Tales From Eorzea (NA)

[Triairy]

An eerie stillness hangs in the air this season as ghouls, ghosts, and assorted other nasties come out in force in search of hapless adventurers to terrify. But rather than cower under your bed, why not laugh in the face of fear by rounding up your friends and sharing your spookiest stories? The FINAL FANTASY XIV Tales from Eorzea contest is here to facilitate just that!

To participate, write a spine-chilling original story set in Eorzea, and post it on the forums along with a screenshot of your character telling the tale to friends at a campfire. The Community Team will select the five best entries and award the winners with the Scarf of Wondrous Wit in-game item. Draw inspiration from the lore-rich realm of Eorzea, and pen a tale that will strike fear into the hearts of even the bravest adventurers!

Draw inspiration from the dark sources present in Eorzea and tell a tale that is sure to strike terror into even the bravest adventurers as they slumber in their beds!

Entry Period
October 18, 2012 12:01AM (PDT) through October 25, 2012 11:59PM (PDT)

Entry Method

• Take a screenshot of your character at a campfire somewhere in the wilds of Eorzea. Note that multiple screenshots may be posted in your entry to help tell your story (up to a maximum of 5).
• Write a spooky short story and post it in this thread along with your screenshot. Your story must be no longer than 700 words to qualify.

How to Take and Post Screenshots

• To take a screenshot, hold down the "Scroll Lock" key, and press the "Print Screen" key to take a screenshot. The image will be saved to My Documents → My Games → FINAL FANTASY XIV → screenshots
• Upload your campfire screenshot to your Lodestone blog or other image hosting website
  *For uploading images to Lodestone, please refer to the instructions listed here to learn about the upload process.
• Copy the URL for the uploaded picture.
  *This can be done by opening your image of choice in your Image List and then right-clicking and selecting "Copy Image Location." This process may differ depending on the browser you are using.
• Finally, when posting on the forum, use the [IMG] tag and place the URL between them:
  [IMG]http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com/sample.jpg[/IMG]

Prizes
Five Grand Prize Winners:

• One Scarf of Wondrous Wit

* Must have an active account to receive the Scarf of Wondrous Wit. This prize is an in-game item and has no monetary value

Results
Winners will be selected by the Community Team on or about October 26th and an announcement will be made on the forums.

Restrictions

• One entry per player. If multiple entries are posted, only the first post will be valid. (If you run into issues adding your entry to your first post, you'll be allowed to create a second post.)
• Posts cannot be edited while the event is ongoing.
• Do not edit the screenshots (cropping and editing out other player names is acceptable).
• This contest is limited to North America Square Enix Accounts only.

We ask that you please limit posts in this thread to entries only. Off-topic posts will be removed or moved to another thread on the forum.

SQUARE ENIX OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES

All entries and other materials (the "Entry Materials") (including all copyright, trademark, and other proprietary rights associated therewith) submitted by you become the property of Square Enix upon submission, and Entry Materials will not be returned to any contestant. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you acknowledge that Square Enix will own all rights to use, modify, and make derivative works of the Entry Materials, without separate compensation to you or any other person or entity. You agree to take, at Square Enix's expense, any further action (including, without limitation, execution of affidavits and other documents) reasonably requested by Square Enix to effect, perfect, or confirm Square Enix's ownership rights as set forth above in this paragraph. Entry Materials may be used by contestants only for purposes of the Contest or for private, personal, non-public viewing. Entry materials received by Square Enix may be destroyed by Square Enix at any time following the Contest.

ORIGINAL WORK OF AUTHORSHIP

You hereby warrant and represent that (a) as between you and parties other than Square Enix, you own all rights to all Entry Materials submitted by you; and (b) other than the fact that all intellectual property embodied in and related to the FFXIV game, including all copyrighted works and trademarks and derivative works thereof, are the exclusive property of Square Enix, all such Entry Materials are original works of authorship on your part and have not been copied, in whole or in part, from any other work and do not violate, misappropriate, or infringe any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary right of any other person or entity.

[Camate]

Reiterating this one more time in case it is hidden in the OP, but this thread is reserved for contest entries ONLY. Thank you for your cooperation.

[Antanias]

Over the vast reaches of the continent of Eorzea, there loomed a gigantic red "moon" that brought forth panic and bedlam across the vast fields, deserts, mountains, and forests. Among the other strange occurrences, Atomos would occasionally visit different aetherytes and call forth otherworldly minions to bring the adventurers of Eorzea to their kness.



There was, however, an occurance in Camp Revenant's Toll that was so unsettling that adventurers have deserted the area. There have been reports of adventurers of all races disappearing around Revenant's Toll and no trace left behind. A lone miner by the name of Antanias set out to investigate the aetheryte to pique his own curiosity about the rumor. Fearing he might become lost like the urban legend suggests, he rode his trusty bird Drumsticks to the scene in question to see what could be causing all of these disappearances.

Another Highlander wearing a tuxedo and a grey-haired miqo'te wearing glasses were also in the area, but Antanias decided to walk right past them towards the bright orange aetheryte...until Atomos appeared right overhead and started to drain its energy. There were several bright red flashes which caused the wandering miner to become dizzy and fall to the ground.

(4 hours later)

Antanias woke up near the camp to make sure he kept his wits about him and to double-check his surroundings. Things seemed ok...well, not for everyone that had been near the aetheryte at that moment. The tuxedo-wearing Highlander was nowhere to be found and the grey miqo'te was sobbing uncontrollably while attempting to look for him. Antanias walked up to the miqo'te and gave her a ball of yarn as he proceeded to return to the Amajina and Sons Mineral Concern to share his survival story with his fellow adventurers.

[Leyza]

Darkness settled throughout the Twelveswood as the moons rose up into the sky, the chattering of frogs and crickets began to fill the valleys. Two Lalafell, Trileyrel and Leanna, walked down a small valley. It seemed untraveled. At the end of the valley was a cave, seemingly inhabited by only bats. Tril looked at the cave, her face showing curiosity. Leanna looked over at her and said, “Tril, we need to head back, it's getting late.”

Tril looked back and said, “Let's just check it out, it won't take too long, I promise.” She then started heading towards it. Leanna then shrugged and followed her. “I wonder if anything, or perhaps anyone, is in here.”

“Part of me hopes we find something, and part of me hopes we don't... How much longer are we going to stay in here?”

“Not much longer, Leanna.” Immediately after she said that, a loud boom was heard. They look back, and see that part of the cave had collapsed, seemingly blocking their way out. Tril then said angrily, “Darn it... Maybe we'll find a way out on the other side of this cave...” Tril then turned around and started heading further into the cave. “Hey, Leanna, can you give me some light?”

A little flame appeared over Leanna's hand, giving a small bit of light. Tril smiled. “Thanks.”

Leanna nodded slightly to Tril, then heading forward along with her. They continued on for a few minutes, before hearing a loud screech. They jumped. Leanna then said, in a shaky and scared voice, “What was that?”

“I don't know.”

They heard it again, and then began to run. The flame Leanna had created then disappeared. They stopped after running about ten yalms. Leanna tried to create another flame, but no flame appeared. “Tril... Something's keeping me from casting.”

“Maybe a silencing spell... I think someone else is here.” They noticed up ahead of them was a torch. They walked towards it. When they got to it, Leanna pulled the torch off the wall.

“This should be useful.” She looked looked left of the path they were walking on, noticing some stairs. “Maybe that's an exit? Let's head up it.” She then started to walk up it, motioning for Tril to follow. The stairs led to what looked like an old dining room for a mansion. Up in the very front of the room, a skeleton was standing. Its arm was resting on a table, as if the person had died standing like that.

“Hey, Leanna, isn't this where that avalanche happened back a long time ago, perhaps shortly after the sixth Umbral Era?”

“I think so, Tril.” Leanna then looked toward the back of the room, noticing a door that seemed to lead out. “Hey, Tril, there's the way ou-” Her sentence was cut short shortly before a screech, similar to the one heard earlier, but louder, sounded, followed by purple beams swirling from the staff the skeleton held, heading towards the door, covering the door in a purple glow, sealing it.

Tril looked over at the skeleton, which looked as if it was laughing, and rushed towards it, swinging her ax towards its middle section, managing to hit it, splitting it in half. The staff it held dropped from his hand, falling down on the floor. A small gem fell out of the sphere on the tip, and cracked. Everything went silent for a few ticks, then what looked like a thousand souls started coming out of it, letting out a wail. The purple glow then disappeared from the door, and they headed back into the Twelveswood. It was morning. They looked around and smiled.

There was then a whisper,. “Run, Lalafell... Run for your lives...” The whisper was followed by a cackle. The sun then disappeared, and the area became dark. Soon skeletons began to rise from the ground, surrounding them both. They began to attack the skeletons. Several loud, repeated booms were heard. They looked up at a nearby mountain. An avalanche, was starting. They ran from the avalanche and skeletons. Everything was hit by the avalanche. They managed to make it back to Gridania, and then went to rest.

[BlueSin]

Kyo warmed her icy cold hands by the campfire at Camp Brittlebark. Mor Dhona had never been a particularly hospitable place. Dalamud reigned over the skies, a common sight these days, bathing an eerie red light over the land. The only comfort she found in this place beyond the glow of the fire was that of the Aetheryte nearby. Almost as if the cool glow of the Aetheryte was trying to bring some semblance of peace and purity to this dying place.

The voices of those long passed echoed within Kyo’s heart. Visions of battle flashed through her mind, wars from long ago that she had never seen. The Echo had become a burden in recent weeks as Dalamud drew ever closer. It was as if all of Hydaelyn was screaming out against what seemed inevitable.

Remarkably, all of these things were the last thing Kyo was worried about right now. Throughout her travels she had begun to hear rumors of a creature appearing at the Aetheryte crystals. This creature would feed upon the crystal until it was replete and then flee, leaving terrible monsters from beyond the void in its wake before disappearing back into the void itself. Both friends and family alike had become victims of this creature, and for her it was all too personal now.

Kyo took another look at the stars and gauged the time to be close to midnight. She rose from her position at the campfire. She rubbed the dust from the ground between her hands; it would make her grip on the spear much firmer. She stood for another moment, taking the time to whisper a prayer under her breath for all of Eorzea.

All at once the aura around Camp Brittlebark seemed to change. As if all the heat of the world had gone, and Kyo felt as though she may never be happy again. She spun around to face her enemy, drawing her spear instinctively. Her eyes widened at the sight of the creature as it turned towards her.



Kyo stood immersed in the light of the Aetheryte that spewed forth from its massive maw. The Aetheryte so pure and dense you could practically taste and smell it. This was the creature they called, Atomos.



As Atomos drew breath, Kyo could see a glowing mist travel from the Aetheryte crystal into its mouth. She watched in horror as the cool blue glow changed to an ugly orange and she knew at once the crystal was dead. The creature moved towards her, and she stumbled and fell backward as it began to glow brightly. It was all she could muster to raise her spear in defense, a pathetic attempt to parry the inevitable blow. Suddenly it felt as if the world was exploding around her, tearing her body to shreds and at the same time assimilating all her hopes and dreams.



Kyo awoke to the sounds of her own screaming, as she scrambled back away from the campfire. Sweat poured down her face, tears in her eyes as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. She struggled to make sense of the situation, and tried to slow her breathing and concentrate. It must have been the power of the Echo. But what was this that she had just seen? The Echo had only ever shown her what has come to pass; it was a window into the hearts and memories of others. Why then did it feel as though she had just witnessed what was still yet to come?

Kyo rubbed her eyes and rose to her feet. She shook her arms trying to cast the terrible feeling off of her bones. When her nerves finally began to calm, she turned to face the Aetheryte knowing now what the future could bring. The crystal was blue again, giving off its purifying glow. Kyo pondered for a moment that perhaps she had only been dreaming. With sweaty, shaking hands she drew her spear nervously.



Kyo did not have to wait long before the creature Atomos appeared, turned towards her and began to consume the Aetheryte. Again she stumbled and fell backwards, as the creature moved towards her and began to glow…

[Jinrya-Geki]

Lalafel Folklore - Midnight Light

once upon a time, the lesser moon was shrouded in a red veil. That night curious children got out of bed and ventured from their homes to find a better view of the oddity.

Like moths to a flame, they followed the red moons glow to they could come no close to the moon. As if in a trance, they would lift their right arms to try to catch the red orb in the sky. For so long they tried, the lanterns they had ceased to light their path. Greedily, they used the light of the Dalamud to light their laterns wit magic.

By doing so they were punished, their skin became a pale green, their eyes yellow and wide. The children became unable to speak for their mouths were forever closed. Their skin easily irritated by most fabrics they had to wear small hemp cowls.

The children could no longer be lalafels again, mistaken as monsters they were chased out of their homes. Thus retreating to underground where they lay dormant for the red moon to rise again. They are quite lonely and want company of others to keep them company...

[Chadwick]

A young hyur named Chad was left alone in her mog house on several accounts as her parents worked late. Her parents bought her a moogle to keep her company.



One night Chad was awoken by a constant dripping sound. She got up and went to the mog-kitchen to turn off the tap properly. As she was getting back into the mog-bed she stuck her hand under the mog-bed and the moogle licked it.

The dripping sound continued, so she went to the mog-bathroom and turned off the tap properly in there, too. She went back to her mog-bedroom and stuck her hand under the mog-bed, and the moogle licked it again. But the dripping continued, so she went outside and turned off the taps out there.

She came back to mog-bed, stuck her hand under it, and the moogle licked it again.

The dripping continued, drip, drip, drip.

This time Chad listened and located the source of the dripping — it was coming from her mog-cupboard. She opened the mog-cupboard door, and there was her moogle hanging upside down with its neck cut, and written on the mog-window on the inside of the mog-cupboard was, "MIQO'TE CAN LICK TOO!!!"

[Katella_Avenlea]

Laughter permeated the chilled night air as the group gathered and nestled in near the campfire. As much as recent events overshadowed their lives, they could always rely on a gathering of Distant World Linkshell members to take the edge off.

“Now its Kat’s turn” announced Mini, his mischievous eyes glimmered like that of Dalamud itself.

“No No.. I’m sure someone else has something far more entertaining to share… Merikosum.. you go” she replied

“No Katella, I think it is your turn” chuckled Merikosum.

Katella fidgeted nervously, rolling a small section of visible necklace chain between her fingers as her face likened to the pale white hue of the now lesser moon. She dusted off her robe and stood over the campfire, surveying the group sitting around her.

“Alright… “ Katella said somberly as she shot Mini a sideways glance. Mini looked at his friend intrigued, there was something more serious about her demeanor.

“It was a few weeks back when I had been asked by the Twin Adder to do a survey of a nearby Aethergate …. at least that was what I had told Merik and Jynx when they offered to tag along. However, that wasn’t entirely the truth.” She cautiously looked up from the fire taking note of the perplexed looks on Merikosum and Jynx’s faces.

“In truth, I hadn’t been asked to do anything” she shook her head ruefully. Lasthold wasn’t even my goal, it was actually the Gelmorra Ruins…. The journey had been difficult with the constant dodging of creatures that inhabit the area, so it was easy to suggest a rest stop at the ruins… on the way Merikosum spoke of a tale he’d been told, of a treasure chest that was supposedly located just a bit further north near a waterfall, so their interest in checking this out worked in my favor. It would give me a chance to properly survey the ruins alone.” explained Katella.

“The native Gelmorrians had not only been responsible for the construction of the ruins, but also for Tam-Tara Deepcroft, Muy-Tuy Cellars and Toto-Rak”. Those who know history know that they were the ones who initialized the communication between the elementals and mankind in the first place. These ruins have been occasionally referred to as “The Summoning Circle” and it was after Merik and Jynx had pressed on farther and their voices dissipated with distance, that I witnessed something I will never forget.”

“A chill set in and the area became otherworldly silent. As if transfixed, I was drawn to climb the stairs up to the platform. As I did, there was a bright flash and suddenly I was surrounded by translucent people in cowls all chanting. The amberscale stones positioned around the platform’s ring began to glow until the hole in the center filled with some kind of mist. It cleared to reveal an image of massive destruction and I was shocked to recognize some familiar places.

Another bright flash left one translucent being standing before me. The being peered at me with an odd smile that was not conducive to the images they had just witnessed, before slowly extending their hand out towards me.”



“The silence was shattered by Jynx who from a distance shouted to see if I was coming. The figure dropped something shiny on the ground and totally disappeared.”

“I retrieved the trinket, Azeyma the Warden’s silver emblem etched upon an amberscale stone emitting a subtle glow. Jynx’s voice getting closer, I decided I had better catch up with them.”

“Hahaha Katella.. you are funny.. had me going for a second.. we weren’t gone nearly long enough for that all to happen” laughed Jynx heartily..

“Ok, now its someone else's turn.. I’m going to get more wood for the fire…” Katella smiled sheepishly and left the campsite.

Mini quietly followed until they were out of earshot. “Kat?” he whispered…

“Yes?..” she replied.

His finger grazed her neck as he gently tugged at the chain she fidgeted with earlier. Fully revealed, it was adorned with the very trinket she had described in her story! Their eyes met for a brief moment. She smiled, tucked it back in her robe before picking up kindling.

[Rannie]

"I can still remember it to this day. The day my life nearly came to a sudden and screeching halt." I said softly looking around at my companions.

"What happened?" One asked.

I could see their curiosity piquing. "Fine, I'll tell you of it." I lean back casually, my arms holding the upper half of my body weight up. I can hear the crackling of the fire and decide to tell them my tale of horror and oddity.

Rain continually pounded against my body, chilling it to the bone, as I walked along the moonless path. Unable to tell night from day I tried to look up only to have the drops sting my eyes as they fell. Thunder rumbled in the distance. I stopped for a moment and counted to see how many yalms it was.

As I stood there, the sound of laughter reached my ears.

I turned my head in the direction the sound was coming from. Through the veil of rain, it was difficult to see anything. I shrugged my shoulders and continued my journey.

It couldn’t have been but half an hour later, when again, I heard the sound of something laughing. I look around again and squint. “I must be hearing things…” I said softly to myself. “This is a deserted path after all."

As soon as I said that, I remembered what someone had said to me earlier. It was a warning. I had just shrugged it off at the time. The old man at that camp was obviously not completely in his right mind when he spoke those words to me. He warned me of the disappearance of many Adventurers’ like myself. Ones who failed to heed his warning ones just like me. How it was nights like this when the evil came out of its hiding and devoured the souls of those who fool hearty enough not to listen.

I was about to start walking again when out of the corner of my eye, I saw the silhouette of a sheep standing next to me.

I smiled slightly. That warning and the rain was making me a little bit jumpy. “I can’t believe that this little thing almost spooked me.” I said bending down to pet the Karakul sheep on its head. As I was reaching my hand out, something happened. The sheep slowly began to dissolve right before my eyes.

I jerked my hand away quickly. What in the name of the twelve is going on? I thought to myself as I stared incomprehensively at the sight unfolding right before my eyes. The seeming cute sheep had turned into an agent of evil right before my eyes.

Wings as black as night sky slowly protruded from its back. Its eyes were gleaming as red as and as bright as fiery inferno that Ifrit himself slept in. The teeth long and casting their own ethereal glow. That thing looked at me for a moment and then started laughing. I had heard the very same laughter only moments before.

I backed up slowly my hand reaching for my precious wand. I try to speak the words of the spell but my voice only cracks and my thoughts are in a complete jumble.

It chose that moment to attack me.

I look at my companions, their eyes wide in horror.

“And that’s my story,” I say to them.

“What do you mean it’s not over yet! What happened to the thing that attacked you?” One of my companions asked.

I looked at him, “What happened indeed”

I feel my incisors begin to extend, as the beginnings of power flow into my wand, and I smile maniacally as I once again turn toward new prey...

[Hart]

The Unknown.

The exact period is unknown. It is believed to be just after the formation of the Maelstrom a few years before the dawning of the Sixth Umbral Era. Many sought fortune and fame in those days and much like today, some people sought more power.

Power is not something to be taken lightly, especially when magic is involved. Many great thaumaturges have come and gone, but few as wicked or as powerful as Artinuex. So great was his thirst for knowledge, he withdrew from society, eventually ending up in the dark recesses of Cassiopeia Hollow. There he stayed for several years perfecting his dark arts in seclusion. But the solitude had an unexpected side effect for Artinuex, he lost touch with his sanity. Day by day his spells grew darker and darker, even his scepter began to slowly warp into something hellish. Many explorers entered that hollow, but nary a person ever came out. So many people were lost to the cave that eventually leves were issued to investigate the happenings in the hollow. Word of Cassiopeia Hollow had spread throughout Eorzea and adventurers flocked to Limsa Lominsa. Many highborn and heroes of merit were lost to the cave including Archibald Aegis, Lester the brutal, Margot Mhigo and most notably Roan Aldenard. Many adventurers filed into the cavern to make a name for themselves but served only as fodder for the thaumaturge's undead army, which grew with every new visitor.

Little is known about the soldier who finally managed to kill Artinuex. Based on the account of a witness who entered the hollow shortly after the unknown soldier descended, the lone man made his way through hundreds of undead swordsmen. Always laughing, as if he wanted to kill... as if he loved the challenge. Cleaving his way through what appeared to be a wall of rotting flesh, which seemed to be bound together only by the Artinuex's dark magic. The soldier did not stop, not once did his axe fail to connect with fetid meat! When he finally made his way to Artinuex, the soldier, now drenched in red, just stopped dead in his tracks -- as if under a spell. Artinuex was clenching his scepter and muttering something under his breath. It did not last long though, the soldier snapped back to his senses and charged at Artinuex! It was over. With one swing the thaumaturge was dead.

What happened next was curious. The soldier bent over and retrieved Artinuex's scepter and it was at that very instant that our hero fell over! The witness ran down the the battlefield as fast as he could but the soldier was already dead. Just another blood splattered corpse, hardly even distinguishable from the piles surrounding him.

No one knows exactly what happened after that, but it is said that if you ever find yourself in Cassiopeia Hollow the unknown soldier is still there, still looking for a good fight. Still grasping that cursed scepter. They say he will never be rid of it. No matter how many times it is pried from his ghostly remains.


Even today there are still reports of skeletal remains attacking adventurers. This is a true testament to how powerful Artinuex had become. Almost 1500 years later the dead still walk the bowels of Cassiopeia Hollow.