Ilakha Malqir

Ilakha Malqir
Biographical Information
Birth Name	Ilakha Nyyr-ijla
Guardian	Nhaama, the Dusk Mother
Birthplace	Valnain, Kingdom of Dalmasca, Othard
Born	1562
Nameday	18th Sun of the 3rd Umbral Moon
Race	Au Ra
Clan	Xaela
Tribe	Malqir
Physical Attributes
Hair	Light umber
Eyes	Golden
Height	4'8"
Equipment
Career Information
Occupation	Healer
Rank	Adept
Out-of-Character Information
Time Zone	GMT-4
Server	Mateus
Profession	Conjurer
Job	White Mage
Footnotes
Known languages include Moks sign language, Standard Xaelic, Noykin Xaelic, and conversational Common.

Biography

Prologue

Life is a game. Every move must be thought out precisely. When a mated pair of Malqir broke away from the rest of their tribe during a trade agreement to wander the One River, they hadn't anticipated the results of their move. Their son, Sali, was but seven summers when he came across a basket in the river, cradling a drenched and exhausted Xaela girl within. Unsure of her whereabouts, they took in this wild card. All they knew of her at the time was that her name was Ilakha and that she would be Sali's younger sister.

The siblings grew close, studying together to become udgan. Sali was chosen to be under specific training to compete in the upcoming kharaqiq tournament, of which determined the next khan of the tribe. Ilakha had no interest in such things, spending most of her time studying her adoptive tribe's literature. Their particular clan was known for the scrolls they carried with them throughout the Steppe. These scrolls assisted them through keeping their literary traditions alive through the recently crafted writing system of the Xaela.

When the Adarkim came, it was not the scrolls they were after. The Malqir, knowing they would be overpowered, opted for negotiation in surrendering a number of their populace. Sali, having lost the previous kharaqiq tournament, was among them, when Ilakha was only eleven. Torn for the loss of her sibling at the hands of her own tribe, Ilakha was forced to obey her parents' wishes that she'd never approach the outskirts of the Steppe alone.

The next summer, the low air pressure around the Onsal Hakair contributed to a monsoon swelling from the cooler Bay of Yanxia. The result was among one of the worst storms Ilakha had ever experienced, particularly when the Malqir migrated to the foot of the Tail Mountains to harvest from the forests there. It was late at night when it struck them, with the only available shelter nearby was that of another Malqir settlement. Seeing their plight, they graciously opened their doors. Still, the fences tightly packed their herd as even their lodgings became crammed with members of both tribes. To Ilakha, it appeared that only she had noticed the negligence of a colt that couldn't make it to the shelter in time. Frightened of the looming thunder, he had darted off into the misty wood. With a combination of compassion and rebelliousness, the young Xaela managed to escape from one of the larger yurts she was grouped in. In time, her peers had noted her absence, yet by the time they realized this, Ilakha was already deep into the fog. Though she could barely make out a yalm in front of her through the downpour of rain, she took upon her brother's teachings of finding the answer in nature. It was upon her return with the colt in tow from the wood that she was to gain her first lesson in responsibility; for mistakes and courage.

From that day onward, the colt fell into Ilakha's permanent care, now bearing the name 'Nayaga'. Regardless, she never felt satisfied with her display of resilience, hoping that her father sees what drives her forward. His lectures on her lack of maturity burrowed deep into her mind, to the point of engulfing her. Now, she didn't even care for her image. She wanted to let Nayaga know that she'd never fail him; that was her responsibility. All of his equipment, she'd made from scratch. His feed comprised of recipes she had concocted herself. She even forged a delicately prepared first-aid kit that treated Au Ra as well as horses. Soon, the shrubbery of the Steppe grew crisp and brown. Her father, Batu, rode the autumn breeze as Ilakha sat among the field, her progress of wheat gathering gradually slowing as she grew lost in thought. At this, Batu already knew Ilakha question before she could ask it; her answer was that her father saw her as perfectly capable, just as Sali was. In her father's mind, it contributed to the fact that he was taken away from them. Not so much 'not being strong enough'. Batu halted to see Ilakha's own expression. Expectedly, it was meak. When Batu continued - excessive strength can be a weakness, trying to pull the weight of other upon your shoulders, allowing your own wounds to fester - Ilakha's scarring became more visible. She couldn't hide her hurt at her mother and brother's loss anymore, and she knew it was the same for her father. She spent moons trying to map out a rehearsed declaration in her mind, even discussing her plans with her roommates on the plains. A majority of it was apologizing. Sometimes, she looked back to ponder if she spent too long simply. . . pondering.

The Azim Steppe greeted Heavensturn with three ilms of snow, which was replenished every few suns. Though Ilakha tried to reconsile during the time of new beginnings, her father became oddly distant. Abnormally frailer, at that. He overdressed indoors and only really spoke among the tribe's elders. Namely, she realized, the medical mentors. She wasn't even sure if she should have felt lucky her father confronted her first, given how he acted about his condition. Bone tumors are usually benign, he declared. Especially those in the jaw are rare. It really could be anything, he would say. They lacked sufficient funds to consult a Doman chirurgeon for an accurate diagnosis, however her father decided to turn to traditional medicine, if not conjury. Ilakha was consoled by her fellow students, stating that this was the time her father needed her the most. Nevertheless, she agreed; in the form of riding her father's horse out to the nearest Kha tradepost she could scout. To herself, she wasn't strong enough to do anything remotely productive. She needed her own codex.

Ilakha spent several suns shoveling through whatever library the Kha would give her access to. As she thumbed through the pages, nothing appeared noticably potent. Nothing of a language she could understand. Soon, it had dawned upon her, what of something that Batu could understand? The results of her search were scant, but Ilakha sought to make the most of it. Of course, if there were to be any more obstacles, it would be in pricing. Initially, the trader made a demand for her father's own steed in exchange for the aetherial tome. That was already an impossible ask, and Ilakha knew she couldn't strip her inventory bare, lest she fail to make her trip back. Albeit, there was one thing that she deemed below a necessity, even if it held great sentimental value to her; her father's quartz pendant. Still, she quickly realized it would not hold the same value to the merchant as it does to herself. Therefor, she decided to make it that way. Through an explanation of slightly altered history and otherwise pure story-telling, Ilakha managed to exchange the "haunted" trinket for the codex.

Now having acquired her much-needed tool, Ilakha made it back to the Malqir camp with ease, also taking with her Batu's reassurance that her late mother would understand her actions. As they arrived, this didn't stop Ilakha from wondering if it was truly worth it. They soon discovered that Ilakha's father was now bedridden, brought down by the strenuous task of searching for his adopted daughter. Rushing to his side, Ilakha had even offered the codex in her possession as an apology before she worked to return his lost energy. With what he had left, he shared his thoughts to Ilakha. If only he had given Ilakha more opportunities to explore her true heritage, wherever it was, he said. He felt he held her back, and only further failed her as he couldn't even live on to see her reach adulthood. Ilakha vehemently signed back; he alone rescued her and cared for her after the Adarkim's assault. He protected her, knowing other tribes may have violently rejected her, if not spirit her away into a horrid life. He did what he could - what anyone could have. He needn't have taken her in or even still considered her his child. He still taught her his language and his arts. There was no way she could truly repay him for that. However, he reassured her, there is. She had lived her life with unconditional respect for all living things. Regardless of what kind of people her true parents were, she only need to keep her passion alive. Ilakha only protested in that he, his wife, and their son were her true family - those were words he was content enough to depart Hydaelyn on. To have Ilakha's voice break the silence as he drifted off, calling him 'father' - that was all he needed. There was never a need for any apologies.

The following evening, her father was cremated. His ashes were spread back onto the plain where the mustangs roam, right where foliage was starting to peak out from the snow. For Ilakha, this sight stood as a reminder to honor her father's wishes and keep his art alive; to aid whatever wounded wildlife she found in her path of self-discovery. Although, it was the world around her that captured her interest most of all.

Chapter One

South of the Azim Steppe, Doma was freed from Garlemald's grasp with the aid of allies seeking to further ward off the wretched 'ironmen'. Albeit, it was not an endeavor the Noykin saw as worth sacrificing the herd for, even after they had succeeded. Under the rule of a new khan by the time that Doma had reopened its roads, the council had decided to forge a group to pass through Kugane so that they could acquire more knowledge of the fauna native to Vylbrand, where they knew the ironmen had previously passed through. They were intent on seeing the effects, but with the realization of Ilakha's arcanist tome in tow, she was assigned to the group for her own safety until the war had tided itself over.

Vylbrand offered a variety of opportunities for Ilakha to not only expand her knowledge as an arcanist, but to initiate a true understanding of other cultures as she witnessed a great blend of Xaela and Raen together in Eorzea. The congregation of Nüür Khuudas in specific was one that caught Ilakha's eye as she sought to trade Noykin wares on the coastline to fill their larders. After roughly two moons of contemplation, Ilakha had settled that she would not be returning with the Noykin upon the third moon of their trip, staying behind so that she could grow in foreign lands. Under the decisions of both councils of the tribes, the Noykin elders had come to an agreement that Ilakha would do well to hone her skills there until the time came for her to return to the Steppe. Though she was selfless to the point of naïveté and adamant to the point of selfishness, her lessons would be enlightening, whether their nature was uplifting or even painful.

In due time, Nüür Khuudas itself would be moving back to the Azim Steppe, taking a good number of their kin with them while parting with some. Through many trials and errors, Ilakha coped with her return. She had to mingle Steppe attitudes with Eorzean ones as well as acknowledging that she had been exposed to more than a majority of steppedwellers her age had. Her greatest struggle was to find acceptance within herself of where her skills best lay; in particular, she migrated away from the role of being the field medic she had figured Sali had wanted. Upon her return, she uncovered her brother's domestic-based goals, but that among more important things; where his warring band in the Buduga was located. Deep in contemplation, she took to her steed and wolf to head for Qalli Iloh to make a perhaps final round before her Rite of Naming. She was intent on having her brother - her best friend, Sali - witness it.

Chapter Two

Ilakha's Rite of Naming came and went as she received the title of 'Boundless Land' for her vast hunger for knowledge. However, this want to know more lead her astray for a period of time, abandoning her love of theology so that she might tend to the earth. Not once did she cease to think of her brother, even developing a written system of code to carry on the winds in search of those that could help her. She hadn't expected that the reply she got back from her wayward letters were from Sali himself. Relaying locations in their secret tongue, Ilakha took a few of her closest companions to head out to the Nhaama Desert in disguise to infiltrate Sali's warband so that he may be freed. Although the deception to the warband was eventually broken, Ilakha and her friends managed to take Sali back to the Ruby Sea so that they may remain safe from the clutches of the Buduga and Oronir for a period of time.

During this trip, Ilakha caught wind of the need for healers once Doma was freed, though she was merely looking for a part-time job during the time to benefit Nüür Khuudas' tradepost. She'd found it in the Carbuncle's Cup bookstore, where she happened to meet another half of her adopted family in Eorzea; her uncle Arav and cousin Sechen, two Moks hiding within the Ugund tribe. Promptly, Ilakha sought to be hired there, where she met with the Kotodama clan and took up an interest in their circle of priests, making her reminisce of the life her late mother once lead.

A mighty and unrelenting call of adventure summoned Ilakha as she set off to find her true purpose among those of the Kotodama clan, where she would find her love of the study of faith and healing in her heart again. Even if the clan called her to war, she was unwavering in her determination to prove that passion was stronger than any other force in the realm. However, this passion would be questioned when during a fateful battle on Mount Haku in Doma, the carnelian crystal she had received from the Nhaama Desert for her carbuncle had broken. Dissuaded by her lack of skill in conjury and having to be brought to the process of finding another summoning crystal, Ilakha looked to the history of the Kotodama clan. After visiting Shenghou Temple with her spiritual mentor, Shen, she settled on using the clan's traditional fire magicks with her own. Eventually, when a traveler from the New World introduced the concept of blue magic, she sought to jump on the opportunity to learn from beasts, but not without consulting her mentors for finances. Thus, though she still picks up seasonal part-time jobs, she's dedicated herself to making profits off of becoming a shrine maiden.

Ilakha's duties would change to further test her as peace negotiations with the Garlean Empire had failed, causing them to clash with the Eorzean Alliance. Now constantly finding herself in the clan's hospital, tending to the wounded, Ilakha is intent on finding a way to shine a light in the darkness of war. With her family by her side, she sought to restore balance to the spirits of the realm by improving the quality of life for mankind, little or big as her efforts may be.

Chapter Three

The Garlean military tested many bonds, seeing many Eorzean organizations' collapse. The Kotodama clan was not exempt from this fate. Despite the arguments of many, Ilakha herself left to answer the call of the Tsaatan tribe to rescue them from a similar fate, only to find distant relatives among them. Her grandmother revealed to her the tribe's Dalmascan roots, their country long since conquered. Ilakha had recalled this, given her childhood in Valnain with ehr mother and her childhood friend, Izzie Nenelori. Though she's situated herself to hospitals in Eorzea, she desired to fulfill her ultimate want; to return home. Abandoning her blue mage Soul Crystal for her native arts, she moved to the West.

Limsa Lominsa reminded Ilakha of her coastal home of ten years; though it was under occupation for much of her life, the tropical trade port of Valnain was ever where she belonged, even if the isolation of the Steppe had altered her self image. She was aware of where she belonged at long last, though it was ever conflicting, given her discovered heritage of a Wood-warder father.

She found her history intertwined with that of her Ala Mhigan friends, intent to save them from the fate she had suffered as a child. This led her to a war against the House of the Desert Iris and Alatori Acquistions; the latter leading to a battle that rendered her deaf. They emerged victories, but Ilakha would spend many moons having to recover and cope with her permanent disability.

After her recovery, Ilakha's history of standing against the Garlean Empire brought her to Rabanastre, where she joined the Dalmascan Resistance discreetly. Though she started off as an errand girl and a medic, she wished to spend the following years supporting Dalmasca's capital that she might one day return home to Valnain, the city transformed into Garlean military headquarters.

Personality

Attitude

Though good-natured, she takes her work very seriously and sees no problem with interjecting in a situation where someone is put in harm's way. For her gentle demeanor, she harbors a strong intolerance for discrimination, especially based on emotions alone. She avidly defends her protection of beasts not regarded as "conventionally cute", for the sake of preserving their place in their respective ecosystems.

Sociability

A quiet girl under the guise of appearing bashful; she is actually quite approachable, particularly towards those affiliated with individuals outside of the Five Races. However, she's very critical of culture, regardless of tradition. Nonetheless, she goes to great lengths to understand others, beyond even lingual barriers.

Expressiveness

Typically keeping to herself, she oft-consults the opinion of her fae companion when making difficult decisions as opposed to others, determined to prove her capability. Since she was deafened, she spends a good deal of her time communicating with Xaela trade sign.

Notes & Trivia

• She is with mild nearsightedness that is easily cured with spectacles. Even at her age, her hands and legs are already covered in a variety of faint scars given to her by sundry animal patients. Her most severe to date is her inability to move the little finger of her left hand; the tendon was torn by force from the bite of a monitor lizard, as she was attempting to administer fluids.
• She is an eager follower of Nhaama, though she has in interest in Oschon the Wanderer of the Eorzean pantheon, particularly after studying His relation to faeries from imported tomes. Harbors respect and fondness for His lover, Menphina.
• Along with a bay Steppe horse, she possesses a juvenile Othardian eagle owl named Gughlug, of whom she trains for the ancient Noykin art of falconry.
• As a child, her glasses were prescribed and created by a traveling Doman opthamologist, seeking to escape Garlean occupation. She scant remembers his name, much less his face; only that he was not Au Ra.
• Ilakha is fluent in Xaela Trade Sign and has begun learning Eorzean Sign Language.
• Ilakha was rendered permanently deaf from an injury, with very little hearing available in her right horn. However, she found much solace in making Deaf friends and participating in Deaf culture.

Gallery

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  By InfiniteLeft

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  By bloodsworn-marshal on tumblr

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  Ilakha, her uncle Arav, and her cousin Sechen by Gailla

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  By aegirffxiv on tumblr

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  By Josephine Animates

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  By The Cat and Her Doodles

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  Ilakha and her brother Sali by fensa-valehart on tumblr

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  Ilakha and her brother Sali by fensa-valehart on tumblr