Rosalind Westwind

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Ul'dah-transparent.png Rosalind Westwind
Rosa.png
Gender Female
Race Hyur
Clan Midlander
Citizenship Ul'dah
Nameday 16th Sun, 6th Umbral Moon, 1554 (Age 24)
Guardian Althyk, the Keeper
Alignment Chaotic Neutral
Profession Tomemonger; Scavenger
Aliases Rosa; Rosie
Theme "Prism" - Yoko Kanno

x. General

Rosalind Westwind lives a largely solitary existence as an itinerant tomemonger, scavenger and amateur historian. She supplies tattered volumes to private collectors, Ul'dah's various archives and, on occasion, by ferry to the Arcanists' Guild in Limsa Lominsa. A novice arcanist, she knows only enough magic to poison the occasional wild animal or bandit. She often encounters such distractions during her raids for forgotten books and scrolls: Thanalan's harsh landscape, coupled with the Calamity's recent destruction afford her numerous pillaged caravans, abandoned homes and empty camps to survey. It is by these dubious methods she ekes out a meager livelihood and keeps her cart in working order.

x. Appearance

Her ordinary hyuran looks, standard height and Thanalan-tanned skin allow Rosalind to disappear easily in the thick crowds of Ul'dah. She rarely dons anything but a simple shepherd's tunic, always with at least one grimoire latched to her belt and a rucksack filled to the brim and rustling loudly with scrolls. She is forever scanning her surroundings—prying eyes taking in the minutest of details. She is unaware of the fact that her intense, grey-eyed stare unnerves those around her—most often, her customers. Her mud-brown hair is overgrown, unkempt and coated with dust. Her face, too, is never without a fresh layer of dirt—sure evidence of her more frequent excursions beyond Ul'dah's walls. Long nights and the day's ubiquitous sun have begun to take their toll on Rosalind's face: it appears crinkled and sleepless. Nonetheless, age and hardship have yet to dampen the knowledge-hungry gleam in her eyes.

x. Personality

In spite of her solitary lifestyle, Rosalind is an extrovert: her energies are always directed outward in pursuit of knowledge. Incredibly observant, she picks up on the hidden cues and meanings cached in her environment, her tomes and her associates. It is worth noting that while Rosalind is very interested in the world and people around her, she views both with a harsh, cold objectivity. Her tendency to intellectualize prevents her from building personal relationships with others. This fact does not imply she dislikes conversation or interaction—nothing of the sort. She can frequently be seen lecturing her dimmer customers and, alternately, passionately debating her more academically-minded patrons. She is widely known in Ul'dah for her eccentric lifestyle and beliefs. Most respectable citizens manage to avoid her, but she has made many friends among the Ala Mhigan refugees who share both her interest in Garlemald (though towards entirely different ends) and her poor personal hygiene.

x. Past (1554 - 1572)

Ul'dahn Origins

Rosalind was born in a wealthy district of Ul'dah to a respected family. As two of the few hyuran Priests of Nald, her parents held themselves, and Rosalind, to remarkably high standards of achievement. Most of their colleagues were highly ambitious lalafell and as such, many of Rosalind's closest friends as a child were lalafellin. She spent her youth within the walls of the Milvaneth Sacrarium, the center of Nald's worship in Ul'dah. Until the Calamity, Rosalind rarely left the Sacrarium's extensive library.

A Precocious Youth

From a tender age, she held a never-ending fascination with astrology, divination and history—the domains of her chosen Guardian of The Twelve, Althyk, the Keeper. By adulthood, she had become completely obsessed with predicting the cycles of the Astral and Umbral Eras. When the Archons rose to prominence at the end of the Sixth Astral Era and Dalamud began to draw near, she began sleeping in a hidden corner of the Sacrarium, searching frantically for answers. Her parents fully expected her obsessions to pass and for her to become a priestess, herself. Rosalind was, however, dismissive of her parents' desire to continue winning Nald's favor and advance the family's position in Ul'dah. The young woman viewed Nald's domain as a petty, inconsequential one in the greater fabric of time and destiny. Perhaps fortunately for Rosalind, the Calamity would bring an end to her parents' intended plans.

After the Calamity

With the destruction of the Sacrarium and its extensive libraries in the Calamity, Rosalind isolated herself from everyone she knew, including her family. She clung to written knowledge, desperate for certainty, and eventually rebuilt her life around the creaky book cart she now considers a home. Engrossed in histories, recovered journals and aetheric theory, she all but disappeared from Ul'dahn society, much to her parents' disdain. Her pride made her come to shame herself for failing to predict the coming of the Seventh Umbral Era.

Sadly, the more she discovered, the more she became resigned to a belief that the answers she sought llie far, far beyond the sands of Thanalan. No library or archive could ever reveal the truth to her about Dalamud or Garlemald. The Calamity's unforeseen destruction of so much only supported this belief and confirmed all of her greatest fears. No scholar in Ul'dah or Limsa Lominsa knew precisely what occurred or what the Garleans were now planning. What did the coming of the Seventh Umbral Era portend? Surely an even greater struggle—an even deeper misery—than had already befallen Eorzea. Rosalind was sure of it.

x. Present (1572 - 1579)

The Tome Raider

More frequently, Rosalind's search for the tomes and records of the past have lead her into the deeper regions of Thanalan. With the ushering in of the Seventh Astral Era and the mass withdrawal of Garlean forces from Eorzea, she can travel further north than ever before. What knowledge lies beyond the well-traveled trade routes and scattered ruins of the desert? Her desire to expedition into her desert homeland's lost corners have led to a partnership with an Ala Mihgan refugee named Landebert. He and several of his Pearl Lane compatriots have taught her of the dangers that lie to the north and how to prepare herself for combat. She now trains herself for the greater challenges ahead.

x. Relationships


Good Standing     Neutral Standing     Poor Standing    


[PC] Rowan Hunt - Rosalind regards this energetic boy with gratitude after he aided her in recovering a stolen tome. She recently learned of his faraway origins in La Noscea and has taken an interest in helping him adjust to his new life in bustling Ul'dah.

[NPC] Landebert - Rosalind's contact on Pearl Lane and occasional supplier of scrolls and tomes. Rosalind has recently struck a deal with the refugee and hired him to work as her guide and bodyguard during the longer hunts she attempts. He has proven himself a skilled fighter, when well-fed, and knowledgeable of abandoned encampments reaching to the far northeast of Ul'dah.

[PC] Marcus Steelsong - An enormous man, even for a Highlander. Rosalind has offered him work alongside Landebert, but to no ends.

x. Rumors

  • "Swear I've seen her skirting around my cart at night, rifling through my wares." — Ul'dahn Merchant
  • "The bookmonger? Always staring at me when I pass by to check her new stock. Odd. Don't ask her about the Calamity. You'll be standing out in the sun for hours while she goes on." — Customer
  • "That Twelve-damned hyur... <frowns> She has never donated a single gil! And her deliveries are forever caked in mud! Once, even blood-stained! I won't speak of her!" — Yayaroku, Priest of the Order of Nald'Thal
  • "Oh, Rosa! Always something interesting to sell, if she doesn't keep it for herself. Lately her cart has been disappearing for moons at a time, and without notice. What's Miss Westwind up to?" — Lalafellin Regular
  • "I met her, once. I think I'd like to meet her again." — Rowan Hunt

x. Further Reading

x. Page Updates

12.01.2015: Began writing page. Credit for template and formatting belongs to Mylene Wharf, Sounsy Mirke and Deirdre.

20.01.2015: Tentatively finished all sections. Images and an extended Personality section to be added.