Talin Rhela
 Talin Rhela
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| Gender | Female |
| Race | Miqo'te |
| Clan | Keeper of the Moon |
| Citizenship | Gridania |
| Age | 20 |
| Name Day | 16th Sun of the 5th Umbral Moon |
| Beliefs | Oschon, the Wanderer |
| Grand Company | Order of the Twin Adder |
| Rank | Second Serpent Lieutenant |
| Free Company | Area of Effect |
Character
General
Name: Talin Rhela
Birthplace: Thanalan
Age: 21
Relationship Status: Single
Sexuality: Somewhere around 1.2 on the Kinsey Scale
Class: Conjurer! ...and a bunch of other stuff.
Appearance
5'3", petite and curvy, though not all that short for a miqo. Inquisitive gray eyes and a kind, slightly self-conscious smile. Brown hair pulled into pigtails. Prefers light leather armor, or pants, boots, and a cute top. Not overly fond of heavy armors or bulky robes. Likes accessorizing with wristbands and chokers.
Behavior
Combat
Talin identifies primarily as a conjurer, healing and protecting where and when she can. When she goes on the offensive, she calls on the elements to aid her, nolethally whenever possible. She uses wind to deflect arrows, water to knock back or disarm her foes, and rock to trip them up or shield her allies. When a fight calls for lethal attacks, she grimly draws a dagger, hoping to end the fight quickly and without too much suffering.
General
Has a bit of a knack for mending broken things, and for salvaging components from irreparably damaged items. Refurbishes used clothing and furniture, and distributes them at reduced or no cost. Has some experience with light to moderate carpentry, and has helped repair houses damaged by bandit and beast tribe attacks. Has also become perhaps too accustomed to repairing the Refuge and Oasis after the latest scuffle or attack. Keeps an eye on the markets to see what's in demand, and teleports from city-state to city-state, to sell at a mark-up and fund her next plan or project.
Talin gets into a fair amount of perilous situations partially due to that combination of the adventurer's somewhat cocky self-assurance, the sense of invincibility possessed by the young, and a relentless optimism that things will work out, even if they're not necessarily in the way she'd imagined or preferred. Her patron deity is Oschon, and her devotion to him leads her into (and out of) all sorts of interesting predicaments.
Tendencies
Adaptable, level-headed, and optimistic. Friendly, kind, outgoing, and sociable. Strives to see "the big picture" and think strategically, but balks at being told the end justifies the means. Diplomatic, preferring to smooth over differences and gain allies, rather than focus on points of contention. Greatly dislikes hurting people, although her occupation of adventurer sees her in combat more days than not. Considers killing a last resort, and has vowed to preserve life whenever possible.
Strengths
Strong anima/life force, high proficiency with teleportation magic, which she uses almost constantly. Respectable skills of conjury, with an affinity for wind. Uses magic to aid her in everything from gardening to home repair, clothing alteration to finding things that are lost. Basic proficiency with stealth, lockpicking, disguise, subterfuge, discerning mundane and magical wards, ie "roguey stuff." Dabbles in divination and fortune-telling, mostly for her own personal use. Has developed quite a few friendships and connections over the years, and would certainly consider her friends and loved ones a major source of strength.
Weaknesses
Not particularly strong or muscular, and decidedly nonproficient with heavy armor. Overly casual with her use of magic, nonchalant about potent threats and dangers. Sarcastic and occasionally condescending in stressful situations. Tends to underestimate or downplay the sometimes troubling flaws of those around her. Reluctant to come to a snap decision, sometimes spending too long weighing her options.
TVTropes
Likes
- Shopping (for herself or others)
- Making Friends/Connections
- Helping People
- Feeling Needed
- The Elements (Particularly the wind)
- Parties
- Long Showers/Baths
- Gossip
- Travel
Dislikes
- Unnecessary Violence (particularly as a first response)
- Extremists
- Feeling Trapped
- Letting Someone Down
- Being Helpless When Someone Needs Her
Hobbies/Talents
Favorites
- Food: Raw oysters, walnut bread, finger foods
- Drink: Sweet wine
- Season: Spring
- Flower: Morning glory, lily of the valley
- Colors: Brown, green
- Scent: The air after it rains, "guy smell"
- Locations: Camp Drybone,
Relationships
Family
Friends and Allies
Licia Kline - A skilled crafter and businesswoman who aided Talin when Area of Effect was first formed, and contributed consistently to her various charity drives and aid events.
Saachi Medvyed - A beloved longtime friend and fellow adventurer, and a founding member of AoE. A true comrade-in-arms in the business of idealistic do-goodery with an undercurrent of unrelenting sarcasm.
Adolar Stone - a kind and easygoing man who always seems to be hard at work. Talin hopes he gets a chance to relax one day.
Iliette Guillestet - Talin's boisterous, athletic friend has a knack for meeting adversity head-on. Her travels keep her away for months at a time, and while Talin trusts in Iliette's capabilities, she still prays Oschon will keep her safe.
Desmond Aryll - Patron, friend, and confidante, though to what extent is not widely known. A canny Ul'dahn noble with his fingers in just enough pies to not attract undue attention.
Kroemgarr Hollborgsyn - A disciplined and upstanding man in the service of both the Flames and House Aryll. His regular patrols near the Oasis Halfway House and Shelter have done much to endear him to Talin.
Enja Niuhali and Mikh Tayuun - Leaders of the Golden Sands, and longtime allies of AoE and a force for good in Thanalan. Recently ran afoul of the Syndicate, and were forced to leave the city abruptly. Entrusted their holdings to the Thornguard and to AoE.
Vic Valcrist - A gentle, perhaps too-trusting man with an affinity for botany and some of the worst luck Talin has ever seen. She sees Vic as someone who really "gets it" in terms of never giving up on changing the world for the better, and his determination and optimism are a source of inspiration.
All of her FC, Area of Effect!
Enemies
Scorched Earth - "We are the boot that treads hard and mercilessly upon a sick world in desperate need of change...We do not fear the burning of the world; we pray before the altar of new life reborn from the ashes." A terrorist organization as dedicated to its goals of changing the world as AoE's members are to their own, except Scorched Earth's methods are extortion, blackmail, kidnapping and cruelty. It was clashing with this very group that in part inspired Talin to found AoE.
Rumors
"She's in here often, sometimes with her nose in a crumblin' tome, sometimes making lists, writing letters. Sometimes chattering away all animated-like on her linkpearl (I assume it's her linkpearl, else the girl's a bit troubled!), sometimes with a companion. I always wonder, is this an interview, or a date? Maybe it's both? Not my place to pry. Always gets the same drink. 'Sweet red for a sweet girl,' I say, and she always smiles. Not everyone knows how to take a compliment these days, it warms the heart. Sometimes she's all dolled up, lookin' like a princess, sometimes a lady of the- well it don't bear saying. Not my place to pry. Sometimes covered head to toe in dust or soaked to the skin, sometimes bright and bubbly, sometimes distracted, sad. Which Talin will I see today, I wonder, and what brought her here? Besides the sweet red and the oysters, of course. Folk said I was daft, oysters on the menu in the desert. But that girl will keep me in business with her orders alone, hahahaha..." - Perceptive Pub Proprietor, Camp Drybone
"Why is she always wearing collars and chokers and stuff? Is it like that one story where it's secretly to keep her head from falling off? No, I'm not gonna find out! I'd just have to clean that up, too." - Beleaguered Busboy, Carline Canopy
"My sister works for one of them seven-course banquet with eight different salad forks types inside the city proper. Cleanin' up after one such affair, she seen this girl leavin' arm in arm with some big-deal merchant or other, guessin ain't the first time. Now I ain't stupid, I know gil don't grow in the ground, the money what keeps this place runnin' gotta come from somewhere. But Ul'dah bein' what it is, can't but seem like a real conflict of interest. And one that's bound to bugger us down the line." - Unhappy Hyur at the Halfway House
On Talin
"When first we met. I knew you were 'overly friendly,' this is often due to some inner darkness. But in the weeks and our short conversations, I have learned this: You are a kind heart, sweet and gentle as a morning breeze. You face your days each one with a smile and a life like few people ever know. You -honestly- care about -everyone-. ...These are what I question most. They are not familiar in my home." - Savin Darksoul
"You care about everyone and while it might get you hurt from time to time, you really do care with all your heart to help them." - Ailsie Gauseborn
"I did not expect someone so small to have such a strong heart! It is good to see. If Eorzea is full of more people like yourself, I think I'll quite like it." - Gatai Kha
"She is their [AoE members'] leader, is she not? She welcomed, and accepted them all, as a mother would. She disciplines them, as a mother would. She watches over them, as a mother would. She must take responsibility....Your words, and your efforts have been proving to be ineffectual. Someone will die if you do not take measures, Talin." - Celestria Cavril
"You have the mindset of a leader, a good one. You care about subordinates and seem to have modest goals, with reasonable ways of achieving them. Making you a down to earth kind of leader. One people can relate to and enjoy the company of. You're the kind of person that people wouldn't mind having to address with honor." - Kalsang Tserin
"Dost thy curiosity still thine instinct for self-preservation? Never have I been approached so bluntly." - Medzium Oghinsea
"If a person wishes with all their soul to play with their life then they should. If you want to soothe the collective brow of as many people as you can, then you should. I'm not saying this in any way to demean you. Whatever you accomplish in life, and I think its a great deal, must be done with the humility of our station.
...You can't save everyone. What an arrogant thought. Don't you think? These eras, rising and falling like a tide, umbral to astral and back to umbral again. Do you suppose there wasn't a Talin there somewhere? Perhaps she brought about an astral era herself. Or, held that torch of hope throughout an umbral. And yet the cycle continues. Can you withstand your torch, as bright as it is, to 'simply' bear the light of hope for an entire era? Is that not enough?
Must it be permanent and eternal? Doesn't that sound awfully greedy?
Think of it this way. All great people, I think you are a great person in the poetic sense, have one underlying, undeniable flaw. They aspire.to change the world around them in a permanent fashion. Then oldest trees wither and die, even mountains crumble into the sea eventually. And yet we want to change the world, in our briefest of lifetimes.
Let them try, Talin. You won't be able to help yourself from doing the same, in your own way." - Desmond Aryll
"You're going to die in a gutter somewhere, Talin, your heart cut out by someone you were helping. That's your fate. What's so beautiful about you is that I think you know that, and do what you do anyway. It may be hubris, but I'll take it any day over the rest of the world's bastards." - Alara Charinne
Soundtrack
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