Author Archives: Illinia

FFXIV: When the War Is Over

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this is horribly self-indulgent (7,000 words of fluff, most of it written literal years ago) and yet it’s what we’ve been waiting for, please enjoy : D

Chapter 50: Achiyo Defeated

 

Chapter 51: When the War is Over

The wounded were borne away in wains to Castrum Oriens, Y’shtola among them, with Lyse and Pipin to guard. Gradually, those left took stock of their situation. Rhalgr’s Reach was in shambles. The tents were charred tatters; the cannons were in pieces. Holes had been blown in the cliffs, including those that contained historic chambers now laid bare to the elements. And there were so many bodies, hundreds of casualties, many of them unarmed; people lined them up in neat rows to prepare for burial, weeping and cursing the Imperials. The ground was covered in scattered dark patches of dried blood. Continue reading →

FFXIV: Achiyo Defeated

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Chapter 49: Into the Fringes

 

Chapter 50: Achiyo Defeated

Conrad Kemp looked around at all the celebrating forces within Rhalgr’s Reach. Both Alliance and Resistance fighters alike were going about their duties grinning, even laughing, discussing the future with hope in their eyes. And those off duty were drinking and singing in the tavern. Even the quiet infirmary had a smile about it. “Hah, to think that the last time Gridanian troops trod this soil was more than a century ago, during the Autumn War – and that was to defend against our invasion.” He looked up at the great statue of Rhalgr. “Ours is a long and bloody history, to be sure, and it gives me heart to see that despite our acrimonious past, we can still come together for the sake of the future.” Continue reading →

FFXIV: Into the Fringes

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Whoooo Stormblood!!! Y’know, once upon a time I thought I’d never make it here, even though I’ve had tons of notes for it for a long while. And I know, with it being the most political expansion, it’s a little more difficult than the others to get emotionally invested in – but I have some story threads that I think will be pretty interesting. And of course, this is a fanfic, I can skip the worst of the politics if I want! You’ve already all played the game anyway.

That being said, I personally found 4.0’s opening to be one of those spots that’s hard to get emotionally invested in. So we’ll be moving fast for a bit.

Thanks, Cider Spider, for forever implanting Lyse puns into my brain.

Also oops I spent the past three months in 1) year-end work crunch/recovery, 2) writing out Achiyo’s entire backstory (will post after I finish posting 4.0), and 3) playing Honkai Star Rail.

Chapter 48: The Battle in the Sky

 

Chapter 49: Into the Fringes

Rinala looked around at the Alliance camp within Castrum Oriens, the fortification on Baelsar’s Wall that was now the Alliance headquarters in Gyr Abania. It was already more arid on this side of the Wall than the Shroud, the trees thinner and less leafy, reminding her of the southern border of the Shroud where the forest met her own Thanalan. This part of the castrum was largely built of stone, with metal on top, which surprised her after seeing the grand metal intricacy of Baelsar’s Wall itself – were the Garleans taking advantage of older structures as the basis for their own fortifications? Continue reading →

Fanservice Day 2024: Achiyo

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In some parts of the internet, people choose to post something fanservice-y on April 1 instead of engaging in tomfoolery. As someone who is indifferent to most tomfoolery and who really likes fanservice, I’m in favour of this. So here is Achiyo in her kimono, flashing a little bit of shoulder. I’m sure Aymeric is thrilled. (I also drew a chibi Aymeric with heart eyes but it didn’t come out very well.)

I dressed up in my own kimono to take reference pictures and – if you’re wearing the kimono properly, you’re really strapped in! You can’t just let one shoulder coyly slide down seductively. First you have to tug and pull to loosen enough fabric. So, lesson learned. I did find a new tutorial on how to dress that really helped me do it better than I’ve done it before. I need more accessories tho. I traced her head from a screenshot.

FFXIV: The Battle in the Sky

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I feel like Nero’s English VA isn’t smug enough. He needs to sound punchable. His dialogue shows him to be at least purporting to be utterly full of himself, and I feel the VA plays it a bit flat; he sounds almost normal despite the dramatic dialogue. BRING ME SASS

Chapter 47: The Edge of Gyr Abania

 

Chapter 48: The Battle in the Sky

Achiyo, Kekeniro, Vivienne, Alphinaud, and Alisaie were the last to arrive at the council at the Lotus Stand. Besides the four Alliance leaders and their retinues, Cid and Yugiri were there. Alisaie did not actually have to be there, but Achiyo guessed she was curious enough to put up with politics. Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Edge of Gyr Abania

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3.5 ahoy! I’m feeling a bit more inspired for this one. Maybe because Aymeric is more in it? Apparently I need a husbando around at all times for maximum investment lol.

I was really tempted to name this chapter ‘Border Walls Don’t Work’ but I thought that might be in poor taste lol.

I recommend Hyper Rainbow Z from the OST for the tea break shenanigans. : D

R’nyath wears the Holy Rainbow Shirt of Aiming, but like… more.

Chapter 46: An Echo Across Worlds

 

Chapter 47: The Edge of Gyr Abania

R’nyath sat with Hilda on a wall high up in Foundation, looking out at the Stone Vigil. The castle was no longer the abode of dragons, which was great, but there was now no need to repair it either since there would no longer be any dragon attacks. From what little R’nyath knew, the Ishgardian parliament had decided to spend their national budget elsewhere, leaving both the Vigils to fall further into ruin. At least they were pretty ruins. Continue reading →

FFXIV: An Echo Across Worlds

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Don’t mind me, just shoe-horning my size-12 adventuring party foot into a size 5 cutscene shoe…

Chapter 45: A Child’s Cry

 

Chapter 46: An Echo Across Worlds

Little Ala Mhigo was hot and dusty and in the middle of its brief spring already, and Rinala was trotting along out of the Temple of Quarn with Alphinaud and some Warriors of Light after listening to this so-called Griffon give a rousing speech to his Resistance, when she heard a huge gasp. “What are you doing here, Rinala!?” Continue reading →

FFXIV: A Child’s Cry

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Having not played Endwalker yet, I’m certain that this stuff is important, they’ve hinted that it’s important in SB patches, but I don’t know why yet. It’s got some good thematic material, though.

Chapter 44: The Arrow

 

Chapter 45: A Child’s Cry

“It went that way!” “Find it, catch it!” The Maelstrom soldiers were shouting to each other, the entirety of Camp Overlook in an uproar. Aentfryn had gathered something about Titan’s imminent summoning, and a kobold being spotted on the edge of the camp. The Maelstrom wanted to capture it to question it about Titan, and they were acting like utter fools about it. This was one reason why he disliked Grand Companies. Large groups of people acting together became stupid. Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Arrow

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We’re back! on! track! Let’s goooooo

I guess canonically the WoD arc (3.4) comes before Zurvan (3.5?) but oh well.

Y’ever go to, like, a museum in Europe and look at those suits of plate armour with the chemical etching all over? Gorgeous. (This one’s from the Gravensteen in Ghent)

Chapter 43: The Demon of Meracydia

 

Chapter 44: The Arrow

Dinner with Aymeric was as lovely as it always was, Achiyo reflected as she sipped her wine. The food was delicious, and Aymeric’s company was as pleasant and heartwarming as ever. Though… she was finding the red wine a bit strong-bodied for her taste. She preferred the white wines, but that would apparently not go with the red meat, slow-cooked in exotic spices and more wine until it was nigh-falling apart on the plate… Kekeniro and Vivienne were with her this time; R’nyath, who often also came, was busy with Hilda, and Vivienne had put on a show of reluctance but agreed to take his place. The dogs, Tempête and Tonerre, lay on the rug before the fire, remarkably well-behaved. Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Demon of Meracydia

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So I might not have the spoons to play the actual game FFXIV right now, but I still have the spoons to consume content! So I finally read the Chronicles of Light and omg I love it (e.g. kicking my feet in excitement whenever Alisaie says something sassy). One thing I like is that since the stories often don’t reference any specific place, it’s easy to know and accept that Eorzea is far larger than the maps we get in-game (I’ve always known/had the opinion that game maps are miniature approximations of what reality could be, and there are many good reasons for doing that instead of trying to Log Horizon it and making humongous maps, but like Eorzea’s supposed to be the size of like Europe, isn’t it? So if you compare travel times across my chapters I’m sure they’re wildly inconsistent and that does bother me a little). I’d like to incorporate that more into my fic, but I’m so literal that it’s difficult for me to extrapolate. I also finally watched the Noclip documentary, and wow – I knew the overall story of 2.0’s creation, but I have even more respect for the team now.

Lol I don’t do mods but I appreciate the fact that this one exists (changes the collar of the Alpine Coat from a ruff to a stiff collar, much sexier on Aymeric.) Also I heard there’s a VR mod for FFXIV, I need a VR headset now lol. I’ve always wanted to be totally immersed in this world!

(Been watching Honkai Star Rail videos and taking inspiration from those flamboyant anime fight scenes lol)

No new armour for Achiyo, still using level 40 mithril set. I really like it. (She does wear a helmet now tho)

Chapter 42: So Much for Retirement

 

Chapter 43: The Demon of Meracydia

R’nyath prowled through the back alleys of the Jewelled Crozier one evening, hunting senses fully alert, yellow eyes gleaming. Behind him stalked Vivienne, an ominous brooding shadow, surprisingly soft despite her heavy armour and indelicate tread. Continue reading →