanation for how or why it had appeared so suddenly.

Then he told them that he had to report this strange encounter at once and asked A'viloh to escort Lady Lilira back to Papashan. She protested, announced that she was capable to return on her own and ran off before anybody could object.

The stranger shrugged with an amused smile on his face and then motioned to leave as well.

“I suspect we shall meet again before long.”, he said. “Until then, do try and stay awake!”

Dumbfounded as he still was A'viloh just nodded once again and watched the stranger leave towards the city.

Only then he realised that neither of them had even introduced themself. What would they both think of him?

“I dreamt about a giant crystal!?”, he parroted to himself and buried his face in his hands. “I cannot believe I actually said that…”

[captainkurosolaire]

Perish.

Dark, null, coldness… Familiarity set, was this his beyond?   …Nay, it felt like the ocean's depths.   Communion from an unseen fathom called out to his submersion. Do you know how a soul becomes fragmented?       When it gives away, pieces of themselves carelessly. You have wronged six, My Captain.           Not counting the surface who needs you Whole. Boy of Dream             Beast left Tameless,                                            Grim Shadow’s without Guiding Light                                                             Savage devoid Solace,                                                                            Power left Satisfied                                                                               …And a door left turn. Six wronged, heinously left in absence. Judgment demands, you navigate these lost fragments into reunion, Stands you’ve conjured this colorless realm, by such turmoil, everything becomes unclear. Water left unnatural.       Skies upside down.               Loved memories, all scattered. Chaos to disarray is your trade, Being overly lawless can lead to Insanity. "You are not Alone."                    "I am Perish." "I’ve accompanied you awhile now, meeting the same ordeals.           "Anguished, I hurt."               "Your emotions serve my own." The Seeker paused, gasping and shaking trying to absorb his rational sense. “Ye b’ my spirit-guide that butterfly? …Why do you still elude me?”  Silence befell a spell. Feminine mystical chimed, “I do not. You’ve made yourself blind, sinking into obscurity. As I said, you’ve forged this terrible gray. Abandon everything and Search. When you merely question, it forms a maze tormented for misery.”

Wretched and troublesome the sailor split calmed his astral essence, a flashing memory of recent transpired, Judas preaching a helpful suggestion before fallout, <“If you took a second and THOUGHT instead of allowing your emotions to think for you. That is your worst design, always has been.”> Baffled by his guiding truth, unconventionally these were a wind. Phenomenon the butterfly essence further elaborated, “You’re beginning to understand and as so, you can now perceive what’s real.” Golden eyes pried open to see a fellowmen. “...You’re me…” With a peer to a ravine reflection, “I am you. A singular part. Five others reside amongst us.” Overwhelmed by devastating sorrow, Captain dropped to repenting knees onto a solid-layer within the water’s depths of phantom nonsense. Tears scattering themselves how the guilty, feel, “How did I fuck up this bad?! I thought, I really got rid of my doubts and quelled them last time, I saw that Undesirable side of me… That inferior side, ‘Un’, I was drawn t’ lash against!” He felt unbridled internal pain within himself that she had suffered. Entire senses were becoming aware of this formless realm. She swam up with stride, before kicking him in his unbecoming sorrow, sending him reeling back from tremendous power. “Enough! You cannot allow pity here! Man yourself together! You’ve answered without realizing. You struck against a side you believed, lesser? However, by doing so you forced a new side of that to be created. An endless cycle, when you defeat a dementor of doubt, another will arise in replacement even more foul. THIS is uncontrollable, you’re attempting to alter nature, beyond yourself. You have taken in a dangerous soul-crystal thought lost out of necessity to survive, but that magick inside yourself warps the fabric of existence, in your situation it’s been internalized, whatever perceives, BECOMES. This is not like ordinary dreams or nightmares, it will follow you even outside and continuously haunt you with misfortune… Noble told you once, that Order is necessary for Reality.” Captain’s memory instantly rushed, Shiro’s own imparted intelligible insight, these former connections… Resurfacing in a place known for suppression, repression, drowning. “...Then.” Preventing himself from an actual quizzical tone, adapting to his environment. “I have t’ acquire balance to manage this place.” Finding words previously that were obviously ominous, now became trivial.

“Correct, now you’re turning on! You cannot shape anymore, you’ve given all your power, dream, alongside importance's anchored to burial, even from your own. Though, you may recuperate and establish color again, Free yourself to mend like you were on the path to doing-before this Tumultuous Year Began, you made a crucial error by removing trust for yourself for any moment at-all, you gave a specter here that dominion. — Lies are scary, you’ve committed so easily. Before they were uttered, you had to register them here in this dangerous place... Telling worried loved ones, you’d stay, yet, improperly forgetting those branding pain and selfishly abandoning proper mistakes, you instead acted overly callous. For a sinner, this place is deserving, befitting perhaps. Although what’s only clipped, can fly again. – As you heard by the loud Hellsguard with his trembling sorrow.” Continuing to try educating how this wondrous place functioned, psyche incomprehensible to measure. “...Aye, right. Gark said, I deserved to be alone, wait no, Perish…’” Upon that exchange, her namesake was given dawn. Anything said from outside that weighed against his compassion, drew haunting creation from this inner reside. A foolish hardass lacking control. The Hellsguard seemed overly enraged but why does one get that way at-all? When a soul is mourning! It confesses itself almost spontaneously. There was no mistake, Gark felt strongly moved. And Captain never explained himself beforehand why he was disbanding, not everyone was like Zieton who can just magically perceive his intent… Damn it. Some, Captain… “Perish, please navigate me. I want to… No, us t’ b’ complete, I WANT TO HEAL!” A powerful declaration brought a shake throughout the mystique stratum.   Breaking a coy smile, “My pleasure is yours... Your first-fragment to recover is the Boy who became Dreamless, as the Child grew older and began suffering countless loss, or time-ushered passed, he began distancing himself from his initial ambition which left him within a fog. Find and locate this answer..” She looked above. “Our time must be cut short, your advisory on the plane is approaching. I will distract him momentarily! Wake up, utmost haste the serum on your last desperation, should be taking effect otherwise, we wouldn’t be here. Our next encounter will occur after you speak to your Father, about who your Mother really was and only then, will you figure out how to walk here again.” She dissipated into the spiritual realm as bubbles formed, and popped on his visage in departure. Remembrance came.

♫Butterfly♫ - Reference - Last Chapter

[kailani-ffxiv]

Prompt 1: Today

It was her last day in the port she grew up near. Last.. that word felt misused, a piece from a different puzzle. It wouldn’t be the final time she saw the warmth of a sunrise reflecting off the stone heart of the city or listened to the gulls circling their prey from the morning’s catch. But for now she needed something these routes couldn’t offer her. She wanted to move on from whispers and shadows. The cool salted breeze obscured her vision as strands of midnight sheltered her face from below a teal brimmed hat. 

Lazy mornings were an unknown concept to him, his day started bells before most. Today was an exception, today was different. Most would opt for a day off or travel away, instead he found himself back in town collecting what he could to help another. Long forged deals and partnerships paid back in double. Winks and lopsided smiles traded for supplies. His warmth was contagious spreading like glitter. A grumbled competition gave in to his charm, his network ran deep despite it being peppered with confections and provisions. With full arms he hugged the offers he had gathered close, this.. this was just the start.

Ink pulled and twisted under the pen, silently painting a picture from a perch. How many days- two. The answer pulled from paging through the last few notes. Two days he had been watching, waiting for the next step. He rolled his shoulders, checking his surroundings letting his eyes scan for changes. A soft sigh eased into the stone that supported his back, fingers drumming an unheard rhythm as the morning air fluttered the pages of his notebook. A familiar crystalline structure scribbled in black, a collection of half finished portraits of passing faces.

[@baxter-ffxiv & @wkiba-ffxiv are my other OCs featured in this piece]

[moonlightpaladin]

Xaela Tribes

Sourced from here. I wanted to have these in one place to reference.

Adarkim: The largest of the Xaela tribes. While not the most skilled at battle, they overwhelm with numbers, taking losses in stride, knowing that a future victory over a weaker tribe will replenish their ranks.

Angura: A small tribe which keeps mainly to the mountainous region of northeastern Othard. The glare reflected by the everlasting glaciers upon which they travel has rendered this tribe's skin color a deep rusty tone.

Arulaq: A tribe thought lost 200 years ago, only recently discovered once again living in a secluded valley in the mountainous north.

Avagnar: Though defeated and absorbed by the Adarkim, several of the proud tribe's members still secretly use its ancestral name, knowing that it could mean death if they are discovered.

Bairon: A middle-sized tribe of the southern deserts and masters of survival in the driest of climes, the Bairon are all trained from a very young age to collect and drink their own bodily fluids, allowing them the ability to venture deep into places no other tribe will.

Bayaqud: A tribe of the steppe's western edges. Women from the Bayaqud tribe will traditionally take several husbands, as did the tribe's founding matron 2000 years ago.

Bolir: A small tribe that earns its living by collecting the dung of the beastkin herds which roam the steppes. The dung is dried, turned into charcoal in temporary kilns, and sold to other tribes.

Borlaaq: A tribe of all women. While breeding with men from other tribes is allowed, if a male is born into the tribe, he is given up within a year of birth.

Buduga: An all-male tribe which only increases its ranks through battle and kidnapping.

Chaghan: An offshoot of the Qerel tribe, these warriors enter a berserker rage known as the Will of Karash, which they believe to be a blessing from the Dusk Mother. They commit all manner of heinous acts when Karash takes hold, and some would even slay their own kin and claim it in the name of Mother Nhaama.

Dalamiq: One of only a few Xaela tribes which has abandoned the nomadic lifestyle and built a small village on an islet in the middle of a two-malm-wide span of the great inner river. It is said they once worshipped the now-fallen lesser moon.

Dataq: The Dataq cover quite possibly the most area in their migrations, for they rarely stop in one area for longer than a few bells. Sleeping is all done in the saddle, and tents are only used when the rains are heavy and unbearable.

Dazkar: Household duties such as cooking, cleaning, and childrearing are handled by the males of the Dazkar who, other than when on the move, rarely ever leave their family's yurts. Female Dazkar are tasked with hunting, and are known across the steppe as being some of the most accurate archers in the realm.

Dhoro: An elusive tribe that avoids contact with most other tribes. Lookouts are posted all about their camps with orders to flee given the moment an outsider is spotted.

Dotharl: An extremely violent tribe with members who revel in massacre and are taught from a young age not to fear death. While they are quick to attack other tribes, mortality rates are high, ensuring that their numbers never grow too high.

Ejinn: A river tribe that chooses to swim from place to place rather than walk or take boats. It is said that members of the Ejinn can hold their breaths for up to a quarter bell, and will often migrate while almost completely submerged in order to avoid contact with hostile tribes.

Geneq: In addition to the standard language used by most of the Xaela in cross-tribe communication, the Geneq employ a complex system of whistles and clicks which resemble the cloud- and wavekin of the steppe.

Gesi: The Gesi are masters of the slingspear, a mid-sized javelin carved from mammoth bone which, instead of being thrown by hand, is flung with a leather sling to improve range, speed, and killing power.

Gharl: Before each migration, the Gharl will fill a sacred urn with the soil of the place they just camped. This soil is then dumped upon arriving at the next location. This tradition has been carried out for thousands of years, leading people to believe that most the steppe is now all of one soil.

Goro: The Goro believe horses to be perfect beings, and each male and female, upon their coming of age, is married to a horse of the opposite sex. Reproductive mates are chosen by lots.

Haragin: The legends of this coastal tribe tell of a group of their ancestors who crafted a giant ship and sailed out across the endless eastern ocean. The explorers are said to have returned with tales of a terrible island covered in massive grey monoliths and inhabited by fire-breathing steel demons.

Himaa: For reasons unknown, one out of every three pregnancies amongst the Himaa result in twins. As a result, over half the tribe's members have a doppelganger. This can prove an advantage during attacks, as it confuses the enemy into believing the dead have risen.

Horo: To those who live the meager lifestyles of the steppedwellers, being overweight is a symbol of affluence and power. To appear heavier than one in their station, the members of Horo will drink copious amounts of water to bloat their bellies.

Hotgo: A tribe recently massacred by the Dotharl. The only members surviving are those who left the tribe to travel on their own and were not present during the killing. The Hotgo were known for their vibrant face paints which members would constantly change depending on their current mood.

Iriq: A tribe that follows the Borlaaq, taking on any male children given up by the female warriors and raising them as their own.

Jhungid: The second largest Xaela tribe. Mortal enemies with the Kharlu, the Jungid will spend the greater part of the year subjugating smaller tribes to swell their own ranks in preparation for an annual battle with the Kharlu—the winner gaining control over a large part of the eastern coastlands.

Kagon: The Kagon are a nocturnal desert tribe who worship Nhaama, goddess of the moon and mortal enemy of Azim, god of the sun. Instructed by their goddess that to step into the sun is to succumb to the evil of Azim, they spend the daylight hours in their tents, only emerging to hunt and migrate at night. The result is an uncharacteristically pale skin for a group of people living in an almost eternally fair-weather locale.

Kahkol: A tribe made up of orphans and refugees from tribes defeated or destroyed. Many choose to combine the name of their old tribe with Kahkol.

Kha: Unlike most of the Xaela, the Kha live on the fringes of the Xaela lands, actively seeking contact with non Auri peoples, introducing many aspects of those cultures into their own.

Kharlu: The third largest Xaela tribe. Mortal enemies with the Jungid, the Kharlu will spend the greater part of the year subjugating smaller tribes to swell their own ranks in preparation for an annual battle with the Jungid—the winner gaining control over a large part of the eastern coastlands.

Khatayin: A tribe which largely remains unseen, hunting goats in the mountains for nine moons of the year. The remaining three are spent at the foot of the great north range, where they survive off the dried meat they stocked.

Malagud: One of the only tribes that accepts people of the Raen—those that have been exiled, or those who have fled persecution—into their circle.

Malqir: A western steppe tribe characterized by its unique leader-choosing ritual which, instead of the usual test of brawn, is a game of Kharaqiq—a chess-like game played on a circular board divided into three rings.

Mankhad: A costal tribe which fights with blow-darts made from bones dipped in the poison of the pufferfish. So practiced with the pipes are the tribe, that they can disable a target from 200 paces.

Mierqid: A desert tribe which, over the course of a year, travels between over a hundred secret buried caches of supplies restocked with each annual visit.

Moks: A tribe invisible for the fact that its members are spread out across many different tribes (unbeknownst to those tribes). Communication between its members is done on the rare occasion when two tribes meet, through an ancient set of hand signals only recognizable by those who know what they are looking for.

Mol: A small tribe of devout worshippers of the elder gods, the Mol will consult with their deities (via a shaman conduit) before making any tribe-related decisions, from the direction of their next migration, to the beasts they will hunt each day for food.

Noykin: Master trainers of the wild horses which populate the majority of steppe. It is said that the horsewives of the Noykin can break any beast if given but a week.

Olkund: Selective breeding has seen the average height of the central steppe-dwelling Olkund tribe males reach over two and a half yalms. The females, for whatever reason, remain of an average height.

Orben: A tribe that rides up and down the great inner river on boats woven from reeds and reinforced with scales from their own skin.

Orl: A tribe that fled Othard in the wake of Garlean occupation. Several of the Orl found their way to the highlands of Coerthas but misconceptions of Au Ra being of Dravanian descent led Ishgardian soldiers to slaughter them indiscriminately. There is only known to be one survivor of this tribe.

Oronir: All members of the Oronir tribe believe themselves to be direct descendants of Azim, the tribe's god of the sun.

Oroq: The Oroq create sleds made of reeds dipped in horse fat to help move their possessions and young children about the inner grasslands.

Qalli: Also known as the songbirds of the steppe, the Qalli communicate through song, attaching a melody to their words to further add emotion to the meaning.

Qerel: The warriors of this tribe all wear complete suits of armor crafted from the bones of steppe tigers which they kill with their own hands upon their coming of age.

Qestir: This tribe refuses to speak, believing that all words are lies, and that a man's actions are the purest form of communication.

Sagahl: A tribe which sees all beastkin as equals with man, therefore refuses to eat or use them as beasts of burden. As a result, the diet of the Sagahl mainly consists of steppe shrubs and vilekin.

Torgud: This desert tribe does not wear any clothes, choosing instead to cover their bodies almost entirely in a white paint created from mud, lime, and bone meal. The paint helps to reflect the relentless desert sun.

Tumet: The children of the Tumet, upon seeing their tenth summer, are tied to a sacred tree while the remainder of the tribe packs up and moves to their next location. Those children who manage to break free from their bonds and catch up with the tribe at that next location, are given a name and allowed into the tribe.

Ugund: When members of this tribe die, their heads are removed from their bodies and placed in a jar of fermented goat milk. Once the liquid has been drunk by the head (in other words, evaporated), the head is then buried under an anthill so that the tiny workers can carry the spirit to the afterlife. The journey is thought to be a terrible one, the road filled with ghosts of the damned, so ensuring the spirit is drunk helps ease the journey.

Ura: This mountain-dwelling tribe is one of the few which instead of hunting, mine the precious ores of the peaks and trade them with the steppe tribes for food.

Urumet: This desert tribe has the queer custom of travelling with their elders carried upon their shoulders. It is believed that in the flat desert, this gives the tribe the advantage of being able to see farther.

Uyagir: One of a handful of Xaela tribes which have given up the nomadic lifestyle. The Uyagir reside in a system of limestone caves on the northern edge of the southern deserts which are believed to have been dug by a race of giant oliphant-like beetles which were placed on the land by the gods to punish the elder tribes that had grown too greedy.

[diamondangelkitten]

Vierapril Day 2: Companion

Annabeth is busy brushing Percy down after their morning flight when she spots Alira playing… Is that fetch?... with her massive coeurl. “Is Lenny actually chasing that.. thing?”  Alira turns and waves at Annabeth before jogging over to her, causing Lenny to change direction to bring whatever was in his mouth back to Alira. “Yea! Nero made it for him. It’s bite and claw proof and has an internal thruster that I can program so that it can go farther than what I could ever throw!” Annabeth smiles at what Nero can do when an idea comes to him. “That’s really cool. But that still begs the question as to why Lenny wants to play fetch?” Lenny drops the device at Alira’s feet and goes to give Annabeth a very scratchy lick on the face. Annabeth gives him some scratches under his chin while Alira shrugs. “Honestly, I don’t know. He’s allowed to roam free and hunt, but I think sometimes he gets bored. He’s already an impressive hunter, so this gives him a bit of a challenge and it’s bonding time.” Percy pecks lightly at Annabeth’s shoulder, so she turns to look at him and he starts doing some tip taps and squawks excitedly. “What? Wait, do you wanna play fetch too?” He starts bouncing up and down and Annabeth just has a shocked look on her face. Alira bursts out laughing, “Shall we have a race then?” Lenny yowls in agreement and he and Percy line up. Annabeth has finally shaken herself out of shock, while Alira is busy programming in details to the thruster. “Okay, on your mark, get set, go!!” she yells.

Annabeth and Alira just smile as their two companions race each other. Annabeth raises a hand to the linkpearl in her ear, “Hey Nero, yea, uh-huh, I’m hanging out here with Alira and I’m going to need you to make another one of those indestructible fetch toys for Percy. Yep, and can you make it able to fly in the air? Uh-huh. He’d probably like some agility training too. Thanks! Yep, see you for dinner tomorrow.”

It was a close race, but Annabeth and Alira can tell that Lenny dropped back near the very end to let Percy capture the ball. He squawks and beats his wings in triumph, before running back to Annabeth with Lenny close behind. He drops the ball at her feet and she can tell he is thrumming with excitement. “Well, I’ve ordered you one of your own, but for now, if Lenny is willing, you’ll just have to play together.” The coeurl and griffin start playing around with each other and the girls can’t help but laugh. “He really is just a big cat with wings isn’t he?” “Yep! And you love him all the same.” “Oh of course!” 

[starres-stuff]

FFXIV Writes 2023 | Day 7 | Noisome

Arriving in Ishgard, the Sharlayan learns some of the secrets of its people from his Sister.

As life progressed from those days in Garlemald and the loss of his friends, Dimitri found himself called to Eorzea by the most disturbing of things, a missive that invited him to meet his birth family due to the failing health of their matriarch and Baroness, Saphelle Jienuex. It was an odd request, at least he found himself thinking so but every member of his adopted family acted as if Lady Jienuex was so important that they were offering to pack his things for him and push him out the door. He found the entire thing preposterous but went along with the request nonetheless.

It would be three evenings later that he would find himself standing on the airship dock in Ishgard with his bags in his hands, waiting for the Jienuex carriage to arrive to usher him on to the Manor where he would be staying during this extended visit and while he did so he found himself taking in what he could see from that spot of the City that would be his temporary home.

It was far different than Sharlayan or Garlemald for that matter. Its gray skies and constantly falling snow were rather pretty mixed in with the largely gothic architecture that made up the buildings, many of which reached towards the sky in ornate arches and domes. At first thought, he had to admit that it was quite breathtaking, but he could do without the cold nipping at his skin.

There were many things Dimitri had read about the Ishgardian people, some of which were quite strange to him. They seemed to favor open-air bath houses where people would gather as if some valued social activity often in states of undress that boggled his mind as it was the opposite of all he had known in Sharlayan. That tidbit also seemed to clash with things he had been told by travelers that had visited the City, that the people of Ishgard tended to be rather noisome and only an outsider would notice it.

This was something that truly concerned the redhead, as he was known to have a rather delicate nose, sometimes being able to detect scents that other people did not notice around them. So far so good it seemed, however, for a while he did see people swaddled up in numerous layers of clothing as he was told he would he did not smell any particular stench coming from them and thus he relaxed believing it was nothing more than some tale that would turn out to be a scorned person way of deterring others from visiting the City.

It would seem like bells had passed by the time the carriage appeared, and from it stepped the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life, she even made him forget how to breathe at first. “Dimitri?” she called out seeing his lone figure standing on the dock “Dimitri Jienuex?” Closer she came, long blonde hair covering her pointed ears and framing her pale skin, striking sapphire standing out from everything else and shining in the darkness. “Are you Dimitri Jienuex?”

The closer she came the more he noticed about her, first was the distinct similarities between their features and the fact that for an adult Elezen, she was extremely short. She was also very well dressed and decked out in jewelry that he had never seen a woman wear before. Thankfully she also did not carry an offensive smell, instead smelling of rose water and vanilla.

“That would be me.” Dimitri finally said, sweeping into a flourishing bow that ended with his head lifted and a grin spread on his face. “And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?” his manners thankfully were intact despite the fact he couldn’t remember a time that he had spoken to a woman who looked like her.

“Seriphina Jienuex,” she stated simply, with a raised eyebrow that Dimitri would come to learn was a family trait. “Your half-sister. Older than you by a handful of years, and only just learned of your existence the other day when Mother requested I send for you. This way please.” She stopped to look at his uncovered nose, then she pointed towards it with a gloved finger. “Do you have a scarf to put over that? Visitors often find certain things unpleasant, and it is not the communal salt licks at the dinner table. I do recommend it until you have built a resilience to it covering your snout. The stench of this Hells forsaken place is known to make people retch and I am hardly in the mood to watch you lose your Archon Loaf.”

Not only was she beautiful, she was sassy and he couldn’t help but smile at how this little bundle of energy was his sister, though there was curious thought Dimitri had as her name was not mentioned in the letter. “Another sister?” he said smoothly as he hauled his bags up from the snowy wood and started after her heading towards the carriage in the distance. “I was told that I would be met by my sister Viviane and that she had red hair. I found that amusing of course since I have it too.”

“That’s me.” She called back “ Lady Viviane Seriphina Jienuex.” She rattled off her full name then cast somewhat of a smile over her shoulder “And yes my natural hair color is the same shade as yours. I had a show last evening and I haven’t removed the glamour from my hair, but I dare say we will look close to twins when I do. You can call me Seri. I tend to avoid using my actual first name. It reminds me that I am the next in line to hold the head of our House when Mother passes and with everything as it is that might be rather soon. I should also make you aware that circumstances have changed since our letter and we, meaning you and I will be leaving in the morning for Gridania where Mother’s medical care is being handled.”

By now they had reached the carriage, and thankfully it was quite big. It had been another thing that Dimitri worried about as they walked, what if he was the only tall member of the family How would he fit, of course he was also startled by the fact that he would have to travel further to meet his Mother, let alone Gridania of all places which he had heard terrible things about for those who appeared to be of Duskwight heritage, which he was full-blood Duskwight himself.

“Did she take a turn for the worse?” He asked as he stowed his bag and climbed in the door to the plush interior nodding to the man holding it open for him to close it after him, Once inside he made himself as comfortable as possible in the strange surroundings.

“It is a long story, longer than I care to get into with ears abound. We can talk about it when we are inside of the Manor.” Seri replied as she unwound her scarf from her neck, took out a small bottle of what had to be perfume, and spritzed a bit on the heavy fabric, holding it out to Dimitri to take. “Please I beg of you hold this to your nose. I never quite noticed how bad the smell is until I spent the last five cycles in Gridania myself. I live out in the Black Shroud, surrounded by trees, earth, and wildflowers. It is a very comforting and clean smell. When I returned here at Mother’s request I was ill for days. These people do not wash.” Her eyes seemed to cross and her lips pursed at her own words and then she added, “The dress in layers to kill the smell and douse themselves in perfume and the Nobles in the Pillars are the absolute worst about it.”

Dimitri found himself staring at her leather-gloved hand for a moment before he finally reached out his own and took the offering, the delicate fabric had to be cashmere or some special form of wool for how soft he perceived it to be even without touching it. “I had heard rumors of such things, but with the bathhouses, I didn’t expect it to be true?” He tried to laugh it off but as the carriage began to move, pulled by two resplendent Chocobo he found himself lifting the scarf to his nose just in case so that he would be prepared for anything.

Dimitri found most of the trip from the Airship Dock to the Jienuex Manor in the Pillars to be rather pleasant. They discussed a great many things on the way from their Mother to Seriphina’s political stance when it came to current events in Ishgard, revealing to the studious man that she had taken quite well to her training as a Noble over the years or at least that she was skilled at bullshitting her way through conversations in a fashion that made her sound smart.

[ferrocyan]

granson's section in encyclopedia eorzea 3!! his blade having such a sweet history was unexpected ahhh he bought it for a song?? his wife fixed it up??? god this makes it so much more tragic that he used it for self-harm

i did expect him to be 28 (milinda died a year before we met him, btw) also, love his name. "ketch" is a type of sailing vessel and "thane" is a free retainer of a lord (per merriam-webster). very middle english! i suppose that'd be the culture of kholusian humes

i got this from twitter so if anyone has more role quest characters lore please do share them ;w; i want to know more about my friends

[shivasdarknight]

So these are mostly for myself, hence it being just. Wherever I was standing, but I've got some fun reference photos for Surkie and her tanking looks over msq (HVW and on). Plus, Ysayle minion being cute af as usual

(images below the cut because there's a lot)

So let's start with Heavensward.

This is when Surkie first picked up tanking and was learning how to be a Dark Knight. While not the main outfit she wore as a WoL, this ensemble she picked up to not stand out as much would just kinda become part of her usual clothing. The Dreadwyrm Claymore was her main weapon, as this was when she still had access to the weird summoned weaponry from dealing with Bahamut (lingering pact that Ammut had made, it reawakened in her). What's most notable here is the armor, which is a conjured set that she manifested to better hide herself while running around taking out Temple Knights or other jobs (and then eventually hits for Aymeric and his safety). This was not her main class at the time, but she would sometimes pull it out (with the first outfit) around the others of the og WoL crew. To everyone but them, a few of the WoL-adjacents, Sidurgu, Rielle, and Aymeric, no one had any indication that she was this new Dark Knight.

But that Kinda shifted with post-Heavensward.

This is immediately after the fight with Nidhogg. Surkie lost her ability to be a Dragoon from her injuries, but found that her conjured weaponry had warped substantially due to Nidhogg's body being composed this raw primordial power. Seeing as her conjured arsenal was based in a bond with Bahamut, it was susceptible to Nidhogg's aether and corrupted it to take after him. She has been unable to conjure those weapons since (there's one exception in enw, but otherwise she's stuck like this).

Seeing as this is when she begins to seriously take up being a tank, this becomes her public identity. This is around the time she gets the suit of black armor (the behemoth king one) that would replace her previous image as a WoL. It's often described as wraith-like, and it just kinda became synonymous with her. If you notice, she's still got the braid she adopted from Ysayle. She's still down Really bad.

Which makes post-Stormblood hurt.

This is the full adoption of Dark Knight as her identity, seeing as she got severely fucked over during Stormblood and Really can't be a Dragoon anymore. Between her injuries, past-self bullshit, Zenos bullshit, etc., it overwhelms her and in a moment of dissociation and dysphoria, the lops the braid off. ...Which sends her into a panic and keeps her from doing anything else. She gets Lyse to salvage her hair as best she can, and it's Lyse's idea to add the two braids on the side. The beads and feathers were also her idea. One braid is held together with the pale blue ribbon that Surkie got from Ysayle; the other is a red one she got from Lyse. Both are hidden by the beads, but regardless the sentiment still stands: less keeping one braid to mourn someone she can't publicly talk about, and more about those they'd lost altogether as it'd well exceeded just one person they were mourning. Kind of a physical representation of that saying in XIV of "for those we have lost; for those we can yet save".

She doesn't really change much from here during Shadowbringers, but she is affected by Shadowbringers.

Very minor change here, but her left eye (our right) becomes scarred with light aether. It also somewhat destabilizes her Horde weaponry for a while, which is a scary fucking thing for her. She's got a lot more scars under the armor, but this is when she begins to refuse to wear anything that shows off her back because of the damage from the lightwarden's aether. She also will not show off her right side (our left) because of the multilayered scar there.

Post-Shadowbringers comes with a weapon change.

Part of why she readily accepts this is because of the damage to her conjured weaponry, but the other part is it's from Altan. While Surkie was on the First, Altan was working in Bozja and on the resistance relic restoration project. But unfortunately, she gets grievously injured right before Delubrum Reginae, meaning Surkie has to step in. When she initially goes to Gangos to check on things, she's met with an unconscious Altan and it really fucks with her. More so when W'khittri and Bajsaljen give her the recreated weapons, Woeborn and Dreizack Recollection. Atlan was only able to get Dreizack to awaken, but had specifically worked to give Surkie both a weapon she could immediately use, and something to maybe help get her to work towards being a Dragoon again. ...So obviously, she adopts both weapons because her sister went out of her way to restore them and wound up losing both of her arms in the process (literal arms, like flesh and bone).

And then towards the end of 5.55, Surkie finds out she's pregnant and she sits out of things for a While. And part of this has her not taking care of herself as much because she's just trying her best to deal with Everything Else. Which is how you get her Endwalker look.

Which is mostly just. Her hair grew out severely. It's still got the two braids, it's still got the ribbons and their meaning. She's just kinda let herself go and keeps a mullet now. Not much else changed, because the significant one is actually at the very end of Endwalker, when the fight with Zenos busts her armor.

Which of course leads to:

Surkie's own aether ate away at the integrity of her original armor set and she's frankly lucky it didn't break sooner. The fight with Zenos pushed it to its limits, and the metal is completely unusable as a result of how unstable it is. This set was kind of a surprise? She went to H'naanza to see if her armor could be repaired (see something Surkie wasn't), but it was a mess and unworkable. H'naanza tells her she'll figure something out, and Surkie comes back to this set, which was a combined effort from a lot of skilled folks to give her something that could withstand her wild aether and not break down. Woeborn is stable for now, but she does end up worried that she might end up breaking it, too. And that would destroy her.

So in part to alleviate the burden of that weapon, she does get a new one forged along with some lighter traveling gear:

So this is the look Surkie's going into Dawntrail with. The other armor is obviously still something she keeps, it's just more...serious armor? This is more with traveling in mind. I need to figure out how she gets this claymore since the Manderville quests are not at all canon to her, but regardless it's a bunch of stuff meant to withstand her crazy aether while also facilitating her ability to shift into a demonic form (a form that was influenced by her original set of armor that got busted).

but yeaaaaaaaaaaaah lets see what Dawntrail brings to her growth as a tank main

[snow-system-wol]

Fluffcember Day 25, Midnight

At some point, insecurity had turned to determination, and the latter proved a better motivator. S'ria went from somewhat hesitantly working on his reading in private every now and then to quite earnestly trying daily. G'raha thought he might've actually been starting to like it, rather than viewing it as a chore, and he loved that for S'ria. He did all he could to assist.

S'ria was still too self conscious to work directly with G'raha or to try to read out loud for scrutiny, but he at least provided company and helped find books that were… at the appropriate difficulty but not infantilizing. (Luckily, with Eorzean literacy being somewhere between half and two thirds, it isn't overly difficult to find simpler things meant for adults.)

Sometimes determination got the best of him, though.

G'raha carefully nudged S'ria's door open with his shoulder, carrying a mug in each hand. He placed one down on the desk in front of S'ria and brought his own mug to a comfortable spot on the floor. S'ria drew his blanket tighter around his shoulders and gratefully took a sip of the warm tea.

“Huh. To be honest, I was expecting chai, not chamomile.”

G'raha yawned from the pile of pillows. “I dare say you may need the encouragement to sleep, rather than the encouragement to stay up even later. The book shall wait for you until the morn. Your rest shall not.”

S'ria took another sip of his tea and nodded. “You're not wrong – I didn't realize it'd gotten so late. It should not take too long to get through this last page or few in the chapter. And then I'll go to bed, I promise.”

G'raha smiled and made himself more comfortable, knowing there was entirely a chance he may sleep through the night in a heap of pillows on S'ria's floor if he did so. Occasionally drinking his own tea, G'raha lounged and listened to the quiet sounds of S'ria shifting things at his desk and the mutterings of S'ria sounding things out, too quietly to be understood.

[astrxealis]

shadowbringers musicebbajgeghbahebjgb some lyrics!

“in monochrome melodies, our tears are painted in red”

“we’re nothing more than scions and sinners”

the whole of ‘to the edge’ tbh. that stuff absolutely ruins me always

“like broken angels, wingless, cast from heaven's gates (our slumbering demons awake) / we only fly when falling, falling far from grace (hell take us, heaven can wait)”

“the road that we walk, is lost in the flood / here proud angels bathe in their wages of blood”

“AUTHORS OF OUR FATE, ORCHESTRATE OUR FALL FROM GRACE, POOREST PLAYERS ON THE STAGE, OUR DEFIANCE STRIVES US STRAIGHT TO THE EDGE”

“A REFLECTION IN THE GLASS, RECOLLECTIONS OF OUR PAST, SWIFT AS DARKNESS COLD AS ASH, FAR BEYOND THIS DREAM OF PARADISE LOST”

as you can tell i especially love those two. and everything tbh. but i’m listening to ‘shadowbringers’ rn so hi (’to the edge’ makes me so emotional though everytime)

“riding home, dying hope, hold onto hope...”

all lyrics in the shadowbringers expansion tbh. and the whole of ffxiv

THE LYRICS IN RELATION TO THE STORY. AND EVEN WITHOUT. IT IS JUST SO GOOD

shadowbringers is literally the best i am so obsessed with it i am so in love with it shb means everything to me omfg

this post is about lyics so i will stave off the want to talk about the music symbolisms and all haha. also no spoilers btw so dw

“la-hee” :))

“for whom weeps the storm, her tears on our skin”

“STAND TALL, MY FRIEND” <//3 <33

tomorrow and tomorrow always ruins me

[captainkurosolaire]

Tailspin

A rolling tumbleweed traversing desolate desert, scattered across a Saloon, house for cretins which felt lost. Offering salvation in nectar. One drink, became two, three and eventually, your issues were gone. Albeit once snapped out of it, everything else was too.

The precipice of a familiar setting. It cost him before, history held the habit to repeat. Seated, tankard a grog almost finished. Standing on a mental ledge.

He felt worthless, telling people that it’s going to be okay, shouting you’ve got to win, only to falter. This building was where the downward spiral occurred formerly. Allowing, ‘Un’, a specter of misery to consume him. Manifesting a nagging conscience who served small, inferior, and gave it control.

Plummeting further into depravity. Felt he was a creature of flight, airborne, whelmed with turbulence that threatened to crash and collide into the ground.

Unshakable hope, said he could still pull up. Relapse or command a resiliency.

Reflecting, silencing noises of the establishment’s ambiance. Judas prior in a crushing way, advised him to use his thoughts. Serving close, although it was strictly platonic, chemistry, and matching bond felt richer than many couples who claimed love.

Culprit behind this betrayal, took advantage of closeness, peaking into rifts. Inflicting Captain to strike wrongly… Orchestrating this proved chaos was enjoyed. The down-bad heathen began crossing analyzing Crewmates, on potential motives. A singular bullet within the chamber to get the truth, unwilling to falsely accuse.

Wasn’t his daughter, Klethera, despite last seen publicly at bedside before the crime commenced. A grievance too raw, she lashed out. When news broke Captain confronted her after learning she volunteered and admitted she was the one who slew the brother of the man waged against in the Six Layers pit.  Wishing to prevent, protect her, but she just questioned. “Why are you insistent to be my Father now? You weren’t for eighteen summers. I don’t need protection or coddling, I can manage without you.” Leaving him stunned, stormed out also on him. Naturally she was a spit-fire.. Unlike him, she held leaps of sense, understanding right from wrong, righteously seeking to do moral justice.

Surgeon Casta either wasn't able elicit harm. Purest innocence, despite challenges into breakable mistreatment, unfairness, everything stacked, she managed to keep herself and attitude afloat. For her compassion for others. Humanization inspired Captain right now, to contemplate. Even chosen to become a subordinate of Sinbad’s band. She admitted to being afraid, but her braveness leaped over expectations for the sake of her Captain.. A hero in her Tales she made him the protagonist. Saved by him long ago. Reality was she was his heroine.

Ubylagynn Gark, The Hellsguard Uncle of Crew, Quartermaster, gentle giant, brother of the Founding Captain. Although intense tension lingered after a threat that if Captain sulked again and moped in the Crimson Baron’s presence, he’d personally turn him into ashes and a fleece pelt. Flames from the crime scene were created with a standardized lighter. Gark’s fire aspect, didn’t require any carry-on nonsense.

Shelah, the Duskwight, sniper originated from part’s elsewhere, Isle of Amazonian’s, all women who were seers, were  nomadic and uncommon to using such devices and critically lacked knowledge outside their isolated habitat. She couldn’t have been the culprit either.

Zieton, Goldbrand Crew’s Historian, seemingly from an ancient era, incredibly bound of faith, vowed in Twelve’s Sake to sacred oath, he wouldn’t ever bring harm to anyone with his tremendous knowledge. A body was a temple of the divine and the conduit of their wishes. Joining strictly to retain the scattered Relic’s of the Twelve as his quest, reunite them to their rightful residence. This was far too barbaric and savage for this Elezen.

Nihlius, the unwanted Ghoul, outside grimly appearance, afflicted with appalling darkness, it was impractical for them to be the offender. Quite possibly served as Captain's most loyal, a monster… Unbelievable.

Ruling out these, who remained were candidates, potentially, the mastermind of dark.

Didn’t taste right to assume, Slafhota the person who actually pulled him from the fire, yet often in scenarios, the first on scene could be it. Her aetheric pattern when Captain first encountered her, he believed was an old enemy, a Primal of the Depths, someone who brought tremendous turmoil to Captain long-ago with his Crew of former, it took alliances, and managed to superbly unite to bring down that Siren Among Siren’s written about in fables, her civilization, terrorized, control mind’s and bent them effortlessly in song. It took War against that force, it built his fame throughout the Realm for holding a part to eviscerating that pollution. But he was wrong, cause confronted with this Sea Wolf, she was so far different. Notwithstanding his initial reading, nor instinct, she banished his thoughts. – Perhaps she has regained memories? Was she merely a reincarnation of that villain, hiding amongst that facade? A pretty surface, hiding the depths… There was weight to his concerns.

She not only cooked for this Crew, but was a counselor, someone reliable to confess their harboring feelings, providing balances of calming empathy. Anyone felt safe with her to open up too. He almost slipped into unruly habits, instead asked for her help and she provided warmth. It meant so much to help others, especially those wanting betterment. Felt she would NEVER give up on another. The commitment to care-taking was unrivaled.

Whyte an odd Viera, who really wasn’t. Glamoured only as her identity, laid only known by the Treasure Hunter, Captain. The product manifestation of a treasured relic that brought thoughts to life after traversing a Spiritual Ruins. She was Captain’s imaginary friend, as a child that was never given an actual vessel, she wasn’t real, if anyone else knew that... It would be her demise. Kuro convinced all Crew, she was a childhood friend from his orphanage. Unshakeable, though relic's didn’t carry all their effects, it could be cursed. Things that were buried, often proved better off this way. In the Captain’s twisted fragment, the treasure could’ve mirrored and warped her into other personality traits even outside his design.

Me-Me otherwise Gremlin referred, proved indescribable. They joined this Crew by her own volition and insistence, Captain overwhelmed with their mystique and not only really knew much about them, often they served to pull pranks although harmless, sought to amuse, get laughter out, rid gloom and replace for jolly… Or would con them out of their wealth. From everything Captain knew, Me-Me acted like a guardian. Her reasoning for joining this band was unfathomably beyond anyone. With hints and little display of prowess, they by far were the very, very, strongest. 

The Final individual suspect, Captain, chose to often play blind, despite Sol’s many, nonredeemable qualities, brief instances of cruelty, over-exhausting greed. Sol Akami, was Captain’s longest known Crewmate, being among every version of Crew. They were closer than most brothers. Back to back fighting and overall growing up together. Taught under the same Founding Captain, either one of them could’ve held the inheritance of the mantle. He led mercenaries, once owning a Silverbrand, the sister to the Goldbrand; they were always on a similar page. Overcoming events that were incomprehensible to normal. Both lost at sea, struggled with sin and vices. Sol took different stances, opposing path more, traditional in piracy, brutal, take-first, everything was subject to steal, he was borderline insane some days, unpredictable, dangerously borderline a Scourge. Giving off the worst of first impressions. Each were former slaves, Sol, was taken by the Garlemald in their rise. While Captain was a prisoner inundated by land.

Just cause you know someone, doesn’t mean you really do, especially in Captain’s world of piracy, a fact that ate him up. The Seeker wanted none of them to be the traitor, but one was.

Miqo'te resurfaced from his deep thoughts. A soothing feminine voice quizzically, “Another pour sweetie?” Scoundrel left in decision.

Loosening the hold on a drink, “Nay, thank ye though, beauty.” Paying up and choosing to walk beyond. He chose to attempt to remain resilient.

Unbeknownst to this tavern, his last time here, the miscreant acted in such a hellish manner. Brought physical pain to her that had her screaming at him, "Monster!!!" -- He overall was unpleasant to others, she didn’t even recognize him in this present-day, practically a dead man after-all. Blending into casual ware to offer concealment; his mere presence always brought pandemonium. As he departed. She collected the payment, given a additional mysterious pouch inside carried a rare jewelry that could change a life on wealth alone. Radiance, the value left a shone that reflected her most pleasant features. Confused and thinking it was a mistake, she chased after but he was long gone from visibility. The smallest token to make amends and he felt late. This gesture showed that the Pirate was determined to walk a new path that his predecessors never did. Despite unseen from her. Other studious eye’s from tavern patrons, gave pursuit and was tracking this Captain. A whiskey flask was mutually left to collect dust on the serving round-table, whoever drank this, was in the same disaster mental space of the Blackguard.

🌊 ♫The Grey♫ - Reference- Last Chapter 🌊