Between the Lines

Dia de Los Muertos Ball

02 November 2025 - 9 PM - 11 PM Central Time USACrystal - Malboro - Empyreum - Ward 8 - Plot 56RSVP Here

Join Lord Dampierre and Between the Lines for a Dia de Los Muertos Ball celebrating remembrance, love, and the beauty of lives past. Enjoy an evening of elegance and reflection as the veil between worlds grows thin. An ofrenda upstairs offers space for private remembrances and personal tributes to those held dear.

Wednesdays 8PM - 10PM Central Time USAMateus - Shirogane - Ward 9 - Plot 46Teleport Anchors Available By Request

Are you in search of a rare tome or knowledge lost to the ages? Perhaps a relic of unknown properties has found its way into your possession, and you seek appraisal—or a buyer bold enough to claim it. Or maybe you crave an item of true antiquity. We also offer translation and restoration services for those who value discretion as much as discovery.Between the Lines is a library of rare (and not so rare) books, esoterica, and antiquities. The library opens its doors on Wednesday nights (Central Time, USA) or by private appointment for discerning individuals who can afford the wares.Dare to read between the lines…And remember—not all things may be bought with gil...

Feature Collection

The Things That Go Bump In The Night

This month, Between the Lines dares readers to look into the shadows with The Things That Go Bump in the Night, our All Saints' Wake feature collection of horror. From the haunted depths of Hingashi to the whispering mists of the Shroud, ten masterful authors spin tales of terror, temptation, and the unseen forces that linger just beyond the lantern’s glow. These stories weave ghostly folklore with forgotten magicks, cursed relics, and the quiet dread of things best left undisturbed. Step carefully, dear reader—each page breathes, each word remembers, and each story hungers to be told again. Whether you seek elegant horror or the slow unraveling of sanity, this collection promises to chill even the bravest souls of the realm.

About

Between the Lines is a library role play venue open on Wednesday nights from 8-10 PM Central Time (USA) or by appointment! While there are multiple branches of the library, the main branch is on Mateus. Appointments might take place at other locations.Please understand that we run on a shoestring staff; it's literally myself and a couple of others when they are available. We cannot be everywhere all at once. Yes, I am usually dual boxing the proprietor and the doorman. If you wish to interact with the latter, please send that character a tell.Between the Lines may be a largely self-guided experience for visitors, but we will do our best to interact at least minimally with every patron who steps through our doors. If you have any questions about the layout of the venue (i.e., where the various genre sections are located), please reach out to the staff, and we're happy to give you directions so you can role play accordingly.Between the Lines is also a Free Company on the Mateus server of the Crystal Data Center (North America). Interested in joining a creepy occult "library" FC run by a suspicious figure with the tag <BOOKS>? Let me know, and I'm happy to give your character an IC interview.

Staff

The Majordomo

Sokhor, as most know him, serves as Qaelemont's Majordomo, managing the Elezen's estates and affairs with a quiet, authoritative presence whenever Qaelemont is otherwise occupied. This tall, enigmatic Xaela is the senior-most member of Qaelemont's staff, with all others deferring to his judgment in the absence of their Master. His age is indeterminate, though he appears to be in his thirties, yet there is something unsettling about him—particularly his eerie, thousand-malm gaze that seems to pierce through the veil of the mortal realm and into something far beyond. His presence is most often felt during the night, when he oversees the household in the hours of darkness.

Naohiro

The second in command among Qaelemont's staff is Naohiro, a Raen whose near-silent efficiency rivals that of Sokhor. Though he occasionally engages in conversation, it is always with measured brevity, revealing only what is essential to address a question or convey important information. While Naohiro may not exude the same unsettling aura as Sokhor, there is an unmistakable peculiarity about him that can be disconcerting. His watch is typically during the daylight hours, ensuring the smooth operation of the household under the sun's gaze.

Deryk

A familiar face in the library, Deryk greets everyone with a warm smile and a cheerful wave. The ginger-haired Hyurzen, rarely seen far from Qaelemont's side, can occasionally be found tending to various parts of the estate when his Master is away. In his early twenties, Deryk’s emerald eyes sparkle with youthful energy, and his smile could melt even the coldest heart. Always eager to assist, he takes pride in helping others find the perfect tome, though one should be careful what they wish for—Deryk is more than willing to escort anyone to Qaelemont for such requests.

Devin

Devin, a loyal servant and companion, is frequently seen bustling about the grounds, always eager to lend a hand. With a bright smile and an upbeat demeanor, he takes joy in assisting everyone, especially Qaelemont and Deryk. But don’t be deceived by his innocent appearance—Devin is well-versed in the arcane arts, and while he may blush easily, he’s a formidable protector of those he holds dear. A lover of romance novels, Devin enjoys spending time in the library, though his passion for helping often sees him taking on nearly every chore in the house.

The Librarians

Tea and Tentacles

Welcome to our book club—yes, it’s that kind of book club.Between the Lines presents a one-of-a-kind experience: Tea and Tentacles, hosted by Scarlett Clover in the Book Club room.We showcase writers from all corners of Eorzea and beyond. Sip on Scarlett’s handpicked teas while enjoying an evening of poetry, short stories, skits, and more on our open stage. After the performances, there will be a brief Q&A session, followed by an informal "signing" of their works. (Tipping is encouraged but not required.)If you would like to be on stage, please contact Scarlett Clover to make arrangements.We can't wait to see you there!

Floor Plan

Between the Lines utilizes the Sharlayan Decimal System for the organization of its collection. The Reference Page mammet is always glad to assist patrons in finding the perfect book if they're unable to navigate the card catalogue at the center of the library by themselves.

Application

Interested in joining the Between the Lines team? We invite you to join our Discord server, where you can get to know our community, explore the atmosphere, and discover the various roleplay opportunities available. Within the server, you'll find the appointment desk, and please note that an in-character interview is required for all potential employees.Please be aware that Void Hunter-type characters are generally not considered for employment. Lawfully aligned characters may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Between the Lines is managed by a villainous character and staffed by the same. It is an occult/dark/horror-themed RP community that maintains a facade of civility and normalcy. We expect all staff members to be at least 18 years old (preferably 21+) and to conduct themselves in a mature, respectful, and adult manner.

Rules

1. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate in this venue. While business hours are Safe For Work, there may be Mature IC themes (occult, horror, etc.) discussed during library hours pertinent to in game subjects.2. Be polite and respectful. No attacking allowed. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Disagreements are allowed, but keep them civil or take them to private channels (party, tells, etc.). While intellectual debate is allowed and encouraged, hostilities are not permitted on the premisis.3. No politics, no religion, and no conspiracy theories about real life subjects. Want to theorycraft and discuss in game politics, religion and conspiracies? Have at it. But leave real life issues at the door.4. No hate speech. This is a sex, kink, and equality positive space. Between the Lines is not an ERP venue, but we acknowledge that people are allowed, within reason, to be free to express themselves. Please no nudity or any sexual behavior which might offend non-consenting parties.5. No trolls allowed.6. Nothing underaged allowed in an NSFW form. This is to include loli and shota images/writings. Anything under 18 years old is considered underaged. The caveats to this rule are historical and factual artistic and literary references to such art and literature may be discussed (but NOT in detail) and that ageplay can be discussed as long as it is abundantly clear that the participants are consenting adults. Characters which appear to be minors are also not allowed. Lalafells are welcome to participate in the venue, but may not interact in an NSFW manner.7. No harassment will be tolerated. Treat the staff and fellow patrons with respect.8. Do NOT request money, subscription time, in game gil, items, etc. from other people here. We are all adults and should be financially responsible for ourselves in and out of game. All transactions are strictly IC RP only. Nobody will ever ask you for money or items, either in game or real life. If this occurs, please report it to a member of the staff.9. Consent is still vital, even in role play. While noncon RP scenes may take place, please be certain OOC that such a scene is welcome among all participants. Understand that no means no and if someone does not want to participate in a role play with you, respect their no and move along.10. Please treat everyone with kindness and respect. This is a safe place for roleplay and for people to have fun. IC sassiness and villainy are fine, but expect IC consequences for your character's IC actions. "It's just RP" is not an excuse to trample on people's consent, and if it is brought up in OOC that it isn't really welcome, we ask you to please respect that. This venue is a place for FUN RP. If you wish to engage in conflict RP here, you MUST seek OOC consent of the staff and all participants before doing so and, again, expect IC reactions to disruptive behavior.For any questions or concerns, please reach out to any staff member.

Kugane Night Market

06 Nov 2025 - 7:00pm CST - Coeurl - Kugane, Rakuza District

Between the Lines offers esoteric books, rare tomes, and enigmatic curios at the Kugane Night Market—literature, lore, and lost relics for seekers of the arcane, the obscure, and the forgotten. But beware... come prepared to barter with more than mere gil if you wish to read between the lines...

Books

If one is looking for the more mundane literature to be found at Between the Lines, one might be sadly disappointed. Only select esoteric volumes have been brought for sale for this night. One might find what they seek, be it fame, fortune, power, or glory, but there is always a price to pay...

1. The Mirror’s True FaceAppearance: Bound in fractured silver glass fragments stitched with shimmering aetherthread, the cover reflects distorted versions of the reader’s face. It hums softly when held.Description: Part memoir, part spell book, this elusive tome was allegedly written by a solitary Veena wood-warden who spent decades cycling between male, female, and liminal identities while maintaining a single public persona. The narrative shifts depending on who reads it—chapters reorder, scenes change, and some pages only reveal themselves under moonlight. Scholars argue it’s cursed; others insist it simply knows who you are. A text for those questioning the story they’ve been told about themselves. It is said it reflects and reveals the reader’s deepest self—gender, desire, and soul-shape in return for a personal secret never spoken aloud, whispered only to the book. For some, this brings liberation; for others, painful clarity. Some readers claim their face physically shifts afterward.2. Soft Boys of the SteppeAppearance: Worn leather cover dyed in faded ochre, with watercolor inserts and Xaelic script etched into the spine by hand. Some pages are clearly handmade vellum.Description: A powerful, subversive document of oral histories and intimate sketches, this book gathers firsthand accounts of gentle Buduga men—shamanic warriors, story weavers, and soul keepers of the Steppe. Each story defies the harsh and violent stereotypes imposed by outsiders, painting portraits of men who love with tenderness, cry openly, and wear beauty without shame. The book includes spirit dances, lullabies passed from lover to lover, and love letters never sent. It is banned in Ul’dah and considered heretical by many Dotharl, who fear its gentle strength. Reading this book after leaving a blood offering on the Steppe may grant the ability to see and hear spirits for three days. Some say the spirits whisper ancestral wisdom or forbidden lullabies; others report unsettling truths.3. Dawn in the Garden of GodsAppearance: This ancient tome is made of cream-colored vellum stamped with gold filigree suns and floral embossing; the cover grows warm in sunlight. It is also illustrated with luminous ink that glows faintly in the dark.Description: A mythic romance set in an alternate telling of the Eorzean creation myth, this luminous story follows two demigods—Teyru of the Flame and Kaelun of the Sky—whose divine love disrupts the order of the stars. One is a shapeshifter with no fixed body or name, the other a radiant warrior cast from the heavens. Their union remakes the world—but not without consequence. Originally performed as a pageant in the Third Umbral Era, it was censored after church officials condemned its vision of queer divinity. This rare edition includes the forbidden Epilogue, which depicts the gods weeping for joy at the lovers' defiance. Reading it unlocks a divine spark within the reader, allowing them to commune with a personal daimon or mythic self in dreams. Readers often awaken crying with joy… or dread.4. Velvet Maw, Velvet TongueAppearance: This book is of black velvet with a slithering texture under the fingers. A violet ribbon tongue coils through the pages. The book emits a faint scent of cloves, wine, and dusk.Description: A centuries-spanning collection of erotic vampire poetry written by Nightkin across the ages. These verses entwine bloodlust with gender play, erotic power, and otherworldly longing. Themes include feeding as seduction, transformation as transition, and the ecstasy of immortality as a metaphor for identity. The book is both salacious and sacred—an ode to queer hunger, in every sense. Reading this book awakens a vampiric hunger for truth, intimacy, and blood while also granting heightened senses and persuasive charm—but may blur the line between want and need. To truly unlock the power of this book, one must allow someone else to drink from them—emotionally, spiritually, or literally.5. The Gossamer PrinceAppearance: This book is covered in a mysterious feather-light binding, shifting color from rose to periwinkle. When opened, sparkles drift from the pages. Lavender ribbon ties secure it shut.Description: A magical children’s fairy tale beloved in underground queer circles. The Gossamer Prince is a winged child rejected by his people for refusing to become either King or Queen. He flees into the Aetherstream, where he meets spirits, dreams, and others like him—neither this nor that, but something entirely new. The story weaves wonder with grief, joy with transformation, and ends not with a coronation, but with flight. Echo-bearers and sensitive readers may glimpse alternate endings hidden in the margins, shaped by their own desires. Allows the reader to step between dreams and reality for one night. Within that liminal world, you may meet other exiles, reshape yourself, or choose a different ending... but at the cost of leaving behind a piece of yourself: a name, a role, or a memory.6. The Lantern That Never FadesAppearance: This is a scroll of moon-pale silk embroidered with curling silver threads, each stitch catching the light like frost. The edges are bound in soft indigo brocade patterned with subtle clouds. The ink is a deep, watery black, its brushstrokes flowing as though they had been drawn in a single breath. When held, the fabric radiates a faint warmth, like the lingering heat of a hand that once held another.Description: This poetic tale recounts the vigil of a shrine keeper who lit a paper lantern for his departed beloved. Though years passed, the flame never dimmed, glowing steadily through snow, storm, and even time’s passage, until he too became part of its light. Rumor whispers that reading the final verse by lamplight causes the lantern’s glow to flare—and that a distant soul may answer the call.7. The Bridge of SmokeAppearance: This is a brittle rice-paper scroll with its edges blackened as though singed by fire. The fibers crumble easily at the touch, yet the ink remains vivid, drawn in sweeping vermilion strokes that once formed protective wards. Some wards trail off unfinished, as though the scribe’s hand was stilled mid-stroke. The parchment still smells faintly of incense mingled with saltwater. A frayed hemp cord holds it closed, rough against the skin.Description: The scroll describes a ritual in which the smoke of burning lanterns may weave a bridge for souls to cross back into the mortal realm. The incomplete wards suggest the scribe abandoned the work in haste—or perhaps was interrupted. Those who have attempted to complete the ritual say the smoke curls not only upward, but downward, as though something waits to cross from the other side.8. The Song of the Floating LampsAppearance: A waterproofed bamboo spine holds lacquered mulberry paper sheets, their surfaces smooth as glass. The text is written in a shimmering ink of sea-blue and pearl, as though waves themselves had left their mark. Mother-of-pearl inlay traces the title in elegant Hingan script along the spine, glimmering like moonlight on the tide.Description: This hymn guides lost souls across the waters to rejoin their kin. Written in a strange, lilting scale, the verses carry a melody that shifts depending on the singer’s lineage—some hear it as joyous, others mournful. Certain lines are marked with delicate ink as “for the dead alone,” suggesting that not all stanzas are meant for mortal voices.9. Eyes Behind the MaskAppearance: A slim volume whose covers are fashioned from the bisected halves of an old white lacquer fox mask. The lacquer has yellowed with time, but the mask’s eye-holes still pierce through, allowing candlelight to shine onto the title page. Inside, the pages smell faintly of incense and sea salt. The handwriting alternates between elegant calligraphy and erratic, looping script that sprawls across the margins.Description: A hybrid diary and ritual manual, it claims to record the descent of a festival dancer who became convinced his masked companions were spirits. The more one reads, the more the text seems to shift between voices—sometimes calm, sometimes frantic. Some passages end abruptly, as if the pen had been snatched away mid-sentence. The book feels oddly heavier after being read by lamplight.10. Ancestor’s MirrorAppearance: A hand-sized oval of flawless black obsidian polished to a glassy sheen, housed within a padded hinoki-wood box scented faintly of cypress. Around its edge run etched silver runes that glint like a halo when turned to the light. The surface reflects not only faces but lantern-glows and things not always present in the room.Description: When gazed into by lantern-light, pale ripples spread across the obsidian, forming words and images that tell of the reader’s oldest remembered ancestor. Yet many who look too long see more than just familiar kin—unfamiliar faces appear, peering with intent, as though expecting recognition. Some claim those eyes continue to follow them after the lid is closed.

Items

If one is seeking common trinkets or tchotchkes, look elsewhere. What is offered tonight are rare and dangerous relics—arcane, forbidden, or touched by shadow. Each piece holds a whisper of power, a flicker of memory, a debt yet unpaid. One may find what they desire… but nothing comes without a cost...

1. Ribbon of the Radiant TwinAppearance: This is a beautiful long, silk ribbon dyed sunset orange and deep rose, always warm to the touch. It seems to flutter even without wind.Description: Once tied between two lovers who shared a single soul but different genders, this ribbon now bears their blessings. Binding it to oneself feels like being seen. Wrap it around the wrist, neck, or waist to glow gently with a protective aura. For trans, nonbinary, or questioning users, it enhances clarity, confidence, and self-healing. Yet to gain these powers, one must whisper a truth about their body they've never spoken aloud.2. The Peacock’s VeilAppearance: This is a sheer, opalescent veil that shifts from sapphire to gold to violet. Light plays strangely across it, and it never seems to wrinkle.Description: A glamoured relic once used by a gender fluid Hingan noble who moved through court intrigue in ever-changing forms. It is said they died the most beautiful man and woman of their era—at the same time. It grants complete illusionary transformation for one evening—voice, face, form, even scent. It doesn’t hide one's soul, though, for that remains ever true. To unlock this power, one must whisper to the veil what one fears they truly look like.3. Candles of the Saint BetweenAppearance: A trio of slender candles—lavender, sky blue, and white—wrapped in twine with thorn charms, they emit soft, soothing light, ever burning, yet never being consumed.Description: Used in covert vigils during the Third Umbral Era, these candles summon the blessings of a forgotten genderless saint whose name was struck from all records. When burned in ritual, the candles grant a night of safe dreaming and spirit protection for any queer soul. Wards off hate, shame, and psychic attack when one spends a night awake keeping watch for someone else’s peace.4. Whispergleam FanAppearance: This mysterious folding fan is made of dyed gossamer feathers, etched with secret runes visible only in starlight. It emits a faint laugh when opened.Description: Said to have belonged to a masked Ishgardian courtesan who survived twelve purges by never being the same person twice. Their legend lives in every flick of the wrist. Allows the wielder to cast a glamour instantly—no aether cost, no preparation—so long as the transformation aligns with their truest desire, yet this must also reveal a version of oneself that has never been shown the world.5. The Wisp-Lantern CoreAppearance: A crystalline sphere the size of an apple, mounted in a bronze lattice cage etched with archaic wards. The bronze has tarnished to a green-black patina, yet the cage feels warm to the touch. Inside the sphere drift tiny pale blue motes of aether, pulsing as if breathing. When shaken, the motes swirl like fireflies trapped in glass.Description: Once a Garlean magitek core, this device has been retooled to hold captured aetheric wisps gathered near shrine grounds. When carried through a festival dance, it projects faint phantom lights that mimic the rhythm of nearby drums. Some festivalgoers say the wisps form shapes of familiar faces. Others claim the motes whisper names in a language long forgotten.6. Electrope Resonance DrumAppearance: A bronze drum barely wider than a man’s palm, set with small electrope panels around its sides. Within, tiny gears and filaments turn and hum without need of winding. When tapped, the drum produces a resonant note deeper than its size should allow.Description: Designed by a Sharlayan tinkerer recently dabbling in both music and spiritcraft, this device harmonizes with the beat of festival drums. To the living, it merely echoes faintly, but the vibration resonates on the spectral plane. Some who bring it to the Obon Odori claim they see faint outlines of long-dead relatives swaying at the edge of the circle.7. Lantern of the Far ShoreAppearance: A tall, cylindrical paper lantern reinforced with copper struts, the paper is dyed ivory and painted with stylized waves in silver ink. A faint mist curls from its edges when lit, and the flame within never sputters, even in wind.Description: Once ignited, this lantern floats gently above the ground, trailing vapor like river fog. When set upon water, it drifts slowly upstream, against the natural current, its light reflecting in long ribbons upon the surface. Spirit mediums say the glow draws wandering souls to its warmth, guiding them across unseen thresholds. Some families pass these down for generations, swearing they see familiar silhouettes in the mist.8. The Gloved Hand of Seer MakraeenAppearance: This is a single right-hand glove of dark velvet, overlaid with silver wire and embedded with five opaline “nails.” It is kept inside a mirrored case sealed with wax. The fingers twitch when stared at too long.Description: Cut from the hand of a prophet who foresaw their own dismemberment, the glove contains enchanted nerve threads that replicate its former wearer’s foresight. Wearing it allows brief glimpses into potential futures, though only for actions involving violence or betrayal. Every use makes the user’s fingers less their own—until the glove begins moving first.9. Eidostatic Grimo-LensAppearance: A hand-held eyepiece constructed of overlapping brass shutters, ceruleum tubing, and floating lens rings that rearrange themselves when activated, it bears faintly etched Void-sigils which glow in the peripheral glass.Description: This lens was originally used to study unstable soul-echoes during possession events. When attuned, it reveals a subject's soul-thread resonance—allowing the viewer to glimpse echoes, haunts, past lives, or fragmentary delusions. Extended use is discouraged: several testers vanished into catatonia after “following a thread too far.”10. The Wyrd CoilAppearance: This is a spiral of dark glass wrapped around a flickering electrope core. Sparks of pale blue lightning dance through it like veins of a living creature. It hums softly in rhythm with the waxing moon.Description: The Coil was once used to capture the “moods of storms” during Alexandrian levin storms, reflecting the moon’s light to tame wild tempests. Over time, it began recording emotions instead—sorrow, yearning, and joy—only to release them during the full moon. When held beneath Menphina’s rise, it plays back the grief of all who have ever touched it, their voices mingling like a lamenting choir.

Antiquities

These are the most extraordinary items offered at tonight's Night Market. Rare and powerful, they cannot be obtained easily. Mastering them will demand strength, determination, and dedication. Suggested quests for role-play flavor are included.

The Tear of the Hollow Moon

Description:A luminescent teardrop-shaped gem, cool to the touch and shimmering with the soft silver glow of moonlight. When held, its depths reveal fleeting images of lovers separated by fate—ghostly figures reaching for one another, their hands never quite meeting. The Tear pulses gently when it senses yearning, as though resonating with the unspoken emotions of its bearer.Features & Powers:- Echoes of the Heart: The Tear allows its bearer to hear the whispers of a lost love—words left unsaid, promises unfulfilled, or regrets buried in time.- Guiding Light: If carried with true intent, the Tear glows brighter in the presence of one's fated love, leading them together across time, distance, or even lifetimes.- The Last Embrace: In the hands of the brokenhearted, the Tear grants a fleeting vision of their beloved, offering a final moment to say what was never said, before fading into silver mist.- Bound by Love: If exchanged between lovers on Valentione’s Day, the Tear splits into two, each half glowing softly when the other is near—an eternal reminder that their souls are linked.Origin & History:The Tear is said to have formed from the sorrow of Menphina, the Lover, when she wept for two mortals whose love was torn asunder by war. Moved by their devotion, she captured a single tear in her hands and cast it into the heavens, where it fell to Eorzea as a crystal imbued with love’s undying promise. Those who find it are often souls searching for reunion, redemption, or the courage to love again.Limitations & Dangers:- Cannot Rewrite Fate: The Tear only reveals love’s path—it cannot force two hearts together if they are truly meant to part.- A Lover’s Lament: If used selfishly, the Tear darkens and cracks, burdened by the weight of falsehoods or manipulations.- The Hollow Curse: Those who hoard the Tear, refusing to let love go or move forward, may find their own heart growing cold and hollow, unable to love again.Suggested Quest: "The Moon’s Lament"To obtain the Tear of the Hollow Moon, one must complete the Trial of the Moonlit Promise at the lost shrine of Elpis Noctis. The seeker must navigate a mist-laden labyrinth of illusions, face memories of love lost or unspoken, and confess a truth of the heart before the Tear. Finally, they must offer a cherished token of love—something willingly sacrificed—to prove their understanding of love’s joy and sorrow. If their heart is true, the Tear will glow in acceptance. If they waver or deceive, the artifact remains dormant, and they must leave, burdened with the weight of their unspoken truths.

The Unmoored Diadem

Description:This is a delicate, openwork circlet forged of translucent auracite, inlaid with star-metal filaments and adorned with seven cracked crystal prisms arranged like flower petals. It is a crown of memory, a prison of light, and a gift not meant for mortals. The entire structure floats just above the brow when worn, never touching the skin. It emits a faint glow in moonlight, pulsing in time with nearby thoughts.The diadem is kept in a locked obsidian box lined with ceruleum-treated silk and sealed with sigils of psychic containment. It whispers softly when approached—often in a voice the listener recognizes as their own.Features and Powers:- Memory Resonance: Allows the wearer to experience ancient memories embedded in the auracite. These visions are fully immersive, with physical, emotional, and sensory detail indistinguishable from reality. The oldest echoes are believed to date back to the Third Astral Era.- Empathic Projection: The wearer may project emotional memories into another’s mind, creating an intense shared experience. Often used to build trust, extract secrets, or deliver intimate truths. This process can become addictive for both parties.- Aetherial Phasing: When overloaded with aether, the diadem shifts the user partially out of phase with the physical world for a few moments, allowing them to move unseen or untouched. This effect comes at the cost of slowly losing one's physical presence until they are completely out of phase with the physical realm and trapped in the aetherial.Origin and History:The diadem was crafted by Néren-Li, an exiled Allagan mnemonist, during an experiment known as The Silent Archive—a forbidden effort to preserve living histories through auracite. Intended for elite nobility, the Archive project was dismantled after a series of psychic breakdowns and suicides. The prototype vanished from official records. It resurfaced centuries later, sealed in a reliquary beneath the ruins of Mhach. How it passed from there into Qaelemont’s collection remains a subject of hushed speculation.Limitations and Dangers:- Memory Contamination: Continued use risks corrupting the user’s sense of self. Over time, the stored memories and identities may blend with the wearer’s own, leaving them uncertain of what thoughts are truly theirs.- Empathic Collapse: If used on a subject with suppressed trauma or volatile emotions, the diadem may trigger seizures, comas, or aetheric hemorrhaging in both individuals.- Phasing Trace: The diadem’s phasing ability leaves a distinct ripple in the aetherial plane. Certain entities, particularly Voidsent or those attuned to echoes, may detect and pursue the user.- Addictive Clarity: The heightened emotion and vividness of the memories can become a seduction. Some wearers isolate themselves, choosing to relive lost moments endlessly rather than face the present.Suggested Quest: The Memory That Wasn't MineA Sharlayan scholar is discreetly hiring adventurers to locate The Unmoored Diadem, a lost Allagan relic said to contain living memories. Its last known location points to a buried ruin in the Dravanian hinterlands: the Sanctuary of Drowned Echoes. As one nears the site, dreams not their own begin to haunt them, and echoes of forgotten lives bleed into their thoughts. The Diadem is still active, still aware—and it may not want to be found.

Pearl Lane Haunt

28 Oct 2025 - 7 PM CST - Mateus - Ul'dah - The Pearl Lane

Rumors have reached you... it's a rare opportunity. A renowned dealer of esoteric books and antiquities is preparing to offer an exclusive selection of items for discerning collectors. But beware... come prepared to barter with more than mere gil... Dare to read between the lines...

Books

If one is looking for the more mundane literature to be found at Between the Lines, they might be sadly disappointed. Only select esoteric volumes have been brought for sale for this night. One might find what they seek, be it fame, fortune, power, or glory, but there is always a price to pay...

1. The Black Pages of MhachAppearance: This grimoire is bound in ancient, blackened hide that smells faintly of burnt oil and rain. The surface is cracked like cooled volcanic glass, and the sigil of Mhach is halfmelted upon the cover. When touched, the leather feels faintly warm, and soot clings to the fingers. The page edges shimmer with a faint purple iridescence, as if the book itself remembers the glow of the Void.Description: Said to be one of the few surviving texts from the fall of Mhach, the Black Pages is a document of unsanctioned rites of Void conjury. Each spell demands a sacrifice of the reader’s blood before the text becomes legible. The script itself shifts and bleeds, rewriting with each lunar phase. Some claim the tome hungers for new incantations and steals them from the mind of any who read it. Closing the book too soon can leave its contents unfinished—along with its victims.2. SOLD - Aetherflow Harmonicon - SOLDAppearance: A masterpiece of brass and vellum, this codex is built like an instrument which its name resembles. Thin metal plates alternate with sheets of aged parchment etched with musical staves instead of words. The binding screws and plates are tarnished with green patina, and the edges hum faintly when struck, producing a chord that lingers too long in the air.Description: This experimental Nymian work theorized that structured aether could be harmonized through sound—turning spellcraft into symphony. When opened, faint tonal vibrations resonate around the reader, forming melodies that are both beautiful and unsettling. Scholars have noted that these tones sometimes continue long after the book has been closed. The last surviving copy was said to drown its scribe in a crescendo of their own creation, leaving behind only the book and an impossible echo.3. The Electrum HeartAppearance: A thick Garlean folio wrapped in a lattice of copper wire and dull electrum mesh, it hums faintly when held near metal. Its seal bears the Imperial eagle, but beneath the grime, a second sigil—unknown and organic—appears when warmed by touch. The cover feels alive, pulsing softly as if in imitation of a heartbeat.Description: This log chronicles a failed Garlean project to merge magitek with organic loyalty—machines that would serve not by code, but devotion. Each entry descends deeper into obsession as the researcher begins referring to his creation as “beloved.” The final page ends abruptly, the parchment charred and fused to the next. When opened, a faint electrical crackle fills the air and nearby devices falter, as though the book feeds upon current to remember what it once was.4. Fragments of the Eighth HeavenAppearance: Seven small crystal shards, each encased within aetheric glass vials are sealed with silver thread. Under lamplight, the fragments glow faintly blue, the etchings upon them reordering themselves like living constellations. A faint vibration hums through the glass, inaudible yet felt through the bones.Description: Believed to be remnants of an Allagan astromantic tablet shattered in the fall of the Crystal Tower, these shards form a celestial map when aligned beneath a waxing moon. The glyphs speak of an “Eighth Heaven,” a plane beyond mortal comprehension where stars are born from the dreams of gods. Those who gaze too long into the fragments report visions of burning worlds and hear a distant, crystalline choir that whispers their name in perfect Allagan.5. Codex Thaumaturgicus NihilAppearance: This ancient tome is bound in pale, ash-grey leather so dry it flakes to the touch. The title and runes along the spine absorb all light, leaving an unsettling blankness. The interior pages are pressed thin as funeral paper, coated in dust that refuses to be brushed away. When opened, the surrounding shadows retreat, and the air grows heavy with the scent of cold stone.Description: Composed by an Ul’dahn thaumaturge who sought to weaponize absence itself, this codex theorizes “negative aether”—energy formed through the annihilation of being. The text is incomplete; sections vanish between readings, as if devoured by their own subject. Opening the tome too long causes reflections to dim and shadows to die, leaving the reader standing in perfect, depthless light. The few who have survived its study describe the silence within as “endless, and listening.”6. Manual of the Clockwork SoulAppearance: This is an Ishgardian manuscript clasped in brass filigree shaped like angelic wings, now tarnished to a dull bronze. The spine is engraved with minute numerals that shift like the hands of a clock. When tilted, one hears a faint ticking, synchronized to neither heartbeat nor timepiece.Description: An Ishgardian priest authored this blasphemous guide after claiming revelation from Halone through machinery. It describes the synthesis of anima and automaton—a soul wound onto gears. The diagrams are smeared with old oil and traces of something darker. The final chapter details a ritual to “free the spirit within the wheel.” It is written in two hands, one flowing, one machine-like, alternating line for line.7. A Treatise on the Third Eye of ThunderAppearance: This is a scroll of blackened parchment bound with red silk cords singed at the ends. The ink glitters faintly with lightning-aspected motes, sparking when handled. The smell of ozone lingers around it, and the air tingles against the skin.Description: A forbidden martial manual from a lost temple of Gyr Abania, written by a monk said to have meditated during a thunderstorm for seven days without food or shelter. The scroll teaches mastery of internal lightning—channeling raw storm through the soul’s third eye. Those who attempt its techniques are either consumed by spontaneous combustion or struck by lightning within the day. The original monastery was found reduced to glass. Only this scroll survived, wrapped around a monk-shaped shadow upon the floor.8. The Crimson Sail of Sil’dihAppearance: This is a long bolt of rotted crimson fabric, soft as old paper and stained darker toward the edges. The ink upon it gleams faintly with a black sheen, and the words pulse when exposed to heat. The scent of iron and dust lingers like dried blood.Description: Believed to be woven from the funeral shroud of a Sil’dihn noble family, the Crimson Sail was repurposed into a necromantic scripture meant to revive the fallen city. Its verses command the dead to rise and “bear the city upon their backs.” The final stanza is written in an unknown hand that continues past the fabric’s edge, as if the writer kept going long after the cloth ended. Scholars note that the script is identical to that found on ossified remains in the Sil’dihn Subterrane.9. A Diary of the Dreaming MachineAppearance: This is a slim journal with brass corners and a binding of whale leather darkened with age. The pages shimmer faintly blue under lamplight, pulsing in slow rhythm. Tiny clockwork mechanisms are embedded in the spine—when opened, they whirr quietly, turning of their own accord.Description: The diary of an Alexandrian artificer who sought to record his dreams through electrope resonance. Early entries detail experimental schematics; later pages dissolve into fragmented poetry and fevered sketches of eyes and circuitry. The final entries degrade into vivid dreamscapes that shift each time they are read. If one reads it aloud, the text rearranges into a vision—forcing the reader to experience the author’s final dream, where he conversed with something that claimed to have been dreaming him.10. The Covenant of Black and WhiteAppearance: This strange tome is of exquisite craftsmanship, bound in alternating layers of ivory and obsidian leather, polished until mirror-smooth. The edges are silvergilt, yet tarnish quickly when handled. The ink shifts from white to black as one reads, never settling on a single color. The air around it feels charged—like the stillness before a storm.Description: Recovered from the depths of the Aetherochemical Spire, this text debates the metaphysical boundary between Light and Dark. Each side of the book argues against the other, rewriting passages whenever left closed for too long. Scholars who study it report hearing two voices whisper in alternating cadence as they read—each claiming to be truth. Finishing the book is said to merge both arguments within the reader’s mind, leaving them speaking in contradictions that echo the Void and the First.

Items

If one is seeking common trinkets or tchotchkes, look elsewhere. What is offered tonight are rare and dangerous relics—arcane, forbidden, or touched by shadow. Each piece holds a whisper of power, a flicker of memory, a debt yet unpaid. These strange relics hum, whisper, or breathe with forgotten power. One may find what they desire… but nothing comes without a cost...

1. The Mirror of Ashen DreamsAppearance: A hand mirror framed in blackened silver filigree, warped by age into shapes resembling thorned vines, its handle is wrapped in worn velvet, long since faded to gray. The glass itself is uneven, misted with a sheen that refuses to polish away. Beneath lamplight, it flickers faintly as though reflecting a candle’s flame unseen in the room. On rare occasions, a ripple moves across the surface—subtle, but alive.Description: Forged in the dying days of Mhach, this mirror was used in rituals meant to summon familiars from the Void. The Mhachi discovered that glass, when tempered with the dust of cremated souls, becomes an unholy threshold. Those who gaze into it too long report seeing their reflection blink independently or smile a heartbeat late. Others swear they see something standing behind them that vanishes when turned toward. Closing it away does not end the haunting—merely delays its interest.2. The Heart of Pale FireAppearance: Contained within a bell-shaped jar of thick glass, this crystalline mass burns with a ghostly white flame. The flame flickers too slowly to be natural, like a heartbeat seen through smoke. The jar is banded with tarnished iron rings engraved with sigils that emit faint warmth. When approached, the flame dims, as if drawing breath.Description: This relic is believed to be the captured aetherial essence of a Voidsent noble—some whisper a remnant of a succubus queen devoured during Mhach’s last days. The “flame” radiates no heat, yet scorches the air around it with the scent of charred incense. Whispering to it produces faint whispers in return, echoing the speaker’s tone perfectly but with inverted words. The Heart’s glow intensifies when lies are spoken nearby, and its light cannot be extinguished by mortal means.3. The Mourning Bell of M'harlAppearance: This is a small temple bell cast of blackened bronze, polished smooth by centuries of handling. The surface is covered in swirling motifs reminiscent of Nymian water runes, eroded nearly flat. A single red silk cord hangs from the clapper, perpetually swaying even when no breeze stirs. When lifted, the bell feels lighter than it should—as though hollowed of sound itself.Description: This artifact once hung in the drowned city of Skalla, said to toll each time a soul passed beyond the veil. Now, when rung, the bell emits no audible sound, only an oppressive hush that presses against the chest. Those nearby hear the faintest murmurs—beloved voices calling their names, long dead. It is rumored that ringing it thrice draws the attention of the drowned, who will come to escort the listener wherever the sound cannot reach.4. The Shard of the Shattered MoonAppearance: A jagged fragment of translucent crystal, large enough to fill a man’s palm, the interior glows faintly with lunar luminescence, shifting between silver and crimson as it’s turned in the hand. Tiny motes drift within, resembling falling stars suspended in viscous fluid. When touched to the skin, the shard vibrates faintly, humming with residual aether.Description: Recovered from the debris of Dalamud after its fall, this shard hums when exposed to other aetheric sources. Its glow waxes and wanes with the moon, and on bloodred nights, the crystal’s light pulses like a heartbeat. Scholars argue it may be an Allagan “memory vessel” designed to store aetheric commands. When attuned with magickal focus, some have claimed to hear a voice—calm, feminine, and unbearably sad—repeating a single plea: “I remember the fall.”5. The Oracle’s TongueAppearance: This gruesome object is a preserved tongue suspended within amber resin, the veins and musculature perfectly intact. The resin glows faintly gold from within, veins of dark shadow threading through it like smoke. The resin is stamped with a black sigil that shifts subtly when unobserved. When brought near heat, the amber produces a faint, whispering hiss.Description: Said to have belonged to a Seer of Belah’dia who could not lie, legend claims her followers preserved her tongue after death, believing it could still speak divine truths. It mutters constantly within its amber tomb, the sounds too faint to comprehend. Yet those who listen too closely begin to understand—and suffer days of fever and prophetic dreams. No transcription of its murmured prophecies has ever matched another. Some say the truth it speaks is only meant for one listener at a time.6. The Lament of the AutomatonAppearance: A small, ornate brass music box fashioned in the shape of a Garlean officer’s helm. its filigree is delicate, decorated with tiny silver inlays shaped like weeping faces. When opened, the gears turn silently; no music plays, yet the faint impression of melody lingers, half-remembered and sad. The metal is cold even in sunlight.Description: Created during an early attempt to merge magitek with anima, this music box was designed to test whether an artificial being could appreciate beauty. When wound, the mechanism’s gears turn endlessly without sound. Those who remain near it for too long report a feeling of deep sorrow, as if remembering a life unlived. The last engineer to study it wrote in his notes: “It understands the song, but cannot sing.” The gears still move, and some swear to see condensation inside—like tears.7. The Candle of the Endless VigilAppearance: A tall white candle, untouched by age or use, its surface smooth as porcelain. The wick burns with a steady blue flame that gives no heat and casts no shadow. The wax below remains cool and firm, as if frozen middrip. Its scent is faint—something between incense and storm rain.Description: Discovered in the crypt of a ruined Ishgardian chantry, this candle is said to have been lit by a warrior praying for his fallen comrades. It has burned since the Age of Frost and never melted. When a name of the dead is spoken near its flame, the air fills with a soft, lingering sigh, and the candlelight brightens briefly, as though welcoming them. Blowing out the flame leaves a faint impression of the warrior's seal in the wax—but the wick always reignites by dawn.8. The Needle of the Sleeping GodAppearance: This is a slender silver needle about the length of a finger, bound with faded crimson silk. The metal gleams dully, etched with tiny script in an unknown language. The thread hums faintly when brushed, resonating with a tone that vibrates through bone rather than ear. The needle’s point glows faintly blue in moonlight.Description: Said to have been used in ancient somanoutic rites to “stitch the soul back into its garment,” this relic was a tool of resurrection. The legends claim it was forged from silver drawn from the tears of a sleeping deity. The needle remembers each soul it once tethered—its thread tightening and loosening as though mimicking breathing. Those who dream near it report glimpses of impossible lives and half-remembered deaths. On rare nights, the needle bleeds a single drop of light.9. The Chalice of Voidbound StarsAppearance: A crystalline goblet carved from a single piece of aetherglass, its rim and stem adorned with constellations inlaid with gold filigree. When empty, it refracts light into starlike patterns. When held, faint motes drift within the crystal like a miniature night sky. It is always cool to the touch, as though holding a piece of the firmament.Description: Said to have been given by a Voidsent masquerading as a god to an Allagan noble. When placed beneath the open sky, the goblet fills itself with a liquid of deep violet hue, thick as wine, cold as aether. To drink from it is to relive memories of lives once lived—though none can tell if they are true or stolen from another’s soul. Those who empty the chalice forget the taste of real water, finding only stars reflected in every drink thereafter.10. The Rose of Quiet DeathsAppearance: This is a single black rose enclosed within a tall glass dome sealed at the base with black wax and a silver clasp. Its petals shimmer with an iridescent sheen, like oil on water, and its stem glistens faintly with dew that never dries. A faint, cloying perfume fills the air near it—sweet, heavy, and faintly funereal. When touched, the glass hums softly, as if sighing.Description: This rose was grown in the plague fields of Gyr Abania from soil mixed with the ashes of the dead. It was said to bloom only in the presence of those fated to die soon. Wine infused with its petals induces a sleep so deep that the body appears lifeless, though the soul lingers nearby, unable to return. Alchemists once sought to distill its essence for merciful death—but every attempt ended in the brewer’s own passing. When the rose’s scent fades, it means it has chosen a new dreamer.

Antiquities

These are the most extraordinary items offered at tonight's Pearl Lane market. Rare and powerful, they cannot be obtained easily. Mastering them will demand strength, determination, and dedication. Suggested quests for role-play flavor are included.

The Oracular Veil of Threnas Raal

Description:A relic woven from prophecy and shadow, worn once by a seer who spoke only in elegy, this is a translucent veil of ash-gray silk, impossibly fine and light, shot through with silver filaments that ripple like moonlight on water. It appears unremarkable at first, until held up to the eyes—at which point subtle symbols and tiny figures begin to move across the weave, like dancers or dying stars. When worn, it clings without weight and drapes over the wearer’s head and shoulders, though it can never be fastened—it always remains loose, as if ready to fall away.Features & Powers:- Prophetic Sight: When worn in stillness and silence beneath the full moon, the veil grants glimpses of one possible future—not the most likely one, but the one most deeply feared by the target in view. The visions are wordless, fragmentary, and metaphor-laden: crows weeping blood, falling moons, shattered mirrors.- Echo Reading: Allows the wearer to view the lingering emotional aether of recently deceased souls, translating grief and longing into visual hallucinations around the corpse.- Elegiac Voice: During the new moon, the wearer may speak with the dead using only a poem or song. The dead respond in kind—never directly, and never with certainty.Origin & History:The Oracular Veil was woven in Thavnair nearly four centuries ago by the infamous prophetess Threnas Raal, who spoke only in sorrowful verse and wore no face in public. It is said she wept the silk herself beneath the silvery light of the full moon—each strand a day of mourning, each knot a death. During the Year of Seven Fires, she foretold the death of the Satrap, the collapse of two great houses, and the betrayal of her own disciples.After she vanished into the sea on the day of her final prophecy, the veil was passed through black markets, tomb-looters, and cult leaders, often appearing before a great tragedy.Limitations & Dangers:- The veil cannot be worn in haste—it requires stillness and silence. Any noise or movement causes the vision to stutter or backlash.- Overuse causes a “mirroring” effect: the wearer begins to experience prophetic hallucinations outside of the veil, and may confuse past, present, and future. These hallucinations are almost guaranteed when the moon if full.- Every time it is worn, one real, true memory is subtly overwritten with dream. The veil does not forget what it takes.- The dead who speak through the Elegiac Voice are not always benign. Some lie. Some beg. Some recognize the veil—and hate it.Suggested Quest: “The Faces Behind the Veil”After purchasing the Veil, the new owner begins experiencing a series of haunting dreams on the night of the full moon, all focused around a faceless woman weeping in a garden of statues. One night, the veil moves on its own, draping itself over the nearest sleeping person. A name is whispered: “Raal.”Following the dreams leads the players to a crumbled coastal shrine on the southern coast of Thavnair, long sealed beneath landslide and vine. There, they must navigate dreamlike memories, reliving moments from the prophetess’s life. Each chamber of the shrine changes based on who wears the veil—one player's fear becomes another's trial.In the final chamber lies a round mirror sealed in chains, behind which a lingering echo of Threnas Raal still watches her own demise. To learn and unlock the veil’s true power—or destroy it forever—the players must offer one of their own memories to her… or unmake her prophecy, and rewrite fate.

The Pendulum of the Waning Hour

Description:This suspended relic from a forgotten observatory that marks time not forward—but away. It is a weightless, double-ended pendulum encased within a floating brass ring etched with runes which are only visible in moonlight. One end is a needle of quicksilver encased in crystal, constantly dripping backward into itself. The other is a shard of pale voidglass wrapped in red-threaded chains. The ring hovers a few fulms off the ground when undisturbed, rotating at an irregular rhythm. When approached, it emits an intermittent tick… tick… like a heartbeat out of sync. Shadows lengthen strangely around it.Features & Powers:- Chrono Detachment: The bearer may activate the pendulum once per day to remove a person, object, or event from the flow of time for up to 30 seconds. To the rest of the world, the target appears to vanish. To the target, the world becomes utterly still—but they remain aware.- Echo of What Will Be: When used beneath the light of a full moon near ruins, graves, or forgotten places, the pendulum swings in slow, wide arcs. The larger the swing, the more likely a "future fragment" manifests—an echo of what might one day happen there. These glimpses are not promises… but warnings.- Weightless Regret: Those who spend time near the pendulum find their memories slowly decoupling from sequence. They may recall things they’ve not yet done, or forget the order of their own lives. This effect is worse if they sleep near it.Origin & History:The Pendulum was recovered from the wreckage of an Allagan satellite observatory known only by its catalogue name: Observer Theta-N13, believed to have once hung in orbit above Meracydia. Records suggest it was used to study aetherial decay and measure timelines fracturing near rift activity.When the station fell—likely after a containment failure—scavengers discovered the pendulum in the wreckage, still suspended in the heart of a dead calibration chamber. The scholar who brought it back to civilization disappeared within a week, upon the night of the full moon. It is now carefully sealed within a time-locked coffer which can only be open by blood sacrifice.Limitations & Dangers:- Temporal Instability: Use of the Chrono-Detachment causes the pendulum to swing more violently each time. Repeated use may result in unintended side effects—such as accelerated aging, missing time, or "double memory echoes" where the user remembers two versions of the same event.- Selective Reality: Prolonged use can cause “Timeline Drift,” where the bearer becomes misaligned with the world’s temporal thread. This begins subtly—missed details, wrong dates—but may escalate into full divergence.- It Tracks Its Own Use: A new scratch appears on the brass ring every time the pendulum is activated. When the final scratch reaches the beginning, it is said that time will take its due—though no one knows what this means.Suggested Quest: “The Thirteenth Swing”The party learns that the Pendulum bears twelve deep gouges, and a thirteenth is faintly etched—waiting to be completed. Each prior scratch corresponds with a known disaster or strange event in Eorzean history which took place under a full moon: the disappearance of an entire village, a sky that bled for an hour, a chronomancer who aged into dust overnight.When the thirteenth use becomes inevitable, a vision strikes the bearer: a city burning, a lover turning to ash mid-sentence, the stars realigning in reverse. Determined to stop it, the players must find the original creation laboratory—rumored to lie buried deep within Azys Lla—before the final swing completes.But the laboratory is not empty. A fragment of the original chronoscientist remains… stretched across possible futures, welcoming them all by name.