Jin Karasu

Overview

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Overview

Jin Karasu
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Gender	Male
Race	Au Ra
Clan	Xaela
Citizenship	Othardian
Age	25
Nicknames	(Formerly) The Raven
Occupation	Guardian, Mercenary, Mage-Hunter
Guardian	Rhalgr, The Destroyer
Nameday	23rd Sun of the 2nd Umbral Moon
Free Company	Prufrock Ventures

Jin is the serious and protective guardian of his small family of friends as well as his wife. Standing 7'2" and well versed in combat as well as the dark arts of Dark Knights (or Dark Walkers as he understands), he is a formidable wall before those who would hinder or harm his companions.

The Ex-Slaver Mercenary turned loving husband and watchful protector has been a dramatic shift spanning the course of many cycles, and the transition has played havoc on his state of mind and emotional well being. While still an embodiment of vengeance when the sitation calls for it, he is no longer a soulless contract killer lacking in morality and emotions.

The acts of violence and atrocity he has comitted, while at the time of no consequence, have returned with ever increasing weight on his soul as the volume and potency of the sins he has wrought gain new standards to be compared to.

As he steps further into the light of compassion and empathy, so too does the darkness of his past gain new and pronounced contrast that eats at his new acquired conscious and forces him to inwardly question wether he is deserving of the life he has built with his wife and his friends.

A jovial yet stern attitude and a personality founded in logical assessment have helped to establish his friendships and roles taken in his life, with goals now aligned with assisting his family.

History

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History

Origins

Origins

Born to a half Xaelan, half Raen mother and a full-blooded Xaelan father, he wandered with the Karasu tribe of the Tail Mountain range for the first several years of his life. When he was six years of age, he participated in his first hunt and began training with a short sword with his father, Gorou. Gorou aimed to prepare his son for participation in the warring lifestyle of the Xaela, and sought to instill within Jin the fierceness and anger that saw the tribe victorious through many generations. It was two years into his training when the Hayashi clan sprung an ambush as the Karasu were traversing a large bridge over a canyon. During the skirmish, Jin was knocked from the side of the bridge and tumbled into the rapids below. He was found twelve hours later by a elderly Hyur couple living in a small village down the river. Seeing his injuries, they scooped him up off the bank and cared for him in their home. As the couple were kind, and having no idea how to return to his clan, Jin elected to stay with them.

He spent the remainder of his youth in the quiet village, attending the lectures given by the village elders at the behest of his new "grandparents" Ricket and Vinya, and leading what amounted to a simple peasant life although he could never quite give up the sword. His father had done well to drill the need for battle into young Jin's mind, and it was soon apparent to Ricket that he needed an outlet. As Ricket had observed Jin watching the town's defenders many times, he sought out Giro to humor Jin with a bit of training. As the first few sessions came and went, and Jin's aptitude grew, Giro began to train Jin in earnest.

It was not long after his eleventh birthday that a strong feeling of wanderlust began to simmer in his heart. He was of a nomadic people, and he needed to travel. He gathered his belongings and was seen off by the village, who had been expecting him to make the decision soon for his scouting treks around the village had been growing in distance and time in the last few years. Giro had given him a small gift, his personal sword, freshly sharpened. While it was no expertly forged blade, it had served Giro well and he hoped it would do the same for Jin.

He spent the next eight years as a wandering mercenary. Simple jobs at first, retrieval of items, errands, and scouting among them, they quickly grew more complex and less lawful. It was not long until he began to take any job for money, to include assassination, extortion, and espionage, though he learned to loathe jobs requiring stealth.

A year into this period a Garlean named Tacitus Pyr Decimius approached young Jin after observing the youngling handing in a bloodied sack for coin in a back alley. Tacitus was looking for a method of invading the steppes after the main fleet had been defeated attempting to fly over the Tail range by the mountain tribes and their primal summons, and saw in him an opportunity to set a long term plan into motion. Tacitus served as a mentor and friend for six cycles, instilling in Jin a sense of battlefield awareness and level headed decision making that shaped the rest of his adult life. He perished in a rockslide brought down on the pair by the Xaelan shamans they had been attempting to slay.

Soon after the eighth anniversary of his departure from the village, he had joined a trading caravan as hired protection from bandits and the like, and received tutelage in using a shield from some of the more permanent members of the caravan's warriors. Though he did not know the destination at first, he found it exciting that the caravan was soon to board a fleet of ships to a new land, far away from Othard. Eorzea, he heard them call it, and they were heading there to avoid the might of the Garlean Empire that had been making it's way through Doma.

Jin was 20 when he arrived in Limsa Lominsa, a seaport town built on the very pillars of stone that would deter most sailors from drawing near for fear of shipwreck.

By this point a new feeling had been growing in him. While sword and shield did well to curb his aggression, as well as the many kill-requests he completed, he felt the need to lash out more often than not lately, and he needed to find a new outlet. It was with a fair amount of hesitation that he stowed the sword Giro had given him, and had gone to Ul'Dah to learn the ways of the fist. It was with fascination he had listened to the elders of his village speak of the discipline that martial arts could grant, and it was with that discipline in mind that he sought out the pugilist guild in Ul'Dah.

After a sennight they rejected him from their ways, for he was far too rage filled to be considered teachable. In his anger, Jin began to destroy the alleyway nearby the guild, breaking boxes and jars, and venting his frustration. A stranger clad in a grey robe approached him and Jin froze on the spot. The thought being arrested flashed upon his mind. To his surprise, the man simply raised his hand in greeting and spoke: "I am Triskar. You seek training in the ways of the fist? Those fools following an impotent god were wrong to reject you. Come. I will train you."

He set out with Triskar that night with a bag of his only belongings and began to train. It was not unlike his mercenary work when he thought on it: certain tests requiring him to seek out and harm the students of the pugilists. He progressed quickly, learning the ways of the Spider style - a low to the ground fighting method, near prone sometimes - and unlocking his first shadow chakra. A grueling eight months passed, and he had gained the use of four chakras at this incredible pace, but by this time the conflict between his calm village persona and his tribal warmongering persona had reached its zenith, and the unbalance prevented him completely from unlocking any more. Triskar grew enraged, spiteful, and bemoaned his wasted time. For the wasted eight months, he announced he would kill Jin for failing as student. Blow for blow, Jin stood no chance, and was losing ground quickly. Fortune saw fit that the site of their battle was happened upon by a group of Maelstrom soldiers on their way back from Ul'Dah to return to Limsa. They began to shout and blades were drawn to combat what they confused as a mugging, and Triskar fled. After a quick check-up by their medic, he returned to Ul'Dah to contemplate.

He was sitting on a bench behind the quicksand, sitting in silent rage, when he was approached by another strange man, this one cloaked in red. "What now? I've had enough of you cloaked men." Jin muttered, but was caught off guard by the new man's words. "You're unbalanced. In the extreme. Anger- no. Rage. And peace. They fight within yourself, no?" Jin curtly nodded. "Seek the thaumaturges. Tell them Xirven sent you," and within a moment the man was gone.

Jin sat and thought on the subject for seven more bells, getting up and washing dishes in the quicksand in the meantime for a quick meal, before he finally gave in. At three in the morning, he ventured into the thaumaturgy guild and met with the only man there. ".. Xirven sent me?" he said curiously. Without so much as a minute movement the Hyur with a scarred face was brief. "Haukke Manor. Blood of the creatures there. The ones that fly. Each vial." The man held out his hand with a small crate of five crystalline vials. Jin took them and left.

It wasn't the easiest job he had ever done. Not by a long shot. Many of the voidsent there traveled in packs or in pairs, and it was several days of waiting before he found an opportunity to kill one: A succubus wandering in the main hall alone. He sprung from his hiding place behind a curtain and jumped upon her back. She began to shriek and jerk wildly to free herself before the short sword crossed her neck. Quickly, he let the fount of blood fill his vials, barely getting enough to consider the last one 'full,' but he had not the time to collect more as more voidsent came into the hall. He ran as quickly as he could, stoppering the last vial as he made his escape. Replacing them into their crate, he refitted the lid on top of it and made his way back to Ul'Dah.

On his return, it was two in the morning, and he was too curious to wait. He made his way back to the guild and stepped into the hall only to find no one there. "Hello?" He called out, listening for a response. When none came, he opened a door far in the back. "Anyone here?" He stepped through carefully before feeling a dull thud on the base of his skull, and his vision went black.

He opened his eyes slowly, a headache ringing through his head. "What the fuck.." he said, looking around. Trying to sit up, he discovered his predicament was far worse than he initially guessed. He was chained to a stone table, not an inch to move from his spread eagle position. The footsteps shook him from his confusion, as several men in clean white robes surrounded the table he was on. Before he could shout or yell, a mask was placed over his mouth and tightened. His eyes darting around wildly, he watched as they withdrew blades and medical supplies, and watched with muffled screams as they systematically vivisected his limbs and torso, exposing raw muscle, bone, and organs still moving within him. He shook violently as he tried to endure, seeing the flaps of his skin pinned to the table with small spikes to keep it open. Another man walked in with the vials he had collected, with one open. He passed out from the pain before he could see what became of them.

It was four days later he awoke naked in the Sagolii amongst a pile of corpses. What he could only assume were failed experiments. But why was he here? Had he died? He didn't have the concentration to dwell on these thoughts as the need for water was immediately apparent. He looked at his body and saw the myriad fresh wounds of the experiment, neat lines tracing along most major parts of his body, where he was cut into then later sewed back in the same place. He found a water flask on the hip of another unfortunate soul and drank heartily from it. Dressing himself in the scraps of clothing he could find from the pile, he was about to set off for safety when he felt an urge to check one last corpse. He couldn't identify why, but he felt he needed to. As he checked, the corpse seemed to be an Ishgardian, and in it's hand was a small dark purple stone. Without a second though he pocketed it before wandering in the heat of the desert sun until three days later he found the forgotten springs. The town took pity on him and gave him a clean set of clothing and food for the night, as well as a place to sleep in an inn free of charge.

A single thought crossed his mind. "I need a place I can stay." before he ammended it, "And somewhere to work that's safer.. for now." The image of the Maelstrom company that saved him from his old master came to the surface of his mind. With a gracious goodbye to those that had helped him, he left with the next merchant bound for Limsa Lominsa. It was several suns into the trip he first heard another voice in his head. It was.. him, but different. No reservations. It was as though his tribal instincts and predisposition for violence and bloodshed were given a persona. He dismissed it as a temporary symptom of his harrowing first cycle in Eorzea.

Roleplayed History and Important Relationships

Roleplayed History and Important Relationships

After his terrible first cycle on the continent, Jin was alone and terribly spiteful of his circumstances. Having arrived in Limsa Lominsa, he was dissuaded from joining the Maelstrom immediately as the influx of Auri immigrants had recently flooded the ranks. Not wanting to get lost in a tide of new recruits or to be written off during that period, he wandered the La Noscean coasts as a sellsword to make due. It was during this time he ran afoul of a slaver captain based out of 'Executioner's Bay', a secretive privateer's dock that focused on plying the illegal flesh trade within Limsan and Ul'Dahn waters. At first marked as a target, Captain Brinnivette offered Jin work as a runner and procurer after he defeated the contingent sent to capture him. With the knowledge and practices instilled in him by Tacitus, Jin and Brinnivette drafted a contract and the deal was signed and shaken on.

Over the next year Jin had become rather infamous within the bay for his near one hundred percent success rate, Earning him the moniker 'The Raven' by the occupants of the bay. Only rejecting or breaking off contracts in which the employers had broken their written oaths to him, he worked coldly and without pause, amassing a small fortune in bloodied and immoral coin.

His final contract had been a high difficulty one, and would serve as a haunting reminder later in his life: The slain family and the young girl cursing his entire existence with the fury stoked flames of hatred in her glare as she was picked up by the others in the raiding party, his greatsword dripping with the final vestiges of their lives. While he felt this last job had been something terrible, causing him to cease contract work in the bay, he lacked the empathy to truly understand why.

Still on 'good' terms with his underworld contacts, he still accepted some contracts from them but never for slavers again. The strange feeling he experienced with the last job unsettling him and alienating him from the work.

After this period he returned to Limsa Lominsa, and after doing some investigative footwork to ensure his deeds behind the full plate face mask remained unassociated with him, enlisted in the Maelstrom. He rose fairly quickly in the shock squadron he joined, praised for his complete lack of fear and the brutal efficiency in which he assisted the 401st in their boarding of code-breaking privateers in open seas. Over the cycles leading to the present, he has climbed to the rank of First Storm Sergeant, and currently leads the 401st in their activities.

Not long after enlisting within the Maelstrom, he discovered the irregular need for the 401st to act lead to a lot of spare time. Without a place to truly call 'home' and a distaste for sleeping within the barracks among the other sailors, he took to sleeping on the benches in Limsa behind the drowning Wench and fishing. It was on a lazy afternoon with no bites he caught a flyer for "The Pathfinders" free company which had fallen off a notice board as he was walking by. Without much consideration, he applied for membership to fill in the spare time and possibly acquire a private living quarters.

His time with the Pathfinders proved fruitful, and with the bevy of new acquaintences to learn how to interact with he learned the social skills he was deeply lacking. The mock-mercenary-entrepreneur-general contractor group proved more engaging as time passed, and his contact with his underworld ties began to dwindle. The time both the Pathfinders and the Maelstrom demanded of him precluded most of his contract work, but he still looked into it here and there when there was a promising lead.

It was here he met his future wife Himeko Hasegawa, or simply "Hime." He first took notice of her when work with the pathfinders resulted in a wild goose chase of a rescue mission for an aloof member of the company, Talan. When it was discovered he was in no danger, combined with his blasé attitude about the situation, she released the pent up frustrations and all of her bottled anticipation in one furious meteorite conjured in his direction - only managing to miss him in a last inning moment of restraint - and hurtling it into a tree behind him. The attack was magnificent and shook a long sleeping instinct sleeping within him, taking an interest in her as a man does a woman unbeknown to Jin. Offering her one of his medicated bandages to sooth her hands, he soon after sought her out for conversation and free time activities like bar nights at the company or story telling in the company yard around the fire pit.

The two had obliviously began taking a vested interest in one another over the coming weeks, but it didn't reach a destination until a new member of the company, a male Raen by the name of Galgan, had openly flirted with her at the fire pit and Jin reacted by nearly challenging the man to open combat on the spot. A drink and some confused discussion with some of his fellows of the company, he at last understood his feelings and confessed them to her that eve. With an awkward set of kisses, their relationship was at last given a tangible status and their journey together began. With rings crafted for one another, a hasty but well intentioned proposal, and over a year engaged, they wed on the 21st Sun of the Second Umbral Moon last cycle (4/21/2018).

Life in the Pathfinders was hectic and entertaining, but often invited hardship and strenuous situations. With several rounds of cursed artifacts and weaponry driving members of the company to infighting and desparate struggles, Jin found himself in the trust of Madison Brookstone as a cornerstone for Guardianship of the company and it's members. He assumed the role of maintaining the order and defending the company members, and for a time he was the leader of the company itself when it's former leader was, in his eyes, corrupted and turned against them of his own volition and the burden became too great for Madison to bear. In these moons he became good friends with Ms. Brookstone and has since taken to ensuring her safety as well as Hime's and his own. The two have spent many evenings discussing their situations and hardships, and share a friendship based in mutual trust.

He has been treading careful waters with her in recent cycles, after she lost a majority of her memories involving her earlier years in the Pathfinders following a blow to the head by a rampaging treant. He works to fill in the gaps in her memory as she discovers them with carefully worded recollections of what she was doing or events that happened, giving her the truth but omitting facts that could trigger a painful and destructive sudden recall as he worries for her mental health should such happen.

Appearance & Personality

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Appearance & Personality

Nature & Demeanor

Nature & Demeanor

Demeanor: Despite Ben's Gyr Abanian upbringing as a boy, his formative years were spent in the company of mercenaries in the Thanalan desert. Due to this, the way he carries himself is usually with a bit of swagger or devil may care attitude. His manner of speech usually crass or relaxed with the accent of common folk, but when he gets serious or waxes philosophy, his speech "cleans up" and he betrays an intelligence most don't expect from the grizzled veteran.

Nature: Ben is commonly a sellsword at heart, blaise about death, combat and how one deals with their problems. He comes off as jaded, direct, blunt, and has little patience for "sweet words" or coddling those he views as spoiled brats. Yet around children it's as if he becomes a different person, his grim demeanor softening to become kind and humorous at times. He isn't evil by any stretch of the imagination, but when he feels vindicated in his actions he doesn't balk at what he feels must be done to protect, or to punish.

Religion: Ben's faith is purely lip service, his belief in the Twelve as strong as his belief in fate, not speaking ill of them more out of superstition and pissing off something that might turn the odds against him. He is a firm believer that his power and abilities are the gifts of his own hard work and stubbornness, not a blessing from absent deities.

Notable Features

Notable Features

Common Appearance: Ben's sense of fashion is fairly static, preferring fitted, comfortable clothing in dark colors that are easy to move around in and breathe well. His wardrobe is obviously limited, focusing more on efficiency than fashion. He maintains a cropped beard, trimming it before it gets too long. His hair on the other hand grows freely and is only cut when it gets into his eyes, running his hand through his hair the most amount of effort he puts into styling it.

Scars & Markings: His muscular frame is riddled with scars from head to toe. Due to his violent upbringing and a wide assortment of near death experiences, his battered frame sports various reminders of how one can die.

Voice: Ben speaks the common tongue with an accent that is a combination of Limsa and Ul'dah, betraying his tendency to rub elbows with common folk. His accent melts away to something more refined when he calms down and speaks his heart.

Clothing: Just the basics. Dark or earthy colors are the staple and he focuses more on efficiency than fashion. A suit of armor is far more comfortable to him than a fancy suit made of expensive fabrics.

Tastes

Tastes

Likes

Likes

• Drinking
• Fighting
• Tasting new foods and learning recipes
• Killing Garleans
• Animals
• The innocence of youth

Dislikes

Dislikes

• Garleans
• Rich people
• Small talk
• Being hindered by the sensitivities of others.
• Miqo'te Men

Abilities

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Abilities

Strengths

Strengths

First and foremost, Ben excels at combat. He boasts an immense pool of aetheric potential, but is completely ignorant in how to wield it beyond mere instinct. Trained in all the tools of war, be it the lance, the greatsword, or the bow, he has even learned more recent weapons such as the Pistols manufactured in Ishgard. Having spent two decades on various battlefields, he is adept at warfare tactics, strategy, and combat. His armor is like a second skin to him, and his weapons an extension of his body. He never seemed to take to the Arcane Arts, the complex hand gestures and incantations difficult to memorize just right.

Not a complete fool, what he lacks in arcane ability he makes up for in being proficient at puzzles and solving riddles. His knowledge of magic is mostly metaphorical and he understands the base concepts but not the nuance or the ability to manipulate his aether in such a fashion.

Due to his traumatic childhood, that burden has manifested in a dark side that both torments him and empowers him. His large pool of aetheric energy manifests itself in enhancing his physical capabilities making him stronge,r faster, and more dexterous than the common footsoldier. Learning how to control that darker side of him is one of his goals and learning to truly tap into his potential as a warrior. His darkside manifested vaguely and in dire situations with little control or guidance until a comrade, Jin, started to tutor him in the finer arts of a Dark Knight. Since then, his darkside has manifested into a reflection of himself, taunting and tormenting him in a way only he can witness, but in exchange he has grown in his power and learning to accept that aspect of himself is an inevitability, the alternative being consumed by it. When he is in 'control' of his power, an aura of red aether manifests around himself. Yet when his aura turns black, his darker self holds the reins and while he is extremely powerful he cannot tell the difference between friend and foe.

Blessed with the Echo, the Crystals blessing has manifested with Ben being able to understand all dialects; providing him with a sixth sense in battle that causes his body to react before his brain has caught up; and in dire situations of life or death, tap into the blessing of the Crystal that enhances his physical capabilities beyond what he is normally capable of.

Mentally, Ben's strenghts are in his ability to read between the lines and piece together details others may overlook. He can read people easily, determining their good or ill will due to their mannerisms or speech. When presented with a puzzle or ancient inscription, he can piece together the symbols somehow to make sense of it through his keen intuition. He has little patience for diplomacy, preferring to get straight to the point and ignore 'niceties' or just fight about it and whoever is still standing is deemed right. On the other hand, he has the patience to talk people down when they are emotional and he recognizes that their pain is genuine and not an act.

Weaknesses

Weaknesses

Despite Ben's potent aetheric potential, he is utterly inept at thaumaturgy or conjury. Decades on the battlefield and little "proper" learning beyond the basics one would learn by the age of 12, he just hasn't put in the time that the arcane requires to master their abilities. He understands the boon that magic can provide on the battlfield, but he accepts that he just isn't proficient or patient enough at the Arcane to wield it himself. Beyond the basics most things Magic are considered "hocus pocus" to him that's beyond his understanding.

Ben's intense hatred and determination to destroy anything Garlean sometimes results in reckless endeavors that put those close to him in danger. His tunnel vision on the subject and utter dismissal of any notion that there may be innocents within the Empire itself causes disagreements and comes off as offputting to more charitable souls. On the battlefield his confidence is sometimes so great that he seems utterly convinced that nothing can harm him, so when harm does eventually befall him he finds himself licking his wounds for an extended period of time. His recklessness ends up saving others in the long run, but at great personal risk to his own health more often than not.

When he is convinced he is right, and the other person is wrong, he will fight tooth and nail to get them to agree with him or get out of his way which ends up with him butting heads with figures of authority or some employers. Even when he is right, his utter lack of polite language or consideration for the other person's viewpoint makes it difficult for him to sway some people to his way of thinking. Chains of command are utterly meaningless to him, he works for someone because he wants to, not out of any obligation or respect for authority.

Ben's brazen nature often masks the kinder and more sensitive side of himself to the point where even his close friends view him as an arrogant man with a thick skull more often than not. Only in the presence of children, the elderly, or animals does this side shine through. He also has a tendency to wander off on his own and spend time alone, taking time to unwind in his own way without notifying anyone that he has even left. He is often oblivious to the emotional state of other people, being purely focused on his own mindset and how he operates. Despite how well he can read others, he is usually focused on their strengths or exploitable weaknesses, and not their mental well being or emotional health. His traumatic childhood has made him a believer that relationships are fluid and temporary, and those moments are to be cherished but not mourned when they end. This makes him appear cold and distant to others, but makes him never feel lonely, even when alone. And as such, it weakens his empathy for others that require human contact or emotional intimacy due to his tendency to operate mostly on his own. He struggles with getting along with others or opening up to them, considering his battles his own and only accepting aid when it's thrown in his lap.

Combat

Combat

When in battle, he fights with his sixth sense and basic combat ability until he's pushed to tap into his darkside. With an aura of red aether he becomes stronger, faster, and more dexterous with his weapons to give him the edge. When pushed to the brink his aura will either turn blue or black, the former being when the echo takes hold and gives him just that extra bit of strength to see the fight to the end, while when black it is almost a living death. His body broken and his mind gone into a berserker rage where he pushes himself beyond the limitations the mind puts on the body to prevent it from destroying itself. This state often leaves him broken and in need of healing and rest for an extended period of time.

Stealth is another aspect he is adept at, good at sneaking and disposing of enemies quietly with a knife. At range he is adept at the bow or the pistol, his lack of depth perception being a hindrance he's learned to work around over the years.

==People & Places

♥ Family

★ Trusted Friend

✔ Business

✖ Deceased

● Positive

● Negative

● Neutral

≈ Unsure

==

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People & Places

♥ Family

★ Trusted Friend

✔ Business

✖ Deceased

● Positive

● Negative

● Neutral

≈ Unsure

Relations (NPC)

Relations (NPC)

Name (♥) - Merten Walker

Ben's Father was a blacksmith of Ala Mhigo with a stoic demeanor. He was serious most of the time but would have bouts of childish humor on occassion. He fought to protect his family as they fled when the Garleans invaded, and is presumed dead. In actuality, he is now a conscript and goes by the name Glacius sas Vadere. His rank is that of Praefectus Castrorum, being the commander of a castrum far from Ala Mhigo. He loves his family, yet he presumes his son Ben is dead and focuses his attentions when able on his other son Wilhelm. He misses his wife but chose to live in the shadow of the empire rather than die and lose any ability to affect the future.

Name (♥✖) - Valerie Walker
Ben's mother was an accomplished seamstress in Ala Mhigo. She fled with her boys to Thanalan when Garlemald invaded, but died on the trip when bandits waylaid them. She fought and was killed, while her boys scattered in the chaos. Unknown to her, Ben witnessed her death and years later, sought his vengeance when he slaughted the man who killed his mother in cold blood.

Name (♥●) - Wilhelm Walker

Presumed dead by Ben until they were grown men. Wilhelm was captured by Garleans when he tried to return home when he was separated from his family. He was used to keep Merten in line, and they both eventually signed up with the Empire. While his father is more stoic, Wilhelm was more emotional and violent. Taking to his duties with an almost sadistic glee. It wasn't until later that Ben and Wilhelm would cross paths again, now Wilhelm Quo Vadere. A Centurio gone rogue, Wilhelm was discovered by Ben engaging in experiments on an island, when his brother destroyed his entire operation and he was captured. His soldiers rescued him, and he became Ben and his comrade's captor in turn. However a certain mage had other ideas and the pair were separated once more. Wilhelm's current location is unknown.

Active Relations (PC)

Active Relations (PC)

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  Himeko Hasegawa ★
  Stoic Sage

Overview

Hime, on some bestial level, unnerves Ben, but he'll never admit it. He initially had no impression of her, as she kept to herself. It was only in the company of Madison and Jin that her strengths and nature became known to him. In contrast to Madison's idealism, Hime's more callous nature on how to deal with issues Ben agrees with and gets along with. Despite her arcane focus in contrast to Ben's own martial prowess, he's witnessed her do great feats that have earned the Highlander's respect. What they do have in common beyond their bluntness and determination to get things done at any cost, is their culinary interests. The two of them are quite adept at cooking and Ben is interested to learn a thing or two from her.

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  Jin Karasu ★
  Comrade in Arms

Overview

Ben and Jin have fought side by side in more than one skirmish, the former even having helped Jin on 'personal errands' from time to time. The more level headed of the two, Jin's ties to the Maelstrom and adeptness at 'civilized' and 'structured' life is oftentimes baffling to Ben. Regardless he is a comrade who is dependable and offers insights that don't always occur to Ben. With the loss of his brother, Jin stands as a suitable replacement. Unlike Hime, Jin doesn't unnerve Ben at all, having a feeling of a kindred spirit. At times though, their situations reverse and Jin gets angry and flies off the handle while Ben is more collected and focused. That duality and the ability to balance each other out when things get rough has made the Xaela a steadfast comrade to Ben.

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  Madison Brookstone ★
  The Bleeding Heart

Overview

Madison initially was perceived as a spoiled Ishgardian brat by Ben, but also in a way a lost child. He has been fiercely protective of her for reasons he can't quite explain. His perceived innocence of her something he wishes to preserve. He isn't the best at dealing with her at times, his cruder mercenary demeanor clashing with her more civilized demeanor. Over time, as he learned more about her and that she isn't what he initially thought, he's taken a softer approach. Her determination to do the right thing he respects and admires, but they don't always see eye to eye on the methodology. Ben's noticed she tries to give people the benefit of the doubt when he's all to eager to write people off as bad eggs far sooner. That idealism is something intriguing to him, and despite her own darkness, he seeks to help her maintain her light when his has grown far too dim over the years.

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  Basile Feurieux ≈
  The Fancy Knight

Overview
Ben isn't sure what to make of Basile just yet. A half Gyr Abanian Midlander raised in Isghard, his aesthetic rubs Ben the wrong way, but the way he treats Madison gives him pause. Still, the man knows how to swing a punch and take one, and for that he has Ben's respect.

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  Sirius Arcanas ≈
  Void of Certainty

Overview

Himeko's brother, Ben's first impression of the man was when he attacked the Pathfinder's headquarters when he was employed there. He wasn't present for the battle, and was initially wary of the man. But over time, and Madison's 'interest' in the fellow, he learned to tolerate and eventually appreciate his existence. Initially Sirius identified himself as a Sharlayan Mage Hunter and demanded Madison be handed over to him so he could return her to the Old World. It didn't take long for him to find her in Ishgard, yet instead of attacking he approached her in conversation. Ben went after Madison when he heard she was 'hiding' in Ishgard, but didn't manage to find the pair and instead got dragged into fighting dragons and dealing with other Ishgardian problems for coin. During their absence, Sirius chose to side with his sister and Madison, forsaking his place in the Sharlayan hierarchy and returned with them to further see to their safety from additional hunters that would impede on the peace the Pathfinders would enjoy in the interim. When Ben returned to Ul'dah after discovering Madison was safe, he found the pair of them lovers instead of adversaries. And Ben rolled with it despite the entire notion hurting his head something terrible. After Madison ended up in a coma, Ben left to distract himself with causes he could actually do something about while Sirius tended to Madison. Her recovery and Sirius' involvement in it gave Ben a begrudging respect for him, and despite her memory loss the pair share a tenuous relationship that Ben observes from afar like a protective sibling. Sirius has only showed up a few times since then, the most recent being when he came to their aid when they were in Wilhelm's clutches, freeing the group. Ben respect's Sirius' ability to get things done, but also views him as a potential opponent who he is eager to best just to prove himself.

Inactive Relations (PC)

Error creating thumbnail: File missing M'Neke Delite ♥ The Violent Chef Overview Neke and Ben had a relatively brief, but strong relationship. He hired her to work at his tavern as a chef, being a fellow wandering soul of Gyr Abania. The two grew attracted to each other and became lovers. Supporting each other in combat and at home. Yet, one day after a rather chaotic episode, she vanished with no trace save for a note. She told him there was something she had to do, and do alone. And Ben being used to such turns of events as many a comrade has vanished one way or another. He has taken it in stride. Regardless, it is a sore subject for him and one he is evasive on.

Rumors & citations

Rumors & citations

Common Rumors ■ "Pays for his drinks, and for the messes he makes." -- Waitress at The Quicksand ■ "It took forever to clean the blood off that wall when he slammed a Hellsguard's face into it." -- Waitress at the Drowning Wench ■ "He looks scary but he's nice. He buys us toys and punishes the bad men." -- An orphan in Ul'dah Rare Rumors ■ "They call him the Black Demon for good reason, saw him standing on a hundred Garlean corpses, blood dripping from that armor of his. And that helmet! Wouldn't want to go up against him.” -- Soldier in the Flames. ■ "He's a menace. Nearly put me out of business until I agreed to put a portion of my profits to the Orphanage." -- A merchant in the Goblet ■ "He was quiet growing up, until ya made him mad!" -- Anonymous Mercenary. ■ "He's uncouth and his manners are lacking. But he gets the job done for a fair price." -- Merchant in The Foundation ■ "You'd think a man that sour would scare off the livestock. But any man that doesn't spook my animals is alright by me." -- Farmer in Vylbrand ■ "I'm surprised he isn't in the stocks after what he did to me!" -- A Gentleman in The Pillars PC Rumors ■ "???" - ??? Gallery Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gallery Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing OOC Information Error creating thumbnail: File missing OOC Information Footnotes Footnotes Ben's a character that is an avatar of grim determination and fighting tooth and nail no matter how tough things get. He's also an exploration in how someone learns to deal with people when they're so used to conflict. I Prefer: Dark, Grim, Gritty RP. Larger than life fighting insurmountable odds RP. Developed RP relationships. Arcs heavy in plot. Scheduled Events. Well thought out, developed characters with motivations unique to their experiences. Lore friendly and abiding characters and situations. I Do Not: Allow anyone else to decide how my character is permanently maimed, disfigured, attacked, sexually assaulted, killed or otherwise emotionally or mentally scarred. These things should be discussed with the player beforehand. Upon discussion, you'll find I'm pretty open minded and malleable. OOC communication in regards to these topics is just a simple matter of respect of another's creation in my mind. I'm flexible in getting my character to show up to a situation ICly, so long as it doesn't contradict my character's interests. I am 100% against lorebreaking and will not hesitate to remove or retcon my characters from lore breaking situations that clash with how they see the world or Eorzea. Ben is not me. IC/OOC separation and all that jazz. Actions happening between characters are, in no way, reflective of actions between players. Server: Balmung Wiki Templates: Using Kairen's template