Erik Mynhier

Eirikir "Erik" Mynhier
Gender	Male
Race	Hyur
Clan	Highlander
Citizenship	Ul'dah

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General

Erik is a thirty-three year old Highlander laborer and merchant living in Ul'dah. He was originally a refugee from Ala Mhigo. He is a former soldier with the Immortal Flames who precipitated in both the Battle of Silvertear and the battle at Castrum Novum. Having had his fill of battle, Erik has become an efficient Miner and a well respected Master Smith (Master Armorer, Blacksmith, and Goldsmith) in Ul'dah who caters to new adventurers. Most of his work is done through the famous merchant guild the Silver Anvil.

Erik is married to a Highlander woman, but has no children. He worships the Twelve, with a focus on Halone the Fury, finding solace in her Shield as a former Gladiator. His chocobo is a red-feathered breed named Red Wing. Red Wing is named after a heavenly army lead by a demon and a dragon in an ancient fairy tale.

Appearance

Erik stands 78in tall and is extremely muscular do to extensive military training in his early life and the nature of his current occupation. He has moderately short hair and a closely shaved beard and mustache.

Behavior

Though carefree in his younger days, Erik's service in the military has caused him to become more stoic in nature. He is calm, helpful, quiet, and patient.

Combat

Erik is a highly proficient Gladiator, well versed in the use of a shield and sword. He also knows some Conjurer skills learned from his mother at an early age.

History

Early Life

Eirikir "Erik" Mynhier was born in the great city of Ala Mhigo in the year 1544 of the Sixth Astral Era. His father was Ulrich Mynhier, a military commander of Ala Mhigo, as well as it's primer Lancer. His mother Heithr, of the house of Hoffen. A battle conjuror, she was well respected within the ranks of the military due in part to her demonstrations of bravery on the battlefield.

In 1557SAE, at the age of thirteen, Erik witnessed firsthand the invasion and subjugation of Ala Mhigo at the hands of the Garlean Empire. It was during the city's counter offensive Ulrich was killed mortar strikes from one of the Garlean airships. Seeing that there was no hope for victory, Heithr sought to save her son and as many people as she could. She gathered wounded warriors, children and elders, which numbered well over 100. She lead the group out of the city through a long forgotten trade entrance in the dead of night. Once out of the city Heithr lead them all into the mountains of Gyr Abania. In the course of their escape she was reluctantly forced to lead the party through the Black Shroud to Gridania. The Elementals were kind, taking only a few of the refugees. Once in Gridania Heithr negotiated sanctuary for the survivors with the Stillglade Fane.

Three years later, when Erik was sixteen, Heithr was assigned by the Fane to travel with a group of healers and lancers who were charged with the task to enter the Black Shroud and to seek out find a missing party of botanists. It was later revealed that Garlean Scouts working in secret in the Shroud had killed the botanists. While they search the treacherous forest, Heithr became separated from the group and was attacked by a Garlean archer. Though she managed to escaped the scout, she had been poisoned by a envenomed arrow. In her weakened state she stumbled and fell into a gulch, striking her head. By the time she was found, she was dead.

Many of Heithr's Survivors, as the Highlander refugees were called, mourned their leader's passing. With her gone however, and the fact that many of the hardy people were uncomfortable with quiet life in Gridania. Many decided to leave for Ul'dah, seeking work as merchants or mercenaries. Erik had at first thought to stay in Gridania, wanting to honor his mother by joining the Conjurer's Guild. He was talked out of this action by his best friend Cian Pearce. Cian was a sixteen year old Midlander boy from Gridania. Having recently joined the Wood Wailers Cian had been encouraging Erik to do the same and to go off on adventurers with him. Erik was not interested in being a lancer, feeling that he would never be able to reach the image of his father in his mind. He had however been convinced to leave Gridania. Erik told Cian about another Ala Mhigo refugee who had become something of a legend to many of the Highlander survivors of the Empire's aggregations. A rising star in the Colosseum and within ranks of the Gladiators themselves, he was called Raubahn Aldynn. Like many young Highlanders, Erik idolized Raubahn. He decided he would go to Ul'dah as Raubahn had and become a Gladiator. Not only to be like his hero, but to become one who would protect, so he would never have to loss someone again. Cian agreed to the merits of Erik's plan, but stated that the journey would be to dangerous for Erik alone. Cian would travel with Erik to Ul'dah.

Time in Ul'dah

Years passed in the deserts of Aldenard as Erik and Cian trained in their professions and took on as much work as they could find. They made a small number of close friends, a Sea Wolf Mairadur named Iyrnbyrt Blaetsyn, a Wildwood Archer called Gwenolie Strout, a Culinarian Midlander named Biggs Wings, a Armorer-Blacksmith named Wedge Redmen and the Plainsfolks twins Thanana and Nileo Maaleo, Conjurer and Thaumaturge respectfully. Together they formed a Free Company called the Crimson Watch in 1562SAE. This was in response to the call to arms by the city-states of Eorzea. The Watch would join in what would be known as the Battle of Silvertear Skies. Though many were lost in this great battle, all of Crimson Watch survived. This early success granted the Watch a good, yet early won reputation.

Time passed and not much changed for the Crimson Watch. The eight original members remained and only one was added, a female Seeker of the Sun Alchemist by the name of I'gizzoh Raha. Cian and I'gizzoh had met in 1566SAE when he had returned to Gridania to visit family. He was so taken by her he asked her to join the Company right away. They were together for sometime before Cian built up the courage to ask her to marry him. She agreed and in the summer 1568SAE they were joined in a service outside Cian's family home in Gridania with his and I'gizzoh's family and the Crimson Watch in attendance.

Dark Times

At the end of 1571SAE all fortune began to turned. Cian and I'gizzoh had began to talk of retiring from the company, wishing to settle into a quiet life in Gridania. Biggs and Wedge were speaking of going into business together in Ul'dah. Iyrnbyrt and Gwenolie had become close and were contemplating getting a ship together, and wedding rings. The Lalafell twins had begun to plan for future studies of their crafts. Erik, who had been commander of the Watch since its founding, decided that if the others were set to disband, he would seek a commission in the Immortal Flames. It was decided that before the disbanding that the company would take one last job. A job that would give all its members gil enough to start their new lives. The Grand Companies had begun to recruit Free Companies, as well as every adventurer they could find, for a mission to attack and take the Garlean Fortress of Castrum Novum. Erik and the others agreed to go, but Cian was reluctant. He feared for I'gizzoh, stating that with such a large drive for soldiers and such high pay, that the danger was to great. I'gizzoh told him that there was nothing to fear, as long as the Watch stood as one, the they would carry on as they always did.

Castrum Novum

The battle began some months later. It was to that time the largest show of force any of them had seen, except Erik who continued to see flashes of the empire's invasion of his homeland. The battle had been going for the better part of an hour when tragedy struck. I'gizzoh, Biggs, and Wedge, who had remained behind the main line as the rest of the Company slowly worked through the opposing forces were attacked. A Vanguard had broken through the line, not only attacking the three Watch craftsmen, but dozens of other support troops. The Watch stood silent, in shock as the sight washed over them. The stillness was broken by Cian who in rage, rushed the Vanguard. Seeing this snapped not only the Watch from their stupper, but rallied the surrounding soldiers to destroy the Vanguard. Once it was defeated the Watch moved to aid their fallen. Biggs and Wedge were dead, but I'gizzoh was still alive, barely. Cian cradled her in his arms as Thanana moved to cast a healing spell upon her. As the little Lalafell cast her spell, Erik, Iyrnbyrt, and Gwenolie looked on for signs of enemy movement. It was then that the Garlean forces nearest to them noticed their weakness and advanced. Before the spell was cast, and before anyone could do anything, an arrow struck Thanana dead. Enraged Nileo turned and used all his might and skill to cast a massive Fire spell on the archer who dared to kill his twin. The other Garlean archers in turn struck down the Lalafell with a rain of arrows. With the attention drawn to Nileo's death, the remaining melee units moved in close. Gwenolie was the next to fall, followed by Iyrubyrt, his reckless attempt to save her met with Garlean numbers. With Cian catatonic Erik took his place by his friend's side, ready to die with him. As the Garlean forces moved in for the kill there came a series of great explosions. The Lunar Transmitter had been destroyed. Explosions erupted all over Castrum Novum. The last thing Erik remembered was the sight of Cian holding I'gizzoh as they were swallowed by flames. There then came an explosion under Erik's feet, and then nothing.

Battle of Carteneau

Erik awoke in a healing room within the Immortal Flames headquarters a week later. Though he had survived, his friends were dead, even Cian. News had come through that despite the victory at Castrum Novum, if it could be called that, Dalamud still approached. There would be one more attempt to save Eorzea. Even though his commanding officer excused him from this assault, Erik could not be dissuaded. The Empire had taken his home, his parents, his people, and even his friends. He would not stand idle as they took the world. He set out for Mor Dhona, to the Battle of Carteneau.

Preparations were made and soon the forces of Eorzea moved toward their shared fate, but Erik would not join them. As his company reached the outer mountainous border of Mor Dhona, the night before the great battle, his commanding officer called for the company to set camp for the night. As the soldiers slept they were killed one by one, silently, until only Erik remained. A voice called him from his dreams, it was Cian. As Erik awoke he saw Cain, soaked in the blood of the dead soldiers around them. Full in madness Cain explained that I'gizzoh had died because the world was mad. She had died not only because of the Garlean Empire and its aggression, but because of the Eorzan Alliance's weakness, and most of all because of Erik's leadership. Erik tried to calm his friend but Cian would not hear of it and attacked him. As the sun rose, the Gladiator and Lancer traded blows. So evenly matched and so attuned to each other, they did not notice the battle that raged far to the distance. Erik continued to try and reason with his friend as they fought until, in his rage, Cian struck with poor aim, missing Erik and falling into the path of his sword. He knelt beside his fallen friend and apologized for how things had happened. Caught in a moment of reflection Erik moved to the edge of the cliff and saw far beyond him the Dragon King burst forth from Dalamud. Emotionally drained he watched as Bahamut reek his havoc. He thought on how all the fighting and war had meant nothing. Here he stood, alone at the end of the world. From his vantage point he watched as the dragon launched his mighty MegaFlare. He waited for death, yet it still never came. The dragon moved on and an eerie peace settled over the decimated land.

After Dalamud to the Present Day

Erik returned to Ul'dah some time later a changed man. He had developed a distaste for war and no longer wished to be apart of it. He resigned from the Immortal Flames and laid down his sword and shield. He sought employment as a miner with the Amajina & Sons Mineral Concern. As the Seventh Umbral Era opened Erik set out alone into Eorzea to hone his new craft, hoping to leave behind all the pain that came before. It is now the year 0005SUE, and Erik has returned to Ul'dah, an echoing voice leading him back to the world he left behind.

Trivia

• Erik's favorite meal is Trapper's Quiche with Chamomile Tea.
• Every year Erik travels to Gridania to pay his respects to those who have fallen.
• Erik feels that Highlanders should not worship Rhalgr, as he feels more destruction is the last thing they need as a people.