through you, we live

my history with the game

My favorite expansion: Shadowbringers

I began playing FFXIV in January 2023. I tried getting into World of Warcraft a few years before that and it never stuck with me, but I was in the mood to try an MMO again. Hearing great things about this game's story and characters, I gave it a try with the free trial. I was hooked almost immediately. To me, the story and characters were everything that everyone hyped them up to be, and despite my (ongoing) anxiety of playing with other people, I just want to be better at the game and I push past it so I can enjoy this game that I've come to love so much! I play on NA servers (Dynamis, Seraph) with my character Shino Kaisuri. See my about page for more info on her and friend me in-game if you wanna come find me!

about final fantasy xiv

Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) is the second MMO installment in the long-running series of JRPG games by studio Square Enix. The story follows your created character who seeks adventure in a world wrecked by a calamity that destroyed their greatest heroes five years previously. But you are not any average adventurer that has come flocking to the call; it becomes quickly apparent that you hear calls from an otherworldly being calling you to be more, and are recruited by a group of adventurers from across the land of Eorzea to deal with the mightiest enemies that threaten the peace. You become the hero they need, the Warrior of Light. The game includes many references to previous entries in the series and has a genuinely amazing original story.

The base game, A Realm Reborn, is followed with the expansions Heavensward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers, Endwalker, and Dawntrail, with Heavensward and Shadowbringers holding particular critical acclaim.

about my warrior of light

name; Shino Kaisuri

age; 18 at the start of basegame, 28 by Dawntrail.

eye color: purple, and a dark purple limbal ring in her left eye.

hair color; naturally a rose pink, but she often dyes her hair completely or adds highlights. as she has become more of a fabled hero, she has began to long for a sense of normalcy and has more and more let her hair remain its natural shade. she also has natural white hair due to events detailed in the spoiler box below for Shadowbringers!

other details; freckles, eyeshadow, a subtle matte pink lipstick!

origins; au ra mother, unknown father. grew up in a small town just outside of Eorzea. her father was a merchant but that is all her mother ever told her. Shino had a relatively normal life, despite the dreams she would have sometimes with a mysterious voice trying to call to her; she even had a suitor pursuing her who appeared to care very deeply for her, and seemed willing to wait for her hand in marriage until her sick mother was in a more stable situation. Unfortunately, her mother succumbed to her illness when Shino turned 18. Shino's mother did not leave her much of an inheritance at all, and unfortunately, her suitor no longer seemed interested--Shino having told him once that she had a merchant father, that was his primary interest--assuming that she had some funds left behind from him. Having realized that there was no money in the Kaisuri family, he left her along with the town, as his family would not approve of him marrying an Au Ra girl anyway, especially one with no prospects and no money. Despite the grief that came with losing everyone she knew of in the world, caring for her dying mother seemed to awaken an interest and talent in healing. When she heard from people passing through town that Eorzea was looking for adventurers and that a white mage guild may recruit people with the right abilities, she signed up and never looked back.

across her travels.. Shino also gained an unusual interest in weapons and machinery, the kind of which she never could have dreamed of seeing in her small, rural town. She grew to love the art of the Machinist and is often seen slinging a gun as often and as quickly as she can lean over with her staff to mend your wounds. She also has an interest and love in all things gathering and crafting what she needs.

relationship headcanons;

spoilers ahead!

hair; light brown. keeps it short, doesn't like to take care of it.

eyes: purple

the ways she is different than the shard of my WoL: more sarcastic and selfish, although she will always do the right thing in the end. Quicker to anger. Constantly planning her next prank and how she's going to make everyone laugh. Cares less about her appearance, as opposed to Shino who, while she isn't vain, always has some semblence of makeup on and loves to dye and style her hair.

Ardbert and WoL are the only shards of Azem that we officially know in the story, but I headcanon that they are the closest that the shards have been personality-wise to Calliope--which is why when Ardbert officially merges with the WoL, that is why Emet-Selch sees an Ascian in their place.

In the time before, Calliope was particularly close to Hades and Hythlodaeus. She and Hades both could have felt something deeper for one another, but never wanted it to risk ruining anything between them. They never got the chance to find out 'what if', because Calliope left the Convocation at the End of Days.

Emet-Selch constantly looked for her in each reflection, but even her shard Shino was still just that; a shard, a fraction of what Calliope was.

Shino's Links

Abby's favorite FFXIV resources

collection of photos from Shino's time in Eorzea!

photos coming soon

adventure journal

placeholder tab for if i want to use this to track anything/write down journal entries for Shino!