Benedict Whiteraven

[edit] Basic Information Combat History Relationships Rumors Visuals RP Hooks OOC Notes  Benedict Whiteraven Hell is yourself and the only redemption is when a person puts himself aside to feel deeply for another person. Gender Male Race Hyur Clan Midlander Citizenship Ul'dah Age 36 Occupation Astrologian/Wanderer/Panhandler Orientation Heterosexual Marital Status Dating Alyria Winchester Alignment Chaotic Good Deity Oschon GENERAL INFORMATION Benedict Whiteraven "I am a man of keen eye and slurred speech! A marvel of the world I live in and truly a man well past his expiration date! I am a whisper on the lips barflys and broken down limosan hookers! I am BENEDICT!" -Quote from a VERY drunk Benedict. Someone once accurately described him as, "a man who walks in nightmares, both when awake and asleep." Benedict Whiteraven is a man struggling with himself. Growing up amongst the poor of Ul'Dah he learned how little the world cares for those at the bottom. Despite the odds he pulled himself from the gutter and dedicated his life to the protection and defense of the downtrodden. Choosing a simple life he wandered from place to place, finding shelter where he could and offering aid where it was most needed and panhandling when life dictated. He never asked for payment or praise for his deeds as he saw it as his duty. Years of sacrifice, personal failures, missed loves, and lamented opportunities, had left their mark upon him and slowly the seeds of resentment for a life spent in service had begun to take root in his soul. Dark thoughts crept at the edges of his mind as he fought to continue on his chosen path. His mind was thus when he took an ill-fated trip to Ishgard and came upon the dark knight soul crystal which led him down the darkest road of his life as it gave freedom and form to all the pain and hurt he had bottled up throughout his years. Benedict became a different man while giving into the abysmal freedoms offered by the soul stone and lashed out at friend and foe alike for any reason that seemed to fit his sour mood.Tragedy by his own bloody hand broke his mind for a time and he removed himself from the civilized world and found shelter in a frozen cave in the wastes of Ishgard's harsh wilderness. He claimed the area as his own and severed limb and brought countless deaths to those that crossed its boundary. In the end he would be found and slowly brought back to some semblance of the man he once was and now travels the world once more looking to find some form of redemption, but this time he does so without sword or armor but instead with the fledgling magics he is learning as a healer and astrologian. "You know, the only thing I remember from Sunday school is the martyrs... the saints, the saviors... they all end up the same way. Bloody and alone." -Claire, Daredevil Ben at "Home" when he lived on the Pearl Lane APPEARANCE Slightly confused in Gridania Benedict is a male midlander in his mid-thirties and a medium athletic build. He is about average height, maybe slightly on the shorter end of average. Despite his height he strikes a commanding visage with his striking blue eyes and mess of shoulder length white hair that has turned black at the edges since he picked up the dark knight crystal but has since began to fade as he starts his path to redemption. Casting aside his traditional arms and armor and always being a fan of longcoats, Benedict often wears a long white coat of exceptional quality, a gift from his teacher upon agreeing to study as a healer. This is worn with most of his daily activities but he also carries a long hooded white robe when either weather or the situation dictates he dress more in a conservative manner. Aside from the two scars on his face, one over his left eye and the other across his right jawbone, anyone who ever got a look under his shirt or at his legs would notice that his skin looks more like a topographical map of scars spaced out across his body more than anything else. Benedict has seen many battles and because of his past chaotic impulse to throw himself at a cause or a person in need and combined with his near suicidal and overly aggressive tactics as a dark knight, this means he has taken quite a few injuries in his time. Before he began his studies as a healer, which has made up much of his life, Benedict often traveled alone and thus his body has not had the benefit of much magical healing. Instead he tried to take care of injuries as best he could and this usually ended in jagged scars and misaligned stitches. Most of these are hidden under his clothes but with his flair for wearing fairly open clothing, they would not be hard to see for one who was looking. PERSONALITY Benedict is still finding himself after being offered his chance at redemption. Where once stood a man of great confidence instead is found a man unsure of his own skills as a healer and reader of fates and stars. He often feels vulnerable out in the world without the familiar hilt of a sword in his hand and the weight of a suit of armor on his back. He tries his best to put such thoughts out of his mind and focus on mastering his new studies but that is often easier said then done. He fails in his attempts to heal a fair amount of the time and the temptation is always in the back of his mind, "If I just had a sword, then I could . . .," but deep down he knows the horrors he brought about at the end of a blade and so he reluctantly holds to the vow he made to his teacher to not make use of the tools of his former life again. As a result of his budding study of Astromancy, Ben has begun to pay close attention to the small details of life that may (or may not) be connected to the subtle hands of fate. He has not quite gained a mastery to tell the difference from a minor event that has greater meaning and a minor event that is simply that, a minor event. This has led to Ben becoming quite innocently obsessed with small pattern events, like mentally referring to a person sinister who always seems to stand to his left, or questioning if there is deeper meaning to seeing the same person at seemingly random locations in a given week. This is something he will get better at as his skills as an Astrologian improve, but for now it is an odd quirk that most find a bit annoying. 5 traits that describe Benedict Whiteraven: Homeless Loyal Persistent Wanderlust Emotional https://www.16personalities.com/ This is what I got when I took it as purely Ben: (Campaigner (ENFP-a) The Campaigner personality is a true free spirit. They are often the life of the party, but unlike types in the Explorer Role group, Campaigners are less interested in the sheer excitement and pleasure of the moment than they are in enjoying the social and emotional connections they make with others. Charming, independent, energetic and compassionate, the 7% of the population that they comprise can certainly be felt in any crowd. Other Campaigners you may know: Robin Williams/Wash from "Firefly"/Robert Downey Jr, and my favorite on the list, Willy Wonka). Quirks Ben is an avid listener and in most cases he will wait to be asked direct questions before volunteering information. Often can be a bit of a silly drunkard, but has a deeply serious side he hides from most people. When he is feeling unsure or awkward he tends to run his hand through his mess of white hair or rub his chin. Other Alignment: Chaotic Good Favorite Food: Marmot Steak Favorite Drink: Aged Rum Favorite Color: White, followed closely by blue LIKES Strong Drink Ben is a fan of his drink with his favorites being spiced rum for parties and such, and bourbon for deep thought or a solemn victory drink. Relaxing by the water Ever since he was a child and use to go to Vesper Bay with his grandmother, Ben found the water a calming influence on him and found comfort there. Even now one of his favorite places to set up camp is on the beach. Good company with old friends Ben loves to be social and the longer he has known someone the more comfortable he feels just being himself around them. Strong willed individuals He respects people who are not easily swayed and have the drive to take what they need from the world. Even if such folks are in opposition to his goals, he can’t help but respect them. Traveling/Seeing the world Ben has traveled the backroads, alleys, shipping lanes, and oceans in and around Eorzea for years and finds few things more helpful in clearing his mind than a good walk somewhere. Music (Especially strong female vocals) Ben has a deep appreciation for music, despite having no talent for it self. He can be easily swayed by an impassioned violin or sultry female soloist. LoyaltyAlthough his greatest crime was one of broken loyalty, there are few thigs he values more, perhaps even because it was his own greatest failure. Reading fortunes Since he started his road to redemption, Ben has found few things that make him feel like he is actually giving back to the world like performing a reading for someone else. He never charges for this, although tips are appreciated. He can usually be found panhandling outside the Quicksand and often performs readings for folks at the same time. Rain and storms He will willingly stay out in the rain for hours just for the sheer pleasure of it. Few things get his blood truly pumping like a grand thunderstorm. DISLIKES Cruelty As a street person and later a crazed Dark Knight, Ben has seen both sides of the world’s cruelty and now can’t stomach those who would use their strength to sow strife and misery for the sheer enjoyment of it. He struggles with his desire to act when faced with such opportunities because he instinctively looks for a blade and has to remind himself of his oath. Entitlement Growing up poor in the slums of Ul’dah he learned the entitlement inherent in the city and grew to dislike those who go through life with such an air about them. Heat The sweltering heat of the desert is choking in its intensity at times and ben would rather feel the frozen wind upon his face than that unforgiving heat that saps strength and endurance so quickly. Prudish behavior Ben has always been rather direct and this has led him to say things that are not always the most respectable or proper for polite society. This means he often has to have words with those who turn their noses up at his statements. STRENGTHS Swordsmanship He was taken in at an early age to train as a gladiator, after that he was a soldier in the military, and then after that he made a life as a traveling sellsword. This have given him a lifetime of combat experience that forged him into quite the deadly swordsman, even if his vow prevents him from picking up a blade. Woodcraft/Botany His years on the road have allowed him to pick up a rather high skill at woodcraft. This skill has allowed him to excel in survival of quite diverse environments and move quietly through the dense brush. Cartography When he ventured from the shores of Eorzea he picked up the skill and proved to have a true talent for it and has since come to enjoy mapping out his old haunts. Sailing His love of water led him to eventually learn his way around a ship. When he is out at sea his mind is clear and his heart was calm, but such things can only last so long. This skill was perfected when he spent over a year away from Eorzea sailing the seas with a merchant vessel. WEAKNESSES Strong drink Ben loves alcohol and tends to indulge in it to excess quite often. He has recently attempted to cut back on this but it is very hit or miss. Impulsive Ben is driven by his desires and often moves forward without giving a lot of thought into the consequences of his actions, particularly when he is the only person he could see being at risk from a given course of action. Oath Both a strength and weakness for him, he has vowed to never again place a weapon in his hands or to don armor. He refuses to even make use of utensils for this reason and as his magical skills are still building, could be exploited in combat if he exhausts the limits of his new powers. CURRENT INVENTORY This is a list of the items that Benedict currently is keeping on his person. He carries a pack on his back at all times while travelling, only putting it down in an inn room in large cities if he'll be there for more than a day. Feel free to use this information if it comes up logically in the course of RP, such as pickpocketing, a search, etc. Star Globe and Fate Cards: Being an Astrologian is very important to his new sense of identity and path of redemption, so he carries these items at all times. Food: Ben always keeps random food items for snacking on his person. Jerky, dried berries, possibly even a half eaten sandwich. Usually the food that is ready to eat is kept in his pockets for easy access. Severed finger: When a thief is caught, a common punishment is to remove a number of fingers proportional to the value of the items stolen. These fingers are then taken and blessed by anointed priests of Oschon the Wanderer. It is thought that, when carried on a journey, these fingers will point out the safest routes, and are therefore cherished by caravan drivers and traveling merchants throughout Eorzea. Small gil pouch: He keeps the pouch on his belt to quickly reach what little money he has. There's usually not a lot in the pouch, just enough for a few drinks or a meal. 12x Flasks: Half are on his belt and the other half are in his traveling pack. They tend to be filled with rum or bourbon. COMBAT & WEAPONRY Combat use to be Ben's bread and butter, as he became a skilled swordsman at an early age and continued to perfect his skills into adulthood. Since he shifted towards the role of a healer combat makes him quite apprehensive and he doesn't have the confidence to trust in his magic to help resolve an issue. This has caused him to fall back more heavily on diplomacy and trickery, something his current teacher says is good skills for him to hone. Despite this, Ben still struggles with tackling his problems head on as he has always valued the direct approach for finding a resolution. For now, he avoids combat whenever he can and if he feels his magic is not up to the task then he will often place his body in harms way so that others may flee. As one thing his life has taught him, few can take a beating like he can. If he were forced into combat then he will struggle with keeping his anger in check and if things got desperate he would be hard pressed not to look for a blade, which he should never wield again. Star Globe His current "weapon" of choice. He prefers to heal or cast protections on people over actually using any offensive magic due to his oath and desire to avoid causing injury unless absolutely necessary. Bow and arrow He learned how to hunt using the bow and arrow years ago but he doesn't carry one currently and even if he did, he only had rudimentary skill at best. He prefers to use snares and traps for his roadside dinners. Fists and feet As part of his early gladiator training it was mandatory that he learn several unarmed techniques. Although far from a dedicated pugilist, he has more than enough skill to handle your average bar fight and such. Sword and shield This is by far his most familiar fighting style and one to which he excels at. Again, he no longer carries such gear, but if he did he would prove quite the deadly combatant, something that would surprise most who just see him as an odd drunkard. Two-Handed Sword During his time as a Dark Knight he took to the heavy cleaving action of the large blade quite easily and focused more on brutal and deadly strikes meant to butcher or maim his enemies. It led him to adopt a near suicidal fighting style based around all out attacks with no focus on defense. BACKSTORY Birth and Early Life Benedict, “Ben” to his friends, has always been a simple man with simple desires and pleasures. He grew up on the dirty streets of Pearl Lane in Ul’dah being raised by his grandmother. His parents had both decided early on that they were not ready to be parents and left him in her care never to return. Every day his grandmother would load up a wagon of shawls, blankets, and other assorted articles of clothing she had made and they would trek down to the Vesper Bay docks and sell her wares to the people getting off and on the boats. He still holds very fond memories of playing there as a child. He was barely a decade old when his grandmother passed away and with no means to make a decent wage he was forced onto the streets. It was here that Benedict first truly encountered the blend of apathy and cruelty that faces the poor and neglected. Benedict scrounged for several years as he did all he could to survive in a world where everyone is out for themselves and if you have something there is a line of others who wish to take it from you. He learned to fight in those days with whatever he could get his hands on. It was after one such battle with several other street boys that Master Swordsong from the Galdiator's guild took notice of the boy's talent. It's not that he was always faster or stronger than the other boys, it was that he could take a beating and never failed to get up. It was shortly after that Benedict was brought to the arena. There he would take care of the armory and clean up after the gladiators in exchange for a cot, warm food, and training in the ways of the blade. The War When Benedict heard about the Garlean invasion force he wasted no time and signed up with the Immortal Flames. For Benedict this was just another example of someone trying to take from others by force and entitlement and he was quite eager to put the skills he had honed in the arena to the test against the Garleans. It was in the military that Benedict met Adaris, one of the best friends he has ever had. Adaris was a highlander whose family was wiped out in the fall of Ala Mhigo and had joined the Immortal Flames as soon as he got to Ul'dah. Benedict and Adaris were thick as thieves and on several occasions had saved one another from certain death promised by the imperial war machine. Their unit was at the Battle of Carteneau, a reserve unit near the edge of the fighting. Both men gave it their all as the were outflanked and the imperials swarmed in around them. Bloodied and near exhaustion they fought until a misstep gave a Garlean the opening he needed to end Benedict. The enemy blade never fell upon him, Adaris leapt at him before he could strike Benedict. As Adaris took the blade to the gut the moon fell from the sky and hell erupted around them. The shockwaves tossed Benedict and all those around him to the four corners. It wasn't until the following day when Benedict woke amongst the wounded. For days he searched frantically for any word or sign of Adaris. Finally Adaris was located and Benedict put him to rest in a solemn grave in Carteneau flats and officially left the Immortal Flames. Aftermath Benedict wandered Eorzea alone for years afterwards. Sleeping in barns and under bushes, wherever he could. Often times he would trade manual labor for food and a cot or he would make use of his sword skills and deal with some beast that chose to prey on the common man in his dark hour and at the very lowest he would setup near some tavern or inn and simply panhandle his way across Eorzea. It was during this time that Benedict was perhaps his most content, but this is also where he found that when good men become desperate men they will lie and cheat for whatever they can. Many deals for services rendered were reworked because funds were not available or food was too scarce. Never did he complain or take issue with those who had so little and needed his aid, but deep within him there was an outrage at the deceit which had become commonplace. He existed as such for several years until he made his way to Gridania one autumn night. The air was filled with the scent of harvest and Benedict had traveled there after he had helped a local farmer bring in his produce to sell in the capital. He was enjoying the simple pleasure of a warm meal when he spotted a young miqo'te woman whose striking look and warm smile almost made him forget about his stomach. Never one for being shy Benedict made his way to her and introduced himself. They ended up talking the night away and from there things blossomed into a relationship over the next few months. Much like himself the miqo'te was skilled in natural lore and survival leading them to spend much of their time outdoors enjoying the bounty of the Twelvewoods. Sadly for Benedict, such happiness was not to last and by the next summer the two began to drift apart. One day Benedict came back from hunting and she had taken her things and was gone. He was never sure what it was that had caused such a chasm to form between them, but he had seen it growing by the day. Although it was not unexpected, he was still devastated by her disappearance. For a time he tried to console himself with friends he had made since putting down roots within the Twelvewoods, but in the end he simply felt lost and again he buried his anger. When he had be come so disillusioned with the world around him he was reminded of the contentment he had found on the open road and made plans to leave Eorzea. Finally he gained passage on a ship as part of her crew and took sail over the open waters of the world. That was a little over a year ago and although word had circulated that Benedict had perished at sea in a storm he has once again returned to Eorzea's shores, but he is not quite the man he use to be as an ill-fated trip to the recently opened gates of Ishgard led him to the discovery of a Dark Knight soul stone. Rather than control the power of a Dark Knight, Ben surrendered to it and allowed himself to become swallowed by the well of darkness and heartache he had kept buried for so many years. What began as the brutal maiming of cutthroats, thieves, and low-life's of all caliber, ended in everyone around him whether they be friend or foe, suffering at his hand. After a bloody encounter in the frozen plains of Ishgard with several people who had once called him friend, Ben was left alone to his dark fate. He found shelter in a frozen cave and lashed out violently at any who intruded on what he considered his domain. Finally after quite some time an aged astrologian followed the signs and portents he had read in the cards and stars and found Benedict. As Ben made his way to dispatch another who had dared to intrude upon his solitude and self-imposed exile, the astrologian held up a soul stone that began to glow with such intensity that Ben had to shield his eyes and abort his murderous plans. The old man spoke and offered Benedict a chance to live in the world as a man again, not some cave dwelling monster that he had become. He offered him a chance to not only reclaim his humanity but to make amends for his past horrible deeds by serving as a healer and guide to those who needed it most. All he need do was relinquish his sword and armor, leave them there in the frozen cave, and return with the old astrologian to the city. Ben accepted this new path and now walks an uneasy path that his teacher tells him was always meant to be his . . . Benedict tells Aya's fortune before work. . A New Path-Current Story Arc Recent events had reached him that street folk were being taken at night off the streets of Limsa Lominsa and never seen again. This prompted Ben to start sleeping in the areas where folks went missing and in no short order he found himself magically slept and hauled away in chains to an island where he was forced into hard labor mining aetheryte for the pirates in charge and their Sahagin allies. Luckily no one expected a bum to have a link pearl and using a bit of stealth learned over the years, he was able to sneak away periodically and get messages back to Alyria, who then organized a grand rescue party. Once Ben had secured the coordinates and gave a landing strategy to avoid the Sahagin charmed krakens that guarded the deep water docks, a great landfall was made and many adventurers arrived to find a near exhaustive Ben and free the island. He later reported that the majority of the pirate fleet had made off with most of the aetheryte they had been mining. He also revealed a few journals and an star chart that he had stolen from the captain's chambers when he got the coordinates for the island. He believes these journals are what is guiding the pirates in their task and unraveling their mysteries will help the group get ahead of their plans. Once back he found time to rest and recuperate and doing so was able to express to Alyria that he was willing to try and make something more of their friendship, a sentiment that she agreed with. After that he made his way back to Ishgard to inform his instructor of what had transpired over the past weeks. To this his teacher proclaimed he had overcome his doubts and fears and used his talents to guide and heal others, even in the thick of battle, and in doing so was ready to be proclaimed a full astrologian in his own right. He then gave Ben a new suit of robes and bid him to continue down his path and seek to raise not only others, but himself up to that stars. RELATIONSHIPS RELATIONSHIP STATUS LEGEND ♥ Romantic Attraction – ♥ Physical Attraction – ♥ Platonic Love – $ Business – ❖ Deceased – ✔ Positive – ✖ Negative – ● Neutral – 🔃 Unsure – 🔒 Trust FAMILY These are mostly backstory-related relationships. LIST OF FAMILY MEMBERS Expand Lydia, Grandmother. ( ♥ ❖ ✔) Ben’s Thoughts: "Of all the people I let down with my choices, she is the one that hurts the most to think about." Ben's grandmother raised and him and whatever is good and noble in him surely comes from her and the life lessons she tried to impart on him. Few have ever heard him mention her at all and fewer still knows his guilt for failing to live up to the idea of the man she wanted him to grow into. If someone knows of her then Ben has truly opened up to them in a way that he has done with few others. Expand Unknown, Father. ( ●🔃 ) Ben's Thoughts: "Meh." Ben barely knows anything about his father aside from the fact he was some mercenary whom his mother fell for and left everything behind to be with. He never once decided it was an important enough to go seeking the man, even if he knew his name. All his grandmother would say is that he looked a lot like his father. Expand Annabelle, Mother. ( ●🔃 ) Ben's Thoughts: "Would have been nice if she had stuck around . . . especially after I was on my own." Ben knows a bit more about his mother thanks to stories from his grandmother, but even those have lost some of the detail and faded with time. He knows she was a trained weaver like his grandmother and can't help but feel saddened when he runs across a female weaver who is about the same age as his mother would and sees she is struggling. NON-FAMILY Listed here are the non-family characters, both PC and NPC, that Benedict has interacted with enough or in such a way for him to form a real opinion about them. Please don't take personal offense if your character isn't listed here, or how the interaction or relationship is described. All descriptions are purely based upon in character experiences and opinions! Last Update... 06/13/17 LIST OF NON-FAMILY RELATIONS Expand Alyria Winchester, A woman of fire and a great axe. ( ♥✔🔒) Ben’s Thoughts: "She sees my life as no other person does . . . not even me. She gives me hope that I can keep moving forward. " Alyria Winchester Alyria is a self confessed Garlean ex-patriot looking to build a new life in Eorzea and Ben met her at the Wayfarer's as she was practicing the art of tending bar. As a man looking to shed his own past and make more of himself, he can't help but welcome the woman and do what he can to aid her in her desire to form a life of her own free of the shackles of her past. Because she has been adamant in her view that he is not a drunk he decided that perhaps she would be willing to trust him in the field. This has proven to be good decision as the two proved they had good combat symmetry against surprising and extreme forces. He hopes that perhaps by working together they can redefine how people see them both. Something she seems to want just as much as he does. Their most recent trail had given them both a lot of time to think and upon their reunion they decided that perhaps trying at being together would be a good idea. Expand Aya Foxheart, So much more than just a face. ( ♥ ✔ 🔒) Ben’s Thoughts: "Aya is always amusing to watch as she works a room. If they only knew . . . " Aya Foxheart Ben met Aya back when he was nothing more than a struggling sellsword about Ul'dah. After the war there were more sellswords than work and Ben turned to panhandling outside the Quicksand to make sure he had the means to eat regularly even if such "work" didn't afford him with the spare funds to find adequate shelter. In those days he would find his rest back on the streets of Pearl Lane. He got to know Aya as he came in when he could afford a meal and she was always very kind to him, showing no difference to the man than she would the more affluent patrons. After time they would chat as she made her rounds and the two became friends of sorts. Luckily they had drifted apart a bit by the time Ben fell to the darkness and he would much rather Aya never finds out about that side of him and what he had done. Recently he ran into her again as he had once again taken up his position panhandling outside the Quicksand. The two spoke of the old days and her new success and profession, and she reminded him of the man he use to be. He hopes to see her more often as her bright nature can only help him on his current road to redemption. Expand Deahfel Pharasma, Determined Protector. ( ♥ ✔ ) Ben’s Thoughts: "I hope she has the strength to keep on her path." Deahfel Pharasma Ben initially ran into her on several occasions and always at places tied to his morning divination readings. She seemed quite the positive person and her general presence made him feel more welcomed in places where he might otherwise seek to quietly curl up to a bottle. He has resisted seeking answers from the cards and stars regarding her and what part she might play in his own fate, instead trusting to the grand plan to take him where he needs to go concerning this new acquaintance. Over a short time Deahfel has become a trusted friend and he has made it a point to do what he can to support her heroic ideals, even if he feels he falls far short of them himself. To that end he joined her order, the Hydaelyn Protectors, and although he has yet to do much with them since taking his oath, he has faith that when he is strong enough they might call on him more. until then he does what he can with the occasional reading and such.. Expand Rihxo Matoi, Strawberry. ( ♥ ✔ ) Ben’s Thoughts: "I hope you find all you are looking for..." Rihxo Matoi Rihxo, "Strawberry" to him, met Benedict in the early morning as she walked past him sleeping in an alley off Pearl Lane. He was completely amused at such a well-dressed woman strolling through the worst slums in Ul'dah and decided to offer his assistance in helping her find her way back out. Through a series of snap decisions, some guided merely by his thought for good food, the two had a very chaotic and amusing day together. He truly tries to remember to use her real name, but he finds "Strawberry" far too fitting to give up. Initially he began to have some feelings for her but when he found she had started a relationship with another, he was quick to back off. The two have become rather good friends and she knows more about him than most and still stands by him and calls him friend . . . something priceless in his eyes. She wasn't around for his dark time but returned back into his life as he was seeking to pick up the pieces. She is both one his favorite drinking partner and a confidant, and will stand by her as long as she lets him or until he passes out . . . whichever comes first. They briefly tried to have a relationship but due to her near constant quest to find her parents, she left shortly after and ended the relationship. All in all, Ben wishes her well and knows how important her parents are to her. Expand Kazukata Go, A kindred old warrior. ( ✔ 🔒) Ben’s Thoughts: "We have a lot in common . . . I will do my best to see you don't fall into the same holes as I did." Kazukata Go Ben met Go Kazukata at the headquarters of the Hydaelyn Protectors and was immediately impressed with the manner to which the old warrior held himself and considers him a interesting conversationalist. Kazukata seems to carry a weight not that differently from his own pains, and respects that the man has yet to let his inner darkness swallow him. Admittedly the concept of another soldier to sit and drink with appeals greatly to Ben, as it is something else to help remind him of his time before he had his own fall to darkness.In the brief time they have known each other he has come to see Kazu as a man of character, a confidant, and a voice of wisdom and reason. Truly, Ben looks forward to the day when he can stand beside his friend out in the field and be counted as a comrade in arms. Expand Naomi Kett, The punny cat. ( ✔ ) Ben’s Thoughts: "Why? Why does she have to use so many puns . . . just . . . WHY?!" Naomi Kett He first introduction to Naomi was quite painful for Ben, as she walked up on stage and began a "comedy" routine of nonstop puns. After slamming his head into the table several times and after her set she walked over to the table he was sitting and began chatting up those seated. Despite her bad sense of humor, he found the woman held a certain confidence and charm that he had to grudgingly respect. He then encountered her several times after that and with each encounter his admiration for her grew until he came to count her as a friend. He has begun to help her with her magic, which in and of itself surprises him greatly due to magic being relatively new for him. However, their excercises have bore fruit and he shall keep assisting her as best he can . . . in light of her puns. Expand Bra'ya Slater, The purr that could launch 1000 ships . . .. ( ✔ ) Ben’s Thoughts: "She has a big struggle ahead of her with her own past . . . I'll do my best to help when she needs it. " Bra'ya Slater Ben met Bra'ya when she came to the Wayfarer's and was immediately amused by her positive personality and the way she rolled her "R's" when she spoke was enough to send a chill up his spine. He has not spent a lot of time around her since but she seems to be quite socially adept and I trusts they will cross paths more as time goes on. Having performed a reading for her he knows she has a hard road ahead as she plums into her past, but believes she has the inner strength to tackle it on her own terms. Expand Asuka, Unknown. ( ✔ ) Ben’s Thoughts: "Unknown." AsukaUnknown. RUMORS These are rumors, both from NPCs and PCs, that one might overhear in regards to Benedict. Feel free to utilize these in your RP hooks, or add your own! ◢ Common Rumors - Easily overheard. Use these freely! "I heard he was homeless. Where do you suppose a man like that sleeps at night?" -Ul'dahn merchant watching as Benedict makes his way through the bazaar "Did you see him last night at his table? He's a bit of a crabby drunk." -Waitress at the Carline Canopy "I know him! He's the guy that cut down the Sahagin war party that attacked a farmer's cart outside the city. Killed them all as easily as he walked down the road. Never even said anything." -Local Trader at the gates of Limsa Lominsa ◢ Uncommon Rumors - A little more difficult to hear. Use sparingly or ask first! "I saw him once getting on with some Immortal Flame chaps, I think he was a soldier or somethin'." -Ul'dahn baker as he watches Benedict sleeping in an alley "I think he has some type of camp set up in the coast out by the Mist. Better there than here in the city." -Yellow Jacket as he passes Benedict in Limsa "Every now and again in the winter I see him dropping off piles of firewood to the locals, especially the older folk. He has a soft spot for those that can't do for themselves." -Wood Wailer Captain ◢ Rare Rumors - Very rarely overheard. Please ask before using! "That guy has traveled all over. I hear some pretty powerful people owe him favors all over Eorzea." -Armorer from Limsa Lominsa "Yes! It was that man, I'm sure of it! He broke my arm and murdered several of my guards last winter! All I did was have some street vermin kicked to the side of the road! I want him arrested!" -Wealthy and entitled Ul'dahn merchant lord "Him? That's Benedict. He has been coming here off and on since he was a boy. Never any trouble." -Old dockworker in Vesper Bay "Word is he lived like an animal out in the wilds of Ishgard . . . maybe even ate a few people." -Barfly in the Brume ◢ Player Character Rumors - Feel free to add rumors of your own! "Huh? Oh, yeah, sure! He stays at my house sometimes! It's always fun! W-Wait, I didn't mean it like that... don't g-give me that look." -Rihxo Matoi, turning pink ""I’m not sure what more you want me to say. I hardly know Ben — um, I mean, Benedict — and I'm rather certain that if you were to ask him he would quite agree…with great pleasure." -Elyon Eba "Of course I know ne'er-do-well Ben! He's spent a few turns around the Quick Sand. - Did you know he tells fortunes now? And he puts on quite a show with the cards, you should give it a try! Besides, I hear the better the tip, the better the fortune! It may just be your lucky day." -Aya Foxheart SCREENSHOTS A collection of screenshots of Ben that serves as a visual reference, or snapshots from certain roleplaying scenes. ARTWORK ROLEPLAY HOOKS Really I'm up for just about any RP but these can help with ideas if needed! Contact: Ben is a street person with many years living at the bottom rung of society and as such knows many seedy and less than reputable folks and few characters would know more about the vagrant/homeless population around Eorzea than him. Travelling: Ben has travelled a lot and met all sorts of people. Anyone that recognizes him, good or bad, can always start something. Side Character: I don't mind being a side character to any plot you may have and need someone to help springboard off of. Just let me know! Hurt and in need of healing: Although relatively new to healing magic, he is a talented and dedicated study who is willing to aid others as best he can. Readings: He does several readings a week for various characters and will be more than willing to provide divination for those that ask. Bar-fly: Ben is a drinker and as such he tends to float from bar to bar quite often and can be found at almost any location that serves booze. ABOUT THE PLAYER Rp Style: I would say that I'm a medium roleplayer with some leanings towards heavy. Although I find the story well written and the combat enjoyable, roleplaying with others is where I get most of my enjoyment in game. I am perfectly ok with having OOC discussions but I prefer they not interrupt roleplay if possible. Views on RP combat and injuries: I feel roleplay injuries and combat to be a natural part of the game. I have roleplayed Benedict suffering from many injuries throughout his career and find that when combat is called for then it adds to the roleplay. That being said, I do not believe it ever benefits anyone to break from lore or take things to a godlike extreme when it comes to classes and combat. Such as, don't all of a sudden pull a magical knife that has the power to never have the injuries it inflicts be healed and constantly cause crippling pain and expect me to not hit the PAUSE button and ask, "WTF?" I am also a fan of incorporating class abilities into my combat descriptions if I am roleplaying to be a member of that class. Views on IC romance: I think this is another area of the game where doing it well is beneficial but going overboard can bring misery to all. I love the idea of character meeting and relationships being formed, romantic or not. This is one of the great joys of mmo roleplaying, the ability to interact and have relationships with other characters. If this becomes romantic, then you get to explore something new in character. My only real advice is keep it IC and not OOC. Views on non-romantic RP: See above. Caveat: Nonromantic relationships are a pillar of a good roleplay community. Friends IC usually make good friend OOC. Romantic IC count as good friends OOC in this case. Views on lore: Lore is the backbone of the game and without it then we are basically playing in the plumb pudding of fantasy rpgs. The lore is what makes the world and the game itself, unique. I try not to break the lore, although I admit to not being so well versed that I don't do something by accident. Once I know better, I tend to adjust my roleplay accordingly. Views on chat functions (/say,/linkshells, etc.): I use says almost exclusively IC. Linkshells, tells, and other sorts of contact I adjust based on who I am speaking with. If a LS is mostly OOC then I use it for OOC, but if it is designed to be a hub for RP, then roleplay it is. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND... I AFK at random times in game I am a father of two very small boys and at times they may need something immediately and they come first. I always try to alert those I am rping with that I will be AFK, but that is not always possible. I'm pretty much always IC So really most any walk up RP is totally fine. When in groups that are using party as OOC, then so will I but I try to keep all of his /say text IC as often as possible. I do enjoy PVE content So even though I am almost always IC there are times when I just don't feel like RPing so please don't take it personally if I'm not up for it right away. If people are interested I am a fan of converting PvE content into Rp experiences, but I understand people are not always into that. GUIDELINES Overall, I'm pretty chill as far as guidelines go. I don't have an extensive list of 'Do's or 'Don't's or things that I personally find triggering. So chances are, you won't offend me or make me uncomfortable unless you're trying and putting in extreme effort. That being said there is a big difference between me being frustrated and "Ben" being frustrated. Still, for the sake of making sure everyone's on the same page here, let me make a few mentions in particular: I WILL NOT... Permanent character death Mature themes that are not related to plots or character development I WILL... Most mature content and themes (violence, sexuality, drug / alcohol use, coarse and excessive language, etc.) Temporary injury and incapacitation. Temporary captivity or imprisonment. Most walk-up encounters. Long-term and/or permanent injury and disfigurement. Ask first please! Long-term captivity or imprisonment. Ask first please! This isn't a huge list that shows everything that could come up so if in doubt, just ask! I prefer to set out guidelines for RP in advance anyway so I know what goal to have in mind. This template was created by Deirdre Ta'ea, then modified/mixed from Franz Renatus, Leanne Delphium, Bancroft Gairn, and Jaliqai Qulaan. Feel free to use and edit this template to better fit your needs. However, please be sure to leave all credits in place. Thank you! For a blank copy of this template, complete with ease of color scheme customization, click here.