Work in progress
Lady
Keiko Kagura
The piercing gaze coming from her demonic looking, green-and-red eyes touches you
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
"Curious, are we?"The Miqo'te info-broker in the dimly lit room said to you, with a smile on his face, seemingly knowing Keiko"Don't worry, I won't pry why you're interested in that raen...
I still find it ironic that you inquire about someone who is known as a networker that collects information and brings people together...""Unfortunately for you, you probably have to do some legwork if you would like to pierce that shroud of mystery that surrounds her past. And I can't help you with any clues about what happened prior to her arrival in Eorzea.But don't worry, as an info-broker worth my salt I am able to lead you to a few places that will prove helpful to your search."
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
Gridania, Adventurers' guild
The guild is bustling with both: Adventurers and travellers, old and new.Thanks to the guild you gather that the elegant looking raen first registered here at the age of 19 summers, about 9 summers ago. There was no mention of where she originally came from, only that she immediately entered the lancers' guild and also ended up mingling with all the remaining guilds in Gridania to various degrees.
And the receptionist even points you to a few people nearby.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Gridania, Adventurers' guild
A Party in their 30's
“Oh, you mean Keiko? Yeah, she was in our party a long time ago.”
Some of the adventurers seem to know the raen.Apparently shortly after registering to the guild she had gotten a full set of steel chainmail for herself, and in need of coin to pay it off she happily joined the party.
Keiko never talked about where she came from or her family and was usually seen as unapproachable and quiet.“Except that one time we met that other party, which had pretty much screwed up and dragged us into a nasty fight in the south shroud...” The leader, a brown haired hyur mused. The healer, a blonde elezen chuckled and added: “Oh yeah, I almost felt sorry for that other party leader, groveling at her feet and being stomped on while she cursed his incompetence.”The archer nods with a smile on her face. “Remember how she almost got us killed in Southern Thanalan?”
They explained that apparently Keiko for some reason refused to attack any kind of earth-spirits. Which regarding the usually passive earth-sprites wasn’t really an issue until they were facing a sandstone golem near the temple of Qarn: After declaring 'Oh, I'm absolutely not going to attack it.' apparently a totally relaxed Keiko with her lance resting against her shoulder and a mildly amused expression on her face had to be convinced by the rest of the visibly panicking party that golems were magical constructs and didn’t quite count as natural elementals - All while their tank had to run laps in front of them, avoiding the golem’s attacks.All in all the members that knew Keiko seem to be fond of her and knew her as a strong lancer, though nobody exactly knew why she stopped being adventurer.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Gridania, Adventurers' guild
An old looking elezen local
“I am not going to borrow you any gil stranger, so how about you get lost or even better: Get a job!”The old man seemingly took you for someone else, you had to explain first.Apparently the old man was drinking in the Carline Canopy as usual as the raen arrived by airship.
He vividly remembered her because of her odd looking lance, its handle made of red dyed wood with decorations seemingly made out of ornate gold stood in stark contrast to its tip which was nothing more than a straight, double-edged blade. Under her green robe she wore exotic looking garments colored in vivid red and purest white.
He didn’t think any of it at the time, thinking that she was just another, ignorant foreigner that would leave once she made some coin.“...But I was wrong. That girl actually tried to integrate into our society, learn our customs and traditions and always treated her elders with respect.” The elezen raises a brow, eyeing a group of nearby adventurers “Which is rare with the youngsters today! I know no one that ever saw the girl being disrespectful in all the years she lived here. And unlike the many rude and stagnant adventurers that create nothing but commotion and trouble, she even transformed into a cute, dress-wearing flower.”In the end it seemed like it took many moons and seasons, but the raen was able to change the cold attitude that many locals had towards foreigners and adventurers with her charming personality, her efforts in the local guilds and her clear intentions to appreciate and learn everything about gridanian culture.
Apparently most conservative elezen eventually accepted and welcomed the young raen in their midst – While even the most xenophobic ended up respecting her for her skills with the lance and avoided to directly confront or bother her.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Gridania, Adventurers' guild
A seasoned recruitment officer
“And you’re sure you don’t want to join?”
The man wearing a twin adder uniform lets out a sigh.
“Okay, a deal is a deal. I heard about some young Au Ra that apparently was very skillful with a lance back then. And obviously... I tried to recruit her.”He goes on, telling you that apparently she didn’t care about the ongoing conflicts of Eorzea and showed no interest to fight for anyone else but herself. No matter the coin or benefits offered.“...And after about half a year I gave up. It however still puzzles me how she was able to become a resident of 'Lavender Beds', especially since even citizen were excluded from living in the wards in favor of high ranking adventurers that pledged their allegiance to a grand company.”
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
Gridania, Lancers' guild
The sounds of padded, wooden staffs hitting training dummies greets you upon your arrival.
The guild is filled with members, new and old.You start to ask around and quickly learn a few things about the elegant raen:Her name was Keiko and she was well known among the ranks of the lancers' guild.
Apparently when she arrived, the guild master took her for a young novice. A sheltered child dressed in odd looking robes, with even more odd looking eyes, holding an expensive looking, far eastern su-yari.
He assigned an experienced lancer to spar with her and to evaluate her potential using training lances.
The fight was aborted after less than a minute.
According to the guild members it apparently seemed like the raen was fighting on an at least equal level as his own student, apparently even luring him into false openings. But the guild master disliked her way of rushing into attacks, ignoring her own defenses in favor of exploiting any possible opening and implied that the only reason she could keep up with his student was because she was not weighted down by armor.
Quickly one of the guilds' sets of cheap but heavy, bronze-chainmail was given to her before resuming the sparring, but to everyone's surprise the foreigner proved almost as nimble-footed as before and quickly dealt with her sparring partner.
Needless to say that she was accepted into the guild and ended up as an adventurer for some time.The people here also tell you something else: Even though she stopped taking quests and ceased being an adventurer many years ago she sporadically can be observed in the guild, quietly repeating her kata while training in solitude.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
Gridania, Leatherworkers' guild
Upon entering the leatherworkers’ guild your nose is greeted with the sharp and unpleasant scent of the many liquids used for tanning leather.It seemed a bit out of place in comparison to the other locations that were listed and while wondering if this one was a dead end you search for someone to talk with.
But as soon as the guild master Geva finds out that you’re neither paying customer nor a new apprentice you get shushed out of the workshop to not disrupt the work of the many busy leatherworkers.“A raen clad in green you say? Well yes, what about her?”
Thankfully the hyur at the reception seems to be able to help you out too.
“Well from what I know initially she tried her hands at leatherworking herself. Apparently there was some sort of chemistry between her and Geva and... And let me tell you: It was not the good kind.” He nervously chuckles
“Imagine a lot of glares and passive aggressive replies. Geva - even though the raen apparently made precise cuts - really didn’t like that she also was wasteful with the materials and didn’t like to tan the hides herself avoiding the foul smelling liquids as good as she could.”
Once more a chuckle erupts from the receptionist before he explained: “Tanning hides is usually the only job apprentices get.”“Now, against all odds the raen was apparently very creative with inventing patterns and designs that actually worked well, so she somewhat managed to dodge Geva’s boot-“ He laughed out loud “ Get it? Boot because being kicked o-“
He clears his throat and continues: “Mhm, well, she ended how I know her: In a weird position, being seen as a ‘more hands-on client’ that was allowed to use materials and assistance from fully fledged leatherworkers in exchange for coin.” The hyur scratches his temple “What kind of patterns and designs you ask? Well...”
He awkwardly stands there for a moment before continuing:
“...I mean there’s a pair of long boots and shoes that seem to sell really well, but... Most of her other designs never were sold in here because they are... pretty, well... unique?”It seems like the blushing receptionist doesn’t want to get into further details.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
Ul'dah, Royal masquerade ball
The elegant ballroom is filled to the brim with royalists, monetarists and foreign nobles.Once more you spot the raen, which was currently busy chatting with a few monetarists and officials, and was dressed in an expensive looking ballgown, sporting finest dark green fabric with silken decorations in scarlet red.
She wears an equally expensive looking mask in the shape of a fox and in contrast, an oddly simple looking ring on her left hand.A highlander approaches the raen, you notice a subtle bow as he hands her a fresh cup of wine. Oddly enough you recognize the hyur: It was not some random servant, he was a wealthy monetarist, second in command of Amajina & Sons Mineral Concern's private army.
Why would such a powerful man act so tame and humbled around this mysterious raen that probably just was the partner of a guest?
The mysterious, elegant raen
Ul'dah, Royal masquerade ball
A lalafell staring daggers at the raen
“That damn vixen. She doesn’t belong here.”
The lalafell rambles, looking towards the raen which was busy talking to other attendees, flanked by the highlander that brought her more wine.
Noticing that you seem to have an open ear for his venting he gives you a nod and motions towards her “Look at them sucking up to her. As if she is a noble!”
He briefly shakes his head before taking another sip from his own cup of wine. Then he motions you to come closer and continues with a slightly lowered voice:
“She apparently was some weird kind of whore that became rich. I don’t question that those spineless monetarists seemingly respect her, but my fellow royalists? Utterly ridiculous! And every time I try to point out that such a lowly lizard shouldn’t be allowed to taint such illustrious occasions they defend her...
Even married men take her side! - I tell you: There’s some foul play, maybe even blackmailing involved.”
The mysterious, elegant raen
Ul'dah, Royal masquerade ball
A cheerful and slightly drunk noble
“Isn’t the whole purpose of a masquerade to stay anonymous, friend?”
The visibly inebriated noble philosophized before he started to laugh and tap you on your shoulder“Sorry! sorry, I am jesting! The woman you mean is lady Kagura, she is quite popular as you can see.”
He motions towards the raen that is currently facing away from you, chatting with some other guests.
You observe one hand of the highlander that brought her the wine slowly approaching the spot of bare, pure white skin on the raen’s back, provided by a revealing cutout of her elegant dress.
As soon as his hand touches Keiko between the shoulder blades however, you immediately see her scaled tail lashing out to the left like a whip, hitting the highlander on his thigh. The hand was removed but the monetarist awkwardly remained close to her side, all the while Keiko kept talking as if nothing happened.“Oh, you should definitively try out these oysters! They’re to die for!” The drunk noble next to you said, before following your gaze. He slurped the remaining oyster in his hand, motioned towards one of the servants to come closer and dropped the empty oyster between the glasses on the golden serving tray before cleaning the remains of the oyster from his hand by rubbing it against the uniform of the servant.
The servant kept smiling, but if stares could kill then the noble wouldn’t be alive anymore.The noble then turned towards you and lowered his voice: “Lady Kagura is quite a dangerous person: One moment she smiles at you, the next you’re revealing state secrets.” He nervously chuckles and quickly adds “Not that this has actually happened to me, but still: She made a lot of gil by accumulating knowledge, contacts and bringing the right people together.” He takes another sip from his drink and observed how the smiling raen, for a brief moment gently leaned against the highlander next to her as to promote whatever he just said.
“Some even pay good coin to make her accompany them to events like these... Sometimes just as ‘eye-candy’, sometimes to seduce someone at the event so they can’t interfere and sometimes to charm a potential business partner and to sweeten a deal. So if you're ever getting approached by her, don’t let your guard down.”
Keiko Kagura
General information
This carrd is for my ffxiv character Keiko Kagura
(Currently on Maduin / Dynamis DC, but often found in Balmung's Ul'dah)
For 'spicy' scenes I do prefer the privacy of her apartment on Maduin though. (Unless you can offer a suitable, local environment)I did enjoy the spicier side of things in the past (which helped me dip my toes into RP) but am also looking forward to more 'normal' slice of life RP if given the chance.Currently rarely in the mood, for 'spicy stuff' so I decided to make a carrd as an alternative to her already existing c/.About me:
Rarely online these days.
(Currently not much motivation, even though I should technically at least continue the MSQ from post-ARR to Stormblood to confirm my ideas for her past.) (Currently at the beginning of HW)
Generally not really into social networks.
(I did make a discord-profile, though I'm still not a fan of it)
Not much RP-experience
(Almost zero outside of ERP, as I never really got into tabletops and things) and due to that, when improvising, pretty slow to reply. (Expect about 4-5' per ffxiv-para during a scene)
IRL experienced in the vast area that is BDSM and am pretty centric.
(So probably most kinks are in reach and I'm able to draw realistic sessions if it is just the ERP that interests you...)I am not using any mods and am not interested in being talked into it.
(Yes, someone once did that, only for me to find out that this little thing to remove those ugly sandals was actually still against the TOS which made me immediately delete it.)
I however obviously don't judge is my partners indulge into them, (That's your business) so if you use mods to enhance your visuals: Please let me know how your character actually looks and is seen by Keiko, so I can also incorporate the stuff that is invisible for me into our scene.About Keiko:
28 years old, elegant raen
Proficient with a lance
Demonic looking, green-and-red eyes (No glowing)
Oddly pulsing, earth-aspected aether.
Somewhat average conjurer-skills
Dabbled in leatherworking
Came from Hingashi, dressed like a shrine-maiden wearing a dark green robe and a concealed lance at the time of her arrival.
Fluent in common and hingan (Speaks common with almost no accent and hingan with a koshu-accent)
Can read and write both languages.
Appeared in Gridania about 9 years ago and started as adventurer,
went through a niche-kind of 'lady of the night'-phase and ended up gaining wealth, entering high-society by connecting people and using her seemingly endless network of contacts.
Does not talk about the time before her arrival to Eorzea and does not plan to ever visit Hingashi.OOC rules:
Whether the theme is explicit or not, I prefer to play with people above the age of 21.
Please be mentally stable.
(No need to throw a tantrum, invent some accusations of me being manipulative just because I have 'mindgames' listed on my c/ and turn into an unstable psycho if I am at the time not interested in doing ERP with you...)
No bleed.
If you feel connected to your character, that's awesome. But if you blur the lines too much, it might be our last scene.
(I really don't have the desire to meet another obsessed person)
Be honest.
(If the pacing or things arent to your liking, just tell me OOCly during a scene so we can fix it. Same if something came up and you have to leave.) Also don't write how you loved it and want more, if you plan to go poof on me. I do take notes of the sessions afterwards so that we could smoothly continue, making me waste my time is just rude.
IRL first.
Yes, even I sometimes have to go poof, but I always try to log in and communicate that with those that still have unfinished scenes open with me. (back to 'Be honest': Yes, I actually don't mind if you have a busy RL, simply communicate it.)For spicier scenes I always like to know a bit more about what you're looking for (little OOC-chat) before we actually start something. Mainly so that we don't waste our time or end up with a misunderstanding. (So 'being curious' isn't enough. You should know about the things you like, want to try out and your limits including things you want to avoid during a scene.)
I do love to paint on a blank canvas, but only if it is framed with clear borders and an image of what I might paint on it.Rules regarding IC:
The usual: No death and disfiguration. If you're not sure about something or want to try something out, just ask.
If you're planning to walk up for a longer scene, please shoot me an OOC-tell beforehand (maybe I'm about to log out soon and we should start it off on another day with more time)
Also: OOC-Consent is key. This goes both ways.Even though Keiko might dip her toes into dub-con or non-con if that is one of your fantasies and you give her a logical and believable reason for it, in the end everyone involved should still have their fun and enjoy a play within their boundaries.
Keiko Kagura
Hooks
Ballroom aficionado
This raen loves to partake in nice events, maybe you meet her there and strike up a conversation?
Maybe you're inviting her to such an occasion as the host, or maybe you try your luck to invite her to one of them as your partner?
Every route will have their up- and downsides, their own little risks and rewards.Sparring partner
As a former adventurer and a proficient lancer you can sometimes find her training in the lancers' guild where she tries to avoid her skills getting too rusty. Aside from that she does enjoy to loose some arrows at the bannock in Gridania's central shroud. Unlike with the lance she never was proficient with the bow, but enjoys the meditative effect of kyudo-inspired archery none the less.
Don't be put off by the fact that she might act cold in the beginning (She really likes to keep to herself during her training) if she is in the mood and you dangle a potential challenge in front of her nose, she might just bite.A new 'customer'
Whether it is someone trying their luck to end up spending some 'quality time' with Keiko, or someone who tries to tap into her extensive network for the sake of their own career or their business venture: If she gets approached in the right manner she'll certainly lend an aural to a mutually beneficial proposal.
But be careful: This doesn't necessary mean that she wants to be paid in coin... Sometimes she likes to keep someone indebted to her... And sometimes those eventually have to pay with their body or soul.An influential contact
Even though Keiko is gil-wise well off, she still gets intrigued by interesting individuals that could prove useful if added to the extensive list of her contacts.Random Encounter
Of course your character can just approach her when she's IC, (which could lead to various degrees of success)
And in case you want to try the pickpocket-angle: As a smart woman she does not carry her gil-pouch visible from the outside, so in case you find out where it is, at least be prepared to roll for defense, because this feisty little raen has the reactions of a lancer and is probably going to lash out.
Mistress Keiko Kagura's chamber
A candlelit apartment
The sweet smell of incense caresses your nostrils.
In the heat of the moment you can't remember how you got here.
Did you follow her? Did you persuade her? Or has she seduced you?But there she stands in front of you, the gorgeous raen, wearing a beautiful dress made of shimmering green silk on her body and a smile on her lips."Ara?" She said, with a voice as soft as the silken fabric she wore "Now that you've made it this far, darling..."
The raen leans forward, the depths of her green-and-red eyes not only delivering a piercing gaze directly into yours, but also seemingly venture deep into your soul as she gently whispered: "...how about you get on your knees?"
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
Ishgard
You slightly shiver as your gaze hangs on the Icy peaks of the mountains surrounding you, less and less snow falls from the sky until it reveals a stunning view in front of the airship you’re riding in.Your gaze is immediately drawn by the gigantic city state made of grey stone dominating the surrounding landscape.
The closer the airship gets the more details your eyes are able to pick up:
The highest towers clad in gold, countless little alleys and walkways spread across the city and along its outer walls, it was an architectural wonder.
You quietly ask yourself how much within the structure was hollowed out, filled with underground alleyways, plazas and markets that had never seen the light of day and how much was solid to support its structural integrity.
Your gaze wanders downwards, but the bottom remained hidden beneath the mist of a seemingly endless, cold abyss.You briefly wonder why the raen apparently spend lots of time in this harsh and cold environment.
As the Airship approaches the docks you reach into your pocket to check the points of interest the info-broker wrote down for you.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
The streets of Ishgard
As you wander through the many alleys and streets, surrounded by icy winds and stares, your thoughts wander to decide on your next destination as your hand once more reaches for the note from the info-broker.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background, Ishgard
Tavern 'The Last Vigil'
The elezen behind the bar counter extends a warm smile towards you and you inquire about the raen.A brow was raised and a smirk formed on his lips. “I do think I know the person you’re talking about...” The proprietor said, explaining that there was in fact a foreigner hailing from Gridania, revealing that she apparently had acquired the estate of a lesser noble.
He explained that this did create lots of rumors as it was usually not possible for foreigners to buy such an estate bound to an ishgardian house, even if it was just a lesser noble house, as it usually stays in the family.“Well I can give you the address if you want to take a look at it, or...”
The tall elezen bent down and reached under the counter, producing what looked like a bottle of mulled wine “...in case you want to talk to someone who was there when she received the estate:
There’s a priest in Saint Reymanaud's Cathedral that needs his wine delivered, and I get the feeling you would deliver it for free.”
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background, Ishgard
Saint Reymanaud's Cathedral
You enter the cathedral.
Immediately you feel small, looking up at the high ceilings and the statue of Halone, illuminated by the colored crystal windows.You managed to find the priest in question and when handing him the bottle you explained that the proprietor of the tavern said he would know more about how the foreigner got her hands on the estate.
The young elezen raised his brow, like with the person in the tavern an amused smile formed on his lips.
It felt like he really liked to tell the story, as he didn’t even ask you to donate some gil to the church.The estate had belonged to a lesser noble house under house de Dzemael. The dragonsong war had taken its toll, leaving only one, childless lord and lady behind.
After the lord died the priest had attended both the funeral proceedings and the proclamation of his will. Both times he remembered spotting the foreigner from Gridania, a raen with veiled face, wearing black.“I too was at the proclamation of his will, but what he had written was more like a manifesto than a letter of inheritance...” The priest said, softly chuckling before explaining:
“He accused his wife to only have married him to inherit and cheating on him for moons with a noble of direct, Dzemael descent. It then continued how he described later, search of some 'revenge' finding someone, that in the precious bells they spend together seemed to really care for him, that made him more feel alive and loved than ever before.”
A brief moment the smile vanished from the expression of the priest as he continued “He also stated that his sickness often was almost vanished when he returned after spending a few days with the foreigner, accusing his wife of slowly poisoning him in some manner.”The fact that his wife betrayed him apparently didn’t raise any brows as it was an open secret that she only wanted the status to marry into Dzemael afterwards, apparently never intending to bear a child for her current husband.
What raised brows however, was that he apparently did pay it back to her by spending time with that foreigner, even having her attend his funeral. And obviously: The possibility of him being poisoned, which changed the atmosphere in the room completely.The noble pronounced the dissolution of his house by his death.
Giving the estate and everything inside (with one exception) to the foreigner. His wife only received the same share of the house’s gil as every other servant.
The only exception was his private airship that he had used to conveniently travel through Eorzea: His personal pilot was allowed to keep the vessel he cared for so long. And the raen had to accept it remaining in the hangar of the estate for 6 moons, so that the pilot could find another place for it.“The proclamation of the will was one, giant insult to the noble’s wife, which completely lost her composure. She even attempted to attack the foreigner during the proceedings.”You were about to leave as the voice of the priest once more reaches out to you:
“If you’re so curious about this foreigner, why don’t you just meet her at the charity event she’s hosting tonight?”You sense two things: That it was probably too late to get an invitation for the event, and that the priest seemed to have an offer for you.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background, Ishgard
Orphanage 'Halone's shield'
You check the address on the wall once more with the parchment in your hands before heading in.
There were simply too many alleyways down in these levels without daylight, and the buildings all looking similar didn’t help either.You speak to the mistress leading the orphanage, a soft-spoken blonde elezen. The warm and welcoming emotion written across her face changed to mild confusion as you inquire about the raen.
“Well yes, I do know lady Kagura of course.”She openly tells you about how even long before she moved to Ishgard a noble once took the raen to the orphanage making a donation, probably attempting to impress her.
With the dragonsong war barely over one of the orphans approached the woman clad in ivory colored scales and asked her openly if she was a dragon that came to take him to his parents while directly looking into her unusual-colored eyes.
“The boy didn’t know it better, he did suddenly loose his mother and grandfather, the last remaining of his kin during the first direct attack on Ishgard.” She let out a sigh
“The situation could’ve ended terrible in so many ways, and I don’t mean the donation being taken back. Back then, offending the personal guest of a noble, even under the forgiving house Haillenarte, could have carried severe punishment...”The mistress of the orphanage then continued explaining that instead of feeling offended, being accused of coming here to kill a child, the raen wearing a lovely, long dress and a coat elegantly squatted down to not look down on the orphan, rested her hand on his shoulder and gently moved her thumb to take the fear away that settled in as the kid started to visibly realize that he had been rude.
“...She said something along the lines that she was also not able to see her parents, but unlike hers, his parents were at a better place, a place that however was far out of her reach so she were not able to take him there. But that they would always smile down on him as long as he tries to do the right things, and forever will be with him deep in there, pressing her index finger against his chest.”
The elezen leaned back, visibly in thoughts remembering the moment before adding that lady Kagura then explained that Au ra were not directly related to dragons and were more like lizards instead. “And as the boy bashfully looked at me before asking her if he would be punished for offending the raen she softly smiled as she stood back up, saying that she only punishes the grown-ups that deserve it.”The mistress of the orphanage shrugged, seemingly not knowing the meaning behind these words but said that afterwards a few girls asked if they could touch her scaled tail - Only for the elezen to suddenly stop and to blink.
Seemingly visibly uncomfortable to continue on what happened and realizing that she might scare a potential donor away by damaging the reputation of her orphanage due to the actions of the orphans she nervously chuckled.“Anyways. Afterwards she did from time to time pay for deliveries being sent, usually containing good meat, fruits, clothes and other useful items for the orphans, but she never directly donated a single gil.”
The elezen added that since recently the raen from time to time brought people to the orphanage, usually ending up in them donating coin.“And lastly: The reason why I was confused that you found this place but seemingly don’t know her:” She points at a sizable poster at the wall, you remember seeing the design in the tavern and a few places throughout the city, but were to busy to take a closer look.The poster was black with white letters on it that read ‘Orphans of war charity gala’, the date revealed that it was happening tonight and depicted in the small drawing at the center was a raen. Due to only a few shades of grey being used for the line-work in the drawing, her body almost melted with the large painting of Ishgard in the back and the flowers around her, explaining why it didn’t catch your eye earlier.“Myself and a handful orphans are invited, I probably could even bring a partner...”
the elezen revealed, curiously watching you.
It was clear that this chance however wouldn’t come for free.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background, Ishgard
A stately house within the wards
Walking through the wards you come across an old elezen leaning against the massive, stone handrail that kept people from falling down into the abyss and follow his gaze.He was looking at a younger gardener tending to the flower patch outside the walls of an impressive estate with a beautiful garden that had two armed guards standing at the door.The elezen made a jest before explaining that he was the former gardener of the noble house that once owned this estate, and that now after retiring he had made it a habit to take a rest on his walks to observe if the young botanist from Gridania took good care of the plants and flowers he tended to for over forty summers.You learn that recently some foreigner from Gridania had inherited the house from a lesser noble. But after she took over only one maid, Carmilla d’Arlendre, a daughter to former nobility was allowed to stay while all other staff were relieved from their duties and new staff, all foreigners were brought in.
He unveiled that the reason for letting go of the staff was probably paranoia, as the lesser noble that previously owned the house suspected his wife of slowly poisoning him, which apparently was later confirmed. It lead to the house being dissolved with the death of its last lord, the wife not getting the estate (she probably would have tried to sell for coin anyways) and her forever hating the person who inherited it after being stripped of her titles.He briefly went off on a tangent, how few staff the foreigner employed to tend to the estate that span three levels below the very handrail he was leaning on, revealing that she now only employs one gardener, three maids and seven guards on rotating shifts.“...Though there’s those masked maids that seem to always change, the figures of some of those even tend look more akin to men than women. I don’t quite understand the reason behind that, but perhaps she is still looking for more servants and only get incompetent ones that aren’t even able to stay for more than a week...”he softly shook his head before carefully pushing himself off the railing and continuing on his stroll after telling you goodbye.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background, Ishgard
The Kagura Estate
The elegant elezen steps out of the entrance, canting her head as her eyes met with your own.
“Yes?” she said with a somewhat reserved undertone in her voice.You notice two things: The maid not giving you a curtsy or being overly welcoming to an unknown guest, and the two guards clad in expensive armor behind her staring at you. One of them even slightly pushed his sword out of his sheath using his thumb.From all the people you spoke to, this conversation certainly yielded the least to your research. The elezen replied with a cold undertone that gossip about the lady was not befitting of her status as her personal headmaid.
She however revealed that the household was busy preparing for an event and that her time was limited. “...Besides, the mistress of the house is currently not here anyways. But you are welcome to leave an envelope if you were told to deliver one.”A duskwight opened the brass-reinforced door, she was wearing a similiar uniform as the headmaid, the only difference being the white stockings and gloves.
Unlike the wildwood she gave you a brief curtsy and her a bow before speaking: “The ballroom floor has been polished lady Carmilla, regarding the auction-“With a wave of the headmaid’s hand she was immediately stopped from continuing to speak, instead the cold voice of the wildwood reached you once more, stating:
"If that was all, I think you should take your leave.”
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
The Charity gala is still in full swing, you walk over the intricate dancefloor, seemingly made of a dozen types of polished wood that have been cut in ways that the ornate inlays create a mixture of floral designs and elegant, geometrical shapes. While you meander through the many local and foreign guests conversing and enjoying both the music and their drinks you let your gaze wander to decide on your next move:
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
The metallic sound of the large gates dividing the wards being closed echoed through the carriage.
For a moment it was able to drown out the sound of the elegant, chocobo-drawn carriage itself.You watch as the hand of the bishop once more reaches upwards and instinctively you also reached for the leather-covered, wooden handle above your seat.
Three times the elegant, white carriage of the halonic church bumped over the shallow steps before it was over once more. The high priest seemed to have memorized the locations of the few stairs along the way through the wards.“Do as you will, but don’t disgrace me after we entered the estate.” The bishop wearing a gown in purest white tells you calmly. It was clear that you only paid to gain entry and not to be perceived to be related to the church once inside.
Upon meeting him you already got the feeling that although honoring your generous donation, he didn’t like the deal you made with the priest. But at the same time he did not want to pass his duty to one of the other six bishops of the cathedral.
You nod and lean forward to take a look out of the window.A surprising amount of local onlookers observing the carriages that passed through and merchants closing up their stalls could be seen. For a brief moment the carriage went through a short tunnel before it made a turn to the left.
A few temple guards standing at the corner of a sizable estate came into view after the carriage circled around it and came to a halt in front of an imposing arch made from Marble, a well tended garden filled with a mixture of figures lied behind it:
A few guests elegantly clad into ballgowns, suits and noblemen’s garb in front of the entrance, their many servants and attendants waiting outside in the garden and the guards employed by the owner of the estate.A few minutes later you enter the venue behind the bishop.
This house was built by a lesser house under Dzemael, a house known for their masonry, and it showed.
The amount of marble and granite used in its construction were a clear testimony of that. The many types of stone polished to shiny surfaces or carved into impressive shapes complementing the dark Wooden beams made the estate a true work of art.Your gaze wander over a reinforced and well guarded donation box being fed with coin and letters bearing seals, and a few guests lounging on their comfortable looking seats to relax a bit from the bustling ballroom beneath as your ears picked up the soft melody of a chamber orchestra from below.Upon descending the massive staircase made from carved, polished wood you were presented with a few intriguing options:
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
Unlike the carriages that seem to pour down from the ramp on the east, you enter the ward from the west by foot.
You walk together with the mistress of the orphanage and about half a dozen orphans that were all dressed nicely, cheerful conversing with each other creating an ambiance of laughter.Walking along the massive handrail made from stone you spot the Kagura estate on the other side of the about five yalm wide abyss and briefly look down. Spotting windows and walkways you realize that the estate on the other side included more than just the mere house above the streets.“And please, behave after you enter. I prefer to keep our orphanages reputation as high as possible.” the elezen gently said to you, giving you a smile that tried to cover her worries not knowing much about you aside from having been able to pay her the gil. As your group crosses a little bridge to the other side you spot a few temple guards standing at the corner of the estate, servants of the guests exchanging gossip while standing outside in the garden and at the side of the street and onlookers observing the many chocobo-drawn carriages and guests approaching the charity event.A few minutes later you enter the venue behind the mistress of the orphanage.
This house was built by a lesser house under Dzemael, a house known for their masonry, and it showed. The amount of marble and granite used in its construction were a clear testimony of that. The many types of stone polished to shiny surfaces or carved into impressive shapes complementing the dark Wooden beams made the estate a true work of art.Your gaze wander over a reinforced and well guarded donation box being fed with coin and letters bearing seals, and a few guests lounging on their comfortable looking seats to relax a bit from the bustling ballroom beneath as your ears picked up the soft melody of a chamber orchestra from below.Upon descending the massive staircase made from carved, polished wood you were presented with a few intriguing options:
The mysterious, elegant raen
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
A Midlander indulging in the buffet
You approach the surprisingly small woman, wearing a gorgeous blue ball gown that was busy tasting one meat-related dish after another.
Other guests seemed more interested about gossip and their wine.
And some of them, like you, eyed the midlander that seemingly only cared about devouring as many different dishes as possible.“Pretty rude t’ stare like that.”
The midlander loudly said with a thick lominsan accent in her voice without turning around. It took you a moment to realize that her green eyes were looking back at you through the reflection on an impeccably polished silverware bowl on the buffet.“An’ keep yer thoughts to yerself, I own the carvery that supplied the meats. I’m jus’ testing how well the cooks prepared them into proper meals.”
The woman pats down the corner of her mouth with a napkin before turning around and giving you a cheeky smile.
Nodding towards one of the other guests eyeing her (which in turn quickly averted her gaze) she added “As ye probably heard I’m not too good with ‘formal’ though. Name’s Madeleine, n’ you are?”
It was clear that her eating habits weren’t the only aspect that would make her look ‘out of place’ in this charity event, for a moment you briefly contemplate if she actually was an orphan but you quickly introduced yourself and asked another question that was going through your mind“Oh, been knowin’ lady Kagura for a while, she’s a good lass with a strong spine, n’ has helped me a lot. Jus’ don’t try anything funny with her or ye will regret it.”
Perhaps it was because of how fast she talked, or because of her limsan accent, but the threat at the end was so fluent that it almost felt natural.
As the conversations steered towards how she meant that, the midlander reaches for the last pre-cut bite from a tasty looking, monster’s thigh, grilled to perfection. Seemingly not in a hurry she was visibly enjoying the texture and juiciness of the meat before answering:“Mhm, aside from the possibility that I’ll poke some holes in ya myself?”
She softly chuckled “Well, let’s say ye touch her without permission. Best case is her punishing ye for it, worst case is yer ending up on the bad side of the people around her.”Your eyes drift towards the raen, currently surrounded by nobles, and the hyur follows your gaze, only to add: “Oh, I wasn’t talkin’ about nobles hun.”
The midlander comes closer, motioning for you to lower your head before gently whispering in your ear
“Ever heard about ‘Scathach’? The mysterious arms dealer known as ‘shadow of Garlemald’? The one which no one ever saw his face, n’ that sometimes even sold Garlean tech n’ Weaponry to Eorzea’s Grand companies?”
she backs off a little, casually reaching for her half-empty cup of wine to take a sip before giving you a wink and closing in once more to add with lowered voice:
“Well, the cutie with those ivory scales over there is the person 'Scathach' often chooses to broker his dealings. And thrust me: Ye don’t want to get on the bad side of that arms dealer...”You expect her to burst out laughing, telling you that it was all just a jest, but that didn’t happen. You get a feeling in your gut that the midlander not only told you the truth, but even knew more about those dealings.
And this feeling certainly settled in even before she - Instead of ordering one of the maids to prepare more of that grilled shank - casually reached for the long knife next to the grilled thigh to swiftly cut herself some additional, perfect sized strips of meat, elegantly avoiding the fatty parts and those too charred with the precision of a butcher.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
A young, inebriated noble
“We did we meet in Ul’dah, right? No?”
The intoxicated noble snickers before explaining that he was terrible with faces, but the gaze towards a certain elegant raen looked familiar.“Mh, I always like to say that she’s a dangerous person, that one moment you might be able to steal a kiss from her gorgeous lips and the next you’re selling state secrets...”
He chuckles and reaches for a fatty piece of prime-gastornis meat – An ishgardian variation of dodo - quickly adding
“...that actually happened-” He paused to take a bite into the juicy, fatty meat before continuing“...Mhm! Mh, mhm... I even know who did such an embarrassing thing, but I shan’t tell you.”
He chuckled at his own choice of words, probably feeling smug about his perceived sense of superiority to know such a thing.The elezen briefly glanced at his hand covered in meat-juice before doing one step towards a nearby maid, briefly extending his hand as if he wanted to pat her shoulder with it, only to turn around, once more briefly staring, this time at the white tablecloth covering the banquet.
You observe the drunk noble having a silent internal monologue, probably about cleaning his hand by staining the tablecloth before spotting a stack of napkins nearby.“Where were we?” He asked while cleaning his hands. “Oh, yes. Lady Kagura, be very careful what you wish for...”
The mysterious, elegant raen
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
The speech
The music suddenly stopped and both, heads and bodies started to turn towards the host which was wearing an elegant ball gown made of dark green and black fabric. A corsage of cherry blossoms adorned both her head and in form of a broche her dress, the accessories probably were chosen for a deeper meaning.The Raen handed her crystal glass containing red wine to a servant. Gracefully, like a dancer taking center stage she moved between the wall and the crowd of guests. A large oil painting depicting a late lord of house Fortemps served as her backdrop, while she was flanked by young orpans and the mistress of the local orphanage.
Usually orphanages would dress them in rugs to make them look shabby in order to get more donations, but oddly enough these orphans were wearing nice clothes, looked well fed and seemed genuinely happy albeit very shy.It took a moment for the chatter to die down, even after the regal ballroom was completely silent the raen just kept softly smiling for a moment, which felt almost like a tease.“War is terrible. Children lose their parents. Parents, their children, in a needless bloodshed.” Keiko’s voice was stern and at the same time velvet-soft, even as she continued “Scary is that each side truly thinks that they are in the right, the belief in the beginning? Often pure, sometimes ignorant. But as war goes on the reasons for thinking why they’re right shifts. It rarely remains about the original goal.”
Once more the raen briefly let her words sink in
“It is about loss. Loss of their beloved, loss of their happy lifes... And as such the reason to continue becomes revenge. An emotion so strong that its fire usually can’t be smothered until it is fed to the point of solace”You hear mumblings and whispers around you. The foreigners remained silent, but the Ishgardians seemed restless. A foreigner trying to berate them? Perhaps even belittle them?
You pick up comments about rumors regarding the raen profiteering from wars, being apparently connected with arms dealers. Comments about hypocrisy.“Ishgard - Was able to do something spectacular! Truly this nation is to be revered for being able to break these chains of hate, to get unfettered by a war that lasted for generations.”
The whispers you heard came from tongues, sharp enough to stab a person but suddenly they all grew silent. “Shackles that generation after generation have been embedded deeper beneath ishgardian skin, by this time almost being fused to their bones, dictating their actions. Fused to their heart, dictating their views.
And Still! Today I am a guest in an Ishgard of peace. A testimony that the proud inhabitants of this beautiful city had the willpower and strength to stop the spiral of violence and hate.
By sacrificing the probably almost unbearable calls for revenge in their minds in favor of providing their children a future in peace. Peace, which will also help these orphans here to slowly mend the wounds in their souls.”
The raen let her right hand rest on her chest, covering her heart, briefly ever so slightly lowering her voice adding:
"And as an outsider, with a neutral view... I am able to tell you all here and now: That truly, the level of strength and willpower that you all presented to overcome this desire for revenge..."
Once more Keiko paused, giving her words more weight before lowering her now slightly wavering voice even more to finish her personal statement "...Is a quality, I truly envy you for... That I perhaps never will be able to reach during my lifetime."For a moment there was complete silence, the eloquent raen seemingly hit a nerve.
“I am honored to have gotten the right to aquire this estate, being able to host this wonderful event and feel blessed to be in the presence of you all.” She raised her hand, motioning to a few guests among the crowd as she continued:
“I would like to thank everyone who has made this event possible, whether it be the disciples of hand that provided for it, the nobles that helped organizing it or the many influential guests who were able to spread the word.” Keiko’s hands pinched at the fabric of her ballgown as she performed a graceful curtsy before continuing.“Half of the net-proceedings of this evening will go to the ‘Hydaelyn fund of the blood lily’, an institution that supports orphanages throughout the world and builds infrastructure in war-thorn regions.”
The raen then motioned towards the orphans and the head of the orphanage behind her
“The other half of course will go to ishgardian orphanages like ‘Halone’s shield’. So that the wealth spent tonight shall be the seed that grows into trees that will become the new, future pillars to elevate Ishgard to a new height of prosperity!”The guests started to clap, the speech of the raen had guided them through many emotions and you feel like some aspects like her showing gratefulness and honoring their loss were picked up even stronger thanks to the contrast created at the beginning of the speech.Once the clapping had dimmed down Keiko continued, motioning towards the stairway and both you and the guests turned their heads as the sea formed by the crowd parted.
About a dozen of maids wearing white gloves slowly descended the staircase. Each holding a weapon seemingly made from pure gold, silver and gems. Your eyes focused on the intricate engravings - Some just decorative, ornate lines, some depicting scenes of war and peace - and the many gems covering their surface as the maids walk by before taking their place next to the raen.“I would like to point out that we do have a donation box at the entrance, but...”
Keiko’s smile grew wide as she motioned to the weapons that the six maids each flanking her on both sides held “... rather than just ask to donate gil. I’d like to offer you a chance to bid on these master-crafted arms. Weapons that are simply too gorgeous to be wasted and scarred to wage a war.”
She gently let her finger trace along the shaft of the halberd next to her “Weapons that shall become true symbols of peace, never to shed a single drop of blood. And weapons that will become a timeless testimony to your wealth and generosity.”Needless to say the majority of the guests were eagerly eyeing the different blades and polearms that outshined the radiance of the raen.
“And with this, I’d like to step aside, so you all can take a closer look at these wonderful twelve objects that shall be auctioned in half a bell.”Keiko elegantly bowed and the people once more clapped before approaching the maids. It was clear that the speech sparked a flame and the nobles were burning to flaunt their wealth and status to bid on them.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
An attempt
Posture? Check. Smile? Check. Impeccable glam? Obviously check.You approach the elegant raen softly chuckling while talking to a maid.
Her goblet made of crystal glass, filled with fine wine was raised towards her lip, only a few yalms were left between you, and then out of the corner of your eye you spot a roegadyn wearing a black suit walking sideways between you and Keiko.His gaze was stern but his expression was friendly.
“Apologies, but I do not recognize you.” He pulls out a few pages of parchment, probably containing names as he explained that lady Kagura’s time was quite limited.
You get the feeling that your name, as a guest of a guest, probably won’t be on the list. Smart enough to not give him any reason to ask for your name you smile, perhaps even apologize for not realizing that she deserved a little rest too.Glancing behind the guard as you speak, you notice Keiko’s green-and-red eyes meet with your gaze. Being noticed by the raen and her maid... For a brief moment you sensed hope, but the moment was over as quick as it came, with Keiko turning back to her maid and whispering something in her ear before casually taking another sip from her wine, eventually gracing someone else with her almost demonic looking, mesmerizing gaze.You turn away as the roegadyn puts his lists back into his jacket, thinking about what to do next, but suddenly, amidst the music and chatter of other guests you hear the sound of heels hitting the polished wooden floor and turn your head.
The elezen maid had approached you, giving you shallow bow and the words
“In courtesy of lady Kagura.”
You look down and spot what looked like one of the cards an astrologian carries on themselves being handed to you.You feel a few guests giving you hostile gazes, probably being not fond of more competition around you.
No matter whether you would accept the card or not, the Maid would turn around and head back towards the raen afterwards, which in turn was already occupied once more, talking to an ishgardian noblewoman.If you would choose to accept the card you would be able to take a closer look at it:
Black and green dominated its surface while embossed silver complimented both: Its rim and the intricate design.
It was made to look like a back cover and featured what looked like a combination of an elegant, baroque spiral and a spider’s net in embossed silver foil. Almost hidden among the many lines were larger, golden letters forming ‘Mistress Keiko Kagura’ above the center and smaller letters stating an address below.It was an odd design for a calling card, almost in thoughts you turn it around.Embossed on the other side was the design of a tarot-card, intentionally printed upside down. Golden letters along its bottom wrote ‘The Tower’.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Background
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
Judging the amount of temple guards patrolling the area and standing near the venue, the amount of temporarily hired mercenaries guarding the event itself and the security it was clear that the charity gala was loaded with important people from near and far.After observing the many chocobo-drawn carriages come and go, and unable to fit in with the many servants of the guests waiting outside you eventually leave your little blind spot near the estate’s corner to quickly walk towards a group of noblemen that were finished smoking outside and were returning to the event.Lady luck must have smiled upon you as you catch up with them before the head of one of the many guards wearing black suits, (probably mercenaries specifically hired for the event) turned towards the group.
At ease and seemingly recognizing to have let them in beforehand his gaze moved away towards a white carriage that just appeared on the street outside the stone archway, not spotting you among the nobles.You enter the estate, immediately you get embraced by the warmth, a reminder on how long you spent outside, stalking around the charity event.
You quickly walked past a few guests to get some distance between you and the guards at the door, briefly looking around to avoid any guards or maids that might recognize you not being invited.This house was built by a lesser house under Dzemael, a house known for their masonry, and it showed. The amount of marble and granite used in its construction were a clear testimony of that. The many types of stone polished to shiny surfaces or carved into impressive shapes complementing the dark Wooden beams, made the estate a true work of art.Upon spotting a reinforced and well guarded donation box being fed with coin and letters bearing seals you briefly turn away and act like you had to brush something off your leg to avoid eye contact with the two guards bearing the same armor as the one at the door earlier this day.
As your ears picked up the soft melody of a chamber orchestra from below you decide to follow behind the next person descending the massive staircase made from carved, polished wood.Once in the regal ballroom you were presented with a few intriguing options:
The mysterious, elegant raen
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
A strong hand on your shoulder
You freeze in place, slowly turning your head only to see a pair of roegadyn wearing black suits behind you.
The one that had grabbed you by the shoulder canted his head towards the staircase.
“That’s about as far as ye go, I hope you had your fun. There’s three ways of how things can happen now. Two of ‘em will put you into an ice-coated cell, offered by the temple guards.”You get the feeling that the only difference between the two options mentioned probably were the amount of criminal charges and perhaps whether you arrive with all your bones intact or not.Smart enough to not cause trouble you let them guide you to the door, however deciding to make a run for it once outside to avoid a potential arrest by the nearby temple guards.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
A Midlander indulging in the buffet
You approach the surprisingly small woman, wearing a gorgeous blue ball gown that was busy tasting one meat-related dish after another.
Other guests seemed more interested about gossip and their wine.
And some of them, like you, eyed the midlander that seemingly only cared about devouring as many different dishes as possible.“Pretty rude t’ stare like that.”
The midlander loudly said with a thick lominsan accent in her voice without turning around. It took you a moment to realize that her green eyes were looking back at you through the reflection on an impeccably polished silverware bowl on the buffet.“An’ keep yer thoughts to yerself, I own the carvery that supplied the meats. I’m jus’ testing how well the cooks prepared them into proper meals.”
The woman pats down the corner of her mouth with a napkin before turning around and giving you a cheeky smile.
Nodding towards one of the other guests eyeing her (which in turn quickly averted her gaze) she added “As ye probably heard I’m not too good with ‘formal’ though. Name’s Madeleine, n’ you are?”
It was clear that her eating habits weren’t the only aspect that would make her look ‘out of place’ in this charity event, for a moment you briefly contemplate if she actually was an orphan but you quickly introduced yourself and asked another question that was going through your mind“Oh, been knowin’ lady Kagura for a while, she’s a good lass with a strong spine, n’ has helped me a lot. Jus’ don’t try anything funny with her or ye will regret it.”
Perhaps it was because of how fast she talked, or because of her limsan accent, but the threat at the end was so fluent that it almost felt natural.
As the conversations steered towards how she meant that, the midlander reaches for the last pre-cut bite from a tasty looking, monster’s thigh, grilled to perfection. Seemingly not in a hurry she was visibly enjoying the texture and juiciness of the meat before answering:“Mhm, aside from the possibility that I’ll poke some holes in ya myself?”
She softly chuckled “Well, let’s say ye touch her without permission. Best case is her punishing ye for it, worst case is yer ending up on the bad side of the people around her.”Your eyes drift towards the raen, currently surrounded by nobles, and the hyur follows your gaze, only to add: “Oh, I wasn’t talkin’ about nobles hun.”
The midlander comes closer, motioning for you to lower your head before gently whispering in your ear
“Ever heard about ‘Scathach’? The mysterious arms dealer known as ‘shadow of Garlemald’? The one which no one ever saw his face, n’ that sometimes even sold Garlean tech n’ Weaponry to Eorzea’s Grand companies?”
she backs off a little, casually reaching for her half-empty cup of wine to take a sip before giving you a wink and closing in once more to add with lowered voice:
“Well, the cutie with those ivory scales over there is the person 'Scathach' often chooses to broker his dealings. And thrust me: Ye don’t want to get on the bad side of that arms dealer...”You expect her to burst out laughing, telling you that it was all just a jest, but that didn’t happen. You get a feeling in your gut that the midlander not only told you the truth, but even knew more about those dealings.
And this feeling certainly settled in even before she - Instead of ordering one of the maids to prepare more of that grilled shank - casually reached for the long knife next to the grilled thigh to swiftly cut herself some additional, perfect sized strips of meat, elegantly avoiding the fatty parts and those too charred with the precision of a butcher.
The mysterious, elegant raen
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
A young, inebriated noble
“We did we meet in Ul’dah, right? No?”
The intoxicated noble snickers before explaining that he was terrible with faces, but the gaze towards a certain elegant raen looked familiar.“Mh, I always like to say that she’s a dangerous person, that one moment you might be able to steal a kiss from her gorgeous lips and the next you’re selling state secrets...”
He chuckles and reaches for a fatty piece of prime-gastornis meat – An ishgardian variation of dodo - quickly adding
“...that actually happened-” He paused to take a bite into the juicy, fatty meat before continuing“...Mhm! Mh, mhm... I even know who did such an embarrassing thing, but I shan’t tell you.”
He chuckled at his own choice of words, probably feeling smug about his perceived sense of superiority to know such a thing.The elezen briefly glanced at his hand covered in meat-juice before doing one step towards a nearby maid, briefly extending his hand as if he wanted to pat her shoulder with it, only to turn around, once more briefly staring, this time at the white tablecloth covering the banquet.
You observe the drunk noble having a silent internal monologue, probably about cleaning his hand by staining the tablecloth before spotting a stack of napkins nearby.“Where were we?” He asked while cleaning his hands. “Oh, yes. Lady Kagura, be very careful what you wish for...”
The mysterious, elegant raen
Ishgard, "Orphans of War" Charity gala
The speech
The music suddenly stopped and both, heads and bodies started to turn towards the host which was wearing an elegant ball gown made of dark green and black fabric. A corsage of cherry blossoms adorned both her head and in form of a broche her dress, the accessories probably were chosen for a deeper meaning.The Raen handed her crystal glass containing red wine to a servant. Gracefully, like a dancer taking center stage she moved between the wall and the crowd of guests. A large oil painting depicting a late lord of house Fortemps served as her backdrop, while she was flanked by young orpans and the mistress of the local orphanage.
Usually orphanages would dress them in rugs to make them look shabby in order to get more donations, but oddly enough these orphans were wearing nice clothes, looked well fed and seemed genuinely happy albeit very shy.It took a moment for the chatter to die down, even after the regal ballroom was completely silent the raen just kept softly smiling for a moment, which felt almost like a tease.“War is terrible. Children lose their parents. Parents, their children, in a needless bloodshed.” Keiko’s voice was stern and at the same time velvet-soft, even as she continued “Scary is that each side truly thinks that they are in the right, the belief in the beginning? Often pure, sometimes ignorant. But as war goes on the reasons for thinking why they’re right shifts. It rarely remains about the original goal.”
Once more the raen briefly let her words sink in
“It is about loss. Loss of their beloved, loss of their happy lifes... And as such the reason to continue becomes revenge. An emotion so strong that its fire usually can’t be smothered until it is fed to the point of solace”You hear mumblings and whispers around you. The foreigners remained silent, but the Ishgardians seemed restless. A foreigner trying to berate them? Perhaps even belittle them?
You pick up comments about rumors regarding the raen profiteering from wars, being apparently connected with arms dealers. Comments about hypocrisy.“Ishgard - Was able to do something spectacular! Truly this nation is to be revered for being able to break these chains of hate, to get unfettered by a war that lasted for generations.”
The whispers you heard came from tongues, sharp enough to stab a person but suddenly they all grew silent. “Shackles that generation after generation have been embedded deeper beneath ishgardian skin, by this time almost being fused to their bones, dictating their actions. Fused to their heart, dictating their views.
And Still! Today I am a guest in an Ishgard of peace. A testimony that the proud inhabitants of this beautiful city had the willpower and strength to stop the spiral of violence and hate.
By sacrificing the probably almost unbearable calls for revenge in their minds in favor of providing their children a future in peace. Peace, which will also help these orphans here to slowly mend the wounds in their souls.”
The raen let her right hand rest on her chest, covering her heart, briefly ever so slightly lowering her voice adding:
"And as an outsider, with a neutral view... I am able to tell you all here and now: That truly, the level of strength and willpower that you all presented to overcome this desire for revenge..."
Once more Keiko paused, giving her words more weight before lowering her now slightly wavering voice even more to finish her personal statement "...Is a quality, I truly envy you for... That I perhaps never will be able to reach during my lifetime."For a moment there was complete silence, the eloquent raen seemingly hit a nerve.
“I am honored to have gotten the right to aquire this estate, being able to host this wonderful event and feel blessed to be in the presence of you all.” She raised her hand, motioning to a few guests among the crowd as she continued:
“I would like to thank everyone who has made this event possible, whether it be the disciples of hand that provided for it, the nobles that helped organizing it or the many influential guests who were able to spread the word.” Keiko’s hands pinched at the fabric of her ballgown as she performed a graceful curtsy before continuing.“Half of the net-proceedings of this evening will go to the ‘Hydaelyn fund of the blood lily’, an institution that supports orphanages throughout the world and builds infrastructure in war-thorn regions.”
The raen then motioned towards the orphans and the head of the orphanage behind her
“The other half of course will go to ishgardian orphanages like ‘Halone’s shield’. So that the wealth spent tonight shall be the seed that grows into trees that will become the new, future pillars to elevate Ishgard to a new height of prosperity!”The guests started to clap, the speech of the raen had guided them through many emotions and you feel like some aspects like her showing gratefulness and honoring their loss were picked up even stronger thanks to the contrast created at the beginning of the speech.Once the clapping had dimmed down Keiko continued, motioning towards the stairway and both you and the guests turned their heads as the sea formed by the crowd parted.
About a dozen of maids wearing white gloves slowly descended the staircase. Each holding a weapon seemingly made from pure gold, silver and gems. Your eyes focused on the intricate engravings - Some just decorative, ornate lines, some depicting scenes of war and peace - and the many gems covering their surface as the maids walk by before taking their place next to the raen.“I would like to point out that we do have a donation box at the entrance, but...”
Keiko’s smile grew wide as she motioned to the weapons that the six maids each flanking her on both sides held “... rather than just ask to donate gil. I’d like to offer you a chance to bid on these master-crafted arms. Weapons that are simply too gorgeous to be wasted and scarred to wage a war.”
She gently let her finger trace along the shaft of the halberd next to her “Weapons that shall become true symbols of peace, never to shed a single drop of blood. And weapons that will become a timeless testimony to your wealth and generosity.”Needless to say the majority of the guests were eagerly eyeing the different blades and polearms that outshined the radiance of the raen.
“And with this, I’d like to step aside, so you all can take a closer look at these wonderful twelve objects that shall be auctioned in half a bell.”Keiko elegantly bowed and the people once more clapped before approaching the maids. It was clear that the speech sparked a flame and the nobles were burning to flaunt their wealth and status to bid on them.