Ririha Riha The Beleaguered Librarian Ririha has lived most of her life in relative quiet and comfort. An independent magic researcher for most of her life, Ririha is defined by her curiosity and thirst for knowledge; something that has served her well in her numerous travels, despite Ul'Dah being rather rocky even on it's good days. That's not to say that Ririha hasn't been subject to hardships of her own, but those mostly take the form of hassling residents who steal from her library and not being taken seriously whenever she dares step foot in Limsa Lominsa to gather more books. A life of relative peace and quiet suits Ririha just fine, as far as she's concerned.
In a Non-WoL AU, she keeps to that life of solitude, though she's not afraid to get into a tussle or two to ensure the safety of her family, her books, and herself, in that order. Needless to say, she's a little cold and deeply focused on her work, but she can warm to others and believes in the Warrior of Light and Scions with every ounce of her being. And anyone who comes to her with a genuine and curious question will receive any information that she can offer.
In a WoL AU...well, needless to say, a trip to Limsa Lominsa goes very much awry when she winds up getting roped into helping the local townspeople after her coinpurse gets stolen, and one thing leads to another, leading a very reluctant 40+ year old Lalafell into realizing her potential, kicking and screaming through a fair portion of a Realm Reborn. Ever tired and constantly finding new ways to be baffled by the state of the world, Ririha is no less devoted once the weight of the Scions' loss hits her.
Mafu Farmeze Protector Entranced by the Moon For as long as Mafu has remembered, she has lived in service of love. It all started with a dream of a small brown rabbit, injured by the riverside that Mafu had as a child. A reoccurring dream where Mafu brought it back to the village where her mother, aunt, and sisters made their home, mended it, always ending before she could see it completely healed.
It was only once that it didn't end, where a voice asked her what compelled her to keep saving this small rabbit. There was nothing to gain in saving it, after all. Mafu answered it simply; it was love that drove her to do so. A love for all living creatures, of those who live and breathe in the air of the world around them. The voice told her to never lose that, and she never had the dream again. She didn't need to. Mafu knew her path was set.
Mafu has experienced many hardships in her life, especially living close to Gridania. She's been met with scorn more times than she can ever say, and suspicion even moreso. Some even say she's tempered; not by a primal, but by a god, though most think such a thing impossible. But Mafu has taken the teachings of Menphina to an incredibly fanatical extent, and she's someone who lives life to the fullest while looking for any soul she can help. No matter how many times she's been hurt, no matter how much it does hurt to love with her whole heart, Mafu believes that love is the biggest, most driving force in the world and she has a personality to match. Bombastic and kind, Mafu will protect anyone she comes across and aid them as best as she's able, much to the worry and chagrin of others around her. She's. She's a mess, but it's fine.
'Nai Mihata' The (Former) Butcher of Doma Nai is a strange woman to most who come across her. Softspoken and somewhat stonefaced even on a good day, the Au'Ra tends to not express much and tends to let her actions do the speaking for her. Even so, she rarely hesitates to assist; she's the sort of person who looks for work and looks to complete it as well as she can, and her hunting abilities are especially keen for someone as small as she is. She's quiet about her origins and her thoughts, but most likely wouldn't think much of her.
It's a good cover for the fact that she's a former soldier of the Empire, if nothing else. Originally from a poor Doman territory claimed by the Empire, Nai grew up in a large family that suffered daily under their rule. Nai watched daily as her parents sacrificed everything of themselves for their children, as the children themselves did everything they could to help their family. Nai felt it a hopeless situation; they deserved better. And loathe as she was to swear her fealty to the Empire that had them under their thumb, Nai saw no other options other than joining the Garlean Army and becoming a terrifying soldier in her own right.
What started as simply dirty work to ensure that her parents could put money aside for an eventual escape evolved into a realization; Nai was good at killing. Damn good, at that. And perhaps more to the point, despite the mockery and jeers she received from her supposed fellows, she enjoyed killing. The thrill it brought was akin to her already rather fervent interest in hunting, but what started as an attempt to feign enough fealty and enthusiasm so her true motives wouldn't be ascertained evolved into a frankly frightening bloodlust that earned the woman her title; the Butcher of Doma. A title stated mostly in mockery, but one that Nai, at the time, wore with pride.
But it didn't last; before arriving to Limsa Lominsa, her parents made the fatal mistake of drawing the ire of a few soldiers, and once Nai found out that they murdered her family, she attempted to turn her blade on one of her superiors involved in their slaying. She lost her eye that day; she should have lost her life, and she knows it. But fate works in mysterious ways, and Nai elected to don an eyepatch and discard her old name, becoming the Nai of today. Awakening to the Echo has changed the course of her life almost as dramatically, and she pledges her services to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn with a similar fervor, as she tries to reconcile who she is, what she's done, and the person she wants to be at the end of her road.
Madeline/Valerie Luimegain The Shattered Dollmaster & her Doll Servant Madeline started her life tinkering with various machines as soon as she was old enough to touch them. Born of a minor noble family, the Luimegains didn't really have much power, but they were stalwart fighters and inventors who were excited to see their only daughter follow in their footsteps, at least in part. Madeline herself never really learned how to fight, but that's okay, as far as she's concerned. Her brilliant mind meant she was in frequent contact with the Machinist Guild, where she would learn new things and get new materials. It's thanks to them that she's gained a level of mastery over clockwork magic and has learned how to make Mammets and other beings with hearts.
Including the doll that goes out into the world for her; Valerie. Madeline didn't intend to try and make something so humanlike in the beginning, but one night, her parents never returned after going into combat. Her happy dream of a life was over in one fell swoop, and to say that Madeline took it poorly is an understatement. Sequestering herself in her house, she made Valerie in order to go out and experience the world without ever leaving the safety of her house again.
Valerie herself is a rather sedate and perfectly lady-like individual; perfectly polite and yet as prone to rambling about technological things as her master, they share a deep connection through the use of Madeline's magic and the Mammet Heart that powers Valerie. They're connected by the soul, even if Valerie has her own personality and wants. She's every bit the lady that the mousey, shy, and now mentally unstable Madeline could never be. Even if she looks like a porcelain doll in some manners, Valerie herself is her lady's will made manifest, and she will see Madeline's will through to the end and take care of her and the Mammets that Madeline cares for.
And in most ways, people don't even realize that Valerie isn't quite as Elezen as she appears to be. In Non-WoL AUs, she's a sidequest character after some members of the machinist guild inquire about Madeline's absence. In WoL AUs, she's a lot more active; with Valerie serving as the Warrior of Light's face, and Madeline herself experiencing the world through her doll.
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RIRIHA RIHA - WoL/Non-WoL - Arcanist/Summoner/Red Mage
vercure
The Beleaguered Librarian
Ririha has lived most of her life in relative quiet and comfort. An independent magic researcher for most of her life, Ririha is defined by her curiosity and thirst for knowledge; something that has served her well in her numerous travels, despite Ul'Dah being rather rocky even on it's good days. That's not to say that Ririha hasn't been subject to hardships of her own, but those mostly take the form of hassling residents who steal from her library and not being taken seriously whenever she dares step foot in Limsa Lominsa to gather more books. A life of relative peace and quiet suits Ririha just fine, as far as she's concerned.
In a Non-WoL AU, she keeps to that life of solitude, though she's not afraid to get into a tussle or two to ensure the safety of her family, her books, and herself, in that order. Needless to say, she's a little cold and deeply focused on her work, but she can warm to others and believes in the Warrior of Light and Scions with every ounce of her being. And anyone who comes to her with a genuine and curious question will receive any information that she can offer.
In a WoL AU...well, needless to say, a trip to Limsa Lominsa goes very much awry when she winds up getting roped into helping the local townspeople after her coinpurse gets stolen, and one thing leads to another, leading a very reluctant 40+ year old Lalafell into realizing her potential, kicking and screaming through a fair portion of a Realm Reborn. Ever tired and constantly finding new ways to be baffled by the state of the world, Ririha is no less devoted once the weight of the Scions' loss hits her.
MAFU FARMEZE - Non-WoL - Gunbreaker
loveswornoath
Protector Entranced by the Moon
For as long as Mafu has remembered, she has lived in service of love. It all started with a dream of a small brown rabbit, injured by the riverside that Mafu had as a child. A reoccurring dream where Mafu brought it back to the village where her mother, aunt, and sisters made their home, mended it, always ending before she could see it completely healed.
It was only once that it didn't end, where a voice asked her what compelled her to keep saving this small rabbit. There was nothing to gain in saving it, after all. Mafu answered it simply; it was love that drove her to do so. A love for all living creatures, of those who live and breathe in the air of the world around them. The voice told her to never lose that, and she never had the dream again. She didn't need to. Mafu knew her path was set.
Mafu has experienced many hardships in her life, especially living close to Gridania. She's been met with scorn more times than she can ever say, and suspicion even moreso. Some even say she's tempered; not by a primal, but by a god, though most think such a thing impossible. But Mafu has taken the teachings of Menphina to an incredibly fanatical extent, and she's someone who lives life to the fullest while looking for any soul she can help. No matter how many times she's been hurt, no matter how much it does hurt to love with her whole heart, Mafu believes that love is the biggest, most driving force in the world and she has a personality to match. Bombastic and kind, Mafu will protect anyone she comes across and aid them as best as she's able, much to the worry and chagrin of others around her. She's. She's a mess, but it's fine.
'NAI MIHATA' - WoL - Samurai/Dark Knight
matagasse
The (Former) Butcher of Doma
Nai is a strange woman to most who come across her. Softspoken and somewhat stonefaced even on a good day, the Au'Ra tends to not express much and tends to let her actions do the speaking for her. Even so, she rarely hesitates to assist; she's the sort of person who looks for work and looks to complete it as well as she can, and her hunting abilities are especially keen for someone as small as she is. She's quiet about her origins and her thoughts, but most likely wouldn't think much of her.
It's a good cover for the fact that she's a former soldier of the Empire, if nothing else. Originally from a poor Doman territory claimed by the Empire, Nai grew up in a large family that suffered daily under their rule. Nai watched daily as her parents sacrificed everything of themselves for their children, as the children themselves did everything they could to help their family. Nai felt it a hopeless situation; they deserved better. And loathe as she was to swear her fealty to the Empire that had them under their thumb, Nai saw no other options other than joining the Garlean Army and becoming a terrifying soldier in her own right.
What started as simply dirty work to ensure that her parents could put money aside for an eventual escape evolved into a realization; Nai was good at killing. Damn good, at that. And perhaps more to the point, despite the mockery and jeers she received from her supposed fellows, she enjoyed killing. The thrill it brought was akin to her already rather fervent interest in hunting, but what started as an attempt to feign enough fealty and enthusiasm so her true motives wouldn't be ascertained evolved into a frankly frightening bloodlust that earned the woman her title; the Butcher of Doma. A title stated mostly in mockery, but one that Nai, at the time, wore with pride.
But it didn't last; before arriving to Limsa Lominsa, her parents made the fatal mistake of drawing the ire of a few soldiers, and once Nai found out that they murdered her family, she attempted to turn her blade on one of her superiors involved in their slaying. She lost her eye that day; she should have lost her life, and she knows it. But fate works in mysterious ways, and Nai elected to don an eyepatch and discard her old name, becoming the Nai of today. Awakening to the Echo has changed the course of her life almost as dramatically, and she pledges her services to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn with a similar fervor, as she tries to reconcile who she is, what she's done, and the person she wants to be at the end of her road.
MADELINE/VALERIE LUIMEGAIN - WoL/Non-WoL - ???
???
The Shattered Dollmaster & her Doll Servant
Madeline started her life tinkering with various machines as soon as she was old enough to touch them. Born of a minor noble family, the Luimegains didn't really have much power, but they were stalwart fighters and inventors who were excited to see their only daughter follow in their footsteps, at least in part. Madeline herself never really learned how to fight, but that's okay, as far as she's concerned. Her brilliant mind meant she was in frequent contact with the Machinist Guild, where she would learn new things and get new materials. It's thanks to them that she's gained a level of mastery over clockwork magic and has learned how to make Mammets and other beings with hearts.
Including the doll that goes out into the world for her; Valerie. Madeline didn't intend to try and make something so humanlike in the beginning, but one night, her parents never returned after going into combat. Her happy dream of a life was over in one fell swoop, and to say that Madeline took it poorly is an understatement. Sequestering herself in her house, she made Valerie in order to go out and experience the world without ever leaving the safety of her house again.
Valerie herself is a rather sedate and perfectly lady-like individual; perfectly polite and yet as prone to rambling about technological things as her master, they share a deep connection through the use of Madeline's magic and the Mammet Heart that powers Valerie. They're connected by the soul, even if Valerie has her own personality and wants. She's every bit the lady that the mousey, shy, and now mentally unstable Madeline could never be. Even if she looks like a porcelain doll in some manners, Valerie herself is her lady's will made manifest, and she will see Madeline's will through to the end and take care of her and the Mammets that Madeline cares for.
And in most ways, people don't even realize that Valerie isn't quite as Elezen as she appears to be. In Non-WoL AUs, she's a sidequest character after some members of the machinist guild inquire about Madeline's absence. In WoL AUs, she's a lot more active; with Valerie serving as the Warrior of Light's face, and Madeline herself experiencing the world through her doll.