Illira

Soo... I think I fixed my messaging? I did not realize it was blocked! D: I went ahead sent you a pm. Let me know if you have trouble getting it/replying! Sorry about that! :cactuar:

You sneaky person beating me to posting! But yeah here is a mostly accurate status of Unity's endgame. The third group, Aether, is actually currently in the process of forming, so now is an excellent time to get involved! It is a 'safe-space progression guild'; which really boils down to mean that we're an eclectic bunch, who are serious about raiding/endgame progression. We do regular Coil (at least one of our groups is working on t5 now) and EX Primal runs. It's a pretty chill/patient/supportive environment and while we're an OOC FC, we have a lot of RPers in the company ranging from Light-Heavy. Feel free to peruse our Unity site. And drop an app in if you're interested!

((EDIT: Hurgh. This is what happens when you don't refresh a thread before you reply. Someone else posts the same thing you were going to! This one is edited to match Naunet's posting style though. So uhh... I dunno. I guess I'll leave it here?)) ((Continued outside of the Inn after Antimony & K'airos leave)) --- Illira smirks, "Maybe not, but things aren't falling apart, which considering everything is a good thing, D'hein." “Considering that Eorzea is in a state of peace and celebration, things very well may fall apart at any moment. You just won't see it coming because you've no vision for these things,” said D’hein straight-faced. “Oh no, you obviously listened to nothing in the meeting that we just had not so long ago. We're quite aware of the situation. Hence why its a miracle things haven't completely collapsed.” “Yes, yes, and we need to hire adventurers to get some work done and fix everything. Now, then, as to that investigation.” Running a hand over her face Illira asked, "What more can I tell you about it? We need another investigator before it can move forward. Though Antimony had said she was close to nailing down the connections." “It would be a conflict of interest for me to do the legwork. Why don't you just do it so we know that it's done right?” Illira tilts her head to the side, brows deeply furrowed. "Are you really not listening to me? I've already told you that neither of us can. Even if we did have the skill sets necessary. I'm merely telling you why it stalled for the moment." “I'm afraid a delay in this investigation is unacceptable. It's already taken far longer than it should have. You'll just have to take Antimony back on as a contractor and work with her more closely this time,” insisted D’hein. Illira glares steely eyed at D'hein. "Absolutely not. She is far too volatile for such, even in normal circumstances. And under the present one, she is of a singular mind, to be with her new-found child." “No one is of singular mind. An employee is only as good as their supervisor. Whatever approach you took with her obviously failed. “That is simply absurd D'hein. It is not my fault that women is so crippled by her anxieties as to not do her work in a professional manner. I've seen this time and again with her. You merely wish to manipulate her back into closer contact with you again.” D'hein Tia frowns and speaks straight, "You've a hideous paradigm for asset management. Employees are assets which collapse if mismanaged. I've mind to investigate your mismanagement of Antimony as an asset, but I'll not insult you with such formality. I'll simply assume that your disability to experience empathy rendered you unable to deal with Antimony's human needs." Illira clenches her jaw, "You have no room to speak D'hein. I have offered her chances and support. I stopped today when I saw her to give her the later. Simply because the world does not turn exactly as you wish it does not mean that you have the right to lay blame on others. To speak plainly, Antimony has a right to live her life and her choice lead her out of our employment. There is no ‘blame’ to lay. It is merely time to move onward.” “By your own admission the investigation is stalled through lack of a viable investigator, isn't it?” D’hein accused. Illira replied defensively, if not a little angerly, "Because I have not had the time to find one, since I've been cleaning up the mess you left! I'm about done with you. You have taken absolutely no repsonsibility for anything you've done, all the while ordering others about. Apparently you've forgotten that you cannot order me about. I am not -your- employee." “No, but you are very helpful, and without even being asked! Thank you for that. Now, as the workload thins, I've no doubt your stress will retreat. IN the meantime I cannot emphasize enough the importance that this investigation move forward immediately.” The anger still in her voice, Illira responds, "I've merely been doing work. And as it became obvious that you were not returning from you vanishment anytime soon I had to take over your post, while still continuing on with my own. You think I'm here in Ul'dah by choice, D'hein? I'm here because of you negilgence. Ildur may be forgiving. But I am not." “What you call negligence is actually me artfully dealing with unforeseen circumstances. Let's get back on that bit about there being no blame to place, and see about getting done what must needs be done, hm?” Illira narrows her eyes, "It'll get done when its able to. I think you forget I have a stake in that particular investigation as well, D'hein." “I'm not concerned with your personal stake, Illira. This is professional, and I'd thank you to keep that in mind.” “You say that, and yet its the Dodos that you're hoping to catch in this. My stake is that I know full well that the Brass Blades are full of corruption. And that the Pearl Lane Post is worse than most." “Don't assume my associations when you don't know. My tribe's relationship with the SYndicate does give me a decent view of the Syndicates dealings with my tribe, obviously, but that's why I'm insisting you head the investigation.” “And my own involvement with the Blades is why I cannot do the investigation myself. So you see why we need a replacement found, ” insists Illira. “Yet you don't have one and the asset that was perfect for the job and practically finished the job has been terminated.” “You need to clean your ears better D'hein. I've already explained the circumstances to you. Antimony quit. She left Ul'dah to run away from personal problems with the intention not stopping until she reached Mor Dhona. Her finding her daughters and returning to Ul'dah now is unrelated. I stopped this evening to talk to her not as an employer but as someone concerned for her health." D’hein Tiia crossed his arms and smiled, "Not unrelated. My doing. My skills at asset management returned the asset to Ul'dah despite your failure to keep ehr here. She's the best asset I have in Ul'dah, so I'll just have to put her back together. I assume you won't go out of your way to interfere." Illira Carceri grimaces, displeasure cast on her face, "It is unrelated in that it is no longer the business of the CRA. Your own cheap machinations aside. Her return does not change anything. If she wishes to involve herself in a personal way again, I can do nothing about that. But she is not a fit for the CRA. Not in any reasonable span of the future at least." “Your opinion is noted. Unless you have a way to make the investigation move forward RIGHT NOW, it is not a helpful opinion. “Bringing back an unstable, probationary former employee is not an option. And that is a fact. Not merely my opinion.” “Of course it is. It's not like she isn't eligible for rehire. Even so, it would be best to take her on as a contractor until this single investigation is done. What is not an option is further delaying this investigation in any way.” Illira Carceri shakes her head. "I disagree with -your- opinion D'hein. The woman is in no state to work. You are merely blinded by your own desire for her and her daughter. Which given your.... proclaimed parental status over her other daughter is... strange and dubious in intention at best. You're personal interest in her is too close to have any definitive say in her employment status." D'hein Tia shrugs, "You'll have to take it up with Ildur." “No. You'll have to take it up with him. Her rejoining the CRA is not a given as you seem to think it is. In fact its the opposite. She hired on a three month probationary period. She had issues on both of her initial assignments, the first could be looked over, this one though... absolutely not." D'hein Tia turns to the side and looks up at the sky, "I'm not sure this conversation is going anywhere. You've nothing to offer me to solve the problem, do you?" Illira Carceri grits her teeth. "Now that you can start pulling your own..." she presses her lips together hard, as if holding herself back," ...weight again, I can begin putting forth energy back into it, since I don't have to carry all of your work for you anymore." D'hein Tia turns one ear towards Illira, the other laying down on his skull. He stares at the sky as though it's said something odd to him. "Energy back into what?" Illira Carceri takes in a deep breath. "The bloody investigation! I'm done here. You can look me up again once you've cleaned those furballs out of your ears." The Elezen turns on her heels and stalks away, not bothering, or wanting to wait for any sort of response. D'hein Tia looks distressed and paws at his ears, "Furballs? That's unsettling."

Just wanted to pop in and say I really like your stuff Ficus, especially your sketchier pieces. You've really got a nice art style and take on the ARR races, I actually much prefer your Miqo'te to the in game ones!

No pants gives you a tactical advantage on the field, its scientific fact! See the post above this one for evidence. On a more serious note, it looks awesome on Anti

Some minutes later, D'hein stepped back into his office, dripping wet. The bauble in his pocket had ceased to flicker, and he was worried that the water had damaged or even ruined it. This worry read across his face as a static expression, as he walked through the office to the empty milk bar once more. Glancing up as D'hein returned sooner than Illira had expected, she watched as he crossed the room back over to the milk bar, "It hasn't magically refilled itself. You can stop checking anytime." The man pulls a towel from one of the cupboards and begins to dry his ears with obsessive detail, inside and out. Just his ears for now. "I'll have to enchant it so it does in the future, in case of such travesties as this one. I am honestly only just becoming aware of how long i was gone. Had I known, I'd have arranged for the bar to be tended to." Illira raised a thick brow, her steely eyes squinting curiously at the soaked Mito'te. I would greatly apreciate it if you would refrain from restocking the milk bar while I have to continue sharing in your company." She stared for a few moments more, before letting it out heavy breath, "I'll try to refrain from asking why you're suddenly so wet. I'll just assume that your conversation with Sah'ot went just as expected. Now... You wanted to talk with me? For your sake I hope its a better one than you just came from." "Talks take two people, and Sah'ot only scrounges up enough reason and heart to count as one on the best of days, which this was not." D'hein said, continuing to clean his very wet ears and giving no attention to his very wet everything else, as he walked back over towards Illira. "If it's you, it'll be better, as even on your very worst of days you at least a person. And as you are an ex-Brass Blade, and an Elezen of Ul'dah besides, you've just received one of the highest compliments I'm like ever to give to one of your kind." "I suppose I should feel honored. But its you. So I don't," Illira responds dryly. "Now. You wanted something from me? Don't keep me in suspense now." Stepping up besides the desk, D'hein let the towel lay limp over his head and felt around inside his pockets. "Don't give in to stress and dismay. As pressing and, indeed, urgent and all-important as this matter is, it isn't one to be greatly bothered over." He pulled another one of the makeshift amulets from a pocket. It was wet, but still flickering, this one a bit larger and more irregular than the one that he had offered to Sah'ot. He took a corner of the towel and dried the item off. "My period of absence was longer than anticipate, so I unfortunately missed the holiday. Leave it to Sah'ot to sap all the fun and energy out of tradition, but what's to be expected from an insomniac? I should have known." He placed the item on the desk in front of Illira. "Happy Starlight Festival, or whatever it's called." Simply squinting down at the amulet in D'hein's palm, Ilira's response is delayed and cautious, "And... Why are you giving this to me, exactly? You've obviously singled out Sah'ot and myself for some reason as you didn't ask to speak with Ildur concerning these... gifts." Leaving the thing in front of her, D'hein replied tiredly, "Ildur's gift is more... practical. Considering his origins, I doubt he would find such a gaudy souvenir to be a thing of any value." Illira frowns down at the thing set down in front of her, "So you believe that Sah'ot and I value such things? Obviously, you have misjudged Sah'ot at least, considering your state of dryness." Exhaling a chuckle, one of his ears skewed towards the door as if listening for the woman. "It's a mistake I intend to make again. As much as I enjoy her antagonism, I also like to give her the occasional opportunity to take up a less villainous mantle. And while it may not look it, I do believe I'm wearing her down. She smiled, after all!" He meandered about the desk, speaking with energy that his body language did not maintain, "To entertain is to be appreciated, after all." "I doubt that, especially if your the butt of the joke as you so often are," Illira speculates. "Now, was that really all you wanted? I think you need to get your priorities straightened out. This was not near as urgent as you implied. In fact, I'm pretty sure that it falls right down at the bottom of the list of important matters to attend to. Especially considering the longivity of your... disappearance. I hope that you'll take no offense that I haven't, nor have any plans to repicorate this... gift giving." "Hm," D'hein exhaled a long, thoughtful syllable, letting his head fall askew. The digits of his right hand moved without sense or rhythm at his side. "I should think... Yes, I should think you would appreciate tradition more than anyone here. Society without such festivals and gestures is hollow and unromantic, scarcely worth saving and with little chance of enduring for more than a few minutes before cracking like a poorly tempered metal, too rigid and dry. No, Illira," he turned, favoring her with a smile, "With all your stoicism and arid demeanor, I think you appreciate this more than you let on, but I'll permit the illusion and let your fragile heart melt in secret, its veil undisturbed." Illira looks up at D'hein letting out a brief laugh, "So you'd thought I would swoon at your gesture then? So sorry to disappoint." D'hein Tia took a small, lazy bow, "To entertain is to be appreciated. Also, it might sate your pragmatism to know that my generosity does not end at Garlean souvenirs. A man of my means would be shamed not to provide something of greater worth." Eyebrows raising, Illira dryly asks, "There's more? Please. I don't know if my fragile heart can take anymore." "I might believe you if you were a more fragile maiden, but you're too intimidating to deceive me. Now, though!" D'hein opened his robe to reveal that he was wearing a frilled shirt with a vest over the top, decorated with silver buttons and chains as though he had intended all along to strip off his outtermost layer. If anything, the inner layer is more impressive than the sopping robe he tossed aside now. Taking the towel from his neck and drying off his face, he said, "You'll have to endure suspense. My own pragmatic streak would delay further gifts until we've got some work done. Ul'dah doesn't just get cleaner on its own, after all." "No, it won't. And now that you're frivlolity is over we can resume more useful things, like catching you up. Where did you wish to start? I've spent most of the morning writing petitions on behalf of local producers to cease trade with the beast tribes, using the angle that it doesn't support local jobs," Illira seemed quite eager to put discussion of gifts behind her. "Let's begin with my own personal comission," D'hein said, very seriously though his smile lingered upon his face. "I noticed immediately upon my return that Antimony's investigation had not been completed." Illira had been reaching for a labeled folder, when D'hein made his request. She let her hand's progress simply pause, Turning her head back to him, "Are you serious right now? As much as I hate that dirtbag Lamandu we have bigger fish to fry right now. Wait." She pulls back her hand. "Of course you want to know. Your personal business always trumps that of the greater good now, doesn't it?" She sneers ever so subtlely at that. "And when my personal business is the greater good, what harm does it do?" He spoke, amused as if proposing a puzzle. "I should think that after your earlier complaints regarding cooperation with the Syndicate, you'd appreciate the chance to get on their bad side a little bit." "Yes, but that does not mean that I am as blind as you when it comes to prioritization. I've been cleaning up the mess that you left as a result of leaving for several weeks. Antimony's investigation needs to continue, but we at present don't have someone handy to continue it on her behalf. Even if I was free to pick it up, I cannot. And you cannot," states Illira. "You draw a hard line," D'hein said, smiling wider, and then spread his arms, "Well, it is your office for the day, and I a guest. We will work according to your schedule, therefore, but I insist on at least an overview of Antimony's investigation before the day is out." "Hmm. We can go over the research later if you wish," Illira reaches over again to fetch the folder setting it in front of D'hein. Lets start off with riling the local businesses." D'hein nodded, "As you will."

I totally agree with this. Putting aside their purpose in the Objective Good and Evil worlds of typical D&D settings, alignments are, IMO, just a good starting point for describing a character's morality, whether they're D&D alignments or the more realistic (to me, anyway) Palladium ones. They're a convenient shorthand to say, "In general, my character approaches situations like this;" they definitely don't capture all the nuance of a character. All of the above are excellent points concerning the nature of the D&D alignments. Its important not to think of them in completely black/white terms. When I'm assigning a character an alignment, which I usually do (as it can be a helpful lodestone when designing a character), I always find it help to internally assign a secondary alignment; that a character tends towards in order to help create inherent dichotomy within the character. An example of this being my main. I categorize her as a Lawful Good character. Even if many may have a hard time seeing her as such, as a result of her secondary alignment of Lawful Evil. To be clear, I don't actually consider her the latter. She simply that she fluctuates between those two alignments, bypassing neutral on the scale. An outsider looking in on her, may even consider her evil. And while I do not believe that she is anywhere near that point yet, I am aware that it could happen. That description means something to me, as she develops as a character, and helps to guide when she makes crucial decisions. I think, where is she on the scale? And for a character like her who is sometimes rides that very thin line, its a guide. A tool. Thats it. Its a set of basic tenants that a character follows in everyday situations. This has really excellent in depth analyses of alignments, if there is someone that hasn't run into that the site before. What it isn't is a description of your character. It doesn't encompass why they are the way they are, their core being. Nor does it completely describe the full range of behavior and outlooks that an alignment can have.

Burned Cypress hugged her bare, red-hued knees, looking out on the rough encampment that she had sat herself down in all those weeks ago. She had stayed too long, felt as if she were almost a part of the landscape. It would be easy to simply fade into the cracked desert around her, so unlike the white capped mountains and dark, cavernous burrows of her home. Where else was there to go? The semi-permanent setup had been erected right outside the great stone Ul’dahn walls, was a sort of limbo. While many that were here found themselves frustrated and angry that they were stuck here, she found within it, a small piece of comfort. As though if she stayed here long enough, she would not have to face her failure once more. In limbo, it was one’s duty to simply wait, there was nothing that could be done. Tucking her head now, letting the side of it rest down onto her knees, the roegadyn watched a mother try to round together her fluffy-tailed children for a scrappy meal of porridge. Cypress knew that she could not stay forever. Aiswys was right, she had created an empty space by abandoning her post, and it must be refilled, though it was not her fault that she could no longer fulfill the purpouse that she had inherited and upheld for so long. Perhaps it was time to leave this purgatory. There was nothing to learn here, she would have seen it after all this time if there was something. Time keeps ticking by, it is the way of things, and by sitting she was wasting the little time that she was granted by Althyk upon this world.

((This scene follows directly after Just Two Minutes & What We Run From)) Antimony Jhanhi fumbles with the straps of her chocobo's barding while attempting to fasten her bag, stuffed hastily with papers and a thick coat, to one side. She leans against the bird as she does this, ears shivering. Sighing as she finally managed to secure the bag, her body sagging heavily against the bird for a moment. The best chirruped and shifted in confusion, looking eager to be off. *** Illira Carceri steps outside the Quicksand doors, having let go of some of her anger and righteous indignation, is in a calmer state. She looks out at around her surroundings, wondering where to begin her search. Airship would be the smartest choice for Anti to choose if she was indeed headed to Coerthas, but Illira couldn't remember if any routine ships actually ran along that route. She knew that she had to start somewhere, canvasing the local travel establishments was a good place to start, as it was unlikely that Antimony would head off on foot. It would also help determine if she had left the city. Talking with the gate guards might also be a possibility, but most of them required bribery to spill their information, the thought of which caused Illira to grind her teeth. Illira walked further out, to head down the massive stairs. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the chocobo stable, they most often held those meant for the Immortal Flames, but they were known to rent them out for short travel distances. The long-legged Elezen picked up her step, and made her way towards the small paddocked area. *** Antimony’s tail lifted and fell behind her once, the tip of it twitching. She placed her hands on the saddle and stared hard at them, the fine wrinkles along the seams of her face deepening in concentration. *** Illira’s eyes narrowed as she got close enough to see the a tail move about behind a figure that looked ready to head-off via Chocobo. *** Antimony Jhanhi let out a shakey breath, murmured a few strained words under her breath, and made to pull herself up onto the chocobo's back. The action was far more clumsy than normal as her hands shook and her legs felt as though made of water, but a moment later, she was settled on the bird. Striding over to the now mounted chocobo, Illira puts her hand out, "Ho, there." Antimony's ears flattened sharply against her head, and her tail swung wildly behind her, unintentionally smacking her chocobo's side. The bird squawked and shuffled, but didn't move immediately. Antimony seemed to shrink on the saddle, bowing forward. Illira moves closer, to stand slightly in front of the bird, "You aren't by chance...", she looks up at the Miqo'te face, "You are. Antimony. We need to talk. If you wish to leave after, fine. But there is still unfinished business." Antimony flinched, looked behind her as though expecting some beast to have caught up in some chase ready to maul her. "I... don't..." She brought one hand to her face, bowing her head as her tail curled around her leg. "I need to go. It's the only way to.." Illira nods her head, "That is your own personal business Antimony. But you still have CRA files and research on you that I need, so that we may continue the investigation that you started. You can hand it over and leave, if you wish, so that at least we part as amicably as can be. You cannot simply abandon your work completely without consequences." Antimony's hands clenched about her chocobo's reins, ears trembling against the sides of her head. She could not look at Illira. "I didn't... intend to--I didn't know they would..." She swallowed and muttered a quiet, "I apologize." Illira motioned to the side, "Then, why don't you get off the Chocobo so that we can talk?" Antimony worried the reins, keeping her eyes averted. The beast shifts uneasily beneath her, perhaps sensing its rider's distress. "Can we not... talk here?" Illira frowned, "Not while you’re on a chocobo, no." Antimony let out a slow breath, and generally looked rather conflicted for several, long moments before wordlessly turning to slip down off the chocobo's back. Her tail shivered almost uncontrollably while her hands clasped one another white-knuckled at her waist. "You... intend to fire me, I... presume," she said carefully. Illira pressed her lips together, "How else do you think this could turn out? You went without a word for three weeks, use valuable company time for personal matters, and then when given the chance to make amends, you simply try to take off on a Chocobo to Coerthas taking the research along with you! By doing so, you're quitting Miss Antimony.” Antimony stood very still as Illira spoke and when the elezen finished, she stood in silence for a time longer, anxious expression replaced with something more ponderous and shadowed. "I do understand," she spoke carefully after the pause, though her voice carried a tremor underneath. "Everything is... I wish D'hein had not given me this assignment, but I never thought I would find--" She blinked, shook her head. “The papers are all... all here.” Illira narrowed her eyes slightly, "You think I'm any happier to be here Antimony? The difference is that you choose to seep in your self pity." She glanced briefly at the Chocobo, "I can take the paperwork now, and you can be unburdended by these social and work responsibilities that are so weighing so heavily on you." Antimony closed her eyes, turning her head away slightly, and drew a shallow breath. To run was the only option. The spectre of the past had found her this far, but there had to be a far enough. "I understand," she repeated stiffly and turned to the bag, removing the winter coat before nodding slightly at it. “There... is much to tie... the nunh to trouble. I think. I would have... I apologize.” “Apologies mean nothing, though it is something that you believe you made significant headway in the case.” Antimony's ears drooped lower, if that were possible, and carefully unstrapped the satchel before holding it towards Illira. Still she could not look directly to the elezen. Illira took hold of the satchel, glancing only briefly at it before letting her steely gaze run over Antimony, "I do not blame you from leaving from those heathens in your room. Their barbarism is offensive at best. But are your certain that running in fear and cowardice is best?" The miqo’te woman flinched violently at something in Illira's words, reacting to a degree that would likely seem inappropriate to the level of the statement. Her ears swiveled wildly and it was several seconds before she found her voice, "It is not... something you could understand.” Illira pulled the satchel over her head, "Why? Because you presume to know me?" Antimony ran her fingers over the fur and leather of the coat distractedly, silent again for a time, considering or debating or perhaps simply trying to run again, on a less literal level. Eventually she spoke once more, slowly, "I cannot bear the reminders of what I've lost." This said, she turned to her chocobo, head down. Illira let out a huff, "Reminders of what you've lost? What about what you still have, or could? You said that was family in there. They're heathens as I said, but they are family as well, seemingly." Antimony's expression grew heavy once more. "Precisely." Her voice trembled precariously as she reached for the chocobo's reins. Illira nodded her head. "So you're a coward then. At least you admit it. I always did like your honesty." Antimony's tail lashed back and forth behind her and then, in the next breath, she was pulling herself upon its back, her shoulders hunched and shaking. "I need to... go now." Illira bowed her head, moving to the side, "Then go. I'm not stopping you." Antimony bent forward as though hiding and, with only minimal urging, the chocobo started forward. She did not reply to Illira. Illira walked back towards the quicksand across the street, not looking back at the retreating figures.

I actually really like Ember's proposal, and I think it goes far in addressing the issues and concerns as seen by both sides of this. Additionally, it would also remove the LF-RP clutter from the discussion of RP on a conceptual level, as they are very different things, that don't depend on one another. It would also make it easier for others to actually find what they are looking for.

With a heavy sigh, Illira let herself sink down onto the feather mattress in her newly acquired room at the Quicksand. She tiredly pulled the leather satchel’s strap over her head, letting it sink down to the ground. Slowly loosening the whiteknuckled grip she had just unconsciously subjected it to. If the Elezen had any say in the matter, she would be leave Ul’dah on the speediest chocobo available, now that Antimony had been found and accounted for. But no, the woman couldn’t be trusted to carry out such a simple task as sending in progress reports, or even it seemed, checking her own mail. The look on her face when she had answered Illira’s knock on her inn room door had made that quite clear. Her presence and reason for visiting where entirely a surprise. Antimony didn’t even have the presence of mind or capacity to lie, cover up her inaction. Which honestly, was one of the few reasons that Illira had not insisted yet for her dismissal. Qualities such as that were hard to find in the world. Her work was good when she delivered it, but it was obvious at this point in the probationary employment that she had the concentration of the fruit flies that so often loved to congregate in the Ul’dahn markets. Hopefully the woman would realize the severity of the situation and correct herself, though it seemed all too unlikely in the long term. Maybe Antimony was going senile. It would explain a lot, but it didn’t matter. One must own up to one’s responsibilities and actions, no matter the cost. Which was why she was here now, playing babysitter amidst this plague-ridden city. Kicking the bag slightly to the side, Illira brought her still booted feet up on the bed, stretching herself out on her side over the coverlet. Maybe she would go to see Amaury while she was here. The one good thing left in the city, not that it had been left to stand. She had not sent him any letters in the past few years, not since before she had spent a spell down at that post in the Southern Shroud at least. Maybe he would be happy to see her, no one else ever was.

I'll quote you again then: I'm not saying that they're not cutely designed, they are. But I don't believe that their physical appearance is terribly indicative of how they act, and their reputation with the world at large according to world lore/NPC interaction. And I don't think that I read into anything that you said, when you said the above. If you were trying to refer simply to player/racial stereotypes, which you seemed to be mostly doing so with the Miqo'te description, then you should preface with that. As it was, it did not come across that way. Though I think that Kismet did a good job of summing up my feelings on the matter:

I agree with the general assesment, that the main reason someone might want to play a midlander is that they are kind of the 'blank-slate' race. They have the least lore behind them, are young in feature, and don't have any notable handicaps or abilities. Hence they are easier for some people to mold into a character. Which might explain their widespread use? But different races work better for different characters, including the Midlander clan. Would just like to comment that Lalafells aren't really meant to be a silly / cute race. There are examples of that in-game, of course, because this is Square Enix, but that isn't representative of the race as a whole. Some of us do RP them in a real / serious manner. They really aren't that niche, or at least don't have to be. But... then again, you seem to be filing all the races into very niche / specific boxes, Fae. Using your own words, "You should make your character interesting, not just depend on her race to set her apart from other characters", its best to not judge a race on its playerbase, and instead on a character to character basis.

While I was writing the post, I was actually thinking the same thing, at least in regards to the Duskwright clan. Though, I decided to leave it out, as that is more of an actual cultural divide, than a racial one. Since I would not consider the Wildwood to be of a real notable distance from the 'Hyur pot'. But... it could perhaps be argued that the Duskwright are a truer representation of the Elezen race in its origins. But the lore in FF14 is kinda fuzzy on these kind of things. I do agree on the hairstyle bit. Which is why Illira is still stuck with the braids, as the only other choices that she would choose make her head look super tiny. :dodgy:

I have to say that I don't quite get the "human is too boring" response, as you put it, Seriphyn. And by that I mean as a reason for which to play a Miqo'te. Or for that matter pretty much all the races here as a base. None of them are far enough removed from the 'basic human' to seem like a real reason. And the Miqo'te are certainly included in this assessment. They are humans who have furry ears and a furry tail. Thats pretty much it. And from a cultural perspective, at least the non-city versions of them have a tribalistic bent. The latter bringing the only real meaty difference between them and a 'Hyur'. But even that cultural divide in the game, is far less than it could be. And I guess that is my own personal beef with Miqo'te as a race. I would like the bestial aspects of them to be far more exaggerated and for them to really feel like they are like a true race. As it is, they are more of a human subrace. Which is true of all the other playable races. tldr; In essence, Miqo'te aren't distinct enough of a race for me to buy the "human is too boring" reason as valid on an objective level. Though of course 'race' choice is a game is often an emotional thing and in the end is a subjective choice.

((This makes me want RP: . It also reminds me that Anti is supposed to be sending reports to Illira. Has she ICly been doing that? If not it could totally be an excuse for her to go to Ul'dah to figure out whats been going down in radio silence!))

The Commerce Regulation Agency is a built upon a group of Garlean supporters, though it runs as a legal Eorzean entity. Take a look at the link if you want to know more. We've been a bit on the quiet side the past month or so due to holidays, work, and IRL schedules... but we're around to chat, help bounce ideas around, and RP as time allows . Feel free to shoot us a message.

It is important to note that you don't have to keep a journal in an actual journal format, as Darien just mentioned. I haven't kept one any characters in this game, but for one of my old characters, after important RP scenes, or even just random imagined scenes of no particular importance, I would write down bits from my character's head. They could be in a play by play manner, or a aftermath reaction, the important part was that they were a time for me to sit down and sort out the thought processes and reasons for why my character was the way she was. As she was really, super, crazy (or super sane?) it could be easy to let her get caught up in nonsense. The journalistic approach, really helped me keep a grip on her and keep her consistent throughout RP scenes. I formatted it as thought snippets if someone were to tune into her brain at various points in time. I know that the 'journal' probably really confused anyone trying to read it, and they weren't aware of the factual happenings of the event, but it was really just an RP tool. A tool to help step-up my RP game. Anyway, just giving another take on how to use journaling to your advantage!

((Just a short in-game RP scene to help set-up/flesh out these characters)) *** Burned Cypress leans back against one of the posts holding the awnings into place, still and quiet, the woman watches the other refugees from beneath half-closed eyes. Aiswys Moenmoerawyn manages to offend some refugees by wearing her mask in front of them. She assures them it's not because of any 'stench' or otherwise, and questions them about trinkets and ghost stories. This offends the refugees more than her mask. A man nods at Burned Cypress as he passes. "Good evening." Burned Cypress's gaze seems to be following one of the guards, a fellow Roegadyn who walks the perimeter of the camp, as indicated by the movements of her head, that seem to follow her. She breaks away from her stare, as a man speaks to her. She opens her mouth as if to say something, but he has already passed by, and so she closes her lips, so that a slight frown now graces them. Aiswys Moenmoerawyn spends just a few moments with the refugees before turning around looking for more interrogation targets. She finds one and approaches her. “You look out of place.” Burned Cypress slowly lifts her head up, as a shadow crosses over her. "Should I not be?" She turns her eyes back down to herself, as if looking for something out of turn. Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “Perhaps not. How long have you been in this camp? I'm looking for someone who used to live here.” Her tone is tired and mildly monotone. Burned Cypress ceases examining her garb, "How long? I... sometime. I suppose." Aiswys Moenmoerawyn kneels, extending one hand towards Cypress. In her open palm lies a necklace of bone and a rusted medallion, or perhaps a very large coin. “Can you tell me anything about these?” Burned Cypress sits up a bit, so that she isn't slouching against the pole. She extends her hand to take the items and look at them closer. Aiswys Moenmoerawyn stands up, gazing down at Cypress. The necklace is made of small bird bones, pieces of the neck, most likely. “I'm trying to find the owner. I don't know his name, but he came from the Shroud.” Burned Cypress shakes her head, slightly. "Bone necklaces are.... common. But this one is less so, fragile as it is. Its not from the mountains, surely. But no. I'm sorry. These don't mean anything to me.” She tries to hand the objects back to the woman. Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “If I had to guess, it's probably some Miqo'te tradition. Perhaps that tiny bird was the man's first prey. Even if it was quite a weak creature, it has emotional value.” She recovers the objects. "So I guess you didn't see any male Moon Keeper wandering around the camp." Burned Cypress frowns, "A moonkeeper? One passed through a few nights ago. Kept to himself and left quickly." Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “Could you describe him?” Burned Cypress: “Not well. Pale with ears and a tail. The stripes on his face were vivid though.” Aiswys Moenmoerawyn chuckles, the sound muffled by the mask and becoming a non-descript noise. “Yes, all Miqo'te have ears and tails. Did the marks on his face call your attention enough to remember their shape?” Burned Cypress lets out a breath, closing her eyes, "They were... long stripes. Curling in over his face, promient. They were tawny colored." Aiswys Moenmoerawyn nods slowly. Burned Cypress: “Why... are you looking for this Moonkeeper? Does he owe you? That is something that seems common around here.” Aiswys Moenmoerawyn blinks and keeps quiet for a moment. Then, she says,“You could say he has a debt, yes, and that I am here to collect.” Burned Cypress: “You might know this then... why are you people so keen in debt collection? It is not like it can be taken with us in the end.” Aiswys Moenmoerawyn directs her sight to a side. She sighs. “We might not take it with us, but what is leant to us is missing somewhere else. If the debt is not repaired, that empty spot in the world will remain empty.” Burned Cypress: “So it is not better off elsewhere? To remain even when... The world moves on.” Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “Some can't move on until their debts are collected.” Burned Cypress: “Do you speak of yourself?” Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “I speak of everyone. Life is a barter. You take something and give something in exchange. Some try to only take from the world and leave others in need. A debt is created. A debt that must be payed.” Burned Cypress: “You are devoted to your cause. An admirable thing to be. To live without the doubt of one's purpouse is... comforting. Reassuring. Without it we are left to wander.” Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “Sometimes you have to make your own purpouse. Is that why you are here, between the rot and dirt? Are you a refugee not because you have no home, but because you have no purpose?” Burned Cypress shakes her head. "I lost it. In the end it meant nothing. And so I'm here with nowhere else to be. Hoping that such a thing will be rectified.” Aiswys Moenmoerawyn squints. Perhaps she's smiling under the mask. “You know what they say. When you are adrift in the middle of the seas, don't just pray to the gods; you also have to move your hands.” Burned Cypress shakes her head, "Thats why I left. There was nothing more to be done." Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “Perhaps. But, if you ask me, now you are adrift, waiting for a merciful ship to come by and pick you up. But instead you are just going to get eaten by the sahagin. Perhaps you should move your hands and swim in any direction.” Burned Cypress: “Can you not see that I have done so? I... left my post. Do you not realize what such means to one as me?” Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “I can tell you have a debt and are waiting for the gods to collect it. My advise is: don't. Try to repay it in someway. In anyway. Make amends for the duty you broke. Sitting here is, sadly, not repairing anything in the world. There's an empty space you created, and you are not doing anything to fill it by staying here.” Burned Cypress: “There is no where to go. I watch and wait and learn, for now. But of this, I suppose you are right concerning the debt that I owe. I left and there was none to take my place as I took my grandfather's.” Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “Life's a barter. You took something, you must give something in exchange. Back where you took it or somewhere else. The gods do not care as long as you pay. I will leave you to think about it.” Burned Cypress closes her eyes momentarily, "Of course. And I suppose that I should offer thanks for your insight." Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “Only if you give use to it. I'm Aiswys, lest we forget about formalities before my departure.” Burned Cypress glances around, blinking before slowly standing up, "And I am Burned Cypress. I wish you luck on your quest Aiswys.Though perhaps what was stolen has found a new place.” Aiswys Moenmoerawyn: “Sometimes they do. Maybe you will find your place one day. Farewell.” She taps Cypress shoulder once as she leaves. Burned Cypress nods her head, letting herself sink down the pole, and back to the ground.

*facepalms and raises hand* Thats me alright. And you wanna know the really sad part? Its not the first time its happened! D:

It should also be noted that they decided to dress the Miqo'te in a bikini for the screenshot and left the Lalafel fully dressed. But yeah, I wasn't too happy with this 'improvement'.

I. Basic Info Characters: Illira Carceri, Burned Cypress, Alcor Baen, Lamandu Tyremandu Primary character: Illira Carceri II. RP Style Amount of RP (light, medium, heavy): Heavy. All RP all the time. But I also love to talk OOCly. They aren't mutually exclusive things! Views on RP combat and injuries: Fine by me! I normally do this on text based, as with any other normal RP with some key agreed-upon die rolls thrown in for the sake of chance. I'm not normally a fan of PvP to decide the outcome of RP. It can work at times, but there is often too much discrepancy between OOC character/player abilities and IC ones for it to be an accurate determination of the combat. In its favor though, it is faster and can be fun if done well. As for IC repercussions, I am pretty open to minor/major injuries and even the possibility of character death. But neither of which are things that should be god-moded, they should be run by/discussed with/decided by the character's player. Views on IC romance: I'm chill with it, though I don't go looking for it. It should be an organic process and not an OOC decision on behalf of the character. It does offer plenty of fodder for interpersonal character development, which is always a good thing! On a side/related note: No ERP for me, thank you. Views on non-romantic RP (family ties, etc): I'm also chill with this. I've self-played family tie characters before, but its more awesome if others do it with you! It also fodder for interpersonal character development as well as being an excellent way to establish their ties and history with the world. Views on lore: Lore is sweet, and it should be abided by. But! Just because something isn't explicitly stated doesn't mean that it can't happen or exist; for that matter it doesn't mean that it can! Its a matter of common sense and of using the lore as a guidebook. Because it doesn't and -can't- cover everything in the gameworld. That is to say, that the lore forms a basis from which everyone can move forward and start RPing, but then micro-cannons spawn. And honestly, they don't always match up, and OOC discussion may be needed to align them if it comes to that. So... uh. Lore Breaking is bad, but sometimes it needs to be bent. Views on chat functions (/say, /linkshell, etc): /say is always IC for me (if an OOC comment is needed (( ______ )) works fine). Everything else, unless otherwise specified, is OOC. The reason behind this is that I believe that RP, if at all possible, should be done out in the open to encourage interaction with the environment and people at large. The other channels should be agreed upon ahead of time to be one thing or another. An example being that you're RPing somewhere, that the outside world shouldn't have access to (such as a locked basement), so you move RP into party chat. The same thing goes for other channels. They should used in accordance to a realistic level of what others can hear. Of course, I have plenty of flexibility on this, but that is what good OOC communication is for! III. Other Info Country: USA Timezone: EST Contact info: PMs through this site are fine. I mostly do RP in Skype chat these days.

Through mining and botany it's actually possible to estimate the size of each area and they are tiny. The gate to Ul'dah is only 360 yalms/yards (a fifth of a mile) from the ore in Copperbell Mines, which means the entire Western Thanalan area would span maybe just above a mile diagavaonally. D| I just refuse to believe the world is really that small. It makes no sense. Squeenix sucks at distance and that's it. When you take into consideration the logistics behind what is needed to support significant populations, as is presented by multiple large cities, town, outposts, etc. it makes even less sense. Beyond just needing space for all those people, you need land to grow crops, raise livestock (and let me just say that the raising of livestock takes a considerable amount of land... more than western thanalan apparently >.>), mining, etc. Not to mention that it would be virtually impossible to have the sheer range of environments that the game displays. The sort of significant population indicated by the game's lore, environments, and the daily life that the game presents would pretty much dwarf the world if it is as small as you imply Lament. It would simply be unsustainable to more than few mid-sized townships at best, based off of sqaure footage alone. Anymore and the world would be facing a serious hunger problem due to overpopulation.

While none of my characters have any intended real life counterparts, I managed to find some castings for a couple of them.

We are streaming our play over on http://www.twitch.tv/daijeen feel free to stop by and say hello!