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[emet_sulk]

[ The image starts off dark. There's vague movement. The sounds of...licking? And snuffling. Then a muffled voice: ]

Stop that. That's not for eating.

[ Spots of light emerge as the snout pressed against the charm moves back. What's revealed is the head of an unusual creature. The image is shaky (and slimy) and it's quickly apparent that the charm is currently hanging from the neck of its owner while this is going on.

A hand rubs the creature's rugged forehead, mindful of its long horn. ]

What do I feed you...? I did not put thought into that when I made you. Did I envision you as a carnivore or a herbivore?

[ The screen goes briefly dark again as Emet-Selch cleans the charm off on his shirt, making the feed much clearer to all watching. ]

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[baldrshand]

My goodness, what is that?

[emet_sulk]

[ He hears a voice speak and finally realises that the charm has been broadcasting. The image spins in a dizzying way as he holds it up but it quickly rights itself for the new perspective. ]

Grani. My familiar.

[baldrshand]

Your familiar? Like a witch's? [Her tone is light; she obviously doesn't actually think Emet-selch is a witch.] I can't quite tell... is he a horse, or a dragon?

[emet_sulk]

I'm not a witch, I am a sorceror.

[ Because that is apparently an important distinction. ]

When I created Grani, I wanted a mount which was strong and reasonably agile. I needed it to be able to keep up with...with a certain friend, long ago. It also had to be adept in battle because of that same friend.

[ Here he steps back a little so Ethlyn can see more of the familiar. She will see his hand pointing out its various body parts as he explains further. ]

A horn to gore. Clawed feet to grip the surface and make sharp turns. A rugged hide to protect it from harm. Sharp teeth to bite. And of course, a tail for balance - tapered to avoid being caught.

Video | Charm

[beshackled]

...From the characteristics I see, I would venture to guess it is carnivorous... at least in part.

[It may be some degree of omnivorous. It is difficult to tell given the quality of the image.]

[emet_sulk]

[ Oh, a familiar voice. There is a brief, disorienting spell where Emet-Selch lifts the charm up to eye level. ]

That was my thought as well. I have never had to feed my familiar before however. Mayhap 'tis an omnivore, given it shares characteristics of both packbeast and predator.

[beshackled]

Mayhap so. A more thorough examination of its dental structure may tell you more... or you could simply offer it different things and see what it wishes to eat.

[He pauses, thoughts threatening to veer into a multitude of suggestions, before he realizes he has missed something.]

...What do you call it? Has it a name?

[emet_sulk]

Grani.

[ Holding the charm in one hand, he uses the other to coax his familiar's head up, patting its cheek to encourage it to open its mouth and show its teeth. Most of them are sharp. ]

'Tis a carnivore, it seems.

[ Makes sense. He must have envisioned it being a predator long, long ago. ]

[beshackled]

[And a fine looking carnivore it is. ]

We shall have to see to it that Grani has plenty of meat. I can attest to the river harboring an abundance of fish, and I would not be surprised to find them along the coast.

[emet_sulk]

I shall have to take it out to the forest or the seas then and let it eat its fill. How tedious.

[ While his words suggest annoyance, his tone suggests tired fondness. It is nice to have familiarity in a foreign land. He can let himself pretend the world is not broken. ]

At least I will not need to purchase a horse now.

[beshackled]

[A horse... álogo. He understands.]

At the rate concepts from our star are making an appearance... mayhap we shall be lucky enough to find a monoceros or pegasos around in time.

[emet_sulk]

Perhaps. I wouldn't hold my breath. The monoceros is not common fauna on Etheirys at the moment and the pegasos would not exist if not for Lahabrea creating it.

Endwalker spoilers, just in case

[beshackled]

[Lahabrea... Erichthonios' expression grows distant a moment. How is his father doing, he wonders... Has he noticed his absence? Surely he must have, by this point...]

......Mayhap you are right.

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch notes the change in expression with a frown. It's not the first time he's noticed some reticence on the boy's part. ]

Why not create one yourself? Surely you are familiar with its concept, being your father's son. If you lack the capacity of aether as Hythlodaeus does then I'm sure Elidibus would be glad to assist you.

[beshackled]

Ah. A-aye...

[Though it would not be his first time in working together with Themis, it does not stop his heart from fluttering to think of doing so again, enamored as he is.]

M-mayhap a pair... or one capable of seating two...

[At least the turn of conversation seems to have shaken him out of his depressing thoughts?]

[emet_sulk]

Of two, hmm? They do breed chocobos to serve as eternal bond mounts, so why not a monoceros.

[ He doesn't seem to notice Erichthonios' preoccupation. ]

[beshackled]

E...Eternal... bond...

[Please don't mind him going bright red. He may be like this a while.]

A-aye, I suppose that would be a cause to breed a mount that seats more than one...

[emet_sulk]

Well, I shall leave it to your discretion I suppose. There are so many odd beasts around; what is one more?

[ And now Grani is one more of those odd beasts. He pats its cheek and it snorts into his face. Ew. Stinky breath. ]

[beshackled]

[An unfortunate side effect of a carnivorous diet and not having the limbs that make it easy to brush one's teeth.]

I-I think... having one or two about capable of flight, or swimming, may be of great help. We would be able to cover more terrain that way... and learn more about this place.

[emet_sulk]

Aye. I had planned to take a journey to see as much of the land as possible to make teleportation more convenient. But now that Hythlodaeus is here...

[ He trails off. ]

[beshackled]

Could you... not make the journey together?

[Was there something stopping him from doing so...?]

[emet_sulk]

[ He's quiet for a while, staring off to the side as he idly pats Grani's cheek. ]

I'm sure he would be more than happy to. But I would rather not lose him again.

[beshackled]

We could... we could all go together! Yuja and Themis... that is, Elidibus and I wished to travel as well.

If we all looked after one another, I am sure everything would be alright!

[emet_sulk]

[ He doesn't seem entirely convinced. His mouth twists into a grimace. ]

I will think about it. I don't particularly like large groups, you see.

[beshackled]

O-Oh.

[That... might have instantly deflated his enthusiasm, well-meaning though it was.]

Well... if you should ever change your mind, know that you will be welcome.

[emet_sulk]

...Thank you.

[ He says it more to be polite. He doesn't hold anything against Erichthonios or even Elidibus, but, well...

Grani stomps one foot and snorts into his face. ]

I should be going. My familiar is growing impatient it seems.

[beshackled]

Aye, so it would seem.

Fare you well, Emet-Selch.