Visual Novel Meme
Getting to this very late but this is a dual answer to a couple of asks from @luck-and-larceny and @furys-mercy I didn’t forget either of you, just had some irl stuff going on that did a number on my creativity and productivity for a while. Hope this was worth the wait. It ended up rather long so the meme proper is under the cut.
Our story begins in the Jewel of the Sagolii, the bustling city of Ul’dah. You stand before the Ruby Road Exchange where a small crowd has gathered to watch the street performers. There are jugglers, fire eaters and the usual dancing girls though on this day one among them catches at your eye. Maybe it’s her fiery hair, maybe it’s her formidable height, towering as she does above the mostly miqo’te dancers around her, or perhaps it’s the way she moves, making no effort to seduce onlookers with her curves nor to play to the crowd for coin. She seems to be dancing for herself alone, for the sheer joy of movement.
CORAFEL
It’s easy enough to grab Cora’s attention provided your ATTRACTIVENESS is high enough and once you have it all you need to do to keep it is to be kind to her. This route will largely consist of slice of life vignettes as you help to get the sheltered girl onto her feet properly in the big bad city and will have all the classic hallmarks of a First Love story with cute dates and lots of awkward fumbling. Gifts of jewelry, clothing and cosmetics will help to keep her interest, as will books about exciting adventures and exotic locales. Keeping her interest is far easier than keeping the woman herself, however, as several times throughout her route hired thugs will attempt to abduct her back to her father or to the man she was meant to marry before fleeing home so you’d best have the martial PROWESS to fend off a series of increasingly skilled assailants throughout the route before finally facing her reviled betrothed in a duel at the climax or else you will need the political SAVVY to outmaneuver the man and prove yourself a more advantageous partner for her family to join with. All in all this is a pretty standard romance novel sort of route. Sweet rather than spicy and with almost all of the challenge coming from external forces.
Turning off of the Ruby Road you enter the bustling chaos of the Quicksand, it’s standing room only inside with a crowd or rowdy partiers between you and the bar but there in one dimly lit corner you spot a tiny oasis of calm, a lone elezen leaning against the wall, his attention focused on the book in his hand.
GHISLAIN
The only way to get yourself onto Ghislain’s route is to impress him with your INTELLECT. The only way to stay on it is not to try to push your burgeoning friendship into a romance until he suggests it himself. And even then, don’t expect this one to be spicy or frankly to include any sex at all as Ghislain is very ace. He is, however, open to romance and all of its assorted fluff so long as a strong emotional attachment has been formed beforehand. Paying attention to the things he does and says in unguarded moments when he lets his mask slip will be the key to developing that attachment. This would likely be the most challenging route if only because so much of what he presents in the beginning is a persona, and a persona he has nothing but contempt for, at that. Trying to win the heart of the man he’s pretending to be will only earn you that contempt in turn. Rather you should call out those early excesses and opinions as frivolous and vain while showing a strong inclination for scholarly pursuits and learning for its own sake. Gifts of books, historical artifacts and interesting natural specimens will gain you further favor. Eventually, inevitably, you’ll learn his secret and his true identity. At that point there will be a test of your political SAVVY to see if you can figure out a way to clear his name and save his family from ruin. Success in this endeavor will earn you the best ending and a lifelong place in Ghislain’s heart.
Leaving the Quicksand via the rear you find yourself in Pearl Lane, the shadier side of Ul’dah. On the corner ahead you see a highlander man baiting in drunken patrons stumbling from the bar with a shell game and across the alleyway from this game a miqo’te fellow leans against the wall watching the game with a wry smile on his face looking for all the world as though he were enjoying a bit of street theater.
ILTHUS
A pulse and the slightest hint of interest is all it takes to get yourself onto the trash cat route and it’s not a hard route to remain on either so long as you’re the forgiving sort. Expect to be dragged into some dirty dealings by this man and for him to have his own very specific definition of “helping” when it comes to any difficulties you might have that need a second pair of hands. Any gifts you choose to offer him will be happily accepted though practical things he can make some use of like weapons, dice, cards or tools of the rogue’s trade will be best received. Expect this route to be very spicy and to head right into the bedroom from as early on as you express the slightest interest in exploring that. Ilthus is even quite happy to be your piece on the side if you’re on another main route though he will make a nuisance of himself by being the polar opposite of subtle about the fact that you’re knocking boots on the regular. It’s almost impossible to fail or even to end this route once you’re on it. You have to be actively trying to shake him off and find the right words to really hurt him emotionally to get him to finally leave your character alone, however this isn’t an easy route to reach a good ending on either. Only two types of character really have a shot at it. You need to be either a street smart tough as nails type with enough WIT and martial PROWESS to survive in his world and even to beat him at his own game or a sheltered academic type whose piercing INTELLECT is matched only by their complete obliviousness to their own ATTRACTIVENESS. He’ll find either of these a challenge too alluring to pass up and may be willing to put in a little effort of his own for a change.
Passing from Pearl Lane you wander over onto the Sapphire Avenue Exchange. Various merchants stand hawking their wares. One stall in particular catches your eye owing to the eclectic mix of goods. It seems to be equal parts clothing vendor and food stand with an assortment of gaudy fabrics on display beside tempting little meat pies and skewers of roasted vegetables. Standing awkwardly alongside the stall is a dark haired Seeker male who seems to be trying to thread the needle between being imposing enough to deter any would-be thieves while being inviting enough not to deter would-be customers. He’s having a hard time finding the right balance and irritation is starting to show on the face of the lalafellin vendor who apparently owns the stall.
SHIHAN
Kindness and diligence are the most important qualities to have for this route. This poor guy desperately needs help but is far too proud to actually ask for it and almost too proud to accept it unless it’s tactfully offered. Once he accepts then successful completion of the arc will require a character with ample political/legal SAVVY to help worm him and his tribe out of a nasty contract and only once that step is done can a real romance begin. Shihan will not accept any gifts intended for him but will be deeply touched by gifts that he can give to the children of the tribe so toys, small animals that can be made into pets and age appropriate books will all be appreciated greatly. His undying friendship can be earned by helping with his tribe’s troubles but anyone wishing to woo the taciturn tia will need to have a very sharp WIT and enough martial PROWESS to prove a worthy hunting partner. He also highly values honesty and a willingness to pitch in and try to help whenever and wherever people are struggling. This one can get spicy once you’ve established yourself as his type and given him reason to trust you. A lifetime of selfless devotion can quite easily transfer to a deep and abiding desire to make sure you are completely satisfied both in the bedroom and outside of it.
Leaving Pearl Lane via the Gates of Thal you come across a spot of trouble. A small gang of rough looking men are menacing a young boy and his scraggly chocobo just outside the city gates. As you’re deciding whether or not to get involved yourself a small bag lands at the feet of the apparent leader of this gang and shortly explodes into a dizzying array of multicolored bangs and spinning pyrotechnics. The chocobo and its rider bolt past you and on into the city as several arrows begin whizzing through the smoke. The gang scatters in confusion leaving you alone as a lone miqo'te woman with an enormous feathered hat and a bow slung over one shoulder approaches through the clearing smoke.
LYNETH
Hope you’re ready for an adventure because this route will certainly give you one, or possibly a dozen. This woman never met a good cause she wouldn’t fight for even and especially when she’s outgunned and overmatched. You’ll need either a considerable amount of martial PROWESS or the devil’s own LUCK to get through her arc in one piece and a silver tongue and sharp WIT to keep up with her constant flirtatious banter. Gifts of fancy booze, smutty novels and exotic cooking ingredients will win you extra favor. This route will be a mix of sweetness and spice full of adrenaline-laced kisses and steamy nights under the stars. To reach her good ending you’ll need to prove you’re loyal, dependable and always down for a new adventure.
