Ancel began as a Duskwight Gladiator on Excalibur some time in late summer 2011. His name was different then. I had zero knowledge of lore and no connection to roleplaying, I merely explored the game mechanically and on my own. When the game was relaunched, it seemed fitting to start anew myself, and so a different character came into being. I still had only the faintest semblance of knowledge about Eorzea, and still began the game mechanically and without regard to the character's connection to their world. That did not last.
I quickly developed an interest in the game world as its many facets were revealed through the story quests, and I wanted Ancel to sit easily within it. The rest of that history unfolds much as his wiki page states, and I believe that, as a character, he is still true to his purpose.
I took a short break recently, and returned to find that I had no drive to continue his story in the game. I stuck to alts who had background, but little RP, and leveling through the MSQ multiple times without player content to support it grew tiresome. The thought occurred that perhaps this character is one I should explore, but through fiction, as it would allow me to focus on the more internal nature of what provokes his wanderings. After some consideration, I think that is a better option.
Time for him to put down adventuring, though surely not forever. Perhaps he dreampt of the Arrow, pointing north over the mountains of Dravania.
This leaves me with a blank slate of sorts, so I want to explore some options. From what I gather, there is a sizeable Highlander community with a lot of easily accessed lore to help with development. While there might be a game wall in front of their history, the Au Ra seem a pretty tight-knit playerbase, and I might be keen to worldbuild with the Raen. Or I could always return to my Duskwight roots from not so long ago, now that there is a very well-established thread for him to follow in Ishgard.
I will post some sketches here in the hope that the ideas bounce off of others. Maybe I'll come up with something more conducive to play than fiction. Or maybe someone will save me from perilous brushes with lore lapses, tired tropes, and glaring grammatical errors.
Fair skies, Ancel, until another time.
I put together some brief sketches for possible Highlander characters. Feedback is welcome, as ever.
Surveyor/Messenger: This idea came from watching some old BBC programs and noodling with the concept of scouting. The clan that birthed this character would be an established name, known among other Highlander clans for their moral character and firm neutrality in times of conflict. They were relied upon by many parties as couriers and heralds who could be trusted to deliver reliably and securely. However, just 25 years ago, the clan uprooted from Ala Mhigo and dispersed, without warning or explanation. Some members formed their own companies in the nations to the south, while others took to contract work with private mercantile concerns, or joined the Grand Companies. It was rumored in the years that followed that a senior clan member doubled as an informant to Garlemald, and that this was the reason they fled only a short time before the Garlean conquest. Many families, left to twist in the wind over this rumor, were forced to change their names in order to avoid deadly reprisals. One such family had settled near Moraby Bay, and one day raised a child who would become an adventurer...
(Admittedly this doesn't account for Theodoric or his purges, I haven't been able to integrate Ala Mhigan history into this sketch fully yet.)
Guardsman/Partisan: Five generations ago, a clan whose name was synonymous with superb hammerwork was implicated in the unlawful possession of stolen precious metals. The offending families, who could never be proven to have committed wrongdoing, were forced into exile. One of these families decided to lay down roots shortly after crossing the border into the Black Shroud, and strove to ply their craft in accordance with their new Gridanian hosts that they might avoid the greenwrath. When the Autumn War was launched by Ala Mhigo, these Highlanders chose to side with their new countrymen in Gridania, and those who could not raise arms against their former comrades chose instead to supply arms to the forces of the Twin Adders, Wood Wailers, and Quiver's Hold. After the bitter conflict and aftermath of the Ala Mhigan retreat they settled on remaining in Gridania proper, so that their descendants would be native-born to the Twelveswood. Shortly before the Garlean conquest of Ala Mhigo, this family gave birth to a child who would one day become an adventurer...
(This one may glaze over the nuance of the conflict around Gridania before the other Eorzean nations joined her, but I thought it a nitpick at this stage.)
To be updated below.
(10-22-2015, 07:28 PM)Grandelion Wrote: [ -> ]Some members formed their own companies in the nations to the south, while others took to contract work with private mercantile concerns, or joined the Grand Companies.
...these Highlanders chose to side with their new countrymen in Gridania, and those who could not raise arms against their former comrades chose instead to supply arms to the forces of the Twin Adders, Wood Wailers, and Quiver's Hold.
This was the only thing that really stuck out to me. The Grand Companies of Eorzea were only re-founded 5 years ago a few months prior to the Calamity, in the Year 1572 of the Sixth Astral Era. So there was no Twin Adders during the Autumn War or a grand company for your tribe of Highlander couriers to join 25 years ago.
You did say you were having trouble integrating Ala Mhigan lore with your first backstory, but I think the Mad King's destruction of the Temple of Rhalgr 25 years ago in 1552 would be a good historical plot point for why your tribe of peaceful Highlanders chose to leave Gyr Abania. That senseless violence, as well as the purging that followed likely would not have sat well with them - as it didn't with most Highlanders truthfully.
Hope this helps! ^^ If you need any help with lore (for Ala Mhigo, Highlanders, or whatever) lemme know and I'll get back to you as soon as possible!
That is beyond helpful, thank you! The timeline of the first sketch was a total goof on my part. I think I can definitely work your more historical scenario into something believable for the second sketch as well.
Definitely something to continue developing. 
Revised from above.
Surveyor/Messenger: The clan that birthed this character was at one time a respected name, known among other Highlander clans for their moral character and firm neutrality in times of conflict. They were relied upon by numerous parties as couriers and heralds who could be trusted to deliver reliably and securely. However, in 1552, during the aftermath of King Theodoric's massacre of the monks of Rhalgr, the clan uprooted from Ala Mhigo and dispersed, without warning or explanation. Some of its members formed their own companies in the nations to the west, while others took to contract work with private mercantile concerns in the south. It was rumored in the years that followed that the clan leadership, disgusted by Theodoric's purge, provided to Garlemald the information it had amassed over years of confidential service. It remains unknown how much damage such a breach may have caused during the Garlean conquest, but many families were forced to change their names in order to avoid deadly reprisals due to these persistent rumors. One of these families quietly settled near Moraby Bay, and one day raised a child who would become an adventurer...
Guardsman/Partisan: Five generations ago, a clan whose name was synonymous with superb hammerwork was implicated in the unlawful possession of stolen precious metals. The offending families, who could never be proven to have committed wrongdoing, were nonetheless forced into exile at the behest of their rivals (whether or not these rivals were the orchestrators of this defamation remains a matter for historians to debate). One of the exiled families decided to lay down roots shortly after crossing the border into the Black Shroud, and strove to ply their craft in accordance with their new Gridanian hosts, that they themselves might avoid the greenwrath. When the Autumn War was launched by Ala Mhigo, these Highlanders chose to side with their new countrymen in Gridania, and those who could not raise arms against their former comrades chose instead to lend their talent at the forge. After the bitter conflict at East End and dénouement of the Ala Mhigan retreat, they settled on remaining in Gridania proper so that their descendants would be native-born to the Twelveswood. Shortly before the Garlean conquest of Ala Mhigo, this family gave birth to a child who would one day become an adventurer...
How do these hold up in light of prior errors?