Tivahlt Grimmgeist

Tivahlt Grimmgeist
"I wander to stay free. To keep dreaming, to find hope, and, someday, to move on. I doubt I'll ever settle down...but I'll stay with you as long as you need me."
The Gentile Wanderer
Gender	Male
Race	Miqo'te
Clan	Keeper of the Moon
Citizenship	Esil'Heihm
Age	27
Nameday	17th day of the 4th astral moon
Guardian	Menphina, the Lover, though he doesn't know it.
Orientation	Pansexual
Occupation	None

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Basic Info

Full Name: Tivahlt Grimmgeist

Pronunciation: TIV-alt GRIM-gaist (last syllable rhymes with "iced")

Nicknames: Tiv, more sure to come as he interacts with others.

Aliases: Formerly "Tiva," used briefly prior to Dalamud.

Birthplace: Esil'Heihm, an island nation in the middle of nowhere.

Current Residence: Any spare room he can find.

Relationship Status: Single

Religion: Previously a lip-service follower of his nation's faith (see below), he has since become bitter and jaded towards the idea of "higher powers" at work. He lets others believe what they want, but if religion comes up in conversation he will politely take his leave.

Laterality: Ambidextrous, but favors his left hand.

Other Notes: Tiv hates his full name, for various reasons. He rarely lets someone know it, and he won't be happy if you say it.

Appearance

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 130 ponz

Build: Lithe, but with a little bit of muscle. It's clear that he has only recently been exercising the limits of his body. His skin is just a little bit too smooth to have seen any real work for most of his life.

Skin Color: Pale with a blue tint. Clearly does not have an intimate relation with sunshine.

Eye Color: Light green, with a faint glow.

Hair Color: Deep purple with tips of blue-ish white.

Hair Style: Generally unkempt. It looks less like an actual style, and more like someone took a knife to much longer hair and then tried to fix it haphazardly. The front hangs over his eyes, occasionally obscuring his vision enough that he needs to flick it away. He claims that it adds to his "mysterious wanderer" look.

General Clothing Style: Though as a self-expressed homeless wanderer his clothing is often reduced to "whatever he can get," he keeps whatever outfit he is wearing very clean and precisely fitted. He almost never has a button unbuttoned or a fold out of place. When he wears what he actually prefers to wear, it usually errs on the side of formal, but with enough comfort that he can (usually) fit in with the rest of the crowd.

Voice: Very smooth and just a little bit flirtatious. He is very well spoken and picks his words carefully, always trying his best to be cordial, even when he's excited or scared. He rarely ever raises his voice in anger, but when he is riled his voice becomes much rougher, almost like a primal growl.

Other Notes: He has very faint scars of all shapes and sizes across most of his body. Most notable are series of small hole-shaped scars that run in rows down his back, on the sides of his torso, and down his arms and legs. They have all healed to the point that they are difficult to see for most people unless they're looking for them, but a very sharp eye might be able to find a few.

Esil'Heihm

Note: This is for educational purposes only! The odds of any of this information being widely known are so low that calculating them would be pointless. The primary purpose for this information is to make Tiv's history easier to write, by putting the more wordy exposition in its own section.

It is also a testament to what happens when I go off on a tangent and no one stops me. The "Intricacies" section especially is full of information that no one will ever need.

The Basics

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Esil'Heihm, which translated means "holy island," is a tiny island nation far to the west and a little bit to the south from Eorzea, lying in the middle of the sea. Because of the stormy waters around it, coupled with the razor sharp rocks that threaten to destroy even the most deftly maneuvered of ships, those few who find it on their journeys are perfectly content to stay far away, and those that have tried to explore it have never lived to tell about it. While from most views it looks like nothing more than an uninhabited island made entirely of jagged cliffsides with dangerous rocks in the surrounding sea, its intimidating appearance hides the rich and fertile lands inside, populated by citizens with an intricate and unique culture based upon a religion entirely their own.

Though there are many secret entrances and exits that the native people know of underneath the high cliffs, they never leave the island, fearing both the terrors of the outside world and the wrath of their god. What little they know of the outside world is told to them by the few survivors of shipwrecks or pirate attacks that make their way by chance, dragged by the current through one of their secret caves. While the population is very xenophobic and are more likely to execute newcomers or put them to hard labor as slaves, those that can gain favor with the citizens are quickly assimilated into their culture.

The population of Esil'heihm consists almost entirely of both Miqo'te and Roegadyn. The two races have lived on the island for so many centuries that they do not remember where they came from. Miqo'te make up the majority of the population (about 60%) with Roegadyn as a rather large minority at 35%. The other 5% is made up of outsiders that were brought in by the tide, and the descendants thereof.

While the population has Miqo'te primarily as the more abundant and higher status citizens, their language is derived from both Miqo'te and Roegadyn language almost equally, and their alphabet is completely different from either. While the language can be understood eventually (and more quickly by those who know at least one of the root languages), the written word is almost entirely indecipherable without a native speaker to translate.

Religion

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Quite unlike the Eorzean's faith in the twelve, the citizens of Esil'Heihm believe in a singular divine entity known as the "Godking." In their religious texts, the Godking was a divine being made flesh upon the earth to save his people from assured destruction--for the Miqo'te it was a rain of fire, and for the Roegadyn it was an endless flood--and bring them together in a holy land where they would never face those hardships again. After leading the "chosen" to Esil'Heihm, the Godking split his physical body into seven pieces and returned to the heavens, decreeing that he will again return whenever his Chosen are in danger. The seven pieces became "the First Sons," which the Ruling Families are descended from.

Because they were once part of the Godking, the First Sons could hear the Godking's voice and know his will, so they became the first rulers of Esil'Heim, each taking their turn as king. But their descendants, being the progeny of the first sons' mortal wives, could not hear the Godking speak, and only after many rituals where they "took the Godking's power on earth into themselves" could one of them become king. Since then the firstborn son of each family undergoes a myriad rituals from birth, with the strongest among them becoming king.

The rest of their holy text details a very strict social structure "as set by the Godking before his departure," including everything from when, how, and how often prayer should be made, to an intricate caste system that is followed to the letter. Those that are devout and follow the holy texts are assured to rest forever at the Godking's side when they pass on, their life in death being as it was in life but without mortal needs like food or sleep. Anyone who deviates from the holy texts is cast out from society and considered an "affront to the Godking," deemed to be tossed into hell in death by the Godking himself. Hell is only described as "the dark place from which all evil is born, and where all evil must be returned."

Intricacies

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Naming Conventions

Aside from the Ruling Families, all citizens are named after their caste (or aspect of their caste, such as an item, a tool or one of their duties), and an adjective or item that is descriptive of what their parents hold dear, with their surname being their caste title. For instance, a crafter whose mother admires beauty may be named "Galeimbahyel," or "jewel crafter."

The Ruling Families, those that are believed to be the direct descendants of the Godking, all have surnames that reflect their relation to the Godking and his heavenly residence. Given names can be anything so long as they do not directly relate to another caste. Ruling Families often name their children after iconic people from the holy text, or great leaders of the past. For instance, "Tivahlt Grimmgeist" comes from the lowest of the ruling families, and was named after a character in the holy text who was described as "a soft-furred man of noble standing, who traveled across the dangerous seas and back to spread the will of the Godking."

Names of the Ruling Families

Ordered by their secondary status within the Caste, decided by the order in which the First Sons (see religion, above) ruled.

• Fatyrh'agoht - god is [our] father

• Khoenmynah - love the king [grammar is similar to a command]

• Hahl'litarh - hollow [waiting for a commander] knight

• Hihmlhund - heaven's [implied loyal] hound

• Dehmah'rhyl - soldier that defends against [lit. kills] hell

• Toumezhahl - speakers of the prophecies [lit. dreaming people of high status]

• Grimmgeist - the spirit of one who rules [lit. cruel/ruling ghost]

Caste System

Ordered by level of "supremacy" within society.

Ruling Castes

• 1. Rhassael Na'akhen Gohtkhoen Erhma'zhahl - The Vessel That Contains the Godking's Will
  • The ruler of Esil'Heihm, considered to be a god on earth. When one is his close to death, another is chosen from the Ker'Goht (see below) and undergoes a secret ritual with the dying king on a designated "sacred day," emerging as the new ruler. When used as a surname it is shortened to Rhassael, "The Vessel."

• 2. Zha'oreshnann Na'haelyn Gohtkhoen'zhahl - The High Council of the Godking's Disciples
  • The collective second-in-command, a council of seventeen members chosen from the most devout of the Serha (see below, Noble Castes). They are rarely seen, and news of them only comes when one member has died and another is chosen to take their. Shortens to either "The High Council" (Zha'haelyn) or "The High Priests" (Zha'Oreshnann), though they are rarely ever called by name.

• 3. Ker'Rhassael Na'Goht Erhma'zhahl - Vessels-In-Waiting of His Will
  • Sons from each of the ruling families that undergo physically and mentally torturous "rituals" each year to "become ready to take on His will." If one dies (a more common occurrence than they let on) the next oldest son begins the rituals at a faster pace to catch up, sometimes as quickly as weeks or days apart. Though they continue to have their family's name unless they are chosen to be king, in casual conversation they're often collectively referred to as the Ker'Goht, "[one] waiting for Him/god."

• 4. Khelindt Na Gohtkhoen'zhahl - The Descendants of the Godking
  • All members of the Royal Families, excluding their vessel-in-waiting. They are referred to by their surnames rather than their title, but in conversation among other members of noble or ruling castes, their collective name is shortened to Khelindt, "the descendants."

Noble Castes

• 5. Serha'Oreshnann Na Gohtkhoen'mera - Anointed Disciples of the Godking
  • Devoted followers who go through years of extensive study and preaching throughout their life. They are given a "ritual of anointment" when they come of age, to symbolize their closeness to the Godking. Shortened to Serha, "anointed."

• 6. Bergennah Na Hihmlnann'mera - Defenders of The Almighty Ones
  • Armed forces whose duty is to protect the ruling classes and enforce their laws among the other high castes. They are also given ritual of anointment when they come of age. Shortens to Bergennah, "the defenders."

• 7. Oreshnann Na Gohtkoen'mera - Devoted Followers of the Godking
  • Secondary followers, their studies are less rigorous as they are not expected to preach outside of small towns that the Serha do not travel to. Their primary duties are as librarians and are the only caste below the ruling castes that may enter the sacred libraries, keeping them clean and organized for the Serha and ruling castes. Their work is constant and most of them live in the library or the immediate area, but they are given a few days off every month for travel. Shortens to Oreshnann, "priest."

• 8. Skalen Na Khelindt'mera Those in Service of His Decendants
  • Servants that reside with and take care of the ruling families. They take care of everything from cleaning and cooking to caring for their children, often with their own at the early ages so that the children are used to each other by the time they grow up and the relationship of servant and master continues. Shortens to Skalen, "servant."

• 9. Litarh Na'Goht Skalerh'mera - The Knights of His Service
  • The more commonplace armed forces. They are the police force, keeping those of middle castes safe, and lower castes in their place. They take orders from the Bergennah and in turn enforce the laws among the castes below them. Shortens to Litarh, "knight."

Middle Castes

• 10. Zha'O Bahyelda'Nahnen - High Crafters
  • Just as the name implies, these people make high quality stuff. They are trained from an early age to follow their parents' profession. If they cannot produce work of good quality, they are demoted to Korh'Bahyelda and cast out from their family. Shortens to Zha'Bahyel, "good craft."

• 11. Zha'O Gyfhteda'Nahnen - High Merchants
  • Merchants known for a long familial history of good business with buyers and crafters alike. The punishment for "dishonorable" conduct is very strict. If one is caught doing something such as price gouging, selling illegal goods, selling to Aghev'Ubhyl (see below, "The Unnamed"), or selling items of poor quality, they are stripped of their title, and occasionally executed. Shortens to Zha'Gyfhte, "good gift/sale."

• 12. Zha'O Werhkeda'Nahnen - High Workers
  • Workers from the Khor'Werhke caste (see below, Lower Castes) that have shown passion for their assigned job, loyalty to the ruling classes, and follow orders from the Litarh. No one is born into this caste, they must be chosen for it. Children born from them are given the choice at five years old to become Korh'Werhke, Korh'Gyfhte, or Korh'Bahyel, and are given a mentor from their desired caste (often one without a child of their own to teach), but are allowed to stay with their family until they come of age. Shortens to Zha'Werhke, "good work."

Lower Castes

• 13: Khor'O Bahyelda'Henen - Low Crafters
  • Crafters that are new to the profession, have a family history of mediocre or bad work, or have been demoted from Zha'Bahyel. They can be promoted to Zha'Bahyel status if they show that they are of the same level of quality. Shortens to Khor'Bahyel, "lower work."

• 14: Khor'O Gyfhteda'Henen - Low Merchants
  • Merchants that are new to the profession or have a family history of acceptable, but not ideal, business practices. Aghev'Ubhyl (see below, "The Unnamed") are allowed to purchase items from them, but they can only buy the bare essentials; food, clothing, and anything that has been broken or deemed of "unacceptable" quality. Even then, Khor'Gyfhte with hopes of becoming Zha'Gifhte will refuse service. Khor'Gyfhte can only become Zha'Gyfhte if they have a family history spanning 5 generations or more of only "honorable" practices. Shortens to "Khor'Gyfhte, "lower gift/sale."

• 15: Khor'O Werhkeda'Henen - Low Workers
  • The standard working class, they are given the odd jobs that do not fall under crafts, such as farming, fishing, mining, building, street cleaning, etc. The more essential the job, the higher they are perceived within their caste. Shortens to Khor'Werhke, "lower work."

• 16: Unejhden - Outsiders
  • Outsiders that have been brought to the island by accident, but have taken Esil'Heihm's ways as their own and are open to becoming full citizens. Based on their expertise and/or level of fealty to the Godking, they can be assigned to any caste from Noble to Lower that does not have a coming-of age ritual. It is not used as their surname (they are not given one until they become part of a caste) and it is not shortened in conversation.

"The Unnamed"

• Aghev'Ubhyl - The Unnamed [lit. "born from evil"]
  • These are the lowest of the low; thieves, beggars, and unruly outsiders that will not conform to Esil'Heihm's ways. Also includes people from other castes that have been forcibly removed for questioning the ruling castes, trying to do something outside their caste, disobeying the laws, or having illegal contact with an Aghev'Ubhyl. They are either left to rot on the streets, or sent to do grueling labor for no pay. There is no way out for an Aghev'Ubhyl. Even saying their name in normal conversation is considered dishonorable. They have no surname and are never referred to as their "caste," giving them the monicker of the Unnamed.

History

My Life as a Kid

Tivahlt was born in the nation of Esil'Heihm, an island far out in the oceans unknown to and unknowing of the outside world (for more information, see "The Basics" above). He was born as the first son to his parents Hana'yl and Eferhsin, and the second son of the Grimmgeist family, the seventh and last of the Ruling Families of Esil'Heim. As such, he was raised in the lap of luxury with everything provided for him and servants at his beck and call. Like most children of the Ruling Families, he spent most of his time with his caretaker and tutor, a kind old Roegadyn woman named Lidiehn, and her son Esmylacht (Esmyl for short), who had been chosen to be Tivahlt's personal attendant when the two came of age. It was fortunate, then, that Tivahlt and Esmyl found themselves to be good friends throughout their childhood.

Under Lidiehn's tutelage and a select number of books from the Sacred Libraries, Tivahlt was trained in everything from etiquette and "proper" actions, to science, mathematics, and the arts (little Tiv had a particular fascination with the fictional tales the library had for public use, and would often reread the same one for weeks). Of course, he also spent most of his time reading the Sacred Texts and learning all about their benevolent deity, the Godking (see "Religion" above), from whom his family line, as with that of the other Ruling Families, had originated. Although Tivahlt was a brilliant student in all of his studies, he saw the Sacred Texts as a chore at best, and a terrifying vision of the future at best; technically the Godking still ruled their country, by "imparting his will" into the chosen ruler...essentially making them a hollow shell for the Godking to speak through. Traditionally the first son of each family was chosen to undertake the "rituals" necessary to become the Godking's vessel, but should the First Son of the Grimmgeist family fail the tribulations necessary and perish...Tiv was next in line.

While the other members of the Ruling Families saw this as a great honor, Tiv saw it essentially as a long, prolonged death. Stripped of your personality and free will, unable to die, watching while your body is controlled by some unknown force until it finally wears out. Still, to question the Godking, regardless of rank, was an act worthy of being cast out, or even executed depending on just how terrible the heresy was. So Tivahlt continued to pray and worship, though most of his prayers were desperate pleas for the Godking to keep his cousin, the First Son of the Grimmgeist family, alive.

Aside from his existential quandaries, Tivahlt led a mostly carefree life through his childhood and teenage years. He was a bit of a troublemaker, flirting around with just about anyone and sneaking out into places he shouldn't be, but were it not for Esmyl being both his friend and his voice of reason, he might have been even worse. It probably helped that Esmyl was twice Tivahlt's size for most of their youth and could just carry the little noble away from the most tempting disasters-in-waiting. The few little "transgressions" of his that were discovered were solved either with Tiv's silver tongue, or a stern talking-to. For Tivahlt there were no limits, no repercussions. He was free, within reason anyway.

Of course, that wasn't going to last for long...

The Last Day

Tivahlt had never met his older cousin. When Tivahlt was born he had already been taken to begin the rituals, and he grew up knowing only the girls born before him, and the children born after. He hardly even know what the first son's name was. Tivahlt was fifteen when he finally saw his eldest cousin, when his body was delivered to the Grimmgeist estate on a traditional bed of flower petals to prepare for the funeral. His cousin looked sick, and frail, and even though his body was preserved for the moment his skin had an unnatural greenish hue. His hair was already going grey when he died at only the age of 20. Tiv wondered if he failed the rituals because he had always been like that, or if the trials had really done so much to him.

Every moment of every day leading up to the funeral was a nightmare for Tivahlt. His perfect world was falling apart all around him. The one thing that he feared most as a child, the one thing that he had hidden in the back of his mind, covering it up with mindless distractions and blind hope, was imminently approaching. He was next in line, after all. Each family had to have a vessel in preparation.His family mourned the loss of the first but praised the luck of the second, cursing the heavens for taking their First Son away so soon, and telling Tivahlt that he had a chance of receiving the greatest gift the Godking could give. Their unending praise and optimism in his presence almost gave him hope. Perhaps he had read the texts wrong. Perhaps this was a chance for a carefree layabout to do some real good for the world. For his people.

Perhaps he was fooling himself in the face of oblivion.

The funeral was an event unlike anything Tivahlt had seen. He had seen deaths, and seen the process from the first rites to the final burials, but the First Son's was the most grandiose of all, eclipsing even their annual holiday celebrations. The entire estate was lit up with colored lanterns, the trees were strung with decorations and glittering gems that sparkled in the lantern-light like stars. It was as if heaven itself had come down to earth for one day and night, to take one of its own up with it upon return. It was the first time that Tivahlt ever felt close to God. The new feeling made everything seem to shine brighter, the food taste better, and the old stories sound new. He even had a few drinks at the servants table, much to the chagrin of Esmyl (whose freshly poured mug Tiv stole five times), not to mention the rest of his family for being so improper and "drinking with people barely of noble status." Even with five drinks in him and an earful from his father, Tiv would always remember the entire event clearly, as if he had lived it just yesterday. It was his last day of freedom. His last day of being normal.

It was the last day of Tivahlt Grimmgeist.

Rituals in a Dark Room

When the morning came, so did the High Priests. Tivahlt was sent off with tears, and hugs, and "goodbyes" and "be strong" and "may He protect you."

Work in Progress! Please excuse the mess.

Invasion and Escape

Coming soon!

Welcome to Eorzea

Coming soon!

Battles at Home

Coming soon!

My Life as a (Fake) King

Coming soon!

Run Away!/Back to Eorzea

Coming soon!

TL;DR Version

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Tivahlt Grimmgeist was born into nobility on an island in the middle of nowhere. He was experimented on with involuntary infusions of raw aether, ancient technology that mixed it with his own blood from the inside to make something darker, and was abused emotionally and physically in an attempt to create a powerful, mindless entity for the High Priests to control as their puppet on the throne, a "tradition" that spanned centuries. The experiments made him into something that could hardly be called a person, a "thing" with raw aether fused with their blood, their very being, slowly losing everything that made him anything more. He was only saved from either certain death or endless servitude when his island was found and invaded by marauding pirates seeking a land full of riches, who had been led by a group of traitors that wanted revenge against the unfair caste system. During the chaos, Tivahlt was saved before the process could be completed, and from the slaughter of the entire ruling class, by his old servant and friend, who ferried his half-alive, mostly unconscious body to a safe haven on a distant shore before returning to their home to try and salvage it.

After recovering enough from the experiments to regain his senses, "Tiv" (or "Tiva") sailed to Eorzea, a land he had heard of from a scarce few accounts, under a disguise in case the worst should happen. Because males were rarely seen, he dressed as a female, which was surprisingly easy because his princely features, coupled with years of brutal experimentation that left his body frail and under-grown, made him closer in size to a female Miqo'te of Eorzea than a male. He only ever let one person see his true self, and it was their love and acceptance, coupled with the dauntless courage and passion for life he experienced from other Eorzeans, that made him realize that he couldn't keep running from his past. He was still needed elsewhere.

He left Eorzea shortly before Dalamud fell, returned to his home, and with the help of his friend (who had been tortured and mutilated by the marauders, but lived to tell the tale) he rallied those people that remained, regardless of their rank under the previous regime, and after years of battle and sacrifice (including the death of his lifelong friend) he finally regained control of the island. Since he was the last remaining noble, and the people had hardly known anything else other than brutal massacre, he was essentially forced to be king. He lived out the role as best he could, but he was troubled. He could recall the general memories of the people he had admired most in Eorzea, but he could not remember their faces, or their names. Worst of all, he could hardly even remember the only one who showed him genuine affection. He knew there was something wrong.

To compound on that, because the procedures on him were never fully completed (for better or worse) his "power" became increasingly unstable, almost ripping his body, or his mind, to shreds. Years of battle and living with the aether inside him had hardened his body against it, but the unnatural energy was still too powerful to control and by all rights should have killed him long ago. At his lowest point, the power overwhelmed his body and the resulting burst of raw, unnaturally imbued aether killed nearly everyone attending a festival in his honor. Tiv was running on borrowed time and his people were demanding his head out of fear and sorrow. He left for the only place where he had any chance of finding an answer to both of his problems.

Now he's back in Eorzea, a new man with a slight glowing problem, hoping to find his memories and a way to, if not cure himself of the unnatural energy inside him, then suppress it long enough for a few more years of life. So far the only way he has found to at least relieve the pressure a little is to keep casting spells, so that's what he does. He slings spells for hire, for fun, for what he believes is right and, occasionally, for revenge.

Personality

Coming soon!

Abilities

Abilities in Battle

Coming soon!

Abilities in Daily Life

Coming soon!

Contacts

Friends

Coming soon!

Enemies

Coming soon!

Frenemies

Just a joke!

Affiliations

Coming soon!

Other Notes

Rumors

Coming soon!

Miscellanea

Coming soon!