Aya

Want to hang out with a former Ishgardian dancer now a barmaid, hmm?

We could not have hoped for a better Magic-Admin-Hat. Thank you so much Freelance!

Happy birthday Dogberry! Sorry I wasn't able to make it, sounds like it was a ton of fun

Its never as soon as she advertises (and for most of us that's just all right!)

Is that a self-dig Coat?

Osric is actually the beard's name. The creepy fellow attached to it is just a hanger-on.

Franzie uses his magical comb-over to distract people from his third eye!

That's not a roast, that's just not true! *huff* :-] Edda just doesn't know how to play this game!

I mean... its Spahro...

ooooh.. nearly hypnotic avatar! Cute kitty...

Welcome to Balmung - soon, soon!! (I also played on Virtue, albeit very briefly ) Edit: Just do a search for White Mage on the forum.. you're likely to turn up a number of very contentious threads. My suggestion would be to give the entire idea a wide berth until you're feeling comfortable in your FF lore footing :-]

Reminds me of the immortal poem, Invictus, written by Henley (who faced more than his share of travails). Stiff Upper Lip, wot? ... In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed .. It matters not how strait the gates, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate I am the captain of my soul

[Oh! Sorry, I had opened the reply page earlier this evening and just now got the chance to sit down and write it up. Please feel free to ignore my submission!] What a terrific idea! Aya is an Ala Mhigan born Ishgardian - her father having abandoned everything of importance of him in order to save his children, leading his family into a refugee existence for several years. At last they accepted what he had tried to avoid, and lead the family to Ishgard to settle with distant (long scorned) family. There she joined her "uncle" and his family, and she and her brothers tried to adapt to the reality of life in the soon-to-be tower city, its strange zealotry, and the challenges of living in an inn and tavern depths of the foundation. Family tensions abounded: parents refusing to surrender their old ways, their old privileges and old ways, becoming little more than parasites on the hard-working uncle. Her eldest brother much the same, dreaming of fighting in the cause of the Ala Mhigan resistance. The middle child, Osvald, shocking the family by striking off on his own to become a blacksmith (a craft well below the standards of the family). And Aya, the pretty dancer with the charming smile. She pursued her dream of dancing, and performance, only to face the harshest of condemnation from her family at home. Soiled the family name, besmirched their honor, "No daughter of mine..." Feeling nowhere safe, and the danger of being a sometimes salacious and always irreverent performer trying to stay just below the notice of the Inquisition Censors, she at last felt compelled to make the fateful decision to escape the city and strike off on her own in the hope of living a free life to call her own. A year in the shroud as a barmaid and a sell-sword, ended when the pay from her company stopped arriving and debts built to the point they forced her to flee. She arrived in Ul'dah nearly friendless and penniless, using little more than her friendly smile to win a job as a barmaid from Momodi. There she remains still, relying on her good looks, charming manner, and overlooked canniness to make her way in life in the dangerous alleys of Ul'dah. Dealing daily with such threats as leering patrons! Wandering fingers! Black marketeers, and corrupt Brass Blades. She does her best to help her friends, and keep herself safe while quietly pursuing the good life and time to devote her pursuit of passions. She tips her hand from time to time to do what she feels she must, but most of the time she keeps her more enigmatic nature hidden in the shadows true to her epithetic avatar: the fox.

I still haven't done SoF. I guess I won't have to do the pre-nerf version! \o/

Seriously... this right here. I know that if I ever stop playing I won't come back because of this exactly. Its the same with trying to attract new players, "Sure you can buy the game and start from scratch to come play with me, but it will be three months of grinding before you can actually do any of the new stuff with me." Its not a very encouraging system. Well maybe that there is the problem. If they can't make their "story driven MMO" consistent with a "fun and accessible MMO" then I can tell you which one I'd like to give.

Gating things behind the MSQ remains my greatest complaint about this entire game. Its the main reason why, when people ask me about it, I reply that its a terrible game with a terrific community. That's just my opinion, but I'm honestly neither surprised nor pleased that they're sticking to it in Heavensward. Oh well

You're totally welcome Klinz!! Its like the one thing useful that I actually do :-D :-D :-D I'm the Ice Queen! Ice (Breaking) Queen! <3

I know that my involvement peaked and waned as the story moved on toward its conclusion, but I can say that this story line struck a chord of interest for me that none other has in MMO RP. I was pleased to join in one moment of high drama, and disappointed that I was unable to really tie everything back together in the end, but I am very thankful for the contribution I was able to make, and the way the story has helped shape Aya. Very happy to have played a role, and happier yet to have made some friends over the course of the plot I would like to express that the most deserving of recognition is Verad for his momentous effort, and unflagging attitude as a game master and maestro. I could go on for a long while about how terrific his plot and execution are, and how perfect they feel for FF RP. Thank you so much Verad! I do hope, when I get time (I know not when that will be) to write another 3 parts or so to wrap up the story from Aya's point of view. There's that moment of high drama, not yet properly documented, the lack of success for her primary course of action, but the surprising success off a shot-in-the-dark

Such a cuuuute drawing! Welcome to Balmung! I wouldn't worry about what type of RPer you want to be - just RP as much or as little as you like!

"So the rumors were true..." she thought to herself. Her position somewhat back from the boulevard didn't provide a full view of Verad's lawn, but it was enough to bear witness to the roaring flames of an all-too-dubious pyre. Slender shoulders shrugged beneath a long, hooded cloak--the natural accompaniment to a sad-toned sigh. Lewin had never known her - but, she knew the two had not been so very different. Had not the approaching steps of the censor hastened her own flight from the Towered city? Yet - he had dabbled in the forbidden - and when danger had surrounded him he still sought the spotlight of center stage. He had invited his end, perhaps relished it, and that is where their paths departed. She sighed again - reflecting upon just how much everything had changed since those days in Ishgard. Here she clung, yet, to the shadows. Here she shied away from prying eyes; diverted probing curiosity. How very, very different, than those nights before the adoration of the crowd. She pulled the hood a little tighter, taking one slow step forward. She thought, for just a moment, of what Verad must make of the entire affair. What indeed--she followed with several more, just as slow, light blue eyes drug along the scene in the fenced lawn-unconsciously seeking a sight of the man at the center of it all. The start of another long, quiet walk back to the city center. There the future awaited - in this too, she was different.

That couch appears to be winning!

I've never cared for gun blades, and never will I think

A grateful kiss?

Aya is from Ishgard. I do not think she will return there willingly - if she does return it will be in a mad flight to find out if her family is alright following the Dravanian attack.

Love Hilde! I wrote Aya as an unorthodox Lancer - given her backgrund. She uses movement, misdirection and body attacks trying to imbalance her foe and maintain a good distance. I imagine more like Seong Mi-Na from the same game