Happy Moonfire Faire 2025!

Aikirees and I at the Moonfire Faire for 2025 with fireworks in the background.

Happy Moonfire Faire y’all! May y’all have an absolutely wonderful one this year!!

I think this year’s might be one of my favorites thus so far. The new ship combines almost all of the assortments of entertainment that Moonfire is known for and adds upon it! It kind of reminds me of the really fun and scenic All Saints’ Wake’s Sneaky Hollow they added a few years back but with the jumping puzzle included. The music on the boat changes at night time also to give it that nightly concert vibe; it’s really something to behold.

The event quest itself is pretty short, which seems to be the par for the course with all of the recent ones. There’s some folks who don’t tend to like this, but I’ve never really minded it being on the shorter side to be honest, and with a place to simply just hang out after the fact has far more weight to it personally. The outfit this year is basically a wetsuit with a hoodie and sandals, and it dyes really well – it’s really nice!

Moonfire Faire in general has always had a special place in my heart, and it was also when ‘Totally Not a Gazebo Day’ event happened, which that in itself was such a fun time. I digress, however, and I wish y’all the very best Moonfire Faire season, and certainly head on out to Limsa Lominsa/Costa del Sol to enjoy all of the festivities that the event has to offer!

Hoping to see this make a return for a few years if not more thereafter, as it is really fun nice place to vibe for the season.

Summer Vibes

Me wearing beach attire with a large wide-brimmed straw hat sitting in shallow beach water.

I’ve had this Moonfire Faire outfit for five years now – it came out during the 2020 season’s. At the time, and up until this latest patch, was unable to wear the hat that came with it. After all of this time, I’m finally able to dawn the dearly missed wide-brimmed straw hat to complete my summer vibing.

Right in time for this year’s Moonfire Faire no less, so I’m certain it’ll get a bit of use in coinciding with my usual hair ribbon too.

Crafty Big Cat

Aikirees and I in the Free Company workshop in our crafting outfits with Aikirees giving a thumbs up.

While I haven’t changed it up all that much between tiers for a while now, as I really like what I wear, Aikirees really changed it up this time around in some rather comfy clothes for all of one’s crafting needs. Whether or not she keeps it moving forward depends entirety how well she can handle those long pants covering up her fuzzy legs all the time.

Then again, HQ is located in a northern snowy area, so she might just be fine.

In the Rain: Redux

Aikirees in her new Summoner outfit holding an umbrella in the rain.

After so, so many years now, Aikirees updated her Summoner’s look to more reflect her rather larger and vastly fuzzier self. Her old Summoner outfit when she was a Miqo’te was a mirrored image of the one she had from her First Life back on Vana’Diel. The color’s are very similar, but a little bit of a different style to match her new form.

Churning Mists Day 2025

Aikirees and I standing on a hill looking off into the distance in Churning Mists.

Six Summers have passed now, ever since Aikirees first reached this place. She always likes to come back and reflect on the year that has passed. Originally she’d come here alone, but after our journey to the ends of the universe and back, I’ve been accompanying her since then.

This time, Aikirees was there well earlier than I was, and since she’s grown this past summer by quite a bit, both literally and figuratively, finding her in the usual spot was pretty easy to do. I landed close by on my golden glowing bird, and headed over to greet her.

“Beat me to the spot this year!”

Aikirees nodded with the biggest adorkable grin on her Hrothgar snout.

“Zee yup yup! Got zee here’sies at zee dawnbreak’sies!”

Aikirees over the months had gotten a lot more quiet; she hasn’t really explained as to why, but I suspect it has something to do with her transformation, I suspect even now it weighs on her mind.

“I probably would have gotten here sooner, but letters from Laureine and the Leporines held me up. It’s not because of the mess on the desk!”

“Uh-huh’sies, you ever gonna’sies clean that thing’sies?”

I paused, stunned to think of something witty to reply with.

“Y-yes, j-just… oh shush!”

Aikirees bellowed in laughter; her laugh especially now is really contagious as I started to as well.

“It’s good to see you like you used to be, ‘Little’ One.”

She smiled, and gave a slight nod. We glanced out over the clear skies of the Churning Mists. It’s been at least the summer since we were here together last. Always gorgeous views there, and the crispy cool winds over my ears felt so nice. Thoughts of our Tural journey went through my mind, and began where we’d head to next and as to what is going to happen with the strange ‘Vana’Diel’ in the near future.

“…Mama said’sies to tell you zee ‘Hi’sies when I returrrrrned from my journey’sies.”

Unprovoked, Aikirees said the first thing ever involving her journey. I looked at her in complete surprise.

“Y-you saw mother??”

She simply nodded with a warm smile.

“I didn’t realize that you– wait don’t tell me, did you die again!?

“It’sies a bit zee complicated. Lot’sies of zee things I don’t understand’sies, but zee Sissy Tess and zee Miss Laureine probably’sies know zee more about it. Zee Mama did give’sies another life’sies, which kind of might have caused zee beeg change’sies.”

Mother always said she’d give her life for us, I didn’t think she’d do it literally, even after she’s been gone for so long now. I honestly didn’t know how to react to the information, but the fact that Aikirees is still here, even if she’s bigger an a lot more fuzzy, is thankful enough to whatever happened out there.

“…Thank you, mother.”

I said quietly to myself, but I suspect Aikirees heard it as well.

“So, tell me, you have anymore surprises like that up your sleeves?!”

Aikirees just laughed.

“Zee nope’sies!”

“Ah, well, I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised honestly. Having a Viera pop out the Archives, Tess’ odd behavior the last time we all got together. We certainly are a quirky trio of sisters aren’t we?”

Aikirees laughed and beamed a grin.

“Just zee awesome’sies that way’sies!”

“I suppose so!”

We both laughed a laugh that could be heard across Moghome, and then small talked for a bell or so. Not sure what this next year holds for us; only the path we walk will tell that tale, but I know we’ll be back here once again next year to swap stories and enjoy celebrating another Churning Mists Day again together.

Shaaloani Nightfall

Aikirees and I chatting in Shaaloani.

I can’t recall the last time Aiki and I slowed down for a moment. Just happened to catch her sitting on the outskirts of town after taking care of the local custom deliveries for the week. We have always enjoyed this part of Tural with its scenic/calming environment and rusting little towns that are scattered throughout.

Even with the small downtime feeling pretty brief, the night was pretty, cool and dry out, with naught of a single concern even if a fleeting moment. Have forgotten such a familiar feeling with everything happening.

Hope everyone has been having a wonderful one, y’all got this!

Happy (Belated) Valentione’s 2025!

Aikirees and I in Valentione's outfits.

Little belated, but we hope everyone had a very wonderful Valentione’s 2025 Season! We adored the story this year, and have enjoyed that it’s been slowly building on itself over the years. It was pretty quick for a seasonal, but that didn’t deter it at all.

We also got to recreate this photo like we did a couple of years back before Aikirees went on her journey, and that was a wonderful time too. Lots of hugs to everyone on this Wednesday morning! Y’all got this!

On This Day – 5 Years Ago…

Screenshot of an old Twitter Tweet from January 20th, 2020 from the Burgundy Room's account after visiting them during a rehearsal.

I can’t believe it’s been five years since this happened: the day that changed everything and sprung board the spark that would grow into what became Eorzea Cartographers. This meeting led me down a path to meeting so many wonderful folks, which a lot of them have become great friends, and so many memories to go along with them.

The story behind this being that I saw the early Burgundy Room perform at an open RP event a while prior. It enamored me so when they announced a full-blown show coming up, I wanted to figure out how to get there as back then I had no idea how to really navigate residential districts. Upon finding the location, I went inside to make sure it was the right place only to be ‘ambushed’ by folks rehearsing for said upcoming show. It was a hoot and that tweet came about from it, then a week later was the big event. A lot of folks I met that evening I became fast friends with and some still to this very day.

I’ll never forget when this happened in my adventures through Eorzea, and without it, I’m honestly not even sure EOCA would have ever came about, nor would I have met so many talented folks along the way. Never would I have thought this chance moment upon starting out my own adventure through Eorzea would have done such a thing, but I am so thankful for it.

The Desk

My very messy desk in HQ

If anyone has ever visited EOCA HQ, they’ll more than likely run across this large and messy desk just past the lounge area. My old map making desk, still covered in old scrolls, notes, drawings, and just rather unkempt all this time. However, there’s a few mementos and memories placed on here that I cherish very fondly with priceless sentimental value.

1 – Star Globe.
This is a double-edged reason for being here. The first being that no cartographer’s desk should be without some sort of globe on it, and the other being that I’ve personally had a globe on my desk ever since I was a very young bun. My Dad got me a globe when I was either 3 or 4, and it’s so old that it still has USSR along with East & West Germany on it. Certainly had a lot of love, and a lot of solar bleaching happen to it over the years.

2 – Azelma’s Flowers.
Back when EOCA hit Rank 30, which as of this writing is the max rank for a Free Company, I was gifted these flowers from our dear friend Azelma in congrats of achieving the feat. This is something that we honestly thought would have taken a lot longer to accomplish, but with perseverance we managed to do so well before the end of Endwalker. I made sure to give them a place on the desk as a memory.

3 – Kibby’s Flowers.
During my more active tenure with The Burgundy Room, I would assist with staff and handling tips at the end of the shows. One show, once it was all concluded, I was gifted these lovely red flowers from Kibby who was performing at the show that evening.

4 – Burgundy Flowers.
These flowers I can’t remember who personally gave them to me, but given the red ribbon I dyed on it, someone from Burgundy during the earlier years did so during the end of a performance. I have been gifted several other flowers, including one from Sirena, but those have been placed in my apartment instead. Sirena’s in particular has a pink ribbon on it.

5 – Coffee Mug.
There’s a lot of these around HQ, and certainly my desk is no unfamiliar place for a nice hot mug. Representing a lot of aspects of my life, but also when I would work on maps, there usually would be some coffee in close proximity!

6 – Winery.
This one not many folks would probably know the story behind it. Years, and years ago when the Aether Event Center was around (it’s been gone a long while now), and I was just starting out before EOCA was established, I was making the maps for the Aether Event Center and working/participating in events they hosted. It was a very fun and wild time, but once the AEC’s mansion was acquired/established, I was surprise gifted my own desk within it! The desk was so gorgeous, and it had these bottles of wine and glass on top of it. I wanted to keep those early days’ memory close.

7 – Carbuncle Lamp.
Kind of part of the above, one of these was on my desk as a nod to Aikirees’ love of Carbuncles during the AEC’s tenure. It has since been placed down on my desk for that reason, and I think Aikirees appreciates one just being there to help illuminate the desk overall.

8 – Envelopes.
Kind of a self-jab with how I tended to organize requests, and other items that came across my inbox. Rest assured, everything was done and addressed in a timely manner, but was just not well organized for the longest time.

9 – Notes, schematics, old drawings, etc.
Another self-jab: my catch-all of everything that is not sprawled out all messy-like on the desk. Various things piled within these mountains of paper. The rest of them have made it with moderate success into The Archives proper.

I think that coves the basis of that desk. The walls have maps and schematics on it, along with a bunch on the desk too. It’s a chaotic mess for certain, but the memories it holds are priceless and timeless to me and I wouldn’t want to change it for anything.

Sharlayan Northern Lights

Me looking up at the Aurora Borealis in Old Sharlayan.

It’s not often I get to catch this phenomenon while traveling around, but happened to be in Old Sharlayan at the right time to catch the Aurora Borealis over the city. I’ve only been able to see it here a handful of times, but it’s always so pretty to see those auras just dance across the clear night sky.

Heavensturn 2025

Aikirees and I with the Great White Serpent in HQ's Lounge.

Last week, we got around to enjoying this year’s Heavensturn event. It was a little different with trivia questions, but was enjoyable, and enlightening. It’s not a very long event overall, but still fun! The fortune draw came back once again this year as well, and we all pulled to see our annual fortune.

Most of us faired rather well, except for Aikirees.

What’s good even with the misfortune ones is they give advice on what to do to turn the fortunes around, so it’s not necessarily an ‘ominously bad’ fortune to get.

Hope everyone who went forth to get a fortune got what they hoped for! Just remember, even ones like Aikirees can be spun around to become great ones too!

Merry Christmas & Happy Starlight!

Aikirees and I in front of a Starlight Tree wearing Starlight-Themed Dresses.

Merry Christmas & Happy Starlight Celebration y’all! Here’s to best wishes on a wonderfully Happy Holidays, and conclusion to 2024! From all of us to y’all, we really and truly hope it’s been a wonderful one!

Let the countdown to 2025 begin, as we keep kicking tails into the new year!

All Through the House

Aikirees passed out under the Starlight Tree.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a… Hrothgar?

… w-wait, that’s not how that’s supposed to go! W-well, I guess it’s better she decided to sleep under the tree rather than try to get into it. I.. really don’t want to find out exactly how sturdy that base is versus her. I know it’s capable of holding its own against Miqo’te as in prior years it has certainly attracted the HQ’s residents towards it, including a Cabbit who to this day doesn’t understand exactly why.

In the meantime, we all can enjoy it’s lovely warmly presence; whether it’s around, under, or.. as very close as possible to the Starlight Tree.

Under the Starry Night

Aikirees and I under a starry night while crafting on a spinning wheel next to a camp fire.

During our gathering and crafting adventures over the weekend, Aikirees and I decided to sit down under the beautiful starry night in Lakeland. She got a nice warm fire going while I churned out some bolts of cloth we were needing to get some items all sewn up right.

I feel like some moons ago, I did something similar for her when it was heavily snowing out closer to home.

Happy Starlight & Holidays 2024

Aikirees and I with the Starlight Tree.

Happy Starlight Season to everyone! May it be an absolutely wonderful holiday season for everyone out there!

Aikirees and I got the tree up in HQ for the season’s festivities along with putting our outfits together. I’m… probably not going to wear the reindeer antlers the entire season, but I am happy that I’m now able to with my glasses.

Let’s make the last month of 2024 stellar!

Echoes Across Time

Aikirees fast asleep in her bunk bed.

As Aikirees sleeps deeply one night, faint memories that are, but also not, hers come passing through her mind. A world she once would have called her home in a past life, Vana’Diel. As vague as the images are, she’s able to make out what they are and when in time.

Aikirees from Vana'Diel looking at the Earth Protocrystal.

The first being an early memory of many many summers past. Just starting out as a fledgling Summoner, barely after befriending what would become one of her closest soul bound friends, Carbuncle. There she was standing in front of a large floating crystal – even now she could sense that the presence inside was the powerful primal, Titan. One of many she had to encounter on her journey back then to be able to fully weld the power of the Primals. Ultimately, Aikirees succeed in such an enormous task, and seeing the memory once more brings back the rest of the journey she took to do so. At first all she had was Carbuncle, but in the end she had many friends to call upon for aid.

Some of the memories she tries to make out whisk by far too quick for her to recall clearly enough, but once the memories of the Primals had faded away, one of a looming and dark castle pierces through the fog in her dream.

She knew this place, and knew a dark presence lived there. Even in her sleep, she curled the edges of her mouth with a low snarl. Castle Zvahl Baileys was the name of this foreboding place, and it was here she with her friends took on a defeated the Shadow Lord. Unsure as to why this memory pierced her mind so clearly, even as vague as it came to her, it didn’t make her feel well nonetheless.

A lot of whirlwind memories continue passing by with such force, but a couple become less vague and more clear with warmth behind them. Some of the friends she made along the way appear as she adventured throughout some parts of Vana’Diel.

They were with her through a lot of trials and tribulations, but also for the small quiet moments as well. She remembers a lot of the silly memories that they all made together, but also the ones that got everyone to save the world over and over again. Everything from small group gatherings in a few places, to taking on Ark Angels on floating continents, there was no short of moments happening throughout her life there!

But… why now, what does it all mean? She knew this life, and it was two lives ago now – not counting the one she was gifted recently. More of the moments pass by quickly, but she begins to have a hard time focusing on them. Her conscious returns to the now, and all of the images she kept seeing disappear within a dark cloudy haze.

Aikirees slowly wakes back up, back home in HQ. Sitting up for a moment, she decides to hop out of the top bunk bed and head out of the bedroom for a moment. Trying to not stir me in the processes (she almost did so successfully, but I am Viera after all!), Aikirees heads outside to help clear her mind.

As she stepped outside, the cool crisp night air of Ishgard helps clear her mind a bit. Unsure of it all, she takes a moment to pause and star at the stars. Will there be more of these dreams? Are they an omen of things to come? She shakes the thoughts from her mind, and heads back inside to get some rest the remaining part of the night. Only time will tell why now of all times these memories of a past Echo come rushing back.

Knowing Aikirees though, it always has a reason…

Tranquil Moment

Aikirees and I sitting on a bench in front of a fountain.

Normally Aikirees and I stop into Old Sharlayan weekly to pick up a hunt, but in this case decided to stop for a quiet moment in front of this lovely fountain in front of the Leveilleur Estate. Listening to the fountain flow on a clear day with the sea breeze passing by was something we certainly needed.

Feels like forever since we took a small spell here. The last time I believe it was after saving the Star on a quiet Saturday morning in the spring. Aikirees was still prior-journeyed self having a biscuit while I was combing over notes for maps with a hot tea. That in itself feels like a lifetime ago and it’s not even been a year yet from my retirement. Having these little moments though does remind me that we need to continue to keep having them, even with being as running around as much as I have been lately.

Reminiscing aside, y’all have a wonderful day ahead!

~Boop~

Aikirees and I resting our foreheads on each other in front of a starry background.

No words said, just a gentle head boop from my dear younger sister is all it took to tell me everything.

Even with us having been through so much, sometimes that is all it really takes, and I love her for the simple reminders.

Blitz Halloween 2024

Aikirees, Kami, and I dancing in costume.

After catching up with Aikirees, we headed out to Destiny’s [Blitz] house in Shirogane for their 11th annual Halloween Party. The last time we made it to one was I believe four years ago. Their house hadn’t moved in that span of time, but it was certainly decked out for the season!

We got there about an hour or so into it, and the costume contest had just begun. There were all lovely and clever entries with one person dressed as a tonberry (much to Aikirees’ chagrin) taking the gold at the end of it. Our friend, Kaminila, took 3rd place in the contest! During all of this, one of the contestants complimented my outfit as well. The FC leader, who is a good friend of both Kaminila and I, was unfortunately absent, but it’s pretty easy for us to get here; so we’ll just have to pay a visit sometime thereafter to catch up with him then.

The evening was incredibly delightful! There was music, the costume contest, some games, and a bunch of goodies given away throughout the evening. I don’t believe anyone left without anything, but even still there was no way of not leaving without a smile on one’s face. I did get a special minion that reminds Aikirees of a certain Virtue from her past life that I can torment her with now! We stayed for a good long while, but once Kaminila headed out to sleep, we decided it was a good time to do so too.

We really want to go again next year, and at least try to catch up with our friends again soon, even though I know with all of our schedules that might take some time. Even still, this was a night we certainly won’t forget.

All Saints’ Wake 2024

Aikirees and I in costume in front of a bunch of All Saints' Wake decorations.

We got around to seeing the All Saints’ Wake event for this year, which was a nice continuation of characters that we’ve seen over the last few years. The story itself is fun but quick and gifts a really nice outfit in the end, also unlocking the two festive areas to explore and hang out in.

What we noticed this year was the sheer amount of people that were dressed up in costumes! There was everything from witches, anime characters, to one person being Bane from Batman! At one point even saw Snow White pass by while I was waiting on Aikirees to adjust her costume. Mine hasn’t changed all that much over the last couple of years, seeing as I’m a big fan of masquerades (and also the fact that I’m Viera). It was really, really fun and the energy matched the evening! We ended up spending a bit of time in the Spooky Hollow area as the decor there is just so lovely with a perfectly matching environment.

This coming weekend being the big Spoop Weekend will have a slew of events happening across Eorzea as well, and looking forward to seeing what everyone gets up to! May y’all have a wonderful Halloween and All Saints’ Wake!