Friday, March 31st, 2023

eggy, eggy, stabby fun!

"You feel eyes upon you. And they're not just Jihli Aliapoh's.
The season of eggs and whimsy is upon us, and Jihli Aliapoh is looking for an adventurer just like you to help make her dreams─and maybe even nightmares─
a reality this year. Ready to take a stab at Hatching-tide?"

contents - march 31st 2023

the aether entertainer is a free publication and may be distributed free of charge.
© the aether entertainer. all rights reserved.

• contact us

the 1st People's choice votm winner will be announced march 31st!

WHAT IS VENUE OF THE MONTH?

HOW DOES VOTING WORK?

don't miss your last chance to vote!

PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTM VOTING FOR MAY IS LIVE. JOIN THE DISCORDS BELOW TO CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY.

THE SOLSTICE EQUINOX

2023 Spring Remodel

• Discord
• Twitter

• solsticeequinoxmenu.carrd.co

OPEN WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHTS 8PM-1AM EST
_{SARGATANAS-LAVENDER BEDS-WARD 16-PLOT 28}

The Gatsby Open saturdays

Jenova - Mist - Ward 28 - Plot 32

the gatsby hosts amazing
grand opening night!

• Discord

• gatsby-nightclub.carrd.co

the astral coven
~goes live march 31st~

Calling all alt, goth, punk, and rock-metalheads!

Join us at Afterlife this Friday to celebrate the start of ASTRAL COVEN with performances by DJ DiceK, Murdertramp, and a special guest!

• ffxivvenues.com

• thekweh.com

• eorzeanillustrated

Good morning readers,
The end of March is here and we've happily ate our way through 2023's winter entertainment offerings. It was delicious too. With spring time now budding, the parties and events are beginning to look as different as the Eorzean flora. This upcoming month you can expect many fun venue offerings including themed remodels from some of our favorite older nightclubs as well as a whole slew of new venues opening too!

While some venues decided to stand tall and focus on maintaining their foot traffic, there seems to be a trend lately with many other venues choosing to downsize. This is likely due to the proclaimed "venue bloat" - the idea that there are too many venues and not enough staff to man them.

This isn't a new concept owners are complaining about, but its worth noting that, to combat this issue, some places have adapted to a sole proprietor model. I'm actually a huge fan of this stance as it allows great businesses to stay open while also making maintaining those businesses easier. So thus begins the rise of the quiet afternoon (AFK) venues! I've been frequenting these places as of late using them as little havens to get some work done while experiencing beautiful ambience and some interesting concessions as well, so I'll be releasing stories about these types of venues all month. Ok here's the part where I talk about AE's upcoming events... On April 27th, AE Cafe' will be hosting our 2nd Annual Spring Tea party. This event will be held outside the cafe underneath a serene canopy of sakura and wisteria trees. There will be a handcrafted jewlery boutique, a flower stand, and tea leaf divinations by none other than Ruckus Fiddlesticks of Funny Flat. We're serving a specialty tea menu and we'll will also have live entertainment by our resident entertainers, Traveling Strings, Raevyn and the Miqo'tones, Clockwork Angels, and a surprise guest! Ok and for May... I'm pleased to announce the event theme is 'Deathroll Bathhouse'! We will be releasing more information as this draws nearer, however you can expect a FREE entry deathroll tournament, a wine menu, a photo booth and a complete bathhouse remodel of the cafe'. Hope to see you at both!

Love & Coffee,
Scarletta Vendetta

the aether entertainer is a free publication and may be distributed free of charge.
© the aether entertainer. all rights reserved.

• contact us

_{1 year anniversary celebration}

If you've been involved in the NA clubbing scene at all over the last year, there is a good chance you might be familiar with the Aether Clubbers community. Lead by Yunafreya Takeda and with close to 1000 members, Aether Clubbers is one of the largest non-venue brands out there - and for obvious reasons which we will get into a bit later! Aether Clubbers is noteably famous for offering a safe and inclusive space for people to meet up at venues, but also for its launch of the 'Venue of the Month' program which was made to support venues and clubbers alike. With it's mother roots buried on Faerie, AC has successfully managed to branch out into all of Aether, Crystal, Primal, Dynamis, and even regions of Materia. This past weekend The Aether Entertainer had the honor of being invited as a sponser to their 1st year anniversary event and we celebrated with AC as they made an epic reach for the stars and rebranded to the name Astral Clubbers.

To commemorate their first year in operation, Astral Clubbers, pulled out all the stops by inviting an astounding 9 DJs and 12 venues to participate including appearances by Swage, Yams, Dollipop, XOVR, SunnyD, The Playboy Mansion, The Solstice Equinox, Spice, Lion's Den, Club Kolat, and Luxuria just to name a few. Astral Clubbers wanted to hold the event in an open area where there would not be any restrictions on the number of attendees and eventually decided to use the Snowsteep Springs Pool on their home world of Faerie as the location.

What a fantastic choice it proved to be too, because even as the night drew on into the wee hours of the morning, the droves of people spread out along the entirety of the Snowsteep poolside did not seem to diminish much. But of course these are the types of blowout events the community has come to expect of Astral Clubbers. One immediately thinks of their 2-day launch party, Rave in the Xave, which was so huge it bogged down all of Southern Thanalan.

Photo taken at Rave in the Xave - March 2022

pictured above 'The Meteion' by Club Insomnia

The bought out anniversary bar menu is one that will be remembered by anyone who was apt to get a drink that evening. It proudly featured specialty drinks and treats from all the venues, sponsers, and venue of the month nominees which totaled up to an impressive selection of 23 unique beverages and food items.

• ac anniversary full menu

dj awp

The anniversary party had too many highlights to count, but certainly, the most noteworthy occurance happened towards the end of the night around 2am EST...

Yunafreya Takeda booked at Mordion Gaol

The party was in full swing, when in a moment of passion and surprise, DJ SunnyD, Yunafreya's sweetheart dropped to one knee and proposed to her in front of the crowd. She replied a resounding "yes" without hesitation causing the crowd to erupt into a chorus of cheers and congratulations. The photographers immediately began to snap photos of the memorous event when suddenly, to everyone's shock and horror, Yunafreya is swept up by police (the game master) and taken to the Mordion Gaol without much explanation. Thanks to AE's private investigator, Anon Emus, we were able to recover a written transcript of the police conversation with Yunafreya which is depicted below.

police conversation with yunafreya takeda

Fortunately for Yuna, the violation was minor and thanks to her clean criminal record she was released from the Mordion Gaol a short while later with nothing but an offer of sincere congratulations from the authorities. The Aether Entertainer was able to secure an interview with Yuna and you bet I asked her what it was like to be arrested on your engagement day!

Interview with yunafreya takeda
~FOUNDER of astral clubbers community ~

_{"I knew that it will go beyond Aether. I knew right away we are going to expand."}

Aether Entertainer: Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with me. I wanted to begin by saying congratulations on your recent engagement to DJ SunnyD! That must be so exciting for you especially coming off the hype of your first year anniversary and brand change to Astral Clubbers. It really seems as if there is no stopping AC from reaching new heights. I want to break down all of these topics as well as talk a little about the new venue of the month, but before we get down into it, can you please introduce yourself to our readers? What do you do at Astral Clubbers? And for any who are unfamiliar, what is Astral Clubbers?
Yuna: "Yes, first off, thank you for letting me share my excitement with everyone, I was super busy that night organizing the party when Sunny suddenly asked me to come dance with him I was so surprised when Swage started reading Sunny’s letter to me! Ahahah! Sunny never fails to surprise me ever since the very first day he asked me out! Anyway, I, very casually, founded AC back in October 2021 when I was hanging out with a group of friends I met at Grimm Kings since we regularly go and hangout there to party listening to a lot of industrial music from Murdertramp and dancing all night at Luxuria to XOVR’s hardstyle. I first came up with a name, as I always do, and excitedly told my friend John, “Hey John, I’m going to form a community called Aether Clubbers, you should help me, this is gonna be cool, trust me!” And it started out all-exclusive and invite-only, like some secret society, strictly cool-kids only kind of group, but I have always been in large organizations and I was raised in private schools and a family of fraternities and am very ambitious, my vision to create an exclusive non-profit membership group automatically turned into a bigger community valuing inclusion, camaraderie, acceptance, and freedom of self-expression. The first few members didn’t like the idea of opening it to the public so they all left me, alone with a bunch of strangers and what they even called lurkers, that I quickly turned into real friends. And since we always hang at Luxuria, I guess I caught XOVR’s attention one night at a lawn party outside when I was rallying everyone to pose for a big group photo, and that turned into a solid friendship, I was so thrilled when he asked me to help organize the second Rave in the Xave, so I grabbed this opportunity and I asked to officially launch AC during the big Rave in March 2022."

Aether Entertainer: Can you walk me back to just over a year ago before the Rave in the Xave launch party that so infamously put AC on the map. How did you decide that you wanted to start a community? What actions did you take leading up to the launch that turned AC from a concept into a reality?
Yuna: "It was just me and XOVR working with the 10 venues and 16 DJs and I applied everything that I have learned including FC/guild leadership and administrative work sorting membership cards in both my school and big state organizations… it was a very ambitious project and fun at the same time. I have always wanted to form a tight community of partiers who always gather together just to have fun, socialize, party all night, and build long-lasting friendships with each other, leave your drama at the door and party with us! Basically, I had somehow luckily predicted that after the pandemic, there would be more venues to come out and more DJs to listen to. I knew, clubbers, ravers, party-goers will need guidance, a sanctuary, and a body to represent them. And this embodies everyone in the community including every staff worker in those venues. Therefore AC will always be unbiased. But we can never shun away those entities and generous venues who approach to support and recognize us for what we do or simply to personally invite us to their events. I admire persons who initiate and approach me, because making the first move and networking is a big step to take you further towards where you want to be. I founded AC with the club-goers in mind. And AC’s projects will always prioritize the club-goers as a whole. Without them, there will be no one to offer services to in those venues. Ahahah! I have to stop getting ahead answering future questions and try sticking to answering what you asked for. Sorry about that, your welcoming manner gets me carried away!"Aether Entertainer: What were the original goals for Aether Clubbers? Do you feel you met those goals? Now that you are Astral Clubbers, have those goals changed at all?
Yuna: "The original goal was simply to gather all the club-goers, to provide a sanctuary for them, a safe place among their peers where they know they won’t be judged. A very accepting place to meet real people, to experience real stories, to build long-lasting friendships, beyond the pressure of the venue scene. I knew that it will go beyond Aether. I knew right away we are going to expand. And because I am all about growth, co-existence, and inclusion, I cannot close my doors to anyone. Even those who feel misunderstood. I honestly don’t have a limit where to go, I will take it wherever I can go, as far as I can reach. And this to me, is the beauty of being a wanderer. We are here to discover these adventures having each other, and when you are growing together, the possibilities are endless, it’s more fun doing everything when you’re not alone. I asked Sunny to give me a name, keep throwing words at me that go well with Clubbers… after like 5 words he said Astral and I said yes, Astral Clubbers, AC, and there we go!"Aether Entertainer: You've been a part of so many events througout the year; always collaborating with venues, DJs, personalities, and other communities. What are some of the ones that stand out most to you and what made that event so special?
Yuna: "Of course, the second Rave in the Xave where we launched AC last March 17-18, 2022 with 10 venues and 16 DJs will always be memorable to me. And I thank XOVR for giving me that big break by organizing that event I have met a lot of wonderful people in the venue scene. I have encountered a lot of personalities and I think this tested and extended my skills in not being afraid nor prideful to reach out and present myself to anyone. I also enjoyed that pool party with The Solstice Equinox, and Aether Entertainer, it was my second big event right after the Rave during the summer when TSE was our Venue of the Month. I remember that’s when this AC member named Sundial was announced as a raffle winner by XOVR and I yelled, yay another AC member wins! I did not know that Sundial who presented himself to me talking about ceremonial-grade matcha in AC was going to be SunnyD. Also that pool party was the very first time I was featured on a flyer, it was quite memorable doing that photoshoot with a great team of people. And yes, of course, this recent AC Anniversary, I never thought I would be able to pull it off and this being as special as the first one during Rave, it was truly exhilarating working with these 12 venues including the 4 People’s Choice Nominees… I don’t think it would have been as successful without help from all of them, special mention to mixologist Nemoh for taking time to create that wonderful Venue Specials menu, and our affiliates EI and AE and Rave Nation, I thank XOVR and Kittin, and most especially Remy for all our flyers, DJ RazrWirz for our new AC logos, and Vendetta for your moral support being a good friend to me. And yes, how could I forget my partner in crime, SunnyD for all his hardwork with our bots, promoting our ads, and even making it more unforgettable for me with his surprise proposal… and yeah I actually thank the authorities - especially officer Fyrazandiel - for making it even more memorable taking me to jail and congratulating me on my engagement right then and there!"

Aether Entertainer: Creating a thriving nightlife community with nearly 1000 members is not an easy feat. What challenges did you overcome to get to this point?
Yuna: "The very first challenge I encountered was my pioneer members leaving me, questioning why I was opening our gates to the public and letting in all these people who only lurk and not really say anything nor participate in chat. But then I realized that all communities have this, we can never get all the people to come out and chat with us, but know that we serve a purpose for them to stick around, and whatever we are providing, whether it’s comfort, or creative ideas, or inspiration to the wallflowers, the goal still stands, we are here to provide a sanctuary, a safe place that encourages freedom of self-expression, experiencing other peoples life stories, whether it’s mine, or someone else’s. I honestly have never encountered anything big that I would call a hardship, because once I sense it coming, i perceive it as a sign not to proceed or to approach it from a different direction. When it is something that majority of people don’t understand, to me it simply means it’s something new that they haven’t experienced before, and that is a challenge I am willing to accept any day. I see these things as worthwhile, and in the end, with all the things I learn, to me, it pays off."Aether Entertainer: What are some things you've learned about the clubbing scene that you didn't expect? What advice would you give for anyone who has aspirations of being an influencer in the community?
Yuna: "To be honest, I cannot think of anything that I haven’t expected happening when I founded AC. I expected the worst, I expected all sorts of drama and problems that people would throw at me, and I accepted that these things do happen out there in this world of entertainment and show business. I don’t think I would even be here if I wasn’t in school for it, if I was never a guild master since I was a teenager juggling leadership with school. I hold on to my confidence because of this upbringing that I’m thankful to my parents for. Eveyrhing I am doing is simply just my real passions being in the entertainment and media industry eversince I got my degree. I would encourage aspirers to never stop aspiring for their aspirations, to always be the best they can be, most especially when facing difficult people, maintaining professionalism and putting respect above all else, not judging anyone at all. Letting other people be, and allowing themselves to shine brighter by being good, being humble, setting themselves apart, and knowing when to avoid toxicity yet being able to create things that do not step on anyone rather something that is a positive influence to the majority instead of selfish intentions."Aether Entertainer: Can you tell us more about Venue of the Month? Since Astral Clubbers, Aether Entertainer, Rave Nation, and Eorzean Illustrated partered for the new People's Choice Venue of the Month, we've been heavily advertising the concept. How was Venue of the Month created and what was the intended purpose? What hopes do you have for the new People's Choice Venue of the Month?
Yuna: "Speaking of not having selfish intentions, I have sought advice from a handful of people I consider as mentors and we have come up with an idea to have the whole community be heard, as I have been wanting to have a poll vote on who we should pick as Venue of the Month, mind you, I never thought that VotM would be this appealing to venues that we are now fully-booked until November 2023… and there are still venues who approach me and ask to be featured as VotM and that is very endearing to me when venues go out of their way to network and grab the spotlight. The willingness to work with others is what makes them very admirable to my eyes. November is very far away and we can only feature 12 venues for a whole year… People’s Choice is created for that sheer purpose of helping more venues be recognized and mentioned, and at the same time, with club-goers in mind, letting them pick out the venue they want to be featured next. It’s not all about me or who I want, I would like to hear what others want to see next. We would like to have venues be more creative with their flyers and reaching out to their patrons, deeming their support important and making everyone of them feel valued and counted not just for their gil and their attendance, but their loyalty and support. I hope that this will encourage more interaction from everyone, even those who feel unvalued and unappreciated. Once a venue is a nominee, if promoted wisely, some people would want to check them out before they make their pick and this on its own would hopefully drive traffic to their establishments. Everyone should somehow feel they have won, and having new people, experiencing new stories, is always a win."Aether Entertainer: Astral Clubbers has several subsections including ACX and the newly launching Astral Coven. Can you talk a little more about the subcommunities within AC?
Yuna: "Because of how AC values inclusion above all else, Astral Clubbers has ACX (Astral Clubber X), which is the more mature, NSFW side of AC, where we welcome all your deepest desires and fetishes, and everyone is accepted with no judgment. And now we are launching Astral Coven for the underground alt community, as I have been a metalhead all my life being in the underground music scene, i know how different it is down there, but we need to find a way to show our appreciation to these alt venues and I am hoping that a sub-community inside AC will somehow serve as a gateway to somehow bridge those two worlds together. Let it bleed through… we are all co-existing and sharing this wonderful world together, with no judgment and valuing respect above all else."Aether Entertainer: Can we get a few words about your thoughts on your 1st year anniversary party? What IS it like to be arrested on your engagement day?
Yuna: "I personally, was so overwhelmed that night with Swage announcing SunnyD’s proposal, I was already exhilaratingly surprised when I was suddenly ported into this dark closed space that looked like a dungeon cell. And the officer speaking to me, at first since I was too busy chatting in 2.0’s DJ chat, when I came back, the pool and the party and everyone was gone and my half-naked body was taken inside this cell with officer Fyrazandiel talking to me. I felt confused but I was still confident that I won’t get banned because I know I didn’t do anything wrong but throw a big, responsible, and heavily-secured party for everyone. The officer congratulated me on my engagement so I tried to invite them to join our party and I hope if they have a playable alt character that they somehow joined us in celebrating our 1-year anniversary."Aether Entertainer: Thank you again, Yuna, for taking time to do this interview we sincerely appreciate it. Is there anything you'd like to say to our readers? Any shoutouts to your friends or community?
Yuna: "My, now fiancé, SunnyD and I have soooo many future plans for AC… I hope everyone will continue to support us and this whole community that we are all building together for all of us! Thank you so much for having me, accepting me, I will treasure this forever! Thank you for all these great, marvelous questions, I cherish every moment of it, to the reader, I hope i gave you something worth reading ♥️"

vendetta, scarletta "astral clubbers" the aether entertainer, 31 march 2023

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yuukimura teahouse

_{Siren - Mist - Topmast - Wing 1 - Ward 13 - Apt 75}

Yuukimura teahouse is a hidden gem located in the heart of the limsan mists on Siren. Its a serene haven unlike the bustling city near it, an escape into the comforting sights and sounds of the far east...

When I walked into Yuukimura Teahouse I was instantly transported to the far east. The ambience of the busy city streets faded away, replaced by those of a peaceful bamboo fountain and the sweet auroma of spiced tea and freshly baked cookies. I was warmly greeted by the owner, Izaya Yuukimura who welcomed me in and offered a menu to look over. I decided to look over the entire place before deciding on my seat, making note of the beautiful gold-inscriptions on the decor, ornate rugs, and the skilled carpentry of the loft and bar areas all of which contributed to the relaxing and familiar feeling which enticed me back here once again. I remember my first visit here around this time last year and have since longed for that familar cup of doman tea that can be so hard to come by in the port cities. In my humble opinion, Yuukimura Teahouse offers the best eastern teas in all of Limsa Lominsa and prehaps any other place outside of Doma itself. I took the opportunity to claim a space by one of the open fires and ordered my tea.

If you're ever around Siren and you need a quick bite or comfortable place to catch a break, I highly recommend Yuukimura Teahouse. They offer great tea and prompt friendly service. This is one of my favorite afternoon spots to get some work done and on my last visit I even took advantage of their open stage! I did manage to exchange a few words with the owner of this fine venue, Izaya Yuukimura who was nice enough to entertain my questions...

Interview with Izaya Yuukimura
owner of yuukimura teahouse

Aether Entertainer: Thank you for taking some time to answer my questions - I know you are in the middle of service right now! I have a few topics I am interested to know more about when it comes to Yuukimura Teahouse, but before we begin can I ask you to please introduce yourself to the readers?
Yuukimura: "Oh, it's not a problem, thank you for taking the time to come here. Hello there, I'm Izaya Yuukimura, owner and sole operator of Yuukimura Teahouse. My goal is to bring an authentic Eastern experience to Eorzea and I'm happy to have that opportunity to share that with everyone."Aether Entertainer: So this is not my first visit or even second visit to the teahouse. I do recall coming by here sometime last year and I was very pleased by the relaxing atmosphere, attention to detail, and the service. My question is, when did you first open Yuukimura? And what inspired to to create such a haven in the Mists of Limsa, no less?
Yuukimura: "You must've visited when I first opened about a year ago this month. I'm flattered that you've been a returning patron all this time. Limsa is something like a second home to me, being a former sky pirate in my youth and later enlisting in the Maelstrom afterwards. And a lack of good beverages from back home in Kugane was a little motivator for me. Grog is nice sometimes, but nothing beats a good cup of tea or sake after a long day."Aether Entertainer: I've heard several customers mention that they enjoy the decor and relaxation properties your teahouse seems to provide. Did you design it yourself? Did you encounter any challenges with the build?
Yuukimura: "I designed everything myself and I am immensely appreciative of everyone's wonderful comments about how it's put together, the use of space and the overall tone. The only challenge I felt I had was trying to convince some friends that I knew nothing about interior design. To be honest, I still don't. I didn't really have a plan in motion so everything was sort of thrown together until it fit."Aether Entertainer: I feel as if its safe to say that Yuukimura Teahouse is one of the best hole-in-the-wall type venues I've ever been to. Its no surprise that it maintains a consistent presence on Aether. Over the last year, do you have any particularly fond memories of an opening? What made that event stand out to you?
Yuukimura: "This past year has seen some interesting events, like a couple of former Imperial soldiers looking for a drink and a rest, a rather tense night that was.... But one fond moment happened somewhat recently. About half of my Free Company decided to come over and hang out, check the place out. And a member decided to dance around as a prancing pachyderm, was quite an interesting display. But, I had joined not too long ago and it felt great having that kind of support. Now I have one friend that's a sort of gremlin who likes to sit under the stairs and relax. I do tell people to make themselves at home, I'm just glad people can unwind here and feel at ease after a hard day."Aether Entertainer: A gremlin you say? Oh dear. Well I do also want to talk about your menu. Can you tell me about the process for putting it together? Also, I know that I can't be the only one wondering how an ex sky pirate turned Maelstrom aquired the culinary expertise to steep such satisfying teas and bake such delicate sweets...?
Yuukimura: "Well we all have to start somewhere. I was raised in Kugane, my adoptive mother was an excellent cook and I wanted to try to learn her recipes and techniques. She eventually taught me how to make a traditional Doman tea. As for all the sweets, that's just my own personal taste preferences showing, so I still have a bit of an avid sweet tooth from childhood. After I became a sky pirate, I never stopped learning about different tea blends from all the places I've traveled. It was sort of a little hobby of mine when I wasn't raiding Imperial weapon caches and shooting down Garlean airships. I tried to make sure anyone who steps into my teahouse, no matter where they hail from, they can get something that may remind them of home as well, so I selected teas from different regions to give some variety I've not seen in most teahouses at the time."Aether Entertainer: What does the future hold for Yuukimura? Do you forsee yourself holding steady and remaining a consistent haven or have you considered expanding with the recent housing boom?
Yuukimura: "I did manage to secure a small cottage, but as far as expanding, I still think the current location is quite successful, despite the size. The design is becoming something iconic in a way though I may use my home for future special openings now that it's been decorated and well received by quite a number of people already, but for now Yuukimura Teahouse will remain a fixture in the Mists of Limsa."Aether Entertainer: I wanted to thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. Is there anything you'd like to say to our readers? Any shoutouts?
Yuukimura: "I appreciate you being a returning patron and hope to see you again. And I guess to all the readers of the Aether Entertainer, I hope to see you here as well. Until then, take care and stay gold."

• yuukimura-teahouse.carrd.co

vendetta, scarletta "yuukimura teahouse" the aether entertainer, 31 march 2023

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Tools of Construction

Eorzea’s adventurers love their tools of destruction. Better weapons to be used to defend against monsters and dangerous evil-doers are beloved and sought after. And now Godbert Manderville of all people has instigated a challenge to the infamously drunk (allegedly) blacksmith Gerolt to make the best weapons we have ever seen. While the new weapons appearance is being hotly debated, their efficacy is undeniable.

Simultaneously, there is a breed of Eorzean adventurers that also like construction. They also have tools. And on The First there is a blacksmith named Grenoldt working to make the best crafting tools we have ever seen. Since these are less talked about maybe a highlight of these weapons of construction is in order. Grenoldt once again asks for Eorzea’s finest crafters to test the Splendorous tools, and with the right feedback, materials, and time his hammer and anvil create even better, brighter tools than before. This time around Grenoldt has an apprentice named Chora-Zoi to help. The two of them along with their shopkeeper Quinnana set up shop in the Crystalline Mean to forge their buts off for all the willing crafters and gatherers.

At the time of writing this article our very own HGTC construction expert, Tek Izzy, had gone through the process of testing and receiving three of nearly the best crafting tools The First (or The Source) has ever seen. While surely crafting technology will bring better tools before we know it, the aesthetic of these tools will never dull.

silverthorn, jae "Tools of Construction" the aether entertainer, 31 march 2023

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yaxin studio

~ zalera- lavender beds - ward 18 - plot 10~

This publication of Aether Entertainer we took over Yaxin Studio! Yaxin studio is a small sized studio built in the Lavender Beds of Zalera on Crystal. Owned and renovated by the talented studio designer, Reila Yaxin, we highly recommend visiting Yaxin Studio the next time you need a beautiful space for a photo.

When you arrive its very obvious you made it to the right place by how beautiful the landscaping is - clearly meant for outdoor photography! Items like a rock pond, fountain, and sauna are available for use. Each shaded by a vibrant wisteria tree canopy. Ranging from foral bath scenes, marble archways, and even a set I'd personally describe as *"post-apocalyptic steampunk," the interior sets are all unique beautifully intricate. * Each set is placed for a limited amount of time, about a month, so be sure to check back often to make use of the new designs!

vendetta, scarletta "yaxin studios" the aether entertainer, 31 march 2023

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HGTC

Back to Basics—Thavnairian Onions

In our first Home, Garden, Travel, Culture article for the Aether Entertainer, in our first article in the Back to Basics series... Thavnairian Onions are valuable because they have magical properties, that when fed to a chocobo, unlock further abilities in that chocobo. However, lets simply go over the basic gardening technique for growing your own onions. Be warned, the process is not easy! Well, it is easy, but it takes a long time and requires daily attention to your garden. As there is more than one way to skin a squirrel, there is more than one way to grow yourself a Thavnairian Onion. Only one of the many ways will be shared today.

_{Note: all crossbreeding should utilize the highest grade Thanalan top soil available; preferably grade 3.}

silverthorn, jae "home-garden-travel-culture" the aether entertainer, 31 march 2023

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tarot horoscopes - april 2023

Kalivia Thalassian "ae tarot horoscopes" the aether entertainer, 31 march 2023

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wildlife of the week
_{The Tonberries of Nym}

Around the year 1480 of the Fifth Astral Era, with several hundreds of back-and-forth conflicts without any decisive progress in the war with Amdapor, political infighting in Mhach became commonplace.

Thus, a new, more radical, more paranoiac faction came to authority, and against the protests and warnings of the more moderate factions, Mhach sent a delegation to Nym demanding that Nym align its power with Mhach against Amdapor — else Mhach would consider Nym to implicitly be an ally of the Amdapori, and strike against them accordingly. The Nymians coolly shrugged off Mhach's latest attempt at intimidation, confident of the power of their arcanometric wards and Scholarly defenses to hold against any outward assault by Mhach. Yet Mhach had become a more different nation by now than Nym could possibly realise, for Nym had all-but-lost the ability to keep spies in its rival nation's government following the more extreme changes in the Mhachi society, as well as the perpetual presence of Voidsent throughout the city.

Thus, in a move that even the Nymians were not prepared for, the spurned and incensed Mhachi leadership turned to insidious Void Magic to punish their hated rival. First, the Void Magi of Mhach searched the Void catalogues carefully for just the right type of Voidsent, settling on the Haagenti scavengers, always ridden with unnatural Darkness-saturated arcane diseases that were disturbing, vile, and difficult to treat.

Then they chose one of the highest-ranking Haagenti that their scrying could locate, Bitoso, and pulled it to this realm, bottling its disembodied and corrupted soul-aether into a ritually-bound ampoule, and then conspired to smuggle it into the City of Nym, using a method insidious and meticulously-planned enough to evade even Nymian customs and detections mechanisms.

Thus unleashed, Bitoso silently dissipated, instinctively possessed a corpse, transfored the flesh into its favored shape, and then began vomiting forth a terrible plague from its disease-saturated spirit, gradually turning more and more of the Nymian population into grotesque, deformed partial-Voidsent — Tonberries. To Nym's shock and horror, this Void magic (which they did not recognise as Void magic) proved intractable and untreatable by both Scholarly arcanometric invocations and the aetherial healing of Faeries, and thus the Nymians resorted to the only thing that they could still think to do — quarantining vast sections of their city and abandoning the Tonberries to their fate, until such time as a cure could finally be researched and implemented.

In the process, the Nymians inadvertently stopped the spread of the "plague" — not by preventing its transmission, as they logically came to believe, but instead actually by accidentally locking the lurking Bitoso in a barricaded section of the city from which it could not find an exit. Thus trapped, Bitoso eventually went dormant, and the Tonberries locked inside the hellish world of their cursed "quarantine" halls slowly became filled with an all-consuming despair, hatred, and resentment for the once-enlightened and selfless peers that had, in their eyes, so disgustingly just given up and abandoned them to this fate.

hara, sumire "wildlife of the week: The Tonberries of Nym" the aether entertainer, 31 march 2023

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"My words, Ekzist’s photo of a friend and said friend’s potion brew. The imagery of a witch brewing a potion is iconic. If I had to guess why, I'd wager it’s due to the limitless potential the image holds. What potion are they brewing? Is it for good? Evil? Perhaps nothing so black and white. Especially given the photo here. Love perhaps? Magic holds nearly limitless potential. It can be anything. Capable of great destruction yet also capable of being one’s salvation. What matters is the wielder. What do you think?"Photo by Ekzist Artemicion~

Ritual
A haiku by Jae Silverthornwhen you are alone
we all have our rituals
who do you talk to

Reshade Preset: Gothic Rose
"I wanted to highlight the Reshade preset Gothic Rose this week. This is currently my favorite preset to use. It pigments areas around the camera and depigments area further away creating a contrast between vibrancy and black and white.
I just love this look ♡ "

"staff photographers collaboration" the aether entertainer, 31 march 2023

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Warrior of Light Eternal

Eorzea is a rugged place where everything you have can be taken in an instant. It's been six years since I lost him, but I still think about it like it was yesterday. I still replay that moment in my head and see his face in my sleep. Even as I write this, I can hear him laughing and saying my name... Every time I hear that damn song, it rips me into pieces. I know it's probably not healthy. It's the one thing I still haven't felt comfortable talking to my therapist about. Perhaps I am afraid of what she will say, or maybe I am unwilling to admit that I have unresolved grief. She's always saying that we all must learn to cope with loss.
Would sharing my story help others realize that they are not alone?

part i

"Can you read my mind?"

A work day like any other, I made my way to a cozy cafe' in the Empyreum. Taking a seat by an open fire, I cracked opened my journal and touched my quil to a blank page. Nothing. I've always found writing on entertainment and venues exciting, but writer's block has been a real problem for me lately. Sighing, I turned my gaze to the dancing flames of the hearth. Taking my thumb and index finger I pinched my nose in hopes of stopping that tearing-up feeling. "Everytime I'm lonely I think about you."

Like so many memorable firsts for me, we had met in the city-state of Gridania. I was a newly minted member of an adventuring Free Company and I was seeking to purchase a new mage's robe. I had been bouncing between several market stalls all day only to be offered sub-par bliauds, cowls, jackets, and even a coliseum shawl that bared my mid-drift. (Not sure how that offered any protection...perhaps it was aetherically infused?) Disappointed and feeling unprepared for the evening's raid, I began packing up my bags to head back to the Free Company estate when a hearty voice called out to me, "Didn't find what you were looking for?" Behind me stood a tall Highlander dressed in a high quality leatherworker's jacket. He was holding an ornate awl with the initials 'M.D.' engraved into it. "Maybe there is something I can assist you with?"

Later that evening I arrived at his 3-story private estate...which was the same size as my entire Free Company's. The yard was decorated with many trophies won by defeating difficult creatures in battle. It kind of felt like I was walking up to a museum, except when I checked the placard it only had one name written on it. I clutched by gil purse, which at the time was very light, and made my way inside. I had never seen so many expensive furnishings and paintings in someone's house before. It was obvious that he took a lot of pride in the presentation of his home and clearly made a lot of gil. Was crafting really so lucrative? "Just a moment!" a familiar voice called out from the upper stairwell. I took a seat on one of the comfortable manor chairs in the foyer. Soon the Highlander appeared at the top of the stairs, a wide grin spread across his face. In his hands was a pure white glistening robe. "I just finished it. Its ready for you."

Tap tap A light touch brushes my shoulder. I startle in my chair, coming back to reality. "Can I offer you a tissue, ma'am?" replies a sweet Au Ra hostess from the Empyreum cafe'. Wiping away a single tear I replied, "No, thank you, but a strong cup of coffee would be appreciated."

I turned around in the mirror in awe at myself. A visible glow emitted from the ensemble and made me feel like I was wearing a robe fit for a divine. The bright white cloth was soft to the touch but thick and durable for battle. Leather straps and clasps ran across the front in a fashionable yet protective arrangement...and it had a hood. It was perfect. "It looks so much better on you than it did on the mannequin," he said, looking over his work. Turning red I asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"Oh its free of course! It's a great service you do being a scholar." He reached up and put his hand over his brow, "What kind of monsters did you say you were fighting?" Recalling how decorated the front yard of this place was, I nervously replied, "Oh nothing too challenging. I should be alright."

That night as the moon reached its peak, I rendezvoused at a predetermined location in Wineport with the rest of my adventuring team. My new robe glowing nearly as brightly as the moon itself, was drawing in much attention from the other groups of adventurers who were also assembled there. I could overhear the captain of my guild, Jackyl, having a frustrated conversation with our second in command. We had planned on exploring a new depth tonight into the abyss of the binding coil. 1,910 yalms below the surface in the Ragnarok central core was said to be the most formitable winged foe Eorzea has been plague by in a long time. It would take a skilled team of eight adventurers to defeat such a creature...and tonight we were missing one of our strongest allies - our tank. He had apparently consumed too much ale earlier in the evening and was now too enebriated to battle. We suspected he might fall off his chocobo if he tried to make the journey to Wineport, so we were left with a party of seven. Being a newly recruited scholar, I decided to hang back and let the leaders go on about finding a replacement. Not many teams had experience at this depth and we suspected it might be difficult to find a suitable eighth member. I took a seat on a nearby bolder preparing to wait a long time and sourly attempted to pretend that I wasn't upset that no one in my guild noticed my new gown. It wasn't long, however, until Jackyl announced that he found a warrior who was fit for the task. We all jumped up and started gathering our gear and weapons when his voice rang out, "Scarletta Vendetta, what a wonderful robe you have on." I looked up to see the leatherworking Highlander standing over me only now he was clad in a traditional warrior armor plate, allagan braces, boots, and a heavy steel axe slung over his back.

The hostess appeared before me and passed me a white steaming mug. Trading her back a few coins I mouthed, "Thank you," struggling to form audible words. Strange how I can still feel butterflies even at a memory. I clutched the mug in both palms and stared into the black brew watching the ripples extend outward towards the edges.

"OUTWARD!" Jackyl shouted as the dragon's breath seared down in a line across the crag platform. Our party scattered to the sides narrowly dodging the deadly blaze. Having been trained in these tactics previously, our group quickly rushed back into a defensive formation. The dragon then swooped around to face us and began spitting molten plumes at our bard. She shouted "Nyyya," and flipped backwards avoiding the first blast by mere ilms. When she pulled back the string on her bow to loose another shot, she lost her footing and the second blast caught her square in the chest. She was rendered unconcious. Satisfied, the beast then turned her focus towards me. I sprinted as fast as I could to the edge of the arena. The intended first strike blazed past my face singeing a lock of my hair in the process. Twintania reared her head back and released another plume directly at me. Calling upon my aether to galvanize myself from the strike, I quickly stepped out of the flames as they burned through the barrier. I was out of stamina. The dragon reared again to release the final blow. I shut my eyes tightly hoping that the pain would be swift. Clack. A booming sound echoed as the firey mass reflected off M.D.'s axe. He was standing just behind me and had somehow enticed the dragon to take aim at him instead. "She's going to enrage!" he called to me as the dragon began to frenzy over him plummeting down several times in succession. He had managed to provoke all of her fury onto himself. Helpless, the rest of our team watched as she relentlessly attacked causing a deep crevice to appear in his chest plating. With every additional blow, more cracks began to compromise his armor. He was relying on his inner rage for protection. I wasn't sure how long he could hold under the stress. After a few agonizing minutes, Twintania ceased her strikes. Taking to the sky she flew up to begin charging her final blow. I had her tales of what was about to come. "The armor won't hold her death sentence!" I screamed. With tears in my eyes I called upon all of my might to prepare an emergency heal. A moment later the heal was prepared, but in that same instant the dragon's shrill screech resounded in the cavern. She was already on top of him crushing him in a final outburst of boulders and winged attacks. Was I too late? The drake started to flail wildly and began to make distressed calls. Somehow M.D. was still alive and he had managed to bind the drake in a holmgang of chains. "One more second!" he yelled. On queue, the chains burst and the dragon raised up its wing for a routine attack that would surely kill him. The heal jetted out from my tome in a desperate race against the winged strike. "End it now!" Jackyl's voice rang out...

I squinted my eyes focusing hard. After 18 hours straight of painting it was becoming difficult to hold my brush upright let alone keep the colors within the lines. Swipe. I felt a thick sticky liquid being brushed across the back of my thigh. I jumped up, black paint dripping down my skirt onto the newly renovated marble floors. M.D.'s recognizable laugh echoed throughout the hall as I began to wipe paint off myself in distress. "Did you...paint me?" I squealed in shock. He continued to chuckle and turned back to the surface he was working on, making long strokes of black along the drywall. "You looked like you might've been falling asleep!"

Our guild had been successful in felling the dragon that night and we had soon welcomed the warrior into our Free Company. He was skilled in battle, an avid gatherer and crafter, and one of the most generous people anyone could have the honor to meet. He provided all of the members of our guild with Eorzea's highest quality gear for battle and his welcoming presence made our corner of the Mist feel warm and inviting even when our company had a reputation for being terse and overly serious. To celebrate our victory over Twintania, we had decided to remodel the Free Company house and had been working tirelessly to finish the renovations.

Covering the last of the unpainted portions of wall, I turned to him and proudly stated, "We're done!" He smirked, "Nearly done. I have a surprise for you." Extending out his hand he took me outside to the front yard. We had planted several trees out there in hopes that they would grow tall and provide us with shade for years to come. Brushing passed the fresh sproutlings, he led me out to a newly crafted wooden deck set out overlooking the ocean. There was a small table for two and a steaming pot of coffee with a pair of mugs set out. I sat down nervously waiting to hear what this could be about. He sat across from me and cleared his throat, "Scholars and warriors have been known to have amazing partnerships...and I feel like you can read my mind." I wasn't sure if I was catching his tone correctly, but it seemed as if he was a little nervous too.

M.D. and I were inseperable during those years. We would frequently sit out on the deck just discussing the upcoming evening's adventures or perhaps ways to increase our fortune as a company unit. I had never met someone so driven and motivated in all my time. Our relationship quickly blossomed into a trusting friendship that most people had difficulty understanding. A year or so after our meeting, The Sanctum of the Twelve announced that it was re-opening to allow eternal bonding between couples. Although many people expected us to bond immediately - we didn't. We were best friends but had never actually had a romantic relationship. He was a private person and we let people think what they may. Instead, we attended many weddings for other people and continued to watch the sunrise together on the deck discussing life over countless cups of coffee. One morning I awoke to a letter that had been slipped under my Free Company room door. It read:

"Sunrise in Shirogane?" - M.D.

part ii

"Cowboy take me away"

On the corner of main street in the Doman enclave, I waited for him. The cool morning mists were still circulating in the air. I had arrived before the sun. What a fortunate circumstance, too, as I would bare witness to the breathtaking twilight that had painted the Doman skies a dark hue of violet that morning. Droplets of dew were freshly set on the bonzai that seemed to litter every crevice of the region. The dawn aroma of the enclave that morning is still one of my strongest sensory memories. Cupping my hands, I exhaled a warm cloud of breath into them. I began to rub my palms together and glanced over the market stalls. Watching the merchants unloading their wares in preparation for the day, I overheard them wishing each other good fortune. Despite all the trials in the world lately, it seemed as if the people here were at peace and living happily.

My eyes trailed over the various products as they were unpacked and put on display. Fresh seafood, handcrafted toys, candies, fine clothing, expensive-looking jewlery, and...my eyes stopped. Intrigued, I approached the alchemist's stand to get a closer look. It was massive, elegantly plated in gold, and engraved with an intricate design who's origins I could not place. I began to imagine what the potency of my infusions would be like wielding such a divine tool. "Interested in the High Mythrite Alembic, sweetheart?" muttered the midlander clerk. She handed it over for me to look at. It was expertly made. I'd never held such a fantastic alembic in my life. "I'd be willing to part with such a collectible for 150,000 gil."

Knowing full well that I didn't have the gil, I reached into my empty pocket anyway as if it would magically appear there. "You made it." M.D.'s voice rang out from behind me. Placing his hand on my shoulder and peering over the counter he asked, "Whatcha looking at?" Chuckling with embarassment I replied, "Just an alchemy tool. I am not sure if I want it yet." Turning to the clerk I said, "Thank you so much for showing me your wares."

The Empyreaum Cafe' lights dimmed to zero which snapped me back to reality. I picked up my mug and let the last few drops of cool black coffee moisten my lips. The au'ra hostess looked at me guiltily, "I'm sorry ma'am I saw how focused you were on your writing so I stayed after closing time as long as I could, but I really must go home now." I passed her a generous tip and thanked her for being so gracious with her time. I put on my coat and made my way out into the Ishgard housing district. Cinching my belt tightly around my waist, I made my way up the stone pathways towards the exit of the ward. The gate attendant politely opened the doors and allowed me to wander out into the snowy plains of The Coerthas Central Highlands. The temperature dropped suddenly upon leaving the enclosement. I inhaled sharply, the freezing air filling my lungs and making it difficult to breathe. I waded through the knee-high snow and allowed my mind to wonder back to the warm sunshine of Shirogane.

Noticing the extra effort I was expending to breathe, he turned back and confidently stated, "Not too much further, now. Just don't look down!" Carefully placing the heels of my boots on the wooden beam, I steadied myself. Shirogane Tower is known to be the highest vantage point in all of Kugane with few people having enough dexterity and bravery to reach its peak. M.D. would not be satisfied until he saw the view firsthand and he insisted that I, as his trusty scholar companion, be the one to accompany him to the top. He continued on, fearlessly leaping onto the next beam that was protruding from the side of the tower. The air felt thinner at this altitude but he made it look effortless. I exhaled forcefully and focused on the next jump. Reminding myself to take it slow, I crouched and accurately sprung up onto the beam.

"Yes!" I exclaimed, and raised my arms happily above my head. Suddenly, a strong headwind whipped around the side of the tower causing me to lose my balance and lunge forward. "Scarlet!" He yelled and caught my forearm as I began to fall. I grabbed onto him in a tight grip and allowed him to hoist me the rest of the way onto the roof. Collapsing to the ground, I let his arm slip from my grasp and exhaled a breath of relief. Looking down at me he asked, "Are you ok?" I was a little shaken but otherwise fine.

"I will be alright, I sighed, At least it can't get any worse." Then as if the Gods were playing a cruel joke, a light but cold rain began to wash over us. Shrugging and looking to the sky, he said through a short chuckle, "I don't mind, if you don't mind." With a slight smile, he extended his hand down to me. Placing mine in his, he lifted me once again. His hair was soaked and hanging messily over his eyes and the rays from the newly risen sun were glistening off his damp leather jacket. We had often talked of visiting Yanxia together, but I didn't think he had meant to make this trip so soon. There was still so much unrest in the world. Dispatching Twintania did not improve the realm as we had hoped it would. Some would say that the state of things had only gotten worse since...

Over the past few months our guild had been working to unravel the next set of coils within the Ragnarok Central Core. Stationed at Fallgourd Float, our team was now finalizing plans to descend into the deepest depths on a plane known as The Holocarts. We had been preparing for this breech for several weeks but had not made much progress in gaining information as to what lied beneath. Though our guild was fully armed in the most durable gear for the time, I suspected that even our brave Captain Jackyl felt nervous about the upcoming raid's outcome.

At a depth of 6,329 yalms, our exhausted yet determined fellowship entered the hulk's operations deck. An impossible scene unfolded before us, the surreal landscape was bathed in a crimson glare and held the promise of an epic conflict. A series of ominous floating islands were scattered around the large rocky platform where our party stood. Above us, a red star blazed like a rebel diamond cut out from the sun. Was that Dalamud? "Where are we?" I gasped. "The final resting place of Nael van Darnus," bellowed a distorted echo. Turning towards the sound we were met with a horrendous creature...the malformed body of one of history's most feared Garlean commanders, Nael van Darnus.

Imbued with a dark and sinister aether, this Nael was not the same presence as the one who's horrific reputation preceeded her. Instead, the being referred to herself as Nael deus Darnus...or Nael God Darnus. This divine Nael's body had terrifyingly familiar aspects, with some bits resembling none other than the elder wyrm himself. Equipped with large powerful wings, piercing red eyes, and a fortified scale body, she was the most formitable adversary we had ever encountered. In her claws she held a long lance with a keen edge, ready to bring an untimely end to any who were unfortunate enough to find themselves in this domain. "Bradamante," I whispered, recognizing the legendary weapon.

Although befuddled at the current twist of events, our troupe made into a ready formation preparing for the onslaught. "Rejoice beasts!" Nael called to us. Channeling the rage of the elder primal, Nael dues Darnus raised her lance and unleashed an ambush strike upon Jackyl, knocking his shield from his hand with ease. It rattled to the ground with a loud bang. Pulling back her weapon once again, she continued, "for by your deaths shall your lives find purpose in bringing glory to our Lord and Master!" and with a swift second attack, she pummeled him to critical health. Our team stood frozen from shock at our incapacitated leader. Targeting at random, Nael then swooped toward the monk and struck him with one of her giant wings knocking him off his feet. He landed on the ground with a grunt, injured. Her menacing red eyes gazing at him with hatred as she raised her talons to begin charging a fatal attack. "Argh!" Nael averted her attention to M.D. who had flung his axe at her back in an attempt to save our companion. She turned towards the warrior and abruptly struck him with a painful Ravensclaw. He staggered back, his armor consuming the heavy blow. He wouldn't be able to survive another unmitigated strike. "Get in formation!" M.D. shouted. As if commanded from Jackyl himself, the team sprang into action. Seeing the rest of the troupe join in, Nael disengaged M.D. and took to the sky. She unleashed a flury of black aether that spread over the entire platform leaving but a small area near her unaffected. Reacting quickly, the monk, dragoon, and M.D. rushed toward Nael, avoiding the attack. I was too slow and got caught in the surge. A rush of searing pain coarsed through my body leaving my arms and legs feeling too numb and heavy to move. Using my peripheral vision, I could see that my cohealer and two mage companions had also been caught in the dynamo. They were less fortunate than I was. Anchored in place, I could only spectate as the remaining members of our guild began to fall one by one. She crushed them like an iron chariot under her weight. First the monk. Then the dragoon.

Only M.D. and myself were still standing. He shot me a look from the corner of his eye. Rejoicing in the destruction she had laid, Nael was oblivious to me. Her deep laugh filled our ears. Again, I caught M.D. shoot a glance towards me. The minutes passed as slow as hours but the numbness of my limbs was finally beginning to waver. "...And now only we remain, Warrior of Light," she hissed. Then with a bright burst of aether she called a giant allagan pillar down from the heavens. M.D. ground himself from the knockback caused by the tower. When the dust settled Nael was before him. The favor of bahamut now empowering her claw attacks, she unleashed a series of vicious strikes upon M.D.'s chest. M.D. continued to berserk in a bloodbath of heavy axe attacks. Nael seemed to be weakening. "Could he defeat her?" In an effort of desperation, Nael bided the last of her power. Lifting her halbert towards the mighty Dalamud, a trail of red energy began feeding her body. Meteors began to fall from the platforms above igniting in a mass of rock and flames. The floating isle we were on began to quiver under our feet. The arena was breaking. She cried out toward the sky,"The hour has come. Recieve of me the gift of purity!" Then using the rest of her stored aether, she aimed the great Bradamante toward M.D. releasing an enormous flaming sphere in our direction. The mass collided with my barrier. The erected sacred ground was protecting us from harm, for now...

part iii

"holding out for a hero"

Standing in front of M.D., I squinted my eyes shut concentrating on keeping the barrier active. This was all I could do to protect him now. The might of Nael's meteor bared down upon us. We could feel the force pushing through the shield, slowly withering away at it. I knew it wouldn't be long before her will overthrew mine. My throat was dry. I swallowed in sorrow, knowing what I had to do. Then, making the hardest decision of my life, I ripped my fae companion, Selene, from the air and crushed her into my tome. She vanished into a cloud of golden dust, rejuvinating my shield. Nael's eyes glowed with bloodlust and she threw her head back laughing her gastly laugh. The halbert, Bradamante, continued to sap more aether from Dalamud, feeding into her ignited sphere and causing it to continue growing in size. The binding on my scholar book was beginning to burst, it's once high-quality fibers now frayed at the seems. I called back to M.D.,"Her sacrifice was in vain...I can't hold it..."

In a sudden flash of crimson light the platform shattered beneath our feet. "Ahhh!" Our voices echoed in unison as we fell what felt like 30 malms down through a blinding cloud of ash and rubble. We landed with a thud, our eyes were met with an eerily familiar scene. One who's horror I had only lived through via history books at the University. The destroyed silhouette of the allagan tower was painted over a crimson sky where Dalamud still hung low. Lesser wyverns circled overhead, making jittering sounds in anticipation of a meal. Heavy allagan collars were clasped tightly around their necks. Coughing from the pollutant, I rolled onto my side toward M.D. who seemed dazed and was trying to stagger to his feet. I managed to choke out,"She's taken us to the Rivenroad..."

Nael appeared, lowering herself before us. She was surrounded by her famished minions. "...a SINGLE scholar hoped to stop me?!" howled Nael in an amused cackle. She focused her gaze down on me, "Such a pity to lose your little pet..." With searing red eyes she drew up a massive glowing hand casting dalamud's shadow over me. "ELDER!" she cried to the sky, then struck me with her empowered claw attack. My body lifted into the air like a ragdoll and I barreled several yalms backwards from the heavy strike. Crack! I landed on the ground, finally tumbling and sliding to a hault. An intense and sharp pain afflicted my left side and made it difficult to inhale.

"No, Scarletta!" His voice sounded far away. I reached my hand down over the source of the pain and felt a warm liquid ooze between my fingertips. Even though I felt nauseous and lightheaded, I tried hard to focus on finding where M.D. was. Looking out onto the field, I spotted the glint of his axe as it clashed with Bradamante. The weapons clanged together in a roar, cancelling out each other's attacks. M.D. wiped a drop of blood from his lip and yelled, "That's enough!" Mustering the last of his remaining strength, he raised his axe high into the air. Slamming it down with a furious crash, The Earth split under it's might and sent a massive wave of energy towards Nael. "NO!" She shrieked as the light rays began to rip through her. "NOOO!" her screams continued to fill the abyss, "I shall not be defeated by mere beasts!" In a desperate act, Nael broke Bradamante's bond with Dalamud and quickly flung the halbert at M.D. The weapon caught him in the abdomen, piercing through a weak section of his chainmail. I could see the sharp point protruding out from his flank and shortly after the subsequent dripping of blood into the soil. M.D. groaned and lurched back looking down at the halbert. "Mid-" my scream was drowned out by a shrill, almost ghostly sound, that had began to emit from Nael as she distorted within the warrior's light aether and for a brief moment her wyrm form wavered, revealing the beaten and bloodied body of the Commander Nael van Darnus beneath. Seeing this, M.D. rushed him without hesitation. Then, pulling back with a final swing of his weapon, he shattered the vessel into countless shards, banishing the corrupted Garlean forever. I watched as the tiny particles floated up into the abyss and disintegrated, leaving nothing behind. "He did it..."

My eyes trailed back to M.D. His limp form laid huntched over his axe which was stuck upright into the dirt. His heavy iron helm rolled from his shoulders to the ground with a loud clang. Tears filled my eyes as I called out his name. Nothing. I called out again and again... He didn't respond. I was too weak to get up. I could smell the rusty scent of iron mixing with the soil of the battlefield as I writhed from my injuries. Sobbing, I could do not but watch as his body slumped further down over the axe. Suddenly, a monstrous screech resounded from deep within the coil, shaking the ground once more. A feint aura begun rising up around M.D. It quickly started to grow thicker, engulfing his weapon and lifeless body in a dark red shroud. Another rumble echoed from the depths. "Warrior... of... Light..." it roared, and with a powerful burst, the crimson veil broke through the ground's surface dragging M.D.'s body down into Bahamut's Crystal Core.

"No..no..no..." I gasped and sobbed frantically. My eyes darted from side to side in distress. Searching...they stopped upon the ragged remains of my scholar book which had landed a few yalms from me in the crash. I reached my free arm out towards the tome. So drained of life, my voice was barely audible. My plea for help but a whisper, "Selene.." I lacked the strength to reach out any longer letting my arm fall to the dirt, "Sele..." Without warning, a burst of white light sprouted forth from the pages of the book. I recieved an unexpected answer to my cries. This was not my trustworthy brass and purple companion, but instead a large unfamiliar fae.

The elegant azure fairy was three times Selene's size and brandished two large wings that resembled those of a divine. I looked into her bright eyes and felt a warm wave a consolation wash over me. In a veil of shimmering glitter the Seraph's enchantment immediately eased my pain. Looking into her bright eyes I began to fade away holding onto one last thought...
"Where was he taken?"

Crunch. The deep snow buckled under my boots with each step as I continued trudging along through the hillside of the Coerthas Central Highlands. Delicate flakes from a light snowfall were catching in my hair and on my glasses, obstructing my vision. Lifting my lenses off my face and wiping them with my sleeve, I closed my eyes, remembering. "Not too far now, Scarlet. Let's get you out of the cold." Placing the frames back on my face, I brushed my bangs aside, looking up at the familiar rocky crevices before me. Several miles from Camp Dragonhead in the snowy tundra of the Highlands, a fridgid river rages through a giant wall of icy crag. The length of the crags spans over the top of the river, leaving several pockets of shelter where the rock overhung like a protective weather awning. I paced along the water until I came upon the indentation I was searching for. Honing in on the location, his voice echoed in my head once again,"We could try up there?" I was surprised to see that this place looked exactly the same. If not for the years of snowfall, I am certain I would've been able to see the imprints from where we had slept.

I was shivering from the temperature already, but I knew this was not even close to the cold M.D. and I had experienced during our stay here. I didn't waste any time gathering supplies for a fire. Once I collected the tinder and branches, I started using the sharp edge of a stone to carve out a small pit under the rock awning. Clink. The stone hit something hard. Using a gloved hand, I brushed the dirt away revealing a small red crystal. I picked it up using my thumb and index finger and laid it in my palm. The color was faded but I could still clearly see a warrior's sigil engraved into it. A sudden rush of water leaked from my eyes, turning to ice before
it reached my chin.

With his hand gently placed over mine, he swiftly guided it back and forth along two wooden branches pushing the pieces together. Pressing firmly into the opposing surface he grunted, "You need to use friction to create an ember. Then once we get it, we can use it to light the tinder and get a fire goin'." He continued exerting force on the branch creating a groove in the bottom stick. After a few minutes, a small spark flickered. He quickly dumped the ember onto a small pile of dried grass which ignited into a small flame. Blowing on it softly, he led the flame into the small pit we had made to house the fire. "Here, this should help keep you warm." Smiling at the memory, I grabbed a small piece of wood from my own pile and tossed it into the embers before me. There had been numerous reports that the Highlands would reach record low temperatures that evening, but we were either too confident or too reckless to care. He had a way of making me feel too comfortable in dangerous situations. He also had a way of getting us into trouble and then getting us back out again. As soon as he found out he could trade sacks of nuts for currency, he was the only adventurer I knew that was brave enough to stay out all night collecting hunt bounties. I was dumb enough to follow him...but I couldn't have imagined surviving that blizzard with anyone else. A cold gust of wind and hail whipped through the small cavern, threatening to douse my flame. Fanning my coat out to protect the heat source from the gust, I let my mind wonder back to those months searching the elder wyrm's core. I reached into my pocket and rolled the job crystal between my fingers. My smile flattened. I guess I never really thought I would have to go on any adventures without him ever again...

A joyful whistle filled the Allagan caverns. Green and unaware, our newly appointed commander Seig, pressed the brigade onward, his light-hearted tune soon interuppted. The ground quaked and the walls began to shift as the ancient allag chambers whirred to life. Our party let out a series of shocked gasps. Rivers of iridescent light flowed through the channels of the allagan walls illuminating a downward pathway before us. Comically outstretching his axe, Seig chuckled, "Well seems as if we were meant to take this path right here!" I gripped my tome tightly in my hand and nodded sternly. "We need to press on to find the rest of the guild. Let's go." I pushed passed Seig at a swift pace down the steps. I could hear the other team members behind me whispering and snickering to each other. They didn't believe there was anything...or anyone left to find.

It had been two months since the battle with Nael at the Holocarts. Since his abduction, I had spent every waking moment in search of M.D.'s whereabouts. Endlessly scouring the halls of the Raganarok Core, I had hired dozens of mercenaries to help me reach this level. Finally, after fighting and clawing my way through countless incompetent mercenaries, lesser drakes, allagan corruptions, and even a revived pheonix, I had managed to find my way into the deepest chamber of Bahamut's Heart. I stopped at the bottom of the pathway when I reached a giant gated entry.

The contraption seemed tightly secured by a powerful aetheric force. The gateway was menacing. Even through an allagan tek wall as fortified as this, I could sense a dark and powerful aether from behind it. I wasn't feeling as brave as I let on...least not without M.D. there. I closed my eyes. "I know you're down here somewhere..." I whispered. I pressed by ear up against the cold metal of the entryway and listened. My party caught up a short while later, now rambling about what they wanted for supper. "Shhh," I hissed. "Listen." A faint but beautiful chorus hummed from behind the door. The melancholy notes of the chamber made me feel uneasy about what lied within.

"Shhh! Be quiet." I hissed back to the party of mercenaries at my back. Their chatter abruptly stopped. The faint echoes of the song that was trickling from the chamber seemed to be fading, just a barely audible hum now. I took a step back from the allagan door and pulled out my scholar book. This wasn't the same book I had a few months ago during the battle with Nael. I had since upgraded and replaced the codex in hopes of having more survivability as well as to better accomodate my new summon, Seraph. The cover of it was embossed with bits of red high allagan metal that had been collected from the surface levels of the coil. Using the knowledge M.D. had bestowed on me, I had crafted the high quality weapon myself. With my thumb, I fanned through the thick parchment pages causing them to illuminate in a blue glow. Concentrating, I pointed the tome at the door and released a blast of aetheric energy at it. With a quick zipping sound, the attack was easily absorbed by the door like a sponge which caused my unloyal companions to burst out in a chorus of laughter and mockery. Trying my hardest not to show frustration, I slammed the book shut. Closing my eyes, I exhaled slowly trying to drown out the howls from behind me. A wave of fear washed over me then. Fear of having come this far just to be thwarted by a door...fear of what lies behind it should I find my way through...and, especially, fear of what fate I might discover for my friend. "If you need a push, I'll be right behind you." My eyes shot open. His voice sounded like he was right next to me. Taking my sleeve I wiped my nose. "I didn't come this far to be stopped by a Gods damned door," I stated firmly.

Seig's deep Roegadyn voice rose above the chuckling, "Oh give it up, Scar. We've been trudging these damned halls for months and found nothing. He's dead." His large hand reached down and touched my shoulder. I flinched away instinctively. "Look lass, there's nothing we can do about your boyfriend...what do you want us to do, call the whole conjurer's guild down here for an intervention?" My ears drew back. Then, I slowly crouched to my knees in front of the door. My book flopped open, spread out on the ground in front of me. "Tsk," Seig sucked his teeth. Turning away from me he ordered, "Let's go boys, I'll buy us a round of mead when we get back to the Curia Regis estate." Just as Seig and the mercenaries began to turn away, a burst of bright blue light pierced through the cavern walls and flooded around my body and into the book at my feet. The party gasped and froze silently in place, watching as I drew in more and more aether from the surface. In a cyclone of energy, I could feel the power from my scholar companions in Limsa and my white mage brethren in Gridania rush into my body. Clasping my palms together I levitated the glowing tome before the barrier. Then, summoning the powers of the healers of Eorzea, I unleashed a force of aether that shattered the door like glass, revealing a dark pathway. Our party carefully climbed over the shrap metal left beind from the explosion. Our boots echoed loudly once we reached the metal pathway leading into the dungeon below. I could see a fluorescent glow emitting from the end. "Quickly now," I urged my followers forward towards the light. Rounding the last corner, we were met with a horrid sight. A green light streamed across our faces as our mouths hung open. A short while later, our slience was followed by quiet sounds of shock and fear. In front of us were rows upon rows of preserved Meracidian creatures encapsulated in allagan pods. I began scanning the area taking in the countless drakes and other abominations being housed here - when my eyes locked onto a smaller capsule that held an unusual specimen. She looked to be a teen midlander, no more than eighteen. She was wearing traditional bard attire, which I recognized as being from the Archer's Guild in Gridania. I looked from her large feathered hat down to her neck, where a thick neurolink hung. I let out a small cry, "What's a young girl doing trapped down here?" Looking over at me Seig solemnly pointed, "Its not just her I'm afraid, lass." I turned to see where he was pointing. He jestered high towards the top of the chamber. He led my gaze around the room showing me at least six other adventurers held captive via the neurolinks. A black mage...a paladin...a monk...a dragoon..a white mage...and a..."Warrior!" I gasped.

"Eeeeek!" I squealed. "You know, I always wondered how you ever made it as an adventurer, he chuckled, since you are so scared of a few little spiders." With an effortless swing of his axe, M.D. sliced the weak arachnid in half letting its neon green innards paint the grass of South Shroud's Silent Arbor. "You told me this was going to be a fun trip," I complained, kicking aside a severed spider leg. Tossing his head back in a rumble of laughter he said, "I'm having a grand time!" Stepping over several fallen branches that laid across the overgrown path, I inhaled deeply letting the smell of the fauna enter my nose. Such a familiar aroma. I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh. "Are you ok being here?" he asked me, a concerned look on his face. He had stopped and turned to me, gauging my reaction.

It had only been a few years earlier that I had fled this same shroud as a refugee. "Yes, I'll be OK." His eyes lingered on me for a moment before he nodded and turned back towards the path, "I won't let anything happen to you." We approached a clearing in the brush that led into the largest fallen oak trunk I'd ever seen. I'd often heard tales of this place from the kids in the Keeper clan but I never thought it truly exsisted let alone be blessed enough to see it in person. Soon the sun began to set over the tree canopy, letting little rays of red and orange light peek through the branches. South Shroud is one of the most beautiful places in the world at dusk time.

Just a few hours later, we had our camp fully set up and were well into unwinding around the fire. "Hi-hi-hic-hiccup!" I strummed a few chords playfully on the guitar. "Oh, no I think I have hic-ic-ups!" An awful croaking sound escaped my lips. We both burst out in a slew of laugher and croaks. When we finally were able to catch our breath, he reached into his pant's pocket, pulled out an orante wooden box, and placed it on my lap. Although I instantly recognized the case, I asked, "What's this?" Laughing some more he choked out, "Its the High Mythrite Alem-...alem..-hic!" I could feel some heat on my face after recieving the gift and giggled at how obviously drunk he was. "I remember you telling me you were a herbalist. You're the whole package, my dear." He picked up his second jar of moonshine and clinked it against my first. Then he slouched onto me and bellowed out, "If I was dying on my knees, you would be the one to rescue me..." I peeked over at him out of the corner of my eye. Blushing and smiling, I said "You're my absolute best friend in the world," and I strummed a few more simple chords to the lyrics.

"...And if you were drowned at sea
I'd give you my lungs so you could breathe......We've taken different paths
And travelled different roads
I know we'll always end up
on the same one when we're old......And when you're in the trenches
And you're under fire,
I will cover you...."

To be continued...

Thank you for taking the time to read Warrior of Light Eternal. This story was inspired by my best friend who passed away in 2016. Writing this has really helped me cope with the loss. If you stop by AE Cafe' please pay respects to the M.D. mannequin memorial we have set up there. He is an inspiration for the entire AE project. My heart goes out to all of the families and loved ones of all the other Warriors of Light who also passed on.
Their memories live on eternally in our hearts ♡
~ Scarletta Vendetta

vendetta, scarletta "warrior of light eternal" the aether entertainer, 2022-2023

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part V

"leave out all the rest"

A painful feeling struck me deep in the chest like a dull sword. The warrior's head hung down causing his messy brown locks to shroud his face thus making it impossible to see any of his features. Thought I had no doubt in my mind that it was him. M.D. had been stripped of his battle-tested High Allagan plate armor and, like the rest of the unfortunate adventurers in the other pods, was clothed in armor traditional for his guild. His captor's collection included hundreds of Meracidian creatures and, based on my count, a total of eight unlucky adventurers. Each one housed in containers of various sizes, unconcious, and suspended in a mysterious green liquid. I quickly began scanning the room for any obvious way to release them, which there was none.

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