Aria Benett
 Aria Benett
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[[Image: Sometimes I feel as though I am not worthy of the mantle of Padjal...it would be better suited to one who doesn't suffer from cowardice.. | |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Padjal |
| Clan | Midlander |
| Citizenship | Gridanian |
| Age | 20 |
| Sexuality | Heterosexual |
| Height/Weight | 5 fulms 1 ilms/100 ponze |
| Occupation | White Mage; Healer |
| Guardian | Althyk, the Keeper |
| Nameday | 3rd Sun of the 2nd Umbral Moon |
Aria Benett (real name Ramu-A-Sara) is a White Mage born in Gridania. Though currently in hiding, she takes up the name given to her at birth, taking on the persona of a simple Conjurer. She is a member of the Support Branch in the Harbingers of Dawn, a Free Company who's estate lies in Mist, Ward 3.
Contents
History
Born to a single Midlander mother who's husband died of illness shortly after her conception, Aria started life relatively quietly; while her mother assisted in duties as a Conjurer at the Stillglade Fane, Aria would often play with her cousins. By the time she was around 5 years old, a strange manifestation occured, where horns sprouted from her head; shortly after, she was confirmed to have been blessed by the Elementals, and had become a Padjal. From that moment, Aria was taken away from her life as a normal little girl, and was given a new name to commemorate the beginning of her new life, Ramu-A-Sara.
Under normal circumstances, once a Padjal had been taken to the Stillglade Fane, they would be unable to maintain contact with their former family. Aria was the special exception, having managed to see her mother on a regular basis during her lectures and studies; she built a strong relationship with her mother despite their limited time together, but it was always the relationship that Aria treasured more than anything, the only person she ever felt love for. Regardless, Aria was a natural at her studies, and became a highly competent Conjurer by the time she was 14 years old. It was at that point that the Order of the White, a group of Padjal White Mages, decided to induct her into the group, and began her studies of the next level - the study of the Forbidden school of White Magic. Aria saw little of her mother since the beginning of her new training, something she regretting greatly when she died in the Battle of Carteneau only one year later. Though overcome with grief, she was eventually able to move on, seeing her mother's bravery and sacrifice as something to be honored, and as a goal for her to match in the future.
Aria's training become considerably more difficult as time carried on, though with her natural ability, she was easily considered to be a truly gifted White Mage, standing below the Elder Seedseers and few of the Order of the White by the time her training was complete. However, as the final initiation loomed closer, Aria began to doubt her role as a Padjal, and as a White Mage; as it was likely her future may bring onto her more and more responsibility and restriction, she began to panic, and with that, self doubt. Aria felt as though she lacked the traits necessary to become a leader, fearing her cowardice would only prove to be a hindrance to Gridania and the Twelveswood as a whole.
On the night of her initiation, Aria was able to sneak away from her guards, and under the disguise of a commoner, she was able to teleport herself a short distance away from the capital and into Bentbranch Meadows to the South; from there, she was able to avoid being recognized, and boarded a carriage to escape the Shroud. Little is known of her journey since, though eventually she was found alone and helpless in La Noscea by the Ishgardian Dragoon Raku Keville, who had taken her back to Mist for recuperation; as a way of gratitude, Aria joined the Harbingers of Dawn, his Free Company, as both repayment, and as a way to forge a new identity for herself.
Personality
The few people who know Aria all regard her as a gentle, kind soul who only wishes to help and better those around her, and protect those who would find themselves in harm's way. She generally carries a quiet voice and rarely finds herself interacting with large groups, but she still chimes in should she feel her opinion be important enough. She always carries a very formal and lady-like posture, a result of her etiquette training as a Padjal, who are naturally chosen to become leaders within the Gridanian council; when it comes to her choice of words, it is often speculated she comes from a noble background, though most of her clothing contradicts it. She is a modest soul who often brushes aside compliments, though is often as polite as possible, and easily praises others for their own accomplishments.
With that being said, Aria can also be quite motherly despite her young age, and even younger physical appearance of around 15 years; she is quick to scold others for their wrong or even illegal actions, and can be pushed into giving punishment if angered enough, though this is often the last resort. With it comes to physical contact, Aria is mostly uncomfortable; she is not used to physical touch, but as her time outside of Gridania grows, so does her readiness for it.
Another side to Aria is that she is very easily embarrassed when it comes to more intimate or spicier topics; unfamiliar with the concepts of both courtship and mateship, Aria is unsure how to act both in and around people in a relationship - she often acts stiff and frozen, mostly watching others to learn. When asked embarrassing questions, the Padjal often resorts to blushing and avoiding straight answers.
Skills & Abilities
Conjury & White Magic
Even at a young age, Aria showed a great level of skill; by the time she was 14, Aria was capable of casting high level Conjury spells without a great deal of fatigue as consequence, and was more than capable of attuning herself to the elements around her to unleash devastating elemental attacks such as Stone, Aero, Water, and even the legendary Holy. As a bonus to her healing abilities, Aria is also highly adept at identifying the cause of various injuries almost immediately, and can even identify internal bleeding without much problem, even under stressful circumstances. Though often used as a last resort, Aria is capable of harnessing her own life energies to heal the ill and heavily injured, producing extremely potent spells at the cost of her own health.
As a trained White Mage, Aria possessed knowledge over a school of magic forbidden to all but the Padjal; as a White Mage, she can cast very effective healing spells on a whim, produce healing over time effects on anyone she chooses, and can even bring someone from the brink of death with a single spell, with a great amount of fatigue afterward. Other skills of the White Mage include being able to commune and understand the Elementals of the Twelveswood, allowing her to soothe angered or tainted elements, and even making her a canditate for the Quietening, should it ever be needed prematurely.
Crafting
As a hobby during her time at the Stillglade Fane, Aria took up both Alchemy and Weaving when she wasn't studying Conjury. Whenever she is not engrossed in other duties with the Free Company, Aria often weaves her own clothes or for others, and maintains a full stock of simple healing potions and salves should a healer not be present. In her spare time, Aria runs a small clothes shop in Mist, mostly dealing in swimwear and bikinis.
Other Skills
Aria has spent a great deal of time studying a variety of different cultures and societies during her time in Gridania, but has little knowledge of the more major societies in Eorzea, such as the Ala Mhigans, the Ul'dahns and the Lominsans. Despite that, she is a quick learner, and has taken great interest in Ala Mhigo due to her current partner, Dural Shieldsplitter, a Highlander from Ala Mhigo. Her main specialty when it comes knowledge, however, is Primals. Aria possesses a great deal of knowledge about Primals, their abilities and respective beast tribes, and other trivial knowledge, her expertise lying with the Primals of the Twelveswood and Coerthas; Garuda, Ramuh and Odin. As a side note, Aria enjoys interacting with, and studying, the Sylphs of Little Solace.
Trivia
- Despite being 20 years of age, Aria possesses the body of a 15 year old girl; this is because all Padjal stop aging in their early to mid-teens.
- Aria always wears either a hood, a bandana, or a hat whenever possible, to maintain her disguise as a Hyur by hiding her horns. Shortly before leaving Gridania, Aria filed and cut her own horns to a tiny size, making it possible.
- Aria's idol is A-Towa-Cant, the legendary White Mage who became the first Padjal to leave the Twelveswood to heal and aid the people of the world outside his home.
- Aria has a Unicorn whom she mostly leaves in the Twelveswood, and keeps a pet Mandragora at her Free Company's estate in Mist.
- Aria's favorite food is either Noodles or Fried Orobon, but she also possesses a sweet tooth. She does not drink alcohol, and has only done so once, though it was only one glass of wine.
- Aria's favorite color is purple, though she feels she cannot pull it off; because of that, she wears her second favorite color, pink.
- Aria Benett's name comes from the character of the same name in Final Fantasy III; she was a Priestess of the Water Crystal who aided the party as a guest, casting White Magic randomly for support. She died defending the party from Kraken.
