Name: N/A • (Volatile Prototype)
Alias: Claudius "Sev" Cooper • (???)
Age: N/A • (Appears 25-35)
Gender: Male • (Cisgender)
Orientation: Bisexual • (Fem Pref)
Status: Single • (Monogamous)
Nationality: Garlean • (Pureblood)
Occupation: Specialized Gleaner Aetherology Lecturer & Artificer
Alignment: "True Neutral" • (???)
Big Three: ♒︎ • ♓︎ • ♍︎
Myers–Briggs: INFJ-A
Height: 6'4" • (193 cm)
Weight: 212 lbs • (96 kg)
Hair: White • (Semi-Translucent)
Eyes: Jet Black • (No Pupils)
An unnerving degree of charm serves as Claudius' most elegant weapon.He wouldn't have survived long without it, and it shows in how he navigates the life he's meticulously pieced together for himself. While his studies have plunged him into dark, unfathomable depths of moral depravity, his pleasant candor always resurfaces—hells or high water, eerily indiscriminate of circumstances.The inactive device embedded in his jugular hints at a history with the Garlean Empire that runs leagues deeper than his third eye. Memories of its former tyranny are shattered and incomplete, fading before his escape from the VIIth Imperial Legion, where he served as a hypertuned test subject. Rather than mourn what was lost, he has devoted his new life to repairing the devastation the Empire left behind.Since fleeing Ilsabard, he has pursued advanced study in aetherology, graduating from Lunar Rose Academy and completing an apprenticeship at the Valtin Institute. His work has earned him permanent residency in Old Sharlayan and a place within the Forum's Gleaner Guildship. He remains active in the field and has a reputation for taking on jobs most gleaners would deem too perilous to tackle alone.Between seasonal expedition cycles, he assists his mentor, Professor M. Cooper, and has begun taking on teaching posts of his own. These days, he delivers monthly lectures in Practical Aether Applications at Caelum Academy, with a focus on soul crystals, materia melding, and spiritbonding. He often incorporates his fieldwork back into the classroom and favors a hands-on approach in his lessons.He keeps certain magicks close to his chest, well out of any student's reach—ancient relics, precise and devastating, forged to bear memory, to draw intent into form, and to shatter everything in their wake. With each shard gathered, he nears the architects of his own ruin to fulfill a promise to himself; that any surviving imperial dogs will pay in kind.Overall, Claudius walks a precarious line between enlightenment and self-destruction, and he's perfectly inclined to accept whichever comes his way first with open arms.
This section is due for a huge update, pardon the dust.
Living Memory
Claudius' favorite branch of aetherology revolves around all things crystalline and auracite-based. Currently, his findings have delved frightfully deep into the creation of soul crystals—verging on an unhealthy obsession. He'll go to incredible (and sometimes questionable) lengths to obtain viable specimens to advance his studies.
Gleaning Machine
Operating under the Gleaners' Guild has given Claudius plenty of opportunity to roam as he pleases. His expeditions alone have carried him to nearly every continent on the star. Even as his career shifts more toward academic institutions, there's still a decent likelihood to cross paths with him on an acquisitions run.
Sleepless Scholar
While still a fresh newcomer to the lecture halls, Claudius approaches the study of spiritbonding techniques with the same dedication he applies to his own research. To improve his teaching abilities, he's eager to pick up new perspectives from more seasoned aetherologists, and will happily chew their ear off for bells at a time.
Slaughterhouse
Behind the polished veneer of a scholar lies the weight of his homeland's ruin, dark and bitter as blood dried beneath his nails. Whenever he's not bound by responsibilities or schedules, Claudius often finds himself making regular excursions to Garlemald to scavenge its ruins. As for what he's searching for? Nobody actually knows.
Professor M. Cooper
❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎♡
"When we first met, I figured you'd only see me as a burden. Instead, you took me under your wing and granted me your own namesake when I had none. Thank you. I promise not to tarnish it."
Tasia Sertorius
❤︎❤︎❤︎♡♡
"Thanks for saving my neck in Nhalmasque, you little freak. Really, though; it's all a bit strange, isn't it? How it feels like we've known each other for several lifetimes over, and yet... and, yet—..."
Ophelia Claire Valcourt
❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎♡
"Here's an idea. Let's keep pretending that betrothal of yours doesn't exist, alright? For a little while longer, at least. I'm always looking forward to each moment we get to spend together."
Einarr Bjornsson
❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎
"Without you, Einarr, I'd be rotting in an Ul'dahn prison cell—or dead, more than likely. I owe you more life debts than I can count, but you've never once held them over my head, have you?"
Livu "Lulu" Reira
❤︎❤︎❤︎♡♡
"The best and brightest of the Gleaner's Guild by far. You are so wonderfully kind and patient with all of us, Lulu. I appreciate you always having my back, especially when I screw up."
Níls Djt-Setlas
❤︎❤︎♡♡♡
"Níls, I'm so sorry; you epitomize the definition of 'dumb blond'. I'd wager that's why I feel compelled to look out for you. Hells, how have you even survived this line of work? Rabbit's luck, maybe?"
Unreliable Narrator ◆ Too Broken to Break ◆ Amnesiac Hero ◆ Quest for Identity ◆ Pyrrhic Victory ◆ Your Mind Makes It Real ◆ Dissonant Serenity ◆ White Hair, Black Heart ◆ Karma Houdini Warranty ◆ Shocking Voice Identity Reveal ◆ Living Memory ◆ Existential Horror ◆ Defector from Decadence ◆ Rage Within the Machine ◆ Big Labyrinthine Building ◆ Strapped to an Operating Table ◆ Mind Rape ◆ Painless Death for a Price ◆ Transhuman ◆ Classified Information ◆ Horror Hates a Rulebreaker ◆ Dead All Along ◆ The Dog Bites Back
Ophelia Claire Valcourt
❤︎❤︎❤︎♡♡
"Here's an idea. Let's keep pretending that betrothal of yours doesn't exist, alright? For a little while longer, at least. I look forward to each moment we spend together."
Itsuki Hoshino
♡♡♡♡♡
"I get it. I understand. You hate the Empire. You won't even let me relate to you on that level. I'm at a complete loss of how to gain your trust. We're supposed to be colleagues..."
Livu "Lulu" Reira
❤︎❤︎❤︎♡♡
"The best and brightest of the Gleaner's Guild by far. You're so wonderfully kind and patient with all of us, Lulu. I appreciate you always having my back, even when I screw things up."
Níls Djt-Setlas
❤︎❤︎♡♡♡
"Níls, I'm sorry; you epitomize the definition of 'dumb blond'. That's the biggest reason why I'm compelled to look out for you. Hells, how have you even survived this line of work?"
The final mystery is oneself. When one has weighed the sun in the balance, measured the steps of the moon, and mapped out the seven heavens star by star, there still remains oneself.Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?
https://static.wixstatic.com/mp3/f4343b_8d1b4815d9fd4663a83feb7cd321cc55.mp3
| ENTRY 173 |
|---|
| After countless nights of reverse engineering remnants of Allagan technology, progress on the Weapons Project is underway at long last. Though our efforts in replicating the Ultima Weapon's framework were successful, every viable substitute for the Heart of Sabik has displayed less than adequate results. Six subjects in total have been annihilated by the high aetherical demands of the machina. |
| Our Seventh attempt, as fate would have it, has shown incredible potential. |
| The main obstacle lies in the transference of combat data to the pilot's consciousness. Fortunately, what our prototype lacks in finesse, it makes up for in brute strength. By commission of Emperor Galvus, our firstmost objective is to refine current systems and develop new methods of streamlining aether to the weapon's core. Future models will also include a more suitable, protective cockpit for their chosen pilots. |
| My Arch Ultima, can you sense it? The burden of Garlemald's future upon your shoulders? Together, you and I will raze the lands of any savages who dare stand in our path. You are my greatest triumph, my engine of destruction. |
| We will achieve perfection. |
| ENTRY 210 |
|---|
| As I type this, all research for the Weapons project is currently in the process of being outsourced to Werlyt. I have been placed under much duress, along with strict orders to stay in the capital with Arch Ultima. Valens has determined that I will no longer have involvement in future development of anti-eikon weaponry. What little faith I once had in him serving our cause has been crushed to dust, and my only wish is to throw it straight into his eyes. Should've known he only wanted the glory. |
| Legatus Varro—loathe as I am to call him such—has also used his newfound power to file an investigation with the ethics department on our "behalf". The irony would be a joke if it weren't so underhanded. Our use of imprisoned convicts for biomedical engineering has been granted clearance by eight of the Decemviri's ten magistrates. There's nothing to investigate; it is merely a ploy to make me look like a fool. |
| Valens' refusal to utilize healthy specimens that display "pure-blooded" characteristics is nothing beyond a farce, a petty insult meant to test my will. It's nothing but another lob of spit flung at my face. I can only assume he's fled to Werlyt to further molest the young conscripts under his command. After all, everyone knows Valens is nothing without something weak cowering beneath him, lapping at the filth on his boots. |
| The fact of the matter is that I'm the only one with the stones to put it in writing. |
| I don't care who reads these reports anymore. |
| ENTRY 189 |
|---|
| Today, the entire VIIth legion has been restructured under the command of my colleague, Valens van Varro. Though I have no authority to contest this decision, I harbor concerns over how his new rank may impact our work. Rarely do we see eye-to-eye on matters regarding scientific dissertations, even with his talents as an engineer. |
| ENTRY 202 |
|---|
| Our development team has completed the synthetic auracite system to better facilitate synchronization between Arch Ultima's pilot and core. While multiple simulations have revealed higher rates of efficacy over drawing directly from the pilot's aether, one caveat remains. Leaving the system active for any extended period of time will cause irrevocable damage to the subject in question; rewriting their aetherical composition on a molecular level, and warping them beyond recognition. |
| We have named this phenomenon the Oversoul Effect. |
| The manufactured catalyst, our synthetic auracite, continues to prove itself as an unstable liability. There must be another method that I haven't yet considered. I am unable to find any practicality in a weapon that's to be piloted only once, regardless of how devastating its output may be. My doubts weigh heavy, and my frustration grows. |
| Even so, Valens reassures me that he has a solution. I must keep patience. |
| ENTRY 221 |
|---|
| The capital is under siege. Our emperor has fallen. |
| My greatest creation has been laid to waste by the Azure Dragoon and Gaius Baelsar's defectors. The fires of war burn bright at my heels, and there's nowhere left to run. The clock is ticking. This final message will serve as a testament to my life's work. |
| My Arch Ultima, though your body lies destroyed, your core will live on to herald our legacy. When this chaos falls to an eventual standstill, we will meet again. Until that day comes to pass, the most I can accomplish is to preserve what remains of your data; to keep your pilot in stasis. After everything we've experienced together, I refuse to accept defeat. We mustn't surrender, for your resurrection will pave the path to our revenge. Garlemald, our beloved empire, will rise again. By any means necessary. |
| United we prevail. |
| END OF TRANSMISSION..._ |
Professor M. Cooper
❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎♡
"When we first met, I figured you'd only see me as a burden. Instead, you took me under your wing, and even allowed me to inherit your namesake. Thank you. I promise not to tarnish it."
Einarr Bjornsson
❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎
"I'd be rotting in an Ul'dahn prison cell if I hadn't fallen into your good graces. You changed the course of my life for the better. I'm forever in your debt, Einarr. I won't let you down."
Tasia Sertorius
❤︎❤︎❤︎♡♡
"Thanks for saving my neck in Nhalmasque, you little freak. Really, though; it's all a bit strange, isn't it? How it feels like we've known each other for several lifetimes over, and yet..."
Ophelia Claire Valcourt
❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎♡
"Here's an idea. Let's keep pretending that betrothal of yours doesn't exist, alright? For a little while longer, at least. I look forward to each moment we get to spend together."
Livu "Lulu" Reira
❤︎❤︎❤︎♡♡
"The best and brightest of the Gleaner's Guild by far. You're so wonderfully kind and patient with all of us, Lulu. I appreciate you always having my back, even when I screw up."
Níls Djt-Setlas
❤︎❤︎♡♡♡
"Níls, I'm sorry; you epitomize the definition of 'dumb blond'. That's the biggest reason why I'm compelled to look out for you... Hells, how have you even survived this line of work?"
OOC Tells: Sure! • Walk-Ups: When I'm RP-tagged. • ERP: Established Connections. •
Hello, I'm Mezza! Thank you so much for taking interest in my narrative-doomed anime protagonist. Claudius has been my main for a while, and while he has some hefty lore to his character as a result, I strive to keep him grounded and realistic whenever possible.With that said, I've played XIV regularly for about seven years now, but have been role-playing through several mediums for well over 20 years. With post length, I lean towards paragraph format, though usually make an effort to mirror my RP partners. I'm a slow typist sometimes, so please be patient with me!In-game is my preference for casual interactions, while Discord threads are preferable for more in-depth scenes that require some theater of the mind. I'm open to either, though my replies will be significantly less frequent over Discord. My timezone is Eastern Standard (UTC−05:00), and I'm a huge night owl.I'm a 30-something, happily married woman, and only write with people over 21. Do not flirt with me. Most of all, I strongly value the distinction between IC and OOC, and believe that communication is the most important aspect of this hobby. If our values don't align there, we won't be a good match.
What I'm About:
Long-term plots with overlapping arcs and some light slice-of-life between. Balance and variety are crucial when it comes to keeping my interest.
Dark themes. Survival, horror, action, adventure, mystery, etc. I genuinely adore writing conflict in all forms.
Developing intense, excruciatingly slow burn interpersonal relationships. Friends, lovers, rivals, colleagues, etc.
OOC friendships! Sharing memes, shitposts, playlists. I love to yap!
Bending XIV's lore within reason.
Decorating my housing spaces to suit the needs of specific settings/scenes.
DM'ing scenes with dice systems, playing NPCs for story purposes.
Crime Times and Light Codes, but only if we're actively writing together.
Not Interested:
Gratuitous ERP. Claudius is open to hook-ups and casual dating ICly, but I only write smut with close friends. Unless we've written together for a while, expect anything NSFW to fade to black.
WoL/canon characters. They just don't vibe with what I usually enjoy writing.
Overly modern aesthetics. Aside from obvious exceptions for S9 characters, this is my biggest immersion-killer.
OOC Politics. FFXIV is my vehicle of choice for escapism. I'm almost never interested in discussing heavy topics pertaining to the real world, sorry.
Anyone under 18. This applies to both writers and characters. No exceptions.
I have zero tolerance for bigoted, demanding, or jealous RP partners. Anyone who doesn't understand that real life > role-play can fuck off.