#or finally decide what I want to do with the end of the ARR patches!

[avirael]

How to hold a grudge (on behalf of someone else)

“Oh! Hello Rael!”

The audacity of this man!, was all Rael thought as they opened the door to their house and found Thancred standing on the other side. They felt horribly tempted to just slam the door right back shut into his stupidly grinning face.

Certainly they could say that it had just been one of these intrusive Lalafell who tried to sell their useless and overpriced goods to gullible people (like A’viloh) or one of their neighbours asking to borrow sugar again. Anyone who was not Thancred Waters.

What did he even want here? Had all of the women in Revenant’s Toll finally realised how much of a fraud he was and fled town? Or maybe they had chased him away with brooms and pitchforks. Yes, the later was absolutely Rael’s preferred explanation for his unwelcome presence here.

They still glowered at the man, trying really hard not to greet him with an insult, when A’vi returned from the kitchen. “Who’s there?”, he asked gloomily on his way back to the couch. Just as Thancred appeared in his field of view, the Hyur raised an arm and waved lightly. “Hello to you too, A’viloh.”

“Oh!”, the Miqo’te exclaimed surprised and almost dropped the bowl of ice cream he held in his hands. And there was that expression again, Rael noted in frustration. The same one he had made the last time they had visited the Rising Stones. It was a strange mix of feelings and Rael thought it difficult to find a fitting word for it. He looked like he had mistaken some dangerous animal for a harmless pet and was now horrified by the bloodshed it caused but still couldn’t stop himself from liking that creature anyway despite its nature. Maybe the comparison was unnecessarily gruesome but Rael just hoped that A’viloh was at least clever enough not to get himself torn to pieces by the metaphorical sharp teeth.

***

It wasn’t all that difficult to understand how the Viera got this rather extreme opinion about Thancred Waters. He had always had a certain reputation around Vesper Bay and Ul’dah, Rael had quickly learned as they had asked around about the Scions before choosing to work with them. On top of that the man hadn’t exactly left a good first impression when they had met in person for the first time. Maybe he had honestly just been curious about meeting a Viera for the first time but Rael had already heard a few pretty stupid pick-up lines during their journey and this man had seemed right in line with that. A raised eyebrow and disgusted look on their face at least had quickly disheartened him to try any further.

But then there was A’viloh! Kind, yet so self-sabotaging A’viloh! Rael had long stopped wondering what it was that he found interesting about Thancred and instead decided to just blame it on a severe case of mental confusion. They had warned him about Thancred back when A'viloh had told them about the invitation but it really wasn’t their place to tell A’vi what to do or, in this case, not to do. So at first the Viera had simply intended for him to either be clever (which seemed unlikely) or learn that lesson on his own and the hard way if necessary. But this had been many months ago and in the meantime a lot had happened. By now the idea that the poor Miqo’te could get his feelings hurt by that vile man was giving Rael a headache.

Sure, Rael occasionally liked to tease him about the way he acted around Thancred and at first all of his infatuation had almost seemed to Rael like a good sign, but that assessment had changed shortly after. Finally Rael had managed to convince A’viloh that it would be a good idea to return to the Rising Stones and speak to Thancred about how the Miqo’te felt responsible for what had happened to him (and only about that, mind you!) but in the meantime Thancred had seemingly recovered very well and immediately reverted back to his old ways. Just worse. Both, concerning the quantity of alcohol and women.

In a surprisingly short span of time Thancred had managed to be seen with more women than Rael could count on their fingers, some of them just shamelessly flirting with but enough of them in more or less obvious situations. And that were just the ones he had no qualms to be seen with, Rael assumed. It was unnecessary to mention that A’viloh’s resolution to speak to him had died down abruptly.

Rael had observed this tragedy for as long and as peacefully as they could tolerate. They hadn’t wanted to interfere in something that actually wasn’t any of their business, so they had hoped that A’vi would soon get angry enough to stop moping. But they should have known that anger wasn’t exactly one of A’vi’s standard solutions for his problem and so of course it only seemed to get worse over time. Rael on the other hand had quickly developed a habit of getting angry on his behalf, to their own frustration.

One day Rael was speaking with Papalymo and Y'shtola about a book they were studying, when they noticed A'viloh gloomily staring down the counter of F‘lhaminn’s bar. After a moment F‘lhaminn, like the good barkeep she was, put a glass of liquor in front of him, raised an eyebrow and expected him to talk.

“What’s up with you?” she asked but A’viloh just grimaced and nodded to the glass in front of him. “That’s not a good idea. Alcohol and me don’t seem to go so well together.”

F‘lhlaminn had chuckled and made a peculiar face. “Oh, just like Thancred I guess…”, she said leaving it up to his interpretation if she meant alcohol and Thancred or him and Thancred, while she eyed him for a reaction.

A desperate sigh was all she got for an answer, but that was more than enough.

“Ha! So I rightfully thought this was about him. You know, I saw you eyeing him and Higiri…”

Avi snapped to attention, ears going up, face turning red. “What?! That ain’t true! Why would I??”

“If you say so…”, F’lhaminn chuckled again and returned her attention to the glass she was cleaning.

Seemingly unaware of the fact that he was proving her right, A’vi turned his head the other way and kept on sadly watching Thancred flirt with one of the doman girls from afar.

At that point Rael had decided to do something and stepped closer. “If you don't stop looking like this, I will go over there and I will punch him in his stupid face.”, they annouced sitting down beside A'vi.

Startled the Miqo’te turned around. “What?”

“It’s excuse me!”, Rael corrected and then repeated their words. “I said I am going to punch him in the face if you don’t!”

A’viloh was either truly unaware about his lovesick staring or had decided to play very very dumb. “Who?”

“Please! Don’t pretend to be more stupid than you actually are. Thancred of course!”, the Viera grumbled.

A’viloh still pretended to be oblivious. “Why should you do that??”

“You know why!”, sternly Rael glowered at him and finally the Miqo’te gave up this charade. “Alright! Fine! But how is he supposed to know that it bothers me?”, he retorted and Rael seriously wondered if he was this oblivious about how he was behaving.

“By the Twelve, A’vi!”, they exclaimed, a saying they had quickly picked up along with another few curses. “He can’t have that much brain damage to not notice that! Everybody in this building must by now have noticed that you are in love with him. I wouldn’t even be surprised if everybody in this whole town knows!”

A’viloh wanted to object at first but quickly gave up.. “I am not-... No… Please! Don’t tell me it is really that obvious?”

Rael rolled their eyes and slightly shook their head. “No, don’t worry! You just longingly stare at him every chance you get and sigh sadly every time he talks to someone. I guess your secret is safe!”

“That’s not funny…”, he muttered quietly with drooping ears. Rael just shrugged. It was only the truth.

Then A’vi added: “The idea that someone like Rowena knows something like that is kinda scary…”

“Careful! She’ll find a way to make money out of that. Blackmail or something…”, Rael couldn’t help but tease. At least the Miqo’te spent the rest of the day brooding over something that wasn’t Thancred Waters.

But then a few days later Rael had reached the point where they had enough.

One late afternoon they had found A’vi picking at his food while once again staring across the room, where Thancred sat at the bar with one arm around the shoulders of an annoyingly giggling Miqo’te girl. It was painful to watch, both Thancred and his conquest being so obliviously obnoxious as well as A’viloh’s reaction to it, but apart from this it was mostly infuriating. Rael wasn’t even sure who they wanted to yell at the most. So after wordlessly watching for a minute or another they lost their temper and growled at A’viloh.

“Are you mad!? You can’t seriously tell me that this -“, they hissed, silently enough not to catch any attention, gesturing towards the bar. “THIS is what you want? To be stupid! And replaceable! And forgotten before morning!?”

Slightly shocked A’viloh had stared at them for a moment, like he just realised it was the truth, before he wordlessly shook his head and sighed. It wasn’t fair that Rael had lashed out at him, they knew that, but seemingly he needed someone to tell him how ridiculous all of this was. Nonetheless he still looked sad of course, so this time it had been Rael, who had decided to take A’viloh and flee as far away as possible, seeking refuge in their house near Limsa again.

Of course this wouldn’t solve anything and they couldn’t avoid that bastard forever, but there was nothing else Rael could do about it. (Unless you counted maiming or murder a reasonable approach of course.) They simply hoped that A’viloh would soon come to his senses and realise how stupid it was to care about someone as ruthless as Thancred Waters.

***

And now this impossible man had the nerve to show up at their door! Obliviously grinning at that! They really wanted to strangle him. “What are you doing here, Thancred?”, they asked with a way too sweet tone and a strained smile, that somehow looked threatening.

“Ah! Very good question!”, he answered and laughed obliviously. “The two of you haven’t shown me your house yet! So I thought I‘d visit and see for myself!”

The carefully put together smile on Rael’s face faded as quickly as it had appeared. There was no way they would be able to remain friendly towards him even one second longer. “Well, now that you‘ve seen it, why don’t you go and—”

A’viloh, who until then was silently observing the contents of his ice cream bowl in concentration, at once snapped to attention. Alarmed he stared at the Viera while loudly proclaiming. “That’s so nice of you! Why don’t you come in first and we‘ll get you something to drink?”

He left it to Thancred to let himself in and instead grabbed Rael‘s arm to pull them into the kitchen.

“You can’t say something like this, Rael!”, he argued quietly.

“I can’t say what?”, they raised their eyebrows and didn’t bother very much to speak quietly. What bothered them though, was that A‘viloh still was so disgustingly friendly to him. Rael had thought he had understood by now, that on this man all kindness was wasted. “That, for all I care about, he can go and fuck himself?”

“Rael!”, A’viloh hissed and nervously eyed the door.

“Why?”, they simply retorted angrily, while picking up the bowl A’vi had put down on the counter and putting a light ice spell on it. They would rather have put that spell elsewhere.

“Because it‘s rude!”, the Miqo’te exclaimed. „Also, I don‘t think that would be very accurate to say considering… you know…”

“Please!”, Rael interrupted. “It’s very appalling how much thought you seem to have spared to that topic!”

A’viloh gasped. “What?! You started this! I didn’t!”

So much for gratitude!, Rael thought as they opened their mouth to retort something maybe a little bit too snarky. But just in that moment Thancred’s voice echoed from the living rooms. “You two have such a wonderful house. I already thought the garden was beautiful but in here? What a pretty place!”, he said as he pranced into the kitchen and confidently leaned onto the counter like he owned the whole place. To Thancred’s luck and Rael’s disappointment the knife block was out of the Viera‘s reach.

“Thank you…”, A‘viloh answered while still keeping an eye on Rael. The Hyur looked at them innocently smiling as if he didn’t notice at all in what a dangerous situation he had put himself. Nonchalantly he looked around and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “But don’t you think something is missing?”

“Missing??”, Rael echoed and wondered if they should break his nose and see if some of his own blood on the kitchen tiles would suit his taste more. But no! That would just give A‘viloh an opportunity to get unnecessarily worried about him again…

“What do you mean, missing?”, A‘vi asked confused and let his gaze wander through the room as well.

Thancred shrugged. “I don’t know, just a feeling… Are you already completely done with the house or is there anything left you wanted to do?”

“We are more or less done.”, replied the Miqo’te and then added. “Well, Rael still wanted a proper work desk but we didn’t have time for that yet. And maybe something to sit down in the garden or an orchestrion but that would be too much work I‘m afraid…”

Thancred nodded. “Mh, that’s a shame! I think some music would make this place even more cozy…”

(If by cozy he meant the untidy chaos A’viloh had turned their house into these last few days…)

“Right?”, the Miqo’te agreed excitedly. It was disgusting.

Rael had enough of this nonsense. They knew that it would get ugly if they had to hear only a single more word of this conversation. But just as they were about to leave with an inappropriate remark, telling themselves not to care about Thancred being a horrible person and A’viloh being an idiot, all of their linkpearls started to chime at once.

Surprised they stared at each other and then answered the call more or less simultaneously. Minfilia was on the other end of the connection asking if they all could come to the Rising Stones. Then she shortly explained that there had been new information and that all of them were to meet as soon as possible to plan their next move.

Her tone had been serious and all of them knew that this could only either mean one threat or another. While Rael went to the living room table to pick up their grimoire from beneath a heap of papers, Thancred excused himself saying that he would check a few of his own sources before meeting them later.

Rael threw a few things into a bag and went upstairs to change clothes. When they returned some minutes later A’viloh was wandering through the living room with a puzzled expression on his face, ice cream bowl in one hand (of course he wouldn’t let that go to waste!) and lifting the sofa cushions one by one with the other.

Rael sighed. “What are you doing??”

“Please tell me you’ve seen any of my weapons somewhere…”

[xiv-wolfram]

Do they (or would they) pursue the other character’s affection, and if so, how? Do they tell the other character how they feel? Try to earn their admiration? Woo them with romantic gestures? Flirt with them, skillfully or otherwise?

This will have spoilers for my comic/script series. That can be followed here.

Wolfram:

For most of the events of FFXIV Wolf was actively trying to NOT pursue Raubahn romantically because 1) He didn't think his ex could possibly love him back. 2) He didn't want to risk the voidsent within him hurting Rau. The voice in his head had often become louder anytime he actually thought of pursuing anything that could make him happy. Until the SB patches, he didn't even realize Rau had feelings for him too. (Lots of self-gaslighting.)

Despite that he often justified calling Rau's linkpearl, checking up on him, and planning outings/adventures for the two as "just having fun with an old friend."

During SB and ShB Raubahn is upset with him (he deserved it) and wouldn't even acknowledge him outside of work, so Wolf didn't have the opportunity to make amends. He tried calling his linkshell or sending him mail. Even sent a basket of coffee biscuits! Eventually, he cornered the commander after a war meeting. So uh ... I guess that's an example of pursuit? 😂

Most of his concerns were resolved in EW, a bit after Vanaspati. So while he was obviously focused on saving the world, Wolf did call Raubahn on his linkpearl when he could just to ask him about his day and how he was feeling given everything going on. Conversations occasionally got a bit flirty, but mostly he just wanted Rau to know that despite everything he was still thinking about him and cared about his well-being during the difficult time. After Wolf returned to Sharlayan he gave a big romantic speech about how he felt and they were married the next day.

Now that they're back together Wolfram is free to show his affection, so he enjoys finally getting to his charms on his husband. He's a shameless flirt and very good at it. 😂 Often he'll whisper something to Rau before he gives a speech just because he thinks it's cute when the Ala Mhigan commander is a bit flustered. Wolf isn't great at the usual romantic gestures like bringing flowers or chocolate, but he is an empath so he can usually sense if there is something his partner wants or if he needs cheering up. His go-to for showing affection is cooking Raubahn his favorite foods or sparring with the gladiator.

Raubahn:

From the ARR patches onward Raubahn knew he loved Wolfram. He was also pretty sure that Wolf was into him too. But he also knew him well enough that he figured he needed time to kind of get out of his own head about everything. Still, they called each other often and had *totally not dates* when possible. He did his best not to be flirty but it happened quite a bit anyway.

In SB he impulsively told Wolf how he felt. It didn't go well... In ShB they make amends but agree to be colleagues.

In EW Raubahn didn't join in Garlemald because Wolf would be there. He eventually changed his mind and decided the mission was too important. He was heading there in a spare flyer when Wolfram called his linkpearl in distress. So once he landed he headed right for the shack Wolf was hiding in, ignoring everyone else wondering why he was there. Wolfram was having a prolonged intense panic attack - triggered by Zenos's possession. Raubahn cursed himself for putting his feelings first and did his best to comfort Wolf. Once the mage calmed down he told Rau that the voidsent was gone. The commander did his best to hide his happiness, knowing that Wolf didn't need another distraction, but he did resolve to himself that they would get back together with that hurdle out of the way.

So for the rest of EW Rau sort of pursued Wolf from a respectful distance. 😂 He ended any casual relationships he was in. He started having his contacts in the thaumaturge guild research what could cause a voidsent to be forced out of a person unexpectedly like that. He didn't want to bother Wolf but did use a blasphemy in Ala Mhigo (that he could have handled himself) as an excuse to summon the Warrior of Light there because he had information he wanted to give him in person. While the news did cause Wolf to almost turn into a blasphemy himself, Rau talked him through the ordeal. He told Wolf how much he loved him and that he always would no matter what form their bond took. After the blasphemy aura left Wolfram, Raubahn comforted him and watched over him through the night. After that Rau started to become increasingly flirtatious (although he's more subtle than Wolf), calling the Warrior of Light's linkpearl at least once a day even though he himself was extremely busy too. When he learned of the journey the Scions would make to the end of the universe, he surprised Wolf by venturing to Sharlayan to see him off. Once the mage returned and confessed his feelings, Raubahn proposed (albeit horrible timing) and Wolf enthusiastically accepted. After they were wed Rau took about a month away from his position to take care of Wolf as he healed from his extreme aether sickness as a result of his sacrifice.

As far as showing affection, Raubahn is very good at big romantic gestures. Some examples - 1) Based on an odd thing Wolf said while recounting the night he was possessed by a voidsent and killed his family, Rau had his contacts in various city-states search for Wolfram's siblings. Eventually, he found them and helped his husband reunite with the brother and sister he thought he'd lost two decades ago. 2) For their first Valentione's Day he commissioned a special longsword with an aether focus pommel, allowing Wolfram to have a more versatile fighting style. 3) Knowing that being around so many voidsent could be difficult for Wolf, he asked Lyse to cover for him and went to the 13th with his husband. (Yeah, I still need to write that arc. It's wild.)

Original Ask Meme

[carcharsaur]

wol questions 27 and 30? or maybe 27-30 but no pressure if thats too much lol

NO WORRIES I love answering questions thank you :D

27. How did the events of Shadowbringers impact them?

this one is kind of a doozy... for the main version of caranar I run with it's the first time he's recognized as a hero front-and-center since he gets labeled as the warrior of darkness rather than eryna. it's simultaneously something that really touches him and also really upsets him because he feels like he can't do enough to justify the praise he's given. by the end though, he can come to accept that anyone can be a hero... shadowbringers was a like intense character development arc for him but it's hard to describe succinctly... but he definitely wouldn't have been able to survive endwalker without it, I can see him otherwise becoming a blasphemy for sure. him and thancred in the early thavnair quests like "wait you guys haven't thought about killing yourselves? that's crazy"

more under cut AAGAGH

for kozu shadowbringers was like the emotional equivalent of throwing a brick into an empty running dryer I really put him through the ringer. him having a year or so in the first before shadowbringers msq proper starts gives him a lot of forced time to slow down and reflect, since most of his personal issues aren't really resolved in arr-sb. he got called to the first during the CS that the exarch first gets to properly talk to the wol during the zenos-elidibus instance. he bums around the crystarium for a while with like extreme numbness. separated from everything he built, everything that mattered to him, and placed in a world where his at-the-time main job (whm) is something I'd imagine people are genuinely kind of scared of if not unsettled or disgusted by. he helps out at the medical section for a while, and tries to get into the facets but bounces off due to his state. exarch is like "get help!!" and calls urianger in. and then kozu decides to fully switch over to red mage while heading out to il mheg to help out urianger's tasks/goals there. I could write about that for WAY too long but basically SHB is when kozu starts being truly emotionally open with the people around him, airs out his past with the scions, etc. and he was so glad to have been able to help save a world that wasn't his own. he still misses the first, especially the crystarium and the fae, a lot (moogle and sylph experience paid off with handling the fae also LOL) when kozu gets back to the source he's like way more chilled out and just wants to embrace his wanderlust while also helping people instead of getting himself stuck. does this make any fuckign sense good lord.

28. Were they suspicious or open to Emet-Selch's presence when he first appeared? 

kozu just fucking ignored him as best as they could I'll be real. didn't feel the need to give him the time of day, felt as if even his half-hearted words didn't match up with his actions most of the time. caranar though butted heads with him ineffectively and would have tried to chase him off or at least annoy him any time he showed up. my guys are haters not only for the ascian thing but like bro the imperialist father of the empire trying to be buddy buddy? FOH

29. Did your WoL suspect anything was amiss with Urianger or the Crystal Exarch? Did they feel betrayed? Upset? When the truth finally emerged? 

caranar was extremely suspicious of crystal exarch but not in a "I think he's evil" way just in a "he is NOT telling us the whole truth" way. in the SB patch content and VERYY beginning of shb he'd be a little more dismissive and angry at him but as soon as he understood the state of the first and the work the exarch put into saving it he'd pull back a little but something would be nagging at him the whole time. especially since the exarch claims g'raha wasn't in the tower just SOMETHING AINT RIGHT. and by the time we get to the pre-gulg leadup he knows that's g'raha but isn't sure what he could do or say about it. and regrets he didn't say more before he got FUCKING SHOT but he never felt betrayed or upset with him about it. a self-targeted upset maybe also caranar never interacted directly much with urianger before SHB so both in HW patches and SHB he had no idea. in HW he was legit mad for a bit but in SHB he gets why he did what he did, doesn't hold it against him but does feel stupid and guilty for not putting stuff together faster to help g'raha earlier for kozu.... I'm still of two minds.... I need to like replay because kozu as he is and the exarch have some parallels that I still need to consider more. duty bound by both hope and guilt... a 100 year vigil where they hold others away from them... their sense of identity slowly wearing away... disregarding the value of their own life in service of others... BASICALLY he wouldn't feel betrayed or angry he would just feel very conflicted. and sad. urianger, kozu was very suspicious of him in the HW patches even though he didn't have free movement for most of hw to like potentially keep an eye on him he knew something was off but wasn't sure how. until he saw him in his disguise he was like COME ON MAN. and was mad but in a "I'm gonna set his ass straight" way not "we've been betrayed" way. in SHB he could tell there was something he was hiding but he didn't want to pull at it recklessly, he just wanted urianger to share his burden with him; didn't want him to suffer alone as he clearly was. and the fact he didn't confide really really ate at him and nagged him... when the truth came out he was angry but like. sad-angry. thinking he was unworthy still of full trust. he still forgave him but he made him swear not to hide things anymore. (AND I KNOWWWW HE TECHNICALLY DOES IN EDEN AND ATTEMPTS TO IN ENDWALKER ON THE MOON but this is relationship drama fodder to me. also the eden one he would've keyed kozu in)

30. What was their highest point in Shadowbringers? Their lowest? What caused it? 

highest point... hmm I think for caranar it'd be the end of the base expac, graha saved and his wife's soul not about the explode into a million pieces the relief and the WE FUCKING DID IT!!! WE LIVED!!! of it all would've given him a huge boost ever since that point like. DAMN we can do ANYTHING actually. his lowest point is definitely pre-gulg whereas everyone else is feeling hyped up, it's when eryna takes any of the light he insisted on carrying himself from him and he just feels like he can't help anyone, that his efforts are always in vain (the ardbert parallel hah). he feels he's not worthy of even being a figurehead. the g'raha emo peptalk was so needed

for kozu, I think his highest point would be the end of 5.3, the past laid to rest, everyone made it, life is returning to the empty, and they can go home... he'd cry when he woke up in his body on the source I think, joyfully but also mixed with a little sadness that they can't watch over the first ever again. his lowest point was right when he arrived LOL as ascribed above

[autumnslance]

To be honest I didn't like the twins when we first met them. I thought they were brats who felt their opinion only mattered (considering they come from a nation of scholars it made sense). I was glad we got their character development kinda early cus I really did want to like them. So glad to see them mature as the story went on. What were your first thoughts on them?

I don't think we're supposed to like the Leveilleur twins when we first meet them.

As an adult, I was like "OK, Alphinaud is obviously a combination of privileged upbringing, and being a teenager with too much education and not enough life experience." I could eye roll and get through it, but there were definite times I wanted to metaphorically slap some sense into the boy.

Alisaie was a non-character for the longest time, until I finally got to Heavensward patches and then into Coils with my FC, as well as her Rising short story. I remembered her also being bratty and impatient, in similar and different ways than Alphinaud, but her re-introduction in 3.4 showed her as very changed from her brief moments in ARR.

It didn't help that while I started end of ARR/early HW, it took me two-ish years to play through 2.0 as it was a side game, I had a rough time with the controls, and was still doing a lot of things in WoW. And I was used to WoW characterizations and storytelling, so didn't really pay as much attention my first, disjointed long time through.

I decided I needed a full replay at some point after busting through the ARR patches, after spending a day at the Unending Journey rewatching cutscenes, realizing how much I'd forgotten, and how much was missing. And knowing, once I flipped over to FFXIV as my main MMO end of HW/early StB, that the characterization and storytelling in this game was a whole different thing from my other game.

Alphinaud being nearly broken by the end of ARR and the Banquet is necessary but still heartbreaking. He needed a lesson, but the cost was so high. I genuinely worried for him through HW, and he needed that win in 3.3, to save Estinien after all the tragedy and loss and other traumas through the MSQ. The shift from annoying young coworker in a managerial position cuz inheritance, to beloved little brother and comrade happened over time until it caught me by surprise. Alphinaud rebuilt himself from the ground up, and his empathy with and righteous anger at Vauthry showed how far he's come. In Endwalker, he seems less worried about taking on a leadership role, as he's avoided since the Braves fiasco. He may finally have regained that confidence, tempered with maturity and understanding.

A lot of Alisaie's development comes offscreen after her epiphany in Coils and the events there. Her walkabout of the realm let her experience an entirely different way of life than the pampered Sharlayan lady, and let her truly be herself in a way she couldn't be before. Her compassion for others has always defined her, but with an impatience and temper she's learned to control. To think before she speaks or acts. She's a leader in her own right, but in a different way from Alphinaud, and as always, the twins, while able to stand alone, can also complement each others' styles.

I do think Alphinaud has one of the best character arcs and development in the game. Alisaie's right there with him, but with so much being offscreen or more subtly in the background, he edges her out a bit. The twins are the WoL's co-protagonists through much of the MSQ; learning, reacting, speaking up, and otherwise involved in ways our Silent Hero cannot. So their growth has been necessary, and has been good.

I'm proud of both of them, and love them dearly.

[silverynight]

To build a nest

Part I, Part II

Part III

"I'm hungry," Tanjirou mumbles out loud even though there's no need to. He's tired and hungry and even though he feels better now that his heat finally ended, he's not entirely recovered yet.

Nezuko is back in her box, safe, and since the beta boy had to help a few injured demon slayers, the omega decides it's time to get out of his nest.

After taking a bath, he eats a few rice balls before cleaning the room and washing the garments he was given by the hashira to build his nest. He was told they were on different missions at the moment so he probably won't see them before he starts traveling again.

He finds Aoi outside and thanks her for everything with a smile as he starts hanging all the clean garments.

"What did you do?" She asks, almost in shock. "Did you wash them?"

Tanjirou blinks a couple of times, confused.

"Well... yes? I mean I used them for my nest and they all smelled like me... The hashira were kind enough to let me borrow them so I thought it was the least I could do," the omega explains, flustered. He doesn't understand why Aoi looks so concerned.

She looks up at all the haori; she touches Tomioka's with her fingers and sniffs it.

"There's almost nothing left of your scent..."

"There's still some left?" Tanjirou looks alarmed. "Maybe I should wash them again–"

"No!" She almost screams and blushes when she realizes what she just did. "I'm sorry. I meant to say that's fine. They would probably want it to smell like you."

"Why would they want that? That would scare off potential mates," Tanjirou mumbles, worrying himself even more. He takes a few steps forward, but Aoi moves with her back towards the clothes. She looks like she's determined to protect all the garments from him. "I have to wash them again..."

"Leave everything to me," she insists, although he knows there's nothing he can do, she smells really determined.

"Alright, thank you. I just don't want them to lose any potential partners because of me..."

Huffing at that, she facepalms herself. She really sounds frustrated.

"Why are you so oblivious?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, Tanjirou," she sighs. "Listen, why don't you look for your friends? They must have missed you."

The omega nods, beaming at her. He certainly has missed both Zenitsu and Inosuke; he's glad they're still in the butterfly mansion.

***

"YOU DID WHAT?"

Why everyone is so upset about him washing clothes? Isn't it what everyone is supposed to do? Tanjirou doesn't understand; he's still embarrassed about asking them to give him their haori or some garments for his nest.

It was probably disrespectful.

"Your mates are not going to be happy, Gonpachiro," Inosuke tells him.

"The Pillars are not my mates, Inosuke!" Tanjirou says, feeling the blush spreading down his neck.

He shouldn't have asked for their haori in the first place.

"It doesn't matter now," he continues, trying to change the topic. "Well... How are you feeling? Ready to go?"

"We can't go right now," Zenitsu argues, even though he's trying to calm himself down. "The hashira will probably want to see you before you go."

"Why would–"

"By all the gods above, Tanjirou!" The beta groans, looking like he wants to grab his blond hair and pull until it hurts. "Didn't they offer to mark you?"

"Y-Yes," the omega remembers, flustered. Then, he looks at Zenitsu with a frown. "How do you know that?"

Wasn't he being patched up by the kakushi when that happened?

"Everyone here is talking about it," the beta says like it's obvious. He points at his own ear. "And I can hear everything."

"Anyway... I know what they said, but I was close to my heat then... Sometimes alphas are not entirely aware of what they say in those–"

Zenitsu makes a gesture with his hand to interrupt him.

"I can't believe I'm feeling sorry for the Pillars."

***

They convince Tanjirou to stay one day more; his crow hasn't told him anything about a new mission so he supposes it's fine to stay a little bit more.

When the water hashira arrives, Tanjirou is shocked to see him hurt; it's nothing serious, but it still worries him, especially since he doesn't let anyone get near him.

Not even the omega kakushi manage to calm him down enough to patch the alpha up.

"Imagine when he's finally bonded to you, it'll probably be a nightmare," Zenitsu comments in a whisper, but loud enough for Tanjirou to hear.

The omega ignores him in order to get the alpha's attention. He gets closer to him quickly, unlike everyone around, he's not afraid of him.

"Tomioka-san, let me help you," he mumbles softly. It's curious how the alpha relaxes as soon as their eyes meet.

He nods, sitting on the ground. He smiles fondly at the omega.

"Are you feeling better?" Tomioka asks, in a soft whisper. He doesn't hesitate to take Tanjirou by the waist and sitting him on his lap.

"Yes... Uhh... Thanks for the haori," the omega mumbles, flustered. As if she was being summoned, a kakushi girl approaches them with the garment in question. As soon as Tanjirou takes it, she flees, looking in the alpha's direction with fear. "There you go."

However, Tomioka frowns and it's not because Tanjirou has started to clean the wound on his forehead.

"It doesn't smell like you anymore," he comments, not even trying to hide his disappointment.

"Well... I washed it, I didn't think you'd like–"

"My boy, I'm so glad to see you again!" Rengoku rushes in the backyard, quickly taking the omega in his arms.

The water hashira suppresses a growl.

"You came back from your mission?" Tanjirou asks, eyes already roaming over the alpha looking for injuries; he looks fine, but tired. "But... You returned so quickly!"

"I wanted to see you again."

It seems the omega will spend the rest of his day blushing. He manages to convince the flame hashira to let him go so he can give him back his haori.

"Thank you," he bows respectfully. "Both of you."

Tomioka nods, still looking a little bit sad. Rengoku frowns at his own haori though.

"Your scent is gone," the alpha observes. Then he takes a deep breath as he touches it with his fingers. "I wanted it to smell like your heat."

Tanjirou feels like his cheeks are going to burn at any moment. That's such an intimate thing to say, just by thinking about it again makes his inner omega purr. When he stares back at Rengoku though, the flame hashira's cheeks turn slightly pink.

"Did I say that out loud?" He asks, looking embarrassed. The water hashira bares his teeth at him in response. "I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable, my boy."

"It's... Actually it didn't make me feel uncomfortable," Tanjirou admits. "It's alright."

"Then... would you scent my haori?"

Confused, the omega is about to ask if that wouldn't ruin his opportunities with other omegas when Tomioka takes off his own haori and asks him to scent his as well.

"Oh... Alright," he mumbles shyly. After all, it's the least he can do... They were kind enough to let him borrow their haori when he needed them.

"Great. It seems I arrived just in time," Uzui jumps from the roof, scaring a few kakushi as he does it. He watches Tanjirou intently as the omega rubs his cheek against Rengoku's haori. "Scent my vest too."

"That wouldn't... upset your wives?"

"Are you kidding me?" The sound hashira chuckles. "They love your scent. They have asked a couple of times when I'll bring you home."

"Never," Tokito says, appearing out of nowhere, startling Tanjirou. "We have an agreement."

"I don't see the problem with me visiting Uzui-san's mates," Tanjirou mumbles, feeling a little bit confused.

"I didn't mean to visit," Uzui grins, puzzling him even more.

Kanroji and Iguro both take the omega in his arms when they arrive, they both rub their cheeks against his and stay like that for a while as Kanroji tells Tanjirou how cute he is.

It's late so they all go back inside to have lunch.

"I can't believe you all finished your missions before Gyomei and I," Shinobu complains, looking a little bit irritated. "Anyway, we'd like you to scent our clothes too, Tanjirou."

The omega nods, even though he wonders what everyone will think when they realize his scent is all over the Pillars.

However, he doesn't have time to worry because Shinazugawa is there already, growling at the kakushi that try to get near him even though his leg is bleeding.

"That alpha has no manners," Shinobu shakes her head disapprovingly. Then, she turns to Tanjirou. "Would you patch him up? He'll only let you do it. Besides, he's probably desperate to see you."

Even though he doesn't quite believe her, Tanjirou gets closer to the alpha, because he can't stand to see anyone hurt.

When Shinazugawa does exactly everything Tanjirou asks, the omega feels even more puzzled, almost lost. It's true that he's improved lately, but he doesn't look exactly like the type to do as other people say.

Shinazugawa doesn't say a word the entire time Tanjirou's patching him up, but he does stare at the omega.

"It's done! Don't move your leg for a couple of days though because–" he stops, gasping when the alpha nuzzles his neck.

The other hashira don't look really happy about it.

***

"I don't understand, Zenitsu," he tells his friend when they're back on the road. Inosuke is running ahead of them, but they know he'll be back eventually. "Why are they acting like that? My heat is gone."

Instead of answering, Zenitsu pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a deep breath, like he wants to gather all the patience in the world.

"I shouldn't feel sorry for them really..." He tells himself, but Tanjirou hears anyway.

They can't keep talking about it though, because Tanjirou's crow arrives to inform them about their new mission.

***

Requested by one of my patrons, thank you for supporting me! 🥰

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[thebmatt]

Old Man Franks

I wanted to tell you all the history of the character of Old Man Franks

He started out as a voice I’d use when I called in to one of my favorite podcasts, Extralife Radio. The first time I did it, I called their voicemail line and pretended to be an old man that would try to do a promo for the show, but get the name wrong a few times (each time referencing another meme within the show itself) and end it with “awww durnit!” 

I realized as I was starting the recording that I didn’t have a name in mind. Franks was the first thing that popped into my head.

The hosts loved it and so I kept doing it. Every week I’d call and leave a voice memo with SOMETHING. Sometimes I’d sing songs, sometimes I’d make fun of something a host said, all kinds of things. It got somewhat popular. I expanded to occasionally playing the character on a few of the main hosts other shows as well.

Eventually, during World of Warcraft’s burning crusade expansion, he decides to form a WoW fanguild. Since my own guild at the time was...somewhat dead, I moved an alt over there, under the name Oldmanfranks. I think it was a tauren druid. Not really a lore appropriate name, heh. 

That guild soon very quickly became my home in the game. I tried checking in on my old server to see if anyone was ever coming back, no one did. Eventually I moved my main and a couple other alts over and that was it. I was part of this community forever. 

Eventually, I moved the name over to my warlock alt, and changed him to an undead and thus the canon character of Old Man Franks was born. Over time I refined his backstory to be essentially what he tells to Y’shtola in Prompt 17. With the exception of most of Mists of Pandaria, I never play him as a main (because I preferred mage to warlock, and always ended up coming back to it), but he’s almost always been my most active alt. 

Anyway, during the time of Wrath of the Lich King, I reconnected with an old friend who eventually became my girlfriend, and it became very clear pretty fast to both of us that she was going to become my wife. So she joins the community and jokingly refers to herself as Old Lady Franks. She’s always thought this whole thing was great and was happy to join in on it. She even made an undead lady mage with the name, and we concocted backstories together. 

I jumped into FFXIV hardcore during the final 1-2 patches of Stormblood, and very quickly realized that it had a lot of what I’d been wanting from WoW that I felt had been lacking. This time around, I made Oldman Franks as my main, but he initially started life as a Roegadyn arcanist

However, though my WoW community that I’d been part of for years had a chapter in XIV that had existed since ARR, I opted to play with some other friends that I’d met in a twitch chat. 

I did make an alt in my original community though, Dahkar Darkspear. He was actually named after my troll mage main that I’d had since the days of Vanilla WoW. 

Initially their backstories were the same. They both originated in Azeroth, jumped through a weird portal that put them into another universe, and said universe altered their forms because undead and trolls didn’t exist there (this was before I knew about the zombies in the Hildibrand questline)

However, one day I saw the two fantasia I got from ARR’s completion and the old Veteran’s rewards program in Dahkar’s inventory, so I challenged myself to change him to another race that I’d normally never consider playing and to see if I could last a month before changing him back. I ended up picking female Miqo’te. 

Aaaand I ended up liking that character a lot. Enough that I’m like “Welp, we’re gonna make another alt of her when the month is over and give her a backstory and then we’re just gonna make them all have a shared story, aren’t we?”

By this point I’d gotten pretty into reading stories from the FFXIV fic crowd, and I wanted to join in with creating my own headcanons.

Somewhere in there I also changed OMF to a highlander Hyur (and inadvertently made him look like a near-clone of Godbert Manderville), so together with Dahkar, the Miqo’te who I named Rheika, and a new Roegadyn character, this time a lady named Fearless WIllow, my own headcanon was born. 

All of the above screenshots are the first ones I have of each of my characters. Neat, eh?

Anyway, right now Dahkar doesn’t actually exist in-game, given that the character was fantasia’d to become Rheika. I would like to someday remake him, but I don’t have time to play another character through the MSQ, and my need to complete things would drive me to do so, so for now he’s a future plan, but still one that canonically exists in my writing. 

My wife, meanwhile, has drifted in and out of WoW, but hasn’t really had the drive to play FFXIV (she’s also been busy with a new job lately) but she’s still happy to bounce story ideas off of me, and the recent set of stories that I’ve done for Write 2021 were borne out of that effort (as was us FINALLY settling on the canon names of Aleister and Gwenefyr.) I sent prompt 20 to her after I posted it, and she called it “perfection”. Will she ever make the lovely Viera? I don’t know, but I do hope so, someday. 

Hope you all enjoyed reading this!

[aspectedstar]

[Info updated as of Patch 5.55]

Name: Listelle Viyrel

Unsundered Name: Ephine

Gender: Female

Age: 21 in ARR, 26 in EW

Race: Raen Au Ra

Relationship: Official with an untempered Elidibus, but still lowkey that not a lot of people know of their status.

Family: Biological family is unknown. Her adoptive Miqo'te parents she keeps in contact with. The Scions of the Seventh Dawn and Elidibus are her main sources of 'support' these days.

Orientation: Bisexual / Demisexual

Nameday: 16th Sun of the 4th Umbral Moon [August 16th]

Abilities/Talents: Archery, Botany, Cooking, Able to speak multiple languages [thanks Echo], Healing, Reading.

Job: Former conjurer turned White Mage; Archer/Bard; Adventurer; A Scion of the Seventh Dawn; Botanist whenever help is needed.

Appearance description: A pale-skinned Raen Au Ra that stands at 4 fulms and 9 ilms. Listelle has dark blue, shoulder-length hair with bangs that naturally curls at the ends. Black highlights are added into the mix and always reapplied whenever they start to fade. Sometimes, puts up her hair in high side-ponytail that has a braid embedded around the back of her head. Has side bangs that hang from her face with this hairstyle as well. She has heterochromia eyes with her left being a pale blue, while her right is a bright purple. Listelle is slightly muscular, but also petite. Her body has vanilla scales peppering her body here and there. Mostly can be seen on her face; Her horns a slightly curled, but go backwards only a bit from her face. The tail she has a few spikes here and there, but it's thin. Mostly spiking at the end of it. Usually wearing a pair of reading glasses, because her eyesight isn't 100%.

Unique features (scars, tattoos, etc.): Multiple scars across her body from battles over the years. The biggest one was from the first meeting with Zenos, where he ended up nailing her in the abdomen badly. The scar is a jagged line in sideways line that covers a good portion of her middle to lower back. Listelle is very self-conscious about this particular one; Doesn't like wearing gear that shows off that part of her body.

Personal Beliefs (religious or otherwise): Fully believed in the Mothercrystal and the Twelve, but has changed since the events of SB into ShB. Mostly because of what Elidibus and Emet-Selch had told her. Still believes in a sense of one's wrongdoing will bite them in the ass later in life.

Residence: Medium house plot on the beach in Shirogane, Hingashi. Amaurot on the First.

Birthplace: Somewhere in the Black Shroud.

Dreams: When the world is done being saved, which is almost never; Wanting to have a peaceful life with Elidibus as much as possible; Hoping that one day more White Mages can be sanctioned by the Padaji; Maybe one day have children, but that's not as important.

Fears: Dying when the world needs her the most; Seeing close friends and family die in front of her again and again; Injured to the point she can't fulfill her duties as Warrior of Light; Losing any of her senses.

Introverted / Extroverted / Ambiverted (bold what applies)

How do they handle stress?: When in front of people, she tries her best not to show she's bothered. There are ways for others to know she's about to hit her limit. Listelle is known to pace around a room, fidget with her hands, and get teary-eyed, but the latter is hard to see. Only ways she can combat it is behind closed doors, or out in the wilderness when no one is around. Going out into nature to find plants or hit trees with her axe is one way. Another way is to basically beat her frustrations out in cooking or baking foodstuffs. Resting under trees when only one can hear naturalistic sounds.

What’s the state of their living quarters? (messy, clean, etc.): That depends. Usually, it's a disorganized mess. Much to Elidibus's dismay, she can usually find things easier than him. If he ever tried to clean her home, she'd yell at him on not being able to find anything. It's not completely trashed, but enough to know someone lives here. As the Warrior of Light, she doesn't get enough time to do homely chores. So, it's mostly left go for weeks at a time.

How do they handle meeting new people?: Listelle usually is kind and friendly to people she meets. Though, it depends overall on the new person (or group)'s attitude, body language, voice tone, and facial expressions. If they come off rude and negative, she is more reluctant to be as nice back. However, since she is not the diplomatic person, she usually leaves all the table-talking to her fellow Scions. Will chime in with a few words, if asked. It all depends on the situation and people involved.

When facing certain doom, what’s their outlook?: It's...questionable. Try to keep a stoic facade, but inside she would be screaming. Or, she'd probably look at like this: Why not going out with a huge bang of glory, and take her foe(s) with her? As a healer, she understands death, but is afraid to die at the wrong time. Regardless, she will tackle it the best she can.

What do they do to relax?: Reading any books she has in her shelves. Have Elidibus tell her stories of the world before it was Sundered. Cooking and baking when she has the time. Gardening, when she has time, yet again. Sitting under trees listening to nature. Go to the beach when no one is around. Stargazing with Elidibus at night.

What’s their favorite outfit?: Her 'civilian' clothes with the Azem constellation crystal as a necklace pictured blow.

Traumas: It's been several over the last few years of becoming the Warrior of Light. From being a healer, she has had a hard time accepting she can't save everyone. The loss of Haurchefant hit her physically hard. He saw Listelle as herself, not just the 'hero' or a weapon to be used by the city-states. Still goes to visit his grave in Coerthas when she can. Seeing the turmoil Garlemald had done to Ala Mhigo and Doma's regions. Zenos yae Galvus, because he reminds her of herself at certain times. How they can relate, as much as the Raen wishes not to admit it. The entire events of Shadowbringers with fighting for another world to holding in the light corruption. Her aether is still a mess, even after Ardbert had joined his soul with hers. Ending Emet-Selch's life, even when she understood his plight and ideals. Having to fight and kill Elidibus; The ONE PERSON that understood and had true affection for her. Yet, he was tempered by Zodiark, so they were forced into battle. It still haunts her to this day that she may lose Elidibus forever.

About them as of current story patch: As of Patch 5.5, Listelle is struggling on what to make of seeing that being surrounded in light. Being told the Final Days is coming--which is no doubt with Fandaniel and Zenos--and the entire world is on her shoulders. This is stressing her out to no end, even with Elidibus trying to keep her calm. He is her main anchor to keep her grounded currently. With the possibility of going to Sharlayan, she is not happy. Possibly having to keep the untempered Ascian unseen, depending. For now, she is stressed and pacing about what to do.

History: Listelle was found outside the doors of a Miqo'te couple living in the Black Shroud. Only a single note saying: "I cannot care for her; I'm possibly dead by the time you read this. Her name is Listelle; Please raise her well". The baby was an Au Ra Raen female, but they had no idea if there was such a family nearby. Living mostly in an isolated area, they didn't get many visitors. Just some adventurers, botanists, conjurers, or miners that came through the area. Despite this, they willingly took the baby in. They had issues trying to concieve their own child, so Listelle would fill the void. The void of trying to have a child, which they had now.

The Raen would come to know her parents as Sizha Vebei, her mother, and Rehzih'li Vebei, her father. They lived in a small cabin in the Southern part of the Shroud. Away from settlements like Camp Tranquil and Quarrymill, they kept to themselves for the most part. They raised their adoptive child as good as any adoptive parents could. With the times that Rehzih'li would go to Gridania for work and supplies, he would ask around about Listelle's family. He usually came up empty handed as per usual. This went on for years, until the Seventh Umbral Calamity hit Eorzea.

Listelle was 16 summers old when Bahamut broke free of Dalamud to reign terror from the heavens. The Black Shroud went up in flames in several areas. Thankfully, herself and her parents survived, but lost their home to the flames. The family was devastated, but then they decided to move on to a battered up Gridania as other refugees. They would have to make a new life within the city-state.

To the five years leading up to ARR, Listelle practiced conjury within the Stillglade Fane. Her parents had taken up other odd jobs to support themselves and their daughter, so Listelle had decided to do the same. With people becoming adventurers, the Raen decided to do the same. With her aetherpool higher than most, she fit right in with the Conjurers' Guild. Even with weird looks, the Au Ra flourished under their guidance and care. She would learn how to properly harness healing magics, as well as learn to borrow from the very Elementals of the Twelveswood.

Eventually, Listelle would become more involved with restoration efforts to help Gridania. Only her efforts would soon become widespread. Widespread enough for a certain organization to recruit her to their cause..

Feelings towards others: (add or remove as relevant)

- Elidibus – Her official partner, who she had a rocky relationship for years. However, it changed much after his defeat by her hand on top of the Crystal Tower in the First. She loves the Ascian dearly and would do anything for him. He had been there as well for her during some stressful times, despite him being under Zodiark's influence. They confide in each other constantly, and is a major support pillar for Listelle.

- Emet-Selch [Hades] – Despite their brief interactions, Listelle came to understand more about the Ascians. Even if it was a hard pill to swallow, the brief details Elidibus mentioned to her started to make sense. Like pieces to the puzzle was finally coming together. She would indulge and ask him a lot of the Ascians' history, the Old World, and the like. As much as her comrades didn't like their Warrior of Light conversating with their worst enemy, she ignored them...sometimes. She was upset to end his life when they couldn't come to some sort of understanding. She still has sobbing fits over Hades' demises, because of the fact of the Azem constellation crystal she has. It was even hinted that he knew of something going on between her and the Emissary at the time. Listelle always denied it, but there was a twinkle in those golden eyes that he knew of something.

- Feo Ul - As much as Listelle appreciates them, she can't deal with their sudden mood swings. The Fae being the Fae, she can't understand the times she gets yelled at for not summoning them. Being called cruel and heartless by Feo Ul made her uneasy around the pixie. Just over the course of the Shadowbringers, she saw the good in the King of Faeries. They became the next Titania, yet, they still treated Listelle as their most precious mortal. After all, they WERE connected by a pact! Feo Ul was another pillar during her struggle to contain the light corruption within her. The constant affection and support helped keep the heroine to move forward.

- Alphinaud – Meeting him the first time made her want to rethink her choices. However, with his constant presence helping her with 'official talks', she has been grateful for him. He has come a long way and has grown. Listelle hates meetings, and groans anytime Alphinaud tells her she has to go. Because she is the hero, she has to go, despite her wild protests.

- Alisaie – It took a bit for them to grow on one another. Alisaie understands when Listelle has her moments. Moments she wants to hide, but also treats the Raen like an actual person. Not just the hero, not just the Warrior of Light. Listelle finds herself getting teased when Alisaie fawns over her, depending if she's down or upset about something. Mostly by Y'shtola though.

- Y'shtola – Their relationship is...weird at best. Y'shtola and herself have their moments when they get into arguments. However, she knows the Miqo'te woman wants the best for her. During the events of Shadowbringers, she was worried over Listelle's state of taking in the Lightwardens' corrupted aether. Y'shtola and Ryne were there for her as they journeyed to Emet-Selch's domain. Full of Light, the heroine had a hard time doing basic tasks at times. Due to this, Listelle appreciates her. Just doesn't like when she teases her about Alisaie and G'raha's constant admiration of her.

- Thancred – Saw him as a flirtatious man who she didn't want to deal with at all. He even made comments about her 'beauty' on several occasions to get under her skin. However, as the years went by, she began to learn he was a lot more. Mostly learned this during her time on the First with the others and Ryne. Just the interactions between him and Ryne made her heart ache for them both. Including when they had to go back to the Source.

- Urianger – This Elezen made her want to rip her hair out most of the time. Just the way he spoke, his mannerisms made her so confused. Had to get the other Scions to repeat what he said to her many, many times. Still not fond of his secrecy behind her back on the few times. However, she does understand it's a necessary evil, yet she hasn't completely forgiven him yet. Though, she does appreciate any vital information he can provide her.

- Tataru - Oh sweet Tataru...Listelle loves the receptionist to death. Another person who treats her like she's a normal person. However, how she manages to get things done makes Listelle double think herself. Like the time the Lalafell wanted her precise measurements to get her outfits made. Just the way Tataru brings up results is quite...scary. The heroine watches herself whenever she's around the Lalafell woman.

- Minfilia - The first person to understand she had the power of the Echo. All those years of not understanding random visions she had when she was a child. She learned more from Minfilia over the course of the years. Only to be upset when she disappeared, then find out she was connected to Hydaelyn. She looked up the Hyur and she still misses her from time to time.

- Papalymo - The duo of 'Yda' and Papalymo made her giggle at times. There were times she didn't quite understand the relationship between the two. She got along with the Lalafell fine. That is, until he sacrificed himself to contain the newly born primal at Baelsar's Wall. She wanted to stay behind and help him, but alas, was forced to flee with the others. She still thinks about him from time to time, hoping he's watching over them from afar.

- Lyse - Wasn't sure how to feel about her until after the whole incident at Baelsar's Wall. She had come to understand Lyse as someone who wanted to fight for her homeland. As they journeyed over Gyr Abania and Othard, she had come to see the woman in a new light. With how she handles matters in Ala Mhigo with Raubhan at her side, she hopes the city-state flourishes under their care.

- Gaius – Rivalry since taking on the Ultima Weapon. However, with tackling the Weapon Project, she put aside her dislike for him. In order to stop these machines of death, she would work alongside him. Listelle began to see him in a new light as the Weapons consumed most of the orphans he saved back then. With only Allie left and the Weapons done with, she hopes Gaius can find some sort of peace.

- Nero – Despite him working at the Garlond Ironworks now, she still finds him quite annoying. Though, she has to admit he has helped her on several occasions when Cid couldn't. So, she'd tolerate the man at best.

- Cid – Thankfully to the Garlean many times over. With his few interventions to save her from certain doom, to helping her take down Omega. The accomplishments and shit they've seen and done is enough for a novel or two....or several. She gets along with him fairly well.

- Haurchefant – The Elezen man from House Fortemps and Camp Dragonhead. It was no wonder the silver-haired male admired her from the start. Even wanting to rush in to stop her from taking on Shiva. Never do anything reckless again! He had said to her, which she had meekly agreed to. When fleeing from the bloody Ul'dah banquet, he was a pillar of strength during that time. With most of the Scions gone, she blamed herself for their loss. Alas, Haurchefant wouldn't have none of it. Always cheering her up with hot chocolate and word of encouragement. However, when he died in her arms saving her from a pillar of light...Listelle was devastated. She was depressed for a long time, and still is when she thinks about it. Still blames herself for his death, even if he wanted her to smile. "A smile better suits a hero"; A statement she won't forget easily.

- Aymeric – The first meeting with him..she wasn't impressed. She had heard Ishgardians were uptight and unwelcoming. As much as he sounded polite, she didn't trust him off the bat. However, as time went on, she began to realize he was much more than. Even inviting her to a dinner after Nidhogg's defeat, which she enjoyed. Just his question about what she wanted for herself? She knew not the answer to that at the time. Regardless, the Raen goes to visit him when she can.

- Estinien – This dragoon is so stiff was Listelle's first thought. She didn't exactly like him off the bat. However, the journey across Dravania opened him up to her. She did try her best to understand him, but it was hard. As the years went by, she had come to know he had paid respects to Yysale, which she appreciates. Even the time when she collapsed in the Ghimlyt Dark, trying to persuade Zenos/Elidibus to stop this madness. Estinien had rescued her, which opened her up to that he was more good than she thought. Now with him joining the Scions, more opportunities to know him better have opened.

- G’raha – Annoying scholar to deal with when looking for the damn aethersand. Made it a game, then she promptly yelled at him for making her run around more than she had to. Investigating the Crystal Tower together, she did appreciate his work. When he locked himself away in the tower, she was a bit sad to see him go. Listelle did understand why he had to do it though. During the events of Shadowbringers, she had her suspicions on who the Crystal Exarch was. She couldn't completely confirm who it was, until she was being consumed by Light Corruption. Despite all this, she scolded him greatly after winning the fight against Emet-Selch. She knew he had a deep admiration for her, but only saw him as a friend. Regardless, their friendship is still healthy and blossoming.

- Other Warrior of Lights - Appreciates their hard work and resilience to keep the fight going. No matter what, as long as there is a light, they can still prevail.

[Character sheet made by @lizzy-dotharl. Template taken from @earthlystar.]

[haila-wetyios]

Raiding

Since it became a pretty long post, Imma just throw this under a Read More. It’s not about current tumblr drama fashion. So no popcorn scene for you peeps. Just my experience as a whole and to finally let go of a few feelings that kept weighting on me for a good while until my current team took me in.

The first time I ever advertised on a PF that I was seeking a raid team, was during the final months of ARR. I was a complete scaredy cat, anxious of whether I'd be good enough to work on a team that required more coordination than pugs to get things such as extreme primals or savage raids done. Off I go as a SMN main, panicked as my raid leader of that team joined my party for a brief interview. Afterwards though, during our first joint team efforts for HW content (Ravanna and Bismark extreme at that time) I discovered that I wasn't as bad as I thought. On the contrary, I was too perceptive of everything to the point I would rush to do mechanics assigned to our newbie healer who after several explanations would still not do the thing. Despite my huge insecurities of probably not doing the relevant rotations down to the last skill, my ego started to rise a bit when parsers started to take more and more of conversations between static members. And although I would never ask about my numbers directly, I would celebrate in silence when reading the overall party dps the moment I realized mine had been at the top even with a ninja and a dragoon in the party. That should have been a flag to me now that I look back for being a caster that was doing more damage than the melee. But I didn't know any better, and stayed with my group regardless throughout the entirety of gordias savage. Every week would be the same pummeling against the horrifying Faust dps check, then the first turn's boss, then the second turn until we finally hit the wall of jigglyman and disbanded. I didn't have much complains, despite how tiring it was, I had long since given up on those clears and instead turned each night into 'training to see how long I can last the moment shit hits the fan in any given fight'. And boy did I get a ton of experience down that lane.

The next times I started looking into content once more, I could only play the part of a sub for any group of people I trusted due to life and time issues. But I still took pride in being that one stable sub that could support any group on any extreme primal through HW. I still lament that I was never able to go through Midas and Alexander savage when they were relevant and merely watched from the sidelines.

Then SB came up, and I merely stood aside once more for the first Tier with Exdeath. Except this time, the frustrations of not having been there while I watched all my friends start doing EX's and savage content had finally gotten to me. And lo' and behold, suddenly I was back on square 1, trembling in fear while waiting on my PF announcement that I was looking for a group for Sigma (Kefka times). Nearly died the moment I had two people with interesting names join in my party and just grab me on the spot. I had no idea what I was getting into, they mentioned they just needed a caster slot for the new rag tag group they had built, but at least I had a team! Then the first day of raid came up, and right off the bat I was terrified at the fact that our raid leader was missing, being replaced just for that moment with the FC leader instead. Turns out my entire group save for the ninja, were a raiding FC with multiple groups going in through the week. And what was the first comment of the night pray tell? Well "No one should be here with X ilvl gear." Who was it aimed at? Well, to the only potato that for the first time was slightly outdated in 2 pieces of gear for not being active before the patch dropped. That was the moment that marked my spiraling down a rabbit hole that I wish I could let go of easily but still has a tight grip on me to this day.

I felt like crap, I fought my best and did research on how to be a better caster. Other than the FC leader's comment, no one berated me or spoke about me on a negative light. But it still left a mark in which I kept trying to prove myself and be useful. Suddenly I would find myself cursing at my skills. Hating how no matter how hard I tried with everything, I would never be able to even pass the goddamned Stone, Sky and Sea for savage raids. But we were still getting things done. Two new savage turns down in a single week of release? That felt incredible and also bittersweet. Because any time that my party members celebrated their purples and golds in fflogs, I would be in a corner, self destructing with greys. I kept trying and trying, until my coping mechanism ended up being "I'm just a fill in. But if I'm just this, I'm damn going to do a job stable enough to have a place here." Then things started turning out easier to deal with. I had noticed the goofiness of a lot of the members despite the numbers that dictated their runs, I gave up on my grey numbers and focused on getting their asses up if someone made a mistake. To support the healers as much as possible with mana shift and such. I started putting my experience of keeping the party alive to more use while I slowly tried to recover the confidence I had lost when starting the tier. Granted, they didn't care for the group as much as I did. No amount of hanging out after raid times or helping was enough for the few in charge to announce when we were done raiding after months of being together. They just stopped one day until their FC leader asked me if I was aware of the 'disbanding'.

Then it was time to switch gears, for the first time I thought my work had bore fruit when I was recruited into the FC leader's group instead, and all was well.... Until it wasn't, we kept having to replace members left and right, specially healers and tanks. Progress was slow, sometimes we’d clear Chaos and Midgarsormr, and others it would be a mess depending on the random team comp we had for the week. Things should have been better by the time we made it to Omega, half the party had cleared with their mains after all. Except that it was the point where everything went south in the background.

We had gained a good White Mage, who would complain about random jibber jabber every now and then, but that was fine, no biggie. Then they brought in their former co-healer from their previous static, a Scholar, and all was supposed to be fine. But then something happened that slowly started to wear us all out. For some reason, we suddenly were struggling some more with Midgarsormr, and then Omega.... Boy, even if we had previously cleared, suddenly the three days with 3 hours of raid time each went on on that goddamned turn, and then the final 15 min would go for Omega Male and Female and the reason was hard to tell at first, we were doing the same old after all. It wasn’t until nearly a month of wiping that probably the group had started to realize what was wrong. Our Scholar wasn’t exactly pulling his full weight.

This is what caused probably something that I should have seen coming and that stuck with me for a long while until now that I found this draft I worked on when the wound became fresh again from just thinking about it. It’s just frustrating, sad to a degree and I brought part of it on myself for trying so hard to be useful to no one. What happened? Well, the leader didn’t want to get involved into any drama by only kicking the Scholar because they were friends with the White Mage, so a disbanding was supposed to be the better way to end things. Except the leader decided to do it in a different and up to date still a very shitty fashion. 

Right after we’d finished the last raiding night for the week, he posted an announcement about how people, aka his FC members were tired of constantly bashing their heads against Omega with little success and so they were gonna reform. By kicking the only outsiders of the static team. The White Mage, the Scholar, and me. There was no further explanation, no messages to me, nothing. I was just tossed like that after +6 months of knowing this FC and having raided and hung out with a good chunk of their members. I’d sacrificed so much for them. My time, my confidence to a degree, I had been a slave to their parsers more than a few occasions each time I heard them celebrating or complaining about their numbers. All because I wanted to feel like I could stand on the same levels as them. And I did to a good degree. I reached a point where I knew that my abilities weren’t as bad as the greys on my numbers showed me. But it meant nothing to any of them in the end. No message from the leader that up to that point had kept communication with me for raid times and other stuff. No reaction from the peeps I’d raided the most with. 

The most ironic part that I still respect? The only person to apologize, the only one that actually took the time to send me a message after the whole group ‘disbanded’ was the dragoon that I had only ever heard speak about their golden parses and nothing else on discord. We hadn’t even talked up until then. But he still cared more than the people that had known me for longer in that group. Granted, I did get to throw at least a cent in the raid channel about what I thought before getting kicked, so he probably wanted to come out clean on that. 

I am glad to no avail that I will never have to see them again, because the server splits sent them to a different data center. But it still left a deep mark on me when it came to XIV. I stopped logging in to do any content for a while, focused more on screenshots, on shady flower lady times until I could learn to love the game again. It probably took longer than I would have liked because all of this happened at the exact time that my friends from my crew had dived into raiding at a deeper level. I got to see them celebrate clearing the final omega. Then server transferring to be with their static before the great split or quitting. And then with Shadowbringers hearing “We’re not looking for a dps caster slot.” Each time anyone needed a fill in for their group. 

All this left me at an odd spot, being the veteran that keeps up groups or dungeons on normal modes, but having a hard time trying to get back into my niches in the game. My way of getting through raid had been to think of myself as being replaceable or worthless, but still trying to keep my hope that I’m actually valuable. Getting through all of it alone is not the solution now that I can let go of that bitterness of not being appreciated even as a person. I just happened to get a random chance to try out filling in for a group for a friend. But it wasn’t that what helped me the most both to be back on raids and to have finally built back my confidence. They probably didn’t think that I would check, but I’m the curious kind. Specially when you join a discord that has brief mentions of you on the recent chat. And seeing them mention me, and then vouching over my skills as a player, and how I was their first friend in the server? Well, despite having trouble expressing any feelings myself most of the time, when I get to think of it, you have no idea how much it meant to me. 

I managed to get back on what I like and enjoy most of what I do after deciding to take another leap of faith and join this group despite my stigma. Granted, mentions of parses and all will always be there. But not letting them define you, and believing in what you can and can’t do in content, I think is the best choice you can make to have a healthy experience and enjoy yourself as much as possible. 

[pyjamaenzel]

Started an FFXIV Tarot deck a while back but lost steam. Still want to come back to it someday.

Card -> Character list and some babbling under the cut. Spoilers, obviously!

The Fool: [the WoL/Derplander] The Magician: Cid The High Priestess: Nanamo The Empress: Kan-e-senna The Emperor: Raubahn The Heirophant: Thordan The Lovers: Yda & Papalymo ft. Lyse The Chariot: Merlwyb Strength: Minfilia The Hermit: Urianger The Wheel of Fortune: Miounne/Momodi/Baderon Justice: Ysayle/Shiva The Devil: Lahabrea, possibly Ascian Prime The Tower: Nael ft. Dalamud + Bahamut The Star: Louisoix & Phoenix The Hanged Man: Haurchefant Death: Estinien & Nidhogg (see notes) Temperance: Y’shtola The World: Hydaelyn The Moon: Thancred The Sun: Moenbryda Judgment: Alisaie & Alphinaud

Notes: 

-this was done around the end of HW patches for the most part, hence there not being any SB characters. (Lyse was a very late addition but i thought it was necessary b/c of her reveal) 

-Many of the character choices were no-brainers to me but some I had to do a lot of thinking and research about. I’m sure people will have different ideas of who should go on what card, inevitably. :p

-I briefly considered Teledji or Lolorito for the Devil card. Also Gaius & Ultima weapon were an initial design. It does feel a bit weird to leave Gaius out as the Big Bad of ARR but I ran out of cards and I wasn’t about to do a FULL deck. I would die. Elidibus would be great visually but he doesn’t quite fit the theme of the card.

-For Death: my original sketch had Aymeric & Lucia in the center, with Nidhogg and Estinien duking it out around the border in the art style that the Legend of Thordan/Ratatoskr story was drawn in. I felt like it was way too much, though. Final design will probably be 2nd form Nidstinien w/ the red armor. Death is an interesting card because people have such a negative association w/ the word but the card itself means Change, not necessarily negative or positive.  I settled on Nidstinien because of the visual shorthand & Nidhogg and Estinien being foils for one another. Estinien changed, Nidhogg could not, so he ultimately perished. Aymeric & Lucia both fit the “change” theme well too but at that pt i could probably list 10 other characters that could also go on the card...so. I decided it needed simplifying.

Believe me, I am sad about leaving Aymeric out, too. To try to fit all the major MSQ players in I considered doing a playing card style split with characters that represented the upright vs. reversed meanings of the cards, in which case Aymeric would have been on the Heirophant with Thordan. But that was also way too complicated.

Maybe if I ever finish i will make alternates of some cards w the characters that got left out. Big Maybe. (cries)

-I tried to match the visuals w/ thematically appropriate/equivalents from the game. (Cid’s hammer as the staff/wand. Statues of Nald & Thal, the citystate banners, Nidhogg’s eyes + the Key to Azys Lla. The twin waves as the “steeds” carrying the ship. Could not figure out what to do abt the lion traditionally in “Strength” so I left it out. Amber Carby as the lantern. Etc. Dalamud is the “tower” despite not being traditionally tower-shaped.)

-Done by hand w/ copics. The illustrations are all actual Tarot card size.

-I’m going to have to make a calligraphy version of the Eorzean font, fuuuuck.

[autumnslance]

Overall 5.4 Impressions

So I’ve said enough words about 1 story. The rest of the patch though I liked.

The VAs obviously had a rough time with alternate recording options and direction making many of them sound different, and it’s been so darn long since Cid’s gotten to speak--Heavensward patches!--and we’re all more familiar with his ARR voice out of Prae, that it really sounds off.

I’m neutral on catboy, so am fine with him running around doing Scion things with us. Honestly, if I start to feel fandom is negatively impacting me toward a character, I change up my social media consumption, who I interact more with for a time, and do my own things with the char. I’m also generally far more likely to go from negative on a character to positive thanks to fandom enthusiasm, though--I’d rather be neutral to positive on characters and their place in narrative than not.

(In any case, Aeryn keeps catboy at arm’s length; things are weird, but he means well, even his methods weren’t great, and she’s happily in a relationship so doesn’t even notice his crush/hero worship, which isn’t any different from a lot of other popular NPCs reactions to the WoL, anyway, so easy to wave off.)

I LOVE EDEN’S PROMISE. I’ve been through it twice now and the parallels with FFVIII killed me. I still wish Eden’s Verse got as much emotional resonance, but the usual end of the 8man raid story paid off well here. The reveal of the “Faerie”’s true identity works, tied back to MSQ and the main plot of the First well, and makes sense from a lore standpoint in every way. It’s bittersweet in how it validates a lot of headcanons concerning reincarnations and how it resolves on that angle. I am sad the daughters seem to be back behind the NPC Plotwall again, though. Gimme my girls, SE! I want to see them being cute around Norvrandt. Ryne’s little line about it’s unlikely she’ll ever see Thancred again did break my heart a little, please, I want our family to be together!! Also her calling him her knight in shining armor, and thinking how he would react to that, amuses me. I love how his gunblade was relevant, though, and again tied back to those FFVIII parallels.

YoRHa’s little story bit this patch I felt OK with taking care of Konogg, and like how the WoL spends a lot of time talking gently with him, and/or teasing him to try and cheer him up. The injured dwarves story is very sad, and their anger understandable, though Konogg is just a kid. I’ve got theories and ideas and talked things over with a friend who’s played more NieR and I am intrigued for the final wing of that quest. And creepy as it was in the end, I was less creeped out than by Werlyt. Maybe cuz I expected weirdness and some tragedy in NieR but also there wasn’t anything really overt going on here.

The Role Quest and following Void Quests were all I have ever wanted for the Virtue Hunters, for Cyella, and for Unukalhai. I love them all being friends and working together. I enjoyed getting yelled at by a rightfully exasperated Beq Lugg, especially when choosing the silly dialogue options. I want more of this plot and these characters going forward; it feels like it’s a setup for more coming, and I very much hope that’s the case.

Fandaniel’s nihilism is interesting, and I wonder if a cover for something else. A friend calls him “very Kuja” and it really is that vibe; learning you’re “not real” and deciding the world can burn for it. Zenos is just...there for me. I really don’t care one way or another. He mostly irritated me through Stormblood and I eye-rolled he came back (like everyone else in that expac) and am now like “guess we’ll see where this is going.” I’m interested in where the MSQ’s going next but with a .4 patch I am scared for characters again. A little salty they took the boys off to the Empire right away, and what could happen there; a “Meanwhile” might have been nice. Hopefully we get them back in 5.5 (if nothing else for tank and healer variety in MSQ trusts again). We just got the family home, and off they go! At least their shippers got some nice food, though.

Speaking of trusts, I love Matoya, and I love the dungeon. Took me a bit to get the second boss’ mechanic, but overall a lot of fun, neat design, cute music. I’m glad Alisiae finally got a win and has made frickin’ history. Everything with Limsa and Merlwyb was fantastic.

So yeah, I enjoyed it! It feels like I do more than some, but I try not to tie myself too tightly to specific characters or places, and tolerate chars I’m indifferent to all right. I’m glad a city-state and leader outside Ul’dah got some time finally. We checked in with a lot of folks, at least briefly, and so it really felt like “welcome home, immerse yourself in original Eorzea again” even as it’s threatened by a rogue Ascian.

So yeah, ready to see what we get in the next patch and how it leads us to 6.0!

I may make more posts about Eden’s Promise and the Role/Void Quests later, IDK yet.

[autumnslance]

A Review on Emotional Stakes

A rambling, spoilery review on an emotional aspect of Shadowbringers.

They didn’t have to kill a major character to make us feel sorrow, or urgency, or the need to stop the antagonist.

(In fact, I feel a lot of sympathy for the antagonist, and understanding, and he was so...Human, in his motives and desires, and he has jumped up quickly to one of my absolute favorites, from the sheer dramatics of his behavior, to his rage, to his blue-orange morality--to his quiet plea at the very end, once all was lost to him)

We lost a lot of unnamed soldiers in Lakeland, many people in Holminster, but those were set dressing. The merchant in the beginning--a purposeful callback to the triplets that we first met in ARR--was an indication of how dangerous the First could be for common folk, and the fear of Sin Eaters. “We aren’t in the Source anymore, kids,” his death tells us.

Tesleen is the biggest personal loss, and it’s more about Alisaie’s connection with her, as well as again, demonstrating the horror of Sin Eaters--and she comes super early in the story. We feel for Tesleen as in the small amount of time she had on screen, she was a delight, and we know one of our closest friends care for her deeply, too. Also, the visceral depiction of the transformation does its job well in horrifying us, and giving the resolve to destroy these things. Facing her again in Holminster is a relief for that sorrow.

I don’t count Minfilia as a loss this time; we said our goodbyes in Heavensward, and though there had been the hope of meeting again, freeing her from the cycle of reincarnation was another relief, and we got to keep Ryne--who is pretty much her child, and less of a plot device than the Word of the Mother/Oracle of Light ended up being. While I’m sad to see Minfilia go for good (there was a lot of wasted potential with her original character, and a part of me will always miss her), I don’t feel it as a shock in the same way as losing Haurchefant. Melancholy, perhaps, but also it felt more natural, despite the fantastic circumstances around her finally passing.

I was genuinely afraid for Thancred, but he was also the only tank given to us for the Trust system, so it turned out well. I’m glad because he finally treats Ryne as she deserves, too, and how we all know Thancred is capable of behaving, when he’s not trying to be a hardass (he’s so bad at it; that man wears his heart on his sleeve, especially when it comes to little girls needing protection).

I was also afraid for Lyna for a bit there, that she might be killed in the assault on Lakeland--or worse, turned as well. The voice actress sold her rage and grief in her frustrated breakdown, and that cracking in her voice hurts me more (She’s also no less strong for that outburst; it humanizes her, with her usual controlled, stoic demeanor, as yet more losses pile up and the enemy seems to actively want to help the world finish dying in direct opposition to the relentless optimism of the Crystarium. I DO wish we had gotten more on the personal relationship between her and the Exarch, though; maybe in patches).

Yet, even without an onscreen close friend character death late in the story, there’s no shortage of emotional connection. No end to the tears, even sometimes for those we never met but learn about, and the effect it has on those still grieving (Magnus’ story as an example; and my throat caught when I realized which heartstone the Night’s Blessed wanted the PC to imbue). And I didn’t feel like there were any “fake outs” like they tried to do in Stormblood--I never once worried that Gosetsu and Yotsuyu had survived Doma Castle once Soroban said he hadn’t been able to find the bodies, which only made the drawn-out teary goodbye scene a bit frustrating. I wanted to feel more for Meffrid and Conrad’s losses, but they failed to re-establish Meffrid very well before killing him, and Conrad didn’t get enough connection--and I still feel like he pushed leadership on Lyse when she wasn’t ready or willing for it (a whole other subject), so I somewhat mildly resent him, honestly.

Shadowbringers is a study in high stakes with deep emotional connections, while not relying on shock value or sudden death to make you feel things. The story brings us along on a journey, rather than trying to force a story upon us, and there is a world of difference after so many recent media flubs using “twists” and “shocks” to try to get a rise from the audience and be “different” in their storytelling. ShB decided it was a Final Fantasy story, complete with well-seeded foreshadowing, and predictable moments, and it’s great because the journey to get there was what made the “reveals” so satisfying.

EDIT: A quick addendum: That they were able to scare us with the threat of death to friends shows how well those previous losses DID work in the story; much as we may criticize some of them–Moenbryda and Ysayle are big ones taken issue with for good reasons, Papalymo honestly could have used more characterization and time after rejoining the group post-HW, I already mentioned the StB crew above; they put a lot of weight on Wilred in StB, but he was such a tertiary character in ARR I dunno if that connection to the WoL is as strong as it was for the NPCs.

Haurchefant is really the main one that was handled “best” and so tends to hurt the worst and be the most raw and memorable for players as well as our characters, and leaves us with the very real fear of it happening again.

Which only helps Shadowbringers’ storytelling to keep the personal stakes high. We know they can and will kill characters–but they, and we, also know they don’t have to to elicit emotions.