the dark devours

Character Info

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 15:57:01 GMT

title:

Emet-Selch

name:

Hades

canon:

Final Fantasy XIV

age:

12,000+

height:

6'7" / 202cm

canon point:

6.0 Endwalker

soul type:

aves (rook)

crau:

Aefenglom + Jikan

arrival:

April 2025

residence:

the Valentia

ic inbox application ability data

appearance : canon + developed

Origin

Currently residing in his native body, pictured here. In recent history has also had the appearance of a Garlean, and while he's also taken the bodies of thousands of others, their particular forms remain an unknown.

He's additionally natively capable of completely transforming himself into far larger and more monstrous shapes. These forms are considerably more powerful than any of his humanoid bodies, and reflect something of his true self- or how he views himself, at least. They would only be utilized in dire straits, as they're considered personal, private. And in most situations, vastly overkill.

Within Karteria they will ultimately be available to him... but functionally useless. While they could be 'maintained' reasonably well, should he try to do anything useful with them, they will collapse around him, his limited resources unable to sustain the transformation. Additionally, they will become Corrupted by his Aves soul, growing feathers over all of his arms/wings, along with beak-like features, and altered claws.

Permanent Changes

None as of yet. For future reference, what will happen is below:
Hair: Threaded with black feathers with an iridescent sheen (a trait of all of his feathers).

Eyes: Nictitating membranes, and tetrachromatic vision. His native soul sight remains unchanged, but his physical sight has improved.

Ears: Ears remain present, but become slightly pointed and feathered. Hearing is somewhat improved.

Hands & Arms: Wrists and hands are scaled, and change in color to a pale gray, with nails transformed into short, sharp claws. Arrangement of fingers remains normal. Starting above the wrist, small clusters of soft, downy feathers begin to grow, becoming increasingly dense towards the shoulders. Layers of much longer feathers also span down from the shoulders, towards the elbow, developing his arms into something like wings.

Legs & Feet: Legs maintain the usual humanoid proportion, but also develop feathers, particularly around the hips and thighs. Below the knee, his skin transitions into scales, which continues into a complete transformation of his feet into a rook's. Each of his toes (three forward, and one pointed backward) carries a sharp, sturdy talon. As with his hands and arms, the scales are grey, with the claws black.

Tail feathers: They exist, and trail long enough to nearly brush the ground when relaxed.

Other: His ability to taste is weaker overall, including a complete inability to register capsaicin (so spicy food no longer is). His sense of smell is also weaker, though still present.

When Shifted

All of the above, but the development and spread of feathers increases drastically, densely covering the legs in glossy black feathers before transitioning directly into scales. Talons increase in size and strength, and are capable of slicing through metal. His legs themselves change to a bird's proportions, giving him a very different stance.

The spread of feathers along his chest, back, and neck also increases, and his wings in particular become more pronounced.

(Physical) Sight is enhanced, allowing him to see at considerably greater distance.

PERSONALITY + IMPRESSIONS

devoted.

theatrical. stubborn. emotional.

judgmental. jaded. bitter. superior. unforgiving.

Emet-Selch has a slow, heavy gait as a default, and projects an overall impression of being tired. Not to the point of apparent weakness or immanent collapse- it's much the opposite, as he appears almost disturbingly resolute, implacable. But he certainly operates on a lower key of determined energy.

In terms of expression, he is either irritated or smug. A slight frown is his 'relaxed' expression, and what you'll most commonly see if he's at all comfortable with you. If you're unfamiliar or he dislikes you, it'll drift either into a show of superiority or annoyance, depending. And in that case it is, largely, a show. While he is genuinely arrogant and has an obscene amount of self-confidence, he has a somewhat theatrical way of presenting it and himself, so expect some occasionally grand gesturing. And combined with his lack of energy, it's an attitude that can come across as rather languid, irreverent, or flippant- and that's certainly what he's trying to convey. But it's not terribly hard to notice the underlying exhaustion. To see any kind of genuine smile from him is extremely rare, and the expression is extremely fleeting.

The more he's willing to monologue at you in a superior manner, the more he dislikes you. The briefer he is, the more he likes you, really. This is, of course, in a general sense; if he has a reason to discuss something in detail with someone he views favorably, he will, and he'll drop much of the theatricality in the process. The superiority will remain, of course, but he'll be more matter-of-fact about it.

Overall, despite his projected sense of detachment and distance, Emet-Selch is extremely, extremely emotional, sentimental, and sensitive.

After his death, and, well, everything in Endwalker, these parts of him remain in evidence, though he'll lean a bit more towards emotional stability. His posture might improve a little due to the weight off his shoulders, but his energy will remain poor and his loneliness persistent. The world he loved remains forever unsaved, he's not in it, and yet forced to live despite it all. He will still look, and will still be, tired.

VOICED CUTSCENES

stormblood + shadowbringers

s h a d o w b r i n g e r s

4.4 Prelude in Violet: Scene 3
4.5 Seiryu's Wall: Scene 2
5.0 Emergent Splendor: Scene 1
5.0 The Oracle of Light: Scene 2
5.0 The Wheel Turns: Scene 1
5.0 A Party Soon Divided: Scene 1
5.0 Into the Dark: Scene 1
5.0 Into the Dark: Scene 2
5.0 In Good Faith: Scene 1
5.0 In Good Faith: Scene 2
5.0 The Burden of Knowledge: Scene 1
5.0 The Best Way Out: Scene 1
5.0 Have a Heart: Scene 2
5.0 Return to Eulmore: Scene 1
5.0 The View From Above: Scene 1
5.0 Extinguishing the Last Light: Scene 6
5.0 Extinguishing the Last Light: Scene 7
5.0 A Greater Purpose: Scene 1
5.0 Shadowbringers: Scene 1
5.0 Shadowbringers: Scene 2
5.0 Shadowbringers: Scene 3
5.0 Shadowbringers: Scene 4
5.0 Shadowbringers: Scene 5
5.3 Etched in the Stars: Scene 1
5.3 Hope's Confluence: Scene 2

endwalker

e n d w a l k e r

6.0 The Next Ship to Sail: Scene 1
6.0 The Next Ship to Sail: Scene 3
6.0 A Labyrinthine Descent: Scene 1
6.0 For Thavnair Bound: Scene 2
6.0 Tipping the Scale: Scene 4
6.0 The Satrap of Radz-at-Han: Scene 1
6.0 A Frosty Reception: Scene 1
6.0 A Frosty Reception: Scene 5
6.0 A Trip to the Moon: Scene 1
6.0 Hope Upon a Flower: Scene 3
6.0 Hope Upon a Flower: Scene 4
6.0 In Search of Hermes: Scene 1
6.0 Ponder, Warrant, Cherish, Welcome: Scene 1
6.0 Lives Apart Scene 1
6.0 Their Greatest Contribution: Scene 1
6.0 Verdict and Execution: Scene 1
6.0 Travelers at the Crossroads: Scene 1
6.0 A Past, Not Yet Come to Pass: Scene 1
6.0 Words Without Sound: Scene 1
6.0 Follow, Wander, Stumble, Listen: Scene 1
6.0 Caging the Messenger: Scene 1
6.0 Caging the Messenger: Scene 2
6.0 Thou Must Live, Die, and Know: Scene 2
6.0 Her Children, One and All: Scene 6
6.0 Unto the Heavens: Scene 5
6.0 You're Not Alone: Scene 4
6.0 Endwalker: Scene 8

ABILITIES

immortality.

Of the "won't die unless killed" variety. And Ascians are notoriously hard to kill, as their soul needs to be weakened, trapped, and hit with an extremely powerful burst of light/energy before they have the chance to escape. As a note, this only applies to their soul- their physical bodies are quite mortal and can be killed easily enough if they're not paying attention. If that happens, Emet-Selch would probably want to get a new one rather than fix it.

Game Condition: Completely nullified. Emet-Selch is as mortal as anyone else.

possession.

As insinuated above, Ascians can forcefully possess the bodies of other beings and control them. As they no longer have physical bodies of their own, they have to take possession of others in order to interact with most people- as they would be invisible to the majority otherwise. The process is usually irreversible. And while most Ascians tend to keep the appearance of whoever it is they've possessed, Emet-Selch does not, and chooses to twist their shape into something more comfortable for him. But unless his current body dies, he wouldn't try to jump to anyone else's- as the process is apparently quite tiring (and has unfortunate consequences if it's performed too often), and he dislikes the effort. As a side note- Ascians can also possess corpses just fine (and the weaker Ascians are limited to the dead, for that matter), but where possible they tend to prefer the living.

As a side-side note, Ascians on par with Emet-Selch can possess the dead- even considerably aged dead- and restore those bodies to life. This would not restore its original owner to life, of course, as the flesh is just a convenient shell for Ascians to inhabit. But the body would be in perfectly fine form.

As a side-side-side note, not everyone can be possessed. People with particularly dense souls/protection from gods or god-like entities would have bodies that he'd be unable to hijack. People without bodies at all, uh, he would definitely not be able to hijack either.

Game Condition: Completely nullified. He cannot jump ship (the ship is his body).

teleportation.

You rarely see an Ascian walk anywhere, and Emet-Selch is particularly lazy; they teleport a lot. They can also take others with them. Possibly related to this is the ability to fly/hover.

Game Condition: Mostly nullified. Will no longer be able to fly using his native power, and will have to relearn the ability using aves magic. He may still teleport, but with significant caveats: short distances only, to places he's been, will drain him considerably.

home in the rift.

The rift is a void-like space between worlds, and once an Ascian retreats to it, they cannot be followed by anyone who's not an Ascian (or an equivalent spirit-based entity, presumably). Living entities cannot survive here long, and anyone without the ability to traverse this space would be trapped there if brought and left.

Game Condition: Completely nullified and inaccessible besides.

concept creation.

Emet-Selch can create almost anything that he wants to, provided he has the motivation. This has included an entire metropolis, from memory, complete with shades of its original inhabitants (Granted, said inhabitants were fairly limited, incapable of understanding what they were (apart from one), and existing in a brief moment of time. Also, we can't enter most of the buildings, so it's possible their interiors are not quite as detailed, but still! An entire city!). He also recreates part of the same city in its final hours- complete with functional beasts and abominations. There's nothing that suggests that either of these things was particularly difficult.

While the process of creation has to be deliberate (as in, you can't be casually thinking about something and accidentally create it), it's also not perfect- as distractions and stray thoughts can change the outcome from what was intended. Also, if the concept behind the creation isn't well-considered, the result can be flawed or non-functional. Additionally, truly living entities cannot be made- as souls are the one thing that this magic can't create. Magical facsimiles though, that appear functionally 'alive'- those are entirely possible. Created familiars can come to possess souls, but that's not up to the design or choice of the creator, but up to the will of the star itself.

Game Condition: Mostly accessible, with caveats. He cannot create cities, or anything remotely to that scale. He can't craft inherently magical items. But he can create objects of up to a moderate size (no larger than a car, and anything that big would be demanding) with the same level of skill and quality as ever.

The amount he can create, however... is vastly, vastly reduced. He cannot furnish a household or a business in a day. Or a week. His nigh-limitless magical stores are blocked off from him, the drip of aether only enough to create a few things at a time. Offensive (native) magic uses the same resource, so the more he uses for one thing, the less he has available for everything else.

dark magic.

The typical Ascian toolkit, the majority of his spells would be considered dark-aspected. Emet-Selch is definitely a mage, and any combat with him would be magical in nature. Various blasts of darkness, exploding shadow spears and arrows, shields to protect himself, that sort of thing. He does have command over most of the elements (as shown from his abilities in the past) as any good black mage, but with a favoring towards the dark. Even when taking on a defensive role, he'll intersperse dark magic alongside using a sword. One caveat to his magical prowess: he can't heal. Emet-Selch's abilities are offensive or protective only.

He also has much stronger, larger, and less human-looking forms, drawing on his affinity with the Underworld. His strongest abilities would only be available while in a transformed state. Neither form would be anything he would assume on a whim, as transformation is a very personal expression of the self, and it was considered vulgar in his time to show off that ability without good cause. Even separate from that world, he has some propriety left. (Also, in almost every circumstance, transforming would be utterly overkill.)

Game Condition: Partially accessible. Lesser forms of his magic are available, but will drain him inordinately to use. His transformations (as noted elsewhere) are accessible, but both useless and mutated.

soul sight.

Emet-Selch can see people's souls, recognize them even when fragmented, and is extremely sensitive to spiritual disturbances. While this is something many people in his original society could do, he's stated to be exceptionally good at it. It's not an ability that's permanently on but something he has to choose to do, and it was considered somewhat rude in his time to search out someone via their soul unless it was important to find them quickly. It's otherwise something that can be done without effort.

As part of his connection to the Underworld, Emet-Selch was capable of retrieving one character's soul + body after it had gotten lost within the Lifestream. Doing so was considered a simple task.

Game Condition: Largely accessible. His soul sight is available and will function as it usually does. There will be no retrieving or otherwise removing or separating souls from anything, of course.

ascian ascendance.

The ability to create more Ascians. While Emet-Selch, Elidibus, and Lahabrea were the only members of the Convocation whose souls were intact, the shards of their brethren existed across the sundered worlds. To fill in the rest of their number, the unsundered Ascians could find one of those shards and elevate them back to their former position. They would still be at a fraction of their original power, but their memories, and their devotion to Zodiark would be restored. It's apparently possible for a non-Convocation member to be raised into an Ascian, but they prefer not to do so (as their loyalty to Zodiark would be inherently weaker than someone whose soul has been indelibly stained by him).

Game Condition: Completely nullified and... not something he would be doing anyway.

the echo.

"The power to break down the barriers of existence". A vague power that is generally demonstrated by the protagonists, but the Ascians possess it as well (in a more complete form). It's possible many of the abilities listed above are ultimately forms the Echo takes. It apparently has a true name (which would be what Emet-Selch would know it as), but canon has yet to reveal it. Lahabrea and Igeyorhm were shown to be able to briefly merge their souls into one entity, so this is likely something any Ascian could do as well (with others? with only other Ascians or similar entities? unknown).

Other Echo abilities include: seeing parts of another person's past, universal translation.

Game Condition: A mystery. Will be nullified when it interferes with gameplay. Universal translation should function as normal, though. No seeing into anyone's pasts.

MISCELLANEOUS TEXTS

Links

Sidestory: Through His Eyes
Sidestory: Ere Our Curtain Falls
Lyrics for "To the Edge"

Pandæmonium-specific Lyrics
(it's all related to the ancients okay)
Lyrics for "Hic Svnt Leones"
Lyrics for "Scream"
Lyrics for "White Stone Black"
Lyrics for "Athena, the Tireless One"

from the Amaurot dungeon

"And lo, vile beasts did rise,
Leaving naught in their wake but blood and ash.
Thus did the first doom befall us.

It would not, however, prove the last.
For soon did the sun bend low, scorching earth and boiling seas.
Thus did the second doom break us.

Yet it was neither claw nor flame, but our very sins--
Stacked to the heavens where they took root, corrupting its halls--
Thus did the third doom undo us."

"Welcome to the final days of Amaurot...
The fabric of our star began to fray...
...and the unchecked energies of creation begat malformed beasts.
Just as prayer gives rise to primals, our dread made manifest our deepest fears.
The first beast was striking in its unsightliness...
As if to scour away all life, it called down a cataclysmic deluge.
Yet even its defeat did not halt the march of oblivion...

The land buckled; the cities burned; the waters ran red with blood...
The beast bellows, and gives birth to terror. A terror which, in turn, gives birth to new beasts...
Its gaze turned skyward, and fiery rain falls from the heavens...
Once the fear has taken root, it cannot be expunged...
As if feeding upon the horror, the beast bloats...then shivers...then ruptures...
Yet this was far from the worst of it. Come, and I will show you...

Just a little further...
...and you will see the end of a world.
The star was fading. We saw we had to weave its laws anew...
But between us and our goal loomed a final misbegotten fiend...
From the depths of despair, the last harbinger arose...
Its voice was fulgent destruction, and none could stand in its path.
And as it edged inexorably closer, we knew...
Without decisive sacrifice, our star would surely perish."

narration from the Amaurot dungeon

dialogue from "The Dying Gasp"

"You are destined for naught else but oblivion!

Darkness reigns!
Flee, you fools!
The arcane is mine to command!

Give voice to your anguish, my brethren!
Give substance to our hopes, our dreams, our prayers...
And by their undeniable grace, may our perfect world rise anew!
Yawn wide, the ever-hungering void!
Devour the Light and return all to Darkness!

Impressive resilience... But it matters little. I have all eternity to break your stubborn wills!
I am stifled by this vessel of flesh...
Unburden your sleeping souls, my brethren...
I shall bear every hope, every dream, every prayer!

The future of this star shall be shaped by my hands!
I shall be raised up by the prayers of my fallen brethren!
Behold, a sorcerer of eld! Tremble before my glory!

Darkness flow through me!
Hearken to the word of ruin!
This place will be your tomb!

Drown in despair!
My dormant brethren, dream now of a dark tomorrow...
By our gathered might must we reclaim these vain reflections.
In Zodiark's name, I beseech you!

Has the Wardens' Light won free!? No...
Damn you... Damn your wretched blessing!
I will extinguish the spark of your miserable lives!
That Light split the world, and every life upon it!
Our tragedy must never again come to pass!
By His grace will Darkness reign over all!

Death comes for Her servants...
I shall rebuild our kingdom upon your bones.
Abomination! You seek to shatter my soul?"

"Show me your "vaunted" strength. And I shall expose the lie of your fragmented existence!

Flee, you fools!
Darkness reigns!
You are no match for my mastery of the arcane!
The arcane is mine to command!

Pitiful, malformed, wretched creatures!
Your call for aid beyond this world will avail you naught!
My brethren are legion!
Let shadows form from my will alone!
Come, Nabriales!
Tremble and fall to the ground before me!
Emerge, Lahabrea! Rise, Igeyorhm!
Let fire and ice cleanse you of your mortal turpitude!
Our plea transcends the very boundaries of the soul!
At last, you are one! Let the profundity of your soul crush all who would defy us!
Your meager convictions will crumble before our might!

Unburden your sleeping souls, my brethren...
I shall bear every hope, every dream, every prayer!
The future of this star shall be shaped by my hands!
I shall be raised up by the prayers of my fallen brethren!
Behold, a sorcerer of eld! Tremble before my glory!

Remember, my brethren!
Yearn, my brethren!
My brethren! Let our will be as one!

Drown in despair!
My dormant brethren, dream now of a dark tomorrow...
By our gathered might must we reclaim these vain reflections.
In Zodiark's name, I beseech you!

Has the Wardens' Light won free!? No...
Damn you... Damn your wretched blessing!

No... This is not the end...
We are the blessed! We are the chosen!

Let the darkness consume you!
This star is ours, and ours alone! We will not relinquish it to the likes of you!
Be scattered and strewn like dust!

For you, who never should have been, this is the end!"

dialogue from "The Dying Gasp (extreme)"

lyrics to "Invincible"

"Lasciate
Ogne speranza
These memories ache with the weight of fate
Ever we fight
Never we fly
Ever we fall
Forever we fall
Now breathe deep of the darkness beneath the flood
Where all of the proud angels drink to their deeds of blood
Their lies, twisted and torn, into dreams they're spun
Yet ever we still stand tall
Invincible
Never we fall"

MUSIC

Music

Without Shadow
Thunderer
Bedlam's Brink
Full Fathom Five
Neath Dark Waters
Neath Dark Waters (Scions & Sinners)
Neath Dark Waters (Pulse)
Mortal Instants
Who Brings Shadow / Invincible
Invincible (Piano)
Shadows Withal
Floundering in the Depths
To the Edge
To the Edge (Orchestral)
To the Edge (Forge Ahead)
Sky Unsundered
Stars Long Dead
Miracle Works
The Final Day
The Final Day (Orchestral)

Pandæmonium-specific Music
(it's all (still) related to the ancients okay)
Where Dæmons Abide
Ancient Shackles
Hic Svnt Leones
Hic Svnt Leones (Forge Ahead)
Silent Scream
Scream
Scream (Forge Ahead)
Embers
White Stone Black
White Stone Black (Forge Ahead)
One Amongst the Weary
Athena, the Tireless One
Athena, the Tireless One (Forge Ahead)
Ultima's Perfection (Endwalker)

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comments

Ability Data from Ktisis Hyperboreia

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 01:27:03 GMT

General Notes

• All numbers are estimations and may be tweaked over time. Nothing should be wildly off though.
• Unless otherwise noted, all AOE damage is split evenly amongst targets (i.e., an AOE ability that does 30000 to one target, will do 15000 to two, etc.).
• "Equivalent" refers to the animation and not necessarily to the effect- though they're largely the same, just renamed. Anything that would have a dot attached in the player version (i.e., Aero, Thunder) does not in the Amaurotine edition (Circle of Clarity the exception). Defensive abilities seem to be the same in function, duration (and possibly cooldown). Unique abilities also seem to have some manner of cooldown/requirement for use, as you might expect (Venat can't spam Renew even if everyone's low on health if she just used it).
• Unlike every other trust/duty support combination, the Amaurotine trio are completely self-sufficient! They do not need you to heal. They do not need you to tank (no group needs you as a DPS). This is because they ALL have a battle revive, and both Venat and Hythlodaeus have powerful heals (even when Venat's not in the healing role). They will reliably complete the dungeon without you.

(Caveat: this is when doing minimal pulls. It is technically still possible to do the largest pulls and succeed but it will take many, many tries, and is largely a matter of luck and them managing to kill something before wiping, and winning eventually through attrition. But for normal pulls/bosses? They have a very high success rate.)

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Emet-Selch • Tank

Offensive Abilities

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Damage Note

Ravenous Assault Slashing / ST Plunge 2400

Nether Blast Magic / ST Unmend 2400

Shadow Spread Magic / AOE Unleash 2400

Unlike most AOEs, does not split damage, but does this amount always no matter the number of targets

Shadow Stream Magic / AOE Stalwart Soul 2400

Unlike most AOEs, does not split damage, but does this amount always no matter the number of targets

Polydegmon's Price Slashing / ST Hard Slash 2400

Polydegmon's Purgation Slashing / ST Syphon Strike 2400

Aether-eater Slashing / ST Souleater 5000

Heals for half damage inflicted

Hades's Gates Magic / AOE Abyssal Drain 7500

Heals for 1200 per target hit

Hellborn Yawp Slashing / ST Carve and Spit 9600

Cthonic Flood Magic / AOE Flood of Shadow 12000

Cthonic Edge Magic / ST Edge of Shadow 12000

Dark Eruption Magic / AOE Unique 12000

Instant

Ancient Darkness Magic / AOE Unique 30000

Instant

Bad Faith Magic / AOE Unique 40000

Instant

Defensive Abilities, Effects, & Heals

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Healed Note

Klymenos N/A / Self Grit N/A

Always on

Putrid Breath N/A / ST Provoke N/A

why is it called this

Interject N/A / ST Interject N/A

True Reprisal N/A / AOE Reprisal N/A

True Rampart N/A / Self Rampart N/A

Ploutonos N/A / Self Shadow Wall N/A

Katabasis N/A / Self Living Dead N/A

The status icon for it is the same as Walking Dead, but in functionality it's identical to Hallowed Ground

Eubuleus N/A / Party Dark Missionary N/A

Anabasis N/A / ST Unique N/A

Revive, Instant

Comments: • Ancient Darkness/Bad Faith are used as a combo, and uncommonly. Sometimes used against bosses, but it's easier to get them to trigger when you do specific larger pulls. The first two groups of mobs (the one with the lions + the collection of panthers) will trigger it. Combining the last two groups before Ladon Lord is the other point. I've never seen him use it on the other mobs, even when collected together after like 60+ runs.

• Pulls with Ravenous Assault, and if it's a group, uses Shadow Spread/Stream. Everything that follows is used in the listed order (apart from Ancient Darkness/Bad Faith as noted above). His basic combo can be used multiple times in a row, before moving on through the rest of the rotation. When there's multiple targets, he sometimes skips the basic combo and moves directly into Hades's Gates and the rest.

• In a no healing situation he dies much more than Venat, presumably due to not having a Clemency equivalent.

Emet-Selch • DPS

Offensive Abilities

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Damage Note

Ancient Blizzard Magic (Ice) / ST Blizzard 3800

Ancient Blizzard III Magic (Ice) / AOE Freeze 8000

Ancient Fire Magic (Fire) / ST Fire 3800

Ancient Fire III Magic (Fire) / AOE Flare 8000

Ancient Thunder Magic (Lightning) / ST Thunder 3800

Ancient Spark Magic (Lightning) / ST Thunder III 8000

Ancient Tornado Magic (Air) / AOE Unique 20000

Dark Orb Magic / ST Unique 3800

Dark Eruption Magic / AOE Unique 20000

Instant

Unholy Darkness Magic / AOE Unique 32000

Instant

Ancient Darkness Magic / AOE Unique 46000

Instant

Bad Faith Magic / AOE Unique 60000

Instant

Defensive Abilities, Effects, and Heals

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Healed Note

Anabasis N/A / ST Unique N/A

Revive, Instant

Comments: • Dark Eruption/Unholy Darkness comprise most of his damage, and are used as a combo action.

• Ancient Darkness/Bad Faith are also only used as a combo, and while extremely powerful, are only used 0-2 times a dungeon. As noted in the tanking section, he still only uses them at specific points.

• Apart from rotating his other abilities, there doesn't seem to be any real pattern to them, apart from needing to space out his 'finishing' dark combo with the other elemental spells.

• Lower DPS than both Hythlodaeus and Venat.

Hythlodaeus • DPS

Offensive Abilities

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Damage Note

Blood Draw Piercing / ST Bloodletter 3800

Hail of Fire Piercing / ST Burst Shot 3800

Luminous Bolt Piercing / ST Refulgent Arrow 7600

Storm of Arrows Piercing / AOE Rain of Death 7600

Veiled Arrow Piercing / AOE Shadowbite 11000

Peak Shot Piercing / AOE Apex Arrow 15000

Lashing Shot Piercing / AOE Unique 18000

Looks a bit like Ladonsbite but is different

Megiddo Flame Magic / AOE Unique 30000

Serpent Shot Piercing / AOE Unique 30000

Annihilation Magic / AOE Unique 70000

Defensive Abilities, Effects, & Heals

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Healed Note

True Benediction N/A / ST Unique All

True Raise N/A / ST Unique N/A

Revive, Instant

Comments: • Serpent Shot/Annihilation are used as a combo action and are extremely rare, and almost always used against bosses (specifically Ladon Lord or Hermes).

• Annihilation is the strongest ability any of the Amaurotine use, though in terms of combo, Emet-Selch's Ancient Darkness/Bad Faith roughly equal Serpent Shot/Annihilation.

• Still, though, wtf Hythlodaeus.

• Hythlodaeus does seem to have a rotation he follows, which is essentially the list of attacks above, in that order (minus Serpent Shot/Annihilation). His ST abilities are used as a combo 2-3 times, before moving onto the others. Megiddo Flame is something of a 'finisher' but not always used. But he never seems to deviate from this order. Serpent Shot/Annihilation occur after Luminous Bolt (from my meager sample size).

• Sometimes out-DPSs Venat, sometimes doesn't. Always out-DPSs Emet-Selch.

Venat • Tank

Offensive Abilities

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Damage Note

Intervene Blunt / ST Intervene 2500

Solar Eclipse Slashing / AOE Total Eclipse 2500

Unlike most AOEs, does not split damage, but does this amount always no matter the number of targets

True Prominence Slashing / AOE Prominence 2500

Unlike most AOEs, does not split damage, but does this amount always no matter the number of targets

Fast Blade Slashing / ST Fast Blade 2500

Riot Blade Slashing / ST Riot Blade 2500

Rage of Azem Slashing / ST Rage of Halone 5000

Circle of Clarity Slashing / AOE Circle of Scorn 24000

Heros's Blade Slashing / AOE Expiacion 42000

Shield Lob Slashing / ST Shield Lob 2500

Shield Swipe Slashing / ST Shield Swipe 7600

Not that Paladin has it anymore; don't think it pacifies

Poliouchos Magic / ST Requiescat 10000

Enomotos Magic / AOE Confiteor 13000

Defensive Abilities, Effects, & Heals

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Healed Note

Adamantinon Thelema N/A / Self Iron Will N/A

Always on

Provoke N/A / ST Provoke N/A

Interject N/A / ST Interject N/A

True Reprisal N/A / AOE Reprisal N/A

True Rampart N/A / Self Rampart N/A

True Sentinel N/A / Self Sentinel N/A

True Hallowed Ground N/A / Self Hallowed Ground N/A

True Clemency N/A / ST Clemency 4300

True Renew N/A / Party Unique All

Also restores player MP

True Arise N/A / ST Unique N/A

Revive, Instant

Comments: • Need to figure out her rotation.

• Seems to survive easier than Emet-Selch when not being healed, likely due to being able to spam Clemency.

Venat • Healer

Offensive Abilities

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Damage Note

True Stone Magic (Earth) / ST Stone 1800

True Water Magic (Water) / ST Fluid Aura 1800

Not that White Mage has it anymore (also it does damage now, so the similarity is only in animation)

True Aero Magic (Air) / ST Aero 1800

True Stone IV Magic (Earth) / ST Stone IV 15000

True Water IV Magic (Water) / AOE Unique 15000

True Aero IV Magic (Air) / AOE Aero III 15000

Not that White Mage has it anymore.

Afflatus Azem Magic / AOE Afflatus Misery 46000

Doesn't appear to have the same requirements as Afflatus Misery

Defensive Abilities, Effects, & Heals

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Healed Note

True Cure II N/A / ST Cure II 16000

True Medica N/A / Party Medica 7800

True Medica II N/A / Party Medica II 4800

Tetragrammaton N/A / ST Tetragrammaton 13000

True Benediction N/A / ST Benediction All

Afflatus Venat N/A / ST Afflatus Solace 15000

Uncommonly used, maybe once per run

True Renew N/A / Party Unique All

Also restores player MP

True Benison N/A / ST Divine Benison N/A

Extremely uncommonly used

True Stoneskin II N/A / Party Stoneskin II N/A

Not that White Mage has it anymore. Can be cast during battle, unlike the player's (defunct) version. Seems like it can be cast roughly every minute.

True Arise N/A / ST Unique N/A

Revive, Instant

Comments: • If there's a pattern to her offensive abilities I'm not seeing it.

• Afflatus Azem seems to have some connection to healing as she uses it more often in a no-tanking situation (as she is also healing vastly more), while her other offensive abilities don't show the same relative increase in cast number (due to the dungeon taking far longer). Whatever system she's using isn't the same as the Lilies though, as she can use Afflatus Azem twice in a row.

• True Cure II/True Medica/True Medica II comprise the vast majority of her healing.

Venat • DPS

Offensive Abilities

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Damage Note

Cascade Piercing / ST Cascade 4200

Fountain Piercing / ST Fountain 4200

Reverse Cascade Piercing / ST Reverse Cascade 8400

Fountainfall Piercing / ST Fountainfall 8400

True Finish Piercing / AOE Technical Finish 11000

Sun Dance Piercing / ST Fan Dance 20000

Sun Dance II Piercing / AOE Fan Dance II 20000

Sun Dance III Piercing / AOE Fan Dance III 32000

Brightsaber Dance Piercing / AOE Saber Dance 54000

Used twice in a row

Defensive Abilities, Effects, & Heals

Skill Name Type / Target Equivalent Healed Note

True Step N/A / Self Technical Step N/A

Crimson Heart N/A / Self Emboite N/A

Azure Heart N/A / Self Entrechat N/A

Golden Heart N/A / Self Pirouette N/A

Verdant Heart N/A / Self Jete N/A

True Bravery N/A / ST Unique N/A

Always targets player; damage buff

True Renew N/A / Party Unique All

Also restores player MP

Curing Choreia N/A / Self Curing Waltz 11000

True Arise N/A / ST Unique N/A

Revive, Instant

Comments: • Rotation is Cascade through Fountainfall, repeated, with the occasional True Finish as a finisher (On a 2ish minute cooldown? Probably the same as Technical Step.). Sun Dances also occur after Fountainfall, but only occasionally, in ascending order (sometimes skipping II). Sun Dances + True Finish do not seem to ever occur together. Priority I think goes to True Finish, while on successive combos, Sun Dance(s) are used instead, until True Finish can be used again.

• Has a unique LB2!

CODING

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Wed, 01 Feb 2023 18:36:39 GMT

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Application

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 00:08:12 GMT

OOC INFORMATION
Player Name: Siren
Pronoun Preferences: she/they
Contact: PM/blackbirding
Are you over the age of 18?: Y
Invitation Link: here
Current Characters: N/A
Link to Permissions: here

IC INFORMATION
Character Name: Emet-Selch
Species: Amaurotine
Canon: Final Fantasy XIV
Canon Point: Post-6.0 Endwalker
Character Age: well in excess of 10,000
CRAU: Yes; both aefenglom + jikan_rpg
CRAU Explanation:
Emet-Selch was in Aefenglom for close to two years, and from the start he very much did not want to be there. He was considered a witch in the setting, which meant that while he lost all of his native powers and aspects, he was capable of learning that world's (lesser) magic, which he very grudgingly did. Though he was later canon-updated to his death, he arrived before reaching that point, and had to deal with learning about it second-hand from canonmates. While trying (and not particularly succeeding) to come to terms with his likely powerlessness to change his fate, he also had to live with quite literal powerlessness (in comparison to his native state), with any moment being the one where he was sent back to his world without choice or warning. But what was the point of going home if it was to die? How could he not wish to return anyway, on some chance he could avert fate and still save his people? Falling in genuine love with someone from a wholly foreign star further complicated the issue, as when either of them disappeared from Aefenglom... not even their memory of one another would endure, their meeting having the same impact as having never happened at all.

• Emet-Selch never did find an 'answer' to these problems. At best, he eventually gained some fragile acceptance that there was no answer, that all he could do was live in the present day. After he was updated to his death (though this was before Endwalker's release so he still didn't 'remember' everything ~~thanks canon for making this harder than it needed to be~~), he had fewer directions to be torn in, having nothing more to 'live' for- but still had the fear of being separated from his selfish, romantic love. Which didn't stop him from getting married- one more to his pile of thousands, but for the first time it was as himself, for the sake of genuine attachment.

• As Emet-Selch encountered no fewer than four versions of the protagonist of FFXIV, with none of them being the one he knew personally, he was introduced to incontrovertible proof of alternate realities. In all of them he died. It didn't do much for his morale.

• He also learned of the strange precedence of mortal humans in most realities, or other worlds. Rather than the unfortunate, broken outlier of his own, humans seem to be the default, which is a bizarre thing to consider. Though he's less judgemental these days when it comes to them (are they alive? inconclusive), he still doesn't view mortals with anything approaching the same respect as his own people.

He wasn't in Jikan for very long, but it's included for completeness' sake, and for the added experience of being shunted around different settings outside of his control. All of his old magic was there at least! And while he came in without memories of his prior game (including that of his husband, who he re-met there), they returned over time. He was very briefly part of a god(!), and also briefly replaced with a younger, alternate version of himself from an Etheirys where the Final Days never occurred. Inheriting those memories, on top of being drawn to the impossible-possibility of his husband's potential for godhood if he claimed his soul- Emet-Selch's acceptance to his world's fate, given over to the guardianship of the younger races... became something less accepting. If given the chance to save his people after all- how could he not yearn to take it?

Unfortunately that opportunity will have to wait. The experience of being completely powered down another time will at least not be a new thing, but will leave him irate once more.

Character Appearance: here
Powers and Abilities:
• Immortality. Of the "won't die unless killed" variety.

• Possession. As a spirit, can take over the bodies of others. Can also change those bodies to look different from what they were (which he has done in the past to make them look somewhat like himself).

• Creation. Can create next to anything, from the scale of small objects, to an entire city. Semi-living beings are included, animals and magical constructs, but nothing with a soul.

• Teleportation.

• Dark magic/general offensive magic. Very very very much a mage, with use of all elements, though a preference for the dark. No healing abilities, however.

• Transformation. Has two other forms. Apart from being very large, they also allow him to use much more powerful spells and attacks that are along similar lines as his usual magic. Just... more.

• Soul sight. Can see the size/color/characteristics of the souls of others.

• Can see the memories of others.

(If any of these are regained I assume they will be heavily nerfed because they get a bit absurd.)

What Did Your Character Wish For? For Etheirys to have never been sundered, and Amaurot to never have fallen. For the Final Days to have never have happened in the first place.
What Potion Did They Receive? Blue
Did They Drink It? No; he will at some point, but that's a sketchy thing to just down.

Character Questions:
1. Who is the person your character is most bonded with from their canon? Or who is someone they miss the most?
There are two people Emet-Selch is known to have been especially close to: Hythlodaeus and Azem. While it's difficult to choose between them, Azem is given some narrative bias... as they were the full, unbroken version of the player character. Because of this, they've never appeared in game, making their dynamic with Emet-Selch one more of inference. But it's likely similar to his relationship with Hythlodaeus- that is, one of cheerful banter and teasing (on their side) and disgruntled frustration (on his). Emet-Selch describes Azem as incorrigible, their reckless feats something that Hythlodaeus is either endorsing or directly aiding- and which Emet-Selch inevitably assists with, if asked (if asked repeatedly, or otherwise verbally bludgeoned into cooperating).

Long-suffering looks, a plethora of sighs, and general (concern-based) irritation aside, it's clear that he loves them dearly.

2. What are they most afraid of?
Prior to his death, and subsequent understanding of it all, the failure to revive his people and return his home world of Etheirys to its complete state. The failure to serve, his duty gone unfulfilled no matter the millennia of suffering he'd endured for it, the thousands and thousands of lives he'd gone through... all of it for nothing. The guilt would be unbearable, nearly as unbearable as the task itself, for all that he would never think of letting go of it. Considering that this was his condition for nigh-eternity, and not something that's easily shrugged off simply by his lack of life, it still feels relevant.

Presently: solitude. It lies behind all of his other fears, and something he'd been made to live with ever since his world was sundered. Without his people he had nothing, was nothing. His two surviving intact compatriots only grew less like themselves as the years passed, becoming unrecognizable echoes, leaving himself completely and utterly alone.

3. What is their weakness? Emotionally, mentally and physically?
Emotionally, his unwillingness and inability to leave his past behind in favor of the present, forever grieving for a world that no longer is. Though he has come a long ways from his earliest state post-sundering, he's still unable to connect with humanity, unable to love them as he does his people. While he'd finally gone to his rest without resenting their existence, accepting their place on the star- he also knows he could never be a part of them as himself.

Mentally, as an accompaniment to the above: an underestimation of the younger races, of mortals and their capabilities. At his current point, he has come around on them somewhat (and to some degree had for some time, though it's something he's not wholly conscious of), but he's an old man set in his ways. An acknowledgement given at the edge of the universe, in the wake of extraordinary efforts (and biased towards the sundered version of his old friend being at the helm of said efforts)... is different entirely from having to live amongst the pettiness of humanity once more. He's still arrogant and superior and has had a long time becoming that way.

Physically? With his native abilities, very little. After becoming an Ascian especially, mortal wounds to a body would mean nothing, given the endurance of his soul, and his soul is very difficult to damage. Without his powers, however, he's as squishy as any human. No particular weak points or strengths. But due to being used to bodies being disposable, even though he's had some experience now of that not being the case, it can be a little hard for him to take it completely seriously, to remember that as a human might.

4. What would make them happiest?
To see an intact Etheirys, one that had never been sundered, one that had never faced the ruination of the Final Days. The same as his wish, more or less. Impossibly, he would want to have this, as well as remain with his husband while also not separating him from his own world and dreams. It's too much, too impossible for him to even try to wish for it- but it would be the closest thing to happiness for him.

5. What’s their type for a lover?
The incorrigible. A terrible type, extroverted and smug, lively and energetic and who gets into all manner of problems and situations and inevitably drags him along- a type who loves to see him suffer (affectionately). Emet-Selch will do nothing but complain about them, protest every time he's bothered, and yet be drawn back in without fail. This is his favorite. The persistent.

Essentially, those who are the complete opposite of himself in most obvious ways. (And who are similar to him in less obvious ways- such as a capacity for earnest devotion.) And who, for that matter, can take his prickliness in stride- and in his current state, aged and wearied over all he's experienced- someone who can accept his depressivness and bleak volatility. Having fallen for and married Mettaton in a prior game, he more than met his match, despite his own pained resistance to his fate. No, he's quite dedicated to his menace of a partner. (Despite having vastly differing opinions on humanity... like it would be hard to be more vastly different. But they managed to get attached all the same, having their souls literally tied together quickening that result.)

If love is not required in a lover, however, Emet-Selch would take and use absolutely anyone if it would further his goals. Personal preference is irrelevant, and he would play any part as it was required of him.

Samples:
here

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Tue, 01 Oct 2019 05:48:06 GMT

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Application

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 18:25:28 GMT

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