FallenFedora

[align=center]Stroud Forscythe Found Dead![/align] [align=center] Following the recent announcement of his retirement and the liquidation of his assets, the esteemed entertainer, Stroud Forscythe - most recognizeable by his monicker, The Dark Lord of Ul'dah, was found deceased in his apartment this afternoon, the still smoking gun clutched firmly in his palm. The cause of death is presently being treated as a suicide, though there is little rhyme or reason behind it - no missive was left, nor any declaration he might have intent to depart this world. [/align] [align=center]His last recorded act was to compile some measure of personal effects to be delivered to the eastern most reaches of Thanalan, where they were to be received by his retainer, Alternis Dementia. When inspectors arrived, they found most of these furnishings and chests burnt to cinders. When confronted, he presented sealed documents which dictated the course of Lord Forscythe's intent that such destruction be enacted. [/align] [align=center]This leaves much to speculation, given his relatively reclusive nature. What was it the man himself hid from the prying eyes of the world he deemed worth such extremes following his death? So far, nobody has come forth to correlate the story. His body is currently being examined at length within the local mortuary before it is to be cremated per his last will and testament. [/align] [align=center]Char Lohengrin, the one time owner of Laughing Armaments Magitek and Security Solutions - now one of many chief researchers working alongside local officials and experts to discern the workings of Garlean Technology left behind in the wake of Ala Mhigo's liberation, was contacted to join the mortician in short notice - when pressed for comment, none was offered. [/align]

[align=center]The Dark Lord of Ul'dah to Perform His Last?[/align] [align=center]Stroud Forscythe, the controversial entertainment figure has announced this evening his intent to retire and depart the realm of theatrics and drama. He has assured all prior obligations that yet remain outstanding that he will attend those private functions throughout the course of the month, but shall not be available for further booking to attend the otherwise lush parlors of Ul'dah's elite. Several speculate that this decision is due in part to his health, though others remain firm in the belief that it is to fixate his sole attention upon his more private dealings, having used his fame to garner fortune - and reinvesting it towards his betterment. [/align] [align=center]The Impresario, Edgar De'Rosso with whom Lord Forscythe has long worked with, had this to say: "The theatre shall find itself all the dimmer for his absence; For a Xaela, he breathed an abundance of potential atop the stage. Poetry, piano, acts of gallantry felling demons and dragons all - he mastered these things here, and made for himself a name I believe to be in good standing. We of the Moonlight Venture Troupe, shall surely wish him all the best as he moves on with his life. The show, however, must go on." [/align] [align=center]The Lord himself could not be reached for comment, his spokesman, Alternis Dementia sharing scarce few words in his stead assured the press that this was not some act of grandstanding to solicit favor or shock - purely a statement of deliberate intent upon which he had given "a great deal of contemplation towards". Alternis continued, stating that as considered appropriate by The Dark Lord, several large sums credited through his final, now exclusive, recitals will be given to assist in the relocation efforts of those displaced Ala Mhigans given the liberation of their homeland, in an effort to return them home.[/align] [align=center]As with much of the enigmatic masked Xaela entertainer's life, where it is he truly intends to retire and what it is he means to pursue following such a great life change, is known perhaps only to the man himself. [/align]

Stroud works as a courtier and entertainer around Ul'dah - if you're looking for someone in that venue for a more 'professional' confidant, I'd be happy to fill the roll. ^.^

Housing Rush 3.0; Rest in Peace, all ye lost in the initial error and d/c's. Gone are ye ever, but never forgotten.

(Given the context of the latest patch, I felt this entire thread needed a bump and an epilogue. Kinda funny how this story lined up parallel to Stormblood's MSQ before it was even released. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it.) [align=center]Epilogue; 1 Year Later[/align] [align=center]s4tLIRpdij4 [/align] Char Lohengrin set his feet atop the desk, lofting one over the other before sinking into his seat. His tail swished idly along his right side, as he removed his glasses and let them fall from his grasp unto the floor. It was already a terribly long evening, and this thin notebook sitting in his hands threatened to extend it well into the dawning hours of the following morning. His whole body felt as if it might begin trembling all at once, but the tremors never came... Was it anger? No, that wasn't right. 'There must be an explanation...' Fear. The fear of the unknowable and wretched abomination he himself was responsible for. His father's legacy - adopted like he himself - to suit a definitive end... Only to unsettle the stage upon which all life dances. His stomach churned and the first grips of anxiety began to tighten their hold upon his heart. Sweat pooled along his forehead and his ears pinned upright as if in anticipation of a threat surely some thousand leagues far afield. 'Such fools were we to trifle with that which we do not fully comprehend... Even Ashorea must have known better... Where did we go wrong? What signs did we ignore? Was it greed? No, even I know better than to follow my father's example... Pride? Ah, but of course it had to be! So arrogant was I to think I might improve upon his own designs, derived on a simple piece of paper without even the faintest glimmer of recognition of such forces that shape the idea they were meant to represent...' He swallowed the growing lump in his throat, and opened the notebook - his clammy hands staining the first sheets of paper upon first contact. 'Report #452 - Ashorea Mo'Thana' His eyes danced frantically from word to word, taking in the specifics of the havoc wreaked upon the Eorzea branch's research laboratory; The several mutilated and disemboweled corpses that were left behind in the wake of this -creature's- work. The large scale damage and expenses wrought with the rampant and uncontrollable invocation of aether in such vast quantities it would shatter any ordinary individual... It -had- shattered it... Whatever that -thing- was, it was certainly nothing of Hydaelyn's design. They had presumed themselves fit to fill the roles of Gods, and in their arrogance... unleashed something terribly vile upon themselves, and indeed, the rest of the world. A remorseless creature filled with nothing but agony and despair walking upright and speaking as though a man. '...But of course, what else could it have known? It was not water, but fuel that we sought to stoke the fire with... We coaxed from embers, an inferno... Oh Father... What have you and I done?' The various names of those employed at the research site deemed deceased began to spill out in well arranged brackets to include cost estimates as to how much it might cost to replace them. Everything - neat and orderly - as he'd normally like it. He shook his head, willing himself further until he settled his eyes upon a particular name that hooked his attention and refused to surrender it. 'Stroud Forscythe?!' His friend; The mercenary. This was to be his last intended assignment before pursuing a simpler life with his fiance... There it was at last, the guilt to drive him to tears and a fury. He stood swiftly in a huff, casting the notebook against the far wall with a wail of frustration. His breath became labored, as if stolen away all at once - there was a gravity of loss that took him, the like of which he'd only experienced once with the passing of his mother. 'We create our own monsters... Don't we? So then...' He felt his back press against the cold steel wall behind him, and he fell to a slump against it - face buried in his palms. Tears rushed past his eyes, despite his own best efforts to suppress them. '...so then...' There came a knock at his office door. "Mister President..." The door opened, a lithe young man announcing himself as he strode in. "...All reports indicate that we're-" The Miqo'te raised his hand for silence, shaking his head in somber and pensive mood. "...I do believe we are finished, Master Lockenne.... I would advise collecting your final payment and vacating the premises before you are bid fall alongside this crumbling venture of ours." "Sir... Ashorea was found dead; Shot herself earlier in the day, they think." The man replied, all three eyes averting to the ground. "...Yes, I rather thought as much..." Char closed his bleary eyes and reclined in his chair. "...Have the secretary relay the inquisitive minds of the Legatus to my office, and then instruct everyone depart at haste, lest they become implicated further... I suspect with the leak of information and our designs of some years hence they've come to collect what we would deign keep to ourselves... Primitive man has always been entranced by fire; And we'll play with it well past the point of burning..." The man inclined his head, before turning to spirit out of Char's office like a man possessed. His friend long missing now declared dead. His father's ambitious foray into sciences of man and machine gone awry, and now... bankruptcy. The nation-state had come for it's due. Garlemald came for Char Lohengrin and the skeletons in his closet. What choice did the man have but to surrender them willingly to whatever ends they might wish if it meant he might somehow salvage his own life from such a sordid affair? The minutes dragged, and the silence lingered as the moment blurred to his mind's eye broken only at last by the striding of several boot heels against the stone flooring of the militant escort following behind his expected guest. He rose, tail waggling back and forth nervously as he greeted the armor clad figure. "...Legatus."

I'm really glad I stumbled onto this threat, playing my guy off as a courtier (The male equivalent of a courtesan) as more the expensive escort type rather than 'we smash now, ye?'. This'll help a lot - and I hope it helps abate the stigma around characters that play these roles. (Especially the ones whom use it more as a backdrop, rather than the centerpiece.)

Welcome back bud! Wishing you the best of luck on reintegrating into the server - and getting your plot back on the rails!

Well depending on how far out of her way she goes, she might have heard of my Xaela - Stroud Forscythe; He moonlights as a courtier and is a stage entertainer in the city. Coinciding with that he also finances and maintains a budding criminal enterprise, which always demands more bodies to be tugged along on (un)willing strings. If that's not your speed, he's the benefactor and co-owner of Orchid 317; A hookah bar and lounge located in the mists (Ward 12, Plot 40) with more than it's share of colorful folk ranging from the (frightfully) maternal Eshea Tende, and the ingenious Percival Derolo. The perfect place to take a load off after a long day's troubles.

Despite running a criminal enterprise behind closed doors - Orchid 317 still manages a legitimate front in the form of a hookah bar and lounge and it could always use more optimistic attendants! If you're looking to try your hand at it, give Eshea Tende, Percival Derolo or Kanako Moonweaver a tell in game! Even if you aren't keen to pick up our colors and help man the establishment - the door is open to everyone, nestled in Ward 12, Plot 40 of the Mists! We hope to see you soon!

Our hours likely won't bump given we're predominantly set in the EST time zone; But the cool cats of Orchid 317 might be just your sort; We run a hookah lounge as a legitimate front, with all sorts of shady and questionable under the table arrangements run through it's back doors. You can contact Percival Derolo, Stroud Forscythe, or Eshea Tende in game OOC or IC - at W12 P40 of the Mists.

Though Stroud is a courtier and entertainer to the more exclusive parties in Ul'dah - he's also got his hands in several cookie jars himself with shady investments and the like. It's likely the two travel in similar circles to such an extent they've at least seen each other. If you'd like to explore it IC - shoot me a message IG or over the messenger. ^.^ Anything from casual conversation to free lance employment of the shady sort is on the table.

I don't know how exclusive Hathaway's clientele - but Stroud is a courtier who travels in considerably higher circles in Ul'dah; At the very least they might be familiar with each other in passing, if you'd want to strike up something. You can find a link to my wiki below. Do keep in mind I do not ERP - That side of his profession is entirely off screen, but it is there, and most definitely on the table for conversational pieces. Likewise he's got his hand in some illicit operations that are expanding around Eorzea from black markets to murder.

You might give Heartsong Sanctuary a look - shoot Kulain Qalli a tell in game; She's got a lore abiding set-up with regular social events that focus primarily on the Mongolian influences that were used for the Xaela design and culture.

Already Mateus is seeing an upturn in traffic from the RP community and if that trend remains consistent, I have no doubt at all you'll be on the ground floor of something BIG. Welcome to the RPC, and to FF 14. Enjoy your stay in Hydaelyn and the many adventures to come!

I'd definitely have to toss my vote out in favor of Mateus - I'm seeing a lot of love for the server, and it looks to have a steady foundation of RPers already upon which to build from.