Xheja Rajhera

Xheja Rajhera
"I do so hate the term manipulator. I prefer to call myself an outcome engineer."
Gender	Female, cisgendered.
Race	Miqo'te, void-corrupted.
Clan	Keeper of the Moon.
Citizenship	Ul'dahn. Formerly Gridanian.
Age	Thirty-one, appears twenty-five.
Marital Status	Single, uninterested in traditional romance or monogamy.
Occupation	Alchemist and business woman. Owner of Rajhera's Radiants luxury cosmetics and dyes.
Height/Weight	Five fulm, two ilm. Around 110 ponze.
Orientation	Bisexual (two), uses sexuality as occasional tool for manipulation.
Relatives	Mother: Xhali Rajhera (NPC.) Father: Kehj'a Polaali (NPC.) Siblings: A few younger sisters & brothers. (NPCs / Unplayed.)

Xheja Rajhera the Voidbound

Note from Xheja's Player! Hey everyone! I've decided to switch to a simpler wiki format to keep Xheja up-to-date after her character remodel, and I believe I'm finally just about done! I will do my best to keep this as updated as possible. However, please note that all information here is provided on a strictly OOC basis unless noted otherwise and should not be used in-game without my permission. That said, feel free to look around, add some rumors, and send me a /tell in game if you're interested or have any questions! Thanks! :D

Personality

Charming. Intelligent. Calculating. Manipulator. These were just a few quick and easy ways to describe what had become of the Keeper's personality. Not long ago, Xheja was a friendly, mild-mannered scholar whose curiosity and desire to learn about the cause of her unique condition drove her to constantly seek out knowledge of the aetheric and arcane. Yet after finally coming face to face with the answers she sought, her personality has undergone a night-and-day change. Gone was the well-meaning woman, replaced with something rather more sinister.

There was something undeniably predatory about the woman now, from her honeyed words to the way each minute movement seemed to have some calculated purpose. She could easily lie to one's face and act most any part that best suits the situation or her purpose. One could often find her quietly watching crowds of people such as those that gather at the Quicksand, looking as if she were searching for something. When someone or something does catch her eye, she's very intent on getting whatever it is she wants out of the encounter, finding whatever means necessary to manipulate the situation to the desired outcome. Whether that's a promise of gil, knowledge, or even something a little more base, all are tools Xheja uses freely to wrap others around her fingers.

LIKES ■ Individuals with a lot of physical and aetheric strength / capability. ■ Strong-willed and resolved individuals. Manipulating them is a challenge. ■ Intelligent and witty conversation, especially with interesting people. ■ Magic, the arcane, and any type of aetheric manipulation.

DISLIKES ■ The weak-willed and easily influenced. They bore her. ■ Those with very little aetheric capacity. They aren't worth her time, generally. ■ Overly righteous 'good' types. Unless she can toy with them, they're an annoyance. ■ Garleans. Ever since Carteneau, she has a fierce hatred of them.

MOTIVATION ■ Aether. Its collection is her primary task, as the Collector has promised to release her in exchange. ■ Entertainment. Xheja finds most people boring, and craves interesting company and challenges. ■ Money. As an Ul'dahn, she very much values the power of wealth and the influence it brings.

STRENGTHS ■ Xheja is in possession of a very sharp and resourceful mind. ■ She possesses an extensive knowledge of the arcane. ■ She is quite determined and relentless when she wants something.

WEAKNESSES ■ As a true mage-and-academic type, Xheja is physically weak. ■ Losing touch with her humanity, she finds it difficult to truly relate to others. ■ She must have a focus to cast, so separating her from her weapon renders her helpless.

MISC ■ Alignment: Neutral Evil, type four. ■ Deity: Nald'thal the Traders, on the surface. ■ Habits: People-watching, alchemical tinkering, reading, exploring old ruins and battlegrounds.

Appearance

Xheja is a petite Keeper of the Moon, standing at only about five-fulm-two-ilm in height. Her figure was likewise small, though did not lack for obvious feminine curvature. Her skin is soft and a dusky, gray-tinted cinnamon color along with a few lighter, silvery stripe markings around her face. Her hair is long and naturally black, though she has tinted the end of the strands with an aetherically reactive dye of her own making. Where once the dye used to change color based upon the elemental affinity of her aether, it was seemingly now settled on a dark, but vivid purple hue - reflective of the way the Void tainted her, no doubt. Her hair frames a face with rounded cheekbones and a softly pointed chin, home to two large, bright silver eyes, a delicate nose, and plush lips that were almost always curled into either a clever smirk or a bored scowl, depending on the situation. Yet there was one imperfection that she scarcely ever allowed anyone to see: a gruesome, ragged scar at the top of her waist, the remnant of the sword wound that had killed her on the fields of Carteneau all those years ago.

Her wardrobe was yet another notable aspect of her appearance, given the rather stylish and luxurious manner of it. With the success of her business ventures, Xheja dresses the part of the upper class merchant, firmly believing in the power of appearance in a city as shallow and self-absorbed as Ul'dah. Therefore, she doesn't bother any longer to try and conceal her success. If anything, she now uses them as a way to draw in would-be unsuspecting victims. Designer, custom-tailored clothing and jewelry are the norm for her, as well as cosmetics of her own making. Particularly, when she is out and about, she will rarely be found without a choker necklace of some sort, even if it happens to be hidden. This crystalline jewelry is special in that the gem is possessed of purifying properties. By wearing it, she can cover up the taint of the Void that permeates her aether, giving her a much lower profile in a day and age where there are many others around her that are sensitive to such things. The downside, however, is that the jewelry essentially cuts off the power and ability she draws directly from the Collector, making her magic much less potent and blocking her ability to siphon aether until it is removed.

Combat & Weaponry

Xheja typically tries to avoid getting herself stuck in combative situations if she can at all help it. She possesses little to no physical strength, and that makes her an easy target if an enemy is allowed to get up close and personal with her. She would much rather try to charm her way out of any fighting, or to manipulate someone else into doing the sword-swinging for her. However, when combat is inevitable, she does have a few select tricks up her sleeve.

MAGIC Xheja possesses a notable aptitude for the manipulation of her own aether, making her quite the capable thaumaturge. In even more recent times, she's began to study Black Magic as well, making her spells even more destructive. Add to this a growing knowledge of Void rituals and the Keeper makes for a formidable mage when her back is against the wall.

STARDUST ROD Xheja is rarely, if ever, seen without this authentic relic. Taken from her late mentor - the retired Ishgardian mage captain, Lavellian Thieroux - the staff itself seems to react to Xheja's aether, pulsing and flickering with visible aether every time the weapon is drawn. She's grown quite protective of the weapon in the short time it's been in her possession.

MISERICORDE This is Xheja's last resort weapon, a sharp but thin-bladed dagger that she conceals under her skirt, strapped to her outer thigh. Intended to pierce the weak points in armor, the Keeper only draws this weapon if absolutely necessary or to dispatch an opponent stealthily when their back is turned. Often, the blade is coated with some paralytic poison, just in case.

POISONS Finally, when all else fails, Xheja's background as an alchemist has afforded her a knowledge of all manners of poisons, both traditional and exotic. She also delights in formulating her own unique blends for varying effects. She tends to keep a few discreet vials on her at all times, whether she needs to coat her dagger in them or slip them into an unsuspecting individual's drink when they look away

Aetheric Condition

Xheja, as some who are especially sensitive to aether and aetheric anomalies might note, is not exactly 'normal'. Since falling on the fields of Carteneau, she has been afflicted with a unique condition that more or less has bound her aether permanently to the physical realm, exactly as it is. For many years, the Keeper did not know the source of the affliction or how it worked in any great detail. However, in more recent times, she has finally discovered the root of the anomaly and has emerged a changed, corrupted person because of it. Still, the condition results in a few unique traits and needs.

AETHERIC CONSTANCY Simply put, Xheja's aether and form are currently constant and unchanging. Her body does not age in the same fashion that others do, nor does she undergo other physical changes like scarring. Curiously, this also means in the event that she suffers grievous wounds, her aether temporarily leaves her body and retreats to the Void until it gathers enough strength to return. The amount of time the process takes is determined by type and extent of her injuries.

AETHERIC DRAIN Xheja relies on the absorption of external sources of aether to thrive and maintain a stable hold on her physical form. This can come from sources such as elemental crystals. However, the Collector bears a marked preference for aether from living creatures - be they beasts or man. In order for Xheja to do this, the creature must be either very significantly weakened (and OOCly permitting, of course) or willing to part with their aether. It is also worth noting that she rarely takes a lethal quantity of aether from one person, especially if they're willing victims. She would much rather have a regenerating source to keep coming back to.

AETHERIC ANOMALY Those who are particularly keen to others' aether may sense that there is something particularly off about Xheja. However, given the way in which the Void blatantly taints her aether now, she has taken to wearing a crystalline jewelry with purifying properties to maintain a low profile. When it is worn, it masks the Void taint itself, though would not stop others from feeling that there is something strange - and perhaps even unsettling - about her.

History

Xheja tends to speak very little on her past in any real details. Though she may provide broken bits and pieces, such as the fact that she once served the Twin Adders or was born in the Shroud, it is highly unlikely that she will reveal aspects of her past such as her death at Carteneau and her subsequent revival. Typically, details are only released when relevant and when there is something to gain from her having done so. As such, details given here are provided as an OOC courtesy for plotting / interest sake, and shouldn't be used ICly without my permission!

Origins

■ Born and raised in a Keeper of the Moon tribe deep within the Black Shroud, eldest daughter of matriarch Xhali Rajhera.

■ Showed high level of aptitude for conjuration magic very early on, leading to expectations that she would eventually become the next matriarch.

■ As the Garlean presence in the Black Shroud grew and Dalamud became more menacing, decided to enlist with Twin Adders, much to the matriach's dismay.

■ Her unit mostly held areas of interest, oversaw supply lines, and assisted locals in fortifying their settlements in case of attack and more general tasks.

■ Grew close with a thaumaturge also serving in their unit. Once she learned of his more concerning interests in Black Magic and the Void, she convinced him to renounce them.

■ Though their unit had seen very little combat up to that point, they were eventually given orders to consolidate with the main host at Carteneau as support.

■ Their unit was overrun in the midst of the battle, and Xheja fell in combat when an Imperial swordsman broke their line and thrust his sword up through her chest.

■ The thaumaturge she befriended saw her fall, and pulled her from the midst of the fighting. There, he broke his promise to perform a spell, calling Xheja's aether back to the living realm and binding it back to her body.

■ When she awoke some time later, the man was gone along with her memories of his identity, leading her to conclude later that he was one of those sent forward in time by Louisoix Leveilleur.

After the Calamity

■ Was found weakened on the battlefield afterwards, and was treated and returned to Gridania.

■ Once she regained her strength, she resigned from the Twin Adders to return home to help rebuild her tribe, telling no one of what happened.

■ Eventually noticed that her ability to conjure was fading until, about a year after the Calamity, she lost the ability entirely.

■ Was exiled from her tribe under the pretense that the loss of her magic was a sign of anger by the Elementals.

■ Reluctantly came to Ul'dah with a passing merchant caravan, with little to nothing to her name, no connections, and even less understanding of Ul'dahn culture.

■ As with most refugees, Xheja was unable to find any sort of employment. She took to begging and thievery for a time, though she was rather terrible at it. Eventually, she was forced to take odd jobs that no one else wanted.

■ Grew weaker and weaker as time wore on, unaware of the fact that her body required additional aether to be absorbed to function properly.

■ Managed to secure a job transporting a small shipment of crystals to the Alchemists' Guild, wherein she incidentally discovered her ability to absorb aether. In lieu of payment, she convinced them to take her on as an apprentice.

■ Discovered her talent for alchemy, devoting herself wholly to its study.

■ Wanting to learn more about what happened to her, she decided to seek out the Thaumaturge's Guild, using her profits from alchemy to come to an agreement with an instructor there to teach her the art.

■ Came to excel at Thaumaturgy, reveling in being able to use magic once again.

■ As the cost of her lessons at the Arrzaneth Ossuary rose, she decided to establish her own cosmetics business - Rajhera's Radiants - with a peer from the Alchemists' Guild, Emory Grey, in order to break into Ul'dahn business and make further profit.

■ As Rajhera's Radiants grew in success, she used the funds to not only further her study of thaumaturgy, but also to seek out answers to the question of what had happened to her.

■ Some years after the Calamity, during a research expedition studying the lingering aetheric presence of those who stood trial at Witchdrop, Xheja lost her footing on a treacherous patch of ice and fell - only to awaken almost a week later, weakened but alive.

■ Growing demand from Ul'dah's fashionable elite see an increase in business coming her way. As such, with only three people to run operations - herself, Emory, and her saleswoman, Audrielle - the business begins to eat up most of Xheja's time for research, travel, and thaumaturgy.

Recent Times

■ An encounter with Lren Rendarren reveals to her that the anomalous nature of her aether is attributed to some sort of Void taint. This news shakes Xheja deeply, to the point at which she leaves Rajhera's Radiants in Emory and Audrielle's hands and withdraws entirely from society - and even from Lren, who had offered to help her - for two months.

■ The Collector : During these two months, she travels to Coerthas under the advice of her mentor at the Arrzaneth Ossuary to seek out Lavellian Thieroux, a skilled mage as well as a renowned researcher and slayer of Voidsent. Xheja crosses the barrier into the Void and makes contact with the Collector, the Voidsent to whom the unknown mage from Carteneau offered Xheja's aether up to in exchange for her continued life. However, the experience ends sourly, with the Collector thoroughly corrupting her and forcing her to kill Thieroux. She emerges from the experience an entirely different person - cold and calculating, more monster than mortal. -- ( Short Story: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four forthcoming. )

■ Revenge and Other Things Best Served Cold: With Xheja's return to Ul'dah and to her business, she found her status as a top provider of high-quality cosmetics to Ul'dahn elites in a precarious position, with a supplier leaking her reagents to a competitor whose own business was beginning to siphon her customers away. Putting a plan into action, Xheja sought out the help of C'kayah Tia to procure a small list of highly regulated toxins necessary for what she had in mind. After an interesting, insightful discussion between them, Xheja was offered a gift as well as a tentative place in Tylwyth Narah, the criminal organization which the man leads. Not to mention, only a few days and one glass of chilled tea later, she was free of her pesky competition and deceitful supplier. -- ( Short Story: In-progress. )

Interactions

RUMORS Some of these rumors are untrue or are greatly exaggerated. Please feel free to add your own rumors under the Player Character category! ◢ Common Rumors - Easily overheard. Use these freely! ■ "See that woman over there? She's the creator o' them fancy cosmetics that all th' womenfolk adore. Rajhera's Radiants they call 'em, or somethin' like that. Don't see what all th' big fuss is about, m'self." - Ul'dahn merchant. ■ "Madame Rajhera? Yes, she's a long time patron of the Arrzaneth Ossuary. We began to tutor her in the art of thaumaturgy shortly after she arrived in the city and she surprised us with her aptitude. Sadly, we don't have the pleasure of seeing her or her coinpurse quite so often these days." - Instructor at Arrzaneth Ossuary. ■ "She spends a lot of time in the Quicksand, that one. She just quietly watches everyone, and way every now and then, someone finally catches her eye and she's all sly smiles and charming purrs. It's usually one o' them strong and powerful types, too. Wonder what her game is.." - Quicksand patron. ◢ Uncommon Rumors - A little more difficult to hear. Use sparingly or ask first! ■ "She's.. different. We've always had our arguments and whatnot, but I always considered her as more a friend than simply an employer. After returning from her trip to Coerthas, she will hardly deign to speak to me. When she does, it's like she's brought the cold back with her.. I don't know what could've possibly happened to change her so." - Audrielle Rochefort to a merchant friend. ■ "Did you hear about what happened to that new cosmetics company starting up? Turns out, it was all a scam. A friend tried their lip cream and her face swelled to twice its size! I suppose I'll just stick to Rajhera's Radiants, even if they are rather expensive." - Gossipping Ul'dahn lady. ◢ Rare Rumors - Very rarely overheard. Please ask before using! ■ "You've heard of the village of Drakesbane? A prominent mage had settled there after retiring from his service to his house.. Lavellian Thieroux, I believe his name was. Well, they found him murdered in his home not long ago, looking like he was conducting some sort of summoning ritual. Then whatever foul monster slew him slaughtered the rest of the villagers and left the town in flame. If anyone survived, they've been too afraid to come forth.." - Ishgardian Knight. ■ "A poisonmaker? I won't ask what need you have of one, but just so happens, I can put you in contact with one. Can't give you their name, seeing as I don't know it. I've never so much as met them face-to-face. But I've heard their customers tend to get their money's worth." - Black market informant. ◢ Player Character Rumors - Feel free to add rumors of your own! ■ "She plays the game well, and as innocent as she seems on the outside, there is a fair bit of darkness beneath the surface. I look forward to seeing if I might be able to coax it to the surface in the future." - Ta'kheo Nunh. ■

RELATIONS ♥ Romantic Attraction – ♥ Sexual Attraction – ♥ Platonic Love – ◐ Family – ✔ Business – ✖ Deceased – ● Positive – ● Negative – ● Neutral – ≈ Unsure Ashana Venisha ( ● ) - Mysterious, yet useful. Another Keeper woman with whom Xheja shares a great many similarities in background and situation. The woman is a source of interesting, intelligent conversation, and thus Xheja finds her to be rather amusing, particularly when she can poke fun at her misadventures with the womenfolk. Not to mention, she is a highly skilled goldsmith. For now, the Keeper is content to keep in her good graces, as she will certainly be useful in the future. C'kayah Tia ( ● ✔ ) - Smooth-talking smuggler. Xheja made contact with this smooth-talking man first as a client of his.. acquisition services when solving an issue with a compromised supplier and competition in business. Yet by the time their dealings were finished, she was offered a gift and a tentative position within the man's organization. She very much looks forward to what their future interactions hold, and the profit and power to be gained from her involvement. J'suloh Tia ( ≈ ♥ ) - Ally? Or an enemy? Xheja cannot quite make up her mind about the Sunseeker. In the time they've known one another, she's found herself equally charmed by and terrified of him. Yet after finally coming into contact with the Collector and losing touch with her humanity, there is a part of her that is driven by both morbid amusement and attraction, and perhaps even an odd sense of self-preservation, to seek him out and keep him close. Ta'kheo Nunh ( ● ) - Charm with a splash of danger. In the few encounters the two have had, Xheja finds herself to be quite entertained by the male Seeker. While his words themselves ooze with charm, something about his actions and his phrasing hints that there is something more to Kheo - something sharp, and something dangerous. Ever the curious one, Xheja is determined to find out exactly what kind of game the man is playing. Whatever game it is, she's certain that it's positively exhilarating. Wymard Stout ( ● ≈ ) - Is he truly so simple? Xheja met the Highlander in the Quicksand one evening, engaging in a rather amusing discussion with him. Her interest only grew when she discovered the man was a Chief Flame Sergeant. As their discussion came to an end, he made it clear in no uncertain terms what he'd desired from the encounter. Though the Keeper cannot help but to wonder if the man's desires with her are truly so straightforward. She needs more information, but if she plays her hand correctly, she figures the man has potential to be a useful piece in her game. The Collector ( ● ) - NPC / Voidsent. The Collector is the alias of the formerly unknown entity which has a claim on Xheja's aether, though the Voidsent's true name and even its true form is unknown to her. All Xheja knows is that the creature has promised to release its hold on her in time, should she serve it loyally. While she initially refused to give in to the creature, she was forced into subservience when the Voidsent completely joined its aether with hers, undergoing a massive shift in personality - and thus losing touch with her humanity - because of it. Unknown Mage ( ● ) - NPC / Unplayed. This man was the one to make the deal with the Collector when Xheja was cut down on the fields of Carteneau, offering up her aether to the Voidsent in exchange for bringing her back from death. Now, the man's face and identity elude her, as he was one of the chosen few who were sent forward in time by Louisoix Leveilleur that day. Where once Xheja was quite intent on finding him, recent developments leave her rather apathetic and potentially even scornful of the man. Emory Grey & Audrielle Rochefort ( ● ) - NPCs / Employees. With Xheja growing less interested in manually directing Rajhera's Radiants, she has left these two largely in control of the business. Emory and a small handful of alchemists of his choosing now handle production and development of new products, while Audrielle oversees sales and marketing. Xheja sees little and less of them these days, usually stopping in only to supply them with funds, to collect profits, or to disappear into the lab for a time.

Gallery

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Footnotes

Template adapted from Bancroft Gairn.

Face Claim: Scarlett Johansson.

Voice Actor: Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell, Game of Thrones.

Short Stories & Drabbles: Voidbound: A Collection of Short Stories.