Blade Belisaire

Blade Belisaire
Blade, as he appeared at the end of the Sixth Astral Era.
Storm Second Lieutenant
Gender	Male
Race	Hyur
Clan	Midlander
Citizenship	Limsa Lominsa

Character

4/16/2013 Please note, this wiki is currently under heavy revision

Introduction

The adventurer known as 'Blade Belisaire' only recently began to make his name known outside the pirate circles of Limsa Lominsa. Young and brash, Blade embodies the unchained free spirit of pirate and adventurer alike, as well as the fiery determination of a Warrior. Despite his occasionally annoyed attitude and his general stubbornness, Blade is not one to turn a blind eye to someone who needs help. Blade is enlisted with the Maelstrom, to give something back to the nation which allowed him to get his feet on the ground.

Basic Information

Known As: Blade Belisaire

True Name: Show text

Aurick Stonecraft

City-State of Birth: Ul'dah

City-State of Allegiance: Limsa Lominsa

Grand Company Affiliation: The Maelstrom

Twelve Affiliation: Althyk, the Keeper

Religious Views: Non-committal

Marital Status: Single

Descendants: None

Likes and Dislikes

General Likes:

The sea

Women, especially Miqo'te

Alcohol

Good food, enough to the point that he occasionally seeks formal training in the culinary arts

His personal freedom

He respects those who will fight for a cause

Chocobos

Festivals (Serious business here)

Crafting, being self-sufficient

Ferry rides

General Dislikes:

Most people he would consider "rich" or overly wealthy

Ul'dah, for the most part

People who are smarter than him

Dragoons, notably that they jump higher than he can

Those who fight only for themselves

Goobbues

Slyphs (they creep him out)

Seeing women cry

Easily Frazzled By:

Hot women

Aggressive women

Mean women

Subligars (on ANY gender)

Being wrong

Old flames

Really really loud Lalafell

Favored Locations:

The beaches of La Noscea

The Bismarck (Culinarian's Guild)

The Mizzenmast

Amajina & Sons Mineral Concern (Miners' Guild)

Greatloam Growery

History

Sixth Astral Era

The Stonecraft Boy

Story: The Copycat

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The bo staff whipped around and cracked against the teenage boy’s face like a whip, popping the his jaw. The boy yelled in pain, staggering backwards as the bo staff now swung low, taking his feet out from under him. The boy fell onto his back, letting his wooden sword escape his hand, and his opponent—a stern faced Highlander man—brought bow down onto the boy’s chest, causing him to let out a scream.

The Highlander man pulled his bo staff up, looking down at the teenager clad in rags, and a bandana. The boy laid there, his eyes shut, moaning in pain and taking deep, strained breathes. The Highlander shook his head and sighed, lifting up the bo staff, then looked down once more at the boy, with his defined cheekbones, jaw, and eyebrows giving the Highlander the appearance that it was not bone that lay underneath his skin, but steel.

“You dropped your weapon. That is the worst you can do,” the Highlander spoke with a thick accent as he turned to walk away. “Your shield as well. If you do not intend to use it, then it is slowing you down.” The Highlander looked over his shoulder at the boy, who still was lying on his back, gasping for air.

The Highlander shook his head, stepping away to lean his staff against the walls protecting the city of Ul’dah. It was an exceedingly hot day in Thanalan, but a warrior such as him had been tempered to fight successfully in all climates. As he leaned the staff against the wall, he spoke, “We’ve done this many times. Yet you continue to make the same mistakes. You will never learn.”

“A-aughh,” the boy moaned as he turned over to his side. The boy began coughing, and said, his voice wavering, “Y-yeah, but you use a shield.”

The Highlander shouted at the boy, “And you are not me.”

The blonde haired teenager pushed himself up enough onto his knees, “Then what the hell are you trying to teach me? If I’m not trying to become you, I mean.”

The Highlander frowned. “A dagger is not the same as a blade,” he began, beginning to walk back towards the boy. “A blade is has greater length to pierce your foes with, which allows you to keep your distance from that which would kill you. But try an assassination with the same blade. Unable to conceal the weapon, your target would be on edge. Your ability to sneak would be compromised. By the time you would draw the sword, you would have drawn attention to yourself. With a dagger, you would not have this problem.”

The Highlander stood before the boy now, looking down at him. The teenager looked up at him, clearly confused, not seeing the point.

The Highlander sighed. “If I must spell it out for you, the point is that different weapons are good for different styles of war. Likewise, people are better suited for different styles of combat.”

The boy looked down, saddened. He mumbled to himself, “I’m not good at anything. If I was, my parents would have taken me with them.”

The Highlander gave a dramatic roll of his eyes and turned away from the boy, throwing up his hands in frustration. “Gods, Aurick. I hope you did not drag me out here to listen to some child’s sob story.”

Aurick looked up and glared and shouted, “Must be great to be talented! To get everything you want without having to go through so much struggle!”

The Highlander turned, and glared death at Aurick, pointing straight at the boy’s face. “You know nothing about me, and the struggle my people and I have endured! And I will not tolerate some child who cannot raise a shield to defend himself because he believes he has already lost!”

Aurick’s blue eyes widened, the words cutting at him. He looked away, and then back at the Highlander, their eyes meeting.

“That is why you drop your sword,” the Highlander said, growling. “That is why you do not raise your shield to deflect my attacks. You believe you have already lost.” He stepped forward. “And you will continue to lose, in all things, until you believe you can pull yourself free from any obstacle, that the end is never coming, and that a brighter future awaits you if you can muster the will to take one more step.”

There was a silence between the two. Then, Aurick grabbed the small wooden sword and slowly stood up, shaking the sand out of his hair. “Okay… let’s go again.”

The Highlander shook his head and turned away, saying, “No.”

“Oh come on!” Aurick whined. “You can’t just give me a big speech like that and leave me….”

“I can do exactly that,” the Highlander said as he walked towards a pack of gear he had laid out. “And you know I have duel tonight. The mighty Belisaire Quickblade is never late for a match.”

“Ah… right,” Aurick nodded, and slowly walked over to Belisaire. “I’ll come and watch.”

“See that you do. You may learn something yet.”

Not very many specifics are known about Blade’s past and background. From what he has shared, he originally hailed from Ul’dah; and has hinted strongly with his distaste for their interest in money, as well as stories of being mistreated, that he probably doesn’t come from a financially stable background. It is known that Blade came from Ul’dah to Limsa Lominsa seeking a better life, one filled with the freedom that only the sea could bring.

Please use the below information carefully; and only if your character would satisfy the condition:

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If your character works with public records, and would have enough suspicion to investigate Blade’s origins, you would find that Blade Belisaire does not seem to be his birth name. No records of there being a ‘Blade Belisaire’ in Ul’dah exist, and the first mentionings of the name appeared in Limsa Lominsa. Records would reveal there was a Gladiator with the name of Belisaire Quickblade many years back, but he had no heirs.

If your character has lived in Ul’dah for most of their young life, through adulthood (leaving Ul’dah after adulthood for another nation would qualify too), they might recognize Blade, but not by the name he goes by now. They may also have a faint, distant memory of a Gladiator in the past with a similar name, but beyond that, not much more.

Early days of adventuring

Note: Show text

Blade’s story here is loosely based around game events. Typically, when I do quests and missions, I roleplay them as happening to Blade. It’s more enjoyable for me that way. However, I recognize and understand that others aren’t so keen on such ‘big events’ happening to specific characters, and because of this, Blade won’t ever really talk in specifics about missions or the role he plays in things, except very vaguely. Grand Company missions become “investigating the Empire’s involvement in Dalamud,” and so on, so forth. I really do not mean to, or even have a desire to, make him stand above others by citing the actual game’s plotline.

Blade arrived in Limsa Lominsa after a rather harrowing voyage across the sea. Having finally obtained some basic gear with what little coin he had, as well as a weapon, he made his way across Thanalan to the ferry docks, and boarded a ship to Limsa Lominsa. Upon arriving, he was treated to and involved in the occasional mystery surrounding the appearance of a sea serpent.

Limsa Lominsa proved to be a bit more of a trial than Blade had expected, and the early days were very rough. However, Blade had to make due with his situation, as the ferries were shut down and he had already sacrified a great deal just to get here. After completing a few leves for the Adventurer’s Guild, he took up working as a Culinarian, honing techniques that would put some bread on the table. Once he was able to provide for himself and take care of his basic needs, he began to grow and expand, taking up Blacksmithing and Armoring along the way to help refine his weapons, and make new ones.

The pirates of Limsa Lominsa however weren’t too keen with the newly come adventurer, and often tried to intimidate Blade to keep him away… and perhaps rightfully so. Blade wasn’t one of them, and being poor didn’t make you a pirate. But Blade felt that he had to find an in, one way or another, as he felt that would be only way for him to make a name for himself in Limsa Lominsa. And he thought to do so by picking up their style.

The Marauder

The axe-men of Limsa Lominsa were widely known across the land, and many of the pirates of the were axe-wielders. Blade picked up this new style of weapon, and slowly moved away from his use of the sword, quickly coming to favor the axe for its rugged style. That and, cleaving things in half seemed more effective than poking monsters with a sword.

With his newfound prowess in the weapon, Blade began to hang around the Marauder’s guild more frequently, trying to stick it out despite the consistent threats from the pirates and their talk of… doing all manner of things to him. Tensions eventually rose to an extreme that ended in a group of pirates nearly taking his life, and indeed, they thought that he had. Rather than take the hint, after taking care to his wounds, Blade returned to the Astalicia, where he was once again beset upon by them. However, this time events played out differently, with Blade triumphing over several of the men, although barely. This served to gain Blade some recognition among the Captain, who made it known to his crew that Blade was free to spend time on the Astalicia as he pleased. It is from this that Blade started to fashion himself a pirate, however noting that he doesn’t serve aboard any particular crew or participate in raids on the common folk. It would be here on the Astalicia that Blade would begin to develop a habit of drinking along with his fellow pirates.

Path of the Twelve

Note: His involvement with the Path of the Twelve would have been kept relatively under wraps, hence spoilers.

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In the midst of his training as a Marauder, it became apparent that Blade possessed that once rare trait that had been appearing in adventurers recently… the ‘Echo.’ After being advised to visit Ul’dah to further discover more surrounding this gift, Blade bitterly left Limsa Lominsa to backtrack to where he had come from. With a great deal of reluctance, Blade decided to join with the Path in order to better understand this gift, although he had many misgivings about having to spend any large amount of time in Ul’dah. He was inducted into the Path, assigned a Path Companion, and went on occasional assignments on behalf of them.

The Grand Companies

News reached Blade regarding the sudden reformation of the Grand Companies of Eorzea, though he initially paid it no mind. Show text

He was still finding himself and trying to understand this power of the Echo that he had inherited, however he found himself becoming increasingly at odds with the leader of the Path, and her hesitance over how to deal with the incoming threat of the Empire.

Eventually Blade sought out the Grand Companies and began to serve them all, performing small tasks, however he remained noncommittal to any of them.

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He was already beginning to regret his decision to become involved with the Path of the Twelve, and a new obligation wasn’t exactly something he interested in bargaining for.

With the return of the Grand Companies however came further rumors from prophets, planting seeds of fear regarding the lesser moon, Dalamud, and the dawn of the Seventh Umbral Era. While Blade initially paid little attention to what he considered rumors and hearsay, as Dalamud’s presence in the sky grew, Blade found himself gazing upon it night after night with unease. Even though one of the prophets approached him, telling him about the important role that he, and adventurers like him, would play in the battles to come, Blade continued to try to bury the truth that he might have a small, but important, role in the events to come. One role among many.

The Warrior

The warnings given to Blade by the prophet did not go entirely unheard by Blade, nor did the warnings that Blade and his fellow adventurers would need to ready themselves for the darkness to come. When a fellow pirate made mentions of a fierce fighter rampaging across the countryside, Blade sought out to meet this character, and through painful exercise proved himself. His mentor gave him a treasured gem, a red crystal known as the Soul of the Warrior, imbuing him with the learnings and teachings of thousands of Warriors before him. This offer didn’t come without a heavy price though, as his mentor explained; the crystal would grant him the ability to unlock his inner beast so that he may attain greater strength, but there was also the risk of him losing himself to that very power. The warnings of the prophets rang in his mind, however, of the darkness to come. “You, and not just you, but all of you adventurers… must be ready.” Blade would shoulder the burden, and take the risk… which also served to force him to reluctantly admit that he too believed the dark times were upon Eorzea.

Changing Allegiances

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While adventuring with one of his close companions, he and his companion were ambushed by the Garleans and vastly overwhelmed. While they were able to crawl away to safety, Blade suffered significantly less graver wounds than his companion had… getting her to help as quickly as he possibly could, he was horrified to learn that she would not be able to adventure for a great deal of time, possibly months. Blade petitioned the Path of the Twelve to take action, but was betrayed when he was told that he had seen, with his own eyes, the power of the Empire, and should know that the Empire can’t be stopped. Furious, Blade severed his contact with the Path, vowing that if the Path would not move to stand against the Empire, he would find a group that would.

After several drinks, Blade found himself faced with a decision, sitting aside the fountain in the center of the Gold Court of Ul’dah. In his mind he deliberated… the Soul of the Warrior could only do so much. He, one man, could only do so much. His companion had sworn to forever fight the Garleans, and had not faltered in her quest, even to the point where her own body had been left in ruin because of it. And for the first time, Blade had felt an obligation to see something through. He would join the Maelstrom, the Grand Company of the city-state where his adventure began, which had allowed him to meet countless of others along his journey. He would sign here, and here he would stay.

The Final Months

While odd for a ‘pirate’ to join the Maelstrom, Blade never really was the typical pirate to begin with, and hopes to be able to influence the pirates to be more accepting of the Admiral, and to recognize that the Admiral stands for a greater cause than simply the advancement of her own power.

As per his Maelstrom duties, Blade took active role in assisting the Maelstrom in investigations surrounding the approaching moon, Dalamud, and the role that it plays in the Empire’s scheme. The work continued to take its toll on him, as he watched his efforts constantly overshadowed by the ever enlarging Dalamud. When the nights were at their worst, Blade could frequently be found at nights drinking the stress away in the Mizzenmast or the Mineral Concern, gazing upon the women as they dance, as though Dalamud may take away all the world’s beautiful things in but a moment’s notice.

It was in fact, here in the Mineral Concern where Blade's path crossed those with others he would come to care about. Plenty drunk, Blade came in contact with Gerik, Selene, Aysun, and Nanami, his eyes wandering a bit too much for his own good at times. From these first interactions, several key relationships between Blade and others would form; a friendship with Gerik, romance with Selene, as well as a tense relationship with Aysun. Through them, Blade would meet several others as well.

Family Issues

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To be written

Wavering Faith

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To be written

The Battle of Carteneau

Departing from Limsa Lominsa, and riding his way through the Black Shroud to the gathering point at Camp Brittlebark, Blade was alone. Riding to the battle, the only company with him being Sturmwind, his chocobo, an especially bitter resentment for many of the people he had known came over him. What he knew of his past, his family, was a lie. Selene, a person whom he believed he had loved, betrayed him, with another whom he had once considered an acquaintance, Deirdre. He knew he would face this battle with others, but it would be alone at the same time.

He refused to accept that dying here was a possibility. He would put his faith in the Twelve, that they would watch over him. That all of his, and the others struggle, would be for something.

As the battle began, Blade found himself joined by Vaelyn, Eva's lover. They would battle together, before splitting off...

Some Other Beginning's End, written by Eva Ianeira.

(Excerpt from the story explains parts of Blade's actions prior to other events unfolding)

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She was able to see the camp as she climbed over the next ridge though. A large number of soldiers and adventurers had gathered and were using it as a staging area. It seemed safer there, where people were seated resting and planning. An elderly roegadyn man was shouting orders and pointing to spots on a map placed on a makeshift table made out of tattered plywood. Others nearby were busily tending to the wounded and fallen. She spotted a withered tree away from where the crowd had huddled together and she leaned against it for a moment, picking her pearl up once more. Her voice told of obvious exhaustion, and as with each time she called out before, the sense of urgency underscoring her words was increasing.

There was a moment’s silence before the reply came back over the linkpearl. It was very clearly Vaelyn’s voice; one whose she had memorized by heart. “Eva?! What are you doing back?”

Ignoring the question, she asked, “Where are you?!”

"I’m with Blade. We're fighting-” He was cut off as something pulled his attention away from the pearl. Her cries after him went ignored for what felt like an eternity.

"Eva, are you still there?”

"YES!! I need to see you right now! I’m by a- ah- a tree. I see Camp Brittlebark to the southwest. I- I’m glad you're all right.”

"Oh, you're nearby! We'll be right there.”

Several excruciatingly long ticks passed before the elezen dragoon strode up, his armor looking somewhat battered and the telltale signs of fatigue were plain on his face. A few fulms behind him strode the hyur warrior, holding his axe at the ready in one hand and keeping a vigilant watch on anything and everything nearby. The pair looked every bit the part of the valiant knights as they strode in Eva’s direction with purpose.

It was Vaelyn that spoke first in a voice that was calm, but weary, “..Eva?”

Still exhausted herself she pushed herself away from the tree for a moment, her own face stained with soot and tears, “You- you're still alive. Thank the Twelve...”

Taking a step closer to her, he reached up carefully with his gauntlet. The metallic claws projecting menacingly from the knuckles of his gauntlets were menacing-looking, and the dried blood upon them signaled that they had been used to harm Garleans. Now those same claws lifted the hood of her robe tenderly to allow blonde hair tied with a leather cord to spill out down her back. A few tattered strands had escaped the band, and a gentle breeze blew them across her face. The reddish glow of Dalamud above gave her milky complexion and flaxen-colored hair an eerie sort of reddish glow.

"Eva, I am fine, but...” He glanced at his gauntlet beside her face a moment before lowering his hand awkwardly. “But why? Why are you here? You should be underground. You should be safe from all of…this.” He emphasized the point by gesturing with the lance he held in his other hand.

Sensing the more private nature of the conversation, Blade motioned to Vaelyn then stepped away to pursue some Imperials he had spotted nearby.

Eva responded somberly, a look of great sadness on her face, “I had to come back... I had to save you... I had to save them... I just had to... I...” Her voice tapered off gradually as she continued gibbering nonsensically.

Vaelyn stared at her, confused. Reaching up to place his hands on her upper arms near her shoulders, he grasped her gently, “Eva... what are you going on about? Everything is all right. Everyone will be all right.” The words seemed to be as much for himself as they were for her, “Now we need to get you somewhere safe. Away from all of this...”

Eva looked up at him, her violet eyes ablaze with defiance or anger or something in between, “No!” She blinked at the harshness of her own word, then stared at him for a moment before continuing in a softer tone, “No. I need to make sure that you're safe. You're going t-” She broke eye contact for a moment, looking over his shoulder and spotting an all-too-familiar Garlean soldier wielding a pike. He had somehow managed to break the line and was rushing straight for them. “LOOK OUT!!!” She shrieked and pointed to the charging assailant, pushing Vaelyn to one side as though she could somehow manage to force him out of the path of danger, though she was much too weak. Her fingers reached instinctively within her robes to her thigh again, towards a dagger that was no longer there. Panic began to set in. This was happening. Just like in her dream it was happening again and there was nothing she could do. Helplessness.

Vaelyn’s eyes widened beneath his helm as he reached behind his back for his lance, unfazed by Eva’s attempt to push him aside but without sufficient warning he was barely able to bring his weapon up to parry off the Imperial lancer's attack.

"No!!” She would not be helpless on this eve. Conjuring what little white aether she was able in her exhausted state, she expended the entirety of herself in a volatile Holy spell, powerful enough only to throw the Imperial lancer backwards where he stumbled and collapsed to the ground, stunned.

Blade’s voice came from behind as he leapt into the fray, “Yeah, I told you she was a good catch.” His eyes narrowed as he noticed the pikeman rising to his feet and grasping his spear. Metal was a blur as a francisca was twirled into his free hand and then sent forward, the small throwing axe lodging itself in the pikeman’s face and blood spraying everywhere. The Imperial reeled, then teetered to one side and fell over, lifeless.

Eva turned away, grimacing at the gruesome scene. Blade looked to her, “I thought you were in hiding?” His eyes shifted to Vaelyn and then he sighed quietly, a look of apparent sadness on his face.

The elezen woman gave no indication of hearing Blade’s question. She was still in shock and mumbled quietly as her hands covered her belly protectively, “He’ll be all right now, I think... They’ll be all right.....”

Vaelyn leaned on his polearm, lowering his chin a bit. He spoke softly, “Thanks and... It seems she came out to protect me from my death.” His lips formed a bit of a playful smirk as he gave a slight nod of his head to Blade, “...and yeah… she is a great catch.”

Standing back up, he rested the lance against his shoulders, craning his neck a bit to listen to the sounds of battle drawing nearer. “We can't stand around here much longer. They're pushing in deep. And Blade...” He turned to face his comrade over his shoulder, “Eva wasn't hiding. She went underground. Or was supposed to be underground...” the elezen turned now to face the woman before going on, “...to protect the twins she carries.”

Both elezen sighed quietly and Eva spoke quickly in a hushed tone, looking thoroughly shell-shocked. She had seen more battle in the past couple of bells than she'd been accustomed to in her entire life. The books she’d grown up reading tried to illustrate the horror of warfare, but witnessing it firsthand and being so close to the violence were entirely different and left her feeling ill. “I'm protecting them now,” was all she was able to speak. She leaned back against the tree, her eyes welling up once more with tears as she tried to quiet her stomach.

Vaelyn placed a hand on her shoulder and held her close for a moment before turning to Blade, “Are you all right?”

The hyur looked back over his shoulder. Men and women – adventurers and Imperials alike – lay slain nearby. Sadness and worry spread across his face as he glanced up at Dalamud and spoke very slowly, “I am not alright.”

Following Blade's gaze, Vaelyn also stared up at Dalamud. Looking to Eva for a moment she gave a slow nod and he lowered his head gently before speaking, “Blade... if you need to go, then go.” Reaching into his pouch, he withdrew a small linkpearl and tossed it to the hyur. “Just stay in touch, alright? I'll remain here with Eva to keep her safe.” Offering a somber smile he gave a slight nod of his head to his friend, “...I got this from here.”

Blade glanced from the pearl to the two elezen figures huddled together. A sort of disgust seemed to fill his face momentarily as some stray thought crossed his mind. “Listen, I need to find Selene. Eva, have you seen or heard from her?”

She shook her head, "I haven’t... I saw A'eyshn before, a little while ago."

Blade’s eyes lit up for a moment, "What?! You saw A'eyshn? Selene wasn't with her?"

She shook her head again, frowning, “No... she was alone, but she was wearing Selene's ribbon in her hair... I'm not sure what that m-” She paused a moment, searching for some form of consolation to offer, “I- She was all right when I left her. A'eyshn. I didn't have time to talk though. I had to find Vael-” She turned to her beloved, “I had to find you...”

Blade looked over his shoulder again, once more aware of the bodies. He grumbled quietly to himself, “Damn it Selene…” He shook his head, irritated, and looked back at the couple. “I have to find her!”

Hesitating a moment, she reached into her belt pouch and withdrew a small blue linkpearl, offering it to Blade. “You might have some luck with this – my father's old pearl. I know she also carries one of these, but on this night the only other voice I've heard over it has been Vaelyn’s.” He accepted the pearl and nodded, examining it for a moment.

She bit her bottom lip gently and nodded back at him, “And... I think I understand hon. Go on, Blade. Find her.”

Vaelyn placed his hand on Eva’s shoulder, giving a mild nod of his own to the midlander. The dragoon had remained quiet as the other two spoke, his gaze falling upon Eva for a moment before surveying the landscape again, then back up to the sky. Blade eyed the new linkpearl a moment longer before tucking it away with the other one Vaelyn had given him. “Thank you. I’ll find her.” Taking up his axe again he gave a quick bow of his head before abruptly charging back out into the battlefield, quickly to be lost amidst the dust and smoke and warfare.

The Final Moments - Blade Part 1

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Juggernauts marched across the expanse of land between Brittlebark and Castrum Novum, as the adventurers fought a losing battle against the VIIth Imperial Legion. Calls of desperation rang out across Grand Company linkpearls urging adventurers to hold the line, but the force of the Imperial forces was too great.

Fighting alongside the other adventurers, Blade helped cut through the invading Imperial forces as best as he could. He fought with courage, but with fear as well—knowing that if he didn’t keep focused, a stray blade would be all that would be needed to make him fall.

Then, suddenly, Blade and several other adventurers felled a final Imperial and entered a clearing… before them stood a towering Juggernaut. Blade looked at his feet to see a circular tracing forming underneath them. Some sort of targeting device.

“Take cover!” A Roegadyn’s voice roared, and Blade instinctively ran, attempting to step beyond the circular tracing. His jackboots dug deep into the ground, pushing harder with each step as he sprinted—followed by the horrible sound of the Juggernaut firing, and the screams of adventurers who who hadn’t been quick enough.

Blade turned and looked back, squinting from the glow of the fire that engulfed the area where he had just stood. He flipped his visor down, his vision adjusting in time just quickly enough to see an Imperial gladiator rushing up to him. Blade raised his axe to meet his would-be assaulter, however arrows filled the gladiator before he was able to meet Blade’s axe. Blade looked behind him, and saw several Archers and Bards standing atop of a rocky spire, shooting down at the Imperials below them. Then Blade saw fire erupt through the skies, which hurled at the direction of the Juggernaut, pounding into the side of it. The Juggernaut shuddered at the impact, taking several steps to one side to readjust. Blade turned his gaze to where the flames had come; at the foot of the spire, several Thaumaturges and Black Mages gathered around each other, seemingly locked in chant. The Archers and the Bards were standing watch over them. Blade would do the same.

Forming a line with several other disciples of war, Blade helped fend off more Imperial soldiers from the group of mages, with the Archers and Bards providing assistance. Another volley of fire slammed against the Juggernaut, again causing it to shudder, but it stabilized itself much more quickly. It began to turn to the face its assaulters, and began marching in their direction.

Blade grit his teeth and rushed towards the oncoming Juggernaut, axe drawn, together and with the other disciples of war. Imperials attempted to swarm the gap between them and the Juggernaut, but the Archers kept them pinned down. The Juggernaut turned its sites down towards the assaulting adventurers, forming another targeting circle, but the adventurers rushed too close to its feet, and it was unable to properly target them. Another volley of fire from the mages caused the Juggernaut to make a loud, mechanical scream, as it now burst into blue flames from the ceruleum fuel.

Bringing his axe against one of the Juggernaut’s legs, Blade’s axe became stuck, lodging it in the metal. He continued to try to push it through, as a final burst of flames came from the Black Mages and caused the Juggernaut to lose complete balance as Blade’s axe pushed through the Juggernaut’s leg, causing it to snap. The Juggernaut fell, bursting into flames.

The adventurers let out a cheer, and Blade joined them, only to have their hopes dashed as Blade looked out into the distance to see not one, but several more Juggernauts coming their way.

Flames were above him. Blade looked up into the sky, initially thinking the Black Mages had fired more flames into the battle. But these flames were further away. They were bigger.

Meteors… parts of Dalamud that were breaking off and burning through the atmosphere. Blade watched them vanish in the distance.

As the other Juggernauts approached, someone called for a regroup, and Blade ran back towards the spire along with several other adventurers. Taking cover behind it, they attempted to put together a plan to try and fight back against the incoming force.

Blade stepped to the side, looking around at the adventurers he could see, as the battle raged on around him. He pulled out the Crystalline linkpearl as he peered around the corner of the spire, watching the battle and making sure no Imperials took him and the others by surprise. “Selene?” He said into it. “Selene, are you out there?” He looked at the pearl, frowning. There was nothing but silence.

“Selene, listen, I—” Blade began to say, before hearing shouting from behind him from the group of adventurers. Blade ran back to them, asking, “What happened?”

A White Mage shook her head. “We just lost contact with the main post….”

“The main post? You mean… where the Grand Company leaders are?”

The White Mage nodded, grimly. Blade narrowed his eyes and asked more, “What do you mean you’ve lost contact?”

The White Mage grew irritated with him, growling, “I mean what I said! We’ve lost contact! The pearls with the Eorzean Alliance aren’t working right!”

Blade lifted his hands in a placating manner. “Okay, okay, I get it…,” Blade said as he looked back towards the battlefield and shook his head. “Has anyone attuned to an aetheryte near Carteneau Flats?”

An adventurer raised their hand, as another jumped and said, “Are you thinking to join them at Carteneau and leave Brittlebark undefended!?”

Blade turned to the other adventurer and snapped back, “I’m going to try to do what makes sense!” He said, storming up to the adventurer’s face. “We can’t allow the Eorzean Alliance to fall. Brittlebark is lost, unless you can think of a way to push back swarms of Juggernauts.”

The other adventurers looked forlorn, and Blade shook his head. “It’s ugly, I know. But we’ve got to go where we can be most useful,” Blade said as he jumped in shock as a blast hit near them, and then he looked to the others. “And that’s not here. I’m sure that others will be thinking the same thing.”

The others were quiet a moment, before nodding. “Okay,” one of them finally said.

“Alright,” Blade said, breathing in deeply. As some of them gathered together, and one adventurer vanished, attuning them to the aetheryte closest to Carteneau, Blade looked to the others and said, “Make sure to spread the word.” Blade shut his eyes, and his body faded.

Arriving in Carteneau Flats, Blade looked around, trying to get his bearings. He had never been to this land before. From atop of a hill, he looked for where the battle was taking place. It did not take him long. He saw other adventurers already ahead of him, rushing to the battlefield. He ran to join them.

As he ran, more and more adventurers teleported into the aetheryte behind them, some rushing in towards the battle on chocoback, sprinting ahead of them with weapons drawn.

But as Blade and the initial wave of adventurers joined the fray, something horrible awaited them. Blade looked ahead and saw a blast erupt from underneath one of the chocobos, sending the bird into the air and the rider falling into the ground. Several more similar blasts around him struck near adventurers, their bodies vanishing in flames. Blade looked ahead for the source of the blasts, and in the distance, he could see some sort of new kind of Magitek machines… smaller than Juggernauts, that could fire blasts rivaling the mages. They were running right into a trap.

Blade sprinted to the right, where he could see a rocky outcrop, where he could take cover. But a blast hit near the ground behind him, kicking him up into the air. He could see the world spinning, moments before hitting the outcrop that he had been sprinting to for shelter.

And then darkness.

The Final Moments - Blade Part 2

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Blur. Focus. Blur. Focus. Blur…

Dirt. Fire. Death. Screams.

Blade coughed, and lifted his head up from the dirt, as his body lay weakly. He felt for his Burgeonet and his axe. Gone.

He felt dizzy. Darkness again.

Eyes open and alive once more. Somehow he was on his back now. He could see, only a couple yalms from him, a red soul gem. He felt for his, which had had attached around his neck with a letter strap. Gone. It was his.

Blade groaned in pain and flipped back onto his stomach. He hadn’t yet recovered enough of his orientation to walk. He pulled himself towards the red soul gem, his body grinding against the dirt. In the background he could see the final clashing between the adventurer army and the Garleans erupting into full force and fury. He continued to crawl. As he approached the soul gem, it’s red glimmer began to drown out all other things. The closer he crawled to it, the bright it seemed to glow, the darker the world around it became.

Something—shook him from its call. To the left, he could see his Burgeonet, which lay next to a linkpearl. The one Eva had given him. The only chance he had of knowing if Selene was alive.

He glanced back to the seducing glow of the soul gem. Then to the linkpearl. His eyes didn’t leave it this time. Angry and hurt by her though he was, he didn’t want her to die. He didn’t want to, but he still loved her. His body moved of its own accord, now crawling to the linkpearl.

Be alive, Selene. Please…

He reached out for the pearl, but the armored foot of a Garlean stomped his foot down on Blade’s hand, and the linkpearl beneath it. Before Blade could respond, the Garlean ferociously brought his other armored boot to Blade’s face, and Blade cried out in pain. He opened his eyes to find himself staring down the barrel of the Garleans rifle. Staring into the jaws of death.

An arrow caught the Garlean in the shoulder, and his weapon discharged, and Blade’s face covered in his own blood. His hand free from the Garlean, Blade brought his hands to his face and yelled in agony. The Garlean had missed the shot due to the arrow, but the bullet had still carried through and done its damage. A significant gash now covered the side of his face.

He flipped over again, managing to get to his knees, and attempted to get his orientation back enough to stand, one hand cupping the wound on his face. He looked down where the linkpearl laid, a large crack through it. He picked it up, unsure if it would work anymore. A Garlean soldier was now rushing towards him, and Blade used his free hand to pull one of his silver franciscas out, and landed it in the Garlean’s neck. Blade looked back to the soul gem now. He reached down and picked up the Burgeonet and pushed on over his head, and then staggered over towards the soul gem. Reaching it, he had only enough time to pick it up before his world once again went spinning as a colossal force slammed him from the side, knocking him away several feet towards a cliff edge. He looked up to see the hulking figure of a Garlean Roegadyn coming out of a shield bash stance, who then proceeded to charge Blade.

Blade quickly staggered to his feet, still holding the soul gem in his left hand, and attempted to pull out another francisca to throw but he was too slow. The Roegadyn had seen Blade reach for the weapon charged faster, slamming into him, causing Blade to drop the francisca. Blade managed to grab the Roegadyn’s wrist to keep the sword from stabbing him, and held onto it, his other hand pushed against the Roegadyn’s shield, still clutching the soul gem. But the Roegadyn took advantage of his weight, pushing against Blade. Blade did his best to get a foothold on the ground, but he slid back towards the cliff, closer and closer….

Blade groaned and pushed back with all his force, but it only slowed the inevitable. Blade looked over his shoulder at the cliff behind him. His eyes were fearful. The soul gem glowed, and Blade was swallowed into his own mind.

Jade…

Mom, Dad, Abran… Selene…

I’m sorry I wasn’t able to…

No. Not yet.

Eyes from fear to anger.

He gained footing, to the Roegadyn’s surprise, just at the cliff’s edge. A dark, senseless instinct overcame Blade. He pushed back, he and the Roegadyn in a stalemate, unless with powerful shove he sent the Roegadyn staggering back a couple steps. While the Roegadyn stumbled, Blade removed a francisca and lept towards the Roegadyn, the axe held high into the air, and Blade tackled the unbalanced Roegadyn to the ground and brought the axe to the gladiator’s face. And again. And again, over and over until the blood on Blade’s francisca was thick, and his armor stained.

Blade looked up slowly. A red, murderous hue covered his eyes. Three more Garleans were coming at him, and Blade stood from the Roegadyn and twirled his last francisca into his free hand. Beyond them, he finally could see his axe, sticking out from the ground. Blade let them come. He dispatched them gracefully; he side stepped the first, and pivoted in a circle, bringing the axe in his left hand to rest in the Garlean’s side. He continued his spin, and brought the spiked armguard of his artifact armor to the second Garlean’s face, cracking the armguard from the force. He completed the spin by throwing the last francisca at the Garleans forehead.

Blade sprinted across the distance towards his axe. Ripped it from the ground, he continued running, eyes wild with rage. He would see more blood tonight.

The Final Moments - Blade Finale

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Cracks formed along the surface of Dalamud, as the red moon drifted down on its inevitable course. Below it, the Battle of Carteneau raged, the full might of the Grand Companies and their forces of adventurers meeting the might of the VIIth Imperial Legion.

With his axe dragging along the ground, Blade sprinted across the Flats into the heart of the enemy with his adventurer brethren. His eyes, bearing the red glow of the Warrior, narrowed as he saw several Imperials turning to face him. With a swift turn on his heel, Blade brought his axe around him with a spin, gaining momentum, until his axe came to lodge itself into the side of one of them, which slammed the Imperial’s body into two of his comrades, knocking them over.

Someone came from behind him, and Blade pivoted and ground his feet to complete another swing, swinging his axe around and burying it deep enough into the man that the body still clung to the axe. Two more Imperials, disturbed by the sight, nevertheless, rushed Blade and he brought his axe—with their comrade’s body and all—down to meet them.

As he readied his axe once more to meet another wave of Imperials, he could hear a loud, sick, cracking sound that seemed to echo across the flats. He paid it no mind, however, and moved to swing his axe just as, in the distance, he saw a flash of blue rain down from the sky and he and those around him were flung into the air by the impact of the enormous megalith.

As the dust settled, Blade struggled to get to his feet. The glow in his eyes fading, having had the wind knocked out of him, and he coughed, trying to place where he was now. Getting to his hands and knees, he looked up, seeing the blue key-like object sticking out of the ground. He flipped his visor open so he could see it better.

And then, above. He could hear it. Dalamud.

His eyes turned to the sky as the cracks became more dramatic across Dalamud’s surface, rippling through the whole entirety of the structure. Pieces of Dalamud began to fall from its surface.

A vague, distant part of Blade had blind hope that this was all part of the plan. The Archon had a plan. Was this how Dalamud would be stopped? But the red blister in the sky grew more sinister in appearance, as though the sky itself was bleeding. As though it was the end.

Blade wasn’t sure when he had gotten back to his feet. But he was standing when two enormous wings stretched out from the breaking moon. His eyes were locked onto it, just like all who were present.

Finally, with a loud roar, the sky filled with flames as the dragon—the owner of the two wings—caused Dalamud to explode, raining fire across all of Eorzea’s shores.

Someone shouted. “Get down!” But Blade was paralyzed. He could only watch as the sky, filled with meteors, seemed to rush towards him. He shut his eyes. He heard screams, and explosions, and the ground underneath him shook, nearly causing him to fall over. He planted his axe into the ground and held onto it, in order to keep him standing. He grit his teeth through it, simply clutching his axe. He was terrified, helpless.

It’s over. It’s over. It’s over…

A burning sensation caused Blade to open his eyes, an ember drifting through the air that had landed on his cheek. When he opened his eyes, the world he saw was not the one he knew. Flames covered the land, and raised from the horizon towards the sky. People—Eorzeans and Garleans alike rushed past him to escape the flames, not knowing where to go. Blade looked around, the whole world painted a reddish/orange. He wanted to shut his eyes again but could not. He thought he was witnessing the seven gates of Hell open.

The dragon above him roared again before it flew off into the night, and Blade could hear explosions in the distance. He felt like he was going to be sick, wondering what carnage it could be doing. He did not have to wonder long as the massive dragon returned moments later, bombing an area of the flats before him.

Blade bit his lip, as though he might cry, watching everything that he and countless other adventurers had fought so hard to hard to protect, get razed before his eyes. The land he had called home. That he had bled for.

A stray blast from the dragon wound its way towards an area where he and many of the other adventurers had retreated to. His eyes widened, seeing it at just the very last second before it impacted… against a blue magical barrier of some kind. Blade and the other adventurers looked around, and he heard someone in the distance shout, “The Archon!” Blade turned to see Louisoix standing atop a mountain, holding his staff up to the sky and casting a barrier to protect the adventurers.

It did not hold for long. The barrier shattered from the force of the dragon, and what seemed like the winds of a hurricane barreled down at the Archon and the adventurers.

Blade nearly lost hold of his axe from the first blow, holding onto it with only his right hand, as it remained buried in the ground, keeping him steady. However, a second burst of wind took hold, putting enough strain on Blade’s arm that it physically could not take it any longer. His muscles twisted, and contorted, and then tore, and in pain he let go of the axe and was thrown back closer towards the mountain where the Archon stood. Digging his fingers into the dirt, he managed to gain a hold, looking up in horror as the dragon came down in front of them. Blade couldn’t fathom how large it was. It filled the sky, as though it were a city.

Defenseless, the adventurers and the Archon looked up at it, waiting for what fate it might bring them. Then Blade caught glimpse of a light in the distance, shooting towards the sky from the flames. And then another. And another…

What else could happen now…?

Blade looked behind him and saw the Archon raise his staff towards the sky, a light formed behind him. From the light, an enormous spear-like object rose into the air… and then Blade looked and realized. There were twelve of them.

Together, the twelve weapons rose to meet the dragon, which roared at them in defiance. Blade forced himself back to his feet, grasping his injured right arm, looking up in awe with the other adventurers as the blue spears worked together and struck down on the dragon, seemingly binding it. Several adventurers quickly dropped to their knees, to pray to the Twelve, but Blade could not be moved to do so. He could simply watch in amazement. A rune appeared from the Twelve, covering the sky, and a sphere not unlike Dalamud began to form around the dragon, covering it whole. All of it was going to be worth something…

Fire erupted from within the blue sphere as the dragon’s rage overpowered the Twelve, and a ball of fire covered the sky, and the rune vanished, having failed.

Blade looked up, frowning, as the ball of fire descended against him and the others. This was his last stand. He was going to die. Eorzea was lost.

Rocks raised from the land as though being pulled into the flames that descended, until naught else could be seen. The apocalypse had come, and the fire touched down, and began to rush towards him and the other adventurers.

A blue glow covered him, and it came with a familiar resonance. It was… Althyk? His guardian? He looked over his hands as they radiated the blue energy of the Twelve, but could do little more as the ground beneath him cracked as the flames approached him. He threw up his arms in front of his face to brace for the blows, feeling the heat of the flames hitting his body, and waited for the end which never came.

A Realm Reborn

((OOC Note: Depending on how players are introduced in ARR, this next part could see changes both minor or major. Depends on how things happen in ARR.))

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Blade stood there, trembling, no longer feeling the heat of the flames. No longer feeling the ground quake beneath him. Still he stood, arms braced before his face. Was he dead?

He could hear the chirping of birds, and the swaying of trees. He lowered his arms slightly so that he could see. A forest?

Hesitantly he dropped his arms to his side, still wary as he looked around suspiciously.

Dead. I’m definitely dead.

The pain in his arm still was there. He put his hand to his cheek, and saw that the wound his face still bled.

Did I bring these wounds with me into the afterlife? Jeez… doesn’t that suck…

He looked around at the trees. It was beautiful. He didn’t feel dead though. He stepped forward, looking up and around him at the trees. He stopped and looked forward, completely dumbfounded, yet still feeling though his life was in danger.

Where in the seven hells am I…?

Seventh Umbral Era

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To come with A Realm Reborn.

Affiliations

People

Positive

• Eva Ianeira - Blade first met Eva at the social gathering Selene invited him to, and also at the storytelling event and gala event. Her story reminded him a lot about some negative aspects of himself, yet he doesn’t hold it against her. Doesn’t know her very well though. Regards slightly higher than neutral. He has picked up through interactions with others that she is one to be respected, and in his interactions with her she has always come off as very kind. It is important to note that Blade views her positively largely due to impressions he has and comments from others that he has interacted with; he has little actual interactions with her to form his own opinion.

• Gerik Aston - Despite Gerik kind of creeping on Blade when they first met, Blade for one reason or another doesn’t really mind him and regards him favorably. Even if Gerik eats his food. Perhaps it’s Gerik’s honesty that makes him approachable. They've had more interactions, between the events at the gala and also when Gerik had Blade over for dinner, which has boosted his score. Blade is very concerned whether Gerik will be alright with Kylin gone. Despite possibly sleeping with Selene, Blade's understanding of Gerik's account is that Gerik wasn't aware that it happened. Although he is bitter about it, he doesn't fault Gerik. Prior to departing for the final showndown with the Empire before Bahamut was released, Blade entrusted Gerik with one of his most trusted axes.

• Kylin Felstar - Blade doesn’t really like Ul’dahns in general. But he found nothing to complain about Kylin, though he wanted. The gala event, and Kylin's subsequent disappearance, left Blade in a state of regret, having not known him better. Blade considers himself friends with Gerik, and not having known Gerik's partner well makes Blade feel like a bad friend. Regards Kylin more positively than negatively, as people tend to think more fondly of those who may have passed on. Blade tries to believe that Kylin is still alive, as Aysun also vanished into the aether as Kylin had, however, the fact that Kylin hasn't made and appearance in some time has him worried.

• Vaelyn Nykah - Blade knows that Vaelyn is a former flame of Selene’s. That didn’t sit well. His Dragoon training compounded things, as Blade is prejudice against Dragoons and regards them all suspiciously, and believes they use magitek technology to perform their jumps, because when Blade has tried to jump so high on his own, he just looks silly. When Vaelyn jumped without the use of his armor, Blade silently believed he must have ceruleum-injected bones. Aside from the preconceived notions he had about Vaelyn from Selene and his baseless prejudice against Dragoons, Blade didn’t really have anything to complain about Vaelyn, which bugged him. In the final battle against the Imperials before Bahamut's release, Blade and Vaelyn fought together and covered each other, and also was there when he reunited with Eva. Blade thus has a sort of internal rivalry with the Dragoon, but would trust him to watch his back.

Neutral

• Amalthea Ghoulheart - Blade helped save Amalthea's wife, Sayuri, when she was wounded after the gala event. He doesn't know much about Amalythea, but was impressed by Amalthea's devotion to the care of Sayuri, and seeing Sayuri out safely.

• Aysun Demiir - Blade feels his relationship with Aysun has improved since when he started out, to something that is more of neutral territory. When Selene cheated on him, Aysun played a big role in convincing Blade to not just turn tail and to at least try and patch things up. Although doing so really didn't improve his situation with Selene, Blade still thinks Aysun's advice on the situation was sound. He'd never admit to that, though.

• Elriche Montreux - Blade enjoyed watching Eldriche carve figures at the gathering Selene invited him to. As the son of a crafting family, Blade appreciates fine crafts. Eldriche’s training as a Dragoon, however, and his ability to do their famous jumps put a damper on things, though, as he thinks that there is something suspicious about Dragoons ability to jump so high. He thinks magitek may be involved. Blade hadn't thought much about Elriche since, although he recognized the name somewhat when Lemdarva Mavanix had mentioned something about bringing him back from the dead...

• Gospel Gestalt - Blade first met Gospel at the gala event. Gospel was thrown against a tree, and helped the man up, but when Blade tried to help Gospel walk, Gospel rudely threw Blade off of him. When they came to a bridge, Gospel decided to stay behind, against Blade's urging (Blade thought he was too frail and weak to do much). When Blade saw Gospel manipulating a vanguard to turn it against the imperials, Blade figured he had the situation under control. Seeing Gospel alive later at Riversmeet, Blade was quite impressed, to say the least. Later on, Blade and Gospel, along with Gerik Aston and Deirdre Ta'ea, helped to defeat the last of House Mavanix, Lemdarva.

• Isilme Turuphant - She wasn’t a fan of pirates. He was on the defense quite a bit in their first conversation. In the gala event, they had a chance to talk more and she helped heal them. Regards her positively, but doesn't really know her too well.

• Sayuri Katayama - After she was injured in the gala event, Blade helped carry her to Riversmeet despite his own personal wounds, while Amalthea cleared the path of any foes that came their way. Regards her neutrally, as he doesn't personally know her.

• Selene Artemis - By and far the character that Blade had grown closest over the moons before the release of Bahamut, also is the person with whom he shares the greatest misgivings. He once regarded Selene highly and enjoyed their romance, even so far to believe that he was in love. Blade became suspicious of Selene and her disappearances leading up to Bahamut's release, often worrying about her personal safety her personal safety, given what she had told him over the aether about the reasons for her disappearance. This grew far worse when Blade learned that Selene had cheated on him with Deirdre Ta'ea. As the issue was left unresolved, Blade's feelings are very mixed, as feelings of love do not vanish immediately, even if burned. Blade attempted to find Selene prior to Bahamut's release, but was unable to. He doesn't know if she is alive, but given the chaos and the rampant destruction he witnessed, he doubts it is possible. As such, he really doesn't know how he feels about her now, since any conclusion would be moot.

Negative

• Deirdre Ta'ea - Blade regards Deirdre negatively primarily due to her involvement with Selene. Prior to that, they had a somewhat awkward relationship due to their original 'hook-up.' Blade, however, would not be aggressive towards her, and her quiet and almost shy nature leaves him with many questions about her past and the things she has seen. Despite currently viewing her negatively, there's potential for time to heal these past wounds.

Organizations

The Maelstrom

Crystalline (Not an official member, but knows several people within the group)

Path of the Twelve No longer has active contact.

Out-Of-Character Background Information

OOC Note: I have added this section to provide some supplemental information regarding Blade, and also to get his ‘story down on paper’ so to speak. Much of the story I will go into here are things that Blade is completely unaware of and should be relatively obscure to the outsider. It is, however, my hopes that Blade will someday reveal the truth behind his background, and it would be my preference for the story to unfold through the help of others in the RP rather than having me generate an armada of NPCs to reveal it through. The point being though is that I would like this story to be a long arc for Blade, and I’m fine if it takes years to pull off.

Blade believes that he was abandoned by his parents and that they left for more profitable ventures, wherever that may be. The truth of the matter is much more complex, and laced with deep veins of treachery that Blade is not aware of.

Blade’s true name is Aurick Stonecraft, son of Berinhard and Chess Stonecraft, and younger brother of Abran Stonecraft. They were an Ul’dahn merchant family that had seen a lot of recent success, allowing them to live a comfortable lifestyle only slightly above the average in Ul’dah. However, they were not regarded favorably by several more influential, rival merchants. The Stonecrafts had a loud voice, and, having come from humble beginnings themselves, advocated on behalf of those less fortunate. Their downfall wasn’t that they took this stance, but rather that people were beginning to actually listen to them, and for those who enjoyed the luxury of the high life felt threatened.

One day, while Aurick was ten years old, his family went on a merchant trip to Limsa Lominsa to guarantee effective passage of their goods. Aurick’s older brother, Abran, was brought with them, in order to help teach him the family trade. When they returned, they found their house servant appearing dirty and beaten, panicking to them hysterically that their home had been destroyed in a riot against them. When Berinhard asked about Aurick, the servant told him that he had witnessed Aurick die before his eyes.

When Berinhard demanded to return to Ul’dah in order to at least give Aurick a proper burial, his servant grew hysterical, insisting that Berinhard would only be killed if he went back. He still had a family to take care of… returning to Ul’dah would bring naught but further death and sadness for the family should they return. The family, unable to even barely comprehend how their lives had been so violently ripped from them, resigned to leave, and their family caravan road off and away.

Things were not as the servant had made them sound, however. In truth, the rival merchants of Ul’dah had paid the servant his entire life’s wages all at once, if he could convince them to leave Ul’dah and never return. Aurick was alive, and their home, preserved. Aurick was told that his family had decided to leave their home, and him, behind, for more profitable ventures. They told Aurick that his family believed he would not have been able to survive the trip, at that age, and so they would leave him in the care of the sultanate. While the sultanate itself was unaware of this scheme, individual officers within it were, and Aurick was given to one of these officers to be cared for.

As the legal heir to the family fortune, Aurick had all rights to his family’s wealth. But it didn’t take much of the sultanate officer’s awful treatment to motivate him to run away. The officer doesn’t bother putting out a warrant for the boy for if he were to die, the family belongings would automatically be absolved into the sultanate.

After a couple days of living in the streets, starving and hurt, Aurick attempted to return to the officer. However the officer claimed that he could not be sure of the boy’s identity, and that he was just some filthy rat trying to wiggle his way into a warm bed and some food. Aurick was banished to the streets then… he made only one last visit to his home, breaking in through a window to find food and some belongings. When the Brass Blades arrived, Aurick was only able to escape carrying an over-sized helm that his father had given him… why he grabbed this, was unknown to him at the time, as he hated his family for their ‘betrayal’ … but something made him pick it up.

Over the next several years Aurick lived in the streets, getting by in whatever way that he could. He grew to become very street-wise and agile, and also strong, having to defend the food he had ‘rightfully’ stolen. He did try to work for coin, but often his smell and his ragged clothes would deter any would be employers. Only the most desperate would take pity on him, and even then, he could at best hope to work one day a week.

Some years later, when he was about 14 years old, he had become a fan of a noble Gladiator named Belisaire Quickblade. Aurick was able to watch the Coliseum battles from above, watching the brave Highlander triumph over his foes with his perfected form. And yet, in the Highlander’s victory speeches, he spoke of how his training was ongoing and that he had not arrived at the point he was at now without a great deal of struggle and hardship, and that if he wished to remain successful, he must always strive for perfection.

One day, after one of the matches, Aurick found himself lying in one of the street corners, happy to have watched the match, but now sick from starvation. As he faded in and out of delirium, he looked up to see the gladiator Belisaire standing above him. Belisiare looked disgusted… a face that Aurick was used to seeing when people looked upon him. But, the gladiator knelt down next to him, and put the sandwich he had been eating in Aurick’s hands, saying, “In a land of such wealth, it is disgusting to see children like this. Go on, eat it.”

Belisaire spoke to Aurick, about his travels, his career as a gladiator… but more importantly, his past, as Aurick ate in silence. “The world would have you die, If you let the world have what it wants,” Belisaire told him, and then continued. “It’s a grim truth, I know. I’m sure you understand it just as well as I do. But you cannot lie here and wait to die. You must fight, and never stop fighting until the world no longer tramples upon your back, and when the world spits on you, you don’t spit back—you beat them in the face. And you can do it, lad. There’s a fire in those eyes of yours… dim, but waiting. Waiting for you to kindle it.”

As Belisaire walked away from Aurick, he probably didn’t understand the impact that he had made upon his life. When Belisaire made subsequent trips to the Coliseum, he was frequented by Aurick, who often begged for training. Belisaire reluctantly granted the child his request, however Aurick was frequently noncommittal... either lazy or didn't have enough esteem in himself to be worthy in battle. When Belisaire eventually fell in the Coliseum, he probably couldn’t know that Aurick, among all, would remember him the most and would not let his memory fade.

For the next four and a half years Aurick tried pulling himself together as best as he could. He worked several odd jobs, and was nearly constantly working to make his ends meet, growing physically stronger in the process. But a negative reputation clouded over him. He was well known throughout the city. He began to not mention his last name when he introduced himself for some of the negative looks he would get.

Between the ages of 18 and 19, adventurers were beginning to make a name for themselves across the realm. The dream, and the promise, of adventure appealed to Aurick who had long felt he had been shackled in Ul’dah. Saving up just enough for a ferry ride and some weathered old gear, Aurick left the sands of Ul’dah for Limsa Lominsa. As he watched the shores of Vylbrand draw ever closer, he felt as though a huge chapter of his life was coming to an end, one that he was happy to see close.