From ‘Thoughts on the Primals – Malignant Divinity’ by Archon Niniri Niri The patron saint of the Ishgardian heretics, also known as Harriers, Ishgard-born individuals who follow the whims of the Dravanian Horde. Lady Iceheart, or Ysayle Dangoulain, bore this mantle by infusing herself with the power of the Primal Shiva. A young elezen woman of Ishgardian descent, Ysayle was born in Falcon's Nest, a town that became severely isolated from food supplies when the Calamity hit, and beset by a crippling, fatal cold. Ysayle and a number of others fled across the Snowcloak glacier in search of quite literal greener pastures but unfortunately the rest of her party died during the journey, leaving her the only survivor. She went on to … [Read more...]
The Bestiary of the Stone Vigil (Hard)
Storm Biast Taxonomy: Scalekin (Biast) Description: Drakes are ferocious predatory creatures with powerful tracking abilities and the ability to exhale gouts of fire. They are perhaps most famous as domesticated beasts of the Amalj’aa. A biast, however, is a subspecies that exhales lightning instead of fire. They were here in the Vigil as followers of the Horde, as scalekin are easily dominated by dragons. Shield Dragon Taxonomy: Scalekin (Puk) Description: Although puk such as these eat primarily small vilekin, they are fiercely territorial and will not hesitate to assault a much larger trespasser. Shield Dragons seem to belong to a wingless subspecies of Puk, as most of their kind do bear small … [Read more...]
The Stone Vigil (Hard) – The Redemption of Durendaire
Excerpt from ‘The history of Coerthas, from refuge to Holy See’ by Archon Niniri Niri. The previous cleanse of the Stone Vigil at the hands of the Warrior of Light and their allies proved sufficient to reclaim their airship, but the reconquest did not succeed in reclaiming the Vigil itself. The Dravanians simply moved back in. House Durendaire, the noted house of astrologians and warriors in Ishgard, resolved to reclaim the Vigil themselves. The venerable family was cowed by the presence of heretics and spies in their ranks, uncovered previously by outsiders to Ishgard, adding insult to injury. Lord Drillemont, one of Durendaire's foremost knights and one of the men responsible for helping to bring the infiltrators to justice, led an … [Read more...]
A Brief Primer on the Rulers of Eorzea
From a small pamphlet entitled ‘A Primer on Eorzean Geopolitics for New Researchers’ by Archon Niniri Niri. Kan-E-Senna - Elder Seedseer of Gridania Kan-E of the Senna family is a padjal of immense power and wisdom who leads the Seedseer Council, the presiding body of her forested home. Perhaps her most noted trait is the unprecedented ability for prophecy she has exhibited since a young age, a gift often attributed by her subjects to blessings from the elementals of the Shroud and the Twelve themselves. In her childhood, Kan-E was already protecting her home from catastrophe via her prophetic gifts, predicting fires and other such disasters with uncanny clarity. The padjal left her homeland to enter seclusion in the woods and commune … [Read more...]
Halone, the Fury – Mover of Glaciers and Goddess of War
Tome Request - Harrow Levesque Tome Retrieved - 'On The Twelve and their Aspects - Halone, the Bitterfrost Spear' by Archon Niniri Niri Halone is famed as the Mover of Glaciers and Goddess of War, who strides forth with her bronze greatshield and mighty spear. This is reflected in her symbol, a trio of spears and her aspect, as a deity of ice. Halone is the patron of Ishgard, and in the past was the patron of an unknown city-state from the Fifth Astral Era. Some evidence, including that of the Elezen who settled in Coerthas long having worshipped Halone even by the time they arrived, suggests this state may have existed in Central Eorzea, while others point to ancient Dravanian cultures as this state. In the theology of the Twelve, … [Read more...]
The Bestiary of the Dzemael Darkhold
Recluse Hippogryph Taxonomy: Beastkin (Hippogryph) Description: Hippogryphs are fierce beastkin of the mountains and hills. Their vestigial wings are incapable of flight, but can propel them along the ground as they sprint. They must have retreated from the hills of Coerthas, slinking into the Darkhold. This may have been the source for their 'reclusive' name. Etymology Notes: A hippogryph, or hippogriff, is a half-eagle, half-horse creature from European folklore, ridden by figures of legend. Diamond-tooth Hedgemole Taxonomy: Beastkin (Mole) Description: Moles are tunneling creatures which dwell beneath the earth and hunt out the insects they feed upon. Their tunnels commonly damage forests by … [Read more...]
The Dzemael Darkhold – Count Tarresson’s Grief
Excerpt from ‘The history of Coerthas, from refuge to Holy See’ by Archon Niniri Niri. Formed by the legendary Sylvetrel de Dzemael, finest of King Thordan's spearmen, Dzemael counts itself amongst the four Ishgardian High Houses. Originally a house devoted solely to military matters, the Dzemaels intermarried with the Faurechorts four centuries ago, a minor house famed for their architectural knowledge. Since then, House Dzemael has been the premier architect of Ishgard, and has increased in influence considerably, their maxim 'by the hundredth blow' echoing across Ishgard's fortifications. Count Tarresson Dzemael, the now-retired leader of the house, had a true passion for architecture, though his attempt to create what would be his … [Read more...]
The Armory of the Stone Vigil
From the archeological notebook of Archon Niniri Niri. Weaponry: The Ancient Sword: Perhaps the most fascinating weapon found within the Stone Vigil, this blade is not of Ishgardian or even Old Ishgardian make, but instead fits with all prior archeological and scholarly findings on blades crafted in the Third Astral Era, likely by the early Allagan Empire. These blades boast intricate carvings across their form, used to channel aether across the blade and improve its cutting power. How exactly it came to be in the Vigil is difficult to say, but it may have been uncovered by, and then handed down as a relic of a family, perhaps even within House Haillenarte. Etymology Notes: The ancient sword is a recurrent blade in the Final … [Read more...]
The Bestiary of the Stone Vigil
Dravanian Outwalker Taxonomy: Scalekin (Biast) Description: Drakes are ferocious predatory creatures with powerful tracking abilities and the ability to exhale gouts of fire. They are perhaps most famous as domesticated beasts of the Amalj’aa. A biast, however, is a subspecies that exhales lightning instead of fire. They were here in the Vigil as followers of the Horde, as scalekin are easily dominated by dragons. The Ishgardians referred to these creatures as 'outwalkers' which is apparently a reference to their role as scouts and vanguards of the Horde. Capabilities: The biasts in the longstop were capable of emitting the typical ‘levinshower’ lighting breaths. Dravanian Outflier Taxonomy: Scalekin … [Read more...]
The Stone Vigil – Fallen Watchers
Excerpt from ‘The history of Coerthas, from refuge to Holy See’ by Archon Niniri Niri. Records from before the Seventh Umbral Calamity testify to the Stone Vigil's role as one of four grand watchtowers belonging to Ishgard, apparently mostly under the authority of House Haillenarte, the eminent engineers and smiths of the city-state. The Stone Vigil was twinned with the Steel Vigil, and together the watchtowers braced Ishgard against attack from the Sea of Clouds. Sadly, when the Calamity struck even the mighty edifices of Ishgard were unable to defend against the catastrophe, and the Vigil's defenses were shattered, allowing the Dravanian Horde that the Holy See had been at war with to sweep in and seize the structure. House … [Read more...]
