#garlean empire | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

akirakirxaa · 7 months

Text

FFXIVWrite Prompt 19: Weal

Rating: T

Word Count: 1575

Warnings: Depictions of physical abuse

Summary: The Emperor pays Valeria's family a visit. [Solus x Empress, Beginning of the Garlean Empire, direct continuation of Prompt 9.]

Master Post

Valeria padded as quietly as she could down the steep stairs to the attic door, tying her dress closed as she went. She pressed her ear to the door and strained to hear who might be at the door. She heard the soft noise of one of her sisters’ house boots tap tap tapping across the room to the door, irritated muttering following, and the creak of the door being pulled open.

Silence, or at least nothing that would reach the attic, followed for many moments. Then her sister returning across the room, followed by the sound of much heavier boots. She heard her second sister’s harried footsteps up the stairs to the second level, where the door to the attic was, but headed away from Valeria as she banged on her step-mother’s door.

“Mother, we need you downstairs, we have a…guest,” her sister’s voice was strained, anxious. There was some disgruntled grumbling before Valeria heard her step-mother open the door and follow her sister down the stairs. Assured that all her family were downstairs, she slipped on her house slippers — not what she would normally wear at the start of the day, but much quieter than a pair of boots — and crept out into the corridor, following it down to the landing overlooking the parlor.

She was shocked to see a small contingent of soldiers lined up on the far side of the room nearest the door. Her sisters and step-mother were opposite them. The younger women stood just behind the matriarch, upright but exuding a clearly nervous air. And in the center of the room was the subject of Valeria’s idle musings, Emperor Solus.

“Census records indicate that you have a household of four, yourself and three daughters,” he was saying, making a show of reading over a document he held that he clearly already knew the contents of. “And yet, only two stand here now.”

“I have only two daughters,” her stepmother snapped, glaring. “You must be speaking of my servant.”

“A servant that shares the same family name?” he challenged.

“A distant cousin. We exchange her work for room and board.”

“Interesting, because here—“ the emperor pulled another document from the hand of one of the officers attending, “I see that your late husband had left everything in his will to a ‘Valeria’, until the year before his death, when the beneficiary was changed to you. Neither of the women standing with you introduced themselves as Valeria, so unless he was unusually fond of this ‘distant cousin’, you are a liar.”

From her hiding place, she could see her stepmother’s back stiffen. She couldn’t hear the next words Solus spoke, but she saw her stepmother give a stiff nod before turning for the stairs. Valeria barely had the time to hurry back to her attic room, carefully closing the door as quietly as she could to pretend she hadn’t been eavesdropping. She sat at the shabby vanity she’d been repairing since she was a child, pretending to fuss with her hair as she listened to the approaching footsteps thumping up the stairs, clunking down the hall, before the door squealed upon opening and the furious face of her stepmother stormed in. Valeria turned to act surprised, only for the other woman to greet her with a sharp slap across her face. Valeria grit her teeth, covering the spot with her hands, as her stepmother dragged her to her feet.

“You are becoming more trouble than you’re worth,” she snarled into Valeria’s ear as she dragged her out into the hall. “It would be a boon if they executed you for breaking and entering!” She stormed around Valeria to lead the way down the stairs, and Valeria hesitated for several moments before following, smoothing her shabby dress as she realized she was vastly underdressed for the company. She wondered if he would even recognize her as she started down the stairs.

“There you are, my dear,” he gave her a soft smile, only for it to vanish as he frowned at her bruised eye. He crossed to meet her at the stairs, taking her chin in hand and running one thumb over the weal on her cheek where she’d been slapped. He turned sharply to her family, releasing her face as he did.

“I’ll not mince words. If she accepts, I intend to ask Valeria to be my Empress. I’m sure it will be a great loss—“ the words dripped with sarcasm and fury in equal measure “—but consider it my price for letting you get away with blatantly lying to my face. Should she not accept, I can think of no small number of families that would be happy to adopt a woman with the emperor’s favor and treat her well. Either way, should she wish it, you are to never speak to her again.”

Valeria’s mind had gone blank when she realized what he said. He…wanted to marry her? Her? She was certain she must’ve fallen back asleep while getting ready for the day. Valeria gave herself a quick pinch on one arm, hoping she was being subtle about it, but all it did was leave a red mark on her arm. Perhaps her stepmother realized she had lost, because she only nodded, even as her sisters exchanged concerned glances. Valeria knew it had nothing to do with any familial concerns for her and everything to do with the fact that now they would have to do their own chores.

“Do you need to collect anything before we depart?” Solus turned to ask Valeria kindly, and she glanced up towards the attic door. After a long moment, she shook her head. If she was really, truly escaping this place, she wanted nothing to remind her of it. And most of it was only barely serviceable, anyway.

“Nothing that can’t be replaced,” she murmured. The emperor nodded before offering her his arm, and, after just a moment of again reflecting on how she didn’t look like she belonged on an emperor’s arm, she took it, letting him lead her outside without looking back. Outside, a chill wind blew harshly through the threadbare dress she wore. Solus signaled to a nearby servant, who brought over a long, thick cloak that he placed carefully around her shoulders.

“How did you even know where to look? I didn’t give you my real name,” she dared to ask, and he gave a small, amused smirk.

“You have a very loyal friend, dear.” Satisfied that the cloak would shield her properly from the cold, he led her towards a large machine, some magitek thing Valeria wasn’t familiar with that resembled a carriage. “She was ready to take your name to her grave if I hadn’t assured her I had nothing but good intentions. Her deal was that if she told me your name, I had to get you away from your family. Now I see why.” His gaze hardened again as he took in the bruising on her face.

“Y-you said you wanted… That you…”

“Want you to marry me?” He gave a soft smile as he lifted one of her hands to his lips, and, despite the cold, she felt like her face was on fire. “Would you?”

She hesitated. She barely knew him. They’d had a good time at the ball, it’s true, and he did just save her from a life of suffering with her family, but… She had no idea who he really was. Perhaps he could see the conflict in her face, because he dropped her hand gently, giving her space.

“You can tell the truth, I’ll accept it either way,” he assured her.

“I… It’s not that I don’t want to, but… we hardly know each other!” Valeria stared down at her slippered feet, growing colder by the moment. “I just… I always imagined being courted properly. You know, wooed, treated to dinners, getting to know the person I’m to spend the rest of my life with. I didn’t ever think I would get it, but… I dreamed.” She glanced up nervously, only to see a delighted smile illuminating Solus’s face.

“If that’s all, there’s nothing saying we have to get married tomorrow. If the lady wants to be courted, then that’s what she’ll get,” he opened the door, ignoring the officer that had stepped forward to do so, and helped her inside. It was far warmer than outside, and the interior was plush and comfortable. He took the spot across from her, the door closing behind him. She jumped as the machine rumbled to life and started to move.

“Is this your first time using magitek?” he asked curiously, and she nodded. “Much more comfortable than beast powered carriages. Faster too. We’ll be at the palace soon.”

“I’m sorry if it was presumptuous of me to not bring any of my belongings,” she apologized. He laughed.

“Valeria, even had you brought everything you owned, do you really think I wouldn’t give my empress anything she wished for?” He reached for her hand, holding it in both of his. “Don’t worry about any of it. I will take care of you the way you deserve to be.” Valeria felt tears welling up for hells knew what reason, and she swallowed thickly before nodding. They spent the rest of the ride in comfortable silence, and she couldn’t help but wonder if her life could truly turn around so easily.

#ffxiv #solus x empress #garlean oc #solus zos galvus #oc: valeria yae galvus #garlean empire #regency vibes #familial abuse #ffxivwrite #ffxivwrite2023 #my writing #my fanfiction #fanfic #pre-empressification

15 notes · View notes

autumnslance · 8 months

Note

(@driftward) Send-a-heart? How about three? 💘 fake relationship / mutual pining / dared to kiss, 🤍 kiss at the wedding / milestone, 🖤 kissing while crying / goodbye kiss / desperation

Some bots are menaces. 3 short scenes, what finally came to mind, not maybe what's expected in all cases:

💘 fake relationship / mutual pining / dared to kiss

The Imperial soldiers were close, having taken note of movement in the alley.

“Swiving—Can you follow my lead?” Iyna asked quietly.

Valdeaulin frowned. “I think so—”

“Then push me against the wall—quick!” she maneuvered herself into position.

He hesitated only briefly, dropping his staff to the ground before doing as she asked, standing close, hands on her shoulders. As the first soldiers came around the corner and shone their light down the alley, she almost startled him by laughing.

“Darling! We’re going to be seen like this!”

“Who’s there?” A soldier demanded.

Iyna pretended to let out a giggly little shriek of surprise. “Looks like you were right, dear,” Valdeaulin said a little too loudly, trying to affect a slightly-drunken stagger while pawing at his partner. He blinked at the Garleans. “Oy, we’re havin’ a moment, here!”

“Ugh, bloody savages,” the soldier grumbled. “Get back to your homes, citizens.”

“Unless you’re willing to share,” his partner said just loud enough for them to hear as they began to stagger together down the alley, Iyna “accidentally” kicking the “stick” on the ground ahead of them, the Garlean’s light having already turned away.

“Really?” the first soldier said as they moved on.

They sighed in relief. “That was a little too close,” Valdeaulin muttered. “We need to get back to Severa and the others.”

—-

🤍 kiss at the wedding / milestone

“And now, by the grace of Halone, and in the Light of the Crystal’s Blessing, I pronounce you husband and wife!” Comfraire decreed, smiling.

Emelia laughed as Corran dipped her into a passionate kiss, the few gathered friends cheering and laughing with them, colorful spring flower petals falling around them in the soft, warm winds of Coerthas.

—

🖤 kissing while crying / goodbye kiss / desperation

“Go go go!” Howling Rain shouted as the debris from the moon exploded onto the battleground. He tracked Dark Autumn, her long-legged stride taking her from the field; fast enough? Twelve, he hoped so; he had sworn to his cousin he’d watch out for her girl. This was the best he could do now.

He lost sight of Dark, which meant she had no sight on him, and he finally allowed himself to slump and then fall, the wound on his side from that imperial halberd bleeding heavily.

“Howl!” Dancing Lily crawled toward him, one of her legs mangled by magitek. He reached out, hauling her closer as soon as he could grab her armor.

There was an odd second of silence as Dalamud pulsed, fire running up the artificial slides to let loose whatever was inside.

Dance tried to staunch the bleeding on his side, weeping.

“Hey, pretty lady,” he said lightly. He tucked his hand under her chin, making her look up. His own face was wet, thinking absurdly how she would never dance again, even if they had the Spinner’s luck in getting out of this hell. “I love you, Dance.”

Sound returned, drowning out her response, but he didn’t need to hear it when he saw the shape of the words in her mouth. He leaned in to kiss her one last time as the moon exploded and fire rained down.

#final fantasy xiv #Lyn Writing #Prompts #Garlean Empire #Coerthas #Seventh Umbral Calamity #Carteneau #Iyna Cauld #Corran Striker #Emelia Striker #Comfraire #Howling Rain #Dancing Lily #Dark Autumn #getting through these slowly as I can #Valdeaulin Ganathain

10 notes · View notes

reubenyeoart · 1 year

Photo

Commission - Garlean Marshal

An illustration commission for a client, of their Viera getting some Magitek armours to ruin some poor people's day!

#reubenyeoart #commission #digital art #fantasy art #fanart #illustration #final fantasy xiv #Viera #Garlean Empire #flag #sword #Magitek Armor #winter #forest #laser

16 notes · View notes

pimmieplays · 11 months

Text

The Empire

#xiv #pimmieplays #ff14 #Garlean Empire #varis zos galvus #garlemald

7 notes · View notes

theomocent · 8 months

Text

ALISAIE LEVEILLEUR: ❝ Finished your war council? ❞

74 notes · View notes

ordinum · 13 days

Text

originally a set of test gposes that have since become some of my favourites.

#garlean #garlemald #garlean oc #garlean empire #ffxiv rp #final fantasy xiv #aquilinus #aquilinus lux silvius #oc #my gposes #gpose #final fantasy #ff14 #final fantasy 14 #engineer #cigarette #smoking

9 notes · View notes

knights-of-ishgard · 2 years

Text

47 notes · View notes

caffeinatedingenuity · 2 years

Text

Perhaps it is just me but I always get the impression Emet-Selch was one of the few ascians who legitimately lived his lives as the person to whom he was reborn into each rebirth, at least for most of each life, though still kept to his ultimate goal in the end. Kind of along the lines of how Duncan Macleod in Highlander would live a life for awhile, only in Macloed’s case, fake his death and restart anew else where, but still participated in the highlander games. While he did have an overarching grand plan, to me, at least, it felt like he lived in the moment for much of the lives he was given anew each time. According to Garlean lore It’s indicated Solus zos Galvus was greatly saddened by the death of his first born son, leading me to believe He did, for a time, care about those whom he met and grew to know along the way. This is supported, again, to me, by his dialog in Shadowbringers, where it’s implied he did perhaps grow to briefly love those he sired offspring with, and perhaps even had a fondness for the friends he made along the way. The only difference here is as an immortal he viewed the rest of those he met a little differently, almost akin to how we ourselves tend to view our beloved pets. We meet them by chance, care about them greatly, but ultimately, we know we will generally outlive them, so we enjoy the short amount of time we have with them, but know our lives will continue to accomplish goals they could never dream of, but that never changes the fact we did care about them while we knew them.

#emet-selch #FFXIV #Final Fantasy XIV #Final Fantasy 14 #garlean empire #garlean

41 notes · View notes

otherworldseekers · 2 years

Photo

“So this is what they have done with the Empire in my absence. Even though I no longer consider Garlemald my home, it’s rather embarrassing to see it in such a state. I used to think Eorzeans were the savages. To think they fought amongst themselves and let Zenos destroy the very world under their feet.”

“It’s not really their fault. Everything the Empire has ever stood for was a result of Ascian machinations. Your people were set up to suffer from the beginning.”

“I know that tone of voice. You intend to do something about it, don’t you?”

“I certainly don’t intend to leave them to die.”

Wondrous Tails prompt: Empire

#wondroustailsofffxiv #Severia Zetsuen #Nero tol Scaeva #Severia x Nero #Garlean Empire #My WoL #otp posing #All My Tomorrows

17 notes · View notes

nabaath-areng · 2 years

Photo

Laurens had for many years served the empire, both as a soldier and as an engineer. Although he cared not for it, his skills were valued and it distracted him from the feeling of lacking any life purpose. And he was acutely aware that it was only a matter of time before recent permanent injuries would cause him to be discharged from the imperial army for good. His engineering was always overshadowed by others, and he only really shone thanks to his impeccable skills with the sword. He knew that he had to secure his place if he were to stand a chance of enduring life itself.

He didn’t have many hopes for his first experiments to work, although he began closely studying the science surrounding aether manipulation for any source of inspiration. This gradually became an obsession of his as he sought more and more means to improve his ideas and inventions, and once he realized he was onto something with great potential he began gathering all manner of materials crystals, both by purchase and theft. All while hiding his activities from his comrades and superiors, conducting experiments on himself restlessly.

His efforts bore fruit, and Laurens invented a weapon from magitek machinery capable of replicating restorative magicks, similar to those of a conjurer or white mage. The final design had been finicky and incredibly tricky to build, but he had perfected the means of artificial aether manipulation. And now it was his to use as he pleased.

The invention did come with a price, through the constant and necessary resupplying of crystals, as well as needing to plant a multitude of contraptions within his own body, fundamentally conjoining himself to his weapon… but those were nothing for learning to circumvent the limitations defining pureblood garleans.

The project had changed something within Laurens however, and while he was already infamous for his nonchalant ruthlessness on and outside the battlefield, he no longer cared to entertain the authority of the higher-ups of the army. His sudden healing abilities were met with confusion and wariness, and it didn't help that his thefts and shady dealings over time had begun to surface. He laughed after the ordeal, for he knew he had been lucky that he had managed to escaped with only a further worsened limp and a ruined eye.

Now the empire is dead, and so he belongs to no one; he is free from the shackles of usefulness and purpose, having had a true taste of what power is. Nowhere is home, his playground is everywhere.

And with all the freedom in the world, he is more than eager to test the limitations of his freshly reconstructed flesh. In between “field experiments” he rests his middle aged bones at various inns, charming pretty and naive men into his bed with him… only to vanish before the sun has risen, leaving them to deal with his painfully long tavern and inn bills.

#ffxiv #midlander #hyur #garlean empire #so i have a problem with that i have tons of concepts i really fucking adore but i dont share much since theyre on alts #he goes by the name laurens viator avenius and is in his early/mid 40s #he has (had?) wife and children who he felt nothing for whatsoever because hes horrible #and considered himself to be like a walking corpse up until his discovery and invention #he is charming though not very kind #he values his own ambitions before anything else #but if a dudes nice on the eyes and easy to tease and make fun of he gladly sits in their lap and lets them be above him in bed #also you cant tell from these screens i think but he has sideburns #+ his cane also serves as a walking cane #nifty double purpose thing right there #so thank you for coming to ''danny drops alt screens and lore and then never brings them up again''#though this guy makes me miss rping #maybe one day ill dip my toes back in hmhmhm #laurens #laurens viator avenius #excuse potential writing errors btw i yolod while lazy eyed and cant proof read #final addition his middlen name is amadeus because i think its funny

9 notes · View notes