J'maaira Tuhl
Contents
Appearance
Jay is average in nearly every way for her race. She stands at a height of 5 fulms and 6 ilms. She certainly doesn't tower over people, especially her family, but she also doesn't have to look up very much to very many people she knows. She has a greater amount of muscle mass than many females and as such weighs more, though it certainly doesn't make her fat. There's a sort of confidence in the way that Jay presents herself. She usually stands with her arms crossed and head cocked to the side, as if in anticipation or annoyance. It's often hard to tell.
Jay has a rather small and slightly chubby face that doesn't quite match her demeanor. Bushy eyebrows lie atop small, slightly-slanted, eyes. Her eyes are an unremarkable light brown and she envies those that have more exotic colors. There is a small scar running across the bride of her nose, one that she is self-conscious about, earned in the midst of battle. She has dark racial markings on her cheeks that are partially covered by a white tribal tattoo, one that her father did not agree on her getting. She sees no need for makeup as it will only get sweated off at the end of the day and thus, prefers a natural face unadorned by colorful cosmetics. She had rather long hair, but cut it short in favor of a shorter, sleeker style. Growing tired of the shortness, she took a bottle of Hildebrand's Hair Growth potion and now sports a much longer style, which she throws into a ponytail.
Jay's body is one that exhibits her love of more physical activities. To say that she had a soft-looking figure would be quite the misinterpretation. Her body is comprised of lean, taut, muscle. It's certainly not a bodybuilder's physique but one of a person who trains extensively and knows how to take care of herself. She often likes to comment that her abs could "cut diamonds." Her curves leave something to be desired. Certain sacrifices had to be made to attain the level of physical prowess that she has and as a result she doesn't have very big breasts or a very large rear. Additionally, unlike many of her race and native country, she is on the paler side. Where her skin tone comes from, she couldn't say. She honestly doesn't care much about things of that nature.
Personality
In comparison with other female Miqo'te's that she knows, Jay is much rougher around the edges.She has a tendency to behave in a masculine manner, something she feels may be due to her father's influence. Much like her father, she doesn't suffer bullies and whiners and expresses her displeasure with their behavior through eye-rolling, passive-aggressive comments and hostility. Simply put, if she doesn't like you or the way you act, you can be expected to be met with any of these behaviors. That being said, she has a weak spot in her heart for shy and timid people and often tries to stand up for them should the need arise. To many, she can be intimidating and standoffish at first but she tries her best to be as friendly and sociable as possible and will open up more once she gets to know a person. She takes great offense to not being taken seriously or being scoffed at, especially by those she considers below her, both in skill and experience.
There is more to Jay than the brave and fearless facade that she puts on for the world. Her early childhood has lead to emotional trauma that has not yet been resolved, despite her insistence that she is fine. She has a deep-seated fear of abandonment and being alone, stemming from the time in which she was orphaned. On a lighter note, she is deeply curious about the world around her and her place in it. She often questions things that she comes across in her travels and delights in learning new things. Family also means everything to her and you should count yourself lucky if she considers you as such. She would do anything for family, even lay down her life if that's what it came down to.
Jay was raised to do right by everyone so she is a stern, but fair individual. She believes strongly in the principle "You reap what you sow," and has been known to let others suffer for their mistakes in order to teach them a lesson. She is also very straightforward and honest, believing that harsh truth is better than sugar-coated lies.
Flaws, Merits, and Behaviors
Flaws:
- Stubborn - Jay is set in her way of doing things and is resistant to change. Because of this quality, she can be argumentative about her views. There are some poor individuals that have attempted to 'fix' her in the past, but she is insistent that she doesn't want nor need to be 'fixed'.
- One-Track Mind - Once her mind is made up on something she wants to do she sets out to do it, unwavering and focused until she completes her goal. This can also be a merit in it's own way. One can certainly never say that she's left anything unfinished.
- Blunt - In comparison with some people she knows, Jay is positively subtle about her thoughts. Of course she is quick to voice her opinion, other people's feelings be damned. This has earned her the ire of many individuals.
- Fearless - There is no sense of self-preservation with this one. She is quick to enter the battlefield and gives no second thought to her own well-being, either emotionally or physically. This behavior is intensified when she is performing a selfless service for another individual.
Merits:
- Brave - Brave is just a kinder word for fearless, but it denotes a positive trait. She rides the fine line between being brave and being stupid and has been known to cross that line on several occasions.
- Intelligent -Many are quick to dismiss her as a thick-skulled and violent oaf because of her preference for fighting, but that's certainly not the case. While she's not as smart as say, a scholar, Jay can certainly hold her own in company with bright minds.
- Strong - While she's no bodybuilder and she certainly can't lift a fat chocobo, Jay doesn't lack in the strength department. She can lift up to 150 ponze, without very much strain.
- Reliable -Jay can be counted on to do the most trivial of tasks without complaint. She is a selfless individual and thus, is happy to lend a helping hand. This can also be seen as a flaw as she sometimes stretches herself too thin, leaving little time for herself.
Hobbies:
- Traveling - Seeing new sights and meeting new people has always been a favorite pastime of Jay's. She often finds the change of pace refreshing.
- Fighting - Fighting always gives her a rush and a sense of exhilaration.
- Reading - Atypical of her tough image, Jay is an avid reader. Adventure novels are her favorite genre, but she'll likely read anything she happens to pick up.
Likes:
- Books - Books are loved not only for their words but also for their smell.
- Drinking - Jay loves a good stout or whiskey and can drink many Roe's twice her size under the table.
- Dogs- She has a special fondness in her heart for pups
- Training- Nothing makes her feel quite as productive as training does.
- Sweets- Jay is a glutton when it comes to sweet foods.
Dislikes/Fears:
- Losing- She's not a sore loser by any means, but that doesn't mean she likes it.
- Ignorance- Nothing makes her quite so angry as hearing another person spout ignorance and claim it truth
- Garleans- She has no love for a race that killed her parents and oppressed her people.
- Being Underestimated- She takes particular delight in proving people's assumptions wrong.
- Cheaters/Liars- Her dislike stems from past experience.
History
Before Dalamud's Fall
Like so many others, Jay did not have the best start in life. She remembers very little of her childhood before her adopted family took her in, at least consciously. She has recurring dreams and nightmares of that time. Many times it's a simple dream of her real mother singing her to sleep while she strokes her hair and other times it's of her real father training or playing with her. The nightmares come less often, but she often wakes in a cold sweat from the memory of her mother's eyes meeting hers before her head was cleaved from her shoulders. These are the only things she knows of her real family and though she is curious to learn more about her origins, she does not let her past define her.
Jay was born in Ala Mhigo to two seeker parents that had long since abandoned their tribe. J'Tuhl and J'Taena sought a better life for their budding family, but since Theodorac's oppressive regime, they were unable to flee. They tried their very best to provide their only daughter with as much love and warmth as they could possibly give. Her real father was a monk of great renown and was well respected in the community. Her real mother was a famous bard, said to have a voice sweeter than honey. After Jay's second nameday, Theodorac committed suicide rather than be captured and Garleans invaded under the guise of promoting peace and prosperity in Ala Mhigo. The citizens learned of their deception two years afterward. Her father was soon selected as a leader of the resistance, however the Garleans quelled the rebellion in a brutal fashion, killing both of her parents in a public execution as an example to would be upstarts. Jay witnessed the beheading and as a result has the occasional nightmare. Her conscious mind has repressed all memory of this event to save her sanity.
After her parents death, the following year was a blur of starvation, sickness, and sadness. The country was in a state of constant unrest and chaos and Jay was just one of many orphans of the war. Soldiers from the three city-states were assisting the Ala Mhigans, trying to win back their freedom. As it happens, a unit from Limsa came across Jay and the other street urchins. Some of the men took pity and gave them food and water while many turned a blind eye. Among them was a Roegadyn man,Zwynhelb, who was intimidating in appearance, but Jay was fearless, unlike the other children and approached the man for handouts. The man took a liking to her and during his time there he gave her food and chatted with her every day. He came to her the day before his departure and offered the five year old a proposition. He wanted to take her home with him and raise her with his wife. Jay was apprehensive about leaving the only home she'd ever known, but she knew that she'd stop getting fed once this man was gone. In the end, she agreed and traveled home with him to Moraby.
His wife, Brynbilda, was overjoyed to have a child and showered Jay with affection. In time, Jay began to forget all about her previous home and the painful memories it held. The man and his wife became "Papa" and "Mama". Her father taught her to wield an ax and stand up for those who had no voice and her mother taught her to be selfless and kind. No one in Moraby questioned her about her past or where she came from and accepted her as she was. Given time, her mind repressed her more upsetting and traumatizing memories and she grew up mostly unaware of how bad it really was. From time to time, she would question her father about it but he was just as clueless as she was about the time before she met him. He advised her to not dwell to long on the past, stating that it can't be changed and she should focus on her bright future.
She grew up a normal child thereafter. She enjoyed playing Maelstrom and Pirates with the other children, running on the docks and generally just having fun with her best friend, Robert. She experienced no real hardships after her rough start in life. After her tenth nameday, her mother had twin girls, Hollsys and Rhetswys, and Jay became very protective of them, taking to the big sister role extremely well. Her father began training her more seriously in the axe, expressing a desire for her to follow in his footsteps. She was young and impressionable and took up his lessons without argument or complaint. Despite her best efforts, she found no joy in wielding the axe, though she certainly never voiced her dislike to her father.
At sixteen, she began to wander farther away from home, visiting Limsa Lominsa as often as she dared. She wished to see more of the world and have adventures like those of the heroes she had read about however, her plans to travel were soon put on hold by the fall of Dalamud and the Garleans advancement into Eorzea.
After Dalamud's Fall
The Fall of Dalamud caused great unrest and chaos spread across Eorzea. The city-states were struggling to resume a sense of normalcy as the Garleans took advantage of the fall and continued their advancement into Eorzea. Jay felt a sense of obligation to help those that had been affected by the war and after much argument and tears from her parents, she faked her age and enlisted in the Maelstrom. Within it's ranks she traveled the land, visiting as far as Ala Mhigo. For quite some time her fighting style had changed and she found herself gravitating towards hand to hand combat.
She left the service of the Maelstrom on her eighteenth nameday, citing that she had personal affairs to take care of. She stayed with her family for a few months before coming to the decision to travel once more for herself rather than others.
Her first stop was to Little Ala Mhigo to meet with the refugees and learn more of her native country and the events that shaped her early childhood. She also wanted to discern if anyone had known her parents, more out of curiosity than anything. There she met a Miqo'te Monk by the name of R'Whaji. The two struck up a fast friendhsip and R'Whaji agreed to train her after pestering on her part. In the following months, Jay spent much of her time with Whaji and soon fell in love with him despite him being ten years her senior. He loved her too, or so he led her to believe and they dated for a year a so. Jay was happy with him even though he treated her more as an object than an equal. She traveled Eorzea with him in that time, learning to fight, meeting new people, and experiencing new things. She felt a sense of fulfillment that she thought she had been searching for her entire life. Unfortunately, she was young and naive and her happiness was short-lived when she found Whaji sleeping with another woman. She was distraught and took her pain out on him and the unsuspecting girl. The woman sustained many injuries but walked away in better shape than Whaji did. The testament to her rage still lies on his face in the shape of a scar.
After R'Whaji's betrayal, Jay's outlook on life changed. She withdrew into herself, no longer smiling as freely as she once did and grew colder and mistrustful of others, especially men. She picked fights in taverns for no other reason than because she wanted to and took what work she could get. Limsa Lominsa was home for quite some time. She grew to hate the person she had become and was not proud of the things she did in that time and yearned to change back into the person she once was.
Present Day
Through a stroke of luck, Jay joined the Harbingers of Dawn, a free company that she had come to idolize after hearing about the good deeds and services that they provided the people. Within the span of a few short weeks, she found herself gaining many friends and becoming her old self again. She even met a man that she came to love and has become much more trusting of the male population in general.
Jay has heard in recent weeks that Whaji has been snooping around and asking after again, but she has been successful in avoiding him thus far.She hopes that he can maintain his distance from both her and the friends she has made, for his own sake.
Recently, Jay has taken up learning magic per Lan's request that martial members be more well-rounded in battle when she first joined, though she's finding it difficult as she doesn't fully understand Aether and how it works. Many would think she'd be more inclined to blowing things up, but she is surprisingly intrigued by healing.
Family and Relationships
♥ Friends ♥ Family ♥ Romantic Love ♦ Neutral × Rival
Jay's real family and any blood relatives remain elusive, but she's a firm believer that you don't have to be related by blood to be considered 'family'.
Relatives
♥ Zwynhelb and Brynbilda: A Roegadyn couple that cared for Jay after Zwynhelb brought her home after his time in the Maelstrom. The two loved and raised her as if she was their own child. Jay is grateful to them and respects them more than anyone else.
♥ Hollswys and Rhetswys: Jay's younger twin sisters. At the age of ten, both have already proven to be troublemakers and heartbreakers. Hollswys is said to have two suitors and Rhetswys three. Despite their antics, Jay is overprotective and loves them both.
Friends
♥ Ziuz'a Nelhah: As cliche as it sounds, Ziuz'a stole her heart. He was the first man in a very long time that treated her with respect and as an equal instead of more than just another face. He's stoic in public, but since the two began a relationship, he's become much more relaxed and even kinder. He's reliable and she knows that he'll come to her aid in an instant, though he'll likely make fun of her for being weak enough to need him. He hasn't opened up to her very much about his past, but she's content to wait and just be there for him until he's ready.He has proposed to Jay and the two are engaged though this is not very common knowledge.
♥ Yune Tabrisviel: Jay views Yune as her little sister, though technically the pink-haired Miqo'te is older than she. She's overprotective of her and has come to view her as family. In light of recent events, Jay has realized that she knows next to nothing of the woman's past and is curious, but she respects her boundaries. As with many of her new friends, she is content to be a source of comfort for her. Their sisterly bond and friendship seemed in jeopardy after a misunderstanding (mostly on Jay's part), but the two have reconciled and they seem better friends than before.
♥ Lan Darklyn: Circumstance led Jay to attend a soiree with Lan and the two became fast friends thereafter. She views him as her drinking buddy, but she also has a great deal of respect for him as a superior. She was promoted to Lieutenant under his command and is eager to prove herself.
♥ Verad Bellveil: Verad is a constant source of entertainment for Jay. There is never a dull moment to be had in his presence. She quite likes the self-dubbed "dubious" Elezen and is always more than happy to assist him in his business.
♥ Sceva Valiir: Jay and Sceva are old friends from the past. They've had a lot of adventures together and encounter each other quite often in their travels through coincidence. Jay knows she can rely on the Roe to get her out of a tight spot.
♥ C'hannon Lowell: As with many of her friends, Jay knows little about the past of C'hannon and is content to simply be there for him as a friend. She believes he's a great cook and finds the animals that often follow him home amusing. She knows that she can count on him if she's in a tight spot.
♥ Mimiru Miru: Jay respects Mimiru as both her physician and her friend. Because of more recent events, she has come to lean on Mimiru for support and owes the young woman a life debt. There has been many complicated feelings between the two. Mimiru has confessed her love for Jay, but as Jay is in a happy relationship, this knowledge makes her feel guilty.
Other
♦ Val Nunh:Jay respects Val and his loyalty to Lady Faye and the company. She knows that if she has any concerns that he will lend an ear.
x R'Whaji Nunh: Her past lover, Jay loathes him. He's a cheater and a liar and she feels foolish for ever even loving the man. If she were to meet him again, she can say with certainty that she'll kill him or at the very least cause him extreme bodily harm. As the saying goes, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
♦ Davoren Shayde: She met this man in the time following her split with R'Whaji. She was unnecessarily rude to him and the two fought with it ending in a draw. She tried to apologize for her behavior when she met him again, but he was as rude as before and she hopes to challenge him to another fight to prove she's better.
Affiliations
The Harbingers of Dawn: Jay has become affiliated with the Harbingers of Dawn, a company that serves the people. She views the members as her family and is content to be a part of their ranks. In time, she would like to be viewed as a valued member.
Current Status: Martial Lieutenant under Saint Lan Darklyn.
Rumors
♦ Common Rumors ♦ Uncommon Rumors ♦ Rare Rumors
PC Rumors
Please feel free to add something here if your character(s) know Jay personally or if you know of her.
♦ "She keeps Zuiz'a on a short leash"- Zart'ir Arashi
♦ "J'maaira is a great person. A competent fighter, and she is a very good friend of mine. I know that I can trust Jay with any task I set to her. And yep, you mess with her, and you'll be lucky if her mate gets to you before I do..." -Lan Darklyn
♦ "Oh man, she's awesome. To be perfectly honest, I'm surprised she's not the matriarch of her own clan, especially considering that she can keep Ziuz'a in line like that." - C'hannon Lowell
♦ "Fuse is burnin." - Flameson Hammersmith
♦ "Strong and proud woman. Competent leader, and, if what I've heard is correct, a damned good fighter as well. Just the kind of person suited to higher management." - Gwannes Oskwell
♦ "She is the sort of leader that can move her troops with only a look. The branch members seem to respect her, and so far I share their view." - Vallerin Hortimont
♦
NPC Rumors
♦ "Jay? Ain't she Zwyn's kid? I remember the day he brought that scrawny thing back. Weren't long 'fore she started terrorizing us at the docks."-Irritable Dockworker
♦ "Eh? What about her? Bitch trashed my bar with some Roe woman."-Disgruntled Tavern Owner from Wineport
♦ "That lady is nice! She brought me a moogle toy once!" - Ala Mhigan Refugee Child
♦ "Her and that other seeker, R'Wami was it? Their relationship was quite scandalous." - Gossip with too much time on her hands
♦ "Terrible shame about the girl's parents. They were good people." - Ala Mhigan Refugee
♦
Other Notes
Music Themes
Jay's Theme - A Peaceful Place - The Track Team | The Legend of Korra OST
- Shiki no Uta - MINMI | Samurai Champloo OST
Jay's Voice - Kimbra
Wanted for Interesting Roleplay
Jay is a very versatile character and she would fit in nearly any plot, given the chance. If you wish to RP with her and you don't fit any of the below categories, just contact me. I'm happy to work anything out.
Those who seek previous ties may include the following:
♦ Ala Mhigan refugees and fellow war orphans. One might have seen her on her periodic visits to Little Ala Mhigo or have remembered her from her early childhood if they also lived on the streets.
♦ People who lived in or around Moraby or Limsa. She grew up in Moraby and later made her home in Limsa for a couple of years. Again one might remember her from her later childhood, or may have seen her acting as a bodyguard for the wealthy in Limsa Lominsa.
♦ Anyone who has a fondness for travel. It's certainly possible that they could have met briefly in their travels.