Aetherflow Magazine - The Final Issue by aetherflow.media

THE FINAL ISSUE

CO N T ENTS 4

Letter from the Editors

COMMUNITY 14

Interview: Luke Karmali

The Heart of a Soul Crystal

Fan Art Feature

Curiosities of Cosplay

LORE & LOCALE 58

Memoirs of a Traveler

FASHION 74

Fashion Focus

INTERIOR DESIGN 94

Hydaelyn's Hearth

SPECIAL ARTICLE 170

Remember Us - Memories and Moments from Shadowbringers

What's next?

Stay tuned...

Aetherflow Summer 2021: The final issue

Lovely R

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Just ove prepared down ju reflect. W but we'v

Letter from the editors

This is e a websit found in This me switchin publishin time. Ou

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In our las with Luk could no as the a more fro cosplays Raise yo

With lov AFM Edi

Arya, Lo

Readers,

uld like to start off by thanking everyone who's reading this, and who read any ssues these last 3 years, from the bottom of our hearts. We never knew how big ole thing would become, way back when we started in 2018. These have been f the most amazing years ever, and we mostly have you guys to thank for that.

er a year ago, the whole world was forced into a situation that none of us were d for. While there's definitely enough to fight for and no need to let our guards ust yet, it's safe to say that most of us had the time to think, ponder, muse and Who are we? What do we want? What's right? What's wrong? It sounds cheesy, ve all probably given it some thought.

exactly why we have an announcement to make: Aetherflow Media will become te exclusive platform. The same interviews, articles, recipes and other content n Aetherflow (magazine) for the last few years will now become web-exclusive. eans we will not be publishing Aetherflow (magazine) anymore, but simply ng to posting content on our (soon to be) revamped website. We'll still be ng quality content and hope you'll join and support us like you've done all this ur social media, including our Discord server, will still be active. Come join us!

r massive thanks to our staff for the blood, sweat, tears and passion they've into this project. We're beyond grateful for all that we've achieved so far, and more than excited to see what's the future holds for us.

st issue of Aetherflow, we are incredibly excited to include an exclusive interview ke Karmali, Senior PR Manager for Square Enix. Obtaining interviews like this ot be achieved without our beloved staff, Patrons, and readers like you, as well amazing staff within Square Enix! But by now you've come to expect much om us, so we have also included delectable recipes, gorgeous artwork, intricate s, various glamours, and so much more.

our glass, keep your head up; here's to new beginnings!

ve, itorial Team

olae, Nana & Fishy

LET YOUR CREATIVITY FLOW Are you looking to get creative with the Aetherflow Media team? Now is your chance! We are seeking out talented and interactive individuals to fill a few positions on our team. Check out the descriptions on the right for more information on these roles. Any or all of these sound intriguing? Click here to let us know. We look forward to hearing from you! Please allow 1-2 weeks response time as we like to allow all those interested a chance to apply before we begin the interview process. We look forward to your application and thank you for your interest!

GRAPHIC

Access to Photosh a portfolio must be will be provided o alignments, etc) to create an app should be submitte

C DESIGNER

hop is necessary and e provided. Applicant ur guidelines (fonts, and trial content plication layout that ed before approval.

SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

TRANSLATOR (JP/EN)

Must be able to pitch promotional ideas and be proficient with the various platforms. Applicant should expect to prepare at least 3 posts a week, whether scheduled or manual, published within the Social Media Team. Social Media Marketing experience is appreciated.

Must be able to efficiently translate written pieces between Japanese and English, making sure to maintain their original meaning, format and tone. The estimated workload for this position would be one article per month, including any communication with members of the Japanese community. It’s an advantage if audio pieces can be translated as well. The use of Google Translate does not count!

WRITER

COMMUNITY TEAM

Examples of past written work should be provided. Must also be able to provide a list of ideas for content. For example, a list of various topics for one-off pieces or a list of ideas for a recurring column.

Looking to find enthusiastic individuals who are willing to help promote events in the XIV community as well as aid in facilitating our charity streams and AFM related events.

THANK YOU From the depths of our hearts, we would like to share our deepest appreciation

to each and every one of our Patrons. Without your generosity, the goals in

which we have achieved thus far would still be mere dreams. Every dollar counts when it comes to making ideas into realities and with your help we were able to give our project a complete makeover! Your donations allowed us to fully reimagine our brand and buy new user friendly plug-ins for a completely revamped website. Because of you we are able to not only embrace our passions, but share them with those who share the same sentiment. Your assistance has made our dreams and goals come to life on the very screen you’re looking at. We would be nothing without the help of our dear supporters, so that is why we have decided to give our Patreon a well deserved upgrade.

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PATREON

SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO OUR PATRONS Limito Breaku Kelly Mewkow Sayo Fabri Sykes Fishy Blindinkpoet

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AETHER STREAM 10

Have you • heard about • listened to • experienced our very own podcast? Let our podcast team take you on new adventures, dive into lore and discover all of Eorzea's best kept secrets.

CLICK HERE TO START LISTENING

INTERVIEW - L U K

K A 12

KE ARMALI We recently had the honor sitting down with Luke Karmali, PR Manager for Square Enix. While Karmali's work mostly happens behind the scenes, it's definitely a big part of what makes FFXIV so successful. Let's take a moment to get to know the man behind the brilliant PR strategies, Fan Festival schedules, excellent writing skills and abundant FFXIV knowledge. What is working with Square Enix like? What NPC would he love to hang out with? Read on and find out!

interview by aetherflow media | photos by luke karmali | layout by lolae demort

First, thank you for taking time to speak with

How has Covid-19 changed the way you work?

Square Enix?

Personally, the biggest change for me has been not

It’s coming up to about four years now!

we spend a lot of our time working with colleagues

us today. How long have you worked with

being in the office every day. As you can probably guess, across Europe, North America and Japan, so video

What has been your favorite part of your position?

conferencing has always been part of the way we work, but not being able to lean over to colleagues and check their thoughts on an idea has been challenging.

I think the fact the role’s so varied, and we get to work with so many passionate people in both the dev team and the community all around the globe. Getting to work on one of my favourite titles isn’t something I take for granted either!

Did you grow up playing Final Fantasy

games? If so, did you ever dream you might be working for Square Enix someday?

When I was seven I remember my parents renting How is working with Square Enix different than

Final Fantasy VII for me…and I didn’t like it! I was too

working with Bastion & IGN?

young to understand how to play it, so gave up pretty

I’ve been very lucky in my career to have worked for a

family friends in Scotland and they wanted to show

number of companies that have shown me different

me the latest game they were playing, a little thing

parts of the industry. At IGN we were focused on

called Final Fantasy IX. For the entire two weeks we

serving our readers, figuring out what information they

were up there I was glued to it, much to my parents’

needed in order to make informed decisions and what

annoyance, and upon returning home I insisted on

the best way to present this was. At Bastion I was

getting a copy. It wasn’t until Final Fantasy X that I

operating as a liaison between media and the PRs in-

became fully obsessed, however. I remember finishing

house at various video game and tech companies, so

it at 2am on a school night, bawling my eyes out and

I was building upon that knowledge of what the media

my dad yelling at me to go to bed!

need while also developing creative ideas and project management skills. Square Enix on the other hand is the closest I’ve ever come to the actual experience of making games, so it’s an incredibly rewarding place to be. What are some of the most memorable things/ events/etc. you’ve experienced?

The 2018 – 2019 Fan Fest tour was pretty spectacular. I was fortunate enough to attend Las Vegas, Paris and Tokyo, and seeing the passion from the community across the world was really quite moving. I’ll remember the roar the crowd let out when we showed the Shadowbringers teaser trailer in Las Vegas for the rest of my life. Other than that, I think becoming the first video game company to sponsor a float in Sydney Mardi Gras. That was pretty special. 14

quickly. A few years later though we were visiting

NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE JOB.

Any advice for others who aspire to work at

I’ve been playing MMOs since I was about 16, which

Square Enix?

is a depressingly long time ago now! While online

I think my advice would be the same for any job

days, I still think there’s stuff MMOs do that you’ll

someone desperately wants, which is “you miss

struggle to find elsewhere. The sense of community

100% of the shots you don’t take”. Job listings can be

is pretty unparalleled, and I used to love how different

intimidating, but look at them and see if there’s any

servers develop their own personalities and ways of

glaring holes in your skill set. If so, what are some ways

working. I think a lot of people counted the genre out

you could go about fixing this? Take it piece by piece

when MOBAs and then Battle Royale titles came along,

and don’t put pressure on yourself to do everything all

but I don’t think that’s true at all and the continued

at once. I started out writing two news stories a week

success of a range of MMOs in recent years has

on my own blog for a few months. It doesn’t seem

hopefully put paid to that way of thinking.

gameplay is integral to a lot of different genres these

like much, but it gave me some writing samples I later used to secure a work experience placement at IGN. It can feel quite overwhelming to think how competitive job applications are – and they can be – but ultimately you should just focus on making yourself the best

We all know glamour is the true endgame. What is your all time favorite glamour item? Amon’s Hat - it’s fabulous.

candidate you can be. And always ask for feedback! What does a typical workday look like for you?

If you could pick any NPC to hang out with one day, who would it be?

No two days are the same here, which is what I love

I feel like there’s something about Hildibrand’s chaotic

about the job. Depending where we are in terms of

energy that would make it a day to remember. I’d just

expansions, patches or wider events, there’s always

need to make sure I had pretty robust life insurance in

something different going on.

place first…

You’re not in the spotlight as much, but you definitely seem to be a household name. Do people often fangirl when they meet you?

Hahaha – mercifully not! Back in my IGN days when I was a news video host I did get recognised out and about a fair bit but that doesn’t happen anymore, which suits me just fine. I’m quite content to stay behind-the-scenes! Let's talk FFXIV! What’s your favorite job and why?

I’ve been a Bard since day one – dealing damage on the move is very appealing for someone who struggles to sit still! What in particular about MMOs do you enjoy or find especially interesting compared to other types of games?

A massive thank you goes out to Luke and everyone at Square Enix for this interview and supporting us ever since we started out! 17

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TEXT

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the Heart of a Soul Crystal

T AND INTERVIEW BY A’ONISYA DEHF | LAYOUT BY ARYA THORNE

hen asked “What is your favorite part of resin casting?”, icrafts reflected, “The one thing that I love most of all knowing my job stones will go to new homes, making emories for people to cherish, and overall making FFXIV even happier place.” Soul crystals, often called job ones within the FFXIV community, are often considered eply personal for players, particularly for their Warrior Light’s main class. Many resin crafters who related eir experiences with casting soul crystals for the XIV mmunity during their interviews with Aetherflow Media mphasized the joy in creating such unique works of art for yers who feel so deeply for them. Much like soul crystals at are imbued in-game with the memories of those who e them and are passed down from one bearer to the next, too do resin crafters pour their skill, excitement, and pe into each crystal they create.

Top two: Justcharmy Bottom Three: Vicbaobao 20

“I love designing, crafting, [and] making things from nothing to something,” Vicbaobao gushed in their interview, “that’s my passion.” In the past, game-accurate soul crystals were mostly confined to large fan stores on sites like Etsy. Now, new creators trying their hands at resin casting to create both accurate and imaginative designs have erupted over the last year. With so many creators to browse, any XIV player can find a design for their favorite job that speaks personally to them, and if not, they can easily find a crafter willing to create a custom stone. That community of creators and buyers alike is Justcharmy’s favorite aspect of casting soul crystals: “[The community is] a wonderful space and I’ve gotten wonderful concepts from bouncing ideas off of friends and chatting,” she affirmed. Much like other crafters, she is always looking for the next burst of inspiration to incorporate into her work, which is reflected in the wide array of options she offers in her custom orders: flowers, colored glass, holographic flakes, glitter and foil of all shades, and even glow in the dark resin!

Rather than finding rivalry or intimidation in their fellow job stone creators, all the crafters I reached out to for this article expressed similar appreciation and support for each other’s creativity. Paperpoppy, an illustrator first and foremost, took the leap to learn resin crafting after purchasing some of Vicbaobao’s creations: “I had been wanting to start, like [a] year ago but felt I couldn’t, but the more I saw Vicbaobao and the more I bought from her I felt I could start.” Appreciators of resin crafts typically see only polished, finished products, leaving the process itself largely a mystery, but resin crafting is not nearly as simple as pouring solution into a mold and letting it set. While these crafters inspire Twitter timelines with their new designs and

experiments, resin crafting is a skill that requires persistence, care, and endless trial and error. Nearly endless considerations go through a caster’s mind when casting a stone, from the type of resin to layering the inclusions to the final cure. “You have to have both patience and work quickly,” Jezziepop explained. “Placing the final layer on things—or doming—should be cured ASAP or it could run over the edges,” while “letting inclusions sit too long will allow them to sink.” Balance on top of all that the specific handling resin requires to successfully—and safely—set, and resin casters are truly master jugglers of crafting.

Left: Paperpoppy Right: Jezziepop

Soul crystals can take anywhere from several hours to several days to complete, depending on the type of resin, dyes, inclusions, and even the type of mold. Zazaa (Zaku709 on Twitter) shared that between her day job and her resin variety (AB resin, which requires twenty-four hours to harden), a single cast typically takes three days from beginning to completion, but that time can increase depending on other considerations: “As most of the stone designs are made with layering of different materials . . . more planning needs to be made so that the elements won’t overwhelm [or] block each other.” While resin itself can set quickly, the amount of detail and care—or “babysitting,” as Airicrafts put it—drastically increases the amount of time (and stress) that goes into every single piece. “Every step is crucial,” Zazaa explained. In a craft as precise as resin crafting, the difference between success and failure “might be as tiny as spotting a fleck of lint trapped in your stone which you couldn’t remove, or in worse case, some oversight could damage the mold.” With a wide range of supplies and materials at their disposal, no two casters’ processes are exactly the same. Creating finished pieces exactly as they imagine requires countless hours of practice and experimentation. Alexei (Cookieboi1982 on Twitter), who was casting resin shaker charms and coasters before delving into FFXIV soul crystals, “learned about the beneficial use of rubbing alcohol being spritzed over top of a setting mold that would pop the bubbles.” The technique proved particularly useful for crystals, but like many discoveries while working with resin, Alexei’s innovation was borne from the difficulty of the materials themselves: “The initial mold I had for job stones was pretty dark so it was hard for me to be able to see all the bubbles at the bottom of the mold when I was pouring.” While a heat gun can also pop bubbles, he warned that “it can cause the silicone of the mold to heat up and then the resin will cure to it and that can ruin both the mold and the stone.” MiNah_creates, on the other hand, shared an extra tip from her own experience tackling the question of minimizing bubbles: “If you brush transparent powder (like baby powder) in your mold before pouring resin you rarely have any air bubbles on the bottom! . . . If you’re using dry pigments you can also brush them in your mold.”

Many of the lessons shared by the resin casters came about by happy accidents, or necessity, but some lessons are learned the hard way. Jezziepop was a plethora of knowledge from her extensive work with UV resin—including some of its tricky downfalls. She explained that “mixing too much pigment” into UV resin darkens the resin to a point that it will “never fully cure.” The UV light used to cure UV resin cannot penetrate through the piece fully when mixed with heavy amounts of pigment, “leaving you with a pocket of uncured resin encased in the cured resin,” which could easily pop and allow the uncured resin to ooze out of the piece. She also advised to “stay away from not clear molds if using UV resin,” as the danger of the piece curing unevenly increases the trickiness of the process significantly. “Using the ice tray molds with UV resin is actually really tricky, and props to those who do it so flawlessly,” she added, once more acknowledging the vastness of techniques that casters utilize to create their pieces. Resin crafters’ understanding of their methods and materials is even more impressive considering that the craft itself is fairly new; there are no clear how-to manuals when it comes to handling the combinations of materials these creators use in their works. Vicbaobao warned in her interview that “resin is unstable, and [since] no one ever taught us how to play with resin, we can only search some tutorials online, and learn all of these ourselves.” That gap of knowledge has the potential to endanger an artist’s health. Much like cleaning products with toxic properties that are often taken for granted, resin requires the following of strict safety guidelines that can be easily overlooked when a curious artist is first getting started. “I always thought it’s just like every other art material, like acrylic, clay, crayon,” Vicbaobao wrote, “but nope, resin is [a] chemical material that will actually hurt you if you did not follow the instructions carefully. Every few hours after making job stones I [got] dizzy and nausea [sic], I had to go and lay down to feel better.”

Top: Jezz Bottom: Vicba 26

ziepop aobao 27

Vicbaobao’s sentiment was echoed by nea crafters interviewed by Aetherflow, severa experienced similar ill side effects after ca of the toxicity of resin fumes. Justcharmy along with casting in a well-ventilated area grade for mask will do, and nitrile, latex, or will protect hands. Resin in general is cons depending on the brand, but there is a com using a flame with resin to reduce air pock harmful fumes and it’s important to protec working with chemicals.” Airicrafts, who re similar safety starting points in her intervie published a Twitter thread detailing safety handling resin, a must-read for any crafter with the material.

Besides its potentially toxic properties, res notoriously fussy to work with, and many c emphasized the trial and error process of type of resin and casting equipment works choice of AB or UV resin was split fairly ev artists interviewed, as both have their own cons when it comes to how they work with curing time, and the cost of equipment. So on Twitter) shared their experience with bo resin, explaining that while UV resin can be and advantageous for multilayered project curing time—minutes, compared to AB’s tw it is also much more expensive. And “not a created equal,” Sorin warned, “This goes fo Sorin also emphasized the importance of or risk having a stone fail. AB resin require “warmed before it’s mixed, because then i a thick, bubbly mess.” UV resin, however, is “The mold you’re using MUST be platinum you’re going to have a lot of struggles gett It also doesn’t like liquid dye much and can just wind up being soup and never curing p very strange color.”

arly all the resin al of whom also asting until learning emphasized that, a, “anything N95 r plastic gloves sidered non-toxic mmon practice of kets. This creates ct yourself when ecommended ew, even recently y tips and advice for r looking to work

sin is also casters learning which s for them. The venly amongst the n unique pros and h materials, their orin (casting_adlo oth AB and UV e highly desirable ts given its quick wenty-four hours— all UV brands are or AB as well!” proper equipment, es a 1:1 ratio, and it just becomes s no less finicky: m-cure silicone or ting it to cure at all. n do anything from properly to curing a

Despite the danger and trickiness of working with resin, job stone crafters are driven by the excitement of creating new designs, often pleasantly surprising even themselves in the process when they see the final results. When Estogazas—or Chelly, as she goes by online—was brainstorming two of her themes, one inspired by Ishgard and one by starry constellations, she “never thought” that the “designs could work out as well as they do.” Even though the designs took her several tries to get right, she said, “Now that I have, they’re both some of my more popular designs!” She even shared her secret to the eye-popping sparkles of color that feature heavily in many of her designs: “I think realizing that holographic flakes actually work extremely well in making colors pop, especially colors that are already semi-vibrant on their own!. . . I’d definitely recommend trying it out if you’re needing more vibrancy!” Chelly was not the only crafter happily willing to share the tips and tricks they’ve picked up along their journeys. The community that has grown around job stone casting is just as vibrant as the pieces they create, with artists excitedly showing new materials they’ve picked up to experiment with for a design, even sharing their failures as well as their successes—and, above all, their inspirations for their next projects. “Since working with job stones has been my first experience with resin, it has broadened my ideas a lot in terms of what else I might want to make,” Aspectedlove wrote. “It’s given me a lot of ideas to work on for the future such as some FFXIV-inspired jewelry maybe and lots of keycaps designs as well!” Her unique work sparkles with pastel pinks and golds, and she is excited about her upcoming plans to create a cherry blossom jewelry set inspired by in-game cherry blossom accessories.

Above: Chelly 31

There are always new ideas, new materials, and new creators for the resin crafting community to celebrate—a community that, for many, is essential to the positive experience of being a crafter. MiNah_creates wrote, “Very important to me is also the community; the resin community supports and helps each other,” and her sentiments were echoed many times over. Resin crafters’ Twitters are filled with retweets gushing over each other’s work. Sorin, along with several other crafters, recently created a Discord server for all FFXIV crafters, from resin to sewing to woodworking and everything in between. Check out the FFXIV Crafter Hangout Discord if you’re an artist looking for a supportive group of fellow creators, or even a fan wanting to follow what FFXIV’s most inspiring crafters are creating! As Aspectedlove pointed out in her interview, many resin artists create pieces other than soul crystals. Sorin, one of the Crafter Hangout moderators and an experienced resin caster, also specializes in dice, brooches, charms, and jewelry, giving FFXIV players a variety of ways to express their love for their Warriors of Light and the game they enjoy. For many, that joy is what pushes them to keep imagining and creating. “Your imagination is the limit when it comes to resin work!” Sorin wrote in their interview. Chelly echoed Sorin’s drive, writing, “It’s a fun process that allows me to push the boundaries of what I can create,” and that “giving others a memorable trinket that represents who I am as a creator and who they are as a fan and Warrior of Light is what makes me the happiest!” Indeed, the joy of all the pieces of a soul crystal coming together—each layer of resin carefully poured and cured with the inclusions of sparkles or fabric or ink just so to create an intricate design just as the crafter or the commissioner imagined— is supplanted only by the happiness of sending off the finished piece to the buyer. As Paperpoppy shared, “I then can be happy after 5 hours and think, ‘I hope this makes someone’s day.’”

Above: Airicrafts 33

FAN ART FEATURE text by a'onisya dehf | photos by meriadoc | layout by lolae demort

MERIADOC 34

Tell us a bit about yourself!

approach to starting a new sculpture the same from project to project, or does it

My name is Meriadoc and I’m a wool sculptor

depend on the design of the character?

specializing in needle felting. I find inspiration in all things heartfelt and wholesome, along

Thank you so much! I kind of have a set

with some sassy characters thrown in too.

routine when I sculpt the fundamentals, like the core body and legs, but after that my

I’ve been needle felting for over a year now

process has really evolved over time.

but have been sewing and working with textiles as a personal hobby for over 15

Back a few months ago, I was connecting

years. Nothing too major or noteworthy but

all of my core wool together before starting

just something I would pick up every now

color, now I finish the color and details on the

and then!

legs entirely before attaching. I’m all about A/B testing when it comes to sculpting and

I always wanted to learn sculpting but

finding ways that I not only enjoy but what

traditional sculpting just seemed very…

makes sculpting way more fun and easy to

intimidating, so I was drawn more to folk-

manage.

style of working with textiles and stumbled on needle felting. I loved the ability to be

I’ve found that if I look at a character design

able to create something from just time and

as I would a costume or a real life garment,

creativity and as a bonus, had a really low

it helps me to not double-work myself when

space requirement.

it comes to color and details. Managing my sculpt via working in layers is one of my main

How did you first discover Final Fantasy

techniques where the sculpt may not make a

XIV?

whole lot of sense when someone else looks at it, but in a few more detail layers it begins

My husband and I were looking for a game

to come together.

to play together and we’ve always been huge fans of the Final Fantasy series. Once

In the past few months, I’ve also really been

we heard about FFXIV being rereleased as A

enjoying using felt fabric sheets for a lot of

Realm Reborn and it was available on PS3

clothing details to make them more dynamic

and PC, we were hooked. We’ve probably

and more “life-like.” Collars, pant legs, scarfs,

been playing on and off together since about

sleeve details, etc.—all of these really work

2015.

well with a little help from felt sheets and really makes a big statement on the piece.

We both have very different play styles, but

FFXIV was one of those games that really

Given the size of each sculpture, and the

incorporated things that we both like so

materials you’re working with, I imagine you

seamlessly. We really like that we can meet

have to be pretty discerning about what to

up, do a few dungeon crawls together and

include and disregard from a design. How

then we can go run off and pick something

do you determine what details and shapes

else up.

to portray in a felt sculpture?

You’ve become quite prolific in the FFXIV

Very much so! Each sculpt is around 4.0 to

community with your felt sculpts. Is your

4.5 inches tall and trying to fit everything

in would lead to a lot of frustration.

for a good while! It was definitely a big-oof moment, and something that really made me

But this is one of my favorite parts of the

thankful for working with textiles.

process. I really like to study as many reference photos as I can of the character, not

In that moment, I found myself not in a huge

only just to kind of get “the feel” of the design

pickle as I would be in other mediums. Anytime

but also to plan out my sculpting strategy.

you make a color mistake or something just isn’t flowing with your work, you can always

Most of the time, it’s easy to kind of cherry

just felt over what you don’t like.

pick what to include or what you can scale down to still make an impact. For example,

I’m a huge advocate for those who are looking

if a character is wearing a vest with several

for a creative outlet that is super low pressure

decorative seams on the front, most of the

to try needle felting just for that reason alone!

time you can still make the same impact with just one or two lines to represent the seam.

To give us an idea of your process, roughly how long does it take you from start to finish

The goal for each detail included is to make

to complete a sculpt?

a similar impact that the original design did with less.

My basic sculpts usually take a minimum of 10 hours to complete from start to finish. So

Another trick I learned in a high school painting

like my minions, my more casual characters,

class a long, long time ago, is to squint at

and so on usually clock in over 10 hours.

your reference image. If you’re having trouble or getting overwhelmed by a certain design,

The more complicated sculpts usually take

squinting at your reference image can get

about 20+ hours to complete from start

you the general idea of where to start.

to finish.

I use this trick towards the end of the sculpt to

What has been a particularly difficult

determine if I need to add anything else too!

character you’ve sculpted so far? And one that you had a lot of fun creating?

Have you ever designed a sculpt and then, while working on the actual felting, had to

Oh, I would say that those titles are both

change your plans for the design on the fly?

synonymous! I really enjoy detail heavy sculpts and find the fun in the challenge of

Most of the time, I have a pretty solid idea

it all!

of how I’d like a sculpture to come out. I’m a pretty organized person and I love to have

One of my most intimidating sculpts, I would

several reference images before I even start

have to say, is Yugiri in her Shadowbringers

the basic core. But, with that being said,

glam. I worked on her for a commission and

working with textiles is actually a very, very

I kept saying to myself “where does this swirl

forgiving art form.

even go?” and “how am I going to do THAT?” for a lot of her details! But, I think she came

One time, when I was working on a sculpt, I

out so beautiful and I’m really happy that

was looking at the wrong glamour reference

she’s in her new home. 39

I’d love to try to work on her again at some

others in real life, so having an outlet where

point! I’m always up for a challenge and I

I can connect my art and my personality in

find that the second round of working on a

real time has really helped me to build better

character is where I learn the most. I love

connections with my community.

looking back at my older sculpts and seeing how much I’ve grown in my ability and

After getting rid of the initial stream-jitters,

process.

I really wanted to focus my time live with something that people could not only watch

What

has

your

experience

been

interacting with the FFXIV community since

and relax to but maybe even try out for themselves and learn different techniques.

you’ve been creating lots of XIV sculpts? So, that’s how the stream series was born! The FFXIV community is truly wonderful and

Each Saturday for about 2 hours, I continue

everyone who I’ve met has been nothing

where I left off the week before on the same

but supportive and nice!! It is one of those

character so you can see the entire process

communities whose reputation doesn’t touch

in real time, and be able to ask questions in

the actual niceness of the people within it.

real time too.

And just like the game itself, the community

Streaming with my stream series is VERY

has so many different niches that you can

different from my normal workflow. It

settle into too, which I love! There’s the

challenges me not only to be patient with

amazingly talented screenshot community,

the character but also use this time to be

(which I really like to be active in because I

able to chat with others about the process

love to see all the character designs!) the

or maybe even encourage them to try needle

writing community, the housing community,

felting themselves! It’s also come with an

raiders, crafters/artists… the list just goes on.

unexpected bonus where it allows me to study the piece longer and maybe even plan

I really love the diversity that FFXIV brings too,

out a different process that works better than

there’s so many people from all over who can

the one I would initially try!

all connect on multiple levels. Truly, there’s nothing like the FFXIV community out there.

Do you have any advice for people who see your work and are inspired to start needle

It looks like you started streaming your

felting themselves?

needle felting fairly recently. Tell me a bit about your experience streaming! What do

For years, I would say how much I wanted

you enjoy about it? Does streaming your

to learn and how I’d really like to try needle

work feel different from doing it off-camera?

felting and just never took any action. It wasn’t that I wasn’t interested, but it was definitely

It is SO much fun! I absolutely love to sit and

something that I just didn’t prioritize like I

chat and talk about FFXIV and needle felting,

should have.

it really is the best of both worlds. If there’s one thing I would say it would be:

Streaming has been something I really

if you’re thinking about starting, just do it.

wanted to try for a long time. I love talking to

Seriously!

I started with a little $20 kit from Amazon and just played around with it, making characters that I really liked. I went rogue without a lot of guidance or tutorials because I just wanted something that wasn’t super high-pressure, hyper-focused work. For months, I worked on small scale projects every day because the entire process is just super enjoyable and a nice stress reliever that doesn’t need a designated area to work. It checked all of the boxes that I wanted out of a creative hobby and it’s turned into so much more than I could ever imagine. Thank you so much for your time and insight into your work! Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of AFM! It really means a lot to me and I’m happy I’m able to participate in such a wonderful collaboration of FFXIV fans! You all do such a wonderful job here and produce such beautiful issues time and time again. Thank you all for all of your hard work!

CURIOSITIES OF COSPLAY HIBICA.COS

TEXT AND INTERVIEW BY A'ONISYA DEHF PHOTOS BY LAURA CALANDT PHOTO, SOULCATCHER PHOTOGRAPHY, VIRA PSD, SILAVON PHOTOGRAPHY AND YVALE LAYOUT BY LOLAE DEMORT

A common theme throughout these Curiosities interviews has been that of support and teamwork. Whether that be technical help behind-the-scenes, online community support, or duo cosplayers creating their costumes together, almost no cosplay is created in a vacuum. For HIBICA.cos duo Sigli and Mana, that support started from their first cosplay together, and has only strengthened since. With all the modern materials, tools, and tutorials at a cosplayer’s disposal these days, it’s easy for that first step of tackling a project to intimidate you out of starting at all, but Sigli and Mana show that just the support of a fellow creator can help bring a cosplay from concept to fruition. In their extensive interview, Sigli and Mana generously offer a view into how their individual strengths allow them to push their skills to new limits and create some truly magnificent cosplays.

Tell us a little about yourselves! How did you both get your start cosplaying? Sigli: I think for me, like many others, it started with a love of dressing up. Every kind of carnival party was a highlight in our childhood, just like reenacting anime and cartoon series in the school yard with friends. Films like Interview with the Vampire or Lord of the Rings or PC games like Thief had brought my clique of friends to the point that we had started to put together costumes for small photo and film projects with the video camera or costume parties. That was really fun! Mana: I think my interest in cosplay started when I watched a cosplay competition at our annual book fair. I was completely amazed by the love and creativity the people put into their outfit and performance and just thought, "Omg I want to try that too!" Since I was already a huge fan of anime and manga I had so many ideas of what I wanted to do. However I didn't really know how to do it at the time and was way too shy to try it and in the end I was way too worried about people's opinions about me and my interests. I remember admiring Sigli and the others over the years and thinking, "That's just so cool!" One of our mutual friends took it into her hand and asked me if we wanted to do a group cosplay together. And there was my chance. Until this day I am still very grateful for the opportunity to try it out and the help of my friends to make it really possible. Since then we started cosplaying together. What made you commit to being a cosplay duo rather than having your own independent cosplay social media presences?

we could do more together. At some point Sigli opened a page on Facebook. We wanted to show all of our photos and costume works. Time is also one of the reasons why we've been trying to manage our social media together until now. Since cosplay is just a hobby for us up to now and we can't offer much content in the year, it works out pretty well. What are some of the benefits and even detriments of being a cosplay duo vs. independent cosplay? What is your team dynamic for realizing your costumes? Sigli: I think that we complement each other really well. In the creative field, we often give each other tips. For example - what material can be best used [and] exchanging tutorial research and tricks. Especially when it comes to materials, there is now so much on the market that good advice can save a lot of time and effort. I mostly help Mana with the choice of fabrics, sewing parts, and pattern making. In turn, I can ask her a lot about social media and how to create texts and other stuff. She has become an incredibly important moral support for me, as she always has a good word to hand or gives advice and assistance in depressing, motivationless times. In addition, she often manages important organizational matters for the purpose of conventions, which sometimes saves a lot of time when you have to finish a project before the event. I just think without her I wouldn't be where I am now. The projects wouldn't be that much fun and [could] maybe get lost at some point now and then.

Both: It started back then with a larger group. There were three of us, and even four people from time to time. We all had our own cosplay wishes and lots of ideas, but somehow the group projects have received our greatest attention because 47

Mana: I’m currently blushing. However I agree with Sigli on this. Since she is our fabric and sewing master I can learn a lot from her. She is also the one who is braver in trying out new things. So she is likely to tell me on the next day already. “I tried that out, what do you think?” And then we can discuss the result and think about other ways, methods, materials, ideas, and so on. That’s really fun and I enjoy the exchange and support we give each other.

matter whether they are turned towards the “bad” or “good” side, whether they have cute dresses or sexy outfits. I mostly like characters who are drawn to the evil or the dark in some way. I like the snooty or different way they act. It makes you look so special and stand out from the crowd. So we just couldn't resist taking on Ryne and Gaia or Omega-M and Omega-F. That was a great fit for the two of us, not just in terms of appearance, but also in terms of character.

Both: We have not yet been able to determine any relevant disadvantages in our “craft community”. We are not forced to do everything together. Every one of us has the opportunity to experience or create their own projects as we wish and when we have the time.

Mana: As you can see we complete each other again! In most cases, however, one of us has an idea of which character we would like to cosplay and asks the other if that would be okay and makes suggestions about other characters which would go with the wanted character, regarding each of our personal preferences.

However, the distance from home is sometimes a bit of an obstacle. Visits have not been allowed for a long time because of the containment of the corona pandemic, [so] we can't meet as often as we want or need for joint projects or other things. What attracts you to creating certain costumes from FFXIV? Do either of you have preferences for the types of characters/costumes you want to cosplay? Both: The main reason is probably that we play the game together and really enjoy it. You get to know the characters and you can better empathize with them. The designs from FFXIV are really unique. There is a lot that makes you want to cosplay it because it just looks very aesthetic and special. Even if you then realize again and again in frustration what you have gotten yourself into, since many designs are not meant to be in real life.. Sigli: As usual, we also often look for characters that we like from the design as well as their nature. Mana, for example, prefers the cute girls with idol traits or those who look really innocent; it doesn't 48

You recently remade parts of your Yotsuyu costume from the 2017 version you created for the FFXIV Cosplay Competition at Gamescom. Do you often return to finished costumes for improvement? Sigli: We always try to keep our costumes in good condition so that we can wear them more often. This means that there are always minor or major repairs. But to the extent that I've done it for my Yotsuyu cosplay hasn't happened to any other costume yet. I love this costume and it means a lot to me. I like the character Yotsuyu so very, very much and have cheered her on throughout the game like no other NPC so far. In addition, her kimono and her design in general look incredibly beautiful! I won an award for this costume at Gamescom 2017. At the time I could only work with the ingame screenshots. After the artwork of her character [was] released I saw so many more details I wanted to include in the costume. So I think it deserves this attention and I'm looking forward to wearing it again soon!

You utilize a wide variety of skills to create your cosplays, from sewing techniques to worbla to making your own molds. Can you talk a bit about how you learn new crafting skills, and if there are some skills you’ve picked up that have been consistently more useful than others? Both: [We] are currently getting a lot of information [from] the internet. We're also in a couple of cosplay groups on Facebook or Discord. There people like to exchange ideas about their progress, questions and problems, new techniques or materials. It's always very interesting. So you will also get which might even be useful for a future project. You never know what you're going to do. Research is the most important thing for us, it helps us to better understand the techniques in order to apply them more specifically and to produce less “waste.” Which doesn't mean we don't make mistakes, but there are far fewer test runs required if I already know roughly how it

might work. For special things, such as comfort or material science, experience comes into play. With every new costume that you work out, you get more knowledge and often a better idea for the next project comes out. There are skills in every project that you need more often than others. With armor, the main work is perhaps with the cutter and the dremel, and on a princess dress it is the handling of the sewing machine. Nevertheless, many different techniques are simply required for the overall result. We therefore tend to believe that there are skills that you need more often and others that you don't use that often because they don't fit to every project. It is simply necessary to learn some techniques in order to create a base. Further methods give the base the look you want it to be and make it special. Sigli: For us, the time factor simply plays a big role in its usefulness. When we find a technique that can speed up processes, we will try it.

For example, I have seen many artists use prefabricated molds, or [if they] build certain things that they need several times or want to duplicate, they make a mold [for] them with silicone or other materials, be it just small ornaments or entire swords. I've tried that and noticed that it saves a lot of work and time. Since then, I've been using it every now and then. But for the details the look is always important for us, too. An embroidery or a 3D ornament made out of EVA Foam, for example, is more likely than textile paint or foil prints despite the [extra] time. I really like the embroidery on my dancer costume. It looks so much better and gives it a more glamorous look. Given the wide range of materials you work with, what are some materials or crafting techniques you’d like to use but haven’t had the opportunity to yet? Both: One material we want to deal with more at some point is silicone. This material comes in so many varieties and for different areas of application. Also we would like to work with these little smoke machines. This is a really great effect for some cosplays. How do you decide which crafting technique to use to create each piece of a costume, particularly if you decide to learn a new method? Both: Of course, it depends on what kind of costume you want to make. If it is more armor, then first and foremost we would think of EVA foam. If it is more of a piece of clothing, the sewing machine comes into play. When it becomes a project where there are things that you haven't done before, like the wings on Innocence (we'd never built wings before) or the LED technology, when there are certain areas that have to light up, it is always a challenge for

us. Surely we inform ourselves beforehand and try things out. But maybe someone has done something similar before and shows how to do it, or we know someone who has worked with the materials or techniques before. Research is [often] the most time-consuming part of our projects. But it helps us to create an overview of what materials are needed or could be used and how to assemble the costume. Although it has to be said that we are by no means experts. Many times it is trial and error. There are also things that we do more than once because the first time it didn't work out the way we imagined it would or we didn’t like how it looked. So you could say besides skill, perfectionism also sometimes gets in our way. Costumes like Omega-F and Omega-M, Tsukiyomi and even Dancer have a lot of fitted and detailed body pieces. Do you typically use EVA foam for these pieces, and is it difficult to mold the foam in a way that is both durable and comfortable to wear for conventions and photoshoots, while staying true to the silhouette of the character’s in-game design? Sigli: I would say it depends on what parts of the body it is and what this part looks like. I worked a lot with Worbla for the dancer because Worbla does not lose its shape; [because] it is not as flexible as foam, [it] was very suitable for jewelry like the tight-fitting bangles, the leg jewelry, and the chains, because you don’t need any unsightly clasps. For Tsukuyomi's headpiece I used EVA Foam. Due to its amazing flexibility, it adapts well to the shape of the head. But the most important reason was because of its weight. The material is super light. It also holds on to the head with simple fastening options such as an elastic band. It was actually super comfortable to wear at the conventions. 51

In the case of the Omegas, the EVA Foam was again an option, since the clothes of the characters also covered moving areas such as the upper body and legs with hints of armor. We just gave it a try because we just didn't see any other option at the time. EVA Foam can be deformed very easily and is dimensionally stable after cooling, but still remains flexible so that you can move it and squeeze it. If something bends too much and you see unsightly kinks, you can bring the material back into shape by carefully reheating it. That's very convenient. (By the way, the hair dryer in the hotel room has now and then repaired our foam parts after unpacking them or/ and after a day of convention.) But I think there are more comfortable cosplays than our Omegas, especially for conventions. Sometimes we need to make little adjustments to the costume so that the movement restrictions are as minimal as possible (as said before, the designs sometimes are not meant to be for this world or normal human proportions). It really depends if it is a costume just for a photoshoot or one you're gonna wear for a whole day at Fanfest or a convention. For example, I made the shoulder armor and the collar of Omega M detachable, which was not only good to put it on and take it off, but it is also more comfortable to move because the entire top is not attached to it. Watching the video from when you showed your Innocence cosplay at Dreamhack, it looks like you had a good amount of mobility despite the costume’s exaggerated proportions and fragile details. Can you talk about what techniques you used to stabilize the wings, or any other particular pieces, on your Innocence cosplay? Sigli: I also find that in the video it looks like it's easy to move in the Innocence costume. The armor parts are made out of the EVA Foam again. It is light and very comfortable to wear. 52

But the wings are really wide and long, and also a little heavy. If the video had shown the previous staircase, you would know what I'm talking about. That was really a little ordeal to come up and down the stairs. I just didn't expect that there would be a narrow staircase to the stage at the event. None of us had ever built such wings or wings at all that are not made of cardboard and a few feathers. I was a little unsure of what to use as a base frame. I had these normal plastic pipes in my head from the hardware store, just like almost everyone uses. A friend had also talked about aluminum. After a lot of thought and research, I got help from my father; he has a workshop and works a lot with metal, and so it took its course. I made the sketches and bought the plastic and aluminum pipes. My father then welded the beginning of metal pipes and rods together for stability and later adjusted the aluminum pipes. That was really cool because it fits so well with the proportions and my foam parts that I had built. The cladding can simply be put on and off and everything can be screwed on and off together in small individual parts. And with a kind of backpack board that most people build for their big wings, they hold up quite well. But they are a bit heavy and you have the feeling when you wear them that they seem wider than they really are. The air resistance is really enormous, so I can't or don't want to move too fast. I don't really need it either. I think Innocence is supposed to impress rather heavily. Most of your cosplays incorporate a high amount of crafted detail and accessories, but Ryne and Gaia are mostly sewing, comparatively. How do you apply your eye for detail to costumes that are more clothcraft? Sigli: For costumes that are mainly sewn, we focus on the choice of fabric. We think a lot about it and try to imagine what part of the costume

could look like with which fabric and whether everything goes well together. Gaia's coat, for example, had to be made out of a cotton velvet fabric. Together with the belt buckles, it is the item of clothing that immediately catches the eye.

I think it's a kind of gut [instinct] story for us, when we use which materials and which technique. We also often talk about our ideas and are not afraid to separate things again and try something different if we don't like it.

It had to be something special. A velvet fabric simply looks much more aesthetic than normal cotton or any quilted lining. The shimmering lightdark effect of the fabric gives the coat more depth and does not make it look so flat and boring. It also gives a nice contrast to the top and skirt, as the velvet looks blacker than the rest. Mana: We also like to use different ribbons, lace, pearl and glitter effects, stitching and embroidery, textile colors and other things. There are a few options nowadays. Ryne's dress has this very detailed and ornate neckline. Since we couldn’t find a fitting lace, we interpreted it a little more freely and put together something from various bobbin lace, ribbon and lace remnants. We really liked the outcome.

Are there any particular future FFXIV cosplays you have lined up, or would like to do? Mana: We have many ideas that we would like to pursue. Of course we have a few more plans. There are so many great things, old and new, NPCs, monsters, and armor sets. Since FFXIV costumes degenerate into mammoth projects every time, we have to see how we can manage all of this in time. Each new big update is a major temptation for us. We are already excited about what the new add-on Endwalker will bring, but so far we already have two things planned: The Savage form of Gaia and a sexy companion for the upcoming Innocence photoshoot. So be curious! Tell us a bit about yourselves in-game! What characters do you play, and what are some of your favorite adventures to embark on in Eorzea? Sigli: Mana plays a sweet, white-haired Keeper of the Moon bard and I play a dark-skinned Xaela with a two-handed sword or a gun. Unfortunately we are not on the road together at the moment. Mana has taken a little break but wants to join again when the new add-on comes. Then hopefully we can travel the world together again. Adventures besides the main story that we loved to do together were treasure maps, mounts, and glamour farms. But chilling just a little at the house of the guild, putting together new outfits and chatting besides was super nice. Sigli’s favorite occupation at the time was also the G-pose function. She has an infinite number of screenshots on her computer, even some of us as an idol group on the stage in Mih Khetto’s Amphitheatre in Gridania. That was one of the funniest moments. Mana: Furthermore we are big fans of Hildibrand and his friends and are really looking forward to more content from the “Inspector Extraordinaire”! 55

Memoirs of a Traveler TEXT BY CAELI PISCIS | PHOTOS BY SOLL NERON | LAYOUT BY ARYA THORNE

The first time I saw Ala Mhigo was when I journeyed to the Lochs after an arduous trek through Gyr Abania. The Garleans had been chased out of the area very recently and the signs of their presence still lingered across the land. My merry band of adventurers and I had traveled long and far together since leaving Idyllshire, but this would be our last destination as the four of us. Two of our number would ultimately stay in Ala Mhigo to help with the reconstruction efforts, while the other and I would continue on for a while longer. Though I will always remember that sight. We had just entered Porta Praetoria and Ala Mhigo was on the horizon, looming over the Lochs. Honestly, recalling that moment, I don’t blame the two of them for staying. Despite war and tribulation, the city stood majestically against the skyline.

That first night, we slept in a tent among the soldiers and other adventurers in the area. The cool of the night was a sweet relief from the desert sun we’d been traveling under. Too soon, however, morning came and we were once again subjected to the daytime heat. It didn’t take long for the locals to put us to work. An Ananta by the name of Supriya needed someone to gather feathers from a pheasant nest in the Royal Hunting Grounds. While the area had long since fallen to ruin, just like most of the land around Ala Mhigo, it had once been a place for royals to hunt for sport and socialize. Now it was overcome by various creatures, like creeping edilas and rather large bees. Clearing out the edilas was easy enough and we were able to gather enough fallen feathers to report back without having to harm a single bird.

For the next few d helping with gath off some aerial zu out of our elemen the story about h and forbade the c dead. Now, the Lo

days, we were sent on a myriad of errands, hering makeship medical supplies and warding u and the like. But one request found us highly nt. A resistance soldier named Bertha told us how the Empire had squashed local religions ceremonies locals would perform to honor the ochs was haunted by spirits and shade that

had been denied their last rites. Through our journeys, we knew well enough by now to not scoff at local tales and had seen our share of the undead. Even still, when Bertha requested that we banish these spirits with brute force, we were hesitant. She insisted, telling us that she was just one person and she could only do so much. So we relented, and agreed to help.

We made our way to Bloodhowe, the largest burial ground in Ala Mhigo. Home to many, many Ala Mhigans as well as imperial officers who had died during and before the war. It was eerie enough walking through the graveyard, even during the day. But not an ounce of sunlight would permeate into the tomb once we walked inside. It was hard to breathe. There was very little circulation and a lot of dust filled in the air. But it didn’t take long for us to find one of the specters we were tasked to vanquish. It was there, at the top of the stairs found right at the entrance, a tall, dark creature with a blue swirling glow. Never ones to back down from a fight, we took it down. With a final, bone chilling roar, it collapsed and slowly dissolved into aether. We traveled through the tombs destroying each specter we found until we exited, once again finding ourselves in the Royal Hunting Grounds. It was a very quiet journey back to Porta Praetoria. Once we returned, Bertha explained her insistence. Her father had lost his life in the resistance against the Empire. She had been allowed to build a tomb, but not to perform the last rites. Later, she discovered a ghostly figure floating near his grave. In her regret, she wanted to put as many of these shades to rest as she could.

That night, we spent some time with the locals around a fire, exchanging stories of our travels and tales of the Lochs. An Ala Mhigan mercenary had told of a client who had hired him to go out in search of the Loch Seld Monster, a giant yabby with claws that could slice a man in two. We all laughed at the thought, as the mercenary hadn’t seen the thing himself, but he insisted that others had. Another local regaled us with the tale of the Karya. As a giant, walking tree, it would suck the life out of any unfortunate soul that became its victim. Keeping these victims alive just long enough so that it could slowly enjoy its meal. The talks went on for hours, late into the night. The next morning, we went out with some of the mercenaries to pursue something called an aroma leech that had been hunting the younger women seeking flowers to use in crafts. However, the creature didn’t last long once we caught the scent of its pleasant flowery aroma. The mercenaries took us along for a few more of the jobs they set on, and we saw some things that we had only heard stories about.

A fortnight with the folks in Porta Praetoria went by and we finally set our sights to Ala Mhigo. The city itself still stood massive against the edge of the Lochs. It took only a day for us to arrive and the hustle and bustle of restoration was our first real introduction. Being adventurers as we were, we were quickly picked up and tasked with helping the restorative efforts,

such as gathering supplies and escorting merchant to and from Porta Praetoria. On our return from one such trip, we came across a minotaur many yalms t just outside the walls of Ala Mhigo. Without hesitatio the beast came charging for us. We clashed with ste against club, fighting not only for our own lives, but t lives of the locals who regularly passed through here

ts e tall on, eel the re.

It was a tougher battle than most of our excursions, if not only just by the nature of the minotaur’s size. But we conquered it. Ever grateful, we were actually offered a fair sum by the Ala Mhigans which we refused to accept. Rather, it secured us slightly more comfortable accommodations than a tent for the remainder of our stay there.

It soon became quite clear that two of our group were far more invested in the restoration efforts than myself. The other of our number agreed with me, limited investment seemed more prudent if we were going to leave soon. So while the pair got deeply involved, we took the time to learn more about the area. We heard of the ancient city of Skalla, lost to time. Apparently, the ruins had been recently found. We had wanted to explore it, but working on other projects kept our hands tied until it was time to leave. Since we traveled between Ala Mhigo and Porta Praetoria rather frequently, the soldiers became fairly familiar with our faces. One afternoon, a soldier named Topher came to find us with an urgent request. A squad that had been dispatched to secure a watchtower had sent a request for immediate reinforcements. With remaining soldiers sent elsewhere, Topher was worried that the squad wouldn’t survive until others could get there. Of course we agreed to go see what we could do to help. At the base of the tower, we met with a resistance fighter who looked relieved to receive any sort of help. He explained that they had heard the tower was empty, and while they had been on guard, the tower appeared exactly as described, empty. The squad had barely made it to the top of the stairs before some thing or several somethings had appeared out of thin air. Many were heavily wounded and they had done all they could just to get the wounded to safety. Despite his warnings, we quickly headed up the stairs to confront whatever awaited us. At the top, we found three creatures known as dhruvas. They weren’t too hard to clear out, but that was largely because we were expecting them.

The soldiers at the bottom of the hill were relieved to hear they could complete their duty as intended, now that the dhruvas were gone. A local legend says that these golems of crystals were naturally occurring and appeared and acted like living beings but did nothing other than hunt other creatures in their merciless pursuit of aether. While Gyr Abanians knew to fear them and had often hired mercenaries to take them out, the Garleans hadn’t had the same priorities and let them run rampant. Our last few days in Ala Mhigo were bittersweet. Our group had finally decided to split up. My friends and I had been through so much, it was exceptionally difficult to say goodbye. Our last night there, the weather was overcast, threatening a storm. Unable to see the stars was a sour end to our stay. But still, once again we found ourselves around a fire with the locals. A man we were with looked at the sky with trepidation. He said he knew of a story of a creature that would cause a lightning storm and charge the air with electricity. This large, majestic horse with an eccentric gold horn, enveloped in power had even been sighted by a few in the Lochs. Some believed this horse to be a steed of Rhalgr. Others said it to be just a trick of the eye, as none had been sure to see it directly. I honestly didn’t know what to think. So most of us dismissed the story as legend. Though, as we made our way out of Porta Praetoria, the sky turned violet and lightning cracked across the sky. And I swear to you, the air was still and fully charged and I know I saw that glint of gold from across the valley. Though who can be sure.

FASHION

FOCUS Eorzea’s most stylish individuals brought into focus. Interview, photos and layout by Lolae Demort

Vederah Kilmister - Gilgamesh

How

would

you

describe

your

That anything is possible. Every single

until after I’ve already queued and

piece of armor in this game, no matter

loaded into a dungeon. Nothing

how bizarre, has potential to become

like strolling into a cutscene and

Constantly evolving. I like to dabble

something really cool if you put

seeing what should’ve been a really

in a bit of everything, so at any given

enough effort into it.

cool glamour utterly ruined by the

personal style?

time my glamours across all jobs really span across the entire glamour

derpiness of a pothelm. Do you have a fashion pet-peeve? If you could name or label your

spectrum. My healers may be very earthy and natural looking to the

I’ve always been of the opinion that

personal style in (max) 3 words, what

Final Fantasy universe, my casters

there are no real rules to fashion, only

would it be called?

in over-the-top formal gear, my DoH

personal preferences. Because of

jobs the typical lalafellin “cutesy”, or

that, I don’t think I have any real pet-

Unique, random, and (on occasion)

my tank that is currently quite literally

peeve when it comes to other people

bizarre.

glamoured as an egg.

and their wardrobe choices.

What do want your current style to

That being said, I utterly hate when

say on your behalf?

I don’t realize my glamour is broken

WEAPON: Aldebaran HEAD: Carborundum Circlet of Healing BODY: Bonewicca Soother’s Chestpiece (Midnight Blue) HANDS: Thaliak’s Armlets of Healing (Midnight Blue) LEGS: Guardian Corps Skirt (Ink Blue) FEET: Nezha Lady’s Kneeboots (Midnight Blue) 79

HEAD: Anemos Storyteller’s Chapeau (Void Blue) BODY: Lalafellin Kaftan (Dragoon Blue) HANDS: Rainbow Tulip Corsage LEGS: Brightlinen Bottoms of Aiming (Orchard Brown) FEET: Lalafellin Bootees EARRINGS: Bluebird Earring 84

WEAPON: Elemental Rod HEAD: Filibuster’s Hood of Casting BODY: Anemos Seventh Hell Coat (Cream Yellow) HANDS: Nomad’s Armguards of Casting LEGS: Adept’s Hose (Rust Red) FEET: Scion Sorceress’s High Boots

HYDAE HEART

Welcome back to another addition of Hydaely

are excited to showcase each of the talente

that participated in Midgardsormr Comm

(MCC) housing tour. For anyone who ma

Aetherflow Media, or perhaps missed the prev

Hearth editions, MCC is a wonderful commu housing enthusiasts, for housing enthusiasts

everyone to join their Discord through their be

if you’re looking to expand your housing hori admire others' handiworks!

Now, without further ado, let us go see w

top-picks plus the other contestants brough

text by minnie cay | photos by levy and yojimbo | layou 92

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WINNER

Owner: Mifune Motochika Designer: Alaura Danon

Location: Faerie, Shirogane, Ward 12, Plot 3

Nearest Aetheryte: Western Shirogane Sub

bdivision

Upon entering the property, you are immediately greeted by a paved pathway in the midst of a tranquil and well designed yard. Lovely decks grant beautiful views of willows, ponds, and bamboo, granting the visitor a peaceful location to relax and unwind. The inside atmosphere is intertwined with that of the yard, maintaining a well balanced decorative oriental theme. Featuring two large open windows to let in nature’s beauty, visitors can enjoy the calming noise of the rain amongst the distant thunderstorms while drifting off to sleep. It would be easy to forget you are inside, sheltered from this created storm as the combination of plant life, water, lightning, and fog make it feel all too real. This cozy home is complete with a small functional kitchen, lovely decorations, and an inspirational office space. Combined with the environment, the choice of music adds to the tranquility of the home.

WINNER

Owner: Zeta Aven Designer: Zeta Aven and Azarni Sage Location: Jenova, Mist, Ward 1, Plot 10 Nearest Aetheryte: Mist Northeast

Giant Lakeland Elf Trees paired with Lakeland Flower Gardens create a vibrant and welcoming entrance to this adventurer's home. A quaint front porch sports a lovely location to sit and relax with a cup of tea after a long, hard battle. Crossing through the threshold, there is no mistaking that this home belongs to an adventurer. Cozy and cluttered, the living space quickly reminds you of someone who spends the vast majority of their time out and about rather than tidying up their home. With plenty of books documenting the many adventures of the homeowner, settling down in front of the roaring fire on the couch is a perfect way to soothe aching muscles. A steaming bowl from dinner remains in its spot on the table next to a barely touched tea. Though spare time is nearly non existent, hobbies such as painting scenes from various travels still manage to get started! The second floor contains a kitchen surrounded by various treasures and trinkets collected over the years. The shelves containing the stuffed creatures and clothes are the only tidy aspects of this busy owner’s home. There is no doubt that this home brings about many fond memories for the adventurer, providing them with a snug safe space.

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WINNER

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Owner: Witches of Equinox Designer: Raja Atoel

Location: Sargatanas, Mist, Ward 4, Plot 60

Nearest Aetheryte: Mist Southwest Subdiv

vision

With a bustling market located right in the front lawn, the Witches of Equinox FC’s house is sure to fulfill all of its members’ needs. The brick pathway guides visitors through the bakery, jewelers, grocer, florist, book stand, and more. Shoppers can take a break from their wandering and share a cup of tea on the deck off to the side, finding respite from the sun. A beautiful fountain is the focal point of this market, leading to the entrance of the home. Crossing the threshold, the members are immediately greeted by a bar hosted by Namazus. Carefully designed to be slightly disguised, yet easy to find, you’ll find a chic entrance to the members’ personal rooms, complete with a globe and guest book. Closer to the entrance, a lovely enclosed staircase with beautiful artwork and windows leads you upstairs to the rest of the house. The second story sports homey sitting areas with snacks and plenty of options for some light reading. Maintaining the same wooden aesthetic throughout the whole home, the atmosphere is comfortable and no doubt feels like home to the members of this FC.

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Owner: Area of

Designer: Skip

Location: Cact

Nearest Aethe

f Effect FC

pio Invicta

tuar, The Lavender Beds, Ward 13, Plot 46

eryte: Lavender Northwest Subdivision

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Owner: Malthia

Designer: Reen

Location: Faer

Nearest Aethe

as Jinh

ne Jinh

rie, Mist, Ward 12, Plot 37

eryte: Mist Northwest Subdivision

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Owner: Lynexia

Designer: Moc

Location: Faer

Nearest Aethe

a Darkwalker

chi Chan

rie, Mist, Ward 1, Plot 16

eryte: Mist East

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Owner: Metro B

Designer: Kuris

Location: Faer

Nearest Aethe

Bandit

su Sedero

rie, Shirogane, Ward 12, Plot 33

eryte: Western Shirogane Subdivision

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Owner: Ilala Ila

Designer: Ilala

Location: Faer

Nearest Aethe

a Ila

rie, The Lavender Beds, Ward 23, Plot 39

eryte: Lavender Southwest

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RUNNER UP

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Owner: House

Designer: Sola

Location: Jeno

Nearest Aethe

Of Dragons FC

aine Moonsong

ova, The Goblet, Ward 20, Plot 13

eryte: Goblet West

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Owner: Mogne

Designer: Ama

Location: Midg

Nearest Aethe

et FC

aeris Karaslin

gardsormr, Shirogane, Ward 1, Plot 60

eryte: Northeastern Shirogane Subdivision

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Owner: Pearl N

Designer: Pear

Location: Sarg

Nearest Aethe

Nightriver

rl Nightriver

gatanas, Mist, Ward 7, Plot 2

eryte: Mist West

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RUNNER UP

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Owner: Astral I

Designer: Gig F

Location: Siren

Nearest Aethe

Interworld Co FC

Farron

n, The Goblet, Ward 9, Plot 60

eryte: Goblet South Subdivision

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RUNNER UP

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Owner: Alani C

Designer: Alan

Location: Siren

Nearest Aethe

Caelum

ni Caelum

n, The Lavender Beds, Ward 22, Plot 51

eryte: Wildflower Stalls Subdivision

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ሀမme

ሃ

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SOLL'A NERO

NIAMH RUNLAETH, AND OSYRA VA

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embeၰ

ሃၳ

A collection of memories and moments from Shadowbringers

ON, CAELI PISCIS, ARYA THORNE,

ASCH | LAYOUT BY ARYA THORNE

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I literally have never cried so hard at a video game in my life, it was a great expansion GLASS-HIGHLIGHT-7108 FROM REDDIT

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Crying six times, one for each of Ardbert's Companions, was worth it. I am including the role quests and Seto. Even the weakest one (in my opinion only because there needs to be one) strung my heart. I loved how each of them tackled an aspect of compassion and trust, and their faith and belief in each other at the worst of times never faltered. The feelings of bittersweet Hope stays, knowing what will become of them but they can leave the rest to us and everyone else. DRYSRAEL ISILWYN, ZALERA

Honestly, during the Physical DPS quest battle when Ardbert and Branden rush in and Branden fucking hits you with Cover, I think I cried harder than anything else in this game. XBUMMX2 FROM REDDIT

My friend said the same! XFM0

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I have two separate moments that immediately come to mind. When you're running through Qitana Ravel (a cool dungeon in of itself) and the cutscene occurs with Ranjit and everyone is in a standoff. The moment Urianger and crew ran up and URIANGER RESCUED RANJIT INTO THE PIT, I lost it. Not only was it a badass moment, but the fact that a healer rescued AN ENEMY OUT OF COMBAT broke the immersion for me in a good way. I realized I'd really become invested in every aspect of this game. The other moment is one I'm sure everyone who has completed at least 5.0 can agree on. The cutscenes leading up to unlocking the Dying Gasp fight are some of my favorite ones in the game thus far. The music was fantastic, the emotional climax was on point, and the imagery before you enter the instance is the only time I'd consider doing NG+ just to stand on that platform again. Everything about the end of 5.0 was fantastic. OCHREOUS FROM REDDIT 176

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I started this game in 2017 about a month or so before stormblood came out and ever since then I never stopped playing, took me a while to reach level 70 because of post ARR quests (given this was before 5.3 revamped it) but I never gave up and carried on to the end(game) and seeing ShB come to an End(walker... I'm sorry I'll leave XD) I am fill with memories of my adventures in the world of FFXIV, many of them happy, some of them sad, some filled with joy and laughter and some that made my cry. I have made many friends during those 4 years, some I still talk to, to this day. Final Fantasy XIV will always be the one game I'll come back to no matter what. ARCADIA LUNASHINE OF JENOVA 179

So...this requires a bit of context. I've been working on and off with a mutual

grab the mountain in the

aid group trying to get meals to at-risk

moving. It's not just you

and homeless folks during the pandemic

it's you inspiring all of No

for many months now. That might sound

save themselves! And ru

impressive, but...I'm a pretty anxious person,

Gauntlet, with the suppo

been dealing with mental health issues

you helped, was also so

for a while, and most of these people are

video game, but it felt re

strangers. It's been really stressful trying

Shadowbringers isn't jus

to navigate different personalities and

it's a beautiful vision of h

expectations and priorities. Even though it's

come together in crisis.

important work, I often felt kind of. Powerless and ignored. (which, yes, is not at all how

I'm still working with tha

these groups are supposed to work). Made

feel stressed and weird a

me wonder about what I was doing, and if it

there's no guarantee tha

was worth my energy or not.

out. But we're doing our

Shadowbringers remind I was playing through Shadowbringers this

and to trust in my friend

winter, when my mental health was really

I felt as though my effor

tanking and I was feeling really stressed,

to much of anything. So

and it was so heartbreaking and optimistic.

keep trying to find a bit o

In particular, the lead-up to Mt. Gulg, when

HJIHNA FROM REDDIT

everyone from across Norvrandt came together to build a giant that reached out to 180

e sky, was profoundly saving Norvrandt-

orvrandt to help

unning the Heroes'

ort of all the people moving!It's just a

efreshing and hopeful.

st a cool heroic story-

how people can And it...helped.

at group, and I still

and anxious, and

at things will work best, anyway.

ded me to persevere,

ds a bit more, when

rts didn't amount

o I'll keep going, and

of shade.

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As I started Shadowbringers my friend who'd recently completed it hinted that a male character dies during the MSQ in a heart-breaking way. As I was playing through it, I became increasingly convinced that it was Alphinaud. I thought he was going to become a sin-eater due trying to help the WoL contain the light aether. In particular, the game has already established that Scions can die in the MSQ, we'd already seen a number of main characters get the primal treatment in past expansions, the threat of light infection and the WoL's struggle holding it in had been hammered home super hard by this point, it'd make sense with Alphinaud's arc about putting others before himself, and it'd make sense with Alisaie's fears of being left alone and the trauma with Tesleen. What's more, Innocence (who I saw a picture of without knowing what it was), has a face and clothing that looks remarkably like what I imagined a sin-eater-ized Alphinaud would look like. So going up Mount Gulg, I was dead convinced we were about to have to kill Alphinaud. Thankfully, the devs aren't that evil. A_SENTIENT_CICADA FROM REDDIT

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Either the week Puppets Bunker came out, or the week after, 4 friends and I all decided to queue in as Red Mages. Every boss fight, together we all raised at least half the alliance. It was utter chaos and it was amazing!! (I enjoy chaos way too much) Another favorite of mine is when my FC was doing maps right after an update, I believe it was for the items for the rebel and urban coats, we had the high low gamble with one of the items in it... I swear my friend is the luckiest person alive, he got 6 of them from one chest. (On a side note, one of my other friends is the unluckiest person, he’s at 19/20 on the achievement for getting to the end of Lyhe Ghiah and whenever we do a map right after he has to go, we reach the end. It’s been like this for at least two patches now, and is now a joke amongst us) NEMRAEN FROM REDDIT

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While catching my girlfriend up we did Eden’s Verse Refulgence for the first time. During the final phase of the fight the entire party wiped with the exception of myself who was main tanking as GNB. The end sequence scene triggered causing

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a slew of unconsciou swirl and freeze arou It was the single mos moment I have ever w game and I’m still lau GRIEVER12691 FROM RE

us bodies to und Shiva. st hilarious witnessed in ughing. DDIT

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there are so many. but what is most memorable to me is

revelations, the under

probably when i first saw amaurot. it was

lack of arguments in

totally unexpected. i went into the tempest not

amaurot dungeon (an

having any clue this incredible ending zone

felt real and it hit hom

and ending story would happen.

of my real life into the

didn't matter for the t so when i went down the elevator with the

that's not something

scions and set foot into the city, the familarity hit really home. i mean, we're in fantasyland

afterwards i had to cl

during the entire story and there are places

sit for a while in silenc

which remind you of real locations every once

process what i had w

in a while, but amaurot is different. it almost

everything that followed, the turn around

i wish i c play this again fo first tim

of our own perception of the ascians, the

JENKINSHOWELL FRO

takes a step out of the game and presents you with an alternative version of real life cities. the art deco style adds to this a weird nostalgia. i can't fully describe how utterly emotional i felt just entering. and then

188

rstanding. alphinauds the final cutscene before

nd then the resolve). this

me. i basically stepped out

e game. everything else

time i spent there, and that happens to me a lot.

lose down the game and

ce in my room, trying to

witnessed.

could s once or the me.

OM REDDIT

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