Haien Okeya

Trigger Warnings!

Please be warned that this character profile contains elements of severe depression and self-harm. For more information, please refer to the OOC Notes section before actually reading anything else.

Also, please note that this is still unfinished. It's far enough done to be functional and remove the 'MASSIVELY WIP' notice, but not everything has been added in and some elements are still in need of polishing.

[edit] Basic Information History Relationships Rumours RP Hooks OOC Notes  Haien Okeya Gender Male Race Au Ra Clan Raen Citizenship Ul’dah Occupation Botanist Orientation Bisexual, strongly leaning male Alignment Neutral Good Affiliation None GENERAL INFORMATION Haien Okeya (Pronunciation: Hi-yen Oh-kay-yuh), is an Auri botanist that hails from Ul'dah. He can frequently be found running a small stall in the markets of Ul'dah filled with freshly picked herbs, though he also fulfills custom and bulk orders on a regular basis. He's a very quiet man for the most part, preferring to keep his own counsel even amongst friends. APPEARANCE Standing at 7'2" tall, Haien is on the lean side for an Au Ra. As with most Raen, a pattern of lightly-colored scales can be found across much of his body. His natural resting expression is a stern one, frequently causing people who don't know him to believe that he is permanently angry. He tends to keep his blonde hair tied back in a loose ponytail with his bangs loose, though due to his lack of concern for looking proper, one can frequently see stray wisps of hair sticking out from the rest. Particularly noticeable at first glance is Haien's style of dress -- or perhaps more appropriately, the lack thereof. Most of the time he can be found wearing armor, if you can call it that, that would seem more appropriate to some sort of ancient gladiator, though he insists it's purely for practicality and allows him more freedom of movement. PERSONALITY Haien is quiet and solemn most of the time, particularly in large groups. While in the theatre troupe, the leader was a man who spoke loudly and often without really saying anything at all, and it rubbed Haien the wrong way. He started speaking less and less, and found that he could learn more through being quiet and observing than by filling the air with meaningless chatter. This proved particularly useful when part of the Conjurer's Guild, even if he lacked the natural gift to truly succeed. That said, he's not all silence all the time. He recognizes that, while he's quite content to sit in silence, most people aren't him. When in a 1-on-1 setting, he makes an effort to be as social as he can. He's not great at it, and often comes off as awkward, but he does try to avoid making people uncomfortable. He's not without personality -- his emotions are just subtle. His friends have learned that a chuckle from him is the equivalent of a roaring, gut-splitting laugh from most any other man. A wink and a nudge is practically a proposition. A smile is the equivalent of an ear-to-ear grin. He doesn't recklessly throw his safety in harm's way for no reason anymore, Haien still isn't wholly healthy, emotionally speaking. He may come to peace with the world by helping people – a practice he views as atonement for his failures – but he still blames himself every minute of every day for S'hozqha's death. If he had just been stronger, or faster, or more persuasive, maybe she would still be alive to grace the world with the smile he loved so dearly. But he wasn’t. It’s his fault, at least in his eyes. Haien's been known to seek out pain or punishment on very low days, particularly if he's had too much to drink. He tries not to make a habit of it, and certainly not in places where the world can see his pain, but every once in a while, he’s been known to relapse into bad habits. He doesn't view himself as worthy of good things, and frequently refuses gifts or offers of aide when they come his way, considering it his deserved lot in life to suffer. This frequently causes him to push his friends away during low periods, much as he tries to stay stable. LIKES Space. His friends tend to be the people who understand he sometimes just needs to be alone. Helping People. It’s always a temporary fix, but helping people is a band-aid to atone for those he feels he has wronged. Being out in nature. Very little is as calming, and next to nothing offers him the serenity that gathering herbs in the wilderness does. Pain. It serves as both a reminder that he’s still alive when he's feeling empty, and punishment for his perceived failures when he's feeling low. DISLIKES Himself. There is next to nothing about himself that Haien finds even tolerable. Loudmouths. People who talk too much while saying very little are one of Haien’s biggest pet peeves. Loud, crowded environments It’s not a severe dislike, and he’s certainly been known to spend his fair share of time in cities, but when practical, he tends to avoid extended periods of time spent in crowded markets and the like. Standard clothing. One thing Haien learned about wearing very little armor was that it afforded him far more freedom of movement than just about anything else. Since then, he’s reluctant to don full clothing again, going so far as to say that breathing is nigh impossible in formal attire. STRENGTHS Botany. Need an expensive herb for a good reason, but unable to afford market price? Need an ingredient for a poison that grows in exactly one place in the world and only under certain conditions? Need a strong lumber to build a lasting home with? Haien is your man for any of this and more. Willingness to help strangers. Though it may not be for the ideal reasons, Haien goes out of his way to help people when possible, as he views it as a form of atonement for his past failings. Loyalty. Both a strength and a weakness, Haien is very loyal to his friends, and there are very few obstacles he couldn't overcome if a friend was in need. WEAKNESSES Self-loathing. Easily his biggest weakness is his inability to accept himself, and come to terms with S’hozqha’s death. Self-destructive tendencies. Pain can be healthy, but not when one seeks it out as actively as Haien has been known to. Loyalty. Both a strength and a weakness, Haien is very loyal to his friends, leaving him open to exploitation were someone to feel so inclined. BACKSTORY Early Life Haien was born under another name that he has long distanced himself from. His parents were refugees to Aldenard, and lived in an impoverished farming town that was barely able to make ends meet. As a baby and on into his early childhood, resources were tight. There was never enough food to go around, and he was often hungry. His parents were clearly miserable -- as was a fair portion of his village. It wasn't a happy life, and everyone around him worked hard for very little results. He became fast friends with a Miqo'te girl named S'hozqha Batih who lived in his village, and the two were nearly inseparable. Then one day around the age of 7 or 8, a theatre troupe came through on their travels. They put on show after show, and Haien had never seen the villagers happier. There was actual merriment on faces he had thought permanently scored with frown lines and weary eyes. It was inspiring, and it came as little wonder that when they left town the next day, S'hozqha went with them, leaving Haien little choice but to come with as well. The young Miqo’te girl quickly found her talent as actress, while Haien preferred to avoid the limelight and work as an extra. He learned to move props and set pieces around unseen, and quickly found he was quite good at it. Gridania, the Conjurer’s Guild, and the Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak Five or six years later, the troupe found themselves in Eorzea, specifically in Gridania. Their stay there lasted several days, but once more S'hozqha decided a change was needed, and joined the Archer's Guild there. Never one to deny his friend anything, particularly given his budding crush on her, Haien stayed around as well, though he chose to join the Conjurer's Guild instead of picking up the bow. Sadly, Haien was far from gifted in the way of conjury. His patience and dedication brought him some minor results, but for the amount of work he put into it, he had very little to show in the way of progress. S'hozqha was the opposite. She took to archery like a fish to water, and soon found herself wanting for challenging targets. One day, she chanced to hear a rumour about monster in the Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak, and decided that a strong adventurer like herself was what was needed to put them down. She managed to convince Haien to join her, despite his protest and begging that she not try it, and they set off the next day. As he had feared, it went badly; worse even than he could possibly have imagined. They were surrounded and overwhelmed by monsters, and their only option was to flee. In the process, S'hozqha was seriously injured. The wound was far too severe for Haien to heal, but she was far too dear to him to just give up on. He poured all his energy into trying to heal her, and the last thing he saw was her faint, weary smile before he collapsed on top of her. Ul’dah and the beginning of Adventuring Some time later, he awoke atop her corpse. Distraught, he wandered aimlessly for days, wasting away. Eventually, he wound up in the desert sands nearly Ul'dah, where he finally collapsed from a mix of exhaustion, starvation, and dehydration. A wandering thief mistook him for dead and tried to check him for valuables, but panicked and ran away when he proved slightly more alive than they had hoped. Their surprised shriek drew an adventurer's attention, and they brought him to the Quicksand, where Momodi slowly nursed him back to health. The first time he regained consciousness, he seemed confused at first, but when his eyes fell on the sight of his conjurer's garb in the corner of his room, freshly cleaned and repaired, he fell apart. Despite his still weakened state, he started screaming, sobbing, and clawing at his skin, and Momodi had to call for him to be physically restrained before he could seriously hurt himself. The next time he came to, it was to a very guarded-looking Momodi, with none of his previous gear in sight. He was informed that he was found wandering in the desert, and (politely) questioned as to his name. It was here that he took the name Haien Okeya, chosen based on a minor character in the only story his mother had told him as a child. It was obvious he was lying and avoiding explaining where he had come from, but Momodi accepted it, presumably because she felt he wasn't doing so out of malice. Once he had fully recovered, he started helping her out by doing odd jobs around the Quicksand -- helping deliver goods, prepare food, clean rooms, or just about anything else she asked for, but there was a disconcerting lifelessness to him. One day, a party of adventurers came through the Quicksand, and Haien was tasked with helping nurse one of them back to health. The very next day, he came to Momodi and asked her permission to become an adventurer. Pleasantly surprised by his seemingly renewed interest in life, she agreed. She tried to start him off at the local Thaumaturgist's Guild, but he flat-out refused to walk in to a place of magic, as he claimed it was not for him. They tried the Pugilist's Guild, and he took to it well. He was fast and nimble, and while he may not have been the strongest hitter, his punches were powerful enough to count, and aimed well to bring down his opponents. Another benefit of Pugilist over Thaumaturgist in Haien's mind was that it meant he had to always be near his enemies, and if he came home with a few bruises and scrapes each day, it was merely expected of someone who had to get up close and personal with those trying to kill him. As the months went on, cuts and scrapes weren't enough for Haien. He started wearing lighter and lighter armor, frequently quoting the famous Pugilist Hamon Holyfist, who said that wearing less armor allowed them to move more freely. The true reason, of course, was not nearly so clean. Haien felt guilty over S'hozqha's death, and every injury or near death escape was what he felt he deserved. The more punishment, the better, in his eyes. Momodi watched as he continued down a path of self-destruction, unsure of what she could do. That is, she watched until the day Haien went out to take down a band of bandits single-handedly, without anything but the barest covering of armor. When he limped back victorious, but with three broken ribs, his tail dislocated, a deep gash on his forehead, and his right wrist shattered nearly beyond healing, she came up with an idea born as much out of desperation as anything else. Limsa Lominsa and the Dutiful Sisters As soon as he had recovered, Momodi sent him to deliver a sealed letter from her to the Dutiful Sisters in Limsa Lominsa. Ever feeling in her debt, Haien obliged, and it was there that he met Jacke. He was instantly taken by the Hyur with the strange mannerisms, and when Jacke offered him a place in the Rogue's Guild (probably largely due to Momodi vouching for his natural fit), he could do nothing but accept. Over the next year, he learned the rogue's craft and helped them apprehend various breakers of the Code. All his childhood training in being unseen paid off, as he discovered he was exceptionally skilled in the art of stealth, despite his towering stature. It was during this time that he first met others of his kind. During his Rogue's training, he also trained under several Doman ninjas, learning their arts. Frequently he received questions from the more curious Au Ra -- who was this strange Raen with Eorzean mannerisms and customs, and what was his story? Haien learned quickly how to answer without answering, giving just enough substance to satisfy without revealing anything important. He spoke of how he had lived here as a child, grown up as a farmer, though his parents weren't part of the picture. To the family-oriented Domans, this often painted a picture of some familial tragedy -- a line of thinking Haien was not inclined to correct, as it often stopped the curiosity. Eventually, his time with the Guild was over. He had learned the tricks of their trade, but more importantly, helping keep the Code intact had provided a form of atonement for Haien. He returned to Ul'dah not a completely healed man, but certainly not the broken shell of an Au Ra that had left a year prior. Post Limsa His time at the Sisters taught him much about herbs, both poisonous and medicinal, and he discovered he also had a knack for collecting them. Whereas many of the other rogues would grow bored doing what they considered a menial job, he enjoyed collecting the plants the Guild needed for its operations. When he came back to Ul'dah, he sought out tomes of knowledge on plant life, choosing to become a botanist. He still does normal adventurer work from time to time if there's a job that particularly interests him, but largely, he minds his own business and maintains a steady group of regular customers who frequently attest for the quality and fair prices he offers. Lion Order Recently, Haien's friend Teddy persuaded him to join the free company he was a part of, Lion Order. One day, a chance discussion about summoning led him further on the path of depression. According to Aetheria and Teddy, it was possible to overcome one's aetherial limits (at cost to one's own health and well-being), and to accomplish magical feats one normally couldn't. He excused himself quickly, but it left him shattered once more. Could he really have saved S'hozqha if he had just known a little bit more, or been a little bit stronger? Haien would never return to Lion Order after that day. Though he was welcomed with open arms and made a few friends, notably Aetheria Crescent, he never really felt like he fit in, and after that conversation, it would be some time before he faced even his closest friends again, never mind the free company he never truly felt he belonged in. Spiraling Downwards Thrust once more into a vicious cycle of regret, self-loathing, and self-destructive tendencies, he sought fights in various bars most nights. He hunted creatures far tougher than he could handle. He willingly ventured to the edges of Coerthas for herbs in little clothing, despite the temperature. He was a mess. One night at the Drowned Wench, he stumbled into Kahn'a Ohditra, and their conversation left him reeling and more impulsive than ever. Later that night, he picked a fight that went sour when the pirates pulled swords and firearms on him, and he barely managed to fight them off, leaving him with several broken ribs, bruises all across his entire body, a sprained tail, minor internal bleeding, and various other injuries and ailments. As he was recovering from the beating in a back-alley of Limsa, Kahn'a ran across him again, and the resulting conversation, combined with his injuries, gave him some much-needed perspective. The Path to Recovery Several days later, after most of the worst of his wounds and bruising had healed, Haien was back to drinking again. This time, however, he encountered J'saato Tia, and in doing so, was distracted from his intentions to fight the night away. The two ventured to Camp Bronze Lake, J'saato for healing in the hot springs located there, and Haien for the healing herb Menphina's Locks which grew nearby. The two talked several times over the next few days, and eventually J'saato gave Haien some friendly advice. The two parted ways once J'saato had healed, with Haien headed back to the deserts of Thanalan to collect herbs as a pretense, when he truly just needed to be alone and think. Unfortunately for him, fate had other ideas in mind. While staying for several days in Camp Drybone, he ran into Tyo'to Kaatapoh, an irritating, gossip-loving, braggart, and was roped into a dagger-throwing contest to try and wipe the smirk off the Miqo'te's face. It quickly became apparent that the two were evenly matched, and Tyo'to brought Haien to see a merchant who was offered a grand reward for the return of his stolen goods. Haien begrudgingly accepted the quest -- he was glad to help, but reluctant to spend more time than absolutely necessary with the chatty Tyo'to. The two made it to the missing caravan after a few days' travel, only to discover it was a trap, with an encampment of slavers ambushing them. They managed to fight their way out and escape, but Tyo'to was gravely wounded. In an act of desperation, not wanting history to repeat itself, Haien brought Tyo'to to the edges of the South Shroud, where he called on the elements to save Tyo'to's life. To Haien's great surprise, it worked, and while Tyo'to was far from healthy, Haien had managed to heal him enough through Conjury that his knowledge of herbs and practical medicine could bring him the rest of the way back to health. They spent several days in the wilds while Tyo'to recovered, having several long conversations about their motivations, their pasts, and perhaps most importantly in the long run, why Tyo'to continued to adventure even at risk of death. By the time they parted, something inside Haien had begun to heal. It would be a long road, but it seemed possible he might be on his way to recovery. RELATIONSHIPS RELATIONSHIP STATUS LEGEND ♥ Romantic Attraction – ♥ Physical Attraction – ♥ Platonic Love – $ Business – ❖ Deceased – ✔ Positive – ✖ Negative – ● Neutral – 🔃 Unsure – 🔒 Trust FAMILY These are mostly backstory-related relationships, be they blood-related family otherwise. BLOOD RELATIVES Sekka Shibunuri, mother. ( ● ) Haien’s Thoughts: "I hope life is treating you well, wherever you and Father are." Sekka Shibunuri led a peaceful life in the underwater village of Sui-no-Sato for many years, eventually marrying her childhood sweetheart, Keiho. Not long after the ceremony, a refugee and his family visited Sui-no-Sato seeking aid, only to be turned away by the Ruby Princess. Keiho attempted to supply the family with aid in secret, but was discovered and exiled. Though Sekka's family urged her to forget her husband, she could not turn her back on him, choosing instead fo follow him into exile, rather than lose him forever. The two fled to Kurogane, where Sekka soon realized she was pregnant. With renewed motivation, she and Keiho sought passage across the seas once it became clear that there was nothing for them in Hingashi. At Sekka's request, they settled far from the sea in the deserts of Ala Mhigo, far from the sights and sounds that brought back painful memories of the family Sekka had left behind. Sooner than she and Keiho were prepared for, Sekka delivered a baby boy who she named after her father, Kazan. Sooner than she would have liked, she was forced to return to work on the family's tiny ranch, strapping Kazan into a basket on her back so that she might keep an eye on him even while she had to work. Every night, after the sun had gone down, she would tell Kazan stories, sharing worlds of wonder with him, many of which she had thought up while working that day. She continued to tell him stories right up until the day he ran away, unintentionally breaking her heart. Though she and Keiho intended to make every effort to search for their dear Kazan, the Garleans chose that time to invade Ala Mhigo, sending the country into such turmoil that finding his trail was impossible. Keiho Shibunuri, father. ( ● ) Haien’s Thoughts: " I hope life is treating you well, wherever you and Mother are." Keiho Shibunuri led a peaceful life in the underwater village of Sui-no-Sato for many years, eventually marrying his childhood sweetheart, Sekka. Not long after the ceremony, news of Doma's fall reached Sui-no-Sato — news brought by a refugee; a father seeking shelter for his family, displaced by the Garleans. Though the Ruby Princess turned the man and his family away, refusing to take part in the affairs of outsides, Keiho saw something of himself in the man, and in secret, supplied the man with some small amount of food in hopes it might help. Sadly for him, his aid did not go unnoticed, and he was exiled from Sui-no-Sato. He and Sekko fled the Ruby Sea, unsuccessfully seeking a home in Kurogane. It was there that the two learned Sekka was pregnant with their child, and this knowledge spurred them to take the risk of crossing the sea, for clearly there was no life to be had in Hingashi. The two made it to Eorzea, and eventually ended up settling in a small village in Ala Mhigo. Soon after, to his great delight, Haien was born, though Keiho had very little time to spare for a newborn, as impoverished as the family was. In truth, he often would come home so late after a hard day's work that he would simply fall asleep, leading to very little interaction between the two. When Haien ran away, he was devastated, but any attempts he might make to locate his missing son were hindered by both his lack of resources, and the invasion of the Garleans soon after. DEAR FRIENDS S’hozqha Batih, Childhood Friend. ( ♥ ♥ ❖ ✔ 🔒 ) Haien’s Thoughts: ”I never deserved your friendship, and I repaid you by killing you. I am truly sorry.” S’hozqha was Haien’s childhood friend, and the two were closer than family growing up. Wherever S’hozqha went, Haien was sure to follow, even despite his best judgment. As they grew up, Haien found himself falling for S’hozqha, though he never was able to bring himself to confess his feelings for her. Her impulsiveness led to her death, an event which Haien holds himself personally accountable for, even if it wasn’t truly his fault. Kennard Allen, Troupe Leader. ( ✖ ) Haien’s Thoughts: "Never before, and never since, have I met a man who can talk so much, yet say so little.." A loud, boisterous man who served as announcer and leader of the traveling performers Haien joined as a child. He served as a poor influence, prone to drinking and fighting if kept in one place for too long. Momodi, Innkeeper of the Quicksand. ( ✔ 🔒 ) Haien’s Thoughts: "I owe my life to Momodi, and that’s a debt I’ll never be able to repay." Momodi saved Haien’s life once when she nursed him back to health after he was found dying in the Eastern Thanalan, then again by stopping his spiral of self-destruction and giving him purpose in the Rogue’s Guild. They don’t see each other frequently anymore, but occasionally they’ll catch up, or she’ll bring Haien orders of particularly difficult to find herbs. Jacke, Leader of the Rogues. ( ♥ ✔ 🔒 ) Haien’s Thoughts: "Thank you for taking me under your wing and teaching me the ways of the Code. I owe you more than I could ever express." Jacke took Haien into the Rogue’s Guild, presumably under Momodi’s request. It was there, partly under his tutelage, that Haien learned the ways of the Rogue, including the beginnings of his love of botany. Jacke occasionally calls on Haien for hard-to-find ingredients used in making poisons for the Guild. NON-FAMILY Listed here are the non-family PC characters that Haien has interacted with enough or in such a way for him to form a real opinion about them. Please don't take personal offense if your character isn't listed here, or how the interaction or relationship is described. It isn't that I dislike your character or our RP. I just tend to only add these as necessary for those who make a real impact on Haien, and descriptions are purely based upon in character experiences and opinions! Last Update... March 6th, 2016. * An asterisks denotes that Haien doesn't know the individual's true name. LIST OF NON-FAMILY RELATIONS Theodore "Teddy" Altman, fellow Rogue, good friend. ( ✔ 🔒 ) Haien's Thoughts: "Initially just a fellow Rogue recruit, he's proved to be a fast friend, even if it is near sickening sometimes how adorable he and Will are together." Haien met Teddy at the Rogue's Guild, and the two became friends quite quickly. Even after Haien left the guild, the two kept in touch, and one day Teddy called on him to help keep Will safe. Who was Haien to refuse? He befriended Will through their shared passion for plants, and even long after Will had seen through Teddy's ruse, continued to be friends. Recently, Haien even attended the two's wedding, even showing up fully dressed out of respect for them. William "Will" Kaplan, fellow Botanist, good friend. ( ✔ 🔒 ) Haien's Thoughts: "Sometimes I swear he and Teddy are literally halves of the same person." When Teddy was going through a rough time, he asked Haien to help him keep an eye on Will and protect him, as he had to do so without giving himself away, and Will didn't know him. Recently, Haien even attended the two's wedding, even showing up fully dressed out of respect for them. Aetheria Crescent, Furred Nightmare. ( ✔ ) Haien's Thoughts: "Never have I seen such a large amount of energy and enthusiasm in such a small body. I do wish she'd stop calling me Sexybutt though." After joining Lion Order, Haien was spending some time with a few members in the quicksand when this hyperactive, furred monstrosity showed up to wreak havoc. Immediately, he was nicknamed Sexybutt and accused of being another member's 'boytoy' from his dress -- an accusation he was quick to correct. Further interaction proved Aetheria was... interesting, to say the least. In truth, she reminds him of S'hozqha, with her boundless enthusiasm for life. Around Aetheria, it's near impossible for Haien not to slip into habits from his younger, happier days. In the long term, she may end up proving good for his health. Kahn'a Ohditra*, . ( ✖ ) Haien's Thoughts: "I'm not entirely sure whether he's a concerned bystander with my interests in mind, or a petty thief with eyes only for my coin." One evening when Haien was drinking away his troubles at the Drowned Wench in a prelude to a fight, he was approached by a shifty-looking Miqo'te. After initially greeting the man with unwarranted hostilities, Haien apologized by buying him a drink. The two talked briefly, but their chat ended abruptly when the man snatched Haien's purse, allegedly in a demonstration of why Haien shouldn't let his guard down without friends to back him up. The two parted quickly after, with Haien resuming his drink, and the shifty-looking Miqo'te going twelve-knows-where. They met again shortly after, with Kahn'a learning more about Haien than most do. Eventually, their conversation stalled, and Kahn'a walked away in disgust, leaving Haien a lot to think about. J'saato Tia, Fortune Teller. ( ♥ ✔ 🔃 ) Haien's Thoughts: "He's got some strange mannerisms, but seems good-hearted. I'm not fully certain where we stand, though." Haien met J'saato one night in the Drowned Wench. The two spoke briefly, then headed off to Camp Bronze Lake together, with Haien in search of herbs to aid the healing process for both of them, borrowing J'saato's carriage. Once there, they spoke more in-depth, with Haien revealing more than he had intended. Still, the two got along well, and had an interesting afternoon together. Tyo'to Kaatapoh, Blabbermouth. ( ✔ ) Haien’s Thoughts: "He talks too much, but he's not a bad person." One day in Camp Drybone, Haien got roped into a dagger-throwing contest by Tyo'to, who sought to prove his skill to a quest-giving merchant. The two were at a draw, and ended up embarking on the quest together, much to Haien's dismay. Tyo'to was gravely injured, forcing Haien to resort to long-abandoned knowledge of conjury. Tyo'to recovered, and the two had a conversation that left Haien with a lot to think about for the remainder of their quest. Illyriel Otonashi, Doman Botanist. ( $ ✔ ) Haien’s Thoughts: "I'm glad to meet someone who can teach me more about Botany." Haien was returning from a delivery in the Goblet one day when he ran into Illyriel. The two discussed herbs over tea, then parted way with the promise of future exchanges of knowledge. Eowale Dotharl, Illyriel's... boyfriend? husband? significant other? something along those lines.. ( ♥ ● 🔃 ) Haien’s Thoughts: "I don't really know what to make of him yet." While he was discussing herbs with Illyriel at her free company's bar, Eowale stopped by and the three had a brief chat. RUMORS These are rumors, both from NPCs and PCs, that one might overhear in regards to Haien. Feel free to utilize these in your RP hooks, or add your own! Please do note that not all rumours are completely accurate. Some may be exaggerated or flat-out untrue. ◢ Common Rumors - Easily overheard. Use these freely! "Don't think I've ever heard the man speak more than five words in a row 'less he had no other choice." -- Quicksand Quarreler. "Haien Okeya? That's that one botanist, right? I've heard he prefers plants to people." -- Gaudy Gossip. "Despite his attire, if you can call it that, that man's got a stick up his ass in the worst way; no fun allowed around him. I don't think I've ever seen him laugh." -- Cranky Courtesan. "He spends a lot of time in the Dutiful Sisters in Lominsa whenever he's there. Must be a regular or something." -- Loose-lipped Lominsan. ◢ Uncommon Rumors - A little more difficult to hear. Use sparingly or ask first! "Hmm. He used to be conjurer, judging by the possessions he was found with." -- Meddlesome Maid. "I heard he was found penniless in the desert once, and that's how he came to Ul'dah. Probably a refugee of some sort, I'd wager." -- Haughty Head of House. "My cousin tried to get him drunk once. Apparently he's the moodiest and least fun drunk she's ever met." -- Bored Barmaid. "I ran into him when he was collecting rare poisonous plants once. The idiot wasn't wearing any protective gear at all! He had little nicks and cuts all over his hands, and not the once did he seem like he cared." -- Baffled Botanist. ◢ Rare Rumors - Very rarely overheard. Please ask before using! "There's some Miqo'te girl what's important to him. Twelve only knows who though; ask him 'bout her and he'll clam right up like as not." -- Relentless Rogue. "It was near the end of my shift at the tavern and this Au Ra walks in and insults the three largest men there to their faces. The fight that ensued was the darnedest thing. You'd expect a man to be the worse for wear, and he sure was, but never have seen a man look so *happy* to be battered and bruised and barely able to walk." -- Barroom Bouncer. ◢ Near-Impossible Rumors - You really need to know the right people for these, and we’d have to work something out in advance for a reason for you to know. "Several years ago, he tried to hire a courtesan once who came specially recommended to him as being very discreet. He asked them to hurt him, and hurt him badly, rather than the normal things a man asks for in such a situation. When they wouldn't, he broke down, gave them their coin, and left in a hurry. I haven't seen him seeking services since." -- Close-mouthed Courtesan. "Okeya isn't his real name; it's Shibunuri. Apparently, he changed it to avoid his past, but he'll still reflexively respond to his old one." -- Foreign Farmer. ◢ Player Character Rumors - Feel free to add rumors of your own! (Insert rumor here.) -- Rumor Author / Location (If you add a player rumor, please first copy and paste the above line of code to leave behind for the next person! Thanks!) ROLEPLAY HOOKS I fully admit to being bad at coming up with ideas. If you can think of something that's not on this list, please, by all means bring it to my attention and we can hammer out the specifics. Botanist: Haien’s built a reputation for himself as a skilled botanist, and frequently receives customers looking for strange requests, or without the coin to pay and a good reason for their job. Adventurer: Though it’s no longer his primary profession, Haien still occasionally takes on requests from those in need. He is generally known to do so for little to no pay, depending on the need of his client and how badly in need of help they are. Wilds Man: Not to be confused with ‘wild man’ which he certainly is not, Haien tends to be comfortable in most wilderness environments – particularly the deserts of Thanalan. He’s significantly less comfortable in the cold climates of Coerthas. Quietness: In large groups, sometimes Haien makes as much of an impression by conspicuously not being as lively as the average person. Armor, or lack thereof: Haien frequently receives comments on his particular choice of armor. It’s also led to a few misunderstandings, though he’s usually quick to head those people off. ABOUT THE PLAYER I am a mid-20’s man living with his cat in the mid-western United States on a sleep schedule that only some sort of crazed psychic would be able to predict. I enjoy music that's older than I am, food that's terrible for me, and games that are far nerdier than I can reliably claim to be. I have a fondness for bad puns, though I’m rarely witty enough to make them myself. My humour tends to be of the self-deprecating variety, though occasionally it’ll flip completely and I’ll joke about how totally amazing I am. Please do understand that I do not take either extreme seriously, and it’s just my (poor) sense of humour. I also tend to joke around in what I’ve been told is a flirty way, as I have a fairly blue sense of humour. Please know that no matter how many ♥s or winky faces I send you, it’s still just me messing around, and I am not looking for a romantic relationship. If this behavior (or anything else I do, really) makes you uncomfortable, please do let me know, and I’ll endeavor to cease immediately. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND... Trigger Warnings. I try to provide trigger warnings as liberally as I can, but I apologize if I fail to catch something (within reason). That said, even when a character has a trigger warning associated with them, it’s generally due to their backstory, and not because I actively RP said situations. Specifically in regards to Haien, he has a history of self-harm, reckless behavior, and severe depression. This is not to say that I’m regularly going out and RPing him hurting himself, but if you are sensitive to such topics, please please PLEASE let me know ahead of time so I can be aware of your needs. I am not a mental health professional. My knowledge of such things comes from experiencing them myself, knowing people who have experienced them, or light research. I do not claim that my information is perfect, but I do try to treat such things with respect, and I would appreciate it if you would as well. My character(s) sometimes have ties to in-game NPCs. I try to keep relationships between my characters well within bounds of canon. Usually, these are past and/or loose ties, but they are there just the same. That said, unless we’re on the topic of backstories and histories, I don’t suspect they’ll come up all that often, and I am NOT the type to be all, “oh and my character is (NPC)’s waifu but (s)he just doesn’t know it yet/acknowledge it in-game!” I AFK in-game frequently. I promise I’m not ignoring you; I just have a bad habit of leaving my game on for hours upon hours on end when I’m sleeping or doing other things. If I don’t respond to you, try sending the message again in a few minutes, and if I still don’t respond, please assume that I’m just not around. This is PARTICULARLY true if you see me sitting in the Quicksand on the ramp near the west door leading to the market, as that’s my usual AFK spot. I also enjoy PVE content. Many of my friends, and even my sister play this game, and I frequently want to spend time with them. If I’m not up for RPing, please don’t take it personally; I promise it’s not something you’ve done – I just also have other aspects of the game I enjoy outside of RPing. I can be a bit timid when first RPing with someone. This is particularly true if I’ve seen you around frequently or know you OOC, since it’s entirely possible you (unintentionally I’m sure) intimidate me a little. Please be patient if my replies aren’t at light speed, since I’m probably spending time over-analyzing them in a desperate attempt not to humiliate myself. GUIDELINES Overall, I'm pretty chill as far as guidelines go. It is very, very hard to offend me, so don’t worry too much about it. Still, for the sake of making sure everyone's on the same page here, let me make a few mentions in particular: I WILL NOT... Partake in sexually explicit situations. I’m just not comfortable doing so. If for some reason the situation between our characters calls for it, I prefer to handle it with a fade-to-black. Partake in detailed violence IC. I have nothing against violence, it’s just not something I personally find enjoyable to go into nitty-gritty details over. If you wish for our characters to fight, I am certainly not opposed to it on principle, but I would prefer to work out how it goes OOC, then briefly skim it IC once we’ve come to an agreement. I WILL... Abide by logical headcanons. If the lore abides your headcanon, then I will too. If there's no precedent whatsoever for it, then it's likely to be a hard sell. There are no vampires in Eorzea. There are no werewolves. If I’m unaware of the lore behind your headcanon, please be patient and point me to it, and I’ll be happy to accommodate. Summary of thing to keep in mind. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum viverra augue ut ex eleifend aliquet. Suspendisse eget lectus felis. Nullam varius fringilla metus, in suscipit justo consectetur a. Suspendisse placerat nunc eu vestibulum ornare. In at felis mattis, dapibus tortor ac, tempus justo. Summary of thing to keep in mind. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum viverra augue ut ex eleifend aliquet. Suspendisse eget lectus felis. Nullam varius fringilla metus, in suscipit justo consectetur a. Suspendisse placerat nunc eu vestibulum ornare. In at felis mattis, dapibus tortor ac, tempus justo.

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