Lsael Elswer

Lsael Elswer (/Leh-Sail Else-wher/)

Lsael Elswer
Lonely Explorer
Gender	Female
Race	Au Ra
Clan	Xaela
Citizenship	Ul'dah
Server	Balmung
Age	[24-26?]
Nameday	22th Sun of the 3rd Umbral Moon, (1553)
Occupation	Pilot, Explorer, Freelancer
Height/Weight	5 Fm 7 Im / 121 Pz
Orientation	Straight/Bisexual?
Home	Limsa Lominsa The Mists - Topmast Apartment (Ward 7, Room 57)

How does one spend their "happy ending?"

While trudging through the darker moments of her life, Lsael often looked to the sky. Envying the birds and airship pilots; the sense of 'freedom', that at the time, felt like nothing more than a distant dream. So when Lsael found herself with a substantial amoung of gil, she took that opportunity to a buy a brand new Manacutter. Free to fly it wherever she desires. A self-taught tinkerer, wandering explorer, and skilled pilot. Lsael discreetly put aside her sword, shield, and other pointy business tools to seek a life in the skies.

Appearance & Personality

- Lsael is a young adult Xaela, appearing in her mid-twenties. She is slim, with seemingly fair-skin maintained under a well balanced, and athletic figure. Lsael stands at 5 fulms 7 ilms, which is noticeably taller than other female Au Ra. Her scales are have no special traits in comparison to those of her other kin, only slightly more coarse and hardened from years of rough-use. She has some notible scars on her body. A large, deep scarring on her lower-left side of her waist indicating a very near mortal wound. A fading, spear-like scar on her upper right-shoulder and right thigh, indicating a rather near-fatal wound from behind and front respectively. Several smaller cuts and scars litter her upper left arm and shoulder. Her palms have a feint tint to them, indicating an old burn scar having held something on fire. She has short black hair with feint red highlights. Occasionally her hair will grow out, but poor maintenance only sees it grow so long, most often covering the left side of her face with her bangs. A habit formed when she was still a training gladiator. Lsael has heterochromatic eyes. Her left eye is red and right eye a bright yellow, both enclosed with black limbal rings.

- Growing up. Many days of her life were spent in long periods devoid of any social interaction. Combined with her docile persona, this has made Lsael a very silent and soft-spoken character. While she could go for months on end between any sort of conversation, those who manage catch wind of her would find it difficult to describe her as asocial, brooding or gloomy. Most would describe a sociable Lsael as a quiet pragmatic, walking a fine line between apathy and genuine, but quiet concern. Lsael seems to show little care about the world and politics unless it directly relates to herself or her lifestyle. Though she seems at first a very reserved character, she is quite adept in socializing and holding a conversation given a meaningful topic. Her few acquaintances will note that Lsael remains oddly well mannered, though stubborn, as long as they reciprocate an equal amount of respect for her in turn.

- On the topic of respect, she absolutely despises those who think they are above others. Blind racists, pretentious high-born, politicians and stuck up rich merchants alike. Having grown up with her own set of struggles, Lsael could easily relate to those less fortunate. Even often giving away what little she could afford to mewling children and beggars if she can. Garleans are also included in her "disliked individuals" list but for the most part, only takes that issue up to the radical fanatics. If given the proper respect along with no sign of taking up conflict with her, Lsael could care less about an individual's background or origin.

- Though when faced with an unyielding aggressor in an argument, throughout the years she has found preemptive aggressiveness to work as a proper deterrent. If an Elezen continues to harass her after being asked to leave for example. Lsael is not the type hesitate to swing her helmet or put a bullet in their thigh. Whatever action it would take to desist the individual. (While on this note, she's on a low alert criminal list in Gridania for this very reason, which is why she never frequents the city proper). Though it was noted earlier that she is sociable to a fault, the xaela is rather untrusting and wary of everyone she encounters. While she does occasionally enjoy a romp during her breaks in the cities, she often comes across as difficult and easily irritated, especially those who approach her for sex in mind before anything else. Often opting to giving up only her last name. Should Lsael casually hold a conversation with someone, or even disclose details of herself at all, is seen as a small form of trust.

- What little friends Lsael has come to trust however, would describe her as much radically different than she leads others to believe. They strike her as more talkative, given that they are around to start a conversation. Describing the Xaela as a blunt and straight-forward individual, with an underlying dark and cynic preference in humor. Often coming across crass or politically incorrect, She is noted not to shy from the truth of the conversation, often stating her opinion regardless of other's reaction or consequence.

- Outside of other's influences however, Lsael is still pretty much a lonesome individual. Years of strife and lonely hard work has tempered her will. Something which is readily apparent when the xaela is about to fight. She becomes eerily silent, often expressed with a motionless calm and intense focus in her eyes. Lsael has lost her fair share of fights and brawls growing up, knowing fully well the consequences that await a woman who's lost. This silence is a testament to that, and her focus the reinforced resolve in which she carries herself through those faults. Lsael's only confidence in a fight lies on sheer force of will. Her tenacity in a fight going sour is unbridled and defiant, and the lessons she had been taught over the years drilled into her instinct. She is very much an amazing close-quarters fighter, her martial prowess the sum of her hard-work and blind resolution to better herself.

- Despite her martial prowess, Lsael is very much considered average or below median when accounted for her magical and arcane skills. While her endurance, tenacity, strength and quick reactions are well accounted for. Her mental fortitude is also not up to par. Those who have readily teamed up with her in the past have noticed she was much more susceptible to certain mental debuffs when caught in them (such as Charms, Confusions, Fears). Though given a familiarity to attach herself to, she seems quite capable when Lsael is able to apply herself. For example, her Red Mage skills are above par in comparison to any other magic/arcane-based class she has picked up.

■ Alignment - Chaotic Good

Basic Info, Quirks and Tidbits

- Lsael is a quick reader, ontop of being a very quick learner. Often picking up instructions on the spot. Yet she remains a horrible writer, with her own notes incomprehensible to none other than herself. To counter this, she'll often opt to doodling instead, though her drawing skill remains questionable the woman has her moments. In terms of the fine arts however, though unproven, she is actually quite adept in singing.

- Instead of keeping a diary, she tends to collect books as keepsakes for special events or jobs. When she was teenager, she would often take high-quality tomes and books as payment instead of gil. This may be due to her experience as a child hiding away in libraries, the one place she could avoid her previous captors. Rest and respite was abundant enough in the public libraries which dotted the Limsan upper decks. And so, being around books made her feel safe. Which is probably why there is an overabundance of them in her apartment. And by overabundance, the girl could practically start her own library. From children's picture books, scholastic grimoires to long lost allagan transcripts. Her travels have left her far and wide throughout Eorzea, and each book in her possession is a testament to her lifelong experiences. Note: She's practically read (or skimmed through) them all.

- After assisting some adventurers with a Necrologos levemete in hopes of attaining the infamous book for herself. Lsael found herself a treasure coffer with an Atrophied Atomos within. Consuming her satchel of crystals at the time, the creature has stayed by the xaela's side ever since. Gobbling up whatever she would offer it whether it be scrap metal, food, or just general trash. In exchange as a floating trashcan, Lsael found some much needed company for her long travels. She gives it many nicknames like "Cheeky Lil' Bastard" but "Tomo" is what she's taken to calling it. Lsael also tends to keep it under a strict leash, as the atomos tends to bite when spoiled with food or float off on it's own.

- Having been raised around pirates and Roegadyns, she's grown to have a very high tolerance of alcohol. Thus, Lsael is often caught with several hard drinks when visiting taverns or bars. Most notable, she's often found spiking her own drinks, as Lsael would often note that 'normal alcohol just doesn't give the right kick anymore.'

- Due to the circumstances of her arrival to Eorzea, Lsael doesn't actually know where her birth place, origin, or home country is. Though she had recently taken a hint when a large score of Doman refugees began moving into Mor Dhona. Many of which approached the clueless Xaela in their native tongue, asking for directions. It seemed like only those who hail from Othard can recognize enough of her far eastern descent. Meanwhile Lsael had taken the strangers' assumptions as pointless, finding their customs and traditions to be near alien to her.

- At the time, she's inducted as a First Lieutenant in the Immortal Flames. Yet lives in the Topmast Apartments in Limsa Lominsa and is formally a Lominsan citizen. What little official records are around show that she has worked as in private security, as mercenary/sellsword, caravan escort guard, part-time freight smuggler, and for a week or so as a scullery maid. Along with this, she is an experienced as a courtesan, pickpocket, self-taught cartographer, and treasure/bounty hunter.

- Lsael's soulstones are the following. Listed from currently most used to least: Machinist, Paladin, Ninja (preferring more so: Rogue), Warrior, Red Mage, Monk, Dragoon, and Dark Knight. Lsael is also a blacksmith and armorer specialist, though those two classes are primarily used to repair and maintain her airship.

- Lsael's "Manacutter" -

- Her airship is a custom made cruiser built atop of the framework of a manacutter released by the Skysteel Manufactory and Garlond Ironworks. Over the years, the ship has taken up many iterations and changes until it's become nigh unrecognizable as a manacutter, but more of a functioning airship.

- Her ship is almost three times the size of a normal manacutter, and heavily modified. Built over the years from Garlean, Sky Pirate, Ironworks, and Skysteel parts alike. It's chassis was built from a captured intact Imperial Hypersonic Assault Craft (L-XXIII). The hull was scrapped and cleaned to serve as the basis for it's role. The main role being the ability to cruise at a significantly higher altitude. Utilizing the two basic corrupted crystal engines to power the turbines at regular flight levels (through aethercurrents and the like), and the addition of two ceruleum powered jet turbines to facilitate high altitude flight without the dependency of aether. With four engines in total, it required an abundantly larger chassis to fit all the specialized parts and equipment within the hull. With the addition of the ice-resistant materia melded onto the joints and moving parts to prevent icing in high altitude. And lightning and fire resistant materia melded to isolate and contain any ruptures or damage ever inflicted onto the ship. The structure may not have been built to take punishment from gunfire or attacks, but it does allow for one heck of a flight experience, especially with the ship boasting a top cruising altitude as high as 40 and even 65 thousand fulms.

- Once specialization to note is the remnants of a magitek vanguard chassis that is mounted around the hull of the ship, placed just behind the co-pilot's seat (it's a two-seater airship). Taking inspiration from the Castrum incident with magitek reapers. Lsael had commissioned the goldsmith's guild to meld a modified mammet's core onto the broken, original vanguard core. Once it was done, she had it linked to most of the primary functions and flight controls of the airship, as well as manual control and tracking synced onto her aetherotransformer. If she manages to fall mid-flight, this would allow her ship to dive under autopilot and track her descent path. An emergency autopilot rescuing her from any need to bring a harness or form of parachute. This modification also allows her to put the manacutter in a hands-free auto-pilot. Allowing her a brief time to sit back and relax, or do some mid-flight repairs.

- With the staggering amount of modifications and changes to the ship, the maintenance and repair cycles remain arduous and lengthy. It isn't rare for Lsael to be grounded for a week or so at times. And being privately owned and built, she must see to the repairs all by herself. But to the lone pilot, it's all worth it in the end.

- As amazing as it sounds... Due to the partially open cockpit build the high altitude cruising height... Many of it's specifications and general performance replies heavily on Lsael's physical ability and flying experience. Her years growing up as a Disciple of War has increased her endurance and pain resistance substantially, helping the xaela cope against the open hazards of the high-altitude flying. The amount of force subjected to the body in tight turns and dives, the brutality of the cold and heat above the skies. Despite all this, Lsael has always felt like she had been preparing for this role all her life. And her adoration with her career is fitting given just how much enjoys flying.

Biography

Arrival to Eorzea

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The farthest back Lsael's memory could take her was in that cramped and dark container aboard a Garlean transport ship.

Lsael along with the four-score dozen other children, taken from several different corners of the occupied empire were being shipped off to a destination unknown to them. Their overseers supposedly recruiting them due to their aetheric prowess, off to be tested and bred to grow up and fight for the empire. Making the mistake by labeling them as "special cargo". While the contents remained a mystery, This information caught the attention of one notorious privateer crew. Expecting some expensive and worthwhile plunder, they moved to intercept and the hidden children were soon caught in the ensuing battle. Lsael's container caught a molten grapeshot round in the first volley. Shredding a large hole into their container. Many of the children were perforated into a red mist almost immediately as torn bits of molten metal and shrapnel shredded the unprotected cargo within. Luckily, having been forced against the opposite side of the container, the wall of bodies blocked most of the carnage for Lsael. The young Xaela soon found herself crawling out of the bleeding hole gasping for air and choking on warm fog of blood from the other children. And her first act upon freedom? A frenzied assault on the nearest garlean soldier. Caught off guard from the boarding pirates, the man struggled to get the little girl off. The pirates were bewildered, watching this little xaela, a race many of the crew have never encountered before, swiping the guard's darksteel knife and began scratching and stabbing her way around the grown man. Finishing off the soldier who managed finally managed to throw Lsael off, the pirates picked up the young girl along with three other surviving children only to find the remnants of the "special container". While the dead children were quite the lost cause, there was other loot to be plundered in the ship as the crew helped themselves to whatever they could find. The aging captain of the crew however, was shocked at the mangled innocent corpses inside the containers, and took it upon himself to care for the four survivors. One of which caught his eye especially. The foreign little black-scaled girl who was slipping in and out of consciousness, carrying her to his cabin as she was more wounded than the others and needed the rest. "-Let's sail elsewhere-. I've had enough of this place." Were the first words Lsael's ears heard after the ringing in her head had ceased. Repeating after her newfound protector, she could only whisper a slur of the first few words. This was how her future step-father assumed her first name, "Lsael"

Early Childhood

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Having given his own son such an undesirable and violent upbringing. The old captain of pirates and Lsael's rescuer, had decided to adopt the young Xaela as a second chance in a life which he had originally taken for granted. Leaving the care of his crew to his second-in-command and aforementioned son, he took his share of the plunder and left to retire. He bought a small cottage by the cliff-side in Red Rooster Stead. The young Xaela following after the aging Seawolf with much anxiety. It didn't take long for Lsael to warm up to the old man. His infectious charisma and wisdome rubbed off on her young mind fairly quickly. He taught her how to properly read and write. Clothed and fed her. At nights when the young girl couldn't sleep, he would often share his tales of daring-do and sailor's myths. Stories he was told as a child himself, the kinds that the young xaela was enamored with. Lominsan pirate admirals of the past, famous rogues and mythical scoundrels. And with each story Lsael was smitten by the prospect of adventure and open seas. Though it was far from his intentions, Lsael pestered him to teaching her how to fight like in the stories. She learned the basics of how to hold or a dagger, As the old man only had Roegadyn sized weapons with him at the time. He more than happily demonstrated for Lsael, despite his age showing off the skills and combat experience tempered from from years of pirating. While some of the old pirate's habits did not completely die out from retirement, such as drinking, swearing, and fighting. The young Xaela emulated and idolized her father, much to the amusement of her visiting stepbrother. She loved to copy the two men, swear as they do, and even sipping on their ale at the joking request of her step-brother.

For a time, Lsael's life was in complete bliss... ... That is an old bad blood re-emerged. A bitter and violent rival from a separate pirate group from long ago, seeking revenge on the aging Sea Wolf for past dues. Having thought the matter was settled years ago, the old man was oblivious to the impending attack. Barging into his home, beating and subjecting him into agonizing pain. Lsael could only cry in fear and plead, as these men maimed and humiliated her father. When he tried to fight back, they retaliated by taking advantage of the young Xaela, and threatened to rape and kill Lsael if the Roegadyn struggled...

By the time the Yellowjackets had arrived by a tip from the locals, they found blood smeared across the wooden floor and dragged out to the back of the home. The old man's body was recovered at the bottom of the cliff-side, tossed from above. His daughter was never officially recorded as a Limsan civilian, as the old Sea Wolf didn't see it as a relevant issue at the time. Though the locals that knew the father and daughter tried to state the missing girl's description. As far as the authorities were concerned, the 10 year old girl never even existed in the first place.

Childhood-Pre-teenage Years

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Lsael couldn't be asked to recall much of her life after that ordeal.

Mourning the death of her father and reeling from her assault. Her captives were more than willing to drug her to keep the foreign girl 'compliant' which served to push the girl into a deeper shock. They naturally cared little in how they would handle the small xaela. And since Au Ra were a rarity in Limsa at the time, they quickly put the young girl to work. Her captors owned several unlicensed pleasure barges under the shadows of the lower decks, and put her to work as a premium. Abused, mistreated, and held against her will. She would try many times to fight back and escape, only for the despair to be beaten back into her head, literally.

...One attempt proved successful however! As the girl ran tearfully hid away into Hawker's Alley in blind desperation. But the busy halls of Limsa's lower decks was no place for a lone young girl like her self. Her darkened horns and reptilian tail did not help either as she stood out from the crowd, heightening her chance of recapture. But due to the neatly arranged clothing that were provided to her from the other older courtesans, Lsael managed to find her way to the upper decks. Seeking solace within one of the several arcanist libraries that dotted the city's more distinguished district. The doormen mistaking her for a scholar's or merchants daughter, she bided her time behind books as often as she could. Feigning ignorance or making up excuses for an absent parent to the custodians as she slept between the high rows of bookshelves in the library. Reading to pass the time and only leaving to find food in the busy markets below. Lurking away from sight, pickpocketing and stealing what little food she could in order to feed herself. Come nightfall, she would sneak between the library once more. Arranging the books as if she was but a sleeping child, awaiting her scholar parent's return.

...Though one day, during her daily food runs and pick-pocketing the stalls. She was caught pick-pocketing by a bus boy who happened to be a fledgling member of the rogue's guild. Reporting the incident to his master, news spread of a lone auri girl spread throughout the ear's of limsa's underground. Though it wasn't the boy's intention as he was simply trying to do right by the stall owner, Lsael soon found herself in the hands of her captors once more. Her coming punishment much more severe.

The news of a new foreign lay wasn't that fairly big of a deal. Her escape alone slowly made it's way through the local's ears. An exotic scaled young girl, hailing from a race exclusive to the far east. Throughout the multiple iterations, there were enough that often stood consistent. And despite the snail's pace of it's spread, after three long years it finally made it's way to the ears of the right man.

Not even half a day upon hearing this rumour... Another fight brakes out in the lower decks of the city, with yet another pirate group out for revenge. This time however, it had exploded into an all out brawl within the red light district. When the room to her door was broken down, and the would-be client ontop of her thrown aside, did Lsael looked hazily up to her would-be rescuers. The guilt and confusion hit the young xaela, yet no tears fell from her eyes as her step-brother finds her after so long. Now leading her father's previous crew, he had bolstered enough numbers to take revenge for the murder of his father. With victory at hand, they were now faced with a smaller problem. Drugged and beyond relief, beaten into submissions. They were left with a young girl who refused any attempts in communication. With little choices open to them, and under the split opinion of the crew. They continued to care for Lsael despite her distancing herself from them. For the most part, many took care of her out of respect for their dearly departed captain.

Early to Late Teens

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If there was something that the father and son shared, it was their charisma. And while breaking the shell which Lsael's mind hand enclosed itself was no easy task. It took almost a year before the chains of abuse and mistreatment were finally broken from her mold. Under her stepbrother's guidance along with the welcoming members of his new-found crew, they welcomed her into their motley family and slowly restored the fire within the Lsael's small beating heard.

Lsael felt safe among their company. Her brother's infectious bravado helping spark her fiery spirit as Lsael quickly learned her role within the ship. Adopting her newfound life sailing the seas and acting as a sort of child-like mascot of the crew. A mold able little-sister figure to all, they taught her how to fight, how to drink, and how to live off the bounty of the sea. Her newfound family trained her with axes and lances. Shortswords, bucklers, bows and pistols. The girl was quick on becoming a trained rogue and marksman. Hoping that what little assistance she could provide would benefit her new home in some way. Come victory or loss, it had been so long since she felt that same sense of family she had been missing since her father's death. Cherishing the crew and her newfound life, she helped spread this cheerful optimism with her new family, hoping her life sailing high seas would never end. Though met with the rare failures, The crew's eventual successes would even earn them the attention of the Admiral. Before long they were formally inducted under the Maelstrom's command. What cause for celebration that was. With their newfound recognition and allowed to keep the loot gathered from over the years. The ability to freely engage garlean supply lines with no consequence, and a steady pay for their efforts was a rarity in their line of work. To earn gold while doing piss all but train drills and fight. It was a career change the crew gladly took. Even their first assignment seemed such a simple task as well. Assigned into guard duty in an island just off of Aleport. Whilst news of war were beginning to spread across the realm, their crew wasn't even stationed at the frontlines. When a call to action had sent most of the Maelstrom diverting to the Cartenau Flats. Their crew was stationed under the acting command of Captain Symond. Tasked to safeguard one of the area's most important structures whilst it reached the final stages of it's construction. The newly built lighthouse which sat at the Isles of Umbra, Pharos Sirius...

...Lsael would never forget the sound of screaming that night. The pungent smell of burning flesh.

When the shards of dalamund descended on the realm, and the brilliant the barrage of terraflares scorching the land. One of such flares struck the side of the building. The insides of the structure engulfed a furious blaze and tainted corrupted aether, molten rock and metal. If it wasn't for her being with a handful of the crew patrolling the shoreline, they surely would have perished along with the others, who stood guard and slept within Pharos Sirius' walls.

The shockwave the of terraflare flung the Xaela and the other Maelstrom soldiers some fulms back. The agonizing screams of those burning alive echoed like a kettle from within the lighthouse. Her fellow crew mates had to pin the Xaela down to prevent her from running into the inferno, prying the red-hot stones which blocked the entrance with her bare hands. Crying desperately for her brother's response and the lives of her crew and family whom burned within. With the heat radiating so intensely, her head ringing from the blast, and the burns and bruises weakening her resolve. Lsael could only scream and squirm as the surviving maelstrom carried the young woman away. The pain of her loss numbed the newfound burning feeling that embedded itself in her eye. Having been blind in her right eye for most of her life, for some reason the close contact with the crystalizing corrupted aether restored her sight. Changing the hue of her iris from red to a bright yellow.

...Lsael lost consciousness not long after that, and awakened to the soft beckon of what seemed to be... a woman in her dreams... Her whispers beckoned Lsael to feel, hear, and think. But before she could even question the vague concept she woke up, still lying in the sand with the smoldering blaze of the lighthouse. The rest of the surviving Maelstrom, the remainder of the crew, had all but abandoned each other to fate, scattering like the ashes that bellowed from the lighthouse.

A lot of her memories became fuzzy after that..

With no form of support from the Maelstrom, who ever busy repairing the damage from the calamity. Lsael was alone once more, this time with no clear goal or destination. With the surviving crew scattering to find new lives for themselves, it didn't take long for the disheartened xaela to lose hope. She sold herself for what she could. Exchanging comfort for what little gil and food wasn't melted or burnt after the dreadwyrm's wake. Offering her sword arm, her body, or even both at the right price. This shameless and reckless way forced her to blindly walk a path unknown even to herself. Probably even under a drunken stupor after trying to drink her cares away, as Lsael eventually makes her way to Ul'dah. As a hopeless and abandoned lone teenager. As long as there was food to eat and what little gil left in her purse. Be it a dark street corner or under the shade of tree in the wilderness. Any form of respite would do.

Post-Calamity / Young Adult

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While the details of this incident remained unclear to her, evIen to this day. Lsael recalls one of her latest clients, who happened to be paying her to double as a guard and escort, had a lengthy and heated disagreement with the Xaela. Leaving his service along with some stolen gil, this merchant in question looked to hire a gang to take back his property and make an example of her. A bloody fight broke out, threatening to outnumber and take advantage of the wounded woman. It was moments that followed which attracted attention of a group from the gladiator's guilds. Settling the business with the would-be thugs, they were impressed with how the xaela conducted herself under such odds, and invited the girl to join their guild, much to Lsael's hesitation.

She didn't think much of her admission at first.

The sword and shield was a simple enough weapon to utilize, she thought. But Lsael soon found out a woman's consequences of underestimating a group of foes. Literally getting away by the tip of her horns, it didn't take long for her to harden her resolve in changing her reckless way of thinking. She knew then something would need to change if she were to survive. Though every menial job that came her way proved to be mentally taxing. This blind ambition to better her sword arm was the only thing that drove the young woman out of her shoddy bed each morning. Sellsword work was hard sweaty work in Ul'dah. Most often boring beyond relief and as hot as the seven hells, it payed for her food and lodging well enough. But despite the introduction of a sense of balance in her life, Lsael had always lacked a definitive goal. She often had little to look forward to. While her feats in battle and dungeon crawling began to gain momentum in correlation to her skill, the guild leader Mylla decided to take an interest into the matter. One day leading Lsael to an acquaintance of her's among within the illustrious sultansworn.

The knights in shining armor.

She recognized the status of the men in the old stories she was told as a child. But growing up in a cruel reality, the Xaela knew better than to simply continue to follow Mylla's instructions with little to no thought. It wasn't until after she had endured her trial with Jenylns did she shine in her eyes slowly came back. The trials and lessons, the victory and betrayals over those they thought could be trusted. While it unfolded before her like some queer story told to her as a child, the talks of oath keeping and brotherhoods often flew over the xaela's head. But slowly Lsael began to take these men's words by heart. And after some forgettable battle against the monetarist forces, she gazed down on her soulstone with a odd epiphany...

Until now, she had let others decide her worth... It had never occurred to take no consideration of other's opinions, and take matters into her own hands no matter what. Lead the life she wanted lead without regret for any others or for herself.

And so for the first time in 5 years, the xaela who always walked with her head lowered to the ground, finally lifts her gaze to face forward. Everything from her father's death leading up to that faithful coerthan night seemed like a passing dream, as if Lsael had awoken from a long and hazy nap. At least now, for the first time in a years, Lsael could clearly see the opportunities which have been available to her all this time. And she spared not a single moment to grasp at any and every passing opportunity that she possibly could.

7th Astral Era - Five Years Hence / Current

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With that fiery spirit restored in her hearts, she would go and master a multitude of combative crafts over the years. A quick learner, and even quicker on her feet. She found herself chasing leve after leve. The jobs serving as a source of income and practice for what ever combative art she prided herself at the time. She even found a part time job aiding as a escort-guard for the Scions. It was around this time Lsael had become more attuned to her 'Echo' ability, though still completely unbeknownst to her. But seeing as the primal gods had nothing to do with life at the time, and the echo's unwieldy aspect of activating involunatarily, she often found herself as a freelancer of sorts. Picking up odd jobs and what ever specialist jobs she qualified for. Though it paid rather well at times, she quit those jobs rather frequently. Even though her constant lust for adventure had her travelling from one side of the realm to the other, Lsael still remained very much alone. Spending vast amounts of time out in the world with nothing but the clouds and the stars above her, the clothes she could carry and the weapon on her side.

After the repetitive nature of her sellsword and mercenary work started to get to her. She felt a lull in heart, chasing what seemed to be and endless cylce of ventures she could not escape. Staring at the sky, Lsael was quick to envy the birds which soared high above her. It was around this time she had rekindled her childhood fascination with airships. Able to travel to faraway lands, off to wherever one might please. Airship journeys were always exciting for Lsael, having only been on two rides up until this point in her life. With the desire to seek adventure through her own means, the Xaela decided to work on this opportunity early. Reading as many books as possible concerning how to fly, maintain, and even build her own airship. Saving up the gil she had earned in her odd jobs. For the longest time, this had been Lsael's one and only true goal in her life and she was absolutely determined to see it through to the end. With the opening of Ishgard to outsides and the help of the Skysteel Manufactory. She took the chance and bought her own customized Manacutter. At that point, there was nothing holding her back from the beckoning skies.

Present

Now an experienced pilot by her own right. Lsael had more or less set aside her sword in exchanged for the machinist's trade as it better coincided with her new piloting career. Picking up some trade specializations and skills, she quickly got to work in improving the schematics and design of her own ship. Making it bigger, faster, and fly higher than it was originally intended. When money became tight, she used these newfound traits of her ship to her advantage, offering freight services and sometimes even smuggling goods over garlean barricades in exchange for a fair amount of gil. Though maintaining and repairing her ship remained a long and arduous task, there was nothing more satisfying than flying several hundred fulms above the clouds, and so Lsael continued her newfound trade.

Combat and Ability

As a child she grew up with her father's stories of graceful fighters doing flips and turns mid-combat. Though now, as a grown woman and competent fighter herself, she quickly realized this just wasn't feasible in full plate armor while engaged in rough terrain.

Rather, throughout her work in Ul'dah as well as her experience as a privateer at one point. Lsael has developed a minimalist style of fighting. She has combined this style of fighting while watching the mages in the thaumaturge's guild practice their "stutter stepping". Lsael's fighting style is a mix of brute force and evasion.

Her technique revolving around just 'grazing' her opponent's swings and standing her ground, or even pushing back with hits that are unavoidable. With her training as a gladiator and a steady shield, parrying and blocking followed by immediate counterattacks were a common practice. With as minimal movement as possible, constantly pressing forward in response. Lsael would deliver her counter-attacks with quick and savage efficiency.

Her high spatial awareness, combined with short skips and long dashes allows her to maintain the proper striking distance with her foe whilst allow her the ease of guessing her opponent's next move. This style proved widely successful throughout her days in the gladiator's guild and as a free paladin, and has proven it's worth to this day.

While this technique placed her in some vary dangerous positions. Her scrupulous thinking and quick reactions made sure the risk was often worth the reward, and helped set her apart early on from the rest of the fighters.

Even now, she still continues this fighting style out of habit. Even while currently favoring her machinist, when she has the advantage of ranged attacks. Lsael would much rather prefer close-quarters, allowing her to utilize the most potential from the tools under her disposal.

Abilities The Echo...? - Show text Attaining this ability during the Calamity, she received it during her close brush with death in Pharos Sirius. While it restored her eyesight on her right eye and changed it's color to a yellow similar to corrupted crystals. This ability would remain dormant much throughout her young adult life, activating involuntarily during times of great stress or when her body fears it is close to death. What her 'echo' allows her to do augment the way her 'limit break' operates. Rather than one sure-striking hard blow depending on her class, it a drawn out ability encompassing all that she has learned. Her echo allows her to switch soul crystals in mid-combat, allowing whatever form or stance she was previously to temporarily carry over to her next job crystal for a short duration. While this ability seems incredibly useful on paper, Lsael could probably only count experiencing this phenomenon on one hand. Upon attaining her Dark Knight soul crystal however, she discovers another caveat to this ability. That while she is free to change to any class she has learned, changing into her dark knight job will put up her darkside automatically, and somehow cancel the ability to change jobs mid-combat. Oddly enough using this 'echo' ability of hers turns her limbal rings from jet black to a pure white. Hence Lsael dubbing this trance-like state "Seeing White" Limitations - Like the previous mention of Lsael's darkside. She also has a few other limitations in regards to her other jobs. With the exception of her dark-knight job crystal, many of these are due to her own impulsiveness and cutting corners while rushing to learn the proper techniques. --Her Paladin skills, having grown naturally from her, is not affected in anyway. Other than her tempered will ability being stronger than most... --Her Dark Knight is unable to access 'Darkside' unless she is in her echo form. Lsael is seldom and rarely seen on this job if at all. --As a Warrior she is unable to switch between 'Defiance' or 'Deliverance' stances due to her impulsiveness. Whichever stance is based solely on her mood at the time, or may change when under a significant amount of stress. --Her Dragoon job crystal cannot access any skills requiring 'Blood of the Dragon' to due not having mastered yet. Yet she's still capable utilizing jumps and attacking with polearms. --Lsael's impatience with her Monk class has also left her unable to fully master her 'Chakra' techniques. So executing her relevant abilities and maintaining her chakra is often more trouble to her than it's worth. --Though her melee ability as a Red Mage is a certainty, having just picked it up quite recently as a hybrid skill, she it still working on it's fine details. So execution wise, she is just an average caster. --Though her technique for her Samurai arts and Iajitsu are quite solid, bad habits form especially just having picked it up as her newest Disciple of War class. Many of these bad habits stem from years as a paladin. --The last being mostly due to preference, as Lsael often does not bother utilizing her Ninjitsu's as a Ninja with the exception of Huton. Outside of the occasional Fuma Shuriken, she had picked up this job mainly to open her skills as a Rogue.

Weapons of Choice Revolver - the Revolver of the Wanderer. Courtesy of her volunteer work in the Wolves' Den, from the past having guided curious adventurers around the vicinity. This reinforced, 6 chambered, high caliber revolver remains to be her most reliable firearm. With solid stopping power and a heavy design, though hard to raise and aim, the weight eliminates the kickback of her shots, offering virtually no recoil. It's longer shape and metal underside allows her to use it to parry most conventional close ranged attacks without damaging the barrel. And due to her habits as a free paladin and her favoring close quarters combat, bullets or not, it also makes for a good clubbing. Sword and Shield - Though it has sat in a compartment in her airship gathering dust, she tends to bare these classic arms from time to time. Several years of drilled instructions and fighting has already proven her prowess with a sword and shield. If her revolver or any other firearm isn't to the task, Lsael would often kick up this old habit, as her skill with the sword and board remains her most consistent technique it terms of performance and execution. Carbine - Though a Lost Allagan Pistol by any name, this recently acquired weapon is a new favorite amongst Lsael's arsenal. Equipped with an under-barreled attachment acting powered with a overly-aspected fire crystal to power her flame thrower. Rail attachment system at the top of the barrel with a mounted hybrid holographic scope. As well as a muzzle break to boot. Though the design of said 'pistol' is nothing like the conventional small firearms the realm has created so far, the machinist within Lsael couldn't as for a better alternative. Daggers - Her misericordes are like a memory from a distant dream. The initial idea of taking up the rogue's arms was upon learning of the thievish rogues which dotted her father's old bedtime stories. Though probably the second least used approach to a conflict. She remains rather adept with knives, utilizing them on more subtle engagements. Lsael also happens to keep them on her most of the time, due to folding mechanism and ease of concealment. Pulgist - Actually quite adept without a weapon, nothing else displays her combined experiences as a Disciple of War than her CQC. Though mostly used as a last resort with no weapons available in her vicinity. This skill of hers has mostly seen it's share during drunken brawls...

Miscellaneous/IC notes

- Lsael's full name a combination of two slurred instances.

Her first name was when she was found by her stepfather, repeating after him when he said the words "Let's sail" whilst dipping in and out of consciousness. Her last name was given to her by her stepfather. Knowing that giving her his own last name would never identify the Xaela as his own flesh and blood. Instead He gave her the name "Elilswerd", meaning (Exiled/Foreign-Sword) A testament on how he first encountered the feisty young lass jumping onto a garlean soldier and stabbing him with his own knife. Due to her tomboyish personality as a child, he figured a male's naming convention fit her perfectly. Though senility and constant drinking over the years took a toll on the old Sea Wolf's speech pattern. And to the young impressionable child, the words "Elilswerd" soon became "Elswer"

- You might notice that Lsael isn't very often in her Dark Knight job. OOC, this is mainly due to my 'slightly love/absolutely hate' relationship with the job. But IC, as she is normally Lsael is actually stronger than her darkside. During her (level 50) job quest, instead of a carbon copy, the darkside had decided to take up her younger and more brash self. Almost dying to the darkside's initial onslaught, Lsael's neglectful upbringing, hatred and frustrations were enough to snap herself out of her trance and fight back. Only to fight back in a hateful fury at what was basically a copy of her younger self. She accidentally 'kills' her darkside, and will not be able to enter the stance any longer (outside of her echo). This event and sudden existential crisis is the driving force which prompts her to finally take up flying as a serious profession. Now any time she is under her echo trance/ability and requires to enter darkside, the younger version of herself appears. Each wound self-inflicted remaining permanently onto it's figure, which is probably why the xaela avoids the job altogether.

- Lsael is almost certain that she's of an othard descent, as hinted by the surge of refugees. Yet she does not identify herself as one, and find the foreigner's habits and traditions to be weird and alien-like. Lsael also had not known of any other Au Ra such as herself until the recent migrations. So when often asked which tribe she hails from, she'll repeat her father's name to the confusion of her questioner.

OOC / Author's Notes

Third official+full pass of edits, and rearrangements. Had to make sure it stayed relavent since the release of stormblood. if i were to explain where she was being shipped off to as a child, I'd probably guess Ala Mhigo?

Her name origin still needs a looking over.

Her profile could easily be modified to fit the "Warrior of Light" head cannon. As her hearing Hydaelin's voice was implied as early as the Calamity during the fall of Pharos Sirius. When the eye sight on her right eye was restored.

While in-game heights make it hard to distinguish her implied IC height. But i'm not so deperate to change to male models just to try and prove it. (I always found that a bit odd when people do that...)

Despite her cringe-worthy edgelord-esque background, Lsael grew up to be a rather docile and respectable individual given the circumstances...

A lot of her IC fighting style involves grazing and parries... though in reality, every time I see parry on my tank gear, I want to kill myself. THAT USED TO BE THE CASE, but now it's tenacity. Though I have my qualms with the stat, it suits her a lot better IC wise.

I'm fairly fond of my PotD title, "Lonely Explorer". It matches her lifestyle in-character, matches my actual playing style in-game, and it matches her initials "L.E." to boot. I don't think I'll ever wear another title at this point...

People keep asking me if the last name is a reference to Elder Scrolls. To be fair, I didn't know Elswyr was an actual province until, like a year into playing Skyrim. Originally, the OC 'Lsael' was meant to be an "illiterate orphan" type character. The last name is just the incorrect of spelling of "Else where"

I REALLY SHOULD UPDATE THESE SCREENSHOTS OF HER :d

Quick Origins Write-up: (note this is a mock-up origin, so things like dates and other specifics are left open ended for a reason. this is mostly for my sake, and actually doesn't reflect her IC-wise.)

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Born to a Xaela mother and Raen father.

Her mother, having born to the Tumet clan, failed their coming-of-age test as she was rescued from near starvation by a travelling merchant family. Knowing that her family would never accept the likes of her kind once more. She would be taken in by the merchant's family and raised amongst their own kind. Eventually serving as a ninja to a lord that ruled a village just at the outskirts of the Doman area. A Raen man, having been trained as a samurai, was quick to befriend this foreign beauty, and the two were enamoured with each other. During the early occupation of the Doman regions, their village and kin were among the first to spark the fledgling ideas of rebellion. This was quickly and savagely put down, and made as an example to the other villages. With the man presumed dead, and the woman mother taken captive, raped, and used to "breed" a new generation of fighters for the garlean empire. Upon giving birth a child, the mother stabbed the baby's right eye in an attempt to kill it. Fearing it may be the child of the one of the many men that tormented her. As the baby cried, she opens her remaining eye. Revealing a crimson red, similar to that of the woman's dead lover. It was then Lsael's mother was full of regret, crying in desperation as she true child was taken away.

Some years after, a fellow clan put together a covert a rescue effort to retrieve those under garlean captivity. Despite the Garleans knowing of the attempted rescue plan beforehand, a handful of warriors managed to break out what prisoners they could find at the cost of several lives. Lsael's mother among the the prisoners that were retrieved, and so imagine her surprise to reunite with her Lsael's father having presumed to be dead for years now. Though not in one piece, and missing an arm, he was very much alive and well. Such a joyous reunion was enough cause for celebration for the couple, but the now childless-mother could never bring herself to tell her husband about their missing firstborn child. The one she had forsaken upon birth and whom she tried to kill.

The woman swore to hold this secret to her grave, as several years later the couple decided to start a family. Blessed with another daughter. Years after this baby girl grew into a fine young lady. But the mother had grown deathly-ill. A festering sickness she had contracted all those years as a captive. And so with her dying breath, and requesting her husband be absent from the room. She tells her young daughter about her ordeals, and reveals to her the possibility of an older sister. She asks her daughter to find her missing sibling, and rescue her from the garlean's grasps if she could. Riddled with grief and regret while lying on her deathbed, the mother wished to make whatever amends she could.

Fearing that child may be fighting a war she was not meant to. The dying woman entrusts her younger daughter with her ashes and what little proof her their family heritage. Hoping that the little sister's mission would cure her sibling from the garleans grasp and return her home to the family.

(tldr: Lsael's blood parents survived and she has a little sister. She is half xaela, and half raen. her little sister is looking for her to bring her back home.)

Gallery

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Footnotes

Layout is a slightly modified version taken from Bancroft Gairn

Theme Song(s) & Inspirations: Grandma - Destruction // Song of the Ancients - Atonement

Accent/Dialect: Semi-Casual and occasionally Formal. A mix of Ul'dahn and Ishgardian when approached? Most of her tone and tendencies is taken from her books and little interactions with others. When present among other Lominsan natives however, she will revert her 'normal accent' which shows her familiarity growing up in Limsa Lominsa.

Having trouble approaching her?: While Lsael isn't the type to walk up to random strangers to strike conversation. She will openly respond when treated fairly with respect. If she's in the Quicksands or in a tavern, most likely she's drinking or about to be drunk. Her pet atomos is known to cause trouble when she isn't looking, either gobbling up something that isn't her's or biting the people who spoil it with food.

Current Arc?: After a drunken night out, She manages to pick up a stray cat by the name of Qhota. And in her drunken stupor she drags the poor miqo'te along with her antics for a memorable night out. The next morning the miqo'te decides to stick around, and even joining the pilot xaela in dumpster diving whilst they look for spare parts for her ship. A bullet to the stomach and a captured magitek reaper later, they come out with a large payroll with the auri woman offering a co-pilot job with Qhota for the days to come.