Ffxiv Shadowbringers - Tumblr Posts
Legend - InkTober 15
"One brings shadow, one brings light..."
Have another Emet-Selch!
It's too beautiful I have to reblog!!
Flowers for the dead
Spider lilies also fit him very well ;;
A speedpaint video of this will be available at my Patreon on december 1st!
FFXIV Writes 2023 - Day 2 - Bark
Spoilers for the start of Shadowbringers and some minion flavor text. This is set before my canon WoL fantasias himself into a Viera, so he's a Hyur for this.
Gods, there are so damned many of them. Xander thought, horror coiling like a freezing-cold serpent around his gut.
Ahead of him, the mysterious Crystal Exarch (who'd momentarily earned his trust, if not yet discharged his suspicion) charged forward, driving conjured sword and shield deep into a feathered cocoon before it could hatch to birth a new monstrosity. Selene flew close behind the Exarch, tethering herself to his aether to keep his wounds from getting too severe. Wind tore a few stray hairs from Xander's well-kept bun as Lyna, the captain of the Crystarium Guard, dashed past him with chakrams in hand to tear apart what looked like it might once have been a Gremlin limb from limb before its taunting could dampen her lord's resolve.
"Are you all right back here?"
Alisaie's voice startled him momentarily from his contemplation as she skidded into place next to him, having backflipped out of the way of the former bull, now Sin Eater that broke through the fence before them. She wiped the sweat from her brow and readied her rapier before looking to him once more for an answer.
"So far, yes. My shielding spells haven't broken, and it looks like the Exarch is well on his feet, thanks to his more measured pace. If it'd been Celeste leading the vanguard, she'd have charged through every single foe and dragged them behind her to reach that thing we fought back in the clearing."
"I heard that, you arse!" his one adventurer ally mired in the First with him snarled back from the fields over the fence, her sword dripping with Darkness as she tore yet another newborn Sin Eater apart.
As his eyes swept over both the road (his immediate battlefield) and the fields beyond, now laden with Sin Eater cocoons instead of sheep and livestock, a small tendril of anxiety crawled up Xander's spine. All these sheep and no shepherd. Did he manage to escape, or...?
His unease only grew as a familiar sound carried over the chittering noises of their foes and the distant crackle of flames and echoes of screams ahead. Sharp, repetitive, high-pitched, and utterly terrified barks cut through the din.
There's a dog near here, but where-?
He got his answer a moment later, azure eyes widening in dawning horror as he saw the horse-human-winged abomination that most people became when turned into these monstrosities hovering before a dog about the height of his knees. A black dog with white brindle markings and a red collar around its neck that snarled and snapped and barked at the uncaring creature before them.
Xander received cries of alarm from his companions when he vaulted the fence to enter the fields, but he paid them no heed. The dog. He had to protect the dog from becoming one of those monstrosities. He threw a shielding spell around the both of them, clutching both book and animal to his chest as he knelt over it, feeling the Sin Eater's claws rake at his back. Enough to rend his shield and his clothes, but not his skin.
He held the glyphs for his most powerful offensive spell using arcanima in his mind's eye, holding his hand away from both himself and the now-squirming dog as fiery aether coalesced around it. When the spell was done charging, he twisted up to face his foe and blasted it right in the face with broiling hot aether that forced it to withdraw, covering its eyes. That made it an easy target for both Lyna's charkrams and Alisaie's magic, dissipating its essence into nothing.
The dog in his arms no longer squirmed, but poked their head over his shoulder, barking and whining right in his ear and pawing against his back as if reaching for the retreating form of their attacker.
In that moment, Xander reached a terrible understanding: That eater must have been the dog's former master. The poor thing must have thought they were playing at first, then gotten scared and confused when something that smelled like their master but didn't act like them emerged from that feathery cocoon.
"That was decidedly reckless! Are you all right?"
The Exarch's voice broke through Xander's thoughts, forcing him to stand, carrying the surprisingly hefty dog with him. All things considered, the furry one tolerated being carried rather well, in sharp contrast to when he first found his dog Gestahl wandering the streets of Ishgard on the Source.
Clambering over the fence without the aid of his arms took longer than Xander would have liked, given the emergent nature of the situation, but he managed, and soon reunited with the others on the main road.
"That's a black hayate." Lyna noted, a hint of awe coloring her voice. "I've only ever seen them in books that a few refugees from the eastern lands managed to bring with them. One of them must have taken up residence here in Holminster Switch and used it as a guard dog."
Alisaie's face twisted in sympathy. "Oh, then that Eater we just killed must have been its master, the poor thing..."
Xander sighed, rubbing the dog's incredibly fluffy back. "I thought so too. Obviously, I can't just carry our new friend with us, but I worry that if I let them go, they'll just get themselves into trouble again..."
He looked behind him to discover that Alphinaud and Celeste had gathered on the road to see what was going on. Alphinaud's Carbuncle sniffed the air as Xander leaned down to hand the dog off to the smaller elezen. "Can you hold him and look after him while the rest of us take care of the threats on the road?"
Alphinaud stammered, but did not complain as he took hold of the dog. "I- well, of course, if that's what you want, but how am I supposed to heal those in need of succor if my hands aren't-?"
The tell-tale swish of aether around someone who'd just taken hold of a different Job Stone filled the air, and where once Celeste stood in armor torn from the chassis of Omega with forged moonlight greatsword in hand, now an icy tree branch chilled the air around her, layers of flowing white and red cloth draping across her tall and slender form. "I've been getting back into practice with white magic, love, leave the healing to me. You just focus on keeping our four-legged friend here well in-hand."
Celeste scratched one of the Black Hayate's ears, and it let out another bark, this time of happiness. The sound made Xander let out a sigh of relief that he hadn't realized he was holding. There would be time enough to get to know the dog and enjoy their company back at the Crystarium. For now, he had to get back on the road.
He gave the dog one last scratch beneath the collar before returning at last to the vanguard, sprinting to keep up with them as they made up for lost time and charged for what once might have been the main planting area for the farm. An area over which a suspiciously and horrifyingly familiar shadow now loomed, wings beating erratically as it descended.
Alisaie's dull "So this is where you went..." confirmed his worst suspicions: They'd have to put down Tesleen to advance any further. Xander set his mouth in a grim line and pulled his codex from his hip, readying himself for what would surely prove a trying battle.
"All I have left" - Emet-Selch / Hythlodaeus / Azem (13 pages)
FFXIV Write 2024 | Day 7 | Morsel
Spoilers: Shadowbringers Level 72
Characters: Annie Ruthie (Warrior of Light) Thancred Waters
⋆ ★ ⋆
Thancred felt their wrist wriggle beneath his touch as he backed the Au Ra against the wall. Annie’s startled gaze settled as their eyes locked with his own. Thancred didn’t want to waste any time; he’d been waiting long enough. They ultimately shouldn’t be doing this here, not with the pixies, nor their friends, so close. But this moment was Thancred’s for the taking.
His lips immediately found their place against the Au Ra’s, after having left his gunblade absentmindedly against the wall. Thancred groaned as Annie’s free hand pressed against his chest in habitual response. He could feel a smile he knew all too well press against his lips at the sound. Gods, he’d missed this. He’d missed them. He started working the familiar path down the their jawline and across their neck. Annie let out a sharp inhale as he started picking at their neck with his teeth. He worked to leave a new mark; all of his past work had been erased in their time apart. “Hi, soldier,” he muttered between nips.
“Hi,” they responded with an exasperated chuckle. Thancred’s free hand traced the outline of their scales beneath the cloth of their shorts. He had all but memorized the pattern of their scales across their body; even five years apart couldn’t expunge the knowledge from his memory.
He found himself sliding his thigh up the wall to fit between theirs. He felt nails raking into his chest, Annie’s body arching to reach closer. Thancred allowed himself a moment of reality, sliding his leg back down to the ground. There would be the time and the place for this. But it wasn’t now, not here. A hiss escaped Annie as their grip on his chest loosened. “Gods, you must have missed me,” they groaned.
Thancred knew that was but a morsel of the truth. He had spent every moment of the last five summers and five winters wishing for them to be safely by his side. He’d missed the way their curls spun in different directions each day, and the way they flounced in response to the touch of his calloused hand. He missed the cheeky smile on their face whenever they made a joke at his expense, and the softer one that they tried to hide when he called them ‘soldier.’ He’d yearned for the feel of their hand in his. He itched to hear his name in their mouth again. He craved every piece of them he’d ever had before.
But that was too much for Thancred to possibly convey, especially in these conditions. “Yeah,” he panted, “you could say that.”
⋆ ★ ⋆
FFXIV Write | Day 10 | Stable
Spoilers: Shadowbringers Level 79
Characters: Annie Ruthie (Warrior of Light)
See end of work for notes ^-^
⋆ ★ ⋆
“Till then, I bid you farewell… eater.”
It was the last thing Annie heard before their vision flooded with the white light that engulfed their very soul. Their senses began to fizzle; they could only hear the muffled, panicked voices of their comrades as they felt a familiar body envelop them.
Their scales burned as they began to be stripped of their color; even Thancred winced as his fingers sat atop them. Annie didn’t know hair was capable of feeling, but their hair similarly began to burn to pure white. Their insides felt as though they were boiling and bubbling to smithereens. Annie couldn’t tell whether they were screaming from the mountaintop or agonizing in solemn silence.
They felt their body begin to descend Mt. Gulg, again hearing the inaudible voices of their fellow Scions and Ryne around them. They would swear they heard Thancred utter ‘I love you’ against the top of their head, but they’d have to ask him later. Annie began to haze in and out of consciousness until they fell unconscious before descending the entirety of the mountain.
⋆ ★ ⋆
The word stable first inflicted me with thoughts of times in which the Warrior of Light exhibited instability, and thus was the above piece born.
@bananarose for gpose credits ♡ my favorite gposes we have ever done
finally started shadowbringers im So hyped!!! the crystal exarch guy seems Interesting.... i really like the first so far it seems interesting!! ive just reached eulmore and met the chais and they seem .... Something! the dynamics set out in the story so far w gatetown & eulmore is very very good!!
this weekend im gonna finish the alphinaud mini questline and then ill do the alisaie one!! can't wait to see her again hehehehehe im glad the twins are the first scions we meet again :D
alisaie and wol's friendship is so CUTE im vibrating i love them
the way tesleen said that alisaie kept talking ab the wol too is adorable ^___^ its like how alphinaud takes every chance he gets to bring up estinien DSKLLKD
been steadily working my way through ShB msq and ,,,,, eulmore is way more fucked up than i thought it was 😭😭😭
seeing minfilia again has been so cute tho !!!! her and thancred man i want them to sort themselves out ;-; the faeries were also adorable in their own way especially with the twins 😭😭😭 !!!
the bit with seto and ardbert nearly made me tear up ngl :'))) it was so sweet
not sure what to think of the crystal exarch yet bc it feels like theres so much more to know about him 😞 he seems nice enough but idk whether to trust him or not
ALSO the wol met emet selch properly and he seems chaotic as fuck 😋😋 the thing about cooperation is intriguing though i cant wait to see where that plotline goes ! feels like the scions should Not be collaborating with the ascians but?? what do i know
minfilias transformation into ryne was so cute :'))) their conversation was so sweet AND im so glad thancred finally got over his own ass and spoke to minfilia about it!!!
ALSO i didnt expect vauthry to be a sineater ??? bro was creepy af and i realised what the meat thing was like 10 seconds before yshtola and ryne confirmed it and bro i got GOOSEBUMPS 😞😞 eulmore is so messed up man ???? when vauthry screamed and flew away i was like God damn...
finished shadowbringers! i think that emet selch trial is my new favourite trial ive done so far like the build up to it with the dungeon & then the music when graha tia appeared and then the actual fight itself had some really cool mechanics!!!!
im still not really sure how to use a bunch of my scholar abilities like seraph or emergency tactics or aetherflow 😭 i just stick to sacred soil and excogbwhen in doubt!
the scene with ardbert and the wol teaming up made me so happy especially when the wol threw the axe with the light and it was so momentous :'))
ALSO ALSO the scene at the end where theyre walking along the bridge and it swaps between wol & the scions walking towards the crystarium residents to ardbert walking towards his friends :')
ive only done the healer role quest so i only know lamitt but whenever i get round to levelling other classes i cant wait to see what the others are like too ;')
elidibus LEAVING and zenos getting his body back and then killing varis though???? wow ???? i was low-key hoping for some fun plot where zenos in his other body teams up with wol to retrieve his body back but this way is still cool too 🤭
estinien and gaius teaming up is so iconic though !!! i am genuinely so so SO excited for when alphinaud and estinien reunite like they have been referencing each other SOOO much since they last saw eachother its so cute ^_^
the thought of tataru and krile hunting down estinien makes me giggle tho bc ur telling me estinien, the azure dragoon of ishgard, survived nidhogg, held two dragons eyes etc etc was tracked down by two lalafells and convinced to properly aid the scions ??? i love it!
im excited to start post shb and my friend has told me that its just as good as the rest of the first part of the expansion so i cannot wait!!!!
Prompt #10 Hold Steady, Hold Stable
This takes place in an au where there are multiple warriors of light, mammoth being one of them. Enjoy.
Today was shaping up to be a fine day for Mammoth Mitch just until about half an hour ago. It had been a beautiful day in Norvrandt, not too hot or too cold with the perfect breeze. Mammoth had been lounging in a cafe chair, enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate on his day off. After taking down not one but two wardens the rest of the warriors of light had deemed a break needed and Mammoth was happy to agree. The rest of them decided to go and check out some parts of the First that they had yet to explore, some babbling about ancient ruins or whatever, it didn’t really excite Mammoth all too much so he deemed to stay behind and simply enjoy the nice day.
That was of course, until Mammoth spotted a scout sprinting towards the Crystal tower. “Oi, lad! What seems to be the problem?” The roegadyn said in an inquisitive shout, he lifted himself from his chair and finished his hot chocolate in one quaff. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something . . .”
“Sir sir! Sin eaters! A whole bloody horde of them marching towards the Crystarium! I have to tell the Exarch right away!” The scout had a look of sheer dread and panic in his eyes that told Mammoth that the boy wasn’t just seeing things or had an overactive imagination.
Mammoth did not even bother responding, he simply nodded to the boy and sprinted off towards his inn room, where his armor and axe were. Most would have thoughts of panic, or fear, or just genuine concern, not Mammoth Mitch. Mammoth didn’t have time to have any thoughts like that, he was a warrior! He was the wall that stood in the way of any dangers that threatened those he cared for, and if that meant holding off an entire army of sin eaters, then so be it.
Mammoth burst into the Pendants, not even bothering to acknowledge the secretary. He strided up the stairs and into his room, quickly arming himself with his plate armor and helm. The armor was not in the best condition but he did not have time to fix it, it would simply have to suck it up and hold strong. Mammoth snatched his axe from its spot, leaning against the wall. As he hefted it onto his back a voice came in through his linkpearl, the familiar voice of the Exarch.
“I contacted the others,” The exarch explained in a simple and serious tone, “They will arrive in around half an hour, you have to hold them off until then.” The exarch’s voice had a hint of despair in it that Mammoth did indeed notice, but once again he had no time to despair.
“Consider it done, they won’t break me down!” Mammoth explained, cracking his knuckles and neck. “Those sin eaters, don’t stand a chance in the hells!” Mammoth shouted, knowing that by now the Exarch had gone to his own preparations, not listening. This was more so to hype himself up. Were there thoughts in his head screaming for him to take cover, to hide, to run like hell? Oh of course, but Mammoth learned to ignore such thoughts, he had no time for them.
Mammoth stepped out onto the bridge facing out from the Crystarium, in the distance he could already see them. The disgusting and twisted forms of the sin eaters slowly shambling forwards towards one of the First’s last bastions against the tide of these vile beasts. Mammoth pulled his axe from his back with a smile forming across his face. “COME ON YOU LIGHT DRENCHED BEASTS! I’VE ENOUGH FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YE, YOU JUST NEED TO STEP UP AND I’LL GIVE YOU YOUR FILL!” The Warrior banged his axe against his chest three times before stepping forward, to this point he was about halfway across the bridge and the first of the sin eaters had stepped onto the bridge.
This was it, no time for any slip-ups, Mammoth had to hold out for half an hour until his allies arrived. A few thoughts screamed in his head, about how that was too long, he was just one man, there were so many of them! The warrior let those thoughts fester for but a second before they were removed from his head and replaced by a stalwart resolution. He was a wall, a stable bastion that these damnable creatures would crash against over and over again, unrelenting in their assault, but he would not waver for the warrior had no other option but to stand strong against this horde. As the sea of white crashed against the stalwart warrior, only one thought remained in his head. Hold Steady, Hold Stable.
Prompt #10 Hold Steady, Hold Stable
This takes place in an au where there are multiple warriors of light, mammoth being one of them. Enjoy.
Today was shaping up to be a fine day for Mammoth Mitch just until about half an hour ago. It had been a beautiful day in Norvrandt, not too hot or too cold with the perfect breeze. Mammoth had been lounging in a cafe chair, enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate on his day off. After taking down not one but two wardens the rest of the warriors of light had deemed a break needed and Mammoth was happy to agree. The rest of them decided to go and check out some parts of the First that they had yet to explore, some babbling about ancient ruins or whatever, it didn’t really excite Mammoth all too much so he deemed to stay behind and simply enjoy the nice day.
That was of course, until Mammoth spotted a scout sprinting towards the Crystal tower. “Oi, lad! What seems to be the problem?” The roegadyn said in an inquisitive shout, he lifted himself from his chair and finished his hot chocolate in one quaff. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something . . .”
“Sir sir! Sin eaters! A whole bloody horde of them marching towards the Crystarium! I have to tell the Exarch right away!” The scout had a look of sheer dread and panic in his eyes that told Mammoth that the boy wasn’t just seeing things or had an overactive imagination.
Mammoth did not even bother responding, he simply nodded to the boy and sprinted off towards his inn room, where his armor and axe were. Most would have thoughts of panic, or fear, or just genuine concern, not Mammoth Mitch. Mammoth didn’t have time to have any thoughts like that, he was a warrior! He was the wall that stood in the way of any dangers that threatened those he cared for, and if that meant holding off an entire army of sin eaters, then so be it.
Mammoth burst into the Pendants, not even bothering to acknowledge the secretary. He strided up the stairs and into his room, quickly arming himself with his plate armor and helm. The armor was not in the best condition but he did not have time to fix it, it would simply have to suck it up and hold strong. Mammoth snatched his axe from its spot, leaning against the wall. As he hefted it onto his back a voice came in through his linkpearl, the familiar voice of the Exarch.
“I contacted the others,” The exarch explained in a simple and serious tone, “They will arrive in around half an hour, you have to hold them off until then.” The exarch’s voice had a hint of despair in it that Mammoth did indeed notice, but once again he had no time to despair.
“Consider it done, they won’t break me down!” Mammoth explained, cracking his knuckles and neck. “Those sin eaters, don’t stand a chance in the hells!” Mammoth shouted, knowing that by now the Exarch had gone to his own preparations, not listening. This was more so to hype himself up. Were there thoughts in his head screaming for him to take cover, to hide, to run like hell? Oh of course, but Mammoth learned to ignore such thoughts, he had no time for them.
Mammoth stepped out onto the bridge facing out from the Crystarium, in the distance he could already see them. The disgusting and twisted forms of the sin eaters slowly shambling forwards towards one of the First’s last bastions against the tide of these vile beasts. Mammoth pulled his axe from his back with a smile forming across his face. “COME ON YOU LIGHT DRENCHED BEASTS! I’VE ENOUGH FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YE, YOU JUST NEED TO STEP UP AND I’LL GIVE YOU YOUR FILL!” The Warrior banged his axe against his chest three times before stepping forward, to this point he was about halfway across the bridge and the first of the sin eaters had stepped onto the bridge.
This was it, no time for any slip-ups, Mammoth had to hold out for half an hour until his allies arrived. A few thoughts screamed in his head, about how that was too long, he was just one man, there were so many of them! The warrior let those thoughts fester for but a second before they were removed from his head and replaced by a stalwart resolution. He was a wall, a stable bastion that these damnable creatures would crash against over and over again, unrelenting in their assault, but he would not waver for the warrior had no other option but to stand strong against this horde. As the sea of white crashed against the stalwart warrior, only one thought remained in his head. Hold Steady, Hold Stable.
Prompt #10 Hold Steady, Hold Stable
This takes place in an au where there are multiple warriors of light, mammoth being one of them. Enjoy.
Today was shaping up to be a fine day for Mammoth Mitch just until about half an hour ago. It had been a beautiful day in Norvrandt, not too hot or too cold with the perfect breeze. Mammoth had been lounging in a cafe chair, enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate on his day off. After taking down not one but two wardens the rest of the warriors of light had deemed a break needed and Mammoth was happy to agree. The rest of them decided to go and check out some parts of the First that they had yet to explore, some babbling about ancient ruins or whatever, it didn’t really excite Mammoth all too much so he deemed to stay behind and simply enjoy the nice day.
That was of course, until Mammoth spotted a scout sprinting towards the Crystal tower. “Oi, lad! What seems to be the problem?” The roegadyn said in an inquisitive shout, he lifted himself from his chair and finished his hot chocolate in one quaff. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something . . .”
“Sir sir! Sin eaters! A whole bloody horde of them marching towards the Crystarium! I have to tell the Exarch right away!” The scout had a look of sheer dread and panic in his eyes that told Mammoth that the boy wasn’t just seeing things or had an overactive imagination.
Mammoth did not even bother responding, he simply nodded to the boy and sprinted off towards his inn room, where his armor and axe were. Most would have thoughts of panic, or fear, or just genuine concern, not Mammoth Mitch. Mammoth didn’t have time to have any thoughts like that, he was a warrior! He was the wall that stood in the way of any dangers that threatened those he cared for, and if that meant holding off an entire army of sin eaters, then so be it.
Mammoth burst into the Pendants, not even bothering to acknowledge the secretary. He strided up the stairs and into his room, quickly arming himself with his plate armor and helm. The armor was not in the best condition but he did not have time to fix it, it would simply have to suck it up and hold strong. Mammoth snatched his axe from its spot, leaning against the wall. As he hefted it onto his back a voice came in through his linkpearl, the familiar voice of the Exarch.
“I contacted the others,” The exarch explained in a simple and serious tone, “They will arrive in around half an hour, you have to hold them off until then.” The exarch’s voice had a hint of despair in it that Mammoth did indeed notice, but once again he had no time to despair.
“Consider it done, they won’t break me down!” Mammoth explained, cracking his knuckles and neck. “Those sin eaters, don’t stand a chance in the hells!” Mammoth shouted, knowing that by now the Exarch had gone to his own preparations, not listening. This was more so to hype himself up. Were there thoughts in his head screaming for him to take cover, to hide, to run like hell? Oh of course, but Mammoth learned to ignore such thoughts, he had no time for them.
Mammoth stepped out onto the bridge facing out from the Crystarium, in the distance he could already see them. The disgusting and twisted forms of the sin eaters slowly shambling forwards towards one of the First’s last bastions against the tide of these vile beasts. Mammoth pulled his axe from his back with a smile forming across his face. “COME ON YOU LIGHT DRENCHED BEASTS! I’VE ENOUGH FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YE, YOU JUST NEED TO STEP UP AND I’LL GIVE YOU YOUR FILL!” The Warrior banged his axe against his chest three times before stepping forward, to this point he was about halfway across the bridge and the first of the sin eaters had stepped onto the bridge.
This was it, no time for any slip-ups, Mammoth had to hold out for half an hour until his allies arrived. A few thoughts screamed in his head, about how that was too long, he was just one man, there were so many of them! The warrior let those thoughts fester for but a second before they were removed from his head and replaced by a stalwart resolution. He was a wall, a stable bastion that these damnable creatures would crash against over and over again, unrelenting in their assault, but he would not waver for the warrior had no other option but to stand strong against this horde. As the sea of white crashed against the stalwart warrior, only one thought remained in his head. Hold Steady, Hold Stable.
Prompt #10 Hold Steady, Hold Stable
This takes place in an au where there are multiple warriors of light, mammoth being one of them. Enjoy.
Today was shaping up to be a fine day for Mammoth Mitch just until about half an hour ago. It had been a beautiful day in Norvrandt, not too hot or too cold with the perfect breeze. Mammoth had been lounging in a cafe chair, enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate on his day off. After taking down not one but two wardens the rest of the warriors of light had deemed a break needed and Mammoth was happy to agree. The rest of them decided to go and check out some parts of the First that they had yet to explore, some babbling about ancient ruins or whatever, it didn’t really excite Mammoth all too much so he deemed to stay behind and simply enjoy the nice day.
That was of course, until Mammoth spotted a scout sprinting towards the Crystal tower. “Oi, lad! What seems to be the problem?” The roegadyn said in an inquisitive shout, he lifted himself from his chair and finished his hot chocolate in one quaff. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something . . .”
“Sir sir! Sin eaters! A whole bloody horde of them marching towards the Crystarium! I have to tell the Exarch right away!” The scout had a look of sheer dread and panic in his eyes that told Mammoth that the boy wasn’t just seeing things or had an overactive imagination.
Mammoth did not even bother responding, he simply nodded to the boy and sprinted off towards his inn room, where his armor and axe were. Most would have thoughts of panic, or fear, or just genuine concern, not Mammoth Mitch. Mammoth didn’t have time to have any thoughts like that, he was a warrior! He was the wall that stood in the way of any dangers that threatened those he cared for, and if that meant holding off an entire army of sin eaters, then so be it.
Mammoth burst into the Pendants, not even bothering to acknowledge the secretary. He strided up the stairs and into his room, quickly arming himself with his plate armor and helm. The armor was not in the best condition but he did not have time to fix it, it would simply have to suck it up and hold strong. Mammoth snatched his axe from its spot, leaning against the wall. As he hefted it onto his back a voice came in through his linkpearl, the familiar voice of the Exarch.
“I contacted the others,” The exarch explained in a simple and serious tone, “They will arrive in around half an hour, you have to hold them off until then.” The exarch’s voice had a hint of despair in it that Mammoth did indeed notice, but once again he had no time to despair.
“Consider it done, they won’t break me down!” Mammoth explained, cracking his knuckles and neck. “Those sin eaters, don’t stand a chance in the hells!” Mammoth shouted, knowing that by now the Exarch had gone to his own preparations, not listening. This was more so to hype himself up. Were there thoughts in his head screaming for him to take cover, to hide, to run like hell? Oh of course, but Mammoth learned to ignore such thoughts, he had no time for them.
Mammoth stepped out onto the bridge facing out from the Crystarium, in the distance he could already see them. The disgusting and twisted forms of the sin eaters slowly shambling forwards towards one of the First’s last bastions against the tide of these vile beasts. Mammoth pulled his axe from his back with a smile forming across his face. “COME ON YOU LIGHT DRENCHED BEASTS! I’VE ENOUGH FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YE, YOU JUST NEED TO STEP UP AND I’LL GIVE YOU YOUR FILL!” The Warrior banged his axe against his chest three times before stepping forward, to this point he was about halfway across the bridge and the first of the sin eaters had stepped onto the bridge.
This was it, no time for any slip-ups, Mammoth had to hold out for half an hour until his allies arrived. A few thoughts screamed in his head, about how that was too long, he was just one man, there were so many of them! The warrior let those thoughts fester for but a second before they were removed from his head and replaced by a stalwart resolution. He was a wall, a stable bastion that these damnable creatures would crash against over and over again, unrelenting in their assault, but he would not waver for the warrior had no other option but to stand strong against this horde. As the sea of white crashed against the stalwart warrior, only one thought remained in his head. Hold Steady, Hold Stable.
FINAL FANTASY XIV (2010-2024)
“Darling, you’re back!” “Well of course I’m back. You didn’t s─ Dear─ Dearest─ I─ I can't─” “Oh! Oh dear…”
Final Fantasy XIV: Title Screens from 2010 - 2022