#aetheryte series

[wickedfuncrafts]

April's limited scent release is Forgotten Knight; inspired by Ishgard.

Forgotten Knight combines the scents of crisp air, frosted woods, and embers.

#scented candles #candle shop #candles #fantasy #wicked fun crafts #final fantasy xiv #aetheryte series #etsy #etsyusa #etsysmallbusiness #video games #ff14 ffxiv #ffxiv wol #forgotten knight #warrior of light #ishgard

[ecosystem-administrator]

the road to Horizon

I was watching a video recapping someone's journey through FFXIV and it made me think back on the start of my own, so I have some thoughts to ramble here, on my departure from Azeroth and arrival into Eorzea. From the perspective of a WoW refugee who arrived before the big waves of exodus, who left before all the bad news broke at Blizzard.

I don't talk about it much. At first it was because I was still grieving what I'd left, adjusting to the new normal I'd found for myself and trying not to be that person who compares everything to their only other experience in the genre; then, it was because the news had broken about all the things broken in Blizzard behind the scenes, and suddenly it no longer felt cool to have ever enjoyed what they were doing. But I started playing WoW during Wrath of the Lich King, and I continued to play until somewhere in the patch cycles of Battle For Azeroth. 2009-2019, a full decade of investment in the lore, of anticipation and disappointment, of theorycrafting my way around plotholes so I could keep enjoying the things that were enjoyable.

At some point, there was a news announcement coming, and I found myself anxious, dreading the possibility that the plot would focus on some of the characters I'd come to like, and in doing so wreck the stories I'd been building in my head. I had to stop and replay that moment for myself: I was dreading my favorite characters getting spotlight time, because I was afraid of what the writers would do to them. This is, I had to finally admit to myself, no way to live. I had reached my limit. My trust was broken, years of disappointment having finally dismantled my hope. I had to walk away. I wouldn't uninstall, not yet - but I would instead try out that beautiful Final Fantasy game my fiancee and some of her friends had started playing. I had watched over her shoulder one time a good while back as a tiny pink cupcake of a girl drank a goblet of poisoned wine, and at the time I had envied the power of the scene on display. Perhaps starting fresh with a new story would help ease the grief of finally stepping away from a decade of giving my heart to a game that was simply no longer giving back.

It takes time to adjust to a new game, of course. New controls, new abilities, what do you mean crafters are classes just like combat classes, wait what's the difference between a class and a job, how do I know whether I'm where I'm supposed to be, what do you mean dungeons aren't optional content, etc. I stumbled my way through the start of ARR, increasingly enthused to be learning a whole new set of lore but still anxious about how new I was. In FFXIV, we call new players 'sprouts' and tend to them; but I hadn't yet learned that mindset. I had to be told not to remove the sprout icon that flagged me as new and learning, because to me it looked like a 'kick me' sign on my back, a bright waving flag that said "Fresh Meat". That's what it would have been, where I had come from. I didn't know any better yet.

I made my way out of Gridania, around the capitals, through the baby dungeons, back to Ul'dah to get my invitation to the Scions, doing my best to absorb new lore, new controls, and new attitudes simultaneously. So it wasn't until I was leaving Ul'dah and headed out into Western Thanalan toward the Scions, on foot because I hadn't unlocked mounts yet, because I hadn't yet gotten the Horizon aetheryte, that I suddenly had a series of revelations.

I couldn't see player levels just by looking at them. I would have to click on a player and examine them in order to identify what level they were. Conversely, no one could see my level unless they went to that effort. They couldn't tell at a glance if I was overleveled or underleveled, if I was out of place in a zone or where I was meant to be.

The plot I had been through so far had gradually converged on this point in a way that suggested the story was melding with the starting storylines from the other two cities. In WoW, there are overarching plotlines for zones sometimes, but the presence of a Main Plot is a very recent development. Players rarely take the same path from starting zone to max level; but here, we were all walking the same road.

There were no factions. We were all walking the same road, and this was what struck me the hardest. From level 1 to level 70 (at the time I started lmao), every single player around me was somewhere on the same plotline. No one was a threat. There was no world PvP. I would never be ganked, griefed, have to wait for critical NPCs to respawn after max-level players from the other faction had come in and killed them.

Me, to me, at level 15 as the light began to dawn:

This is really how it felt, after all those years of WoW. The road to Horizon was the place where I finally realized I wasn't a soldier anymore, an erstwhile mercenary trying to dodge getting drafted back into a forever war. Of course there were still enemies, but all of the enemies were NPCs. I didn't have to worry about enemy PCs coming in raids, about staying out of their way or deciding to stand and fight. There were no such thing as enemy PCs. The war was, finally, over.

And so I trod onward lighter, still on foot until someone saw fit to give me a chocobo, my faction tabard abandoned in the dust of Thanalan, only an adventurer at last.

#ffxiv #thorn rambles #arr spoilers #there isn't really a point to this #except gratitude I guess #and personal journaling as I track the journey of my life #somewhat melodramatically

[nyxvaledoeswriting]

Here is another FFXIV drink I made based off Aetherytes! Delicious blue aether jelly drink, best drank while still cold!

Part One of the drink series

If anyone has any drink recommendations based on FFXIV, send me an ask! I'd love to get back into making these silly drinks!

#ffxiv #ff14 #final fantasy 14 #final fantasy xiv #nyx's ffxiv drink series #ffxiv art #ffxiv fanart

[papalo-palo]

WHM 51, MSQ 34 - Lord of Crags

I could not sleep. My failures in Dzemael Darkhold would not permit me to settle and my fears that I am inadequate for the role I have chosen gnaw at any comfort the inn bed was providing. It was far too late at night to make my way to Stillglade Fane for consultation with my betters in the Conjurer's Guild, so I attempted to meditate and commune with the elementals instead.

I sat with the whispering rod that I brought back from Dzemael Darkhold. It reminded me of the one that A-Ruhn-Senna bears, which is equally as dark in appearance, but hums quietly with power even though it is resting upon the Seedseer's back. When he bore his whispering rod in battle during the Quieting, I saw it shake and shimmer in his hand as if it were partaking of the aether he was channeling through it.

I did not realize how empty the whispering rod in my hand was until I attempted to use it as a focus for communing with the elementals. It was as if I was trying to fill a cracked cistern with a tea cup. I stopped trying to activate the rod and just sat still with the awareness of the elementals around me in this place.

All too soon, it was dawn. And with it came Y'shtola's missive. Her preparations at the kobold aetheryte were complete and a small cadre of Scions had volunteered to join me in facing Titan. I placed the whispering rod in safekeeping, took up the omnicrafter's gift, and went to face the navel of O'Ghomoro.

I did not understand the appeal of a free company until I met the Scions that would be accompanying me. It was the same marauder, thaumaturge, and lancer that ventured with me into Haukke Manor and Brayflox's Longstop! They failed to hide their relief that I would be their healer just as I failed to hide my relief that I would have trustworthy and predictable companions. Even though we have worked together only briefly, we knew each other to know our respective limits. I knew I would not be saving the lancer from the siren's call of causing maximum damage like I have had to do to other melee players more determined to finish a chain of strikes as they were trained to do than to survive the encounter as they are supposed to do.

If joining a free company meant becoming part of a steadfast group of adventurers that one could learn to depend on and be dependable to, then I see why the Company of Heroes became the legends that they did. But I am also reminded of the cost they paid to bring Titan low the first time, and the degree to which Wheiskaet tested me, and the constant background cacophony around the Gridania aetheryte of gossip and adventurers begging for free company signups and… well… I have the Scions to help me train and grow stronger so what happened in Dzemael Darkhold will not happen again.

Once we face Titan.

I had scarce finished nodding to Y'shtola at the kobold aetheryte when I had to blink at the sudden pressure of overheated air squeezing me. The Scions and I struggled to breathe in the navel of O'Ghomoro. We were now standing on a solitary pillar in the heart of the kobolds' mines, and not very far from the heart of the volcano itself. However, we stood alone, with neither primal nor kobold to take to task, and no means of leaving the pillar for the platforms surrounding us.

A series of screeching called my attention to focus. We turned to face the source and saw a large kobold wearing the gear and mask of a kobold patriarch. The patriarchs are the high priests of the kobold society, and as such are capable of summoning Titan and his power to lord over the lower ranks. The patriarch was calming the kobolds that had witnessed our entry and realized that their aetheryte had been compromised.

"Brothers and sisters, fear him not! His fate shall be decided by the Lord of Crags!" I saw the scepter he waved over his head and realized that behind him were crates of crystals. When the kobolds silenced themselves, the patriarch then addressed me and my fellows. He detailed how the Lominsans had broken the peace treaty that had been mutually agreed upon, how his people were being slaughtered and forced from lands that were theirs by right. No more would the kobolds permit any overdweller to reside on the island. They would be taking back what was always theirs by right.

"You shall be the first to face judgement! Then Limsa Lominsa and her oathbreakers–liars, betrayers, oathbreakers!"

A flicker of doubt chilled me. This was not the first time that I had heard the allegation that the Lominsans were the aggressors against the beast tribes. Alphinaud spoke politically about it during the memorial, and Y'shtola braved the wrath of the Admiral when she spoke plain and direct. But now to hear the charge being laid by the affected peoples made me wonder if we were right to undo Titan. Were the kobolds really just defending themselves?

"Make ready!" I heard the marauder's grip tightening on his axe before I realized what words were being blown across the chasm to the pillar. I looked up and saw the patriarch and other kobolds were now in positions of prayer.

"O Great Father, Lord of Crags! Titan, we summon You! Titan, we summon You! O Great Father, Lord of Crags! Titan, we summon You! Titan, we summon You!"

The very air was pulled in from all directions to a point over the center of the pillar. I could feel the aether being drawn in from the crystals next to the patriarch, from the magma in the chasm below us, and from the great masses of rock surrounding us. If it were not for our training, the summoning ritual would have pulled aether from our very bodies, weapons, and gear, tempering us in the process. But we held fast, each and every one.

I did not need to hear the kobolds' loud chittering to know what the bright flash and pressure wave from the center of the pillar meant. "He is come! He is come! The Lord of Crags, Titan is come!"

Where the form of Ifrit is all taut sinew and lean musculature, Titan at first glance, resembles an outcropping of rock. Stubby legs that are short in proportion to his body and thick clubs of arms that appear to be too massive to move, Titan ground his teeth and looked down on us with complete contempt.

With an eloquence that unnerved me, the primal laid out the charge against the Lominsans, before being specific with his ire against us. I do not know how he knew we had unmade Ifrit already, but he added that action to the list of crimes that he will be sentencing and executing us for. Having exhausted his patience for speech, he roared his murderous intent.

I don't know why I cast my air spell onto him. No, I do know why. Because that is what I have been trained to do. My air spell is admittedly weak and is as effective as a chigoe on a banemite, but over time that damage does add up. However, the spell called Titan's attention to me. His massive form moved much faster than I thought it could and in two short steps, he was one step away from crushing me.

But for all his speed, the marauder moved faster. The axe swept up from the floor and gouged deep in Titan's leg. Now extra furious, the primal turned his attention away from me and towards the metal encased Lominsan that dared to laugh at the underground god. The marauder led Titan away from me to the other side of the pillar with the same ease as luring a child with a piece of candy. The lancer followed closely behind while the thaumaturge remain standing beside me, already hurling globs of fire at the primal's back.

The tumult of Titan's presence caused the heat of the pillar to strike us. Even though the lancer, thaumaturge, and myself were never hit by the primal's direct strikes, we all were damaged by virtue of being in the area. Rather than wait for everyone's health to severely drop before trying to address the matter, I attempted to cast one of my recently learned spells, a blessing of health that would also infuse our bodies with the ability to continue to heal for a short time after the initial blessing. But I couldn't. The primal's presence was so oppressive, that even though we weren't tempered, we were still restricted by what we could do for as long as the primal was standing. It was like what happened in Haukke Manor and in Dzemael Darkhold, where our foe had an advantage over us just by existing.

Fortunately, I had not forgotten my initial lessons as a white mage and shifted my strategy to match. I called upon the elementals and found that despite being in the presence of a primal, I could still call upon the aether of the land itself. Entering into an almost-meditative state that one could call lucid dreaming, I was able to keep my mana reserves full even as I kept one eye on the marauder and one eye on the rest of the scions. As such, even after a direct strike, no one's health dropped to critical levels and everyone remained on their feet and functional.

Though, it was not as if we could stay standing in one spot for very long. Titan may be massive, but he is as quick as he is eloquent. We all had to move quickly when he whirled to pummel the land and create a landsliding wave that threatened to knock his target (and anyone else in the way) off of the pillar. He would call out the land to avenge the sins we were accused of, and if we were not paying attention, the very ground under our feet would assault us to great damage with its weight. At times, he even shook the pillar with such intensity that the edges began to crumble and we found ourselves with less and less room to maneuver and dodge.

The worst was when he would call the land to seize one of us, imprisoning the scion in a granite gaol that the free scions would have to swiftly dismantle lest the trapped scion be crushed by the solidifying rock. Titan would gaol one scion as bait, wait for the rest of us to move to free them, and then strike the ground to throw the rescuers off of the pillar.

But we each knew our abilities, and more importantly, we each knew the limits of our peers! We played our roles to the best of our abilities such that little by little, the great mountain primal was worn down and eventually undone. As his body fell, he called out to the kobolds, exhorting them to flee in fear for their safety. This touched me and made me again wonder if we were in the right.

As if to echo my worry, as the kobolds obeyed their god's last words, the patriarch that summoned declared that our actions were just more overdweller crimes, and that they would never be forgotten. He called out again that it was the others, the Lominsans, that broke the covenant. That the kobolds were acting only in defense of their lands.

While my fellow scions cheered the demise of Titan and the retreat of the kobolds, I stood in thoughtful silence and remembered my uncle's friends. How battle-weary they were. How grateful they were that my mother never asked them to repel any beasts from the woods around the farm. How they could sit at the table without worrying that someone would attack them from behind. I used to wonder why would they fear such a thing happening.

As the patriarch took up the rear of the retreat, I understood and closed my eyes in silent prayer that all I do be done for the good of, and in the light of, the Crystal. I opened my eyes to see a yellow crystal shard, of the same hue as Titan's heart, of the same hue as boiling magma, sitting still at my feet. The moment my attention fell upon it, it activated and power came from it to engulf me.

I found myself standing in the center of the ornate seal again. Around me were the three crystals of light that I had already encountered, each one attuned to a different element. The earthen crystal of light took its place upon the seal and showered me with a light and power that I felt healing my body and restoring my soul. I knew then, that while I was being used as a political tool by the Admiral for the immediate sense, I was following the path that had been set for me since birth. Hydaelyn's grace soothed my doubts.

I opened my eyes just in time to see Y'shtola teleporting from the above-ground aetheryte to the pillar. She noted that the battle had ended and that she could feel the primal's presence cease even from her station at the aetheryte. Noting that the kobolds were in disarray, she noted the obvious that this was not the time for a debriefing, but for the scions, one and all, to leave before the kobolds came back for revenge. I agreed and asked that she teleport the others out first. She tilted her head, half in agreement and half in curiosity, but said nothing as she worked her magics and cleared the area. Before sending me on my way, she said that there was something that she had to investigate before we could speak further. Once back on the surface, she would rendezvous with me at Camp Bronze Lake.

I don't have the habit of arguing with any person capable of teleporting me into the middle of the ocean, so of course I agreed, and I was sent on my way. After seeing to the repairs of my gear and saying goodbye to my fellow trusted Scions, I did meet up with Y'shtola in Camp Bronze Lake. She tasked me with reporting to the high commander of the Maelstrom forces while she took care of another matter. Quite exhausted, I hired a chocobo porter to ferry me to Limsa Lominsa rather than take the risk that I fall asleep and direct Sable off the nearest cliff. The chocobo is far too young to take to flying just yet.

Once at Limsa Lominsa, I reported to the Storm Commander immediately. She had already heard the news but wanted it confirmed in person just the same. While she saluted me, the other soldiers were less formal in their cheers and salutations for removing the primal threat. I realized then that destroying Titan was the right thing to do as the primal would have destroyed everything perceived as a threat to the kobolds. He would undo homes and farms with the same ease as directing lava flows and landslides. I will leave it to more savvy heads to consider the actions that brought the threat of Titan to Limsa Lominsa now that the threat has passed.

As I left Storm Command, Minfilia contacted me by linkpearl. Y'shtola had told her of what happened in the Navel and Minfilia could not wait to congratulate me for not only felling Titan, but doing so without injury! I thought of all the healing spells I had to cast during the fight and quietly wondered if there was a different word for all the wounds that I had sealed up in my and my fellows' bodies. She promised me a hero's welcome when I returned to the Waking Sands, and made it clear that I was required to report to the Waking Sands at once.

I wanted to comply. I really did. But my first thought after she closed the linkpearl connection was to go back to the Carline Canopy and take a nap. And by a nap, I mean a rest. And by a rest, I mean, as I sit in the Carline Canopy writing these words, it is my intent to sleep for a week. There are no further primal threats known to the Scions. Between Yda and Papalymo, Urianger, Thancred, and Y'shtola, there are many better eyes and ears paying attention to the social and political goings on of the world than me. Minfilia herself is capable of leading the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and any army or company besides. There is no emergency so great that they require me, specifically, to attend to them at once. I may call myself a white mage, but I am no A-Towa-Cant who is able to commune with the elementals as if he were one himself.

And so here, I will finish my ale, finish my slice of eel pie, finish my entry in this diary, and then finish my day. Once I wake up, I will return to the Waking Sands and see what a hero's welcome looks like.

May you, dear reader, ever walk in the light of the crystal.

#ffxiv #The Memoirs of Papalo Palo

[alannah-corvaine]

How does your OC make money? Do they have a respectible profession or work a series of odd jobs? Are they a criminal? Or do they get creative in the pursuit of coin?

GET TO KNOW THE OC ASKS

So Alannah gets a monthly stipend from the Scions that covers her basic needs (as do they all, in my mind) such as food, inn rooms, aetheryte travel, and repairs.

She also gets a lot of gifts and donations from people that she's helped, but most money gifted to her goes back into investing in the rebuilding of destroyed or impoverished communities.

On top of that, she also receives fees for her work purifying corruption if she's specifically hired to do that, which she often is (though she'll just as often do it for nothing at all if she happens to randomly run across places that need help). A portion of those fees is tithed back to the Conjurer's Guild as a matter of respect and support.

And then after all that, Alannah unknowingly has a large inheritance waiting for her when her grandmother dies. She's the favorite grandchild of Fayre Harlow, who happens to be married to the very wealthy trade baron Fasshon Fuqushon. She gets a sizeable portion of their estate when they die, so she'll eventually be set for life, but for now she has no idea and lives a relatively modest lifestyle.

@parfaitpuffballpanic thank you for the ask!

#about alannah

[khepri-sunscale]

An Interlude in the Desert (Find me if you can!)

So my brain was nice enough to pop out a new outfit idea for Khepri and I wanted to record it before I forgot. Disclaimer that I am in no way a writer, but it does share a bit of what Khepri has been up to since Endwalker.

Khepri breathed in the dry dusty air around him. It was such a change from the wet humidity of the island but refreshing in it's own way. He wiped at his sweaty brow, heavy fringe having gotten longer. His hair had some wave to it now, bits and pieces braided with bright threads (Raha's doing). He had been loathe to leave their quiet island paradise but the time had come. At first it had just been Raha, Nai and him but over time their friends had trickled in. While friends were always welcome, their various requests for assistance were not, not to mention the messengers that had come with the same. He knew he was still the Warrior of Light in his own way and he had a calling to serve the greater good…but he deserved a break. So he'd left the island in the care of the mammets and headed out towards Rhalgr's Reach. It was time he paid an old miqo'te friend there a visit, not to mention Lyse and M'naago. He just so happened to be taking the long way on foot from Ul'dah. Carby had quite loudly protested this the day before, happy to take a perfectly good aetheryte. Khepri had resisted, telling his vulpine companion it had grown spoiled over their months on the island. Thus Carby was ignoring him somewhere in the aetherial rift while Cheeto happily trotted behind him. Cheeto being a chocobo and all had missed the wide open expanses as much as his caretaker.

Khepri was thankful for the coverage of his newly acquired cloak to block out the brightness of the sun. He'd asked a favor from Tataru a while back for new traveling clothes. The ones he'd worn at the edge of the Universe now brought back too many memories. Too many almost losses. She'd delivered tenfold as always, it was like she'd reached into his own head.

The cloak was an off white with a large hood, shades lighter than his own horn and scales. It was embroidered with golden suns and moons along the edge and cut into bell sleeves gathered at the wrist. Circular cutouts along his shoulders and arms provided ventilation over a crop top of the same off white. Around his neck sat the same simple necklace of moons and stars in silver and gold his mother had given to him all those years ago. Passed down in his family to honor Azim and Nhaama. Around his hips sat a heavy brown leather belt with pockets for a series of vials on his left hip and his grimoire strapped to his right.

Below that was a pair of white shorts covered by a skirt over it that hit half way down his thigh. A slit inched up the left hand side to reveal the shorts beneath and allow for easy movement. Brown lace up leather sandals completed the look, a surprising sidestep from his former heeled boots. Tataru had taken his concerns into mind when he'd said breathable and he appreciated it. Ahhh and not to forget a twisted wooden staff that doubled as both help on rockier terrain and to hit any enemies with if they came too close. The ensemble felt like a good start to a new chapter.

He continued onward at a steady pace, he could tell it was only a few hours from sunset. When the messengers inevitably found him at the Reach he would probably visit the First. Ha! He grinned to himself, see if they could follow him across shards. He thought not.

#au ra #au_ra #khepri #please stay hydrated my lovely lizzert #the messengers never stood a chance lol

[morocosmos]

Returning - Epilogue

Intro chapter | Thancred | Urianger | Y’shtola | Alphinaud, Estinien | Tataru | Alisaie, Krile | G’raha

Warrior of Light & Erenville

Takes place during Endwalker, just after the end of 6.0. This is a series of vignettes on each of the Scions’ relationships with my Warrior of Light, Moro’a as he’s recovering after the end of the Final Days.

We made it to the end! Thank you to anyone who’s enjoyed these, whether you read one, a couple or all of them :>

It’s a chilly morning, early enough that some of the market stalls in the Agora have yet to fully open. Moro’a takes his time, walking slowly as he takes in the sea air and the quiet bustle of Sharlayan scholars and students, out procuring supplies and sundries. From across the plaza, he sees a small group of Ironworks engineers hurrying past the aetheryte, and even a handful of Gridanian conjurers at the benches, gawping at the sights around them.

Change, Moro’a thinks to himself, suppressing a yawn and wrapping his scarf around his neck an ilm tighter as a breeze rushed through the Agora, before settling on an empty bench.

The Scions had agreed to embark for the Rising Stones by the end of the sennight, giving Moro’a ample time to rest and build up his strength before the voyage. In an effort to do just that, he’d been going on walks such as this around Old Sharlayan. He’s growing a little stronger every day, but still has to be careful not to overexert himself. Dawn has proven to be the best time for walks; while he doesn’t entirely wish to be left alone, less attention from passersby means more energy for walking, and he much prefers appreciating the simultaneously quiet, yet bright atmosphere, watching as sunlight gradually bathes the city’s white stone buildings in a rosy golden hue.

But change is still on his mind, as it had been for several days now, and with it the certainty that it would come about soon for him and the Scions. Estinien would sooner or later embark wherever the wind took him. Thancred had already mentioned his and Urianger’s plans, while Krile and G’raha spent more and more time in the Annex these days, and Y’shtola in the Noumenon. There’d also been murmurs between the twins about Garlemald, wishing they could do more there, and Tataru has her business to run. Each Scion’s desires had begun to draw them along different paths, some converging and others not.

It was bound to happen, now that the mission that brought us together has concluded, Moro’a thinks to himself. He’s not sure how to feel about it; happy and upset are far too extreme for the precipice they stand upon now.

“Fancy meeting you here.” A low, musical voice brings Moro’a out of his reverie, and he turns around to see Erenville approach from behind.

“Erenville.” Moro’a finds himself glad to see the gleaner. “It’s good to see you.”

“And you.” Erenville wears a light, warm smile, and he hesitates before adding, “countless people were concerned for your well-being when you returned from your mission…myself amongst them. But if you are here, I trust your recovery proceeds at a welcome pace, then?”

Moro’a nods, briefly explaining his treatment and how the Scions would be leaving for Limsa Lominsa within the next few days. Erenville takes it all in stride and without comment, until he poses another question. “What next, then?”

What next, indeed? The Scions may well not be needed anymore, which leaves me free to do just about anything, he considers saying. He’d told Thancred he’d like to go adventuring, but he hadn’t quite expressed how impatiently eager he’s become to do just that – to take the unknown road and venture forth to wherever it might lead him. The same desire that’d led him to Eorzea in the first place, more than a decade ago now.

“I’d like to go somewhere new,” he answers, looking out towards the ocean. “Or perhaps someplace I can see with new eyes. But not as some champion or saviour. I’d like to just be myself – just any other adventurer, if you would. Find some stories that don’t revolve around being a hero.”

Erenville doesn’t reply immediately. In fact, the viera appears to be deep in thought, as though suddenly thrust into some sort of internal debate. There’s a sparkle to his eyes that hadn’t been there before, as though Moro’a’s words had done something to capture Erenville’s own spirit, and it makes him wonder. What's your story?

“Oh, don’t mind me. I was simply distracted by, ah, a quandary of my own,” Erenville responds at length, shaking his head. Upon seeing Moro’a’s curious expression, the viera tilts his head ever so slightly to the side. “That being said, while gleaners go wherever we are needed, it does result in a healthy amount of travel. Not that much different from the life of an adventurer, in some respects.” Erenville taps his chin. “Should our paths happen to align…I don’t suppose I could trouble you for a means to contact you? Depending on where my work takes me and the timing thereof, I might just appreciate having an experienced travelling companion.”

Oh? It’s Moro’a’s turn to consider the other’s words. Erenville had worded it as a suggestion, and yet something about the way he said it made it sound more like an invitation. It might just be the adventure Moro’a’s looking for, and he can’t say he’s not interested in getting to know the gleaner better. “I can pass you a linkpearl before we leave for Limsa Lominsa – find me here at the same time tomorrow if you can make it,” he replies, and Erenville nods with a smile.

“Excellent. Well, I’d best be off for now. Can’t make good on my offer if I don’t take the necessary steps to make it happen,” he says, more than a little mysteriously. They bid each other goodbye, and as the viera heads off in the direction of the Annex, Moro’a turns his attention back to the horizon.

Days and days spent confined in the Technon had sprouted seeds of wanderlust in him like never before, eager to bloom. But Moro’a knows that much and more have served to propel him on the path he wishes to walk now: an old friend’s footsteps. Cryptic parting words from an enemy turned ally, and the sun-coloured crystal he keeps close by. The words of the tireless woman who’d beseeched him to champion her cause, but who had celebrated the spirit of adventure in him as well, long before they would meet in this life.

Has your journey been good? Has it been worthwhile? It has, he thinks to himself, but I’m not done yet. And whether or not the Scions of the Seventh Dawn would still exist in the days to come, it’s comforting to know that they would continue to be there for each other, come what may.

#kae scribbles #erenville #endwalker spoilers

[daughterofdoma]

Returning Home: Limsa Aethryte (Part 3)

This is part three of a series of Post-6.0 but Pre 6.1 Gpose stories I’ve created for Akiko’s journey back to Doma to say farewell to her family who perished in the razing of Monzen.  In Ultima Thule, G’raha asked the WoL to take him to Ishgard properly, as well as embark on other adventures, so this is my version of that promise fulfilled. 

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 (Current Post) Part 4

This one was way too fun.  Imagining how G’raha Tia would respond to the Aetheryte Plaza was enjoyable.  Of course, he’s been through Limsa before, but apparently trusted the advice of other travel companions and avoided to the Plaza itself.  Not this time, as Warrior of Light took him straight through it.  Whoops!  It’s old news to her, but to him... BOOTY.  Booty EVERYWHERE.  Clutchin’ pearls. Also spot the easter egg!  Only certain people will get it!

#wolgraha #graha tia #G'raha Tia #wol x graha #gposers #midlanders today #webtoon #visual novel #gpose comic #FFXIV #endwalker spoilers #endwalker #limsa lominsa

[elizabethrobertajones]

Just saw some art that reminded me of my own Stormblood dragoon experience. So, Frog hit 70 Dragoon out in the Azim Steppe while doing the MSQ. I think I hadn't quite unlocked flying yet. But you see, you only need access to the Azim Steppe to get to the 70 job quest because it's not gated behind any higher level area. So I tootled up to it probably still wearing like level 63 gear or something, started the quest, and got all the cutscenes out the way, started the fight, and got absolutely murdered.

Then my brother pointed out it would be a lot less hard if I finished the MSQ (he was always nagging me to do that for some reason) and collected at the very least some 69/70 dungeon gear and quest stuff for Dragoon so I could actually do the fight without being auto attacked to death. And like, eh, not like you need better gear than what I had to continue doing literally anything other than the 70 DRG quest. So I nodded and got on with doing that. But I did really want to get that quest done so I pretty much just waited until I had Castrum Abania upgrades and 68 quest reward gear and tried it again, and did actually beat it after much travails, learned the meaning of friendship and love etc, as you do.

So in Frog Canon, like, the order of events that unfolded as Bounding Frog, warrior of light, was fighting the Stormblood war on two fronts, was this:

Estinien leaves Ishgard and heads directly for the great big hole in the ground that he stares ominously at in a mid-Stormblood cutscene

Despite ominous pronouncements about what he has left to do, he gets distracted and travels all the way to the Far East after deciding maybe the hole in the ground at least is someone else's 70 raid series problem, and I guess he hit a dead end investigating that.

Frog encounters him in the Azim Steppe having his hot girl summer literally at peace, blissed out, free of all burdens save his newfound purpose

Estinien is like "What are you doing here anyway?" and she's like "Ummmmm we're kinda kicking the Garleans out of every single province at once because the twins have absolutely no concept of moderation I guess?"

Estinien looks at Orn Khai and says, "Oh no. Listen, small and extremely ambitious friend I have adopted. I have another, smaller but even more ambitious friend who is doing stupider things. Can you wait here for like. A week. I'll be back, I have all the aetherytes between here and Ishgard unlike some people."

Estinien teleports back the nearest aetheryte in Gyr Abania he has and stealthily follows Alphy around until he needs to do a big damn hero moment uncredited.

Estinien teleports back to the Far East and sits on a rock sharpening his spear and looking moody for a few hours

He and Frog do the 70 job quest together

He's like "cool so did you finish the war so we can hang out?"

She's like "no lmao I still have to liberate Ala Mhigo. Wild, right?"

Estinien slowly drags his hand down his face.

He returns to Gyr Abania to appear in the appropriate cutscene after the Stormblood quest is complete

He returns to the Far East to hide in Kugane until Krile comes to get him for the next time he canonically appears and this whole thing explains is why he is SO resentful that anyone would dare try to pry him out of just sitting down for FIVE MINUTES.

#I feel bad I did that to him #but at the same time he's the one who chose to be on two continents at once #it is very important to me that I hold that it happened this way #Estinien really did not get a moment of peace #I am just glad that I unlocked just about the most complicated sequence of movements #stormblood spoilers #ffxiv

[xiakha]

FFXIVWrite2022 Prompt #28 - Vainglorious

Hien had many titles, all of which he claimed proudly. Hien, Prince of Doma; Hien the Builder of Doma; Hien the Generous; Hien the Peacemaker; Hien the Great.

There were those that griped that was exactly the issue with this man, this ruler. His father's son indeed. Kaien watched as Hingashi sold the Domans out for its version of peace, and let its undesirables run amok in the Doman countryside. Kaien watched as the Garleans captured and subjugated their neighbors to the south in Nagxia, Bozja, and Dalmasca. Kaien watched as the invaders came in and took more and more land for themselves and let Doma fall to ruin. Kaien had many titles for himself too. The Great, The Wise, The Generous...

All of these titles, and none of the work.

But that was Kaien.

Hien was determined to not walk in his father's shoes, despite the long shadow the king cast. In his father, Hien saw a man who wanted nothing more than to fight and perhaps die gloriously in a grand war, but was shackled to the state, humbled by the need to feed ten million mouths and govern two thousand square malms of territory. In a prosperous time, perhaps Kaien would have gotten his wish, and the people would remember him better. But his fate was chained to a series of disastrous harvests and the sudden withdrawal of trade and industry from all of his neighbors. It was not as if Doma going to war would have fixed things. Doman iron and arrows would do next to nothing to Garlean steel and magitek. And he could not abandon his duties and leave his young son to rule while he warred abroad.

Hien laughed bitterly at the relative luxury he had claim to now, lush and fertile summers and calm and kind autumns, aetherytes to Eorzea, consistent trade and aid from across seas, even airships landing in Doma! Hingashi's determined isolation was Doma's boon as the Eorzeans exchanged goods with Domans and not their wealthier neighbors.

Things were not perfect, no. Eorzeans were shrewd traders and took advantage of the Domans' relative poverty, he found himself often torn between the Eorzean Alliance's needs and the needs of his people, and now his neighbors were asking for aid as well as they started to throw off the shackles of their Garlean oppressors. But more and more Domans were able to eat until they were full now. More and more villages were rebuilding. His people would soon be able to hold their heads up high again.

He spent many a long week traveling the lands he was to govern, handing seeds to farmers and tools to craftsmen personally. He ate at their tables, humbly sitting on the same floors that they sat on, partaking in the same fare. He refused feasts and brought his own freshly caught fish or freshly hunted fowl. He heard stories from the last thirty years of pain and agony. He made promises to improve, and saw to it that his promises were fulfilled. He helped defend against bandits and even spoke with them as well once defeated or captured. He settled disputes and squabbles as best he could. He was not perfect. But when they saw him as not a prince, not a king, not a noble, but a person willing to listen to them and the will of the kami, he changed minds, slowly.

There was much still to do. Many fields still lay fallow where they lay and needed much weeding and tilling to be reclaimed from nature. Many parts of Yanxia were still lawless, left to neglect by his father and the Garleans both, and he had warlords to address. Some villages were abandoned, wartorn or disaster struck, and cried for revival. There was interest in renovated abandoned magitek to reuse as farm equipment, but no ceruleum reserves in the country to do it. But there was absolute improvement.

So it was that Hien took on those titles, but considered them aspirational, goals to meet, not things he was.

#ffxiv #ffxivwrite #FFxivWrite2022 #wordvomit #a short scene

[witchofthescions]

Fray was pleased to see Ernastral, as always.

"You look well, Ernastral. More determined." Before Erna had a chance to say anything, Fray continued. "You have not heard the voice since last we spoke. I know. But worry not. If your affinity with your darkside is as strong as I believe, then communion is all you require."

Erna reached up and rubbed the back of her own neck, but nodded all the same. She trusted Fray, after all.

"Come with me to the Burning Wall. You know what you must do."

Her path took her past a familiar Amalj'aa as he meditated among the crystals of the Burning Wall. Kazagg Chah, one of her teachers in the art of black magic. He gave her a nod as she rushed past on River's back, and she couldn't help but smile. It felt like forever ago when she first got her hands on the black mage crystal. It felt right. As if she'd suddenly found a part of herself that she'd been searching for her whole life. And she was lucky enough to have four mentors to teach her about her newfound craft, its history and purpose and everything.

While she wouldn't exactly say the same for the powers of the dark knight so far, it still felt... right in its own way. As a black mage, she spent much of her time delving into the darker side of magic. The taboo, the forbidden, the dangerous and destructive. She'd always stood on the precipice of something darker. And so at the Naadam, when she threw out spells of such destructive power that even her own companions were afraid of her...

Drink not too deep lest the flames consume you.

That warning held true for both black magic and dark knighthood, it seemed.

"It begins, as always, with blood. A confirmation of your identity." Fray gestured to the landscape around them. "There are axe beaks here which have grown ferocious beyond reckoning. Vile creatures, eager to prey on man and beast alike. Offer yourself to them. They will come. Then make an offering of them to me."

The axe beaks were no more trouble to her than the peiste had been, even though there were two this time. River helped keep them from overwhelming her, pecking and kicking and otherwise harrying them while Erna slashed away. She even used what little magic she had to heal Ernastral when the axe beaks' own pecks struck true.

"Ah, now that is the Ernastral I've longed to see!" Fray said as Erna walked back over to her. "You're enjoying this, aren't you? You always did love a good physical challenge. Testing your mettle against ever greater foes, pushing yourself to the limit, only to break free and exceed them. The rush you get from besting a challenging foe is intoxicating, isn't it?"

River let out an inquisitive kweh, nudging into her back with her head.

"Remember this feeling. Treasure it. I want it smoldering within you when we commune in Camp Drybone."

Fray met her at the bottom of the spiraling stairs. It was much busier here than the overlook, seeing as how it was so close to the aetheryte. But there was so much going on, no one would pay her much mind, right?

"Close your eyes and hold out your hand towards me. Breathe deep through your nose─"

"Thank the Twelve, it is you! Ernastral!"

Her concentration was broken by the sound of a vaguely familiar voice. She turned and saw a merchant approaching her.

"Isembard, remember? It must have been ages since last we spoke!"

The first time she and Isembard had met was not long after she joined the Scions. It was her first mission as a Scion, in fact. A series of events that lead to her, Lenar, and Cress facing their first primal: Ifrit. Not Isembard's fault, of course. It wasn't really anyone's fault.

"I see your companions aren't with you this time. Is everything alright between you three?"

"We're fine," Ernastral said. "I just... decided to take some time to myself."

"Ah, well, I apologize for the interruption, but I sought you out because I need your help."

"...Do tell."

"Not long ago, an Amalj'aa raiding party attacked a caravan on the road and abducted several pilgrims!" Already this sounded rather familiar. "We reported the incident to both the Brass Blades and the Immortal Flames, but it seems neither is in a position to muster forces at present, what with the fighting at the border to Ala Mhigo."

Erna grimaced, glancing away. If she had only been a little faster, a little stronger, then maybe she could have won. Maybe she could have stopped Zenos then and there. Ala Mhigo would be that much closer to freedom. More people would still be here. More people would still be able to fight.

Lenar had been keeping her updated on progress on the Doman front. Erna felt bad about not being there to help coordinate but she couldn't risk going back there, not yet. Not in this state.

"You know what lies in store should they not be rescued soon." She did know. A lifetime spent in thrall to a primal's will, mindlessly worshiping until they finally drop dead. "Please, Ernastral─there is no one else!"

"Ugh, can't even get a moment to breathe. It's always 'some tribe is summoning a primal again' this and 'the Garleans are getting ready to invade' that. Why must these sorts of tasks always fall to the same damn people? Why does it always seem like the ones whose job this is supposed to be are always oh so conveniently busy doing some-fucking-thing else?!"

She paused for a moment, before letting out a heavy sigh.

"But it's just as you said, isn't it? There's no one else. Fine. We'll bring them back."

"I... thank you, they... They were bound for the encampment to the southeast."

"Then so are we."

She found Fray waiting by a tree, glaring into the encampment. "And so yet again it falls to us to do what the authorities can't. Well... if anyone expects us to do this with anything resembling grace or stealth, they're going to be sorely disappointed. So let's get this over with. If we're quick, we might be able to free the captives before they have a chance to overwhelm us."

Into the camp they charged, cutting their way through the foes that stood in their way. As much as Erna enjoyed a little bloodshed, she was only one woman. The longer this took, the greater the chance of every single Amalj'aa in this camp deciding to descend on her at once. For a mercy, there were only three pilgrims: two hyur and a lalafell. Untying them was simple enough; once she got one free, she used her own knife to help free one of the others while Erna freed the last one. She gestured for them to follow her and booked it for the exit.

The hyuran woman screamed as two Amalj'aa and one of their trained drakes loped into view. Protecting three panicked civilians was easier said than done when she was the only one present. Ordinarily she'd be in the back, trying to keep them calm and out of the way while the others kept the enemy's attention. But this time she had to protect them and keep them calm, all on her own. All at once.

It was a miracle that the trio of unfortunate pilgrims made it to the exit with nothing more than some singed clothes and a missing eyebrow.

"You will pay for your insolence!" bellowed the leader of this band of Amalj'aa behind her. She turned, and as the pilgrims made a break for Drybone, she ran to meet the Amalj'aa. Without the pilgrims' safety to worry about, she could afford to go absolutely wild on these three fools.

Fray waited for her outside the encampment, and looked her over with an approving nod.

"Heh heh, just didn't know when to leave off, did they? Neither did you though, eh? I mean, look at yourself. Most of that's not even your blood!"

Erna blinked and looked herself over, realizing that she was covered nearly head to toe in blood. She... was probably going to go stop by her apartment to wash it off.

"Leave it. You've nothing to be ashamed of." 

"I ain't ashamed, I just don't want any of it soakin' into my clothes for good. I ain't Estinien, you know."

Fray let out a soft snort of a laugh. "Let's go and give Isembard the good news first."

Erna nodded and called River so she could make the trip back to Drybone a little faster. Isembard, for his part, was rather taken aback by the state she was in when he saw her.

"W-Welcome back, Ernastral!" he stammered, his eyes scanning her from head to toe as he spoke. "I heard you really gave those Amalj'aa what for! G-Good show!"

He hesitated for a moment as if about to say something, but shook his head instead of voicing whatever thought was on his mind.

"I... I really can't thank you enough for all that you've done. I'm sure you're eager to be on your way, so I won't waste more of your time. Just... be careful out there, alright? Feel free to come back whenever you like."

Ernastral nodded dismissively, heading over to join Fray by the stairs again.

"In sacrifice there is strength. In sacrifice there is liberation. But I wonder... what, exactly, are you trying to sacrifice here?"

Erna looked away, unable to meet Fray's gaze.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hand towards me."

With every breath, Erna felt herself grow lighter and slip further into the abyss.

On a throne of bone she waits...

One by one, in solemn procession, they come to entreat her aid...

Serve... Save... Slave... Slay...

They ask more and more of her...

Until she can do no more.

It was hard to tell the difference between the sweat and the blood covering her body. Did it really matter, though? She was going to wash it all off soon anyway. She would.

"So. What did you hear this time?"

Ernastral mumbled out the voice's words this time, hardly able to make sense of them herself.

"Hm. And there I was thinking you were on the verge of discerning the truth... Your affinity with your darkside grows stronger by the day. And yet... there is a hesitation."

Ernastral staggered to her feet.

"Listen to me, Ernastral. You have performed great deeds and saved countless people. You are a hero to the realm... But you are no dark knight. A dark knight accepts that she cannot save everyone─that sometimes, she is fortunate just to save herself. Sacrifice, Ernastral, is to renounce that which binds you. To recognize that which matters─and forsake all that does not. At the very least, you must realize that you cannot continue to carry all these burdens..."

Fray looked her in the eye, her gaze piercing.

"Lest they crush you under their weight."

#The Unending Journey (Drabbles) #Born in Blood (Stormblood) #Darkest Defender (Dark Knight)

[wickedfuncrafts]

January's limited scent release is Salt Swept; inspired by Limsa Lominsa. No better place to start The Aetheryte Series than where your WoL started their journey!

Salt Swept combines the scents of sea ozone, marine waters, & coastal musk.

#candles #candle shop #scented candles #final fantasy xiv #limsa lominsa #salt swept #wicked fun crafts #etsysmallbusiness #etsyusa #handmade #warrior of light #pirates #fantasy #Aetheryte Series

[isorawrites]

THE HOWLING BARK — 02

CHAPTERS: [ 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 ]

SERIES: [ Sora Holmes Case Files ]

LINKS: [ Tumblr | AO3 | Ko-fi ]

SHIPS: Sora/Yiune, Laniaitte & Emmanellain.

MUSES: Sora Holmes, Yiune Watson.

NPC: Laniaitte de Haillenarte, Emmanellain de Fortemps.

FFXIVWrite: 2023 — 02.

bark /bɑːk/ noun ARCHAIC・LITERARY a ship or boat.

With the formalities out of the way, Laniaitte ushered Sora and Yiune into a treetop house with a great view of the rolling clouds on the horizon, which also served as the command room for the Rose Knights. In the middle of the cozy interior was a large rectangular table covered with a map. Some charting equipment scattered across the surface with a handful of dried leaves, the latter which Laniaitte swept off to the ground with a graceful wave.

“I shall get straight to the point,” Laniaitte began, moving a chess piece to the only other aetheryte marked on the map. “Even without the threat of the primal Bismarck, we have been maintaining the peaceful relationship with the Vanu Vanu tribes in the Ok’ Zundu village. ’Tis an oath I swore to Ser Syndrei when he came and aided my brethren to end the thousand-year bloodbath—and one I will keep at all costs, with my pride as both a knight of Ishgard and a member of House Haillenarte. And that I did.”

Laniaitte then shifted the pawn towards a small floating island marked with a red scarf. “The Redbills, however, is another story. Though their contributions to stop the ancient voidsent Diabolos from destroying the world were no small feats, these pirates view modus operandi like a poison to the freedom of the clear skies they seek.”

“So they prefer to stay in the gray,” Sora murmured, nodding slowly as she listened to Laniaitte. “A color that’s neither black nor white, its shade changing freely along the spectrum as they see fit.”

Shadows stretched across the room as the sun began to set, the rays streaming through the windows and lighting up the world map with a fiery glow. “Your brother had assured me that the Redbills were no threat—and I am more than happy to keep the current status quo. Aside from coming down to our camp to purchase supplies from time to time, we do not meddle in each other’s affairs unless absolutely necessary.” Laniaitte moved the chessman to a white space marked with an X. “Until this.”

Crossing her arms before her, the lady commander gazed out of the window, the solemn expression on her refined face plain in the setting sun. “Umbral wind is a common occurrence here in the Abalathia’s Spine, but the weather has suddenly taken for the worse in recent times.”

“Something unnatural must have happened,” Sora reasoned, her eyes locked onto the spot marked on the map. “And you believe that the cause is located there?”

“It began when the Redbills came to us one day about a strange sighting,” Laniaitte turned to face the young envoy and replied. “At first, they thought that the Void Ark was reactivated by unknown forces and moved on its own. They flew to the site where the Mhach ships were originally located and found no signs of foul play. Then, the Vanu Vanu tribes from Ok’ Zundu came to us about the story of ‘Tirpitz,’ an entity they believed to be related to Bismarck.”

“And you think they might be connected in some ways?”

Sighing, Laniaitte picked up a spyglass and twirled it in her hands. “I admit that I was skeptical about tall tales—I told my men to stay vigilant, and they were to report to me immediately if they notice any anomalies. It was a moon later when we finally saw it.”

“I-It?” Emmanellain spluttered, accidentally spilling some tea down his front. He had been watching the lady captain silently with unfocused eyes the whole time, and Laniaitte had forgotten that he was even in the room. “What… did you see?”

“The Howling Bark.”

Laniaitte smirked at the fear on Emmanellain’s pale face. She then kicked open a chest and pulled out some fur coats. “It’s going to be a long night, so I suggest that you all should keep yourselves warm. An umbral snowstorm usually accompanies its appearance.”

Sora’s face wrinkled at the winter clothes that Yiune was helping her to put on. “Well, I guess we aren’t able to escape the Ishgardian cold, after all.”

If you like my work, please do

via my profile page — https://ko-fi.com/whyraven.☕ Thank you very much for your continuous support !!

#isorawrites #sora holmes case files #muse; argent #muse; noir #sora holmes #yiune watson #laniaitte de haillenarte #emmanellain de fortemps #ffxivwrite #ffxivwrite2023 #-- sherlock holmes

[rose-from-ashes]

Cannibal's Mildly Useful Guide to Cheap Travel

A non-comprehensive series of notes on travelling in ffxiv since I've had a couple people ask how the fuck I hold onto my money

Make your free teleport or return teleport limsa lominsa. It's a travel hub with a LOT of options. For instance, travel to kugane by boat from limsa is less than half as expensive as a simple teleport straight there.

Airship travel to the gold saucer is free. Airship travel from the gold saucer to ul'dah is free. If you are somewhere with an airship and need to get somewhere near ul'dah, airship to the saucer and then from there go to ul'dah, and your teleport to anywhere in thanalan will be comparatively cheap.

Free teleport in sharlayan to thavnair. Go to limsa, ride a boat to sharlayan, sprint along the endless harbor (i know its irritating but it saves gil), use aethernet to get to aetheryte plaza, and run to the lady who first teleported us to thavnair. she'll do it again as many times as you need.

limsa has so many boats. anywhere in la noscea there is probably a boat to it either from limsa or from somewhere that you can get to from limsa. take a minute. look at a map. you might be surprised. hell, this applies even to things that arent in la noscea. you can get to vesper bay from limsa. whadda hell. please use limsa

Get married. I'm serious. Marriage in this game gives you an item that lets you teleport to your spouse for free. if you need to go somewhere and your ingame spouse is near it, teleport to your spouse.

Ask nicely and I will personally fly you places on my marital chocobo. flying faster than walking. i have flight everywhere. you are welcome

#ooc #id rather people saved this in their browser than reblogged it but i will live with it if mutuals wish to reblog

[mmopixel]

Final Fantasy XIV Masked Carnival

In Final Fantasy XIV, the Blue Mage restricted job has a series of entertaining solo monster challenges called The Masked Carnival. Three missions with differing degrees of difficulty are allocated to various battlefields each week. They provide Poetic Tomestones, Gil, and many Allied award seals upon successful fulfillment. One of the best ways to obtain free Teleport Tickets each week is by using Allied Seals to purchase Aetheryte Tickets from your Grand Company. Of course, you must first access the Masked Carnivale before exploring that stuff. Fortunately, that can be accomplished in only three simple steps and is considerably simpler than the Masked Carnival itself. However, even after unlocking it, you might want to amass as many Blue Mage skills as possible.

How can you reach the Masked Carnival?

Follow the given steps to learn how to reach the Masked Carnival:

Train to be a Blue Mage

You must reach level 50 in a combat class and finish the main quest, "The Ultimate Weapon," to become a Blue Mage. There are only those two conditions. Go to Limsa Lominsa on the Lower Decks once you have met them. Zealous Yellowjacket, an NPC, will be present at X:9.9, Y:11. The first Blue Mage quest, "Out of the Blue," will be given by them. When the mission is finished, you will have earned the title of Blue Mage. You aren't quite prepared for the Carnivale yet, though.

https://files.mmopixel.com/tinymce/6de47fb4-5ffd-484e-9a85-bffffba2d0d4.jpeg

Level up to 50 as Blue Mage

Of course, Blue Mage starts at level 1, and entry into the Masked Carnival requires that you be level 50. It will take considerable level grinding to do this. While some players find it faster to run around with other Blue Mages, some prefer to do this alone. It is advised to pick up Sticky Tongue from any large frog adversary and use it to attract enemies to you, which will speed up the grind. Additionally, it's a good idea to keep your Chocobo in the fray during combat.

Finish The Real Folk Blues Quest

Go to the Steps of Thal in Ul'dah once you have completed the required missions and reached level 50. The NPC, Maudlin Latool Ja, will be present at X: 25.5, Y: 13. He will give the Real Folk Blues, a necessary search for opening the Carnivale, to you.

Speak with the Celestium Attendant when the quest is finished. Additionally, they'll be present at Thal's Steps at X: 11.4, Y: 13.2. Speaking with them will allow you access to the Masked Carnivale.

During the gameplay, if you need to buy some weapons, armor, or other resources to help you level up faster, you can get them using Gils. If you are falling short of Gils, you can easily purchase them from our website.

If you are in need of Gil FFXIV, you can purchase them from our website MMOPixel. We provide the cheapest rate on the web. 

Spells to Consider

Here are some of the spells that are suggested for learning. Remember that even when you are out of combat in battles, you can not switch spells when the challenge starts. If you require a special spell for some task, ensure it is active and present on the hot bar before entering the area because that strategy works in dungeons but not here.

Aetherial Mimicry: For these battles, we advise utilizing the Healer stance because it provides for inexpensive, effective, somewhat quick heals as well as improved MP regeneration.

Heal Spells: If you're excellent at avoiding Heal spells, the DPS posture may also be effective. Gobskin, Pom Cure, Exuviate, and Angel's Snack are good choices if you use the healer. Take Exuviate along with White Wind if you are in another position.

Defense spells: Player must unquestionably take Diamondback. Mighty Guard may come in handy on occasion, but given that your DPS output is lowered by 40%, there aren't many encounters when it's all that useful.

Flat Damage and Death spells: They will significantly ease most Carnival issues. A missile is a great option, and Death (level 5) is required. Though challenging to hit with, Tail Screw and Doom are preferable to nothing.

Elemental Damage Spells: The weaknesses of several of the bosses and additions are elemental. Although targeting them is beneficial, it is not always mandatory; despite being not as effective, they will still deal damage.

DoT spell and Damage Buff combination: Bring Song of Torment and Bristle with you. Use Bristle with Song of Torment as frequently as you can, and if you can play it nonstop. While you're focused on avoiding AOEs and managing other mechanics, it deals much damage. In addition, Nightbloom, a more potent option, is available.

Interrupts: If you wish to avoid being killed or seriously hurt by several spells, you should use Bad Breath and Flying Sardine. However, Bad Breath doesn't cast instantly and has a limited range.

Kamikaze Combo: Every encounter has a final act when you can finish off the monster using a strike that kills you too, but if the boss dies alongside, it counts as a victory for you! The exact moment you may utilize this combination safely varies greatly depending on the fight.

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Particular Fight Techniques

All's well that Starts Well

There is little unique about this. Try Death (Level 5) to get an immediate victory because all three mobs are susceptible to spells of the Death class. (Before casting the magic, combine all three.)

Much Ado about Pudding

You should follow the challenge's instructions and bring a range of spells to target the slimes' vulnerable elements. For example, you could use Hydro Pull to pull them close to you to cast a spell (Death) on them while they're defenseless. Ram's voice can also freeze them, and you can utilize Ultravibration.

Waiting for a Golem

The initial carnival foe to not affect Death spells is this one (the jerk). Additionally, he cannot be frozen, making Ultravibration ineffective for killing him. You must repeatedly attack him with spells like Water Cannon or Protean Wave to target his weak spot.

Gentlemen Prefer Swords

The initial act's three mobs are all at risk of dying. Use the Tail Screw, Missile, Launcher, Doom, or Ram's Voice to freeze them and use Ultravibration to kill them if Level 5 doesn't drop them.

The Threepenny Turtles

All spells that cause Death or freezing can't harm the turtles. Instead, stand right behind the center turtle and use Ram's Voice to capture all three turtles with the Ram's/UV combo simultaneously. Ram's and UV may be used to hit all three foes in one instance, but you should be in just the correct position.

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Eye Society

Here, Act One is purely a gimmick battle. Blind yourself using the Teary Twirl Attack, then use Level 5 Death and the Ram's/UV combo to eliminate the Mandra and the two eye mobs.

A Chorus Slime

Similar to the previous act, except using Sticky Tongue or Snort to push the slimes close to each Sprite. No prepositioning is required; simply hit the slime from a safe distance. Same idea, move the slime into a range of the Gladiatorial Node by pushing or pulling it there. You'll need three slimes close to each other.

Bomb-edy of Errors

Swiftcast the nearest Arena Bomb, Snort it, forcing it straight back, then swiftly cast Feather Rain on the bomb before it comes back toward you. To kill the Snoll and Bomb in front of you and deal significant damage to the boss, you may essentially perform the same thing.

To Kill a Mockingslime

Element Adds will periodically appear outside the arena and join the combat. Before a new add joins, change the spells you cast to match the element's weakness, and you should burn them.

A Little Knight Music

Strike him down, avoid AOEs, and silence the king's will. Then, if you want achievement, let him cast King's Will three times.

Some like it Excruciatingly Hot

You don't even need to see the castings to know that they will one-shot you if they go off. Anything that causes harm can be used to stop them. Use Sticky Tongue and Snort to gather them for Act 2 and then AOE them into a wall until they perish. Act 1 should be played exactly as it was in Act 2.

The Plant-om of the Opera

Agro the plants after casting Ice Spikes. Two attacks will cause their Death. For Act 2, the same plant additions are summoned by spore sack. To kill them without combat, you can cast Ice Spikes.

Beauty and a Beast

Since the two mobs at the back are initially petrified, you may rapidly burn down the middle mob and only have to worry about those two. Carmilla will summon an ad, and you have to destroy it quickly. Other than that, simply dodge and burn her down.

Blobs in the World

Kill slimes, then run away. Act 2 is identical to Act 1, with the exception that the slimes will continuously impose an 80% slow, and you must keep Loom out of sight.

The Me Nobody Nodes

When they add spawns, kill the huge ball first, then kite or CC it until its buff wears off, then burn it down.

Sunset Bull-evard

Avoid being touched by the slowly creeping cyclops, or you'll perish. Instead, burn while kiting far away. During Act 2, execute him while dodging AOEs. He summons an addition that is the same as the Act 1 mobs; kite them, kill them, and then return to the monster.

The Sword of Music

The right claw blocks physical attacks, while the left one blocks magical ones. If you change to Mighty Guard, you can disregard this and AOE them down. However, the Hands additions will be summoned by Keios once more, and you will need to destroy them while avoiding danger.

Midsummer's Night Explosive 

When damaged, the Firestand Kegs will cast an Explosion. Remember that the mobs all cause random damage. If you want to, you can use these kegs to effectively damage the manticores, although it is not required. Act 1 is the same, but there are two Manticores. The same approach for Act 2, only double-checks that both mobs are out.

On a Clear Day, You Can Smell Forever

It's probably still worthwhile to maintain Off-Guard because it sticks but does reflect damage at you. For Act 2 follow Act 1 plus additional health with balloon-like additions

Miss Typhoon

If you're quick, you should be able to surecast the long Snort cast and White Wind through the Fireball damage. Burn down the boss in Act 2. Burn down the boss while silencing the Imp Song and dodging AOEs. Start Act 3 off as normal for Typhon, but Ultros will join in after the first protracted snort. Whenever you see Imp Song and Diamondback Snort cast, keep quiet.

Chimera on a Hot Tin Roof

They will both be instantly killed by self Destruct. Alternately, flamethrower them. Be sure to reduce him for Act 2. On rare occasions, imps will join him. Just set them on Fire swiftly while still striking the boss. Avoid being boxed in by dodging his AOEs and positioning the ice puddles well.

Here comes the Boom

Off-Guard and bristle, or any spell with 130 potencies, will suffice to destroy the bombs instantly. They have less than 1000 HP; thus, if your equipment is weak, 1000 Needles will kill them. The Forefather is impervious to silence this time. Fish can't save you, but he can be stunned by that blue bomb he just summoned in the corner. Let it cast its spell with Sticky Tongue.

Behemoths and Broomsticks

Avoid the numerous AOEs by moving in a controlled circle around the arena. Don't confine yourself too much with Trounce and Comet. As soon as the comet loops form, he will always aim for you with Trounce. Get in a flow and just burn down the boss.

Amazing Technicolor Pit Fiends

Both the Arena Viking and the Arena Magus are vulnerable to physical damage. Use the appropriate attacks to take them out. Burn the boss to the ground in act 2 to prevent him from summoning the other additions. In act 3, 4-Tonze Weight is a game-changer.

Dirty Rotten Azulmagia

He remains in Ice Spikes pose the entire performance. He has a wide variety of casts, so try to avoid getting struck by them and use magic spells to burn him. Identical to Act 2, except in the Repelling Spray position. He will alternate between two stances in the third act. Therefore, you must be prepared to switch between physical and magical attacks throughout the battle.

Papa Mia

Bristle Off-Song guard's of Torment should be played first. After he sets the vuln down, Spam Plainscracker weaves in primitive oGCDs and eerie soundwaves. When the Song of Torment is lowered, raise it again. For Act 2, Bristle Off-Song guard's of Torment should be played first. Primal oGCDs are weaved in by the Spam Plainscracker. When your HP is at 50%, use White Wind.

Lock up Your Snorters

Bristle Off-Song guard's of Torment should be played first. Then, use two GCDs of any desired DPS skill. Bristle. As soon as the spiky bomb spawns, water cannon, j-kick, and sprint in a direction where a bomb won't hit you if you are knocked back.

Dangerous when Dead

Bristle Off-Song guard's of Torment should be played first. Glass Dance, Feather Rain, Magic Hammer, and J-kick are a few examples. He will then cast Impending Doom at this time. White Wind for a 100% HP boost. Keep using DPS on him normally.

Red, Fraught, and Blue

Bristle Off-Song guard's of Torment should be played first. Glass Dance, Feather Rain, Magic Hammer, and J-kick are a few examples. He will be casting Fluid Strike at this time. Bristle Off-Song guard's of Torment is a fitting way to begin Act 2. Glass Dance, Feather Rain, Magic Hammer, Shock Strike, and J-Kick

The Catch of the Seigfried

Start by activating Bristle Off-guard Song of Torment Shock Strike Eruption. Fire Angon spam. When he employs Ankle Graze, he exuviates. Act 2: Bristle Off-guard Song of Torment Shock Strike to start the scene. Utilize primordial powers and stay away from the telegraphed harm on the ground. The order is always weak to Fire, weak to Wind, and weak to Ice for Act 3. The Fire Angon cannot defeat the weak clone, which should be noted at this point.

Anything Gogo's

Make sure to avoid the ground AOEs that Gogo and his companion lay down while you continue to fight him until he is killed. To avoid needing Eerie Soundwave to remove his guaranteed critical hit buff, you should kill him as soon as he activates it.

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[artisticflutter]

AU August - Day Twenty-Seven: University

Probably won’t post thirty today, but wanted to get these two caught up before gaming.

Series: Final Fantasy XIV Rating: T Genre: General, Romance Pairing(s): G’raha x Alisaie Summary: After that night, G’raha didn’t expect anything. However, it seems Miss Alisaie Leveilleur is not finished with him. Warning: Not beta’d. Continued from Day Combo 23 & 24.

She was in the library again.

Or had she always frequented the library before and he hadn’t paid much attention? 

G’raha wasn’t certain, but he saw her browsing one of the shelves, her brows furrowed and eyes narrowed in concentration as she scanned either the filing numbers or the author names… or mayhap the titles. She was looking at something - looking for something, and she could ask; it was his job after all, but she didn’t. Moving on down the row, he frowned. Should he offer to help? Would that be alright? Gods this felt awkward.

“You know she’s studying aetherical manipulation and reconstituting form.”

“What–!?”

Back stiff, G’raha’s fur was standing as his head snapped to the side, and a breath escaped him as he noticed Alphinaud. Now when did he get here?

“Gods, you scared me. Why would she be studying that?” It sounded like the concepts behind Aetherytes and teleportation magicks which was already documented and cataloged upstairs and several shelves over. Also, why did that sound familiar? Could they have had that discussion? Trying to think harder about it, he felt his face begin to burn remembering those single night’s events instead. He swears, if they talked for bells about it at a party and then slipped away for - of all things. Was he that terrible at facilitating a conversation that wasn’t related to work?

“Let’s just say someone’s historical lecture regarding Tempering and creation magicks may have struck a chord. She’s always been exceptional manipulating her own aether, but she oft prefers it for combative needs. I’m not sure what brought this on.”

“Lecture…? Wait, my theoretical lecture?” He knew the professors had paid attention, but he hadn’t remembered seeing any students engaged in the audience - or hadn’t thought. Honestly, from an outsider’s perspective, understanding the rise of Tempering in ancient civilizations probably didn’t sound that interesting, or how the use of those victim’s aether recreated a crude use of creation magicks known only to their original ancestors. He only picked the subject because of the recent rise in illegal practices, mainly within cults. Yes, none of that sounded inspiring… “... I feel like I’m missing something.”

“I would advise asking her, but Alisaie’s one who rarely divulges her intentions. Not for the lack of trying, but we couldn’t both be gifted with certain social graces.”

“Just as we couldn’t all be gifted with certain physical aptitudes.”

A stack of books was set hard upon the counter, making both Alphinaud and G’raha jump. Slitted red eyes met equally fiery blue gaze, Alisaie Leveilleur standing there with both hands pressed on the counter and practically towering over G’raha. Yes, right, twins - she was the same height as Alphinaud and while she had more delicate features, she was far more physically imposing. And that should not arouse him, but…

“Now, if you’re done discussing what I’m doing, I’d like to check out,” she said, pushing the small stack forward. “And, dear brother, if you want to know, perhaps take more vested interest in my subjects than your next debate. Besides, wouldn’t you like to know how you can use it for your own goals just as you do with people? You and the rest of your insufferable group.”

G’raha’s ears flattened and he looked between them, noting Alphinaud’s indifference to Alisaie’s glare. If he recalled a passing rumor correctly, the two had long since had a strained relationship, but the reasons behind it were unknown. Before him, that rumor seemed true - and he didn’t like being present to witness it.

The group she was referring to, was it the Braves?

He scanned each book for checkout and informed her they were due in three weeks, breaking the tension between them. That was, until he found she’d slipped a paper into his hands. She was walking away before he could ask, but he heard her brother scoff.

“So, she’s picked you next.” G’raha tilted his head, not understanding. Alphinaud smirked, “Don’t think too hard about it. You’ll be gone like the others before soon enough.”

With that, the older twin took his leave, leaving G’raha at the counter, still bewildered as to what he might be involved in should he call the number in his hand.

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