Dasair

Gosh. I also want in on this. I am sooo far behind with everything, (still finishing up the story past 2.0, haven't even once cleared a handful of dungeons) however for the next few months, my schedule is somewhat tight. Projects and life and all that. My internet / computer are also somewhat crap, resulting in very occasional disconnects and VERY slow movement speed at times. I literally have warned every single party in any dungeon I've ever been in about this, and true to form, even if sprinting, I am typically the last person behind the pack. I've not encountered one yet that I couldn't get through though! So I'm curious if players in this linkshell would be patient enough with someone like me to at least let me try something like Coil (eventually when I get there; it'll be a while), even just to see if my computer can handle it, as well as various other dungeons / raids / trials (I'm quite interested in Crystal Tower too). The bright side is, come summer, I'll move back to a place with better internet, no DCs (save the server-side ones) and the possibility of a much quicker computer. I'm also quite willing to help others with tiny dungeons when I can! I find them all pretty fun, but it's a constant worry of 'am I holding people up / am I doing this right?' that makes me worry about them. But man, if you guys are willing to take on a BLM who's a bit sluggish running-wise, and a still-leveling SCH, I'd totally love an invite. :>

I'll pipe in here to say that I have a character which exclusively does not go to the 'big social' spots like taverns and cities in general. So here's what I did to get some more frequent RP. It kind of goes along the lines of PMing others, and not only creating a connections thread, but going through other's connection threads, and seeing if someone's character seems interesting to you, that you'd like yours to interact with. Then, sending them a PM on the forums, or a tell in game or something (I prefer the former, personally) could get you some interesting RP with them, if they're willing to set up a time to have your characters meet up. :> 'Welcome' threads are good places too, because you'll find newer players who are just getting into things and eager to RP with someone / get used to RPing, so it can be pretty neat all around. That said, it takes active effort to open up those connections. In some cases, they'll fall through. But if you keep at it, a fair amount of them won't, and you'll get to play with a decent number of people, some of which are likely to stick.

If color were easily discernible on the duskwight's face, it's likely there would have been some of it lingering with him too. Instead, he merely huffed as the sparks continued to dance around on him, and the heat was back to its comfortable warm. "My condition..." He muttered, more like a whisper. "My condition. And you-!" Then that was almost a normal tone. But a much more amused one, as he gave her a pointed stare. He may have jabbed a finger at her, if he hadn't had a towel shoved into his arms. "Yes, how incredibly difficult you are, with all your-" there are a few wiggly gestures here, as to prove the point; a rolling glance up, a smirking head tilt back to her, a small jostle of the towel in accordance to his words: "your bright skies, your shining shards, and your boisterous bouts of amusement, whatever am I to do with you~? Though, perhaps you are right; might a letter serve as a suitable substitute in all ways? If not, I suppose we will meet soon enough~" That whole thing was dripping with amused jest, because he simply could not have this mess of quips end at his expense now. He refused. Though it may have taken his last onze of cleverness to pull it through, and he blows some hair from his face before softly adding, "Have an enjoyable morning, Avis~" With a warm smile, he moved the towel around in his arms some - the thing was fairly large, even for him - as though in an acknowledged 'thanks' for its return, before Xavarian would make his way with it back from whence he came. It was then that the duskwight would fall into some sorely needed sleep. ... Or at least that was the plan.

The gaze Avis placed on Xavarian certainly didn't bother him now, though if it bothered him ever was quite a question in itself. He was ever the proponent for curiosity, for learning, and they both shared a rather fascinated interest for each other. From an unspoken stranger, he may have been disconcerted, but from her, well, if he were more awake, he may have even been flattered. He huffs at her first comments, though not without a smile. The temperature warms more at them, the sparks returning in quantity. "Oh, I-" He almost apologized. "I would like that~" That is all he manages, though his doofy grin conveys the rest of his pleasure at the thought. When she told him 'a moment', he really couldn't help but peek in the room. He curled himself around the doorway arch, leaning in to watch what she was doing, but didn't actually step in further. He wasn't actually invited, just walking in could be rude. Apparently, though, leaning all over the door frame and actively gawking wasn't. He did manage to catch the familiar look of the towel, something he'd forgotten that she'd taken, actually, and had a somewhat amused smile upon her return ... until she asked that question. The temperature and Aether around him, again, did a strange thing; it rippled and seemed to burst out in a little cool chill. It wasn't too terribly strong, she could likely see the scepter, again, bound to his arm, but the shift was certainly notable. Some of the sparks on him clustered together in various places, and.. well that question seemed to wake him up a bit. He almost looked mortified at it, reacting as though she'd just called herself ugly. "Wh-? Avis, why would you say such a thing? I- You sound lovely, I am always pleased to hear you speak to me, to hear your songs, even beneath the sea, your laughter, your quiet little breaths and the rhythm of your footsteps along floor, earth, and sand. You don't- it is not you, I'd never wish you change the sounds that you are, unless you wish to." When he says this, he briefly, and gently, takes both her shoulders, and runs his hands down her arms to her elbows before letting go; little sparks jump over to her, as though that were supposed to mean something comforting. Though the duskwight sucks in his lips then, looking somewhat guilty, and glances off. "Any.. indication I might give otherwise, j-just.. it can be ignored. It is not that I do not wish to hear you. It is entirely that I am.. quite sensitive; Below, we all speak in what you might call 'whispers', but I am not there now, and- well, I need to learn to adjust, hm? Think not that you are a pain to me, for you aren't, and even if it were at times so, your utterances all are what I would gladly choose~" He gives her a warm smile, and a small nudge. "And right after you tell me not to be 'self-disparaging'~" The oddness of his reaction to her hasn't seemed to have dawned on him, as though this were a perfectly reasonable reply.

The Aether around the duskwight did an odd thing as the warmth dipped to a stark cool for a moment before raising itself back up. There was a small wince given at her sudden laugh, and about him a few sparks still remained, yet less numerous. He huffs. He might have almost been offended by her mockery... if it wasn't so ridiculous. And he felt that he was probably pretty ridiculous. "Y-yes, well- Hells, hells." Another huff, and he clamps his mouth shut instead of stating how he shouldn't speak again. "A.. a mistake I- as if I were not bad enough- Though I.. can't really deny experiments. . ." He mutters in something more like whispers to himself. But he rubs his face with a hand, and can't help a grin to himself, especially as he's forcibly spun and pushed on. It really doesn't take much from Avis to get him to move, Xavarian just sort of goes with it. There is a snort of amusement, and the warmth seems then to make its return. "Pray tell, how could you change your mind~? I mean, look, listen to what you're dealing with~ And.. Do you?" He looks back to her drearily curious at whatever it was she meant about returning something to him.

Xavarian had a dorky smile on his face when Avis had decided to take his hand. Tiny little sparks jumped from his hand to hers as she took it for herself, and they weren't harmful, much as before. He continued to lean against the wall, ever pleased to listen to her words, though seemed to get somewhat flustered again, nonetheless. Certainly not to the levels he may have been if he were more awake, but enough to keep the air warm. "Creative and dangerous..~ I know I'd quite like such things to continue, hm~?" His thoughts end up speaking now more than his speech does, but he still huffs, blowing some hair from his face, though with a smirk at her later comments. "Why can it not be a sharp tangle~? My mind for their rhyme, that is~ Because really, I think both suit well enough for what which-way my words seem to find themselves in their absurd wandering herds, hm? Not that 'wandering herds' sound to be the most elegant of things for which words can be... So I see.. your point~ And-" He huffs again, then laughs, closing his fingers lightly over one of her hands. "Merciful~ You know, that dreadfully sounds like a challenge itself, one that I hardly wish to back away from, and won't! yet... I might fall out of my proper place of consciousness now, by little volition of my own, quite abruptly should I take it, or it take me. What a shame that would be, to miss a moment of it~" He continued to think little of what he was saying as the words were already out before he could contemplate them, leaving little room for him to stutter or amend himself as he was wont to... basically all the rest of the time. "Still, I am pleased you caught me, between the lines as it may be, and- it will happen eventually~ Or I hope, I've not given up~ ... But- but you've a letter, and I'm not here nor there, and-" He finally pauses, his words have been slurring together and growing quieter over time, but he actually seems to realize it for a moment. "And I should likely stop speaking, shouldn't I~? When.. when we are both apt, in body and mind. .... I need to sleep~" He finally ends his patchwork mess of words with an apologetic laugh, placing his other hand briefly over hers. What a scattered goober. What does half of that even mean?

Xavarian mirrored a similar sort of smile, rather hopeless in its place there, as he couldn't stop it even if he'd tried. Though a dull realization set in upon seeing how she presented herself, the duskwight somewhat more flustered, temperature reaching a comfortable warm with any number of little sparks on him, like he'd walked in on something, but his tiredness didn't allow his slight worry too long, or at least not quite in the same way. Everything seemed more like the beginnings of a waking dream to him, oddly comfortable, where somehow, to him, everything made sense until someone else brought it to question. Was he interrupting something..? No, no, she had called to him first, hadn't she? Of course he wasn't. Xavarian was a different sort of unruly. His hair was, well, it was the living mess of curls and flippy-ness that it always was, really. The duskwight wore the arguably fancy long-coat he often does; one for traveling or more messy endeavors, a durable thing designed well to fit without discomfort over a chocobo, with all sorts of straps to hold things built right in. Asymmetrical as it was, it seemed somehow as though it was slightly disheveled; what should have been 'down the center' was turned a bit too far to one side, like it may have just been thrown on in a haste only intending for a short time out in public, a necessary evil, but one without much adjusting to it or thought. Here was a mess with dwindling cares for appearances. When Avis spoke, Xavarian was even more pleased, his smile becoming a toothy grin, and a quiet snicker. Her language there. "What you speak, with what words you choose..~" He starts, almost idly. "Yours~ I.. Imagine, though, that by such rules themselves, Challenges are formed~ Those which quietly move ever closer," As he spoke, he slowly did the same with his approach, until the distance between them was much more fitting for a quiet conversation. "subtle by steps, till the newly formed Challenge begins to whisper, to lightly tug the hand of the one who hears its hidden call~ Though these might fall between your spoken lines, should they be so seducing, thus reducing the hard edges of rules to mere waves at play~ And perhaps, then, Worlds might meet this way~" A pause, and a playful snirk. "Or nay, and may elsewhere away~ But by you I stand with such rules; is it not best, that only we are to say? And of course, you are right; the Unknown's quite like to stay~" The duskwight grins a pleased, tired smile, having leaned himself against the wall in his new closer location. Whatever he's saying, it seems to make perfect sense to him, and given pause in the conversation, he may 'rest his eyes' leaning there, if only for a short moment or two.

The duskwight wasn't that far down the hall, and had certainly heard her words - likely even heard Avis' steps - though he was, of course, rather dreary. That didn't stop him from being completely flustered at her calling (to him, shouting,) through the inn after him. A swirl of warm air and jumping sparks billowed up around Xavarian, and he turned around to face the one who'd caught him. He really wanted to huff, and pout, but was just left with an amused, sleepy sort of grin. After a moment's hesitation, he took a few steps back towards her, though didn't close the distance entirely. Yet. He'd leave that up to her. ... Maybe. "Perhaps~ Per- perhaps to both~ The darkness that is occupied oft surrounds and consumes with little concern for time~ So I found myself for a while, and yet- Well, the free lady of the heavens, for what she gave, is not one I'd wanted to keep waiting any longer~" He briefly rubs his face. "If she had been waiting at all, of course... though~" With a pause, he assumes a wry smirk. "While one may be fraught with missing to risk blinding, might she be willing to break the unspoken rules of Words? Are there such things, these rules? Doth one dare further approach them? Or do Worlds come ever closer to meeting~?" The duskwight's words come surprisingly easily, just sort of spilling out of him almost without thought, his tone quiet. Though, he clearly seems tired. That sort of tired where you just mutter what's on your mind before you stop it to see if it makes any sense at all. He definitely was paying 'sense' very little heed; and those one or two stares likely found it best to keep heading where they were heading by the oddness of the conversation now. Xavarian leaned his shoulder against the wall idly, a comfortable alternative to standing in the middle of a hallway. The small Aetherical sparks still jumped along him, and he wasn't actually thinking anything in particular other than how he actually was pleased to see her, as he waited to see what she'd do now that she'd caught him.

It was longer than the duskwight had expected before he returned to the inn. He'd been busy. 'Reorganizing' was a downplayed way to put how much he'd changed his room. Nevermind, he'd been practicing; the Aether channeling in his lesser talented practice of Conjury was, he thought (or at least liked to) getting better. But it had taken quite a hold on his focus lately, as though he needed to do this before much else could be done. After all, they would need more progress on the translating. And while he had discerned some things, it was hardly enough. He wanted to be ready if he should ask another to get what he thought they needed. And even if not for that, he wanted to be ready for what was unexpected. Xavarian felt he'd neglected his studies far too long. Though, no small part of the matter was his continuously spiraling thoughts; an odd thing, that as much as he mused about them, he needed to insist, almost chide himself, into doing more than that. In no small part, they inspired him. In no small part, all of it was a paradox. So in yet another part, finding himself lost in other tasks seemed to somehow make sense.. until he realized it'd been far too long since he'd been to the inn. When he returned, it was there waiting for him. A letter. He didn't even try to hide his smile, the little jumping embers on him attested, and quickly he re-fitted his scepter in its place on his arm before taking up the page, one he'd given, he noticed, to look over. The first few lines read caused a heated huff from the sparking mage, and he thusly decided to place the note down and shuffle around in embarrassed and silent protest a little while, as he used his hands to help kick off his boots. Stocking feet now free, the duskwight retook the letter, then curled himself up on the bed to re-read from the beginning, and the whole way through this time. Grins and quiet snickers abound. Though through it, Xavarian had an endeared smile; that she would tell him such a thing. That she found it clearer through his words. And he found himself, though he knew it be wrong, hearing a tune in his own mind when he read her small story. He opened his mouth then, as though to comment on it, though just cracked up quietly to himself at the thought. Uncanny what language does indeed~ The duskwight needed a moment, rereading the letter several times, before just flopping back in his bed. He closed his eyes to listen to what went through his mind. He wasn't quite tired, but he mused for a while, until his musings seemed to give him the energy to up and begin to write in return. [align=center]________[/align] It was already the first signs of morning by the time Xavarian was done, and there was something sleepy to the duskwight's steps as he quietly ambled to deliver his own letter. He got turned around a few times, yet blowing hair from his face was the only reaction he really gave to the mistakes; even then, his thoughts had him in a different place. As he stopped at her door, he almost knocked without thinking. The duskwight let out a snirk, having stopped himself in time to just lightly place his hand on the door, a much less audible gesture, before kneeling instead to slide a single sheet of swirling paper beneath. A yawn escaped him then, tired enough to not even feel embarrassed as he scooted in some for someone passing through the hallway behind him. Though soon enough he rose, and ran a hand through his hair and over his face. A small grin remained. He hoped what he wrote made some amount of sense, but turned his thoughts quickly back to their own musings once more as he quietly returned towards his own room to rest.

Updated the bottom of that giant mess with my new schedule. Everything, of course, is subject to variation due to Life.

Thanks, Gegenji. uvu Yesss. I like this! I can totally get on board with this too. I appreciate that you can actually give them different ear shapes and sizes, and furthermore, if you really pay attention to them, ears are freakin weird. Like. Everyone's ears are different, so I can definitely see this being a thing insofar as attraction is concerned. As for the code language, I wouldn't doubt it. That certainly aligns with my own headcanons quite well; I figure that Duskwights could probably pick up on a LOT of cave sounds because of them bouncing off walls, insomuch as they don't even really need to see so much in caves as long as they can hear them. I also imagine that homes themselves (especially in caves) of Duskwights are designed specifically with acoustics in mind, to reflect how nicely sound reverberates through the dwelling, as opposed to how nice a home looks. Of course function is a factor, but sound traveling through a place nicely, I think, also has a huge impact on 'home design'. Thus, you might get a lot of strange, almost operahouse-esque kind of rounded things, or those somewhat like theatres, where a lot of rooms are rounded and shaped oddly in comparison to.. basically all other dwellings. In addition to cave code, I like to imagine that, above ground, Duskwights might have a sound range that surpasses other races in hearing. Somewhat like dog whistles, I figure that there are sounds they can hear that most others can't, which helps groups of them communicate and organize on the surface, without others necessarily hearing the calls. Likewise, they might be terribly aggrivated by something no one else can hear, which may or may not be terribly amusing in some scenarios. That said, on the flip side, I also figure that their hearing is yet another reason why they don't like the surface too much. I like to imagine they all talk to each other in something more like whispers; a normal talking voice to us would be like a shout to them. (Granted, this only makes them more shady to the unknowing surface dweller; why is that group of Duskwights over there is huddled around whispering? What are they planning?) To a Duskwight, everything above ground to them is likely terribly loud and strange sounding, and people talk to each other via the equivalence of screaming. It's likely very disconcerting. Nevermind cities. Those must be absolute hell, considering all the people, all the noise, how is anyone supposed to get anywhere without being deafened or at least without a severe migrane? How do people even live like that? Thus they avoid the crap out of them (most of the time) which accounts for that little lore tidbit of them just not liking cities at all. Hi, this is all a little bit of a tangent infosar as relationships are concerned, but I have way too many sound related headcanons for Duskwights. *lays down* Yep! I'd agree with this too. I think the Miqote's strongest sense, according to lore is their sense of smell, right? So likewise, I would imagine this to play quite a role with many of them too, which opens up interesting avenues for those characters as well. I am just totally a sucker for emphasizing the non-human or 'different from human' aspects of characters and races that aren't actually human. Because it's super neat to imagine what life must be like for them.

I have a headcanon that, Duskwights, being able to hear so incredibly well, have sound replacing sight as their 'primary sense'. That said, a lot of their lives are dominated by it the way ours is often dominated by visuals, and this includes what they consider 'attractive' insofar as relationship material. Thus, they might find interest in someone that has a nice sounding voice, over anyone that necessarily 'looks pretty'. They may be drawn to those who can sing well, who speak well, who aren't loud, and don't have terribly obnoxious laughs, odd breathing habits, or snore. I like to imagine loud snoring might be a terrible turn off. Maybe they like the rhythm to the way someone walks when they can hear them moving along the stones, maybe they find rhythm in speech to be particularly pleasing. They also might find some interest in ears more than other races, similar to how people can be drawn to 'pretty eyes'. There is absolutely no actual lore about this that I've found, but I just find it interesting what shifting one's primary sense from sight to sound might actually do to what a culture could find appealing.

So this is an interesting topic, and I'm just going to throw my own point of view on this, as I don't often get to yammer about FIGHTAN. I will note that oddly, even though I play a weenie mage who probably couldn't punch someone properly to save his life, that I do have some RL combat experience insofar as things like various martial arts, straight brawling, grappling, and weapons fighting. I've been in a number of tournaments with varying rules, done even more sparring from little to full contact, got in fights with other people out in the world, and fought people with weapons (same weapon, different weapon, disarming weapons, etc.). I know there are differences between sparring, 'actual fights', and tournament fights by experience, and I can tell when things are choreographed or make no actual sense in terms of media vs RL fighting. Basically media is pretty bad about it, but their job is to entertain, not necessarily be accurate. And I'll agree with Sylas, in that a lot of it is luck, but skill is also a factor. However, a character's strengths in certain areas also have a lot to do with where they fall back in others. In order to be able to move at all, I was always taught that if you have your guard and focus in one place, you will always have an opening somewhere else. For instance, I myself am not the bulkiest person out there. However, I can be incredibly quick on my feet. I'd be a 'lightweight', and know that if I get in too close with a bigger opponent (and stay there) I'm likely to get either hit hard, or literally thrown around. Not the best place to be. Despite this, I've still been able to beat / take down a number of bigger opponents than me, because I'm faster and they sort of barrel around full force while I can get out of the way / predict their movements and hit hard to vulnerable targets. Or because they dropped their guard that one moment to a fake, and I managed to sneak a nasty hit in. At the same time, I've, somedays, also been completely annihilated by bigger opponents, who have been able to charge me before I could move, or my guard just wasn't there when they dealt a nasty blow to the head and I dropped like a sack of flour. In 'realistic' fights, it's just as easy for something to go as expected as to go completely unexpected. Again, echoing Sylas, terrain, mental state, how awake a person is that day, where they get hit, and specifically what it is they're up against all have any number of factors. Someone excellently skilled and trained in fighting on flat ground could easily make an embarrassing slip while fighting up on a steep hill, and may very well pop out a knee from the fall. (Which may or may not be speaking from experience. *sobs*) They can be hit from someone less skilled who has managed to see that hole in their guard, and use it to their advantage, or maybe they picked something up to throw at a person that knocked them off their feet. Fights in general are typically pretty quick, and not long, drawn out affairs, unless someone manages to get away and get more distance. Or it's, as noted, a more controlled environment with particular rules (I'm honestly more used to these). There are also some things that most people just will not be able to handle well, such as hard strikes to the throat, anything that knocks the wind out of someone, groin shots to most guys, shots to the eyes, hard hits to the back of the head, various joint locks that leave people no choice but to go along with unless they want to dislocate / break something; and this is regardless of skill level, it's just how a body works. You can't keep going if you can't breathe, can't see, or are in too much pain to move. And then there are the 'lesser but still often debilitating' things like hard blows to the shins, stomping on feet, cracks to the jaw (especially with an elbow), 'raking' the face, blowing out knees, and so on. ... And that's mostly in terms of close, unarmed combat. I've honestly never fought in armor, just padded gear on occasion, so it's hard for me to say just how much this affects things like movement, reaction time, and overall stamina as to keep swinging the extra weight around, but I would imagine someone heavily armored might have a more difficult time keeping their balance now and then. They could take more hits, but might be easier to knock over in certain scenarios. I do know with things like staff fighting, (where both people have staves) you never actually think about how much your hands are going to be smashed up to hell during this until you actually do it. So many cracks to the knuckles and fingers. I think things like that are important to consider too; how the wear of the fight might take a toll, especially in terms of wielding weapons. Can't much hold them or move them very well if your hands / arms take too much of a beating. Then finally, there's magic, which is a whole different game entirely; I'd say that there'd need to be some sort of 'rules of physics' in place to know how this would go. Most people have their own headcanons, which is fine, but in terms of this, with people who you are unfamiliar with (since RL can't really be the basis) I'd figure a roll system would be best. Actually, I figure a roll system would be best for both, physical fights and magic, considering all the factors, unless you're RPing with people you know and have a particular thing in mind. TLDR: There are a ton of things to consider, even as a master fighter, and while this is something that other players could definitely consider while they face your character, I think it's best to realize that even masters can lose to any number of unexpected odds. What they train for and what they're good at doesn't make them immune to what can befall anyone, and those things are perfectly capable of being dealt by someone of lesser skill in the right scenario. Chance / luck is always a huge factor to this.

I just have to be aggravatingly pissed at being a level 50 DPS class waiting for 45 minute queues with laggy internet to, quite literally, have JUST switched to a different class ONLY to turn in a quest for exp.. which has an unskippable cutscene that takes forever RIGHT AS THE QUEUE POPS. Literally. Right after clicking the npc. And then there's no way to get out of it, and just be clicking through the laggy scene furiously only to watch as the time runs out for the queue with the scene still not done. UGH. Godamnit. Here's to another hour wasted waiting. I really wish the game would like. Just switch you to the class / gear-set you signed up to the queue for automatically if you accept the duty, instead of making you switch classes manually. I mean, that's the only way you can accept the duty in the first place. It would solve absolutely all of these problems.

Hello and welcome! Since these other things have been covered, I'm mostly only going to post on the ones I have differing opinions on. Progression: This can go any way you'd like it to go. Depending on how much you self-rp, (as in, just run around the world ICly, and if someone chances upon you, so be it), handwave (as in, just say 'things happened' without any actual RP'd-through backing for it), or RP with others, this may go differently for different people. I've started my character at a sort of odd 'relatively skilled in some places, super novice in others' spot, and he hasn't progressed a TON from there since I made him. However, the main reason for that is that he might get IC teachers! And since I love that kind of student / mentor RP, I've been holding off, save for little practice things and his own odd experiments insofar as how he's progressed skill-wise. That small explanation is to say that, ultimately, it's up to you. There is no accepted norm, and levels aren't necessarily taken ICly here unless you, specifically, want them to be for your character. :> Location: I will premise with I never exceedingly rarely will RP in Ul'dah. My character ICly dislikes most of the 'hot' gathering places, like taverns and big cities; the Quicksand probably makes my duskwight nerd the most uncomfortable ever second to the city of Gridania (The Shroud is fine though, as is Thanalan). So he's basically never in those crowded places or cities unless he absolutely has to be. However, I do get RP! It's much less of the 'walk up' sort of nature though. Instead, I've spoken to a number of people (between 'looking for contacts' or new people on welcome threads), jumped on event opportunities, and so forth to get a bunch of people on my 'list' for potential RP. Then, I'll either PM them to see if they'd like to meet sometime, or poke them in-game, and see if their character might be around somewhere where mine could meet up with them. It was a little work initially getting in contact with them all, and some attempts never worked out, or I wouldn't ever get anything back from them. But that said, a lot did work out too, and I've had a decent amount of RP since I started, so it IS perfectly possible to never set foot in the Quicksand, and still RP if that's what your character would do. :> Taverns in general are probably the best place to go and look, and that can be in any city (Gridania, Limsa, Ul'dah), but I've definitely seen RP happening 'out in the field' too, where my character is more likely to be. I'll often meet people in weird places outside of cities, being somewhere in the world, near ruins, around odd Aetherical formations / crystals, etc. Which would be good for the adventures you'd mentioned wanting. :> However, that takes a little bit more coordination most of the time, but I personally find it's worth it.

I have some super quick doodles I'd drawn for a couple of potatos. Nothing much (yet), but eh. A particular Professor Jigumundo Darkbore. An unsettled Lenti. Both like fire. And science. One likes them a little too much. Neither of these characters are mine. uvu

Messes. We have one indeed. [ink blot] I've not the slightest still what to write, and half wonder [a few more spots] Merely setting myself loose is hardly necessarily the answer, as strange as that sounds to write, and yet [a few more blots] I continue to tap this page into undefined indefinincy~ Why can't what -[streak spot] I wonder if I may be able to ward this tome. To keep all that is within, and the letters, that much safer, I-[blot] I then realize I'd written nothing of previous endeavors. Things that most certainly need to be noted~ Hells, how these thoughts twist themselves into me, and I can think of little else~ I [blot] I had sent her Avis riddles. Many riddles which unwind to something of myself. Some Knowledge, I had told her before, is on the par of being so close, that known to another, may change the one who speaks it. It leaves them vulnerable. It is important. And in the answers, that could be found. But such is something that cannot simply be stated; in the form of a riddle, everything is much more [a few blots] hidden. Safe. Available for uncover. Because, I believe, there is a point, where [blot blot] where one is trusted enough to believe in their intellect. To say 'alright, I see a bit more of you now. I understand you enough to give you this hint, and if you can discern the hints I give, if you put the patience and care into unraveling these tangled words, to embarking on that journey, and devoting as much time as it takes you to find those answers, then you may have them. They will mean something to you, but you must have known that from the start to even begin.' It is a gift of Knowledge, but only for those who might endeavor to have it. That is where I am, and was. And I gave her my riddles. If she found their truths, she would know more of me than what I have ever told any outside. By her words, words that I have known no other to return in kind, I find I trust her in a way I trust no one else. Not.. not entirely. I don't know if [blot] I just don't know. But I will give her riddles, and see what she does with them. Because it is always then that they turn away. [a few more spots] All that aside, after I had done this, she gave me a story. She solved them, and knew some of the answers, returned to me what she lives for, a Story of hers, and I [blot] Well, this is tangential. I still can't [blot] I mean [spot spot] Hells~ I cannot even write my thoughts on that now, so I will leave that aside. I mean instead to note what happened. Though perhaps 'noting' it is the best way. She visited. It was.. unexpected. She slipped a scribbled note under my door~ Being, a note of scribbles and nothing more. I let her in, an we spoke. We spoke of paper. There is actually nothing wrong with it. We spoke of gems. They are changing. I'll need to write better notes for this later, explain to Lafiaht and Sylas, but they exchange memories. Avis and I saw something from each other. She [blot] she saw a time in which I had described in part by my riddles. Of crystals. Of being let out with Them. I saw a moment of her childhood. Of rushing to see a spectacle. We spoke of messes~ She gave me a clip to keep my hair away from my eyes, took the challenge of doing so. I still have it. I.. [blot] It is a nice gift. And it is actually rather useful, I will keep it with me. ... For its uses, of course. [ink blot] Well, no, also because she gave it to me. I can admit fondness for such things in my own tome, can't I? How she would comment on that though, hells~ We spoke of tomes. I showed her the Nymian tome we are to translate, and it was [spot] endearing to see her hold it, and treat it so. ... She sniffed it~ Yet treated it with the utmost respect. She's very excited to work on learning its secrets. I will need to [blot] sort out how to attain the resources I am considering. We spoke of travel. She may be leaving. She had, she claims, come to bid me farewell, but it seems I had changed her mind with news of the tome, that she might remain longer. I [a few blots] would never think to stop another who might wish to travel, to see more that they haven't seen, to do as they might choose. Though I.. I think I would miss her. I would. Even as sporadically as we meet as is~ Though, if she wished, she may still have been able to send letters [blot] And the missing would.. well, at the same time I would be very pleased for her, finding new stories as she wishes. There is no reason for her to stay if she has no reason to stay~ Yet. ... I am glad she wishes to remain just a bit more. [a few more spots] My thoughts are such a jumble, I can even see it in my words, how strange they are. Perhaps this isn't the way to sort these thoughts. [a few more blots] Perhaps I need a page where I may write freely. Such a strange thing. I bound this tome specifically for my travels, but I bound it back in the caverns. It almost.. it is like me. It longs to be free in all ways it can, yet somehow still feels tied, like it may be yanked and reeled in for demanding eyes beyond my own at any moment. Like somehow they would know. I keep noticing how difficult it is to write in here now. And I feel so badly for the tome itself; it was made for a purpose, yet is bound by something that prevents it from reaching its full potential. ... By another's discerning. Mine. I wonder what I can do to fix this. Wards, perhaps. As I was thinking earlier, or perhaps a lock, a warded lock. Multiple warded locks. Perhaps this tome will undergo a change. Perhaps then, if it changes like I feel I am, in this uncertain flux, perhaps we may be able to better connect with each other again. [blot]

Very little went as planned. It wasn't even just a vague sidestep around the plan, but instead, more like a solid punch right into the plan's face before striding with a whistle in the opposite direction. Of course, that makes it sound like it went poorly. Something Xavarian has slowly been learning is, in cases like these, when nothing goes according to plan, it actually results in one of the best outcomes that far supersede what he could otherwise ever hope for. Xavarian and a tired Avis had made their way back from the Mist beaches to the Mizzenmast nearer to evening. The duskwight was carrying a few packs with him, as well as some folded clothes that hid his hands and arms beneath. When the Innkeeper had noted their arrival, Xavarian did his best not to grin profusely, but the effort failed almost as soon as it began, and just caused him even more quiet amusement. He didn't speak overly much though, thanked the innkeeper for letting them in, and only giving a smiling (though possibly flustered) huff at any vague remarks about the returning pair for the later hours. Occasional sidelong glances with repressed mischievous grins to his companion reaffirmed she was still there. That all of that had actually happened. There was a bit of guilt in how giddy he felt next to her exhaustion, and certainly did his absolute damnest to keep it down, though his smile would not be tamed, and neither would the Aetheric warmth and sparks around him. Of course, he was at the same time endearedly concerned; the story-loving scribe had spent gods-know-how-long waiting for him to wake when she only wished to sleep more comfortably herself. Just prior, the two of them had dozed off on the beach after... a terribly, wonderfully unexpected meeting. Though she didn't find slumber as long as he had. What a mess they were~ They had long since dried from their escapade in the sea water, but nonetheless, both of them needed a change, a bath, and probably some less sandy quarters to sort themselves out. If she didn't object, Xavarian would walk Avis back to her room, mostly quiet unless she spoke, (it's always hard to hold conversation when sleepy and the mind is swimming with thought) and likely (sometimes) letting her take the lead when his own musings distracted him from the proper direction. Once at Avis' door, the duskwight stopped, and throwing the clothing he held over his shoulder (the one without the hovering eye-gem above it), Xavarian gave her a soft grin while he took her hand, very gently, for just a short moment. He still was rather timid about the whole physical closeness thing, but damnit, he was trying. Little, harmless sparks began to jump over to her then. "Rest yourself well, Avis of the Heavens~ I.. will have that key, and more answers, for you soon~" His voice came nearly as a whisper, and he couldn't help a tiny snicker at his own first comment. What a dork; but she'd started it. Her hand was released quickly enough, not wanting to keep her any longer than he unintentionally already had done, and he only stayed as long as she chose to keep him before he made his way with quiet steps back to his own room. His door opened. His door closed. Back leaned against that very door still, Xavarian's excitement let itself out in the form of a grin that took over his features, quiet laughter, and the need to cover his warm face. What had just happened~? His thoughts hardly knew where to begin, so he let them roam, formless in pictures and feelings, and instead took in all he felt from them to elicit an overly pleased 'Hm~'. It didn't take the duskwight long for the urge to write it all down to come back to him, and when he finally looked at his table from behind his hands, that was when he remembered. Throwing everything he'd carried down, he scrambled over to the table, dusting himself off of any remaining sand, before pulling out his tome. The letters were reread. His prior unfinished passages too. He didn't have any idea what to write, even still, but he just wanted to, so with no plan at all, all grins, warmth, and sparks, he brought pen to page. [align=center]________[/align] The words had been scrawled without pause, almost a gesture in themselves; when his pen flew across the page, he hardly thought. Just wrote. Only a few times did he stop and consider the pacing, but it was that sort of consideration where your mind is attached more to a feeling than the finessing skill involved. When he was done, he let out a quiet snicker, before reading the page over to see if it made any sense at all. As though he was unsure. In truth, he was. However, he seemed satisfied, then scribbled something quickly on the back of the previous page he'd left unfinished, before standing once more. He had no idea how long that had taken him. It was night again now, and he had few doubts that Avis would be asleep. Which was certainly just as well, he hoped she slept a good long while. His thoughts continued to be more prominent than his actions, and he hardly noticed himself collecting the letters, and walking himself back out the door amidst warmth and sparks. Xavarian ambled down the hall musing. It was when he found himself at the end of the wrong hall that he snorted and tried to muse a little less, but to little avail, and it was the second wrong-hall that made him think a bit more about where his body was wandering instead of his imagination. Eventually, he made it. By the time he was at the door, he had a doofy sort of mischievous grin. Like he was passing along a secret of sorts, one he hoped and thought might make the recipient laugh, or as pleased as he was. Very quietly, as though to not disturb any goings-on on the other side, he slid two pages under the door. Both were of the swirly sort of paper, both had small writings on their backs, which were face up to be seen first. One sheet, though, had gold leaf along its edge. Belatedly, after the papers were out of reach, the duskwight remembered the folded paper birds. A small huff caused the tall man to kneel and get down on all fours, peering under the door, to see if he might reach the letters to do something more elaborate with them, but- well, they were a bit far out of fingers-under-the-door grasp, and- Then he realized what he was doing and abruptly sat himself up, dusting himself off like that certainly didn't just happen, and started cracking up once he was upright again. He had to cover his mouth with both hands, reminding himself to 'shoosh', before he left the door smiling to finally take that bath he desperately needed.

[align=center]Interlude[/align] It hadn't been that long. Xavarian had been back to the bookstore not long later, just as he said he would, and wasn't surprised to find Avis had already made her way out, as she'd implied. He'd stayed there to do a bit more work, among other things, feeling rather energetic that evening. The duskwight returned later, his pleased demeanor from prior delivery still lingering with him as he made his way into the inn room. Yet, he wasn't quite expecting quite what he found. The two, small, folded birds rested on the floor by his feet, he'd nearly kicked one, but stopped short when it caught his eye. Surprised blinking ensued. He had stopped moving for just a moment to listen to the air around him. Floor creaks from outside, muted voices from the surrounding rooms, other sounds he never cared much to identify, even though at times they were difficult to ignore in their.. loudness. Nothing close, in the room with him. He let out his held breath, then knelt to carefully pick up the small paper birds, and inspect them closer. Then a smirk took over. The paper crafted by his own hands, he could recognize anywhere. He was initially quite pleased, almost thrilled at what she had made for him. Look how intricate and lovely these were, small paper birds, like the flight both had mentioned in their words. He started glancing around on where to keep them, before sitting with them at the table to look them over closer, when- with some strange combination between a sinking 'oh no', and a curious raise of his eyebrows, he saw letters written on the birds' forms. Or at least one, maybe a single letter on the other. Lips pursed together. "Hells-" He found himself torn. She had crafted these quaint little creatures for him, both delicate in their construction, even in their uneven-ness, yet sturdy from the paper; he'd wanted to keep them as they were, but Avis surely wrote something within. Words she'd previously spoken ran through his mind; those of moral dilemmas, and who would he save if given the choice between her, the writer or the book. Of course, without question, it was her; her or both, if possible. But questions seeped through his thoughts not unlike those now with a much less clear answer; what gifts would he dismantle for what he thought they contained? Would he take apart something so carefully crafted for the Knowledge within? Would he unravel tiny beings' existences wrought with time and care to get at what was inside? Could they be fixed, then, could they be saved once their secrets were shown? Or were those the wrong questions altogether? Would leaving them whole mean thinking them too fragile, too delicate and wish them kept in their state so they may never fulfill their purpose, the very reason they were wrought? Would he choose never to Know the inner most thoughts of another, even if they are held out given, to leave them alone instead as whatever their outer appearance shows by his own assumptions, for the sake of keeping them as he may have wished? Keep them; nice, and pretty, and safely locked away for his enjoyment, in willful ignorance of what they may actually hold? The very thought upset him, the temperature, though it had already since risen with sparks abound, grew momentarily hotter; Xavarian found himself with a passing dull anger at something entirely removed from the paper birds before him, and he knew his decision then. The inner aggravation was immediately dispelled with a quiet huff, as the duskwight began, very carefully, attempting to unfold the tiny paper birds. He read the first over. Once, twice, any number of times, smiling softly to himself, as just as many thoughts ran through his mind. But the second one. The second one was harder to unwravel, but the tiny phrases it held caused Xavarian's eyes to grow wide, the Aether to ripple with sparks around him, even though his scepter on his arm held it in check. He covered his mouth for a moment, a small sound escaping a grin, read it over and over, and the other one afterward too. He hurried to grab at some paper, only to push it away to stand. And pace. Time and again he paced forth and back. The duskwight's grin could not be contained, but he worried with it just as much. What did she mean? Was it what he thought? Was it as implied? Was it simply of the story she wished that he hadn't provided? How was he even to reply to that tiny once-bird? He opened his mouth as though to explain himself to the pages. Explain that he had no idea what to tell them. Then he turned away and ran a hand through his hair. "Hells- Hells~" He quickly sat to write, started something. Stopped. Went to push it away, then wrote something more instead. Before he stopped and abruptly stood again. What is wrong with him? He just about abruptly walked right out of his room then, only to turn quickly around, whisking up the pages in hand, to slide them all into his tome, before he quickly fled, as though something may form from the darkness in the room and grab him if he didn't. Xavarian was only out the door for less than a minute before he was back inside again, yet this time, he began to throw off his layers to replace them with new ones. What he needed was to be absolutely distracted from this; these thoughts whirling about his head would get him nowhere, and he was certain that directing all of his attention to the sea was just the solution. But this time he would be prepared, godsdamnit all. Actually be ready to get as close as he could to the water. Then. Then after he's had his experiments, cleared his mind of all that resonated of the letters and their writer, the way she chirped her quips, the way her words gently coiled themselves around him and twirled, that had him spinning in circles, he might be able to say something about all this. Something not based entirely on what he'd hoped he read.

Hello, and welcome! That is, in fact, quite the snazzy thread title. Also, should your character happen to be made on Balmung, I too have a Duskwight nerd who is exploring Eorzea (and basically everything ever) in pursuit of ultimate magical knowledge. And not so ultimate magical knowledge. ... Or any and all knowledge, he's not terribly picky. Still, if you went with that idea, it'd be neat to have Duskwights of the same mind meet, in my opinion, so upon potential solidifying, feel free to toss me a message sometime. :> Though both ideas sound fun. Hope you find what you're looking for here.

HOME AT LAST, TO LAME-ASS NUB ISLAND. *lays down, sobs quietly* Yeah, my main is BLM and while I have heard it's pretty easy as far as rotation and class 'jobs in dungeons' go, I AM ALL OF THOSE NUMBERED THINGS TOO. The struggle is real. I've lately been trying to look up quick guides some before I queue, though. I always ALWAYS make note that I'm new, have never done the thing before, and that my internet is crap. And every time, I am basically the slowest mover ever under no volition of my own (I still can't handle how this game has movement speed dependent on game latency. 8| It's so bad). But with endgame, it will just get to a point though, when I can't just attempt and fail at getting out of every red damage-line, and instead stand there admitting everything is meaningless and just get hit by the thing, because they will ONE SHOT ME DEAD. Some of those dungeons, man. Some of those dungeons. I've never been booted from a party yet (somehow) but it will likely be my destiny. I might, though, join one of those LS's for this. The one called months behind or something? Apparently they help out citizens of Lame-ass Nub Island, or so I am inclined to believe. I.. never knew this was a thing, but oh my gods, even though the OP has seen it, I appreciate this greatly. *favorites*

... That will likely be me too, not gonna lie. There are so many neat end-game glamours and things that I want, but I just. The dungeons. The mechanics. The absolute likelyhood of being That Guy; the one they are just like 'who let this nub into our raid?' It is, indeed, minorly terrifying. I'm still trying to slog through the MSQ, tbh. And I don't feel I'm anywhere near done yet; only just got past King Mog. Sooo I'm kinda with you on all that. u_u *takes up an oar for this boat*

Welcome! There's so much lore in everything, it's honestly pretty great. I hope you continue to like the game, and find that RP you're looking for. Speaking of, I'd be glad to play with you sometime, if we should be able to catch each other with our schedules. I looked at Shashato's wiki, and oh my gods, she seems like a fun character. And a fellow nerd! Should you ever wish to throw her at another nerd (and quite possibly one that could make her a custom book or two for her findings) I'd be happy to see what would come of her meeting my duskwight scribe / bookbinder / tome mender, mage, and awkward nocturnal knowledge lover, Xavarian Mystrife. ... I don't even know if they'd get along, but it would be pretty interesting to see the contrast between one who's nervous, tall, and softspoken being lectured at by a confident, short, loud 'scholar'.

AWKWARD FORUM POSTING WHEN I CAN JUST TALK TO YOU IN A MESSENGER. Hello. uvu I am so super excited for when you get the game, and Nonovi sounds like she'll be all kinds of amazing when she appears. Climbing up all the people, yelling about all the things. ALSO future plushies. Those, too, will be nothing short of wonderful. (Shadow makes amazing plushes, just saying.) You know you can bother me with any sort of questions you have about this, and if I'm too much of a nub to answer, people here are likely to be more than welcome to help too. End awkward forum butt-in.

Hello! I am hesitant about posting now, but I'm worried I might not get the chance again for a little while either, so here it is. Another writer! Erimmont sounds like he would be interesting to meet, especially if he is a writer of books. My character, Xavarian Mystrife, is a scribe, but also a bookbinder (and book mender) so should any authors have an interest in a (or several) high quality, custom made book to write their works in, he'd be happy to create them per order. (There's more about the details of that whole mess is in a link in my signature, if that seems like a fun hook.) Though romance novels in particular are likely to get an... interesting reaction out of him. Not that it would be a problem, though. But other than work, your character has a name like an Elezen. >u> I'll mention that Xavarian is a duskwight, so that could either be grounds for a good start (with another duskwight) or quite possibly a poor one (with any wildwoods that are less hospitable towards them). And while I absolutely love character conflict (not necessarily the brawling kind, but hey, that could work too), I know that some might be less enthusiastic about that. Still! I thought it should be worth mentioning in case it brings up other neat character possibilities, or is something rather avoided. I was hesitant about speaking up now though, because I'll actually be on a plane a few hours from posting this, and switching timezones to PST. I won't know what my schedule will be doing for a little while either. But all that said, if you wanted to RP sometime (when I sort myself out after moving) please let me know! Messages through here (the forums) would likely be better than trying to find me in game, if you wanted to set a day for our characters to meet. :> Good luck finding more people! (Also, endnote: Avis is amazing to RP with, just saying.)