xistentia | Eorzea 101 ☘ video via Emeraldd

[ surprise! it's Era again, using something other than text for the first time ever on the network. She is staring intently directly at the camera and with an inquiring look sent its (Emeraldd's) way.

She's incredibly petite, and she wasn't lying when she said she had horns - they're quite clearly attached to her head in place of ears. Pale scales line her skin in various places, most noticeably on the forearms, neck, forehead, cheeks, and the bridge of her nose.

When she speaks her voice is more alto than soprano by far; soft, but not too quiet.* It is definitely the voice of a fully grown woman despite her stature. ]

Hello, I am Era Ra and I am not from any version of the planet 'Earth'. I am an Au Ra whose home is the region of Eorzea on the planet of Hydaelyn.

[ she places a map (sans translation overlays of course) in front of the camera. she points out each place as she speaks of them: ]

Hydaelyn has three Great Continents: Aldenard, Othard, and Ilsabard. Eorzea makes up a majority of Aldenard and its outlying islands. Currently Eorzea has four city-states: Limsa Lominsa in La Noscea on the island of Vylbrand, Gridania in the Black Shroud, Ul'dah in Thanalan, and Ishgard in Coerthas. Together these city-states form the Eorzean Alliance.

La Noscea is a maritime-based region and as such many of its inhabitants' lives revolve around the sea. The city-state of Limsa Lominsa is led by Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn, a former pirate and formidable admiral of the Maelstrom.

The Black Shroud is a dense forested region under the rule of the temperamental and finicky Elementals. Gridania is a city built with minimal damage to the forest that surrounds it. There are as many trees as there are people that reside there, and it is generally a very quite and peaceful place. It is led by Kan-E Senna, a Padjal with powerful healing magic. She is in charge of the Twin Adders.

Thanalan is an arid region that is mostly savanna, though has a large desert on its southern tip. Its city-state is Ul'dah, governed by the Sultana Nanamo Ul Namo. Their grand company is the Immortal Flames, led by Flame General Raubahn Aldynn.

Coerthas is a mountainous region that is despairingly cold in most places, though the areas at a lower altitude are only moderately cold. This is where The Holy See of Ishgard is located, and it is led by Aymeric de Borel, Lord Commander of the Temple Knights.

[ it's at this point that the map is removed - she no longer needs to point to the areas she's speaking of - and instead she directs the 'camera' to Aymeric, who is sitting at his table drinking tea. Upon realizing he is on camera he sits up straighter and dons a the more professional air of one who leads a major city-state.

The camera then returns to her. ]

There are many races in Eorzea. The ones that most closely resemble what you call 'humans' are the Hyur, Miqo'te, Lalafell, Elezen, Roegadyn, Au Ra, and Padjal. There are many other sentient races with their own cultures and beliefs, but are more monstrous and less human in appearance. They are Sahagin, Amalj'aa, Ixal, Kobold, Sylph, Vanu Vanu, and Moogle.

There are also the Dravanians - dragons - who are sentient and highly intelligent, though they are in a category of their own. The Dravanians and the Ishgardians were at war for one-thousand years until very recently, which I may discuss further at a later date should anyone be interested.

I did not mention Sharlayan - the area in the north western part of Eorzea - as they keep to their own affairs and are not part of the Eorzean Alliance. Again, I can discuss Sharlayan at a later date should anyone wish to hear of them.

I will also discuss the Garlean Empire another day, as there is much to say about them. They invaded Ala Mhigo in Gyr Abania twenty years past, and Doma twenty-five years past. They have made various attempts to encroach further into Eorzean territory though have been stopped. Ala Mhigo had been another grand city-state before it fell into the hands of the Empire.

Magic is prevalent and commonplace in every continent save for Ilsabard, as Garleans are unable to harness aether, which is the source of all magic.

Compared to what I have heard of many of your worlds my home is less 'advanced' than most. We do not have automobiles or trains or aeroplanes - not necessarily because we are incapable, but because teleportation between large aether-filled crystals is almost instantaneous and thus more convenient. For flight we do have airships, and for traveling longer distances without teleporting the use of Chocobos and carriages are common.

[ at this point she scoops up Emeraldd and sticks its head out the window so the camera can see her Chocobo, Peki, chilling outside of Aymeric's apartment building. Era whistles and Peki is quick to respond by looking up at her and letting out a happy kweh!

She throws some kind of head of lettuce down at the giant bird, who catches it and begins tearing into it like a dog with its favourite treat. Satisfied with the bout of showing off her Chocobo, Era ducks back into the apartment to continue: ]

I believe that is enough information for today.

((ooc: *voice reference. and if any of this is inaccurate pretend I didn't get it wrong bc I am a dumb and Era is a smart. :U she will move on to Eorzea 102 in a few weeks. ))

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[ ... As will he. It's intriguing, certainly, the pink that lines her cheeks. Don't think he doesn't notice. He's just polite enough not to comment on it. Also, he doesn't think too deeply on it since there could be any number of reasons for the flush to her face. ]

I almost believed you never grew weary, [ he teases. Though he'd seen it, certainly, after her battle with Nidhogg. The exhaustion that had taken hold after such a trying battle. ] But I am inclined to agree.

[ Despite how casually and calmly he is sipping on his tea. Haurchefantd climbs up onto the table, striding over to Era with a friendly smile on his face. ]

[ She would almost prefer another round with Nidhogg to the monotony of this world, strange Prison World aside. Era is used to constant activity; constant danger and constant adventures. Here it is just constant... waiting. For something bigger to happen. For more of her loved ones to arrive.

Era offers him a smile as weary as she feels, though no less sincere for it. Aymeric is more aware than most that she is, above all else, still a mortal and not just the Warrior of Light. Haurchefant was another (and perhaps even more privy to seeing her at her worst). While she might hide a few things from him (that time in Falcon's Nest when she was drugged comes to mind) she doesn't feel the need to act energetic when she isn't.

Haurchefantd continues to make her heart ache through no fault of his own. He is simultaneously a knife and a balm. Era gives him a small smile as well and his hair a slight ruffle with a finger. ]

[ Almost, but not quite. Aymeric has been grateful for an end to the Dragonsong War. Despite the fact that another seemed to be reaching a boiling point and Era was no doubt about to charge headlong into it. She wouldn't be her if she didn't, however, and so he's certainly not about to try and stop her.

Instead, he wants to appreciate the time that they have together like this. To converse, to drink tea together, to do the things there were never time for before. A bit sentimental, perhaps, but he has to work on trying to find the bright sides of being trapped in this foreign world. ]

I am doubtful we're the only ones feeling so stagnant, [ he finally comments. ] Hopefully, we can start organizing missions and working swiftly towards the common goal of our homeworld's restoration.

[ Haurchefantd gives a grin at the ruffle of his hair, chiming in as well, ] That's the spirit, Ser! We mustn't lose hope!

We are meant to restore our worlds from here, yet still I feel as-

[ -as though her voice is going to fail her completely for now, apparently. Era furrows her brows, irritated and resigned. It is better she doesn't share how guilty she feels for being here instead of fighting in Eorzea. The other Scions would have been better equipped than her for aiding from Xistentia. She has always been best suited to the frontlines, leading the charge into battle and slaying Primal threats alone when they cropped up.

With more training she's certain she would be able to defeat Shinryu regardless, especially after the fight with Omega wore it out. It's bound to tire from the havoc it's wreaking across the land soon enough, and when it does she needs to be there to return its aether to the earth.

Hope is something she has an infinite supply of, but it waxes and wanes as the moon does. Currently it is waning, consumed by the knowledge that she alone could likely make a difference back home and instead is trapped here. Aymeric doesn't deserve such an attitude from her though, and so she does her best to appear brimming with it; eager to assist with missions - which she is, to some degree...

Era forces a smile at both Haurchefantd and her friend. It's tired, strained, and doesn't quite reach her eyes but by the Twelve she's trying. ]

It doesn't suit you, [ he supplies, but not meaning any offense. ]

I know that what is asked of us here is neither of our areas of expertise, but for what it's worth I know you have been doing your utmost. [ It might not feel like she is compared to what she's used to but he doesn't doubt that they'll be able to return home someday soon with how hard she's trying. He knows he is, he doesn't think she has it in her to stop doing all that she can. ] And of all the people to be here with me, I am more grateful than you know that it was you, my friend.

[ While he knows either of them could have managed without the other, it is definitely a large comfort to have her present here with him. A bit of familiarity in this otherwise foreign land. Maybe it's selfish of him, when he knows how she feels about the Umbral Era threatening to start back home yet he can't bring himself to think otherwise. ]

Mayhaps the missions will help and be something to help us both feel a bit more productive.

[ She does her best to shake off her melancholy if only for Aymeric's sake. While she doesn't quite manage it she does manage to shift her focus on to the thought of the missions. A mission would be... nice. Something more concrete toward helping Eorzea in its time of need.

While she could send a text message to Aymeric with her thoughts instead, Era still prefers her grimoires and codexes for writing. There's something comforting about quill and ink on paper compared to communicating through her Carbuncle. She pulls out her codex and quill and begins drawing.

Two quick sketches: a unicorn and a sea monster. Then she adds a doodle of an Au Ra that can't swim and promptly crosses out the sea monster. Finally, Era circles the unicorn. Her drawing skills are... mediocre. Definitely not on par with Alphinaud's, but passed the stage of a child's skill level.

And to accentuate how much she likes unicorns Era adds a small heart beside it. ]

[ The Elezen watches her scribble over the top of his cup of his tea with a smile he didn't even notice painting his face. ]

I wasn't aware that you are unable to swim, [ he can't help but comment at the concerning doodle. He had heard word of Era slaying Leviathan, but that puts a much more scary spin to it. Her bravery truly knows no bounds.

But his attention is drawn quickly enough to the unicorn and he gives a nod of his head. ] Very well, [ he agrees. ]

I'll put in for this posting as soon as possible.

[ Era offers a sheepish shrug, face most certainly pink at admitting such a thing. Though if anyone were to understand it would be Aymeric, for even if the lands of Coerthas were never this bitterly cold before the Calamity, the altitude of Ishgard and its surrounding areas would make swimming an undesired activity regardless.

His quick agreement causes a smile to bloom brightly across her face as she nods. She quite misses her own unicorn companion, and ever since befriending Haurchefant and House Fortemps they have been held even more closely to her heart. ]

Eorzea 101 ☘ video via Emeraldd

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