Erik Mynhier
 Eirikir "Erik" Mynhier
| |
 "A knight is made by that which he protects." | |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Hyur |
| Clan | Highlander |
| Citizenship | Ul'dah |
| Title | Sultansworn |
| Grand Company | The Immortal Flames |
| Command Unit | The Red Wings |
| Military Rank | Second Flame Lieutenant |
| Guardian | Halone, the Fury |
| Nameday | 30th Sun of the 4th Umbral Moon |
Contents
Current Synopsis
Recently Erik's depression had reached a breaking point, it was then that he encountered a mage called Nadeau Celeste. Nadeau's master had developed a mysterious technique using crystals to remove unwanted or painful memories. Feeling that his emotional state had become a liability, Erik decided that he would try the procedure. Against her better judgment Nadeau preformed the rite on Erik, however the sorrow in his heart was so great that the crystal shattered causing unforeseen side effects. The first was a complete wiping and continual rewiping of any thought or memory that was the slightest bit uncomfortable.
While wondering through the Shroud aimlessly, with no memory of being a Paladin, Erik encountered a friendly group of traveling gatherers and craftsmen. While traveling his condition was noted by the groups Alchemist, and he began treatment of the Stigma. While traveling the group was attacked by bandits. With his friends in danger and his mind unable to hide the current state of things, the binding of his mind and memories broke with the surge of energy from his Paladin's Soul. Becoming a Sultansworn again, he protected the caravan and regain his memories, though in the process the stage of his Stigma Disease advanced. Its advancement has lead to Erik being unable to access the Aether Crystals. He has not lost hope however. Turning over his care to his Oath-Sister Siha, Erik has faith that together they will find a cure.
General
Erik is a thirty-three year old Ala Mhigan refugee, now a citizen of Ul'dah, living there for seventeen years. Erik sought to repay his new home by becoming a soldier with the Immortal Flames. He served valiantly, he has been highly decorated for his participated in battles large and small, most notably at the battle of Castrum Novum. Earning the title of Sultansworn for his skills and service to Ul'dah, Erik serves his nation faithfully as a Paladin, to help the helpless ones who look up to him and to defend them to the end.
Combat
Erik's father was a Soldier and Dark Knight in Ala Mhigo before its conquest. He was trained by his father for the first few years of his life as is the custom for Highlanders. After being cast out and the subsequent death of his father, his training shifted to that of his mother who was a conjurer. Her training, which was intended to stifle his inner rage, lasted until he was 16. He moved to Ul'dah and found gil to be hard to find, so he began working as a mercenary to survive. In that time he realized he was more comfortable with combat then he was with healing so he resumed his martial training. He chose gladiator because several of the forms, despite using a shield as well, were similar to the two-handed techniques used by the Ravagers. His training, including his conjuring, was long but fruitful. All was instrumental to his selection by the Sultansworn to become a Paladin.
Aether Stigmatic Syndrome
Erik has been infected with Aether Stigmatic Syndrome (or Stigma Disease) since he was exposed to high doses of aether radiation at the fall of Dalamud. Stigma Disease is an illness that steadily poisons the body's aether leaving burn-like scars on the skin (which in Erik's case have developed on his lower arms and back), eventually leading to death. This effect is quickened by the use of the body's aether as well as contact with concentrated sources of aether. The progression of the disease is slow at first, taking years to reach a debilitating stage. Erik has been aware of his illness for three years, keeping it a closely guarded secret. Due to recent events this secret has been discovered by his sister Siha, he has been forced to tell those closest to him. He is currently in the third stage of the disease. The stages of the disease are as follows:
Stage 1
Fever, weakness, s focused scar where the original radiation entered the body. Scar remains, other symptoms fade with time.
Stage 2
Mental instability in correlation to the infected's aether use. Burn like scars begin to spread from the original point. Also sensitivity to large sources of atheric energy, which can expedite the disease.
Stage 3
The infection moves into the body's aether and begins to spread more rapidly. Weakness returns as the body is unable to keep up with the disease's consumption of energy, causing the body to weaken quickly as aether is used.
Stage 4
The body's ability to build up aether wanes, causing multiple ailments including but not limited to, blindness, paralysis, inability to eat, dizziness, hallucinations, coma, inability to use aether based skills, pain, and graying of the hair and eyes.
Stage 5
Death.
The Red Wings
The Red Wings is newly created intelligence unit of the Ul'dah military, the Immortal Flames. Its mission is three fold.
- To secure and organize the Royal Hall of Records and the state secrets of Ul'dah, .
- To obtain and catalog information regarding people and organizations of interest to the Sultanate.
- To coordinate and share information with counterpart units within the military organizations of Limsa Lominsa and Gridania.
These objectives are accomplished through the Red Wing's network of operatives and its fleet of small stealth airships, lead by its flagship, the Falcon. Operatives are required to be active duty within the Immortal Flames, to be monarchist loyal to the Sultan, and to be nominated by a sponsor from within the unit. Though not a secret unit, most operations are considered classified by the City-State.
Relationships
Gummie Chalahko - (POW)
Erik's wife, Gummie is a Miqo'te Keeper of the Moon. They met in Limsa Lominsa during his travels over Eorzea and instantly became connected. Gummie is a Marauder mercenary who was born and raised in Limsa Lominsa. Quick to frustrate, she hates nothing more then to be thought of as cute when trying to be intimidating. She was part of Maelstrom expedition to investigate the waters off of Vylbrand on the rumor of Leviathan sightings soon after the Cataclysm. The ship was thought lost for unknown reasons, but it has now come to light that the ship was sunk by the Empire. Erik now knows her to be alive, a captive of the Garleans.
Siha Xinkei
A wildly bright and energetic Keeper of the Moon, Siha is Erik's "adopted sister". They met in Limsa during his investigation into his wife's disappearance. He approached her due to files he had read indicating that she was a seer, one with the gift to see into a person's heart, as well as their past and future. When she used her gift on Erik she not only shed light on his search, but became privy to the events of his life and in the process formed a strong bond. He now sees her as his sister and wishes nothing more then to help her on her quest.
Jace Hunter
A Keeper of the Moon, and one of Erik's closest friends, Jace, or Kami'ya Jaan was raised by Hyur parents, an Ishgardian mother and Lominsan father. He is a kind man, versed in both the art of magic and hand-to-hand combat. He works mostly for himself, studying the various kin around Eorzea.
Roen Deneith
A young Paladin who's past before the Calamity is a mystery. Erik met her two years earlier when he happened upon her and the family she traveled with. Attacked by bandits, Erik managed to defeat them and save the family and Roen. Two years later they met again, but now she sought to become a Paladin and to have Erik as her trainer.
Fortemps
His trusted steed, Fortemps is the guardian spirit of the great Ishgardian House of the same name. During the night of his mother's flight from Ishgard, she found herself drawn to a box in the House's main hall that contained two rings with the Fortemps seal upon them. Unknown to her or any living member of the family, these sacred rings can call forth the spirit of the family in times of need. Unlike other unicorns that are called on by means of a horn, Fortemps is a spiritual creature meaning he can appear instantly with the incantation "Steed of Halone, stallion of light, come forth and carry me toward the Fury of War. FORTEMPS!". He can only be called upon by those with Fortemps blood in their veins.
Montblanc
In his early days in the Immortal Flames, Erik was sent to Camp Drybone to search for a caravan of goldsmith who had been taken by bandits. The bandits had killed the goldsmiths and fled by the time the Flames had reached them. Though the caravan had been sacked burned, Erik found a badly damaged mamment in a pile of rubble. Erik painstakingly repaired the mamment over the course of a year. When he finished, the mamment became his loyalist friend. Given the name Montblanc, from a ancient tale of a boy who fell into a book, he seeks only to aid his friend and savior. Montblanc can always be found at Erik's side.
Ulrich Mynhier - (deceased)
Ulrich Mynhier was Erik's father,and one of the military elite of Ala Mhigo. Trained as a Ravager, a warrior that used a deadly combination of the user's lifeforce-aether and the bastard sword. Ravagers who were the elite guards of the tyrannical leader of Ala Mhigo were known as the Bloodsworn. Despite his master's short comings, Ulrich was an honorable man and fought bravely to his death at the fall of Ala Mhigo.
Heather Mynhier, of the House Fortemps - (deceased)
Erik's mother, Heather was the daughter of a hyur servant girl and the son of the head of the House of Fortemps, one of the four great Houses of Ishgard. As a crossbred person, she was met with endless hate and ridicule from Isguard society and even her family. A gifted healer and devout worshiper of Halone, she was forced to flee Ishgard when she fell in love with the young soldier that guarded the Ala Mhigan Embassy, Ulrich. She became pregnant, which enraged her family. After several attempts to harm the baby or outright kill her for the sake of the family's honor, Ulrich took her and fled into the night, bringing her to Ala Mhigo.
Tietra Mynhier - (deceased)
Erik's sister, Tietra was killed in his mother's and his escape from Ala Mhigo. Though extremely young, she was very spirited and showed great promise. Erik was very protective and felt great love for her. Her killing lead to the first death Erik would ever deal, killing the mage who had killed her with a stone and his bare hands.
History
Birth and the Fall of Ala Mhigo
Eirikir "Erik" Mynhier was born in the great city of Ala Mhigo in the year 1544. His father was Ulrich Mynhier, a Ravager and Palace Guard commander from Ala Mhigo with a decorated career in service. His mother was Heather (Fortemps) Mynhier, a Conjurer, formerly of the House of Fortemps. Hailing from Ishgard, Heather was also highly regarded in Ala Mhigo as a renowned educator.
In 1557, Erik witnessed firsthand the invasion and downfall of Ala Mhigo at the hands of the Garlean Empire. The empire advanced through the city's defenses with their tech. The first push came from the skies, airships filling the sky, firing upon the people below. Erik, his mother, and one-year old sister were in the palace that afternoon, visiting his father to bring him lunch. The joyful time was lost when the explosions came and the guard rushed in to tell Ulrich what was happening. He looked to Heather and spoke to her for a moment in private then touched the small stone around his neck, causing darkness to envelop him. He stood before them, a Dark Knight. He placed his armored hand on Erik's shoulder and spoke to him about his pride in him and the importance of honor, even in the darkness. He then lifted his little daughter Tietra in the air, she laughed, unaware of what was happening. He kissed her forehead and handed her to Erik. Ulrich then took Heather in his arms and the two kissed as they wept, Ulrich's tears made of blood. He then placed on his helm, the very face of Rhalgr himself. He took his greatsword from its place near his desk, nodded to Heather and disappeared out the door. Heather wiped the tears away and steeled herself. She rummaged through Ulrich's desk, finding the book she had been instructed to find, an intelligence report. She then took her children and left herself.
As the family raced through the courtyard, many of the workers and servants of the palace joined them. Before they could reach the gates, Garlean mages repelled them from the low flying airships above and began to let loose fire upon the crowd. A commander emerged from them spouting orders. As was to be found in the report Heather had, his name was Goffard von Gaffgarion. Gaffgarion had been tasked with securing the palace, something he reveled in. He knew the palace guard was led by a man whom he had faced before, a Dark Knight. He directed a mage to fire upon a woman and child that he recognized to be his enemy's bride. The explosion of flame threw Heather against a wall, casting Tietra into a cart. All Erik knew was the mage had hit her, and that was all he needed to know as he rushed the wizard, a blunt stone in his hand. The mage was the first man Erik would ever kill, his skull crushed by the stone. Friends of Erik and his family pulled him off the dead man and helped Heather to her feet and dragged her and Erik away, as they screamed for the baby that had been lost. Gaffgarion had Tietra's body retrieved, so that he could show Ulrich what he had done before killing him.
Regaining her focus, Heather pressed down the pain for another time. As the people ran, Garlean forces met them at every turn. As there were fewer and fewer surviving Ala Mhigans, Heather took command and led the fifty or so survivors with her through the city's aqueducts to a main drain outside the city. The journey was long and dangerous. They traveled through the mountains, avoiding scouting parties, making it finally to the Shroud. It did not end there, the spirits of the Shroud were not welcoming to the refugees and several were lost. Finally reaching Gridania, it was Heather that negotiated sanctuary for the survivors with the Stillglade Fane.
Time in Gridania
For Three years "Heather's Survivors", as the Ala Mhigan refugees were called, strived to build a life in the Shroud. Of the fifty that left Gyr Abania, only thirty-five made it to Gridania. The hardships they endured made them a close-knit community in Old Gridania. Heather became a teacher at Stillglade for small children, teaching conjuration to Erik also in that time. She also found work in aiding the Twin Adders with her healing.
While living there, Erik made a friend that would change his life. A young and reckless midlander lancer named Cian Highwind. In time Erik and Cian became inseparable. While Erik would come at things calmly and reserved, Cian would literally jump into trouble. Looking back, this was probably the happiest time in Erik's life. The happiness however would be short lived.
Moving On
At the end of three years, Erik found himself content to live a quiet life out in the Shroud as a miner. He had signed on to apprentice with a representative of Amajina & Sons living in the Shroud and had begun his trade when tragedy found him again. While part of a search party looking for a lost merchant, Heather and her group were attacked. Heather herself died of a poisoned arrow, unable to cure herself as the Garlean scouts who had found them made her last moments alive a testament of fear. When her body was found it was entombed in Stillglade for her kindness, skills, and leadership not only in the refugee community, but in Gridania as a whole. When found it was discovered that she had on herself two rings, made of unicorn horn, each engraved with a name of one of her children, and the sigel of the House Foretemps. The Garleans either did not notice the rings as the ravaged her, or did not care. Both were given to Erik, who wears the one bearing his name to this day.
Not just her son, but the whole of the Ala Mhigans of Gridania mourned their leader's passing. With her gone however, and the fact that many of the hardy people were uncomfortable with the quiet life in Gridania, many decided to leave for Ul'dah, seeking work as merchants or mercenaries. Driven by hate and mourning, Erik to considered this. His course of action was set when Cian prodded him on, stating that Erik needed a fresh start and that he would go with him.
Coming To Ul'dah
In 1560, at the age of sixteen, Erik arrived in Ul'dah hoping to start a new life, Cian in tow. The two friends spent the first night in the Hourglass, spending money in the big city. The following two weeks were spent in the streets. Erik had decided on the way to the city that he wanted to join the Immortal Flames. He remembered how his father use to tell him that he thought of the Flames as second only to Ala Mhigo's forces. This vote of confidence spurred him to throw himself entirely into this new home of his. Cian was unimpressed, but followed suit, more interested in the dry beds and hot meals.
For the first year Erik and Cian excelled in their training. They were soon to find themselves on missions throughout Thanalan. It was a golden time for them both, high adventure, food in their stomachs, and eachother. It was the grandest of times. They also met other friends, a gentle Ishgardian wildwood archer named Loria Haillenarte, a sea wolf pugilist called Iyrnfyst Junghblaetsyn, and a pair of dunesfolk mages, a thaumaturge woman named Raraku Raku and her boyfriend Mamaku Maku the conjurer, and a seeker craftswoman named D'zhumii Sato. Two years into the service of the Flames, Erik managed to gain authorization to form a free company in service to Ul'dah. The friends met in the Quicksand that night and made the decisions needed, and the Crimson Watch was formed.
The Seven Hells of War
At the end of 1571SAE all fortune began to turned. Cian and D'zhumii had began to talk of retiring from the company, wishing to settle into a quiet life in Gridania. Iyrnfyst and Loria had become close and were contemplating getting a ship together, and wedding rings. The Lalafell 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 career 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 D'zhumii, stating that with such a large drive for soldiers and such high pay, that the danger was to great. D'zhumii 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.
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. D'zhumii who had remained behind the main line as the rest of the Company slowly worked through the opposing forces was attacked. A Vanguard had broken through the line, not only attacking the 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 trance, but rallied the surrounding soldiers to destroy the Vanguard. Once it was defeated the Watch moved to aid their fallen. D'zhumii was still alive, barely. Cian cradled her in his arms as Mamaku moved to cast a healing spell upon her. As the little Lalafell cast his spell, Erik, Iyrnfyst, and Loria 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 Mamaku dead. Enraged Raraku turned and used all her might and skill to cast a massive Fire spell on the archer who dared to kill her love. The other Garlean archers in turn struck down the Lalafell with a rain of arrows. With the attention drawn to Raraku 's death, the remaining melee units moved in close. Loria was the next to fall, followed by Iyrnfyst, 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 D'zhumii as they were swallowed by flames. There then came an explosion under Erik's feet, and then nothing.
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.
The Fall of All
Preparations were made and soon the forces of Eorzea moved toward their shared fate, but Erik would not join them. As his unit 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 D'zhumii 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 the Fall
Since the events of the Calamity, Erik's life has gone through many changes. Upon returning to Ul'dah with the other survivors of Carteneau, Erik's service was recognized and he was awarded the title of Sultansworn and given a position in the palace guard of the Sultana. He also married his longtime love Gummie Chalahko in a lovely service in Limsa Lominsa. And overall, his fortunes were bright.
Three years later, things turned sour. While on a mission for the Maelstrom, Gummie's ship was lost at sea. Thinking her lost, Erik has become convinced that she lives when he learned that a crew member on her ship, a roegadyn named Wolfbiter, had been found alive. The crewman reported that their ship had sunk for unknown reasons, possibly sabotage, but that there had been many survivors. This report was strange as there were no other know survivors, and for the fact that Wolfbiter soon vanished after recovering from his injuries.
In order to search for Wolfbiter, and his wife herself, Erik resigned his title as a Sultansworn, and his commission with the Immortal Flames in order to carry out his search. His journey took him all over Eorzea, but to no good. At the end of his fruitless search Erik found himself two years older, depressed, and sitting at a dirty table in the Wolf's Den. It was at this point that he considered ending his life, tired of seeing everyone he loves passing before him. The only thing that stopped him was a stranger who approached his table. His name was Ambric, a Captain of the Immortal Flames, and he carried a message from the Flame General himself.
With the fall of the Praetorium, and the retreat of the Empire, Eorzea seemed set toward a path of peace, but Raubahn is not a trusting man. The Empire would return, Ishgard required attention, dragons, primals, and threats withing the alliance and Ul'dah itself called for something new. An intelligence agency that would be the eyes and ears of the Sultana. And with his unique background along with devoted service, the General had chosen Erik to be it's commander. The command also came with an offer, the weight of the Flames behind his search for his wife. With such an offer, he could not refuse. Erik became the commander of the Red Wings, the new military intelligence unit of the Immortal Flames, and regained his former title of Sultansworn.
A Realm Reborn
In time Erik's depression had reached a breaking point, it was then that he encountered a mage called Nadeau Celeste. Nadeau's master had developed a mysterious technique using crystals to remove unwanted or painful memories. Feeling that his emotional state had become a liability, Erik decided that he would try the procedure. Against her better judgment Nadeau preformed the rite on Erik, however the sorrow in his heart was so great that the crystal shattered causing unforeseen side effects. The first was a complete wiping and continual rewiping of any thought or memory that was the slightest bit uncomfortable.
While wondering through the Shroud aimlessly, with no memory of being a Paladin, Erik encountered a friendly group of traveling gatherers and craftsmen. While traveling his condition was noted by the groups Alchemist, and he began treatment of the Stigma. While traveling the group was attacked by bandits. With his friends in danger and his mind unable to hide the current state of things, the binding of his mind and memories broke with the surge of energy from his Paladin's Soul. Becoming a Sultansworn again, he protected the caravan and regain his memories, though in the process the stage of his Stigma Disease advanced. Its advancement has lead to Erik being unable to access the Aether Crystals. He has not lost hope however. Turning over his care to his Oath-Sister Siha, Erik has faith that together they will find a cure.
Religion
Within Eorzea many have faith in the Twelve, the gods of the land. And though most believe in these gods, it is a common practice for individuals to take one as a personal patron. In the case of most Ala Mhigans, the patron of choice not only of the individual, but of the city-state itself was and is Rhalgr, the Destroyer.
In his youth, before the fall of Ala Mhigo, Erik's household revered two gods, the god of his father Rhalgr, and the goddess of his mother Halone. In his adult life however he not only follows the teachings of Halone, he is actively oppose to veneration of Rhalgr, especially by Ala Mhigans. He once commented to another Ala Mhigan during a heated conversation, "Why should I bend a knee to Rhalgr? Have we Ala Mhigans not had enough of him yet?" This statement stems from Erik's belief that Rhalgr's nature as the Destroyer may have played a role in the destruction and conquest of his homeland at the hands of the Garlean Empire.
It should also be noted that he has nothing but respect for Menphina, the Lover, the patron of his wife, even though she does not actively practice.
Theme Music
- ♪ To The Stars by Randy Edelman - Main Theme
- ♪ My Spirit Will Go On by Dragonforce - Battle Theme
- ♪ Vale Decem by Murray Gold - Hymn of Halone
- ♪ Final Fantasy IV Red Wings Theme(Orchestrated) by Nobuo Uematsu - The Red Wings Theme
- ♪ Rise of the Fallen by BrunuhVille - Ballad of the Paladin
- ♪ Allure of Darkness and Two by BrunuhVille - Dark Knight Anthem
- ♪ Defender by Manowar - Father's Letter
- ♪ You're Not Alone by Nobuo Uematsu (preformed by Erutan) - Mother's Lullaby
- ♪ Brother by Stone Sour - Erik's Memories
- ♪ It's All Coming Back To Me by Meatloaf - Gimmie's Theme
- ♪ The Fallen One by Hammerfall - Cian's Memory
- ♪ The Splendid Performance by Nobuo Uematsu - Jace's Song
- ♪ Boats and Birds by Gregory and the Hawk - Siha's Song
- ♪ Imperatrix Mundi by Jo Blankenburg - Roen's Theme
- ♪ Holding Out for a Hero (Heroin Version) by ReinXeed - Anelia's Fanfare
