It was almost always snowing in the village and the Wood. Spring was rare, so I had my fill. Felt I ought to go elsewhere completely different. So I set out for Ul'dah, to begin with.
[Discussing most of the war against the Garlean Empire isn't too bad. Aside from Thancred's possession and having to carry the dead bodies of his fellow Scions to be buried, but who's counting? But most of it is positive, at least for him. With the Echo and the blessing of Light, he could face Primals where no other could. He could not be tempered. But then, there was so much reliance on that, wasn't there? Facing so much on his own, serve save slay slave. Walking, doing what others could or would not do. Moenbryda's tearful sacrifice, the betrayal of the Crystal Braves, the Bloody Banquet. On the run, and only able to turn to Haurchefant for safety under House Fortemps with Alphinaud and Tataru at his side.
Ah, Haurchefant. He, too, deserves an explanation. And at length, he does explain the noble knight, so quick to engage and quick to flatter. At first, Obsidian despised how flirtatious he was, but eventually the trust was won with Haurchefant's fervent desire to protect him from Shiva and in turn Obsidian had, too, explained himself to Haurchefant then about his... issues. And then...
The Dragonsong War had personal stakes in it. Not just for the innocents, but because he felt he needed to pay back the friends he'd made. For Haurchefant's home, for Aymeric, for so many. The truth of the dragons unraveled before him, and Haurchefant's sacrifice to save his life.
He'd gone a little mad, maybe. No one really blamed him for it, but since that moment, Obsidian had gone on a personal crusade to slaughter the entirety of the Heaven's Ward. Destroy them, rip out Zephirin's heart, make them pay. At the end of it was the cold truth as ever: the world will not stop turning, even when the ones you love die. Revenge could only put a salve onto that wound so temporarily, but there'd been no succor. True, his vengeance also saved many lives, but there'd also been the loss of Ysayle. At the end of it all, they were able to put Nidhogg to rest -- sort of -- and rescue Estinien.
Yet it would branch off into the tragedy of the Griffin and getting involved in the war between Ala Mhigo and the Empire. The first time he'd unfortunately met Zenos, the massacre of many of the resistance, and the ultimate decision that mayhap fighting for Doma as well would bring success in freeing Ala Mhigo as well. But that too would bring the revelation of how people of their countries were, in some way, let down by their homes and peoples. A feeling he knew too well, especially as Yotsuyu lie dying at his feet. That somehow he would indeed mourn the Witch of Doma.
Then G'raha's master plan to not only save the First, but also his life, the lives of so many in the past and future. Meeting Emet-Selch, fighting sin eaters, and the tragedy of Ardbert and his friends. The bittersweet victories that would follow, and how eventually the truth of their worlds -- how they'd been sundered, and Emet-Selch plotting his own demise, which is an unfortunate running theme. Battling Elidibus, and then eventually...
Fandaniel, tricking Zenos into his own plans and rising the strange towers. The talk of the Final Fays. The Forum at Sharlayan being stubborn about helping. Attempting to offer succor to the post-civil war land of Garlemald, and his meeting with Vrtra and Varshahn in Thavnair. Zenos taking his body and no time left to dwell on it, march forward ever to the moon and back again. Yet, with the aid of so many companions, they would find the source of the Final Days with the Endsinger. That victory, too, was bittersweet, but they would all find reasons to fight on and live, despite it all. They'd been there before, and knew to never give up, and Obsidian will never cave in to despair.
Yet speaking of all this does make him realize just... how much it all is. Remembering Fordola receiving visions of his experiences and asking him in a baffled voice: All that power, all that pain. It's too much for anyone. The things they've done to you, the lies, the betrayal, the endless fighting... yet there you stand, unbroken. How? Why?
no subject
It was almost always snowing in the village and the Wood. Spring was rare, so I had my fill. Felt I ought to go elsewhere completely different. So I set out for Ul'dah, to begin with.
[Discussing most of the war against the Garlean Empire isn't too bad. Aside from Thancred's possession and having to carry the dead bodies of his fellow Scions to be buried, but who's counting? But most of it is positive, at least for him. With the Echo and the blessing of Light, he could face Primals where no other could. He could not be tempered. But then, there was so much reliance on that, wasn't there? Facing so much on his own, serve save slay slave. Walking, doing what others could or would not do. Moenbryda's tearful sacrifice, the betrayal of the Crystal Braves, the Bloody Banquet. On the run, and only able to turn to Haurchefant for safety under House Fortemps with Alphinaud and Tataru at his side.
Ah, Haurchefant. He, too, deserves an explanation. And at length, he does explain the noble knight, so quick to engage and quick to flatter. At first, Obsidian despised how flirtatious he was, but eventually the trust was won with Haurchefant's fervent desire to protect him from Shiva and in turn Obsidian had, too, explained himself to Haurchefant then about his... issues. And then...
The Dragonsong War had personal stakes in it. Not just for the innocents, but because he felt he needed to pay back the friends he'd made. For Haurchefant's home, for Aymeric, for so many. The truth of the dragons unraveled before him, and Haurchefant's sacrifice to save his life.
He'd gone a little mad, maybe. No one really blamed him for it, but since that moment, Obsidian had gone on a personal crusade to slaughter the entirety of the Heaven's Ward. Destroy them, rip out Zephirin's heart, make them pay. At the end of it was the cold truth as ever: the world will not stop turning, even when the ones you love die. Revenge could only put a salve onto that wound so temporarily, but there'd been no succor. True, his vengeance also saved many lives, but there'd also been the loss of Ysayle. At the end of it all, they were able to put Nidhogg to rest -- sort of -- and rescue Estinien.
Yet it would branch off into the tragedy of the Griffin and getting involved in the war between Ala Mhigo and the Empire. The first time he'd unfortunately met Zenos, the massacre of many of the resistance, and the ultimate decision that mayhap fighting for Doma as well would bring success in freeing Ala Mhigo as well. But that too would bring the revelation of how people of their countries were, in some way, let down by their homes and peoples. A feeling he knew too well, especially as Yotsuyu lie dying at his feet. That somehow he would indeed mourn the Witch of Doma.
Then G'raha's master plan to not only save the First, but also his life, the lives of so many in the past and future. Meeting Emet-Selch, fighting sin eaters, and the tragedy of Ardbert and his friends. The bittersweet victories that would follow, and how eventually the truth of their worlds -- how they'd been sundered, and Emet-Selch plotting his own demise, which is an unfortunate running theme. Battling Elidibus, and then eventually...
Fandaniel, tricking Zenos into his own plans and rising the strange towers. The talk of the Final Fays. The Forum at Sharlayan being stubborn about helping. Attempting to offer succor to the post-civil war land of Garlemald, and his meeting with Vrtra and Varshahn in Thavnair. Zenos taking his body and no time left to dwell on it, march forward ever to the moon and back again. Yet, with the aid of so many companions, they would find the source of the Final Days with the Endsinger. That victory, too, was bittersweet, but they would all find reasons to fight on and live, despite it all. They'd been there before, and knew to never give up, and Obsidian will never cave in to despair.
Yet speaking of all this does make him realize just... how much it all is. Remembering Fordola receiving visions of his experiences and asking him in a baffled voice: All that power, all that pain. It's too much for anyone. The things they've done to you, the lies, the betrayal, the endless fighting... yet there you stand, unbroken. How? Why?
What choice is there otherwise?]