A photo on Ultima Thule. Taro stands in front of a cloud, his back to the camera. A second image zooms in on the face, a tear rolls down his face as he smiles wearily.
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore || #miqomarch ||
Day 26: Sacrifice
"Dying... no longer frightens me."
A photo of a familiar scene involving Taro and Kiht in the Royal Menagerie at the end of Stormblood. This is where Kiht offers Taro to join her on adventures.
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Day 24: Offer
"Come with me."
An image of Taro in his study. In the foreground are two books while he holds another open. He appears to be amazed at whatever revelation he is looking at. These are histories of the Miqo'te clans of southern Ilsabard as Taro is currently on a quest to learn more about his birth family.
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore || #miqomarch ||
Day 21: Seek
Seeking the knowledge of one's past.
A photo of Taro looking directly at the camera. Reflecting in his glasses are two aspects that haunt him. In one is his personal as Whitetail Tacitus rem Cyprianus. He is still haunted by the deaths he caused as a tool of the Imperial war machine. The other is Dalamud cracking open in the skies over Carteneau. It was there that Taro had finally threw off the yolk of Imperial subservience. But still, how many deaths did he cause?
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore || #miqomarch ||
Day 18: Haunt
Try as you might. You'll never truly be rid of it.
As the Warrior of Light crosses the Burn, Taro stands in awe at the sight of the bleached desert. He's just emerged from the Allagan ruins that sit below the barren wastes and is met with a white haze.
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore || #Miqomarch ||
Day 17: Burn
Taro stands watch outside of Tailfeather in Dravania. His back is facing the camera as he holds Rosa Cor over his shoulder. He is bathed in the light of the moon.
|| #Taropics || #miqomarch || #Tarolore ||
Day 15: Favourite Job
The Gunbreaker...
An image of 16 year old Tacitus (Taro) and his parents in Doma. Tacitus seemingly underwent a growth spurt while his parents make note of it. Tacitus is embarrassed and blushing.
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Day 12: (Free day) Growth
What are they feeding him?
In the light of the camp at what was once the suburra of Latium, Taro builds his new weapon. In the background, his father's gunblade, his mother's magitek Lance and his Crownblade are located on the table with Taro having used them to build his new weapon.
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Day 11: Weapon
Rose Heart... Rosa Cor
Taro looks at his reflection in a stream. Looking back he sees himself if he was raised by his birthparents. He is surrounded by his family. His mother, Tahro, his brothers: Tahro'a, Tahro'to, Tahro'li and his father, Ita'a Lheye.
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Day 10: Mirror
What could have been...
From "Tales from the Snow" “Tacitus…” The stoic Garlean said, his voice slightly shaky from the race of emotions he no doubt had rushing through him. He walked forward a few steps, moving to put his hand on Taro’s shoulder like he did in the past. He stopped just short, recoiling for a moment. It took a few seconds before Taro looked at him and finally smiled. “Dad. It’s okay.” His growly voice was gentle, soft even and he took Cassius’ hand and placed it on his shoulder. “I don’t hold any of it against you…” Taro gesticulated his hand around, his finger miming a circular motion. “None of what anyone here did, while under Anima’s control, was their fault…” Cassius looked at him and said nothing, he couldn’t say anything really. Octavia for her part, looked at the two of them, smiled and placed her hand on Taro’s shoulder as well. “Tacitus.” She started, “Taro…” She continued. “We couldn’t be more proud of you… for everything you’ve done… you’ve grown into quite a man since you went to Eorzea.” She chuckled and Cassius turned to look at the light in his wife’s face. “I assume you’re going back then?” Cassius asked, his hand withdrawing before settling once the tall Garlean crossed his arms. “To Eorzea?” “Of course I am.” Taro responded, “It’s my home after all…” He paused and chuckled, “I’ve got… roots there now.” “Well!” His mother’s voice piped up “You’ll have to introduce us, won’t you my dear?” Taro looked over to see her with a bright expression on her face. “After all, now that Garlemald is trading with the outside world again, we really ought to make the trip down to see you more often.” “Mother…” Taro said with a low groan. “No no she’s right…” Cassius spoke, placing his hand on Octavia’s back and standing next to her. “Don’t really have to worry about being on any watch lists now… and besides.” He smiled. “It’s a whole new world now…”
|| #miqomarch || #Taropics || #Tarolore ||
Day 8: Warmth
"It was a cold day. It was always cold in Garlemald. But for the first time in a long time… it felt like things were getting warmer."
Description: A 17 year old Tacitus (Taro) Stands in the full frame in standard Imperial armour. This is taken just after his recruitment into the IVth Legion. The shot is likely in the outskirts of Dalmasca in 1559 3E Lore: In the early days, when Tacitus willingly enlisted with the Garlean army, he still held "aan" name between his given and his family names. While he would be discharged from the VIIIth Legion due to prejudice he would find a home within Noah van Gabranth's IVth Legion and serve there for the first several years of his time in the military.
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore || #miqomarch ||
Day 7: Sapling
Tacitus aan Cyprianus reporting.
Description: a photo of Taro around the time he started adventuring in Eorzea. He is holding an apple in his right hand while petting a small Chocobo in the other. This is Magnus, who will eventually be Taro's faithful bird. Lore: The poor thing seemed so weak, his stride was slow as Taro made camp for them both. After a few hours they sat together by the fire. The bird cooed, nuzzling his head into Taro's hand. "You're a loner too aye?" The chocobo quietly "Kweh'd" into his hand... or maybe it was a "wark" Regardless Taro smiled and grabbed a xelphatol apple from his pack. "Eat... get youre strength back." The chocobo cooed.
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore || #miqomarch ||
Day 4: Companion
The beginning of a long friendship...
Description: a photo of Taro and Marsak. Taro holds up his job Stone while Marsak pats his shoulder and congratulates him. Lore: The jacket fit perfectly, much to Taro's surprise. Though he was bigger than most miqo'te, he was nowhere near as broad as a Hrothgar. As he emerged Marsak stood ahead of him, a smile sat proudly on his face. His large hand was closed, even as he raised it towards Taro. As it opened a small yellow stone fell into the Miqo'te's palm. "I think you'll be needing this." Taro looked down at the stone. His eyes glancing over its features and the pronounced sigil in the middle. The mark of a gunbreaker. "Congratulations Blade Cyrpianos. You're officially a Gunbreaker"
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore || #miqomarch ||
Day 3: Calling
A Gunbreaker is born.
An image of a younger Taro sitting at the Carline Canopy with a warm drink in his hand. He looks a bit irritated (shocker) but in the background one can make out three adventurers who are eying him up.
|| #Taropics || #miqomarch || #tarolore ||
Day 1: Begin
The first drink at the Carline Canopy
In the wake of the assault, Marsak congratulates Taro - effectively telling the Whitetail that he has attained enough experience to call himself a "Gunbreaker." As a result, Taro was rewarded with the Bodyguard armour and coat. As Marsak states- modified to suit Taro's wardrobe (he means the coat is black).
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore ||
Gunbreakers should be presentable.
During Taro's Gunbreaker training he learned on the field. The photo above occurs during a Trench assault on the Bozja Southern Front; Taro fights off an assault from men and machina of the 4th Legion. In the foreground is a dead Garlean, his boot caked in mud and blood while another charges the Whitetail. Taro seems poised to strike even with the chaos that surrounds him.
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore ||
"There is no rest for me. There never *will* be rest for me."
In the muddy fields of the Bozjan southern front, Taro stands victorious over Imperial Magitek and military might. He stands on the head of a defeated soldier, pushing it into the muddy water and likely drowning the man as he reaches towards the camera. Taro stands with his self-made gunblade over the man's head. He looks towards the camera with a determined yet weary look as he is covered in mud and blood.
In the wake of the conspiracy against him due to Balrik, Taro would seek a new method of fighting. His weak arm and warped aether limited what jobs he could adopt for defensive purposes and so, he resolved to adopt a Gunblade. Taro ventured to Gangos thanks to the reference given by Helga, the woman who had attempted to take his life. There he would be taken on by Marsak who had been one of the few Gunbreakers present and available. While Marsak was busy assisting Bajsaljen with leading the Resistance he took the time to teach Taro the basics of Gunbreaking and taking the Historian to the front lines on the Bozjan Southern Front. It was here that Taro would gain much of his experience. The image above depicts that fateful day where Taro would venture off into the dead no mans land that once used to hold the jewel of Bozja. Flanked by his mentor and friend, Taro fixes his gauntlet, a look of determination on his face, as he stands ignorant of the brutality he would endure.
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore ||
Leaving for the Front
(Lore in ALT text)
Taro's adoptive Father, Cassius quo Cyprianus is a former centurion from the IVth Imperial Legion. As a veteran of the conquest of Dalmasca, Cassius was awarded an estate in the Capital where he would raise his adoptive son.
#Tarolore
Thucydides :)
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|| #Tarolore ||
For those unaware, Taro's clan marks- which aside from his face, are recent, are actually those of the Urha clan. The colour chosen are inferred to be those of the Vhankoza. However due to the latter's destruction it is impossible to know what their marks or traditions for them were
Dr. Helga aan Wydell makes her move, striking at Taro the moment he reers a corner. Still, Taro was prepared though he is quickly put on the defensive... something a gunslinger like him is rather weak with...
|| #Tarolore || #Taropics ||
"When one is always on edge, they have a habit of being prepared..."
-The Doctor strikes-
An image of Taro walking in the streets of Ala Mhigo. This is set right after 5.3 in Shadowbringers, before Taro leaves for Bozja. While he is surrounded in the street by every day people he can't help but feel as though he is being watched.
A zoom on the assailant, revealed to be Dr. Helga aan Wydell; a former conscript who became a sellsword. She was hired by the Frumentarii to assassinate Taro.
|| #Tarolore || #Taropics ||
"Sometimes, people can just blend into their surroundings."
-After Balrik leaked Taro's whereabouts to the Frumentarii, the Garleans see fit to arrange a quick death for the former Pilus Prior...-
From RP: CW: Gore, Blood A veritable cascade of sanguine ooze soon followed and after letting out a weak, surprised yelp, the goon's voice twisted into a death rattle as he stood for a few moments before swiftly crumpling to the floor in a heap. Taro's expression was emotionless- his sole emerald eye almost glowing in the darkness of the room... There was a part of Taro that, admittedly, felt bad about it. The helplessness of it all. It reminded him of Goldmill- something that never truly left his mind. But this wasn't like that, it wasn't civilians this time, it were people who actually deserved it. Heffrey cried out, kicking at Taro with his one good food, cussing, groaning, whimpering and eventually giving up; the kicking growing slower and slower as the blood continued to poor from his wounds. Taro just looked at him, the same emotionless expression on his face that had sat there when he killed the first goon. The moaning came to an end when Rosa Cor plunged into his eye socket, the sounds converting into more of a wheeze as what sounded like air escaping from a balloon left the stupidly named goon's mouth as the light left his one good eye. Taro slowly pulled the blade from his face and almost like he had broken out of a trance, he turned back to Makade and nodded. "It's done."
A photo of Taro and Kiht in the Pendants inn room after the first time they made love. This occurs right after the defeat of Titania during Shadowbringers. The room is lit with the morning light and Taro holds Kiht close, his hand on her face as he kisses her. For Kiht's part, she strokes Taro's thick cock while he grips her ass cheek.
|| #Taropenits || #Tarokiht || #Tarolore || #nonstopnutaro ||
#dragooner || @st4rcr0ss.bsky.social ||
The first of many~
Cassius and Octavia Cyprianus embrace each other on a hillside in the village of Latium.
|| #Tarolore ||
A quiet time together.
A photo of Tacitus rem Cyprianus looking into the camera. The backdrop is Gyr Abania. His helmet is broken and beneath we see his face, his left eye glowing in the dim light of the flames that flank him.
|| #Taropics || #Tarolore ||
"It doesn't matter what you've done."
"It's still you."
"It's always been *you*."
