FFXIV: Bitter Dreams

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I know people have complained that several characters post-ARR are basically whole new characters, and I think it’s true. I feel Lyse got the better end of the deal in the character development hand-outs; she went from ‘bubble-brained comic relief’ to ‘oh crap I have to adult now, it’s scary but I’ll do my best’. Maybe it’s a bit too drastic, but you know what ARR was a bit cartoony overall so I don’t think it’s out of step with the general tone shift. But Thancred went from ‘mischievous perv with an angsty side’ to ‘Batman’, and not even a fun Batman like Estinien. And just to reiterate… I really don’t like his haircut and chin scruff. (Alphinaud’s character development is, of course, perfect, so needs no discussion.)

Chapter 60: The Fall of Doma Castle

 

Chapter 61: Bitter Dreams

R’nyath ducked through the press of soldiers, looking for his fearless leader. “Achiyo! Hey, hey, over here!”

She turned, startled, from where she had been talking to Raubahn. “R’nyath? What is it?” Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Fall of Doma Castle

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Soundtracks for this chapter include not only Gates of the Moon, the Doma Castle dungeon theme, but also Thundering Chariot from Honkai Star Rail cuz Chinese boss fight music is funnnn : D (interesting they both involve traditional plucked string instruments, Western orchestral body, and an electric guitar for added gritty texture?)

The inside of Doma Castle has gotten glowed up with the lighting enhancements! It looks great!

My tablet keyboard has been increasingly unreliable the past couple months (especially the E and L keys); I’m pretty good at spotting typos but I’m not perfect so if you see something, feel free to point it out.

Chapter 59: Flames of the Past

 

Chapter 60: The Fall of Doma Castle

Achiyo had just finished her last gear check and was rising to leave the Scions’ dorm in the House of the Fierce when she heard her name called. “Achiyo-chan? Where are you?”

“I am in here,” she answered, and Tori appeared at the door, looking flustered with all her children around her. “Is something amiss?” Continue reading →

FFXIV: Flames of the Past

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I know I’m being pretty speedy through all this… I miss Aymeric, is all.

Chapter 58: The Naadam

 

Chapter 59: Flames of the Past

“As if we’d lose to the likes of him!” Lyse cried, watching the Imperial Roegadyn officer flee back towards Doma. “And we’re only gonna get stronger. Stronger and stronger until we’re strong enough to take back everything they stole!”

“Hear, hear!” R’nyath echoed. The Xaela roared in triumph.

Hien turned to Cirina. “I have kept my promise, Cirina. They are yours to command.” Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Naadam

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If you have not yet become aware of how cool Mongolian throat singing is, please check out Batzorig Vaanchig on Youtube. (If you like folk metal and you don’t yet know the Mongolian band The Hu, you should also check out their music!)

I was a little surprised by how many people were specifically looking forward to the Buduga, especially because I completely forgot they existed until I started writing this chapter. So, uh, in the interest of giving the people what they want, the T rating is getting stretched a bit. (and maybe something else is gonna be too-) Enjoy. :3

Chapter 57: Endless Sky

 

Chapter 58: The Naadam

Achiyo was not impressed by the current situation. Hien had suggested that they go with the Oronir and Budugan warriors, saying: “If all goes to plan, they will be fighting for us soon enough. What say you? Shall we go and greet our comrades-to-be?”

She was not yet sure that it was a mistake. She did not have the political knowledge or foresight to see whether this endeavour would benefit them in the end or not. And simply because Magnai of the Oronir was the most irritating, arrogant, unreasonable, heavy-handed, egocentric, tyrannical clod of a leader she had ever met was no reason to not see it through, since Hien and Kekeniro had agreed on it.

But she was not safe, her friends were not safe, and if it came to a fight it would not go well for them. And she did not know how to change that. Continue reading →

FFXIV: Endless Sky

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There are a lot of nice little story bits in the Azim Steppe, like when Lyse tells some kid what a ‘nation’ is, but… I don’t have a lot to say about them.

Honorifics are a bit tricky for me in this part. The English dubs/subs translate the titles and honorifics to English for ease of the unfamiliar, even for characters who would probably use them (it would make perfect sense for Yugiri to call Hien “Hien-sama”), so how weeby culturally appropriate for the implied in-game culture do I want to get by putting some of them back in?

I’ve been listening to the J-rock band Cidergirl again recently, and I think the lead singer seems to have a voice type very much like the Miqo’te voice type that R’nyath has. They did the opening song, Cinderella, for the anime Komi Can’t Communicate, which I enjoyed very much, but they’ve got more super-happy music, and R’nyath is specifically adopting Saityen.

Chapter 56: The Second Duel

 

Chapter 57: Endless Sky

The Scions, the Doman Liberation Front, and the villagers of Namai did not retreat far at first. Nearly everyone was in high spirits, talking animatedly. Isse was fairly bubbling with excitement, his face alight in a way Achiyo had not seen before. He looked so young and kind when he smiled. “Can you believe it? We faced the crown prince himself and lived to tell the tale! You’ve no idea what this means for us. Everyone’s talking about getting more weapons and armour and… and… And we’re not going to stop until we’ve taken back our homeland!” Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Second Duel

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I’m sure Master Kamui is intended to be the ‘harmless old perv’ archetype, but I’m in no mood to be merciful to him today : P

I made an outline for the rest of 4.0! Should be complete in roughly 8 chapters, including this one. Maybe fewer tbh. This one was not super inspiring to me so my apologies if it seems kind of bleh. That’s why it took so long for its short length…

Chapter 55: The Land of Dead Hope

 

Chapter 56: The Second Duel

Oboro had taken Jacke, Tsubame, and Rinala to visit an old master of his village, who lived high in the mountains. But Master Kamui immediately sent the men away again, to hunt beasts to turn into medicine for him, while inviting ‘the little swallow and the kitty-cat’ to remain behind. Rinala would just as well have gone hunting too, but Tsubame had shot her an anxious look, and so she stayed. Jacke and Oboro departed again, Jacke grumbling irritably the whole way. “Enlightenment, my arse! This old coot’s a real piece o’ work…” Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Land of Dead Hope

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Kurenai and Hisui are the Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley of FFXIV teehee

I’ve been arranging FFXIV soundtracks for piano. If you wanna see, search for my username on MuseScore.

Chapter 54: The Ruby Depths

 

Chapter 55: Land of Dead Hope

The Scions did not leave the Ruby Sea immediately. While Achiyo, Gosetsu, Kekeniro, and Lyse conferred on their next course of action, R’nyath led some of the other Scions back beneath the waves to Sui-no-Sato, even though he wasn’t really a fan of having a wet tail. First of all, they needed to thank Yugiri’s parents properly for their help, and he’d gotten Achiyo’s approval for it. He had even bought some gifts for them off the Confederates, delicacies from Kugane – probably stolen, but… who was to say at this point? Secondly, R’nyath smelled problems that they could help with, Shiosai definitely had some secret stress hanging over him. All his years of adventuring experience told him so. Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Ruby Depths

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I’ve been away for much longer than I intended, and it’s uncertain how many chapters I’ve got in me atm. I partly blame HSR, but honestly have you seen Mydei? I don’t normally go for bulky-muscly guys but I’m making an exception for the blatantly obvious thirst trap, he can flatten me onto a mosaic-tiled floor/wall/bath any day of the week. He could tell me to get on my knees and I’d call him ‘my king’ as I did. Or Mydeity. (also may I point out he’s got plot elements similar to Aymeric – patricide to save the kingdom much?)

I got bitten by a plot bunny shortly after writing the previous chapter of this story, so many moons ago, so I wrote a Japanese-inspired fairytale called Ambassador of Ishgard in which Achiyo is a dragon. I recommend it if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s fairly short and has some cute moments!

I got Vivienne’s gloves and greaves done for her cosplay, but Cronus is only half-done. Which is more than before, and gosh the LEDs are gonna look super sick when it is done. And I still think I want to do a helmet eventually.

Chapter 53: The Ruby Sea

 

Chapter 54: The Ruby Depths

The Confederacy leadership lived in the shadow of Heaven-on-High, and there was no need to climb the tower to visit them. In fact, no one knew how to enter the tower.

Tansui was there, the Confederate lieutenant who had granted them passage back on Sakazuki, and he brought them to the captain of the Confederacy, a tired-looking Roegadyn in his thirties named Rasho. But they would not aid the Scions, no matter how much Chuchupa swaggered or Lyse pleaded. The Garleans had not yet turned to destroy them, and they would not hasten that day by openly declaring defiance. Even when, not three bells later, word came to Rasho that Confederate sailors had been captured by Garlean-allied Kojin, they would not act. Continue reading →

Christmas 2024

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My friend came to visit again and we went some places. I’m uploading this in more of a photo-album-y way. At least half the pictures are his, I’m not tagging them this time.

My Christmas present from Tharash – a Mosasaur tooth!! I gave him Honkai Star Rail merch lol.

First tourist place we went, on like the Friday after Christmas, was to Mystic Beach. We stopped at a café called Shirley Delicious on the way and got sandwiches and cake to-go and then ate them on the beach. There had been a windstorm earlier in the week (Tharash’s plane arrived one day ahead of the wind, thank goodness) so you can see some damage to the trees; there were a lot of trees fallen across the path, which did not bother dogs or small children but was a bit more trouble for us. It was a bit muddy (and I don’t currently have hiking boots) but I survived. Also you will notice in the photos that Tharash likes fungi. Continue reading →

Holiday Card 2024

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(Click for larger)

I felt like drawing Murlesson, my Sith boy, for Christmas cards, and what better Star Wars inspiration to use than my holiday-themed fanfic The Devil’s Holiday Special? In this story my young Sith goes to a holiday party, but he misses his Jedi girlfriend who has gone on her own adventures. But then she texts him to wish him well for the holiday, so he cheers up again.

Life Day is the name of the Star Wars holiday that was substituted for the northern-hemisphere winter celebrations (actually possibly more related to American Thanksgiving? hence why there is no gift-giving ritual? Though there is a special tree decorated with lights.) It was first introduced in the terribad Star Wars: A Holiday Special, but has grown beyond it to become a perfectly normal part of the Star Wars universe. (Sith are the bad guys who probably wouldn’t celebrate Life Day normally since they’re too busy being Dark Lords of Evil, but he felt like he was obligated to.)
Continue reading →