Liah Liohto

Liah Liohto
Gender	Female
Race	Au Ra
Clan	Raen
Citizenship	Doman
Age	28
Height	5'2
Profession	Master Seamstress, Market Warrior
Relationship Status	In a relationship
Theme	Song
Server	Balmung

I am Liah, master seamstress, market warrior. Come, sit, drink!

Basic Info

LIKES ■ Whiskey (the finer, the better) ■ Working in the markets ■ Playful banter ■ --

DISLIKES ■ FILTHY UNDERCUTTERS ■ Most Lalafells ■ Hangovers ■ Rude people

OTHER ■ Alignment: Neutral Good ■ Vice: alcohol ■ Weakness: physical touch ■ Hobby: learning insults ■ Curious about: Western races

Appearance

Liah is a short Auri woman with gleaming purple eyes and blue ponytailed hair. She can usually be found wearing her prized blue yukata or her crafting apron, if she is bothered while on the clock. Lately, however, she's been wearing different kinds of Western clothes in order to fit in a little better, only pulling out her yukata for more formal events or for comfortable late-night drinking. When traveling outside of Ul'dah, she wears a tough jacket and long pants to protect against the elements and the many dangers she imagines are lurking outside the city walls.

In addition to the many scales plastering her Au Ra body, Liah has a 5-ilm-long scar on the right side of her belly from a scuffle with a few petty thieves. She's extremely proud of the scar and will show it off to anyone who asks, or anyone who gets her to start telling the story.

Personality

Liah is passionate about her work and her ideals. She loves her craft and strives to make garments of the highest possible quality. Fair trade is at the heart of her dealings; she refuses to sell anything for cheaper or pricier than what she believes is fair. "Filthy undercutters" are her bane, and she frequently drowns her anger at them in whiskey at the Quicksand.

Liah loves telling stories and sharing information with friends, new and old alike. She likes conversation, as it's an opportunity to learn more about the new land she's becoming a part of, as well as a great chance to practice the Western tongue. She fancies herself a strong woman, refusing to take "bull-shit" from anyone, though the advances of a man she finds handsome, or her own inadvertently embarrassing actions, can start her blushing and stammering like an idiot.

While she had a bit of a rough past, Liah doesn't let it get her down. She considers herself lucky to have had so much success. She also knows that many of her kind were not so lucky, so she doesn't bring up her past troubles that often, often preferring to tell stories of her brothers' exploits as a way to keep the positive moments of her past alive. She looks down on other Au Ra who let their pasts get in the way of their creating a better future, though she feels a little guilty about feeling that way sometimes.

Liah is extremely protective of her friends, to the point of being overly motherly. If a friend is in trouble, she will go out of her way to try and help, whether that means taking them into her home, crafting them whatever they need, lending them an ear, or handing them a fat sack of gil (which she's done before). Seeing her close friends hurt or wounded fills her with immeasurable amounts of grief, spurred by memories of the war in her homeland that tore everyone she knew and loved away from her. Liah's worst fear is not being able to help a friend in need.

Violence and killing are her least favorite things. Once, the mere mention of a close friend doing such things would cause Liah to avoid them indefinitely, but nowadays she's not as bothered, though they do make her feel uncomfortable. If Liah sees a friend about to get into a fight, she will step between them and their attacker and attempt to stop them. Peace and friendship are very important to her, especially between the Xaela and Raen in Ul'Dah. Liah has no contempt for her Xaela Brothers, believing that all Doman refugees need to stick together in such tough times.

Liah's biggest flaw is her arrogance. This applies to her craft without a doubt (she considers herself one of the best seamstresses in the market, if not the best), but also to her opinions on the people and world around her. She tends to act and react very selfishly in those regards, shunning those whose views conflict with her own and pushing her values on everyone around her. Liah's not afraid to tell someone exactly what she thinks, even if that's the exact thing that will push them away. Recently, though, she's learned that it's sometimes better to offer someone a hand or a shoulder to cry on, rather than give them advice or a stern lecture.

When drunk, she tends to get a little too loudmouthed, either complaining loudly about "dirty Lalafell undercutters" or asking one too many questions about the Western races. Secretly (or not-so-secretly), she has a thing for Miqo'te, though she tries not to let the temptation of fluffy tails get in the way of her business.

All-in-all, if caught unawares, Liah can be found with a cheerful grin on her face and a sewing kit close by, always ready to work hard for her business, and even harder for the people she loves.

Biography

In Doma

Liah grew up in Doshi, a medium-sized city in Doma, Othard, where she lived with her merchant family. Her mother and grandmother were skilled seamstresses who taught her the craft of weaving and embroidery starting at age 5. From there, Liah assisted in her family's business of making and repairing garments. Her father and older brothers handled the market affairs and taught her how to manage unruly customers and marketplace arguments.

She had two older brothers, Ryuto (7 years older) and Hayato (5 years older), who both doted upon her and were constantly annoyed by her. Liah was very close with the both of them and enjoyed following them around when she was younger, much to their dismay. When they reached adulthood, Ryuto and Hayato became quite the trading duo, attracting the attention of many disgruntled merchants and beautiful women.

When the Garleans came to reclaim the surrounding area, Liah's brothers and father went off to war. She never saw them again. At home, the family business worked to support the war effort and the slowly starving populace. Eventually, the enemy made its way to Doshi's walls. When a night raid sent hundreds of soldiers into the city, Liah's mother sent her away to safety, with nothing more than a few hempen shifts and a sewing kit.

In Eorzea

Liah's trek to Ul'dah took a few months as she leapt from one ship to another on what little money she had. She spent some time in the company of another Auri refugee she knew only as Fuurin (Windchime), and the two had a sexual relationship. Windchime taught her a little Eorzean as he helped her travel from Doma to Eorzea. They parted ways near the end of her journey after he expressed the desire to return to Doma.

Upon arrival at Ul'dah, Liah had a few troubles, as she spoke very little Eorzean and could not find many weavers who wanted to work with her. Eventually, she won over a kindly Hyuran woman who let her embroider for her. After a few months of hard work, Liah earned enough to buy her own spot in the Eastern markets and start a little business.

Now, her little business has grown, and there are more than a few regular customers who order commissions from her. T'ellaria, a Sun Seeker leatherworker and close friend of hers, stops by often to gossip about market happenings. Lately, a wealthy Miqo'te woman has been commissioning her for everything from wedding dresses to little skirts for fat cats. While her shop and commissions keep her busy, between picking up materials, arguing with merchants, and slaving over embroidery in her one-room apartment, she likes to blow off steam by drinking at the Quicksand or spending time with her friends.

Liah was once afraid of traveling outside the walls of Ul'dah, but after a few friends showed her it's not so terrifying, she's started venturing out of her safety zone, most recently to regularly check in on a troubled friend. She's also finally achieved her dream of dating a Miqo'te man, after months of flirting with (and being rejected by) gay Miqo'te men. Recently, the two have begun living together and working in the markets side-by-side. Liah's extremely happy that their relationship is progressing more and more towards marriage.

While drinking at the Silver Bazaar, Liah encountered her friend Aleric, brooding. A simple conversation turned to admissions of murder and injustice, and the argument quickly descended into violence. The Midlander, driven by madness, dragged her to an abandoned shack and put her through some brief torture. Believing her friend was still inside, she struggled through, reassuring herself that he would not kill her. She was wrong. As Aleric buried his dagger in her ribs, her friends burst in to put an end to his violence. Where the man has gone, she does not know, but the strength and courage she felt during the ordeal are still with her. She has since resolved to practice her self-defense training more diligently.

As she spends more time in Eorzea, her fashion tastes are slowly changing. Before, she could rarely be found without her signature purple yukata, boasting about her prowess as a seamstress. With her new skills making typical Eorzean wear, she's created a new wardrobe for herself that includes Western-style dresses, work jackets, and most recently, pants (which she's still not 100% used to wearing.) The boasting continues, of course.

Miscellaneous Information

RUMORS Some of these rumors are untrue or are greatly exaggerated. Please feel free to add your own rumors under PC! ◢ Common Rumors (Easily overheard) ■ "The Auri seamstress has some of the finest work on the markets. A bit pricey, though." ■ "That Auri woman sits there almost every night, drinking and laughing." ■ "Liah? Yeah, she's living with a Miqo'te guy. Seems pretty serious. Sorry, buddy." ◢ Moderate Rumors (Moderately difficult to overhear) ■ "Liah? Strange one, that one is. Talked with her for an hour and she kept starin' at me tail like some kinda lunatic." ■ "Heard her saying some really terrible things about Lalafell the other night. I don't know what she's got against them, but I wouldn't do business with her if I were you." ◢ Rare Rumors (Very difficult or rarely overheard) ■ "She's an emotional bint, I tell you. Went off on some man down at the Coffin and Coffer, screaming and hollering and slapping 'n all that." ■ "Her real name's Ahiru. Guess 'Liah' is less intimidating to Ul'dahns who don't like refugees." ■ "I saw her collapse in the street, screaming. Wouldn't let anyone touch her, then she passed out." ◢ PC Rumors (Rumors from the characters of other players) ■ "She seems awfully quick to trust a person she's only met once. Perhaps a mistake Domans make regularly. But I've no need to say more, lest she wonder my origins." -Franz ■ "I once entered the Quicksand seeking food to feed my aching belly, when not a moment later she began yelling at me from across the dining hall that I'd ruined the city she loved. I was flabbergasted to say the least, so I decided not to linger. Poor girl." -Soon Tofu ■ ■

RELATIONS ♥ Romantic Interest ♥ Platonic Love ● Good Standing ● Neutral Standing ● Poor Standing ♥ J'hama Tia : The long-sought-after Miqo'te boyfriend Liah met in the Quicksand. While she was a little anxious at first, their relationship has blossomed, and she considers him a part of her family now. The two have begun living together, and Liah is beginning to consider marriage. ♥ Xe'rynn Railyk : One of her closest friends, Liah enjoys sharing her market and romantic exploits with Xe'rynn, a well-traveled man who once made his way through her hometown and who speaks her language. ♥ Risk'o Ohbobo : A silver-tongued bodyguard. After Liah was attacked in the street and had a panic attack, he took her back to his guild house, where she was well taken care of. She feels indebted to him and his kindness. She also appreciates his drinking habits, and the two are destined to an epic drinking contest, one that Liah strongly believes she will win. ♥ Ryu Katsuragi : A Hyur from Doma who regularly hangs with Liah, speaking Doman and trading stories of home. She likes his sense of humor and enjoys bantering with him. Sometimes he calls on her for odd jobs, but she likes the interruption. She was a little uncomfortable at hearing he aided the Empire, but she knew he had no choice, and tries not to let that fact get between them. ● A'Dia Tia : A Miqo'te explorer who made the mistake of flicking a little too much tail around blackout drunk Liah. After many apologies and a lost ring, she's warmed up to the man and hopes they can become friends, despite her shortcomings. ● Earnest Rutherford : A learned merchant man whom Liah enjoys discussing market matters with. While she doesn't know much or understand him sometimes, she enjoys his company. ● T'yamsha Winre : A drinking companion Liah sees in the Quicksand every now and then. T'yamsha is also a great source of Miqo'te knowledge, which Liah mines like there's no tomorrow. Liah is currently working on a red-and-white yukata for the woman. ● Zepheria Mythic : One of Risk's friends, a doctor of sorts who looked after Liah who shares the Auri woman's passion for peace. ● Sarina Alyne : A friendly conjurer who knows Risk. She and Liah share a love of weaving and enjoy trading ideas and plans for how to get Risk into a yukata. ● Ranirus Crithalos : A "wool-headed fool" Liah befriended after a drunken night asking for tail-touch trades. Luckily, he overlooked her strange nature and the two struck up a friendship. Liah was constantly worried about his propensity for putting himself into dangerous situations, and was torn between smacking him into the next Umbral era and taking him into her arms (and bed). After he disappeared for a while, Liah was able to meet him and see he was alright. Finally understanding that she doesn't need to dive in and help him all the time, she's resigned herself to being his occasional drinking buddy. ● Tara Piper : A friendly woman Liah met in the Quicksand. Liah's not exactly sure what she was (voidsent? dead person?) but she's fun to hang out with, so whatever she may be doesn't really bother Liah. ● Isis Tokiha : A Raen woman who accompanied Liah to the beach. She shares Liah's love of teasing Aleric, and the two quickly bonded over it. ● Serese Gahya : An armored Miqo'te woman who also accopmanied Liah to the beach. The two traded stories and watched some friends fail at flirting. ● Ryu Katsuragi : A Hyur from Doma who exchanged a few kind words with her in Doman. She's not sure what to think of the man yet , as Zeph doesn't seem to like him much. She hopes to take him up on his offer of drinking and speaking Doman together. ● Esva Kagon : A Xaela who foolishly drank Clearwine that Liah offered her. The two have a strange kind of freindship. ● Yuki Kusakari : Dia's 'girlfriend'. She's much quieter than the ultra-loud Liah, but that doesn't keep Liah from trying to befriend her Raen Sister. ● Kipih Kiht : A young adventurer who's always making Liah feel old. She secretly wants Kip to call her Big Sister in Doman, but that's another story. ● Emelc Vrand : An amnesiac warrior who had the misfortune of encountering Drunk Liah in her natural habitat. ● Taka Raha : An energetic Miqo'te woman who loves ear-fondling and picking fights with Dia. ● Hawu'to Dhujesi : A Miqo'te bard to whom Liah had the joy of explaining sex. After finding out he was a singer and musician, the tone-deaf Liah is dead set on hearing him play. ● L'boam Swifttongue : A Miqo'te man Liah met in the Quicksand one drunken night. Apparently part of her "harem". Liah finds him funny, but is a little wary of him after he tried to use violence to resolve (what she believes was) a simple conflict. ● Hariri Hari : Another one of Risk's friends, a healer. Liah is grateful to her, but a bit suspicious, as she is a Lalafell, after all. ● Zealos Hyud : A Hyur man she met in the airship bar one night while searching for her ring. The man was kind enough to help her look. Those who have Departed ● Aleric Payne : A traveling artist and merc Liah met in the Quicksand. The two of them had many drunken misadventures. She admired him for his companionship, and was the only person thus far who knew her real name. When a bout of madness caused him to capture and torture her, she continued to believe in the goodness in his heart, even until the moment when he sunk his dagger into her ribs. Though she has not seen the man since, she hopes that the goodness in him lives on, somewhere.

Footnotes

• My tumblr. Mostly just a writing outlet when nobody's on. Feel free to follow/ask/anything!
• Very enthusiastic. Feel free to walk up and start chatting!
• Open to both casual and serious RP. Be mean, involve her in a serious plot, anything! She's not likely to start a fight but she will try to intervene if her business or her friends are in trouble. Liah's a commoner through and through, but that doesn't mean she doesn't care deeply about her friends and their problems.
• Despite having leveled a crafter, I can barely craft much of anything. But Liah's happy to take RP commissions from friends!

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