Dresden Voltaire

Error creating thumbnail: File missing  Dresden Voltaire
Error creating thumbnail: File missing "One weak moment can bring down a powerful nation."
Temple Knight
Gender	Male
Race	Hyur
Clan	Midlander
Citizenship	Ishgard
Place of Birth	The Brume, Ishgard
Guardian	Halone
Nameday	First Astral Moon (Age: 32)
Orientation	Bisexual
Marital Status	Single
Occupation	Temple Knight under Lord Commander Aymeric

Basic Info

"At the end of the Dragonsong War, we had expected victory or the cold embrace of death. Instead, we received an ignoble end of confusion, betrayal, and a loss of a once proud faith." —Dresden Voltaire

Appearance

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 175 lbs

Complexion:  Fair

Hair:  Black

Eyes:  Grey

Particular Traits:  Vertical scar over right eye.

Voice Canon: Nicholas Boulton

Clothing Style: Full bodied cloaks, preferably black and slim, fur trimmed, temple knight armor

Laterality:  Right-handed

Tastes

Hobbies

• Reciting holy scripts
• Conversing with strangers
• Meditation
• Gambling

Likes

• Aggressive people
• Interpreting scriptures
• The thrill of battle
• Warm fires

Dislikes

• Indecisive people
• Clingy women
• Those that look down upon the religious
• Tonberries
• Close-mindedness
• Cherry Bombs

Favorites

• Color: Black, White, and Bronze
• Food: Dzemael Gratin
• Drinks: Coeurlspice Ale
• Scent: Fresh snow
• Place: Saint Reymanaud Cathedral
• Festival: Starlight Celebration

Goals

• Exorcising the voidsent that was disguised as his sister. [Concluded]
• Captured any and all Ishgardian deserters in the name of the Holy See. [Concluded as of Before the Fall]
• Recuperated from a near fatal wound made by an old Doman friend. [Concluded]
• Forwarded information to Menelwen Veara. [Ongoing]
• Prepared for the inevitable war in Ishgard. [Concluded]
• Maintaining piece within Ishgard. [Ongoing]

Religion

Having been clothed and fed by the Holy See after a childhood as a street urchin in the Brume, Dresden was wholly devoted to the religion of Halone and the Archbishop Thordan VII to the point of fanaticism.

As of completion of Heavensward 3.15, Dresden's fanaticism has severely shifted due to recent events. While devoted to the worship of Halone, he no longer entwines his personal religious inclinations with the Holy See and has freed himself from the murky politics.

Alignment

Lawful Neutral: Devoted to both Ishgard's country and main religion, Dresden does fall back on their code first before utilizing his own personal one. While he was still strong in allegiance to Ishgard and the people he was indebted to, Dresden did not feel responsible for the greater good of Eorzea nor the state of the other city-states and their politics. However, he believed in reaction should such things come cross his path and will take a stand to unfairness and corruption if he sees it.

Personality

A combination of pragmatism from a lowborn life in the Brume and the religious doctrine of the Holy See had made Dresden somewhat unhinged, torn between being pure and devout or hedonistic and primal in his early adult years. Doubled even more of his premarital deviant behavior which was frowned heavily by the Holy See, his continual switching between sin and piety had earned him many warm beds with eager soldiers and nobility alike and a swift lashing for it much later. This had only served to make his thirst for passion almost insatiable. Because of this, he had quite a few different personas tailored for every occasion.

Towards strangers, Dresden appeared very amicable, able to talk with people and on the surface seem very put together and eloquent in order to lower his companion's guard. This was due to his job as a service to the Holy See, constantly searching for Ishgardian heretics to drag back for sentencing. He is especially polite and respectful toward Elezens, for they make up a good number of nobility back in Ishgard. Should he find an Elezen heretic, his approach of capture tended to err on them living than dying, as his orders for potential nobles were different than civilians.

His behavior toward his sister was a different facet. He was aggressively protective towards her because of her possessed condition and fear that if she grew close to someone, that person could be in danger and therefore endanger the both of them should word spread. Before his journey, he had been famously known to chase off her suitors, threatening death to all who tried. This had caused many unwanted rumors to abound, most implicating lust for his own sister, much to his displeasure. He was much more soft-spoken and gentle around her false form, even more so due to his guilt.

In the presence of the Holy See and the Ishgardian houses, Dresden acted as a model disciple of the faith: polite, reserved, and completely devoted to the scriptures. This is where the opposite of his duality comes from, his supposed 'light' side to counter his dark.

It was only in battle or when he was seducing did his dark personality show. Bloodthirsty and decadent, Dresden enjoyed escaping his pious persona and engaging his inner street urchin, often using a silver tongue and animal-like movements to secure his prey. This was reflected in his magic and thirst for mana, creating a devastating destructive force that would make many cringe attempting.

As of Heavensward (three years later), age and experience has rendered Dresden weary and desperate for repentance. His past rife with struggle and the religious chains of control, Dresden's outlook on life had always been to kill or be killed with no compassion for others. After he stepped foot outside of Ishgard under the guise of an alias, the people he had met had considerably changed his outlook on life.

As if a fissure inside him was finally shifted and made whole, Dresden had a reaffirmation of faith, but at great cost. His determination outweighing all else, and his relationships in near tatters by the end of it. He had left his comrades with regret and bitterness, but it was an important tithe to start anew.

Coupled by his permanent stint returning to Isghard, his sinful disposition had been completely internalized - one that was wrapped in a veneer of prayer and duty in the wake of his newfound allegiance to Lord Commander Aymeric as a temple knight. Because of this he is much more reserved and even tempered, if not alarmingly patient, as his role dictated calmness and order in the face of Isghard's cracking infrastructure.

Unfortunately, his new demeanor would give no ilm for the explosive magic in his blood, one that could only be tapped and warped into by raw emotion. With his new pious path, Dresden had no choice but to forgo his staff and pick up a greatsword, as he was unable to manipulate his aetheric reserves and wield magic anymore. This also came with a greater cost - his body is unable to accept healing magic in any shape or form. When wounded, he would have to deal with healing naturally on his own.

Quirks

• When surprised or amused, Dresden's left eyebrow would often quirk up should he avoid saying anything.
• While teasing be it innocent or not, he tends to sensually purr it out. This was a problem back in Ishgard as many would misinterpret his joking around to actual intent and would alert the clergy about it.
• He's been sick after rain storms on beaches. Twice in one week at one point. This was because of his mana problem which was naturally tied to his life force. Oftentimes he was easily prone to illness such as colds or flus due to a weakened immune system that came from the aetherial tether. Thanks to his pious path, this is no longer a problem, but he still gets sick easily.
• Tends to pinch the bridge of his nose when annoyed or exasperated.
• As of Heavensward, Dresden can no longer tap into his aetheric reserves. He is unable to naturally sense, manipulate, or conjure any sort of magic. Healing magic has no effect on him either.

Flaws

• Dry humor. Most of the time it goes over many people's heads. He usually does not clarify, preferring those to become frustrated and finding amusement in it.
• His silence is both his greatest trait and greatest flaw. He is always thinking, always pleasantly conspiring, and will sometimes fade out of conversation because of it.
• Aside from his pursuit of magic, Dresden has trouble finishing what he's started, often leading it to become stale and uninteresting to him. Boredom is his greatest enemy.
• In addition to boredom, he cannot resist seduction though he would valiantly try. A life spent trying to remain pious has weakened Dresden's resolve in the affairs of affection. It takes little to stir him to interest.
• Dresden is both touch-starved, but reluctant to touch another person. You would find him very pressed to do simple platonic actions like embracing. This is due to the rigid training from the Holy See in his youth. Such actions are usually frowned upon or treated as a weakness. Lust is easy, but romance is not.

Fears

There is little to fear anymore for Dresden, who has lost everything and gained everything in the new life he forged for himself. The closest to fear would probably be regret and worry. He had shattered bonds and used people to his own ends in the past and seeks to recompense somehow but unsure to what end.

Simple fears like attraction and long-term relationships do plague him, but there are exceptions. Being chained down is a possible fear for him as well.

Talents

Dresden used to be naturally talented in the arcane arts. Whether it was from a family he did not know or not, his prowess alerted the Holy See enough to pluck him and his sister from the streets. And with reading and writing at his disposal, he had proved a valuable asset to the fight against the dragons, employing various magics and curses designed to slow them down.

On the social side, Dresden can be quite the silver tongue in conversation, often using thought-provoking words to disorient and control a person to his side. Oftentimes he used them to either draw a person in or have them lash out. Either way, the conversation must needs to be manipulated to his favor. This, however, had been put into disuse pending his new life and will sporadically use this for trivial reasons.

Intelligence

While he had natural intuition due to his earlier years on the streets, he picked up quite a bit of an academic streak once he was taught to read and write by the Holy See. This has made him extremely eloquent and especially a scholar in the arcane, but other subjects make him a very poor student such as swordplay mechanics and/or agricultural studies for example.

Aside from the arcane studies, he is more socially intelligent or 'street smart' and therein where he was most comfortable at.

TV Tropes

• A Taste of the Lash: Had this almost weekly for flirting with stationed soldiers all in a tizzy in his youth.
• BFS: Was forced to switch from a staff to a claymore.
• Becoming the Mask: His time infiltrating the city-states in the name of Ishgard had turned him away from the Holy See's strict service for those he had grown to care for.
• Bi The Way: Has no problems finding beauty in the male or female form.
• Black Mage
• Blood Magic: One of his greater regrets in his youth.
• Brought Down To Normal: As of Heavensward, Dresden cannot wield or accept magic. A psychological block brought upon by his new pious nature unwittingly suppressed his aetherial reserves, forcing him to pick up a blade and fend for himself.
• Church Militant: Most of the fighting Dresden got himself into was usually under the orders of the Holy See.
• Faux Affably Evil: Had no problem doing morally questionable things to further his agenda and he would even be polite doing it.
• Heel Realization: It was under Ser Aymeric's command that Dresden saw the harshness of war and how easily the Holy See's isolation of Ishgard has been slowly dragging their country down while engaging with the Dravanians.
• Knight Templar: In a very literal sense as it's his job.
• Line-of-Sight Name: Dresden Voltaire was an alias he used to spy for Ishgard, named after a dragoon who died in his first infantry and a scholar who tutored him when he was young.
• Morality Pet: This was the reason why he turned.
• Staff of Authority
• Street Smart: Comes with the territory of living on the streets at a young age.
• Tall Dark and Snarky
• The Unfettered: There is little that could have stopped him from getting what he wants.
• You Are What You Hate: Living as a spy for the Holy See has brought him to this end and the chaos that came with it the last few months.

Abilities and Skills

Personal

• Agility: Being able to slip away quickly, sometimes without detection, to avoid confrontation.
• Charisma: Is able to carry on a conversation and lower a person's guard down with a friendly smile.
• Misdirection: Can lie on a whim and build up stories from them without breaking down. It is also used to twist a person's words and turn it against them.
• Determination: Once his sights are set upon someone or a goal, he can become relentless with consequences.
• Intellect: Able to quickly learn things if he wishes to set his mind to it. (Often times he doesn't.)

Weapons

• Primary: Staff or Wand/Shield (As of Heavensward, the Claymore)
• Secondary: Bow and Arrow (As of Heavensward, the Lance)
• Tertiary: Tome

Magic

• Thaumaturgy [Currently locked]
• Astrologian (Barely)
• Conjury (Illegal)

Crafting

• Alchemy
• Culinary
• Goldsmith

Family and Relationships

DISCLAIMER


All what is written here bears absolutely no OOC feelings, and may be subject to change as the story develops. If your name doesn't appear in this list, I have probably forgotten, or my character just doesn't remember you. Please do not use these information to affect you ICly or mess with my character's feelings. Use of OOC information will be flagged as god-moding and I will not react to it ICly if I feel this is what you're doing.

Relatives

• Siobhan de Lancret (Mother): A noblewoman whose lesser house fell into financial duress under Durendaire after most of her kin died in combat with the Dravanians. She ended up as a scullery maid out of the 'kindness' of the other houses and disgraced herself into the streets even further for engaging in a romance with one of their guests and became pregnant with his child. She would die years later in childbirth giving birth to Sabrina.
• Nikola Deisatus I of the Black (Father): A revered thaumaturgist that visited Ishgard before the isolationism. He lured a scullery maid for a quick tryst, who ended up becoming the mother of his illegitimate child. From a long line of thaumaturgists, the Deisatus Family has political clout in Sharlyan territory and are not aware of Dresden's existence.
• Gaston Voltaire (Adopted Father): During Dresden's stint in the Holy See, he trained under the watchful eye of his pious mentor, who's son had been recently killed fighting Dravanians. After his death, Dresden took his last name as a sign of remembrance and honor.
• Sabrina (Voltaire) de Lancret (Sister): Dresden's only living relative. She had been his anchor to survive the streets of Ishgard in hopes of a better life and was the catalyst for him agreeing refuge in the Holy See. He believed her dead by his hand, unaware of the conspiracy his former mentors in the Holy See had done to convince him of this.

Positive

• Aerostein Epitaph: Non-religious, compassionate, and a mage of the light, he was everything Dresden despises, but forbidden enough that it intrigued him. Aero knew about Dresden's mana problem and became one of his many victims to slake that thirst. When he should have killed the Hyur to prevent his secret from surfacing, Dresden miraculously let him live. In a rare act of compassion, Dresden had refrained from pursuing Aero as a sign of friendship.
• Ciel Wulfe: A Bard that Dresden had become very acquainted with and had journeyed with this adventurer before into the depths of Stone Vigil. He has respect for Ciel's maturity and wisdom, often befitting a true Elezen. When she was tasked to recapture the Conjurer's Orb and thereby be at odds with him, Dresden harbored no ill will towards her and in fact admires the ruthlessness the Conjurer's Guild used to find him.
• Deverell Jinx: A fellow Thaumaturgist that joined the Ossuary at the same time Dresden did. Despite conflicting morals and choice of dealing with a problem, (Jinx would rather seek strength in numbers whereas Dresden prefers a more bloody confrontation), Jinx had become a close confidant if not for the sexual tension that was once betwixt them. Seeing as Jinx already had a plethora of admirers, Dresden enjoyed being the 'one who got away'. A fellow Thaumaturgist that joined the Ossuary at the same time Nikola did. He was one of the extremely few who are aware of Dresden's status in Ishgard.
• Gus Pumpkinweed: An enterprising merchant with a penchant for pumpkins. Impressed with Gus' passion for goods and his own appreciation for merchants, Dresden offered his services to the Lalafell's growing business as his new bartender. He offered Dresden his job back after being fired and, though his ever growing tension with the Holy See continues, he had been contemplating on returning.
• Hiro Ayami: A strange man that came attached to Nylesa when Dresden met him. Dresden believes him to be some kind of homunculous construct unable to understand hyur attachment seeing as the man has no interest in affection. He named the Cherry Bomb Calcifer much to Dresden's dismay. His conflict with him set the stage and it was his blade that wounded Dresden, though non-fatally when he should have.
• Katiti Kati: Second in charge to Gus and a strict manager that oftentimes grated on Dresden's nerves. She's got him 25 points under during his job orientation and had pulled him by the ear like a child when he was ill and lied about it during the second orientation to avoid losing points. He had a kind of twisted soft spot for the Lalafell, seeing as she reminded him vaguely of the female clergy back home. She fired him for causing a stir in the Quicksand.
• Menelwen Veara: The polite and elegant Elezen Dresden admired and respected. Her great magic and personality made her one of the few he could trust his darkest secrets with and it was her gift of healing that has been helping him recuperate from his battle with Hiro. In return, he is bound to her and must give her any and all information for her own ends from now on.
• Nadeau Celeste: A young woman Dresden met once, but had a positive impression on. They had quite an animated conversation about curses and aetherial tethering, something Dresden is desperately searching an answer to.
• Nylesa Tou: One of the new servers of the Piquant Pumpkin. Dresden found a good synergy working with her during mock orientation, one that he hadn't found yet with any other server. She became a permanent addition seeing as she could help deal with the new menace in the bar and keep Dresden from destroying the cabinets in frustration. Dresden had become oddly attached to her, often willing to tease and cajole her whenever possible. She had been the start of his attempt at healing which is a struggle for him. This, compiled with her acute compassion for his well-being, was what drew him to her. (Or it could just be one of her punches has finally knocked a brain stem around. It's highly debatable.) She had been wounded during his confrontation with Hiro and, despite losing her due to conflict of interest, has always tried to seek her out to no avail.
• Sarial Hawke: A Highlander that both intrigued and infuriated Dresden, often because of their clashing ideals.
• Sethaner Somerville: One of the bouncers for the Piquant Pumpkin who got between Dresden and a crazy Lala. Nicknamed Big Guy, Dresden enjoyed trying to get him in trouble with Katiti, which earned the both of them ear pulls for their mischief. If there was anyone strong enough that Dres could depend on, it was Seth.

Neutral

• S'imba Tia: A member of the Piquant Pumpkin that Dresden bet on during a brawl with S'honji in the Quicksand. He won the bet but apparently forgot that he promised part of his winnings to the Miqo'te.
• Sigurd Rainecourt: An intellectual that Dresden met at a beach party. His folktale about the Three Aldgoats was probably one of the most amusing tales of the night.
• Heartsong Tailchaser: A seeming bestial Miqo'te who was hunting in the beach during the beach party. Dresden was intrigued with her peculiar personality and was entertained by her story of how her people received their tails.

Negative

• Aaron Glacier: Impulsive and overcompensating, Dresden had no love for such a combination without maturity and/or responsibility for one's actions to back it up.
• Calcifer the Bomb Cherry: A tiny bomb cherry that Dresden discovered in the liquor cabinet in Fisherman's Bottom. The creature instantly attached itself to Dresden and made his life miserable while working the bar in the Piquant Pumpkin by bouncing on his head and eating everything in sight. Some of the nicknames include Blistering Bunion, Flaming Freak, Annoying Aethercreature, and Sodding Shitehead to name a few. While he hated the thing, he acknowledged its potential use in the bar, often using it to fire up tea for the baristas and servers so he didn't have to do it himself.
• Pyralis Targaryen: An unnamed bard that spat alcohol in Dres' face at one point in Gridania. Seeking bloodshed, they ended up in a quick physical altercation only for the bard to escape amidst the bar brawl.
• Rhysati Lhea: A Miqo'te woman attached to Menel, Hiro, and Nylesa's company, Dresden had very little respect for her as they have clashed in ideals before. Where she finds him decadent, he found her irritating.

Affiliations

• Holy See of Ishgard
• Congregation of Our Knights Most Heavenly
• Durendaire House (Unaware)

Music Themes

Note: Vocal Songs are attributed themes in which the lyrics seem to relate or partially relate to the character. They don't mean to resemble the character's voice. The instrumental themes are meant to give an idea of the atmosphere around the character. Songs with character names (example: "Tidus's Theme") are NOT meant to indicate that the character is like the theme owner. I just find the instruments and melody fitting, not the character the song was originally addressed to.

• "Arms wide open, I stand alone. I'm no hero, and I'm not made of stone. Right or wrong, I can hardly tell." - Wrong Side of Heaven (Five Finger Death Punch)
• "The game has been set: Play by the rules, and keep doing what you’re told. They lie out of sight, yet I’m the heathen holding you accountable. Are my pleadings loud enough for you to hear?" - Why (Living Illusion)
• "The more the light shines through me, I pretend to close my eyes. The more the dark consumes me, I pretend I'm burning, burning bright." - Burning Bright (Shinedown)
• "When I could only see the floor, you made my window a door. So when they say they don’t believe I hope that they see you in me." - Be Somebody (Thousand Foot Crutch)
• "It was like a nightmare and it's pain for me, cause nobody wants to die too fast. Remember day of grief, it was strange for me. I can see your face. I can hear your voice." - Reluctant Heroes (Hiroyuki Sawano)

Rumors

Note: This section is editable by anyone. Just keep in mind that the rumors here may be both true or false.

• "You know that Dresden guy? I totally caught him cooking up pumpkins on his off-hours. No really, it's true!" - Aerostein Epitaph

• "He's one of the most lethal types of people in this world; That is- if you've caught his fancy or decided to make yourself his enemy." - Hiro Ayami

• "I don't know about this guy he kinda reminds me of an evil mage I know...I'm betting he's like the rest...spending all day plotting to try and take over the world." - S'imba Tia

• "I get the sense that he is troubled. Would that I could do more to help, but I dare not pry too far." - Ciel Sauveterre

History

Name and Lifestyle

Name Etymology

Not Applicable

Nicknames

Would not recommend giving him one. Unfortunately it happened.

• Dres: Something he's fine with so long as he is familiar with the person who calls him this.
• Dresy: He will maim you should this be used. Even more so if he hardly knows you.
• Promiscuous One: Damn you, Hiro and your drunken Slyph-speak!
• Jaicroux Lancret [Jai-crow Lawn-creh]: One of his pseudonyms.
• Nikola Deisatus: His real name, though the only person who is aware of this are a very select few.

Current Residence

The Goblet, Ul'dah

Before Dalamud's Fall

Birth and childhood (0-10)

On a cold winter's eve, on the cusp of the annual Starlight Celebration, was a child born deep within the Foundation's Brume. His mother, a former denizen of House Lancret, once fourth of nobility under the banner of Durendaire, now unemployed scullery maid. He was a product of a disgraceful tryst with a visiting Sharlayan thaumaturgist who had been a prized guest to Durendaire, and one with which he shared a name.

Like his uncertain future, Dresden - though named Nikola upon birth - was rife with fragility and woe. Nearly lost to the frigid Coerthas air, it was as if Halone herself sheltered and helped the infant take its first breath as his mother curled beneath a stone statue dedicated to the Fury. "Blessed by the Fury," his mother would recount and Dresden would take these words to heart from then on.

Alas, this is where her compassion ended. Ever desperate for coin and food, his mother played upon the hearts of the populace using her infant for a pity's gaze. As he grew old enough to stand on his two feet, he was often left to scrounge for food and shelter with the other children as his mother danced the night away for petty gil and a warm embrace.

One such warm embrace beget another child on Nikola's eighth winter, though his mother would not survive the birth this time. With his newborn sister swaddled in their mother's own bloodsoaked skirt, Nikola found an infertile noble couple desperate for children. Discretion prevented them from adopting the boy, but they offered a bountiful wealth of gil in exchange for Sabrina.

Perhaps it was selfishness that brought the decision to spiral downwards. Nikola refused to part with his sister and instead fought tooth and nail through the Brume itself to take care of her - if not at the cost of his own.

As winter chill gave in to frail morning light, Nikola shirked off the burden of childlike innocence and assumed the role as patriarch and protector of the only thing precious in his meager existence. But without a role model to glean from, Nikola's determination would become displaced, and his earnest desire to keep his sister safe would turn cruel and unforgiving.

Teen Years

But all was not lost to them. As early as he could recall, Nikola's talent for sensing and manipulating aether would eventually catch an important eye. At eleven winters old, a group of knights from the Heavens Ward would witness Nikola delighting an audience with a simple conjuring of sparks weaved into shapes at the whims of the young nobles. As they exploded in a fanciful haze of fireworks overhead, they deemed him a menace for possible heresy and brought him before the Holy See for judgment.

Hearing the name of his mother leaving Nikola's lips during questioning, one man on the inquisition was stirred in remembrance for her, realizing that the boy before him was Siobhan de Lancret's. The inquisitor, a devoted but stern Elezen named Gaston Voltaire, was once Siobhan's second when she had been the lady of the former Lancret House. He questioned Nikola's magical ability through trial by combat and proved to the Heavens Ward that Nikola's defeat posed no threat to the Holy See. As a show of promise, he offered to take the boy and his sister in as his own and, when Nikola was of age, he would be summoned to use his arcane talents for the ongoing Dragonsong War.

There was little for Nikola to do but accept. Very few lowborn children would ever ascend upwards in Ishgard's strict, traditional echelons save for scholars. He would be foolish not to accept. With Gaston as their new guardian, Nikola was rechristened as Dresden in respect to Gaston's slain son from the Dravanian horde, and shirked his old life behind completely.

While Sabrina took advantage of a full belly and a warm cot, Dresden spent many tireless nights tutored and trained through scripture and divine faith of the Fury. He was taught to read and write and quickly develop his magic through what few arcane tutors were available.

But many winters bring change and soon Dresden turned from an underfed street urchin to an articulate young man whose dark complexion often attracted the attentions of nobles and soldiers alike. Dresden spent his late teen years exploiting highborn parties and unofficial tavern functions at the Forgotten Inn like the other youths, ignorant of the weight of their forefathers pressing down upon their shoulders.

Oftentimes, his dalliances would clash with his patron or the clergy itself. This tense struggle would come to a head when Dresden found himself entangled with a highborn son, Jaicroux. When his lover announced Dresden as his second, it brought the house to an uproar. Willfully ignorant and rebellious, Dresden shirked Gaston's warnings about Jaicroux - who the Heavens Ward believed was secretly conspiring with heretics.

He was right.

As Eorzea quickly found themselves sequestered in the opposition of the Garlean Empire, the Dragonsong War was quickly ushering new bloodshed. Upon Dresden's twentieth winter, he threw himself at the mercy of the inquisitors when Jaicroux mustered a cult of their fellow peers. Dresden and a group of Temple Knights intercepted their escape to join the other heretics, having "learned the truth from a woman of ice". Dresden was not swayed by his heretic lover's plea to join them and, in a gesture of loyalty to his countrymen, lead the vanguard and slew Jaicroux after he turned into an aevis. This action would devastate and fracture Dresden's spirit in the years to come.

After Dalamud's Fall

Adulthood

[Under Construction]

A Realm Reborn

Reaching the end of his magical reserves, Dresden refused to die. Realizing that Thaumaturgy's Umbral Ice and Astral Fire were used to expend and replenish mana almost infinitely, Dresden approached the Holy See and asked to be transferred out of Ishgard as a heretic hunter, recapturing deserters and sending them back to Ishgard to face judgment.

His request was approved and he left Ishgard once and for all to wander the rest of Eorzea as the Holy See's bounty hunter, using information and secrets to achieve his very end.

He traveled to Limsa Lominsa, having taken the wrong ship, and was forced to deal with the wayward politics there before he was granted access to Ul'dah. It was there that he came across the Piquant Pumpkin proprietor to provide both a friendly front and access to a wide range of people. This makes it easy for him to track potential heretics and a sustainable amount of gil to survive.

On the same cloth, he joined a secret guild called Grim, though he's rarely called upon which is perfect for him. It is merely a safehaven for him to escape to should he run out of places to rest.

Eventually, he was plagued with strange dreams which he had waved aside as due to low mana and lack of sleep. Scrambling for the Piquant Pumpkin's opening day, he found a strange tattoo burned into the back of his hand, unable to find the origins of its appearance.

During opening night, he was greeted by a blind Miqo'te who seemed interested in meeting with him privately. It was there that he discovered he was marked by the Nymian star of vengeance. Fearing he had been cursed, he turned to Menel, who seemed to believe he will turn into a Tonberry should he let it go unchecked. Taking Menel's theory of stopping it to heart, he quickly began his tutelage for the scholar art with extremely mixed results.

But Black and White Magic were anathema to each other, even moreso since the Elementals had seemingly turned their backs upon him for his sins in Ishgard.

A Realm Awoken

Selfishly disregarding the consequences of disobeying the Elementals, word came of a special scrying orb located in the Conjurer's guild was blessed by the Elementals themselves. Imbibing the artifact could help him circumvent his banning by them. Using a poisoned guild leader as a cover up, he managed to not only claim a list of possible Ishgard refugees from the guild, but also use their commotion to steal the Conjurer's Orb during the confrontation.

The hunt for the orb soon began along with rumors spreading of a new drug called Dream Ink among Ul'dah. Using the orb was soon becoming detrimental to his health and the drug provided sufficient strength to subdue the pain of using it. He had since become a recreational user and dealer in order to access the potent stock.

At the cusp of his addiction, he ended up fighting Aaron alongside others to destroy a voidsent sword and had been cleaved with its power. Being torn from the inside out, a soft woman's voice called out to him and urged him to breathe. This simple benevolent act stirred something passionate inside of him, for he had never been spoken to like a mother to a son, and the voice was just that. He returned the Orb to Nylesa and turned himself into the authorities for drug possession.

Defenders of Eorzea

However, skirmishes had broken out in Ul'dah by then and, taking a deal that he was to vacate the Immortal Flames in exchange for his freedom, Dresden set aside his assets to head to Limsa for the Maelstrom. There he had received a letter from Ishgard, urging him to return and report. Facing the realization that he failed in this 'tonberry curse', Dresden opted to head for Coerthas and face death with dignity than become such a creature.

On the night he was set to leave Ul'dah, a possible prankster had begun spiking the Quicksand's drinks with a peculiar concoction that rendered Dresden as a woman the next morning. Damned if he did not return to Ishgard soon, (as they would probably not believe he had been turned drastically into a female), he desperately sought a way to revert himself back lest he be branded a heretic and deserter. Many days passed until a cure was found, may of which he found himself having to explain himself to both old friends and new. It wasn't until on the cusp of explaining himself to Nylesa, who had become someone of great importance to him, was he finally restored back to himself by Deverell's quick scourging of the lands.

During his horrific days spent in a female form, Dresden's aether could not handle the drastic change and was immediately depriving itself of mana again. Discovering that his aether reacted greatly to Nylesa's martial magic in the form of chakras, did he consider a theory that his magic may be more suited to a different kind of style, a long extinct art called the Red Mage his research in Amdapor brought him to.

With his affairs in order and words of something troubling transpiring in Ishgard, along with a mysterious woman named 'Iceheart' bringing the Dravanians to their knees in worship, Dresden must finally make his journey to Coerthas and give his yearly report. Danger and intrigue looms over the horizon.

Dreams of Ice

Dresden had been marched back to Ishgard to replenish ranks for the ongoing Dragonsong War. It was there that destructive magic was needed for Isghardian's Temple Knights and was therefore temporarily reassigned under Lord Commander Aymeric.

Under a Lord Commander than a High Priest, it was Aymeric's kindred sense of pragmatism that turned Dresden to his side, encouraging him to treat the outsiders he's met and become friends with as a blessing than a curse despite scripture. After proving himself a worthwhile asset, Aymeric suggested he retire from the espionage division and work for the Temple Knights.

He had returned from Ishgard months later weathered and tired from the front lines after word that five of Ishgardian spies in his group were slaughtered by an unknown assassin. Offering his own life to pursue the killer, Dresden's sins were expunged and his title reinstated before he was sent on his way back south to go on a manhunt for them.

After the Holy See had discovered the culprit who slaughtered his men as Hiro Ayami, Dresden and everyone he was regularly in contact with were watched, anticipating Dresden's heresy by refusing to kill a friend. Dresden kept his distance from his allies and made it very clear he intended to murder Hiro or die trying to appease his former superior and prove his loyalty to Ishgard. Unfortunately, this had caused a rift in the relationship between himself and Nylesa and was unable to tell her the truth while they were being watched by Holy See agents.

Intending on dying instead than murdering a friend, Aymeric suggested that Dresden fake his death and, now deceased in the eyes of Holy See, work as a ghost agent for him, free as a bird and still loyal in his own way to Ishgard.

Dresden sought out Menelwen Veara in the privacy of Outer La Noscea, free of spies, to discuss the conundrum of engaging in battle with Hiro and Nylesa's unfortunate part in these proceedings. Agreeing to use her extensive knowledge of the healing arts to stave him from permanent death at Hiro's hands, he offered his services in the future as an informant for any and all information, unabridged, at her disposal.

During the confrontation with Hiro, Nylesa ended up injured coming in between them. Inevitably Dresden was impaled by Hiro's blade and fell off a cliff, his condition was permanently unknown outside of Ishgard.

Before the Fall

Before Ishgard opened itself up to outsiders, Dresden returned to the service under Lord Commander Aymeric. Unfortunately, his crimes against the Holy See could not entirely be expunged and, like the other heretics, was forced into a trial by battle in order to prove his 'innocence' and clear his crimes.

By a stroke of luck he had somehow managed to become victorious. However, his former chapter refused to welcome him back to the ranks and, as according to plan, accepted Aymeric's recommendation to join a new band of temple knights for the upcoming horde. Picking up a blade, Dresden performed evacuation duties in the Brume when the horde attacked the Steps of Faith outside the city.

Heavensward

Despite the excitement of Ishgard's opening, Dresden's stint as a temple knight was relatively calm. It was only when Nidhogg threatened to level Ishgard to the ground was he sent to bolster defenses in the outside walls. When he returned to Isghard, news quickly spread of the bloody history that came with the Dragonsong War. Predictably, the ranks coupled beneath desertion and anger. One by one, Dresden watched as his fellow knights turned rogue or abandoned their positions altogether.

With the ranks thinned out as it was, the highborn soldiers preferred to patrol through the more pristine, crimeless streets - leaving the Brume unmanned and unprotected. With begrudging reluctance, (and perhaps a small flair of compassion for his lowborn roots), Dresden refused a promotion and returned to patrolling the Brume much to his comrades' bewilderment.

As Goes Darkness, So Goes Light

Through shattered ranks did Dresden raise up the ranks in the Temple Knights, being one among dozens that did not wish to abandon Ishgard to skirmishes and strife as everyone questioned their faith. Manning the Brume, his ilk was not welcomed despite being lowborn himself, and was often in contention with the lowborns that dwelled within. Along with the added disdain from the highborns that sought to keep status quo, Dresden had little to do with his time than simply work and do his rounds.

During the fire that waged through Isghard due to political strife and Lord Aymeric's failed assassination, Dresden suffered multiple burns down his back and neck that have scarred evacuating the lowborn civilians through the Brume. Because of this, he was temporarily promoted to a desk position and even had his own score of knights to administer duties to while he recuperated as healing magic is no longer effective.

Other Notes

Wanted for Interesting Roleplay

• Ishgardians are a plus!
• Elezens who are a part of the Ishgardian houses or the army itself will always find an ally with this character.
• Inquisitors or other Holy See hunters may also find an ally with this character.
• And of course, any and all RP is welcomed!

Concluded Plots

• Dream Ink Arc (Concluded): Dresden was a presumed dealer and recreational user of the drug. Because it alleviated the pain of carrying the Conjurer's Orb, Dresden had been using the drug frequently though seeks a detox alternative in case he ended up overdosing. Spurred by Nylesa's implications that he turned over a new leaf and the despair of turning into a tonberry regardless, Dresden turned himself in to the Sultansworn for drug dealing. During his time in jail, however, he had been temporarily turned into a woman, leaving his confused captors to let him go.

• The Conjurer's Orb Arc (Concluded): Using the poisoning of a Free Company's leader to create a distraction in Old Gridania, Dresden stole an important artifact that would grant the ability to bypass the Elements and use healing magic. This has seemingly caused an investigation to find the thief with Ciel Wulfe investigating the matter. Reaching rock bottom with the choices he made, Dresden returned the Orb to Nylesa, who in turn traded hands back to Ciel and back to its proper place in Stillglade Fane.

• Written in the Stars Arc (Discontinued): Marked with a Nymian star of vengeance, Menel believed that Dresden will become a Tonberry unless he invoked the Scholar tutelage. His complete ineptitude for healing magic had forced him to find other means of accessing the conjuring art, having caught wind of a certain artifact that can bypass the Elementals. He did not turn into a Tonberry after almost a year of paranoia. Then why...?

• A Past Destroyed (Concluded): Dresden had returned from the ongoing Dragonsong War to deal with an assassin who slaughtered his fellow agents. But when it was revealed to be an old friend, he had to choose to fulfill his oath to country or his loyalty to his foreign allies.