I want to say for Vachir it might be sight? But also maybe taste—all the joys of cooking so he's gotten a more refined palate perhaps. #zhyklore #vachlore

—"Nostalgia | Well-Loved" for #SixSentenceSaturday.

A moment of downtime and a whisper of memory. Zhyk would never let anyone know he still carries around a childhood toy.

• #stygwrites • #zhyklore • #ffxivwriters •

Like most other things about him, it's a grey area! It's what I find interesting about him, where his limits are and why.

Vachir's the other side of the coin in a lot of ways, even here where he's the type to offer help to any who need it.
#zhyklore #vachlore

to do yet, but something he's observed happening in Gridania, whether at the botanist guild or for sale in the markets. I honestly imagine he'll have jars nestled away in nooks of any home he has & likely takes a while to break the hoarding habits he develops (food or otherwise). #zhyklore

I also couldn't do DRK since Zhyk's got a fair bit going on mentally with his voidsent & Temur's Shade (a nebulous concept that could be Esteem adjacent 🤔). I figured it might be overkill to have a third entity in there when he's fractured enough between those 2 and other memories. #zhyklore

as a bodyguard. He's a very gentle man who prefers pacifism anytime he can (or precision subduing) in aggravated circumstances. However, he does have a much more dangerous part to him, one buried in his past & known only to certain parties. It's advised not to mess with him #zhyklore #vachlore

Voidsent in the game do it (you see it in levequests with imps & during All Saints as examples), so I figured it's logical for him to learn how to do similar.

It's a safety measure and a slight comfort for him to be able to double up on a prism & magic. #zhyklore

#zhyklore

Vachir's the type to walk away when upset so he can compartmentalize his feelings on the matter and return calm.

Only more recently, as he's come to drop his mask around a close friend, does he risk raising his voice when upset, then allowing himself reassurance from another. #zhyklore #vachlore

#zhyklore #vachlore

I think when he settles down more and feels more secure with his voidsent condition, he'll be able to switch from mercenary work into adventuring and possibly pick up a simpler job on the side. #zhyklore

The Keeper clan Zhyk grew up with isn't canon in the game other than borrowing scattered bits of lore about Keepers of the Moon in general, if that counts. 🤔

They reside in South Shroud, staying in a single location for a short span of time (moving with the new moon basically). #zhyklore

Zhyk has a higher tolerance, but only because of his condition & repeated exposure to things most people aren't encountering on regular basis.

When he was younger, he had a lower tolerance, though tried to pretend he was okay a lot of the time. It took Lucent some time to reassure him. #zhyklore

-> The more Zhyk masters spellcasting and weaving aether in general, the more attuned to it he becomes and I try to represent that with sensation. Sight, sound, scent, touch, taste. There's always something Other to it, ofc, due to the void.

BUT YEAH, his ancient did gestures & so does Z! #zhyklore

"I'm… glad…" The words stick in his throat, much like the ice that coats the walls of the shallow alcove of the Coerthan mountain. He tries to force the sounds, but—like the frost when hammered with chisel—each attempt leaves sharpened splinters to lacerate the throat. He feels the sting of tears at the corners of his eyes and quickly brings a hand to scour them away (he will not have evidence of his sorrow so plainly on display), then brushes off what snow has covered the cairn and rusted greatsword. "I'm glad I met you." But he's not glad; he's angry and anguished and as the wind beyond the alcove howls, it ushers in a flurry of snow— —perhaps it might bury him in a frigid grave (he's so used to the cold) and numb him to years of mourning left to fester (he prays, he hopes, he lies, he lies)— —and he feels a Shade's touch on his shoulder, a hand that's warm and heavy and so very Real when it shouldn't be, that he cannot help but lean into it with a hoarse whisper, "Forgive me… forgive me…"

—"I'm glad I met you."
190 words. Attempted six sentence. Grief/mourning.

There's a grave in Coerthas marked only by cairn and rusted blade... and the footprints of a man who still so fiercely loves that which he cannot have.

ellipsus.com/read/77d6ZsT...

• #stygwrites • #zhyklore • #starcrossed •

Vachir wants to see a better tomorrow. Not so much for himself (he's already in a much more positive place than he was before!), but to make the future brighter for those around him, regardless if they're a client he's working for or a stranger crossing his path. #zhyklore #vachlore

Zhyk covers up ASAP! He's very particular about who sees him in what state of undress as he has a lot of body issues he has yet to work out. He'll probably shy away from conversation about it and try to pretend it didn't happen, getting flustered and upset if he's pushed on the topic. #zhyklore ⤵️

A purple-haired miqo'te hunches over a white-haired viera who is laying on the ground. There's blood on the viera's neck and around the miqo'te's mouth. Text along the image reads "Death's Ravening / Erysichthon"

"Draw your weapons! And pray the Twelve watch over us this day—"

(💥𝘣𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘴💥)

• #gposers • #gpose • #zhyklore •

#zhyklore

He's a character mired in the past, both in memory & appearance. Being bound to Erys has caused changes that make Zhyk question if he's still mortal.

He tries not to think about it. He's not sure how to process those emotions yet. #zhyklore

As for Vachir! ->

#zhyklore because I never remember to tag things! (or I hit character limit)

Zhyk learned to wield an axe from his mentor! Lucent trained in several types of melee weaponry (though preferred lances) and taught both Zhyk & Temur their respective skillsets.

He later innately knew how to handle his scythe and mastered his void-granted magicks through trial and error.
#zhyklore

a miqo'te looking as if he's in pain or breathing hard, seen from the side. one hand seems to press against his chest while the other tenses in a clawing motion at his side. he looks over his shoulder at the viewer, lips curled back in a snarl, his one visible eye glowing and eerie sapphire. he appears as a predator, searching for prey.

𝑖𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑, 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔.
—𝑟𝑢𝑛.

• #gposers • #gpose • #zhyklore • #erys • #voidsent •

Temur was a very patient and loving man. Knowledgeable, playful, and kind - willing to engage Zhyk's curiosity and pluck him from midst of danger.

If Zhyk were asked and spoke honestly, it'd be simple:
"He was my home."

#starcrossed #zhyklore

That he tries to bring little things to people when he realizes it might help them or be something they need/like.

That he makes quiet chirps and kneads when falling asleep. Wakes with a 'mrrp' when startled.

That he expresses trust and affection through bunting and hand touches.
#zhyklore

#zhyklore #vachlore

I do a lot of internal musings with my OCs (I love seeing their inner workings)! Zhyk's tend to be a mix as he deals with other presences in his head. It's sometimes disjointed or becomes an active scene between him & his voidsent, though this is a better example of Zhyk alone.

#zhyklore

A miqo'te (Zhyk) seated in crook of a tree branch with one hand outstretched to feel the sun's warmth against his bare palm.

"A respite to be thankful for, however brief it may be."

📸 by @symphytum.bsky.social
• #gposers • #zhyklore •

Honestly anytime he's interacting with animals (he's a whole different & softer person with them) or when he's cozy & being shy around someone (he blushes sooo much)!

#zhyklore

Never posted one of these before, but a brief glimpse at Zhyk's fidgeting habit for #sixsentencesaturday.

• #stygwrites • #zhyklore • #ffxivwrite •