Erdene Iriq

[edit] Basic Information Combat History Relationships Rumors Visuals RP Hooks OOC Notes  Erdene Iriq Gender Questionable Race Au Ra Clan Xaela Citizenship None Age Early-mid 20s Occupation Herbalist Affiliation Esoterica GENERAL INFORMATION Erdene Iriq is a displaced Xaela herbalist, medicine-maker, and witch. Following a disastrous emigration from the Steppe and several years of solitary wandering through unfamiliar lands, she was taken in as a ward of the Esoterica free company. She presently serves as the company's gardener, as well as assisting with its various ventures. APPEARANCE While tall for an au ra woman, Erdene is nonetheless tiny by most standards. A stretch of easier living has softened her shape only slightly, and she's still a flexible creature of lean muscle and efficient, slightly uncanny motion. She does possess a certain measure of grace, but it's something deliberately cultivated in spite of growing up gangly, and it has far more in common with a fighter's agility than anything classically ladylike. Her large eyes are harshly slanted and dark--violet against black--and her facial structure is sharp and delicate, often lending an unsettling, fey cast to her expressions. She usually wears veils and bandanas, which help to counter this somewhat. A lifetime spent outdoors and years of grief and stress have both taken their toll, and a close look will show hints of ageing around her eyes that better suit someone five or ten years older. She has almost nothing in the way of natural scarring; the only one is a thick, ragged line that almost completely encircles her right thigh. Her face is decorated with several grooved and inked scars that form harsh, sharp lines and serve to make her facial structure seem all the more alien. A curious set of glowing aetheric tattoos can be found winding around her torso and limbs, though they're normally invisible to the naked eye. Her hair, a massive collection of fluffy ringlets, is always kept in braids. Naturally white, she keeps it coloured a vivid turquoise-and-blue. It's often strung with charms, jewels, and flowers. PERSONALITY There is more good in choosing the lesser of two evils than in praising your morality and doing nothing while the greater one burns everything to the ground. A closed book, stoic in public and often pensive in private. This isn't helped by the coverings often worn over the lower half of her face, making her expressions all the more difficult to read. She's often hesitant to speak as well, not yet fully confident in her grasp of Common and reluctant to come off as stupid. Around those she's closer to, she speaks less stiffly and hints of a mischievous, affectionate soul seep out in her manner. She is attentive and gentle by nature, preferring to express her fondness for others by deed rather than word. She possesses a strong stern streak, though it's as rare as it is harsh. She is not as openly aggressive as her heritage would lead some to expect; most of that stereotypical Xaela fire is put to internal use, combating a pervasive sense of defeat and despair. The end result is someone placid and weary, much of her emotional strength drained by a private battle. She remains functional and level-headed in the face of horrifying events, but seemingly innocuous things can skew the odds and make her remarkably upset… and one way or another, she always pays for it later. LIKES Spooky stuff. Anything about ghosts, spirits, or elementals will pique her interest. Pretty rocks. Crystals, gemstones, jewellery--Erdene loves all of this, to the point of being avaricious. Blackhearted humour. Her sense of humour is abominable, though she rarely uses it out of courtesy. The Songbirds. She's a big fan. DISLIKES Innocent idealists. Their morals do not mesh gracefully, and Erdene is deeply uncomfortable around 'delicate' sorts, repressing much of herself for fear of setting them off. Super sweet things. She was slow to add sugar to her diet, and still doesn't like it in excess. Flirting. As much as flattery appeals to her vanity, Erdene is intensely uncomfortable with being viewed in a sexual light and seldom reacts kindly to this. She's more likely to leave than explain herself. Intrusive or mothering behaviour. She reacts very poorly to anyone trying to mother her or ask questions about her private life. This behaviour is perhaps the fastest way to ruin her opinion of someone. STRENGTHS Xaela brawn. The strength of a highlander woman packed into a tiny frame. What even are Xaela. Spooky serendipity. She has eerily good luck when dealing with anything related to spooks and spirits. Malevolent spirits seem to avoid her for whatever reason, and some of the tattoos on her body serve as wards against possession. Herb lore. If it's got leaves, she will either find it or grow it. Empathy. Erdene is hypersensitive to the flow of aether, and uses this to help her diagnose injury and illness. Spending more time around someone will hone her ability to 'read' them. WEAKNESSES Aether sickness. She's got it bad. This will cripple her if she's too close to something like a crystal deposit. Aetherburned. Though some of her tattoos help her channel aether, they also exacerbate her natural sensitivity to it. She takes increased damage from magic, especially damage-over-time effects and magical illnesses. Money. She can make gil just fine, and circumstance keeps blessing her with strange windfalls, but she's a complete idiot with it and always spends it immediately. Dubious sanity. She's functional, but one may occasionally catch a glimpse of what a mess the workings of her mind are these days. Low immunity. Growing up in a secluded tribe did not prepare her mediocre immune system for the gross superbugs of Eorzean cities. She gets sick easily and takes pains to avoid it. CURRENT INVENTORY This is a list of the items that Erdene usually has upon her person, though she often carries other things as well. Feel free to use this information if it comes up logically in the course of RP, such as pickpocketing, a search, etc. Last Updated: Sept. 15 / 2017. Cherry-blossom keychain: A cute cloisonné keychain with the Songbirds logo stamped onto the back. There's a single key on it, and it might be cursed. A straw: An atrociously complex and obnoxiously glittery curly-straw. Usually blue, sometimes purple. Linkpearl: It's covered in strange etchings and hovers right by one of her horns... though it's easy to miss when she's wearing a lot of jewellery, which is often. Gil purse: There's seldom a lot in there--just enough to make a few minor purchases. Candies: One tin containing homemade herbed caramels or pastilles to ease coughing, one tin of ordinary mints or anise sweets. Business cards: Two sheaves. One set has her name, profession, and contact information. The other is marked only with a frowny :( face and the words 'bugger off' written in ornate script. Smoking stuff: A little pipe with a flower-shaped bowl, and a pouch of some strange mix of incensey-smelling herbs. COMBAT & SORCERY Though of moderate skill in unarmed combat (and possessing the horrifying raw strength of a Xaela), Erdene was drilled from a young age to be a healer, and to keep her distance in combat whenever possible--she considers it her responsibility to survive so that she can tend the injured, and acts of stupid, dramatic bravery are unheard of on her part. She's at her best in the midline, aggressively supporting her allies with magic. This section is subject to change. Staff Her weapon of choice. Though used primarily to cast, opponents that get too close tend to find out the hard way why hers has a fulm-long metal spike and some worrying stains at the base. Offensive Magic Much of Erdene's offensive magic evokes fire and earth--more so the latter, leading many to mistake her for a conjurer of Gridanian training. There's no great sophistication to it, and overall firepower is low... though she very much wishes to remedy this. Defensive Magic Her bread and butter. She's attentive but reserved with healing, preferring to administer it meticulously after battle if she has the luxury. Auras Though it takes considerable concentration and energy, Erdene can put forth strong auras to protect nearby allies, bolstering their resilience and tolerance for pain or adding an extra punch to their spells. Curiously, this is at its strongest in grassy areas, and weakest indoors. BACKSTORY (Presently withheld.) RECENT HISTORY (Presently withheld.) RELATIONSHIPS RELATIONSHIP STATUS LEGEND ♥ Romantic Attraction – ♥ Physical Attraction – ♥ Platonic Love – $ Business – ❖ Deceased – ✔ Positive – ✖ Negative – ● Neutral – 🔃 Unsure – 🔒 Trust FAMILY & TRIBE These are mostly backstory-related relationships. LIST OF FAMILY MEMBERS Expand Qaratolui, mother. (♥🔒🔃❖) A Borlaaqi witch and healer who left her tribe to raise Erdene alongside her father with the Iriq, damning her reputation with the Borlaaq in the process. By far the strongest influence in Erdene's life, Qaratolui had strict expectations that her child would follow in her footsteps, and Erdene obeyed her wishes without hesitation. In the years following her mother's death, though, Erdene has come to doubt and struggle against some of what Qaratolui imposed upon her--though she knows it was done with the best of intentions, she's finally coming to see her mother as a flawed mortal rather than an all-knowing being that cannot be questioned... though she's also developed a new sympathy upon understanding that Qaratolui was an inexperienced mother trying to navigate a terrifying dilemma, and knowing what she sacrificed for Erdene's safety. Expand Arban, father. (✔❖) Erdene scarce remembers him, as he was killed by a Dotharl tribesman when she was five. She recalls that he was a scout, and a gentle soul. Expand Qorchi, adopted brother. (♥❖) Her eldest and dearest brother, three years her junior. They were fast friends and she's got a great many stories about him... though hints of grief and guilt sometimes surface whenever he's mentioned in conversation. It's taken several years for her to adopt the past tense. Expand Jochi, adopted brother. (✔) Her second brother, four years her junior. His body was not among those she found after a disastrous encounter with the Garleans, and the absence gnaws at her. Expand Oyugun, adopted brother. (✔❖) Third brother, six years her junior. Her memories of Oyugun are dim; he was a quiet but brave child, and that bravery left him dead in the wake of a Dotharl raid. Expand Nergui, adopted brother. (♥) Fourth brother, seven years her junior. Nergui was as strange a child as Erdene and just as enamoured of Qaratolui's magic, though she taught the two siblings different aspects of it that they might complement one another. He was kidnapped by the Buduga when Erdene was fourteen; she has not seen him since. NON-FAMILY Listed here are the non-family characters, both PC and NPC, that Erdene has interacted with enough or in such a way for her to form a real opinion about them. Last Update... Sept. 15 / 2017. * An asterisk denotes that Erdene doesn't know the individual's true name. LIST OF NON-FAMILY RELATIONS Expand Astor Fiedler, photogenic witch friend. (♥♥$🔒) Erdene owes Astor her life in several regards, and regards him with a ferociously protective sense of fealty and fondness. She was slow to trust him, but he's more than earned it. His mischievous side brings her own to the fore, and she's a far more relaxed and playful soul while he's around. Expand Volgeant Castellaine, master of Esoterica. (✔$) Erdene finds the greying elezen to be a pleasant and charismatic sort, and he's managed to sway her opinion on things she'd dug her heels into. She views him with reservation and respect both, and is always pleased to be of assistance. His blithe acceptance of supernatural nonsense appeals greatly to her absurdist sense of humour. Expand Batzorig Oronir, large friend. (✔) She hasn't known Batz for very long, but the two get along easily and automatically understand Xaela Things--he's something of a tiny cultural oasis, and he reminds Erdene a little bit of what it's like to have a brother. Expand Enqtani, small friend. (♥) A plump and imperious little rabbit, given to Erdene by Astor some moons ago. The bun serves as Erdene's comfort animal and can be found around the manor house where Esoterica makes its home, eating valuable herbs like the tiny criminal she is. Erdene dotes on her beloved rabbit and spoils her horribly. RUMORS NPC rumours related to Erdene. Feel free to utilize these in your RP hooks. ◢ Common Rumors - Easily overheard. Use these freely! "That Xaela girl? Seen her around the Dunes, popping into brothels and chatting up whores on the street. Think she sells them medicines or something." -- Ul'dah only. "Keeps asking about the elementals. What they like, how to say hello, that kind of nonsense. Bloody idiot if you ask me." -- Gridania only. "She does odd jobs, I think. Always hauling bundles of herbs off to the levemete." -- Universal. "That's the Black Mirror's daughter, isn't it? They used to sell medicines, but they've both been gone for years." -- Steppe only. ◢ Uncommon Rumors - A little more difficult to hear. Use sparingly or ask first! "I don't know what she's about, but I've seen her vanish into the woods. Gods only know what she gets up to in there." -- Shroud only. "Associates with that Ala Mhigan witch. Has the accent, too. Bad news." -- Shroud only. ◢ Rare Rumors - Very rarely overheard. Please ask before using! "Her mother abandoned us." -- Steppe Borlaaq only. SCREENSHOTS A collection of screenshots of Erdene that serve as a visual reference, or snapshots from certain roleplaying scenes. ARTWORK Various drawings and paintings of Erdene, done by her long-suffering player. You are not permitted to re-use this artwork for your own characters or purposes, whether on Final Fantasy XIV or on other games, forums, etc. ROLEPLAY HOOKS Hooks for Erdene tend to revolve around business and healing matters. It's possible for more outgoing characters to just roll up and chat--she's friendly and can be quite talkative once she gets going--but being a shy character, she's very unlikely to approach anyone without an outside reason. Medical Assistance: Your character needs healing--especially fastidious healing that isn’t going to scar. Erdene gets around a lot in her search for herbs and ingredients, and could certainly trip over someone out in the wilderness. Leafquests: Your character needs rare/good quality herbs, or medicines derived from them. She works almost exclusively through the leve system, presently in Gridania, but her business cards may still be floating around in Ul’dah. Confused Lizard Asks Questions: Your character is Gridanian and willing to weather endless curiosity from an earnest lizard who’s trying her best to be a good guest among the elementals. Be aware that she hasn’t got a lot of patience for rudeness; if a character is condescending or abrasive, she’s just going to move on and ask one of countless other locals. Medical Assistance 2.0: Your character served on the Gyr Abanian front of the SB campaign. Erdene worked long hours as both a camp medic and as one of those healers that’ll wade into a warzone to stabilize the wounded and drag them out. She's also been known to punch Garlean soldiers until they stop moving. Everything is Lizards: Your character is a Steppe-raised Xaela. Fellow Iriq may recognize her, and her family was known for making and trading medicines and herbs with some other tribes. Individuals of certain tribes (most notably Dotharl and Buduga) will have a very hard time earning her goodwill if they're open about their identity. ABOUT THE PLAYER I've been at this RP nonsense for about 12 years, and while I'm about as jaded a participant as you'll find, collaborative writing has never lost its shine. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND... I do not nag or chase people for RP. I try to be proactive and reach out rather than expecting RP to fall into my lap, but if I'm not met halfway, I will assume the other party isn't interested and move on. I dislike major retcons. Nixing a couple of emotes because you changed your mind about what character you want to bring into a scene? Totally fine. Derailing a ton of stuff in a big group scene because you don't want to deal with the consequences of your character's actions? I will make unhappy noises. I'm not looking for a FC. I am both ICly and OOCly happily established in one already. I strive to be low-maintainance. While I do ask for the courtesy of a quick heads-up if plans change or you need to cancel a plot or fall off the internet for a while, I don't mind at all. Just let me know so I can work around it! Erdene is a slow-burn character. She's evasive and skittish, and while there's plenty of surface-level stuff to interact with, earning her trust enough to learn more about the character is a very long-term and difficult endeavour. It's definitely not for everyone, but there is a lot under the hood for those who want to go the extra mile. GUIDELINES I don't have a terrible lot of guidelines, and I can generally tell very quickly if playstyles and preferences aren't going to mesh gracefully. Still, here are a few specifics: I WILL NOT... Do romance plots. This is reserved for good, long-time friends that I trust not to get weird about it. No exceptions. Play the bad guy. For all that Erdene dabbles in spooky stuff and grey morals, she is at heart a heroic character, if a tragic one. This is just the wrong character for the job. Kill off or permanently cripple this character. This is the only one I've got right now; don't even ask. In fairness, I'm not going to deliberately shove her into situations that should by rights get her killed. I WILL... Play a friend. Erdene is generally easy to get along with, and I find IC friendships to be woefully underrated. Go on dumb adventures. Erdene won't even blink if one of her friends waves a treasure map in her face or tells her about some weird ruins they found. She is there. Dabble in dark themes. I don't care for them in excess, but Erdene is basically made to navigate them and come out intact. I do, however, expect any such subjects to be treated with respect and a realistic understanding of consequences. OTHER LINKS Character aesthetic/prompt/art/writing tumblr Aetherjewel.

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