Xenedra Ambreaus

Xenedra Allard
Word Weaver
Gender	Female
Race	Miqo'te
Clan	Seeker of the Sun
Citizenship	Limsa Lominsa
Age	31 (36 if time skip included)
Nameday	3rd Sun of the 3rd Astral Moon, 1544
Guardian	Azeyma, the Warden
Occupation	Treasure Hunter, Entertainer
Marital Status	Wed to Castus Allard
Pronunciation	ZehnEEdruh ALahrd (AMbrose)

Appearance

Height: 5'0"

Hair: Red. For many years, she's made a habit of straightening her hair and keeping it up in a ponytail. Lately, however, when not on the field, she's taken to leaving it down and letting it keep its natural curl.

Eyes: Her left eye is a blue-gray and her right is blue-green. As a Sun Seeker, she has slitted, cat-like pupils.

Mouth: Her often painted lips can usually be found in a mischievous smirk.

Complexion: As she spends an unnecessary amount of time on her appearance, Xenedra's skin is what she'd like to call "perfect." Her complexion is pale, but rosy.

Build: Xenedra's preferred place in battle involves the bow and song, leaving her with a lean build over all, but curves in all the right places.

Voice: As a practiced songstress and storyteller, Xenedra tends to speak with a lot of expressiveness. Meanwhile, as a practiced flirt, she tends to croon as she speaks in a lower, smooth tone that one might describe as sultry.

Style: She prefers dressier or more fashionable clothing and she goes through pains to keep her hair immaculate. Her favorite colors to wear are blue, red, black and white and she has a secret fondness for flowers and bells as accessories. She has been known to outright tell people in public that their outfits are terrible, but then also takes these people shopping to pick them out better outfits. Because of this, a number of people have turned to her for fashion advice and often.

Misc: She lacks the markings that a lot of Miqo'te sport, so if one were to ignore the obvious tail, eyes and slitted pupils, she could pass for a Hyur woman. Often she catches herself humming aloud without meaning to when at ease. If a scent won't interfere with a mission, she loves to wear perfume. Her favorites are clove and blood orange.

Personality

At any given time it's not unlikely to find Xenedra flitting about, grinning about some mischief she's making. Some of her favorite past-times include attempting to embarrass people (in a mostly good-natured fashion) and playing little (mostly harmless) jokes on the unsuspecting. Throwing people out of their comfort zone is something she just can't help but find amusing. She is a very physical person and thinks very little about the implications of physical contact. This sometimes leads to confusion on the part of "suitors," but she does attempt to be very clear about her intentions. She has been known to break hearts, but she prefers to avoid it, though she would never admit to this softer side.

Some have exasperatedly told her that she is never serious, and while this is close to the truth, it's not entirely accurate. When necessary, she can be deadly serious. Necessary usually constitutes a nasty monster in need of trouncing, a serious mission, or a treasured friend in dire straights. She may come across as fickle and shallow at times in regards to people, but when a person earns her trust she is fiercely loyal.

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Morals: For Xenedra morals are a set of rules other people follow out of guilt and for the most part, she prefers to do as she pleases. Thankfully, her whims don't usually involve screwing over people who didn't already deserve it, at least in her eyes.

Likes: Music Stories Dancing Stars Making people blush Clothes/fashion/jewelry Her chocobo, Mandorallen

Dislikes: Rain Ul'dah The Black Shroud Mismatched clothing Arrogant people Most authority figures Children

Favorites: Person: Castus Color: Blue Food: Rolanberries (Strawberries) Drink: Rolanberry Wine or Blood Oranged Rum Place: The Sea

Abilities

Adventurer:

Archery Thaumaturgy Conjury Daggers Small Sword/Rapier

Strengths: Quick and agile, Xenedra can avoid most physical trouble during combat. She keeps a cool head, making it hard to shake her focus.

Weaknesses: Though she's not a powder puff, persay, she is a petite woman who has only recently started training in close combat. If a stronger opponent gets a hold of her, she could very easily be over-powered and put out of commission.

Crafter:

Weaver Alchemist Goldsmith

Strengths: Xenedra has a not-so-secret love of fashion, so it only makes sense that she should dabble and excel in weaving.

Weaknesses: Though she loves jewelry, she finds goldsmithing tedious and hardly ever works at it.

Entertainer:

Storyteller Singer Musician Dancer

Strengths: From a young age, she was trained in music and dance, so her skills are top notch. Her great love for the fields put an extra flair in her performances.

Weaknesses: At times, Xenedra has been known to get wrapped up in her music to the exclusion of all else.

Bard's Tales

• Romancing the Moon - One version of the story of blossoming love between Oschon and Menphina Show text

We begin with Oschon, one very near and dear to many of us here. As we wander, he watches over us, but who guides his foot falls? One might argue that The Navigator is well suited to such a task, but no. Oschon creates his own path, with only the Sun and Moon to light his way.

Throughout the day he'd make his way across the land, feet pointed in whatever direction felt natural to him at the moment and now and then he'd cast an appreciative glance at lovely Azeyma. The golden goddess rarely had time to acknowledge her celestial peer though, busy as she was filling the day with radiance for the multitudes of men and women working away. As she'd pass from his view they'd exchange a brief bow and that was that. His respect for the elder sister, then fell to the younger as she took her turn lighting his path.

Gentle Menphina would follow Azeyma's blazing path across the then-blank sky, her light only a pale glow in comparison, but a comfort to Oschon after the day's bustle. Menphina, her attentions not torn by the masses like her sister, also had the time to exchange words with him. Across the spans and centuries and eons, since they all began to walk their paths, whether straight or meandering, that is precisely what the two did. Each night, as Azeyma took her leave, Menphina would hurry into the sky to meet with Oschon and they spoke about wishes and dreams, fears and desires. Oschon came to understand that blushing, luminous Menphina was very much like himself. A solitary soul wandering across her sky, guiding others, but never asking anything for herself. This struck him like a bow string snapping in hand, along with one even more startling revelation. He loved her. Quiet, giving Menphina had accomplished the impossible: she had stopped The Wanderer in his tracks.

But he didn't stay still for long. Feelings realized, Oschon set out to find the path into the sky. WHAT path into the sky, you might say, but certainly if such a thing DOES exist, OSCHON should be able to find it, right? And find it he did, in a far off mountain range amongst the ice and snow, hidden and indistinguishable to the mortal eye. But THAT is a story for another day. Establishing his footing on the unfamiliar blackness, he set out resolutely for Menphina's soft glow.

He found her with her knees curled to her chest, feeble sobs shaking her bent form. Shock stilled Oschon for the second time, before he rushed to her side and pulled her to him.

"Dear Menphina, what has happened?" he pressed gently, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze.

In her eyes he met with surprise and quickly blossoming relief.

"You had gone! Disappeared for so long and I'd feared..." the thought died on her lips as she realized he was WITH her.

"You're..!" she gasped.

"The reason I was gone. The way here is not easy to find."

His words and his smile soothed her and for a time they simply held one another.

Eventually he spoke, "I cannot stay, not forever, you know this..."

And of course he could not, the Wanderer MUST wander...

Her answer came as a forlorn little nod.

"But I will visit you again and when I'm not with you..."

Glancing around, he took in the sight of her fallen tears. With a grin, he called out the light from each tiny tear and placed them one by one into the blackness around them.

"You'll no longer be alone when I'm not with you."

With that, he took up her chin once more and kissed her for the first time. The glimmer from each tear flared to life, filling up the blank night sky and that's how the very stars came into being. Oschon created them keep lonely Menphina company. Funny that his Wanderers use them even now to guide their way~

• The Wind's Love - A shared tale of two bards singing of the Wind's love for a mortal woman. Show text

((Told in collaboration with Kyri Sagitta in a sort of back and forth. This is why the lines are divided oddly. This first belongs to Xenedra, the second to Kyri and so on.))

- Once upon a time,
- there was a lovely red haired woman
- and she loved the wide open sky.
- She loved it so very much, she wished more than anything to be a part of it. To fly with the birds, to taste from the clouds
- and dance with the stars, who must surely be the most graceful things in all creation, moving across the night as they do.
- The red headed woman danced her love of the sky and stars, many admirers said it was as if she glided on the very air itself..
- This is, of course, impossible, though some say that a spirit of the wind had also fallen for her and that this was where she got her talent.
- What was unknown to the sweet, red-headed girl is the wind itself, was falling in love with her, moving with her, caressing her every move, wishing to be united together.
- And how could she know? The wind had no voice with which to tell her.
- The wind sought a way to speak to the girl as the girl wished a way to speak to the wind. Menphina, seeing this, sought a way to unite the wind with the lovely girl.
- The moon, in her wisdom, bade the wind to write his heart upon the night sky, her domain, knowing the the girl forever had her eyes upon it.
- Mephina, wishing to unite the girl with the sky, the moon and the stars knew this could not be done without the ultimate sacrifice. To be with the wind, the woman would have to cast off the shell of her body, the greatest sacrifice of all. Could she? would she..?
- That night, the wind told her of his heart, his help in her dance and of the words of the Moon.
- The girl, her heart full of love and longing ran to the cliffs, ready to cast herself from them.

(And here our Bards disagree on how to finish the story. Kyri preferred: )

- The woman jumped from the cliff, willing to cast her body away to be with the sky and as she fell her soul was whisked away by the Wind. As they held each other, the Wind raced her to the sky, to the Moons and the stars. The woman united with her true love has now a place of great honor, as the red moon, Dalamud.

(Xenedra's rendition: )

- But as she threw herself into the arms of the Wind, he faltered. Overwhelmed as he was by her willingness to fly to him without a second thought, he also could not bear to be the reason for her mortal death. Using that power which only the wind has, he swept her back up to the cliffs and set her safely back amongst the waiting wildflowers. And though he could not hold her to waltz her along-side the stars, he aided her in her life's dance and sang to her each night using Menphina's flickering canvas.

• Between the Sea and Sky - Why sunsets and sunrises came to be. Show text

There were once two brothers who lived together, yet alone on a secret beach somewhere in La Noscea. They were identical, in all ways, except for one. One of them could talk to the fish of the deep and the other to the birds in the sky. And while you might not *think* this was a problem, it was the ONLY thing they ever argued about. The boys had to eat, after all, and what does one living in La Noscea eat? Fish. And not only did the boys eat the fish, but the birds did as well. So the fish brother found himself constantly in sorrow, watching his little friends be munched up. Eventually he chose to simply live on seaweed and whatever fruits and veggies he could gather, while the bird brother ate from the plentiful sea with his bird companions. As you might imagine, the bird brother grew tall and strong, but the fish brother remained small.

One day a Great Storm blew in over their beach while they slept and swept away their home. The bird brother blamed the fish brother for not having taken warnings from his fish friends, but the fish brother lashed back at him!

"They speak to me no longer, for you kill them and you eat them! You ruin THEIR homes and THEIR families! Maybe THIS is what we deserve! Maybe now you TOO can understand how you make them feel! Oppressed! In fear of their lives, always!"

Taken a-back, the bird brother could say nothing. He looked to his bird friends, but they would not meet his eye, full of shame as they were. The two brother went to sleep that night without having spoken further, one along the shoreline, the other near the seabird's nests.

During the night, the residents of the sea came to the fish brother, apologetic.

"We should not have done this to you, dear land brother. It is not your fault that your sibling treats us as he does and you have done what you can to avoid harming us. We ARE sorry, so we have come to you with an offer. Come with us into the depths! We will take care of you as we have been unable to do until now. You will become a brother to the sea and never shall you want."

The fish brother was silent for a very long time, turning the offer over in his head. He could go with his gentle friends and he very likely could be happy... but what of his brother? In the end, he walked to his brother's sleeping form and knelt by him.

"Dear brother," he whispered, "It has been you and I for as long as I can remember. But we have grown apart, you to your birds and I... to my fish. And so now I chose them. Please be safe."

And he turned to the birds, "You have never heard me before, never heeded my pleas, but listen now. This is my brother, the only one I have, will ever have, and I leave him in your care. I know you will not fail me in this, for you have always guarded him well before."

The birds flapped their wings and craned their necks, this way and that, unable to really speak to the fish brother, but wanting to promise that they would do as he asked. He took in their signs and he returned to the shoreline.

"I *will* go with you to the depths," he told the fish, "But I have one request. Each day, you must work with the birds to guide my brother to me, I will miss him far too much otherwise."

The fish were all too happy to oblige and the birds, true to their promise, joined them in seeking out Azeyma. She, in turn, agreed to serve the brothers as a guide, that they ought never be apart for too long. So, when Azeyma dances across the horizon where the sea meets the sky, the fish and the birds carry the brothers to their meeting. And this is why the sun lingers at the edge of the world at the beginning and end of each day.

• The Tale of Zolku Elku - A humorous tale of heroism.Show text

My story is about a hero, courageous... giving... One of OUR generation, in fact. He proves that heros are not just of legend, but men and women that sprout up all the time around us. This man goes by many names, but most know him as... Zolku... Elku... He has travelled the land, far and wide in search of those in dispair! Those in need of help! Those in need... of dinner.

This brave soul single-handedly fed 3... 4... 12... a LEGION of hungry adventurers! All on his own with only two tools: a fishing pole and a cooking fire. While he fed this STARVING legion... Which he'd led, by the way, into a safe haven from a HERD of drakes. While they feasted on his delicacies, he ventured forth from the haven, with with bow on his back, his knuckles at his side and his lance at hand. The herd fell upon him, already a-glow from anticipation at the battle they knew was to come. Spinning his lance in an ever-repeating graceful arc, he quelled the fires they belched at his advancing form. With their fires spent, the drakes lunged at our brave Zolku Elku. He took out the first 15 with one swift trust of his lance. This, of course, rendered the lance useless and he pulled his bow from his back, nocking five arrows in the same smooth motion. These he let fly and they felled five drakes *each*. For the next HOUR, Zolku shot arrow after arrow at the on-coming hoard, but of course, arrows are a finite resource... So as the remaining swarm drew in he stabbed his bow into the waiting ground and pulled a pair of shining knuckles from his hips. The day wore on and the mass of glowing scales continued to rage forward. Brave Zolku *shattered* each creature as is drew upon him, wearing down his knuckles as he went until eventually they'd worn away. Yes, our hero was punching drakes into ruin with just his bare fists. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't finished my lunch and exited the haven just in time to see Brave Zolku take down the last drake, myself. The field was absolutely COVERED in corpses.

And so, not only did Zolku save a legion of adventurers, he fed them AND supplied them with drake scale armor which he crafted with his own two hands.

• A Ballad of Oschon and Menphina - The Wanderer and the Lover resist their feelings for one another, so Azeyma, Llymlaen and Rhalgr step in. A collaboration with Kari Illderthane.Show text

Oschon
One wonders how I could have missed
The gentle guiding light she lends
And how she stands out from the rest
Amoungst the flick'ring stars she tends
At twilight, my eyes search to find
The woman ever on my mind

Menphina
Unwavering along your way
Though you may not know where it ends
Determination is your game
And through my heart, shivers it sends
Impatiently the whole day through
I wait to have a glance at you

Azeyma to Oschon
I see your eyes on my sister
And ponder the meaning behind
Those orbs so to inclined to wander
Defying their very design
To any who have vision clear
It seems your heart's been plucked, my dear

Azeyma to Menphina
Menphina, sister, don't play coy
I see that sorrow hiding there
I know what drives away your joy
There is no reason to dispair
Though stayed that man will never be
It seems his heart is fixed on thee

Llymlaen to Oschon
Your vessel rides uncertain tides
But lately have I seen your course
Turn toward where lunar maid resides
Though you resist with greatest force
It's a fool's choice you will have made
If by heart's compass you're not swayed

Llymlaen to Menphina
With softest touch you've always turned
My seas toward and from the shore
In asking nothing now you've earned
A small suggestion for your chore
If Oschon's hand you wish to take
In hesitating's your mistake

Rhalgr to Oschon
Long since have you earned trust with me
As teacher to My Daughter Strife
And though destruction is My creed
I know the value of new life
Two halves to make a whole, my friend
Beginnings come before My end

Rhalgr to Menphina
Heavy upon your mind I see
A fear that naught will come of this
But things that end in tradgedy
Must first start with a lover's kiss
It is a path you'll have to try
Lest happiness go passing by

O to others: Your words, though strong, cannot ring true
M to others: Cruel phrases only meant to tease
O to M: I cannot mean that much to you
M to O: Nor I to you, we musn't be
O to M: -But why? Eager, my heart would be
M to O: You'd stall your wanderings for me?

O: I'd stall, I'd pause, I'd stay a while
M: And swim with me in seas of sky?
O&M: If only just to see your smile
O&M: I swear it til the day I die
Others: And so it is they've heard our prayer
Others: A Wandering and Loving pair

• The Fury and the Matron - The origin story of the rivalry between Halone and Nophica Show text

There was once a farmer who lived amongst the stone and ice that is Coerthas. As most of us know, Coerthas wasn't always blanketed in white like it is now, but being that close to the Farreach and in the mountains, no less, it's never been known as a partic~ularly warm locale. And it was once much larger...

However! The farmer's fields, settled between two of the rockiest outcroppings in the whole of the region and far to the east, always grew green. Or purple or orange or red if he decided to grow eggplants or pumpkins or peppers~. Of course those in the craggy valley around him were curious, so one night a few of them snuck onto his farm and peeked in his window as he was getting ready for bed. There on the wall was a symbol. A uniform sprout in a little pile of earth. Nophica's symbol. And below the symbol and the simple shrine around it the farmer knelt, praying to the Goddess of harvests.

The other farmers were outraged! This was Coerthas! Land of cold and rocks and HALONE! How DARE one of Halone's people pray to another Goddess simply so that he might outshine them! How dare he wish for more, for prosperity above all others! Their rage firmly in heart and hand, the group of farmers waited until morning and began the perilous trip to visit The Mover of Glaciers, Halone. She was pleased to see the fires of conflict burning within them and told them that she would move against their enemy at once.

Down from her haven Halone flew, down to the sheltered little oasis of greenery. She looked with distain upon such thriving life in her frigid mountains and smote it with a gesture. The plants whithered and died immediately as the farmer watched from his tiny house in awe. Yes his livelihood was ruined, but how often does one see a Goddess? Still, his senses returned to him and he questioned his celestial visitor, "Why? Why, most loved Halone, have you brought this pain upon me?"

The Goddess whirled on the man, living up to her name of The Fury, "Why!? You call me most beloved, but you pray to another! You pray for more than what my lands give you, from *another*!"

The frightened farmer pressed on, voice wavering, "My lady, I and my family have always held you foremost in our hearts and minds, but the lands are fickle and barren. To simply live, I pray for a good harvest and Lady Nophica answers, knowing full well that we are yours only."

Halone looked down her nose at the snivling farmer, head held high, "I've had enough of your LIES, wayward mortal. Nothing, NOTHING will grow from your lands again as long as I hold reign here. May you whither and die as your plants have."

With that, she turned on her heel and was gone in a glimmer of light off frozen armor.

For a long time the farmer sat, head in hands until he heard soft footsteps approaching him. His eyes grew wide and he sucked in a gasp of surprise as Nophica, green as spring and golden as fall all at once, approached him across the fallow field. At her feet re-sprung the life that Halone had banished. She smiled warmly and spoke gently, "You have done no wrong here, sweet Farmer. It was as you said, but my peer has never been one to listen. War is in her heart, it is simply her nature."

The farmer hung his head and fretted, "But my Lady, how can I hope to win against Lady Halone. Surely my home is doomed."

The Goddess shook her head reassuringly, "Your goal and mine are one in the same. I wish to see life and bountiful harvests even in the harshest environs. I will not abandon you now. Replant your rows and trust in me."

For three days the farmer hesitated, caught between Goddesses, but on the third day he took heart and began resewing his garden. He worked hard, doing three days work in that one day, and fell asleep amongst the seed beds, drained. When he woke the next morning, he was surrounded once again by flowering plants.

"Impossible..." he murmured, looking around in wonder.

But no sooner had his spirits begun to lift, then did a hail of ice begin streaking from the heavens. Halone had come to ruin his miracle. The knives of ice tore through the plants, reducing the budding leaves and flowers to ribbons as the farmer fled to his house, attempting to avoid the same fate. The ice fell for days upon days, all over the region not only ruining his crops, but the crop of the other farmers, too.

Finally, Nophica could stand no more and moved against Halone in one burst of power. The ice showers melted and fell as harmless, healing water. The farmers watched in wonder as the sky blessed them with water for their fields.

This was the first rain that Eorzea had ever experienced.

The rain continued, a soft weeping for a land that had too long been ravaged and the earth soaked it up hungrily. All around the bewildered farmers trees sprung up, but not saplings, full *trees* already baring fruit. Bushes of berries and vines of tomatoes and fields upon fields of flowers filled in the patches between the heavy laden trees and the land was all at once no longer barren.

Halone howled to see her land changed so at the hands of Nophica, but she had been raining ice for days and she was exhausted. It was beyond her power to do anything to stop her, though after her own assault, Nophica was equally worn. The Goddesses were at a standstill and the land remained ripe.

Out of all of this grew not only the bitter rivalry that Nophica and Halone share to this very day, but also the region that we now call the Black Shroud, home to towering trees and bountiful harvests.

• Thal's Respite - One tale on how the twin Gods of commerce and death came to be Show text

Not far southwest of here, long ago, lived a pair of brothers. They were farmers, aldgoatherds specifically, and the only thing they loved more than their flock was each other.

Thanalan has never been lacking in *some* greenery, but we must admit, it can be sparse. Especially when it comes to a herd of hungry aldgoats.

So, each day when the brothers rose, they readied themselves for a journey out of the valley in which Halatali used to lie in to either the market to the northwest or to the highlands along the border of the Black Shroud.

The trip was much more perilous then, drakes and ogres wandered the area along the Burning Wall freely, but the brothers were not without their own defenses. Magic and herder's crooks were their defenses and they used them masterfully, never losing one Nanny or Billy in all their years.

However, while drakes and ogres aren't known for their strategy, people are, and on one of their routine trips to the Shroud the brother came across an obstacle they'd never met before. A clan of Miqo'te, dark and dappled as the wood itself, slunk from the trees and rose up amongst the aldgoats as if from no where.

They struck the beasts, felling three before the brothers were even aware of their presence, and another still, before the pair were able to fight back.

The battle was brief, resulting in seven dead from the flock and the rest scattered. The Miqo'te slithered back into the woods, their pray dragged along behind them, leaving only the defeated brothers.

Adding insult to injury, a harsh wind picked up and pelted them with sand.

They dragged themselves to their feet and hobbled Northward in search of shelter. It didn't take them long before they found a narrow path in the cliff face and they followed it to a cave, dim and chilling, but none-the-less sheltering.

As a unit, they sunk to the floor, exhausted, but one sunk further, more stiffly, more drained. His sibling, urged on by panic, flew to his knees at the fallen's side and at last saw the damage the raiding clan had done.

His brother was slit shoulder to hip, an ugly red gash still steadily seeping the first's life blood.

For the next several minutes, one brother tried desperately to save the other with his limited medical knowledge, only to watch him fade and die. Numbness overtook him and he simply sat and stared at the person that had meant the most to him in all the world.

Time passed, an eternity to the one left behind. Footsteps echoed softly and stopped in front of the brothers' forms, waiting patiently.

Then not so patiently, "Mortal, I haven't the time for you to wallow in your sorrows. Say your goodbyes so that I may go."

Confused, the remaining brother lifted his head to take in what his soul told him must be the visage of Nymeia.

In those days, not only was Nymeia the purveyor of all things celestial and determiner of fate, she also had to handle all the matters of the underworld. Needless to say, she was a very busy woman with very little patience.

Stunned, the brother could say nothing to the Goddess and her patience grew even thinner.

"I do not have time for this. I will return in a day's time. Prepare your brother and say your goodbyes or you will doom his soul to remain here."

And with that, she was gone.

The remaining brother did as the Goddess bid him, all the while turning her words over in his head. When she returned the next day and approached his brother, he barred her path. Her expression grew dark.

"Please, My Lady Fate, hear me out before you go. I know your time is precious, but I will be brief. It is clear to me that you barely have enough time to see to all the duties that the Heavens have placed upon your shoulders. Yesterday I lost everything precious to me in life. Let me offer my service to you. Let me take the burden of collecting and guiding soul to the underworld."

The proposition gave the Goddess pause. Her eye grew wide with recognition.

"What makes you think you're capable, mortal..?" she asked, curiosity and a little something more apparent in her voice... Hope? Excitement?

"I have been a goatherd all my life, my Lady. I have the skills to tend a flock."

She Who Knows Fate watched the goatherd for a while, saw him for what he was and nodded. "It would seem that you were made for this task, Brother. But the Heavens know you cannot follow this path alone-"

"My Lady-!"

She arched a brow at him and he was silenced.

"Another must aid you in your task for all the days to come and beyond. Who would you name?"

The brother looked solemnly at the still form at his feet. "I would name my brother."

Nymeia smiled a knowing smile and nodded. "So it shall be."

And the fallen brother was made to rise again.

The Goddess continued as the brothers held one another and wept at their unlikely reunion. "You must be an example to the people of this land, our flock, in all matters of commerce and guide them when the time comes to their final rests. As one you will be a balance in this world. I welcome you, Nald, Thal."

• Spears - A tale of Halone's loves and the war they began.Show text

Many view Halone as hard, unyielding, cold, and in many ways they are right. To truly BE war, of all things, one must be a rock amongst the flurry of emotion and turmoil the word itself invokes. Even those that stand as pillars desire love, though, and so Halone took a lover and his name was Ishgauren.

She gifted him with a spear of great strength. It was a wild thing in spirit, the body of the spear curving in waves, over and around itself in roiling indigo with a spine of red, wings of spattered fire, horns of ebony and then tipped at the lancehead with burning frost. She thought it a very fine gift, all at once alive and full of a secret passion, like her love for the man she'd taken to bed. We know this spear now as the Gáe Bulg.

The people of Halone's lover were so impressed with him, with the very idea that he could capture the heart of The Fury, that they made him their leader. From then, they called their home after Halone's lover: Ishgard.

Unfortunately for the Ishgardians, one who catches the eye of Halone is sure to have a heart full of War itself, and though he was a just ruler, Ishgauren was blind to simple diplomacy.

The Prince of Dragons had come to call at Ishgard's gates, humble and kind, despite the monstrous visage he presented to the Ishgardians. He'd come, not from the sky, but slithering on his belly, taking every respectful detail into account in his shrewdness, to ask for help.

In truth, the tale is so old now, so shrouded in blood that no one quite remembers what the dragons wanted in the first place.

Before the Prince had even finished his request, King Ishgauren spat at his feet.

"Cannot the dragons support themselves? Look at you, a great beast and you coming crawling to my people for support? You'll have none of it. My spear will not lead your charge."

He turned from the gate, but paused, turning back to the Prince of Dragons. He considered the beastly monarch for a moment, then hurled the Gáe Bulg, catching the Prince's wings afire. A great roar of loss and torment echoed across still-green Coerthas, bringing a chill to the air, despite the great burning wings at its heart.

"This is only what you deserve for your frivolous demands! So you have come, so you shall go, on your belly, Monster!" Ishgauren cried as the Prince took to the sky, flapping and fluttering for all he was worth for the West.

It was too late of course. Once he had landed and had his wings tended to, they were mere shadows of the great eclipses they had once been. His people wept great, giant tears for their Prince, so many, so much that they created the lakes in the West past Riversmeet which we now call Ashpool and Banepool. At the center of Ashpool, the Prince came to rest.

Once the Draconian people had collected their mutual sorrows and tucked them bravely away, the Prince told them of Ishgauren's spear. They had heard rumors of its source and the set out straight away to find the Goddess of War.

It was easy to locate the Goddess. She stood atop a knoll, blissfully watching a pair of brothers bicker over a girl. Sometimes you just had to get back to the basics.

The Prince was upon her in a moment, pinning her form to the ground with his mass. He curled his neck, bringing his steaming nostrils close to her stoic features and he growled deep in the cavity of his chest.

And Halone wept. Not from fear, but but in joy.

In fascination.

In lust.

The creature before her was perfect, armor clad and full of a fury so intense, she shook at the feeling of it. Then she wrapped her arms around his horn'd head and kissed his furious snout. The prince was stunned into submission.

"Beautiful creature," Halone spoke then, "tell me your name, give me your love. I must have you for my own."

Stumbling for only a moment, the Prince replied, "My name is my secret, my soul and it is not for you Goddess... unless..."

Halone, like a child, sprang his trap, answering immediately, "Unless?"

"Restore my wings, Goddess, and give my the power to save my people. Give me the power to take vengeance on he who has ravage me so." And he lifted his wait from her and permitted her to stand.

She gasped at the sight of what surely must have been grand wings and tucked her chin in one resolute nod. "You shall have both in one."

Again, out of nothing, Halone wound two wild spiralling spears of passion. These two were red and yellow and all of fire and wing. These were the Gáe Buide and Gáe Derg and she entrusted them to the Prince's secret soul. All at once his wings were ablaze, but with his own fire and with Halone's.

Without waiting for another word from the Goddess, the Prince shot into the sky and toward the city that had shamed him.

The war went on for years, is still going on now, in fact, as most of you probably know. King Ishgauren fell early in the battle, his pride not allowing him to leave the frontlines. His people took his spear and his secret soul and bound them up in holy spells and they still wander the land now in one form of another. Some people call them the Azure Dragoon.

And Halone forever watches the war between her two loves, something of a blushing bride at the whirl of passion and hate between their two peoples. In fact, she was so inspired by their war, their first battle with the gifts she had bestowed, she took their likeness for her sigil: three helixing spears aloft.

Friends and Associates

• Abaigeal Causland - After a brief interview in which Abaigeal demonstrated not only her proficiency in sword dancing, but also her cheeky attitude, Xenedra hired her on the spot as a server for Tavern Soliloquy. The two have a great deal in common when it comes to what they enjoy and run the tavern in giggling tandem. Xenedra loves torturing Abaigeal when it comes to her various love interests.
• Castus Allard - Barely more than an associate prior to the fall of Dalamud, Castus suddenly became a constant fixture in Xenedra's life. After having tripped over him and rescued him from a particularly odd predicament, she found herself again and again running into the would-be ruffian. As a result, she developed a burdensome fondness for the man and eventually admitted to herself that she felt romantically toward him. Eventually the two were married and have recently celebrated their first anniversary.
• Claus Bell - A charming idiot with a penchant for showing up with wine to cheer her up. Claus has been a faithful friend both in times of need and silliness.
• D'asee Pauwee - During her stay as a member of TALE, D'asee allowed Xenedra to room with her in their HQ. Though she's NOT fond of children as a rule, D'asee's childlike tendencies grew on Xenedra and she found she didn't mind looking after and tidying up for the rambunctious girl. D'asee's presence is hands-down the thing Xenedra misses most about her time with TALE.
• Diyne Ikapine - An easy-going friend with a similar perspective on life. She's pleased to see Diyne moving on with his life and making himself happy.
• Daghbheri Himalspyr - (Dogberry) A Roegadyn ship captain she met at her tavern. She enjoys his outlooks on life and the two's conversations often end up meandering in the direction of the philosophical.
• Edward Calloway - Though Edward is much too serious at times to have any *real* fun with, he's very dependable. Over-all he seems to be a gentle, honorable sort, but his temper flares quickly in certain situations...
• Endemerrin Rosethorne - Previously her fiance and closest friend, she's now not really sure what to make of him. While she doesn't dislike him, she feels betrayed by his sudden admission that he no longer loved her when she challenged him to prove that he did.
• Jayce Lightfall - Bashful as can be, Xenedra and Jayce started out their friendship with her doing everything in her power to make sure the white ghost was constantly pink. In an odd turn of events he became fast friends with one of her other favorite targets to harass: Abai. She has high suspicions that the two have more going on than they claim.
• Kannadi Albedo - Although Kannadi is almost a complete foil to her, Xenedra thoroughly enjoys the woman's company. Kanna is good for both an intellectual discussion and a victim to embarrass. It has become a tradition for the two to dance whenever they find themselves together at a formal event. The two have come back into contact in recent times and seem to have picked up precisely where they left off.
• Miname Yaero - As the only parent figure she's ever had, she'd do quite a lot for Miname. She currently employs her mother figure as the chef at her tavern.
• Mtoto Wamoto - After the woman stepped down from her aloof Eorzean Guard Commander position, Xenedra found her to be quite personable and someone worth trusting and fighting with/for.
• Myllor Aurelion - They've had a very up and down relationship with some very high ups and very loooow downs, but she still trusts and cares a great deal for him. Myllor also kept her tavern running for the 5 years she was missing (time skip). If she questioned his devotion before, that single act has certainly swayed her opinion.
• Nylesa Tou - The half-sister of Castus and a very loyal friend. Though she's a little too serious for Xenedra's tastes sometimes, she has a fun streak a mile wide, too.
• Ophelia de Winter - When she met Ophelia, her romantic situation so closely mirrored her own previous one that she set to trying to guide the girl without even thinking about it. Though they've not known each other long, she feels fiercely protective of her, as if trying to look out for a younger version of herself.
  
• Rakka'sae Kuhn - She's quite fond of 'Sae. This is quite likely because of how much he reminds her of a certain Lalafell now passed, though he's more docile than his predecessor.
• Saitou Yoshida - A solid companion when they were both in a low spot. Truth be told, she once thought of him as just a smidge more than a friend, but his tendency to disappear into her least favorite place, the Black Shroud, put a damper on those feelings early on.
• Sebastian Taylor - Castus' half-brother by his father. He seems to be almost dangerously addicted to helping people, especially his new-found family. Overly pouty at times, but he means well.
• Sylas Peregrine - A fellow that seems to be a wandering jack of all trades. She doesn't know much about him, but he always seems to turn up someplace different whilst doing something entirely new.
• Vash Ashford - Though she doesn't trust Vash very much, if at all, she'd probably be a little sad if he died.
• Yssen Van - He has a mischievous side that matches her own, making the time she spends with Yssen always a lot of fun. The two share a number of similar outlooks of life, morals, etc., perhaps because of their unique upbringings.
• Zesiro Ghalib - It seems to her that he swings between serious and quirky at the drop of a hat bringing her endless amusement. Above all, though, she finds Zesiro reliable. having had her back on the many expeditions of their salvaging crew into the unknown.
• Zolku Elku - Once upon a time, "Cutie-pie" was like Xenedra's adoptive, if slightly incestuous, brother. Toward the end of his short, tragic life, he turned on her, betraying her in a very personal fashion. She may have been a contributing factor in finally putting the Lalafell out of his misery.

Affiliations

TALE

Soliloquy Tavern Menu

The Wanderer's Shadows

The Maelstrom (Storm Lieutenant)

History

Backstory: N/A
Aliases: Imp, Rolanberry/Strawberry, Succubus, The Red Witch, Atropos, Red, Xenedra Ambreaus, Cipher's Viper, Lady Amaranth

Rumors:

(99% added by others! Feel free to add your own, but try to keep them game related, please :).)

• "She is obsessed with looking young, she probably bathes in the blood of virgins or something to keep herself looking that way."
• "I've seen her in passing and once worked with her close. All I know is she is much stronger than she looks, though I wonder what she has gotten herself in to these suns... likely another man."
• "She's a good person at heart, but sometimes I question whether she really considers the consequences of her actions. Alas, that is the way of the young and beautiful."
• "I've seen her beau's hand come off before! He just threw it! I wonder if he has things that he can attach in its place. Do you figure that's why she fancies him?"
• "I heard it was her and a few others were the ones who killed that Lalafell what went around calling himself, "Explorer Extraordinare." What was his name? Kolku Kelku?"
• "They say that on full moons she practices ancient rituals to keep her true name hidden, for it is said that if no one knows your true name no one can have power over you."
• "I've heard that she's worked with all kinds of unsavory folk, like the infamous assassin... Lachesis."
• "Seems that e'ery time I see 'er, she's got a bottle in her hand."
• "Miss Xenedra is... expressive. A bold and forward person, to be sure."
• "I've seen her kill a qiqirn with her heal. She is not someone to mess with."
• "There is no sitting alone when lady Xenedra is about."
• "Her tavern ain't too keen on keeping a tab for when drinks get paid fer. I'm thinkin' it might be a front fer somethin' good folk should be lookin' te avoid."
• "She's always out to cause some mischief. And it's usually at the expense of either her bartender Abaigeal or one of her patrons."
• "Xenedra's a classy lady. She's incredibly generous, and a total sweetheart, but woe betide anyone who would dream of taking advantage of her."
• "She hypnotizes men. She admitted it herself."
• "So far, meeting her for the first time was pleasant. One of her companions nicknamed her as little 'imp'.... What could they mean by that?..."
• "We haven't talked much. Doesn't like giving away much about herself. But she's blunt and not afraid to tell you what she thinks. I like that."

Behind the Scenes (OOC Information)

Musical Theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LtnLVRvypw

Third Person Lyrical Theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkfkJCyqCBc

First Person Lyrical Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9txg0XicoJ0

Wanted for Interesting Roleplay: E'r'body!

More Art:

(Everyone is more than welcome to use my template, but please change the colors if you do :>. And give credit!! Template border TM Endemerrin.)