Qaratolui Noyakir

WIP - Last updated 2/08/2015

[edit] Character History Tendencies Relationships Rumors RP Hooks Related Images Links & Footnotes  Qaratolui Noyakir Gender Male/Androgyne Race Au Ra Clan Xaela Citizenship Unaffiliated Server Balmung Age 19 Occupation None Height 7'1" Alignment True Neutral Items carried Weathered quiver Tiny pouch of dirt Bandana w/ mask Relatives Jakatolui (Twin sister) Jagachinua (Father) Qorchijin (Mother) Character In-Game Brief Qaratolui Noyakir (31th Sun 6th Umbral Moon) is a reserved Au Ra who has come to Eorzea in search of a new home for his broken tribe. Shortly after reaching Gridania, he took a trip via Aetheryte to the Goblet and is now lost in the ever-arid Thanalan. Open for Walkups when: In Thanalan, wearing a masked turban Otherwise, please feel free to whisper or PM to set something up The "RP Hooks" tab can provide some ideas for RP scenarios General Appearance Qaratolui stands at about 7 fulms, 1 ilm tall and is of a rather slender build, with slight muscle. His skin is medium lavender gray, and his hair is white with dark, almost blue-black, ends. His eyes are the color of a cloudy blue sky, with blue limbal rings and black sclera. The Au Ra's face is youthful and soft despite its somewhat angular features, and has pitch dark scales along the jawline and across the bridge of his nose. Most often, his hair is long and tied back in a ponytail, with a loose fringe in the front. Jutting out on either side of his head, his horns are thick and undecorated, almost ovular with a short wide point on the top and a large, slightly curved spike on the bottom. Scales cover most of his neck and a large portion of his limbs and torso. His long tail is covered at the base with pointed spikes. Torn, undyed fabric and braided cord as well as animal hide, teeth and bones are most of what makes up Qaratolui's present attire. Though even after all the evident wear and tear the outfit has been through, it is clear to see that there was not much to it when it was new. It is a typical outfit for the tribal Au Ra, and as such seems to prioritize utility and comfort above all. The only thing on him that seems to be carefully handled is a small pouch, which is normally hanging from his neck. A weathered quiver and bow find themselves on Qaratolui's back, as well as a pair of worn daggers on his waist. A dusty wooden mask completes the outfit, hiding the boy's face from most onlookers, but still letting those who get close enough see the glimmer of his bright blue eyes. Demeanor Qaratolui may seem like a dark and brooding individual at first glance, but under his (usually literal) mask, he is probably a nervous wreck. In social situations he is quite shy, never initiating contact unless it is necessary, but anyone who can coax enough interaction out of him will find him to be a modest, sincere sort, and possibly a bit of a blabbermouth, as he is quite honest and doesn't really understand the concept of "secrets." The few people who manage to get close to him will also find him to be quite warm and empathetic. As for his sense of humour, he doesn't much have one, so jokes will usually fly way over his head. He does, however, makes sarcastic remarks to himself to try and make light of his situation. This does not mean that he understands the sarcasm of others, though. When it comes time to act, Qaratolui puts a lot of thought into everything, sometimes overthinking things to the point that it borders on paranoia. This leads to an inability to make quick decisions, which then makes adapting to new situations quite difficult for him. Despite these mixed results, he always puts an honest effort into his tasks and responsibilities. He also tries quite hard to conform to the expectations of perceived authority, but still often finds himself having a hard time fitting in. In light of the recent events which led him to Eorzea, Qaratolui's outlook is generally quite resigned. In the end, all he really wants in life is to live in peace and to find a way to contribute to something bigger than himself. Accurate descriptors: Anxious, melancholic, even-tempered, pessimistic, resigned, conscientious, honest, controlled, thoughtful, cautious, paranoid, tense, empathetic, modest, shy, sincere, down-to-earth Tribe Info The Noyakir once made their home in a vast system of caves in the northern mountains of Othard, but due to a major cave-in, its remains have begun to scatter. The cave-dwellers, once miners and crafters, fishermen and look-outs, now have only rubble and broken homes. The wanderers, once hunters and traders, now have no place to which they can return. Those who are of able-body have made their decision either to stay, to search for another home, or to join a new tribe. Google Doc (open for comments and suggestions) Show text Present day: (As far as my character knows. He was out at the time of the cave-in. If you want to RP someone who was there and add details for the cave-in, please feel free to contact me) While minor cave-ins are not rare in the Noyakir caves, there was recently a very large one which caused the death and injury of most cave-dwellers inside at the time. Many Noyakir believe the cave-in was caused by the tribe's growing proficiency with trading, given their belief that the caverns were dug by a race of giant oliphant-like beetles placed on the land by the gods to punish the elder tribes for their greed. As a result, many of the remaining Noyakir cave-dwellers would prefer to go back to the southern deserts, to rejoin the Uyagir. The wanderers, however, mostly want to rebuild and return to their established lifestyle. Each Noyakir must decide for themselves if they wish to stay, search for another suitable home or attempt to join another tribe. History: Originating from the cave-dwelling Uyagir tribe of southern Othard, the Noyakir were a hopeful group who believed their network of caves to be infinite, connected to all other caves, if only in need of a little digging. They set out for the northern range in hopes of expanding the tribe's territory by digging a straight passageway between their old home and what would become their new one. The Noyakir settled in a vast cavern among the beginnings of the northern mountains and set to work. In these new caves lay untapped veins of ore, and it wasn't long before the Noyakir realized they had stumbled upon something useful. This led the tribe to divide once again, out of necessity. Wildlife is a little more scarce in the mountains, so while most of the tribe spent their time digging away, looking for ore and hidden passageways towards the Uyagir, others would wander the steppes, trading ore and trinkets for supplies, as well as gathering and hunting all they could to sustain their brothers and sisters back home. Lifestyle: The tribe consists of two main groups, the cave-dwellers and the wanderers. Children are raised mostly in the caves and usually taught some of the local craft. When they reach the cusp of adulthood, the young are brought on a journey with the wanderers and taught how to survive, hunt and trade. Upon their return, they are allowed to choose which path they would like to pursue. The path of a wanderer is a more traditional one for the Xaela. The wanderers travel in groups, the composition and size of which will vary depending on the goal of the particular journey. Most of these journeys will take several weeks, if not months Some wanderers prefer to focus on the hunt, and thus will pack lightly and travel in small groups. Others prefer to seek out friendly tribes with whom to trade, requiring more manpower to carry goods from place to place. Due to the "earthy" nature of most of their wares, they will sometimes even bring some of the few beasts of burden in the tribe's possession with them on their journeys. On the other hand, the cave-dweller's life is relatively comfortable. While many work with pick in hand in the deepest reaches of the caves, several others spend their days making trinkets, raising young and fishing in the underground pools nearer the surface. There are even some who spend most of their time outside, hunting for mountain game and keeping watch for hostile tribes. The cave: Located near the base of the northern range of mountains in Othard, the area surrounding the cave is cool and wooded. The mouth of the cave itself was originally somewhat obscured by trees, but over time wood was required for support in new passageways, and the nearby flora has thinned somewhat. The caverns are formed mostly in marble, and, like the Uyagir, the Noyakir believe them to have been carved by giant oliphant-like beetles. The majority of the Noyakir settlement lies a little beyond the entrance, almost out of sight from the outside, if not for a faint glowing at the end of a dark passageway. While a more permanent variation of yurts used to suffice for housing in the main chambers, many cave-dwellers have chosen to dig out their own living quarters from the stone walls. There are pools of water of varying sizes throughout the caverns. In the living areas, these pools are often used for bathing. Deeper in, the pools are mostly used by fishermen, but it is not uncommon to find energetic youths playing in the water on occasion. Most of the cave is unsupported, the Noyakir trusting in the architectural integrity of the creatures they believe to have dug out the place, but the miners have learned to put up support beams when creating new passages. Personal History Othard Raised in the caves of the Noyakir tribe, Qaratolui had a rather quiet childhood. He was born on the same day as his sister Jagantolui, and each child was rather different in behavior, if not in looks. Where Qaratolui was calm, his sister was energetic. Where he was modest, she was boastful. They got into arguments often, usually ending with the young Qaratolui in tears. He loved his mother, Qorchijin, who was regularly on the watch team around the mouth of the cave. His father, Jaganchinua, however, was usually out hunting or trading for long periods of time, and held high expectations for his children which Qaratolui had a difficult time meeting. The boy spent most of his childhood following his mother around, milling about the cave pools and waterways or watching the tribe go about its business. Qaratolui's first journey out of the cave began at a rather late age compared to most, while his sister did hers quite early. He never had any intention of becoming one of the tribe's wanderers, seeing himself more content learning one of the crafts of the cave. Unfortunately, he was not able to decide which path he would take. Upon returning home from his trek, his group discovered that the cave had been destroyed, caved in on top of most everyone. He no longer had a home. Those who were left, and those who had also recently returned from their own journeys, all gathered to try and decide what would be done. For many of the healthy, it was decided that they should go and search for a new home. Qaratolui reluctantly accepted this task, not wanting to risk speaking out of line, and so his quest began. He began this journey with a group of other Noyakir tribesmates, but they soon left him behind, possibly as a joke, saying he was unfit to start a new tribe anyway. After that he wandered, somewhat lost, and found Doma, still embroiled in a rebellion against the Garleans. He was able to board one of their refugee vessels headed East, and was dropped off on one of the islands of the Rothlyt Sound, in a fishing town. Rothlyt Sound As soon as he got off the boat and walked into the small island village, he knew he was in over his head. There were no Au Ra to be seen! Thankfully, a kindly fisherman had seen enough "strange things" to accept his presence and, in exchange for some labor on his boat, prepare him for his journey on the mainland. Qaratolui managed to pick up some of the local language from the man, as well as some general knowledge of the city-states of Eorzea. He was given a parchment and ink with which he was able to draw a crude map based on come charts the fisherman had kept in his home. Eventually, Qaratolui was dropped off on the shores near the Black Shroud. The boy is eternally grateful to this salty stranger, and only wishes he had learned how to ask his name before they parted. Initial foray into the Black Shroud From the shores, Qaratolui made his way West, and his first encounter with civilization on the mainland was at Camp Tranquil. He enjoyed the lake, and decided to spend some time camping in the environs until he could discern whether or not the locals were friendly to his kind. Many adventurers came and went through the camp, and it wasn't long before he was discovered by a woman named Alexandria Miraudont. Really, it was quite embarassing, as a condor chased him out of his hiding spot while he waited for her to go by. Thankfully, she was friendly, and chased off the beast. Before long, they were seated at Buscarron's Druthers, discussing their respective reasons for being in the area. It was at this time that Qaratolui was made a part of the Exploration Operations, as their objectives aligned quite well for the boy. After this lucky encounter ended, he spent some more time in the Camp Tranquil area. He spent those days talking with the guards and camping in the trees, but was interrupted one day when a pilgrimage appeared to celebrate at a nearby boulder holding the mark of Byregot. He cautiously followed the group and listened to their stories, finding them both entertaining as well as helpful for his language learning. By the end of the event, he was almost in the crowd, and even took part in the final event. A blank canvas was marked with the symbol of Byregot during the events, and at the end, pilgrims were encouraged to paint upon it the thing they wish to create, in the spirit of the Builder. Qaratolui painted a yurt within a black circle, a new home in a new cave, before taking his leave. Next, he headed towards Gridania, hoping to find purpose, as well as a way to use the Aetheryte crystal his new company had given him to travel to the headquarters. It was a long and stormy walk, but he enjoyed the cool sensation of the rain. The only time he sought out shelter was when thunder began to fall. Along the way he spied the large Aetheryte crystals in the various settlements, and began to find them truly fascinating, but somewhat intimidating. Finally reaching Gridania, the Wood Wailers pointed him towards Mother Miounne's. His stay there was not long, as her motherly attitude made him feel ill-at-ease, but he noted her advice to seek out the Archer's Guild and the nearby Aetheryte plaza. Though he was told to touch the large crystal, the way it moved made him anxious so he decided to put it off until he could be certain it was safe, and made his way to the Archer's Guild. There, he was accepted without difficulty into the guild and, after a few tasks and trials, was generously provided a simple tunic. It seemed that his already carrying a bow and quiver gained him favour with them. Next, he made his way back to the Aetheryte, still quite uneasy about the shining crystal. Thankfully he found the courage to ask a bystander if it was truly safe, and her explanations on how it worked set him at ease. He realized, after that, that such a crystal was actually rather beautiful, and so his anxiety was replaced with awe. It was then that he used the crystal Alexandria had given him to travel to the Goblet, to the company's headquarters. First visit to Thanalan More Recently Tendencies Likes ■ Water (liquid, ice and snow) ■ Trees ■ Caves ■ Meat (dried, spiced, etc.) ■ The sound of hushed voices ■ Birds Dislikes ■ Dry places ■ Loud noises ■ Crowds ■ Fighting ■ Danger Hobbies/Talents ■ Swimming : Qaratolui always loved the pools and lakes of his home cave and learned to swim at a young age. ■ Archery : His mother was a skilled markswoman, and made a point of teaching her young the basics of the bow. Her son Qaratolui was never very good at it, but since the cave-in he has found the resolve to practice and, hopefully someday, improve. ■ Carving : It keeps him busy when he's not sure what to do, and he enjoys seeing how it will turn out. Weaknesses/Faults ■ Socially awkward : Not having had much contact with the outside world growing up, Qaratolui never really learned how to interact with people outside his closely-knit tribe. ■ Very little sense of direction : Never having to travel has left this Au Ra finding it difficult to find his way just about anywhere. ■ Illiterate : The written word escapes Qaratolui, looking like a bunch of meaningless scribbles to him. ■ Anxious around women, particularly auri ones : Years of getting picked on by his sister and relative isolation have left him expecting all similarly shaped women to be as difficult. ■ Fears wide open spaces : Maybe it was the cave, maybe it was the forest surrounding it. Qaratolui hasn't been in open spaces much, and they make him very uncomfortable. ■ Mumbles : He is quite the soft-spoken individual, and given how unaccustomed to social interaction he is, he often speaks in a volume that is inaudible to anyone not stuck to his face. ■ Bites his lip : When he is nervous or bored, he will often bite his lower lip, sometimes to the point of slight bleeding. Relationships ❤ Crush ❤ Platonic Love ❤ Romantic Love ❤ In a relationship ● Good Standing ● Neutral Standing ● Poor Standing Those Closer ● Jakatolui Noyakir -- His twin sister, just slightly older than him as she always likes to point out. Seemingly always viewed as the better of the two in their parents' eyes, Qaratolui has always had a slight resentment of her. And of course she was always quite boisterous and loved to play pranks on her dear brother, so he was quite glad of her choice to be a Wanderer when came her first journey. He hopes she hasn't found her way to Eorzea to terrorize him some more, but perhaps she is closer than he thinks... Those Further ● Alexandria Miraudont -- Not long after Qaratolui's arrival on the mainland of Eorzea did he happen to meet this Elezen woman. She saved him from some hungry condors and soon introduced herself as Chief Explorer of the Exploration Operations. This piqued Qaratolui's interest, and it was not long before he joined her ranks. Recently she offered the boy a promotion, making him feel even more at home in the company, so far the only folks to not make him too nervous. He thinks she is a good leader. ● Floria Raine -- Though he didn't ask her name, she proved very useful in quelling his fears about Aetheryte when he needed to quick-travel to the Goblet. Thank goodness. Though he did feel pretty dizzy afterward, like she warned. ● Karyssta Talurien -- He met this fellow member of the Exploration Operatives at a meeting held at the company house. She and Qaratolui were promoted in the same day, giving him a feeling of camaraderie towards her. She seems to like laughing, and does not fear wolves. ● Uiske Dreamsong -- Another fellow member of the Exploration Operatives who he encountered at the recent meeting. She seems somewhat mysterious to Qaratolui, not talking as much as the others who were there, but nonetheless acting quite jovial. He picked up that she holds the rank of Expert in the company. Rumors ◢ Common Rumors (Easily overheard) ■ "'Nother one of them horned lizardfolk came through here the other day. Didn' really talk to anyone. What is the deal with those things?" -- Confused peddler ◢ Moderate Rumors (Moderately difficult to overhear) ■ "Didja see that man over there? Tall as a Roe, but 'e's got horns! ...And those eyes! Sends a shiver down my spine." -- Frightened Drunk ◢ Rare Rumors (Very difficult or rarely overheard) ■ "Oh, him? Yeah that's Qaratolui. Don't tell him I told ya, but he's just a big pushover." -- Flirtatious auri smith Player Character Rumors (( Feel free to add some!)) ■ "~" -- ~ ■ "~" -- ~ RP Hooks and Potential Connections General ■ Qaratolui is usually wandering around, quite lost. If you spot him in the wilds, feel free to point him in the right direction. ■ Though he can't read, he still makes a point to try and memorize any signage he sees as best he can. This may seem odd, a man just standing in front of a sign, staring at it unwaveringly. Make fun of him or help him out if you like. ■ You like caves? So does he! In fact, if he finds a mostly-uninhabited cave, he will probably stay in there for a while, so you may find him in caves quite often. ■ He's recently joined the Archer's guild, so sometimes you may be able to spot him practicing on the guild's targets. Though he'll likely be too shy to say anything, he'd love to hear any pointers you may have. ■ Wearing a mask quite often, Qaratolui may seem suspicious or mysterious to some folks. If your character feels that way, I'd love to see how it plays out. Tribe ■ If your character has ever ventured near the northern mountains of Othard, they might have heard of or even met some of the Noyakir tribe's traders. ■ If your character was actually part of the Noyakir tribe, then you probably at least know vaguely who Qaratolui is. Or at least his family. Currently Looking For IC ■ Someone to help him read maps and signs. Being illiterate makes travelling hard. ■ People with knowledge of caves and/or the local geography. Might as well check out the local caves before trying to find a climate more like the one back home. ■ Noyakir (and even possibly Uyagir) tribesmates. Being separate from the tribe and distrustful of outsiders leads to much loneliness. OOC ■ Some friends! He's a shy boy and quite distrustful of others, so he'll probably need some "loud and in charge" type friends to break down those barriers. ■ Haters. Yep. Au Ra are suddenly popping up everywhere, and I don't expect everyone to like it. If your character's got a bone to pick with the pointy weirdos, feel free to yell at my poor little cave-boy. Related Images Screenshots Initial benchmark version Hanging around Camp Tranquil after witnessing a pilgrimage His first time in Ul'dah and he had no idea that everything costs money Artwork Eventually Footnotes Links: Lodestone Page Noyakir Tribe Linkshell Noyakir Tribe Google Doc Directory Page and RP Preferences Contact: PM on the HRC Other characters: Jakatolui Noyakir Zuzureji Kukureji Usynthuv Wintahrwyn (no wiki yet) Template: I used a combination of templates provided on the main page. Most of this combination was by Xavarian Mystrife, who used some of Bancroft Gairn's code with the tables and Unnamed Mercenary's code for the tabs. I also made some modifications of my own here and there.