Coatleque Crofte
Contents
 Coatleque Crofte
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| Gender | Female |
| Race | Hyur |
| Clan | Highlander |
| Citizenship | Ul'Dah |
| Age | Early to mid 20's |
| Marital Status | In a Relationship |
| Occupation | Paladin & Sultansworn |
| Height/Weight | 5 fulms, 6 ilms / 150 ponz |
| Nicknames | "CC", Lady Crofte |
Coatleque Crofte (pronounced cottl-ee-kay) is, by her knowledge, the only remaining surivor of her fishing village from the north. Her life has been hard since the Calamity, but she is slowly working to piece it back together and raise her station in the city of coin.
She tries to appear and act like a proper lady at all times. Often found in and around Ul'dah as she is unable to stray very far due to her duties as a Sultansworn, she is a chronic workaholic and will almost always be found in uniform. She considers this to be her only proof of station within the city and takes her position very seriously.
While most people around the city can easily see her in the role of a knight, to any true noble it would be blatantly clear that she is not of their blood. While on duty she acts with the utmost respect and exudes the authoritative presence one would expect of the Sultansworn. When off-duty, she will always be dressed well with her hair made up, often with a hat of some sort. Her nights are spent quietly observing the myriad adventurers that pass through the city on the off chance she may hear rumors related to whatever investigations she has pending.
She had been shy in her past as the responsibility of the Gallantry was first laid upon her, but since then she has grown into the position. She is not one to begin a conversation, but she can certainly end one if it is called for. Her speech is slow and practiced unless something has upset or distracted her. In these moments her Ala'Mhigan origins will show through.
In recent times she may be seen accompanying a Monetarist nobleman, Jameson Taeros. Their relationship is not something she speaks of openly, but she is also not ashamed of it. Her personal life she keeps personal, and to date this has not affected her work ethic.
Coatleque did not have any formal education when she arrived in Ul'dah. Being the daughter of a fisherman, she knew how to cook, clean, and gut fish. She spoke with a heavy Ala'Mhighan accent and poorly at that. She was forced to learn quickly how to act and address the nobility, due to circumstances, or else she would not have survived long.
As of now she is able to read, write, and can speak slowly and eloquently as long as she is focused on her speech. She has basic knowledge of a myriad of useless skills which she had to learn, the more important of those being slight of hand and picking simple locks. Anything more than those of typical shackles would be beyond her skill.
The majority of her formal learning is that of swordplay from her training in the Sultansworn Order. While she was certainly not the best of her class, she did excel quickly at it and earned a few nicknames due to her two-handed fighting style that tended to leave her practice mates with sprained wrists.
A firm believer in the Twelve, Coatleque relies on them for strength and guidance. She sees the work of their hands in all things around her and is baffled by how blind some people can be in their lack of faith. She is not one to push her beliefs on others even as she makes mention of the Twelve frequently through conversations.
In her past, Llymlaen was the patron of her village, being settled on the shores of Gyr'Abania. Some of her people did adopt Rhalgr as most of Ala'Mhigo would. It was through the faith of her friend Sapphire that she began to trust more in Menphina after she was brought to Ul'dah.
Seeing relationship after relationship either fall apart or end with another dead lover, combined with the loss of her close friend Natalie in the Order, she has taken Rhalgr as her patron. Recent events in her life have made her come to realize she cannot maintain a neutral ground where politics and justice collide. Through the blessings of Rhalgr she would hope to bring about the destruction of the plots of evil men against her new home.
Coatleque is also closely tied to Nymeia, goddess of fate, whom she believes will place portents of things to come in the dreams of those whom are destined to change them.
Coatleque has no martial prowess other than that of the sword. She has three blades, but will only carry one at a time depending on her duties for the day. Her main weapon of choice is a large hand-and-a-half sword which she had commissioned for herself using all of her current stipend from the Sultansworn after she swore her Oath. It is the only thing of true worth she owns herself.
Her skill with the sword is every bit of that which one would expect from the Sultana's Elite guard, though she is no grandmaster. Her style is one of mobility and brute force. She focuses on dodging attacks while exploiting openings in defense, and therefore will not favor a shield in combat. It is rumored that a full on hit from her blade when wielded with two hands is enough to split a wooden shield, or shatter the victim's arm if it is metal.
It is just as well that she has no love of combat and views all life as sacred. She very rarely spars with any live opponents, preferring the safety of a training dummy. If drawn into actual combat, she strikes only to disarm and subdue. If she ever lashes out to kill it would be out of fear for the lives of those in her care, or for her own safety.
While it is true that Coatleque has some minor training in Conjuration, she was never very adept at the concept. She finds it hard to focus, especially in times of stress, which is not a particularly good trait for someone attempting to heal others. Still, she does know how to heal and even to raise. The former is very taxing on her, while the latter will leave her exhausted to the point of being momentarily incapacitated.
Her ability to use aether is otherwise unaffected. Her Paladin training has shown that she is able to channel the required aether through herself as if it were second nature. Defensive spells and offensive sword skills she can use with ease. Her difficulty stems from when another person is her target.
There was a time when Coatleque was dead-set against speaking of her own background and life before joining the Sultansworn. Even today she is hesitant to share any details with those she does not know. In her line of work, however, she has found there are times when it helps to share certain details to prove she is no better than the criminals she is forced to deal with. People tend to open up slightly when they see each other on common ground.
Birth and Early Life:
Coatleque is from a remote fishing village at the Southern tip of Ala'Mhigo, the beaches of Gyr'Abania. Born Florence Fishbane in the year 1557 of the Sixth Astral Era just after the fall of Ala Mhigo, this makes her Garlean by birth alone if not for location. Built on the coast and of little importance, the village eked out a meagre existence far from the city-state itself. She was a typical country girl, the daughter of a fisherman with no special skills or talents. She spent her youth helping her mother cooking, cleaning, and gutting fish for her father. To this day she cannot bear the taste of seafood. When she came of age, her parents began the process of arranging her to be bonded to the miller's son. A quiet life she was honestly looking forward to.
When Dalamund came raining down, a rather large chunk of it fell to the ocean just off the coast of the villiage itself. The resulting tidal wave destroyed the village and swept away a majority of its inhabitants. Those who survived had fled to the old military outpost built into the cliffs just above the shore. Not even a week later, still in mourning, brigands from the mountains came looking to make quick coin off the salvage from the wreckage. Florence watched in horror as her fiancée was killed and cried out which gave away their position. What villagers were left were captured or killed as they tried to flee. She has never forgiven herself for this, which she considers the single greatest mistake of her life.</spoiler>
Captivity in Ul'dah:
They were carted off in rags and taken by cover of night to Ul'dah first. The leader of the brigands, Cadmus, was an experienced slaver who knew he could exploit the women and especially Florence for a certain quality she had. She was sold to Dace Korlon, proprietor of the Red Sands - an expensive brothel in one of the less frequented parts of Pearl Lane. There she remained for three long years of forced service as a high-class whore.
She would not have survived her ordeal if not for the kindness of another slave girl, a Miqo'te Seeker called Sapphire due to her deep purple eyes. Sapphire was the longest surviving slave girl at the time and had the Master's favor, being in charge of the other slave girls. She took pity on Florence and often came to her room at night to talk and teach her how to survive. It was Sapphire who gave her the name Coatleque because of her exotic red hair. The purpose being that Florence could pin all the wicked things she had been forced to do on Coatleque, then leave the name behind if the Twelve ever granted her freedom again.
It was Sapphire who taught Coatleque how to read and write, how to speak properly like a lady. How to dress, wear make-up and to look the part. Their clients demanded such from their higher-class girls after all. Sapphire also taught her how to perform simple dances, how to pick locks so they could walk freely at night, and simple tricks of slight-of-hand. The Master expected them to ply their trade to the fullest extent possible, after all, and many a nobleman left with their pockets much lighter than intended.
It was near the end of her imprisonment that Sapphire came to her one night looking very distraught. It seemed she had stolen something from a very influential client. Something she should not have. Despite the Master's insistence that she did well, she feared for her own life and new it was time to leave. Having swiped a key from Dace's room and bribed the guard for the night, she intended to leave and return to her tribe. It was then that she told Coatleque her real name, F'lierre, and the two knew they may never see each other again.
Not one moon after their emotional departure, the Brass Blades descended upon the Red Sands in a false-front raid to 'end slave trafficking'. What Coatleque later found was that F'lierre had stolen a forged signet ring of the house of Ul and the Syndicate was none too happy at its loss. The Blades ransacked the building, set it ablaze, and killed anyone who got in their way. Among the confusion, Coatleque managed to help as many girls as she could escape through the sewers. The next morning many of them saw their first sunrise in years once more as free women.</spoiler>
Answers in the Shroud:
This section has not been written yet
Return to Ul'dah:
This section has not been written yet
Meaning in Service:
This section has not been written yet
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| Key: | |
|---|---|
| ♥ Close Friend | ☠ Deceased |
| ☹ Disliked | ♱ Free Paladin |
| ⚖ Immortal Flame | ⚔ Law Enforcement |
| ♥ Love | ⚓ Maelstrom |
| ☩ Sultansworn | ♥ Tension |
| ⚕ Twin Adder |
PC Rumors
- Warren Castille: "I suggest you take your questions elsewhere."
- Osric Melkire: "She's come a ways since ol' Straightblade pushed her to the forefront. Learnin', she is. Best she learn faster. Sink or swim."
- Oscare Iono: "What was it, Wristcleaver? Wristbreaker? Bah, it doesn't matter. If you like your head on your shoulders though, it'd be smart to behave around her."
- L'yhta Mahre: "I heard she was in charge of security at half the taverns in Eorzea! You definitely don't want to get on her bad side, at least if you want to get a drink anywhere outside of Mor Dhona!"
- Aya Foxheart: "She likes to keep an eye on the Quick Sand, and make sure that no one gets up to any trouble. She's the kind of Sultansworn that they're supposed to be. I trust her."
- Aya Foxheart: "I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who so deserved things to go right for her - its such a shame that they never seem to. I'd do whatever I could for her, I'm lucky to call her a friend!"
- Aya Foxheart: "Ser Crofte never seems to stop. I know she'll always do what's right, but sometimes it seems like she embraces the struggle too readily - she mustn't lose sight of what she's trying to protect. She needs to take time to stop and look around her, and remember the world in which she lives."
- X'Kohu Tia: "Coat's an alright girl, got a good head on her shoulders and a good heart in her chest. Still, if she wants to keep patrolling taverns, she's gotta learn to hold her liquor!"
- Roen Deneith: "I had lost faith in my Shield sisters and brothers. Then Ser Crofte offered me her aid. She reminds me why I swore the Oath in the first place."
- Natalie Mcbeef: "She's not quite as annoying as I first thought. She wears the armor like she was born to do so, I wish I felt as comfortable in it."
- Obsidian Hornet: "All the good intentions in the world don't mean a thing if you don't have the wit or skill to make good on them. Crofte means well but she needs to be better. I trust her, she's a good person, but her incompetence could get people killed. Herself included."
- Alexei Volkov: "The knight? Capable arm, dependable. Seems to be drawing much attention quickly. Good. Let her draw attention, vill continue to vork from shadows."
- Gharen Wolfsong: "She strikes me as an honorable woman, th' type te ne'er go against her word. I hope she's as incorruptible as th' mask she chooses fer everyone te see might indicate, lest th' pit o' vipers tha' is Ul'dah get th' better o' her."
- Fio Arasgain: "One of the few who haven't been corrupted by gil in this cesspool of a city. I can only admire her sense of duty. However, would it kill her to take a day or two off?"
- Franz Renatus: "I kept seeing her in the Quicksand after that one fight I had, but never talked to her. After that event, we've been talking more. She's more interesting than she lets on."
- Berrod Armstrong: "Well she ain't a sellout, I'll tell ya that. I done cat-called her on the street once. Was a real bastard 'bout it. Up ta now she ain't told nobody, and I even got a chance ta tell 'er sorry."
- Remimont Portier: "She appears to possess a remarkable sense of duty and justice both. All of my interactions with her feel as if I am speaking with a character from any number of novels I have read. Tis astounding to meet such a person in the flesh. She is an example, truly."
- Delial Grimsong: "In a way, I feel sorry for her. 'Tis a great and terrible burden being the only shining light in the bitter sea of sheer incompetence that is the Sultansworn. Why do you think I work alone?"
- Askier Mergrey: "She doesn't approve of my explosives. Well I don't approve of her not approving my explosives!"
- Jancis Milburga: "So many ask me about her. Wish to know her. I shall tell her you asked!"
- Jancis Milburga: Rarer Rumor "Cici is the one who made me understand what family and life mean."
- Verad Bellveil: "She's a good woman, so much so that I have no idea how she manages to tolerate my presence. Making me question my own dubiousness! A cunning plan."
- Aya Foxheart: "I fear Ser Crofte must find the strength to hold the pillars of Ul'dah; alone, if she must."
- Franz Renatus" "Have you seen her drink before? That girl with a steel will who is the symbol of being fair and just hides something else. I'd like to see it one day."
- Kale Aideron: "Does she bloody smile? I ploughin' bet you I work 'arder than 'er, 'nd even -I- can kick back 'nd relax, least once a seven-day. But yea', fine, I like 'er. Knows what the fuck needs to be done, unlike the latest batch of pansy paladins 'trained' by Captain Jenlyns..."
- Gideon North: "I had at first presumed her to be a woman bound by duty, and of rigid adherence to code. It would be more accurate, I believe, to say that Miss Crofte will hesitate at... very little... to achieve her own ends. One might, however, see that as more respectable than the former."
- Kahn'a Od'hilkas: "By the past I would have admitted it a little hard to go beyond what seems to be an absent-minded penchant, but since then she proved to be... reliable. And yes, she definitely is more than a young figure of righteousness."
- Lilithium Altair: "I see her around all the time! Never spoken much with her though, save when she's kept Ado out of trouble."
- Cyneler Fenrir: "She was my guide to the Sultansworn."
- Evangeline Primrose: "I used to think Lady Crofte was an Evil Bitch. Turns out she is just a bitch, and not bad as bitches go."
- Kiht Jakkya: "Crofte? I still hardly know her, but we recently spent some time together... Learning about Dragons... I should go."
NPC Rumors (Newer)
- Quicksand Patron: "Poor woman can't hold her liquor. After just one drink she starts speaking in tongues or the like."
- Woman in Mourning: "I've seen her in the Ossuary paying respects to some unknown man. They must have been close."
- Long-necked Sultansworn: "If you see that Highlander buzzing around her again, tell him I'm watching him."
NPC Rumors (Older)
- Ul'dah Guttersnipe: "I heard 'er talking te that pimp o'er in Pearl Lane. He sure put 'er in 'er place. Good te know she ain't as high 'n mighty as she thinks."
- Quicksand Patron: "I seen her get'n all kissy-faced with that other Paladin. They think they're subtle, but they ain't."
- Random Palace Guard: "Ser Crofte has paid the ultimate price for Her Grace, and by some miracle survived to serve again. She is an inspiration to all of us who swear the Oath."
- Random Brass Blade: "She's all fancy talk and good looks. Keep the pressure on her and she'll go right back to 'er whore'n ways."
- Random Brass Blade: "Oh, I remember her. Quite good with her mouth that one, mmm-hahahaha!"
- Random Brass Blade: "She was my favorite. Just something about those eyes... and red hair. *sigh* Shame when we had to take that place down."
- Random Drunk: "Huh? *hic* eeehhh... get offa my *hic* lawn you kidsh!"
- Mylla: "She came to us with nothing but a fire in her eyes, I couldn't turn her away. I just hope she learned something here."
- Jenlyns: "A fine sword arm on that girl. And you'd be hard pressed to find a more loyal soldier. I fear what her lack of confidence may lead to, however."
(feel free to edit)
- "Look Jancis, I'm flying!" ~ while being carried to an inn room after too much wine
- "I'm not a warrior like you, Tasa. I was supposed to be a house-wife!" ~ personal moment with Tasa Rhyzul
- Jancis: "Can you see from back there?" Coatleque: "I can see exactly what I need to." ~ while watching Warren at the Grindstone
- "Everyone is fragile, Ser. It merely depends on what height we are dropped from." ~ Advice given to Warren Castille
- "Titles change often, Miss. You are what you chose to be. Remember what you are, and title may yet return in time." ~ Advice given to Roen Deneith
- "Aye, he says mae subornimate has a plan. Which I think means Natalie is about tae step in shite again..." ~ After too much whiskey.
- "Compassion is never wrong, but when you begin to show too much of it the line of justice becomes harder to cross. And then one day your enemies are as dear to your heart as your family." ~ to Roen, regarding due process
- "Look Jancis, I'm flying!" ~ while being carried to an inn room after too much wine
