Brynhorn Fiske, Refugee, Marauder, Scout.

Brynhorn Fiske, refugee, marauder, scout.

Art by the amazing @the-leyline-directory !!

Meet Brynhorn (Bryn) Fiske, an Ala Mhigo refugee who fled his home at 15 to avoid conscription into the Garlean army. He joined and trained as a Marauder in Limsa Lominsa, eventually joining the Maelstrom to help fight back against the encroaching empire and hopefully, one day, free his homeland.

He was on the battlefield the day Dalamud fell from the sky, and witnessed the horror Bahamut wrought on both armies. He barely survived himself, and was arguably a changed man after that horror. He also found himself burdened with a secret, a secret that left him no choice but to leave those he considered friends and lovers, resigning from the Maelstrom, leaving the newly forming Scions, and striking out on his own, to find himself, and how to control the beast inside.

Still, he had close ties with both the Maelstrom and other grand companies, often serving as an off and on scout for them, particularly in the snowy regions between Garlemald and Eorzea. That time is what made him hate the snow, despite his effectiveness in it. At the start of ARR, he is 30 years old, has served in the Maelstrom, and was personally given his rifle and now chosen weapon by Cid Garlond.

Fun facts:

Bryn's rifle is old Allagan tech, designed to draw aether from the user to form a condensed, aether bullet to fire. It was never mass produced since it took too long to form the bullet in a fire fight, but it is more accurate that the Garlean's gunpowder and metal based projectiles, making it the perfect choice for a scout.

When Dalamud fell, Bryn found out he had a bit of a hidden...power within him. Or at least he likes to try and frame it that way in his mind. It makes it rather hard on nights with full moons for him.

Show me your Blorbos!

Hey guys. I'm sick as a dog and don't have the energy to do much rn. Please make my day brighter by sharing pics of your blorbos, whether they're ocs or from a game/show/whatever! And maybe a little bit about them & why you love them? 🥺

Day 5 - Stamp

"Kaleh'a!"

"Hm?" The blonde haired Miqo'te opened a turquoise eye, peering out from under his archer's hat, noting the large Hyur storming his way. He looked, at first glance, angry, and that had Kaleh'a's tail shooting out straight, sitting up rapidly, half ready in a crouch in the chair he had leaned back in the Rising Stones, half wondering if he was about to have to pull a knife on the black haired man - Bryn, wasn't it? - storming towards him. That was, until he saw what was in his hands.

He blinked, eyes alighting on the envelope and wax seal keeping it closed, his eyebrows shooting up as he realized instead of death, he was about to get a new job. Ever since he had officially become the courier for the Scions, ferrying their letters or supplies or information wherever it was needed. It worked out well for him, in a myriad of ways, the first and foremost that he got to explore the world. The Scions had so many different groups in different areas that every time he got a request, it was almost certainly to somewhere exotic, new, and adventurous!

His initial adrenaline spike cooled, and he pushed up into a stand, brushing off non-existent dirt from his brown pants, and gave Bryn a beaming grin. "Well, what do you know. The mighty Silver Wolf has come to ask for my humble ser-"

He was shut up rather quickly by the letter shoved into his chest, blinking in surprise as he stared at the stamped seal, slowly looking up at the taller man and frowning, not too pleased with the rough delivery, crossing his arms and tucking the letter under his arm. "Hey, what's the big de-"

"I need you to get that to Ul'dah. Red door, back alley." Gruff voice, tinged with worry, and a bit of bite, and Kaleh'a suddenly realized that it wasn't anger in his expression. Those furrowed brows were concern.

His tail flicked, his eyes rising to Bryn's silver ones, and he nodded, pocketing the letter. Then, his customary grin was back, and he started to stride off, looking over his shoulder as he waved. "I got it! I'll have it delivered in no time! Even use the aetheryte, but that will cost you extra!"

The responding growl had the young Miqo'te hightailing it out of the Rising Stones, a nervous laugh trailing after him as he decided that he liked his tail where it was for the time being.

Ask List of Hypothetical OC Situations.

Your OC has their fortune read and the portents are distinctly ominous...

Your OC slips over on icy ground in front of a crowd - it doesn't hurt much, but it's very public.

Your OC unexpectedly wins a prize in a competition or quiz.

Your OC has a nightmare or bad dream and wakes up others by calling out involuntarily.

Your OC orders food in an inn or restaurant and it arrives cold and (to be honest) not what they actually ordered...

Your OC discovers that an acquaintance - who they view positively, but have no romantic feelings towards - has a massive crush on them.

Your OC must buy (or otherwise obtain) a new and decidedly fancy outfit for a high society event.

Your OC is handed a baby to hold whilst their parent attends to an emergency.

Your OC is out in the wilds and needs to make camp for the night.

Your OC is introduced to someone who they have clearly met before and cannot remember their name in the slightest.

Your OC is alone in a supposedly haunted building or abandoned ruin.

Your OC is teased regarding something that they actually feel very sensitive about.

Your OC receives a mysterious letter accusing a close friend or lover of wrongdoing - or perhaps even something truly heinous.

Your OC is walking along the street and someone runs into them accidentally and apologises.

Your OC is gifted an outfit or costume that is really rather risqué - if not outright brazen.

Your OC has already eaten and is very full, but is offered a generous meal by a hospitable friend they do not wish to offend.

Your OC is called upon to tell a joke or funny story.

Your OC is challenged to contest of strength or skill by someone of surpassing arrogance.

Your OC is approached by a friend or acquaintance in need of advice in matters of romance - or even sexual intimacy.

Your OC loses something important to a partner or close friend - perhaps something of great sentimental value or simply very expensive.

Your OC is doing a silly, and distinctly unflattering impression, of someone they know, when that person walks in on their performance.

Your OC is asked to lead the first dance at a sophisticated society event or party.

Your OC encounters a beggar or panhandler who requests some money to relieve their many hardships - their story seems genuine, but something feels off...

Your OC is asked by a friend or acquaintance if their new outfit (or armour as the case may be) looks good on them. It really really doesn't...

Your OC is bathing naked - perhaps under a waterfall or in a stream - when a stranger interupts them.

Your OC is asked to make a speech or read a poem at a wedding or funeral.

Your OC stubs their toe and it really hurts.

Your OC is travelling by boat or carriage and a stranger falls asleep on their shoulder.

Your OC is getting into bed when there is a sudden (and very insistent) knocking on their door.

Your OC is lost in a gloomy forest and it's starting to get dark.

Your OC wakes up with a thumping headache and no clear memories of what happened the night before.

Your OC is being lectured, or possibly even scolded, by someone in a position of authority.

Your OC has found something funny and cannot, literally cannot, stop laughing.

Your OC discovers that a rather straitlaced and reserved friend or acquaintance has secret and rather shocking habit, interest or kink.

Your OC finds a lost child in the marketplace or commercial district.

Your OC is training or sparring and someone compliments them.

Your OC is mistaken for a servant or domestic by a rather haughty individual of high social standing.

Your OC is forced, due to a series of unforeseen events, to borrow a set of clothes from a friend or acquaintance that is very far from their usual style.

Your OC discovers that they have a fan club - or at least a following of devoted admirers.

Your OC is watching someone attempt to do something at which they are extremely capable. However the person they are watching really isn't...

Your OC is in company when a remark is made about a race or nation of people that is, at best unkind and inaccurate, and at worst downright bigoted.

Your OC is watching a stage performance by a clown or magician and is called up to the stage in the name of audience participation...

Your OC and a close friend are sharing a room, but there is only one bed. A reasonably-sized bed, but definitely only the one.

Your OC is called upon to recount an embarrassing or comic incident in which they have been involved.

Your OC finds a wallet or coinpurse dropped on the street - a very full one with a lot of money in it.

Your OC goes to the baths or spa in a new city and discovers it is very much communal.

Your OC attends a memorial service or funeral and is asked, unexpectedly, to say a few words about the deceased.

Your OC accidentally breaks the law - or perhaps does so in order to achieve some higher aim - and is challenged by the authorities.

Your OC is gifted some rather racy underwear or beachwear by an admirer or partner.

Your OC finds something they though had been lost forever long ago - perhaps a letter from a friend, a picture of a family member or a souvenir of a even many years before.

I have just become aware that Tumblr will actually show you how many seconds ago a post was made.

I think I'm too fast on the like button.

Day 6 - Halcyon

[Spoilers for ARR, Stormblood and Heavensward]

“What was it like, before the occupation?”

In that moment, Conrad Kemp couldn't keep the surprise from flickering over his face, turning to look at the Ala Mhigo native turned refugee and stare for a long, hard moment. Brynhorn Fiske sat unmoving, gazing out over Rhalgr's Reach with a critical silver eye from their perch atop the outstretched hand of Rhalgr himself. Gentle wind, blocked by the high walls on all sides, gently breezed through the white hair of the older man, and the longer black, more unkempt hair of the younger man, tugged at their coats, and brought a slow realization to the leader of the Ala Mhigan Resistance leader.

“Ah, you only knew the Garlean occupation.” Bryn nodded, shifting the rifle laid over his lap, and a look of soft sadness passed over his eyes. “Yes, and no. They invaded when I was ten. And I fled for my life at thirteen to avoid conscription. But my life before that…” He didn’t want to get into it, what he had seen, how he, so young, was forced to see the darker side of human nature. How even without the Garlean invasion, he would have fled anyways.

“You knew it right as you became a man,” was all Conrad said in reply, and Bryn nodded in agreement. For a long moment, they were both silent, and then Conrad spoke in a quiet voice. “It would be inaccurate of me to say peace existed with the King of Ruin on the throne, but the time before him…” He trailed off, and he smiled, eyes wistful as he tilted his head up into the air. “Halcyonic. My wife and I were together, we were happy, we had not a care in the world but healing, learning, growing. It was all incredibly peaceful.”

Bryn nodded softly, closing his eyes as he tried to imagine a time when the King of Ruin was not in control. When the Garleans were not using his village as a staging ground. When he might have had a normal life. He took a deep breath of the cool air, and let it out slowly, sighing as he shook his head. “I can only imagine.”

“Maybe you won’t have to,” Conrad said softly, motioning to the Warrior of Light beneath them, to the small contingent of Eorzean Grand Company members milling about, providing aid or training to the resistance. “For once, Eorzea is taking interest in our plight, the city states are sending aid. They took the wall-”

“-and paid dearly for it,” Bryn’s voice had more bite than he meant, and he saw Conrad’s face fall, the pain evident in his expression.

“Aye, that we did. Papalymo was as much a friend of mine as he was to you and yours.” Bryn was silent in the wake of that admission, and it was many, many seconds before he broke the silence.

“There was a time I was ready to turn my back on my home, to forget I ever hailed from here, to stay in Eorzea and see where it took me. But seeing this…” He gestured to the resistance, and shook his head. “This reminded me there is something worth fighting for here.”

Conrad nodded, in understanding, his eyes softening. “Thank you for agreeing to fight with us.”

Bryn rose, and shouldered his rifle, glancing at Conrad as he grunted in reply, “Thank me after we finish this fight.” And he strode towards the winding path that led back down to Rhalgr’s Reach and his waiting friends, new and old.

Day 10 - Stable

Stable.

Is that what this…was?

Bryn lifted his face into the air, the gentle breeze of the salt water blowing over his face, filling his nostrils with the scent of the sea, and his ears with the sound of crashing waves. It was so peaceful, calm, repetitive and simple.

And he was enjoying it.

When was the last time he had enjoyed the simple things in life? When war or gods or some world threatening event had not demanded his attention? When he was able to just…be?

Maybe those brief days and weeks in Gridania. Maybe with the early Scions.

But even those times, he would not consider himself stable enough to really enjoy them. Not with the beast locked inside, the constant strain of learning to control it. No, those fond memories were tainted with his own problems.

Now, though, there was nothing but happiness. Nothing but time. Nothing but connection.

His silver eyes gleamed as his neatly kept hair ruffled in the breeze, and his mind turned to Elu, dwelling on her for a long moment before he decided that yes, she had a big part of convincing him that life was good. Was worth living and not just…surviving.

Even if his thoughts did echo the words of a haughty Lamb of Dalamud, they were true, and after a moment of reflection, he rose from his seat in the sand, and turned back towards the shared house he and Elu were staying in.

And as he walked, he decided he liked stable.