![I've made arrangements to speak with Caldor about the books he sold to [b]Dorran Kaide[/b]. We're hoping to find out exactly who among the Sharlayan scholars sold it to him. Between the warning on the interior of the cover and the fact that it's not original to the book in Dorran's possession speaks to another book somewhere. A far more dangerous book. Plus, it may yet lead us to the cipher, if Dorran's ghost in the machine doesn't solve it first.
I continue to worry about [b]Aurelius Auclair[/b], I still haven't seen nor heard from him in suns. But I at least have reassurances from [b]Yumarox Revanche[/b] that he's alive and well, simply in hiding until the nonsense with the bounty blows over. And then, of course, there's [b]Jack Nasty-face[/b] whom I also haven't heard from. Granted, the Starlight holiday tends to preoccupy people, so perhaps I'm simply fretting over nothing. I just hope Jack didn't try to resolve things by himself.](https://wa-cdn.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/user-data/production/92221953-7f9f-4d7c-a7e5-a20cd22b03e6/uploads/images/9c5be9448db53b6d15f214cb858af083.png "I've made arrangements to speak with Caldor about the books he sold to [b]Dorran Kaide[/b]. We're hoping to find out exactly who among the Sharlayan scholars sold it to him. Between the warning on the interior of the cover and the fact that it's not original to the book in Dorran's possession speaks to another book somewhere. A far more dangerous book. Plus, it may yet lead us to the cipher, if Dorran's ghost in the machine doesn't solve it first.
I continue to worry about [b]Aurelius Auclair[/b], I still haven't seen nor heard from him in suns. But I at least have reassurances from [b]Yumarox Revanche[/b] that he's alive and well, simply in hiding until the nonsense with the bounty blows over. And then, of course, there's [b]Jack Nasty-face[/b] whom I also haven't heard from. Granted, the Starlight holiday tends to preoccupy people, so perhaps I'm simply fretting over nothing. I just hope Jack didn't try to resolve things by himself.")
![I had it on good authority that [b]Dorran Kaide[/b] had never celebrated Starlight. As a matter of fact, he didn't even really know the story behind it. So, I took him out to the Starlight Stalls that had been set up this year and told him the true story of Starlight and how it came to be a tradition. As expected, he took the story to heart with all the appreciation that I'd expect from someone like him. I also took it upon myself to present him with his very first Starlight gift.
A stuffed Alpha doll. The stories of Alphas adventures are many, plus Alpha has a knack for magitek. I thought Dorran would have a fondness for Alphas story, since Alpha was rewarded with freedom and adventure after saving his friends. Dorran was delighted, perhaps far more delighted than a grown man should be when being given a stuffed doll. Still, it was wonderful to see the joy on his face.
I also had to let Dorran down, he's been making it more and more clear to me that he was interested in me -- romantically speaking -- and I'm not to be had for the wanting. I'm still very much in love with Archambaut and have no will or want to betray my knight's trust in me ever again. Dorran took it well, though, and promised that we would still always be friends. I suppose we'll see... men have a curious tendency to vanish from my life the moment they find out I'm not single.](https://wa-cdn.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/user-data/production/92221953-7f9f-4d7c-a7e5-a20cd22b03e6/uploads/images/44b9a1c3f2490ee20436bc8e5427a324.png "I had it on good authority that [b]Dorran Kaide[/b] had never celebrated Starlight. As a matter of fact, he didn't even really know the story behind it. So, I took him out to the Starlight Stalls that had been set up this year and told him the true story of Starlight and how it came to be a tradition. As expected, he took the story to heart with all the appreciation that I'd expect from someone like him. I also took it upon myself to present him with his very first Starlight gift.
A stuffed Alpha doll. The stories of Alphas adventures are many, plus Alpha has a knack for magitek. I thought Dorran would have a fondness for Alphas story, since Alpha was rewarded with freedom and adventure after saving his friends. Dorran was delighted, perhaps far more delighted than a grown man should be when being given a stuffed doll. Still, it was wonderful to see the joy on his face.
I also had to let Dorran down, he's been making it more and more clear to me that he was interested in me -- romantically speaking -- and I'm not to be had for the wanting. I'm still very much in love with Archambaut and have no will or want to betray my knight's trust in me ever again. Dorran took it well, though, and promised that we would still always be friends. I suppose we'll see... men have a curious tendency to vanish from my life the moment they find out I'm not single.")
On Wings of Silver :: 05
The wheel turns and turns again. I finally figured out the book Dorran Kaideleft in my care. It's an ancient Allagan cipher, but we're missing the keyword. To go along with that, the book itself is not in its original binding, which means the cover belonged to another book -- a book meant for the warning inscribed on the interior of the cover. As a result, we must find the cipher that unlocks the text, as well as find the original book that belonged to the cover.
The first part of this adventure begins by talking to an Allagan Ghost that Dorran claims to have locked in his Free Company's workshop, a creature who seems none at all predisposed to helping Dorran with much of anything, if I'm to gather the context clues correctly. This Ghost, according to Dorran, may likely hold the keyword that will unlock the cipher I found in the book he left in my care. He'd originally thought it was some strange dialect of Allagan and brought it to me for translation, but after several nights of careful study and several visits to the Noumenon, I discovered the patterns that spoke of a cipher at work. However, without the keyword, there's no unlocking whatever secrets the book holds. A curiosity made all the more curious by the fact that the pages within the book aren't original. The cover belongs to another book entirely. And on the inside of that cover was a warning.
Which leads us to the second part of this little venture, Dorran recommends we speak to the merchant he bought the book from, a man known in Ul'dah mercantile circles as Caldor (NPC). He's an old "friend" of the Lightfaith Armory, having worked with my father a number of times on various projects. It's my hope that I can get the information we need from him without having to resort to any unsavory measures. It might be a hard sell though, Caldor is known to be a bit on the sly side at times. There was talk of ambushing the man at his favorite brothel, but I'm hoping that we don't have to do anything of the sort, that we can approach and speak to him like civilized people. We can only hope.
Yumarox Revanche came by during my discussions with Dorran, if only to let me know that he'd spoken with Aurelius Auclair and that the duskwight was laying low at a safehouse somewhere. Aurelius was apparently heeding Yumarox's advice to stay out of sight until the whole "bounty hunter" business blows over. I can only hope that all of it is true, that Aurelius has seen sense to keep himself out of the public eye until matters are settled. Yumarox also alluded to the idea that Aurelius had spoken to the person who issued the bounty on him to begin with. It makes me wonder who could have so much ire for a self-proclaimed pacifist. Granted, I know Aurelius has had a... colorful past and won himself a number of enemies, perhaps that past is simply catching up with him. I'm not sure. I will continue to pray to the Twelve for his health and safety.
I must needs catch up with Jack Nasty-face. It's been a sennight or more since I've last seen or heard from him. I hope he hasn't gone and done anything foolish all by himself. Half-voidsent he may be, but the full-blooded voidsent won't recognize him as one of their own, he'll still be a tasty source of aether to consume. I must also get together with Reynard, so that we can prepare Mist for the side excursion we have planned for the clockwork carbuncle. It will sadden me a bit to lose him, Mist was a precious gift given in what I believed to be good faith and love -- but I couldn't trust it after learning that "Rain" was not Reynard, but something or someone posing as him.
Aside from that, I keep myself busy between deliveries hither and yon, spending time with my parents over the holidays -- all with Archambaut in tow, of course. He'd laugh at how many pies I have my fingers in and tell me just to make sure I'm taking care of myself above all else. Speaking of which, it is well past time I took my rest, so I will end this here.
The major events and journals in Gospel's history, from the beginning to today.
The meeting between [b]Dorran Kaide[/b] and [b]Valeria Camena[/b] could have gone better, but at least the Book that Dorran entrusted to my care has been properly scried and the enchantments on it dismantled. That at least renders the Book harmless, though the traps laid on it seem to have been set for someone other than Dorran. To weaponize the people he knows against him. Our next steps take us to Labyrinthos in Sharlayan and Ishgard, to chase down the rest of the artifacts in Caldor's collection. We'll have to see what comes of those excursions. I have a number of questions for Dorran concerning his backstory with all of this, but when he's less raw about it. Valeria was particularly unkind to him about it all -- something that seemed out of character even for her. I know she has no love of the Void, but it's almost as if in our time apart since the Final Days, she's grown harder and colder than before. It makes me wonder just who she's been keeping company with and what they've been turning my sister into.
05:54 am - 20.01.2025I've made arrangements to speak with Caldor about the books he sold to [b]Dorran Kaide[/b]. We're hoping to find out exactly who among the Sharlayan scholars sold it to him. Between the warning on the interior of the cover and the fact that it's not original to the book in Dorran's possession speaks to another book somewhere. A far more dangerous book. Plus, it may yet lead us to the cipher, if Dorran's ghost in the machine doesn't solve it first. I continue to worry about [b]Aurelius Auclair[/b], I still haven't seen nor heard from him in suns. But I at least have reassurances from [b]Yumarox Revanche[/b] that he's alive and well, simply in hiding until the nonsense with the bounty blows over. And then, of course, there's [b]Jack Nasty-face[/b] whom I also haven't heard from. Granted, the Starlight holiday tends to preoccupy people, so perhaps I'm simply fretting over nothing. I just hope Jack didn't try to resolve things by himself.
02:24 pm - 09.01.2025On Wings of Silver :: 05
[img:6241992|center] The wheel turns and turns again. I finally figured out the book [b]Dorran Kaide[/b]left in my care. It's an ancient Allagan cipher, but we're missing the keyword. To go along with that, the book itself is not in its original bin...
11:09 am - 04.01.2025I continue to worry about the situation with [b]Aurelius Auclaire.[/b] I think the man makes himself far too convenient a target for his aggressors, these bounty hunters. Ever since the first series of attacks, I've been checking the Bloodsands just to make sure he's there and he's all right, but when I checked there this evening... he was nowhere to be found. I don't know if this bodes well or ill for him and there were no familiar faces to ask.
05:07 am - 02.01.2025I had it on good authority that [b]Dorran Kaide[/b] had never celebrated Starlight. As a matter of fact, he didn't even really know the story behind it. So, I took him out to the Starlight Stalls that had been set up this year and told him the true story of Starlight and how it came to be a tradition. As expected, he took the story to heart with all the appreciation that I'd expect from someone like him. I also took it upon myself to present him with his very first Starlight gift. A stuffed Alpha doll. The stories of Alphas adventures are many, plus Alpha has a knack for magitek. I thought Dorran would have a fondness for Alphas story, since Alpha was rewarded with freedom and adventure after saving his friends. Dorran was delighted, perhaps far more delighted than a grown man should be when being given a stuffed doll. Still, it was wonderful to see the joy on his face. I also had to let Dorran down, he's been making it more and more clear to me that he was interested in me -- romantically speaking -- and I'm not to be had for the wanting. I'm still very much in love with Archambaut and have no will or want to betray my knight's trust in me ever again. Dorran took it well, though, and promised that we would still always be friends. I suppose we'll see... men have a curious tendency to vanish from my life the moment they find out I'm not single.
04:57 am - 02.01.2025The list of amazing people following the adventures of Gospel.
Social
Birthplace
Ul'dah, Thanalan
Current Residence
The Mist, Ward 23, The Topmast Subdivision, Apartment #50
Contacts & Relations
Beloved
A stern-faced and stoic Ishgardian Temple Knight on the surface, but a genteel and mindful lover beneath, Archambaut treats Gospel with loyalty and equality in all things. She's not his damsel-in-distress, but his partner and equal, providing his blade and his shield whenever she has need of it.
Inner Circle
Her adopted little sister and former ward, Valeria is a precious part of the cleric's inner circle. One of the foremost authorities on the Voidsent that Gospel knows, she appreciates Valeria's insights and counsel.
A young man that she considered her brother, Zerey and Gospel didn't start out as the best of friends. With time and patience, however, they've become boon companions, helping each other out of their various tribulations.
A very dear person in Gospel's life, she and Reynard have been through much together. She trusts him with her life and he does likewise. There are few people that Gospel would trust to safeguard her secrets than Reynard.
The Bozjan has recently earned his way into the cleric's confidence with his rapier wit and striking conversation.
Notable Friends
The looming roegadyn has been a steadfast and loyal friend to the cleric ever since she asked him to hold her sandwich. Any time she's been in need of someone to guard her back, she's been able to count on Tempest to be there for her.
A man of few words, the masked gunbreaker is still counted among Gospel's notable friends, always willing to lend his blade to whatever adventure the cleric brings to the fore, no matter how odd or extraordinary.
Contrary to the man's name, Gospel doesn't find the miqo'te all that nasty. He's a man seemingly in need of friends, which the cleric has done her utmost to provide.
Honorary & Occupational Titles
What began as a jest among The Mythril Shield eventually became a moniker for the pale-skinned Ul'dahnian.
After taking command of The Silverwing from Captain Esmeralda's death.
Former title held during her service in the Maelstrom as the Tactical Officer for The Silverwing under Captain Esmeralda.
Wealth & Financial state
Gospel is something of a spendthrift, so she's amassed a sizable fortune though she doesn't live with any extreme level of largesse. She keeps her living situation modest, since she travels a lot, especially now with The Silverwing constantly sailing.
Family Ties
Family
Father. A notable blacksmith in Ul'dah who runs The Lightfaith Armory, he often supplies Gospel and her compatriots with weapons and armor. The Armory has since relocated to Ishgard following attacks made on the Lightfaiths by Gospel's enemies.
Mother. A talented goldsmith from Thavnair, she met Alexander one year when she came to sell her wares in Ul'dah. She's in poor health these days in the aftermath of an attack on the Lightfaiths by Gospel's enemies.
Adopted Sister. See above.
Maternal Grandmother. A dancer from Thavnair that was part of her own entertainment troupe before retiring to run a dancing school in Radz-at-Han. She has since relocated the dancing school to Akela Springs.
(Deceased) Maternal Grandfather. A Sharlayan scholar and sage. He died during the early phases of the Ragnarok project when an experiment they were working on exploded.
Religious Views
Thaliak, The Scholar
Foremostly, Gospel follows Thaliak as the God of Knowledge. She was introduced to him at an early age by her grandfather and she found that she liked the idea of a god who liked knowledge and books, as opposed to Nald'thal and his death and commerce.
The Twelve
Gospel has respect and regard for the rest of the Twelve and their place in Eorzean belief and society. She frequently mentions Nymeia and Llymlaen and Oschon. Sometimes Byregot for crafters.
Social Aptitude
A Social Butterfly
With her general, congenial nature Gospel is friendly to everyone she meets until they prove themselves otherwise undeserving. It allows her to form a network of connections to individuals of all kinds and from all walks of life.
Hobbies & Pets
Occasional Culinarian
Gospel enjoys cooking, something that she developed during her time with Syrio Nessaire. She samples the local cuisine when she travels, bringing back unique ingredients and recipes to experiment with.