The long winding road

Blog for Cain Locke & a bunch of other Final Fantasy XIV characters played by menord@tumblr. Open to asks, RP planning etc.

[ever-searching]

PSA: Indefinite Hiatus

Given that it's been... *checks notes* eight months since I last posted, I figured I might as well make a post to state that this blog is unlikely to get new posts anytime soon.

I'm still playing FFXIV (and have done the Dawntrail MSQ) and roleplaying occassionally, but given that my RP circles in Tumblr have gone quiet and I've struggled with creativity and real-life things for a good while, I don't foresee myself posting unless something changes significantly.

The blog will remain in existence, since I've got a lot of writings here that I haven't (yet) saved elsewhere, but I probably won't be sharing anything new I might write nor blogging/reblogging about game-related things.

I wish everyone a very good Llymlaen's Twelvesmoon nevertheless (also known as year 2025) and the best of luck and fun in Eorzea and outside of it. .o/

[ishgard]

sooo dawntrail benchmark is out, how's it going?

Looks great! Love how my character looks!

Could be better, could be worse, I'll get used to it.

Not good. Look at how they massacred my (character).

I can't run benchmark.

Voting ended onApr 15, 2024

(Would be curious to see specifics in tags also like: race + if you like or dislike it, and if they've done darker skin tones any justice.)

(Also I'm so sorry in advance to anyone suffering, I don't think it helps much when you're attached to your character as they are, but soft reminder they're giving a free fantasia with DT.)

[ever-searching]

I've finally (or "finally") joined the 'you play this game too much' club.

On one hand, I can't believe it took me this long, considering that Cain was created seven years ago (egads, where does the time go). On the other hand, I can't believe I managed to do this at all, especially since I hadn't even picked up some of these classes before Endwalker (such as most tanks).

Can't say that I would be master of many of these classes (or maybe even any of them), but I think I'm at least adequate with most, and it was a fun ride. Perhaps now I'll have time for my alts - or other games. :p

I could ramble more about each class and my opinion or journey with them, but I'll contend with the collection of portraits I've made. Some are better than others, but all can be seen behind the readmore below.

[metamorphesque]

Poem, Langston Hughes

[matcha-bnuuy]

Does your WoL lean toward any aetherical aspect more than others?

Fire

Earth

Wind

Water

Ice

Lightning

Light

Darkness

Nope! they're perfectly balanced (as all things should be)

Voting ended onFeb 20, 2024

Been thinking about this due to various character runs of mine, how some are more adept healers or casters etc etc.. due to leaning aspects or alteration due to story events, what about you guys? Do they level out or have a permanent lean? 🤔

[cantdance]

ffxiv players: how do you choose your main job?

story reasons (msq, job quests, rp)

aesthetic reasons (good gearsets, cool abilities, vibe)

whatevers popular (positively or negatively)

whatevers new

whatever is most valuable to my friends/fc/static

optimization reasons

i main the job i started as for sentimental reasons

obligatory crafter/gatherer option

something else

Voting ended onFeb 18, 2024

hello im sick so tell me about your xiv main. genuinely curious how other people decide in a game where you can play literally everything. my answer is aesthetic reasons (i like rogues)

[meandering-mind]

How did you get into RP?

Here's a question for you all. No matter how far back or which game, how did you get into RP on the MMORPG scene? What or who got you hooked? How were you shown the ropes? I was thinking of some dear memories of mine, and I wanted to see if others maybe also have memories of their first RP days they'd like to share.

[ever-searching]

I feel like in a certain way, my whole history of roleplaying in MMORPGs has been a sequence of serendipitous encounters and coincidences.

I started to RP in WoW after someone I befriended on a forum learned that I was playing the game and invited me to make an alt on his main server. That led me to stumbling into an RP guild, and that led me to meeting someone who'd become my friend, introduce me to other people and eventually inspire me to create my own guild. While things ended on a somewhat sad note, we had a lot of good times.

I started to RP in FFXIV when I found out some friends from WoW era were playing on Balmung, and I changed servers and joined their FC. One of them occasionally frequented a player-run pizza place, so I went there a few times too, and I ended up meeting a someone who became my long-term RP partner and a friend. They went on to introduce me to other people - and tipped me off on an EU-based group, which I am still part of.

I think I learned things by trial and error, at least a little. I had a few "interesting" character concepts at first, but I quickly learned that backstory is only the basis and that I make better characters by honing them through RP. After my WoW guild crumbled, it took me a long time until I managed to find the courage to organize events again, but I've been lucky in that I've met people who have been both patient and willing to tolerate a few mistakes, plotholes and occasions of "early installment weirdness".

All in all, I consider myself fortunate. Roleplay was the thing that hooked me to MMORPGs, and it still is the reason why I play them - and I get to do both types which are the closest to my heart: adventuring, and exploring characters' inter- and intrapersonal depths.

[creativepromptsforwriting]

good traits gone bad

perfectionism - never being satisfied

honesty - coming off as rude and insensitive

devotion - can turn into obsession

generosity - being taken advantage of

loyalty - can make them blind for character faults in others

being dependable - always depending on them

ambitiousness - coming off as ruthless

optimism - not being realistic

diligence - not able to bend strict rules

protectiveness - being overprotective

cautiousness - never risking anything

being determined - too focussed on one thing

persuasiveness - coming off as manipulative

tidiness - can become an obsession

being realistic - being seen as pessimistic

assertiveness - coming off as bossy

pride - not accepting help from others

innocence - being seen as naive

selflessness - not thinking about themself enough

being forgiving - not holding others accountable

curiosity - asking too much questions

persistence - being seen as annoying

being charming - can seem manipulative

modesty - not reaching for more

confidence - coming off as arrogant

wit/humor - not taking things serious

patience - being left hanging

strategic - coming off as calculated

being caring - being overbearing

tolerance - being expected to tolerate a lot

eagerness - coming off as impatient

being observant - being seen as nosy

independence - not accepting help

being considerate - forgetting about themself

fearlessness - ignoring real danger

politeness - not telling what they really think

reliability - being taken advantage of

empathy - getting overwhelmed with feeling too much for other people

[renofmanyalts]

FFXIV Write 2023 - help me pick who to write for! [Poll]

🧾The plan:

I've decided to participate in FFXIV Write this September as a way of maybe? possibly? easing myself back into the FFXIV RP realm. I'll be doing a modified schedule, though, because I was barely able to manage the daily prompts in previous years (when I was well).

So far, I'm thinking that I will set deadlines for myself on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The plan is to write a short piece to one of the daily prompts from Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of that week, and one from Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. I'll also set Sundays as my optional bonus day, where I can write to another prompt from the week, write to some other prompt, or rest.

That totals up to between 9 and 13 entries. That sounds doable, I think?

🥴 The problem:

A maximum of 13 entries... and I've got 19 characters, maybe 20 if I count the Sage concept* I came up with recently.

Uh oh. (My eternal nemesis: choosing.)

So, uh, halp?

*One of Rowena's Idyllshire employees dealing with an accidental [animate] textbook acquisition.

🗳 The poll:

⭐ Please vote for the option that contains the character you would MOST like to see at least one entry for.

⭐ If you would like to specify one of the two, please comment! I'll read all the replies, reblog-comments, and tags and tally them up after the poll ends. The top 9 (up to 13) characters will have an entry written for them, assuming this goes the way I want it to.

✨Character list with pictures and brief descriptions ✨

Which character would you most like to see me write for?

The Forest's Children: Zhah'ra Savaptha or Maparhi Savaptha

Harvest Fountain, Adult Toys by Mail: Zedyr Guldarensyn or Maayan Delafontaine

Firefly Grove Shenanigans: Renan or Seselahi Rerelahi

Alpine Exiles: Amande Desrochers or Firn Sjadarstrok

Hellsguard Elements: Rhenbraen Helbsyn or Silver Sage

Maybe the Desert Will Fix Me: Strammund Grehmerlsyn or Mama Dee (N'dezhda Lev)

Quills, Feathers, Power Dynamics: Mamaati Maati or Raranen Sasanen

F**k the Garlean Empire: Emerik Liubasch or Pash'a Khoroushi

Peripatetics: Danyell Dwynwen or Ryoku Kazemoto

Exploited Workers: Iris Menuisier or [future-SGE I haven't rolled or named yet]

It's Complicated: Something else! I'll reblog with my comments.

[Show results]

Voting ended onSep 2, 2023

Reblogs appreciated! Thanks for your help! 🥰

[ever-searching]

For personal (read: rather selfish) reasons, I voted for the Forest's Children because I've developed a special fondness for them - and particularly Zhah'ra due to the bonds he shares with my characters (mostly Cain, but he has interacted with others too).

That being said, I'd be also very curious to see how Maparhi is doing, and of the other poll options, Rhenbraen has always struck me as a character who is complicated and shows the player's skill, as it could be easy to do a somewhat similar character and just make them abrasive and unpleasant rather than intriguing and capable of inducing a lot of emotional moments.

I'll be reading your entries regardless of who you choose since I really enjoy your writing style, but maybe these 5 gil will help you choose in a pinch. Good luck with the challenge!

[varethane]

Player KOs: bingo card edition!

[simplelinesunfashiond]

What your character wants to be like:

The cool, collected “running from my emotions,” type…

What they’re actually like:

“You’ll never catch me, feelings! *crashes face first into a glass door and knocks self out immediately*”

[memento-moogle]

I've been thinking about something and realized I could make a poll. FFXIV people who play healers:

Which content do you heal in?

I heal in any/all content

I heal only in 8mans (alliance, trials, raids, etc.)

I heal only in dungeons

I heal only in PvP

I heal only in 2 of these (tag/comment)

Not a healer

Other (tag/comment)

Voting ended onJul 2, 2023

Making this because I don't heal in dungeons since I don't enjoy basically only staring at the tank's health bar during mob pulls. But I really love healing through alliance raids and other content, and am a healer in savage. And turns out many people are scared of healing alliance raids while doing dungeons just fine.

[ever-searching]

Went with 'I heal only in 2 of these' answer though it could be more accurate to say that I only heal dungeons until I feel confident about 8-man content.

As a healer, I enjoy feeling like I do a good job, which I can usually do in dungeons. Spamming Holy like there's no tomorrow and tossing lilies is about as comfy for me nowadays as is being Verstylish. However, if I make a mistake that leads to a wipe or otherwise get the feeling that I'm not doing a good job, it tends to wreck my concentration and motivation for the rest of the day, which is why I pretty much never do alliance raids or normal raids as a healer until I've cleared the fights at least several times.

And trials? Eesh. I'll stay away from those as a healer until I have to heal them for some reason.

[sasslett]

WoL/FFXIV OC Swap Meet Sign Ups!

Alright, since people seem to dig the idea, let's do it! Reblog this post to enter yourself in (reblogs please! makes it easier than just likes) and in a few weeks... let's say, July 15, two and a half weeks, I'll draw names and do a Secret Santa-style pairing system (so who you get isn't necessarily who got you) to exchange OC info and make something lovely!

Rules:

Reblog this to be entered!

Please be ready with info about your characters - a brief summary or bio, posted writing, reference sheets, character files for posing, etc. Don't make somebody read 50k words or search through your unorganized tags for OC info.

Be kind! Everyone has different levels of OC lore, there is no hate or no cringe here, and everyone has different levels of creative skills, so appreciate what you get and know it was made with love!

Be mindful of mods - if you use them, provide that info but don't be upset if the person who gets your character doesn't.

There are no rules on what the gifts can be, only that it must portray your assignee's OC in some manner, and if you want to do something explicit/adult with them, please clear that with your assignee first! There's also no time limit on the prizes, but do try to be timely/considerate.

As of right now, I'm not going to limit how many OCs you can include in your gift, but please discuss this with your assigned and be mindful of how much work additional characters can be, and have a favorite ready in case they'd only like to work with one.

Don't be an ass about your reward - no one knows your characters like you do, and if someone interprets them differently based on the info given, don't be rude. This is all just for fun and we go into this understanding that others will see our characters in their own way!

No skill level required - just do your best and create from your heart, novice or professional alike!

FFXIV only, please!!! If your character exists outside the realm of XIV, you can include that info, but don't expect others to be able to follow necessarily.

If I think of more rules I'll add more - and fear not, no one will go without a partner! I'll take on multiple people if need be, to make sure we all get something sweet. If you have any rules to add, please let me know.

And above all else... have fun, and treat each other with kindness!!!

[scholarlostintime]

I'll enter Fennie! (or Eolyn if someone really is feeling things for her).

[ever-searching]

What a lovely idea! Time to start putting together a concise portfolio for one of my characters...

[ever-searching]

footwear: What does your OC wear on their feet? (for Storm)

Storm owns a few pairs of footwear, each of which has a clear purpose: sandals for indoors and hot outdoor areas, sturdy boots for travelling and less optimal terrain/weather, and a second pair of boots with warm lining for colder climates (like Ishgard, where he spent a small while on a business trip). He seldom walks around barefeet unless he has to.

Much like his clothes, his footwear are well-made and sturdy, and he prefers straps and buckles over laces. His sandals and boots might not be the latest fashion but tend to look decent enough for him to wear them to business meetings and such; he probably does own a pair of dress shoes too but finds them somewhat uncomfortable and inconvenient.

To make up for their practical nature of his footwear, he takes good care of them, making sure that they are clean and polished (if applicable).

[ever-searching]

texture: Does your OC favor any specific kinds of cloth or textures? Is there anything they can't wear or don't like? What sort of fabrics do they prefer? (for Cain)

Cain has spent the majority of his life wearing cheap cloth and textiles that were made to be practical rather than luxurious. Now that his adventuring career has finally taken off somewhat, he could afford something "better", but he still tends to default to what he is used to.

His favourites are cotton and linen for their durability and convenience but prefers them when they are slightly worn: still usable but slightly soft and comforting. He would probably enjoy silk due to its "airiness", too, but he considers it too pricy and unsuitable for his usual activities.

The fabrics he doesn't like tend to either itch or get easily sweaty and then cling to his skin, such as coarse wool or slippery types of satin. He also avoids hemp both because it tends to be coarse and because it reminds him of the unpleasant parts of his past.

[ever-searching]

change: Has your OC ever drastically changed their appearance? Significant haircuts, big tattoos, complete wardrobe swap, etc? Why? How do they feel about the change? (for Merces)

The most drastic change in Merces's appearance has been his outfit. His first master, lady Charikleia, used to dress him in a somewhat fancy suit of armour; his second master G'ilas bought him clothes, which give him a bit of cool traveller vibe while being practical. On one hand, Merces reckons it's a good thing that he stands out less, but on the other hand, it has taken time to get used to the lack of protection.

Part of him wonders whether G'ilas chose not to buy him armour because G'ilas didn't want him to fight. He isn't sure how he feels about that - or the fact that he cannot really justify buying armour right now because he isn't doing much active fighting.

In any case, beyond outfits, his appearance has changed quite little. He had long hair when he was woken from stasis and vaguely remembers tying it somehow, and as far as he knows, he has always been clean-shaven and physically fit. He may have toyed with the idea of a style change, when it comes to clothes or hair, but so far, those have remained his private thoughts.

[cityandking]

oc asks: character design edition

FACE & FEATURES

glance: At first glance, what stands out most about your OC's appearance? What's their distinguishing feature?

face: Describe your OC's face. What's their smile like? Are their orbs cerulean? What would someone notice first when looking at them?

stature: What's your OC's body type? How tall are they? Do they wear clothing to accentuate their look or do they try to mask it?

motion: How does your OC move? How does their clothing help or hinder their range of motion? Are they flexible, coordinated, clumsy?

stillness: How does your OC act while still? Are they fidgety? Do they have any common gestures or tics? Does their clothing affect how they hold themselves while at rest?

canvas: Does your OC have any scars, piercings, tattoos, or other markings? Do they display or cover them up at all?

CUT & CLOTHES

night: What does your OC wear to sleep? Do they have a favorite pair of PJs, or are they more the birthday suit type?

day: What does your OC wear on a normal day? Why do they default to those clothes? Do they wear similar things, or do they change it up?

formal: What's your OC's formal look? Do they like dressing up? Do they have different looks for different occasions?

informal: What's your OC's lazy-day look? How do they like to dress when they're winding down?

outerwear: What's your OC's outerwear situation? Jacket, sweater, cloak? What sort of weather do they deal with most and how do they protect themselves?

footwear: What does your OC wear on their feet?

road: What does your OC wear while traveling? Do they have high-quality equipment, or are they making do? What does their gear look like?

armor: What kind of armor does your OC wear? Is it well kept? Bonus: where does it come from? Is there a story behind it?

arms: Does your OC have any weapons? What weapons do they carry, and how do they wear them when they're not fighting?

roots: Is your OC's look inspired by any specific style of clothing or fashion trend? What are the roots and/or inspiration for their look?

texture: Does your OC favor any specific kinds of cloth or textures? Is there anything they can't wear or don't like? What sort of fabrics do they prefer?

wardrobe: How big is your character's wardrobe? Do they wear things threadbare, or can they afford new clothes often? Are they any good at mending and repairing their own clothing?

ACCESSORIES & ACCENTS

bling: What jewelry does your OC wear? Does it have any meaning?

hair: How does your OC wear their hair? Does it have some kind of meaning?

makeup: Does your OC wear makeup? How often? What kind? Why do they wear makeup, and do they like it?

favorite: Does your OC have a favorite article of clothing or accessory? What is it? What's the meaning behind it? Do they wear it all the time or do they wear it sparingly to keep it safe?

change: Has your OC ever drastically changed their appearance? Significant haircuts, big tattoos, complete wardrobe swap, etc? Why? How do they feel about the change?

alternate: What would your OC's alternate universe look be? If they're a fantasy character, what's their modern look? If they're sci-fi, what's their fantasy look? What AU would you want to see your OC in, and how would they dress themself? Bonus: Prompt an AU!