Paradox Retrieval

Retrieval Firm

A retrieval firm and adventure collective built around collaborative storytelling, character development, and community.Take contracts, investigate mysteries, recover what others cannot, and create lasting stories alongside a team of specialists with talents as varied as the jobs that find them. Whether you're seeking adventure, meaningful character connections, or a welcoming RP community, there's a place to make your mark at Paradox Retrieval.21+ • Crystal | Mateus | Mist Ward 29, Plot 24 • RP Events • Roleplay FC

• Operations

Operations

Who We Are

Paradox Retrieval is a retrieval firm and adventure collective specializing in recovering what others cannot—forgotten relics, lost heirlooms, ancient maps, dangerous curiosities, missing information, and occasionally things considerably harder to categorize. We are not a standing army or a simple mercenary band. Paradox brings together specialists from wildly different backgrounds and sends them wherever an unusual problem requires an equally unusual solution.Operating from our headquarters in the Mist, our work extends far beyond its walls. A retrieval company cannot expect everything worth finding to conveniently turn up in La Noscea. From the frozen reaches of Coerthas to the shifting sands of Thanalan—and considerably farther when a contract demands it—the world itself serves as our field of operations.

Our Community

Behind every contract, expedition, and unexpected discovery is a community of players who enjoy creating stories together. Paradox Retrieval is more than a place to find RP; it's a place to build connections, develop characters, and form lasting friendships both ICly and OOCly.We value members who take an interest in one another, make an effort to participate when they're able, and contribute to the stories and experiences we share. Whether through organized expeditions, spontaneous encounters, casual conversations, or player-led adventures, everyone has opportunities to help shape the company and its future.Real life always comes first. We understand that our members have jobs, families, responsibilities, and lives beyond FFXIV. We do not enforce activity quotas or expect anyone to be online constantly. What matters is a genuine desire to be part of the community, communicate openly, and make connections at a pace that feels comfortable.Whether you're an experienced roleplayer or someone just beginning to explore FFXIV's RP community, we welcome those who are willing to learn, collaborate, and grow alongside us.

What We Do

No two Paradox contracts need to look alike. One expedition might involve navigating an ancient ruin in search of a lost artifact; another could require tracking a missing person, deciphering a forgotten map, investigating unusual aetheric activity, negotiating for information, or simply figuring out what happened before deciding what ought to be done about it.Just as varied are the people who take those contracts. Scholars, healers, hunters, engineers, sailors, adventurers, and those whose talents resist convenient categorization all have something to contribute. Paradox is built around The Team, with every member treated as a valued specialist rather than another name on a ledger.

Our Alignment

Paradox Retrieval operates comfortably within morally grey territory. Some treasures are buried in dark places, some clients have complicated motives, and occasionally completing a contract requires deciding whether the original terms were worth honoring in the first place. Characters with complicated histories, questionable methods, and ambiguous backgrounds are welcome, provided they can remain loyal to the team and respect the people beside them.

Our Standards

We may venture into dangerous places, but the community surrounding those stories is built on mutual respect.

Whether you are an experienced tracker, an academic eager to leave the library, a healer accustomed to patching up questionable decisions, or someone with a talent we haven't realized we need yet, there may be a place for you at Paradox.Bold dreams get the lead; grounded results get us paid.

• The Team

The Team

Operations & Command

R'Bekka Dorn

R’bekka Dorn is Paradox Retrieval’s Managing Director and the steady hand behind the firm’s operations. Shaped by a rigorous Sharlayan education, she brings an academic mind to a profession where preparation can mean the difference between a successful retrieval and a disastrous one. Her expertise in historical research, aetheric forensics, logistics, and contract management ensures that every expedition begins with more than a destination—it begins with a plan. Meticulous by nature, she researches what can be researched, prepares for what can be anticipated, and surrounds herself with people whose expertise can account for everything she cannot.For R’bekka, however, Paradox is more than contracts, ledgers, and recovered artifacts. She believes every member of the firm brings something valuable to the table, whether scholar, hunter, healer, engineer, adventurer, or something considerably harder to categorize. Her responsibility is not to make them fit a single mold, but to give those talents direction—and, above all, to make certain the people she sends into the field come home again. History may be what Paradox retrieves, but its people are what R’bekka considers irreplaceable.

Valdis Elysia — "Haldric Rookwood”

Valdis Elysia, better known to most as Haldric Rookwood, serves as Captain of Paradox Retrieval and one of the firm’s most experienced hands in the field. An Old Sharlayan native, accomplished thaumaturge and astromancer, and seasoned sailor of the skies, Haldric is most comfortable when he is moving toward the next horizon—preferably with a challenge waiting somewhere beyond it. Where careful preparation has its limits, he excels at improvisation, quick decisions, and finding a way forward when circumstances have rendered the original plan considerably less useful than it was a few minutes ago.Bold, sociable, and possessed of an adventurous streak that occasionally puts asking questions several places behind doing the thing, Haldric brings both experience and momentum to Paradox’s expeditions. Beneath the easy smirk and readiness for a cold pint or a good shanty, however, is a man for whom loyalty carries considerable weight. He believes in choosing his own course rather than allowing expectation—or even the stars themselves—to choose it for him. If R’bekka makes certain Paradox enters the unknown with a plan, Haldric helps make certain the team can find its way through when the unknown has other ideas.

Field Specialists

Xitlali Nusnixe

Xitlali Nusnixe is Paradox Retrieval’s resident Jack of All Trades, a title broad enough to suit someone whose usefulness has never fit neatly into a single category. Observant to the point of scrutiny and endlessly curious, Xitlali has a knack for noticing the small things others miss and adapting herself to whatever a contract happens to demand. She is as willing to travel somewhere unfamiliar and investigate what she finds there as she is to lend another pair of capable hands wherever the team needs them. Her interests are equally varied—though bugs, frogs, and the natural world have a particularly reliable way of capturing her attention.Quiet more often than not, Xitlali nevertheless possesses a presence considerably larger than her stature. She is loyal, dependable, stubborn, and determined to be taken seriously, sometimes pushing herself well beyond the point where anyone else would have admitted they needed a rest. Losing control of a situation can bring out a reckless streak, while something she truly cares about can make the ordinarily reserved Xitlali suddenly anything but quiet. Beneath the sharp eye and occasional irritation is someone deeply invested in the people and things she has chosen to care about. In a firm built around expecting the unexpected, Xitlali’s greatest specialty may simply be having another specialty when Paradox needs one.

Alva Redwake

Cap’n Alva Redwake, self-proclaimed Scourge o’ the Five Seas and Greatest Cap’n to Ever Walk the Land, brings to Paradox Retrieval a lifetime spent aboard ships, an appetite for danger, and a relationship with caution best described as distant. Raised in Limsa Lominsa and seemingly determined to embody several of its stereotypes at once, Alva is an experienced sailor and formidable gunbreaker who meets uncertain situations with confidence, enthusiasm, and the general assumption that whatever happens next will make a good story. Scarred, tattooed, and unabashedly proud of both, she carries herself like someone perpetually inviting the world to try its luck—and judging by the fact that she is still standing, the world has yet to win.Blunt, boisterous, and magnificently unconcerned with social niceties, Alva makes little effort to soften herself for anyone’s comfort. She likes warm seas, strong drinks, good company, and the sort of thrill that sensible people generally recognize as a warning sign. For all her swagger and self-importance, however, there is genuine loyalty beneath the bravado. Alva takes camaraderie seriously and becomes fiercely protective of those she considers her crew, preferring to embolden the people beside her rather than leave them to face danger alone. Fortune has apparently tried more than once to teach Alva Redwake a lesson about caution; thus far, Alva appears to have misunderstood the assignment.

Riveneaux Vaillant

Riveneaux Vaillant serves as First Mate of Paradox Retrieval, bringing with him the discipline and hard-earned experience of a former Ishgardian Convictor. Forged in the long winters of Coerthas and the final years of the Dragonsong War, Riveneaux spent much of his life hunting dragons before finding himself in a world changing considerably faster than he might prefer. He is an accomplished lancer, hunter, and outdoorsman whose patience and practicality make him a steady presence in the field—particularly when paired with a Captain considerably more inclined to dive headfirst into trouble. At his side is Fujin, an unusual wind-aspected lance recovered during his travels in the Far East, within which dwells a will all its own.Reserved, disciplined, and slow to place his trust, Riveneaux has little patience for dishonesty, needless disorder, or people who use ten words where three would suffice. What can initially seem like a cold disposition conceals a deeply steadfast man whose loyalty, once earned, is exceedingly difficult to shake. He prefers quiet camps, good books, fishing, training, and a cup of herbal tea to crowded rooms or loud celebrations, and he remains somewhat suspicious of technology that insists upon becoming more complicated every year. Paradox may continually drag Riveneaux into a world unlike the one that shaped him, but when that world becomes dangerous, there are few people the firm would rather have standing beside them.

Support & Logistics

Jolie Willoughby

Jolie Willoughby serves as one of Paradox Retrieval’s field healers, accompanying the firm’s crews into places where scraped knees are generally the least concerning thing that can happen. A skilled conjurer with practical medical knowledge and a talent for languages, Jo is most at home supporting an expedition from within it—tending injuries, navigating unfamiliar people and places, and making certain a bad situation does not become a catastrophic one. She approaches the work with warmth, patience, and an earnest curiosity that can occasionally make “dangerous ancient ruin” sound considerably more inviting than it probably should.Jo may not be the loudest presence in the room, but she is often one of its kindest. She has a habit of looking after people almost as naturally as she breathes, whether that means healing a wound, offering reassurance, or gently trying to keep someone from making a spectacularly poor decision in the first place. Paradox gives her the chance to see more of the world than she ever expected—and, more importantly, people worth seeing it with. She cannot promise the team will return from every contract unscathed, but she intends to make certain they return.

Research & Technical

Annia Venari

Annia Venari brings to Paradox Retrieval an engineer’s mind, a Garlean education, and considerably more experience with magitek than most people would care to acquire firsthand. Formerly an engineer of the VIIth and XIVth Imperial Legions, Annia left Garlemald after witnessing where the Empire’s ambitions—and the technology she had helped develop—could ultimately lead. Engineering nevertheless remains an inseparable part of who she is. Her expertise in magitek, weapons technology, and unconventional problem-solving has earned her a natural place among Paradox’s more technically inclined work and, according to Haldric at least, the distinguished title of “Captain of Research & Development.”Annia has rebuilt her life more than once since leaving Garlemald, and she refuses to let any single chapter of it define everything that followed. Beneath the engineer is a woman equally drawn to music, dancing, rain-soaked nights, nature, and the ocean—a combination that might seem contradictory only to someone who has not met her. She can be sharp with those who test her patience and has little tolerance for arrogance, but her complicated relationship with the nation she left behind has never erased her pride in where she came from. For Annia, building something better does not require forgetting what came before; sometimes it begins with understanding exactly how it was built in the first place.

• The Rules

The Rules

Company Protocols

Professional Conduct (21+): Paradox Retrieval is an OOC 21+ community. We value maturity, clear communication, and a grounded environment.
Inclusive Operations: Paradox Retrieval is an LGBTQ+ friendly space. We are dedicated to maintaining a safe, welcoming, and diverse environment for all players. Discrimination, bigotry, or intolerance of any kind will result in immediate termination from the firm.
The Team First: Respect is our primary currency. Treat fellow members of The Team and leadership with courtesy. We are a small group by design; drama and toxicity have no place at Paradox Retrieval.
Community & Participation: Paradox Retrieval is an RP-focused community built around meaningful connections, both ICly and OOCly. Members are encouraged to get to know one another, participate in RP when they're able, and contribute to a welcoming, collaborative environment. Real life always comes first, and we do not enforce activity quotas or require constant attendance. We simply ask that members show a genuine interest in being part of the community and communicate when possible.
Personnel Identification: To keep the roster easy to navigate, all members are required to set their Discord server profile name to either their main character's name or the names of their Paradox characters if they regularly play multiple characters. Either format is perfectly acceptable; the important thing is that other members can easily identify who you play.
Alt Characters: Paradox Retrieval is alt-friendly! Members are welcome to bring additional characters into the FC, with a limit of four alts per player. This limit applies to characters in the in-game Free Company and helps us keep the roster manageable while still giving everyone room to develop multiple members of the firm.
Personnel Records (FC Short Messages): Every character in the in-game Free Company must have their Short Message updated so we can tell at a glance who belongs to whom and what they do for Paradox. Your main character should use Main — [Company Role]. Alts should use [Main Character's Name]'s Alt — [Company Role]. Keep the role brief rather than writing a full character description. For example: Main — Managing Director or R'bekka Dorn's Alt — Conjurer.
Sensitive Topics: To preserve our focus on genuine collaborative writing and organic community space, discussions regarding generative AI tools and software, real-world politics, religion, or highly polarizing topics are not permitted on this server.
Spoiler Containment: We have sprouts experiencing FFXIV's story for the first time, including members currently progressing through ARR, and we will respect their journey. FFXIV spoilers are not permitted anywhere on the server outside of the designated xiv-spoilers channel. This includes story reveals, character developments, major locations, duties, and other information that could spoil another player's experience.
Data Containment (NSFW): Paradox Retrieval is focused on story, camaraderie, and high-adventure. Erotic Roleplay (ERP) and extreme adult themes are strictly prohibited in public Free Company channels, the estate lobby, or standard voice chats. Keep the public workspace clean. Any adult narratives must be kept behind closed doors or within the designated [Redacted Files] spaces. Access to these spaces is entirely optional and opt-in; members will not see NSFW channels unless they specifically choose to access them. Under no circumstances are Lalafell characters permitted in any adult, explicit, or ERP narratives, public or private. This is a non-negotiable safety and compliance boundary for the entire firm.
Boundaries & Comfort: Prioritize the comfort of your teammates. Respect personal boundaries, both IC and OOC.
Field Recordings: Participation in FC events is implied consent for screenshots and media. (Character names will be toggled off for privacy).
Syncshell Etiquette: Use of our private Lightless Syncshell is entirely optional, but members who choose to participate should keep their individual footprint under 800 MB while active to ensure a clean experience for everyone.
A Shared Journey: We are a non-profit collective. FC resources, credits, and the chest are managed for the benefit of the entire team’s progression and world-exploration goals.

RP Rules

Immersive Adventuring: While we aren't a "hardcore" RP FC, we encourage a "Soft RP/Immersive" atmosphere. Whether we are in the housing ward or at a remote outpost, we act like a team of specialists, not just a list of names.
Morally Grey: As retrieval specialists, we often operate in the fringes. We encourage complex, multi-dimensional character stories, provided they remain collaborative and respectful of others' playstyles.
Respect the Narrative (No God-Modding): Collaborative storytelling relies on mutual control. Never dictate the actions, thoughts, or physical reactions of another player's character, and do not write your character as invincible or immune to consequences. Always allow others the agency to react to your character's actions naturally.
Consent & Safety: Never assume a character's reaction or participation. Always double-check boundaries for sensitive or confrontational RP, and stop immediately if asked to stop.
Professional Standards: All roleplay within Paradox Retrieval must respect established content boundaries and the consent of participating players. Mature or sensitive themes should be discussed OOCly beforehand, and no player should feel pressured to participate in content that makes them uncomfortable. All RP must comply with the restrictions outlined in Company Protocols → Data Containment (NSFW).
All Experience Levels: Whether you're a seasoned roleplayer or a new sprout finding your feet, you're welcome here! We encourage patience, guidance, and a willingness to learn from one another. Nobody is expected to arrive knowing every RP convention, and questions are always welcome.

• Free Company