Alothia

Been there, done that. And anyone who doesn't understand that sometimes is lying. I don't care how long you've been RPing...there are still some moments in time where you are just so vested in what is going on...whether it's for escape or simply because the story is so good. Doesn't make you stupid. Makes you human! He's not very good at snuggle napping...that and I'm still a chicken when it comes to bedsharing and such. If I could get him to sleep on me on the couch, that's one thing. But usually he likes to sleep on his own. Sometimes we manage to get family naps in...but not too often.

I've had the case of the momma brain a lot lately. I can't seem to remember anything for the life of me. It's annoying and depressing...and makes me feel like I shouldn't be doing anything that requires any thought whatsoever. Just wanna crawl in my hole, snuggle with my baby, and take a really long nap.

So, yesterday was a day that I felt really dumb. Like...super dumb. I know I can't be alone in feeling this way. Why don't we share our moments of dumbness. Here's mine. Let me tell you the story of how stupid Aly is. Aly scheduled a field trip for yesterday. Aly had everything set in place and ready to go. Aly's students were ready to go. The bus Aly requested didn't show up on time, so Aly had to call to see where said bus was. They said the bus would be there soon. Aly called the museum to tell them that they would be running late. The museum told Aly that the field trip wasn't until next month. Aly is a moron. The end.

I'm in the middle of The Witcher: Sword of Destiny. The first short story collection was great!

So, I've been a mod here for a good long while, and I know that lately I've been missing. Just wanted to share my reason with you all. This here is Roland. Born 11-21-15 at 14:14. 9 lbs, 7 Oz of baby goodness.

1. I'm a sucker for romantic RP. I just love that whole building up between two characters. 2. I'm super embarrassed about some of my RP partner choices, especially when it came to emotional manipulation. I allowed myself to be in those situations, and I look back on those times and cringe. 3. I really also like stupid fluffy RP. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I can't be super serious all the time. 4. I don't judge people for what they RP...but I definitely judge people based on how they write. If you have poor grammar and spelling, and it's not because English is a second language or something...I can't help it. Doesn't mean I won't be nice, or that I won't RP with you. But in my head, I can't stop silently correcting every mistake. Yay for being an English teacher. 5. I really don't understand why some people RP. Like, you don't take it seriously at all ever. Why do it? It's almost as if some people are just Troll RPers, and that hurts my soul.

As one of those people who likes the way Miqo'te look, let me explain how my decision factored into RP. When I started playing XIV, it was the first MMO I had ever played. And I had never RPed before. So I played with the character creator, and settled on Alothia's 1.0 design. I made her name, her look, everything, with the simple intention of me just playing the game as a game. November of 1.0 release came around, and I met some people who RPed. It intrigued me. I started RPing lightly to get the feel of things. Now, mind you, I couldn't change her looks at that point. There wasn't anything to do that with. And we didn't have the lore knowledge we have now. So more or less, my Miqo'te was a hyur with cat ears and a tail. They began releasing more lore and more about the tribes and clans, but by the time that happened, I had already solidified Alothia as a character. I wasn't going to retcon a character that I had been playing for over a year at that point because it fit the lore better. I took what I knew of the lore and made it work in the context of my character. Why do I say all of this? Because it is people's personal choices to play a character that they find visually appealing. Sure, I doubt my story is uncommon among 1.0 players, but it doesn't really matter. I shouldn't get special dispensation because I played from the beginning of 1.0. It's not up to me or anyone else to judge people based on those choices. People who don't like the city miqo'te stories aren't obligated to play with them. The OP seemed to just want to get a gauge in the community to see if their characters would be hit with an undue amount of backlash. As someone who has RPed Alothia the way she is: monogamous, married to a hyur, more or less hyur-like with cat ears and a tail, I can honestly say that even ICly, I don't get backlash. People don't really bat an eye at her or what she does with her personal life. I don't ignore the fact that she's a miqo'te. I work in her expressions with her feline features, I use her sense of smell in RP...but she is NOT tribal AT ALL. Don't worry about playing your character the way you want. You'll probably be more accepted than these forums tend to let on.

I play a Keeper Miqo'te who is monogamous, and I went the city cat route, mostly because when I started playing in 1.0, we didn't have the depth of lore that we have now. I've actually worked it into her backstory that it isn't her who shirked the tribe's traditions, but her parents. They wanted to be monogamous, so they left their tribe and integrated into a small village out in the Shroud. It's also why my character doesn't fit the naming conventions. There's a lot you can do with the lore that will make your characters be the type of characters you want them to be. Be prepared to hear some IC backlash from people who do play traditional characters. But as long as you have a good reasoning, it shouldn't be a problem. Most players are very understanding. It's their characters that may not be. But that leads to good RP times! Anywho, if you ever want to talk over ideas, feel free to post here or let me know in a PM or whatever.

How can I put into words what transpired the night that Jayden died? Or rather, the night that he didn’t die. It all seems like a faint memory, something that lingers in the fog at the edges of my mind. If it weren’t for Khale being there with me, I wouldn’t have believed that i had happened at all. It was a night like any other, since Dane and Khale brought Jayden home, bruised and battered. We had plans to go out that night for once, visit some of the shops in the city, get some dinner. Something we hadn’t done in quite some time. But first, we needed to check on Jayden. His health had been steadily slipping, his body’s functions shutting down and seeming to wane with each passing sun. I followed Khale into Jayden’s bedchamber, and we knelt beside the bed, praying to the Twelve for his swift recovery. Rather, I prayed. Khale railed against the Twelve, questioning their divinity and whether they were really there at all. I do not fault him for this. Twelve knows I have been at this point plenty of times in my short life. This time, however, instead of the presence of the divine, there was the stench of death, a flicker of lights, and the breath left Jayden’s chest, in a puff of cool air, like the chill from the grave. It is times like these that I wish I could Heal again, and in my selfish need, I called upon what magicks I could, pulling aether into the room, but unable to channel it into Jayden’s body to heal him as I would have liked. In a flash, there was light, and the pressence of a woman. She floated above the bed where Jayden lay, and although she hadn’t spoken yet, I knew who she was on sight. It was Ady, Khale’s first love….I daresay I was worried that she was there to take Khale from me as well. But her face held a soft benevolence, and when she spoke, I knew that she was not there for a nefarious purpose. No, Ady informed us that Jayden had been cursed by whomever had him before we found him, and that the only way to sever the ties were for his death. And although I could not heal him, the aether I had called into the room caused Ady to manifest and save his soul from re-entering the lifestream. There was such a sense of warmth and love that came from her…it brought tears to my eyes. That she was able to give Khale back this one thing before vanishing with the eve…I will never forget. Khale and I woke the following morn, in our beds, and as we blinked in the light, we both questioned what had actually happened. But no, there was Jayden, alive and well, or well enough given the circumstances. Each sun he recovers more and more, although there seems to be some gaps in his memories. It is to be understood given what he appeared to have been through. I do not know what will become of us yet. Perhaps Jayden will be able to help us piece it all together. Perhaps not. All we can do is wait some more.

It is funny. One rarely ruminates on the meanings of single words unless they are drawn to your attention. We accept them for what they are, no more, and no less, assume that that meaning is permanent, and move on with our lives. But in the past 8 moons, much has changed about my perception of the world. Things I once took for granted, I do not anymore. How can I? There is so much more at stake, so much more to lose, and so much more to live for. Home. That is the one word that has always eluded me. When I was a child, home was the place where I lived with Mother, Father, and Lini. It was not an unpleasant place, no, but my inner voices told me there was little there for me…and so I left far too early and on bad terms. This might have developed into my current sense of home had I only given it the chance. Alas, hindsight makes seers of us all, and there are parts of me that weep over that chance lost. When I left my parents’ house, I went to the streets of Ul’dah. There, I met many others who were like me. Disillusioned. Searching for something else. I thought I had built a home around me in the company I kept, but that proved to be a sham. They cared naught for me, and more for what I could do for them…in coin, in favors…it mattered not. Only until my eyes saw what I had wrought did I understand. In Pathian’s house, there was more of a sense of home. I was taken into his household, given a sense of freedom and responsibility…but this responsibility was not borne of love, but rather duty. I needed to repay the household that took me in when everyone else would turn me away. I still keep thoughts of this time close to my heart, but a home it was not. Then came Corvus. It was probably the closest thing to home that I had found before this. We were a strange and strangled group of people, sharing little more than a tolerance for each other and the work we did, that slowly came to bloom as a feeling of family. I can look back on these times fondly. My sense of belonging did not hinge upon one thing only there. It didn’t matter where we were. Whether we were in our building on Sapphire Ave., Fallgourd Float, or in the snowy lands of Coerthas. Wherever we were together was important. It fell apart after that. There were strains that couldn’t be mended after the incident with Souyo. I had to retreat back into myself, stand alone. It’s not to say that there weren’t those near me who helped me, but it was not…it was not what I thought home should be. When I returned to Jutat, things were…better, but they were never as they used to be. Too many people coming and going. Not enough people staying in one place. I had started to give up hope that I would find that feeling again. And then it hit me like the fall of Dalamud. An all encompassing love the likes of which I had never known. It knocked me over and sent me sputtering…and still does. But now…I feel as if those things I had before, never left. There is a sense of comfort, of well-being. As long as Khale is with me, I can take on the whole of whatever is thrown at me. His love has given me a renewed sense of what is important. I pray that Jayden will be well. That his presence becomes a part of that home. I pray that I can find time to talk with Lini again, that she knows that the past is not a reflection of my feelings toward her, but rather toward my shattered and fragile sense of self at the time. I pray that Lily and Tayn and Lyse and the rest find what I have found. Perhaps they already have. It is not a subject one talks about often, I suppose. I believe these pages contain my thoughts as best as I can write them. It is difficult to give them form in such a way.

Kids these days don't know how good they got it!

I guess that makes me senior mod in terms of time spent as a Mod. -waves-

So many hugs!

So, I haven't really RPed with anyone in a long time, and mostly that's my fault. But I'd like to give some Kudos to those people who are super understanding of my current situation and don't look badly on me for being a stick in the mud. Especially my RP partner, because he's been the most helpful SOB ever. I'd also like to throw some Kudos his way because I know he's going through some stuff himself, and I'm proud to call him friend. That kudos goes to anyone who is struggling or going through some things but still takes the time to be kind, courteous, and friendly with people. Some days, I know it's difficult. But I think it helps having people to talk to.

I got your double post. No worries.

The punctuation helps describe the tone and hence the sound of the dialogue, therefore it belongs within. The sentence containing the quotation may be a simple declarative: He asked a question. Adding in the actual question does not change the tone of the original sentence, but the question itself should be indicated to mark its intent and spoken tone: He asked, "How was your weekend?" is a statement about what "he" asked. Whereas: He asked, "How was your weekend"? is a question about what "he" asked. With regards to full stops, this is also another Europe vs US matter I think too isn't in? ^^ (I keep having to fix this, someone remind me not to discuss grammar before I have had my coffee please!) I don't think I'd quite explained what I meant, but your post was a perfect reminder of that. In my original post, I really only mean for the completion or continuation of dialogue. I'll try to provide better examples. When punctuation that would include a tone is used, I would DEFINITELY include it, despite having been taught that it's a big no-no. What I prefer: Franz said, "This is a thing". Franz said, "This is a thing", as he did some other action. Franz looked confused. "Is this really a thing?" he wondered out loud. What I've been taught is correct: Franz said, "This is a thing." Franz said, "This is a thing," as he did some other action. Franz looked confused. "Is this really a thing," he wondered out loud. I've tried to bold the areas I'm talking about, but bolded punctuation's still tiny. It might be easier to say I prefer to encapsulate all aspects of the dialogue inside of the quotes, regardless of whether the punctuation is correct. As someone who teaches writing dialogue as a part of my creative writing classes, the latter is the correct form, in that punctuation should be inside of the quotation marks. At least that's how we do it here in good 'ol VA.

Aly lay there in bed, listening to the sounds of the floorboards creaking as Khale once again rose from the bed and padded to the door. It wasn’t his fault that she woke. It wasn’t because he couldn’t stay down. It wasn’t because his movements were too sudden. No, it was the lack of his presence that was keeping her up, the game of not knowing if things were going to be alright. Lily had come by earlier that evening, and it was a pleasant visit. It had been quite some time since she had seen her friend, and her presence was most welcome. It’s funny how moments like that always had a way of turning sour, whether intentionally or not. This evening was one of those, but she had never expected what walked through the door. A mere bell after her arrival, and a pearl call later, Khale came storming through the door of their small house, Dane and a figure bundled up in tow. She knew as soon as she saw him, who it was. Jayden, she thought, They finally found him, thank the Twelve. But it wasn’t as joyous as she had wished. She could tell Khale was agitated, from the timbre of his voice, to the tension in his gait. He didn’t spare but a nod for her and Lily before passing through the door to the small clinic, Dane following close in his wake. With a look to Lily, they followed, and what she saw set her fur on end. Jayden may have returned, but he was broken and battered. As her and Khale quietly worked to bandage his wounds, she couldn’t help but take stock of the injuries that littered Jayden’s form. The open cuts from being lashed across his chest and back, the bruising around his middle that indicated broken ribs, the shallow breathing that might indicate lung damage…and then the wire around his neck. It dug into his flesh, a means of pacification. The young man had been a Blade and getting him to heel was probably a difficult task. All of this added up to a questionable outcome…and now… Khale was on edge. He kept his own council, would speak of it when it pleased him, but she could tell. Constantly he checked on his brother, walking back and forth from their room to the clinic. And she worried. Not just for Jayden, but Khale as well. How much loss could one man take before he broke? She was loathe to think on it. And so, she lay there, eyes watching the subtle motion of the chandelier in their bedchamber, eyes flicking toward the door with every sound. She prayed to the Twelve that Nald’Thal was not ready to take him yet. That they would keep him safe and well. Whether those prayers were for Khale or Jayden, even she didn’t know.

A letter to Eric Dearest Eric, I know it has been quite some time since we spoke last, and I chalk that up to our harried schedules. It pains me to say that I have not been as good a friend as I used to be, and for that, I am sorry. How have things been? Everything going well at Dark Embers? Please give my regards to everyone, as I miss them. Yes, even your brother. The reason for this letter is not simply to catch up, although that is part of it. Recently, Khale’s mother and brother have both gone missing, and although we do not know the motivations, we are fairly sure they are nefarious. We don’t have many clues to go off of, but one such clue was the presence of a glass bell at one of the sites. The bell had no clanger, and when Khale picked it up and rang it, it let out a single, clear note, and then turned to dust. Aetherial readings on the remains showed that there were some traces of aetherial magics, but they were too slight to know exactly what the purpose was. I took to the Ossuary to study some of the older tomes they have stashed amongst their shelves, and came upon a book that quite intrigued me. It was a catalog of some objects of similar puport, ones that used aether for a singular purpose, but didn’t need the user to be able to activate them. For example, one of the objects, when pressed, could let another person know that they were needed and summon them to wherever the holder was. Some objects could enable people to take an oath and be bound to it. There were a great many of them. The one that struck me as most interesting, however, was a small ivory cube, that when activated with aether, would cause the holder to fall under a spell of compulsion. If the person was strong minded enough, they could begin to fight it, however it created some adverse affects. This brings me to why I think it’s even connected at all. Khale’s mother, before her disappearance, fell ill and seemed to be obsessed with the man who was her doctor, forsaking her late husband’s wedding ring, and the warning of all others. It seemed that there were many letters exchanged between them in a short period of time, strange for a woman who was still in mourning over her late husband. This is where I ask for your help. I know that Dark Embers employs many people with many varied talents. I was curious if any of them might have any knowledge of such objects, or if any, upon inspection of the remaining dust of the bell, would be able to indicate if it was used for such a purpose. I believe the object to be Sharlyan in nature, perhaps even aquired from the stash of ‘shinies’ that the Illuminati out there seems to have hoarded. Perhaps you know someone who might be able to communicate with them as well. Either way, please write me back or stop by sometime. I do miss you, and wish you all the best. Lini sends her love as well. Until later, Alothia Embrise

As comfortable as I am with where I am and what I’m doing, I know that peace is only temporary. And we try every day to forget the things that are going on around us, to drown out the sounds of our own hearts breaking… I don’t like to think that I’m consoling him through my body. I’d like to think that there is more to it than that. I know deep down that there is more to it than that. But sometimes…I question it. Are we just running away from truths that hurt us? That maybe we’re trying to run away from the pain and run head first into each other? As I lie here in the dark, I ask myself many questions. One I do not ask is if this is right. If this is where I should be, if this is what I should be doing. Even with the pain…the uncertainty. Even with the not knowing and the faint lines etched in mouth corners that never really quite turn up anymore. There is no place I’d rather be. No one I’d rather be with. And if solace can be found in soft touches, in firm grips, in sighing breaths…who am I to deny it. Who am I to say that it is a weakness. An escape…perhaps. But never one that’s wrong.

The case of Khale’s mother gets ever stranger. I suppose it is time for me to recount all that has happened. Not long after our nuptials, I went to visit Khale’s mother. No one was at the house, and there was a sense of…foreboding. I followed the trail as I could, and came upon a place where the trail stopped. There was naught but her ring. I let Khale know immediately, and we tried to make heads or tails of it. The next morning, her house was burned to the ground, and the only thing left was a bag of what appeared to be finger bones. We launched into a sort of investigation as we could, and Jayden moved in with us. That is, until he too disappeared. Ah, right, the Bell. We also came to acquire a crystal bell with no clanger. It rang, however, and once rung, shattered into dust. We’re not sure of the reasons…or it’s purpose. Now we’ve heard rumors that the Blades are finding bags of body parts around the city. No one appears to be looking into it. It’s all very frustrating. I’m going to need that vacation by the time this mess is over. Hopefully we can find out the truth, and bring Jayden and his mother home to us.

It has been some time…again. Things have been awfully busy, too busy for me to write down my thoughts and feelings. But on this, my first day as Mrs. Khale Embrise, I shall try. I can’t believe that it happened. Or that it happened and went off without a hitch. I had always envisioned myself to be someone who would settle down one day. Have a husband. Have a few kits running around. I’ve come close a couple of times before, only to have those hopes dashed for one reason or another. Infidelity. Disappearance. Confusion. More Infidelity. Realizing things just weren’t right. But this…it came like a storm and swept me up. I have to admit, last eve, I was just waiting for it to come to a shattering conclusion. I daresay Khale would say I was worried. I sent him a note that morning reminding him to be there on time…and then I had my sister bring him his gift…a pocketwatch. So much for subtlety, Alothia. But he was there. Early even. We shared a few moments before the ceremony, and then were wed in the Sanctum of the Twelve. The rest of the night was much a blur. I couldn’t tell you who was there. I couldn’t tell you what happened at the small reception save that some people drank, and Lily gave a toast that brought tears to my eyes. Today, I am a bit more lucid. A bit more settled. It is done. There’s no more what ifs…just a list of possible tomorrows, and I’m looking forward to each and every one.

Modhat: So hey, all. What Berrod said may not fit within the context of the thread, but I think that it bears hearing. Do be considerate of people who come here to read these threads, and do your best to make this place on that is constructive instead of destructive. I'll leave it all as is for now, but please consider this as a warning to all involved in this discussion. Thanks!

Name: Alothia Starkwood Job/Occupation: Thaumaturge, Mistress of Paperwork, Jill of all trades Screenshot Links: http://imgur.com/a/5daS1

To be honest? I'll do this too. Sure, I'm not going to compromise my character and who they are by doing something that doesn't make sense for them. But there have been times where I've deliberately taken- or not taken- the RP in a particular direction for the sake of my RP partners. In these situations, she'll do something that she would, in fact, do, but I gave her the nudge that way on purpose. It's not something I do often, but it has its moments. I'm a firm believer in this. I love this. I know some people hate it, they want everything to be organic...but I like knowing what is going on. I like having the option of backing out of something that makes me uncomfortable... Not that I won't let something bad happen. I enjoy the good with the bad. I just want to be able to have choice in the matter sometimes.

We're still around, just more social/casual focused with a dose of RP on the side. ^^