It was always so quiet, up here. The way the snow endlessly falls brings all sound to a standstill, all noise sinking into soft, cold blankets, muffled and silent.
All he can ever hear is the slow trudging of his own steps through the snowfall, the crunch under his feet helping to ground him. It's all too raw, too quiet, too cold. So cold without him here.
But today, he finds that he's not alone at the cold stone at Providence Point.
Of course... there were others missing him, too.
"Hey," Felih greets softly. "It's... been a while." His tail curls around his leg, survivor's guilt making him feel so very small.
"Tito! Tito, no! Get back here!" comes the call of one very distressed adventurer as he barrels through the city streets, chasing after his vicious, man-eating wildcat.
He skids to a stop when he finally sees that his new pet has finally stopped rushing through the busy marketplace, because his pet is now busy... attacking some poor man's boots.
Tito is pouncing and gnawing on Alfeoux's left boot laces, and Felih sighs deeply as he approaches him.
"Sorry about him," Felih apologizes as he trots over. "He's not trained yet."
Felih is still... settling into Ishgard. It hasn't been so long since they were brought in to seek safe haven, but it's been long enough that he notices certain dynamics within the city. The nobility against the lowborn, the competitions within the ranks of nobility themselves, then there were the clergy and the Heavens' Ward and Archibishop Thordan. All so many powers and entities to keep track of...
Still, the Heavens' Ward did intrigue Felih, especially since a few of them did seem to have quite the amusing types of personalities.
Properly bundled up for the cold he's entirely unused to, he's resting atop one of the walls, and spies the familiar uniform- and then when Adelphel is close enough for Felih to see properly, he laughs.
"Oh! It's you- the baby-faced troublemaker of the lot, aren't you?" he teases, tail curling behind him playfully. This is entirely hypocritical- Felih himself is barely a summer or two older, and also one of the youngest in his group of warriors.
There's an inquisitive series of whirs and beeps from the magitek armor idling behind him. By the logo on her side it seems the Warrior of Light isn't the only one who hasn't been offered a proper Ironworks Outfit yet.]
Felih was on a mission, one of the utmost secrecy, one that required him to be a bit sneaky about gathering information...
Though having to be covert was making it harder than he'd like to gather information. Luckily, a passing sultansworn gave him an idea, and he hopped down from his perch to land in a crouch in front of her, mind forgetting for a moment that having someone fall from nowhere in front of you might be a tad startling.
"Hey! Hi there, do you have a moment? I've got a few questions," he asks, tail swaying playfully behind him as he grins, friendly and energetic.
Find her running around in the goblet, running a very unofficial stall in the markets somewhere trying to sell 'wind-up' minions that are... suspiciously key-less, stuck dangling from a window, trying to pet something that she probably shouldn't be petting or picking a fight with the crane game at the gold saucer.
Alternatively, let me know where she's likely to run into your character and I'll tag you back! ]
[It was almost hard to miss, the woman dangling from the window. Almost, given her dark skin and the night time lightning. But, Matthias saw her and immediately dropped the book in his hands to find a way up.]
M-Miss! Are you alright?! What happened? A-And how do I get there?
[Just where was the room that she was hanging from. Matthias looked around frantically at the building she was hanging off of. He managed to find the door and quickly ran inside to get up the stairs and find the room.]
[ I'll assume current patch if you don't specify, but canon point is Kind Of A Big Deal with him so if you want him pre-nidhoggening (or slight AU where he's aware during it??????) let me know!
Pre-HW find him either in coerthas making camp, in coerthas actively trying to fight something or in Ishgard/Whitebrim/Other Settlement of your choice VERY BRIEFLY to restock and try to avoid people. Or possibly bleeding on something
Post-HW, find him basically anywhere but doing much the same stuff. But maybe less fighting and possibly even indulging? In hobbies? Spoiler: he's bad at all of them tho.
Or I can start threads, but be warned even post-HW he's not good with people and may well try to elusive jump out of social interaction. ]
(apologies for tl;dr! there might be absolutely zero interaction between them, idk, it's okay)
[the dravanians do not often launch attacks on skyfire locks. this, francel has learned, is the result of multiple factors. first of all, the forts were designed with defense in mind, so provided that the sentries are vigilant and the cannons are primed, breaking into them from the outside is a considerable task. second of all, skyfire locks is strategically located between camp dragonhead and the observatorium, and while house durendaire is not like to send house haillenarte reinforcements, house fortemps almost certainly will. but — third and foremost — there is simply no value in attacking skyfire locks. with the exception of lord francel himself, the only ishgardians to be found in skyfire locks are the aging veterans from ser chlodebaimt's reign, and common coerthan farmers struggling to feed their families. decimating the locks would amount to nothing more than a slaughter of innocents.
not that dragons are even able to discern between civilians and combatants.
at least, so francel thinks.
no, the only dragons who would attack skyfire locks are svara and naul — the sworn enemies of house haillenarte. they toppled the stone and steel vigils; they would have skyfire locks and monument tower, too, if francel would let them. and of course he does not mean to let them... but he only has so much to work with.
the camp dragonhead sentries have already sent word that svara's minions darken the northern skies, but francel already knows that he doesn't have enough men to hold the defense line. the distance between skyfire locks and monument tower is too great; the youngest son of house haillenarte will not see reinforcements from within his own ranks this day, because the monument tower garrison will simply not arrive on time. francel suspects that there must be a heretic in their midst feeding information to the enemy — this attack is too well-timed. a sickness has plagued camp dragonhead of late; half of lord haurchefant's knights are weakened with fever.
he doesn't have enough men to hold the defense line.
he doesn't. have enough men. to hold the defense line.
so it comes to pass that lord francel de haillenarte winds up riding out to the gates of judgment, intent on arguing with the sentry posted outside of ishgard. they have only scant bells before the horde arrives; everything amounts to a matter of time, time that francel does not have to waste. he does not even let go of the reins as he pulls his chocobo to a halt and speaks.]
I sent a messenger to the Congregation of our Knights Most Heavenly with a petition for reinforcements addressed the Lord Commander himself — but she tells me she was turned away?! The Horde comes knocking upon our gates, ser! This is no time for petty squabbling over matters of jurisdiction! What game is this you are playing?
[ser marcelain the meek holds no special love for the man he perceives as house haillenarte's coddled lordling, and so he fixes francel with a steely glare. "i should remind you first and foremost that the temple knights are not obligated to involve themselves in the affairs of the high houses," he says coldly. "however, the congregation is already aware of the situation. you are in luck, lord francel — the order of the knights dragoon has answered your call. the azure dragoon will attend your knights this day."
this is most unorthodox. francel halts in the middle of his dismounting.]
He's a busy man who balances his busy life of managing a Free Company (he's not even the leader) in the Lavender Beds, and teaching at the Arcanist Guild as a part time teacher. The ladder is mainly to assist those who are having issues with grasping the basics of arcanima, so maybe a specialized trainer/tutor would be a better name.
He's a well-mannered man, strict to his ideals, and is what people would call a Mom Friend. While he might seem like a prickly pear, he has a very gooey center, and his sympathy for others is a huge Achilles heel.
Feel free to come at me to hash out ideas for a thread, or if you got an idea, I'm pretty flexible and can work with what you give me!]
So these Carbunnies. Do they have to look like that?
[ Really, she should probably concern herself with not being able to use a basic Ruin spell before worrying about the 'Carbunnies'. But she knows what she's about. She knows why she's poking around the guild in the first place, and it's not to- ugh learn things. She's here for the CUTE PETS. ]
I mean, they come in different colours but- Can you make them fluffier? Oh! Maybe with really, really curly fur, like those little dogs-! If you had a really fluffy Carbunny and you gave it a cute haircut, would it keep it if it went away and came back? Could you make one with spots? Or with little socks on its feet? Oh! I want to make one with one ear and one foot that's the wrong colour, that would be just adorable!
[ser stephannot of skyfire locks is a simple man. he has never married or sired children — his six younger brothers and sisters were trouble enough to raise — and he has spent all his years of knighthood sworn to house haillenarte. he is a young man no longer, but his blade is still keen and yet sings in his hand, so he enjoys a fairly comfortable position in lord francel's personal guard. his peerless service to the fury will no doubt be one day rewarded in her hall.
he has, in short, few concerns in his life.
and he would endeavor to keep things that way, but for the arrival of the mysterious stranger in skyfire locks.
it was a sudden thing, really — one day, francel simply returned from one of his usual outings to providence point, saying that he had found a man without his memories, lost and confused and in need of help; as was his wont, the boy left his home with a bouquet of lilies, and returned leading an elezen man by the hand. and this much would be of no consequence — if not for the fact that an entire fortnight has passed, and still the mysterious stranger has yet to leave.
so, this is the situation that ser stephannot is in now: he must watch his young lord francel dote on this amnesiac stranger — a man who might be of common or noble or mixed blood or worse. several times now, stephannot suggested sending the mysterious stranger on his way, but each time, his young lord refused. "where would he go, stephannot?" he had asked. "i would have him stay until his memories have recovered!"
all well and good. but why must this strange "zephirin" fellow stay in the young lord's home? (and why does that name sound so familiar? it has been many years since stephannot last stepped foot in ishgard — he cannot recall, no, he cannot recall.) why give him that privilege? why not send him to one of the locks? (besides, zephirin is a common enough name. he could be anyone. a commoner or a carver or a criminal or worse —)
secretly, stephannot knows. this is the way that lord francel has chosen to cope with lord haurchefant's death. he understands that much. still, it strikes him as rather inappropriate.]
Zephirin? I had a mind to make breakfast — how do eggs strike your fancy?
[yes, stephannot thinks, his young lord has taken too much of the enchiridion's exhortations for generosity to heart.]
Felih had heard about Ser Janlenoux being one of the more friendly faces in the Heavens' Ward- along with Ser Adelphel- so it seemed only logical to try and poke at him a bit, gauge what kind of person he was. After the fiasco with the court, Felih certainly wasn't going to be approaching Ser Grinnaux or Paulecrain any time soon... The others faces would be time better spent.
"You're Ser Adelphel's companion, are you not?" he chirps curiously, slipping off his perch as he observes the man going by. "I'm Felih Tia. I felt it right to introduce myself, considering recent developments..." There's an amused curve to his lips. "It may help avoid further misunderstandings."
Having his friends accused of heresy certainly was a development if there ever was one.
(I am up for so many things! Feel free to hit me up on Discord too if you want to do more detailed planning or know more about the fluffball. Kitty#8991 )
[Ala Mhigan. Shitlord at large. Probably drunk in a city, hiding in the weirdest corner of a map, trying and failing to use a sword, EXPLORINGGGGG (tm), doing 15 quests at once, punching a Garlean, or standing in the bad PLEASE DON'T YELL AT HER HEALER-CHAN SHE HAS STACKS TO MANTAIN!!!
Felih is nothing if not ridiculously playful in his downtime, which is why the Miqo'te decides to be particularly mischievous when he spots a woman hiding in a rather odd portion of the area. He's not sure why she's crouching and hiding here- it certainly seems an odd place to be, and he's not really sure himself if he's missed something he should perhaps be wary of.
Still, he crouches down, quiet and carefully moving up behind her where she crouches, like a cat about to pounce and spook a playmate- and then suddenly whispers without announcement: "So, why are we hiding?"
[ A go-with-the-flow mercenary specializing in campaigns against Garlean forays or raiding bands - her family are refugees from Ala Mhigo so she's seen a lot of business and cash flow from the liberation effort. Win win!
Shameless flirt, drinks like a fish, rough around the edges. Good boozing buddy though. ]
[It would seem Khamu'wo got a memo about a certain Highlander woman of Empyrean Bellatorum persuasion who was making a mess of herself at the bar. As per usual, one would say. Seeing as no one else had the stones to go and collect her from the Quicksands (or in Zanou'a's case, had the authority to opt out), Khamu'wo finds himself burdened with the task.
Ul'dah is far from his favorite of the City-States, scant times has he graced its streets, especially if he could help it. Now he finds himself walking into one of its more deplorable establishments—at least as far as he's concerned, anyway. It doesn't take long to spot her, not when what might block his vision would only do so if his eyes were firmly planted in his knee caps.
With quiet, yet purposeful steps, he approaches her at her place at the bar, none too sure how deep into her cups she is.]
Ceridwen, 'twould seem you have overstayed your welcome. May we be off?
[Please make this easy for him... he is begging the Twelve here...]
[Y'mhitra is on a mission. She has been told by Rambroes that G'raha over there has the latest stash of tomestones to decrypt and that it had more information on Allagan combat and she is here for it.
She stalks up to the table he's at and stands there for a moment, waiting for him to look up from his work. She clears her throat. Well...? He's not going to keep a fellow overly-enthusiastic nerd waiting is he?]
When Felih was trying to sneak back to camp quietly, he unfortunately didn't take into consideration that perhaps, other Resistance members were up and awake, the Reach ever filled with people at any hour. He's carrying a bundle, which appears to be wriggling, and he startles when caught.
"Okay, but before you say anything, she was absolutely abandoned," Felih blurts out- and then the tiniest little white paw poked out of the bundle of blanket.
[ velas'a is a soft summoner boy, nervous and jumpy. he's wearing an ironworks uniform, except for fancy boots. (he invented robot legs under them!) also the smn horn, because he's proud. he has to be proud. he'll fight and protect his brother. he also smells a little of glamours. (you have to, as a viera. velasquez, as his full name is - him and his brothers' - are from far outside eorzea.)
there's also a green carbuncle with him. (he can talk, he used to be a soft summoner boy before dying - a carbuncle keeper who could speak with animals. he was also a warrior of light, but fell to his obsessions and the pressure.) ]
Felih is a master of arcanima, and he can't help but stop on a dime and turn his head when he realizes that the summoner's carbuncle is talking. He darts over so quickly it's nearly a blur, and his ears are up and forward, tail quivering in his excitement and curiosity before he suddenly starts to chirp in the Miqo'te tongue.
Hey- how did you do that? He talks! What geometries are you using in his summoning?
[As the title says, he's a book doctor. Okay for real, he's a traveling bookbinder although he has a home in Ul'dah. He's also a conjurer to keep himself out of trouble while traveling and also sometimes joins in on adventuring parties if a healer is needed, otherwise he's a nerdy mcnerd, reading all the time or fixing said books.
Dreams to one day open his own shop in the Sapphire Exchange so he can settle down for good. But is content where he is at for now as well.
Mild-mannered, quiet, and easy-going. He eats way too much and is probably too kind for his own good. The type to give too much and receive very little. He is a WIP, please be gentle.]
[ kind-hearted and playful, Yenh is generous with her time and Boundless energy, and can be easily recruited into doing whatever benign or helpful stupid shit you want her to do. despite her friendly demeanor, she keeps herself detached, keeping folks at a jovial arm's length. she believes her life will and should be spent to secure lasting peace in the realm, so why bother hurting anyone? fortunately, she finds it easy to make "friends" while adventuring and fighting for the good of the realm. ]
[ I am open af. don't be shy, i have a permissions post you can look at if you're not sure, let's roll. yenh works great with any genre and i enjoy loosey-goosey humor, casual slice of life moments, and Serious Novellas About Emotions And Fighting And Eorzea. if you're super duper unsure, you can hmu on that permissions post! ]
[maybe in the distant future fordola will have a redemption quest. who knows? maybe one day it'll happen.
maybe today is that day.
anyhow- here's Fordola, dressed up in simple garb with a cloak (to conceal her face in public), and given a sword that has definitely seen better days. it's not the best for the escort they're about to do but it's enough. and that's all anyone was ever inclined to give her- for safety reasons and because people wanted her to fail. no one would care much if these construction supplies didn't make it to their location. after all, these were just extra or ahead of schedule. no one was expecting these.
and she didn't have much of a choice or a say in this. other than to grit her teeth and continue to play the poor cards she'd been dealt. well, Fordola had hoped that perhaps there'd be an end to all of this. soon.
bright and early, she finished loading the cart on her own with a resilient air around her, scowling as her mood soured alongside the sun rising. when she was finally finished, she looked up to wipe the sweat off her brow and caught sight of a familiar someone.]
Huh. [she doesn't offer a smile but her mood visibly lightens at the sight of Yenh. her wishes came true.] Even the hero of the world makes time for small inconveniences like this?
[Not much explanation other than that needed. Can be played either at the heart of his power, possessing Estinien, or reborn-as-a-tiny-dragonling-after-his-eyes-were-destroyed AU.]
Felih has worked his way up the Maelstrom ranks- at least, as far as he can, considering he has to focus more on his duties as a Warrior of Light. Still, there are times he reports to the admiral, catching up on the latest activity in Limsa Lominsa.
Today, however, is an informal visit, and Felih is looking even more playful than usual. Felih steps up to Merlwyb's desk, and with a grin, gently sets down a platter onto her desk. On it rests a medium-sized cake, beautifully decorated, and Felih chirps, "I do hope you're not intending to work on your nameday, Admiral."
[Whatever, tank life, she can take the hate. Living Dead etc.
Anyway, here's Irhya flying into Dotharl Khaa... possibly with a message from Esugen to Mauci, or something like that. Gee, those two sure have been getting close for an Oronir and a Dotharl, huh? Perhaps you should question her on that, since she did come straight from the Dawn Throne...]
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