BORTE ORONIR. a particularly sheepish adventurer from the azim steppe. exceptionally unexceptional, she embarks on a journey to eorzea in order to better herself.
AN INDEPENDENT, SEMI-SELECTIVE ROLEPLAY BLOG FOR BORTE ORONIR, AN ORIGINAL CHARACTER FROM THE GAME FINAL FANTASY XIV. READ MORE IN HER CARRD HERE.
PENNED BY AMON (HE/THEY, 29).
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Meiko didn't know the wee Au Ra lass, Borte, very well. She knew she was one of the Scions, had seen her face around before, but between everything going on with the primals and the city-states didn't give her much time to socialize beyond a polite nod.
She had never imagined that the horrors at the Waking Sands would be the thing that prompted a proper conversation between them. But A'kihiko had gone off by himself to mourn in his own way, after the remains of their fellow Scions had been buried. Mei let him go. He had received a vision from the Echo from Noraxia and he needed to process it properly.
But now, only she and Borte lingered in the quiet of the lichyard. Fortunately, the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time paled in comparison to her desire to check in on another. It had always been much easier to look after someone than to worry about herself.
When a Xaela of the Steppe lost their life, it was customary amongst many tribes to leave the body exposed, to be consumed by vultures and give back to the earth. The Oronir were the same, though there were preparations and rituals involved as well. Borte suspected that her father, knowing of his daughter's frail heart, had wanted to spare her from the view whenever possible, and so she did not witness many funerals.
Other than her father's, of course, in which she not only attended, but hosted and participated in as his only living relative. It had been difficult, exhausting and heartbreaking, and the ceremony itself had spanned days — and the mourning period extended even further than that.
But this… This was very different. Heartbreaking in its own way, but so… Brief. Perhaps because so many had lost their lives? With so much work to do, there was no time for funeral rites or properly honoring the deceased… They were just buried, and that was that.
As she stared at the myriad mounds of dirt in the lichyard, Borte prayed in silence for each of them. She remembered their names, how they had spoken or worked together… But she soon realized that so many of them, she had never had the pleasure of meeting. She didn't learn their names, or hear their stories… And now she would never be able to.
When Borte turned to face the woman who now spoke to her, tears were already streaming down her cheeks.
❝What..?❞ She sniffled, quickly reaching up to wipe at her eyes. ❝S-sorry, this is… This is all so new to me, I don't—❞
She looked at the woman properly. Borte had seen her before, usually accompanying the one named A'kihiko, but she had not yet had a proper conversation with her. How unfortunate, that they should officially meet under such grim circumstances.
❝I… I mean, I'm alright… I think.❞ Another sniff. The tears do not seem to have any interest in stopping. ❝It's just all so… Wrong, isn't it? None of them deserved this…❞
( actually, it has been such a long long time since i was a part of tumblr rp. could a kind soul explain to me what the difference is between affiliates and mains? i see mention of both often but i'm not sure what the distinction is. )
( i implusively decided to fill this out earlier for borte and a couple of my other OCs and it was a lot of fun! Yapping about it under Read More )
The amount of influence each character here has had on my portrayal of Borte varies. For characters like Nana Komatsu and Mitsuri Kanroji I find inspiration in their strong desire to be loved. Nana's tendency to rely on others for validation can be seen in Borte, especially in her early days. She is also a hopeless romantic just like Borte, frequently fantasizing about love and romance. Mitsuri often gushes affectionately about the people around her, and Borte similarly admires the people she meets, easily finding aspects of them that are charming or attractive.
For Kobeni, this is where her crybaby tendencies and frequent anxiety/panic draw inspiration from. When reading Chainsaw Man, I really enjoyed Kobeni as a character and found it very refreshing that, among a cast full of characters who didn't really flinch despite the genuinely horrific situations they were put in, there was a character who was so openly terrified of it all. And, despite this fear, she still does what needs to be done! They don't let just anyone into Public Safety, and she was obviously hired for a reason. When she locks in, she's actually really skilled.
The WoL goes through so many things that would scare the hell out of any normal person! In MSQ, it is frequently commented on how they seem to handle these situations as if they are nothing. I liked the thought of a character who didn't. I have plenty of OCs who are able to take it in stride, but Borte is not one of them. She is scared and you will know about it.
Phosphosphyllite at the start of their story reminds me a lot of Borte's own early days: someone who is objectively weaker than the rest, looked down on by their peers and seen as useless. Like Phos, Borte has a strong need to help and to be seen as useful. She has a major inferiority complex and tries her hardest to show that she can be good at something. She can help!
Yuna's influence was, at first, purely aesthetic. She is the reason why Borte is a brunette, and why her eyes are the colors that they are. I always found the contrast between her green and blue eye so beautiful ever since I was a kid. I only made a small adjustment and gave her a violet eye instead of blue, purely because purple is my favorite color.
While that was the extent of her influence at first, the more I thought about it the more I could see Yuna in Borte. Her naivete and propensity to see the good in the people around her, her immediate jump to apologies when she feels she's let someone down (which happens often). She is also the sort of person who would give up chances at her own happiness if it meant someone else could be happy instead.
Much like Yuna, over the course of Borte's journey she changes a lot. She becomes more open and driven, more outspoken and playful at times. She no longer runs away at the drop of a hat, and even when something scares her, she still faces it head-on. She just grows a lot, and I'm always so proud of her whenever I think about it. Sniffles. My darling karakul. 🥹
another door. wonderful… i can but imagine what awaits us inside.
from: FFXIV: SHADOWBRINGERS starter prompt.
“… You don't suppose it'll be another door, do you…?”
While the prospect was admittedly a little funny, Borte certainly hoped this wasn't the case. How many more doors must they pass through just to get out of here? Not only was the abandoned manor practically a maze, but it was crawling with creepy monsters and ghosts! Borte wanted out of there immediately! More doors meant locating more keys… Oh, this was endless!
She attempted to insert their latest key into its lock, but the shaking of her hand made the task much more difficult than it should have been. She adjusted her footing, and the creaking of the wooden floor beneath her boot startled her into dropping the key onto the floor with a squeak. Crouching down, she retrieved the key, but then immediately offered it to Selena.
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prompts from ffxiv: shadowbringers, including patch 5.1: vows of virtue, deeds of cruelty, patch 5:2: echoes of a fallen star, patch 5.3: reflections in crystal, patch 5.4: futures rewritten and patch 5.5: death unto dawn. spoilers may be present.
what brings you into the wilds this time o’ night?
another of your mysterious friends, is it? i should have known.
i will answer whatever questions you have when we are somewhere more private.
if you would prefer something visual to accompany the account, then i think i have an illustrated history book for children somewhere…
yet just when it seemed that all would be lost, a savior appeared before us…
...i am not familiar with that name. is there something i should know?
have i earned your trust for the moment, at least?
what a brave and reckless and marvelous thing you did!
my hands find no purchase. my gestures catch no eye. and my pleas, be they whispered or screamed, reach not a single ear…
this world is beyond saving - like those who try to save it.
this world has had its fill of heroes.
i… was not aware the room was haunted.
time has only added to the relief i feel, seeing you safe and well.
come - tell me of your arrival, and all that came before!
what say you, old friend? hungry for another adventure?
there’s naught to be had here but cobwebs and memories.
they are predators - and we are their prey.
it is also known as the “city of final pleasures.”
they seem unwilling - nay, unable - to conceive of any other way of life…
i am not so naive as to think there is some miraculous solution to all of this.
let us see to it that both these stories have a happy ending.
welcome, welcome, to the city of final pleasures!
that silken hair, those pearly cheeks… oh, and you even smell wonderful - like a bed of flowers!
though we share no blood, we have stood by each other through life’s many challenges, resolved to prevail together - or not at all.
if my wife has given her permission, then you need not seek my say-so.
i tell you what: you hop up on stage and give us a dance first, and then we can have our little talk!
why is this poor man bleeding to death on your floor!?
i demanded an offering of flesh! carved by his own hand, from his own hide!
i alone the voice of justice - and any who oppose me villains to be punished!
how wonderful to meet you in the flesh after hearing all those stories!
i knew you’d turn up sooner or later, but i had been hoping for sooner.
as much as i might want to go home, i don’t want to go home to that.
in my time here, i’ve borne witness to a lot of last meals.
no matter how hard i fight, it’s never enough.
that’s what keeps me moving forward… even when things seem hopeless.
in a place like this, you learn to take what moments of happiness you can get.
it’s never easy, ending a life you’ve cared for.
we all deserve happiness… wherever we can find it…
the time left to you… is precious… no one should die… in pain…
how many years have i waited for this moment…
there are… things which we can ill afford to lose.
the lost comrades, the broken promises, the abandoned principles - just more nagging burdens to ignore.
the world is dead, and writhe as we might, like maggots in its rotting corpse, it will not be reborn.
so long as hope burns in our hearts, we will fight on regardless.
my mind, meanwhile, reminds me that to follow my heart would be to risk everything we have accomplished thus far.
we shall fight on, that our children and our children’s children might know a better tomorrow.
just have care you don’t lose any limbs out there, all right? they don’t tend to grow back.
let’s cut a path through this rabble and keep moving!
all this trouble because of me… i’m so sorry…
you are made of sterner stuff than the rest. but will it be enough…?
mayhap there is another way. one which does not require bloodshed…
i’m trying my best to remember… but it feels like peering through fog.
there’s not a soul in sight, yet i feel eyes all over us…
oh - if a voice calls to you, under no circumstances should you respond.
...if ghosts are merely souls without bodies, what does that make us?
no matter what you do, he will never be yours. never, never, ever!
from fighters upon the front lines to babes in their beds, none were spared.
no matter the cost, we must forestall this tragedy.
though the night be lost, behind the shroud of blinding light, doubt not but that the stars shine still.
tell me, tell me! what must i do to bring you back!?
but what of your suffering? your sacrifice!? this isn’t fair!
what of all the people who love and care for you and want nothing more than to see you again!?
everything we did… everything we gave... what was it for?
i would learn from you… and help in what little way i can.
when he found me, i knew nothing of the world.
i can feel the answer at the edge of my mind, just out of reach -
such boredom… such tedium have we suffered.
anyone who so much as thinks about trying to seduce him will wish they hadn’t!
forget this folly. return whence you came.
i simply cannot bear to see men fight and die. not anymore.
i had not the words to tell him then, but it filled my heart with pride.
the world needed heroes - it needed him.
he was a good man. he deserved to be happy. i wish i could have told him that, at least…
in all things, balance must be preserved… and the same will be asked of you.
should you ascend the throne, you will become one of us, never again to live as men do.
to strive for a dream you will never see - to sow seeds that others might one day taste the fruits of your garden - that is the beauty of your kind.
know your shame, girl! you are powerless!
if she was powerless, it’s because of you, you sanctimonious swine!
it is time we were going - together, needless to say.
you came all this way just to introduce yourself to us?
a war waged without knowledge of the enemy is no war - it is mere bloodletting.
i have no intention of meddling with your mission.
even if there were there a sliver of truth in your words, i would never accept your help.
whatever you choose to do, make sure it’s worth watching, would you.
the people were lost, seemingly forsaken by their god.
if you’ve brought your ivory standard, i’ll be happy to tell you where to stick it.
i will suffer your company if i must, but not your commentary.
you've committed the cardinal sin of boring me.
‘tis you and you alone who bears ultimate responsibility for your life.
silent and serene as the sunless sea.
the people were without answers, without hope, their gods having drowned along with everything else.
may her soul find peace in the sunless sea of heaven, and in the love we bear for her in our hearts.
i would rather not sully my hands defending myself against such madmen.
what a mischievous plan. i like it.
if the fates are kind, the way will be clear.
there is nothing to gain from staring at my backside.
you cannot be blind to the nascent corruption!
by the time you deign to enlighten us, it may be too late - if it is not already.
that does not make it any easier to put my faith in a man so infatuated with secrecy.
this “hope” you cling to is nothing more than a fever dream.
they require a firm hand to shepherd them from the edge.
those who defy you must submit or die.
what sits before me is the inevitable result of bloated privilege and unchecked power.
what good is a paradise to them if it is a thousand years in the making?
a foul, unholy corruption that must be cleansed.
we will guide you along the righteous path.
we will not - cannot - abandon our faith.
“follow the flowers…” would it kill them to escort us?
[ name ]? …and this is a common name nowadays? how times change.
we have come too far to turn back now.
another door. wonderful… i can but imagine what awaits us inside.
she is alive. she is alive, damn you!
i did something exceedingly reckless. for which you will just have to forgive me.
dry your tears. what would the others think if they saw you like this?
did you really think i would go gently into that dark night with so much left undone?
i know i cannot dissuade you from going, so please - promise me you will return safely.
i shall return, and bring with me a long-awaited gift.
..would you describe it to me, [ name ]? paint for me a picture with your words.
they are gods after a fashion, yes, but no different from the kind with which you are so intimately acquainted.
try as they might, they could not deny the truth of their own eyes…
i ask only that you hold us in your hearts, as we will hold you in ours, now and ever after.
ah, i suspected that you might be awake.
we fight for those who cannot!
while there’s breath in my lungs, i shall see my duties done.
I… am fine… completely… and utterly…fine! better than fine! hale and hearty and still alive to mourn those who are not. who i failed to protect when they needed me most.
the tragedy that has befallen you is of your own making.
let this be a lesson to all those who would walk the path of sin - the wicked shall not inherit this world!
all i do is make mistakes, put others in danger…
don’t give up. don’t give in. please.
i believe you have enough burdens without my adding to them.
you thought you could keep me safe by keeping me in the dark.
no matter what happens to me, i’m sure that i don’t want to go back to being who i was.
i want to be stronger - strong enough to face my destiny.
do we honestly look like we’d need to steal - what, some rusted bits of iron?
you don't look normal, that’s for certain.
so you have your heart set on it - the world doesn’t care.
i’ve had years to decide where i stand.
home stopped being home when i lost them.
i thought to try and drown my sorrows… but somehow… the bottle’s never deep enough.
i’d say we’re long overdue for a good turn. i can only hope the gods feel the same way.
here and now i have another chance to do things right, and i will not squander it again.
if tomorrow came and i was gone, it would be better for everyone!
i will not see their hopes and dreams squandered.
you’re a stubborn old swine, aren’t you…
i don’t know about the world… but i never asked to be saved.
however much it hurts, and however hard it gets, it’s my life, and i want to live it on my own terms!
no matter what you say, i refuse to believe it’s all for nothing!
they’re everything to me. all i have and all i need. and i would gladly do anything for them.
if you would cast your lot with villains, then you shall share their fate!
hah, so you really are a monster.
i’m so proud to have been a part of your life…
your time has not yet come.
when all hangs in the balance, you must give them hope.
yours is a burden none should ever be forced to bear.
such pain and suffering you have endured, yet still you came.
now… tell me your heart’s desire.
since all of our heroes are gone, we’ll just have to make heroes of ourselves.
‘tis a beautiful, wonderful dream. one we share.
no one, however powerful, is immune to the whisperings of doubt and despair.
look instead to the light within, that you may continue to serve as a beacon to others.
not even the most valiant heroes can stand alone.
oh, i can’t wait for this to be over, so we can all go home.
they thought the world beyond changing, but today i think we proved them wrong.
there’s only one hero in this room, and it is not me.
case in point - i do not consider you to be truly alive. ergo, i will not be guilty of murder if i kill you.
let us put an end to it. to this “paradise” built upon the bones of the poor.
right, my turn to make a heroic stand!
enough talk. i am a soldier, and you are my enemy.
ever since i submitted to my master’s authority, i have been naught but a weapon.
there is no justice but mine. no future but mine. no will but mine.
it is not for me to judge you, but for your victims.
you have dreamed a twisted dream, but now you are awake.
it’s a compliment. take it.
well, rest assured that if your heart can be broken, then so can mine!
‘tis a strange tale, but i have no reason to doubt your words.
a bit of advice i learned from his mother: he responds poorly to obvious praise.
how can you remain so...so optimistic throughout all this? it’s downright tiring…
forgive me, i was… lost in a dream.
tell me, when all of this is over, what will you do?
you have the strength to forge your own path.
you will leave countless lives better than you found them, and the souls you touch will never forget your kindness.
together, we would travel the lands and cross the seas and take to the skies upon the eternal wind… my heart swells simply to imagine it.
it ends here. and it ends now.
had you only entrusted your fate to me, there would have been peace for all.
my very existence is virtuous! i am perfect! immaculate!
why am i cast down… when it is you who are the villains?
you will not defile my new paradise!
who would choose to remain here, in this dying realm, when they might go elsewhere and begin anew?
a paltry way to end a chapter, i concede.
yet your tale will continue, and my role in it will scarcely be remembered.
what a disappointment you turned out to be.
i shall look forward to seeing you bring the world to its knees, hero.
well, well, look who’s back from the dead!
that’s what heroes do, isn’t it?
if you need a push, i’ll be right there behind you.
don't give me that look! of course i knew before i asked that you'd never ever heed such a wicked suggestion!
i need to know what he feared - what battle you and your companions are truly fighting!
there is no hope. we are finished. mankind is finished.
should said catastrophe be averted, the very skein of thine existence will unravel.
it was a breath of inspiration in an age of suffocating shadow.
i will see this tale to a happy end, my friend. there has been enough tragedy.
we will find a way to cure this, i promise you!
making promises you have no way of keeping is not a kindness - it’s a lie, plain and simple!
this world is in twilight. i wait for the sun to set. i wish only to sleep.
go on, foul shade, feast yerself on me rotten soul…
it’s a hollow dream, when you think about it.
it seems far darker down here, but i’ll not start at a few shadows.
you’d think all those tall, dark buildings would be frightening, but for some reason they just make me feel sad…
‘tis said it starts suddenly, a cacophonous keening from beneath the earth.
i am simply a shade. here and not here.
i play the same role as all the rest - a bit part, meant to bring color and noise to this well-crafted stage.
too much scrutiny, and we shall burst like the fragile bubbles we are.
know you, then, how this conflict ended?
..’tis truly a terrible weight he has chosen to carry.
you were gone so long, i was on the verge of mounting a rescue party.
there’s always hope if we look for it.
no matter how long it takes or how much it hurts, you can count on me to keep on walking.
drag me though wonder and danger, as you are wont to do, and i shall endeavor not to slow you down.
do as your heart decrees, without hesitation or regret.
well, this has put everyone in a solemn mood, hasn’t it?
no matter where you decide to go, i will be there, guarding your back.
even now, after everything, you refuse to see reason.
how much more must i endure your bumbling interference?
you cannot be entrusted with our legacy.
one day, we too will be ashes and dust, but not today. our time is not yet finished.
a fitting backdrop… for your final judgment.
they are our worlds! our homes! full of life and love and hope!
we define our worth, not the circumstances of our creation!
who are you? no one. nothing.
it is true that all we hold dear is fated to fade away, but that is no reason for us to forsake it!
weary wanderer - you’ve no fight left to fight! no life left to live!
if you had the strength to take another step, could you do it?
this world is not yours to end.
this is our future. our story.
how can you hope to stand against me alone?
i could not well leave matters half-finished.
let us cast aside titles and pretense, and reveal our true faces to one another!
Remember… that we once lived…
they are coming back, aren’t they? i couldn’t bear the thought of… of…
this tale, too, will fade with time, passing into legend as the world heals and moves on.
such is the hero’s lot - to touch the lives of countless others…
i had thought to push on till dawn, but my body had other plans…
ah, ’twas a rare, tranquil morning, made unforgettable by the sight of those clear blue skies.
i thought to indulge in a little revelry myself last night…
i would have been terribly lonely if everyone had suddenly disappeared…
if i’ve gained anything from all of this, it is the courage to stretch out my hand.
well, of course i’m going with you-that’s what family is for, isn’t it?
you were an inspiration to me then.
[ name ] always was a reckless young fool… ready to die for the first righteous cause that came along.
well, it would be nice if things were that simple for a change.
if he suggests dying one more time, i swear i’m going to grant him his wish.
the soul is not a candle to be snuffed out and relit on a whim.
i’d rather get on with doing whatever it is that needs to be done, if it’s all the same to you.
i never thought you would be the one to suggest going back there.
well… it is certainly creative. there’s no denying that.
i would jump for joy if i weren’t so exhausted.
oh, this is all too much for my poor heart to bear alone.
it should go without saying that i have no intention of dying for this.
if i have learned anything from all of this, it is that change begins with the individual.
as ever, the way forward is paved with difficult decisions.
whatever it takes, i will see you safely home.
don’t give up. don’t give in. i keep those words close to my heart.
they gave their lives for the promise of a future they’ll never know.
i know not why i, and i alone, have been gifted this chance.
none of us were born heroes, my friend.
you should not be so eager to run headlong into danger!
their hearts now burn with a curiosity that is not easily satiated.
i wouldn’t be here were it not for you, and i have yet to say a word of thanks!
it was never you that i needed to deceive.
how very unlike you, to err so gravely.
you fail and you fail and you learn nothing - allow that which is most important to slip through your fumbling fingers like so many grains of sand.
there is no common ground to be found between you and i.
i’m afraid that the dead do not speak quite so clearly.
it’s a minor miracle that we accomplish anything at all, wouldn’t you say?
when she realizes she’s struck a nerve, she remembers. by the gods, she remembers…
to hear her speak you’d think i’m on my deathbed.
it feels like we could be doing more - like we should be doing more.
you are our leader. none can take your place.
would someone explain to me how we’re meant to kill a being who doesn’t technically exist?
you will do as you’re told, and get some rest.
remember: if you ever need me, just say the word. i’ll be there.
step one: make a fist. step two: extend your arm, like so. step three: beat ’em senseless.
i’m stupid, but i’m not naive.
it may not be my place, but allow me to offer you a few words of advice.
if you are interested, i will gladly tell you the tale… the tale of the world’s end.
if there is anything i can do to help - anything at all - you need only say the word.
i think a name can mean a lot, and i imagine it would be terrible to have people call you something which didn’t feel right.
i felt as though… there was something i’d lost, and that i had to go out there and find it.
it felt as though long-forgotten memories were dancing at the edges of my mind.
you are death, and only in death shall you serve any purpose.
strange as it may sound, i consider it something of a badge of honor.
such faith, such courage in the face of unrelenting despair.
to believe - to choose to believe is to take the first step towards a brighter future.
that which i seek to do, i do of my own volition, and with all my heart.
i’m sorry, i know it was childish to storm off like that.
[ name ], you really are an unbearable snob sometimes, do you know that?
the rains have ceased, and we have been graced with another beautiful day.
does the world no longer have need of me?
onward, then, over the bloodied bodies of the fallen.
i have dealt with countless heroes, and always it ends the same way.
every end marks a new beginning.
for heroes such as you, there is only ever conflict.
you did not hesitate… or perhaps could not?
we change. we forget. and what little we do remember becomes twisted and fragmented over time.
no matter how much i should change, no matter how much i should forget, i shall ever remember my duty.
come what may, we must not surrender to despair.
all that remains is to pray… to pray that we will one day meet again, beneath a blue sky.
if i may give voice to a personal desire… i would rather you lived.
it must weigh heavy, the burden of all those memories.
i don't know what this sky portends, but i do know it can’t be good.
did you see it too? it was so beautiful! so heartbreakingly beautiful…
i think they were after us. us specifically, i mean.
[ name ]! i’m about to do a great many stupid and reckless things. watch my back, would you?
the graver the matter, the less inclined you are to speak of it.
nothing will ever change that - will ever change what we mean to one another.
i count myself blessed to have had you in my life, and i want you to know that.
why you? why not you?
what i wouldn’t give to return to those halcyon days…
rest assured you haven’t seen the last of me.
if you would usher in the end, then with my all shall i oppose you…
even should it cost me everything, i will not forsake my duty!
and so it ends. in unceremonious silence.
i shall have it, your soul and all!
stay strong. keep the faith. at duty’s end, we will meet again.
promise me you’ll take me on your next adventure. a journey. together. that’s all i ask.
if i were to tell you that this isn’t the end that we will meet again - would you believe me?
we struggle because we have hope.
the thought of never seeing you again… it’s more than my poor heart can bear!
you have our love, now and always.
i could not bear it if you were to leave. please stay! i beg of you!
honestly, he’s a boy in the body of a man…
it’s just… i always knew that everyone would leave one day.
now that the time has come, i just feel… lost. lost and lonely.
you made me who i am.
gods know, i’m proud of you. i always will be.
we, my dear, are in unknown territory.
yet miracles do happen.
i won’t stop praying until i know they’re safe.
you stand where you stand by virture of the road you walked to get there.
being free to live as one pleases is not without its challenges…
i shall carry them close to my heart always, unto the end of my days.
i did glance at the report…but i’d be lying if i said i understood half of it.
had i half her stubbornness nay, her unwillingness to accept the status quo, i would be a far better person.
did no one teach you any manners, girl?
i was still a child when last i came here, but now i am rather more capable.
the tides will turn, as is their wont, and the wise man sails with them towards the shores of new opportunity.
i thought myself the hunter, but it turns out i was the prey…
bloodshed followed. then bloodshed to answer the bloodshed. and on and on it went.
what we have sown in blood, we have reaped in suffering, and it cannot go on.
so don’t bother trying to reason with me. you will find i have no reason.
no sooner do we overcome one problem than another appears.
i for one do not intend to allow a nihilistic madman to take us all to the grave with him.
there is nothing in this world i would rather do than write a new future with you.
oh, i couldn’t lose him if i tried. and i did try. repeatedly.
with this power of mine, i can make a difference.
it means a lot, you know - you coming with me.
the way [ name ] goes on about him, i’m fairly sure i could pick him out in a crowd.
well i for one will not be making that mistake again.
one can’t remain a spoiled little lordling forever, you know.
you know, when we were growing up, [ name ] would never befriend other boys because he couldn’t stand the thought of not being in charge.
he still loves nothing better than the sound of his own voice.
are there no depths to which you will not stoop!?
So… save your mercy for those who deserve it.
better to die than live as a tool of evil.
we came together, and we’re leaving together!
if you have need of my strength, it’s yours.
don’t tell me - you couldn’t read my handwriting.
if you wish to walk the path of ruin, i will not stand in your way.
it was only a matter of time before that grinning maniac showed himself again.
be the hero i can’t.
no one ever calls themselves a hero.
the one who awaits at the heart of the chaos will come for us. for you.
the stars shall bear witness to our final contest.
Yana swore she was going to lose her mind if she ever heard the words 'pray return to the waking sands' ever again. She supported the Scions mission, she really did and she was happy she could play her part, but some of the tasks she was assigned....
One could only be asked to run back and forth between places so many times before you started to wonder if you were going to go insane.
For the time being though, it seemed as if Minfillia had no tasks for her, and Yana planned to take full advantage of it. She could stand to blow off some steam, and a hunt seemed like a good way to do that.
There had been rumors lately within Gridania lately of a particularly vicious Banemite roaming around the North Shroud, and that seemed as good a target as any. Not only would getting rid of it be a public service, it'd be a good way to let out her frustration.
As she neared the location where the beast had been spotted before, Yana drew her bow, her eyes narrowing as she survived the area. There was no immediate sign of the creature at first glance but then she saw movement in the distance.
It was not the monster though, or rather, not only the monster. The banemite seemed be chasing someone. Clearly it had found it's latest victim.
It was going to loose it though, if Yana had anything to say about it. Drawing back her bow string, she set her aim on the numerous eyes on it's face and let an arrow fly.
As soon as it hit the creature, causing it to momentarily reel backwards, she dashed forward towards the woman and grabbed hold of her hand, before starting to run. She could come back for the monster later, right now it was better to just get the woman away from it.
Borte regretted ever agreeing to help that botanist. The request had seemed simple enough; he needed some herbs specifically found in the North Shroud, but he was too busy to gather them himself. Picking some foliage out in the forest? What could possibly go wrong?
It was probably Borte's screaming that was detected first. She ran as fast as her legs would allow, an abnormally large and aggressive Banemite trailing close behind. It had approached her while she'd been distracted, and she had been too startled to even consider drawing her axe — which now only served as a useless weight in this situation — instead choosing to flee.
In all of the commotion, she hadn't noticed anyone else nearby. She heard the distinct sound of an arrow shooting through the air, making impact with something, and then the cry of the Banemite behind her. She looked over her shoulder and lost her footing, falling onto her behind with a startled cry of her own. Sure enough, an arrow stuck out of the creature's face. Borte looked around frantically. Was it a Wood Wailer? Bandits? Oh Gods, was she in even more danger now?!
She was snapped out of her panic by a hand grabbing her own. Wide eyes shot up to see a young Miqo'te woman. She didn't have time to process much else before she was pulled up and away from the agitated Banemite. She clumsily followed behind, trying her hardest to keep up.
Once it seemed they had gotten far enough away, Borte let go of the woman's hand and stumbled to a stop, doubling over with her hands on her knees as she attempted to catch her breath.
❝Banemites are not supposed to be that big!❞ She wailed. Lifting her head, she looked at the stranger in bewilderment. ❝You shot that thing! What if it comes after you!❞
@thefutureishope said: ❝Oh don't worry, it's not the height that you should be concerned about, it's the jagged rocks at the bottom.❞ One second passed, and then another and then finally Hope's composure cracked and he let out a laugh.
❝I'm kidding. There's no real need to worry, there's an airship that will catch us after we jump❞
Borte's eyes widened in horror. She hadn't needed to look all the way down to see how long the fall would be… What do you mean there are jagged rocks at the bottom?! Before she could even give voice to how much worse that sounded, Hope began to laugh.
Borte did not laugh with him.
❝Jump?! We're supposed to jump?!❞ She shook her head profusely. ❝No no no no, I can't do that! I'll die!❞
Lightning's eyes narrowed at the sight of the the men. Three men, and a girl who was trying to hide, it didn't paint a pretty picture. She couldn't know exactly why they were after the girl, but she certainly wasn't going to let them get her.
Of course, it was possible that the girl maybe wasn't as innocent as she looked, but Lightning wasn't going take a chance just because that was a possibility. If it were to turn out that the girl was a criminal, then Lightning would deal with it, but for now she would protect her.
Her hand reached for the sword at her waist, ready for a fight if it came to it. Though hopefully these guys were the type of coward that would flee as soon as they faced opposition.
❝Just stay hidden, I'll take care of them if nessecary.❞ She muttered under her breathe to the girl. ❝Though I expect an explanation later.❞
She wasn't the type to help someone and then disappear into the night without a word. She'd take action first, but once it was done she wanted to know the why.
Part of her wanted to call out to the men, and just get the situation over with, but she held back. There were still a few other people around, it was possible they might not notice anything and just leave.
Despite coming from a complete stranger, Lightning's words are a weight off Borte's shoulders. She relaxed a little, letting out a relieved sigh. It seemed she had made the right judgment; this woman would keep her safe.
Resisting the urge to continue peeking, Borte remained hidden behind Lightning and kept quiet. The men moved closer, visibly frustrated. Eventually, one of them spotted Lightning, squinting in suspicion before leaning over to mutter something to the others. The three of them looked to her now, as if they knew something, but after a moment of consideration the man in the middle — the leader, presumably — scoffed and turned on his heel to storm off. The other two clumsily followed after.
If they had noticed Borte hiding, it seemed they decided ( wisely ) that it was not worth dealing with Lightning.
Borte finally peeked over the other's shoulder once more, and once she saw them walking away she dropped to the ground with a big sigh.
❝That was so close!❞ She whined. ❝Thank you so much for your help.❞
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" you're staring. " the white mage needs not to look up to feel the other's gaze boring into her, her attention wholly focused on their hand, a soft glow emitting from between the two of them — white magic. the hand has since stopped bleeding, thanks to cora's magic, a patch of scarred skin tissue in place of where the wound previously was. it was a simple enough fix, really. " have i something on my face? " even as she speaks, she does not look up from her patient's hand. still, there is a smile on her lips, playful and teasing in its nature that could only spell trouble for the other.
Immediately Borte tenses up, as if she had been caught doing something that she shouldn't. She had been staring, it is true. She's likely to panic or start crying ( again ) if she focuses on her injury, and the white mage who was so kindly tending to her was a welcome distraction. Of course, she hadn't meant to stare so hard, but she couldn't help it. Hair that brought to mind the sands of Nhaama Desert, eyes like fresh springwater. Her pale lashes cast soft shadows over her cheeks dappled with freckles like stars across the night sky. It was almost too easy to distract herself from the situation with such a woman right in front of her.
❝Oh no, sorry! You're just so pretty, I was—❞ The moment she realizes what she's blurted out is given away by the flush of pink that paints her cheeks soon after. She tears her gaze away with a nervous giggle. ❝N-never mind. Please pretend you didn't hear that.❞
The Khan's usual gusto cracked a little at the revelation. For a moment, Magnai had wondered if Borte had meant to come present herself to him as his potential Nhaama. Not that that would be possible, considering her rank within the tribe -- but, still. To hear of the former Khan's daughter leaving the Steppe...it felt like an insult. An unspoken disapproval of how Magnai had begun to run things.
He leered at her down from the Dawn's Throne, the entire scenario already played out and decided in his head.
"I do not recall you asking permission from your Khan to leave. Or is that what this is?"
She did not actually need permission from him to leave, but maybe she wouldn't know that.
"I do not take kindly to those who abandon our people, Borte."
She thought that she had fully prepared herself for this. That the full bell she had spent outside of the Dawn Throne psyching herself up prior to requesting an audience with the Khan had granted her ample time to consider any potential response. Standing there now, in this throne room that was once so familiar to her, Borte realized that she was not quite as prepared as she'd hoped.
She had believed that she would simply be waved off. Someone who had been nothing but a blight on the Oronir's impressive reputation would merely be doing the tribe a favor by taking her leave. Perhaps even bothering to inform anyone was presumptuous, or so she had thought. But what she had not predicted — couldn't have predicted — was that her decision would be met with resistance.
Talk of permission, abandonment, froze her in place, her eyes wide. It took a moment to find her words again.
❝I— I-it was not my intention to abandon the Oronir,❞ she stammered, unable to meet the Khan's gaze. Sitting upon the throne where her father once sat, he was as radiant as ever, and she was not yet bold enough to stare directly into the sun.
❝… I have not been a daughter worthy of her father's pride,❞ Her shifting gaze settled upon Magnai's features for only a moment before averting quickly. ❝It is my wish to hone my skills, in a place where familiarity cannot coddle me. If I have no options but to survive, then surely... Surely then I would improve. A-and then return once I have, when I can contribute properly.❞
She had made up her mind. She needed to do this. To meet the expectations placed upon her as Khaidai's only child. To prove herself worthy of the Oronir name.
And maybe, just maybe, there was a part of her that believed if she could just do better — be better — then perhaps Magnai would finally see her as she had seen him for all those years.
There was a pause as Borte steeled herself before finally mustering the strength to face Magnai directly. As much as she wished to appear strong and unwavering, she unfortunately looked exactly how she felt: like a girl who was already terrified of the future she had chosen for herself.
( i'm just thinking out loud here, but you know what i always love to see? when a wolemet shipper names their azem after persephone/kore. it makes me smile every time i see it )
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@strikesthrice said: She was right, it did sound strange. That was certainly not a question that Lightning had ever been asked before. Still, she didn't see any harm in saying yes. As far as she could tell there didn't seem to be any monsters chasing after the girl, and Lightning was sure she could handle anything else the girl might be hiding from.
❝Yeah, go ahead.❞
Borte had already been halfway behind the woman before she'd given the go-ahead. It was a strange request indeed, but this was urgent! And amongst all the people in the area, it was this woman who seemed the most reliable.
Once she'd been given proper permission, Borte positioned herself fully behind Lightning. She seemed to be doing her very best to make herself as small as possible to properly conceal herself, but her tendency to frequently peek over Lightning's shoulder was doing her no favors.
In no time at all, a small group of young men — three of them, to be exact — came into view. They were clearly looking around for something. At the sight of them, Borte fully hid herself behind Lightning with a startled squeak.
❝Just pretend like I'm not even here,❞ she whispered, nervous hands fidgeting with the front of her own dress. ❝Th-they'll probably leave any second now…❞
"I realize now how narrow my view of the vorld vas..." From @lalannaoronir
from: FFXIV: WARRIOR QUESTS starter prompt.
“I think everyone comes to that realization eventually. I know I certainly did.” Borte spoke, regarding the fellow au ra with a soft smile.
“We only really know the things that we've surrounded ourselves with. Before I left home, I couldn't imagine any other way of life than what I had lived on the Steppe. It was all that I knew. But you learn so much when you go out and see the world.”
This time she turned her whole body towards Lalanna, her hands clasped loosely together behind her back. “Realizing your own narrow worldview is the first step towards broadening it!”
