While mostly resembling her mother both in appearance and cultural identity, Arko towers over her petite mother while preserving the delicate structure common in midlanders. She keeps her dark hair lengthy with the appearance of unkemptness; however, the disheveled look is entirely calculated to align with her desired aesthetic. She is fond of gold hues and, similar to her maternal family from the Yanxian highlands, adorns her cheeks with gold dust nearly every morning. Although she exercises tirelessly and wishes it were otherwise, she has barely any noticeable muscle definition and comes off as frail, though she focuses most of her muscle training on her core and legs for agility.
Her father gifted her with deep obsidian hair that shines violet in the right lighting. Her ears are slightly pointed at the ends, but hardly enough to notice unless one focuses in on them and catches her when she is not covering them with her hair or some sort of ornamentation. Besides the gold dust on her cheeks, she tends to avoid makeup, save darkening her lips to a dusky burgundy when the occasion calls for it. She leaves her eyes bare, as she is fond of their shape and color, a near copy of her mother’s wide golden eyes.
Initially, Arko is reserved around acquaintances, unless her job calls for extroversion. Nonetheless, she cannot help but to be emotive in her facial expressions, especially when discussing a topic she feels deeply for. Though she is skilled at reading others, it is nearly impossible for her to truly deceive someone when she is fond of them and her facial expressions become a candid translation of her feelings.
Scars & Markings: Having only just commenced her training in archery, along with her devotion to self-image, she has but two noticeably scarred areas on her body. A tiny gash resides on the left side of her neck and several deep markings paint her ankles. She is hesitant to show these to others, though she admires those with scars, believing it indicates a sense of devotion to their cause and/or loved ones.
From childhood, her family would paint gold dust onto her cheeks, so much so, that her cheeks remain slightly stained gold.
Voice: Arko possesses her mother’s resonant sing-song voice but with a deeper, sharp flow in her intonation. She has a subtle regionally Yanxian accent and dialect, but hyper-corrects it when meeting new people. Once she grows comfortable, her accent becomes apparent and her tone livens up and shifts to being more spirited and expressive.
Clothing: Her manner of dress is typically overstated and formal, but never apparently so. Every piece she wears means something to her and she spends a great deal of time and attention on her clothing. One will often catch her in deep reds or greenish-blues accompanied by golden accents. Customarily, she conceals a dagger under her clothing for personal protection. Recently, she has been fortunate enough to travel to various cities across Hydaelyn and has adopted an extensive collection of fabrics and garments. Her wardrobe grows so rapidly, she is plagued by the paradox of storing such a considerable collection.
Personality, she has one and it will be written in eventually.
Likes
Bitter Tea
Style and design
Icy Weather
Symphonic Music
Dislikes
Discrimination/Oppression
Political Corruption
Nobles and aristocrats
Sweets
Insolence
Fears
Betrayal
close combat
Flavorless food
Trivia
Favorite Food: Goat curry, freshly caught raw fish
Ascending even the highest elevated fields in Yanxia, bordering the sunlit steppes, a modest community of no more than 40 individuals resided. The members chose to remain secluded in the rigid shelter of the mountains of Yanxia. Known by few as a tribe with origins spanning decades, traversed to by almost no one (given the harsh conditions and protective/reclusive nature of the community).
One such brave visitor happened to be a gawky anthropologist highborn of Ishgard with intentions of documenting their unique traditions and culture. Youthful and naïve, he found himself utterly captivated by the colorful rituals and art, throwing his life at their feet in mercy only to witness it. The leader of the community aggressively refused his request to document them, however, everyone has their price and this Ishgardian scholar had too much wealth for his own wellbeing. The Elezen, Ruvienne, was granted the opportunity to stay with the community in exchange for a hefty stipend which went towards funding the journey for and acquisition of livestock, and other goods not locally available.
Ruvienne remained with the mountain clan while working on his ethnography as applied to his own cultural theories. The clan prided themselves in their emphasis on spirituality and the arts. Similar to Domans, though not entirely equal, they believed spirits (neither good, nor evil) roamed the planet and manipulated life on it in accordance with their individual character traits and goals. To call upon specific spirits, ritual dances, songs, and shamanic ceremonies were constantly performed.
In particular, Ren, the leader’s youngest daughter, an elegant yet feisty midlander, found herself in the position of the highest-esteemed traditional dancer. Allegedly, shaman elders chose her as a protector, destined to keep the tribe from danger before she even left the womb. Following years of rigorous training in song and dance, she was called upon every morning to reign in protective spirits with her intricate dances and operatic melodies.
Perhaps she never truly summoned spirits, though she undoubtedly enchanted Ruvienne, not with her artistic talents, but with her intense and spirited personality. They spent most nights together, sharing stories and personal outlooks by a fire. What Ruvienne had intended to be a six month stay, stretched for three years, and the two had grown inseparable.
Overtime, Yanxia transformed into an impoverished and hostile environment. Overdue as it was, even the highest points of the region fell to corruption. Contentious individuals (unaffiliated to Garlemald, as the nation never scouted the area) sought to invade the community for personal gain. The tribes greatest fighters were falling to their aggressors and their numbers were rapidly dwindling. Paralleling their newfound hardships, Ren discovered she was carrying Ruvienne‘s child. Seen as a negative omen by many in the tribe, the leader had no choice but to cast Ruvienne out of the clan permanently. Ren herself wondered if their romantic union angered the spirits and afflicted her family. The hopelessly enamoured elezen pleaded with Ren to escape with him before the situation worsened.
Fiercely loyal to her family, Ren was appalled by his request and threatened to fight him off herself if she needed to. With a heavy heart, he returned to Ishgard after years of estrangement. Not without sending a band of well paid mercenaries to block anyone from venturing up the mountain, however. Following his removal, the clan celebrated a new period of peace and appeasement of the spirits.
Before an assembly of delighted faces, Arko was born. According to the elders, her spirit was melded with the darkness of her father and the graciousness of her mother. A combination they considered favorable, despite their vilification of her father. As was customary of the group, Arko was raised by everyone in the tribe and given only a first name. She was taught the tribe’s traditional dances and beliefs.
Prior to the sunrise, she was expected to perform dances beside her mother, Once the light peaked through the leaves, she was free to wander on her own. Shamanistic salves and poisons fascinated Arko. Occasionally, the shamans would indulge her curiosities and teach her how to utilize the resources around her. When the sun reached its brightest point, together with her peers, she was trained in combat. She preferred bowmanship as she found power in mastering her environment and using distance and agility as her primary weapons. Soon after the moonlight traced the ground, she witnessed divine ceremonies performed by the elders. She relished in studying the elaborate attire, dedicated to each activity.
Displacement in Kugane
Arko’s fortuitous years of adolescence came to a halt suddenly when an ensemble of impetuous Hingan traders paraded through the tribe’s fighters with the heads of mercenaries at their backs. They slaughtered the elderly, captured the able bodied to be sold off as laborers, and detained the artists to be traded as performers. Ren and Arko were sold to a wealthy Hingan family of theater owners in Kugane. The family aspired to hold weekly shows of rare exotic performances; such were Ren and Arko’s talents needed. Contrary to common portrayals of servitude, the family treated them with as much respect as one who put a price on their lives could give. The family encouraged them to maintain their traditional culture, even if just for personal profit.
The dance performance rapidly grew in popularity and went from weekly to nightly. Ren, Arko, and other dancers/musicians were expected to perform their pieces before an audience of wealthy patrons.
….
Continued Soon
....
Arko has amassed several skills as well as certain ineptitudes throughout her life ((Leave an ask here or in-game mail for requests)):
Stylist
Under the moniker, Neige D'or, Arko utilizes a persona full of pageantry and brazen theatrics to guide those closer to their personal fashion enlightenment. She travels to a location of the client's choosing to listen to personal stories in order to withdraw the cornerstone of their essence and apply it to an ensemble best suited to them. She finds what she needs in the subtext of their tales, rather than the substance, using a technique she learned from her cultural psychology professor in Ishgard.
♠ Nimble as her creativity may be, her hands are too unsteady for weaving herself, therefore she resorts to commissioning trusted weavers around her to complete her projects. She is currently searching for a more permanent assistant to aid her with analysis and creation.
Archery
Arko fairs poorly in any kind of physical contest, especially close combat. Briefly in her youth, she was taught the basics of archery, though she abandoned the art and only revisited it recently. She admires archery for the beauty in the manipulation of the earth and the target over practicality. She had a dainty ornamented bow specially crafted for her by a dear friend which inspired her return to the field. She makes up for her physical ineptitude with her perception and discerning nature, though she is easily blindsided by those more experienced.
♠ She is currently searching for a mentor in combat technique to study and learn from.
Masked Vigilante
Arko can be hired for ventures involving guerrilla justice where the system has failed. She employs several methods acquired after years of working under her mother in Kugane. The work can span from reconnaissance to deception for information.
She is capable of utilizing special tonics that may bring out the truth in others (usually alcohol, but she never tells her clients this). Additionally, she attempts to create ritual balms akin to the ones the elders of her late family would make that had variable results. On occasion, the balms would place her target in a trance, throw them into a vivid dream/vision, or merely intoxicate them.
♠ She carries out such pursuits in complete secrecy and asks that her clients use a code name for themselves and for her. She meets in one of two obscure locations of her choice in either Ishgard or Kugane. Though, she is inclined to dramaturgy and selects scenic heights to conduct her business at the expense of security.
♠ She is constantly recruiting trusted associated to pursue some of these daunting endeavors.
♠ Requests can be left with a hired drunken man on the lower floor of The Forgotten Knight or with a nude Roegadyn in the bathhouse outside of Bokairo Inn in Kugane. ((Leave an ask here or in-game mail))
♣
Favorite Food: Goat curry, freshly caught raw fish
Favorite Drink: Mint Tea
Favorite Color: Burgundy
Color Key
♥ In A Relationship: Romantically involved with this character.
♥ Romantic Attraction: Romantically interested in this character.
♥ Sexual Attraction Physically interested in this character.
♥ Platonic Love/Family: Considers this person family.
♦ Friend: Considers this person her friend.
♦ Friendly Acquaintance: Considers this person mostly friendly, or as an ally.
● Good Standing: Has no specific feelings about this character, however they left a good impression.
● Neutral: Has no specific feelings about this character.
● Bad Standing: Has no specific feelings about this character, however they left a bad impression.
♠ Dislike: Doesn't consider this person a friend, and will talk if needed, but try to avoid them.
♠ Hate: Consider this person an annoyance, and will try to avoid them. Conflict can happen.
♠ Fear: Is terrified by this character, and will try to avoid them at all cost.
♠ Rivalry: Consider this person a rival, and will try to initiate conflict every time she gets to meet them.
♥ Family Member: This character is related by blood.
✔ Business: This character is either an employer, employee, or coworker.
✖ Deceased: This character has passed away.
?Hidden Feelings/Unknown: This character has one of all the color keys above, but she isn't fully aware of it yet.
A supportive teacher. Often tell myself we are polar opposites but find so much of you in who I am.
Name Goes Here( Status Icons Go Here )( NPC ) - Title Given By Character Goes Here
Text, text, text, text.
Name Goes Here( Status Icons Go Here )( NPC ) - Title Given By Character Goes Here
Text, text, text, text.
Name Goes Here( Status Icons Go Here )( NPC ) - Title Given By Character Goes Here
Text, text, text, text.
PC
Name Goes Here( Status Icons Go Here )( NPC ) - Title Given By Character Goes Here
Text, text, text, text.
Name Goes Here( Status Icons Go Here )( NPC ) - Title Given By Character Goes Here
Text, text, text, text.
Name Goes Here( Status Icons Go Here )( NPC ) - Title Given By Character Goes Here
Text, text, text, text.
Name Goes Here( Status Icons Go Here )( NPC ) - Title Given By Character Goes Here
Text, text, text, text.
Name Goes Here( Status Icons Go Here )( NPC ) - Title Given By Character Goes Here
Some of these rumors are untrue, speculation, or are greatly exaggerated. Feel free to add your own rumors under the Player Character category!
NPC
.
◢ Common Rumors - Easily overheard.
■ "She comes to me for her little projects. Her attention to detail comes at a fault. She tips well, but never truly appears satisfied." -Freelancing Seamstress
■ "She thanked me and displayed a tender smile after I gifted her my finest sweet bread, but I could see right through her. She hated it. How could anyone dislike...my...sweet bread. You will have to excuse me now." - Cavalier Baker
◢ Uncommon Rumors -A little more difficult to hear. Use sparingly.
■ "I heard she and her mother come from a tight-knit group that was completely wiped out. I don't buy it at all, most likely just a ruse to get people paying for their performances." -Skeptical theater owner in Kugane
■ "She fools not a single soul in this community with her classlessness, yet she walks around and speaks as if she has a say in our politics and society, having only arrived recently." - Local Ishgardian Matriarch
◢ Rare Rumors -Very rarely overheard. Please ask before using!
■ "If only you could have seen what I saw. Stay away from her. She befriended and conned my best friend, an honest trader, and watched the life leave his body after she poisoned him. Didn't even flinch. Listen, do not buy into her act. She thinks she has some righteous cause, but we're all just trying to make a living here." -Clean-cut Hingan Trader
■ "Ruvienne tells us all she is his student... I am truly appalled that anyone believes she is not his illegitimate... His poor wife, I recognize the anguish in her eyes every time she crosses paths with that mongrel. Breaks my heart... What of their children?" - Ishgardian Medic by the Scholasticate
PC
.
◢ Player Character Rumors -Feel free to add rumors of your own!
■ I will play mature content and themes (violence, sexuality, drug / alcohol use) as long as they're logical in a plot-driven encounter. Coarse and excessive language. Temporary injury and incapacitation. Most walk-up encounters.
■ Ask about long-term and/or permanent injury and disfigurement. Long-term captivity or imprisonment.
■ I won't play permanent character death or rape plots.
Disclaimer
■ If an aspect of RP makes you uncomfortable in a scene we're playing, please send me a /tell, letting me know. Communication is very important, more important than potentially keeping immersion.
Links Out
Links that lead off the wiki, but are technically relevant to the character.
