#ishgard official

[stars-and-clouds]

All of Coerthas Map (pre-calamity)

I was using this as a reference in my fanfic for Estinien’s backstory and thought it might help others too!

The picture is from this blog page. It is not mine. The blog also has some 1.0 information that might be useful for some writers.

Edit:

Map is originally by: @chrysalisthoughts

#ffxiv #writing aid #ffxiv lore #ffxiv writing aid #estinien #ferndale #aymeric #haurchefant #ffxiv fanfiction #ffxiv fanfic #aymeric x wol #estinien x wol #haurchefant x wol #ishgard #ishgard official #heavensward #ffxiv 1.0 #coerthas #ffxiv fic

[azems-familiar]

this game is just pretty

#ffxiv #the lighting in every one of these shots is SO gorgeous #i could make them prettier if i played around with photoshop but i don't feel like it rn #i am just Appreciating It #finished the first chunk of the heavensward patch quests. having a great time. wow #i'm also officially in love with aymeric that man is SO man of all time i can't believe this game has TWO of them #i've been figuring out lelesu's arc through her grief and i've been going insane about the like #parallels in that the quests are about ishgard's struggle to move forward from the past and look to the future #and lelesu is also in her personal life struggling to move forward from the past and look to the future wrt haurchefant #and in both cases ofc aymeric is the one to so steadily champion every step taken #i am feeling VERY normal. someone talk to me about her hough #oc: lelesu lesu

[impossible-rat-babies]

me wanting to put paladin as eyrie canon but only the specific kind of paladin I want to make up because I want to flesh out Lore

#i just gotta make that specific sort of paladin #it’s me building off of how I want paladins in Ishgard and I want them to be weird about halone and divinity #I wanna toss around concepts of either them being part of the ishgardian religious institutions #or that which one existed as part of the religious institutions but have since taken on a less official and more against the grain approach #building off of how the WoL is a free paladin and that the paladin’s of the Holy See are an antique #relegated to the farthest reaches and people that now serve their own self interests #in polite company they are seen as nothing more than mercenaries with morals #they sit with halone as she is righteous and she is caring. not blind to the sacrifices of war—she knows the torment and suffering #I am also snagging bits from the paladin quests I like #that which is creed and valor are all defined by one’s will #strength and power is vested in conviction and duty #sticking all of that in a blender #but eyrie joins them in their efforts post calamity out in central and western coerthas #more funny practical lore is that they fight with one handed swords—often made of one’s own Aether #not unlike how scholar faeries or carbuncles are created #it’s not alive—it’s a cross between an aetheric blade like Alisaie’s the magicks that fuel carbuncles #oc: eyrie kisne #I want to e corporate reasons for eyrie’s faith in halone and I’m puzzling it out

[tea-and-conspiracy]

Prompt 8: Tepid

When some gangly Ishgardian named Emmereaux Dufresne first showed up in the colony, Olivie Lachansseau thought he was hilarious.

He was clearly no magician. In fact, the boy probably wouldn’t know magic if scarves started blowing out one of his ears. But as out of place as he was, he clearly wasn’t of Ishgard’s upper crust, either; he had the arrogance, but lacked the narrow mind. So he was in the right place, as far as she could discern.

In order to figure out why, Olivie began to station herself in the same lobby after her classes ended, and studied there – or occasionally “studied” there -- all afternoon. Inevitably Emmereaux would pass, allowing her to heckle him. That hadn’t been part of the plan, but for whatever reason as she saw him appear, the first words out of her mouth were:

“Is that the only outfit you own?”

It turned out that it was. Oops.

But that did open the floodgates to conversation. He was a goldsmith’s son, who had grown fascinated with his father’s watchmaking. Unfortunately his sire had perished in a recent Dravanian attack and, as that was the only family that Emmereaux had left, he had come to Sharlayan to learn clockwork from their mammet masters instead. He’d had to sell everything he owned, including his father’s little shoppe, in order to afford the tuition.

“But this is just a temporary setback,” Emmereaux said, with ironclad confidence and eyes as cold and bright as Ishgard’s winter sky. “When I return home I will open a factory, and then I’ll be rich enough to live up in the Pillars. I’m going to make it so that my children never know hunger and cold the way I have.”

Perhaps a wiser woman would have found that laughable – the empty boasting of a cocksure youth, who’d yet to be body-checked by reality. But there was something different to Emmereaux’s brand of confidence. It was less arrogance and moreso roaring defiance: a bold-faced challenge to the hand fate had dealt him. As a student of astrology, Olivie couldn’t help but to find herself intrigued.

And as it turned out, the unique combination of his single-minded determination and her celestial guidance achieved just that. Emmeraux got his factory and his fortune. Olivie never would have pictured herself living atop a high tower in distant, snowy Ishgard, but somehow she fell in love and became a baroness in the process. Now here she sat almost thirty years later, long hair blowing out the window as though she were some fairytale princess, watching fresh powder drift onto the rooftops far below. She watched it fall and fall, and found her heart had frozen over as much as the land outside.

She hadn’t been awake for that. No, she was the only person in Eorzea to have slept through Dalamud’s fall, at least in the metaphorical sense. Ishgard had only ever seen a witch when she walked through its gates in Emmeraux’s arms, and neither was it wrong. The Inquisition had cost her her sanity for a full decade of her life. And while she was eternally grateful for Eliane and Barengar’s efforts in fishing her back to reality, those were ten years she would never get back.

A lot had changed in those ten years. She knew she certainly had.

So had Emmereaux.

It wasn’t the accident. She would have loved him regardless of how able-bodied he was or wasn’t. But it was harder to ignore what was within. Emmereaux had always been sharp and calculating before – had always had something of an ego – but he’d also been an honest, honorable man. Pillars life had eroded that away, warping him into a cunning patriarch. He’d absorbed many of Ishgard’s less-endearing traits in a bid to survive and fit in up here in the Pillars, and they were traits she noticed in Eliane now as well. Despite Olivie’s best efforts, Eliane was very much her father’s daughter. As House Dufresne-now-Requingris continued to grow in power and wealth, she could tell which way the winds were blowing.

No, too much had changed. The longer Olivie haunted these halls – whether with or without her mind – the more she felt adrift. She could feel the sea calling to her again, found herself longing for the foggy shores of home. She’d never even seen Old Sharlayan before, but her family had secured passage for her there.

She could live with them, maybe finally earn her Archon’s mark...

And...

A rugged knight rode up on his chocobo far below. Even if the bird hadn’t been the only purple one in the yard, the man stuck out from his sheer beastly size alone. Olivie had to smile, warmth blooming in her chest to see him safely returned home.

If he could come with her, selfish though the thought was, her new life would be complete.

But now came a rap at her door. Olivie turned to open it; Emmereaux was waiting on the other end, as golden and regal as ever. Once upon a time she would have blushed at such a sight; it saddened her somewhat to feel so tepid towards him now.

He’d worked so hard to save her, and now here they were.

“Is it time?” she asked.

He nodded. Emmereaux understood, of course. This had been his decision as much as it had been hers. How could one hope to rekindle a romance ten years dead?

“All the papers are in order. We need but sign them,” he said. “I’ve made certain you’ll have enough to live off of comfortably.”

She smiled a little. “And your peers? Are you not worried?”

For just a moment his eyes sparkled, and a coy smile stretched across his lips, and he looked his younger self again. “Oh, don’t worry about our reputation, my dear,” he said. “Eliane will have us covered.”

#ffxivwrite2022 #olivie lachansseau #house dufresne #sharlayan #ishgard #yep #ellie's parents have officially divorced #i'm sure that's going over well in the pillars #don't worry it gets worse

[kaidawrite-a]

Day 22 - Fulsome

Artoirel invites Kaida out for a stroll. It's a little awkward. Pre-Vault HW somewhere.

#ffxivwrite2023 #ffxivwrite #established wol #artoirel de fortemps #mentioned Haurchefant #slight Haurchefant/wol #if you squint #Not official at this point #I hc that the Fortemps really try to get the wol + friends acclimated to Ishgard #Artoirel is a little awkward #the whole weird about the half brother thing #it's fine

[voidsentprinces]

I like that the Final Fantasy XIV narrative doesn’t let sleeping dogs lie.

Like, “Why isn’t anyone trying to become an adventurer?” They are. They either are worn out, forced to retire or killed by trying to do the same dungeons you are.

“Why isn’t anyone else trying to face down these raid challenges?” They are. The Omnicrons sent Omega with the task of capture Midgardsormr but also to face the strongest fighters in all dimensions to give their planet a future beyond conquest but also to face the end. But should Omega defeat us, it would of ultimately failed because by the time it returned to Omnicron’s planet, it would of been gone. Consumed by Meteion and thus Omega’s mission was doomed to begin with.

“Why isn’t anyone else trying to fix the corruption of the land?” They are. The Ascians are just trying to recreate their old world and hope to fix what happened so long ago. But in the process are destroying the very world they claim to love. And ultimately, because the Thirteenth Shard is “doomed”. No matter how they’re going about it, right or wrong their goal was unobtainable from the very beginning.

“Why wasn’t anyone else preparing for Meteion’s return?” They were. Sharlayan was. But they were going about it in the worst possible way and even if we had to flee via Moon. We were just delaying the inevitable confrontation with the Endsinger.

Literally, YOU, the Warrior of Light are the only future for the universe. Because YOU are facing down these dungeons that would get the average adventurer killed, YOU are blessed with the gift to help you fight the false Gods that not even the full brunt of the Eorzean Alliance can face, YOU are the one to break the stalemate of Eorzea and Garlemald, help break the shackles of tyranny and light the flames of Revolution in Doma and Ala Mhigo, YOU who will push out the old hundred year teachings of the Holy See and force Ishgard to finally rejoin the world, YOU who is the key piece in saving both the First Shard and the Source from an Eighth Umbral Calamity, and YOU who will face the ends of the universe and come out on top when so many others would and have failed to buck an all consuming despair.

And while you COULD face these all alone, you are not alone. You have adventurers novice to retired willingly to aid and test you, the highest ranking military and political officials to back you, from pirates to noblemen willing to ship you to and fro and grant you sanctuary in distant lands, a man enamored and believing in your old tale, he abandons his time line to save at least one of ours, the support of an old mentor and Goddess to give you one final test, and the support network of your friends and colleagues to light the way through despair and bring forth the hopes and dreams of the universe.

[uldahstreetrat]

is it awfully late at night for this? yes. but I just finished off a bottle of the worst watermelon liquor Ive ever purchased so

the pros and cons of each are below the cut, have at!

the Official Ophianne Love Life Fight

Artoirel de Fortemps

pros: probably the only stable relationship Ophianne has ever had, they both love music, witty banter goes hard

cons: right person wrong time but if it was the right person would there be a wrong time, she did the whole "ishgard noble's wife" thing once and it ended poorly, their dads are dating now and that makes the whole vibe REALLY weird, she had five years in the First to get over the breakup

Thancred Waters

pros: the OG love interest, both huge flirts, Ryne's parents fr, combat couple, he is SO much shorter than her, he constantly plays into her theatrical dramatics, no one else can make her laugh the same way

cons: they fight a lot tbh, he tends to run off and do his own thing and she has very specific daddy issues about that, they havent really spent much time together since ShB

Altani Dotharl

pros: tiny lesbian x super tall pansexual, would kill and die for Ophianne without hesitation, lowkey got that yandere vibe

cons: it was kinda a short fling, they really dont see each other much, lowkey got that yandere vibe

Guhthaerz

pros: hot and never wears a shirt, both have pirate backgrounds, actually someone that's taller than her for once, is absolutely so super into Ophianne, mid battle flirting all the time, almost holds his liquor better than she does - almost

cons: kinda sorta might be working for the villains, she's only flirting with him because her life has gotten too stable, they like just met, also again he's working for the bad guys and keeps ending up in fights with her niece

YOUR wol/oc

pros/cons: i dunno you tell me lmao

#this is one of the silliest things ive ever done #ill have to reblog this in the morning cause most people are almost definitely offline rn #im giggling so hard about this whole deal #people encouraged me into thinking it was a good idea

[starrysnowdrop]

Looking Forward -> 2024

We are almost done with 2023 and what a year it’s been! Both IRL and here, there has been so many great changes this year, and there’s still so much to look forward to in 2024. Therefore, I wanted to take a little time to reflect on this past year and then talk about what I have planned for next year. Because I know I’ll be long winded as usual, I will place it under a cut.

2023: The Year of Hali

So this year was a momentous year creatively for me, as I officially switched my main WoL OC from Yume to Hali, and though I do still have a twinge of guilt for dropping Yume completely like I did, I have to admit that I’ve never been happier writing than I am right now. Hali and her story and her ship with Aymeric bring me so much joy, and I have seen how much Hali has been enjoyed by all of you, so it just tells me that I made the right decision. I have written so much more for Hali in only a year than I have for Yume in all the previous years combined. I have been practicing my gposing way more and I felt like I have grown so much as a creator, and I think it’s because I’m so genuinely happy with Hali that it makes me want to keep doing more. This little pink woman has stolen my whole heart and I am very proud of all I have done this year with her.

Now I know that the last two months have been really stressful IRL and it’s been difficult to get back into writing, but I’m not going to let it get to me. I’m hoping that starting next week after the holidays are over, my son is back in school, and we are all back to our routines that it’ll be way easier to write. Still, I’m proud of what I’ve already done and I’m so excited for what I have planned for 2024, along with my hopes for Dawntrail and for Hali and Aymeric’s future development.

2024, Dawntrail, and Beyond

I know I’m not alone in being extremely excited for Dawntrail and beginning our WoLs’ next story arc, so I already have some plans for Hali that will happen for sure, and some that might happen depending on circumstances. I also have plans for Urania x Hermes on top of everything I want to do for Hali. So let’s go over all of these briefly.

First of all, I am going to continue working on my current WIPs for Hali’s story, notably Hali and Aymeric’s first meeting, expanding on Hali and Aymeric bonding while Aymeric recovers in the infirmary (twice!), the letters they send to each other throughout SB, ShB, and Pre-EW, the love confession, and the Ishgardian Ball. I have worked on all of this interchangeably for months now and I hope to get something done soon enough. I also have a bunch of Hali lore that I have planned on discussing, notably her ancestry and where each side of her family comes from. This is a lot I know, but there’s so much that I want to write and share with you all.

Next I absolutely know that I want Aymeric to accompany Hali to Tural (The New World) for 7.0 despite it going against canon. I want Aymeric to have some time away from Ishgard and to experience an adventure with Hali. I know he can’t accompany her on adventures most of the time, but I want to be self indulgent damn it and that man needs an action-adventure vacation with his girlfriend!

That’s it for my definitive plans, but what about what I might be doing for Hali in 2024? Well, the biggest question hanging in the balance is the new casting job. It depends on if I believe the new casting job will fit Hali and make sense for her progression if I will add it to her canon jobs list. If I don’t think it’ll fit her, then I might look into the other jobs and see if there’s something I’ve overlooked that can be added instead. But there’s always the possibility that no new canon jobs are added and Hali remains an Astrologian and Dancer only. I was just looking forward to perhaps giving Hali some development of her magical abilities and learn a new job. But I will have to wait and see for Tokyo Fanfest for that!

The other thing that I’m not entirely sure if I’m doing it yet or not is a proposal! I might have Aymeric propose to Hali in 7.0 but I’m not sure if I want to do it so soon, or if it feels right doing it in 7.0. I want to experience all of 7.0’s MSQ before I decide on that. It WILL happen eventually I promise, it’s just a matter of when.

I think that’s everything for Hali, but I also have plans for Urania and Hermes! I’m wanting to write a bit of their canon story but I’m also super excited for the Modern AU I have been developing! I’m not sure yet if I will do anything with the Good Ending AU I just posted about, but it’s still a possibility. I’m also going to make them a separate section under my pinned post so there will be easy access to their lore.

Okay, I believe that’s everything. I will be getting started on all this after the new year’s celebration, and I hope to be able to share something really soon. Until then, I wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope you enjoy your holiday weekend and I wish everyone joy and inspiration in the new year! Love you all!! 🥰💖

#ooc #looking forward to 2024 #happy 2024 #happy new year #please look forward to it

[icehearts]

Esca Reynault

— B A S I C S

Name: Esca Reynault

Nicknames: Lady Belladonna (derogatory), milady (also derogatory), milady (affectionate???)

Age: Early-to-mid 20s.

Nameday: 7th Sun of the 4th Astral Moon. (7/7)

Race: Midlander Hyur.

Gender: Cis female; she/her.

Orientation: Bisexual.

Profession: Alchemist by way of the Alchemists' Guild of Ul'dah, botanist by way of her father's tutelage, reluctant shopkeep of the family plant nursery-cum-apothecary

.

— P H Y S I C A L A S P E C T S

Hair: Long, chestnut, well-kept. Usually swept up in a ponytail or pinned back and out of the way.

Eyes: Tigerseye brown. Inscrutable.

Skin: Fair, unblemished; the complexion of one raised in comfort and relative luxury.

Tattoos/scars: None to speak of.

— F A M I L Y

Parents:

Mother - Leopoldine Reynault, the youngest daughter of a minor house of Ishgard. Members of the Reynault family have historically been employed by larger noble houses as retainers, midwives, maids, cooks, in-house chirurgeons, groundskeepers, among other roles. Father - Warrick Caraway, a Studium-educated botanist and horticulturist with a specialization in environmental, plant, and soil sciences. Part of his ongoing post-graduation research involved evaluating the aetherial qualities of the soil in the various Calamity-affected Coerthan regions, and developing methods to encourage the growth of more diverse foliage and flora that could withstand the recently altered environs.

Siblings: None. She's an only child.

Grandparents: None to speak of. Her parents' union was not approved by either family involved, so Esca's grandparents on both sides remain quite distant.

In-laws and Other: Silas ████████, a Garlean ex-patriot who acts as a sort of older brother figure for Esca.

Pets: None to speak of.

— S K I L L S

Abilities: Alchemy, of course, botany, and she's rather savvy with a needle too. She's no seamstress, but Esca can mend an article of clothing or even stitch up a wound if need be. She has some aptitude for spellcasting, primarily wind- and water-aspected magicks. Her mastery over such magicks is lacking, to say the least, and Esca has little patience for things she can't control.

Hobbies: Reading, tending to the greenhouse, concocting experimental solutions and potions. Hunting down the ones she thinks are responsible for her mother's suspiciously sudden illness. Daydreaming about how she'll pay them back for humiliating her family. Honestly? She needs more hobbies.

— T R A I T S

Most Positive Trait: Diplomatic.

Most Negative Traits: Deceptive.

— L I K E S

Colors: Blues, whites, blacks. Silver and gold.

Smells: Fresh air, delicate florals. Nothing overpowering.

Textures: Smooth silk, gauzey cotton, weathered leather.

Drinks: Mulled tea, coffee, mint lassi.

— O T H E R D E T A I L S

Smokes: Never.

Drinks: Very rarely. Alcohol makes it a little too easy for the mask of composure to slip off, so she tends to avoid the stuff. Plus she tends to be an emotional drunk, and that can be embarrassing.

Drugs: None.

Mount Issuance: A snow-white chocobo affectionately named Ambrosia.

Been Arrested: Why? Do you think she's guilty of something?

Tagged by: @paintedscales @sealrock @shroudkeeper tysm <3

Tagging: YOU! 🫵 That's right YOU! If you haven't done this yet but want to, consider yourself officially tagged!

#thank you for the tags!! #wol: esca #tagged tag #spot the references if you feel like it #they're hardly subtle

[scrollsfromarebornrealm]

dragoon theorycrafting: FRESH DRAGOON LORE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIX YEARS (new Rising story)

SIX YEARS.

FINALLY WE ARE GIVEN A NUGGET OF DRAGOON LORE.

(I'm counting the Stormblood side story in this yes)

HERE HAVE MY STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS UNDER THE CUT

-----------

So where to begin? First off, we're setting Estinien to the side and the fact he's drinking off to the side as well. We'll get back to it, don't worry.

MOTHERFUCKING HALDRATH MAKES A GODDAMN APPEARANCE! AND WE ALSO GET A NEW DOT ON THE OVERALL TIMELINE!

Ratatoskr's death is in 545. Twenty years later puts this in 565, which means Haldrath has been witness to the gross rewriting of history that's taken place in Corethas.

(also shoutout to @mariyekos and their Haldrath -> Estinien theory let's gooo~~)

So the first Azure Dragoon's shown up, and he is not in a good way. Nidhogg's Eye (the first) has fused itself to his armor, and is now effectively corrupting Haldrath's flesh. He's beginning to have fits more frequently and intensely --moments where Nidhogg's will threatens to override his own. Haldrath has been a solitary hunter of dragons for twenty years, and he is fucking tired. His will is starting to falter.

He passes out from fighting another dragon, and wakes up a while later to find himself in a tavern. And much to his surprise and pleasure, he's among friends-- one of the original Twelve knights who survived and (wisely, I might add), fucked off once Nidhogg was robbed of his original eyes.

Ser Aureniquart de Cordillelot, who decided to open a tavern, and is insinuated in lore to have been the founder of the Forgotten Knight. It's his daughter Berteline who found Haldrath, and she's been raised on stories of him as the dragonslayer. She wishes to be a dragoon like him too!

Berteline however, admits that she didn't find Haldrath on her own, that a voice that sounded like 'storm winds' led her to him. Haldrath, who has recognized that Berteline has drive and passion, realizes that the young woman's been lured by Nidhogg's eye.

(And here is when we enter the territory of fuckery)

At this point, Haldrath makes a choice. He's doing this on the fly, but also probably had been stewing on his thoughts for a while. He's tired. On his last legs. This is probably not how he wanted to do it, but he's got no choice. And Halone seems to have merciful enough to let him be in a safe and warm environment among friends.

Haldrath tells Berteline that she's heard Nidhogg's voice, that the Eye seeks out those who desire power. That it's fused to him, that it's corrupting him, and he is in danger of becoming the elder wrym's thrall. And if that happens, he will be a mighty threat to Ishgard, which is still finding its feet. He looks Aureniquart in the eye and asks that his old friend, his brother knight, kill him before that happens.

Aureniquart refuses to pick up arms against Haldrath.

(side note: I'm wondering if Aureniquart was possibly Haldrath's First Knight/general 2IC.)

Haldrath, before the Eye tries for the final time to take him, also officially recognizes Berteline as the new bearer of the evil orb and names her his full successor.

Berteline de Cordillelot is now charged as the second Azure Dragoon. We won't have another named Azure Dragoon show up until 761, when Valeroyant fends off Nidhogg. (Valeroyant dies two years later in 763).

We are also given confirmation that Azure Dragoons essentially are on a limited lifespan once they receive the Eye. This possibly gives new meaning to this:

When searched on Google, score is equal to twenty years. Two score and ten equals 50 years. Ere means 'before'.

Basically? 'Your ass will be dead before you turn fifty.'

Which in the story, makes sense because:

Aureniquart has aged. It's possible that by this time, he and Haldrath were in their mid-40s, if they were in their 20's back in 545.

Becoming the Azure Dragoon is a death sentence. And now your mileage is gonna vary, because not everyone's gonna have the same mindset regarding power and duty and protection of Ishgard. We have the door open for some high level shenanigary here! An Azure Dragoon who may not have wanted to pick a successor? An Azure Dragoon who might have been forced into the job?

(No no we're not discussing Alberic don't @ me I'm typing this out on my phone and it's taking me forever WE WILL POKE AT HIM LATER)

Anyroad.

Haldrath feels one final fit coming on, and knows this is the one that he can't fight against. Nidhogg will claim him. He needs to die. He realizes almost too late that Aureniquart can't kill him, because of the bond of love/friendship/battle blood/loyalty to my liege and he's cursing him to suffer another sin. But Berteline steps up to the plate, puts her hands on the spear, and helps her father perform the mercy kill.

Shoutout to @autumnslance for this spot on commentary on THAT:

Aureniquart: Perma-traumatized now. Man gets like twenty years of peace and then it just gets blown outta the water. Had to kill your leige-lord as he lay dying on your floor, under your roof, violation of sanctuary and hospitality and your sworn oath to protect him, to spend your life before his own so he could be safe...

What?

Anyroad. We have one final interesting tidbit.

This...is interesting. Sovereignty has various meanings, but the one that stood out the most to me from Merriam-Webster was 'freedom from external control'. There was also 'supreme power over a body politic', 'controlling influence' and then 'one who is sovereign, especially: an autonomous state'

It's said in lore Nidhogg was dismissive of mankind. And at that point can you blame him? He's lost three siblings to Allag, his other brother's lost his damn mind mooning over some elezen before consensually participating in voreplay, and his sister drank ALL the mortal Kool-Aid.

Oh and baby brother? Is hiding somewhere.

That also possibly has Ascian fuckery hiding somewhere in the depths. What exactly, I don't know what to say or imply. But a good friend of mine pointed out that Nidhogg's attitude towards humans could have been a rather toxic ingredient that could have maybe been added to a growing resentment of dragonkind that had been festering. Maybe old grudges that had been settled by Shiva's sacrifice were coming back from the dead. Maybe mankind was growing too much in the region and was straining natural resources.

We don't know.

Last but not least, Estinien. Nevermind that this man decided to hit up a bottle of Raz-at-Han alchemist-made liquor.

Estinien. Pls.

However there is real world historical context for alcoholic spirits being used to help a body and mind relax so that one can see visions/perform magic. And as I stated one time, we don't know fully about all the changes Estinien has undergone ever since absorbing the remnants of Nidhogg's essence. This could be a random fluke--brought on by unpredictable draconic magic mixing with whatever unholy abomination against the gods concoction this particular Hannish alchemist thought to brew.

(listen Raz-at-Han alchemists fear neither gods, nor man, nor dragons, nor aliens. YOU KNOW I'M RIGHT)

But it's definitely interesting to see more of a solid connection between the first and the last Azure Dragoon. Especially since Haldrath hasn't shown up in anything dragoon connected since the level 50 questline, in which he helps you violently snap Estinien out of a Nidhogg-induced frenzy.

Hoping this story leads us to more dragoon stuff, especially considering the class is getting a revamp in 7.0!

#ffxiv #ffxiv dragoon #ffxiv drg #estinien varlineau #prince haldrath #the rising #this took me ages to type out on my phone and im fairly certain i missed a few things but ah well #DRAGOON LORE #six years. six years SE #ffxiv theorycraft #behold i am back on my bullshit

[edalene-slater-ffxiv]

DWC Day 1 Party/Chill- November 2023

There’d been no celebration for the ‘official’ date marking the union of her brother to Vahalia Cress. 

The way it had been described to her - in passing by Wyland the day of, as she had been gathering her things in preparation to leave the Slater estate per her brother’s request - it had been a rather straightforward affair. Simply signing of papers and a confirmation of the agreement that both parties had settled on. 

There was no grand fanfare, no pomp and circumstance, it was nothing short of a business transaction. 

How very fitting. 

It had been, after all, her brother’s choice to pursue the union. He’d been given every opportunity to exit the arrangement and he had continued to follow the course. 

Edalene adjusted the eyepatch over her left eye socket self-consciously before quickly crossing her arms loosely over her chest, pressing her back to the nearest wall. She’d been hypervigilant prior to losing the eye - but since losing the eye the tendency to be aware of her surroundings had only been heightened - a habit that was both a blessing and curse, particularly when she had to visit the house that was the same place where she had lost the eye. 

The Cress Estate. 

And knowing this, knowing that she had walked into what was supposed to be a conversation, simply a meeting with two fully functioning eyes and had walked out with only one and an injury that went beyond the physical,  her brother had still made the choice to continue with his decided course. 

Because what could possibly be more important? 

He had signed the papers. 

Abolished their house. Signed over all their assets.

Married Vahalia Cress. 

She hadn’t spoken to him since prior to the ‘wedding’, if one could call it that - though she’d spoken to his new wife, hence why she stood in the front hall of the Cress Estate - waiting on the final set of shipping manifests before she could depart from Ishgard for Blackwater and the Sirensong. 

Edalene’s eye shifted at the sound of approaching footsteps as one of the attendants - Marion, moved towards her with a folder, which Edalene took with a small smile and a nod, eager to be out of the estate. She’d rather deal with the chill than remain in the building any longer than necessary. 

With shipping manifests in hand she had a transport to catch - it was time to be away from Ishgard for a while and leave her brother to his choices. She’d had enough of the cold for a while.

@daily-writing-challenge

#dwc2023 #novemberday12023 #daily writing challenge #blurbs

[anneapocalypse]

Final Fantasy XIV Urianger Augurelt/Female Elezen Warrior of Light

Established relationship, linkpearl sex, a bit of voice and praise kink, and a dash of accidental (auditory) voyeurism. Set during the Shadowbringers patches. 3000 words. Rated E.

Many thanks to @farfromdaylight for beta reading. 💜

It's a cold night in Ishgard and an even colder night in Garlemald. Two Elezen lovers are missing each other. Fortunately, they’re just a linkpearl away.

Preview:

Ariane's linkpearl chimed late in the evening, well after she had returned to her apartment and stoked the fire against the Ishgardian chill, had some supper, and settled in bed under her down coverlet with a book.

There were only two reasons why anyone might be calling at this hour. Either some new disaster had arisen, and the Scions needed her immediately (in which case, so much for sleep), or it was Urianger.

She had hopes for which it might be.

"Good evening, my love," a deep and familiar voice greeted her, much to Ariane's delight. "I pray I have not disturbed thy slumber."

"Not at all," Ariane assured him, setting her book aside. Urianger's trip to Garlemald with Thancred was the longest they'd been apart since their return from the First. Though he had not officially moved in, they had spent nearly every night together in the weeks before his departure. More and more of Urianger's modest possessions had migrated from the Waking Sands to the Rising Stones during his recovery, and then from there to Ariane's apartment in Empyreum. Several of his tomes lay piled beside her desk, a spare robe of his hung in her wardrobe, and she could still smell him in the sheets where he had lain beside her. But reconnaissance in Garlemald had been a dangerous proposition, and though she had every faith in his abilities and in Thancred's, Ariane had understood that link silence might be a necessity. To hear from him meant that they were safe, for the moment, and that the mission was likely going well. "I was just reading. It's so good to hear your voice, love."

“And thine,” Urianger said warmly. “I trust thou art well?”

[ Read the rest on AO3! ]

#urianger augurelt #urianger x wol #wolianger #wolrianger #wolship #ffxiv fic #annefiction #the stars are blind my love #rated e

[sealrock]

the order of saint jehanne ; a look into the past

motto: rage of the fury, temperance of the maiden

active: c. 1410-1558 (148 years)

the order of saint jehanne, sometimes known as the blue sorority, was an officially endorsed ishgardian military order comprised of female knights and were active participants in the dragonsong war. fighting alongside their brothers in arms roughly 150 years since they've been founded, the order set an example for coerthan women everywhere.

rich or poor, young or old, the order accepted any who would answer the call. the knights that joined the order, known by the commoners as 'swordsisters', served for life. taking a strict vow of celibacy and following the creed of the order's patron saint, the swordsisters dedicated their waking moments to honoring the fury, helping the destitute, and striking down the dravanian horde at any cost.

history:

'the blessed one, jehanne tarc' (c. 1340) painted by beittent de tofaux (1276-1356), oil on canvas

jehanne tarc (c. 1154-1173), once a poor farmgirl in the coerthan lowlands, lived a short but illustrious life that propelled her to sainthood two hundred years after her death. hers is a tale that's been spoken by bards and idolized by the smallfolk long after she returned to the earth: guided by visions from none other than the fury herself, jehanne led a campaign of victorious battles against the dravanian horde, only to fall in a fiery blaze by her archenemies.

purportedly the third daughter of eight children, jehanne lived a simple and uneventful life. she was fourteen when she received her first vision of halone, surrounded by her valiant knights in resplendent golden armor; it was said she wept for days afterward for that she could not believe the fury would reveal herself to such a lowly servant. the visions continued soon after that, but instead of being fearful, jehanne fully embraced her visitations—even if no one believed her.

around this time, rumors of a prophecy descended from the highlands about an armored maiden would come forth and strike a grievous blow against nidhogg's horde. lady reinette also lived in the same period as jehanne, but she had already put down her lance to devote herself to the church after avenging her beloved.

at sixteen, jehanne's family was killed when the village was razed to the ground by amelth, a fiercesome and high-ranking dragon with impenetrable scales that has already devastated the armed forces of the holy see's temple knights. believing the prophecy to be true and seeking revenge, jehanne rode to the capital and demanded an audience with the archbishop of the period. backed by her visions of the fury, jehanne was given the archbishop's blessing to fight. with no military training or skills in weaponry, jehanne quickly proved herself to be blessed by the fury. her arrival bolstered the moral of the troops no one has seen before or since her death, and with her leading the charge the holy see managed to drive back the horde at a pace no one could believe.

at eighteen, jehanne struck down amelth; for three days and three nights, they fought a bitter battle that ultimately ended with jehanne as the victor. with so many battles won, the people of ishgard viewed her as the fury reborn. but with all good things, they must come to an end. a year later, jehanne was nineteen years old when she was killed in retaliation by amelth's brood. facing death unflinchingly, jehanne's life was snuffed out by dragonfire.

surprisingly, the church was slow to canonize jehanne as a saint, much like they did saint reinette, despite her glories and virtures. in 1309, jehanne was beatified and canonized as a virgin saint to the cheers of the lowlands who had venerated her. it would take another century before the military order would be founded in her name. with much of her life embellished by folktales and song, jehanne continues to inspire many of the commonfolk.

during her life, jehanne never wavered in her faith and maintained her maidenhood when many men wanted her hand in marriage. she devoted herself fully to halone, and in death her virginity was recognized as her most admirable trait. this sentiment was followed by the order to the fullest, its swordsisters vowing to never fall in love with anyone, for their mission would be compromised by mortal desires.

insignia:

the order's coat of arms was humble in design; its chequy pattern of white and blue was not meant to be excessive or ostentatious, much like the order's patron saint. the white symbolized the swordsisters' unwavering and unsullied purity, while the blue represented the fury's grace and divine favor to her knights.

attire:

the order, being both a military unit and a community of religious sisters, has two modes of dress: combat and clerical.

the order's combat uniform consists of the medium armor variety—a mix of leather, metal, and chainmail. the tunic worn by the swordsisters consists of the same chequy pattern as their coat of arms, quickly distinguishing themselves from temple knights and dragoons alike. the helms worn by the order offers protection in close-quarters combat: while other knights wear enclosed helms in battle, the order opted to use a crowned mail coif with an open, but barred, visor to improve vision.

while most can identify the order's offensive soldiers, those who wield swords, lances, and maces, the order carries defensive swordsisters who are the healers and mages of their units. they wear the same uniform as the offense.

when not in active duty, members of the order fulfill their daily tasks around their convents in their clerical dress. more ornate (and at times offensive to the more conservative members of the church) than a simple nun's habit, it follows the same pattern of elements with the tunic, coif and veil, but decorated with stripes and jewels.

internal organization:

the order has a hierarchy like any other order in coerthas. while it's easier to refer to everyone in the order as swordsister, they are organized by 'levels':

quaternaire: aka the reverend mother. an elderly head of the order usually elected with votes after serving half of her life to the organization. like her name suggests, the reverend mother runs the convent much like a parent would, with a strict no-nonsense attitude. she received the vows of the swordsisters, admit new candidates, or send them out on missionary work or to the battlefield to offer aid.

tertiaire: after a certain amount of years have passed, or if the younger sister excelled in her work, she'll graduate to become a tertiaire, or 'older sister'. these swordsisters are most common in the field as their survival skills, discipline, and dedication lead them to confront dragons head on. besides combat expertise, some older sisters are more adept to administrative work, performing religious rites, and overlooking the younger sisters and novices.

secondaire: primaires who pass the training are officially initiated into the order, thus becoming secondaires. they are called 'younger sister [x]' as a form of address. contact with the outside world would be cut off from this point forward. the initiate would then receive a new name chosen from the church's beatified saints or known virtues to signify her 'death' to the world. these new sisters continue to receive training from the higher-ups, and their responsibilities are given based on skill. they apprentice under the older sisters in the field and in the convent.

primaire: fresh faces to the order who must undergo a rigorous, and often torturous, physical and mental training initiation that last for one year. during this period, novices are not addressed with special titles, they're allowed to maintain contact with family and friends, and if they choose to, leave the order if they're not capable of enduring the training. novices endure no penalty.

the training initiation does not spare bright-eyed girls and women from its wrath; most novices leave after 3 months of training. only the resolute and pious souls of halone are able to suffer through it. it was modeled after the trials of saint jehanne to bring those closer to the tribulations she once did.

even after becoming a swordsister, one must continue to prove their worth to the saint and to grow closer to the fury through mortifying their flesh (abstinence, self-flagellation, wearing a chain cilice, steam baths as penance). to know what the patron saint went through, the swordsisters put aside their apprehension to train both body and soul in the ways of the maiden. their faith makes it so they can stare down the enemy with no fear.

the end of the line:

once a woman is initiated, she cannot leave under any circumstances. to serve halone is to serve for life, and that means laying down your life in the name of the fury without fear. a swordsister renounces worldly pleasures in the name of her patron saint, and to consider leaving is akin to heresy in the order, often punishable by death.

alas, their mission was cut short by one of their own. the order was destroyed from within by someone whose heart was anchored with mortal desires and temptations. none survived except for the traitor.

older sister tauvane, now tauvane the godless, turned her back on her swordsisters. once a bastard babe born in the sins of her parents, she was given to the care of the swordsisters who treated her as one of their own. while society didn't accept her, the order saw her as who she was: a lost lamb needing guidance. but she committed the ultimate form of treachery in the act of love.

a young temple knight, a heretic injured in battle and nursed back to health by sister tauvane, lured her away from the order. justice was wrought on the nonbeliever, but tauvane retaliated in the most horrific way imaginable: aligning herself with the enemy. the order of saint jehanne was wiped out by tauvane, once a beloved sister and friend, in the year 1558. she nows leads a crusade of her own—a war with the holy see in the name of her beloved.

may the fury receive her flock with open arms and cast down the wicked.

#mypost. #meta. #trying something different don't mind me #some tauvane backstory :] #this is so long holy shit. my longest meta post yet #but i actually like how tauvane's developed to this point. it finally makes sense now that she wants to see ishgard burn #all of this to say that tauvane did Not feel accepted by the order at all and was worse off there than back home #she went from a warrior nun to an (exonerated) enemy of the state

[whitherwanderer]

4 // off the hook

“Well, take it. I don’t have all day, kupo.”

Sawyer was jarred from her momentary fixation on the wax seal as the letter was foisted into her hand. She offered a muted thanks to the postmoogle, whose cap was politely tilted before he fluttered off with his comically large bag in tow. For some reason it occurred to her to check the plaza before she turned to make a swift stride for the privacy of the inn room, and though she didn’t see any overly suspicious onlookers, she felt compelled to hold the letter against her middle, hiding the seal from view.

She’d always dreaded this day. She knew it would only be a matter of time, but as all pasts do, hers was catching up with her in a moment where it had scarcely crossed her mind in moons. Hoping she’d simply mistaken the seal for another, she folded the letter back just enough to peek at it again. Familiar heraldry pressed into blue wax and brushed with gold paint caused the dread in her chest to rise into her throat as bile.

The Supreme Sacred Tribunal of Halonic Inquisitory Doctrine sends its regards.

The door behind her was closed abruptly, and now in the safety of her inn room, she tore through the seal with an urgency that would be unbecoming of her in any other setting, and it was only now that she realized her hands were shaking as she held the letter still enough to skim. Her eyes darted around the page, searching for alarming words or phrases—summons to appear before the Tribunal for inquest or a polite request that she surrender herself for gaol so that they wouldn’t have to send the Inquisition to retrieve her personally.

It was only when she did not see such demands that she finally read the letter in full.

To one Miss Sawyer Reeves, It was in pursuit of Her Holiest Ideals and the preservation of Decency, Justice, and Dignity that the Inquisition didst carry out the will of the Fury to what ends were deemed necessary to protect the Sanctity of Ishgard and her Peoples, but with such Revelations as were made known after the death of His Eminence, Archbishop Thordan VII, Reform and Restitution to what extent we are able have thus become the preeminent duty of The Supreme Sacred Tribunal of Halonic Inquisitory Doctrine and its constituents (henceforth referred to as “The Tribunal”). This correspondence has been sent to all parties of ongoing Investigations, Trials, and Inquisition of claims to Heretical Activity that have yet to be concluded, do not have sufficient evidence of such, or wherein interruptions did not allow the Tribunal to function as an extension of the Fury’s judgment in a fair and impartial Trial or did not allow a challenge to Trial by Combat to conclude with a victor on Record. As such, your challenge to Trial by Combat issued to ███████ ███████ on the grounds that he partook of Heretical Activity has been annulled and the charges leveled against Ser ███████ have been dropped from the Official Record, despite the inconclusive results after your unsanctioned withdrawal from the Tribunal arena. Though we believe your unsanctioned withdrawal to have been born of brazen cowardice and remains a slight against the Fury’s divine will, the Tribunal no longer wields Her judgment in the matter. As such, the trial record has been amended to have no conclusive victor and your criminal history has been expunged in the eyes of the Holy See of Ishgard and all official bodies therein. No further Investigation into your original claim will take place, and your status as a fugitive from the Inquisition has been annulled. Your previous standing as a ward of House Haillenarte has not been reinstated on the grounds that such patronage is only within the purview of the Lord or Lady of the House to grant, and will require correspondence with said Lord or Lady to reclaim. You are free to return to Ishgard without fear of repercussion, however we advise you to be minded of this most benevolent allowance and act with requisite decorum should you choose to return. Fury have Mercy upon your soul. - Auphent Gauvane Clerk of the Supreme Sacred Tribunal of Halonic Inquisitory Doctrine Records Office

Sawyer took a moment to breathe. Then another.

The fluster to get inside the door and the following silence roused curiosity from the raen that resided with her in the inn room, a pair of scaled arms winding around the hyur’s waist. “Hawk?” she called, wary and concerned.

“It’s… a letter from Ishgard. From home,” Sawyer admitted, though she wasn’t prepared for her voice to break over the final word as it did. She drew a shaking breath, then wrapped her arms around Amesha fully. “They’ll allow me to return without consequence. I am a free woman, but…”

“But…?” Amesha prompted her to continue.

Sawyer whispered. “Why am I terrified?”

#ffxivwrite2023 #[ ffxivwrite2023 ] #[ the steel hawk ] #[ drabbles; sawyer ] #my god it is so hard to write snooty ishgardian but it's fun to try #run on sentences for days

[mariyekos]

I participated in the @fauxlorexiv Mini Big Bang with my fic An (Un)Official Recounting of the Life and Deeds of Saint Shiva! My partner was doulbedo, who did some great art over on twitter (and at the end of the fic).

If you love Ishgard and your heart's still in Heavensward like mine is, then check it out! I tried to emulate a folklore writing style for this one, so it was a lot of fun to work on :)

(link to the fic in case the hyperlink doesn't work: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54358510)

#ffxiv #eruwrites #ffxiv mini big bang #fantastic fauxlore #shiva (ffxiv) #hraesvelgr (ffxiv) #shiva ffxiv #hraesvelgr ffxiv #ffxiv hw #erurandomness

[voidsentprinces]

Sometimes I love this games logic. Alisaie is a known Scion...like even before officially joining she was doing work and all the statesheads knew of her and her grandfather and yet there she is in the woodlands of the Shroud. Gets hit by a poison arrow...and instead of taking her to the Gridanian Conjurers and Healers, Thancred runs her ass all the way to Ishgard.