Logan Ballem

Logan Ballem
Gender	Male
Race	Miqo'te
Clan	Seeker of the Sun
Citizenship	Unaffiliated (Limsa Lominsa formerly)
Age	27

This character article or section of a character article is a stub -- a small, but growing, work in progress. If you're the creator of this character, why not consider expanding it?

Character

History

Early Life

A "tribeless" member of the Seekers of the Sun clann, Logan's parentage is a mystery given that his biological mother and father died soon after his birth, away from any other members of his tribe. Found deep within the dunes of the Sagolii Desert at a young age, he was raised by a young Hyur couple in a small farmstead near Summerford Farms in Limsa Lominsa. From an early age, he learned the value of hard work and labor, and despite his family having little money, he pursued education as his main interest - inquisitively asking anyone nearby questions about the world at large, even resorting to sneaking into bookstores at night, reading and studying by candlelight.

When Logan was eighteen, much to his foster parents disappointment, he left for Limsa Lominsa to further his studies, there he discovered how cruel the world could be as he encountered his fellow Seekers of the Sun, disgusted by his very existence for having a "Hyur" name and being ignorant to the ways of his clan. Ridiculed and tortured by his fellow kin, he nearly left to return to Summerford Farms, but sought solace in the care of one of his caretakers who saw the intelligence in him - and the potential it could bring.

For the next few years, his caretaker, now instructor, groomed him into the eventual man he would become. He learned many things ranging from Eorzean history to etiquette, but had a particular knack for advanced mathematical theories and formulas. Seeing his potential, his instructor sought to get him admitted into the Arcanist Guild despite his young age, and lack of a "formal" educational upbringing.

While Logan continued to study, the war between the Eorzean Alliance and the Garlean Empire raged around him. His parents, despite being simple farmhands, were drafted into the Trade Sails by the Maelstrom Command. Logan, knee-deep in his studies made what many considered to be one of his biggest regrets in not seeing his parents off, as soon tragedy struck.

A mere few weeks later, The Calamity occurred. As Bahamut was freed from Dalamud, descending upon Mor Dhona, Logan was huddled up with many other Limsans, watching as the sky turned into a blood red with meteors streaking across the sky, scarring the land. While the port city was damaged heavily damaged, few were injured. The denizens of Mor Dhona, and surrounding areas, were not so fortunate. Days later, word came to Logan that his parents were making a trade delivery during the events - they were in the heart of the battlefield and most certainly perished.

Overcome with grief and anger, Logan sought to leave his life behind, and travel to Forgotten Springs to be with his fellow kin. However, on the night he was packing, his instructor, paper in hand, implored him not to leave. The paper was no ordinary document, it was a letter - Logan had been accepted into the Arcanist Guild the eve before the Calamity. Initially confused, Logan found himself enraged at his instructor for not even informing him that he had enrolled him into the Guild. However, after nearly collapsing from days of an intense emotional turmoil, Logan took a few days to weigh his options and realized what was best for him, and that ultimately, his parents would want that, too.

Arcanist Guild

Logan, now a full grown man at the age of twenty-one, found himself enrolled as a member of the Arcanist Guild. While initially excited, he quickly found himself feeling ostracized, remembering his first few months in Limsa Lominsa as he realized he knew none of these people and there was a distinct lack of fellow Miqo'te around. While he never really found himself associated with members of his own clan, or his race at large, he oddly enough felt more comfortable knowing there were others of his kind around, even if they wanted nothing to do with him.

However, that was one other Seeker of the Sun in the Guild with Logan, a young Miqo'te female - K'lyhia. She appeared to be a couple of years younger than Logan despite being his elder classmate, but very meek, barely able to make a presence in a room with only a few individuals, which was as to why Logan didn't notice her immediately. She was actually the first to interact with Logan. The assistant Guildmaster - Thubyrgeim - seemed to enjoy putting them on assignments together, perhaps thinking they would appreciate each other's company seeing as how they were the only two Miqo'te in the guild. Thubyrgeim seemed to be correct, as the two managed to get along well, and quickly considered each other close friends. However, Logan did find one thing odd about K'lyhia - she never chose to speak about her past. Logan could tell she was at least born, and raised with a tribe, given that she had a clan name, but there was little else he could ascertain about her life previous to the guild. He didn't let her unwillingness to talk about her past bother him though, because likewise she never prodded him for information about his past.

Over the next few of years, Logan became a distinguished member of the Arcanist Guild, considered one of the most knowledgeable in the guild alongside K'lyhia - both were offered a teaching position in the guild. However, only one position was available, and Logan knew his history was going to play a hand in the decision. He was right, due to his "poor" upbringing and lack of formal education, his peers thought it best to give it to K'lyhia. While happy for his friend, Logan was growing increasingly tired of his history overshadowing all of the advancements he had made, and all of his attempts to be more than his Hyrian upbringing offered.

Alka Zolka and Nym

Days after K'lyhia's inauguration, Logan received a letter from the Arcanist Guildmaster - K'rhid Tia. K'rhid was a bit of an enigma, he had little to do with the day-to-day activities with the guild. All that Logan knew was that he too was a Seeker of the Sun, but never belittled Logan, and as such, had Logan's respect. The letter made it no secret that K'rhid was partly responsible for Logan not receiving the teaching position, but that he wad destined for greater adventures than being cooped up in the guild for the rest of his days. He wanted Logan to meet with him and Thubyrgeim in private, later that evening in the guild hall.

That night, K'rhid and Thubyrgeim told Logan of a man named Alka Zolka. Zolka had recently discovered a tablet of Nymian origins that contained hidden scripts related to the lost mathematics and summoning rituals kept secret in the Floating City of Nym. Zolka had petitioned for K'rhid to investigate the ruins of The Wanderer's Palace alongside the tablet, to hopefully unlock the secrets of Nym. However, K'rhid told Logan that there was no one more qualified than Logan himself to investigate. Fascinated by the story, Logan jumped at the opportunity.

Upon meeting with Zolka, Logan quickly begins work deciphering the tablets and the ruins of the Wanderer's Palace. Within hours, Logan deciphers a line of texts that is used as a summoning ritual. Contrary to what he knows is wise, Logan begins to chant without worrying of consequence when two familiars appear before him - twin Faerie sisters - Eos and Selene. Unbeknownst to Logan, the sisters appear to be able to telepathically communicate with him, and he becomes aware of their abilities to harness ancient magicks of Nym, and impart the knowledge to Logan, as well. The aetheric energies of Eos and Selene manifests into a soul crystal. After deciphering more texts making reference to the name, Logan gives these new abilities, and those with the knowledge to use them the name - Scholar.

As Logan and his team continue to investigate Wanderer's Palace, a lone Tonberry attempts to thwart their excavation of the ruins. However, each time they run into the monster, Eos prevents Zolka from attacking it. While not explicitly telling Logan telepathically, he is able to sense great sadness from Eos and Selene whenever the Tonberry is present, and convinces Zolka to not engage the Tonberry for now and concentrate on what they can.

One day, however, Zolka discovers a collapsed wall that leads to the deepest parts of the ruins, only to once again be stopped by the Tonberry. Not wanting to be stopped from reaching the center of the ruins, Zolka attacks the Tonberry, but once again Eos and Selene stop him by literally putting themselves between the Tonberry and Zolka's ax. Furious at the seemingly treacherous faeries, and Logan's apparent inability to control them, Zolka attempts to strike Eos and Selene and the Tonberry in one fell swoop, before Logan too throws his body between them.

Either by seeing Eos and Selene risking their lives to protect him, or Logan's attempt to preserve the lives of all three of them, the Tonberry speaks, much to everyone's surprise. The Tonberry identifies himself as Surito Carito and speaks of the "sickness of the sea" that took the lives of millions of Nymians, and that he and a handful of Tonberries scattered across the ruins of the kingdom, are whom are left of the Nymian race driven insane by the Rancor - the madness in their hearts. Seeing Eos and Selene, two halves of the Faerie - Lily - his former companion and friend, Surito staves of the rancor long enough to encourage Logan to preserve their history and learn of their arts... and their mistakes. Before the madness overtakes him again, he flees into the recesses of the ruins, bidding Lily farewell, and hoping they will be a constant, vigilant companion to Logan as she was to him.

Present Day

Logan returned to Limsa Lominsa soon after and, at the behest of Admiral Merlwyb, joined The Maelstrom - Grand Company of Limsa Lominsa to defend Eorzea from the Garlean Empire that, five years after the Calamity, sought once again to take over the lands of Eorzea and defeat the threat of the Primals. After the defeat of Gaius Van Baelsar, and the subsequent retreat of the Garlean forces. Logan, now a Liuetenant in The Maelstrom, retired from the company, while operating as a "free agent" of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, in their endeavor to keep the realm of Eorzea free from the tyranny of Garlemald.

To this day, Logan continues his endeavors to preserve the history of Nym, while striving to keep the safety and prosperity of Eorzea intact.

Appearance

Logan is a tall, slender Seeker of the Sun with tanned skin, with long, dusty blonde hair, and tail that is said by many to resemble a lion, a rare trait among the Miqo'te. Because of this, there is a particularly rare rumor that Logan is a rare "breed" of the Seekers of the Sun, thought to perhaps even be of royal blood given the ancient lore of "lion-like" Seekers of the Sun ruling all the tribes many centuries ago, and that fact perhaps being responsible for the mysterious disappearance and presumed death of his parents, and him being left out in the desert to die.

Logan tends to dress in extravagant robes akin to mages of old, particularly a restored dark red Allagan Coat once worn by high ranking Allagan royalty, alongside his grimoire - a restored and enhanced version of a Nymian magical text - the Last Resort. It is considered very rare to see Logan not in "uniform" as he has rarely been seen in casual clothes. That said, one person claimed to see him wearing a trench coat and cargo pants, running around The Goblet, but that may be perhaps one of the wildest rumors about him.

Personality

Logan is a very inteligent Mi'qote, but often feels inadequate because of the odd circumstances of his birth, and the fact that he was raised by a Hyur family rather than by a tribe. Because of his lack of approval by the general populace of Miqo'te, he is very reserved, and rarely opens up to or confides in anyone, particular Seekers of the Sun. However, due to his unwillingness and often lack of an ability to form relationships and attachments, he is able to be pragmatic and objective, leading him to often be sought out for a variety of tasks, sometimes to his dismay.

His reserved nature has been known to get Logan in trouble, however. He can come off callous and even melancholic to some due to his inability to trust people quickly, preferring to err on the side of caution, than open up to someone quickly and risk getting hurt.

However, once an individual is said to "melt his cold exterior" he is considered to be one of the most passionate and protective friends you will ever know, even going to extremes to be there for those handful of people that he has opened up to.

Combat

General

Logan is an expert Arcanist, able to bend the fabric of space around him due to his mastery of applied and theoretical mathematics. He also is the sole proprietor of the lost Nymian arts, referred to by Logan as "Scholar" magic. He is able to command the support of twin Faerie sisters - Eos and Selene - to augment his healing magic that he has been self-taught by studying said ancient magics, coupling it with his knowledge of offensive Arcane magic.

That said, his time spent tending fields for all of his childhood and adolescent years have also allowed Logan to be physically fit as well, but deciding not to use said talents in physical disciplines aside from the rare times it has come in handy with his applied magicks. No one knows the extent to how fit and capable he is in physical combat, as no one has been known to ever get close to Logan before being thwarted by his magical prowess.

Tendencies

Likes

• Mathematics
• Nymian history
• Warm climates

Dislikes

• Close-minded people
• Cold climates

Annotations

This Template was created by Deirdre Ta'ea