Akane Gozen

Akane Gozen
Gender	Female
Race	Au Ra
Clan	Raen
Citizenship	Doman
Age	22
Marital Status	Single
Occupation	Researcher / Hostess
Height/Weight	5'4" / 115 lbs
Orientation	Heterosexual
Relatives	Yoake (Father) Okuni (Mother) Makoto (Brother) Shogo (Brother)

Akane Gozen (Doman, 御前 あかね) (12th sun of 2nd Umbral Moon (April 11th)) is an Au Ra Raen born in an isolated Doman village known as Aohama (あおい浜). When the kingdom of Doma revolted against Imperial rule, Akane's village was lost in a retaliative strike, forcing her and her family to flee across the sea. Under the guise of a Thavnairian trade barge, Akane and her family sought refuge in La Noscea, where many moons were spent in hiding before a public presence was deemed acceptable. Where her brothers and father would relocate to Mor Dhona to join forces with other Doman resistance members, Akane stayed in Limsa Lominsa under the wishes of her family, where it was decided she would be safest.

Basic Info

LIKES ■ Reading ■ Bitter Tea ■ Sunny Weather ■ Eorzean Culture/History

DISLIKES ■ Snow/being cold ■ Garlemond/Imperial Soldiers ■ Large Crowds ■ Chocobos (their smell)

OTHER ■ Alignment: Lawful Neutral ■ Vice(s): Sake, Absinthe (though well-hidden) ■ Favorite Food: Oysters ■ Favorite Drink: Matcha tea ■ Favorite Color: Red

Appearance & Personality

Standing tall for a Raen female, with cropped black hair, and deep, wine-red eyes, Akane is a less-than-imposing figure, coupled by a soft voice and subtle features. She is most often seen dressed in black or gray, possibly to signify a state of mourning, preferring well-tailored blouses, skirts, and leggings. Typically, Akane will be found in modern Eorzean attire, preferring not to stick out, but is apt to don more traditional Doman garb while at home or in relaxed, intimate settings.

Because of her status as a refugee, Akane's social skills are still developing; her moons in hiding, however, were not ill-spent, as she studied the speech and mannerisms of La Noscean locals whenever afforded the chance. While extremely polite, her manner of speech can border on archaic or overly-formal, and many jokes and innuendos may go right over her head, and at time she has a hard time expressing her thoughts in the common tongue. Physically, her posture and demeanor can come across as demure or passive, her facial expressions mostly neutral unless engaged. In social scenarios, Akane is oft found off to the side, opting to observe rather than insert herself into conversation; contrarily, when her opinion is asked for, or deemed valuable (whether by herself or others), Akane will put great effort into getting her point across, her opinions not easily swayed.

Despite her social shortcomings, Akane has proven to be of above-average intelligence, with an astute memory and grasp for magical theorems and military tactics alike. When a subject manages to pique her interest, one will quickly find the Raen delving into as thorough research on it as she's able to manage.

Biography

Early Life/Childhood

Akane was born at daybreak to the village chieftain in her home of Aohama, a lake-side village nestled between two large mountains. Life for the young Raen was peacefully routine; she was raised by tutors, nursemaids, and myriad women of the village to breed a proper, noble daughter of the Sun. A child with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Akane was a bit of a black sheep in contrast to her family; the Gozen clan was known, by and large, for its prodigal swordsmen and spearwomen, whereas the lass had no natural aptitude for the martial arts; even the most talented teachers availed to her could wring nary a drop of talent in the way of weapons from young Akane. Deemed a lost cause in the disciplines of war, Akane was instead kept to the household, learning domestic tasks such as tea ceremony, music, and rhetoric. While she never developed a bond with her father, Akane did share a close relationship with her mother, to whom she was regarded in many ways as a mirror image.

Adolescence

By the time she was twelve, a Garlean military outpost was erected only a few malms from Akane's village. While she had seen the imperials many times growing up, she had never considered the gravity of being in such close proximity -- to them, nor their giant, fantastic machines. Unrest grew within the once-solitary village, and soon enough Akane's father called for a tall, wooden wall to be build around Aohama's perimeter.

It was nary a year later that Akane's ascent to 'womanhood' began, culminating with marriage arrangements (much to her protest), and training in the arts of physick and conjury alike, that she might prove some use on the field of battle, despite her lack of martial prowess. For the first time, in the eyes of her family, Akane was revealed to possess a penchant for something 'useful', picking up the finer points of healing magic with the finesse of a born natural.

At the tender age of sixteen, Akane was crippled by the loss of her mother, who was stricken by a mysterious bout of Aether poisoning. From then on, the young Raen became a shut-in, confining herself to her quarters most all hours of the day, keeping to her books rather than face the reality that lie beyond her doors. Her prospective marriage with the eldest son of Midorikawa, a village across the mountains, was called off, and plans were set into motion for Akane to transition her status to that of a shrine maiden, at the village temple to the Dawn Father.

Arrival in Eorzea/Present Day

Once Akane had relocated to Limsa Lominsa, following several moons in a cramped safehouse, she quickly enrolled in the college of Arcanima, as a member of the Arcanist's Guild. Regarded by her instructors and peers alike as a fast learner, she was awarded soon enough with a certificate of competency, and took to more independant studies, including that of South Seas arcana, Nymean military tactics, and aether as a whole. However, with only a stipend granted by her father to live off of, Akane soon found her gil reserves dwindling, and began looking into work at the local Adventurer's Guild.

Her travels brought her soon enough to Ul'Dah, where by chance she made acquaintance with the likes of Lukas Madrazo, a treasure hunter, and N'aomi Kett, leader of the Outriders free company. Finding herself quickly within the company's ranks, Akane began to form bonds with many of its members, her more solitary habits being replaced with those of a trusting, care-free scholarly sort. However, as her social palate grew, so too did her unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and her studies soon found her in such farflung places as Ishgard, Coerthas, and even Dravania, where her prowess would expand to a novicehood in the arts of Sharlayan astrology.

Recent Developments (Constant WIP)

During a foray into the Dravanian wilderness, researching the aetheric air-currents present there, Akane chanced upon an austere artifact, the uncovering of which seemed to (by her own warped recollection) spirit her away to some arcane chamber of ancient design, where she would be trapped for over two moons, her only company an innumerable score of cognisant, 'living' tomes. While taking no small blow to her mental state, Akane was eventually able to gather enough self-generated aether to perform the teleportation spell necessary for her escape. She has since been unable to rediscover the location of this aether-chamber.

Akane's endless studies and research have proven still to be a financial damper, and to accomodate them she has taken up the mantle of hostess, finding employment under director West O'hteco of the Crescent Nightclub, in the Goblet.

Miscellaneous

RUMORS Some of these rumors are untrue or are greatly exaggerated. Please feel free to add your own rumors under PC! ◢ Common Rumors (Easily overheard) ■ "That one? Always with her nose in a book, and never the same one. I saw her reading about flowers one day, and dragons the next..." -- Busybody Barmaid ■ "She seems quiet, but don't get her started... I've never heard a youngling spout so many questions in one span!" -- Layabout Librarian ■ "Who, 'er? Nice enough lass, keeps to 'erself. Somethin' sad 'bout the look in 'er eyes, though..." -- Mindful Marketeer ◢ Moderate Rumors (Moderately difficult to overhear) ■ "My caravan was being attacked by wolves, and out of nowhere, boom! It was like she boiled 'em alive from the inside! Didn't stick around long enough for me to thank her..." -- Carousing Caravaneer ■ "Tch, saw her just last week cozied up with a Miqo'te lad... and an Elezen, the very next! Some gals get all the luck." -- Loathsome Lady ◢ Rare Rumors (Very difficult or rarely overheard) ■ "Careful... I knocked something out of her hands, found myself lyin' in a puddle of me own puke next thing I knew... No-good Shivaspawn, I say." -- Xenophobic Zealot ■ "Aye, said her name was 'Himitsu'. Comes 'round looking for some old Allagan books, now n' again. Spends a bundle for 'em, too." -- Black Market Bellyacher ◢ PC Rumors (Rumors from the character's of other players) ■ ■

RELATIONS ♥ Romantic Interest    ♥ Platonic Love     ● Good Standing     ● Poor Standing ♥ Luna Quinn : The first friend Akane made since coming to Eorzea. While the two are as different as night and day, there are few people whom Akane would trust as closely as Luna, whether it be her feelings or her safety. The two met as fledgling members of the Outriders, assigned as partners on their first mission -- which they failed, but were given commendation for their teamwork and intuitive skills. They are both members of the treasure hunting squad, Team Red. ♥ Lukas Madrazo : Leader of Team Red, a ragtag bunch of treasure hunters, Akane regards Lukas as an anomaly of sorts; a lecher in his own right, she has also seen a more sensitive, almost gentlemanly side to the rogueish miqo'te. However, she seems to take comfort in knowing the two remain close friends, lacking the sureness and confidence to pursue anything further... and having her doubts as far as Lukas's fidelity. ● Piera Neros : An Ala Mhigan woman of imposing stature and even more imposing demeanor, Akane and Piera have become unlikely friends after spending time together, be it at parties, bars, or weddings. The two share an equal hatred for the Garlean Empire, as well as their own personal insecurities. Akane has taken to viewing Piera as the sister she never had. ● N'aomi Kett : The Commander of the Outriders, a Free Company stationed in La Noscea, offering 'Heros for Hire'. Akane looks up to N'aomi as someone who, despite her young age and marginal lack of experience, manages to keep both a leveled head and positive outlook on her life and work alike. N'aomi quickly offered Akane an opportunity to work when she learned of the Au Ra's previous situation, and since then the two have kept an open, trusting, and professional relationship. Akane knows that if anyone would rush to her aid, without question, it would be N'aomi -- with a small army of Outriders at her side.

Gallery

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  Yoake Gozen

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  Okuni Gozen (deceased)

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  Shogo Gozen

• 

  Makoto Gozen

Footnotes

Akane's face claim is Ayano Omoto.

Theme Song: 残響のテロル - Aimer

TV Tropes: Girl Next Door Japanese Doman Politeness The Wise Prince(ss) Deceased Parents are the Best