Aelia Flameheart

Aelia Whitesea
Gender	Female
Race	Au Ra
Clan	Raen
Citizenship	Garlemald
Age	38
Marital Status	Dating
Occupation	Maelstrom Provisioner
Orientation	Bisexual

"Haven't enough people died? You think we've not lost people we care about too?"

Basic Info

LIKES ■ Warm showers ■ The Empire ■ Weapons ■ Order

DISLIKES ■ Incompetency ■ Morning drills ■ Technophobes ■ Meaningless killing

OTHER ■ Alignment: Lawful Evil ■ Duties: Smithing and mending ■ Current affiliation: Maelstrom ■ Phobias: Needles, Flan, Mammets

Appearance & Personality

Standing at between 5'5" and 5'7" (an above average height for an Auri female), Aelia could at first glance be mistaken for a teenager, but paying closer attention to her facial features one might be able to make out a few lingering signs of maturity - the occasional wrinkle, skin tight in some places around the scalp, a gray hair or two. Her skin is a tanned brown, natural from birth, and her hair a deep amber colour which is cut into a messy bob with a long fringe. Aelia's eyes are steel gray, and deep blemishes of black circles under her eyes are the result of her genetics, though without knowing otherwise could be mistaken for a sign of exhaustion.

Being an Auri woman, Aelia shows the scales and horns that are distinctive of her race, and they are a soft cream in colour, the horns curled and pointed towards her mouth. A short and sharp-looking tail protrudes from her rear, and like other Au Ra, it is capable of moving both consciously and unconsciously.

Aelia was usually, if not always, seen wearing the traditional Garlean Soldier uniform. Although her rank granted her allowance of the more elaborate and imposing suit of armour worn by other centurions, Aelia spent more time polishing than actually wearing it, preferring to keep it locked away for more ceremonious occasions.

Living up to her name, Aelia quo Flammeus has a fiery temper and a short fuse, earning her the sobriquet of 'Aelia Flameheart'. Stubborn and ruthless, she punishes any who disappoint her - and due to her high standards, this is more often than not everyone who crosses her. Very early on upon meeting her, most Garlean soldiers have learnt that her appearance is nothing to be mocked, as the Auri woman packs a punch, and even her superiors are aware of the rage she unleashes upon her subordinates. Due to this, being assigned to the same Castrum as Aelia has become something of a punishment for new soldiers, or for soldiers who have failed their duties in some way.

Loyalty is Aelia's strongest quality, and while she is renowned for dealing merciless punishment for failure, she rewards those who exceed in their duties almost as fervently. As a result of this, she knows who to rely on for certain jobs, and trusts them explicitly (until they fail and are replaced with someone else). Indeed, any who are able to impress the Auri woman tend to be firm loyalists of the Empire, and many become enthralled by Aelia's commitment to Garlemald, willing to lay down their lives if it means carrying out her orders.

History

Most of this is a work in progress, made from lore and information gathered from any available sources as of patch 3.0.

I. Life in the tribe - 1540-1552

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Aelia was born Yoake Sukairīdā in 1540 to her mother and father, who were living a nomadic existence in a large tribe on the edge of the borders of Garlemald. At the time of Aelia's birth her mother was a calligrapher and her father a sky-watcher - one who would read the clouds to predict the weather. The two were childhood sweethearts who grew up in the tribe together, and their romance blossomed in the early teens of their lives. Aelia's mother was a reserved woman, who preferred to spend her time watching the clouds rather than engaging in festivals and scouting. This suited Aelia's father, who learned his trade as a way to spend more time with the woman. In spite of the idyllic romance between the two, Aelia's mother suffered two stillbirths over the course of ten years, and only at the end of the ten years was her first living child - Aelia - born. From the stress on her body and mind, Aelia's mother died giving birth to the healthy girl.

Aelia's father was left to raise the child alone for her first few years, though the tribe supported him well; perhaps too well, as the man often neglected caring for his child and Aelia spent more time in the care of another couple in the clan. This couple made Aelia their adoptive daughter of sorts, though they soon had a daughter of their own. This child would be as close to Aelia as a true sister, and as the two grew up together their bonds only grew, seeing each other as sisters through all of their childhood (and later, beyond). This drove Aelia's father to envy, who would not accept that the distance between his daughter and him was his own fault. He would often punish her with beatings and cruelty, leaving injuries both physical and mental on the young girl.

Though the tribe was mostly peaceful, the Empire still marked their presence, aiming to march across their own borders to other lands. Even though the tribe proved little threat, the people were pacified and subjugated, with many of the tribes-men and women being conscripted. Aelia's father remained behind, to act as an adviser and teacher of his arts to the centurions and optio that were part of the cohort passing through. Her father disliked the Empire's desires, and formed a resistance faction in secret. They would meet under every other moon, and Aelia was brought along to the meetings - even though she remained silent - simply because her father wished to keep her in his sights at all times.

Even with the Empire occupying the tribe's lands, and imperials in daily contact with the tribe-folk, Aelia's beatings continued out of view of the occupying forces. After less than a month of attending secret meetings, living with imperials, being beaten, Aelia confided in one of the imperial officers she had befriended about what her father was plotting. Aelia's father, and those who were plotting with him, were rounded up and executed. The girl shed no tears for her dead father.

Aelia's life began to improve; her stomach pains ended and her wounded organs slowly began to heal, and the Auri girl felt full of life and energy. Even though the occupying Garleans were swift in their subjugation of the tribe, and spared no suffering to those who tried to resist, they were kindly towards some like Aelia who had accepted the Garleans into their lands. Over time, many of the Garleans came to like Aelia's company among them, and she would start serving them meals and carrying messages. Deciding to cast her old life away, Aelia stopped using her birth name of Yoake Sukairīdā, and became Aelia aan Flammeus. With permission from the senior soldiers in area, she was escorted to Garlemald itself - though not without her sister, who followed her wherever she went.

II. Raised by the Empire - 1552 - 1556

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Aelia aan Flammeus's life as a soldier begins in Garlemald, with her conscription and training starting less than a month after arriving. Seeing the sights of the capital - with buildings that reached up to the skies, magitek-powered objects at nearly every street corner, and the flags that hung proud from every building, caused Aelia's heart to swell with pride. She wanted to spread such marvels to the rest of the world, and inspire the people of the land to live as comfortably as those in Garlemald.

This is not to say Garlemald didn't have a darker side. Aelia was aware of the division between the wealthy and the poor, and saw first-hand the corruption of power in those who held a monopoly on some of the more valuable resources within the Empire. Though Aelia once thought to confront this evil, as she journeyed deeper into the mires of vice she saw things that horrified her, and quickly turned tail, trying to forget that which she saw. Her idealism crushed, she instead turned her mind to training harder, wishing to rise to a position where she could ensure the lands conquered by the Empire would remain free from the grasp of such evils - then she would turn her attention once again to Garlemald.

Aelia was offered several positions as an Optio at different front-line campaigns, but she always refused. As the requests became more numerous and pushy, Aelia's temper grew shorter for each one, until a release of anger on one of the messengers put a firm stop to any such offers coming ever again. This changed Aelia's reputation in several ways, and high-ranking officers kept her under a close watch for many years, during which she was not allowed to leave for any missions or campaigns.

III. The Empire grows - 1556 - 1557

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Gaining control of many of the neighboring lands, Garlemald's reputation as a military nation became well known. Soon enough, conflicts that were once nothing more than blitzkriegs that would take control of cities before war was even expected, changed into long, drawn out battles, where many lives were lost. Every region and state was on edge, and resistance grew and grew. Despite the cost of the conflicts ever growing, none could challenge the might of the empire. Soldiers that perished were quickly replaced with new recruits that had joined from the subjugated lands. The Empire spread in every direction, with no less than three large-scale conflicts occurring at the same time at different points of the compass.

With the loss of life starting to become noticeable in Garlemald, the capital pushed harder into propaganda and recruitment, and soldiers who were once considered unfit for duty were requested in front-line battles. Even though there was some hesitation to send her to combat, Aelia was one of the strongest youths her overseers had ever seen and had rarely been bested by others in sparring. Initially expecting the girl to turn down the offer of taking the rank of soldier (with no title being given to her), Aelia accepted and was quickly transported to the northern regions, taking part in battles that were equal parts brutal and bloody. Even at her young age, Aelia didn't shy away from combat.

IV. Campaign into Eorzea - 1557 - 1571

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In an overwhelming victory, Garlemald lay waste to Ala Mhigo. This was to be the first of many victories, and the path to a swift conquest of Eorzea, but then something happened that none predicted - the emergence of primals and destruction of the Empire's flagship Agrius.

To Aelia, Eorzea was just another fronted resistance, something which would soon fall once the Empire had the time to redeploy its troops. The news which troubled her most, however, was the destruction of the Bozja citadel, which caused a sudden wave of defection from the Empire. For once, Aelia felt her faith in her commanding officers begin to waver. These thoughts were pushed aside as the conflict before her reached a head, and the battles became more fierce and decisive. Eventually, Aelia's campaign was finished - another region being claimed by the Empire, though this had taken close to eight years.

One of their present conflicts ended, Garlemald now had the time and resources to spend on reaffirming its aggression against Eorzea. Nael van Darnus was chosen to lead his VIIth legion onto the front-lines, and many were recruited into his forces - yet before the advances were to begin, many years were spent developing the Meteor project. Aelia, having grown into a strong woman, and having proved her worth in battle more than once, was promoted to the rank of Centurion, and given the title 'quo' as a symbol of her status. These tidings caused Aelia's heart to swell with pride, and any thoughts about the misdeeds of the Empire's experimentation on Dalamud were long forgotten.

Despite her new-given rank and proven skills, Aelia was never transferred to the VIIth legion, instead remaining as part of the occupying forces with the legion she was a part of during the campaign. While the Empire prepared their men for battle, Aelia saw little major conflict for the next six years, content to oversee the subjugation of the cities and people that she had helped bring the rule of Garlemald to. This break from conflict did little to soothe the fiery soul's tempers, as the constant scorn and abuse she and her other soldiers received from the peoples of the region was something she suffered at all times. In spite of all this, Aelia was actually kind towards the men and women of the land, trying to help them see the benefits of being part of the Empire. By the end of the six years, some semblance of peace was restored to the land, and Aelia was able to look upon a proud people who were now welcoming Magitek and imperial ways of life.

V. Life in the castrum' - Present'

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Aelia kept herself abreast of the news from Eorzea, confused by strange reports of god-like beings and mercenary companies being able to hold back the Empire. The advent of Dalamud's descent was very clear - the orb in the sky glowing ominously closer with each passing day, and Aelia watched it carefully, thinking back to when she heard reports of the fate of Bozja citadel. The centurion knew nothing of the battle of Cartaneau and the madness which gripped Nael van Darnus and his men, or Bahamut and his escape from the primordial cage, yet slowly and surely the whispers reached Aelia of the incredible loss of life incurred by van Darnus's actions, and the horrible means by which victory was meant to be assured.

Condemning van Darnus and the leaders of the Empire for agreeing to allow his plans to develop, Aelia swore to herself that she would strive ever harder to gain the strength to keep such disasters and misuse of history from ever happening again. The same thoughts came to Gaius van Baelsar, leader of the XIVth legion, yet his suggestions and plans for taking Eorzea were undermined by the same people who allowed Nael van Darnus's plans to come to fruition. In a twist of fate, the then-current Emperor of Garlemald became ill of health, and Gaius was able to mobilize his XIVth legion, recruiting the strong-willed and loyal to his cause. Taking the first opportunity available, Aelia brow-beat her way into the XIVth, joining the forces as they took strategically advantageous positions all over Eorzea, settling their Castrums and developing supply lines. By the time Gaius's actions were noticed by Garlemald, it was too late to recall the entire legion, especially without the authority of the Emperor or the support of the public to have one of their heroes deemed a traitor. As a result, van Baelsar was able to take the first steps in securing domination over Eorzea, and Aelia quo Flammeus was ready and willing to fight wherever she was needed to secure peace for the realm.

In spite of her willingness to fight, Aelia saw only skirmishes as the Castrums were secured. Gaius's plans did not involve a full-frontal conflict, so many of the centurion's orders were to do nothing more than act as security detail for transporting supplies, or for researchers and engineers. The Auri woman was torn between her desire to prove herself as an indefatigable force and her wish to see Eorzea pacified without unneccessary bloodshed. Perhaps fortunately, the Empire's presence in Eorzea was not well received, and there were many raiding parties and attempted sabotages that gave Aelia her first few encounters with the native peoples. Her loyalty and unshakable will quickly became almost legend around the castrums, though her fiery temper and actions that very often came close to being considered insubordination were equally noted.

Aelia was as curious about the inhabitants of Eorzea as she was disgusted. The strange loyalty they held to seemingly non-existant beings, and the actions they made based on their devotion to them angered the Auri woman - she read reports on the rites of summoning, and the effects that summoned primals had on the life of the planet, and knew that bringing such things into existence was inexcusable. While she initially joined the view of seeing all Eorzeans as savages, eventually her opinion changed. Though she knew and fought many who were violent and hateful people, she watched some who seemed to be enjoying a life of freedom away from any conflict. With all this in mind, she concluded that the rule of the Empire was still necessary to bring about an age of true peace - removing any barriers of discrimination and false loyalty. She fought and defended the castrums with renewed purpose, her faith in van Baelar's plan never once dimming.

Gaius's research and development forces eventually found the key that they came to all agree would be the solution to the primals that were draining the planet of Aether - an Allagan relic capable of adapting to and drawing the power from summoned beasts - the Ultima Weapon. The castrums themselves were finally beginning to feel like true strongholds, with the number of raids and amount of damage inflicted decreased more and more. All seemed nearly at an end once Ultima Weapon's power brought fear to the city-states, and Aelia was in close consideration for promotion to the rank of Tribunus for her services under van Baelsar. The cold truth that Gaius was in league with the dark forces of the Ascians was something that was never known to Aelia, and she remained in a blissful pride of her nation, yet in a surprise counter-offensive, a force of free adventurers dealt a series of crippling blows to the Empire's occupying forces, culminating in the destruction of Castrum Meridianum , Ultima Weapon, and a large number of imperial supplies. At the time, Aelia wasn't stationed in Meridianum, and so was once again forced to hear the news of more death and unwarranted destruction from a distance.

Aelia quo Flammeus now remains in service to the XIVth legion, though her ideals are shattered and her thoughts of the future clouded. Confused at why Garlemald does not send reinforcements, and who is now in charge of the XIVth, she wanders through the castrums almost without true purpose in her heart, continuing the follow the orders she was left before Gaius's passing. The Auri woman expresses her doubt and fear of her mission through anger, trying her best to keep her soldiers faithful that soon, some hope will come to the Empire.

Combat

Trained from a young age by the Empire, Aelia employs a mix of traditional gladiatorial arts with Garlean style. Normally seen wielding a Garlean standard issue sword and shield, there is nothing exceptional or noteworthy about her equipment, though all Garlean equipment is far superior to anything made in Eorzea.

Used to life-or-death situations, the Raen is adept at hand-to-hand combat, though it is usually very scrappy and unrefined. She is not above using dirty tricks to win fights, knowing that when your life is on the line, honour makes for thin armour.

She usually wears thin and light materials when fighting, as her style is based mainly around parrying blows and her speed, rather than relying on heavy strikes. This often gives her the edge in stamina over opponents who wear thick metal.

Most recently, the Raen came into possession of a supposedly legendary sword though she talks little about it. After all the effort she went through to win it however, the weapon was lost during a violent struggle in which Aelia not only lost the blade but almost her life, too. For now she uses a simple hand-made one along with her shield. All of her armour is newly made by herself, plated body-armour with very few weak spots, though it does little against serious blows.

Miscellaneous

RUMORS Some of these rumors are untrue or are greatly exaggerated. Please feel free to add your own rumors under PC! ◢ Common Rumors (Easily overheard) ■ "Kinda cute ain't she? Eh?! She's seriously that old?!" ■ "There is nobody more committed to the cause than Quo Flammeus." ■ "That one? We call her 'Flameheart', Gods be with you if you attack any Castrum with her in it, adventurer." ◢ Moderate Rumors (Moderately difficult to overhear) ■ "Some say she takes orders from the Emperor himself..." ■ "You seen those tired looking eyes and those dark circles under them? She must push herself too much." ■ "I don't see why we need to rely on Allagan technology. All we should do is point Quo Flammeus at the eikons and be done with it." ◢ Rare Rumors (Very difficult or rarely overheard) ■ "Some say she took a leave of absence to look for a husband, but came back to the army two years later twice as angry! Wonder what happened in that time..." ■ "When she gets really angry, her tail quivers a bit and then stays still...it's how you know when to stop spouting excuses and get ready to be beaten." ■ "For someone on the front lines, she really seems to hate fighting, like, proper fighting." ◢ PC Rumors (What other characters are saying about Aelia) ■ "Aelia was a fine young person, I enjoyed hearing her points of view." Okhi Lyehga ■ "Interesting young girl, with an interesting choice of words. I don't know if she knows what she's looking for just yet, however." Warren Castille ■ "Nothin' qui'e the feelin' o' wakin' up in mornin' and bein' exci'ed t' see someone. Garlaen or nae, I love 'er." Mara Lynne ((Add your own here as you meet her!))

RELATIONS ♥ Romantic Interest ♥ Platonic Love ♥ Sexual Desire ● Good Standing ● Neutral Standing ● Poor Standing ♥ Tsuria Windstep - Aelia's sister, and the person she cares about most. Though she treats her roughly at times, there is no doubt that she loves her, and will protect her until the end. Most recently, Tsuria departed from Aelia without warning, leaving the elder Raen lost and bitter over their plans together. ♥ Mara Lynne - First met on the field of battle, the Highlander mostly escaped Aelia's notice, until the two met again and quickly found they had a lot in common. Despite Aelia's trepidation towards committing to someone, the two grew close, fast, and are now very much in love. ● Eva cassel - A woman as stubborn and proud as Aelia herself, the Auri woman can't help but despise this midlander for her ruthlessness and cruelty. In other words, she likes her. ● Oscare Iono - Regarding him as mostly a thick-headed brute, Aelia is curious to discover exactly what it is that makes Oscare tick; their times meeting each other at random providing her with new insights each time. ● K'aila Riki - One moment a romantic rival, the next a sight of desire, K'aila and Aelia's relationship has touched nearly all extremes, but both women agree that they are firm friends, even if they've not long known each other. ● Kosetsu Kensei - A real mystery, and one Aelia has committed herself to solving. Though it seems Kosetsu wants nothing to do with Aelia, the Garlean has not yet given up on learning more about her. ● Akari Kurokawa - One of the first friendly faces after Aelia lost her status, Akari has been a source of relief for the Raen - someone she is able to confide in about her worries with the empire and her true motives of being in Eorzea. She may well be the only person Aelia could call a friend. ● Krattel Voss - A fighter in training, Aelia is trying her best to help this woman with her problems, albeit in unorthodox ways. Well mannered and friendly, Aelia gets along with Krattel well despite their differences. The two have since opened up more to each other, with Aelia becoming Krattel's mentor. Despite both having desires for each other, the two have agreed that they mean more than just that, and look forward to learning more about each other. ● Jiao Sachaba - Member of Aelia's recent free company, Jiao seems to be a mature and positive woman, who - while almost completely opposite in nature to Aelia - the Garlean seems to enjoy spending some time with to talk. ● As'elena Hyur - One of Krattel's circle of friends, Aelia and As'elena quickly got to know one another over a contract, as well as later social occasions. Since then, the two have made quick friends and learn much about each other every day. ● Sarangerel Kahkol - Despite being a close friend of Aelia's current companions, Aelia has sworn the two as eternal enemies, unable to stand for the Xaela's bloodthirsty and merciless killings. She had promised the woman she will kill her next they meet, but since that time Aelia has tried to be less aggressive. ● Ophelia Gale - In spite of Ophelia's immediate revulsion of Aelia when her Garlean origin was revealed, the two maintain an uneasy friendship, with the Raen convinced that Ophelia will prove to be a good ally in time. ● Momone Mone - Though they had only briefly met, and in less than ideal circumstances, Aelia admires the strong-willed Lalafell - the shorter woman perhaps being one of the few whose combat experience and ideals match her own.

Character Inspirations & Notes

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