Aya Foxheart

Aya Foxheart
Gender	Female
Race	Hyur
Clan	Highlander
Citizenship	Ala Mhigo (Formerly), Ishgard (Refugee)
Age	Early 20's
Height	5' 10"
Measurements	Just Kidding!
Residence	The Quicksand, Ul'dah
Occupation	Barmaid, Dancer, Model, and (former) Mercenary
Employment	The Quicksand

~A Dancer Pretending to be a Lancer~

or

~Adventures in Lancing and Looking Good~

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Note about Use in Forum RP: 
Anyone who knows Aya is welcome to use her for Forum RP taking place in the Quick Sand to serve, or add general color - no need to ask for my permission!

Character

General

This tall, blonde Hyur woman moves gracefully, displaying bright, energetic blue eyes, and warm, happy smile.

Appearance

Long blonde locks fall freely over the shoulders of this Hyur woman, bearing a somewhat unkempt waviness that threatens at times to become a curl. Bright blue eyes are the highlight of a warm smile framed by typically rose-red lips. She is short and slender for a Highland Hyur, but by the standards of Midlanders would be considered tall, with a curvaceous figure. Finding herself somewhere between fit and athletic, her body is finely honed for dancing, and is only secondarily adapted to the rigors of combat - especially as she is no longer a sellsword by trade.

Aya is usually seen wearing at least light makeup, and is rarely found without lip gloss and eye makeup. She loves jewelry and sports seven piercings on each ear (four upper, and three lower), usually wearing larger earrings on the lower-most piercing, and then matching studs in the remaining (frequently changed to match her outfit, and sometimes her mood). She usually wears necklaces, bracelets, and several rings, as well as navel jewelry that she prefers to have visible whenever possible.

She prefers outfits chosen for form instead of function, frequently wearing heeled shoes and boots, skirts instead of leggings, and armor that give priority to flattering her figure rather than protecting her. When she was a mercenary her commanders were at times able to get her to wear practical armor when preparing for situations where combat was expected, but it was a struggle to convince her to wear proper uniform at other times.

Disposition

Aya typically wears her personality on her sleeve. She is outgoing, social, with a clear orientation toward fun and pleasure. She has a significant caring and soft-hearted streak, that sometimes conflicts with her better sense, and often speaks before she thinks(sometimes leading to unexpected shyness). She generally prefers to avoid hard work, has expensive tastes for comfort and baubles, and will almost always take the easiest route to Gil when offered. Nonetheless, she has become significantly more responsible since fleeing Ishgard and encountering the difficulties of the real world shorn from the protective layer of her family, and can usually be counted on if it really matters.

Preferring shopping, relaxing, and most especially partying to hard work, these tendencies will almost always become obvious to even the most ambivalent observer.

Background

Aya as a Barmaid in Ul'dah

Ala Mhigan Refugee

Born the youngest of three children into an upper class Ala Mhigan family steeped in a long warrior tradition, Aya was born into what should have been a life of relative luxury. All hope of such fortune was washed away among the flood of refugees fleeing the Kingdom ahead of the Imperial conquest. Living as refugees the family moved from city to city in a vain effort to call in old favors to find permanent settlement. After being turned away from every hope, including an extended stay near Limsa Lominsa, Aya's father finally made the decision he had been so loath to consider in the past: to call upon distant relatives who had settled as sellswords in Ishgard several generations in the past, the black sheep of the once prominent and proper family.

Unaware of their fortune to gain entrance to the city shortly before the gates were sealed to the outside world, their long lost relatives welcomed the family with the grudging acceptance of blood relatives. Unable to leave their past behind, Aya's parents adopted only the minimal necessary trappings of Ishgardian society. Refusing to abandon his pretensions her father quickly became a burden, followed by the eldest son intent upon claiming the trappings of an inheritance that had evaporated before his eyes. Loyal to a fault Aya's mother served her husband's every interest, pressing the children to accept his desires and command as they became ever less realistic. The two younger children grew closer to one another, as both proved more capable of adapting to their new social status.

The younger of Aya's brothers chose to become an apprentice weapon smith, planning to open his own shop and provide support for his parents, and if possible to repay the relatives to whom the entire family owes their survival. Aya meanwhile was drawn toward less productive, but equally rebellious endeavors. Despite their poverty, Aya's parents set her on the path to be schooled as a proper Lady befitting her station. Of the arts and manners she studied as a child, her favorite quickly became dancing. As an adolescent she embraced a social circle that skirted the edges of "acceptable" society, preferring the fun, excitement, attention, and notoriety to be found in the world of taverns, and underground clubs. Finding that she could earn gil as a dancer and entertainer Aya completely abandoned her ties to the social circles her parents still clung to in their vaingloriousness.

Flight, Gridania, and the Hungry Wolf

Credit: Jack Swift

Facing increasing pressure from her parents, and feeling a general alienation toward the accepted culture of Ishgard, Aya made the life-changing decision to escape from the city. Once in the outside world she made her way to Gridania with a purse that rapidly grew bare. She managed to find employment at the Roost as a barmaid, where she was able to rent a room on a long-term basis. With an eye on greater prizes (and a blindness to the risks) she embraced the opportunity to find work as a sellsword with a Free Company she had come to know through work, thus Aya came to the Hungry Wolf.

Although she had mislead the Company on her experience and capability, Aya proved a quick study, albeit it a tentative combatant. Over the course of her several months long employment by the Hungry Wolf, she took part in a small number of actual combat operations, while generally avoiding dangerous assignments. Focused primarily on patrol and sentry work, she finished her time with the Company overseeing patrols that covered the Gridania to Coerthas road, stationed at Fallgourd Float. The work was mild, and she supplemented decreasing pay by entertaining at the local inn. As the company floundered financially, the remaining members were released from their employment.

Ul'dah: The Quick Sand

Floating about without work, Aya returned to Gridania where she lived at the Roost, trying to make up her mind about what to do next, until expelled for failing to pay for her room. Desperate to find work again, and deciding it better to not further pursue her career as a mercenary, she decided to return to her previous employment, that of a barmaid. Deciding it unlikely that the Roost would turn around and offer her work so soon after the messy issue of her eviction, she opted to try a new city. Intimidated by Limsa's pirate culture, Aya opted to instead test the oppressive heat and culture of Ul'dah.

Momodi, the matron of the Quick Sand, the busiest drinking hole in the city of Ul'dah, and a hub of activity adventurous, legitimate, and illicit, saw potential in the young woman (perhaps believing that the tall blonde from the north might bring in business with her exotic looks) and quickly offered her a position as a barmaid. Along with a pittance of pay, she was provided with a small room (in the least desirable part of the building), board at discount, and the opportunity to keep any tips she would earn.

Aya's primary responsibility is tending to patrons sitting at the Quick Sand's tables, but she also sometimes assists customers at the bar itself, and can pour and mix some drinks to make things easier on Momodi. She's also been quick to help with the Quick Sand's menu, adding a variety of mixed fruit drinks (which she has come to consider something of a specialty), a variety of dishes, and nearly tripling the volume of Gridanian Mead sold with her frequent recommendation of the import.

Combat

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Although she is no longer a sell sword, Aya's training and experience with the Hungry Wolf remains a crucial aspect of who she is. Regardless of her desire to avoid any violent situation, she remains rather better prepared for it than she would admit.

Aya's formal training in military skills has been as a Lancer. Accepting early lessons from the Wood Wailers, and later trained by the Hungry Wolf, she is naturally well-suited to the weapon. Physically fit and athletic she is able to utilize the leverage-advantage of the weapon to a great extent, while maintaining distance from her opponent. Although tentative to enter combat, once engaged she fights with a raw tenacity and viciousness that the Hungry Wolf seek to instill in all of their fighters. She would rather avoid danger if at all possible, but if forced she will kill or be killed. Quick and graceful she relies on rapid and precise movements en lieu of brute force, utilizing surprise and distraction to create opportunities to exploit with the goal of inflicting debilitating injuries. To utilize her impressive leg strength she makes frequent use of kicking and jumping attacks, often in conjunction with the lance to create difficult to defend sequences of strikes. Most experienced soldiers would still consider her an amateur, but one still capable of being a sometimes surprising threat in hand-to-hand combat.

She is familiar with archery, which was one of her childhood hobbies, one which she has rediscovered in the Shroud which prizes skill with the bow and arrow, and offers much to teach the interested amateur.

She has been trained in standard Hungry Wolf military tactics which included basic forestry, and long-range small-group coordination. Stealth, ambush, and surprise-attack training has formed a major portion of her education in tactics. Her recent promotion has made her technically responsible for small squad command within the Company, she has never commanded units in the field and is likely unprepared.

Social

I welcome anyone who wishes to edit this section of Aya's wiki if she knows your character, or if you have heard (or spread) any rumors or information about her!

Rumors "Have you heard that girl speak? She's gotta be from Ishgard. You hear about those assassins after them? Wonder if they'll be after her." "She always seems to be looking for a few more gil. Sometimes I just wonder what she'd do for it, but I don't think she could hurt a fly." "Someone told me she used to work as a sellsword, out in the Shroud. Said he saw her guardin' a bridge or somethin' out there. Can't be true though. Her? No way." "The kind of woman who could ruin a man. If he were lucky." PC Rumors: "She's a wonderful woman who's easily underestimated by those who focus only on the way she looks. I think that she likes it that way. There's a lot going on underneath the surface, though." - C'kayah Tia "Heard she's a fun gal. She's that type for men who like to see a smile and just have fun, carefree. Exactly my type, I'd say, and I haven't even met the gal." - Oscare Iono "She's a true, intelligent friend. I can only say I'm sorry, but to regret my actions would be an insult to the depth of feelings I hold for her, and for Roen. I can only keep protecting her from afar. A rot on the Ishgardian assassin who wants to make Aya their mark." - Kage Kiryuu "Momodi knows what she's about, far as hirin's concerned. Aya sees all, hears all, remembers all... friend to all. A blessin' on the 'sand... and on Ul'dah. She's here to stay, 'less she wants t'leave of her own free will. We insist." - Osric Melkire "Ah, Aya.. Quite the attractive one she is. She does good work and I reward her greatly for it. She can be quite useful in other lines of work. as well."- Zaiaku Kurai She's friendly and kind, and in a genuine sort of way. A rare sort of individual in Ul'dah to be sure."- Askier Mergrey "There are very few people who will not only take a request for the worst drink they have in stride, but actually make good on it. Madam Foxheart is a rare treasure - if a bit dangerous to the liver." - Verad Bellveil

Opportunity for Employment

Aya's primary work is at the Quick Sand, but she remains ever on the lookout for other opportunities for employment to supplement her income. While no longer interested in mercenary work, she would still consider a wide variety of opportunities (especially if the gil were good).

• Entertaining
• Modelling
• Barmaiding/Bartending an event (though she would probably rather attend!)
• She might consider any other non-violent opportunities that come her way!

Tendencies

Mannerisms

Note: These are characteristic behaviors that Aya always displays, even when not indicated directly through emotes.

• Although she was recently a sell sword, she betrays no hint of this in appearance or manner.
• Her body language is graceful and feminine.
• She speaks with an Ishgardian accent
• When dealing with someone who she believes is from the Ishgardian Houses, her manner will be considerably less friendly than usual
• At times hints of a sharp intellect can be found behind all of the bright, silly, cluelessness

Likes Fun Meeting New People Fashion The Sun (and the Beach!) Sleep Attention Fancy Gifts Exercise (the right kinds at least!)

Dislikes Hard Work Responsibility Expectations Commitment Violence, Fighting, and Aggression 'Typical' Ishgardians Haughtiness, and Hubris Hard Work

Hobbies/Talents Dancing Smiling Gossiping Looking Good!

Quotes "Hiiiiiii!" *blink* *blink* "What...? "To the beach!" "Could you I get you anything?" with a smile!

Inspiration

• Appearance: BDI's Joan of Arc
• Appearance and Personality: Ellie from Shotgun Shuffle
• Personality: Marilyn Monroe as "The Girl" in the Seven Year Itch
• Music: "Alive" by Omnia

Aya's Shotgun Shuffle Twin

Gallery