Johari D'laforet

Johari D'laforet
Gender	Female
Race	Miqo'te
Clan	Seeker of the Sun
Citizenship	Gridania
Age	28
Nameday	25th Sun of the 5th Umbral Moon
Height	62.5 ilms (5' 2.5")
Profession	Adventurer, Hunter
Relationship	Single
Guardian	Nophica, the Matron

Basic Information

Johari is a 28-year-old female Miqo'te of Seeker of the Sun descent. A former Conjurer who gave up the practice, she now travels wherever her work may lead her as she hones her new skills as a fighter (pugilist). While she has no problem working with others, and will choose to do so when given more dangerous tasks, she prefers to work alone or only with those she has become close to. Having learned some weaving and leatherworking from her mother, Johari can also be found offering her services at crafting guilds within the cities and more populated towns – when her travels bring here there. She is not highly skilled and cannot complete more detailed works, but will often take on basic tasks such as spinning yarns or preparing hides.

History

Childhood Johari was abandoned as an infant and found in the Twelveswood by two Wildwood Elezen. Having recently suffered the loss of their only daughter, the two gladly took her in and raised her alongside their son, Avrent, as though she were their own blood. As a child, Johari was all but ostracized by her peers. The fact that she is Miqo'te and was abandoned within the Twelveswood led many to conclude that she was the unwanted child of a bandit, a child of “bad blood” who would bring trouble to those around her. It was during this time that Johari was given the nickname “D'laforet” or “of the forest.” As such, Johari spent most of her time with Avrent and a Hyur boy, Jin Halwn, who was likewise the target of unkind rumors. Despite her social isolation, she was mischievous and happy and developed a close bond with both her brother and her friend Jin. With a love of adventure and an affinity for play-fighting, Johari's family always assumed that she would ask to train as a Lancer when she came of age. However, she had always admired her father and, out of love and admiration, Johari decided early on that she wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a Conjurer. Besides, she often heard her father's friends speak of exciting travels to foreign lands, where they helped those in need and tried to restore balance. She had never been beyond the Twelveswood and the idea of deserts full of sand and rocky cliffs overlooking a vast ocean sparked a fire within her. Luckily, her talent for aether manipulation and her father's connections ensured that she was able to study conjury, despite her unknown background. And although she was never blessed with the ability to commune with the elementals themselves, she was still fairly talented in her own right. Through meticulous study and dedication to her work, she developed her skills and eventually joined her father among the Conjurers of Gridania.

Pre-Calamity With war brewing and the beast tribes growing ever bolder, Johari found no lack of work in and around Gridania. The Gods' Quiver and the Wood Wailers frequently required the services of Conjurers and Johari was proud to be dispatched throughout the Twelveswood, along with her peers, to aid the brave men and women protecting the Black Shroud. However, in the months leading up to the Calamity, she began to feel less sure of herself. She began to worry for her brother, Avrent, who had joined the Order of the Twin Adder to fight for both Gridania and all of Eorzea. And as more and more of Gridania's defenders were being maimed and brought to the brink of death, it became more apparent what Johari's limitations were. Although she could save a life, she could not heal what was already lost. She could not return a man to what he once was before he was scarred in battle or before he lost his family to an attack. She began to feel restless, helpless, and frustrated. However, she felt that her father and all of the Conjurers were counting on her to aid those in need, so she did her best to push her doubts aside and continue her work.

Post-Calamity Although her family escaped death during the Calamity, their home and much of the land was destroyed. With so much death and devastation surrounding her, Johari was forced to face her mortality and the limits of her ability. Friends and neighbors were lost, wounded beyond her ability to save them. Homes were destroyed, nature was thrown into chaos, and all she could do was patch up the damage and wait. Her feelings of frustration, of helplessness, returned in full force. She felt like a failure, a Conjurer who could not save those who needed help most. She began to doubt her place in the world. What good was her conjury, what good was she, if she couldn't save the lives of her friends and colleagues? Could she have done more if she had simply attained more skill? And although she may be able to keep someone alive with her skills, what sort of life might they lead afterward if they are left blind, scarred, and unable to care for themselves or their families? She soon left her place among the Conjurers and sought to find herself. As time passed and people began to rebuild their lives, Johari grew restless. She no longer wished to see only the aftermath of battle. She wanted to fight, to protect, to prevent these lives from being lost. And as Adventurers began filtering into Gridania, offering their services and spinning tales of adventure and exploration, that fire within her that had been long forgotten was reignited. Soon, a small group of Adventurers arrived who were looking for a Conjurer to travel with them to Ul'dah in exchange for coin. Feeling that she might find her true purpose outside of the Twelveswood, Johari decided to approach them and offer her services. However, instead of gil, Johari asked that they teach her how to fight. Though her parents initially disagreed with her decision, fearing for her safety, they eventually came to terms with her choice and now support her desire to explore Eorzea. From all that the Adventurers taught her, she excelled most with hand-to-hand combat. Reminding her of the play-fighting she did as a child, the lessons she learned from Grymrael, a former Pugilist, were oddly soothing. Grymrael emphasized meditation and balance within self and it was this, more than anything else, that helped Johari to work through much of her self-doubt. She continued to train and hone her skills with Grymrael over the next two years, eventually giving up Conjury almost completely. Now Johari travels alone, having split with the Adventurers one year prior, and seeks to help others as best she can.

Personality Socially, Johari is polite, but does not open up to others easily. Still affected by her childhood, she feels awkward when around unfamiliar people and will often choose to quietly observe a conversation rather than take part in it herself. With those she considers friends, however, she is much more warm and lively. She enjoys the company of friends during her adventures and will often refuse to join with strangers on a job unless the danger proves it necessary. She frequently puts the needs of others before her own and is wary of those who are greedy. Johari takes her job as an Adventurer very seriously and tends to prioritize work that will be of help to those who are in danger or in need. However, she suffers from one particularly embarrassing flaw: she has an abysmal sense of direction. When asked about it directly, Johari will either change the subject or downplay her inability to navigate. Place a map in front of her or ask for directions, however, and she will instantly start to sweat. As such, she often relies upon rented chocobo or paid guides to travel between towns.

Relationships Family Auldix Courtois: Father of Johari and Avrent. Auldix is a respected Conjurer in Gridania and has often been the voice of encouragement in Johari's life. He was originally employed by House Haillenarte before abandoning the suffocating aristocracy of Ishgard. Idrianne Courtois: Mother of Johari and Avrent. A patient woman with a sharp eye, Idrianne is often the one to keep order within the family. She is a trained seamstress who currently provides her services to the leatherworker's guild in Gridania. She was originally employed by House Durendaire, but chose to leave Ishgard to follow her love, Auldix. Avrent Courtois: Johari's brother. Avrent initially disliked his adopted sister, claiming she was too loud and often too rambunctious to be part of an Elezen household. As she grew, however, Avrent came to enjoy his sister's company in an otherwise dull home. When he became aware of her treatment by her peers, he became very protective of her and would intervene if he found others teasing her. In adulthood, Avrent chose to join the Order of the Twin Adder and currently holds the rank of Corporal. Friends Jin Halwn: Childhood friend of Johari D'laforet. Jin left Gridania as a young adult and his whereabouts are generally unknown, though it has been said that he may be in Ishgard training as a Dragoon. Grymrael: Although Johari doesn't know much of Grymrael's past, or even her surname, Johari trusts her and counts her as a dear friend. What is known is that Grymrael was a Pugilist in her younger years and later left to pursue a life as an Adventurer and, later, a mercenary. Acquaintences Yele Nipmi: Yele requested Johari's services as an Adventurer just outside of Gridania. With her surprisingly positive personality, she seems to have left a favorable impression on Johari.

Rumors

Common ♦"Oh, Johari? She's Auldix's girl. She's a sweet girl, though she doesn't say much. My wife says she's icy, but I've always thought she's just a bit shy. Used to hang around with that Halwn boy when they were kids." ♦"Johari...what? D'laforet? Can't say I know th' name, tho' Auldix an' Idrianne have a girl named Johari. Surname's Courtois, tho'. She's not th' sort you ought t' associate with, t'be honest. Heard she left after th' Calamity, jus' up 'n left 'er whole family." ♦"She's pretty nice, once you get to know her. Couldn't find her way out of a carriage without a guide, though." Uncommon ♦"I heard she was the daughter of a bandit wench - left out in the Twelveswood 'cause even her own mother didn't want her. If y'ask me, that's where she belongs." ♦"She was sent off to marry some family friend in Ishgard, wasn't she?" ♦"Poor thing snapped after the Calamity. Was sent off shortly afterward, I hear." PC Rumors ♦"Feel free to add rumors your character has about Johari!"