having a big bad vibes day so you should come tell me about your WoL's hobbies. do they paint or like keep flower pressings from their journey? do they sing or play an instrument or write poetry? what do they do between the moments where they're saving the world, what makes their soul hum?
Xynal has started a clinic in addition to his bakery in his down time. He saw that many "former heretics" who are now dragonoids? dragonkin? need a chirurgeon who was able to work with their new physiology and decided to take up the challenge.
He works with them and also dragons if an injury or sickness develops.
What habits or mannerisms has your OC started to pick up from their lover or spouse? Are they aware of this themselves? Does anyone ever tease them about this?
This was hard to think of, because they've spent the vast majority of their time trying to hide these:
I'm sure Xynal has started to sound a bit more polite and Aymeric the reverse.
Xynal, despite being a baker and owning his own bakery does not really like sweets. He'll enjoy them a bit more now than he used to.
If you get him comfy enough Raha will purr. Aym and Xyn obviously can't, but they'll hum as a consequence. (Vuhne being a miqo does not help this)
All three of them sing(ish in Xynal's case). No one knows who started it but they all end up doing so at some point and stop when the other two notice the one doing it unintentionally.
What family or cultural tradition or belief has shaped your OC’s attitude to love and relationships the most? Have they questioned or rejected this wisdom? Or do they find comfort or purpose in this connection to their heritage?
This is a hard question haha considering his clan. But I'll try to shape his view.
So Xynal is from a clan of Duskwights who remembers the days of Gelmorra and how they and hyur lived in harmony for years. Rather than completely shun their former fellow man (they do despise everything Gridania stands for, but not necessarily her peoples) they have a cultural remembrance in embracing interracial relationships between elezen and hyur.
Half-elezen are revered as a consequence and are an odd sort of pedigree. So Xynal's mother actually puts him in a rather high spot in his own society.
That being said, children aren't very common in his clan (not for lack of trying) and there is a rather large gap betwixt Xynal (and his younger brother) and the older children. One of whom specifically told Xynal the only reason he'd ever get married was because of who his mother was.
So Xynal was raised with the idea that there's nothing wrong with being with another person of another race, the idea he'd never be loved because of his own differences, and an undying vendetta against one older man (who's smitten with him) to prove that he is indeed lovable.
And also procreating to continue he's mother's line, but while Xynal is bi, he has 0 interest in bringing home a hyur wife to his family.
As such, he sees men and women of all shapes and forms as a viable option rather than the standard elezen/hyur. (He also sees Highlander/Hrothgar/Roedagyn/Au ra men very appealing because he prefers the stocky/buffier hyuren builds to the lithe elezen - good job Aymeric for being so absurdly pretty that you made Xynal look 4 times over - and Roe/Hroth women for the same).
As for love and how to be in a relationship over physical attraction? Welllll polyamory isn't rare amongst the clan. In a sense. Most of his peoples consider themselves monogamous. They marry one partner for life and that's that. In couples of the same-sex they are willing to take one of the opposite for procreation only, but said third partner is considered apart of their family platonically if not some times romantically. So Xynal has grown around people whom he assumed were in thruples (that he didn't realize weren't in some cases until he was an adult).
Xyn however is the first in his clan to be married to two people and while it is strange to them, its not unwelcomed.
I'm sure some few of the Scions may think Xynal is very progressive and Xyn's over here like, "oh you sweet summer children; I have several clans who are like this". In fact, I'm pretty sure he confused the hells out of Aym and Raha over this, if not with each other then about his parents.
His parents do not care. They're happy their son is happy. His mom still wants more grandbabies though.
For the Wedding Rhyme OC Ask list
Also, @mimble-sparklepudding I swear to god I was JUST thinking of this poem and doing pictures.
Originating in Lancashire, England, the rhyme represents tokens that bring good fortune, protection, and prosperity to the marriage. Each item carries specific symbolism: "something old" represents continuity; "something new" symbolizes optimism for the future; "something borrowed" brings good luck; and "something blue" represents love, purity, and fidelity.
Something Old: The past, legacy, roots, and what still lingers.
What is a possession from their past that your OC refuses to part with? What does their lover or spouse think of this item? Do they appreciate its significance to your OC?
What family or cultural tradition or belief has shaped your OC’s attitude to love and relationships the most? Have they questioned or rejected this wisdom? Or do they find comfort or purpose in this connection to their heritage?
What memories or information do they have regarding their parents’ relationship? To what degree doe this influence their attitude to their own relationships? How aware of this are they?
If your OC could revisit one moment from their romantic past, without changing it, which would they choose? A first meeting? A first kiss? A satisfying end to a doomed affair? Or something else entirely?
What family heirloom might they hope to pass onto their descendants, or at least those they leave behind when they die? Would those to whom they leave this inheritance fully appreciate its significance?
Something New: Hope, change, beginnings, and the future.
What is something new to which your OC’s lover or spouse has introduced them? Perhaps a new and exotic food, a unique world view, or a particularly compelling new sexual technique?
What is your OC most looking forward to in the next chapter of their romantic (or sexual) life? Do they even have a clear plan or idea about what will happen next?
How has being a relationship (or variation thereupon) changed your OC? Has it made them calmer and more risk-averse? Or more confident and assertive? Or is it hard to perceive any change in them at all?
If they could go back in time and begin their relationship again with no consequences, what would they do differently? Would they be quicker to make the first move? Slower in settling down?
What about being with their lover or spouse excites your OC even if it also scares them?
Something Borrowed: Connections, trust, influence, and shared lives.
What habits or mannerisms has your OC started to pick up from their lover or spouse? Are they aware of this themselves? Does anyone ever tease them about this?
Does your OC go to their lover or spouse for advice? Are there some areas in which they defer to them, or do they remain fiercely independent regardless of their relationship status.
How long did it take your OC to trust their lover or spouse? If they actually trust them at all of course…
What quality about their lover or spouse does your OC admire so much that they've tried to make it part of themselves? Would they ever admit to this?
Has your OC found it easy to share their life with another person? Were there some things they found harder to compromise on than others? Is there something they will always keep to themselves?
Something Blue: Love, loyalty, purity, and enduring devotion.
Does your OC wear or otherwise display some symbol of their loyalty or devotion to their lover or spouse? Or do they keep a secret token hidden beneath their clothes or armour?
Has your OC sworn any oaths, or otherwise made promises of fidelity and commitment, to their lover or spouse? If so, then did they make this declaration in front of others, or in a private and intimate moment with their beloved?
How does your OC’s lover or spouse comfort them when they're feeling lonely or overwhelmed? Or would they never show weakness, even (or especially?) to them…
Was your OC the more sexually experienced partner when entering into their current relationship? Or were they shy, or even chaste, compared to their new lover?
To what degree was love and/or commitment on your OC’s agenda at the point they met their current lover or spouse? Was it something of which they had always dreamt? Or did it come as a surprise – welcome or otherwise…?
Xynal loves lilies. No particular color. Neither of his boys have figured out which flowers he enjoys since he'll take them regardless (and make a fuss while doing so - "no it's not because they're the wrong flowers").
just in case anyone missed one
once again thanks to @diggingforkuponuts for coming up with the idea ^^
I did do a few in the past, but this is a neat idea that's a great excuse for people to babble about their OCs w/o feeling any shame
I had tonze of fun doing these (and Kwas has her own list too btw)
What occupies them the most: the past, present or the future
Previously, it was the past. Trachenstyr was a large part of him and growing up and his loss was probably the first Xynal ever had. After him, all the deaths he feels he has on his hands haunted him in a way that he could explain, if anyone ever bothered to ask.
Now though, its the future. And he can't not look past it. Because now having his memories as Apollo, and being more intuned with astrology than he ever was back then, he Sees. He can quite literally walk through a city and see at least three different outcomes (immediate outcomes) for every single person he meets. He can't turn it off; he can only look away.
When he sleeps, or some times even just because, he'll See glimpses of what could happen (and it is usually ones very likely, even if the interpretation is not literal or very subtle). Never does he See himself. Anything that has him in it he is removed, but he has very quickly learned to determine if he will be present or not by this point.
He doesn't want to be preoccupied by the future. The present has his family and loves. The present needs him in the here and now. But for better or worse he is forced into knowing the future.
late as hell, but I felt ill yesterday (still kinda do today)
all from basic oc asks
What is your OC’s full name?
Quennelaux Valeroyant de Borel
What nicknames, titles, or other terms of address does your OC have? Is there one they prefer?
His nicknames are Quen/Quennel/Q or Xynal. He has no shortage of titles:
Warrior of Light, Defender/Champion of Eorzea, Garlemald's Bane, Chosen One (of Hydaelyn), Azem, Puppetmaster, the Manipulator, Fateweaver/Weaver of Fate, Lord Healer/Healer de Borel.
He hates them all equally, so use them as you wish.
What is your OC’s gender and sexuality?
Xynal identifies as male and bisexual.
Where is your OC from? Where do they live currently?
Xynal hails from the ruins of Gelmorra and declares himself as such, not from Gridania or the Shroud proper. He currently lives in Ishgard when he isn't dragged out for WoL/Adventurer nonsense.
What color are your OC’s eyes?
Xynal's eyes are blue. That said his right eye is currently a sea green. The heterochromia is not natural, and is instead due to the strong white magicks he possesses.
What is your OC’s zodiac sign?
Xynal is a Scorpio. Yes, one of the problematic signs. Of the water signs, Scorpio fits him the best and I used the stereotypes to give him flaws. Great way to add personality to characters btw.
What tarot card best represents your OC?
The Death Tarot Card both Upright and Reversed
What is a song you associate with your OC?
There is a list. I'll just name a few:
Castle of Glass - Linkin Park
Faint - Linkin Park
Fix Me - 10 Years
Wrecked - ImagineDragons
State of my Head - Shinedown
Fine Again - Seether
Thunder - ImagineDragons
Footfalls - Masayoshi Soken + The PRIMALS
To The Edge - Masayoshi Soken
I'm Still Here - John Rzeznik
Hustler - Zayde Wolf
Better Now - Odesza ft. MARO
As it Was - Harry Styles
Crabbuckit - Good Lovelies
Vive Le Swing - IN-GRID
And then for the polycule specifically:
Adore You - Harry Styles
Wide Awake - Odesza ft. Charlie Houston
Last of the Real Ones - Fall Out Boy
Fire and the Flood - Vance Joy
What color do you associate with your OC? What’s their favorite color?
Xynal I generally associate with Black, Gold and Blue. His favorite color is purple.
What is your OC’s race/species/ethnicity?
Xynal is known as a Duskwight Elezen, but he's actually 3/4ths. His mother is half-Duskwight half-Midlander. His ears are not as long as the average elezen, and he is actually shorter than min height (but I can't be bothered to fix it - outside of FFXIV he's shorter than me at 5ft 1in.).
How old is your OC? When is their birthday?
I lost track of Xyn's age past 30. His birthday is Nov. 9th.
What is your OC afraid of?
Loss. Loss of self. Loss of control. Loss of loved ones.
What does your OC want most?
To live in peace.
How large is your OC's family?
Xynal has both his parents and his maternal grandmother is still alive. He has a younger adopted brother (Valentinoix) who has no other living relatives. He has an older adopted brother (Ruvhari'a/R'vhari'a) who has both parents (and two tribes with family) three younger sisters (the younger two are twins) and two twin brothers (toddlers). Vhari also now has a mate with a daughter they are raising.
Xynal adopted a young keeper kit who has no living family members. He has never met Aymeric's family (aside from his father >>) nor Raha's (aside from Krile) but they all consider the Fortemps their family.
What language(s) does your OC speak?
Xynal speaks the common tongue, but also knows elezen and Gelmorran.
In D&D he currently speaks: Orcish, Elvish, Undercommon, Draconic, Common and knows Sign Language.
In Elder Scrolls he knows Dunmeri, Orismeri, Common and some Khajiiti.
In Monster Hunter I don't think there are other languages (that we know of) but after spending time with some monsters he can mimic their grunts/squeaks/calls/roars IF they are - leviathan, flying, bird or fanged wyverns. He commonly uses B52 bomb- Bazaelgeese's, Mizutsune's or Arkveld's calls.
Is your OC frugal with their money? Carefully budgeting and saving against unexpected eventualities? Or are they more likely to spend money when they have it and not worry about it until it runs out?
Kind of. Xynal is used to living off of adventurer money. Even if he's married to a noble now (and has gotten some money from being a Scion) old habits die hard. I think the servants are pleasantly surprised he can bargain with the rest of them.
He's more frugal with water though. As unused as he is at having money, he's even more unused to having accessible hot water. He grew up with out it and having to use cold rivers/ponds for years. He's making damn sure its not running out.
How well would your OC manage in a long-distance relationship? And for how long?
Xynal managed fairly well all things considered. It helps that he has more than enough anima/aether to pop to Ishgard whenever.
But after needing to leave to deal with things outside of Ishgard, the two exchanged letters (and the occasional visit) especially during the newly restarted war with Garlemald in Doma/Ala Mhigo. It was during these letters the two made the plan to marry once the war was completely over. And then the Scions started dropping one by one.
Upon heading to the First and after forming a bond with Feo Ul, Xyn would send his letters across the Rift to Aymeric and his daughter to assure them he was well (and in Aym's case confide in).
Coming back home and adding Raha to the mix the three didn't really get much of a chance to write back and forth with eachother during their travels to find out what was happening (though they did get to spend some time before the Telephoroi made their impact).
After the Scions split and Raha went back to Sharlayan to aid Krile, the letters started up again, with them stopping currently due to an impromptu visit to Tural.
Xynal's tomestone is perfectly fine because he barely uses it and next to never takes it with him. (He's not a fan of the thing.)
What advice do you have for anyone saying, “I can fix them”?
If the combined efforts of Trachenstyr, Haurchefant, Aymeric, G'raha, Ruvhari'a and the whole of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn couldn't fix him, you'd have no chance.
And given that Hades couldn't fix Apollo either, good luck. Xyn in his entirety is "damaged goods". He's healed, but hurt and once that's gone, he'll be scarred. You can fade them, but they'll always be there.
Do they think cold showers are great or evil?
Evil. Xyn would rather take a cold bath in a river than a cold shower. He's used to the former and not so much the latter. He lives in Ishgard now after all.
As today is Flower's actual bday @diggingforkuponuts we'll have extra blurbs. These are stuff that have no asks tied to them, just stuff I wanna share in honor of the Reverse Asks. Xynal ED aka spoilers.
Xynal's ancient self is named Apollo. I chose Apollo out of the Greek gods due to: his association with the sun (see Azem's crystal), archery (the class Xynal canonically started with), healing (conjury/white magic/sharlayan astrology), and prophecy (see AST again).
Much like the Greek gods had epithets, and it seems that the titles of the Convocation also mirror it, Apollo's was not just the Traveler/Wanderer. He was also known as the Puppetmaster/Manipulator, having gained the title with his unrivaled proficiency with manipulating puppets/automatons. Enough so that not only could he make his own and mirror attacks from the beings/persons they are based of off as well as being able to use the practice on living beings, but also for possibly going so far as to see if one could make such things come alive.
He did get that far, thought that no one should know anything about it, burned the research, and took it to his grave. Lahabrea was very interested in said research (likely due to the phoinix) but he refused to talk about it.
Apollo saw Venat as a mother figure more than a mentor. He sought after her advice on several things, but generally went to see her for her company.
I'm not too sure what his relationship would be with Hythlodeus, but while Apollo may be known as the more impulsive unserious jokester, he will absolutely blame Hyth for half the ideas that have gotten them into trouble.
Like with Lahabrea, Apollo has some irks with the rest of the Convocation, particularly with their desire to let things be rather than interfere. He generally stays away from Amaurot for that very reason, with the only times he comes home being for the meetings they have every so often, or to see Hades.
Apollo is older than Hades.
They have a Sunshine/Grumpy relationship.
Due to both having a seat in the Covocation, their relationship remained as lovers as well as hidden. (not hard to do with how Hades can get)
Unlike Xynal, both of Apollo's eyes are that sea-green (and like Xynal's more human incarnations has dark skin). I have headcanoned that their eyes matches the others' souls and that many ancients interpret that as soul mates (Apollo is one such ancient).
The first, and some times only, person he Calls to his side is Hades. And that's usually because it is something that Apollo cannot handle on his own.
If you were to ask Apollo what he sees in Hades (and he were willing to give a truthful answer), he'd say the man completes him in ways he was needing. Hades has no problems saying no or what he thinks, even if he hides it behind polite contempt and snark. He's more levelheaded and less willing to put up with things than Apollo is.
Apollo does not feel as if he has to perform around Hades as he does most everyone else. He does not have to smile if he feels no joy. He does not have to lie to keep the peace.
In turn, he believe he gives Hades the push to be more open and less cagey. That the man's snark and desire to push others away so he isn't hurt himself does not scare him. He'll admit it sounds sappy, but he does see the good in the man for all that he may put up a fuss.
Xynal in FFXIV is probably the most jaded of his incarnations. We can thank SE's story telling for that. Most of what we see in the MSQ is canon with some exceptions:
In Heavensward instead of Alphinaud trying to heal Haurchefant, Xynal tried to do it with Raise. Due to the protective nature of his Duskwight tattoos, it had the unfortunate consequence of sending Xynal to the lifestream due to it being a WHM spell. Haurchefant pushed him back, and from then on Xynal gave it up and took up Astrologian.
This is around the time Ruvhari'a became a staple amongst the Scions.
Post SB - as Vhari is close to Xynal he also felt the Calling. By the time it was down to Vhari and Alisaie, Aymeric was also starting to feel it. When the Exarch finally had that meeting with Xynal on the battlefield (against an Elidibus-filled Zenos) that was Vhari's turn to go to the First.
I am yet debating on how much I want Aym to be in all this with the First still, but I'm leaning towards 5.2-5.3.
SPEAKING OF 5. - Aside from Vhari going to the First, Xynal went to the Tempest to speak with Emet-Selch alone, due to: figuring out he was apart of the ancient races, having a feeling that he knew Emet-Selch before, and when they were alone at the Ladder and had their conversation, he was confident that their meeting had to be alone.
Tl;dr - Xynal gets part of his memories (specifically the last memory Apollo had) which in turn not only convinces Hades that he is Apollo, but also sacrifice himself as that was the only way he could save him thanks to Hydaelyn's meddling*.
Should also mention he has not told a single person about what actually happened (he just says Emet-Selch is gone) nor what he is.
ENDWALKER the retcon of retcons. Lightening round, let's go:
Garlemald was fun, because at some point Xynal gave them a chewing out, reminding them they invaded first, THEY stole and slaughtered people from Eorzea when their asses should've stayed here, and if they're that upset that he's had to kill people "Take it out on your own soldiers as well then, cause they did the same thing. It was a FUCKING WAR that YOU started. YOU only have YOURSELVES TO BLAME." He's still pissed they killed Trachenstyr (and I'm still pissed SE didn't let us throw back their sins on the fucking hypocrites) and cites that the reason why he's helping them is because unlike them, he still sees them as human.
Xynal almost turns into a blasphemy after the attack on Palaka's Stand. By the end of Shb his mental health was already in shambles. His relationship with Raha and Aym did not fix it.
Elpis never happened. Instead, Xynal bluffs that the crystal (his crystal) could hold memories if he learns how to draw it out. And he does! Kind of. He remembers going off to find "the sound" but doesn't remember what it is just that the resentment he was trying to combat (and felt himself) was starting to take physical shape. *And more importantly he remembers why Hades couldn't just remove the Light with creation magicks - Venat, and he remembers its his mother figure, purposefully tempered his shards (and he remembers being split into 14) to ensure he would side with humanity instead of being tempted by Emet-Selch.
He does not stay to listen to her with the Scions. He just coldly leaves. He felt and still does feel betrayed.
As Vhari is still here he also sacrifices himself so Xynal can continue onwards.
They return home with Xynal in critical condition. He doesn't make it (technically) and in the time betwixt him going to the Lifestream and back he Remembers and this is where I officially make him a Sundered Ancient (Awake ED).
Vhari, Aym and Raha are the only ones he tells and that's how it stays as he recovers (Sharlayan chirurgeons believed they declared him dead too early).
Xyn/Aym/Raha get married the moment Xynal can sit in a wheel chair. "I nearly died, we're not putting it off any longer. We can get officially married when I can walk down the aisle and up to the top of the Vault, but it is being written into paper today." (Queue Scions wondering when, where, and how this happened)
Post-EW to little over half way into DT Xynal is in Ishgard, retired. He only comes once he Sees they will need aid (and another world-ending threat has Risen) and he brings Aymeric and several dragons in tow. (Look, if SE won't drag him out, I WILL DAMN IT!)
Canonically he knows what the key is and does, and does not, infact, keep it on his person. The fight against Necron is where Xynal breaks his cover and it is revealed that he is one of the Unsundered.
MH side quest is canon and he meets his MH equivilent. That Xynal is
A wyverian hunter who uses the hunting horn and insect glaive, cannot traditionally speak due to having vocal chords that allow him to mimic certain monster's roars, with Vuhne's counterpart being his palico, who has raised an Arkveld from child to adulthood. Also has a Violet Mizutsune.
I had it to where they came to Eorzea first (with MH!Xynal's 3 companions of Sebastian, Celestine and Menora) and then FFXIV!Xynal came over to help deal with Omega.
Why? Because its funny. (Also because I had these two as well as Xyn's ESO reflection meet before this was a thing).
How in touch is your OC with the spiritual beliefs and traditions of their culture of origin? Have they ever moved away from these? Perhaps only to return to them later?
given that there is next to nothing on duskwight lore...
Xynal has largely moved away from the traditions of his clan.
His husband(s) of choice are not hyur, nor wives to which he can continue his blood line (and he has no intentions of doing so outside of adoption). His last dance was preformed at 30ish to signify he was off the market to the rest of them, and he no longer has working tattoos to defend against the elementals (and he doesn't want them back either).
He does, however, know how to make pomanders as well as the poisoned wine his clan (and others they trade with) are for and regularly drinks it to keep his immunity high.
Does your OC believe that their ancestors or dead relatives watch over them? Does this bring them comfort? Or would they actually rather they didn't?
No, he does not and he prefers it that way.* He'd rather not have to deal with the sense that he is "wrong" for choosing the path he's gone - becoming a conjurer then white mage (something akin to blasphemous) or just plain not marrying a hyur or elezen woman - nor does he want to feel that he is to walk a certain path over finding his own.
*If non-relatives count, he'd like the idea that somewhere those he's lost along the way are, if not watching, waiting in some way until he too comes to rest.
Does your OC have any gift for healing? Was this always something they felt drawn towards? Or something that they adopted later in life? If they have no abilities in healing or medicine then is this something they regret? Or do they see healing as the province of weaklings and those who lack the gumption for combat?
You could say Xynal was born with it.
That being said, his first "job" wasn't any of the healing profession. It was archery. He wasn't the best with a bow, but he could hold his own.
After Carteneau, he switched professions to chirurgeon (and subsequently alchemy) and liked it enough, that when he went back to the Twelveswood he joined the Conjurer's Guild (and eventually became a white mage).
He has been healing ever since. These days however he is an astrologian and his patients are mostly dragonkin.
What are some of your OC's coping mechanisms during stressful or overwhelming periods in their life?
Baking. He will absolutely stress bake if given the materials and a place to work. Aside from that he tends to go somewhere by himself to calm down and breathe.
Neither one work perfectly. And so at times when he needs to be, well The Warrior of Light, he'll bottle it up to never return to it again until the bottle breaks.
