Dogberry

The captain liked to visit his son and his woman before battle. The first mate had none of these things, only the crew. Each man was given leave before they made way. He could scarcely believe the missions. The bloody fishbacks had betrayed them after all. The crystals they delivered went toward the summoning of Leviathan, just as he suspected they would. And now, they were assigned to go fight the beast. Despite the captain's history, he seemed eager to go. The first mate couldn't fathom such a notion, but understood it was his duty to follow the chain of command. He looked up from his paperwork, more busywork than necessity at this point, when a boy came by carrying a large cake. The first mate could not help but chuckle at the sight of a young boy carrying a cake so large. He took the cake from the boy and paid him his due. Cakes from the Bismark were not cheap, but this was a gift from him to the men who, like him, had only each other. No wives, or families to go home to. He brought the cake into the common area, and set it on the table, much to the delight of the men. They let out a roar of thanks, and each began to produce something, bottles of rum, or wine, fine aromatic tobaccos. Small things to share with their brothers. Someone pulled out a fiddle, and began to play. This, the first mate thought, this was what the job was about. It's for your mates and the ones you sail with. They quickly become what you sail for. The fiddler began a familiar melody, and the first mate raised his voice in song. "In Carteneau the poppies blow Between the gravestones, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Carteneau, in Carteneau. And now we lie in Carteneau. Take up your quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Carteneau, in Carteneau We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Carteneau, in Carteneau." When the song ended, the room was quiet. Smoke lingered in the air, along with the reminder of why they were all assembled that night, and why they had to do what they must tomorrow.

I'd settle for no gender restriction on clothing at all. I want that bunny suit, dammit!

I was actually running from the law in that picture. You see, I didn't realize the effect I have on some ladies... 2.5 Spoilers Below:

Ladies, ladies. I believe I can settle this dispute. You're welcome.

I don't really think we know enough about Astromancy to say one way or the other. It's best to wait for Heavensward to come out and see what it may or may not be capable of.

Looking over the cargo manifest, the first mate saw that there was an enormous amount of crystals on board. The last he had heard, this was a diplomatic mission to provide a local Sahagin tribe with aid and supplies. He imagined supplies meant food, potions, textiles, things of that nature. He never imagined crystals, let alone in the number they carried. "Captain," the first mate said, as the man happened to walk by. "We're on a diplomatic mission to the Sahagin, yes?" "Aye," the captain said in his loud, booming voice. "And we're bringing them crystals?" The first mate asked. "Beastmen craft goods too," the captain said with a smile. "And you're not concerned they'll try to summon--" The first mate stopped. He knew he was on a touchy subject with the captain. "Leviathan." The captain said. "Aye," the first mate said. "Leviathan." "I'm just fillin' a billet set forth by th'Maelstrom," the captain said. "I'm sure the Admiralty has a good reason for trustin' th'Sahagin with all these crystals. Even so, all we did was what we were assigned t'do. We did our duty right an' square, an' should these fishbacks bring back th'Lord of the Whorl, it ain't us in the wrong." "Right," the first mate said, sounding relieved. The men heaved crates full of crystals to the Sahagin, who hissed at them what could have been praise or threat, maybe both. They seemed grateful, but there was no real way of knowing. Even then the beastmen were capable of a certain amount of cunning. When the crystals had been delivered, and the men working to bring the ship home, the first mate looked through all the necessary paperwork, but no billet for a ship full of crystals did he ever see.

No, I don't see it. The male headpiece DEFINITELY reminds me of the Prince of Persia remake. No, the other one. With the crappy combat. No, the other other one. With the crappy combat where you shuffled around and launched that girl at your enemies. That one. It looks like the turban he wore.

The movie. The movie is fantastic satire. The book is "hey, let's sit in a classroom and talk about how great fascism is" and I swear, for all the claims that the book IS satire, I have talked to MANY a fascist sympathizer who says that's the way the world should be. Pixie Stix or Fun Dip?!

Puppies, because kittens make my face explode with mucus. Bagels or Donuts?

M'aiq knows much. Tells some.

I haven't really considered the sweeping consequences, but it basically goes majorly off the rails when Leviathan shows up.

Weaksauce, man, this is the Pick One thread. You can't be all like "neither", you have to PICK ONE! So I'll pick. Elder Scrolls, because I love the world the games present, with such gorgeous detail and rich history. I just wish the stories the games actually told were as good. I do like Fallout, but it's not my favorite representation of the post-apocalypse, a genre I love deeply. And Frozen Custard, please. Preferably on top of some Rita's Italian Ice. The Witcher or Dragon Age?

Awesome! I wasn't there for this, but I am so glad events like this are taking place! Chachan, you deserve a lot of credit for coming up with this event and hosting it, as does everyone who helped you make it possible. I love to see events like this happen, and see how excited everyone gets for them, and how people really put effort into not just getting their own fun, but in helping others have fun, too. Events like this are our community at its best.

That's Stormwind's area, but I imagine it will be titled "How I got people to kill primals so that I could use the information to make weapons with lost Allagan technology: a Book report by Alexander Stormwind, age 106."

Oddly enough, Alexander would be an excellent speaker on all three subjects presented here, if only as a warning of what not to do.

HOLY CRAP I NEED THESE

I like armor. I've made some armor. I like running around in armor. I have favorite kinds of armor and for the most part they are represented in FFXIV, but I would like to see some lamellar armor. It looks great. And can be made of a wide variety of materials. I imagine if they ever make Samurai, it will include lamellar in the AF. At least, I hope. Mexican Style Hand Wraps - As a boxing and MMA fan, this is something I would love to see for Monks and Pugilists. The hand wrap is functional, and in my opinion just looks badass. I just got a pair to wear under my gloves for heavy bag training, and I love these things.

She had read about the art in books. Seen it on the arms, chests, and backs of sailors and other unsavory sorts in Limsa Lominsa. She had heard that Domans were particularly adept at the art, and searched Mor Dhona for someone who could teach her. Some were forthcoming, for a price. She gave them gil, food, and medicine. They taught her to make the implements she needed. The ink and the needles. She was even able to borrow an heirloom ink stone. They let her sit in and watch the art performed. They even let her try on animal hides. She had the basics down. It came from an idle thought, but soon became an obsession. It was the only way to free herself from the mask. It was the only way she could reclaim the face that was taken from her. Iskierka drew the design in face paint first, and looking in the mirror, she brought the tebori needle to her face. It had already been dipped in black ink. She pressed the needle to her skin and rocked it forward and back in a steady rhythm. She felt the pain immediately, but continued on. The pain was part of the point. Transformation should never be comfortable. After so much had been done, she wiped the blood away with a rag. They had advised her not to do it herself. The idea of lying idly while the process took place made her uncomfortable. It was too much like the act that led her here in the first place. No, she had to do it. Another had taken her face, but she would make a new one for herself. She would finally get to decide how the world saw her. It took her an entire day to do this. She worked tirelessly, breaking only for her bodily needs, and even then she ignored them for as long as possible. Finally, she was done. She washed her face in a basin kept beside her, and looked at herself in the mirror. The lines were clearly drawn, maybe a few touch ups needed here and there. Her skin was red and stinging in pain as the network of pinpricks bled and scabbed over. For all its bloody crudeness, her face was hers again. She smiled through the pain. Her Doman hosts were most gracious. They fed her and tended to her wounds from the tattoo process. Her rent for the week was more gil than they had seen since coming to Eorzea. It was odd to Iskierka, who had never been rich by any means, to suddenly be the richest person in the room. She knew the life of a refugee well, but being there made her feel like an interloper. When her week was done she took the chocobo porter to Camp Dragonhead, and as the chocobo ran, she felt the cold, bitter wind against her new face for the very first time.

Yes art! Good art! Always art! Do art! More art!

Is Iski taking off her mask... or... Novelty crazy straw.

Dogberry is really in no mood for lighthearted revelry at the moment. He has some serious work to do. Iskierka Stormspeaker will be competing in his stead.

OMG Yesss! Wolf, pls. Come fly the unfriendly skies! Hahahaha! Spin it! Let's begin! Friends for life through thick and thin! Oh-ee-ey! Oh-ee-oh!

Of course not! ...but it will feel that much more palpable when I see those V formations drifting overhead.... <3 /gcsalute EDIT TO ADD: It's a bit of a shame I had crafted this character well before arriving to Balmung or visiting the RPC. I would have adored Steel as a sky privateer or a nautical/military sort of character. ...ah, what could have been....*sparkle sparkle* You're always welcome aboard Syldra's Revenge, Steel.