Keerith Galeo
 Keerith Tayoon (née Galeo)
| |
 Veteran Adventurer, Free Knight | |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Miqo'te |
| Clan | Keepers of the Moon |
| Citizenship | Limsa Lominsa |
| Place of Birth | La Noscea |
| Nameday | 21st Sun of the 1st Astral Moon |
| Occupation | Hunter of Bounties, 'Investigator' |
| Residence | Lavender Beds (Personal) Vath Adventurer's Guild - Lominsan Branch |
Contents
Basic Info
Keerith (pronounced Ki-rIθ) is a Miqo'te sailor who turned to a life of travel and adventure, taking up the spear to protect those in need (and earn herself some coin, of course).
Appearance
Height: 5'4
Weight: 138 ponze
Complexion: Pale
Hair: Purple
Eyes: Blue
Character History
Early Years
The Galeo family has always been one of adventurers, at least to hear Keerith's mother Arhi talk of it. Arhi herself was born in a small village in the Black Shroud, but wadnerlust and a long life of adventure lead her to the coastal village in La Noscea where she retired. Keerith never knew her father; when asked, Arhi Galeo would only say that Keerith was a daughter of the sea. Even though she had 'retired', Arhi still spent much of her time searching the Vylbrand countryside for herbs and edible fruits and vegetables to sell to ships visiting their village. She also never quite entirely put up her axe - any time something nasty menaced the area, Arhi was ready to help deal with it.
Keerith, meanwhile, grew up with the sound of the surf as a constant backdrop to her life. She was always listening to her mother's stories while they were out in the field together, or begging sailors for a story or two when they stayed in the village inn - when the sailor's weren't busy, at least. As happy as she was to help her mother, Keerith quickly grew restless with village life, and as soon as she was old enough the girl set sail with a Lominsan trader.
In fine Lominsan tradition, the crew of the Azure Raptor sailed the Rhotano sea and engaged in "asymmetric mercantile exchanges" with other seagoing traders - especially the Garleans, who had occupied Ala Mhigo a few years prior. The young Galeo girl started out on board as a deckhand and galley maid; over time she learned the tools of the trade - axe and spear, dagger and musket - and put her own skills to work assisting the ship's carpenter, making full sailor after her first year with the crew.
Death of a Merchant
The years were idyllic for young Keerith, weeks passing out at sea, starlit nights punctuated by exhilarating battles, and surrounded by the camaraderie of a crew that considered itself a family. Unfortunately however, those years were bound to end. With the Empire solidifying its grasp on Ala Mihgo, the sahagin growing more reckless and violent, and the tension in other nations causing them to guard their shipping lanes more carefully, Rhoelrkgar's Azure Raptors were living out numbered days.
The end of the Raptors came on a stormy morning in 1566, when one of their trade partners turned out to be a decoy warship packing heavy firepower. Both vessels were sunk, and nearly all of the Limsan crew perished in the fight and subsequent shipwreck; Keerith made it ashore and back to her home village, there to lick her wounds and grieve for the death of her father figure and most of her friends. Keerith's respite was short lived, however; in early 1567 her village was wiped out by Leviathan and the sahagin. Although it cost Arhi her life, the elder Galeo managed to save many of the villagers - including her daughter.
Way of the Warrior
Bereft of family and home, Keerith arrived in Limsa Lominsa proper with naught but the clothes she was wearing, her mother's axe, and a burning hatred for the rancid fishbacks that had done her wrong. Caring only for bloody vengeance, the young miqo'te enlisted with the first sellswords running Lominsan colors that would take her - the Steel Courels. By the grace of the Twelve and the skill of her new company fellows Keerith managed to survive long enough to temper her fury, turning it into a steadfast resolve to hone her strength and look after those who could not protect themselves.
Over the subsequent years, Keerith built a name for herself within her company as a fierce fighter and a resolute companion, always willing to dive into the thick of the conflict and do whatever it took to bring her allies out alive. As much as she cherished her mother's axe, she found herself gravitating more and more towards the spear, and she devoted hours every day to her training. When the Garlean 7th Legion began marching on Eorzea, hers was one of the voices that helped sway the Steel Courels to join forces with the Grand Company of Limsa Lominsa, and she pledged her spear to the war.
Breaking the Ice
Although Keerith never once regretted her part in pitting the Steel Courels against the Empire, it was a decision that weighed heavily on her as the campaign progressed - especially so after the catastrophe of the Calamity. Many of the Courels fell in the war with the 7th Legion, with two thirds of the roster being reported as either killed or missing in action following the Calamity's wake. Keerith herself politely refuses to talk about that time, or the years after; what is known, however, is that the surviving members disbanded the company, split the war chest, and went their separate ways. Having trouble coping with the loss of so many close companions, Keerith left her home land and began wandering Eorzea, taking solace in what small things she could do to improve the lives of others and taking what jobs she could to keep herself fed.
It was in 1576 that the adventuring Miqo'te arrived in Mor Dhona and Coerthas, hunting for bounties on giants and hoarhounds. Her initial reception in the north was perhaps even colder than the air in the highlands, but the pay was good and she eventually made contact with a friendly knight of House Fortemps. Her new friend helped her find a number of others who were happier to work with an outlander, and before long the frigid hell began to feel at least a little like home. Between her growing network of contacts, her aptitude for the lance, and her rising reputation as a huntress of bounties, Keerith soon found herself hunting Dravanians in the company of dragoons. From there, it was only a short step to adopting some of their ways as her own.
Personality
Flaws
• While some would call Keerith open, honest, and forthright, others may call her blunt and tactless - the miqo is used to speaking her mind and being direct with her thoughts and intentions. She can also be stubborn once she has decided on a path of action.
• Keerith has a soft spot for those she sees in need - one that has been exploited in the past. Not quite gullible, she is still a sucker for a sob story.
• She can be prone to recklessness in the face of a challenge; the thrill of the hunt, the excitement of battle, and a stubborn steadfastness lead to her losing sight of some of the finer details from time to time.
Fears
• Growing weak, especially if it's due to a crippling injury. Her strength is her pride.
• Letting down her friends or those who are depending on her.
• Losing those she cares about. Again.
Talents
• Having been through the crucible of combat and faced down many daunting challenges, Keerith has tested her resolve and held to her composure in many a tight spot and it is hard to shake her, at least while the threat of danger remains close.
• Although she has familiarity with a wide variety of weapons, Keerith is a devotee of the lance; she has spent years refining her art and honing her techniques, and her talent with the spear has seen her through many tests of skill.
• Keerith has a positive, resilient personality. She is almost always cheerful, looking on the upside of things, and keeping an eye out for the next opportunity instead of dwelling on misfortune or lamenting mistakes.
Fun Favorites
- Color: Blues.
- Food: Grilled Fish.
- Drinks: Stout Ales.
- Scent: Breeze fresh off the Rhotano after a squall.
- Place: Bronze Lake, Upper La Noscea.
- Festival: Valentione's.
Rumors and Relationships
Music Themes
Other Notes
Wanted for Interesting Roleplay
- Monster Hunters, Bounty Hunters, Trackers, Adventurers
- Other Dragoons, Lancers
- Pirates!
- People who've spent time in Ishgard
Annotations
I have proudly stolen this Template from Flynt Knoltros, who received theirs from Deirdre Ta'ea and Bancroft Gairn in ages long past, may the glory of the Template shine ever more.
