Renzhen Berkuul
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GENERAL INFO
STATS
gender
race
clan
citizenship
age
nameday
height
weight
guardian
affiliations
female
Elezen
Xaela
Limsa Lominsa
34
13th sun, 6th UM
Four fulm, nine ilm
220 ponze
Llymlaen
The Coral Sea
The Maelstrom
At first glance, Renzhen Berkuul seems like nothing more than exactly what she appears to be: an often outspoken, occasionally romantically idealistic, Auri woman in her mid-thirties. With conscious effort, she presents herself with the well-crafted appearance of a patriotic Lominsan and someone who pays no small attention to her physical appearance. With how often she can come across as a boisterous, excessively passionate extrovert, it can be easy to write off Renzhen as defined by seemingly shallow traits, but her superficial appearance is just that.
In the intimacy of a private setting, something she deeply values, Renzhen displays a level of deliberativeness and near-introversion her more stereotypically passionate qualities might not immediately suggest. Often to a fault, she is prone to introspective dwelling and places a great deal of importance on intimate personal relationships and, above all else, the embracing of honesty and the rejection of deceit.
While capable of considerable warmth and as someone who proclaims herself to be an idealist and a romantic (in a philosophical sense), Renzhen is no less capable of pragmatism, even to a harsh degree. The same jealous protection she wards over the people and things she values most extends to a hard heart when it comes to those who've proven incompetent or malignant to the point they cannot be trusted among the more valuable. This same penchant for hard-heartedness informs the colonialist attitude she takes towards much of Eorzea, as she believes the Thalassocracy to be far and away the most superior and modern of the Eorzean city-states and the one best-equipped, at least as a society, to combat the threats Eorzea faces from without. How this hasn't translated into hostility towards other nations is anyone's guess.
Many might know her as a Storm Captain of the Maelstrom and an outspoken proponent for the integration and assimilation of refugees from Othard, Doman Hyur and Au Ra alike, into Lominsan society. That an Au Ra would hold her rank is a cause for suspicion for some, but it is certainly tied to her candid patriotism (or borderline jingoism depending on who you ask) that has given her status as a low-level politico within the Thalassocracy.
■ Honesty
Above all else, Renzhen values honesty and lives a philosophy centred around the idea and ideal of its pursuit, dedicated to it to the point that she avoids actively deceiving others at all costs. ■ Music
Though she's largely left the bard's path in combat, she retains it in philosophy, and with that comes a love of music. Though not especially naturally gifted, she's acceptable enough with a few instruments and has a passable singing voice. ■ Writing
Believing herself partially responsible for the future of the bardic arts and a voice for the future of both her homeland and her family in it, Renzhen is a hoarder of fantastic-yet-true stories. ■ Woodworking
Renzhen is a carpenter of considerable artistic talent.. ■ Limsa Lominsa
Patriotic nearly to a fault, Renzhen believes deeply in the might and right of her homeland. She is deeply loyal to the thalassocracy, its Admiral, and the rule of law they represent. |
■ Dishonesty
Be it people causing harm by lying to others or causing harm by lying to themselves, Renzhen openly dislikes people who live their lives without at least passing regard to the value of honesty. ■ Cowardice
Renzhen will readily encourage people who can't fight for themselves to think of their own safety, but one of the easiest ways to lose her respect is to have the power to act and choose not to out of fear. ■ Selfishness
Renzhen has no problem with self-interest and a desire for personal gain, but she draws a stark line with people who live their lives at the detriment of others. ■ Pirates
Renzhen appreciates the history of piracy Limsa had to claw out of and is openly hostile to people who romanticise it and worse to those who would try to bring it back. ■ Racism
For quite a few reasons, Renzhen has little tolerance for those with little tolerance. |
■ Security
Renzhen's life has been defined by great change, much of it she feels was out of her control. For that experience, she values the feeling of control and, more specifically, the safety of her fledgling family and tribe. ■ Redemption
Renzhen walks around with her fair share of regrets for decisions made in the past. While she's emotionally balanced enough they don't bog her down, she has an inherent desire to prove to herself that she is, in fact, a truly worthwhile person. ■ Love
A passionate idealist, Renzhen's a true romantic and values love as not just the gratification of another, but an ideal truly worthy of earnest pursuit. She cares about loving and earning the love of those she cares about. ■ Self-Control
As something she once had a desperate lack of, Renzhen puts a great deal of weight on self-control and maintaining it within reason, but that doesn't mean she doesn't enjoy life. Renzhen eagerly seeks a life of... ■ Hedonism
A trait she's always had and, for a time, suffered for. Whether she's an earnest and passionate bon vivant or a demented and mentally-unwell lecher might be up for debate, but Renzhen values the chance to live her life well and share the pleasures of that life with others. |
■ Tenacious
A quality that's defined much of her later life and earned her standing in the Maelstrom. Renzhen is deliberate about when she engages in conflict, but when she does, she draws stark lines and is willing, if not always eager, to make decisions, come what consequences may. ■ Loyal
Though she tries to be at least genial with most everyone she meets, Renzhen rarely gives others the benefit of her intensely trusting loyalty. To those she does, it is an earnest bond and one that is desperately hard to break and rarely broken without dire cost. ■ Passionate
When anyone or anything manages to gain her true affections, Renzhen's overwhelming earnestness is either an incredible boon or a terribly obnoxious problem. This is especially the case with people she believes need her protection, guidance, or otherwise meddling. ■ Intelligent
Being quick-witted and well-educated makes Renzhen a strong thinker with a tendency to delve into the philosophical. On the battlefield, Renzhen is a deliberate tactician who rarely leaps into a fray without a well-formed and flexible plan. ■ Socially Deft
If nothing else and when it doesn't violate her devotion to an honest life, Renzhen is capable of practised social grace and considerable charisma or, failing that, considerable superficial charm. |
■ Prideful
For better or worse and often worse, Renzhen believes herself inherently better than most people. While she has her talents and usually keeps this fault in check, it is entirely possible for her self-righteous habits to come through and rarely do they do so in a way that inspires more confidence than aggravation in others. ■ Meddling
While it might be born out of caring for people, Renzhen has a terrible and terribly obnoxious habit of meddling in the lives of those she feels a combination of worthy, interesting, and needy. ■ Jealous
Renzhen's jealousy goes hand-in-hand with her deep trust. She's protective of what and who she considers hers and, for how much she cares about loving and being loved, fears the loss of those very loved ones. ■ Occasionally Tactless
Appreciating open honesty has its downsides. While rarely oafish, Renzhen tires quickly of showing "unnecessary" grace to people she considers fools and will gladly deliver hard, honest truths just to be done with a frustrating issue. This rarely actually makes anything better. ■ Introspective
Being aware of this fault, she seeks the company of those she has some intimate connection with, but her pride often gets the best of her and causes her to fail to fully divulge in just what way she's suffering. When this happens, she tends to pull away from people, dwell on her discomfort, and succumb to a grim moodiness. |
■ "Flowery"
From ornate speaking habits, to wild gestures of her hands, and to how she dresses, Renzhen is especially showy. Whether or not it's ridiculous ostentation or simply a genuine love of theatrics is impossible to tell for sure, but it's a presentation she lowers only when matters require she dial herself down from a solid 11. ■ Intensely Spiritual
Much of Renzhen's adult life has been defined by the spiritual and it shows. She measures problems in equal parts between mortal concerns and those of a "higher" nature. An experience with either death or near-death only intensified this. ■ Handsy
There's a point between "fond acquaintance" and "dear friend" where Renzhen becomes really quite uncomfortable and cares little for personal space. |
APPEARANCE
To put it simply, Renzhen is short and noticeably overweight. At four fulm and nine ilm and weighing every bit of 220 ponze, she sports a full, wide-hipped, thick-waisted, and generally overfed figure that's definitely certainly more overweight or plainly fat than what some might idealise as “curvy”. As one would expect from a well-travelled Eorzean, small stature and doughy build notwithstanding, she has a hearty bearing that betrays a healthy layer of muscle beneath her soft exterior that serves to further widen her silhouette.
Her features are plump with full cheeks and a slight double chin. Her face runs a little long with defined cheekbones framing a rather prominent nose. Her sharp, cunning eyes are mismatched; one a dark green, the other a bronze brown and sit beneath a sharp brow, often in the earliest stages of a wolfish grin, crooked to match her lips with dark lipstick usually making them look fuller than they actually are.
While she keeps no shortage of more practical armour, Renzhen's sense in fashion occasionally nears the elegant but more often dives into the showy and downright extravagant. Sweeping coats, contrasting colours, deep necks, and ample jewellery make picking her out of a crowd an easy task as long as she’s not surrounded by taller folk. The same care for her physical appearance carries over to her grooming as she obviously pays meticulous attention to her hair, skin, scales, and nails keeping them all in the best condition one could reasonably expect from an adventurer. Usually lingering around her is the scent of floral perfume, moisturising oils, and a faint hint of fragrant tobacco, making her presence just that much more obnoxious.
COMBAT
Perhaps surprisingly, given how one might judge her appearance, Renzhen is a deadly combatant, making up for what she lacks in physical prowess with a calm, tactical mind and brutal efficiency. Renzhen took up the gun with the spread of modern mechanics as the product of combining Lominsan tactics and Ishgardian technology. Though her technical skills as a machinist don't set her ahead of her field, her aim with and understanding of firearms makes up for her shortcomings in the more cutting-edge aspects of her field.
In spite of some cursory training in other weapons, her field of expertise is absolutely ranged combat and she relies heavily on the tactics of that speciality. What sets her apart as a combatant is a well-focused calm, eschewing anger and instead focusing on the task at hand with a calm and usually lethal intent. Renzhen is well aware of her abilities in direct combat and while that is indeed a weakness, she makes it a very difficult weakness to exploit usually by engaging in tactics many might call unfair.
In terms of both her abilities in combat and her general personality, Renzhen does not take well to light scraps or, in fact, "honourable" combat. Renzhen relies on stealth, the element of surprise, efficiency, and even what some might call unethical tactics to ensure victory. Her attitude towards combat as a lawless affair that must be ended as swiftly as possible goes a long way to explain just why she so eagerly avoids prolonged violence until absolutely necessary.
INTERACTIONS
Some of these rumours are untrue, speculation, or are greatly exaggerated. Please feel free to add your own rumours under the Player Character category! ◢ COMMON RUMOURS - Easily overheard. Use these freely!
■ “Berkuul? Aye, that... That's a whole story, lot of oddity with that one, but I knew them well enough a good epoch back. More charm than wits with that one, got run out of Limsa after years of chasing women and laying with the wrong fathers' daughters. Got that 'appetite' under control well enough now, though.”
- a longshoreman in Limsa Lominsa ■ “Captain Berkuul's a fine officer, certainly, but uh... Well I did hear she almost throw a private off a bridge for questioning orders direct from the Admiral. Only almost! She's wonderfully loyal to the thalassocracy, maybe a little rabid, but... Well, yes, very loyal!”
- a junior officer stationed at the Aftcastle ■ “She's a fine enough woman, isn't she? But she's not, though. Nobody who loves themselves that much changes like that for nothing. Damned suspicious, if you ask me.”
- a waitress at the Drowning Wench ■ “Don't rightly know why she's in the Maelstrom. See this bow? It's a genuine Berkuul! Sold it to me herself, 'patriot's discount' she said! Hells, I beat a half-dead fishback the rest of the way with the damned thing and it still works a treat! Can't tell you what she learned in Gridania, but be damned if Limsa don't need more woodworkers of her grade.”
- an overly enthusiastic Yellowjacket ◢ UNCOMMON RUMORS - A little more difficult to hear. Use sparingly or ask first!
■ “Berkuul? Gods, to think of what's become of them but... Yes, I worked with her. Certainly fine work from an outsider and a good deal more trustworthy than a lot of adventurers. Really thought they were going to settle down and stay, join up with the Gods' Quiver. Good sort, they are, if a bit brutal. 'Tis rare to see an outsider hunt the Coerlclaw so viciously. Suppose fear's a good a tactic as any.”
- a member of the Gods' Quiver in the Carline Canopy ■ “Don't you mean... Yeah, nevermind.”
- a carpenter in Gridania ■ “Oh, aye, I know the Apkallu. Good sort, good sort, true and true, real bleedin' heart and all that, but hells. Y'ever seen the inside o' a pirate, like after gettin' flayed and left t' rot in th' sun? I have... After Berkuul got 'er mitts on 'em.”
- a drunken Lalafell drinking with a group of Maelstrom veterans in Limsa Lominsa ◢ RARE RUMOURS - Very rarely overheard. Please ask before using!
◢ PLAYER CHARACTER RUMOURS - Feel free to add rumors of your own!
■ “Feel free to add your own rumours here!”
- some random schlub ■ “Wakkeyha... Waking Oak. She stands tall and proud, with roots that reach far below the earth and branches the stretch far into the sky. When ill winds blow, she will not yield to them, yet nor will she break. Still, she is but waking. Learning what such reaches and powers mean, unaware of the strength she possesses. It is a shame, and a grace.”
- Staelufre Lysmerl ■ "I know her from Meli's party! People talked about her like is very important to them. She is tricky too. She try make me think she is man."
- Flickering Ember
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♥ Romantic Love | ♥ Platonic Love | ♥ Sexual Attraction | ✔ Positive | ✖ Negative | ● Neutral note: Characters with whom Renzhen's had considerable dealings. Updated when the player manages to remember!
MISCELLANY Potential Hooks
Outside Links:
Misc Info:
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