Vincent Sarkoza

Error creating thumbnail: File missing  Vincent Sarkoza
Gender	Male
Race	Hyur
Clan	Midlander
Citizenship	Limsa Lominsa
Age	23
Height	6'1" (185cm)
Weight	175 ponze
Profession	Traveling Cook/wildlife cataloger, Assassin for hire
Patron Deity	Oschon
Server	Balmung

INTRO TEXT

Appearance

Vincent prefers to wear comfortable clothing when traveling, his traditional shinobi garb when on the job though sometimes simply concealing his face will suffice. He is always concealing a weapon somewhere under his clothing such as throwing knives, shuriken, and daggers aside from the daggers he wears on his belt. He also has a high fashion sense, and would rather die than wear something he thinks is hideous. Having been trained by his mentor at an early age, Vincent has grown tall and has developed a highly athletic body built more for speed and agility than strength. He has bright red hair and teal eyes that look either more blue or more green depending on the lighting as well as a scar over his right eye, traits that he had since birth. People often think of him as a kind and gentle soul due to the slight smile he wears on default, something that Vincent likes people to think because he really isn't a kind and gentle soul. Those who know him on a more personal level would say the "gentle smile" is actually more of a smirk. No matter what he is always wearing however, he will always be wearing a small, round flat mahogany pendant around his neck. Carved in it are two angels faced back to back in fetal position. Its the symbolization of the moment in life he regrets the most and is something he will never be able to move on from.

Voice: Mugen (samurai champloo)

History

Life was hard for little Vinny. He knew nothing of his family save for the name Sarkoza, which was written on a slip of paper that was tied to his wrist when he was found in the slums of Uldah as a child and brought to an orphanage out in the desert.As he grew he quickly learned that in order to survive, he had to do what was needed in order to come out on top. The orphanage that accomodated him could only feed so many kids and so the weaker children starved while the stronger kids grew stronger. Needless to say, he quickly learned how to fight and use his wits to outsmart the kids he couldn't beat. It was also during his time in the orphanage that he learned how to pickpockets through sleight of hand, a skill that he eventually sharpened as he moved on to picking heavier pockets in Uldah.His talent for hand to hand combat was eventually noticed by those at the pugilist guild when a few students saw the then young Vicent brawling with other kids on the street. They offered to take Vincent back to the guild to teach him how to fight properly but he took no interest in them as he had more important matters on his mind at the time so he refused them. More importantly however, he refused them because he had grown used to his life on the streets. He had begun to like the exhiliration of moving quickly and robbing people blind and outwitting the older kids or brawling with the ones he stood a chance against. Eventually, Vincent realized that he could only do so much on his own and if he wanted to eat more, loot more, and live more comfortably, he would need help from the other children which led him to propose a plan to form a gang with the kids around his age who were weak on their own. This isn't to say that Vincent didn't try recruiting the older kids but they were too proud of their own strength and too ignorant to take part.Only a few older children joined up, knowing that life would be easier in a group. The rest eventually joined one after the other later on after noticing the success of Vincent and his gang. Life was routine for a time, work together to steal food from the vendors, pickpocket the wealthy merchants in Uldah, and rob the largest homes they could find. Though business wasn't always good, at the very least no one went hungry anymore and boredom was no longer an issue since everyone was always off doing something to the benefit of everyone. It didn't please the orphanage all too well since they didn't want to be known as the orphanage that provided shelter to a band of thieves and the kids didn't want that either because it meant that they would lose a home. Because of this, the orphanage was largely empty save for the workers and toddlers that remained there until late at night, when everyone returned to their beds to call it a day. Even then, some kids opted to sleep outside under a starry night sky when the weather was good.This kept the orphanage out of prying eyes and actually made it easier for the orphanage to feed and take care of the toddlers. On his twelfth birthday, the kids got together and announced that Vincent would be the leader of the gang. It wasn't something Vincent cared too much for since all he really thought about was being able to eat well and sleep well but he decided to roll with it anyway. It was only later on that Vincet learned that, though he was taller and stronger for his age, it was mainly because of his wit and charisma that the others agreed to elect him as the leader. Plus he was the one that brought everyone together in the first place. That same year the orphanage declared that though what Vincent and his crew were doing helped the orphanage get by, poverty was still prolific in the area and the orphanage had actually been in a slow but steady decline the entire time. It was time for Vincent and everyone to move out. As everyone gathered side by side behind the circle looking at Vincent and waiting for him to announce their next course of action, a thought trickled into his mind until it became a full blown revelation. It was time to make a choice. What he decided here would set him of radically different paths in the future. The decision of whether or not to continue leading his merry band of thieves or set out and become an adventurer. A hero even. One who had wealth, power, and glory. He had seen many adventurers come and go and everyone he saw served only to fuel his curiosity and ambition. He was terrified of ending up like the old men he had seen during his time in the dark and ugly parts of the greatest city in Thanalan. The ones who have spent all their life trying to get by and never leaving the confines of the city, let alone the land. He felt uneasy leaving his group behind but in his heart he knew it was time to leave. It was a hard goodbye and since he never made any real friends during his time in the orphanage, he couldn't name the next leader. Thus, he made his peace with them and left them to their own devices. Some laughed at the notion of "Vinny" Sarkoza as a hero and some smiled, thinking that it might just happen. Nothing else was on his mind while he was on his way through Western Thanalan. He could only see himself whirling his greatxe at numerous enemies and even slaying a primal or two like the warriors he had heard about in the stories of old. For a kid who grew up owning nothing and had to struggle to live everyday, there was nothing else to live for. Nothing else to strive for. With a bag of of food and assorted clothing slung over his shoulder and a small dagger strapped to a leather belt, he would face the world...or so he thought. He had not gotten within three malms of Horizon before he was kidnapped by human traffickers who were also bound for Vesper Bay.

As luck would have it, a veteran of the Rogues guild had been tracking the same band of traffickers and stowed away on their ship before dispatching the traffickers and their hired mercenaries. Vicent could hear something was going on above but he could guess. He could hear shuffling footsteps, the clash of steel, death, and fear. What he did know for sure was that he had been kidnapped and he was pissed.Pissed that he was still a kid and couldn't grow up any faster, that he wasn't any stronger or more alert and he tookout all his anger on the Rogue when he opened the barrel that contained him. It took the Rogue completely off guard, the last thing he expected was an angry child to come leaping out of the barrel punching and screaming. When Vincent finally calmed down, the rogue introduced himself as Mansa Musha. The man who would later on mentor Vincent on the rougish arts and eventually, before his death, the arts of the shinobi. After an incident involving Vincent and a marauder, Vincent accepted Mansa's tutelage and for the next 10 years until he was 22 he trained and lived with the man. When asked about why Mansa decided to take on Vincent as an apprentice, he simply stated he liked the fire he saw in Vincent's eyes when he leapt out of the barrel and when he drove his dagger though the heart of the marauder that had deceived him. Mansa's training was nothing short of grueling. Vincent actually died once when he was fifteen and would've stayed that way if Mansa hadn't been nearby and quick to use a Phoenix Down. It was an incident that left Vincent recovering from both the resurrection sickness and the injuries that killed him for three whole months before he could start walking properly again. Mansa kept closer watch on Vincent ever since then, probably because he didn't have another Phoenix Down laying around and far too much time had been invested in young Vincent to let him die again. Whereas before Mansa left Vincent to his own devices on certain "missions", after Vincent's resurrection Mansa began accompanying him but still leaving most of the work up to him. This pleased Vincent greatly as he had already began to view Mansa as a father figure. Through the "missions", more like tasks that had to be completed in a certain time, Vincent learned about the art of stealth, throwing daggers (and later shurikens), reconnaisance, poisons, information gathering, and assassination, which Vincent practiced on Mansa himself. When he wasn't offdoing Mansa's missions, which sometimes were just things Mansa himself was too lazy to do, Mansa was busy sharpening Vincent's body and mind. Teaching him how to properly meditate, conditioning his bones and muscles, and teaching him about aether. It wasn't until a year before Mansa's death by Vincent's hand that he taught Vincent the arts of the shinobi. Skills that were passed down to Mansa from Mansa's own familty from the Doman side. His mother's side. Vincent was surprised to see the similarities in which rogues and shinobi fought, aside from the ninjutsus he learned later on. Learning how to channel the aether around him into physical form was one of the toughest things Vincent ever learned and it took him upwards of up to almost half a year to simply learn Huton and Suiton. At the final moment when Vincent ended Mansa's life, Vincent had succesfully cast the single ninjutsu that he could never come to grasp before...Raiton. That was the greatest tragedy of his life. Vincent had always wondered why Mansa had no family. He didn't have a wife, according to him he never even married, he had no children, no relatives to speak of, and his parents were long dead. Mansa was for all intents and purposes, alone on Eorzea. It wasn't until Vincent's final mission that Mansa revealed to him why. The student, in a final show of skill and all that he or she has learned over the years, must overcome the master in a battle to the death as is tradition in the Musha family. If the student is victorious, then the master dies with honor knowing that he has passed on his will and legacy to the next generation. If the student fails then the master is to take his own life to make up for the shame of unsuccesfully passing on his art. Mansa's mother died by his hands, an event that scarred him for life and ever since then he vowed to never start a family of his own. Mansa's life was the second life Vincent had ever taken up to that point. "Take it" Mansa said "I'll always be... here" he held up his soul stone, his hand trembling as his life faded away. "I'll always be here...." he said as he rested his hand against Vincent's chest and struggled a weak grin "and here."

The ten years he spent with Mansa had taught him much about the realities of the world. He had almost forgotten what he had originally set out to do. Becoming a hero seemed like so much of a childish dream, a dream he no longer cared much for. He had a new dream now, or rather a new pursuit. The freedom to pursue what interests him and live his life like he pleased. "Everyone's free to do what they wish Vincent, that liberty is the most important thing in life. It is what you should pursue. Never let anything or anyone hold you back, though it can be easy to loose your way and come under sway of someone else" Mansa said once. The world was cruel, made crueler by war and the calamity that he could've only survived with Mansa's help. But there was beauty as well, an aspect that Vincent appreciated greatly. With everything Mansa taught him over the years, and with the will that he now carries, Vincent left the old hut that he had lived in for so long. For the next year, Vincent worked with the Rogues guild. Often taking contracts that dealt with people who violated the code that the guild held dearly and completing most of those missions on his own. It was during this year that three great events happened in his life: becoming an assassin, falling in love, and then having to murder the same woman he loved. The latter two weighed most heavily on him and still does to this day, but there was no other way but to leave the past is it was and continue to live on. The realm was reborn, and there was much to do and see.

Personality

(Chaotic Neutral) To conceal his true occupation, Vincent acts gentlemanly and polite toward strangers and aquaintances. Very few know his true personality, even fewer know he's an assassin or even a shinobi at that.Alhough he appears friendly enough, since he often talks to people,it's mainly so he can gather information about the area he's in for for other information he happens to be looking for. Rarely is he ever out just to make a friend or two. Outwardly he projects himself as someone who cares deeply for the woes of others and as someone who would give aid to those in need.He also conceals and lies about most of his fighting prowess to those around him,coming off as a traveling cook who's only good enough with his knives to protect himself against the average bandit/beast.Of course, when his life is in danger or if those around him he deems are an asset to him are in danger, he will fight to his full capacity when the situation warrants it. For the most parthe will try to appear as a simple cook who travels the land to search for, and catalogue, herbs, spices, and meat of beasts and animals.

Truthfully, Vincent is far from being polite nor gentlemanly. He's sarcastic, usually follows his whims and doesnt care too much about those around him and can disregard others at the drop of a hat. Often times he does what he does out of amusement or out of curiosity of what might happen after, which makes him quite mischievous at times and can earn him the resentment of those he plays tricks on. Speaking of tricks, he does have a tendency to try to decieve others into either doing things for him or making things easier for him though he sometimes compesates the victim with some kind of a reward.Sometimes.

Even though he does kill (mainly) for a living, he doesn't go out of his way to harm those around him and prefers not to engage in violence unless someone is intentionally getting in his way.Depending on his mood he'll either move on to something else or outright beat the individual(s) out of his way.He especially dislikes harming innocent women and children and doesn't accept any contract that details the elimination of either but the death (or harm) of both have been indirectly related to his actions on the job in the past.It is important to note that he has knowingly taken a contract that called for the death of a woman who lived in the outskirts of Limsa Lominsa and it was the first contract he had ever taken. When out on his own, he's rather quiet and likes spending time enjoying the scenery. He especially loves doing this with some tea. Being an assassin, he has a habit of planning things through before actually doing antyhing but this is limited to when he's on the job. Even then he can still be highly impulsive, as such his plans are never really set in stone and improvisation tends to take center stage. Put simply, his plans only act as a sort of guide marker.

Characteristics

• Nicknames: The Red Death, Mister Red, Vinny
• Age: 23
  • Nameday: 5/26
• Gender: Male
  • Sexuality: Heterosexual
  • Marital Status: Single
• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
• Height: 6'1" (185cm)
• Weight: 175 ponze
• Body: Athletic
• Hair: Red
• Eyes: Teal
• Skin: Fair, slightly tan

Likes

• Money
• Wine
• Tea
• Desserts
• Traveling
• Women
• Beaches
• Napping

Dislikes

• Restrictions
• Judgmental People
• Stubborn People (though he himself can be stubborn at times)
• Righteousness
• authority
• goody-two-shoes

Areas of Expertise

• Martial: Hand to hand combat, poisons, knife/shuriken throwing, wielding any type of daggers, knives, etc., Parkour, ninjutsu.
• Crafting: Cooking
• Other: Espionage, sleight of hand, lock picking, infiltration, escape arts, herb lore, first-aid, meditation.

Strengths

(refer to expertise)

Weaknesses

Has a hard time fighting Lancers and Bards due to their range, as well as fighting paladins due to their defensive abilities. Due to his usage of daggers, he relies on evasion, parrying attacks away from him, and stopping attacks mid swing before it can reach a higher velocity to defend himself. Blocking attacks from greatswords and axes head on using daggers requires heavy use of stamina and risks injury and death. Cant parry or block magic attacks unless he intercepts them with his own mudras but this method is limited.

Other Notes

Religion

Not religious.

Quirks

He always smells like the tea he drinks most recently. Hiccups around women he fancies (usually when there's a "moment).

Equipment

• Poison for daggers, knives, etc
• Daggers, knives, shurikens
• lock picks
• bandages and medicines

(equipment will always be subject to change depending on the situation. The one's listed are the ones he carries most often)

Rumours

Common rumours

• "That guy with red hair? yeah he's a travelin cook and some sort of wild life cataloguer or something."-villager in Central Thanalan.
• "Oh Vinny? I've done business with him a few times. The man brings herbs and spices from the far away places he's been to. He also likes to sell weird jerkey, sometimes they're pretty good." -various merchants.

Uncommon rumours

• "I heard someone say once that Vincent's an assassin, but I've seen him fight and I have to say no way. He can handle himself but...an assasin? Nah." -an adventurer

Rare rumours

• "You ever need someone to ehrm...dissappear, you give Mister Red a call. He kills beasts as well incase you're wondering."-unknown client.
• "Witnesses call him the Red Death, for the blood of his victim that he was covered in once. Other than that, no one's ever seen his face." -local authority

What PCs are saying

(shoot me a pm and I'll add it :) )

Known Haunts

You might have run into or otherwise know NAME from:

• Uldah and outlying areas
• Limsa Lominsa

OOC Inspirations

Spike Spiegel, Mugen, Deadpool