Tiergan Vashir

Tiergan Vashir
Gender	Male
Race	Miqo'te
Clan	Mixed heritage
Citizenship	Ala Mhigan refugee
Place of birth	Ala Mhigo
Age	28
Sexuality	Bisexual
Height	5 fulms 8 ilms
Nameday	1st Sun of the 6th Umbral Moon

Gladiator. Ala Mhigan. Slave.

Tiergan was seven when the Empire devastated Ala Mhigo - sparking the beginning of a life marred by violence, savage fighting pits, drugs, and chaos. His parents were slain trying to defend their home and he was separated from his fraternal twin sister, Lurial, when slavers captured him along with several other Ala Mhigan refugees fleeing from the region.

Now as an escaped gladiator-slave, Tiergan takes various jobs as a mercenary while slowly and methodically working to destroy his former-master's sprawling empire. For without facing the past - can a man truly be free?

Character

Appearance

Eyes	Hair	Skin	Body Type	Voice	Clothing	Notable Features
Frost Blue, nearly white in color.	Stark white.	Bronzed - especially from time in the Thanalan Sun	Fit, lean, and heavily muscled.	Low, deep, and sometimes rough.	Functional and simple, without flair. Slightly thicker padding and armor at his back.	A single, elaborate rune on upper half of his left pectoral. Heavy scarring all across his body - particularly at his back.

With numerous scars running across his flesh like a latticework and a body swathed in a mix of plate, chain, and leather - Tiergan looks every bit the gladiator he once was.

He is tall for a miqo'te, standing at 5 fulms 8 ilms with broad shoulders and a thick, heavily-muscled frame. His skin is a golden bronze color further deepened by time in the sun - the richness of it marred by various scars of many types. His hair is a stark white, carelessly cut and styled without much regard to appearance. One need only to glance at the male to realise Tiergan places far more value on his clothing and possessions being functional then beautiful.

The male typically maintains a rigid, quiet, but subtly aggressive posture, his frost-blue gaze fierce and cold. He rarely seems relaxed and has an air about him like a coeurl forced into a corner - tensed, angry, and his eyes fixed upon any and all potential danger.

Behavior and Personality

Around strangers, Tiergan carries himself in a calm, somewhat stoic manner, keeping his thoughts and emotions close to the vest while watching closely for the behavior of others. A lifetime of deceit, greed, and trickery has left the miqo'te wary and mistrustful of those around him, and he has difficulty being fully at peace when not alone. With friends and allies, the miqo'te has more difficulty concealing his emotions. The closer one becomes to him, the easier he is to read, transforming the merceanry from a cold, stand-offish figure to something of an open book.

Outside of combat, close contact of any kind sometimes triggers intense discomfort if the miqo'te is not expecting it. He maintains a respectful distance from others and only draws closer in a way that is obvious and offers plenty of time for the other to stop his approach if they feel threatened. Tiergan avoids speaking about his past history whenever possible, except that he was a refugee from Ala Mhigo, and tends not to pry into the history of others. Privately, Tiergan yearns for nothing more then something resembling a family or being with a group of people he can fully rely on. However, the very idea of letting down his guard and extending his trust to a large number of people makes him feel so exposed and vulnerable that he avoids doing so at all costs.

Though Tiergan believes on some level that the Twelve exist, he does not actively worship any of them save for Rhalgr, who he seems to pay respect to mainly in remembrance of the nation that had once been his home. He firmly believes everyone is in control of their own lives and can forge a different path whenever they so choose. He finds the concept of Fate abhorrent, particularly because it would mean much of his life's suffering was somehow destined.

Combat

As a gladiator, Tiergan was known for throwing himself into battle with a blade in his right hand and a steel-gauntlet in his left. He preferred close-quarters combat and liked going on the offensive right from the start, moving in fast and aggressive with the hope of leaving precious little time for his adversary to guard or parry. He pressed hard, testing his opponent's defenses until he found blood and weakness. He dressed light - armoring only certain parts of his body while keeping much of the rest exposed - though whether this was due to some sort of strategy to help him move more swiftly or because he was forced to garb himself in that manner is unclear.

In current times, the miqo'te's fighting style has shifted slightly. Though he still mainly relies on speed and aggression to carve his way to victory, the mercenary is now often seen carrying a shield and - especially when fighting alongside others - tends to engage in battles from a more cautious, defense-minded approach. He is heavily armored, the plate, chain, and leather covering up most of his body (and subsequently, most of his scars.)

Casting his shield to the side is often a sign that the miqo'te has, in a sense, shifted back to his old ways and intends to seek blood in any way he can regardless of any damage to himself.

His greatest weakness is fighting ranged combatants that are able to keep him from closing the distance. He especially loathes fighting spell-casters of any kind and often rushes to get in close as soon as possible when facing one.

Occupation, Skills, and Pastimes

Tiergan often describes himself as a mercenary, usually specifically selecting jobs geared more towards combat such as escort missions, guarding people of interest, defending towns, or participating in all out attacks against bandit camps. He avoids jobs that may bring him too close to working for members of Ul'dah's dark underbelly and outright refuses missions that force him to subjugate the poor, the innocent, or the people of Little Ala Mhigo.

Recently, the miqo'te has been taking steps to train as a Paladin, hoping to become something more then what he once was.

Likes: Quiet, peaceful places The ocean and the sound of the surf Rich, heavily-spiced food Booze Friendly spars Murdering Lanistae "Those little fluffy cakes at the Quicksand with the white powder on them." (Depending on who asks, he will deny this to his very last breath.) Soft, soothing music. Travel

Dislikes: Crowds Tight, enclosed spaces Being restrained in any fashion Illegal Fighting Pits Snow Strangers that ask too many questions Slavers and slave-owners Powders or potions that he can't identify Being pressed on details about his history Certain types of magic

Skills: Swordsmanship Hand-To-Hand Combat Throwing Weapons Tracking Identifying certain drugs and poisons

Fears: Allowing anyone to see or touch his exposed back. Returning to his old life as a slave. Being hunted for the rest of his life. Being unable to kill his former-master. Endangering his family or his allies.

Relationships

Family

Tiergan was born into a life of poverty. However, most of his memories of that time were happy ones due to his parents shielding their children from the insanity and chaos caused by Ala Mhigo's King of Ruin.

Father: V'Rahn Nunh (deceased) - Seeker of the Sun - Formerly a Tia that had grown tired with his life in his tribe. He left to forge a path of his own and ended up in Ala Mhigo where he met his mate, Siha. He took on the last name 'Nunh' after his children were born as a cheeky way of showing he now had a 'tribe'.

Mother: Siha Ashir (deceased) - Keeper of the Moon - Similarly to V'Rahn, Siha had left her tribe to experience the world outside of the usual traditions of Moon Keeper life and ended up in Ala Mhigo where she met and settled with her mate. They were both slain attempting to protect their children in the midst of the rebellion and the Garlean advance on Ala Mhigo.

Aunt: V'ira Tarja (deceased) - Seeker of the Sun - V'Rahn's fiery sister. She left their tribe alongside V'Rahn, eager to experience the world outside of its confines, and traveled with him to Ala Mhigo.

Uncle: C'aseen the Poet (deceased) - Seeker of the Sun - A monk in the ranks of the Fists of Rhalgr who yearned for unmatched power in order to defend his way of life unopposed. He fell madly in love with V'ira and would spend nights singing ballads to her, not realising she was fighting feelings for him. Eventually they would come together and sire a red-haired boy who V'ira named Vailyx.

Twin Sister: Lurial Vashir - Both Tiergan and Lurial were given more Hyur-sounding names to help them fit in more easily amongst the mostly Hyuran population. Their last name is a combination of Siha's family name and Rahn's tribe.

Cousin: Vailyx the Swifttail (MIA) - Seeker of the Sun - As children, Vailyx, Tiergan, and Lurial were a cheerful, rambunctious trio that were constantly playing together and occasionally getting into all manner of trouble whenever Vailyx came up with a clever plan. As he was the oldest of the group, Vailyx often was protective of his younger siblings and young Tiergan looked up to Vailyx deeply, seeing him as both his best friend and role model. The young miqo'te attempted to emulate his older cousin in any way he could. Tiergan has not seen Vailyx since he was seven, and was unaware that Vailyx survived the Fall of Ala Mhigo until recently. He still holds onto the hope that Vailyx may still yet be alive.

Cousin: Caen Jabari - Seeker of the Sun - A sprightly, acrobatic youth without any memory of his past. Tiergan was initially unaware of Caen's existence as the youth was born long after Tiergan was enslaved. The former-gladiator was later overjoyed to learn that he not only had another surviving relative, but that Caen was the younger brother to Vailyx. He's is now determined to protect Caen as he believes Vailyx would and to give the boy the family Caen has been missing for five long years.

Romance

Tiergan is a man who actively avoids romance. While he shared his bed with many during his time as a slave, very few of them were individuals he could truly say he loved. Now as a free man, the overwhelming tide of sensations that come with forging such bonds are far too strong and too raw, leaving him with the strong potential to lash out in one way or another. With a history defined mainly by violence, greed, and savage cruelty, he finds it to be too much of a risk for both himself and others, and desperately wants to wait until he's better adapted to his new life before attempting to court a lover.

Recent events have only cemented his thoughts on the matter, making it all too obvious to him now that he is not yet ready emotionally to handle something as complex and maddening as love.

Player Character Relationships

♥ Romantic Interest    ♥ Sexual Desire    ♥ Platonic Love     ● Good Standing    ● Neutral Standing    ● Poor Standing    ! Recent Standing Change

Positive Standing

♥●●Zaius Rhal'seer : Rival / Enemy / Friend / Teacher / "Auggghhh. It's ...complicated." - Tiergan's relationship with Zaius is one so complex and confusing that not even Tiergan himself is sure what to call the towering onyx-skinned miqo'te at any given moment. One minute they could appear as close as lovers and in the next, Tiergan could look ready to tear out the other man's throat. It's clear the two have a great deal of history together - but Tiergan often refuses to go into detail about it.	●Striding Oak : Tiergan first met the powerful female roegadyn under bizarre circumstances and after an initial bit of mistrust and suspicion, rapidly began to respect Oak's trustworthy, forward manner and her impressive prowess in battle. Due to several similarities in lifestyle and mindset, Tiergan found it quite easy to get along with the woman and counts her amongst his friends. Though he does not often explicitly state so, he makes it quite clear with his actions - willing to leap into danger to her defense.
●Brynhilde Wulf : Though there was initially a mild degree of friction between Tiergan and Brynhilde born out of mutual mistrust, Tiergan has come to deeply respect Brynhilde and her goals, finding her to be intelligent, pragmatic, and sensitive to the plight of the poor and the exploited. He is eager to lend his sword to her endeavors and trusts her enough to call her friend.	●Faolan Woodlock : A peculiar young hyur who lives deep within the Black Shroud. Not much is known how Tiergan initially met the boy - only that he seems to try to help guide and protect the youth, while also being incredibly frustrated by the midlander's stubborn, reclusive nature. Recently their relationship has become a much more amicable one as Tiergan strives to learn the hermit's strange approach to conjury.
●Portia Bartel: A kind and gentle healer who is constantly hunted by the men of her former-mate. Tiergan came to know Portia better after she helped heal a battered and frostbitten Caen after an attempt on the young boy's life. Seeing the parallels in their situation as two individuals on the run from figures of their past, Tiergan is protective of Portia and determined to keep her from the grasp of the abusive man she escaped from.	●Niko'lai Lynxion: Tiergan and Niko'lai first officially met when the miqo'te was seven and they were both tossed within the same cell by slavers. They did not see each other again until 20 years later when Tiergan encountered Niko'lai through An'nai. Though Tiergan first regarded the older miqo'te with considerable mistrust and suspicion, they eventually became fast friends with Niko'lai quickly attempting taking the younger miqo'te under his wing and into his 'family'. Niko'lai seems to take great enjoyment in seeing Tiergan pushed out of his comfort zone and is eager to show the mercenary the world outside of Ul'dah, Thanalan, and the criminal world the former-gladiator is so deeply familiar with.
●Garrett Slater: A quiet, strong, but kind-hearted man -- Tiergan often finds Garrett at the side of his younger cousin Caen, acting as the guardian and elder-brother that Tiergan sometimes cannot be. When it comes to Caen's welfare, the two men are often in agreement on numerous topics (particularly when it comes to a man named Artorias Mason.) and Tiergan find himself more at ease leaving Caen to his own devices if he knows Garrett is somewhere close by.	●Avenio Naemig : Tiergan initially encountered this towering highlander when they were both assigned to the same escort mission. It was there that Tiergan saw the man's fierceness and prowess in battle, which eventually led Tiergan to hire out the fighter himself for missions he knew would involve brutal combat. Since then, the two have gradually become close friends and brothers-in-arms.
●Horace Rook  : Rook is a man Tiergan previously only knew by name and reputation - almost like a celebrity of sorts that someone of his low standing would never have to meet. ...At least, until the hyur came looking for him. Knowing just how vast and how deep Rook's connections run within Ul'dah, Tiergan considers it a somewhat negative thing that he has somehow fallen under the businessman's notice. The fact that Rook and Brynhilde appear to be friends is the one and only thing that gives Tiergan comfort.	●Melchar Asbrand : Though Tiergan does not know Melchar very well, he holds the old roegadyn in extremely high esteem for being Lurial's teacher and defender when his twin was a youngster. The brief encounter's he's had with Melchar has taught him that the old warrior is wise, patient, and with a rare sort of kindness that is difficult to find in recent days.

Negative Standing

●Varus Adelric Rosenthal : Tiergan's first meeting with Varus began and ended with pain and agony. The former-gladiator despises the hyur magister and goes out of his way to avoid contact with the man when possible. The fact that the magister seems intent upon harming his sister has sparked an even deeper fury, compelling Tiergan to disrupt or destroy whatever plans Varus may have for the future.

●Artorias Mason : An arrogant, destructive hyur who constantly places Tiergan's younger cousin in danger, Tiergan has grown increasingly frustrated with Mason's lack of control, insight, and consideration towards others. After Caen's life was threatened again and again through Mason's foolishness, Tiergan's rage has spiked to the point where violence is very much an option the mercenary intends to use in order to keep Artorias away.

Rumors

Common Rumors

• "That man? Ah, he's jus' a mercenary. Tends to pick jobs that mostly revolve around fightin' and beatin' the stuffing outta someone - but what mercenary doesn't these days?"
• "I see that one wandering about Little Ala Mhigo from time to time. He doesn't speak much - just arrives, drops off food, supplies, and what have you to the people there - and leaves after exchanging words with only a few select individuals."
• "Tiergan - eh? He used to be quite the successful gladiator at the Coliseum back in the day. Haven't seen him fight in a little over three years though."

Moderate Rumors

• "Oh, he seems like the calm and collected sort, sure, but hit him in the back - hard - an' he fights like a demon unleashed!"
• "Thal's balls! I used to bet on that man in the fightin' pits - the ones outside the Coliesum that the Brass Blades turn a blind eye too. Used t'create a right bloody spectacle whenever he stepped in the ring. Haven't seen him fight in some time though. Not sure what happened."
• "I think he might have a sister? She works as an information broker in Ul'dah. Don't know if they particularly like each other though - no one's ever seen them spending much time together."
• "I see that one leaving the city all the time. Sometimes it's just for a usual job or mission. Other times, he vanishes for days and sometimes comes back bloodied and bruised. He'll say he was simply on a rough job - but the look on his face says it was something much, much more sinister then that. Best not to keep close company with that one, I say."

Rare Rumors

• "Well now, in my extensive collection of reports, we've managed to learn that a white-haired male miqo'te has reportedly been slaughtering entire groups of men and women. There are only a tiny handful of witnesses mind you, and half of them may not have really seen anything at all. The Immortal Flames and Brass Blades haven't bothered looking too deeply into the killings because they're all affiliated with a criminal group deep inside the Ul'dahn Underground. And it's hard to say who it could be - there's hundreds of white-haired male miqo'te running around after all."
• "That one's a slave, or at least he used to be. I'd bet half my life-savings on it. Must've escaped too - there's no way his master would've let him run around like this. He earned his master quite a bit of money and his master never sells his slaves. They either stay with him, working for life - or he kills them off."
• "I hear a criminal lord that goes by the name 'Omen' would pay quite the pretty gil to have him brought back alive. Seems that he's been messing with the man's business for a long time now."

Player Character Rumors

• (( Feel free to add something! Just give me a heads up when you do. ))

• "Aw, yus! He's m'big cousin! But I call him m'bro cus I can. He's brave an' all. S'got a big sword too! But he thinks he can tussle wiv'is mitts better than me and that's jus' bonkers! I love 'im like crazy, but no one c'n tussle like I can!" ~Caen Jabari

History/Timeline

Childhood

Tiergan was seven when the Empire devastated Ala Mhigo. His parents were slain trying to defend their home and he was separated from his fraternal twin sister, Lurial, when slavers captured him along with several other Ala Mhigan refugees fleeing from the region.

Sold to a shrewd and wealthy merchant, Tiergan spent the next six years burrowing in mines and quarries, performing hard labour along with many other child-workers who had been bought for the same purpose. With each year that passed, the youngling grew more angry, vicious, and aggressive - making him difficult to control and risky to keep. His memories of life before the quarries were beginning to fade, but he still recalled the kind voice of his mother, the warm strength of his father, and the twin sister he'd been torn away from when the madness began.

Instead of putting the slave down and wasting an investment, the merchant eventually traveled to the Ul'dahn Black Markets and resold Tiergan as a potential gladiator slave to a secretive criminal lord known only as "Omen." The youth made his first kill not long after, when he was thrust into a room with another child of the same age and told that only one of them would be permitted to leave alive to become a gladiator.

The years that followed were a frenzied blur of harsh, rigorous training; brutal combat in illegal fighting arenas; and terrifying, nightmarish visions. Blackroot Rose leaves were used to give the youth a cruel, but lethal advantage towards the start of his 'career' and somnus was used to calm the boy afterwards, making him docile. The constant back and forth between frenzied uncontrollable violence and mind-numbing calm nearly turned the youngling into a shattered mess. However, as Tiergan grew more powerful in his own right, the use of Blackroot Rose became blessedly less frequent, eventually stopping all together.

With time, Lurial heard word of Tiergan and tracked him down. The twins found ways to meet and stay in contact, their strong sibling bond becoming unbreakable over time as they took solace in the fact the other had survived and they were not truly alone.

Adulthood

At the age of 17, Tiergan was moved into the adult slave pens. There, an unusual hierarchy was established where the strongest slave - designated as the "Alpha" - received special privileges and treatment in exchange for keeping all of the other slaves in line. The Alpha status was signified by a single red band around the upper arm and other slaves could fight the reigning Alpha with hopes of defeating them and taking their place.

Savagely clawing his way to the top, Tiergan reached Alpha status within a year. This allowed him not only the opportunity to embrace luxuries and pleasures he'd previously been denied, but it also allowed him more freedoms, occasionally offering him a glimpse of what life might have been like if he were not a slave. There were three other equally powerful contenders for the position. However, through a combination of luck and skill, the Tiergan managed to remain Alpha for three solid years until he lost the position to Zaius - a vicious, towering miqo'te with unparalleled strength and a sharp, calculating mind, who had only arrived within the pens a week before.

At first, Tiergan viewed Zaius with a great deal of resentment. After spending so much time at the top, the idea that someone could simply appear and defeat him within a week of arriving was infuriating. To make matters worse, the older, stronger male was often cruel and abrasive, mistreating Tiergan at every possible opportunity. Other slaves that had always fought Tiergan one-on-one in hopes of stealing his position, swiftly began ganging up on him in groups to exact revenge. Omen's men no longer regarded him with any measure of respect and he was denied all of the things he'd once enjoyed.

In his desperation to regain his position, Tiergan clashed with Zaius often, fighting with the other male over and over, until eventually a frenzied, tumultuous relationship developed. Gradually, the abuse Tiergan faced at the hands of others vanished as he fell under Zaius' protection. Even Omen's men hesitated to bring Tiergan any harm, his bond with Zaius swinging wildly between enemy, friend, and lover. Tiergan's emotions fell into conflict, his sense of pride making it difficult for Tiergan to see Zaius as anything other then a hated enemy or rival to be defeated... while Zaius' tendency to protect and defend him made it hard for Tiergan not to feel a little appreciation and even fondness for the older miqo'te.

It wasn't until sudden rioting erupted amongst the slaves and one of the walls to the pens exploded that Tiergan was eventually able to escape. With countless other slaves fighting each other and pouring out of the opening, Tiergan, Zaius, and many others were able to flee Omen's control. Tiergan later learned it was all orchestrated by her sister who had been planning to liberate him, but had no way of relaying the news. The gladiator-slave was finally free.

Present

Since his escape, Tiergan has become a mercenary, taking on whatever jobs he can to survive. He's also often seen around Little Ala Mhigo, delivering food and supplies to the people there. Hoping to evolve himself into something more then what he was in the past, the miqo'te jumped at the opportunity to learn the ways of Ul'dah's Sultansworn and trains rigorously to become a free paladin.

Despite Lurial's repeated offers to give him a place to stay, the former gladiator refuses, fearful of making her a target. He maintains a reasonably low profile, trying to avoid detection from Omen's men while doing everything in his power to sabotage the criminal lord's plans. His goal is to ultimately destroy his master's vast empire and eventually crush the man's throat under heel ... no matter what the cost.

Character Connections

The following characters may have the possibility of an RP link with Tiergan:

• A gladiator or anyone affiliated with the gladiator's guild - they would recognise Tiergan a fellow gladiator who was successful in the coliseum. He was known for wielding a sword and a steel, clawed gauntlet when fighting and wore a brass gorget around his neck.
• Anyone has ties to the Ul'dahn criminal underground - they might have seen Tiergan brawling it out in illegal combat pits. If they frequented them often enough or had deep enough ties, they would also know he was a gladiator-slave.
• If your character has really REALLY strong ties to the Ul'dahn criminal underground - they would know he was owned by "Omen." They would also know that Omen rarely, if ever, releases slaves and that this means Tiergan has likely escaped.
• Fellow mercenaries - they may have worked together at one point or another. Or they would recognise Tiergan as another mercenary who often took jobs that involved either violence, killing, or guarding something.
• Ala Mhigans, Ala Mhigan refugees, and people living or working in Little Ala Mhigo.
• Fellow slaves - anyone who was enslaved shortly after the Garlean Empire struck down Ala Mhigo, was a child-laborer, or was a slave may have connections to Tiergan.
• Bounty hunters.

Annotations

I completely and shamelessly ripped off of the page of Brynhilde Wulf after asking her for permission first. Because DAYUM - it was awesome looking.