StoriesOfOld

We've been happy to have a lot of new friends joining the FC these past few weeks, and we're looking forward to more chatting, leveling, and roleplaying fun ahead. I'll take this opportunity to plug Saachi's FFXIV tumblr at http://crimson-thorns.tumblr.com/ 1) because it's fun and I like her and you should, too, and 2) because she's got some great group and solo pics of FC members on there. We did a big photo shoot the other day. Thanks to everyone who came out for that! We're getting close to our second airship, too, if I'm not mistaken. Ship 1, the Healing Wind, has been exploring the skies for a month now! Stay tuned for more updates~

AoE has constructed a crafting workshop in their basement, and we're putting the finishing touches on our first airship! Stop in and say hi to some of our new members, and check out the progress.:thumbsup:

I have a character and an NPC that I think would add some color to this event. Count me in! I think this'll be fun, because the insides of FC houses could be some of the last "unexplored" territory in the game. A real adventure!

The cultlike terrorist group, Scorched Earth, has struck again, kidnapping a member of AoE, and seeking artifacts with the power to create an unstoppable golem army. Can our heroes rescue Albert in time? Join the fight in game, and check out all the action over at aoe-ffxiv.enjin.com!

There's still time to enter the screenshot contest, and no reason not to. Show off your character's sexy and/or badass bod in a swimsuit or yukata. *Everyone*looks good in a yukata.

[align=center]Moonfire Farewell and Rising Falling Beach Party and Screenshot Competition - OOC Info![/align] What: We're having a party, and holding a screenshot contest, as you may have gathered. Who: This is a server-wide RP event for Gilgamesh. We'd like you to come! When: Saturday, September 6th, 6 PM CST Where: Mist, Ward 4, down on the beach Why: To enjoy all the decorations, fireworks, and other seasonal goodies before they disappear. And because parties are fun! How: As long and as hard as we're able. The Party: Let's make sure the Moonfire Faire and Rising go out with a bang. This is your chance to show off your best swimsuit or yukata (or all of them!), set off fireworks, let everyone admire your cute new minions, do the bomb dance with dozens of people, and of course spray each other with champagne. The beach is big, so let's fill it up with tons of awesome RP! In remembrance of the reason for the Rising, Talin and other AoE folk will be collecting donations for wounded survivors of Carteneau and those displaced by the Calamity. This is not something you need to give actual gil or items towards; just RP giving or not, as you think your character would. If you want to help injured soldiers in our world, consider donating to the Wounded Warrior Project. The Screenshot Contest: To make the memories of these fun seasonal events last all through the year, why not take some memorable screenshots? Engage in some friendly competition as you try to snap the best Rising, Moonfire Faire, or general summer-themed in-game picture. Entries will be accepted starting now, until a week from now, Friday the 5th. We won't have long to judge the entries, so we ask you to limit yourself to two entries per person. If more than two are entered by the same person, the first two we receive will be the ones we include in the contest. You may apply frames, filters, etc. to your entry if you like, but the main focus of the screenshots should be on the content. Images may include one or more characters, but it is not required. Entering this contest acknowledges that you give permission for us to post your screenshot(s) after the contest has ended, so long as we give you full credit for your image. We're offering the choice of Sea Breeze Summer Halter or South Seas Talisman to the winner, and the remaining item to the runner-up. Winners will be announced during the RP event, but later will be posted online. How to Enter: Send your screenshots, or a link to them, to me or Adolar. Enjin: AegisArete Adolar Stone RPC: StoriesOfOld Varryn In-Game: Send a link to Talin Rhela, Dovan Dracht, or Adolar Stone If you're not interested in entering, but ARE interested in helping us judge, you can contact us in the same ways. We'll see you at the beach!

[align=center][/align] Greetings, my fine and festive fellow Eorzeans. I, Dovan Dracht, friend and constant ally to all who revel in revelry, am pleased to announce a shindig on the shore, a soiree upon the sand, the celebration of the season! On [Eorzean equivalent of Saturday, September 6th, 6PM CST], join everybody who's anybody in Mist, Ward 4, in celebrating both the close of the Moonfire Faire, and the "Rising," which, as I understand it, commemorates six (relatively) quiet years of having not even one additional moon dropped on our collective heads. We are calling it the "Moonfire Farewell and Rising Falling Beach Party and Screenshot Contest." (...well, *I* am calling it that. Others seem to have settled on "Moonfire Farewell" or "that one beach party, you know?" Tch. Pearls before swine.) [align=center][/align] [align=center]The face of a man you can trust[/align] Picture it now, in your mind's eye: you and your attractive companions, cutting dashing figures in yukata or swimwear, and cutting a rug with the latest bomb-themed dance moves. (Not cutting a *literal* rug, of course - how wasteful!) Splashing in the surf, sunning yourself on the pristine sand. Champagne toasts at sunset, and the opportunity to discover, once and for all, if you do, in fact, like long walks along the beach. Ooh and ahh over the fireworks display in the company of your friends, lovers, and perhaps lovers-to-be, for how can they resist such an evening of scantily-clad whimsy and romance? My admirable associate Adolar reminds me to remind *you* of the diverting contest we've arranged. We've recently come into a windfall of curious magiteknical wonders - flat, crystalline lenses the size of a student's slate. When activated, such a device reproduces on its surface (the "screen") the image of that at which it was pointed (or "shot," as it almost seems to fire out a blast of light as it captures the image, or "screenshot."). How came we by these marvels? Best not to concern yourself with the details. Consider them "salvaged," "repurposed," or "liberated," if you will. Now, the contest element comes from you (yes, you) utilizing aforementioned device to capture a scene of beauty, amusement, or, my personal favorite, unbridled sexiness, centered around the theme of the Moonfire Faire and/or Rising celebrations. Our supplies, though plentiful, are still limited, so we must ask you to grace us with only one or two of your artistic visions. For prizes, we've quite the summertime treat. The Black Sails, in the course of their totally legitimate business endeavors, happened across a certain amulet, a talisman, if you will, which seems to constantly radiate the heat of the South Seas island from which it was liberated. (There's that word again - what heroic liberators we all are!) The heat does not harm the flesh, but wearing a flammable shirt in conjunction with the talisman is not recommended by Maelstrom Fire Marshal Groenswyv, shall we say. When worn about the neck, as one typically does with a necklace, it causes strange swirls of ink to cover one's shoulder and upper arm, in a manner both geometric and aesthetically pleasing. It is a fascinating process, and, from what I understand, only mildly excruciating. [align=center] Wondrous though this technology is, this image lacks the resolution to show his tears.[/align] The second item is a fine fashion with a tragic tale. It is said that a handsome pirate captain of some renown came to be plagued by a particularly aggressive gigantshark. The shark would ram the sides of his ship, and even tried to leap up on deck with him, so he had to put the creature down. When he hauled the beast out of the sea to gloat in his victory, he saw no shark, but a bikini-clad woman, dying on the captain's own harpoon. She had been a swimmer ensorcelled, who yet loved the captain despite her finned form. As she died in his arms (which so often occurs in these sorts of stories), the captain was said to remark, "She stormed into me life like Leviathan himself, but left as gentle as a sea breeze in summer." Whether you are stirred by this possibly apocryphal offering, or merely by the thought of you or your lover donning this attractive garment, surely you can agree it is a worthwhile prize. [align=center] Miqo'te not included in prize package. [/align] Various refreshing and enlivening beverages will be available for purchase courtesy of The Fourth Wall, Mist Ward 4's only worthwhile (and possibly only) drinking establishment. Remember to buy at least two bottles of champagne - one to drink, one to spray. Three, I suppose, if you intend to, say, launch a ship. If you wish for us to make use of your or your company's generosity in some way for this noteworthy event, please alert me or Adolar regarding your intended contribution, so we may credit you appropriately, and sing praises unto your name. If you wish to utilize this lively party as a platform for one of your tedious pet causes, do take a number - I believe the bleeding-hearts of Area of Effect have that element covered. They'll be collecting donations for those wounded or displaced in the Calamity. The Eorzean Gambit's contribution of copious amounts of alcohol is, I think, a sort of charitable work in its own way. [align=center] The Fourth Wall. One wonders how often items therein are broken.[/align] In conclusion, join us for an elegant evening of starlit conversation, and inebriated, nearly-naked adventurers playing with incendiary devices. What could possibly go wrong?

We wound up donating 65 cans to a local food pantry, in conjunction with the Pearl Alley charity event. That means 65 people came out to show their support. Great job, everybody!

The event was a HUGE success! Tons of people showed up to participate in various ways. Will post screenshots and a final headcount soon. Thank you so much to everyone who came out tonight, even if it was just a few minutes!

I typically work late on Thursdays, but I'll be there as soon as I can, in either a Talin-y or Dovanesque capacity. The last one in Camp Bronze Lake was a nice time.

That's a fabulous name. I'll be there if I at all can, and let my FC mates know what's happening when.

Thank you to the Golden Sands and Envisage of Night for your IC and OOC support, and thank you to our independent contributors, as well. If anyone wants to help out in or out of game, we can still use plenty more supplies, and I'd be delighted to see someone who wanted to contribute or match canned food donation IRL in his or her home town. :love:

Thank you! Your words give me a lot of encouragement. If you can manage to squeeze onto the server, you could always bring an alt (one-shot or otherwise) to the event. We'd love to have you!

[align=center]Charitable Deeds in the Desert: [/align] [align=center]Providing for Pearl Alley[/align] [align=center][/align] [align=left]What: Street Outreach/Low-Level Item Giveaway [/align] [align=left]When: July 25th, 7PM CST (Convert to your timezone) [/align] [align=left]Where: (Gilgamesh) Pearl Alley, Ul'dah [/align] [align=left]Who: Play crafters wanting to give back to the community, play heroes who want to do more, play someone in need of help. But it's hardly an RP event if we all just agree. If you have a character who opposes these activities for any reason, we want you there! [/align] [align=left]Why: Even (or especially) in a static game environment, it's fun to feel like your character is making a difference. Plus, you'll be making a difference in the real world - for every character that shows up and roleplays, we'll be donating a can of food to a local food pantry. Showing up to hand out or accept a few loaves of knight bread will be putting real food in the belly of someone who needs it. Description: Ul’dah is known for many things: a hub of commerce, a gathering place for heroes looking to make their fortune, a land rich of history as well as of coin... But if there’s one thing it is not famous for—it would be compassion. This Friday (June 25th), Area of Effect invites adventurers from all across Eorzea to join us in bringing kindness and charity back to a city that could sorely use it. Bring yourself, a friend and your spirit of generosity (whether it be food, clothes, or just a kind word for ears not used to hearing them) and come make a difference in Eorzea’s desert city. [/align] [align=left]OOC: Basically we're distributing low-level items for free to anyone who wants or needs them, and RPing with those receptive. No one will be turned away, as long as we have supplies. [/align] This event is largely being spread IC by word-of-mouth. If your character hasn't heard about it from their FC leader or over a linkshell, please contact Talin Rhela in-game, or ask anyone from Area of Effect. Alternately, he or she might have come by the information another way. Popupu Pupu, Mortified Merchant, Overheard at the Quicksand - Adelaida, Savvy Ul'dahn Shopper - Broken Granite, Roegadyn of Pearl Alley - Area of Effect hopes you'll find the time to stop by and RP, this Friday the 25th, at 7PM CST. It'll be fun, and you'll be helping people in need in both Eorzea and our world. If you have any questions about this event, how to get involved, or how to help, please feel free to ask in this thread, message me here on the RPC, or send a /tell to Talin Rhela, Kalen Cook, or anyone with an AoE tag over their head. Special thanks to XifangCrimson for creating the image, and mentoring me through creating an event. Could not have done this without her!

We'll miss you, Chiyo! Safe travels as you explore a new world!

AoE has been busy lately. We had a good showing at the event GOLD hosted at Camp Bronze Lake, and have done numerous IC dungeon runs. Tomorrow (July 18), we're hosting an event of our own, a potluck picnic in Ward 6 of Lavender Beds. Hang around afterwards to come check out our new house! Read more about the event here. See what else we've been up to in our gallery of screenshots!

The following is faithfully posted in all the major cities, as well as Camp Drybone, Fallgourd Float, Aleport, and other, more far-flung outposts. Instructions for getting into contact with the company are included.OOC Stuff:Area of Effect is a friendly, laid-back, roleplaying Free Company on the Gilgamesh server. We're fairly new, but we recently purchased a house, already have several events in the works, and, most importantly, are excited to meet and RP with lots of people, new and old. Our focus, both in and out of character, is on open communication and collaboration, and on helping others enjoy the people and places of Eorzea at their own pace. We're bringing together like-minded individuals who want to do something good for a world in turmoil, and urge each member to think outside the individual and behave as a team, spreading acts of kindness, compassion and philanthropy to those in need.We realize there are lots of wonderful FC & LS options to choose from. We hope you'll choose ours! AoE might be a good fit for any of the following reasons::chocobo: You want to roleplay a real "good guy" character, who goes out and performs charitable acts and heroic deeds in his or her downtime, and you want to surround yourself with like-minded individuals.:cactuar: Your character has a shady past, but he or she is looking to turn over a new leaf, or just lay low for a while.:chocobo: You want a company that will help you with game content, but won't make you feel pressured to rush through it.:cactuar: You're new to roleplaying, and want to learn more about it.:chocobo: You're new to FFXIV, and you're looking for a community that will help you learn the ropes without making you feel embarrassed.:cactuar: You see membership in an FC as a fun way to socialize and enjoy the game, rather than a job or an obligation.:chocobo: You want to get in on a growing Free Company, and play an active role in leveling and building it, and shaping its future.:cactuar: You've got a character idea you've been wanting to try out, or a character that's been sidelined for a while, and want to give them a fresh start.:chocobo: Your own inscrutable reasons. How mysterious!Even if you think AoE isn't right for you, or you already have an FC commitment, we can still be buddies. Let us know how we can help make your event or RP a success. Our FC chat is OOC, but we have an IC linkshell, too. (Yeah, I know there are about a million of these things, but if you want to join ours, we'd be happy to have you!)Our company is called Area of Effect because we believe that everybody can make a greater impact on the world than they imagine. AoE is usually associated with damage, but it's our goal to make our impact a positive one. Whether as members, friends, or allies, I can't wait to see the stories we'll tell together, and to see what a difference each of us can make.[align=center][/align]