Zanin Briggs

Zanin Briggs
Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.
Gender	Male
Race	Hyur
Clan	Midlander
Citizenship	Ul'dah
Place of birth	Gyr Abania
Guardian	Thaliak, the Scholar
Age	36
Nameday	21th Sun of the 4th Astral Moon (7/21)
Height	5'6"

Character

Appearance

Zanin is usually seen with his simple straw hat, green tunic, and polite smile! His clothes are kept as clean as one can while traveling but have several tough stains or patches indicating their age and consistent use. The man himself is also kept clean though he tends to let his greying hair grow out and simply hides it under his hat to keep it out of his face when working. Around his belt are many various pouches that he keeps his medicines, waterskin, and various knick-knacks in. A surgical bag is rarely far from his person while in the field. Various scars line his face and any exposed skin and his hands are calloused and rough.

Behavior

A tip of a hat or a polite bow with a smile are given to everyone he meets! Zanin endeavors to be a gentleman and tend to anyone in need of aid, medical or otherwise. Normally a cheerful smile is on his face though it is often replaced by a thoughtful expression when he is not being directly addressed.

Combat

General

When the need for a fight comes, Zanin typically readies his armor with blade and shield and guarding the front. In a sudden bought, however, he endeavors to protect with his conjury and staff if the situation cannot be easily calmed. Rarely does the man act offensively preferring heavily to only react to attacks with a solid defense.

Tendencies

Likes

• Helping others and feeling useful
• Collecting and telling stories
• Hot black tea with milk

Dislikes

• Rash action and berserking forms of combat
• Meat dishes
• Cruelty

Hobbies

• Pressing flowers as botany samples
• Science
• Reading
• Science again!
• Practicing his drumming and violin
• Inviting friends for tea

Relationships

Family

• Esmond Briggs - Eldest brother. Avid goldsmith and metallurgist. Lives in Ul'dah with wife Heather and daughter Abrienna. Former arena prize fighter and pugilist trainer. Protective businessman.

• Nathan Briggs - Third brother. Flames lancer and lover of all things fine. Resides in Ul'dah with his current wife Mary and daughter Hannah. Brash, romantic brawler.

• Vincent Briggs - Youngest brother. Painter, singer, black market dealer, thief. Whereabouts currently unknown, last seen in Limsa prison following lengthy chase and capture.

Enemies

Several former arena partners still hold grudges against Zanin for his reluctance to participate in fixed games. He is generally considered an annoying whistle blower by the Syndicate and the Brass Blades and is not on good terms with either. Old warrants for information he once held might still be in circulation.

Rumors

Common Rumors

• "There's a new free clinic in Gridania. You can spot it by the garden out front that's always got tea."
• "Doesn't he work for that Rendevous Tea House? They changed locations recently. Huge new place!"
• "Seen someone like that in the Mists a lot. Usually looking like a grease opo opo."
• "Yeah, the guy's always talked a bit off. Avoids pronouns like they're going to rob him of tea. Dunno why, he sounds like a slyph."

Moderate Rumors

• "I think I saw him studying medicine in Gridania before the war hit the Shroud."
• "Guy with a silly smile and a straw hat? Yeah, he wanders by here with potions sometimes to give away."
• "Heard those creaking sounds he makes sometimes? Probably hiding cookies somewhere. Like under his hat. I swear it moved once!"

Rare Rumors

• "Briggs? Yeah, some good arena fighters a long while back had that surname. Weren't they from Ala Mhigo?"
• "Heard he fainted or something after a good friend hugged him. Cracked his skull on the Limsa pavement, ouch!"

PC Rumors

• "Oh, Zanin, what can't I say about Zanin? Actually, what can I say? I don't want him to revoke my cookie Privileges again. I need his Walnut cookies to live!" -Niko'lai Lynxion

History/Timeline

Records prior to the Briggs family's arrival in Ul'dah are scarce but they immigrated as the Garleans invaded Gyr Abania. Zanin's teenage years were spent growing up on the streets of Ul'dah to a family of now arena fighters, the second child of two much larger and stronger brothers and the youngest just born. Unlike Esmond and Nathan, he preferred to avoid direct conflict if possible and had more scholarly aims including the local alchemists guild in the city. But the money was not there to earn him the education he would need, so he set foot in the arena with his siblings. He attempted to prove himself as a medic and eventually a surgeon to supplement his gladiator training and eventually became effective on his own terms on the arena floor for several years. Every gil he could spare went into books and paying for lectures from the alchemist guild but it was still not enough with the raising Syndicate prices.

In his desperation to acquire components for his own experiments Zanin took on a far more challenging fight than he could manage. But through some strange luck his overpowering opponent tripped in the arena during a complicated maneuver and impaled himself on his own blade. Zanin did not hesitate as he moved to heal the man as best as he could before the full medical team could reach him. In this act he earned the attention of the paladin order among the Sultansworn. They approached him and asked if he had considered joining them along with several other hopeful gladiators. Eager and honored by the offer, Zanin readily accepted. It meant a steady income for his martial training and medicinal studies.

Before he could fully complete his training Zanin was discharged from the Sultanate and sent rather hurriedly to travel to Gridania and study with their healers. The man had only a small amount of skill with calling the elements but he worked to compensate with his medical knowledge and alchemy to still be an effective healer among the very talented conjurers studying alongside him. He spent a good few years training there before inevitably the war with the Empire reached its peak and every ready healer and sword was called. Zanin answered the call and served in the front in the Shroud alongside the troops as a field surgeon and guard for the other healers.

In the years following the Calamity Zanin returned to Ul'dah to assist with his fellow paladin knights to help recover and tend to his brothers after the loss of their father. But his time in his former home again saw rise to old pressures and problems, so he was sent to Limsa Lominsa and started to study there next.