Virella

Rework your background completely if you wish to be lore friendly. FFXIV has awesome lore, have a look into it, you will surely like it.

But Domri! We need to make this happen... http://i.imgur.com/lCHZZPJ.jpg[/img] And in the meanwhile, I will just be content with snatching your husband away until I can ship Domri and Vi off into the distance. Vi didn't enjoy some pesky Hyur looking at her http://i.imgur.com/RMIq1iq.jpg[/img]

Update time

May as well throw myself in here as well, given I'm always looking for new people to roleplay with! Main Character's Name: Avelyn Firestone Wiki: Virella Avelyn. Usually online: Too much. Intensity: Heavy!

I'm going to have to very, very strongly suggest against making a character that has been "let in" to Ishgard in the present era (IE the past twenty years of Ishgardian isolation). The lore is extremely clear that NOBODY gets into Ishgard if they are not Ishgardian themselves. Even Ishgardians themselves appear to be under pretty strict rules regarding entering and leaving the city. Now, if you're talking about an outsider joining the astrologians at the Observatorium in Coerthas specifically, that may be plausible. But still kinda iffy. Well this character is going to be an Astrologian, right? You cannot be an Astrologian without getting 3.0 and in 3.0 Ishgard is open for one reason or another. I'm willing to gamble that even though we are allowed into the city, not all establishments will be so welcoming to outsiders. However, I'm sure it would be up for negotiation if someone was so skilled they could be accepted into the fold. Unless you are set with a miqo'te being IN the city before it was closed. I don't have any real ideas for that scenario. I fear from that I've managed to gather, the Astrologians are just as annoyed at outsiders as any other Ishgardian. In fact the head of the Observatorium in Coerthas wishes for outsiders to stop entering the tower, if it were up to him. They are happy enough to accept students though, but only those from Ishgardian soil. Outsiders won't be taught a thing until Heavensward hit I fear. So I fear your Miqo'te has to have Ishgardian roots before the city shut off for outsiders in order to be allowed into the Observatoriums and learn the craft. And otherwise? Eh, it is just a few months off to Heavensward!

Just a few random screens I took during roleplay a while back. Vi sometimes allows me to take proper pictures of her. Rarely though! [align=center]http://i.imgur.com/J6tcoI1.png[/img][/align] And I've managed to capture, what I would imagine to be her "What did you just say about Ishgard/Halone/Holy See?" face. You got no idea how happy I am with this picture haha. [align=center]http://i.imgur.com/nwlyhg3.png[/img][/align]

And reserving this as well.

[align=center] INQUISITORS[/align] [align=center]“Does my presence make you uncomfortable? Be at ease, my child. If you are a goodly, righteous woman, then you have naught to fear from an inquisitor.” Inquisitor Brigie, Camp Dragonhead, Coerthas[/align] Feared by outsiders and disbelievers, the inquisitors serving the Holy See are one of the most remarkable sights within Ishgardian society. They are tasked rooting out any form or shape of heresy within their society. Often by any means necessary. In the special inquisitors' office interrogations are shown to go hand in hand with paralysis potions “to thwart unbelievers from self-harm during a just and lawful interrogation”. These interrogations are far from a delight to endure, let alone witness them, possibly causing the inquisitors themselves to have sleepless nights. Leather collars are used in these interrogations. It is safe to say, whatever goes on in these chambers, it would be a nightmare to endure such a thing, seeming even dragoons thrown into the clutches of the inquisitors are prone to get driven mad, and turn against the Archbishop. Rarely their actions are to be questioned, even when provided with information against their claims of heresy onto the subject.* A popular way to deal with these so-called heretics, whether they be guilty or not, is to fling them down Witchdrop. This is the ultimate way to see whether or not the person is a scaleskin in disguise. Taking a leap down the cliff appears to be the way to prove your innocence, when being trailed, even if this costs one's life. If one dies at these trials, it is said Halone will judge them worthy or not to join her in her Halls. Bowmen are kept near these trials,so they can strike down the heretic if need be, if they happen to be scaleskin in the end. Next to this, other weapon-wielding men and women can be spotted at these occasions.** [align=left]Imprisoning people is not a thing the Ishgardian inquisitors shy away from. Foreigners are given no slack either, for one who is found upon Ishgardian soil has to obey to their laws. They may very well have a role into sending the female family members of unbelievers off to workhouses. "Unbelievers are thieves of sorts for they withhold the sweat of their brows from the crusade. What has been stolen must be given by another". [/align] Author's notes: All in all, inquisitors seem to be respected greatly, and in my opinion are probably one of the most dangerous Ishgardians to cross paths with, whether your character is from Ishgardian roots, or happens to be an outsider. Drugging people up, next to torture and false heresy claims who may cost ones life. I wouldn't wish to get on their bad side. Roleplaying one could be very interesting, seeming corruption is very possibly within their ranks. Sources: *Mainstory Quest Scenario – Blood for Blood **Mainstory Quest Scenario – In the Eyes of Gods and Men http://xivdb.com/?leve/368/Going-Nowhere-Fast– Paralyzing potions http://xivdb.com/?leve/367/The-Sting-of-Conscience– Sleep potions http://xivdb.com/?leve/128/First-They-Came-for-the-Heretics– Collars used by the inquisition. [align=left]http://xivdb.com/?leve/864/Kill-the-Messenger– Madness caused by interrogations http://xivdb.com/?leve/426/The-Wages-of-Sin- Workcamps [/align] [align=center]PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS & SEXUALITY[/align] [align=center] “Purity and Loyality!” [/align] [align=center]Ishgardian clerics[/align] Whereas other city-states appear to be more open regarding this subject, Ishgard holds a strict rule upon it's women. Women are meant to keep themselves chaste and pure. This is shown off with wearing peridot. If a woman does not wear this particular gem, she is to be mistrusted in the eyes of other Ishgardians. Although, not entirely unexpected,noble women have found their way to show off their supposed purity, yet mean a very different thing with it – oversized gems being the way to appear suggestive instead of chaste, while keeping oneself to what society deems proper. [align=left] “Pure as peridot” is a saying used by the Ishgardians on this matter.[/align] Marriages are a thing within Ishgard as well. As well assassinations on Ishgardian weddings. In fact, it appears that weddings are notorious for having assassinations take place, to the point other city-states are aware of this. One could say this means that Ishgardian weddings aren't just out of the name of love, but possibly also a political weapon. [align=left]Like everywhere unfaithfulness to one's partner happens. Ishgardians aren't any different from this.* Women seem to have to repent for the sins of their unbelieving male family members. They are being send off to workcamps if a family member were to get caught of not actively being a part of the Crusade. Due to Ishgard's policy on outsiders, one can say that engaging in a relationships with someone from another city-state is frowned upon, at the very least. With nobles so far being shown off as Elezen only, I would think half-breeds are most likely far from expected, let alone couples of two different races. [align=center]NSFW NSFW NSFW[/align] Whoring is a common theme in Eorzea,and Ishgard is not exception despite the clerics chanting of purity and chasteness. Life of the common person within Ishgard seems far from pleasant, and it is no surprise some women degrade them to this way of living.** Sexual abuse may or may not be a weapon used by the inquisition, given the nature of collars, the fact people get driven mad when being trailed within these chambers, inquisitors have nightmares haunting them and need sleep potions in order to gain rest. The Gladitors in Ul'dah use Coliseumwear in order to show off their bodies, although it appears it has it's in Ishgard it has it's uses as well. It is not uncommon for Ishgardian nobles to carefully sneak in subligars into their possession. Next to nobles have suddenly start importing leather harnesses, despite it being far from summer in Ishgard. It is safe to say the Ishgardians have a knack for these things, or at least the nobles. Author's note: Oh boy, Ishgardians are surely a mess. They appear to indulge in sex actively, whoring, cheating and what not, yet with their cry out for chasteness and purity, one can only imagine that Ishgardians are keeping their lips sealed upon these matters. I imagine that whoring, overly suggestive behaviour in public are highly frowned upon in public, due to the Church's influence onto the Ishgardians. It wouldn't surprise me one could be found punished, if they were not careful enough. As well for women I could imagine toying about with their peridot jewellery in front of men, would be a highly suggestive invitation. Next to that all, I really cannot see Ishgardians but looking down onto people if they were to get involved with another race/non-Ishgardian, given how paranoid they are in regards of outsiders. Perhaps even making them an outcast of society. If they were to be found out, of course. Sources: *Npcs within Camp Dragonhead -http://i.imgur.com/LjXmpmk.png **Main Quest Scenario – The Reason Roaille http://xivdb.com/?leve/486/Wear-Your-Patriotic-Pin– Women's sexuality/peridot http://xivdb.com/?leve/494/If-You%27ve-Got-It,-Flaunt-It– Women's sexuality/peridot http://xivdb.com/?leve/426/The-Wages-of-Sin- Workcamps http://xivdb.com/?leve/125/Supply-Side-Logic– Ishgardian marriages http://xivdb.com/?leve/128/First-They-Came-for-the-Heretics– Collars http://xivdb.com/?leve/367/The-Sting-of-Conscience- Inquisitors' sleepless nights http://xivdb.com/?leve/126/Springtime-for-Coerthas– Leather harnesses http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/124683-The-Origin-and-Lore-of-Equipment– Coliseum gear [align=center] Astrologians & the Observatorium[/align] [align=center]“300 years ago, Ishgardian Astrologian Aduenel the Younger convinced the Holy See that he could predict the comings and goings of the Dravanian Horde by studying the movements of the heavens, and thus secured funding for the construction of the First Dicasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena and its grand astroscope.”[/align] [align=center]Sightseeing log on the Observatorium's history [/align] Astrology is far from a recent thing for the Ishgardians as the sightseeing log shows off. Not quite as old as the other very typical Ishgardian job, dragoon, it appears to be something what gets practised within Ishgard, and not quite so in the other city-states. This all has to do with the nature of the job itself. Astrologians are the first defence against the Dravanian Horde. They look into the heavens in order to see their movements years ahead. This doesn't mean Astrologians are keen on wasting their skills of predicting the future, as Forlemort in the Observatorium tells us - using their time on anything else but calculating the Horde's movements is being brushed off as frivolities. Their work seems a very delicate one, as several NPCs state they need amply time to observe the heavens. As well countless books, maps, mathematical tools and globes are scattered about in the Observatorium. They forget to eat while on the job,and their fingers are prone to freeze within the cold nights of Coerthas. Despite their tendency to get caught up in their work, they are fed well. As well it appears Astrologians overwork themselves, given some sleepy NPCs are around the place. They do not seem to enjoy on getting disturbed either, let alone by outsiders. Bickering between the Astrologians seems to be a thing as well. Despite all that, the Astrologians are happy enough to gain new students within their ranks in order to lessen their workload. In fact, it seems they do quite some effort to welcome them and provide their students with proper material. It is also here in the Observatorium we learn that the Halls of Halone is a constellation of cobalt-silver stars – the place Ishgardians believe they will go to if they were to die in their efforts against the Dravanian Horde. (Funnily enough, this only seems to count for the Races of Men. Daimbert in Whitebrim Front tells us that chocobos do not go to heaven.) As for their outfits, they appear to wear pointy hats with glasses, and fingerless gloves. These gloves allow them to still continue to do their work in cold nights. House Durendaire protects the Observatorium, and sooner not have sellswords interfere with their business of doing such. Author's note: Expect this section to become a lot bigger once we know more about the job. I'm terribly hyped myself. Sources: NPC - Forlemont in the Observatorium NPC – Ludovoix in theObservatorium NPC – Jocea in the Observatorium http://xivdb.com/?leve/307/Rise-and-Dine– Quality of their food http://xivdb.com/?leve/247/Skillet-to-the-Stars– Forgetting to eat said food http://xivdb.com/?leve/366/Open-Your-Grimoire-to-Page-42– Observatorium new students http://xivdb.com/?leve/127/Through-a-Glass-Brightly– Fingerless gloves [/align]

[align=center]Ishgard[/align] [align=center]Lore, leves, roleplay and you [/align] Hello and welcome to my collection on my favourite topic, Ishgard and it's people! After seeing Harpeizanae gathering of levequests upon the RPC, I felt the need to start digging into more and more lore, especially with roleplaying an Ishgardian Elezen myself. Figuring out most likely lots of others would be interested to see all this heap of information I'm slowly gathering by digging trough forums, questlines, leves and what not, I decided that people might appreciate it if I would post it here as well! Far from finished, and lots of more topics, adjustments to come, I invite you all to correct me if I'm wrong, so we may together make a thread filled with Ishgardian information for us roleplayers. Afterall, how handy would it be to have a guide to look at when creating a new character, because I pray to Halone, I will see more Ishgardians around in Heavenwards. With that I do ask, please give me screenshots, quest, and the names of leves, so I can include it in here. And of course, I will adjust this all accordingly if needed! At the end of each topic, I will include my more personal thoughts on the matters. I will be “Author's notes”. On some topics we will be left guessing at most, so I cannot help sometimes to have my own thoughts thrown in there, just to give a better view on how on live in Ishgard may or may not be. Once more, this is far from the final product, and I expect to be a very big topic by the time I'm done. I will try to go digging on a topic or two each day, given this is indeed very time consuming to do. For now I shall simply approach one topic at the time, and perhaps in the future I will put them down in a more orderly fashion. Critique,remarks, suggestions and what not are more then welcome, seeming I wish to make this a collective lore guide for Ishgardian (and ones having to deal with them) roleplayers! [align=left]Not Suitable For Work parts will be marked. Enjoy the read![/align] Virella Douront, your friendly Ishgardian Astrologian [align=center]TABLE OF CONTENT [/align] [align=center]INQUISITORS [/align] [align=center]PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS & SEXUALITY ASTROLOGIANS & THE OBSERVATORIUM MORE TO COME[/align]

Virella will be returning home before 3.0. in preperation for some serious dragon slaying. Like any good loyal Ishgardian, she will be a part of the Dragonsong war. I'm horribly hyped to say the least. As well I've got a few students to be for Virella lined up, given I'm already roleplaying her as an Astrologian! Next to that, she is dragging people back with her to Ishgard. In truth, I doubt I will leave Ishgard (and areas around it) any time soon, once it is released of course. And on top of that, people have shown interest on letting Vi predict the outcome of their personal stories way ahead already, so that is very sweet of them as well, and gives plenty to work with in the future. I cannot wait to see what the stance is on Au Ra, from the Ishgardian point of view. It has so many possible storylines. But got to wait for more lore to get some plotting going.

Awwh thank you both for the kind words!

I really need to update this thread!

I'm very grateful that it isn't shown off as something terrible when people do such. Coming from a background with lots of family within the army, I've heard quite the different story in regards of it being a bad trait of immersing yourself with a character. Now you probably wonder why. At big events where they act out natural disasters, terrorist attacks and what not, you got professional actors running around. Often these people are hired to act out, for example, the part of a hysterical woman who just lost her son and keeps begging for help. Others are hired to act as if they are dying. These people do it extremely well, and often asked to be left alone before the training event starts, so they can get themselves in the mindset of these characters. From what I've been told these people are utterly terrifying when it comes to how close they come to crawling of the skin of a character, and often invoke many emotions within the soldiers who are there for training. Actors have to snap out of their role once it is done as well. Their work would be too exhausting, if not mind breaking, if they kept continuing to fuel the emotions they had to express for their work. I see roleplay as the very same thing. Immersion yourself with your character isn't bad, as long as you manage to distance yourself from their emotions afterwards. It isn't toxic if you feel bad for your character, it starts to become a toxic habit when you as a person starts to feel bad. Roleplaying isn't much more then reading a good book to me. I've wept over stories I've read, I've laughed, I've smiled, and so many other emotions writers have managed to convey onto me. Yet it never managed to spiral me down into a horrible depression or anything along those lines, given I can wrap my head around the fact, in the end it is just a story and it did not happen to me personally. At the end of the day, it is all a matter of being capable of shutting that book shut again, enjoying the fact you've read something good, and looking forward to read the next part. Roleplay should be very much the same.

An interesting discussion at first, before some fanatics with backwards logic had to ruin it. A good roleplayer will roleplay a good character, regardless of their gender behind the screen. A bad roleplayer will roleplay a bad character, regardless of their gender behind the screen.

Oh I like the sounds of her! I bet my elezen could learn a great deal of her, if she is indeed overly wordy! Not to mention, my elezen is the magical user herself as well, so that could possible be interested. By all means, toss me a whisper ingame! Virella Douront

Oh? Nice to see a fellow ADer! Who were you? I was Pirris! ALL OF THE BOMBS! ALL OF THE MAGICS! Solbranthius/Arathyrion and Calthric. Your name's familiar - did you play a Night Elf Mage, by chance? Eh, I think I may know you from Argent Dawn. Vilora here o/ we should roleplay someday in game! In any case! Started out on Ravenholdt myself as well, after my real life partner at the time dragged me into roleplaying. In truth, I cannot remember my first character at all, except that she was a blood elf! We do - you posted on the realm forum a lot as well if I recall correctly! You play(ed) a Kirin Tor mage, right? I think we bashed Jaina together a few times! I don't think we got to interact much in-game since I almost exclusively played blood elves. As for role-play in FFXIV? Definitely! I'll hit you up in-game sometime and we can plan something out! Yup, I used Vilora mostly for my forum posting! Don't think we ever got to roleplaying due to faction boundaries. Blood elf roleplay I really only did with friends, never found the community worth it. Thankfully it seems very different on this game! And by all means, I will look out for you as well. Currently farming Titan Extreme on my main though, but I should be online, ehm, very later on! But I will keep an eye out for you as well! =)

Oh? Nice to see a fellow ADer! Who were you? I was Pirris! ALL OF THE BOMBS! ALL OF THE MAGICS! Solbranthius/Arathyrion and Calthric. Your name's familiar - did you play a Night Elf Mage, by chance? Eh, I think I may know you from Argent Dawn. Vilora here o/ we should roleplay someday in game! In any case! Started out on Ravenholdt myself as well, after my real life partner at the time dragged me into roleplaying. In truth, I cannot remember my first character at all, except that she was a blood elf!

How any relationship starts with Vi.

Ishgardian Baron. Yea, you lot will get the joke, I'm sure =p

Fairly easy to get. Spend a bit of time on chocobo racing, did some gates, and voilá my common as dirt outfit is finally available to me. It is only 3000 points, the NPC chest pieces, so fairly easy to get. In fact, I'm grabbing the chest for my other character as well at the moment! Just do some chocobo racing and those gates, and you should have it quickly. Screenie included for the sake of showing off how awesome it looks! [align=center][/align]

Welcome back! Hope roleplay manages to hook you in for a bit longer to the game this time

As a SMN main, you got NO IDEA HOW HAPPY I AM It is not a fix, but certainly a start. Pray the days of energy draining is over, and I can finally compete with melee dps again.

With power comes responsibility. At least most of the time. We all know our all powerful overlords who show of their power constantly. In truth, the less the person shows it off, the more believable their character is. Of course there are exceptions, but I use that as my main rule for 'powerful' characters. I don't mind roleplaying with overly powerful character, as long it is done well. 'Useless' characters can be just as cringe-worthy if done terribly. In the end it comes all back to the ability of the roleplayer behind the screen to make his or her character pass off as believable.

By all means go for it! Shame we don't have addons available to us (as of now). GHI was a blast to have to trade books and what not.

Oh I like reading these things! But I will toss in my two own gil as well. Virella is a twist on my WoW's mage name. Everyone always joked about Douront sounding French (heck, so many Dalaran NPCs have French names, so I rolled with it), so why not use it on my elezen? The characters are very unlike one another. The elezen is a chaste, religious, inexperienced young woman, the other a very experienced, outgoing, forty year old human mage. The only thing they share in traits is their hatred for dragons.