The Invisible War
Redeemed of his past sins. Haunted by those who remember.
A soldier without a home. A weapon without a sheath.
Adopted Theme Song Below
Book One: Cataclysm
"I'm no traitor. Now, I'm a patriot."
A’vegha Tia, then a young Miqo'te living in Gridania, had a dream of falling stars. In the same dream, a man who called himself King Regis appeared. A'vegha had never seen or heard of any such person before, and they agreed they were sharing a dream. King Regis requested that A'vegha be prepared to shoulder a burden, pointing out that dreams of falling stars are an omen of destiny and blessing him with a command to always walk tall.
Several years later, A'vegha discovered that he possessed the power to see machines and inventions as their creators did, allowing him to operate and understand complicated contraptions at a glance. While demonstrating this ability in the Gridanian marketplace, and Imperial spy witnessed this and reported to Aulus mal Asina. He believed A'vegha's ability could be useful to the VIIth Legion, especially in the endeavor to resume the Meteor Project. A’vegha was abducted and taken to Baelsar’s Wall before being transferred to Garlemald and Nael van Darnus’s care. A'vegha was placed in a regiment under the supervision of Mateo sas Titus, who took a special interest in A’vegha and tried to show him as much compassion as duty allowed.
Throughout A'vegha’s conscription, Aulus mal Asina performed tests and experiments on A'vegha, beginning his research into creating the Resonant.
A’vegha completed his induction into the VIIth Legion. He was granted the name A’vegha kir Filum in recognition of his compliance and in a bid to foster loyalty. Darnus planned to only use A’vegha on Project Meteor once his loyalty had been tested and proven. Over the years, A'vegha created and augmented Magitek weaponry, as well as reverse engineered Allagan tech. He also submitted schematics for a new breed of war machina called the Acies Series. These gargantuan machines were to be manufactured and deployed only as a last result, the purpose being to prevent a war of attrition or as a deterrent. As reward for his cooperation and submission, he was gifted a Magitek blade capable of dousing itself in Ceruleum flames. It was commissioned by Mateo, he later learned. A’vegha dubbed it Duskflare.
Van Darnus told A’vegha about Project Meteor. Though his loyalty was strong, Darnus’s fervence to Dalamud planted doubt in him. Though he hid intent to undermine Darnus’s plans to the best of his ability, he began research on Dalamud and the lunar transmitter. His work was closely scrutinized, preventing sabotage.
Emperor Solus (Emet-Selch), granted Nael van Darnus the go-ahead to use Project Meteor on Eorzea. One night, Vegha saw another vision of falling stars. The Echo had sounded once more.
Nael van Darnus and the VIIth Legion covertly built Castrum Novum in Mor Dhona and began creating the Lunar Transmitter. It wasn't long before Vegha created the means by which Darnus would hail in the coming Calamity.
As conflict between Eorzea and Garlemald came to a head, a great light shown from Castrum Novum in Mor Dhona. The lunar transmitter was activated and Dalamud began its guided descent. A’vegha was instructed to protect the lunar transmitter, and so created a system of shield generators with a critical flaw, hoping it wouldn't protect the transmitter for long.
There was a skirmish at Castrum Novum during which a brave band of adventurers destroyed the lunar transmitter. Dalamud was left falling without guidance. However, Nael van Darnus, completely enthralled by the lesser moon, retreated from Castrum Novum to the floating islands of Rivenroad, intending to bring Bahamut to once more look upon the face of Hyadelyn. Van Darnus cast Meteor, causing fragments of Dalamud to fall.
A’vegha, at the sight of Dalamud falling, was wracked with guilt. He took steps toward insurrection and secretly burned all his schematics in an attempt to prevent the Empire from using them for their own purposes.
The Path and their hero made for Carteneau, where the VIIth stood their last. As a small troop of VIIth Legion soldiers closed in on the same band of adventurers from Castrum Novum, A’vegha turned against the Empire at last, killing those who would’ve commenced the attack and fending off Mateo sas Titus. His intense hatred of the Empire combined with the flood of aether created a burgeoning replica of his soul made entirely of ill will and violence. It would later manifest into the entity known as the Simulacrum.
Bahamut broke free of Dalamud, marking the beginning of the Seventh Umbral Era. A’vegha escaped from the Empire in the chaos. As he fled, he caught sight of five heroes silhouetted against a brilliant light.
Book Two: Inception
"I'm back. How may I serve Eorzea?"
A’vegha never returned home, and spent five years as a mercenary under contract with the Immortal Flames. His insider knowledge was invaluable when conducting espionage and executing covert ops.
It wasn't long after the Calamity that the Empire began to mobilize. A’vegha’s missions became more and more dangerous.
In his free time between missions, A’vegha spent time exploring fragments of Dalamud and learned about advanced Allagan weaponry. Combined with his knowledge of Magitek, A’vegha began constructing his own weapons and armor with capabilities rarely seen before. He called his signature brand Arctec.
On an excursion to a fragment of Dalamud close to Carteneau, he met Khai Phyzon- a scavenger and fellow mercenary. Due to her interest in Allagan technology, Vegha insisted they keep in touch. For the first time since being abducted 14 years ago, Vegha felt he’d earned the right and desire to have a friend.
Vegha finished creating the Arctec Personal Suit Unit, or APSU-- a suit of armor built lightweight yet durable, and able to store kinetic energy and redistribute it into the user’s movements at will. He also finished creating the Arctec Warping Armaments, or AWA-- a host of bladed weapons which allowed A’vegha to warp to the weapon’s location utilizing miniaturized aetheryte technology.
A’vegha and Khai met frequently over the following years. What started as a simple shared interest became closer to friendship. Vegha told Khai that a commanding officer in the Flames had been pushing for his induction, and should he accept, Vegha would like Khai to join him as auxiliary.
Through stressed encouragement and the need for strong leaders, A’vegha was convinced to formally join the Flames whereupon he was granted the title of honorary captain. Khai took on his former role as a contracted mercenary.
The truth of the Flames motives became clear: an escalating situation on the border of The Black Shroud and Gyr Abania called for forces from the Eorzean Alliance. A'vegha was sent to Baelsar’s Wall where Khai Phyzon accompanied him upon special request.
At Baelsar’s Wall, he crossed paths with a man he seemed to almost recall. Joining forces, the mystery hero, A’vegha, and Khai ascended to the airship landing and confronted The Griffin. After the fight, A’vegha and Khai made a hasty retreat to tend to Flames forces. The arrival of new Magitek machines forced the two to hide.
Shinryu was summoned and bound, causing a traumatic flashback for Vegha. Operating on tremendous amounts of guilt, A’vegha insisted to his superiors that he be dispatched to Ala Mhigo to aid the resistance. Since the Flames were cautionary toward his request because of his freshness and his failure to save anyone at Baelsar’s Wall, A’vegha suddenly declared a leave of absence and said he’d be back “when the sun rises in the East.” He and Khai became the first members of the newborn militia, The Fragments of Peace.
Book Three: Reclamation
"We're the Fragments of Peace! We're the future Ala Mhigo deserves!"
The Fragments of Peace worked very closely with the Eorzean Alliance for the duration of the reclamation. His first mission in Gyr Abania brought him into contact with a revolutionary named Asael Restafar. Reminded of the Griffin's misled passion, A'vegha invited him to the Fragments of Peace and fostered focus and clarity in Asael.
Khai was promoted to First Lieutenant, and Asael was promoted to Second Lieutenant. Taking orders from the Eorzea Alliance, the Fragments pressed hard into the Empire's defenses in Gyr Abania.
When ordered to take the heat off while the leaders discussed further strategy, A'vegha took a little time for himself. He returned to Gridania and was granted a temporary residence in the Lavender Beds, courtesy of the Twin Adders. He set up a headquarters and workshop within and got to work improving his weapons and gear. He even crafted a personal assistance node from a piece of Dalamud. While he was working on it in the yard, a curious passerby took notice. A'vegha caught her staring and invited her to see what he was doing. She introduced herself as M'ori Tyne, and the two became fast friends. In return for letting her stay at his house, she agreed to use her assassination skills with the Fragments of Peace as auxiliary.
The Fragments were soon recalled to the front lines, this time in Othard. The Fragments saw many victories in the Far East, and to commend her service to the cause, A'vegha crafted M'ori personalized Arctec daggers.
During his time in Kugane, A'vegha met a veteran samurai and master of blades named Rowan Izumi. Knowing there was more to bladecraft than what he already knew, A'vegha convinced the old samurai to teach him Eastern combat techniques such as mindfulness, inner peace, and patience. Izumi also instilled a sense of honor in A'vegha-- a respect for his foes, though they fought against his ideals. A'vegha was relocated too early for Izumi's teachings to take firm hold, but A'vegha resolved to return one day. But the time had come to end the war.
At last, A'vegha and the Fragments were summoned to Gyr Abania once more, this time to put an end to the Empire's hold over Eorzea's people. As they stormed Ala Mhigo, Vegha's forces split into groups to offer support and take care of less conspicuous tasks. A'vegha, Khai, and Asael met up with the now distinguishable Warrior of Light and took down Aulus mal Asina. As he loomed over the man who once tortured him for experiments, A'vegha was overcome with a rage he'd not known before. With sickening relish, A'vegha used Duskflare to immolate Asina. The violent spell lasted only a moment, and the group moved on, though A'vegha harbored doubt and regret.
But those feelings were short-lived as the Warrior of Light went on ahead and defeated Zenos yae Galvus atop the palace. As the banner of Ala Mhigo flew above the soldiers who at last could sing of freedom, Vegha was overcome with relief and joy, and knew in that moment, that there was hope for him yet.
Book Four: Retribution
"You're done, Titus. The Acies Series is done."
After the reclamation of Ala Mhigo, A'vegha went back to usual missions for the Immortal Flames. His Fragments of Peace (though somewhat smaller since people left after saving their homeland) were still with him, as were his now closest friends and allies Khai Phyzon and Asael Restafar.
A few moons after Ala Mhigo, Vegha led a contingent of Fragments to aid Flames forces pushing against Imperial forces stationed at Castrum Meridianum. It was here that everything would change for A'vegha.
As they approached the exterior of the Castrum, a gargantuan warmachina with countless flexible spines and cameras leapt over the wall and pinned Eorzean forces between it and the Castrum. A retreat was ordered, but the mysterious machine emitted an ionic laser barrage that incinerated dozens of allies in an instant. Guilt wrecked A'vegha's heart as he recognized the machine-- it was one of many weapons he drafted schematics for when he was a conscript with the Empire. The scene reminded Vegha of those fleeing Carteneau, and a conviction to forbid the loss of more Eorzeans manifested in his first ever Limit Break. With the blessing given to him so many years ago by the king in his dreams, Vegha summoned spectral replicas of his Arctec arsenal in his own unique Armiger. With this power, Vegha fought valiantly against the Type:Urchin warmachina until it was forever destroyed. And though his victory led to a successful retreat, the strain of channeling such vast quantities of aether had bleached his hair, eyes, and armor.
The next thing he remembered, A'vegha was in a Flames infirmary. His commanding officer, Commander Hilston, told Vegha of his two-week comatose state. Soon after regaining the vitality to walk about, A'vegha informed the Immortal Flames of his involvement with the series of warmachina called the Acies Series before resigning from the Flames and disbanding the Fragments of Peace. This was a bloody path of sin which Vegha wouldn't allow anyone else to atone for.
Over the long months, A'vegha tracked down Acies Series warmachina across different regions in Eorzea, Garlemald, and even in yet garrisoned Castri in the East. Though at first he attempted to operate completely independently, he knew Asael and Khai would make the job a lot easier. Though he pretended to relet to their demands to help, the two caught on quick that Vegha needed them.
Along his journey, A'vegha, Khai, and Asael destroyed the Type:Adder, Type:Moth, Type:Boar, Type:Coeurl, Type:Barracuda, and Type:Mammoth warmachina. Though he couldn't confirm the eradication of the Acies series, Vegha and company celebrated success after the supposed last warmachina was destroyed.
Not even a full day after the last machine was destroyed, and Imperial courier delivered a message to A'vegha from the one person in the world he'd least expect a letter from-- Mateo sas Titus. The commander requested a meeting on the border between Eozea and Garlemald in an abandoned battlefield called Dinlyt. When A'vegha delivered this news to the Immortal Flames and General Aldynn advised that A'vegha agree to the meeting for the chance to gain intel on Mateo and the area. And so amidst the wreckage of a battle lost to the ages, A'vegha met with Mateo sas Titus.
Mateo began the meeting with demands to recompense the Empire for damages to the Acies Series warmachina. Finding the demand outrageous, Mateo agreed to substitute the cost with A'vegha's submission to the Empire. Knowing this either meant lifelong captivity or death, A'vegha refused this demand as well. Expecting the worst, Mateo sent a signal to the real final Acies Series warmachina. The metallic depiction of one of A'vegha's greatest fears was almost enough to unnerve him. Mateo confirmed he wasn't above the use of psychological warfare, and so he himself oversaw the creation of Type:Dreadwyrm, or more accurately, Replica Bahamut.
(WIP)
Book Five: Inequity
"You should have died back at Carteneau."
[Work in progress]