Igniting Dusk
| Igniting Dusk | |
[[Image: | |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Roegadyn |
| Clan | Hellsguard |
| Citizenship | Unaffiliated |
| Age | Unknown (Presumedly in his sixtees) |
| Height | 7'3" |
| Weight | Heavy |
| Profession | Blacksmith / Semi-Retired Bodyguard & Retainer |
| Patron Deity | N/A |
| Server | Balmung |
Obligatory Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwYtcelFTEM
Contents
Character Information
Appearance
The tall Hellsguard that stands in front of you is a mountain of a man, his sharp facial features bear aged and wrinkled skin, with a single small reddish/brown iride staring daggers at you from his right side, the tattered and shredded flesh around his left socket concealed behind a much needed eyepatch. A few scars cross over the width and length of his face, some leading down to his torso hidden beneath his clothing, a larger one crossing his left cheek along with many smaller ones completely covering all surface. His thick hair a barely red-tinted grey shade that matches his beard, giving away his age. The colour of his skin appears slightly tanned, though the original shade hard to tell due to the overall darkness. Perhaps a person who has spent a lot of time beneath the sun. His size contributing to the intimidating visage; his stature clearly not just for show.
Personality
Those that speak with Igniting Dusk claim he is well-spoken, pronouncing his words with clarity and annunciation. Not too subtle with his topics of conversation, diverting straight to the point as opposed to skirting around a topic with idle banter. A blunt elegance. Some would say quick to anger and others would disagree, perhaps depending on if he can tolerate the individual in question, though most of the time he appears calm and reserved.
Equipment
Armour
Depending on the situation, Igniting Dusk can be seen in a number of different attires.
- Casual Clothing: Favouring utility over comfort, Igni's casual clothing is anything but. A black-leather doublet protects his torso, wore over a bright red shirt. Matching leather gloves and buckled arm guards are worn to protect his hands and to keep the sleeves tucked away. Thick black-woolen trousers of the finest tailor cover his legs, the sleeves of which are tucked into leather knee guards worn underneath his steel-plated boots. A belt covered in pouches and flanked with flintlock holsters on each side holds it all up, the contents of the pouches jingling as he walks. Due to his work commitments, Igni is rarely seen out and about now.
- Smithing Attire: Igni favours even looser-fitting clothing for when he is smithing, wearing a traditional Othard hakama with the required safety clothing: hot work gloves, goggles, etc.
- Plate Armour: Crafted by Igni himself, a set of full platemail made of darksteel rests within the armoury locker in his room, trimmed and embossed with a gold-plated finish and a coating of maroon to match the rest of his clothing. The set consists of a cuirass attached with a pair of tassets & pauldron, along with a pair of half-arm gauntlets & greaves to match; the overall design is based on traditional Othard suits. The most eye-catching piece of his armour however is the Dragon motif kabuto helmet which sits proudly upon his crown. Originally intended for large-scale battles only, the armour has seen use in multiple scenarios.
Weapons
Igni carries with him an array of varying weapons ranging from the efficient to unorthodox.
- Longsword: Sheathed by his left hip is a long-bladed, viking-styled sword of his own craft, bearing his maker's mark just above the crossguard. This weapon barely sees any use now.
- Daggers: Igni has a bandolier of daggers that stretch across his torso for use when disarmed or for throwing, most of the time hidden beneath his tunic.
- Flintlock Pistols: A pair of flintlock pistols are usually holstered at either side of his waist, both of which look unusually ornate in design. The muzzle of both of the firearms has been crafted into the shape of a golden dragon's mouth, with the body of the creature wrapping around the barrels and down to the grip.
- The Anchor: Perhaps the oddity of his arsenal is his anchor of which he has aptly named Aanzo (to himself of course). An improvised weapon of ceremony more than use, latched to his back by a bandolier. The pommel of the anchor is attached to a long chain via hook that is wrapped around his torso and waist, the hooked end of which hangs down by his side a little. The anchor itself has been heavily modified. Most of the blunted ends have been sharpened, and the overall aesthetic design of the item has been altered with etchings and darksteel plating. A truly unique sight to behold; it has recently been retired.
- Sunnfyrabyl (Sunfire Rage): Igni's most recent creation; a blade made of Othard metals and techniques. Visually, the blade of the weapon is less than appealing. The red-tinted alloy looks to have been poorly shaped, though the bladed edge of the thin weapon looks sharper than average. Sitting just between the stunted crossguard and blade are two dull but radiant blue materia, they look to be affixed to the weapon by design. The metal handle has been shaped to fit two Roegadyn-sized hands with the pommel coming to a blunted point. A matching redwood sheath accompanies the blade which is usually always found hanging from his back.
History
Very little is known of Igniting Dusk's past exploits to others. After the Battle of Carteneau he was found unconscious, yet sat upright in the northern parts of the flatlands, not too far from the location of one of the smaller skirmishes. His ornate, red-tinted scale armour was broken beyond repair with a matching helmet in the shape of a dragon's mouth found a few feet away, dented and fractured on the left side. Igni had received multiple wounds, most notably of which were bullet wounds to his abdomen along with some bludgeoning damage to his crown. He was swiftly retrieved from the aftermath and taken to one of the many medical sites set up throughout Mor Dhona where he remained for quite some time. Upon awakening, he had no recollection of who he was or what he was doing at the battle. The medics took to calling him "Stalwart Mountain" due to the nature of how he was found, a name that stuck throughout the moons of his resting. When he was able, his carers gifted him with a set of basic provisions and sent him on his way to Ul'dah along with most of the other refugees.
He found steady, yet tedious work in Ul'dah, lending his aid to caravans and traders alike. Occasionally visiting the Gladiator's Guild to watch the spectacles and performances of the combatants, he slowly gained an interest in weaponry of all kinds. Barely a year after his arrival in Ul'dah, he was approached by a Hyur in a red overcoat; a Lominsan Captain looking for crew. He told Stalwart of his ship, the Shangri-La, and of how experience and fortune awaited him if he were to sign up. Skeptical of it all of course, he signed himself up regardless. Better to risk the chance then waste away lifting crates in Ul'dah. With that, he met with his fellow crew members: Captain Alvan Cale, First Mate I'zimzizi Xhula, The Accountant Qhas'ir Mujuuk, along with the other sign-ups and shipmates. Stalwart's role was to be the Quartermaster, a job he was more than happy to perform due to his interest in weaponry. Serving Captain Cale aboard the Shangri-La for years, he worked up his reputation along with his skills becoming a formidable combatant, picking up the fighting styles of all the various weapons with relative ease. Whilst stationed at one of the many ports throughout La Noscea, Stalwart came across a curious little creature known as Aanzo. The two became natural friends after he signed up to serve on the Shangri-La as they shared many things in common, though admittedly, Aanzo's presence on the ship was rarely seen.
After many years of service, the Shangri-La was severely wrecked during a trade-off with a pirate vessel. The ship was decommissioned along with the crew who were granted a vast payment of gil and property within the Mist, the latter of which they sold shortly after, favouring a location beneath the sun in the Goblet. This is where most of the crew remain to this day, claiming to be in retirement. The activities of Stalwart, Qhas'ir, and Aanzo however stood contradictory to this. The group were quick to sign up with a variety of recruitment agencies, most notably Crystalline, situated in Gridania. Stalwart worked for both groups for fourteen moons more until he decided that a life of constant confrontation wasn't for him anymore. After searching for work as a smith himself for two moons he applied for a position with AIM: a crafting guild local to the Goblet. Using the facilities they had he created arms and armour for a multitude of different people, eventually saving himself a small fortune with which he invested into his own establishment. He and his forge-partner, Aanzo Dinzo, founded the Goblet-based smithy The Mountainfire Forge, the very same place he works to this sun.
Since he began settling down at the Forge, Stalwart has had much time to reflect on his past, recollecting much of it from before the Calamity. Memories of his earlier years spent in his homelands to the East, given enough time, returned to him to the point he could recall names and faces. Before long he had a clear understanding of why he came to the western continent, by order of the family he served, and from this point onward he came to the decision to reclaim his birthname: Igniting Dusk.
Combat Skills
Igniting Dusk is the definition of a capable fighter, years of combat experience with varied weapons and styles has hewn him into a versatile combatant. Though capable as he may be, Igni isn't afraid to turn to cheap tactics and underhanded moves to end a fight as quickly as possible. He enjoys the thrill of battle, but not enough to play with his enemies when he easily outmatches them. However as he reaches his later years, his body is visibly ageing and weakening.
- Swords: He is most experienced with swordplay, able to switch his combat style from offensive to defensive and vice-versa during a fight with great ease. His motions are fluid and his strikes precise, switching from wielding with one hand to two if more power is needed. When using only one hand, It's not uncommon for him to use his free hand to wield a pistol, or even fight bare-knuckle, sometimes grabbing his opponents. Recent recollections of old techniques taught to him in his youth have prompted him to return to his training in an effort to regain what was lost.
- Daggers: His back-up weapons. Not too skilled with small-bladed weapons, he fights very passively with his daggers, wielding only one at a time and favouring his left arm for defensive measures or grabbing. Whilst useful when unarmed, his daggers see very little use other than to throw at the enemy when his pistols are unusable.
- Pistols: Igni's ornate flintlock pistols are used either to start or end fights, sometimes both at once. There's only one real way to use a pistol: outstretch your arm and pull the trigger. Not weapons to be used lightly, though easily countered by some.
- The Anchor: Igni has trained in swinging It's weight about much like you would a heavy maul or a warhammer. Gripping the anchor with both hands, each positioned at different ends of the improvised weapon. The chain attached to the "pommel" of the anchor and wrapped around his torso is occasionally used as a projectile in order to trip or catch opponents off-guard. Throwing the anchor itself into the middle of a skirmish has Its benefits also, breaking up the fight and leaving a nice little gap for him to push in to, unable to pull it back like the hooked chain of course.
- Bare-Knuckle: Scarcely a stranger to fist-fighting, Igni will punch and grab enemies if needed.
- Fire-Aspected Aether: As is becomming more commonly known, Igni is able to harness the powers of the Aether to conjure fire and flames. So proficient and natural is he in such that he seems to require no focus to do so.
Affiliations and Known Associates
- Aanzo Dinzo: A cheeky little Lalafell Igni has known for many more years than he could recall, and a fellow sellsword working with Trident. The reason he came to Eorzea.
- Qhas'ir Mujuuk: The Miqo'te of Trident, Qhas'ir is the well-mannered, well-groomed, and well-clothed accountaint (and occasional medic) of Trident. Stalwart has known him for several years.
- Sami Rhoka: Another Miqo'te of Trident, newest to the group. A respectful but hot-headed individual. Stalwart trained her as his pupil for some time.
- Crystalline: A group of sellswords and mercenaries that half of Trident are members of, the group consists of thirty or so members from a range of racial backgrounds. Members worth of mention: John Spiegel, K'hylia Fhey, Yashaix Ki'lari.
- Artificers, Inventors, and Manufacturers (AIM): A large group of crafters and traders with a variety of differing talents & specializations.
Other Notes
Rumours
Uncommon rumours
- A tall, male Elezen known as "Matty", along with an unknown Hyur male, were looking for Stalwart Mountain and accomplices due to Piracy crimes. Rumours of such have dwindled to nothing since the disappearance of Matty a year gone.
- After speaking to members of Trident (or at least hearing) about the stories of how their life as Maelstrom soldiers came to an end, It's not too hard to spot that some of them don't add up.
Rare rumours
- A few soldiers present at the Battle of Carteneau claim to have sighted Igniting Dusk during the skirmishes, striding through the battle with unknown purpose attacking only in defense, though their accounts of the situation all differ greatly in detail.
- There has been talk overheard about the relationship between Aanzo & Stalwart, that perhaps the two have known each other for longer than they allude to.
- Whispers from medics suggest that the scar on his left shoulder is constantly infected, and that he doesn't appear to be doing anything to heal or quench it.
References
