Difference between revisions of "Arcian Martell"
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Under her carefully maintained veneer of goodwill, Arcian is not terribly trusting. Past experiences have conditioned her not to open her heart to all and sundry. While she does genuinely love the people she's close to, she's guarded despite her apparent good nature, and generally will not render herself emotionally vulnerable barring exceptional circumstances, a close bond, or both. | Under her carefully maintained veneer of goodwill, Arcian is not terribly trusting. Past experiences have conditioned her not to open her heart to all and sundry. While she does genuinely love the people she's close to, she's guarded despite her apparent good nature, and generally will not render herself emotionally vulnerable barring exceptional circumstances, a close bond, or both. | ||
− | Her insecurities run deep, especially about her appearance; she thinks of herself as brutish and grotesque, wholly undesirable, and a joke. The world has not been kind to her in matters of the heart, and she still expects any attempt at intimacy to be thrown back in her face in a gale of scornful laughter. Consequently, she is not one given to flirtation or lasciviousness, or public displays of affection beyond the minor and innocuous. Her inclinations, too, have caused her grief. She views her preference for the company of women as something abnormal, though she does not enjoy the thought of attempting to change it, and it is with some lingering guilt over her orientation that she strives to be a loving, supportive | + | Her insecurities run deep, especially about her appearance; she thinks of herself as brutish and grotesque, wholly undesirable, and a joke. The world has not been kind to her in matters of the heart, and she still expects any attempt at intimacy to be thrown back in her face in a gale of scornful laughter. Consequently, she is not one given to flirtation or lasciviousness, or public displays of affection beyond the minor and innocuous. Her inclinations, too, have caused her grief. She views her preference for the company of women as something abnormal, though she does not enjoy the thought of attempting to change it, and it is with some lingering guilt over her orientation that she strives to be a loving, supportive wife to Brave. |
In truth, she is not so easygoing as she strives to appear. Lurking beneath her initial friendliness is a volcanic and disturbingly violent temper. While it is no longer as easy to provoke as it once was, the potential for explosive, destructive rage still lies within her, and she devotes considerable time and effort to controlling it so as not to appear a threat. It has reared its head in recent sennights, despite her best efforts. | In truth, she is not so easygoing as she strives to appear. Lurking beneath her initial friendliness is a volcanic and disturbingly violent temper. While it is no longer as easy to provoke as it once was, the potential for explosive, destructive rage still lies within her, and she devotes considerable time and effort to controlling it so as not to appear a threat. It has reared its head in recent sennights, despite her best efforts. | ||
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====<div style="padding:0px 30px; font-size:14px;color:#5F5F5F;">Present Day</div>==== | ====<div style="padding:0px 30px; font-size:14px;color:#5F5F5F;">Present Day</div>==== | ||
− | Arcian currently resides with the free company known as Aeon at their headquarters in the Goblet. By all appearances, she seems content, having carved out a place for herself and her | + | Arcian currently resides with the free company known as Aeon at their headquarters in the Goblet, in modest quarters shared with [[Brave Horizon]], a small tuco-tuco, and a dog named Bernard. By all appearances, she seems content, having carved out a place for herself and her wife. Of late she has been seen more often in Ishgard than the south; if questioned, representatives of House Dufresne will confirm that yes, she has been offered a position in their employ. |
<table style="position:center;" width="100%"> | <table style="position:center;" width="100%"> | ||
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: <center><font style="color:#F02311;" size="3">♥</font> Romantic Interest <font style="color:#FA70BC;" size="3">♥</font> Platonic Love <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> Good Standing <font style="color:#C24640;" size="3">●</font> Poor Standing</center> | : <center><font style="color:#F02311;" size="3">♥</font> Romantic Interest <font style="color:#FA70BC;" size="3">♥</font> Platonic Love <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> Good Standing <font style="color:#C24640;" size="3">●</font> Poor Standing</center> | ||
− | : <font style="color:#F02311;" size="3">♥</font> '''[[Brave Horizon]]''' : To Arcian, Brave has gone from acquaintance to comrade to | + | : <font style="color:#F02311;" size="3">♥</font> '''[[Brave Horizon]]''' : To Arcian, Brave has gone from acquaintance to comrade to spouse over the course of almost a full cycle, and the surest way to draw her ire is to threaten her wife. With fierceness comes genuine affection, however; in Arcian's mind, there is no one she could be more fortunate to be loved by. The two of them are ardently devoted to each other. If anyone can truly be said to possess Arcian's heart, it's Brave. |
: <font style="color:#FA70BC;" size="3">♥</font> '''[[Eliane Dufresne]]''' : In the initial few sennights of her work in the Holy See, Arcian was rather out of her element; she knew no one, and seemed to be viewed by most as naught but yet another thuggish sellsword. A chance encounter with the heiress of House Dufresne changed that. Ellie has proven to be a lady of tremendous intellect and business acumen, and also surprisingly deep empathy. Arcian holds her in high esteem. Recent events have made her greatly concerned for her friend's welfare, however, and of late, the two can more often than not be seen together as Ellie goes about her business in Ishgard with Arcian trailing watchfully behind. | : <font style="color:#FA70BC;" size="3">♥</font> '''[[Eliane Dufresne]]''' : In the initial few sennights of her work in the Holy See, Arcian was rather out of her element; she knew no one, and seemed to be viewed by most as naught but yet another thuggish sellsword. A chance encounter with the heiress of House Dufresne changed that. Ellie has proven to be a lady of tremendous intellect and business acumen, and also surprisingly deep empathy. Arcian holds her in high esteem. Recent events have made her greatly concerned for her friend's welfare, however, and of late, the two can more often than not be seen together as Ellie goes about her business in Ishgard with Arcian trailing watchfully behind. | ||
: <font style="color:#FA70BC;" size="3">♥</font> '''[[Reima Awen]]''' : Reima seems to have a way of endearing herself to all and sundry, and Arcian is no exception to the rule. The little Midlander has tangled herself in Arcian's good graces by dint of charm and earnest goodwill. Despite Arcian's misgivings about Reima's romantic entanglement with Ser Draco Nobis, she wishes her nothing but the best, and quietly thinks of her as a little sister. | : <font style="color:#FA70BC;" size="3">♥</font> '''[[Reima Awen]]''' : Reima seems to have a way of endearing herself to all and sundry, and Arcian is no exception to the rule. The little Midlander has tangled herself in Arcian's good graces by dint of charm and earnest goodwill. Despite Arcian's misgivings about Reima's romantic entanglement with Ser Draco Nobis, she wishes her nothing but the best, and quietly thinks of her as a little sister. | ||
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: <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> '''[[Juleaux Dufresne]]''' : Eliane's brother and a man who is entirely too clever for his own good. Arcian respects Jules' gift for remaining profoundly unimpressed by catastrophe and finds herself amused by his dry wit. She has not seen him of late, and wonders if he is alright, wherever he is. | : <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> '''[[Juleaux Dufresne]]''' : Eliane's brother and a man who is entirely too clever for his own good. Arcian respects Jules' gift for remaining profoundly unimpressed by catastrophe and finds herself amused by his dry wit. She has not seen him of late, and wonders if he is alright, wherever he is. | ||
: <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> '''[[Graeham Ridgefield]]''' : A half-blooded Garlean and, surprisingly, one of the most upright people Arcian knows. The concept of noble knighthood seems to ring true for Graeham, and he cleaves to its ideals in his diplomatic dealings; events of late have seemingly left him shaken, though, and it is with no small amount of concern that Arcian watches him draw away from their company. Still, she views him as a good man, and finds herself mentally adding, "You know, for a halfbreed," less and less. | : <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> '''[[Graeham Ridgefield]]''' : A half-blooded Garlean and, surprisingly, one of the most upright people Arcian knows. The concept of noble knighthood seems to ring true for Graeham, and he cleaves to its ideals in his diplomatic dealings; events of late have seemingly left him shaken, though, and it is with no small amount of concern that Arcian watches him draw away from their company. Still, she views him as a good man, and finds herself mentally adding, "You know, for a halfbreed," less and less. | ||
− | : <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> '''[[Reiner Dorn]]''' : While she addresses him as nobility strictly out of politeness and societal expectation, Arcian thinks very highly of her fellow Mhigan exile. Herr Dorn, as she calls him, has done much for their people and seems to expect nothing in return. For that, Arcian affords him great respect. | + | : <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> '''[[Reiner Dorn]]''' : While she addresses him as nobility strictly out of politeness and societal expectation, Arcian thinks very highly of her fellow Mhigan exile. Herr Dorn, as she calls him, has done much for their people and seems to expect nothing in return. For that, Arcian affords him great respect. In a rather magnanimous gesture, he bestowed lower, landless titles upon Arcian and Brave as a wedding gift; while uncertain as to whether or not she's comfortable with technically being minor Mhigan nobility, Arcian is still humbled by Reiner's graciousness. |
: <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> '''[[Martiallais Heuloix]]''' : Despite his apparently heartfelt exasperation with the relative disorganization of her company, Martiallais has proven himself to be an honorable man and a skilled combatant, and thus has Arcian's goodwill and respect. (It helps, of course, that Eliane is fond of him.) To her, he is truly worthy of the mantle of knighthood. | : <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> '''[[Martiallais Heuloix]]''' : Despite his apparently heartfelt exasperation with the relative disorganization of her company, Martiallais has proven himself to be an honorable man and a skilled combatant, and thus has Arcian's goodwill and respect. (It helps, of course, that Eliane is fond of him.) To her, he is truly worthy of the mantle of knighthood. | ||
− | + | : <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> '''[[Ludivine Goultard]]''' : A Duskwight woman of perpetual grace and restraint (except at drunken oil-wrestling matches, apparently), Ludivine is someone whose company Arcian is always pleased to be in. Despite the striking differences in their personalities, the two of them get along wonderfully on the occasions on which they manage to meet. Arcian values Ludi's counsel, and is grateful that her friend is oft willing to lend a sympathetic ear. | |
+ | : <font style="color:#9EC60B;" size="3">●</font> '''[[Hyrtwyda Eyhafrynwyn]]''' : Among the various acquaintances that Arcian has made in the course of taking mercenary contracts, Hyrtwyda stands out by dint of her resourcefulness and intelligence. The arcanist possesses insight beyond her years, and Arcian considers herself fortunate to be in good standing with her. Of course, that does not render her immune to Wyda's sardonic wit. | ||
+ | : <font style="color:#C24640;" size="2">?</font> '''[[Solveig Martell]]''' After tragedy, betrayal, grievous bodily harm, and exile, Solveig returned to Eorzea after five cycles of leading a ragtag band of guerrillas in the mountains of Gyr Abania. Her motivations, she claimed, were not sinister in the least; she wished to see her beloved younger sister married, and to extend an olive branch that the two of them might tentatively patch up their relationship. To the latter end, she and Arcian had a long and emotionally charged conversation in the aftermath of Arcian's wedding, and Solveig disclosed quite a bit of information that her little sister would most likely rather not have known. Arcian is still uncertain as to how she feels about any of it, or about Solveig in general. | ||
</tr></table> | </tr></table> | ||
Revision as of 10:31, 24 November 2015
"What, you want something witty? From me? Think you're asking the wrong person."
Contents
Basic Info
A friendly oaf, and nothing more - at least, at first glance. On the surface, Arcian seems to be naught but a fairly good-natured Highlander of no real note. This, however, is not entirely accurate; she has brains to go with her brawn, though she takes pains not to reveal the extent of her perceptiveness and competence. The finesse and savagery she learned during her time in the Ala Mhigan Resistance still remains, though cloaked by good humor and carefully contained.
Appearance
Arcian cuts an imposing figure even among her fellow Highlanders. She easily passes the six-fulm mark and towers over most other Hyur women. Broad-shouldered and well-muscled, she looks as though she'd be best suited to delivering beatings to unruly drunks, or perhaps breaking kneecaps for a moneylender. Hers is a strong-featured face, with a chiseled jawline, generous lips, and a nose that seems to have been broken at least once. Shaggy blonde hair frames her face, not long enough to even touch the collar of her shirt. With her somewhat masculine build, relatively flat chest, and apparent lack of curves, she is rather androgynous in appearance, and has been mistaken for a man far more often than she cares to admit.
Her eyes are a fierce blue, like glacier ice.
For the most part, Arcian eschews armor, barring light leathers. Her preferences run to loose shirts and trousers, favoring mobility over protection. Though seemingly not overly concerned with appearances, she does make one concession to vanity; her earlobes are pierced with a pair of worn, unremarkable silver rings.
Physical Appearance
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Personality
Strengths
The persona that Arcian does her best to project is not a wholly false one; she is entirely personable when treated with civility. Most often, she is a genuinely affable person, barring insult or provocation. Arcian is more likely to invite a stranger for a pint than to turn a cold shoulder, even if she subtly watches them like a hawk. Her loyalty, too, is neither feigned nor exaggerated. To those who have won her esteem and affection, she is a true and devoted friend, considerate of their welfare and valiant in their defense. There is a noble sort of earnestness to her staunch allegiance; those close to Arcian have a faithful ally unless they break her trust.
Despite her oafish facade, she is fairly bright, and is capable of grasping reasonably complex concepts despite her rough and incomplete education.
Defeat does not send her spiraling downwards, nor does she brood over her failures unless they are truly crushing. Failure, Arcian believes, is how one learns to be better, and so it is that she shrugs it off more often than not. This is not to say that she waves off matters of consequence; while she is more than capable of recognizing the seriousness of a given situation, she harbors a capacity for great and stubborn determination and will strive for victory until she attains it.
Flaws
Under her carefully maintained veneer of goodwill, Arcian is not terribly trusting. Past experiences have conditioned her not to open her heart to all and sundry. While she does genuinely love the people she's close to, she's guarded despite her apparent good nature, and generally will not render herself emotionally vulnerable barring exceptional circumstances, a close bond, or both.
Her insecurities run deep, especially about her appearance; she thinks of herself as brutish and grotesque, wholly undesirable, and a joke. The world has not been kind to her in matters of the heart, and she still expects any attempt at intimacy to be thrown back in her face in a gale of scornful laughter. Consequently, she is not one given to flirtation or lasciviousness, or public displays of affection beyond the minor and innocuous. Her inclinations, too, have caused her grief. She views her preference for the company of women as something abnormal, though she does not enjoy the thought of attempting to change it, and it is with some lingering guilt over her orientation that she strives to be a loving, supportive wife to Brave.
In truth, she is not so easygoing as she strives to appear. Lurking beneath her initial friendliness is a volcanic and disturbingly violent temper. While it is no longer as easy to provoke as it once was, the potential for explosive, destructive rage still lies within her, and she devotes considerable time and effort to controlling it so as not to appear a threat. It has reared its head in recent sennights, despite her best efforts.
Arcian is not above doing grim or distasteful things to protect the ones she loves. She has attacked, threatened, blackmailed, and, on at least one occasion, beat someone nearly to death with her bare hands in the name of defending those dear to her. At heart, she is deeply pragmatic; the world is not a storybook, and sometimes one must do wrong for the right reasons. Try as she might to come across as honorable, in her eyes the end tends to justify the means.
She's also a bit of a bigot when it comes to those with Garlean blood. To her, such folk are all alike: invaders and sadists all, at least until strongly proven otherwise.
Mannerisms
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Hobbies and Talents
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Combat
In battle, Arcian prefers to strike swiftly, savagely, and with overwhelming force. Her objective is not a mercifully quick end to combat, but to brutally put her opponent down in such a way that they are incapable of retaliating. In her mind there is no reason to pull punches if she's being threatened. She prefers to wield baghnakhs instead of the more common spiked knuckles or cesti; they allow her to rend and tear as well as punch. While her choice of weaponry does not play to her raw physical strength as much as a battleaxe or zweihander would, it permits her to be surprisingly quick. Many of her opponents have found themselves beaten, bloodied, and reeling after expecting naught but clumsy power from someone so large.
As she does not tend to wear heavy armor, her defense is based on evasion and mobility. Rather than blocking or taking a hit, she'll twist or duck away, then lunge in to strike again. Arcian prioritizes a relentless assault over cautious, measured combat. Her tendency towards unceasing aggression proves both an asset and a detriment. While it keeps her opponent under pressure, her ability to fight defensively suffers for it.
She is not a full Fist of Rhalgr, nor would she even dream of titling herself as such. She has, however, devoted significant time and attention to opening her chakras. This effort is one that she has struggled with in the past; she continues to have difficulty with it, even after hesitantly coming into contact with a group of monks seeking to rebuild the old order.
Arcian has only opened one chakra. Combined with her skill and experience, this is still enough for her to be a threat. Her already formidable strength and speed can rise higher still if it is drawn upon; between that capability and her fists occasionally wreathing themselves in flame during battle, she is more than capable of shredding an overconfident adversary.
In addition, she also has some skill with knives, though she is by far more adept with her fists and claws.
Biography
[The following is more than likely not known on an IC basis; if you want to do something with it, feel free to raise the subject with me and we'll discuss.]
Before the Calamity
After the Calamity
Present Day
Arcian currently resides with the free company known as Aeon at their headquarters in the Goblet, in modest quarters shared with Brave Horizon, a small tuco-tuco, and a dog named Bernard. By all appearances, she seems content, having carved out a place for herself and her wife. Of late she has been seen more often in Ishgard than the south; if questioned, representatives of House Dufresne will confirm that yes, she has been offered a position in their employ.
Anyone whom Arcian has interacted with may feel free to add a rumor under PC rumors if they are so inclined. ◢ Common Rumors (Easily overheard)
◢ Moderate Rumors (Moderately difficult to overhear)
◢ Rare Rumors (Very difficult or rarely overheard)
◢ PC Rumors (Rumors from the characters of other players)
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Roleplaying Connections
You might know Arcian if:
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Contacts and Out-of-Character Information
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Footnotes
- Original template by Bancroft Gairn, using modifications from an older version of that template as seen on the page for Valerie Vaulefort, and totally borrowed from Reima Awen with her permission.