Zigovali Rigovali

Zigovali Rigovali
Gender	Male
Race	Lalafell
Clan	Dunesfolk
Citizenship	Ul'dahn
Nameday	29th Sun, 6th Astral Moon
Guardian	Oschon, the Wanderer
Job	Astrologian, Arcanist (formerly)

Zigovali Rigovali is an Ul'Dahn Lalafell from the Silver Bazaar, a chronic charmer, and an aspiring astrologian adept at adaptation and alliteration. A self-proclaimed "oratory virtuoso", Zigovali prides himself on his quick wits and energetic spirit.

Attributes
	Strength	█ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █		P.Defense	█ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █
	Dexterity	█ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █		M.Defense	█ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █
	Martial Prowess	█ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █		Intelligence	█ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █
	Magic Affinity	█ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █		Luck	█ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █

 

Nature & Demeanor

Demeanor: Zigovali has an ego that more than makes up for his size. His disposition is one of near-constant braggadocio and showmanship, resulting in a "love him or hate him" attitude from all around him. His stride is one of both swagger and grace, his voice either suave or irritating, but always difficult to ignore. It's hard to tell if his persistence for panache is meant to impress others, or himself.

Nature: Zigovali's true nature is difficult to discern, being a man of many contradictions. An apparently noble spirit is countered by an ever-scheming mind, and his good deeds are always shadowed by questionable methods. While quick to rush to the defense of his allies, he is equally prone to seeking an alternative to confrontations altogether, or even conspiring with multiple sides to secure a favorable outcome. His allies either trust him implicitly or not at all, and neither stance is wholly incorrect.

Religion: Zigovali had long ignored the Twelve, the gods having little to no impact upon his life. Yet his advances in the field of astromancy have opened his eyes to the wonders of divinity. He is now a spiritual and devout man, a sharp contrast to his otherwise irreverent nature. When wielding his magic, he will often invoke the power of the Twelve, calling upon Them by name and title for their aid.

Habits: Zigovali is very fond of speech and wordplay, peppering conversations with bursts of alliteration and liberal uses of entendre and innuendo. He gets plenty of practice from such things, as he speaks nearly twice as much as anybody around him, to the chagrin of many. He is also prone to acting before thinking, forcing himself to fall back on his knack for improvisation to get out of trouble as quickly as he got into it.

Notable Features

Common Appearance: Zigovali stands three fulms high, with long dark brown hair, dark skin, and bright golden eyes. He is rarely seen without a smile, either of a genuine or devious nature, and his movements are a strange mixture of grace and energy.

Scars & Markings: Zigovali often wears red facepaint: two broad lines across his cheeks, and several dots in a row above these lines. His fingers are mildly calloused, and very faint scars may be visible on his often exposed chest.

Voice: Zigovali speaks with a distinct accent of uncertain origin. Its most prominent feature is the pronunciation of most "S" sounds as "Z" sounds. Also noticeable is the surprising depth of his voice, a strong baritone more readily seen in a man twice his size.

Clothing: Zigovali never dresses modestly, favoring bright colors, asymmetry, and a brazenly exposed chest. His favorite outfit includes a red and black coat with gold trimmings, leather black gloves and boots, silken black trousers, and his signature red bandana. He weaves small charms and trinkets into the bandana, such as small stones, seashells, and semiprecious gems and metals. He wears a great deal of jewelry as well: no fewer than three different rings, two gold necklaces, and a gold earring that resembles the sun.

Tastes

Likes

Likes

• Diplomacy
• Alliteration
• His mother's red bandana

Dislikes

Dislikes

• Pessimism
• Long silences
• Taking a life

Favorites

Favorites

• Food: Cheese Risotto
• Drink: Mulled Tea
• Color: Wine Red

Prejudices

- Monetarists: Living a good amount of his life in the slums of Ul'dah has built a deep-seated animosity towards those that support and promote rule under the Syndicate rather than under the Sultana, or even a possible republic. He has seen far too much of the damage of the Syndicate's greed firsthand, and has even suffered much of it himself.

- Ishgard: To Zigovali, Ishgard represents everything he is ideologically opposed to: a rigid caste system, arbitrary rule under noble Houses, and rampant xenophobic sentiments. What few Ishgardians he can call friend still exhibit some of these traits that he is very much not fond of. The city-state's recent changes have softened Zigovali's opinion of it, though much of his biases remain.

- Auri: Zigovali had not met a single au ra prior to venturing beyond Thanalan, and very few of his encounters with them since have been pleasant. Their indignant adherence to foreign and irrelevant traditions in lieu of pragmatism and common sense irritate him to no end.

- Void Magick: After encountering his former mentor Trevaine Montesquieu in battle, Zigovali has grown a deep-seated fear and resentment of anything relating to the void. Those who wield its power will not be a friend to Zigovali, and he gladly makes this fact known.

Abilities

((Section WIP))

Strengths

- Improvisation: Zigovali's mind is sharper than any blade, and swifter than any chocobo. He is never without a plan, and has an answer to almost anything (to the annoyance of more than a few individuals). Even after constructing a well-thought out scheme, he is prepared to drop it at a moment's notice for a better one he'd cooked up on the spot.

- Connections: "The pen is mightier than the sword" is an adage Zigovali takes to heart, and over many moons, he has secured contacts, informants, and business partners all across Eorzea. He'll be the first to say "I know a friend" as a potential answer to a problem, and he treats favors like currency. Saying "I owe you one" to Zigovali is not a mere pleasantry, but a binding unwritten contract, one he will not forget easily, and one he'll be all too eager to call on in the future.

- Aether Manipulation: Zigovali has only recently discovered his Echo, and its effect upon how he processes aether. Rather than guiding its streams like water, he burns it like fire, leading to a highly effective yet equally volatile style of spellcasting. He is capable of drawing upon vast reserves of aether in dire situations, something that has saved the lives of himself and others more than a few times.

- Dancing: A trait inherited from his late mother, Zigovali is a highly skilled dancer, particularly in Thavnairian styles. Beyond its domestic applications, he utilizes this skill in combat to avoid incoming blows, and look good doing it.

Weaknesses

- Ego: The single greatest weakness of Zigovali is his immense ego, and the various consequences of such. He often finds himself cornered by his own runaway overconfidence, and it is difficult for him to recognize when discretion becomes the better part of valor. While it can be an asset at times, he can only push his ego so far until it's a liability, and he often does.

- Aether Burnout: While his vast aether reserves are a clear strength, it can easily become a dangerous drawback. He expends his inner reserves far more swiftly and recklessly than most magic-users, and doing so leaves him in an incredibly vulnerable state should he cast too much.

- Impatience: Zigovali's a quick thinker--often, too quick. He believes that action is always a better choice than inaction, and he is not always correct. "Look before you leap" is not a phrase he is very familiar with.

People & Places

♥ Romantic Attraction – ♥ Attraction – ♥ Platonic Love – ♥ Family – ✔ Business – ✖ Deceased – ● Positive – ● Negative – ● Neutral – ≈ Unsure

Relations (NPC)

Ziziva Ziva ( ♥ / ✖ ) - The Dancer

Details : Nobody in the world loved Zigovali more than his mother, and he held nobody else to such high regard. A stunningly beautiful Dunesfolk dancer, Ziziva taught Zigovali much of what he now knows best and has taken to heart, and her stories and dance lessons served to shape his identity. The last time he saw his mother was three suns before the Battle of Carteneau; she gave him her signature red bandana, "for safekeeping", until she returned. She never did come back from Carteneau, but to this day, Zigovali has remained unerringly devout to her request.

Davali Rigovali ( ♥ / ✖ ) - The Peddler

Details : A lowly Plainsfolk trader and self-taught scholar, Zigovali's father Davali gave him a love of learning and economics. Davali, along with Ziziva, served in the Immortal Flames just prior to and during the Battle of Carteneau, and fell with her in that fateful conflict. It wasn't until years later, looking through much of Davali's leftover trinkets and baubles, that Zigovali came across the starglobe which he now carries by his side.

Trevaine Montesquieu (● / ✖ ?) - Old Mentor

Details : A seasoned Duskwight bookkeeper and swindler, Trevaine served as Zigovali's guardian in Ul'dah when he was left orphaned by Carteneau. For five years, Zigovali faithfully worked for and looked up to Trevaine, until the man suddenly vanished, with Zigovali's life savings. A long and arduous conflict between the two resulted in Zigovali ridding himself of Trevaine for good, and he now strives to remove the influences the man had upon his life.

E (✔ / ≈) - Mysterious Informant
Details : Little is known about E. All that Zigovali knows is that the man is a very reliable informant, and doesn't ask any questions.

Nabuso Lobuso (✔) - The Contractor
Details : A Lalafell architect and contractor that Zigovali has done business with often in the past. Nabuso is a reliable, if unremarkable, worker, and Zigovali only relies on the man as much as he is paying him for.

Dame Caterine de Bale (✔) - Noble Dragoon
Details : An Ishgardian dragoon and lesser noble of Ishgard. After meeting her at a gala in the Pillars, Zigovali is now considered an honored acquaintance of House Bale.

Vicomte Piers Jervaint (✔) - The Friend in High Places
Details : An Ishgardian nobleman with good standing in the Pillars. Zigovali was eager to form cordial relations with the Vicomte and with House Jervaint as a whole, resulting in a reliable ally in a reputable, if minor, noble house. There's rumors, however, that he has ties to the black marketing sky pirate crew the Blacksky Collective.

Relations (PC)

Shoshopu Shopu ( ♥ ) - The Muse

Details:A Lalafell summoner of great skill and intellect. What began as Zigovali's usual flirtatious advances quickly evolved into a romantic interest--one that he did not run from, as he had done with those before. Despite his expectations, Shoshopu agreed to see where a romantic relationship might lead, and he has been incredibly devoted to her ever since. Zigovali takes a great deal of pleasure in charming Shoshopu, while also staying unerringly loyal to her, and respectful of her wishes. After nearly a year of committed and passionate relationship, Zigovali and Shoshopu finally decided that marriage was the next step, and he now takes great pride in introducing her to everyone as "my lovely fiancé".

S'kye S'yoponi ( ♥) - The Assistant

Details:A Lalafell engineer, S'kye's initial oddities gave way to hidden wisdom, and she and Zigovali have since become very good friends. She has become his official Assistant (mostly of her own volition and insistence), and is among the people he can trust completely, and rely upon for nearly any task. While Zigovali still has a great deal of questions about her identity (which she may not even be able to answer), he is quite content with S'kye's friendship all the same.

Shou Lushan ( ● ) - The Freelancer
Details:A Miqo'te researcher of Allagan technologies. Zigovali knows of no one else so versed in Allagan history and the properties of aether, and has conferred with Shou on a great deal of issues. Behind the ever-present sarcastic and facetious façade, she is a great friend and ally to Zigovali, one he has great trust in and respect for.

Madison Brookstone ( ● ) - The Teacher

Details:A Hyur astrologian, and a leading member of the Pathfinders. Taking Zigovali's brief initial advances in stride, Madison grew to become a trusted guardian and reliable ally. With the revelation of his astromantic talent, Madison took a great interest in Zigovali's abilities and, despite her deep desire to keep her own abilities secret, served as his mentor in astromancy and astrology for a time.

Jin Karasu ( ● ) - The Magehunter
Details:An Au Ra dark knight, and leading member of the Pathfinders. Fearsome and unflinching both in combat and outside of it, Jin demonstrated faith in Zigovali's abilities early on. Though Zigovali fears Jin's awesome powers, he rests easy knowing that such forces would never be turned against him. At least, not without good cause.

Reinhold Allemand (●) - The Dragoon

Details:An Ishgardian dragoon, and a high-ranking member of the Pathfinders. Under the former alias Bennard Euth Weatherby, Reinhold was once a sworn enemy and a leading force behind Eorzea Unexplored, and a man Zigovali swore a personal vendetta against. After EU's defeat, Zigovali held great disdain for the man for quite some time. Only through harsh lessons and arguments has he come to reserve some decent measure of respect for Reinhold, if not the same measure of trust. He remains at odds with the man, due to diametrically opposed viewpoints, upbringings, and ideologies.

Eaubront Shopont ( ● ) - The Gambler
Details:An Elezen swordsman. He and Zigovali share much in common, including their general demeanor and swagger, a tendency to gambling, and roots in Ul'dah. Eaubront has yet to lose a wager to Zigovali; then again, he has yet to cheat at one against him either.

Ehfi Rhinsu ( ●) - The Conjurer
Details:A Miqo'te conjurer. Among the purest souls Zigovali knows, Ehfi has proven to be a reliable ally and friend. Her magick has been brought to bear more than once against Zigovali's enemies and in the defense of his allies, and he will gladly repay the gesture in kind at a moment's notice.

Virara Wakuwa ( ● / ≈ ) - The Martial Artist
Details:A Lalafell from a foreign land, highly skilled in stealth and the martial arts. The cultural gap between her and Zigovali has led to many discussions, though he yet remains not wholly sure who she truly is. Virara has assisted Zigovali with little question on several occasions, and that alone leaves her in good standing with him.

Ayla Thatcher ( ● ) - The Bard
Details:A Hyur bard and lancer from Gridania that, while quick to reject Zigovali's advances, became a fast friend. She taught him how to read and write Eorzean, a skill he acquired rapidly, and has advised him in many situations. She has grown to become a good friend and confidant to Zigovali, and while he does not see her often, every meeting with her is a delight.

Rumors

Common Rumors "That lil' Lalafell can't seem to shut his mouth for even a minute. I don't get why people put up with 'im." -- a sailor in Limsa Lominsa "He tells such interesting stories! Such an adorable little thing." -- a swooning maiden "He did not spend much time in the Guild--hardly two suns. He spurned our usual tomes and grimoires, in favor of... novels. If he has arcane talent, I've truly no idea where it may come from." -- a Limsan arcanist

Rare Rumors "I've seen him in the Quicksand, spinning tales and trying to woo maidens. Yet I've also seen him along Pearl Lane, talking to a couple men of unsavory sorts, and trading them gil for what looked like documents of some kind. That man is hiding something; he's like two sides of a gil." -- an Ul'Dahn merchant "I saw him runnin' from Brass Blades through the Ruby Road Exchange. I dunno what was goin' on, but my guess is: he did somethin' stupid." -- a roegadyn traveler "He's one of those... what do they call them? Star mages, using those strange ring contraptions, with the cards. Doesn't look like much, but I saw him get ambushed out in the forest by poachers. You'd think the sun itself had blasted the poor sods, but no, it was that little man. Impressive and terrifying all at once; more aether in his left thumb than most of the adepts I've seen here." -- a Gridanian conjurer

PC Rumors "He puts on a good show of confidence, but I don't think it's real. It will be someday, though, I know it!" -- Ayla Thatcher "He's so cuuuuuute! Ah wanna take him home and dress him up in a cute outfit an' put him wit' mah stuffed toys!" --Randis Rembrandt "I think he's very clever. He's talkative and has an impressive vocabulary... a-and he seems to most like putting it to use when complimenting people, which I suppose isn't a bad thing." --Shoshopu Shopu "It isn't often you see one with such an unyielding drive. His desire to do well is palpable, energetic speech and well thought words doing a fine job of presenting his ambition. I do believe he needs to realize just how fast he should take his endeavors. At the speed he's going, he could easily trip, suffering far worse than a scrape of the knee." --Eddard Holt "Oh, dear Zigo. I've never seen someone quite like him. He's like...a pressurized ball of energy that threatens to explode everywhere at once. I think helping him focus it might be one of the best ways I could help him. " --Madison Brookstone "Think he must brush his teeth with gunpowder so he can go around shooting his mouth off all day. So much talking. Coming from someone who can't shut up themselves. Probably compensating for something." --Khoba Lhyr "Honestly, he's kind of a little shite. He knows when he needs to stop talking, he just doesn't. And yet, after listening to him talk for a while, you might say he's got a good heart. There's definitely more to the man than meets the eye." --Eaubront Shopont "I find his reliance on cons and the darker side of society to be distasteful, even if I cannot argue the results it can yield at times." -- Reinhold Allemand "He walks the line between sheer confidence in his charisma and an insidious hubris. For someone who introduces themselves as an 'oratory virtuoso extraordinaire' and has used his wordplay as a sword to cut through the darkest underbelly of Hydaelyn, he is too obvious in showing the things that matter to him." -- Eiman Rose "((I added a PC rumor here!))" -- ((You, if you wish!))

History

Childhood

Zigovali was born in the Silver Bazaar to Ziziva Ziva, a Dunesfolk dancer and rogue, and Davali Rigovali, a Plainsfolk peddler and arcanist, on the 29th Sun of the Sixth Astral Moon in the year 1557 of the Sixth Astral Era. Due to the Rigovali family's low income, nearly all of Zigovali's education came from his father's improvised lessons and his mother's stories. Zigovali does not remember much of his early childhood, but clearly recalls the financial troubles his parents endured throughout his life, leading to their joining the Immortal Flames to attempt to cover expenses. Zigovali himself attempted to scrounge together gil however he could, performing odd and sometimes illicit jobs for anyone he could find.

The Garlean Invasion and The Calamity

Upon the VIIth Legion's invasion of Eorzea, Zigovali's parents were needed by the Immortal Flames more frequently, and he often found himself living at home alone while they were away. On the occasions his parents returned home, he sought to lift their spirits as much as possible, and the last few years leading up to the Calamity were both the happiest and saddest times of Zigovali's childhood.

Three nights before his parents' final deployment, Zigovali was given the signature red bandana his mother was always seen wearing. She instructed him to hold onto it for "safe-keeping" until she returned. Unbeknownst to Zigovali, this was the last he would see of his mother.

Ziziva and Davali were both slain in the Battle of Carteneau. Zigovali did not learn of his parents' deaths until over a week later, when an Immortal Flames representative delivered the news.

Post-Calamity

Only days after receiving news of his parents' deaths, Zigovali was forced to abandon his childhood home with whatever he could carry, selling several family heirlooms in the process. First traveling to Ul'Dah, Zigovali relegated himself to the alleys with other refugees, turning to petty crime on many occasions to make ends meet. Zigovali attempted to emulate his mother's storytelling to entertain the refugees around him free of charge, or the patrons of various Thanalan taverns for gil.

Two years after the Calamity, Zigovali was caught attempting to pickpocket a Duskwight bookkeeper at the Ul'dahn Coliseum. Rather than turn him over to authorities, the man, Trevaine Montesquieu, instead took the young vagabond under his wing. Trevaine educated Zigovali in economics, politics, and above all, crime. In time, Zigovali became a highly accomplished con man alongside his new partner-in-crime, generating a great deal of gil in the process. A vast majority of his earnings were held by Trevaine for safe-keeping.

Besides his work with Trevaine, Zigovali found himself performing many favors for a large variety of people, from fellow refugees and petty criminals to wealthy merchants and other influential figures. Despite his impoverished state, he often rejected repayment in gil, instead insisting that they simply owed him a favor. While a seemingly innocent request, in the several years he spent wandering, he never forgot a single one of these favors owed him--something that would later serve him well.

OOC Information

Hard Limits

Hard Limits

Zigovali is not eligible for injury without my permission. This includes physical and mental harm, as well as other serious adverse effects. Character death is strictly prohibited.

Hooks & RP Favorites

Hooks & RP Favorites

• Zigovali can be contacted freely by anyone via post. He offers discreet services involving diplomatic and unorthodox solutions; while he is discerning of clients, he tends not to ask too many questions.
• Zigovali owns a mine and quarry in Thanalan, R.E.D. Mining, and business propositions can be directed his way.
• Anyone that lived in Pearl Lane after the Calamity has a very good chance of having met Zigovali in the past.

External Links

External Links

• <a href="www.tumblr.com">Tumblr</a>

This template was originally created by Evaleigh. Then it was mashed up with bits of Bancroft Gairn's template by Shoshopu. Zigovali is super grateful to everyone that helped make this entry!