westwhere | sand in your eyes

sand in your eyes

And onwards, through the cursed desert. The mini-journey Arc covers 6-21 January and doubles as a test drive meme. Participants do not need an invite to apply this round. Have fun!

SAND IN YOUR EYES

TEST DRIVE TOURISTS | ONE SAND WASHES THE OTHER
A HOUSE UNITED WILL SAND | SOILMATES | A PYRAMID SCHEME

Image source.

A SANDING OVATION

Sand in your eyes, down your throat, stifling. You wake half-buried in high dunes, crawling towards helping hands. Thirst vanquishes you.

You are quickly offered a translation and communication pendant and introduced to the leader of the caravan that saved you — good Mazyar, who thanks the stars for your most incredible luck to be rescued by his generous and humble self. For he is not a man for idle praise, but he has sold salt to salt makers, he was courted by seven of the five great trade guilds and brought peace to the Stairs of Sighs…

Mazyar reveals you are in Akhuras, where undead lieges seek to weaponise you in their war for dominion. Mazyar’s good but less successful friend, the elusive Merchant ferries otherworlders east, where ancient beacons can transport them home.

Retire for now and regain your strength. Come morning, further otherworlders will arrive from Serthica — and your journey may begin.

Image source.

ONE SAND WASHES THE OTHER

The veteran party reunites with newcomers in the desert, and with the merchant Mazyar — who once guided them through the Stairs of Sighs. His caravan is protected by the Scavengers —deathly a tribe of hardened desert raiders. They bring water flasks, supplies, cooling suits and tents to share. Their snail-like carriage mounts can transport the weak.

You are bound for the seized citadel of Alem, swarmed on each side by undead battalions. To access it, you must obtain one of the enormous sand worms that trawl the deserts, which can be deployed to create underground passageways.

The Scavengers will lead the caravan through haunted dunes, the worms’ traditional hunting grounds and temple-fortress Uruksithar.

Image source.

A HOUSE UNITED WILL SAND

The group first reaches the Valley of Unchaining, bordered by high cliffs and fang-like stones. Here and there, discover bloodied footprints, half-buried shackles and red chains. You might even stumble upon an eroded tombstone inscribed, H R SL EP THE UNCH IN D. At its feet are dulled dagger blades and rough calcar stone.

COULD DIE FROM LAUGHTER

You fool, never eat alone. Happen by the camp’s outskirts with your dinner, and you might glimpse the silhouettes of starved desert hyenas, their eyes glistening green. They will come close if you bear raw meat or bleeding wounds.

■ Scavengers say, if you see the hyenas, throw them food or a cloth drenched in fresh blood, then run without looking back until you no longer hear their cruel cries.

■ Some hyenas mimic rasped human voices, begging help or calling your name. One feeble hyena wears a chain of red shackles around its neck.

■ If you look back while chased, you find the green stare of the hyenas fixed upon you. You are gradually overcome by starvation, violence and the urge to dismember prey and feast on raw flesh. Player’s choice on whether characters can resist this compulsion, which disappears at dawns, or if they taste blood.

■ Scavengers will deny you entrance into the camp if you appear possessed in this way.

SANDIMENTAL VALUE

You walk the Valley, Scavengers say, and Mother Death walks with you. A once handsome crone might appear beside you, bare-footed and dressed in clean linens. She remains silent unless spoken to and flinches if you move suddenly, as if she fears being struck.

■ Treat the Crone kindly, and she entrusts you with a small pouch holding a fraction of her ashes, which she wants scattered from the hills.

■ Use rope and climbing hooks and take cover behind stone formations. Beware the violent sand whirlwinds that batter the cliffs, threatening to plunge you down or choke you with sand.

■ If you succeed, the Crone appears to watch her scattering ashes and bless you with good luck for the rest of your journey. Your kindness, she says, reminds her of her daughter.

Image source.

SOILMATES

The three-day walk to Uruksithar traverses the sand worms’ hunting grounds, where dunes shift periodically in sharp, tectonic waves. Watch your step and don’t be surprised if your tent sinks at night.

■ The Scavengers organise daily reconnaissance parties in the desert hills. Stay with them to unbury dune treasures.

■ The brave & brazen can try to catch sand worms. The massive creatures erupt overground periodically, catching prey in their large mouths, or crushing it beneath their heft as they plunge in the depths — creating large sinkholes in the process.

■ On its back, each sand worm has a few darker scales that draw the shape of a rune. To tame a sand worm, you must find its rune, then write the symbol on the worm’s back using blood from your hands. Report your catch by 23:59 on 17 January!

■ The sand worm bonds with you for three weeks until the next full moonrise, or until you draw the same rune on your cut hand.

■ Those who secure a sand worm find it grudgingly follows them underground for the rest of the journey. The creature can only be steered or ridden.

■ Some sand worms are vicious, old and sufficiently magical to retaliate by taking the link over and forcing their bonded humans to experience their lives — briefly sensitive to light and strong sounds, or unable to speak. Some might experience mild fevers. All symptoms disappear when the bond breaks.

Image source.

A PYRAMID SCHEME

At last, welcome to Uruksithar, former jewel of the desert — now reduced to rusted gates and tattered walls of wind-lashed stone.

The abandoned palace-fortress features a row of minor temples and barren gardens that surround a great, ruinous pit. The state of residential furnishings suggests the grounds were lived mere years prior. Walk north to find a a large pool of thickened black water that exudes a cold, unsettling presence. Veteran party members know what to expect.

Nail scratches on some temple walls read, we, who did not sleep or i ask the wind to grieve our chains. By the pit, a stone plate helpfully says, drop by drop, even base water turns to poison.

The Scavengers disperse to raid the temples, advising you to carry water everywhere. One raider mentions that the local Temple of Ra’esh stores silver waters that can woo sand worms.

OCTOPUS PRIME

Uruksithar’s great gong strikes every two hours, to groans and shudders from the abyssal pit. Scavengers immediately take cover behind walls, bind themselves to columns or rush into crumbling residences.

■ For five minutes, as the gong sounds a pathetic dirge, a bouquet of tentacles erupts from the pit, sweeping nearby streets to capture living things.

■ Throwing water on the tentacles forces them to retreat, while black liquid from the northern pool burns them down. Further tendrils emerge until the gong quiets.

■ Should you fall into the pit, use your climbing hooks to latch onto the walls and don’t look down. A grotesque, sharp-toothed mouth awaits below to devour you, amid the squelching sounds of the tissue and material it has been masticating for decades. It won’t give up its lunch easily.

Image source.

TOMB AND GLOOM

Ra’esh the Bright-maker, he who saw but peace beneath the skies. His humble temple is anonymous among numerous worship grounds. Scavengers say, four years ago, a wanderer sculpted an eye with a sun for a pupil on the entrance door. Take a torch and head in.

■ Long-stripped of its glory, the maze-like Temple of Ra’esh is now cold stone, stale window-less corridors and heavy doors that snap down from the ceiling.

■ Distant susurrations of water point you towards your destination.

■ As you walk in, pay attention to the engravings near the entryway of each temple room. Some depict arrows, forecasting spikes will burst up from floors tiles. Sculpted drops hint pouring water in this spot will open a door. Open a door with an engraving of large serpents, and… well. The engravings can help characters navigate the maze and completely avoid its traps. Feel free to make up your own engravings & traps, if you want!

■ The altar room contains a pool with pearlescent waters that surround a woman fully bandaged in gauze, her sight obscured. She is bound to a column with chains and shackles akin to those found in the desert. Rare peeks of her skin show it rotting or sickly pale.

■ She asks either if you are her mother, come for her at last. Do you engage?

■ Take water from the pool, and you can lure a sand worm to you once you have exited Uruksithar. Hazed, but sweet-tempered, it will follow you underground and allow you to ride it for the three weeks until the next full moonrise. These sand worms won’t give you a hard time during the bond period. Report your worm too by 23:59 on 17 January!

NOTES

■ Test driving & in-game characters can top level logs here — test driving characters can also put up network posts in this space c:

■ Feel free to investigate the mystery of the chains and shackles, but no pressure — it’s not critical to Arc V.

■ Hit up NPCs!

■ Navigation top.

QUESTIONS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

a 'hot wiring' problem | a sanding ovation

[ For someone so recently coughing out mouthfuls of sand, the quite tall elezen man seems to have recovered with a genial aplomb, and—with his new translation device clipped securely to his vest—has taken to assisting the caravan and its variety of members in whatever ways he can, especially in all manners mechanical.

At the moment, he has a couple beaten-up cooling suits resting in his lap, and appears to be tinkering with what appear to be ripped, bald wires, carefully twisting them back together. His eyes hop quickly back and forth between the torn wiring twisting in dextrous fingers and referencing a much-folded piece of paper with a hand-scribbled diagram being continuously edited. As approached, however he will look up from his tinkering and offer the guest a cheery smile. ]

If you are in search of respite from the heat, fear not! I suspect I will be done with the repairs of these suits before long. Always good to keep the gear in shape.

to pay respects | sandimental value

[ In addition to the traditional set of ropes and climbing hooks, at periodic intervals Stephanivien kneels down on small ledges, bracing his carbine and charging it up with his aetherotransformer, and shoots out a blast of anchoring heads attached to chains that dig into the cliff face, offering a more sturdy and secure, if only temporary, assistance to climbing the cliff face. His smithing goggles are pulled down over his eyes to protect them from the violent sands tossed up in the whirlwinds, and he's gained an additional layer of wrapped cloths and cooling suit components to shield the rest of him, including small wrappings for this larger pointed ears.

The small pouch of ashes is stuffed beneath his shirt, vest, and all outerwear, and he shields that side of his body with great care. ]

Not much farther, yet, I think. [ One gloved hand further shields his face as he scans up the remainder of the cliff face yet to go. The other presses gently against where the pouch of ashes is tucked against his chest. ] T'will be a good service, to grant a wearied soul their rest.

hot shot | octopus prime

Quite the creature, that one.

[ Stephanivien has braced himself behind one of the wider, crumbling pillars, secured tightly by climbing rope, periodically reaching out in the gaps to either shoot large, spinning drill-like bullets at the tentacles, or reaching out to grab a fleeing explorer to safety behind the pillar, granting them a tight loop of the secured rope to grip and give them further time to more securely position themselves away ]

There must be a better solution to those tentacles than this, surely.

{{ some other idea? Feel free to hit me up at

crincakes or just chat me here to set up something different }}

Mm. While they are not necessarily the most fetching attire, they are rather useful in the desert.

Not that I am particularly acquainted with things such as these, [ he actually has a fan in his hand and is waving at his face with it, never mind that it's actually reinforced and a weapon, it's still a fan, ] but - are you in need of things that require fetching?

[ Yes, yes, he's offering to help. He's learned the necessity of protective suits, oh, two travel routes ago. ]

Fascinating mechanical marvels, to be sure! [ Stephanivien is very eager at the advances in engineering evidenced between his hands! And how much further still the bounds might be! He finishes the last twists on one of the suits, before shaking it out with his hands, making sure everything stays together and in place. ] If you could bring me perhaps some rubber wraps for insulation, if you can find any, just to finish off these wirings.

Another few damaged suits would not be amiss, either! The more we can repair, the better, as I suspect none here presently possess the knowledge to craft such armors from scratch.

[ He offers out the finished suit to his new ~~go'fer~~ companion with a smile ] You are quite welcome to use this one now, if you need it.

I... will see what I can do. And you might be surprised what knowledge or skills this group might have...

[ He spreads his arms dramatically. ]

Not me, for technology is barely something I can wrap my head aronud, let alone understand. But I will do what I can to find... what you said.

[ He considers the suit, then slightly wrinkles his nose. ]

And I thank you for the offer, but I believe I will avail myself of it only after the present exercise - and a chance to clean up, if only a little. If you'll excuse me.

[ An incline of his head, and he wandse off to look for. Elastic wraps... and more damaged suits. He might even find one more suit and ... one more that has too much missing for him to believe it's worth bringing back, but he can take what rubber he can find from it. ]

True enough! I shall have to ask around when the time comes for it. Even the most heated discussions can engender the most ingenious engineering insights. [ The more knowledge, the better! And Stephanivien is delighted to be presented with new puzzles to solve, especially as he cannot bury himself in the runnings of the Manufactory given his new locale.

As for his newest companion's expression towards the suit, coupled with his first observations... Stephanivien lets out a light laugh. ] Admittedly, not exactly the most appealing armor to gird oneself with, I must attest. Do mind the heat, in any case, though you seem to have all well in hand for the moment. [ He nods towards the fan, and sets the 'fixed' cooling suit aside.

As the man wanders off, Stephanivien turns back to the remaining suits in his hands, looking up again only when said companion returns, with a suit in even worse wear. Truly, only worth salvaging for scraps, which, if anything, has him looking on even more eagerly. ]

What an excellent find! All the better to strip down to try and understand the mechanisms, and a wonderful source of repair materials to boot! [ He turns away from the suit to shoot his companion a wide, beaming smile. ] Thank you, my friend!

[ Xunxian shakes his head, and yes, he's a bit overheated from bringing it back, so he will settle for a bit to breathe and cool himself off. ]

There was a time when going around without protective suits would have you bleeding in no time at all. Proper gear is... far too important to ignore. Your work is well appreciated.

[ And an incline of his head. ]

Xunxian. Su Xunxian.

[ ... it is still strange for him to introduce himself, which is ridiculous after so long in this place. But decades of having others either already know him or introduce him is difficult to get over. ]

Indeed! And very worth ensuring that all who need it have access to it.

[ A bow of his head in return, and an aborted swep of the arm of someone far more used to bowing while standing. ]

Stephanivien de Haillenarte, pleasured to make your acquaintance!

[ The hood of Merrin's cloak aids her well enough in protecting her from the worst of the whirling sand. This is an environment unlike anything she's encountered on Dathomir. Of course, her home world had its own dangers, but they were known to her, familiar, not at all treacherous as they would have been to outsiders. She must understand this place, if they're to be trapped here for another's purpose. That alone compels her to refrain from using her magick to simply teleport them both to the top. Likewise, she wants to know the depth of her companion's skill; what better way than sharing an arduous journey together? He will think it funny later, when she tells him how simple this could have been, she's sure.

They have a purpose—to put Mother Death to rest. Yet, in Merrin's mind, it is just as important to understand those she is forced to ally with here. In this case, it is necessary to take the longer path to the top. ]

The journey has not been an easy one. Yet, you find worth in it. This is a kindness not all would give.

[ Of course, that excludes the two of them. They walk this path together, wherever it leads. ]

'Twould be a better world if we all did the kindness we were able. And if that is not the world we live in, why, then we must strive to make it so!

[ It is simple enough, for Stephanivien. That all lives deserve respect and dignity, and to do his part in granting such is little enough. Flaws are meant to be mended, and inefficiencies and inadequacies challenged, to move forward to a better future. That has always been the sort of dream he has striven for.

And perhaps, more personally, Stephanivien knows all too well—as so many Ishgardians do—the bitter hope that, should it be his loved one's soul seeking their rest, some brave being might grant their aid. ]

Few things are easy, and what might be trivial for one may be insurmountable to another. Why, then, should we not strive where we can?

[ Some of what he says reminds her of Cal and there is a brief pang of missing him, when she'd only just begun to feel connected to the crew of the Mantis. Where are they now? She wonders. Are they safe?

Hopeful words. They uplift for a moment. Yes, she would agree with this, too. It is why she left Dathomir to begin with; to see the universe, yes, to understand those who would fight to keep it safe. This man speaks of striving to make the world kind. He is, perhaps, misguided in his belief, for the world will turn as it will and they may lack the ability to influence it towards goodness. But, to never try at all would be the greater folly.

Briefly, he manages to pull just the hint of a smile from her. Though it's brief and hidden, so she would likely deny it. ]

Then we shall strive together. I would not see you finish this journey alone. You may have my name since we are allies—I am Merrin, from Dathomir.

[ Hopeful words indeed. But his whole life has been pushed forward by imagination and the push for new discoveries for a brighter future, and Stephanivien has seen that future made manifest. HE hwas wwatched the world change rapidly and drastically by at the hands of a few who would take the chance. The ending of a thousand-year war, and the rise of a new government. The slow and steady steps of progress towards greater equality in his own home. The liberation of nations from an oppressing empire. The halting of the functional apocalypse, and a chance at rebirth and rebuilding for nations held under the sway of evil powers.

He would be a fool to claim anything impossible.

Stephanivien offers Merrin a bright smile in return, and a short bow at the introduction. ]

Your assistance is most welcome, Merrin. When we work together we are all the stronger for it. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance! I am Stephanivien de Haillenarte, from the city-state of Ishgard.

[ He turns back towards the cliff face, setting his hands upon his waist to try and make a value judgement of how best to next proceed. He begins to plot a course, gesturing to each feature of the cliff face in front of him as it appears ]

I believe our next target should be that ledge to the northeast, which should hopefully give us enough space for me to attempt to fire a second volley of Air Anchors.

With the chains as support and a rough guide, I suspect we may be able to climb a larger distance, and into that section there, which seems somewhat less buffeted by these winds we're having. What say you?

[ For herself, Merrin has known more often the worst of others. In her youth, she was granted momentary contentment living with her coven, her family, learning the ways of Dathomirian magick; a peace she thought would last, as is the way of children who have not yet been touched by tragedy. The time they shared together was all too brief, before they were killed, all but her. That same war that came for her people is spreading across the galaxy and she sees now with darkening clarity that it is inescapable, that her family was wrong to hide away. What good did it do, in the end? War came for them as it will for all. She can be of great use in resistance, and so she is resolute in lending aid where she may. Since she has now been torn away from the new friends she'd only just begun to know and care for, Merrin is only too willing to help in the cause here. Another war, it seems, and one she knows little of, but as her new companion suggests, there is strength in numbers and they will face what comes together.

At his bow, Merrin offers a polite nod in reciprocation—along with a slight tug that might almost be a smile—to acknowledge his kindness thus far. ]

I am glad to meet you, Stephanivien de Haillenarte. I do not know of Ishgard, but you should tell me more of it while we climb.

[ Should there be much time for speaking, that is. She may be overly optimistic, having never exerted herself in this particular way before. ]

You speak with knowledge and you are...well equipped. I trust your judgment on this and where you go, I will follow. Or, in this case, shall I go first?

[ When you can teleport anywhere, such maneuvers are foreign, yet she finds herself momentarily thrilled by the anticipation of learning something new. ]

My prospectometer seems certain enough in our course, and, as you have no better instincts, I am inclined to trust it! [ He remains all smiles, and shifts towards the cliff face. ] I am quite happy to follow your lead, Merrin, especially as I suspect it may be easier to adjust my height to any handholds you discover rather than the alternative. [ Stephanivien is aware that he is, in fact, quite tall, and that most people do not have the reach of a limber, 6'8" individual. He moves over to the cliff face regardless, prepared to start first at her word. ] I am also quite happy to share with you about my home, and I confess an equal curiosity to learn of yours!

I suspect that you must come from quite a different star than mine, and it is fascinating to think of the different ways of life possible on other stars.

[ He seems distracted a moment, following off in enthusiasum internally along that train of of thought, before centering back. ]

But, you inquired first of Ishgard! These most recent years have seen great change, especially in efforts of rebuilding and Restoration, spearheaded by my own dear brother Francel! He has toiled quite relentlessly to make our home a better and more equitable place! [ The pride and love in Stephanivien's voice at the work of his ~~baby~~ brother overflows. ] We have only but just reached peaceful accords to end a thousand-year long war, and his efforts at the rebuilding and reintegration of our societies for mutual exchange have kept me quite hopeful for Ishgard's future. [ It is clear that Francel's achievements are ones that Stephanivien is quite happy to expound upon at length, should his audience be so attentive. ]

Edited (html fail) 2023-01-21 08:07 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

sand in your eyes

stephanivien de haillenarte | final fantasy xiv | tourist

hot wiring

<3

muuch!

*squints at clock**squints at u*

and then time got away from me...

saaaaaaame

sandimental value

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject