chaoticsleepy

This is how I usually play Tarot. Always a supporting character, never the lead. And sometimes, that just works better for a character if they are the type that is along for the ride; it lets you develop and reveal aspects in your own time rather than having to pick the right time so you don't hog the spotlight as WELL as running a story. I'm much the same in this respect. I've always regarded Xheja as a more background, support-y character when it comes to plots at large. It makes more sense for her that way, to keep her own involvement in things subtle and try to arrange things from the background and have other people do her dirty work for her. OOCly, I also just tend to enjoy that supporting role more, and seeing how my contributions and collaborations with others end up subtly affecting things in the end. That and I maybe have a minor fear of being too much in the limelight no wait everyone stop looking at me oh god noooo~ ;A;

If I had to pick a general theme and/or tone to Xheja's RP, I would probably label it as very strategic and calculating. Psychological might be another good way to describe it. Not in the sense of like, psychological horror. More like she's constantly trying to gauge people's minds, figure out what they want, how to use that to her advantage, etc. Essentially, she treats most interactions and situations like a game, and she's always debating on the best way to move her pieces. To that end, my style with her is definitely more serious. Even when more humorous situations pop up, she doesn't truly shift well into that kind of comedic scene. She does have a very healthy sense of humor, but it can be rather.. sarcastic and mean rather than good-natured and goofy. So when more comedic scenes crop up, it can sometimes make me uncomfortable with her. As far as realism vs. fantasy, though.. I agree with Gaspard. I think part of the big appeal for RP for me, especially in this kind of setting, is the aspect on not necessarily having to stick to pure realism. At the same time, complete logic-defying, grandiose fantasy doesn't settle well with me, either. (As a disclaimer, I don't think anything is wrong with that style. It's just not for me / Xheja!) So I tend to play Xhej as leaning further towards realism, and keeping the fantasy elements of her character subtle. Before I reworked her, her fantasy element was much more prominent. Since then, I've scaled back on that aspect of her story somewhat and put it in the background, and I've chosen to focus more on her more realistic merchant and shady business aspects. The fantasy is still there. It just isn't the driving force behind her overall development any longer. I've not really had any chance to work in any combat / action scenes into my RP as of right now. But just the same, I don't see them being grandiose when they do inevitably pop up. As a Black Mage, naturally there would be some element of fantasy involved in such a scene. But I would be doing my best to constrain and translate it to more realistic levels - such as being logical about cast times, spell potencies, interruptions, limitations, etc. - so no earth-shattering explosions or calling forth a legion of undead minions or something equally silly for Xheja.

Alrighty, sounds great to me! I'll be looking forward to it~ Hey Phayte! Xheja can definitely provide cosmetics. As far as pen inks, it's not something she really specializes in. But I would imagine she would be able to whip something up on a custom basis!

[align=center][ . . The Collector: Part Three . . ][/align] [align=center]T H E V O I D[/align] [align=left] M uch like the sensation felt as one drifts off to sleep, once her surroundings had faded away, Xheja descended slowly into the feeling of nothingness. Her mind was barely coherent as the Void took her in, her thoughts jumbled and senseless. Yet she was oddly calm now, her heart having ceased its attempts to beat itself out of her chest and her breaths coming in a slow, even rhythm once more. Eventually, one clear thought did manage to surface. How long had she been here? Minutes, or maybe hours? Longer? Whatever inner sense of time she was in possession of, this place utterly interfered with it. Or perhaps, the concept simply didn't exist in this space.. "I see that you've come around. Good." The voice suddenly reaching her ears had her eyes flying open. Truly, she hadn't even known that they were closed to begin with. Yet when they opened, her breath was taken away by the sight. Blackness. Nothingness. Only the movement of roiling aether around her. Was this..? "...the Void?" She managed to whisper the words aloud, her voice sounding small and distant to her own ears. A soft, melodic laugh from nearby greeted her. "Very good!" The voice answered. Now that she was focused upon it, Xheja could make out its properties: undoubtedly feminine, high-pitched, and oddly cheerful. "This is the Void. Rather, it's your perception of the Void given form. Though this is rather.. bleak, don't you think?" Another soft, playful laughed followed. "Now stand up, and let's have ourselves a little chat, no?" Slowly, the Keeper woman pushed herself upright, first into a sitting position. Still disoriented, she shakily began to push herself to a standing position, swaying lightly on her feet before managing to steady herself and straighten her posture. Her head turned from side to side, brows furrowing as she searched for the origin of the voice. "Looking for me, Sweetling?" the voice all but purred out close behind her, causing her to turn sharply on her heel to face the other. Xheja's eyes widened slightly when she finally spotted her. She wasn't sure what exactly she had been expecting, but this certainly wasn't it. Perhaps she had expected some sort of grotesque monster, or awe-inspiring beast. Yet the woman that now stood in front of her was an utterly unimposing Midlander woman, slight of build and barely even a few ilm taller than the Keeper herself. Her own eyes were wide and bright, their color a soft lavender to match her fair complexion. Her long, blonde hair cascaded down her back in soft waves. The dress she wore was just as pristine, white and luxurious while still rather conservative in design. As Xheja's own features took on a look of shock and confusion, the other woman's head cocked to the side. "You don't remember me at all? Truly?" She asked, almost sounding.. hurt? The Keeper's confused look only deepened. The hyur woman let out a soft sigh, stepping forward gracefully until she had closed the distance between them. She lifted a pale hand to extend it towards the other. Xheja recoiled instinctively, causing the other's frown to deepen. She seemed.. sad, for some reason? The Keeper stilled herself, letting the other's hand finally reach out to gently cup her cheek. Once again, she found herself surprised by how soft and gentle the touch was. "Perhaps you don't remember.." The woman muttered to herself, her thumb gently stroke the miqo'te's cheek. "Given the nature of your previous visits to the Void, it is plausible." "I've been here before?" Xheja asked suddenly, voice skeptical. "You have, Sweetling," she answered. "On two occasions." At the look of blatant confusion, the hyur woman gave her cheek one last gentle pat, then withdrew. "Most recently was after your incident at Witchdrop a few years ago. You withdrew here, your body badly broken, and I held you and comforted you until you healed and left me once more." For a long moment, Xheja's questioning gaze remained on the other woman. Yet the other patiently allowed her the time to process the information. Gradually, Xheja gave a nod, hesitating before speaking up once again. "So Marcelloix was right? When I perish in the physical realm, my aether comes here?" For the first time, the other woman's soft and delicate expression faltered. A flash of something.. dark appeared on her features, only to disperse as quickly as it had came. A strained smile followed. "Yes. He is correct." Xheja could not help but wonder about the source of the strange look that had appeared at the mention of the other mage's name. Her mouth opened to question it, but suddenly closed once again. Somehow, she sensed that it was a subject best left unbreached for now. Instead, she redirected her questioning elsewhere. "If that is so.. When was the first time that I came here? To the Void?" "Nigh on six years ago," she answered immediately, her smile now taking on a hint of sadness. "After you perished on the fields of Carteneau, and your dear friend sought me out to make a deal on your behalf." Once more, the miqo'te fell into silence, her mind working hard to process all of the information. More than anything, she couldn't help but wonder why she could not even vaguely recall this place. She stared, long and hard, at the other woman's face. Yet try as she might, there was not even a single shred of familiarity to be found. "Perhaps this is why your perception of the Void is so barren and blank?" She began, as if sensing what the other was trying to recall. "When you were here, you were utterly incoherent. I suppose it makes sense that you wouldn't recall anything." Another sigh, albeit a rather dramatic one, passed her lips. Her hands rose, shoulders shrugging. "Alas, it cannot be helped. I suppose we should start over, from the beginning. I know you have questions. You need only speak them, and I will give you the answers you seek." Answers? Xheja hesitated again, caught off-guard by how easily the creature offered up the very thing she had come here to seek out. At first, she was relieved at the apparent ease of it. She had mentally prepared herself for having to dig and pry even the slightest hints of information from the other, who now seemed to be an open book sitting in front of her. Yet the more she really thought about it, the more skeptical she became. This woman was, without a doubt, a Void creature. No matter what pretty guise she chose to wore or how gentle she acted, nothing changed that fact. She had heard endless stories of the fell beasts acting innocent in order to get their claws into someone, to further their own goals. Not to mention, her mind kept going back to that brief flash of something across her face at Marcelloix's name. There was definitely something suspicious about the situation. It reeked of deceit and manipulation, and the woman inwardly scolded herself for nearly succumbing to it in a moment of weakness. Yet she had no choice but to play along with this odd game, for the fear was there that should she call the bluff, those answers she needed so desperately would be tugged away from her. She would just have to be vigilant. "Who are you?" Xheja asked finally, doing her best to keep her tone even. The immediate response was another soft, pretty laugh. "You would start with a difficult question, wouldn't you?" Those light purple eyes twinkled with delighted amusement, her nose wrinkling softly. "I've had so very many names that I fear I've forgotten what my name truly is. Though there are those of your realm that have taken to calling me the Collector.. An odd and uninspiring appellation, in my opinion. They couldn't have been more inventive?" She couldn't help but find herself skeptical that the other had forgotten her true name. It was highly unlikely that something so important to a creature such as herself, something that could be used to control her, would be so easily discarded. Yet she knew better than to press the matter. "Why do they call you such?" She asked. "Why do they call me the Collector?" The woman repeated, brows lifting. "I suppose it's on account of the deals I make with individuals like yourself." At Xheja's perplexed look, her smile widened. "You're not the first person with whom I've contracted, dear Xheja. Far from it. In fact, this--" She extended her arms to her side, showing off her form. "This is the form of the first person to make a deal with me. There are others that I could show you, if you're curious..?" Suddenly, the other's rather harmless appearance made more sense. It was a disguise. It was rather clever, too. If the creature refused to impart the knowledge of its name and its true form to her, then it could protect itself quite thoroughly. The Voidsent's cunning frustrated her, but she kept the emotion from reaching her face. "That isn't necessary." She shook her head, before leveling her silver-eyed gaze on the other once more. "You collect us, then? To what end?" "When you put it that way, it sounds so malicious.." "I simply want to know. Traipsing around the question serves neither of us." The hyur woman sighed heavily, lowering her arms to cross them over her chest. "Let me first say that I am not the one that sought out you nor the others like you. It was you - or in your case, your friend - that came to me. Such was the case in the past as well. But I suspect it is not the collection of those like you that earned myself such a moniker. It is what I asked of them." Her words were careful, measured.. As if she had been anticipating this question. Obviously, she had given her response much thought. "They came to me with a desire. I granted it. In exchange, I only asked for one simple thing." "And that one thing..?" The Collector's plush lips pulled into a wide, almost wicked smile. For the first time, the other truly seemed like the Voidsent she was. "Aether." With that single word, so many things seemed to click into place for her. Aether. Suddenly, the years of drawing forth the aether locked within crystals and shards made sense. The Keeper had always wondered why she was required to do such a thing to function properly, but now.. "What need do you have of aether?" Xheja asked pointedly, her suspicious look finally making its way onto her expression. Upon seeing it, the hyur's smile shifted to a smirk. "You seem to be losing patience," she observed. "Then you'll want a direct answer, no?" The woman nodded, though something once again didn't settle right with her. Why was this Voidsent so eager to part with such information? "The same thing that most of those who come to me want: Power." The blonde woman looked positively gleeful. "Let me tell you a story, dear Xheja. Many, many years ago, this woman--" She lifted those arms again, showing herself off. "--was third in line to the throne of her people. She wanted nothing more than to be Queen, to wield such power and influence. Yet she was a pitiable strategist. Every plan she hatched to dispose of her two elder sisters failed miserably." "In one last act of desperation, she turned to the Void. I was nothing so impressive back then, the only creature that someone of her low caliber could summon forth. But what I lacked in power, I made up in cunning." Once again, she flashed that wicked smile. "She contracted with me then. If she would provide me with the aether to grow stronger, I would see her sitting upon her much beloved throne. True to her word, she did exactly as she was bade, borrowing my cunning and charm to lure away victims and offer up their aether to me." "In time, I had grown strong enough to put plans into action. Through this woman, I pulled strings from the Void, and her desires came to pass. Her sisters met their end, and it was her who became Queen. Yet there were those who questioned her ascension, they knew better than to question her aloud. I had fulfilled my end of the bargain." Xheja quirked a brow. "And then?" The blonde's look soured again, though the Keeper wasn't entirely sure if it was at her pressuring, the story itself, or perhaps a mixture of both. Regardless, the Collector continued on. "This poor woman believed that the bargain was done when her own wish was fulfilled. She ceased her offerings to me, believing that she had grown so powerful that I was no longer needed. Yet she failed to realize that it was my strength she drew from, not her own. Everything she had become, it was a result of my designs. So naturally, when she decided that she would spurn me, I took matters into my own hands.. I took her aether." "So you--" Xheja began, only to be cut off sharply. Apparently, it was the pressuring before that had annoyed her. "--'possessed' her, as your kind are wont to call it? Indeed. I had grown strong enough by that time to be able to materialize in the physical realm, and she provided the perfect host for which to give myself a suitably discreet form." The Voidsent suddenly gave a small spin, setting the ruffles of her dress to a flutter. "I wore her appearance just as surely as she wore this exquisite gown." A sick feeling began in the pit of Xheja's stomach. Whatever innocent, almost matronly mask the creature had worn upon her arrival in the Void had been utterly discarded. Now, she could very much see the beast's true, power-thirsty nature and utter disregard for mortal life. As the other came to a stop again, her head canted to the side, giving Xheja a wide-eyed, curious look. "Does this bother you?" She asked, that sweet tone making a reappearance. "Of course it bothers me." Xheja's answer was quiet, her gaze shifting elsewhere. She couldn't stand to look at her at the moment. "But I want to know what manner of monster I am dealing with. Tell me, what happened? Something must have went wrong, for you to be here now and to have went through so many others, as you claim." "Monster? You wound me." Her hurt tone was just as convincing as the performance of one of the third-class mummers she had often seen about Ul'dah. The loud sigh that accompanied it was even worse. "But you're very keen, as always. Yes. Something went terribly wrong." "I enjoyed the power of ruling immensely.. The wealth, the influence, and the adorations and affections of my many followers. I was able to win a great many of their hearts. Those who opposed me? I destroyed and devoured them, often publically. Alas, such impulsivity and.. pomp eventually garnered the attention of Void hunters. I was still too young to understand how such hubris would inevitably be punished." This time, it was Xheja's turn to smirk. Naturally, she found the turn of events satisfying. It satisfied her even further to see the rather annoyed look her reaction had brought about on the other's face. Her lips set into a hard scowl, but she didn't dignify it with a response. "They descended upon me with a fury and with a set of skills I had never before witnessed. I fought them, of course. In the end, I'm ashamed to admit that they prevailed." Her expression turned into a deep snarl of a sneer, her disgust evident. "Yet more than simply returning me to the Void, they sealed me here." The dark-haired Keeper examined the Voidsent for a long moment, weighing the information. Her mind tried to fit the pieces together, to make sense of it all. Yet there seemed to be something missing. "So you're sealed to the Void. That explains why we were unable to summon you, correct?" "Indeed." The Collector nodded. "No matter what method of summoning ritual you had tried, I fear you wouldn't have been able to succeed. Such is the manner of the bindings they forced upon me." "Then if you are bound here, what is the point of continuing to collect aether? Why would you continue making deals to gather something that is useless to you here?" She demanded, shaking her head. "Are you simply that petty?"[/align] [align=left] "You'll take care to watch your tongue," the hyur snapped suddenly with eyes narrowed, catching Xheja completely off-guard. Her words were like ice -- cold, jagged, and piercing to the core. "I do so like you, Xheja, but I grow exceedingly weary of your criticisms of matters you mistakenly think you understand." For the first time since their conversation began, the miqo'te could feel that sense of fear returning. With the other's anger flared and exposed, she could practically feel how powerful she was. Bound to the Void or not, there was no denying that the Voidsent in front of her was capable. Very capable. "With enough aether - with enough power - any binding can be undone. Such is what I believe. That is the reason I continue making deals with those like yourself. I use you as pawns, granting your petty wishes in exchange for gathering the aether that I am now unable to collect for myself." "Why are you even telling me this?" She finally blurted out, shaking her head. "It makes no sense. Are you not fearful that I'll return to my world and use this knowledge against you? What if I refuse to collect aether for you?" She expected the Voidsent to grow angry with her. However, the comment seemed to have the opposite effect. Once more, she let loose that terribly feminine, gently laugh. She even lifted a dainty hand, covering her smiling lips to stifle the noise. "You truly overestimate yourself, don't you? Even if you were not the one to make a contract with me directly, it is still your aether that belongs to me." Those lavender eyes were alight with wicked amusement. "You may protest as you wish, but you will do as I bid." "And if I don't?" She challenged, despite the hard, fast beating of her heart. Be brave, she recalled Marcelloix's words. Her bravery faltered, however, as the elegant woman slowly stepped forward. Xheja held her ground, though it seemed to take an eternity before the woman actually reached her. When she did, she lifted out a hand. Instinctively, the miqo'te flinched, eyes shutting tight.. only to open again when she felt the gentle touch of that pale hand lying flat against her chest. Her look was questioning. "Dear, sweet Xheja. Do we truly have to be at such odds?" The woman sighed, giving her a warm smile. "You know my pain, do you not? To be bound to a place in which you do not belong? To want nothing but to be released?" Surprisingly, the words struck her more deeply than she had thought possible. No, she thought to herself. Don't let yourself be manipulated. Yet even though she knew that it was a trick meant to toy with her emotions, the creature had hit far too close to home. "You are a very intelligent, driven woman. In the time I've been with you, watching you, I've come to adore that about you. And truly, I feel remorse to have to hold you in a position so similar to my own. Yet this was the deal that your ally unfortunately thrust upon the both of us.." It's a trick, she inwardly repeated, looking away and squeezing her eyes shut, trying her best to ignore the other. Don't listen to her. "Yet, if you were to gather aether for me and see that I'm released from this prison.. Our deal would be fulfilled, and I would be obligated to release you from your own." The Collector paused, her other hand moving to Xheja's chin to gently take it in her fingers, turning her head back so that their eyes met. She could feel her resolve crumbling. "This is what you want most, is it not?" This was what Marcelloix had wanted to test - her willpower. When he had sent her forth to meet the maddened mage in Coerthas, he had wanted to be sure that her will was strong enough to withstand such treacherous, manipulative offers. And she had lied to him and let him believe that she had, when truly, she had done nothing but be weak. Perhaps this was her punishment for betraying the man's trust? "Fine.. I'll continue collecting aether from crystals.." "Oh no, dear." The woman clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "That would take far, far too long. Yet if you were to acquire aether from living creatures, especially from your fellow man.." "No... No! I won't do such a thing. I--" Her defiance was cut off with a sharp hiss as the grip on her chin tightened, nails biting into her skin. "You need not kill, stubborn girl. You're very intelligent, even if you're not thinking clearly in this moment. You will find ways - subtle ways - to do this for me." The grip she had on Xheja's chin loosened again, "Though.. There is one person in particular who I am afraid must die." Perhaps it was a moment of weakness, or just an oddly morbid sense of curiosity. Despite knowing that she should immediately refuse and fight, entirely different words came to her lips. "Who?" The Collector's response did not come immediately. Instead, she watched the miqo'te for a long moment, studying her with an unsettling intensity. At length, after what felt to Xheja to be like excruciatingly long hours under scrutiny, the woman smirked. "Thieroux." Horrified at the proposal, Xheja made to jerk away from the woman's touch. Before she could even so much as take a single step back, a sharp pain radiated from her chest, ripping the air from her lungs. Stunned, her eyes fell downwards. The hand that had been previously resting gently, tenderly resting against her chest had shifted position. Those long, delicate fingers of hers had extended into horrifying, wicked claws - claws that were buried deep in her chest. A loud, pained shriek tore itself from her throat, the pain bringing her to her knees. Her hands went up to desperately try to pull the woman's hand away, but was unable to so much as budge her in the slightest. Even if she looked delicate, the Collector was deceitfully strong. "Shame you failed my test as well, just as you failed his," she sighed, cruelly twisting those embedded claws, pulling another ragged scream from the woman. "Marcelloix Thieroux is descended from those Void hunters who imprisoned me here. It is only right that he should die, and that his aether should become mine. If you had accepted my task and seen to his execution obediently, I would've let you return home and do as you pleased. But it seems to me that you'll need my help after all.."[/align] [align=left] Slowly, the aether began to flicker as it flowed down the beast's thin arm, gradually making its way from her shoulder all the way down to her hand. Xheja tried desperately to pull away, yet those claws were buried so deep that there was no escaping them. She let out another pained groan turned sob as she felt the other's aether enter her, weakly clawing at the woman's wrist in one last effort. Yet the aether continued to flow, the corruption spreading even as the blinding pain saw her struggling to cling to consciousness. At length, the blonde woman roughly pulled her hand back, carelessly wiping those sickening claws on her dress, leaving trails of deep red in their wake. Her eyes narrowed as she looked down at Xheja, seeming almost to glow. "I'll remain true to my promise, if only because I have so much pity for you. Gather aether and see me released from the Void, and I will release your own aether from its prison. That is my gift to you." Already, the woman's words were seeming to grow distant, quiet as Xheja's vision blackened again. "Now go." She wanted to fight, to claw and scream until the Voidsent released its grip on her. Yet sitting there, crumbled to the ground with her hands pressed to the wound in her chest, she couldn't even move, much less protest. All she could do was sob quietly as her willpower to resist faded away along with her vision. And once more, there was nothing.[/align] [align=center]- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -[/align] [align=center]|| . . . OOC Notes . . . ||[/align] So much dialogue oh my god make it stop why. But really, though. Glad to finally have this part finished. Explains a lot of the reasoning behind what really changed Xheja, as well as more about the Collector and its motivation. \o/ And kind of gives some insight into why Xheja's mannerisms are what they are now - being that the Collector has completely and utterly corrupted her. I also took some liberties on the Void and such, considering that there isn't a comprehensive collection of lore to really work off of there. Tried to keep it simple, though, for fear the retcon hammer and minimal headcannon conflict. x: -crosses fingers-

@Phae'ra: Sounds good to me! I'd love to work out something with you! And s'all good, haha. As it is, I'm more or less OOC in the Quicksand creepin' on RP at the moment anyway as I write up more on Xheja's backstory~

@Lillini: Xheja doesn't actually sell any books about magic, but she's definitely a buyer. So we could work something out there, I think. Maybe they're seeking out the same book and she beats him to it? And he pokes around and finds out that she's the one that's bought it and comes to try and buy it from her or something? Or vice versa. I'm sure we can figure something out to get 'em talking. @Sastra: Sounds like we could definitely work something out with either one of them. Though I am an NA player, so I'm not often on during the weekdays during daytime hours. Weekends, I tend to be online more-or-less all day, though. And I'm also open to forum / Skype RP if that's something you might be interested in~

Hey everyone! I know I've slapped up one of these threads for Xheja a while back. However, that was pre-personality shift and as such, the information has become super out-dated. Now that I've settled into her new self, I thought I would throw up another one of these with some updated ideas to try and drum up some RP and make some connections! Because really, how fun is it to play a shady, power-thirsty, manipulative merchant-type without anyone to play with? I'm in-game pretty often and chances are, if you find me standing around, I'm up for RP! And even if you happen to find me in the Quicksand, I'll be more than willing to initiate RP anywhere else as long as it makes IC sense for Xheja to be there for some reason. Likewise, I'm also completely open to forum RP and potentially even Skype RP! (In fact, I would actually love to get one or two of these started to keep the RP flowing even when I can't be in-game!) [align=center]Potential RP Hooks:[/align] Business Contacts: Xheja is an Ul'dahn merchant, first and foremost, specializing in high-class cosmetics and dyes. So any sort of business contact - fellow merchants, suppliers, competition, customers, etc. - would make for some good RP! Especially customers. I would love to get Xheja some non-NPC clientele, and maybe some custom orders. Employees: Figured I'd add a separate section for this. As Xheja's business expands, she would definitely like to expand employment, whether that's recruiting alchemists for development and production, talented salesmen, or even potential business partners to begin selling her wares full-time in other City-States. "Business" Contacts: While she has her legitimate business, Xheja also has some alchemical skills that are not openly advertised, particularly in the area of poison-making. While this wouldn't be something that every Joe Schmo off the street would know about, if you're interested in this, let me know and we can try to work it in somehow! Underground Contacts: As Xheja's business skews less off the path of legality, she would definitely like to make some shadier contacts to keep herself well-connected to the underground. Black market merchants, secret-sellers, etc. That sort of thing. "Pawns": Xheja is very much a manipulative type, and she tends to look at and treat people differently based on how valuable they are to her. That said, she's always got an eye out for someone who might be useful to her - whether they have something or some information she wants, a particularly useful skill set, etc. - and how she might be able to worm her way into their good graces for future use. Law Enforcement: What legality-skirting character would be fun without the law to oppose them? Right this moment, there's not a ton going on to really implicate Xheja in anything illicit while the ball gets to rolling. But there are definitely a few things that have went on in the recent past which might cause some curious eyes to turn her way and have some questions asked. Let me know if you're interested in details! "Victims": Xheja is very much Void-corrupted and, long story short, she requires the occasional absorption of aether from other living creatures and/or people. (More details on her wiki.) Her preferred method of doing this is to draw a non-lethal amount of aether from willing "victims" with an abundance of and/or a unique/strong type of aether - usually through some sort of manipulation, sob-story, etc. While this is currently a very minor, background part of her story, this option is definitely on the table. Casual Contacts: I suppose most of all, I would really just like to get Xheja out there and interacting with more people, period. Idle tavern chatter in the Quicksand? An academic discussion in the Arrzaneth Ossuary? Perhaps a debate on economics in the market wards? I'm up for it! Of course, RP isn't just limited to these kind of interactions that I've mentioned above. If you've got ideas of your own, I'd be more than willing to hear them and work something out with you! I'm just excited to really get Xhej going full-force.

Saw this earlier today and almost forgot to reply after getting home! But I'd like to offer up Xheja for RP! She's a subtly villainous, Void-touched miqo'te as well, though her corruption at this point is so thorough that she probably skews more towards a Voidsent-in-sheep's-clothing than a normal person. She normally goes to great lengths to conceal it from others - bad for business, y'know? - but we could talk it over and figure something out if you wanted to get some interaction or plot or something going! Just give me a nudge in-game sometime if you're interested, and enjoy Fan Fast. ^^

[align=center][align=left]Though about it for a while and did some hardcore Google Fu, and I'm pretty sure Scarlett Johansson comes closest to a faceclaim for Xheja. Granted, her skin tone is the complete opposite of Xheja's.. But her facial structure and build is pretty much spot-on. ...And dem lips... *-*[/align] [/align] [align=center]http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/fd/1f/59/fd1f592e4700551411fedb78fd63b508.jpg[/img]http://style.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/scarlett-johansson-dolce-gabbana.jpg[/img][/align] [align=center]http://mediafiles.cineplex.com/Blog/English/FullSize/Scarlett_Johansson_smirk632.jpg[/img] [/align]

[align=center][ . . The Collector: Part Two . . ][/align] [align=center]C O E R T H A S[/align] [align=left] "It is time to begin," Marcelloix began, stepping aside and motioning towards the table set out in front of him, everything upon it meticulously placed. "Are you ready, Xheja?" A shred of hesitation was evident, a pause coming just before the Keeper woman answered. "Yes. I am ready." Her lips pulled into a small, if not anxious smile. Regardless, she stepped away from the window, drawing nearer to the table set out in front of the older Elezen man. Her silver eyes swept over the elaborate setup in front of her, examining every opened book, half-empty vial, and softly flickering candle with an almost alarmingly high attention to detail. It felt almost as if her aether was alight, buzzing.. Her senses felt raw and sharp, nose differentiating the smell of each different reagent present and eyes flicking back and forth rapidly between objects. Even her sense of touch as she ran her fingertips over the bumpy grain of the wooden table felt especially sensitive. Perhaps it was just her nerves coming to a head now that she was to come face-to-face with the answers she had sought for nigh on six years now, ever since Carteneau. Perhaps it was the knowledge that the entity that held those answers was a Voidsent. More likely, it was perhaps the uncertainty of the situation. Even though Marcelloix had assured her that the process should work flawlessly, in theory, the fact remained that there was no real precedent for what she was doing. At least, not that they had found in their fervent research. Even the most fortified hypotheses had a possibility to go awry in the heat of the moment. She couldn't stop herself from thinking on it, her gaze growing distant as she stared down at the table. What if she never returned? The concept of death was one thing, and truthfully, the thought of dying - truly dying - hadn't frightened her in years. What worried her now was the thought of life eternal, entrapped in an unknown realm or plane of existence home to malevolent, violent monsters of every sort imaginable. What absolutely terrified her, however, was the thought of becoming one of them.. "Xheja?" The voice sounded distant to her ears, only seeming to really reach her as she finally looked up and met the man's pale blue-gray gaze. The corners of his lips turned down in a deep frown. "If you are having second thoughts.." "I'm fine. I was simply in thought." He regarded her quietly for a moment before simply nodding and turning back to the table, knowing better than to push the subject too far. For that, she was grateful. In this moment, she was feeling weaker than she had in a long time. Not physically weak, but mentally so. It was the type of weakness that made her feel like any slight bit of dissuasion from the other would quickly convince her to back out from the ritual. When Marcelloix's attention returned to her once more, he held a knife in his hands, pulling it free from its ornate sheath. The Keeper's silver eyes fell to it, studying it with a look of both dread and intrigue. The steel was immaculate and glittering in the candlelight, and it was obviously well-crafted. More than that, however, it seemed to glow softly with some unseen aetheric force. She could feel it.[/align] [align=left] "There is one last ingredient necessary in order to construct the path to the Void." The man shifted to extend his free hand towards her, palm open and upwards facing. "Your blood should be sufficient in channeling your aetheric connection with the Void. If you'd like, there are herbs with numbing properties.." Xheja shook her head, simply extending her hand to place it in his own. Her eyes rose to meet his, a weak smile taking to her lips. "That won't be necessary. I can handle a bit of pain." Without arguing, the Elezen man pressed the sharpened edge of the knife against the soft, tender flesh of her palm. The initial pressure was lacking, the blade simply pressed firmly against her skin. But after one last pause to ensure that she was fine, he pressed harder, the blade biting into her skin. A sharp hiss escaped her, her nose wrinkling and eyes pressing shut. Yet true to her word, she bit down on the inside of her bottom lip, stubbornly enduring the stinging pain. The dark, red blood immediately began to well at the wound, slowly pooling in her hand. A few fat drops fell heavily to the floor as the other gently guided her closer to the table, positioning her hand over a small bowl half-filled with various other reagents. He tilted her palm so that the blood began to drip downwards into it, watching carefully as if he were silently measuring each drop. When he had apparently gathered enough, he tilted her hand upright once more, reaching out with a free hand to grab a handkerchief and then press it firmly into her palm. "Press it firmly against the wound," he instructed. "I know, I know." She sighed quietly, though did exactly as she was bade. Wordlessly, Marcelloix's attention focused once more on the bowl in front of him, gently mixing the Keeper's blood in with the viscous mixture. Once it was thoroughly blended, he exchanged tools, extracting a thick bristled brush from his array of tools. As he dipped the end into the draught as if it were an inkpot, Xheja stepped closer to observe. Her eyes followed every movement he made closely as he drew a large circle in the empty center of the table, each addition he made making the design grow more and more complex. Circles within circles, interrupted by occasional sharp angles.. It was unlike anything the woman had ever seen before. Once the outline was finished, the Elezen man exchanged the large brush for a smaller one, dipping it in the mixture and then setting to work at filling in the details. Her head canted to the side, and as much as she did not wish to disturb him, she couldn't help her curiosity. "Is this.. arcanima? These circles and drawings.. They seem like what you would find within an arcanist's grimoire." "Not at all. Though the form may appear similar, this is an aetheric art of its own right." He paused in his writing to look to her, giving her a small smile. "These sorts of symbols and runes are used in the summoning of Voidsent. Though, for our objective, I've had to repurpose them.." Once again, Marcelloix trailed off, returning to his work. Now that he had mentioned it, she could see the marked differences. These runes were entirely unlike the Eorzean alphabet, possessed of an entirely different, foreign shape and form. Yet.. there was something oddly familiar about them. It was almost as if the miqo'te woman could read the words, but only in the most vague, intuitive sense of the word. It was a strange, indescribable feeling. Yet to feel this sort of connection to whatever this odd, unfamiliar Void language was.. Such unnerved her greatly. "Perhaps I truly am some sort of monster." The thought turned her stomach, her lips pulling into a deep and serious scowl. However, before she could lose herself in her own anxious, dark thoughts, the older man turned to her. "It is ready, Xheja. Step here, extend your hands, and place one in either circle on the sides of the diagram." He stepped aside for her to take his place, ever patient even as she hesitated. The breath seemed to catch in her lungs before she numbly stepped forward, turning to face the table. Looking down at the scrawlings, she could feel the dreadful aura of power radiating from it. She reached out both hands, stopping once more when they hovered just over the two empty circles awaiting them. Her hands were trembling. "Be brave," Marcelloix spoke up from beside her, his voice firm yet encouraging, seeming to sense her trepidation and its source. "You've resisted the Void's corruption once before when I gave you your first task. You will do so again. Have faith in yourself." Her head turned to look up at him, eyes wide and mouth falling open. But the words she wanted to speak died in her throat. No, I did not resist the Void's corruption, she wanted to tell him. J'suloh cut the man down before I even had the chance to be strong. Yet no matter how hard she tried to will the words to life, she simply couldn't. She was afraid, and it was far too late to turn back now and betray the man's trust. Slowly and silently, she nodded, letting her eyes fall back to the elaborate circling pattern in front of her. Her shaking hands lowered into position. A soft shudder ran down her spine suddenly at the almost electric feeling that traveled up her arms and through her chest, but she resisted the urge to recoil away from it. No, she had to continue. There was no turning back now. "Very good. Now channel your aether through the diagram, much like the focus of a staff or sceptre." Xheja let out the breath she had been holding as she complied, letting the aether course freely from her. It surprised her, how simple it was. In a way, it was simpler than even channeling through a weapon. It felt natural. Yet before she could ruminate on the strangeness for overlong, it was done. The odd patterns drawn onto the table glowed softly with her aether as a small, dark ball of.. nothing began to form at the circle's center. Her brows knitted as she watched it, slowly growing in size until it eventually filled the entirety of the inner ring. Those silver eyes widened as she watched the dark black and purple aether fluctuate and pulse, her stomach turning. Suddenly, now that she was facing the Void head-on, the fear was overwhelming. She wanted to run. Her heart felt as if it would beat right out of her chest, and her mind raced. However, when she tried to desperately pull her hands away, she could not. It was as if they were stuck there firmly by some unforeseen force, no matter how much she willed herself to back away. She wanted to scream and beg, but the words wouldn't come. All she could feel was the odd, sickening sensation of her aether - her very self - being pulled into that cold, black pit as the rest of the world around her faded away. And then there was nothing.[/align] [align=center]- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -[/align] [align=center]|| . . . OOC Notes . . . ||[/align] Part two! Though, there may end up being more like four or five parts instead of the originally planned three. Whoops. Just looking forward to getting this backstory finished~

I've noticed that this tends to happen to me a lot, too. It's super annoying, and even when I try to rephrase / chop posts up, it still doesn't like to go through most of the time. I usually just get frustrated and bypass it by taking a screen capture of the post and /telling it to my partner(s). >.>;

Similarly to some others in the thread, Xheja very much views sex as something to be used as a tool. As a manipulator-type, she knows that there is definitely a good deal of influence in sexuality, and she isn't afraid to flaunt that if she feels like going such a route will get her from point A to point B. But with that being said, if she sees no value in gaining favor with the person for whatever reason, her willingness to participate in any kind of sexual activity with them is nonexistent and she can be downright frigid. Likewise, in terms of sexual preference, whether a partner is a man or a woman is ultimately irrelevant to her. Coming from a highly female-populated Keeper tribe, bisexuality and homosexuality amongst the females of her tribe was somewhat normal. So, Xheja tends to not use a person's sex as an overriding determining factor of sexual attraction, though she does tend to lean towards males over females. Likewise, others' sexualities tend to phase her very little, though male homosexuality sometimes intrigues her as it was rather uncommon in her upbringing (though still not taboo, given that the males in question were still willing to procreate in the interests of perpetuating the tribe). The dominance factor of sexuality is something else that she tends to be very flexible with, depending on how she.. 'feels out' what a partner wants from an encounter, for lack of better phrasing. It's all about manipulation and wrapping others around her fingers, so whether she accomplishes that by being more aggressive or passive, submissive or dominant, etc. is ultimately situational. Left to her own devices though? She tends to be more of an aggressive submissive. (Which makes sense to me, but not sure if it makes sense to anyone else, haha.) Finally, the matter of sexuality and emotion.. For Xheja, the two are absolutely and utterly separate. That said, though she is currently unable to really have any kind of true emotional connection to anyone, she does occasionally experience actual physical and sexual attraction to others if she deems them interesting enough for her. Though her criteria for what counts as 'interesting' tends to lean more towards the intellectual and charming, rather than purely on looks alone. So even if she does feel a sexual attraction to someone, it is highly, highly unlikely that there is any emotional attachment behind it. As such, concepts like romance and monogamy aren't important to her.

[align=center] [ . . The Collector: Part One . . ][/align] [align=center]C O E R T H A S[/align] [align=left] A zeyma's fading light set the snow-covered ledges and mounds alight with a pearlescent sheen, glittering and reflecting the dark, deep reds and purples of the evening sky lording over the remote Coerthan village. Xheja studied the array of colors and shades with a vague, distant interest through the frosted window pane, the sight alone enough to send a sudden shiver down her spine. A softly crackling hearth radiated warmth not more than ten fulm away in the cottage, but even still, the Keeper could feel the chill settling into her bones. There was just something about this place that was oppressingly cold deep down to its core, the wet snow and piercing winds aside. Thick wools and furs could ward off the frostbite and hypothermia from the weather. Yet there was nothing to deter the bone-chilling coolness that came from the Ishgardian people themselves. The largely Elezen and Hyur population in the small village of Drakesbane had 'warmly welcomed' her just shy of two months prior with the stern warning of what would become of her should she cause problems for them. The leader of the small township had personally marched her to the main hall to show her the mounted head of the terrible drake whose demise had served as the village's namesake, to demonstrate to her 'the fate of those who threaten Ishgard and draw the Fury's ire.' She had accepted the warning with a blank nod, letting her nerves stay hidden underneath the surface as to not expose weakness, but the worries were definitely there, resting heavy in the pit of her stomach. A movement from the corner of the cottage pulled Xheja's attention away from the window and back towards the tall Elezen man across the room as he moved from one thing to the next, scratching out quick notes with a ragged quill one moment and then measuring out and mixing various reagents into a small bowl the next. As he worked, he muttered softly to himself, occasionally stopping long enough to thoughtfully tug at the graying tuft of wiry hair covering his chin. The Keeper woman smiled fondly as she watched in silence. Marcelloix Thieroux occupied a position of high regard in Drakesbane, and in this region of Coerthas at large. At one point in time, he had served as a Mage Captain in the guard of a prominent Ishgardian house. Which house it was, Xheja was still unsure. He had mentioned it to her at some point or another, surely, but with many Elezen names, her miqo'te tongue struggled to pronounce it, much less commit it to memory. During his celebrated career, the man had protected his people against the Dravanian horde as any good Ishgardian knight would. Yet his true claim to fame laid elsewhere, in his vast and valuable knowledge of the Voidsent. As a veteran practitioner of thaumaturgy, Marcelloix possessed not only a theoretical, but also a practical knowledge of the Void and its myriad creatures. Their region in particular struggled with the presence of the peculiar monsters just as surely as they warred with the dragons, and so a man with not only knowledge about their inner workings but with the ability to effectively and efficiently dispatch them had been worth his weight in gil coins to the Ishgardian house. Yet with age, the man had chosen to retire from his post, taking up residence in the small village to live out the rest of his days practicing his art and conducting his studies in relative peace. Drakesbane had provided Marcelloix a quiet atmosphere for his research, and the village's citizens eagerly welcomed someone who had proven himself skilled enough to have bestowed upon him one of the original Stardust Rods forged by Shatotto herself - a relic that his Lord had went to great pains to acquire for him as a gift for his leal service. When Xheja had first appeared in the village to seek him out, the man had been suspicious as the rest. Though he had received correspondence from an associate in the Arrzaneth Ossuary speaking of her desire to study the Void under him, her revelation of her true intentions had alarmed him somewhat. Though the Keeper woman did possess a desire to learn about the Void, it was the need to discover more about her condition - the taint that stained her aether, as Lren had once told her - that claimed her highest priority. [/align] [align=left] Only with much begging did the man seem to reluctantly entertain her request, but not before issuing her a task to prove her dedication and willpower. He had given her a name and a location of another mage living in a keep of his own not too far away. The man had told her to tell him what she wished to learn, and to listen carefully to what he had to say. Only then, he had told her, would he teach her all he knew about the Void. At once, she had departed, eager to finally have answers. It did not take long for her to find the keep, and a rather familiar face that had beaten her there, though the man had markedly changed from her memories of him. The beast of a man, as she had learned, had been employed by a nearby town to clear the keep of the mage and his retainers after a number of kidnappings had taken place at his hand. When all was said and done, the woman did not even have much of a chance to speak to the insane mage before he had been cut down by the bloodthirsty Sunseeker. Discouraged by the outcome, she had returned to Marcelloix empty-handed, certain he would turn her away for her apparent failure to secure the knowledge she had been tasked with retrieving. Yet the Elezen man had actually been quite surprised to find her at his doorstep, no worse for wear and not utterly corrupted. It had been a test, to judge whether or not she would give in to the Void's corruption as the slain madman had, and she had passed. At least, she had passed the test as far as the Elezen man was concerned. The Keeper chose to keep J'suloh's involvement in the matter to herself. Afterwards, the two months had passed in an overwhelming blur. She had sorely underestimated how much there was to know about the Void, and the kind of knowledge and ability she needed to possess in order to wrest it - and thereby, herself - under her complete control. It was tiring and frustrating work, and more often than not, the woman found herself stuck at some barrier or another. There were tomes upon tomes that she needed to read, endless rituals to learn.. Yet there was one thing in particular that evaded her, eventually bringing all progress to a standstill: a name. "The key to truly controlling a creature of the Void is knowledge. Yet if we do not even know what this creature is, the rest of our work is for naught," Marcelloix had finally told her one afternoon after yet another failed attempt at calling forth the creature and learning its identity. "Whatever creature has buried its claws into your aether, it is strong and it is stubborn, and it is unlike any case I have ever seen." No matter how hard they had tugged at it, they were met with nothing but dead weight. It was as if the creature was so firmly rooted in the Void that it was literally impossible to force its materialization into the physical realm. Even the highly knowledgeable mage who had earned his renown by forcing particularly unruly Voidsent into submission seemingly could not get a handle upon the creature. Each day had wore on Xheja more than the last, bringing her back to the same state of worry and depression that had set upon her before she had even left Ul'dah. The flicker of hope she had felt when she had set out for Coerthas was waning, losing its desperate fight against the sharp, cold winds and the darkness that seemed to be all but closing in on her. Was it hopeless? Was there nothing that could be done? The questions and doubts haunted her even as she slept, until she could no longer rest through the night and dark circles began to form under her lids. When the Keeper woman had almost reached the end of her hope, almost resolving to surrender and depart from Drakesbane immediately, Marcelloix had returned to her with one last method by which they might learn what demon haunted her. The older man was obviously delighted at himself as he spoke of his idea to her, pale blue-grey eyes alight with the wild excitement she had seen in the eyes of many scholars and mages at the precipice of a new discovery. It was a look that she was intimately familiar with, having worn it herself on a handful of occasions. "If the beast is too stubborn or simply unable to be summoned here, then there is but two options left to us. We can either surrender the pursuit and continue, grasping blindly and unknowingly for information we're like to never find on our own. But the other option.. We abandon the thought of summoning, and instead take you to the creature." Xheja could still remember clearly the grin that took his lips, even as he began to shuffle through piles of papers of hastily and sloppily scribbled notes. Clearly, he had put much thought into this. Yet her hesitation had been palpable, weighing in the pit of her stomach like a stone. "You're saying that there is a way for me to go.. to the Void?" She began, tone questioning. "Forgive me for my doubts, but is it not the case that those whose aether is absorbed into the Void tend to remain there? Permanently?" His grin widened, as if he had been waiting for her to ask that one question the whole time. "You've claimed before that your aether is bound to this plane of existence, have you not? That when you lost your footing at Witchdrop some years ago and fell, your aether returned to your body and resurrected you some time later?" As the look of dawning revelation appeared on her face, he nodded. "Given the manner in which the Void taint is so intricately entwined with your aether, it is my belief that in such a case, the Void is where your aether retreats in the interim before it is called back to the vessel to which it is inexorably bound - your own physical body." "Then as long as my body remains here..." She began, paused, and then returned his grin with one of her own. "I will be able to return." Yet for how simple the plan had sounded, the preparations were overwhelming and it became increasingly obvious that it was anything but. The two of them pored through book after book, searching for any precedent of what they sought to accomplish. They theorized endlessly about different scenarios. They gathered the myriad materials that they needed for the ritual. For the first time in months, the two of them were refreshed and hopeful. Excited, even. If all went according to plan, the answers they needed were at their fingertips, just waiting to be grasped. Now, the day had finally arrived. Xheja was pulled out of her thoughts to the sound of Marcelloix's voice, murmuring quietly to himself, finally breaking the quiet with a weighted sigh. He turned towards her, studying the dark-haired woman for a long moment before leveling his serious gaze upon her. "It is time to begin," He began, stepping aside and motioning towards the table set out in front of him, everything upon it meticulously placed. "Are you ready, Xheja?" Her mouth opened to reply, but the words momentarily died in her throat. For a long moment, all she could do was stare silently at the other, studying his him intently. He wore his exhaustion on his sleeve. This man - her beloved mentor and friend - had worked tirelessly for days now to see this plan through for her. She owed him a great debt that she doubted could ever be repaid. The thought was enough to stir an emotional tickle in the back of her throat. Yet she refrained, instead offering him a tentative smile as she pushed herself from the window. "Yes. I am ready."[/align] [align=center]- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -[/align] [align=center]|| . . . OOC Notes . . . ||[/align] So, this is part one of three as far as the backstory goes to explain Xheja's change of character. Originally, I was going to write it all up in one shot.. But it kind of ended up being a lot longer and more detailed than I had planned. Ha, whoopsie. Not sure when I'll get the other two parts finished seeing as I'm trying to finishing kicking a nasty cold, but I'll do my best. Let me know what y'all think! c:

[align=center] [ . . Voidbound: A Collection of Short Stories . . ] [/align] [align=center]X H E J A R A J H E R A[/align] [align=left] I 've decided to give up on the journal idea for Xheja and work on a collection of short stories for her instead. Given the rework of her character, it just makes a lot more sense to write out happenings in story form to get a much more complete recounting of events. (And to help me keep track of things!) Any representation of other people's characters as far as Xheja's reflections on them are purely IC and as such, not at all reflective of my OOC feelings or opinions. I say this now because of the shift in personality she has undergone can see her being rather rude, manipulative, and cold when it comes to how she views others. So if she views your character negatively or in a very manipulative fashion, please don't think the feeling is shared by myself! As always, OOC commentary is more than welcome! I encourage it, actually. I like the feedback and interactivity! Also, please note that these short stories are canon for her and as such, some of the events that are written about could be used ICly. However, please use your best judgment on what could feasibly be in-character knowledge, and please ask me prior if you want to use something that may be iffy! ♥ [/align]

[align=center][/align] Really, though, I'm quite interested in TN. Seems like it could be right up Xheja's alley. o: I'll see if I can get ahold of you tonight in-game when I get off from work! Thanks! c:

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I posted on the forums here, but I've found myself in need of some advice / help from my fellow RPers. Long story short, I took a bit of an RP break with Xheja to kind of re-evaluate where I wanted to go with her, and the direction I ended up choosing skews her a bit more towards the villainous side. Now, I'm not talking grandiose destroy-the-world, kill-everyone-and-their-puppy-too kind of evil. More like she has a personal goal in mind (which just happens to be collecting aether for a Voidsent in exchange for her freedom) and is no longer quite so opposed to using morally questionable means. Specifically, she's a manipulator type that enjoys using others to subtly accomplish goals from the background, rather than being in the thick of things. (Though she doesn't have a qualm with occasionally trying to knife someone when their back is turned if she has to..) My dilemma is this.. RP has been kind of scarce and kind of stale lately, given that I don't belong to any IC roleplay groups or plots. I can only stand so much idle 'Hi, how are you tonight?' tavern RP without something more engaging and mentally stimulating to break it up. This is doubly problematic on a character whose whole point is playing mind games. There's just not enough material to really work with, and scarcely any real continuity in a mostly one-off setting. I've looked around at some FCs and LSs that I've seen in game and on the RPC, but most seem either more-or-less good aligned or just too specific in scope to be applicable. So I was wondering, could someone point me in the direction of any FCs or LSs that may be more welcoming to this kind of character? It doesn't even necessarily have to be a strictly evil / villainous group, either. I just need to find a niche that Xheja can fit into or something that she would find ICly interesting/entertaining enough to want to be a part of, whether that's with like-minded manipulators and baddies or discretely worming her way into something more benign for one reason or another. I'm open to ideas. I just need something fun to get involved in! If anyone wants/needs more character information, Xheja's wiki is finally in the process of being updated (though it's still largely incomplete). I'm also more than willing to answer questions or to talk more in depth about the kind of things that I'm looking to get out of an RP / group, and can be reached here, through PMs, or through /tells in-game. And in advance, thanks everyone for your help! ♥

Oooh. This one actually made me have to think quite a bit and get a little creative in terms of interpretation. But for Xheja.. [align=center]VIRTUE: Fortitude[/align] When it comes to learning about the aether and - by extension - her own current condition, there is very, very little that would actually stop Xheja from her goal of knowledge and answers. However, this is not necessarily always a 'good' thing. While she does make an effort to be discrete and considerate, things like social stigmas about her research and methods would not truly stop her from pursuing them if left no other choice. It is also entirely possible that she would turn on an ally or go against their wishes in the right situation if there was some kind of promising glimmer of knowledge to be had from it - though this isn't entirely part of her innate personality, and more of a side effect of the changes she's undergone since the Calamity. [align=center]VICE: Greed[/align] This is another trait that manifested itself in Xheja only in recent years, specifically since she began her own business. She's come to adapt to Ul'dahn culture over the years and, with it, has gained a considerable appetite for coin. Though really it isn't the coin and riches themselves that appeal to her. More like it's the power, status, and freedom that comes with having an abundance of it.

To say today has been confusing and unexpected would be a tremendous understatement. What I had thought would be a normal day was derailed the moment that Lren found me once again in the Quicksand. Persistent as ever and threatening to expose me should I not cooperate, I agreed to speak with him. Even though he led us to a place out in the open with plenty people milling about, I still have never felt quite so acutely exposed. As it happens, however, I may have been too quick to judge the man. He allowed me to explain myself, of what I knew of my condition. Luckily, he believed me and was very understanding. It was quite difficult to admit such things aloud, especially to a person whom I knew little about. But at the end of the day, I am glad that I spoke with him. I believe he will make a valuable ally in my search for answers. Our conversation indeed left me with much to think about, though. Lren claims to be a former member of an order that hunts Voidsent and those connected to them. Such is how he recognized the anomalous nature of my aetheric signature. Could it be that whatever spell plagues me is borne of the Void? Such a thought worries me deeply, especially because it seems to explain so much. Lren assured me that I shouldn't worry and that I should not leap to conclusions. Yet I couldn't help but for my mind to be plagued by such thoughts for most of the evening.. When I finally returned to the Quicksand in hopes to find Eravul and put an end to the digging I had asked him to do on Lren, I instead found another acquaintance - a Seeker by the name of J'suloh. He is not at all shy about his flirtations, but his particularly brand of charm is more endearing than annoying, I've found. Yet tonight, he came to the tavern injured and though much has changed in my life, I still cannot stand to sit idly by when I witness someone in obvious pain. We left for the Alchemists' Guild and there, I purchased the ingredients to make a simple concoction for the pain so that I could make sure that no bones were broken. I know not whether it was the fact that I was so distraught over what had transpired earlier in the evening or if it was the nostalgia of taking care of another person coming over me. Perhaps both. Regardless, as we spoke, I allowed him to get closer to me than I should have. Even worse, I agreed to accompany him to Costa del Sol tomorrow. I shouldn't have. It was a moment of weakness, and one that need not happen again. Tomorrow, I will have to make my intentions - or lack thereof, I suppose - more clear. Given what I have just learned about myself, it is simply unwise. Foolish. Potentially dangerous, even. I refuse to needlessly drag another innocent person into this mess with me. --

Xheja tends to view names as being very important. For one, she's come to understand that having a well-known, influential name in Ul'dah opens a lot of doors. To that end, Xheja uses her name in the name of her business (Rajhera's Radiants) and is pretty open about giving her own name to just about anyone when the topic of business comes up. However, on the opposite side of the matter, she can be quite stubborn if she feels like someone is prying too much. She'll refuse to give her name, or in the best case scenario, give another name entirely. She is also rather fond of other Keeper names, finding them both familiar and beautiful. Though for non-miqo'te, she realizes that her own name can be difficult to pronounce. So on occasion, she'll allow people to call her Shae -- the closest hyur approximation of her name.

Xheja will likely end up being in need of someone discrete who can acquire hard-to-find books, scrolls, and artifacts of a rather.. questionable nature. The deeper she gets into her research, the less socially-acceptable her reading material and items of interest tend to become. And it probably wouldn't reflect too well on her own business dealings and reputation if people knew she was becoming more interested in things like the Voidsent, black magic, summoning rituals wait what no shhh nothing to see here folks. So I may just be in touch next time she needs something on the down-low!

[align=center]The following journal entry seems to be rushed, the penmanship rather lacking compared to previous entries. [/align] [align=center]Along the margins are numerous clustered blots of ink of various sizes, giving the impression that she had stopped to tap her quill against the parchment in thought.[/align] [align=left] Sleep did not come easily to me last evening. Even now, my eyelids droop and I feel as if I can barely muster the energy to keep my quill moving. What little sleep that was not interrupted by tossing and turning was haunted by nightmares that made rest impossible, leaving me to open my eyes and stare at the ceiling in worried thought for much of the night. This is his fault, the stranger who approached me last night in the Quicksand. My head was already filled with mundane worries, given some recent disturbances in supply routes for my business. Yet that all paled in comparison when he sat down beside me. He sensed it - something off about me. That is not altogether unusual. Given the influx of adventurers in recent years, particularly those well-versed and sensitive to aetheric presence, it is not the first time that someone commented on there being something strange about my presence. Typically, I can either shrug it off or talk my way around it, diffusing the situation and redirecting suspicions. But the way he spoke, those carefully chosen and deliberate words.. He knows. I felt almost as if there was a threat there, somewhere, hidden in the subtleties of his phrasing. It has quite unnerved me. I've never walked so quickly back to my home as I did after I excused myself, feeling as if I was being watched and followed until I was safe behind a tightly locked door. Yet for every ounce of worry I feel, there is an equal amount of curiosity. I know not of the true nature of my continued existence, it vexes me to admit. What little information I have gathered on my condition is rudimentary at best, despite the amount of research that I have pored into finding answers. Yet this man spoke of malignant creatures as if he knew more than he spoke aloud. Could it be that he is mistaken? Or could it be that he knows something about the spell that plagues me - that it is something sinister? I need more information. Before I quit the tavern for the evening, I asked his name. Lren Rendarren. I know not whether it is truly his name or an alias, but it is a clue nonetheless. I shall have to look into him, to see if I can discern his intentions and affiliations. Yet, on the same note, the fact that he so freely gave his name - if it is truly as he claims - and did not bother to ask me my own unnerves me further. There is an undeniable confidence in that which worries me. Perhaps it is best that I should begin carrying a sceptre with me around the city at all times. One never quite knows, and I would prefer as to not be caught unawares.[/align] --

[align=center] Okay, I can't possibly pass this kind of prompt up. Decided I would write up something really quick. Didn't do any editing or revising or anything, so if it's kinda choppy and sloppy, that's why... And oh god, I totally didn't expect it to end up being so long. I also can't figure out for the life of me how to get Spoiler tags to work. Sorry! D: [/align] [align=center] What if... Xheja had never left her tribe to join the Twin Adders? QfkqY2yGCW0 (I'm totally a sucker for mood music.) - - - - - - The Black Shroud, One Week After the Calamity.. All in the forest was still that day, save for the quiet babbling of the nearby stream. Even when she strained to hear, the young miqo'te woman couldn't hear even the faintest chirp of a bird nor call of insect. Even the wind was calm, blowing so softly through the trees as to not rustle the leaves. It was as if the Shroud was yet in mourning for its fallen children. Only a few days prior, all had not been so calm and quiet. That day still haunted the Keeper's dreams in explicit detail. They would for the rest of her life, that much she knew to be true. Explosions rocking the forest like nothing she had ever experienced before, debris and Hellfire raining down from the sky. Trees groaning and cracking from impact, just as sickening to the ear as if they were bone snapping. The forest's multitudinous creatures crying out in fear and agony as fire overtook their homes, thick black smoke clouding their eyes and choking their lungs. A dark shadow swooping down over the Shroud on fell black wings that blocked out the sky. The memories of that day would not leave her, no matter how hard she had tried to forget.. - - - - - [align=left]Whispers that something was to happen had pierced even the heart of the wood as droves of Twin Adder troops passed through on their way to battle. On their way to Carteneau, she had heard them mention, though she knew not the details of what was to transpire there. She hadn't been sure that she wanted to know the details, to tell it true. It terrified her, deep down in her very being. The Garleans. Dalamud. The queer happenings all across Eorzea. It all boded ill. She could recall only a few months prior when the Adders had come calling on their tribe, asking them to join forces to combat the growing threats. Several of their members had agreed. Even a few of their leaders had decided to join up with the grand company. She had not. A part of her, deep down, had wanted to enlist. Yet more than that, she had been afraid. Never before had she dared even think of leaving the safety of the Shroud. Even knowing that the wood was becoming much less secure daily, she just couldn't bring herself to leave in its defense. The miqo'te woman had felt shame for her cowardice then, and such shame she still felt now, tenfold, after all that had transpired. Her eyes had been locked onto the swollen red moon with worry as the sun descended towards the horizon that day, a sickened feeling growing in her gut with each passing hour. She had to wonder, were her tribemates there on the plains of Carteneau that eve? Would she ever see them again? How many would fall upon the swords and spears of Imperial soldiers, never to return home to the forest? To never again witness the beauty of the morning sun breaking through the lofty canopy? To never feel the thrill of an arduous hunt? To never revel beneath the stars in the light of the moon to please Menphina? All of her thoughts had ended sharply and suddenly the moment that she heard the first explosion, a sound so uniquely horrifying that it had been as if it had played in her head on repeat for days now in an unending loop. The moon had bust open, birthing forth a terrifying wyrm the likes of which she couldn't believe. Yet she had not scarce had time to gawp in awed and horrified silence before the running began. Distant screams filled the air as the sky seemed to fall upon their remote village, panic and chaos enveloping the small Keeper tribe. It took only seconds for her to hop to her feet, running as hard as she could to her home from the small clearing she had been skywatching from. She had to get to her family. Come what may, coward or not, they were her everything. She would reach them, or she would die trying. As she had reached the village, what she had found was the stuff of nightmares unimaginable. Homes destroyed, fire everywhere. A few who had been unfortunate enough to be close to the impact laid limp on the ground nearby. She was unsure whether they were knocked unconscious or if they had perished. She hadn't the time to check. Her family came first. Her hurried steps brought her to her home, and instantly, a sinking feeling took her in its tight grasp. The small hut was burning, set ablaze in a Hellish inferno. Just as quickly as the fear had gripped her, it was gone. She started in a dead run towards her flaming home. She had only made it halfway before someone caught her by the arm, clinging desperately and dearly to her. She struggled in their grasp, screaming in a thin, high-pitched voice. Cursing. Let me go! She could hear the voice trying to plead with her not to walk into the burning, collapsing death trap, and in the very back of her mind, she could sense the familiarity in it. Only the sound of another massive piece of debris hitting the ground very close to them pulled her back from her panic-driven state, her head snapping around in the other woman's direction from whence the sound had come. And then, as if Althyk himself had caused time to slow to a crawl, the next few seconds seemed to last a veritable eternity. The giant slab of stone had slammed into a tall tree not far from her home. In her mind, she could see flashes of memory. This was the tree amongst whose boughs she had once climbed as a child, laughing and playing with her brothers and sisters. Now, split in half, the once welcoming, almost protective figure of her childhood was bearing down on her like Byregot's hammer. All she could do was stand and stare in stunned silence, breathless. She was shoved hard, catching her completely off-guard and sending her crashing off to the side. As she hit the ground, snapping back to reality, she had just enough time to look back towards the spot she had been standing in only seconds ago. She found the other miqo'te woman standing there, and it finally dawned on her just who it was. Her mouth opened to scream her name, to tell her to run. But it was too late. There was no escaping it now. She watched the woman throw up a hasty barrier in a last-moment effort to save herself. Yet the spell broke under its weight the instant the tree fell upon it, shattering like glass. Tears filled her eyes and her lungs burned with both smoke and her own choked screams, weakly trying to get to her feet to run to where the massive sentinel had fallen upon her. She had scarce made it to her feet before, attracted by the noise and screaming, another small band of fleeing tribemates had grabbed her and dragged her with them to escape their burning home.[/align] - - - - - The sudden loud croak of a bullfrog from the nearby stream pulled the woman out of her thoughts, watery eyes opening. She was shaking, just thinking about it. It felt as if her heart was stuck in her throat. She wanted to turn and walk back to the small encampment that her and the other survivors from the Calamity had settled in, not far from their battered and torn home. But that was the cowardice speaking, and she knew that there was something here that she must do. Slowly, the Keeper woman stepped out into the clearing, fists clenched into tight, white-knuckled fists at her side as she steeled her nerves. Here, they had laid to rest their dead - if there had been anything left of them to bury at all. She hadn't yet stepped foot here, such was her shame, and it took her breath away to see just how many freshly-dug plots there were. Tears stung at her eyes as she walked through the quiet graveyard, reading the all-too-familiar names of those buried there etched into makeshift headstones. She would mourn them all in due time, of course. Yet first, there was one particular grave that she had best pay her respects to. Finally, she stopped at one of the plots, sucking in a deep breath and slowly dropping down to one of her knees. Her hands reached out to brush the stone to which her name had been affixed, reading it over and over again with an ever growing sense of sadness and loss. "I have not the words to thank you for saving me," She whispered quietly, her throat tight. A soft sob escaped her lips, her head hanging. "You did not have to sacrifice yourself for me. I am not worthy of being saved. I'm just.. just a coward." Yet she knew that, had the woman been there, she would've assured her otherwise. That was the kind of person she had been, even since they were but children. Her savior had only been one year her elder, but she had looked up to her in many ways, for many years. She had been a bright child who had grown up into an equally bright and giving young woman, who had been set upon the path to leadership one day. She was warm and kind, and wise beyond her years. She was a skilled conjurer with a deep reverence for the Gods and Elementals both. She would've made an excellent Matriarch, if only she hadn't thrown herself into harm's way on her account. "If only I had been brave.. If I had went to war with the others. You would not have been there, rescuing me from my own sudden bravery.. From my foolishness." Her voice was barely above a whisper, tears rolling over her cheeks and down the bridge of her nose to land in the loose dirt beneath her. "I swear, I will become brave.. Truly brave. For you and your memory." Slowly, shakily, the woman pushed herself to her feet. She sniffled, raising an arm to wipe the wetness from her eyes, and straightened her posture. She looked down at the headstone one last time, giving it a resolute nod. "I pray the goddess keep you, Xheja." [/align]

I've been having a slightly different issue with wiki editing actually. When I go to edit Xheja's wiki and try to switch the editor over to Rich Text Format, the editing box disappears. Trying to switch back to wiki editor after that doesn't work either, not until I refresh the page. Not sure if that's an issue with the migration or myself though since my computer has been acting a little funny lately and I can't check on my work computer. ;;

[Redacted 'cause old. ♥]

I keep meaning to find someone for an invite but always forget! When I get home today, I'll try to remember! o: