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FFXIV Writes 2024 - Prompt #1: Steer

Spoilers for Dawntrail MSQ up to level 92 and all the story that comes before it lie beneath the cut! You have been warned.

Xander couldn’t help but chuckle as he settled into his cabin for the evening. How do I always manage to get myself entangled in politics? I keep swearing that this time, this time I’ll do the wise thing and act as an observer as I travel, and yet…

He’d had his misgivings about going to Tural for the sake of aiding the nation’s princess in her bid for the throne from the very beginning. While his time spent in other lands often ended up entwining him inexorably with their political goings-on, this would be one of the first times he was going to a location for explicitly political purposes. Well, aside from his aid in Doma and Ala Mhigo in their liberation from the Empire, but that felt different, and he wasn’t as directly involved in the discussions when the time came to determine what shape the nations would take in the wake of their newfound freedom. There, he was one soldier in a crack squad amongst many revolutionaries.

But this time- this time he’d be traveling to Tural strictly to aid someone in a political maneuver, throwing the weight of his not-inconsiderable strength as combatant and advisor behind whichever person received his backing. And yet, while having met Zoraal Ja himself, he was inclined to agree with Wuk Lamat’s assessment of his character, Xander couldn’t shake a feeling, especially during these early legs of his journey, that he’d been talked into backing the wrong horse.

Wuk Lamat was not ready to lead these people. He’d said as much directly to her father’s face, which was perhaps a lapse in etiquette and diplomacy, but he’d been asked for his honest opinion. She had a good heart, she clearly loved her nation, but she lacked the forbearance, maturity, and, more importantly in his book, the support of her people necessary to give her victory in the Rite of Succession any meaning.

As things currently stood, if she succeeded in the Rite where all others failed, Xander had little doubt that her success would be attributed not to her, but to her cadre of foreign allies, and especially to him, about whom some few rumors from overseas had already begun to circulate. (Though none properly grasped the depth of his deeds, and understandably so, they beggared belief when he considered them from an outsider’s perspective.)

He knew all too well what he looked like, his introversion mistaken for pride and smug superiority, his strategies and candid words to a nation’s leaders taken as strings pulled in a coup d'état at least once. An outsider, the wicked vizier to the throne who held the true political power. (An accusation that, at least for Ishgard, he would be hard-pressed to deny- he’d really charged in like an aurochs in a china shop and destroyed their thousand-year foundational beliefs without a second thought to the repercussions for the people living there, back then. It was little wonder people looked at him either awestruck or askance after he’d nigh-singlehandedly ended the Dragonsong War. The tales always conveniently forgot his comrades and companions in their efforts to tell stories of Great Men, it seemed.)

And who was he to come to Tural to steer the course of its future? Should that not be left to the people who lived there, with his influence far, far away from it?

He remembered asking that question once of his latest lover, a man only all-too-familiar with the concept of barging into another nation and imposing the will of another over it, ere he set out.

“The seeds of Empire are sewn upon two primary concepts: One, that your homeland’s culture is the best of all possible cultures. Two, that all other cultures must, by nature, be primitive, the result of ignorance, or dangerous, and a threat that must be eliminated. You have far more self-awareness than I did at your age, and have ever been to new locations as a learner and observer. You needn’t paralyze yourself from your nature of helping others, so long as you keep an open mind and listen.”

Gaius was right, Xander had to admit. And there was most certainly a difference between imposing one’s will and being invited to play a role.

A role that he was only now coming to understand, in full.

“Guide Lamaty’i in the way that you think best. Walk at her side and, when needed, push her to walk forward.”

He was not here to gain Wuk Lamat glory, but to nurture her. To ensure that she grew into someone truly worthy of the title of Dawnservant. He had been invited to aid her because learning of other people’s perspectives might force her to reconsider her own limited knowledge, and thence grow.

I’m hardly a stranger to mentoring others, be it in the art of combat or simply the life of an adventurer. Xander mused, fiddling with a crown-and-sword-shaped pin he kept fixed to his lapel. This is- while admittedly a much larger task- an evolution of that same mentality. So. Best not to think of this as a means to steer the course of a nation, but rather, a way to steer Wuk Lamat along the paths that will help her grow and aid her people the most. If in so doing, she manages to succeed in the Rite where others fail, then so be it. But even if not… He smiled to himself. It will be worth it to watch another sprout blossom.

FFXIV Writes 2024 - Prompt #4: Reticent

Spoilers for the end of Dawntrail and the Arcadion Raids lie below. You have been warned.

Xander closed his eyes, foot tapping an uneasy rhythm against the floor as the blaring techno beats that defined the music surrounding Solution 9’s continuation in mankind’s ‘grandest’ universal tradition of blood sport echoed in his skull.

Twenty-one souls. All you have to do is succeed in this contest, and twenty-one trapped souls will be freed.

So he’d been promised by that shifty Lalafell- or, Milala, he supposed- Metem, who seemed responsible for announcements in this ‘Arcadion’. A promise that had damned well better be upheld if the bastard hoped to secure his continued cooperation in this nonsense bread and circus designed to placate the grief of the despairing people of Alexandria.

Then again. It wasn’t just Metem to whose expectations he had to rise. The thought of Celeste and M’hana’s eager eyes watching from the crowd filled his mind. Iori would bear witness, too, though he had considerably less interest in sport-fighting than they did.

Gods, I wish I had them watching my back instead of watching me compete right now. Xander thought with a shudder.

He’d never felt this nervous before taking the field of battle. Not in all his five years at the Bloodsands as The Golden Warg. Not in all the battles he’d fought with the fate of the world hanging above his shoulders.

Though he’d shelved his greatsword and tucked away his copied crystal of the Dark Knight, Xander could swear he heard the whispers of his shadow from deep within his soul over the roar of the crowd outside.

You seem reticent, my friend. Do not tell me that you, who stood in the face of Despair itself and won, now balk at so simple a contest. I doubt any foe here is worthy of gracing your blade with their blood.

He sighed. To the voice of his friend, his enemy within himself, he replied, “I’m reticent because I know the cost paid for the crowd’s entertainment here. I’ve fought beasts in the ring before, but something about using beastkin souls as fuel and fighting until I’ve actually slain my foe here sits ill.”

Though it was called ‘the Bloodsands’, in truth, actual deaths in the arena were rare. Waste of valuable fighters. Killing in the ring could easily merit execution in turn. Fights were supposed to be to the point of death, not to the death. Not unless some ungodly sums of coin had changed hands to change it from a fight to an assassination. (Or an ‘unfortunate accident’ had been arranged.)

And here, not only was he expected to slay his foes, he was encouraged to do so, to allow them to use their godsdamned Regulators to drag themselves back to live. Death here, not so much an ending as an inconvenience, so long as one had cleansed souls remaining in reserve.

A multitude of candles of life to burn. And burn them, these fighters did. Wastefully. As if the loss of whoever’s soul they used as fuel mattered not.

Hah. Those who fight without the certainty of death will never know the true meaning of life, the time between the seconds. If you wish to give the lie to their culture of deathlessness, then show them the capabilities of one willing to burn his one candle of life to its very dregs.

Spurred on by the words of his shadow, Xander’s eyes snapped open. “Oh believe me, I will.”

He drew his sword and shield from his back, laying the blade of his sword against his head as an age-old prayer passed his lips. “We who walk in Thal’s halls, for the glory and blessings of Nald, request the blessing of the twin gods. Grant the victor your gilded boons, and the loser safe passage.”

Though the twin gods to whom he prayed had been sent on their way to the Aetherial Sea by his own hand, murmuring the words brought Xander a vague sense of comfort. He could swear he heard Nald’Thal’s approving chuckle at his back as he readied his sword and shield for combat and stepped out into the blinding lights of the Arcadion.

He would show them. He would show them all that their abuse of the souls of man and beast was not only cruel, but pointless. And maybe then, he could finally begin to dismantle this corrupted system in full.

I finished Dawntrail last night, & I know it hasn't been out long, so I wanted to get these thoughts out now. Spoilers under the cut.

The entire time that I was playing through Alexandria, I was thinking about Myste, our darling little boy that wanted to help people. I was thinking about how similar the situation with Myste & Sphene were, of course what Sphene is doing is on a much MUCH larger scale, but still. Both of them wanted a world where people don't have to suffer loss, or pain, or grief, they love people so much. They also both use memories to bring the dead back, though Sphene does so by holding the person's memories of life, while Myste uses the memories of their loved ones.

I personally couldn't get my character to become emotionally attached to most of the endless, not completely. He wanted to help them let go, to finally sleep & rest, but he did not grieve for them, he did not feel guilty about their erasure. Because he's done this, maybe not with his own hands, but a part of him has done this process before, he knows how this goes, that it isn't more than a dream, unrealistic. He snapped at Sphene in one scene due to this headspace, as I imagine he's upset she didn't realize how pointless this endeavor is like he had. Though, then maybe she didn't have anyone left close to her to stop her anymore, how lonely she must have been, trying to protect everyone.

More Dawntrail blabbering.

I didn't trust Sphene from the beginning, I did start to like her more as time went on, but not trust her. After finding out she's a robot, I was suddenly transported back to the raids with Konogg & Anogg, where we were betrayed by a robot lady. I honestly started taking the situation with Sphene so much more seriously after that, as I was shattered after the twins were taken from me in that storyline, shattered I tell you!

When the only other Roe you'd see growing up as an adopted little lad in Tural is not only everything you knew him to be, but also a renowned Eorzean explorer and you two have a lot to catch up on.

FFXIV Write | Day 24 | Bar

Spoilers: Dawntrail Level 93

Characters: Annie Ruthie (Warrior of Light) Thancred Waters

See end of work for notes ^-^

⋆ ★ ⋆

Annie allowed themself to consume the events of the past few days with the liquor. The Rite of Succession was not how they intended to spend their time after The Final Days, and gallivanting around Tuliyollal completing futile jobs was not how they expected to spend The Rite of Succession. Tomorrow, they made for Worlar’s Echo, the home of the giants. Tonight, however, they recouped their strength before the coming feat. Annie was so enthralled they failed to notice the white-haired hyur that had taken his seat next to them.

“Well, fancy seeing you here, soldier,” he said, a cheeky smile spreading across his face.

“Hi,” their attention snapped back. “What’re you doing here so late?”

“I could ask you the very same.” He took another sip of his drink. Except, he didn’t need to ask them. He’s spent enough time with them to know why they were here. The two sat in an appreciated silence for a few moments, before Thancred began again. “Do you truly believe Wuk Lamat to be best suited for The Dawn Throne?”

Annie took a moment to respond, as they’d been pondering this question themself. They loved Wuk Lamat, but it would be a lie to say they hadn’t questioned it. “Aye, I do. And, you, with Koana?”

“Aye. He’s good, soldier.”

“I know he is. I think he’d make an excellent leader. He reminds me a great deal of you, Thancred.”

“Now, you couldn’t possibly mean that,“ he flushed.

“I do. He’s exceptionally intelligent. Haughty, at times. Fiercely loyal to those he loves.” They said that last point with specific emphasis.

Thancred’s flush reddened. He scooped Annie’s cheek into a soft, delicate kiss. They savored the moment. “Then why?” he pressed. “Why not Koana?”

“Wuk Lamat is also good, dear. She really cares about her people.”

“Well,” he began, another cheeky smile beginning to creep onto his face, “may the best claimant win.” Annie ‘cheers’d to that. “And by that, I mean Koana.” They rolled their eyes in response, pulling the hyur in once again for a sloppy, drunken kiss.

⋆ ★ ⋆

I've been wanting to write Dawntrail Wolcred banter ever since Dawntrail came out and I'm very happy with how this piece came out! It's not as banter-heavy as I was hoping, but it's SO my WoL and Thancred.

I really can't stand Bakool Ja Ja. And I don't even get the satisfaction of breaking it face , even better to kill that one. Just let me punch people damn it!

(Also, don't care about the tragic backstory. Doesn't excuse the attitudes and problems for all it can explain)

If Ja Tiika is a dense dark forest inhabited by mamool Ja, is Rak Tiika in the First basically what would have happened had the tribes switched place?

Okay. Okay, fuck. I knew that psychopath of Zoraal Ja was going to do a bad thing. But fuck. Fuck. Gulool Ja Ja is dead and we got android and matrix thief everywhere.

Need to scream into the void.

Fucking Sephis! Like false bitch, she make my hackle rise the instant she started talking. Great job from the japanese voice actress.

Also, oh no, my people are getting slaughtered by the psychopath I helped so we could go genocide all living outside ours, what a tragedy. Isn't it so sad?

No. No. You were literally about to do the same to all Tuyal, so I really don't feel like sympathising with you. You reap what you sow.

Small ja is cute but really didn't luck out on the family lottery.

Side tangent, who the fuck is the mother of Zarool Ja or Gajool Ja?

Otis being just utterly creepy and not seeing anything wrong with the horrific technology he helped develop. Just laughed about using soul this way.

Also, great job for the ambiance of these quest. Like everything feel ever so wrong, got me on edge. Like, okay they all got a fucked up relationship to soul, death and memory. Okay, thefe is thematic of Tron, Matrix or the Exos of Destiny, but just... what's going on?

On that I go to sleep, I climb the tower tomorrow.

So... the Arcadion fighters. Apparently get Psychonecrosis. This feel a lot like soul corruption. Like... I'm not the only one seeing the parallells with the Void Sent right? Hell, Zoraal Ja who gorged himself on soul became a Near-Void sent. And those suffering Psychonecrosis apparently get hungry for souls and possibly loss of self, fusing with the soul they used. This feel like the first stages of Void sentification.

Do they content as the Lightning corrupted of their shard, like Void Sent or Sin Eater?

Reblogging because my thought were way too long to put into a comment. I will try to keep it organised into point.

1. Their whole technology relie on soul and soul usage. Their knowledge and manipulation of it have to be on a total different level than ours.

2. Taking our souls out of our bodies isn't that difficult. It happen, quite often actually. But generally, the process used is offensive in nature, since it's to seal the being or steal its body, or use it for nefarious purposz, like zombie. Also let's remember that The exarch was not only trying to drag soul through the dimmensionnal rift but also fuck with time on the Source on top. Oh and also, he didn't really have them in his lune of sight, knowing where they are and "know" their souls.

3. The reason it was so risky with the scions was 3 fold:

- time discrepancy between their body and their soul. Alisaie and Alphinaud are good example. They are three years older, yet their body just aged a month or so.

- Aether discrepancy. Without necessary becoming a Sin eater, they did interact and evolved in a very Light rich aether world, in contrast of the more balanced one of the Source and this has to have influenced them somewhat. More light than they had when their soul/body where together.

- Finally, the souls need to cross the dimensionnal barrier... 2 times.

4. Teleportation and aetheryte network, if we're accurate to lore is actually a form of soul manipulation. You change your physical aether into soul aether, ride the current until your destination and then materialize again. Hell, our trip down the aithascope is us in soul form.

5. And finally, and that's what actually make me see it as maybe lore breaking, the simulation we interacted with maybe a form of advanced VR. But that stipulate that this simulation is working on different methods than Omega and Omicron one. Because you could access these one in a processus not too different from aetheryte teleportation.

5.2. Another possibility, is that it's further proof that all of the simulation was really just a very advanced simulation doing preedictive pattern extrapolated from the memories of people. There was no consciouness inside, and no simulated realm, the aether was merely used to power very complex calculation, and what we saw was merely how we interpreted it.

Omicron, on the other hand, would emulate an artificial realm/dimension, and the difference would stem from the fact there is soul and pseudo soul inside.

Sorry this got long

Overall, I liked Dawntrail as an expansion. The story is fun, especially the first half, the dungeons and raids have some interesting and novel mechanics, and I think they managed to do well with Wuk Lamat what they struggled to pull off with Lyse in Stormblood.

But the number of lore-breaking moments in it are driving me nuts. Setting aside even the timeline shenanigans, which I GUESS can be handwaved as "time doesnt always line up between the Source and its reflections" (heavy sigh)

The thing that really sticks in my craw is that we're apparently able to just. Choose to leave our bodies? And put our souls into the Meso Terminal?? And Cahciua just happens to have a plan ready to let us do this?

Like, there's a lot of lore already established about how bloody hard it is to safely separate your soul from your body. It's Aulus mal Asina's whole ~thing~. It's literally the entire premise of Shadowbringers, pre-, during, and post- patch quests. It took G'raha world shattering spells and the power of the Crystal Tower to drag souls out of their bodies and across the rift, and even if you want to explain that away as "that's not what he was actually trying to do, so maybe soul separation is easier than that" (and ignoring Aulus's whole storyline again), we see just how difficult and risky it is to try to transfer souls during the ShB post patch quests, where we have 3 whole patches dedicated to safely trying to transfer the Scions' souls back to their bodies.

Like I don't know about you, but my Warrior of Light heard the plan was "take your souls out of your bodies, shove them into the giant computer tower, and leave Erenville (untrained in combat) out here to watch over your empty shells" and went, "Nope. Nuh-uh. No thanks." (Before being forced into it anyway)

Who's my obedient little bee? 💗💗💗💗

damn it. damn it. they're making me care about bakool jaja. fuck. fuck.

Day 16 - Third-rate

"That third-rate cheat!"

Dawntrail spoilers! Wuk Lamat's camp discusses the present and the future after a particular escape.

No warnings, just mild chaos as always.

Friend cameos :)

Day 20 - Duel

DT spoilers, no warnings.

Kaida muses about sitting still while Wuk Lamat fights.

She only vaguely is aware of the betting happening next to her.

Place your bets here!

Day 24 - Bar

Erenville chats with his friends while taking a brief respite.

Multiple WoLs - mostly dialog! Really an excuse to use One Line in particular.

DT spoilers, no warnings!

Erenville in Arizona

Day 27 - Memory

Aggressive Handholding Ahead

Dawntrail spoilers! No warnings. In which Kaida and G'raha take a quick break.

Day 30 - Two Heads are Better Than One

DT spoilers!

Kaida returns to Tuliyollal to confirm what has passed and what has yet to come. Thank the Twelve for aetherytes.

Day 30!!! Last day!!! How wild!!

Wait they said no side effect on the Bat drink !!