Aiswynd Drakareus

Aiswynd Drakareus
Gender	Male
Race	Au Ra
Clan	Xaela
Citizenship	Gridania
Age	33
Nameday	7th Sun of the 5th Astral Moon (9th of September)
Occupation	Honorary Adder, sky Steel Manufactory Apprentice
Guardian	Azeyma, the Warden
Alignment	Neutral Good
Relationship?	Single

Appearance & Personality

He is short for an Au Ra male, however this does not change the fact that he is solid with an athletic build. While his face has little marring upon it, his body does show signs of extensive conflict, however few of the scars are noticeable upon a glance, there are a couple that are typically hidden by his clothing. His expressions tend towards being intense and focused when he is idling around. His limbal rings tend to dance like fire when he is intrigued or attracted. People who get physically close will notice that he smells of Cinnamon and Vanilla constantly.

As his time in Eorzea has gone along, this once shy and calm person has come into their own self. While still capable of exuding a deep calm when focused or fighting, other times he tends towards being open emotionally. Odd for a former rogue, he has developed the horrible habit of not being able to hide secrets about himself, but never falters to keep the confidence of his friends and loved ones. Garleans continue to be a hot point, and he still sometimes goes into a battle frenzy regarding them. There is something else burgeoning beneath the frenzy, a calculating, tactical mind that is slowly gaining it's legs, fed by a thirst for knowledge.

He has an obsession with fish and felines, to the point that some people in his tribe used to jokingly call him a Coeurl, and a few people in his tribe believed it had to do with the fact that he was cared for by a Coeurl for a few weeks after the flood. He shows a general distaste towards people that flit from partner to partner, non-fish meats and alcohol. He will in some rare occasions drink, but typically goes for wines or fermented buffalo milk.

Likes ● Fish ● Rainy Days ● Travelling ● Companionship ● Felines

Dislikes ● Garleans ● Betrayal ● Loneliness ● Feline haters

Other ● Alignment: Neutral Good ● Vice(s): Physical affection, Fish ● Favorite Color(s): Blacks, Reds, Oranges and Yellows ● Mood Music: Currently it is -- Unstable - Chaotica

Skill Set

Beginner ● Botany ● Feline Affinity ● Cooking ● Knife Fighting (Down from Mastery due to loss of mobility with his left arm)

Intermediate ● Fishing ● Stealth ● Tracking ● Archery

Master ● Marksmanship ● Throwing ● Machinery

Social

Rumors Feel free to add your own under the 'Player Character' section. ◢ Common ● "I usually see him being followed around by a Coeurl kitten as if he was its mother" ● "He used to be around Gridania a lot, now I've heard he is an Ishgardian?" ● "He's been favoring his left arm a lot, and it moves like it's stiff, I wonder why that is" ◢ Uncommon ● "I heard the Adders kicked him out 'cause his parents are both Garlean soldiers, if it wasn't for the Padjals they would have had him either banished or executed as a spy." ● "The Leader of the Wood Wailers keeps petitioning to have him detained and executed as a Garlean spy, but I hear he's had it out for Aiswynd the entire time" ◢ Rare ● "I saw some blue flames from a rooftop the other night, and there Aiswynd was, and I swear there was a small wyvern on his shoulder" ◢ Player Character ● "Master Aiswynd. He has a lot of confidence! He was kind enough to speak of his journey and the hope Azeyma gave. He must be lonely, though, looking for any of his kin that has survived. He also turns quite red if you get close to him; one of the most bashful men I have met." - Jancis Milburga ● ● ●

Relations ♥ Romantic Love    ♥ Platonic Love     ● Good Standing     ● Neutral Standing     ● Poor Standing ● Aisugei Quo Kha - Father of Aiswynd Drakareus, his parents were accepted as full citizens of the Garlean empire. He had left with his wife to join the Drakareus tribe, disappearing in a flood some years after his son's birth. Presumed dead, but recently discovered to be alive. ● Altaniwyn Eir Arulaq - Mother of Aiswynd Drakareus, she had earned her status as a citizen of the Garlean empire by working as a spy for them since she was a young child, eventually she met Aisugei and they decided to raise Aiswynd among the Drakareus tribe before being lost in a flood. Presumed dead, but recently discovered to be alive. ● Xanadu Noire - Recently made friend that is hiding a secret of studying black magics, has given this in confidence to Aiswynd, as of late however she has been distancing herself from Aiswynd due to the issues with his parents ● Akino Naeuri - An Au Ra Raen that Aiswynd befriended when she was having problems, they've become good friends since. ● Kira Yugari - The Au Ra Raen head manager for the Quicksand of Ul'dah, though they have only become friends recently, it was a fast friendship. ● L'Koana Rayen - A Miqo'te that Aiswynd met through Kira and they have become equally fast friends. ● Kasumi Fujikawa - An Au Ra raen that has quickly become an important friend to Aiswynd, and potentially more, the two of them are co-founders of the Free Company Wandering Horizons.

History

Early Life

Aiswynd grew up as part of the Drakareus Tribe, a Tribe of Xaela that were not renown for anything in particular other than the Elders insistence that everyone be well educated for a wandering people. Aside from the occasional clashes with other tribes, life for Aiswynd was peaceful as a young child and he made friends easily. It was not long before things began to go sour in his life. He was barely the human equivalent of 8 when a river flood while gathering food along the banks swept him and his parents away. The tribe had given up on him and his family, only finding him by chance among a Coeurl den by Scouts of the tribe as the whole tribe migrated down river.

His isolation began there, while the tribe took over raising him, he began to feel disconnected, the only strong connection he had was Koertha, another like him who had lost his parents. The two of them became good friends, brothers even as they grew into adult hood. Koertha learning to be a warrior that fought with nothing but his fists, while Aiswynd took up daggers and aided the tribe as a scout and hunter. Aside from ongoing issues with women in the tribe and the tribes mating traditions, life started to look good until...

Tribal Calamity

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Aiswynd laughed at a joke his cousin made about the Raen tribe as he, and several other Xaela sat around a fire. They were out on the periphery of the camp, the others more central were families and elderly, the young warriors and hunters lived on the edge. This was so if an attack happened, they were already on hand, ready to go and those that could not fight as well were already circled into the center and protected.

The group fell silent as a bird call echoed out from the darkness, one of them sending another bird call back. A couple moments of silence passed before a pair of Xaela hunters rode up on chocobos which were haggard from a hard run. They dismount, the lead of the two motions towards the group as he swept past and towards the central camp. The other Xaela approaches the group after tending to the Chocobo, "Another tribe is approaching on the march of war. Get rest, they'll be here by morning." the Xaela says, motioning for some of the stew and thanking them for the food.

Aiswynd sighed and looked off towards where the riders came from. It wasn't long until his watch shift ended and he retired to the tents to sleep. Morning however was a rush of adrenaline as weapons were handed out and armor prepared. It was not long before the other army came into sight. Tension in the tribe was high as they noticed some strange armor among the Xaela tribe that arrived.

The lines were formed, the Drakareus tribe readied themselves for the assault. It was not long before a shout went up from the enemy, and moments later the tribes met in bloody conflict.

The first to come upon Aiswynd was one of those in strange armor, wielding a sword and shield that hummed strangely with a crackle of magical lightning. He slashed, and Aiswynd spun, the armor, the weapons availed the man naught as one of Aiswynd's daggers slipped between helmet and pauldron, slicing open the warrior's throat. Aiswynd advanced, the next foe a Xaela like himself and they clashed and slashed, wove and dodged. Blades met, but in a few moments Aiswynd was the victor.

It was not long before it appeared the Drakareus tribe was going to be the victor, despite the strange additional soldiers. Then one arrived from the rear, and wielded a weapon that was strange, a blade with a tube on the backside. A moment later more arrived, and before long loud cracks could be heard and his fellow tribesmen began to fall one after another.

Aiswynd watched in horror, he knew at once who they were, having had small skirmishes before. These were Garleans, why they would involve themselves in tribal conflict he didn't know. He didn't care. He saw his cousin gunned down a moment later before he was stabbed as he tried to recover. Aiswynd tightened the gripe on his knives and went into a bloody rage.

He slashed and cut and sliced, lashing out with fist and leg, knocking down and killing everyone he could as quickly as he could. He advanced upon the Garlean's with the gunblades before one more arrived upon a large walker. There was a stunned silence as a beam of magic tore through the battlefield, and the camp. More and more appeared, cutting swaths in the ground, and troops and camp, killing all caught in it.

A hand grabbed Aiswynd and tugged at him. He spun to find one of Koertha before him, "Let go!" he shouted as he gestured to the Walkers, "I have to kill them!" his friend shook his head and pulled, "NO! We have to flee! We have to try and survive!" Aiswynd turned to pull away only to be spun around by his friend. His friend was moving to strike him to knock him out only to stop. A moment later he was flung away and crumpled to the ground, his spine severed.

Aiswynd spun in place to face his friends killer only to find a massive Garlean Soldier with an axe in hand. He lashed out with the butt of the axe, Aiswynd attempted to dodge but the strike was fast as lightning and caught him in the shoulder, causing him to twist with the impact. He rolled with the momentum of the strike, swinging in and catching the Garlean in the cheek, leaving a long slash. He was repaid a moment later as the Garlean twisted about the axe and slammed the back side into Aiswynd's stomach, forcing him to stumble back in pain.

Shoulder bruised, stomach feeling battered, Aiswynd slowed down but did not stop his assault in blind rage. He came in with a feint for the right side, snapping and twisting suddenly into a low kick meant to strike the Garlean's leg behind the knee and cause a fracture. Instead of being caught the Garlean stepped in and slammed the haft into Aiswynd's face, a loud crack could be heard and Aiswynd's vision filled with stars before going black.

"Nice try boy...Find me when you learn how to fight better, it could be fun."

Aftermath

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Aiswynd woke up some time later amid piles of bodies, his daggers had long since been pilfered and his nose was bloody and felt broken. He was alive however, as were a handful of others who were picking across the battlefield. The camp was ruined, full of charred bodies. One of the other Xaela came over and helped Aiswynd up, told him that they had lost, and were all going to scatter, maybe find new tribes to take them in. Most of the survivors had already left.

He stumbled over to the camp, to where the elders all lay slain and fell to his knees, these were like his parents once his had died. He reached down and with the soot and char he drew an X across his face, his fellow Xaela all having done this as well. They were all tribeless now, and would wear that mark until they were accepted, they were part of a new tribe. He stood up and gave forth a sigh before he started off.

Among the bodies he found new knives, not as good as his old ones, but they would have to do. It was some years of travel and wandering before he found himself upon a coastal village. He never joined another tribe having left the steppes and living as a wanderer and a rogue. The people upon the ship fascinated him, however he feared to get aboard because of the water. The night before they left port, he had gotten drunk with some Roegaden, not waking up until the had long cast off, having been brought aboard to join the crew as they traveled south to Limsa Lominsa.

His arrival in Limsa lead him to falling in with the Rogues guild for a short time, and after a violent encounter where he saved a group of Adders from a Garlean scouting party, he ended up being pulled into the fold of the Adders where he was at first a glorified messenger before quickly escalated up to handling more dangerous missions that better fit his talents.

Recent Events

Adder Struck

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Crunch, crunch, crunch

Aiswynd's steps came to a stop as his breath fogs before him. He adjusts the scarf about his mouth and face, and a sheer cloth to protect his eyes from the cold and brightness of Coerthas. He pulls a map out of his pocket and studies it for a bit, looking up from the map a few times before putting it away and trudging on through the snow. A pack slung across his back filled with missives and some tool resupplyment for a scouting group that was working in Coerthas.

Crunch, crunch, crunch As he trudges on through the snow, Aiswynd thinks about the events of his life up until recently. He had ended up in Limsa and fell in with the Rogues guild, well they more picked him up. They were watching all the new arrivals and apparently his skills doing odd jobs culling some of the more dangerous creatures near the city attracted his attention. He worked with them for only a month before they parted ways. They liked to work in shadows and secret and his method was a bit more direct than their style. It was during a courier job from Limsa to Gridania that started him with the Adders.

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch He stops and looks up at the sky, the snow was starting to come down thicker, he was going to soon lose a lot of visibility. He checks the map one more time to make sure he was facing in the right direction. He lets out a sigh and continues on. His thoughts straying back to the Adders. How he fell in with them, it was pure chance, a group of Adders were being attacked by Garleans that had slipped into the area. The Adders were losing and he charged in without thinking. They fell fast, already worn out from the battle, and not ready for a sudden strike from someone more skilled than them. A couple Garleans were left alive for the Adders but proved to know little that was useful, or they didn't break. The Adders gave him honorary status, and he started doing jobs from them, small, but he quickly proved his usefulness.

Crunch, crunch... He comes to a stop as the wind starts picking up with the thickening wall of snowfall. He normally wouldn't be doing resupply jobs like this but the Adders were short handed, and he volunteered because he wanted to see Coerthas. A land of pure pristine snow of shades of white, blue and...

"Azeyma let this be a fresh carcass of an animal." He says under his breath as he starts moving quickly, the streak of blood turning out to be from one of the Adders that were camped out. He kneels down at the body to inspect it. No signs of gunshots, he muses within his mind, rolling the body over to find scorch marks all across the body, "No..."

He stands up, letting the pack land in the snow by the body before he draws his blades and creeping forward towards the next blotch. He freezes in position as the camp comes into view. It was several Garleans standing around the remains of a campfire, dead Adders lying all about them. Aiswynd clenches his teeth, his jaw and then launches at the nearest of the Garleans, one that held a bow at the ready. The Garlean was taken by surprise as Aiswynd latches onto the back collar of his armor, drags him backwards and slices his throat open. The gurgle alerts the others.

Without hesitation he launches himself at the next nearest Garlean, Fire scorching past his head. The next spell was ended before it could be cast as he buries his fist into the stomach of the Thaumaturge. He twists around and slices low, hamstringing the Thaum as his Gladiator ally misses his swing for Aiswynd's head. Aiswynd continues his twisting spin, coming back up and slipping behind the Gladiator's shield and planting a dagger just under his shoulder. His other dagger is thrown past the Gladiator's head to catch the Thaumaturge in the face, ending his career in an instant.

The last person left in sight, a Pugilist launches himself at Aiswynd, believing him to be unarmed now. Aiswynd kicks the dying Gladiator into the Pugilist's path, buying himself enough time to bring forth another pair of daggers. He doesn't meet the strikes coming at him head on, insteady parrying and slipping sideways. His movements significantly faster than the Pugilist, scoring a slice across the ribs. The Pugilist aims a high sweeping kick at Aiswynd. Aiswynd, catches the leg and rolls with the kick, coming away from the strike rolling through the snow. He stands up and draws another dagger, having left the one in his hand planted firmly into the back of the knee of the Pugilist who was now on the ground and screaming in pain. A swift execution follows and Aiswynd gathers his daggers.

As he approaches the pack, a faint clapping could be heard along with the heavy crunch of snow, and into view came a Marauder, no, this one was a Warrior, the stature and armor sending flashes of recognition through Aiswynd's mind. For a moment, Aiswynd was no longer in a land of snow, but a steppe land, and the corpses around him were not Adders, but Xaelas. "That was magnificent for a backwater hick." the Warrior comments, laughing a little as he does.

He brings his axe to bear, "And I see you've gotten better...I was not wrong to let you live...You've culled weaklings from our ranks quite well."

Aiswynd's knuckles go white with how tightly he grips his daggers as he approaches the Warrior, "I will kill you." then it was all motion. He rushes in and aims for a throat cut at the start only to leave a knick upon the haft of the Warrior's Axe. With ease the axe is swung forcing Aiswynd to retreat before he leaps in again, this time aiming low and again the Warrior parries his attack and pushes him back with another swing. Aiswynd collects enough of his wits to change his tactics, going for a feint that he uses to grab the haft of the axe and launch himself past to aim a strike at the Warrior's face. His dagger leaves a shallow cut on the armor. He releases his grip and ducks down under the axe swing, aiming to stab the Warrior in the thigh only to be sent reeling as the haft crashes into the side of his head. He rolls to the side as an Axe blade narrowly misses coming down upon his head.

"You've gotten better, but so have I boy." The Warrior lets out, chuckling as he sweeps his axe up, unleashing a wave of snow and obscuring Aiswynd's view. Aiswynd leaps backward from the snow launch and launches a cluster of throwing daggers into it. He realizes to late that the Warrior went around to the side. The Warrior's swing comes in with the blade backwards, Aiswynd's arm cracking painfully under the impact of the haft and he is sent tumbling.

Aiswynd stands up slowly, the broken arm hanging limply by his side, the dagger in the snow. The pain of his arm causing him to collapse. The Warrior grins widely as he approaches, his helmet splitting from the strike earlier that hit more deeply than it first appeared. There was a fresh cut on his cheek, above the scar of another. The Warrior stops before Aiswynd as he tests the weight of his axe in his hand, "One more try...hehehe...next time...maybe you will win...I am curious to see just how powerful you will become."

In quick motion, Aiswynd brings up his linkpearl and broadcasts his location through it, getting it out before the haft connects with the side of his head and all goes black.

Later

Sometime later, he awakens to the sound of crackling fire and warmth. Heavy blankets are over him and his arm is pinned and splinted, he groans painfully as his vision swims. Someone found him at least. He closes his eyes and sleeps back off into sleep. In his dreams the laughter of the warrior is coming not from the Garlean Warrior, but his father, laughing at some idiosyncrasy of tribal Xaela life.

Sagolii Rondo

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Sand crunches beneath the claws of a fiery orange chocobo as it makes its way leisurely through the sands of Southern Thanalan. Upon the chocobo's back is Aiswynd, who has a hand upon a link pearl dangling from one of his horns.

"Look, I know Yujika-...No No What I am saying is that...Ah come on can I at least...yes...yes I know...I haven't been kicked out! I said I was on temporary leave...I know how it looks...No, you should know me better than that!...mmhm..mmhm...No I'm not just rolling over...oh come on be reasonable the Adders don't want me around until a decision is made...Yes, Ul'dah...Sagolii...No I'm not going to cause any troubles...gee thanks -mother-...I'm sorry I won't use that tone with you...Fiiiine I will try to keep in touch better." he releases the link shell and sighs as he slumps over the front of his chocob, only to have it wark at him.

"No, nothing to worry about Clarence." he pats the chocobo on the neck as he sits back up, his left arm and horn not completely healed yet, but it was to the point that he could manage again at least. He flexes his left hand and sighs, as the muscles were still tight, he was going to need to continue with therapy with that hand for a long time before it could ever be as remotely dexterous as it once was. It was going to hamper his ability to fight with his off hand he knew as much.

A guard for the Forgotten Springs hails him as he approaches and Aiswynd hails back, "I've come to see the Seer known as Sangolus." he calls as he nears the town's gates. The guard looks back into town worriedly before motioning for Aiswynd to approach, "Your timing could not be worse, we just got word about Garleans waylaying Sangolus' caravan, there are some Immortal Flames that just left, if you hurry you can follow their tracks, or you can wait here and hope they all come back."

With a couple quick gestures, Aiswynd was off on the trail of the immortal flames, hurrying his chocobo from a walking pace to a gallop pace, "Just what I need now...a seer that might know what in the void is going on...and if that was actually my father...getting ganked by Garleans." he feels his left hand tense up painfully around the reins. He kicked Clarence into a faster pace, worried about what would happen if he took too long.

He could hear the battle before he could see what was going on, cresting a dune to see a squad of Immortal Flames being pushed back by Garlean soldiers, most of the caravan guard were dead, and the remainder were surrounded, with the few surviving caravansary in the middle. Aiswynd leaps off Clarence and frees one of the knives as he rushes down the dune, "Immortal Flames I am here to help kill some Garleans!" he calls out before he bursts through the guards and catches the lead Garlean beneath the helmet, leaving a lethal slice of the throat. He snaps his left hand forward, catching an archer in the chest with a burst of daggers, none of them hitting anything critical but still managing to take the archer out of the fight.

Aiswynd spins around, clipping the next nearest Garlean with a back heel kick that he follows with a pair of spinning slices, his second knife slipping into his left hand mid spin. He then slips in and catches the Garlean in the soft spot in the arm pit before releasing him to die in the sand, advancing on the next. This one a lancer that bursts forward without hesitation, his spear passing through Aiswynd as he fades into dust, there was a moment of confusion before he gurgles and falls forward, sliding off the knife that pierced him through his back from behind.

The battle wages on, Aiswynd's skills managing to turn the tide in the favor of the Immortal Flames, and rallying their spirits. Then from the other side of the caravan guards, there is a glint and an Au Ra Xaela in Garlean Pugilist garb rushes in and Gauntlet glances off a parrying knife blow. The Garlean Xaela grins from beneath her mask as she passes Aiswynd, "I see you're alive boy."

They shift about, pacing a circle as they keep eyes on one another, Aiswynd managing to keep his cool, even though he swears he recognizes the derisive tones of this woman before him. Right jab, Parry with left knife, it's a feint, Right knife already moving to intercept left body blow. Twist down, let initial jab slide over head, pull parry back, aim to slice her left arm. Everything moves in seeming slow motion before the complicated dance of parry, feint, attack and redirection ends with the two of them jumping back from each other and pulling back up.

The fighting between the Garleans and the Guards and Flames has settled down for the moment, everyone now watching in tension at the Pugilist and the Rogue battle it out. This time it was Aiswynd that went on the offensive, High right knife, twist to the right to aim a low kick at the back of her knee, she twists too, glancing hit across Aiswynd's ribs. He twists, coming in with a kick, too swift for the Garlean, she takes the blow into the side and stumbles a bit. Aiswynd recovers goes in for a left hook with the blade, aiming to slash if she dodges back. Instead she steps in parries with the right, palm strike into the shoulder with the left, dislocating Aiswynd's shoulder. The two come away with Aiswynd's left arm hanging limply, knife barely being held onto.

The Pugilist Garlean smiles in brief triumph before she winces and realizes there was a large gash in her left side from where she was slashed during the exchange by Aiswynd's right knife. The Pugilist charges Aiswynd, and the force of the tackle into the ground forces his shoulder to relocate upon impact, the pop was loud, so was his cry, he manages to bob his head, her punch hitting sand and he jabs his thumb into her gash causing her to roll away as she cries out in agony. They come back up to their feet, both breathing heavily.

She spits into the sand before backing towards the Garleans, "Child...we'll come back for you later." she snaps a glare at the Garleans and they begin to beat a hasty retreat. Their conjurers having already fallen leaving the Xaela to recover later.

The Immortal Flames gather around and congratulate Aiswynd on chasing off the Garleans, unfortunately Sangolus perished during the earlier melee before the Immortal Flames arrived. Aiswynd though, his thoughts now were on the fact that not only is he now battling what may be his father, but his mother as well. As he travels with the remainder of the Flames and Caravan back to Forgotten Springs, he explains to the Immortal Flames what he was doing there, and they all promised to put in good words for him to their commanders in hopes that it is passed along and helps with his current situation with being under investigation by the Twin Adders for concerns of corruption, spying and possibly delivering important missives to Garleans.

As he arrives in Forgotten Springs, the Delivery Moogle flits up and gives him a letter. He looks it over and frowns, "I'm going to be under watch from a bodyguard hired by the Adders to determine if I am the kind of person to betray them, and if it is even remotely possible that I did." he sighs and rolls it up, "So some Elezan named Vixanya huh..."

The next day, after being tended to by a conjurer, he departs Forgotten Springs, starting his long trek to meet his new commander in Bentbranch Meadows.

Letters & Fates

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Aiswynd let out a yawn, his breath frosting in the air as he meanders across the steps of faith upon his blue chocobo Clarence. He was letting the Chocobo lead the way across the steps as he reads the letters in his hands. The first was his approval for temporary entry into Ishgard, behind it was a letter that had shown up in his room at the free company's house.

"Dear son,

It is true, we are alive and well. We are also Garleans. We destroyed the Drakareus tribe to show you how weak the Xaela tribes are, to show you the strength and purity that being Garlean means. You failed us though, and sought power from Eorzeans, you have been given two chances. This is your last one, find us in the Sea of Clouds, and join Garlemond, or we shall start cutting your ties to Eorzea until you do.

Aisugei Quo Kha & Altaniwyn Eir Arulaq"

He rolls the letter back up and stuffs it inside of his winter coat with the rest of the parchments. In the next motion he withdraws the letter of entry again and hands it to a guard. The man glares at Aiswynd but then waves him through the gate and he enters Foundation. He had to keep showing his entry permit to every guard he passed after he stabled Clarence, causing his travel to be slow going, although eventually he reached his goal, The Athenaeum Astrologicum.

He takes a few steps inside and speaks to the receptionist, once again showing his entry permit. He is lead through to a waiting room off and sits there for a few moments examining the warm, plush decorations. In the middle of the room was a pair of couches, one of which he already sat upon, and between them was a strange apparatus. He moved it about a bit, but the device appeared incomplete, as if something was meant to go into it first. He was not aware of how long he was waiting there, entertaining himself by flexing and relaxing his ever stiff left arm, but eventually a man entered, fully garbed as an Astrologian, and carrying a star globe. He sat down on the other couch, and set the globe in the apparatus.

"You are here to get your stars read, and to know what may happen if you take the path of the Dark Knight?" The Astrologian asks as he sits forward, eyes gazing into Aiswynd's. Aiswynd nods his head as he leans forward, "Yes. I am. What do I need to do?" he responds. The Astrologian motions for Aiswynd to reach out and grasp the first card he can from the star globe, "I warn this will be an intense experience, and while the imagery will be quite...strong...it is not entirely literal of what will happen, there is some...subjectiveness to it.". Aiswynd nods his head and reaches out for the first card he can catch. He brings it forward.

---

A wind tears across the island as the clouds race below in some rush to be off somewhere. Aiswynd stands there clad in black armor, a great sword resting against his shoulder as he stares down a large Warrior standing in the same pose with an Axe. The Warrior spits and moves first, Aiswynd dashes forward, dark energies bleeding off of him as he swings his blade in to meet axe, the sound resounding with pressure. He twists about, attempting to cleave the Warrior's head off, only to miss barely as his opponent twists away. Aiswynd shifts and thrusts in, only to have his sword parried with haft, the pommel snapped at his face and glancing off of his helmet, the sound ringing loudly out.

The two of them disengage, and Aiswynd holds his sword before him, attuning himself to the Dark Arts before launching himself at the Warrior, blade and axe swing in furry, parried and slashing, dodged and slicing. The shift and cut and slice, for a time neither appears to be gaining an advantage over the other until in Aiswynd's blind rage he leaves himself open, reeling back as he takes a haft stab to the side. The Warrior followed this up with a strong sweeping blow that cut through armor and sent Aiswynd tumbling. The great sword knocked from his hand and sent skittering off the edge of the island.

The Warrior took his helmet off, the face of Aiswynd's father Aisugei sneered down at him, "Worthless failure." he sneered as he planted his foot on Aiswynd's chest, pinning him to the ground and swing the axe down.

---

The card drops from Aiswynd's hand only to flutter away to rejoin the others around the Star Globe, his face was pale and his body felt numb. The Astrologian nods his head and smiles as he stands up, "You have your answer." he collects the Star Globe and makes his way towards the door, "Think deep on what path you select from now, although...I have heard the Sky Steel Manufactory is looking for apprentices, although this was a thought you had yourself already." The man waves and slips away through the door.

It took a bit before he felt up to moving, but he eventually managed to stand up and on his way out he thanked and paid the receptionist. He was outside a few steps later and closed his eyes as he felt snow falling about him. He just started walking, no destination in mind as he wandered Foundation. It was nearing sundown when he found himself before a building that threw out considerable warmth. He looked up at the sign and blinked a few times before he stepped inside.

The next morning he was jostled awake by an Elezan, "Wake up Newbie, time to see if you can even figure out which end of a gun to aim down."

Nightmarish Battles

Warning: Graphical Depictions

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It was dark, a deep oppressive gloom that hung heavy in the air, weighing down upon the body and soul. Add to the darkness was the water, thick and warm, it felt as if it clung to his legs with every step. Through this water, through this darkness he ran, splashing through at a desperate pace for behind him he could feel it, he knew it, a warrior in bone armor walked after him with an axe made from a skull. In the distance there was a reddish glow, to this glow he ran, stumbling and coughing as the fouled water entered his mouth.

He couldn't risk stopping though, the warrior came ever closer with each step. He climbs back to his feet and continues to, the glow grows brighter and brighter, closer and closer. Soon within the glow a lone peak starts to appear, and as he gets closer, it looks like a giant mottled white spire stretching into the sky. The horror of it sets in as he comes close. The mountain is nothing more than a pile of skulls, the glow coming from the depths of their empty sockets. The water was blood, thick, congealing, clinging to him still as he moved.

He couldn't risk stopping, the terror of that which stalked him override the horror of the mountain and he began to climb it frantically, hoping to reach safety if he could get far enough up it. As he climbed the skulls gnashed their teeth at him, biting him every chance they got, tearing small pieces of him away with each. He makes it half way before his body gives out, torn and battered, he tumbles down the mountain and splashes at the bottom.

From the darkness the warrior clad in pure white bone steps, his movements methodical. A sinister grin can be seen beneath his helmet as he steps up to him. The Warrior hefts the axe and swings down for his skull.

---

Aiswynd bolts awake, his bed soaked with the sweat of his nightmare. He lurches out of bed and stumbles across the room to the chamberpot. After losing the remnants of his dinner from the night before, he lies there on the floor half curled into the fetal position and crying, "Why....why can't they just...stop...every night....every night the mountain grows..."

For a time he lies there before he rolls onto his back and looks at the morning light filtering in through the window. He climbs to his feet and rinses the sweat off of himself from the fountain in the corner of the room before dressing himself. He slings his rifle across his back and aether amp at his hip. As he reaches for the door his link pearl pings him.

He reaches up to touch it and nods his head, "On my way..." he sighs and shakes his head, "Too few of us Machinists...and if I leave him to die..." he shakes his head and sighs, "It's the right thing to do Aiswynd, don't start thinking like that, don't become like the garleans." he pulls the door open and steps out of the inn and heads down the path from the inn to the Black Shroud.

A whistle outside the gates and a Rhotano blue chocobo comes charging in through the trees. However, he doesn't quite clear a small log and comes crashing down, sliding through the dirt to come to a stop a few feet from Aiswynd who gives out a deep sigh. Aiswynd helps his chocobo back up before dusting it off, "You really need to learn to...do...everything...better." he pats his chocobo before climbing up into the saddle, Kraw kraw! it lets out before it starts running. Aiswynd just shakes his head, "At least you didn't choke on your tongue that time."

Within a few minutes of running through the shroud, he could see signs of what he had been told had become a running battle against some Garleans and a fellow Machinist from Skysteel. He could hear it all as he approached, the magic, the gun fire. He grunts a bit as he draws his rifle and loads a cartridge in, as soon as the Garleans come into view he lets go with a couple quick shots to draw their attention. It succeeds, and Clarence, the Chocobo, bucks his rider as a blast of fire gets too close and tears off at a breakneck speed into the forest. Aiswynd tumbles and comes to his feet, "Seriously Clarence!?" he stands and looks at the group of Garleans squaring off at him. He ejects the cartridge and loads a new one, a sinister grin creeping across his face, "I need to shed some Garlean blood."

---

A lone Machinist is ducked down behind a rock, he heard a charging chocobo, and gunfire as well as magic. There was a brief moment of silence and the Machinist creeps along the rocks to take a peek, loading a new cartridge just in case. His eyes widen as he espies a fiery red haired Au Ra squaring off against the Garleans. It was a quick skirmish, the Au Ra starts running in an attempt to circle around the Garleans, this throws off his aim but he still manages to hit the one with a sword in the leg, the man stumbling to the ground as a result. A few shots traded as he moves from behind one tree to another with a pair of black mages before he fires off a spray that wards the Black mages and causes them to hesitate a moment. Then the Au Ra sprints between them before launching himself over the rocks the Machinist was hiding behind.

The Au Ra grins at him, "This is quite the mess, all good, I was wanting to take on some Garleans." as if timed perfectly a gout of fire bursts up from the other side of the rocks. The Au Ra pulls a pair of disks from the Aether Amp and throws it grenade style, "Shut up with your spells!" the au ra shouts. The Disk bounces off the head of the casting black mage, stunning him for a moment before deploying a bishop. The two black mages wince and cry out from the electrocution that results. The Swordsmand scrambles back to his feet finally and charges the rock cover.

The Au Ra ejects his cartridge and loads a new one with non-standard rounds. He grins and begins fire, the charging swordsman crashes into the ground, no longer moving after the third round hits him cleanly. The two black mages recover and both begin to chant again. Aiswynd launchings a Grenado shot, however his aim is off and it explodes at the base of a tree, causing it to topple over, crushing his Bishop turret. A blast of ice slams into the Au Ra, knocking him back. The second Black mage though reels as he holds the side of his head, his spell cancelled.

The Machinist takes this opportunity to unload his cartridge on the black mage that wasn't silenced from a head graze. The Au Ra was swiftly back to his feet, charging over the rocks. The black mage started to cast again only to take a hard shot to the chest, stunning him. The Au Ra got close and fired a blank shot, launching the mage backward, causing him to impact against a tree that was barely a yalm behind him, the force cracking his back and causing him to crumple to the ground. The Au Ra stepped up to the Black mage and with one last shot through the chest, ended his life.

The Machinist clambers over the rocks and crosses the carnage, stopping when suddenly there was a rifle pointed at his head, the Au Ra was still staring at the dead Garlean, "...More blood...not...not enough...will it ever be enough..." he chuckles a little bit and shakes his head, appearing to regain his sense of self. The rifle is holstered and the Au Ra looks to the Machinist, "Stephanivien sent me to back you up...Lead me to the garlean camp, we'll clear them out..." the Au Ra smiles warmly at the Machinist, "Don't worry, we can get this done."

Side Stories

Gaining a Menagerie: Clarence the Chocobo

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Aiswynd smiled as he made his way from the Grand Company hut for the Twin Adders, a slip held tightly in hand, "It took them long enough...ah well, I finally got permission to get my own personal chocobo." he looked at the slip again and laughed. It wasn't long before he was across the Aetheryte Plaza and to the chocobo breeder. On his way in, they were leading a Rhotano blue chocobo out, no saddle or bit, and it was struggling and warking in reverse.

He gave a shrug, "Probably just new and needing to be trained..." he mutters before handing the slip to the breeder who leads him into the stables. They pass several stalls and the Breeder introduces him to chocobo after chocobo, going on about their breeding, their color, this fact or that. After the twentieth or so Chocobo, Aiswynd stops the tour and holds a hand out, "Well, I'm not seeing any like that blue chocobo that was being lead out a bit ago, what about that one? Is he already claimed?"

The Breeder hesitated and tried to continue with his tour, skipping over the question as if it was never asked, after some badgering he finally relented however, "We've...He was a bad birth, and isn't right in the head so we're taking him off to be turned into chocobo steaks." he commented. Aiswynd frowned and snatched the ticket from the breeder's hand, "I'm going to take him as my chocobo then! He can't be that bad!"

With that Aiswynd was out of the stables and racing across Gridania, using his skills as a scout and tracker to find and follow the right group of prints until he finds his way out to bentbranch meadows, and to where the stables are there. He notices the chocobo as they put a hood over its head. "HEY STOP! THAT CHOCOBO IS MINE!" he practically screams as he waves the Chocobo Slip. His calls cause confusion and the chocobo slips away only going a little bit way to try and shake the hood off.

It took a few minutes of explanation and argument but those there finally relented, deciding it was less trouble to hand the chocobo over than it was to try and pursue the chocobo's execution. Once the group dispersed, Aiswynd made his way over to the Chocobo and removed the hood, patting him on the neck reassuringly, "Hm...so you're mine, I'm yours now...I can't think of a better name so...I'll call you Clarence...let's get you saddled up and back to Gridania so we can get you stabled properly."

Clarence tilts his head sideways, staring at him with one eye before he lets out his reverse wark, but otherwise stands fairly still while he is saddled and bridled. Everything went smooth until Aiswynd tried to mount him. The Chocobo would suddenly kneel down, or step sideways, one time it reared and flapped, almost choking on his own tongue in the process. The chocobo handlers all around were laughing, they figured before long the Au Ra would change his mind and get one that was able to be trained properly.

Aiswynd glared at them and had an idea, he pulled out Gyasahl greens and started rubbing them on the Chocobo's beak until it calmed down, as soon as that beak lolled open he shoved the greens in. Distracted with food, Aiswynd was able to climb into the saddle and once the greens were gone they were off. The Chocobo made for the open gate and down the hill, as soon as he hit the planks of wood, he stumbled and pitched Aiswynd off as the Chocobo tripped.

There was a moment of silence before laughter erupted all over, it wasn't just the breeders, it was fellow adventurers and townspeople. Aiswynd clenched his jaw as he stood up and dusted himself off, Clarence was lying on his back, looking absolutely pathetic and distressed. Aiswynd stepped over and with effort, got the chocobo back onto his feet, this time not needing to bribe it to let him into the saddle. They managed to make it out of town at an easy pace, heading back towards Gridania.

Everything was finally going well, until a Fungaur suddenly exploded into life, expanding in a territorial display, spooking Clarence who took off at a full uncontrolled sprint. Aiswynd lost grip on the reins and when Clarence made a sharp turn to flee from a second Fungaur, he was pitched from the saddle and arm first into a tree.

---

Aiswynd groaned as the first thing he remembers after tree is the sound of rain on a roof, a hand gently pats his shoulder, "You're going to be alright, just a broken arm and a concussion, nothing we can't handle Aiswynd." a familiar voice states in a calm manner. With a couple winces he finally opened his eyes to find himself staring up at one of the Padjal white mages. It was a few moments before he opted to try speaking, "What happened to my chocobo?"

The Padjal halted what he was doing and shook his head slowly, "That is the strangest bird I have ever seen." the Padjal answers him, "It's...wrapped around Raya-O-Senna...who found the bird dragging you to us...and...I think the bird is trying to hatch her?"

He leaned his head back and groaned, "...The bird's name is Clarence...he's...He's my chocobo..."

Gaining a Menagerie: Vern the Wyvern

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The snow in the Western Coerthas Highlands came down in a wind blown sheet of white, but this did not stop a lone figure tromping through it all the same. It was not too much longer before a second figure came into view, a Coeurl kitten bouncing through the snow, butt wiggling in excitement.

Aiswynd glances back at the Coeurl and laughs, "You are endlessly excited by snow..." he comments, his breath a cloud in the snow. Coe ignores him as she pounces at a snow flake, confused when it can't be found but then jumps at another one. Aiswynd shakes his head and keeps tromping on, "Anyway...somewhere out here the Ishgards said there were others with black horns and scales like me. I wonder if maybe I can get them recruited to help me with my parents...Even as a matter of honor or something."

He sighs and adjusts the thick coat and nods his head as he keeps tromping along through the snow, coming to a valley depression against the large wall of rocks, providing shelter from the snow. He adjusts the gloves as he looks about, "I don't see anyone...I don't even see signs of some camp...Maybe they moved on?"

Coe on the other hand went pouncing about before hissing at something a moment, burrowing into the snow. Aiswynd rushes over to Coe and kneels down to reach in and pulls Coe out of the hole she burrowed, "Hey don't get to deep or you'll freeze you little-" With Coe comes a small egg, and the Coeurl chirps happily at him, "What...is this...It's an egg..."

He rolls the egg around in his hands in confusion before standing up and stowing it away in his coat carefully, "It's hard as a rock too..." he looks into the hole that the egg was found and pales. He kneels down and quickly starts clearing snow away, revealing at first a hand that was cluctching the egg, and the rest.

A few hours of work later and what probably was a whole tribe, and the buried and burned remnants are uncovered. He sits there against the rock face and hangs his head, "...Why....why did anyone need to drag them out and burn them...and burn their homes...Do Ishgardians really hate all things draconic that much..." he looks at Coe who long ago curled upon his lap, "I need to be careful around them...I could probably be next...it...might be better to leave Ishgard as soon as my business is done..."

He stands after a bit and buries the bodies under a mass cairn before making his way back to Ishgard. A couple days later he sets out to the Arcanist guild in Limsa Lominsa

-A Week Later-

Aiswynd sits back from the desk in the Drowning Wrench inn room, the Egg sitting in a cup on the desk. He marks his place in the book he was reading before closing it and snuffing out the candle, "Maybe it's a wyvern...I mean there were theories that some could have trained them but...that's all theory no fact..." he shuffles around and flops down onto the bed, already stripped out of his clothes. Coe grumbles and hops off the bed to stretch and find a new place to cuddle up.

There was an uttered sigh, "I shouldn't...I should sleep but..." he reaches up and taps the pearl at his ear, "Hey Kasumi? How have you been? Yea I know it's been awhile...I'm sorry." he rolls over onto his back and nestles into the blankets, "No nothing, I just wanted to talk to you." he smiles as he lays there. He is so enthralled that he doesn't notice the cracking sound.

There was a sudden weight on his chest, "Hold on Kasumi I-" a draconic face comes into view, "EUAGH!" he jumps out of bed and has his rifle aimed, "I-I'm okay...uh...Coe jumped on my crouch claw first...I pearl you in the morning!" The pearl link ends and there is suddenly a leathery bird like shape perched on the rifle barrel. He sighs and pulls it close, "You are a strange thing...Guess I'll call you Vern...Vern sounds good to me." The Wyvern yawns and blasts Aiswynd in the face with a small gout of flames.