Damiaux Belmont

Damiaux Belmont
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Gender	Male
Race	Elezen
Clan	Wildwood
Citizenship	Ishgard
Age	32
Height	7'2"
Weight	240
Profession	-
Patron Deity	Halone
Server	Odin

Damiaux Belmnot (Day-Me-Oh Bel-Mon) is the eldest son of the Orycia household, former knight of House Fortemps, once wandering sellsword, and now soldier in the Black Sun Vanguard, an Ishgardian 'bad company' operating out of Whitebrim Front.

Appearance

At first glance one would see a Wildwood Elezen of fairly average height at seven foot one inches. His hair is black, and he keeps it tied back in a messy ponytail-bun of sorts. His ears are a tad bit longer than most Elezen, and his face is covered in a mess of facial hair that he halfheartedly keeps trimmed. His eyes are an uncanny blood red color, though you'd be hard-pressed to know it due to the wine-colored pince-nez he is always wearing. Despite his dark hair and red eyes, Reilan is full-blooded Ishgardian, like his father before him, all the way back to the days of the first Azure Dragoon.

Once a typical alehouse patron, recent developments have seen Reilan acting in the field more often than not as a ranger of sorts. Normal field attire is his chainmail haubergeon, vambraces, and sollerets, and either a sword and shield or his trusty axe. When not in the field, he will wear a long black jacket with boots and gloves. He is disdainful of overt ornamentation, preferring instead simple, conservative jewelry. He has a tattoo of indeterminate origin on his left arm, and his body is covered in scars and burns, the remnants of his life of soldiering.

Reilan's gaze is fierce, and his demeanor intense, but those who stick through his prickly personality can find a soft center to the hardened Ishgardian.

History

Born in the year 1545 of the 6th Astral Era to a priest of the church and his wife, Reilan Orycia was a strapping, energetic young lad who displayed astounding talent in athletics from a young age. Raised with a deep reverence for Halone, his childhood was rather unremarkable, albeit comfortable. When he was five years old he was given a sister, Marenois, whom he helped care for and looked after, and was generally an excellent big brother for. When he turned 18 years of age he joined the military of House Fortemps and was stationed at Whitebrim Front for some time, occasionally providing relief for the forces at Stone Vigil.

Unbeknownst to Reilan, stationed at the front lines, turmoil for his family brewed back in the holy city. His father, speaking against a particularly influential member of House Durendaire, garnered ire from the house. Being a member of the clergy, nothing could be done against Aldenaard Orycia openly, but in the shadows, machinations against the Orycia family began to turn. It started with subtlety, instigating a smear campaign against Reilan's sister Marenois, who had grown to become an influential member of the clergy in her own right. When Reilan's father spoke out against the actions, House Durendaire accused him of bias, and of condoning the actions falsely levied against Marenois. Ultimately, she was excommunicated, and exiled from Ishgard.

Following Marenois' exile, Reilan was sent with a small detachment of House Fortemps soldiers to investigate claims of heretical activity in the hills surrounding Whitebrim Front. While investigating the area, the soldiers were ambushed by hooded and cloaked figures wielding standard martial weapons. The entirety of the detachment was annihilated, but Reilan was left only grievously wounded. He managed to make it back to Whitebrim Front to report the ambush, when he was placed under arrest and taken into custody for questioning. Before he could be questioned, however, he was transferred to the custody of an Inquisitor and a small escort of Temple Knights, who brought him back to Ishgard for interrogation.

Back in the holy city, Reilan was accused of aiding and abetting the heretics, which explained why he was the sole survivor of the ambush. Despite his pleadings to the contrary, the Inquisitor was unconvinced. Reilan was kept in confinement for a half a year while his case was investigated and deliberated. Finally, one particularly snowy day, his cell door was opened and his shackles were released. He was informed that he had been found not guilty, and that the true heretic behind the ambush had been exposed. To secure his innocence, and his freedom, the Holy See required but one thing from him: he was to kill the heretic himself.

Reilan readily agreed, and a plan was set in motion. During a particularly nasty blizzard, Reilan was led to an overlook from which he would be able to spot a meeting between the heretic leader and his cell of rebels. Reilan waited and watched in the blistering cold for the opportune moment to strike, and finally, the heretic leader appeared. Moving silently in the blinding snow, Reilan crept up behind the heretic leader and dug his blade into his back. As the heretic leader fell, he spun to face his attacker.

Reilan looked into the eyes of his father as he gasped his last frozen breath before collapsing, slowly painting the snow a deep crimson as he bled out. Reilan dropped his sword, shaking from head to toe with the realization that he had just executed his own father. At first he was unable to grasp the reality of the situation; it was impossible to accept the notion that his father was a high-ranking heretic. He stumbled back to Camp Dragonhead where he was apprehended by authorities and taken back to Ishgard. There he was commended on his actions in executing the heretic, and given a formal pardon. He never noticed the sly smiles and exchanging of gil purses by House Durendaire nobles.

After some convincing by the church, Reilan accepted his father's fate, taking a position within the church as a hunter, an executioner of heretics outside the jurisdiction of Ishgard. Officially, he was branded an exile and forced to abscond Ishgard, but unofficially, he continues to work for the church in secret, acquiring kill orders through the use of dead drops. Ordered to join the Black Sun Vanguard as an extra layer of protection for his identity as an exile, he also has his own reasons for wanting to join the unit, as he begins to suspect foul play, and deception at the hands of House Durendaire.

Personality

While he used to put up a front of being a drunken reveler and rogue, recent developments have seen Reilan drop that persona entirely in favor of his much more professional, cold, intense nature. Some might consider him prickly or unapproachable, and indeed, he has little tolerance for those he considers foolish or naive, but if you can earn his respect, even a little, you can see some of his more good-humored side. Even if you don't, Reilan has been a soldier long enough to have a strong sense of protection over others, and will often go out of his way to ensure others in his party are cared for. He will push himself to exhaustion and throw himself in harm's way for his comrades, doing so even as he throws a scathing remark or sneer their way.

Reilan's philosophy on his own life is a bleak one. He considers himself little more than a dog of war, a phantom of the battlefield that will never escape it. Despite accepting this role as a forever soldier, he seems to despise war, telling those who question him on it, "I seek not glory, nor songs, nor tales long remembered. I seek only to bring an end to the age when men like me are necessary." True to his word, he will often deflect hero worship or praise, and will endeavor to slip into the night before any thanks or rewards can be offered for a job done.

Despite a noble bearing, and a fervent love for Ishgard and Halone, Reilan knows that when the Dragonsong War finally comes to an end, it will be time for him to leave his beloved city, and leave the reconstruction of Ishgard to his kin. He will find a new battlefield to tread upon, and a new cause to fight, and likely die, for.

Affiliations and Known Associates

Reilan has various acquaintances throughout the merchant circles of the various city-states, known as being a reliable, if somewhat unmotivated, blade for hire. He also has various connections in the standing military of House Fortemps.

Currently he is affiliated with the Black Sun Vanguard as a soldier, with close ties to the leaders Ischyros Estalia and Arivi Vel'ecna.

Characteristics

• Nicknames: Rei
• Age: 32
  • Nameday: 9TH SUN, 6TH UM, 1545 6AE
• Gender: Male
  • Sexuality: Heterosexual
  • Marital Status: Single
• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
• Height: 7'1"
• Weight: 240
• Body: The natural litheness of Elezens mixed with the toned musculature of a soldier
• Hair: Black, pulled back into a messy bun/ponytail
• Eyes: Blood red
• Skin: Pale Wildwood skin
• Clothing: When working, plate armor that still allows a wide range of movement. When casual, a simple vest with a jacket and casual pants with wooden sandals.

Likes

• Fine wines and Limsan rum
• Ishgardian cuisine
• Tavern wenches
• Halone
• Drawing

Dislikes

• Heretics
• Dravanians
• People who are always way too serious about everything
• People who speak ill of Ishgard
• Running out of rum

Areas of Expertise

• Martial: Blades, both longswords and daggers, and the lance
• Crafting: Blacksmithing and armorsmithing, trades he learned to better maintain his own equipment between jobs
• Other: Battlefield tactics, espionage

Strengths

• The Will of the Fury - Reilan is empowered by his devotion to Halone, gaining the strength of zealotry
• Son of Ishgard - Born and raised Ishgardian, Reilan has unique insights into the culture and tactics against the Scalekin
• Tactician - In addition to tactical knowledge against the scalekin, Reilan is an accomplished tactician in general
• Wordsmith - Reilan is possessed of above-average Charisma, able to sway most with his prose and wordcrafting
• Uncanny Education - Reilan's mother was a tutor of the noble houses, and so his education growing up was above-average

Weaknesses

• No Magic for You - Reilan has very little control over his personal aether, making even aetheryte travel difficult, to say nothing of magic arts
• Why is the Rum Gone? - Reilan has a bit of an alcohol problem, and is almost never seen outside work without a drink in hand
• That's Racist - Reilan has prejudices against the other races, believing Elezen to be the one true race ordained by the Twelve to rule Eorzea
• Bloody Fanaticism - Reilan is a strict adherent of Halone, and adjusts his moral compass according to her teachings and the word of the Church, instead of social norm

Other Notes

Religion

Adherent of the Ishgardian Orthodoxy

Quirks

Reilan is capable of very flowery speech when attempting to impress, sway, or intimidate. Once around people he is comfortable with, however, he will slip into a more common Eorzean dialect. He is also an unabashed flirt and rogue but will never bring it any further than that.

Equipment

When in "work mode" he will always carry his trusty blade and kite shield as well as a satchel full of assorted necessities for long periods of time in the field. When in casual dress he prefers a gil pouch and bottle of rum, with small daggers hidden for protection, should he need them.

Rumours

The following rumours can be heard about Reilan, predominantly in Ishgard. (If your character has an opinion about him, feel free to add it here.)

Common rumours

• "I heard his sister took her own life after being excommunicated. Serves her right, after what she did."
• "His father was a heretic leader. Dead now, but no one knows how or who did it."
• "He works as a sellsword now. What an ignoble profession for one of Ishgard's knights."

Known Haunts

You might have run into or otherwise know Damiaux from:

• The Drowning Wench
• The Quicksand
• The Carline Canopy
• Seventh Heaven