Higanbana Kakuyoku

Higanbana Koutate
Gender	Female
Race	Au Ra
Clan	Raen
Citizenship	Doman refugee
Age	35
Marital Status	Widowed
Occupation	Bookkeeper for the Wayfarer's Rest
Height/Weight	5.2 Fm, 163 Pz
Orientation	Straight
Relatives	WIP

The Koutate family has remained a distinguished presence within the ruling class for generations dating back to some of the earliest records. Renown for their donnish minds that have earned historical victories by wit and cunning, many fellow Raen have regarded them as a tactical ally and trusted consult. In this family, Higanbana had served a vital role for nearly a decade. Rather than within the fray of battle, her contributions remained domestic as she oversaw the inner workings of the familys' affairs be it staffing or stock. Perhaps it was not the most glamorous of roles, but Higanbana's keen eye and sharp wit kept the flow of the house smooth and prosperous until its downfall by the hands of Legion soldiers.

Basic Info

LIKES ■ The drifting scent from a lit incensory in the room. ■ A warm drink to accompany her as she works. ■ Trying new dishes and venues. ■ Embroidery and those who enjoy it just as much.

DISLIKES ■ The arid environment of Thanalan. ■ Sloppy record keeping. ■ The children at markets who think it's okay to touch her tail or horns without permission. ■ Anyone but a fellow Doman who would call themselves a Shinobi.

OTHER ■ Alignment: Lawful Neutral. ■ Vice(s): Alcohol, apathy, other poor coping methods. ■ Favorite Food: Oriental supper & sauteed porcini. ■ Favorite Drink: Frozen spirits, mulled tea, & most alcoholic beverages. ■ Favorite Color: Purples & reds.

Appearance & Personality

At five fulms and two ilms, Higanbana had once been considered tall for her kind, but now is easily dwarfed by the foreign races that tower over her form. Amongst Eorzea's more diverse set of races, Higanbana's stand-out features would be the colour scheme of grey and blue inherited from her father; a round face that never seemed to narrow as she grew; and circular frames of the glasses that sit upon the bridge of an upturned nose. Her body's physique could be labeled chubby, partially in thanks to her stationary profession that requires low physical exertion. Choice in apparel leans toward neutral tones and dark shades, with the clothes comfortably hanging slightly loose on her frame. Fashion takes low priority within her wardrobe in favour of practicality and comfort, and things such as skirts or dresses are usually saved for social or otherwise special occasions.

Most people who come Higanbana's way will almost always meet a welcoming, easily approachable woman. Her patience comes in abundance even if her availability does not, and her attention to the details of one's words is sharp. Her contributions to conversation are upbeat and engaging, even if she isn't one to act with an abundance of energy. She loves playful banter and those who will engage her in it, as well as those who can appreciate their liquor. If you like both, that's even greater to her!

While playful, it is uncommon for one to rile her up, and even more so to see her act upon her frustration. When she can feel emotions tug at her composure, she avoids the situation. It could be in a verbal desire to end to the conversation, or she might quietly slip away from the scene. She is more than willing to lend an ear to others' laments, but finds herself annoyed at those who try to pry into hers. At rare moments where she does confront a situation, it is when she finds herself backed against a wall. Her reactions come in cold, bitter words or frustrated scoldings to those who have wronged her, but never shouting.

On her person is a small but consistent set of items:

A silver flask with a sleek insignia engraved on one side.

Her glasses, which are held by a thin, round frame encasing the entire edge of the lenses.

A lilac handkerchief embroidered with red, spidering flowers and her initials.

A thick, peiste-skinned day planner that she carries religiously.

A pair of red-and-blue-beaded earrings gifted to her by her lover.

Biography

Childhood

(Note: I'm waiting for Stormblood's release to fill a lot of gaps I have about Doma and how its timeline & society work. The fine details of what's written below may be subject to change.)

Higanbana was born as the third child of the lord of the Koutate household. Her name, although foreboding, was not given with malintent by her parents. Instead, it was in thanks to the circumstances of her birth, which came the same night Higanbana's grandmother was buried. Her father believed that the anomalous timing was not coincidence, and as he thought back to the funeral held for his mother not even a day before, he remembered the red spider lilies blooming around the cemetery.

Teenage

Though the youngest, she was born early enough to recall the ephemeral peace that was before the empire first laid claim on her country. Hazy, nostalgic memories of her childhood still leave a warm even if bittersweet feeling in her chest. However, what Higanbana remembers more vividly is the teenage years spent watching her homeland slowly unravel. The Koutate family remained steadfast in their loyalty to their homeland and did not shy away from their duties when Garleans first set foot upon their land. Whilst the warriors of her family brandished blades and attended meetings, Higanbana was entrusted with the sole duty of helping to maintain the flow of the domain in their absence.

reworking the rest of this come sb

Early Adulthood

reworking this entire section come sb

Present

A destitute Higanbana would linger amongst fellow refugees until it was decided that they would board the first ship to eventually dock at Vesper Bay. Though many of the rest migrated to Mor Dhona to start anew, Higanbana remained within Thanalan. Perhaps Higanbana was a bit too prideful, but she saw herself above the work that would have been asked of her in Mor Dhona. She would much rather utilize her resourceful nature to find local work than settle for the dreary settlement up north. It wasn't hard to barter off the family treasures she brought with her. Quite the opposite when it was so easy to find affluent collectors who were charmed by the foreign artistry behind it. She only kept those with sentimental or historical value to her family, and used the gil to rent a small residence as she searched for work. Though it was hard to initially get her name out, once people took note of Higanbana's skills, she found employment easy. Unfortunately, there was always something wrong with her employment, be it morality or the work environment.

The straw on the camel's back finally came when she found herself with a moral dilemma that led to her reporting her employer to the Brass Blades. At that point, Higanbana was ready to pack up her bags and traverse to Mor Dhona with her tail between her legs. She had already collected her apartment's deposit and was spending the last few days in the Quicksand when she happened upon the Wayfarer's Rest. By pure coincidence, she was offered a job, and has remained in their employment ever since.

Miscellaneous

RUMORS Some of these rumors are untrue or are greatly exaggerated. Please feel free to add your own rumors under PC! ◢ Common Rumors (Easily overheard) ■ ■ ■ ◢ Moderate Rumors (Moderately difficult to overhear) ■ ■ ■ ◢ Rare Rumors (Very difficult or rarely overheard) ■ ■ ■ ◢ PC Rumors (Rumors from the character's of other players) ■ ■ ■ ■

RELATIONS ♥ Romantic Interest ♥ Platonic Love ● Good Standing ● Poor Standing ♥ Name : Description

Gallery

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  A rare portrait of the Koutate's youngest child, since destroyed during the razing of her family's home. (Drawn by her player.)

Footnotes

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