Uther Skystrider
Uther Skystrider is a self-exiled Dragoon of Ishgard. He currently is wandering Gridania and the Black Shroud as an adventurer.
 Uther Skystrider
| |
 Of the Sky, From the Sky, For the Sky | |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Hyur |
| Clan | Midlander |
| Citizenship | Ishgard |
| Nameday | 15th Sun of the Fourth Umbral Moon, 1553 (24 cycles old) |
| Deity | Halone, the Fury |
Contents
Basic Info
Nicknames/Aliases: Strider
Place of Birth: Ishgard
Place of Residence: Currently resides at the Lancer's Guild in Gridania
Height: 5 fulms, 8 ilms
Weight: ~150 ponze
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Occupation: Adventurer, Lancer's Guild Instructor, Royal Ishgard Dragoon (former)
Skills: Uther is extremely skilled in the use of lances, spears, and polearms as weapons, as well as the acrobatic skills consistent with Dragoon training. He is the quintessential Dragoon right down to his core. He is also a highly capable chocobo handler and mounted combatant. His minor, non-combative skills include fishing, tracking, hunting, and conversing. He is very charismatic. He has a great knowledge of large monsters throughout Eorzea, most notably dragons. He is also literate and quite intelligent.
Flaws: Uther has no skill for magic or firearms. Being a true knight, he does not have a knack for modern weaponry or the occult.
Likes Animals, forests, danger, fishing, damsels in distress, jokes, stories, music, literature, history, daylight
Dislikes: Deserts, dragons, greed, cowardice, drunkards, zealots
History: The Skystriders
To learn about Uther, it is important to learn about his family history.
Heimdal Hammerstone
Uther's great-great-grandfather was a Highlander named Heimdal Hammerstone. Heimdal was a quarry worker and stone mason for Ala Mhigo many, many cycles ago. During his youth, Heimdal was a skilled navigator and survivalist. After losing his job, Heimdal quickly grew frustrated with the class system of Ala Mhigo and vowed to find a better life for his wife and himself so that they could start a family. Heimdal Hammerstone, along with his wife Helga and another family of Highlanders set a course out of Ala Mhigo and into the mountains. For many cycles, the family traveled West through the Northern mountains of Eorzea. Finally, the family settled in Coerthas, on the outskirts of Ishgard. There, Helga gave birth to their son, Olaf.
Olaf Oakwind
Olaf was given the surname "Oakwind" by the citizens of Ishgard. Oak, for his stature and strength, and Wind for his family's journey across the mountains. When Olaf was a young man, his father Heimdal died of disease. Olaf found work as a farmer and chocobo breeder to take care of his mother, who soon died of disease as well. Living on the outskirts of Ishgard, Olaf met a young Highlander woman who had also migrated from Ala Mhigo. The two fell in love and had three children. When the children were ages seven, five, and two, the family was attacked by a passing dragon. To protect his family, Olaf Oakwind took a lance he had bought from a Dragoon for hunting purposes, and nobly faced the dragon. Olaf slayed the dragon, though it cost him his life. In the dragon's final act of terror, it destroyed the farm, killing Olaf's entire family with the exception of his seven year old son, Skadi.
Skadi Skystrider
Skadi was taken in by a merchant family. Inspired by his father's selfless deed, Skadi grew up training with lances and halberds. At the age of only fifteen, he helped Ishgard fight off a wyvern bombardment, and was made Dragoon. His training continued and he soon was given the surname "Skystrider" for his mastery of the Dragoon style of aerial, jumping combat. Skadi Skystrider became a living legend among the citizens of Ishgard. Not only as one of very, very few Highlander Dragoons, but as an extremely cunning and powerful knight. Skadi met and married a Midlander woman and had four sons, who were all trained to be Dragoons and carry on the Skystrider name. One of the four sons was Uther's father, Skald. Skadi continued to battle dragons for Ishgard until age caught up with him and he was finally slain in battle.
Skald Skystrider
Skadi was succeeded by his four sons. The oldest son was Skald Skystrider, who continued Skadi's service to Ishgard as a royal Dragoon and servant of Halone, the Fury. Skald had a rocky start, being shunned by other Hyur as a "half-breed" between Midlander and Highlander. Through this struggle, Skald grew wise beyond his years. Equipped with a righteous set of morals and the training that comes with being the son of Skadi Skystrider, Skald brought glory to the Skystrider name. It is said that he even surpassed his father in skill and cunning. Skald married Josephine Miller, a Midlander chocobo breeder and merchant. With Josephine, Skald had four children. The children, being three-quarters Midlander, were given Midlander names in hopes that they would not suffer the same prejudice that Skald had. The three sons were named Arthur, Bors, and Uther; the daughter, Gwendolyn. Skald trained all of his children to be Dragoons and carry on the family name. An old man now, Skald is retired with great honor and fortune from his cycles as a dragon slayer.
History: Uther Skystrider
Early Life
Uther Skystrider is the youngest of four children, and closest resembles a Midlander. Being neither as tall or strong as his elder siblings, Uther is very much the runt of the litter. Growing up as the son of Skald Skystrider, Uther was trained in lance combat from a very early age. By the time he was ten cycles old, Uther already felt the lance was an extension of his own body. Aside from the art of dragon slaying, Uther was trained by his mother in reading, writing, mathematics, and chocobo handling. After his hours of training every day, Uther would be taught history by his father. At the age of fifteen, when he was ready, he began accompanying his father and siblings into battle against wyverns.
Life and Romance as a Dragoon
During his first battle, Uther was injured by a wyvern's talon and was sent to be healed by the mages. While recovering, Uther met and became romantically involved with a young Elezen white mage named Igraine Jevoux. Upon healing, Uther returned to the front lines with his family. For two cycles, Uther spent his days battling dragons and having secret meetings with Igraine. When Uther was seventeen, he impregnated Igraine and they were married in secrecy. Soon, Uther was sent to Coerthas to fight with his family. Upon returning home, he learned that his wife had coated her robes in poison and allowed herself to be eaten, to protect others, from a dragon that attacked the city walls. Uther was crushed to discover the death of his wife and unborn child.
The Swelling of Dalamud
Instead of closing himself off from the world and becoming emotionally distant, Uther became more and more diligent after the passing of Igraine. He became a better Dragoon and began reading books with a passion. He allowed himself to be swallowed completely in his work. A cycle had passed and his reputation for his fierce, agility-based lance combat had grown significantly. During this time, Dalamud began to swell more and more as Uther began hearing rumors of monsters growing in size, frequency, and aggression. It wasn't long before word reached Ishgard of a united military known as the Grand Companies of Eorzea. The Grand Companies were ignored by Ishgard. It was decreed that any Dragoon who left the city gates to aid the Grand Companies would be henceforth exiled from Ishgard.
Exile
Uther Skystrider thought for weeks; weighing his guilt for not helping the outside world and his fear of being banished from his home. Staying in Ishgard was only bringing Uther pain through the memory of his lost love. The growing isolationism of the city, mixed with their zealous ignorance began to bother Uther, who saw himself as a true son of Ishgard. Finally, and with much hesitation, Uther packed his things and took up his lance and made for the borders of the city-state. Skald cautioned his son that if he truly intended to leave, he would be disinherited and forgotten by the family. Despite this warning, and a physical (as well as emotional) confrontation with his brother Arthur, Uther left to aid the rest of Eorzea.
The Past Five Cycles
Disinherited by his family, Uther Skystrider headed to, what he believed to be, the final battleground. As Uther was passing through the Black Shroud, Dalamud fell and released Bahamut. The devastation was nearly total. Uther survived, relatively unharmed, and immediately headed to Gridania to help others. Seeing the destruction, chivalry bound Uther to help rebuild the city-state. Once Gridania was rebuilt, Uther found himself without a home and without any specific goals. Because of this, he turned to adventuring. Over the past five cycles, Uther has been adventuring around Gridania and the Black Shroud under the name "Strider" (a shortened version of his surname); sometimes for gil, sometimes to fight boredom, and sometimes just to help out. For a more reliable source of income, Uther has taken up work as a part-time instructor at the Gridania Lancer's Guild where he is able to show off his skills from what feels like a lifetime ago.
Personality
Social: Uther Skystrider is a true white knight at heart. He is always willing to help out anyone who he feels truly needs it. Though he is both courteous and generous, one should not assume that he is a pushover or a goody-two-shoes. Depending on the situation, Uther will be the first to stand up for himself or crack a joke. He thoroughly enjoys stories, music, and humor. He can be exceedingly clever and witty when he puts his mind to it, and he has a great deal of charisma. While some would go as far as to say he is a natural leader, he tends to stick to supporting roles. His greatest social weaknesses are his stubborn idealism and moral naivete. He tends to see most situations in black and white.
Combat: In combat, Uther continues his white knight approach. He is valorous and brave, furious and fearsome. Uther is a seasoned fighter and will not hesitate to strike first and strike true. He will always stand up for what he believes in, even in the face of death. Unfortunately, this can be seen as headstrong and idealist, and it can sometimes put him against foes he can not always best.
Religion: Growing up in Ishgard, Uther was taught to worship Halone the Fury. This is a tradition that he continues to this day. It is worth noting, however, that he very much despises the zealous worshiping to his deity that is law in his homeland. His time in Gridania has opened Uther's eyes to other belief systems and he has great respect for all forms of worship and lack-there-of.
Speech: Uther Skystrider speaks more-or-less the same as everyone else. His few quirks consist of calling elders or authority figures "sir" and "ma'am" by habit, even when he has little or no respect for them. In social situations he has been found to talk more and more frequently as he gets to know someone. This can be confusing for some because of how much it varies. While in groups that he is unfamiliar with, he tends to be the strong and silent type, and inversely, with groups that he has known for some time he is a humorous chatterbox. He has a few Ishgardian phrases that he tends to only mutter when not paying attention to his surroundings. For example, in a dire or surprising situation, he has been known to say things such as "By the Sea of Clouds", "Great Halone!", and "Oh my spears and lances".
Appearance
Physical
Uther is approximately 5'8. He has a lithe, but strong build. His muscles are toned and lean, while not bulging so much as to hinder movement. His greatest physical asset is his agility. Using great agile movements to dodge dragon talons, jaws, and fire, he is also a master of the Dragoon jump attack. In addition to his agility, he possesses surprising strength and durability. Uther is a little less than average height for a Midlander, though he possesses the chiseled musculature of the Highlanders. His hair is brown, short-to-medium length, and generally unkempt. Uther is quite average in the face for a man of his age. His eyes are brown and could be described as neither big nor small. His nose is similar in regard to size. However, his average looks are negated by two long, but thin, scars on his face. The scars are seemingly from the same cut, though there is a break and slight change of direction between the two.
Clothing and Armor
As a wanderer and adventurer, Uther tends to wear durable clothes that he does not mind getting dirty. He usually dresses in crafting or farming clothes of drab colors such as grays, browns, greens, dull reds or blues, whites, and blacks. In his every day clothes he is somewhat partial to high collars, scarves, or neck bandannas. He also dislikes wearing headwear, though he will make exceptions when weather calls for it. (An example of this would be wearing a turban or hood in the heat of Thanalan to protect his skin.)
His armor is usually simple harnesses, doublets or chainmail. He believes his armor should protect him while hindering as little movement as possible.
Affiliations
Skald Skystrider: Uther's father. Skald is the eldest son of the legendary Skadi Skystrider. Skald is widely considered one of the greatest Dragoons of his generation. His three brothers were also Dragoons, though Skald is the only one to live long enough to retire.
Josephine Miller: Josephine is Uther's mother. She is a Midlander, much like Uther's grandmother. Josephine was a chocobo breeder and trader, and as such, had quite a bit of contact with the outside world in her youth. She is well-educated and taught Uther and his siblings how to read and write, and a great deal about the outside world.
Arthur Skystrider: Arthur is the eldest son of Skald Skystrider, being seven cycles older than Uther. He is very wise for his age and is a natural leader. He is said to be the greatest tactician of the family. He speaks rarely, though when he does his words are weighted. While Arthur is as tall as any Highlander, he has the facial features and figure of a Midlander. Arthur is Uther's role model.
Gwendolyn Skystrider: Gwendolyn is Uther's sister and the only daughter of Skald Skystrider. She is five cycles older than Uther. She very much possesses the muscle structure and rough demeanor of a Highlander, despite being three-quarters Midlander. She is blonde like her mother, whereas the rest of the family has brown hair. Initially, Skald wished her to be a chocobo breeder like her mother, but instead she opted to be a spear-maiden. She is just as skilled in the Dragoon arts as her brothers.
Bors Skystrider: Bors is Uther's older brother and the second-to-youngest son, being three cycles older than Uther. Bors is very brutish in combat. He possesses all of the physical qualities of a Highlander, though is only slightly taller than the average Midlander. Of the siblings, Uther and Bors have the closest relationship. Bors tends to pick on Uther for being shorter and skinnier than the rest of the family, while Uther usually jabs at Bors' childish state of mind. Bors holds the nickname "Berserker Bors" for his loud and head-strong combat style.
Igraine Jevoux: Igraine was an Elezen white mage and combat healer for Ishgard's Dragoons. She was two cycles older than Uther, and fell in love with him when he was brought to the infirmary to be healed after his first battle at the age of fifteen. They kept their romance a secret from both of their families, and eventually married two cycles later. She died at the age of twenty when she sacrificed herself to save others by coating her robes in poison and allowing herself to be eaten by a dragon. She had given birth just days before she died, though the child was and is to this day kept a secret from Uther.
Mordred Windborne: Mordred is the son of Igraine and Uther. At the start of A Realm Reborn Mordred is only six years old. His mother was killed the day after he was born and he has never met his father, who does not know of his existence. After his mother's death, Mordred was taken in and raised by a zealous church devoted to Halone. Throughout his life he will learn that his father is "Uther the Exiled, Traitor of Ishgard" and grow up hating him. He is one-eighth Highlander, three-eighths Midlander, one-quarter Wildwood, and one-quarter Duskwight and thus is quite peculiar looking. He resembles a tall, silver-haired Midlander with pointy ears, chiseled muscles, and slightly long arms at adulthood. Though Mordred will most likely never be mentioned in-game, he is a key antagonist in future Fan Fiction stories about the older Uther Skystrider.
Other Notes
Common Rumors
"He's not a forestborn, that's for damn sure. He showed up around five cycles ago. Didn't know a single one of us, yet he gave all he had to help us rebuild anyway. Bless that boy." - Old Midlander
"Chivalry is a rare thing these days. I swear that man is something out of a fairy tale. It's a shame he's been hanging around with those dirty adventurers." - Elezen Woman
Moderate Rumors
"He spends most of his time at the Lancer's Guild. He was already one of the best there in his first week. Think he's one of them geniuses or... something else?" - Gossipy Miqo'te
"I remember when he joined the Wood Wailers. He didn't get along with most of us. Now that I remember it, he's the one who started the brawl at the Bannock last cycle. Ha! Good times... Still though, that kid is more vigilante than guard when it comes to the Shroud. Guess that's why he was only a Wailer for a few months." - Veteran Wood Wailer
"He showed up here from the Northwest. Had nothing with him but a lance and a satchel. You know what that means as well as I do..." - Concerned Lalafell
"I was running through the Shroud on my way to Bentbranch and I got attacked by one of those Ixali guys! I was so scared! I knew I shouldn't have tried to deliver my dad's note by myself, but I really wanted to impress him, see! And oh-- where was I? Oh yeah! So this Ixali comes screaming out of the trees about to lop my stupid head off and BAM! Strider comes out of nowhere! I guess he was jumping, but it looked like he was GLIDING! With ONE HAND he completely impales that ol' bird on his lance! I was so scared! --No, I didn't cry!-- ...Yeah, he walked me home." - Lalafell Child
Rare Rumors
"Ever see him train? None of the lancers can keep up. Not with those acrobatics." - Nosey Craftsman
"He's an instructor of some kind at the Lancer's Guild. I know that for sure. What I don't know is where he goes when he isn't doing that. No adventurer organization has taken him in yet. He seems to be laying low." - Map Vendor
"I saw him praying the other night. He didn't strike me as the particularly religious type. He was praying to Halone. I heard a few names in there. Skald, Gwendolyn, and I think someone named Arthur. He also mentioned the name 'Igraine' about one hundred times. Poor kid, wonder if he's praying for his family." - Tavern Frequenter
"He has the look, the smell, the feel, of someone who's ridden the wind... And fought back the thunder." - Mysterious Elezen
Player Rumors
