Li'ur Nunh

Like, I sure as shit was side-eyeing you lot before.

There’s a lot to unpack when it comes exploring dark themes in fiction, that’s true, but time and again in this particular instance, talking about this particular game and these circumstances, the majority falls into defending this very uncomfortable and distressing topic. Often times, it’s players like you and me who are affected by these hateful ideologies every day speaking up about our discomfort, so that no, we really don’t want to see or have any part of pretendy-fun-times using them.

It’s very telling that instead of understanding that, and our desire to not want any part of that, we’re made out to be the bad guys for pointing out how uncomfortable this is for us. How the community would sooner explore these problematic themes and finds it fascinating and fun instead of highlighting how marginalization comes into play both in-game (Ala Mhigans, Keepers, and Duskwights to name a few) and outside it (continually shutting down marginalized players).

This is in a nutshell, why Stormblood has mostly been a terrible experience for me. It was hard enough having the game shove this kind of trauma, fictional or no, in my face over and over with no real reward for it. It was worse seeing so many players and friends go “that looks fun, I want to play with that!” and then vilify me for talking about my experience as a player of color.

Also, OP, if you’re going to drag real world history into all of this, you can’t cherry-pick it. Back in WWII, there were countless German citizens who strongly opposed the war and put their own lives on the line to help Jewish people escape persecution. Have you ever heard of Oskar Schindler? Karl Plagge? They teach us this stuff in history class.

As Stormblood has unfolded, we’re given a clearer picture of what’s going on, a better idea of what the Populares stand for, and a reminder that Eorzea’s own city states were historically founded via. bloodshed and conquest. Not counting Cid, Lucia, etc., we also encounter numerous NPCs who have willingly defected from the Garlean Empire because they don’t agree with the Imperial army’s actions. There are a lot of RPers with Garlean OCs who’ve taken this route in their characters’ backstories, but people still jump to conclusions because seeing any shade of grey requires them to think.

“One kingdom’s fall is another kingdom’s freedom One sovereign’s war is another sovereign’s peace One mother’s pride is another mother’s sorrow Their tears both soak the land that they love”

happy new year!! i hope i can share more art with you this year, thank you for sticking around or recently joining me! 

[ The Warden’s Reliquary  —  The Revel. First Night. ]

Aaaaaaaand that’s a wrap for the first night of events! All the hard work everyone put into this paid off in the end for a night of marvels. Thank you, thank you, thank you one and all for coming out! From combatant to spectator. 

Twins and Revelry :) tysm for the RPs! Sorry I know I have missed some tags in this, but there were so many people there, and I don’t quite know everyone’s tumblrs yet! 

X’shah’s chin juts in indignation. She must do it. She must be the herald of a new era. There is no alternative. For a time, she stands there in the cold comfort of her convictions. Her pulse pounding in her raggedy ears. 

Forward.

The high priestess raises her hand high. A single drop of warm crimson welling up in her palm — only to began a slow journey over the heel of her hand towards her wrist. She thrusts her palm skyward.

“Warriors!” Her voice is a barking rasp with a low, shallow rattle of phlegm in her throat. “I am X’shah, daughter of Zinbhe.” She raises her voice slowly as heartbeats tick by in oratorical crescendo, pounding her fist to her golden mantle.

“By the grace of my people I am high priestess of those with many names. They Who Drank the Dark Waters. Pale-eyes. Ghosts. Specters. Know this: the caravans of my people carry goods from every corner of the Sagolii. Our name is known on the tongues of tribes that do not know each other—on the lips of chieftains who cannot even pinpoint the leylines on which we travel. The tombs that my people have guarded since coming to this land is innumerable and the passengers we have escorted to safety across the dunes number as the stars. 

We have spat in the face of all challenges. We have persevered over harsh elements that conspire against our very existence. We have even weathered crippling civil war. Yet we are not the only ones who have suffered and learned to thrive.

You—each and every one of you—understand hardship. You understand that searing blaze in your belly to protect those dear to you, to preserve the future of you and your own. As did your forebears and their ancestors before them. 

I have asked you to come before us this sun to bask in the glory of combat. To present yourself, your heart-soul, and all of your being. The collective of you and what your tribe has shaped you to be as a warrior. Hear all this. Your hosts, we Specter, are keen to rid this gathering of any who may seek to disrespect the sanctity of combat. Any who dare make mockery or detract value from the exchange of blood and sweat taking place on this sun will be swiftly dealt with. 

Assemble yourself into pairs and let the revel begin!“

(( Hello everyone! Once again we will be hosting a sparring event night under gracious C’lai’s rules that we tested out in the past and tweaked to our liking. We will be using an “HP” system. Everyone participating will begin with 2,000 “hit points.” Each roll will chip away from the opponent. All moves are freeform based on this, and the fight will come to an end once the “hit point” meter reaches zero — regardless if you decide that your character takes a hit or not and the severity of the hit. 

Rolls are to be utilized as a simple guidelines for whether or not you defend or get hit. This is not about winning or losing. Allow your creative selves to thrive in this environment. Respect the character that you are an opponent against and the role-player that you are collaborating with. 

Have fun. Show off that cool move you’ve been planning out in your head on your character. Show us their culture, their beliefs, and how they were raised to right. Appreciate one another! 

I can’t wait to see you in-game! ))

[ October 14th & 15th @ 8PM Eastern ]