Welcome, traveller. Pray, hear my voice. I will help you. I will guide you to where you belong.Before you rests a single card, old and worn. Yet the golden gilding on its edges may as well be new, with how it glimmers. Do you see it?Go ahead! Turn it! What does your future hold?
Who are we?
The Silver Spire is one of The Black Shroud's local coven factors. We are a close-knit group of witches, mages, scholars, hunters, and seekers of knowledge. Any who wish to learn, teach, or understand magick and its capabilities are welcome here. We strive to fulfill the wishes of our predecessors, and keep the realms safe from the things that live in the shadows.We know, however, that it sometimes requires working within those shadows to truly get results.All abilities and magicks are welcomed and wanted - though, please practise Void research responsibly.We are known to the States and have proper political recognition by other Guilds, but mostly operate as an independent organization that operates based on the whims, skills, abilities, and wishes of its immediate members. Together, we shall forge ever onwards. For some, this means staying in the cottage and studying by candle deep into the night. For others, hunting down the Void and those who would misuse it. For yet others, risking life and soul to seek and destroy cults that have been hiding for centuries.And for some? Delving so far into the Unknown and Unknowable that your very Dreams may just wink back.
Our House and Events
We're located in the Lavender Beds, in the beautiful plot 60 of Subdivision 25, and have compiled a grouping of magickal items, artefacts, and tomes for your study - though, we're always looking for more!The house is the reconstructed cottage of one of the earliest settlements of The Aether Circle, our predecessors. We have carried with us the animated 'heart' of our previous houses, and the magicks held within have breathed new life into what were simple ruins and worn grounds when we found them. The estate itself is secluded, a small nook upon the lake within the Shroud. Though we are technically located within the bounded of the area set aside by Gridania for residential purposes, we are ourselves secluded.If you wish to enter the house for any given reason, please leave a note - assuming there is not somebody there to speak to! You will be contacted soon by a trusted member. The heart of the house will keep the doors locked to any who have not been invited in, and once you gain entry, it will make sure to take your measure. But if you are accepted, there are no places safer!Within the houses is our gather of relics from all walks of life. Further in, you will find a rather simple door. Should you open that door, you will find yourself teleported to exactly wherever it is that you wish to go, including a small clustering of small areas with no known physical location - including diners, training centers, spar rooms, and more!
Current Main Storyline
“Look! through that window shine the stars of eternal night. Even now they are shining above the scenes you have known and cherished, drinking of their charm that they may shine more lovely over the gardens of dream.
… Some day you too may traverse them, but if you are wise you will beware such folly; for of those mortals who have been and returned, only one preserves a mind unshattered by the pounding, clawing horrors of the Void.”
What is it that lies in the shadows of the past?When the Calamity of Dalamud came, many lives were lost to flame and destruction. Yet for the members of The Silver Spire, the Calamity was but the end of their first bout of strife.Prior to the Calamity, the group had been known as 'The Aether Circle', a group of reclusive mages and artifact hunters. A group that had existed for centuries untold; if their stories were to be believed, they had been formed in the wake of the Great Flood itself. To prevent a resurgence of Voidal magicks was their duty. To find the Voidsent that remained, to either convince or cull them back to the Void, and to help the survivors of that calamity of water to rebuild. ...without getting caught using magicks to do so, of course.And so did they continue, existing in the shadows for centuries to help the lands get back on their feet. Rumors had it that the reclusive group harbored a powerful secret more than just magicks. As the years wore on, this secret became known to more members, though the knowledge of its very presence never left any who were aware of it in high spirits or proper mood. What it was, nobody ever said. Yet when people learned of it, more often than not, they would take their closest members of the Aether Circle and flee to form their own smaller sect.These sects were lost to time and wind...
Until three fateful years before Dalamud fell.
One by one...
Members
kept
dying.
When Dalamud fell, the core of the Aether Circle was down to almost nothing. Of those who remained, most fell in the struggles of the following years, be it on Cartenau, in the destruction itself, or simply from vanishing.Three years after, the one remaining original member who had refused to leave the house decided to recreate the group. It was decided that The Aether Circle was to be reborn - and as such, it required a new name. Banding together with her fellows, she chose the name of The Silver Spire to represent a shining beacon of hope, visible even in the darkest of storms.Thus did The Silver Spire begin its grandest of adventures: renewal. From the ashes did a small band rise, slowly gathering the remaining members who had scattered to the wind. Once they had been gathered, they turned next to those who knew them and their suffering, and began grouping like-minded individuals who wished to carry on the idea of hope in times of darkness. They found the source of their fellows' demises, and alongside him, discovered the horrid truths hidden in the shadows.
While they felled their demon, they discovered increasingly awful truths. The greatest of all showed them that the man was but one of a hidden legion, a massive underground cult known as Daknava that had had a stranglehold all over the planet for centuries. One that knew all too well the origins of The Silver Spire, for they were created from a binding of Spires and Circles that had been formed from its lost acolytes over the centuries - and had been working to destroy every iteration of the dear coven that ever tried to form. Be it the study of Void, the control of Eikons, the infestation of politics, or the study of the Beyond, Daknava held it in their grasp.Now, their eyes were finally on The Silver Spire, with the intent to wipe out all traces of The Aether Circle and its secret for good.And that secret?The existence of a hidden realm known as The Dreamlands, a realm belonging more to the divine and non-mortal-entities than anything else. As though a sect of the Void ruled by the logic of dream, this strange realm has revealed to them secrets of ages long past. In its twisting forests and cities, they've found truths, horrors, and things they'd never imagined possible. Beings claiming divinity, fae with sprawling cities of majesty, and creatures whose very visages are nigh-incomprehensible.Now, the members of The Silver Spire are the only mortals with access to this realm of divinity and confusion. But in the games of the gods and beyond, maybe it's a mortal hand that's needed to quell what seems to be tensions just barely beneath its surface.After all, some of the beings of this hidden realm seem to have taken a liking to them.Nothing bad could ever come of that, right? There's no hidden motives, no secrets, no reasons for the gods to play with these curious mortals.
......Right?
Side Storylines
The Unsigned Messages
For about two years now, many of the Silver Spire's more daring dalliances have been urged on by the leaving of unsigned notes. These notes are often brief - single sentences written in flowing script.(Please note - if you're not certain how to bring your character to us, either as a member or visitor, this can absolutely always be used as an entry! Typically, notes to people not already in the coven will say: 'I know what you seek, and I seek you.' alongside the Spire's address.)
The Temple of the Moon
The Silver Spire has been called often to render aid to a group of worshippers of Menphina, led by the enigmatic 'Izzy' and located on the coast of La Noscea. Aid has included helping with the transport of goods for worship, helping out refugees during a storm, Time Travel-
Yes! That last bit is rather unfortunate whenever it happens.The Silver Spire went to the Temple of the Moon to relax, once. They really, really wanted to relax.They did not get the chance to relax.Instead, members who dipped into the pools on the night of the full moon found themselves... elsewhere. Interacting with people from their pasts - or, people from their futures? Were these ghosts? Fae? Or mere illusions?Regardless of the origins of these Pools, members have oft found themselves drawn back to them. These pools reveal secrets, answers, keys to the past, and much more...
The Dreamlands - The Realm Beyond Slumber
What is the Dreamlands?
The Dreamlands is about half side-story, half main story. Moreso, it's the 'background stage' for much of the main story.An incorrectly-performed instance of an astral travel lesson once left several members in a strange, dreamy realm, referred to by the inhabitants as 'The Dreamlands' - the realms in which mortal minds go when they sleep. Populated by fae and mysterious beings who refer to themselves as 'Old Gods' and 'Elder Gods', this realm can only be entered when one's mind drifts into the deepest of slumbers - so close that they may as well be dead.Now, years after their initial foray into the Dreamlands, the Silver Spire has allies and enemies both in this strange realm. A few have found patrons amongst the otherworldly entities, while a few have even been able to find and speak with the spirits of lost loved ones drifting through the ethereal planes.It is rarely known when the Spire will enter the Dreamlands as a group, for it seems more like the denizens of this realm are the ones who decide. And honestly, it's very, very un-fun when you go to sample a new potion, and find yourselves waking up amongst crystal trees...
Psssst. Want to know more about the Dreamlands and what it contains? Step right this way - it has a Wiki(esque) page!
OOC Information
Hello, and welcome! Some general information for you:
- We have weekly, story-like roleplays that advance the group's overall plot - sometimes in-game, sometimes text-based on Discord. Outside of these designated days, NPCs from the story may contact individual members to advance their own stories!- Plot elements tend to follow 'witchy' themes; think of it like if 'Charmed' took place in Eorzea. Some common elements include mysteries (from murder-mysteries to more innocuous ones), Void magick (please use responsibly), and interactions between the different 'factions' within the Coven.- Current plot elements also focus on cults, some level of Mhach/Void lore, and Lovecraftian-style 'deities' reaching out to certain characters. We also heavily include a half-FFXIV-half-Homebrew 'Dream Realm' as a staging ground for a lot of plot, inspired by a mix of the FFXIV fae Dream areas and the ghost realms, and the Lovecraft Dream Cycle. Whimsy-meets-cosmic-and-religious-horror vibes! Please check out the plot page if you're curious about specifics!- The FC is LGBTQIA+ friendly, and is a great group of people who mostly just want to have fun, RP, and talk about witchy/magick themes in a low-stress environment.- 18+ is required for participation as themes include murder and some general darker happenings; current members are all also 18+. Characters are also asked to be 18+.- You can always come visit us!- We are also always happy to do collabs with groups who have stories similar to ours - please hit up our officers if you'd like to discuss, or get an invite to our open CWLS!
Information for Possible Recruits
Hey there! Thinking about possibly joining us? Great! Here's some quick info to help you figure out if we're a good fit for you!
▷ A primary chunk of our characters are magic-users, artefact hunters, Voidsent hunters, or collectors of esoteric knowledge.
▷ Community Roleplay events often have backgrounds of magick or investigation, and sometimes combat.
▷ We ask that characters are generally ones who can work with other people. Characters can absolutely be loners, work better alone, or have disagreeable characteristics! However, please make sure that they are willing to work with others in certain circumstances.
▷ For the most part, we ask that character storylines and abilities stay within FFXIV canon boundaries; however, there is some leniency here. Creativity is absolutely encouraged! By all means, if you can tie your lore/magicks into the game - go wild! Character lore including things directly against the canon (being an MC of the game, 100% breaking established rules, or changing lore/history) is heavily discouraged.
▷ Public and weekly events tend to generally be rated PG-13. Anything outside of this rating will always be noted beforehand! This includes violence, or possibly Lovecraftian-esque description - there is no sexual content in main story RPs.
- ▷ Our membership is primarily LGBTQIA+ and includes a range of diverse backgrounds. There are no requirements of being in the community to join! However, please know that discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.
- ▷ 18+ is asked to join, given that our current membership is all 18+. Themes also occasionally get to mature levels (murder mysteries, Voidsent hunts, etc), as does OOC chat.
- ▷ We hold game nights and WWE watch-parties for silly fun when people are up for it, and like to do roulettes and PvE clears together! While not a requirement, if you enjoy socializing, all the better!
- ▷ Being into witchcraft and magick/spiritualism is not a requirement - however, we have many members who are!
- ▷ We just generally ask that, both OOCly and ICly, you be respectful of people and their boundaries. Remember that everyone you interact with is a person on the other side of the screen! Likewise, always make sure that you have consent from a player before doing anything to their character.
- ▶ All potential recruits will go through a two-week trial period! There is a brief questionnaire OOC, and if you vibe - great! We'll have an intro RP with your main character to introduce you to the FC and see how we all fit at some point afterwards. Each recruitment will be slightly different, but we want to make sure that it's a great fit on both sides! ◀
- At the end of the day, this FC is equally an RP hub and a friend group. And, on a character level, this is not a grimdark FC; we deal with ancient deities and so, but it's in a 'horror' way, not a 'questionable content that makes people uncomfortable' way. While you totally don't have to be besties with everyone, we DO expect a few basic principles:
- ► OOCly ◀
- ▷ Just generally be kind! That's really the main thing.
- ▷ Don't mock, belittle, or otherwise act haughty regarding anyone else's characters, plots, or personal passions, projects, etc.
- ▷ Again, a big chunk of people here are LGBT+ or neurodivergent. No discriminatory behavior or other antagonistic actions/behavior/language is allowed.
- ► ICly ◀
- ▷ Same as above! Just on an IC level. Don't be a jerk, you know what I mean!
- ▷ Standoffish/cold characters are fine! But just be aware of... level, I guess? Specifically: don't just bully characters to bully them. Don't just be rude to be rude. Don't scoff and belittle other characters for being happy/showing off a skill/etc. Playing a character is great!! But remember that you control the character, and somebody is controlling the character you're roleplaying with. We're all here to have a fun time at the end of the day.
- ▷ Lastly, on a similar note: Don't do anything to other characters of questionable/harmful nature without checking. I.e., even if you're sparring and you roll a 20 while they roll a 1, you can't decide FOR them that your character breaks their arm, kills them, disfigures them, traumatizes them somehow, or so on. If ever in doubt - ask!
▷ That's really it for OOC. Just generally, be a good person and you're fine!
You would return to the very place you just fled? Tenacious indeed. Oh! Fear not the eyes of the Heavens, for they cannot see you here. Nobody can.
▽
▽
▽
Your understanding has utterly failed you regarding this world.
▽
▽
▽
Do you think you can comprehend the way of the Most High?
▽
▽
▽
Oh? You wish to consider my offer again, then? I would hear you out. I've nothing but time.
▽
▽
▽
Your understanding has utterly failed you regarding this world. Has it not?
▽
▽
▽
I ask you again: do you think you can comprehend the way of the Most High?
▽
▽
▽
I have been sent to show you three ways, and to set before you three problems.
▽
▽
▽
If you can choose one for me, I will show you the way that you desire to see. When the day comes, we shall meet where your answer foretells.
▽
▽
▽
Simply trust in me.
▽
▽
▽
You do trust me, yes?
▽
▽
Choose wisely.
▽
What is the weight of fire?
What is the measure of the wind?
Can you turn back time?
You may return.
▽
I do not imprison those who do not deserve it.
▽
But you will return, one day. Everyone does. Be it as sinner or saint, I will see you in the end.
▽
Unfortunate, a true tragedy! Oh well.
I shall release you, even so.
They did once call me merciful, you know?
Oh?Do you know?Or, perhaps, you would like to?Fire burns. Fire destroys. But it also cleanses. Saves.They called my spark beautiful. Pure. Until they knew they couldn't extinguish it.What burns in your heart? Would you see flames take the world? Watch it become beautiful cinders?
Oh?Do you know?Or, perhaps, you would like to?Wind is beautiful, yes? The things it creates?All at once, it can rustle meadows and aid the flow of life.Until you anger it. Until it becomes the most unstoppable of storms.What carries you on, then? The gentlest of breezes, or a terrifying tempest?Would you aid the fragile flow of life, or see everything in your way laid flat at your feet?
Oh?Can you?Or do you want to?Time is ticking. For both of us.What would you give to fix the past, I wonder?
Think on it, my dear friend. With luck, I will see you soon.
