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AGN app
CHARACTER
Name Takame Kesi
Canon Final Fantasy XIV [OC]
Age26 27 (*in game as of 4/9/2019)
Birthright Jewel Purple Dusk
Dreams made flesh Protection for his younger sister and best friend.
Canon point Some time after the Main Scenario Quest "Emissary of the Dawn", but before "Sisterly Act". The events of the main story don't directly affect him much, but the most recent thing he would be aware of just by word of mouth would be the summoning of a Primal in Doma. It's this knowledge that will cause him to ask that his family be protected as he isn't in Othard during this time.
Canon Powers The normal way the ability system works in FFXIV is that you start with a Class and eventually promote to a Job and are given a soul crystal granting them access to the Weapon Skills of that Job. The more you gain experience in that Job, the more skills you unlock from the crystal.
Takame is a Samurai, which doesn’t have a base class. Samurai in FFXIV use Katanas as their weapon. He does have a soul crystal since he started with the Job and he has all Weapon Skills, Traits and Abilities a playable character of that class would possess up to level 70. The main draw of SAM is entirely raw damage and its weapon skills have high potency to achieve that.
Beyond his combat ability, he also has a special and rare gift known in universe as the Echo. This ability is still a mystery for the most part in canon but there are a few perks that all with this ability are granted. Universal understanding of all languages, immunity to mind control, ability to see where enemy attacks will land (this will be nullified), and most strikingly the ability to glimpse into a person’s past memories. This happens infrequently, at random, usually during intense emotional moments, and he has no control over it. This will pretty much never happen in normal play, but there will be a permissions post put up for it just in case. I'll only use this for things like player plots.
Specific to Takame as no one version of the Echo is exactly the same, he has exceptional eyesight and can visibly see the other people's level of Aether. So what this means is if you have a lot of magical power, he’ll be able to tell at a glance. If there is an unnatural or unstable magical energy around a person, he’ll also be able to tell.
As for miscellaneous things, he's light on his feet for someone who’s 6’5, has great physical strength with or without a weapon, and can hold his breath underwater for a long time.
Because Takame possesses a Jewel one shade lighter than Opal, the nerfs I'm applying to his abilities are as follows:
*The cast time of Iaijutsu will increase from 1.8 seconds to 2.0 seconds. so essentially it'll take him more effort to cast them.
*The buffs he gains from using Shifu and Jinpu after using Hakaze will decrease by 5%. So for example, instead of getting the normal 10% damage increase after using Jinpu he'll only get a 5% increase.
*The potency for Midare Setsugekka will be decreased by 5%.
*He will not have access to Hissatsu: Guren.
Most of the SAM Weapon skills are Slashing moves, in fact the only ones that don’t have Takame slashing the enemy in some way are, Yukikaze and Hissatsu: Shinten which are stabbing moves.
Since Sen and Kenki don’t matter for the purposes of AGN, how I’ll be treating moves that require those gameplay mechanics is that the Iaijutsu will take longer to cast as mentioned before and draw from the Jewel’s power to reach the potency they have in game (still applying earlier mentioned nerfs).
Higanbana is a series of quick, thin, barely visible slashes that leave damage over time from bleeding wounds. Tenka Goken releases energy from his blade in a cone shape in front of him, without Jewel strength the range is cut by a fourth. Midare Setsugekka will exhaust him greatly after casting, but is a deep twin diagonal slash.
Two offensive moves he has that require Kenki, Hissatsu: Gyoten and Hissatsu: Yaten, which are a distance closing move and a distance creating move respectively, will not require Kenki, but will need to channel from the Jewel to be able to use to travel their furthest distances. Without channeling that power, he will not travel as far forward or back, the distance will be cut by about a fourth.
The buffs gained from Jinpu and Shifu will not work unless he used them after Hakaze with the Jewel’s strength. Yukikaze is a vertical slash, followed by a stab that crushes armor, leaving the opponent more vulnerable to his slashing moves. The additional effect will not be applied against armor without the Jewel’s strength.
All of his weapon skills are offensive except for Third Eye, Meditate, Hissatsu: Kaiten and Merciful Eyes. Third Eye is a slight defense increase where he anticipates and braces for an unavoidable attack and Hissatsu: Kaiten moderately increases the damage of his next attack which would most likely be him using energy from his Jewel. Merciful Eyes is a minor self healing technique that can only be used after Third Eye.
Meikyo Shisui, Hagakure and Meditate effectively have no use as Sen and Kenki are not applicable in AGN. Unless he can Meditate enough to channel some power into his sword from his Jewel and then Kaiten is releasing that energy.
Personality Takame is someone who wants to find himself. He is lost in his life, wandering through it without a purpose desperate to find his calling. He doesn’t know who he is or what kind of person he’s supposed to be. Unless he’s given an explicit goal or task to achieve, he’ll do one of two things: Stay in the same spot until he is or scurry off on his own letting instinct guide him into something that will more than likely get him or someone else hurt. This isn’t to say he has no regard for the wellbeing of others, just that his regard for his own wellbeing is kind of inconsistent.
The main reason why he’s so lost is because of his circumstances growing up. He was raised to fight, to be on guard at all times, to be a servant of Garlemald and quell any of its opposition before it had a chance to sprout. He only knew that life until he reached adulthood. When it all gradually changed and he saw that there was more to the world it overwhelmed him, made him feel vulnerable. He still isn't used to it. He is a creature of habit, constantly seeking out the next order to follow, always looking for his next commanding officer. Though he never complains, he doesn’t react emotionally to change very easily.
In fact, he doesn’t even react emotionally. Rarely does his face show any readable expression, barely a furrow of the brow, hardly a quirk of the lips, never a change in his tone. He can come off unsettling and uncaring. Emotions he had growing up were treated as unnecessary. When he was young this suppression of his feelings manifested in anger that he used to intimidate if not brutally cut down anyone who stood against him. As an adult this rage faded and fizzled out leaving nothing more than a shell of an Au Ra that’s severely emotionally stunted. On his worst days feels that anything done is pointless, simply prolonging the inevitability of someone stronger annihilating everything. Takame has picked up on the fact that many find his pessimistic outlook off putting so he’ll take cautious steps to avoid making it known. He learned he had trouble in with his expressiveness, so instead of voicing his actual thoughts he’ll say things that are more optimistic and altruistic, spouting empty words and platitudes because he believes it is the “right” thing to say. It helps to not push people away, though it makes the question of who he is harder to answer.
Since he’s so apathetic and used to being pulled around all the time, he’s honestly kind of a pushover. More often than not you’ll see him following along with or being literally dragged by the whims of someone more authoritative, even if they have him doing something life-threatening or just plain ridiculous. If he’s asked to do something, he’ll more than likely do it. He won’t even ask what it is. Of course, he has some limits, like he’s significantly less likely to do something if he doesn’t know the one asking him or if they’re not otherwise his superior in an established hierarchy. Usually. If not that he’ll just freely allow someone to insult him and he’ll just stand there and take it. Not necessarily because he believes them, but he won’t confirm or deny what they say.
Takame is a pushover socially to be sure, but he isn’t one in battle. He’s merciless. He was brought up with the view that the strong will prevail over all. He has confidence in his skills with the blade. In battle he is relentless and swift, seeing nothing but his opponent. He gets an incredible high from the adrenaline rush an intense fight provides. Especially when up against someone much stronger than himself as he loves to be challenged. When his blood rushes, be it in a fight or otherwise, his impulsiveness goes into overdrive. While his respect for a hierarchy will almost always overcome this and thus keep him in control, he does tend to overestimate his abilities and get himself injured in an attack he could have otherwise avoided. He doesn’t have a fight or flight response, he has a fight or fight response.
One thing that cannot be denied about Takame is his absolute loyalty. Often to a fault. If someone acknowledges his skill, or acknowledges him at all he will swear fealty to them for life. Nothing will break his conviction. That applies whether the person in question is morally sound or not. Takame has no morals, his morals are that of whoever his current “Master” is. They can be just, honorable, and kind and he will obey. They can be cruel, murderous and oppressive and he will obey. He will become that person’s right hand, cling to them, drop everything to carry out their wishes. He is extremely dependent on other people to function. And should someone call into question the one he swore his life to, they will undoubtedly feel his ire. The anger within him didn’t completely dissipate, and the best way to get it out of him is to insult his most cherished individuals.
This is where the core aspect of many of his virtues becomes important. His younger sister Hina. It’s entirely thanks to habits he picked up from her that Takame isn’t completely socially inept. For one he lacks the superiority complex typical in most Garlean soldiers. In fact, he’s very polite and kind. He follows commands to the letter, yes, but he will never consider another person to be beneath him. Not because he believes he’s at the bottom of the barrel, but because he learned that they are all people fighting for their lives in a world most harsh. It’s thanks to her that there is any wonder for him to find in the vastness of the realms he resides. Not because he’s a true optimist, but because he wants to learn why people have such zest. He wants to understand.
His loyalty is just as much an asset as it it a flaw. As said earlier, he will swear fealty to a person for life. He would never ever betray someone’s trust, the thought alone disgusts him. Whether they trust him with a secret or their life, he takes the duty completely seriously. He puts every single ounce of his energy into his duty, even if he has to push himself to the limit to make sure it's done. He does not work in halves. Sometimes he does take things a bit literally but it just goes to show how hard working he is even with his talents mostly being limited to combat. Like his “fight or fight” response, he doesn’t have an all or nothing mindset, he has an all or all one.
This extends to wanting to keep his loved ones safe. Whether he’s defending them directly or not, he’ll go to any lengths to make sure the people he cares about are protected. When it comes to defense, he trusts his own skills the most and would rather not have to ask someone else. If he sets aside his warrior's pride and asks someone else, then he either trusts that person exponentially or senses great power in them. He’s aware of when someone can do a job better than him. The people around him give him purpose. For good or for ill, he will make sure people who deserve to live do and ones who don’t are eliminated. Under all of his stunted emotions is a loving heart.
For all of Takame’s habitual clinginess, impulsiveness, and stoicism he wants to be more than he is now. It took the literal heart of his world calling to him in a dream and telling him to think to make him do it. In the end he only did because he was told, more of him falling into habits, but for once it was to his benefit. He wants to learn about himself, he wants to learn why people are defiant. He wants to learn why people smile, why his sister smiles all the time even in the most dire situations. He knows now that he cannot be stronger unless he grows. And he is willing to.
History Information on the world he lives on can be found here. Most of Takame’s life is spent in the Far East and events of the main story don’t affect him directly. He arrives in Eorzea around the time of Main Scenario Quest "Flame General Affairs".
With that all out of the way, let’s talk about Takame’s history.
The subjugation of Doma was on the horizon when Takame was born in Sui-no-Sato. He scarce lived his first year before his parents sought to leave the sanctuary in search of a life more fulfilling for their new family. And so did they travel to Isari on the East Othard Coast and eventually settling in Doma.
They shouldn’t have left. A year passed in peace before the Garlean Empire’s aggression stretched across the lands of Yanxia. Instead of delivering brutal death to all, some were spared such a fate. Included among those “lucky few” was Takame’s father Shiden. He delivered himself freely into the Empire’s hands to spare his wife and son. He wouldn’t be seen again for the next four years, leaving his mother Minami to flee the Doman Enclave to Namai and care for him alone.
Takame was taken care of, taught to speak little by little and of the kami who watch over them. But in all her valiance, Minami rushed into situations that would leave lasting harm to her body all for the sake of her son. By the time Takame was four she was barely mobile.
Eventually, Shiden returned. But he was a changed man, believing the Empite’s means to be that which would lead to prosperity for Othard. He returned as a foot soldier accompanying a superior on an outing to conscript even more. He barely recognized Minami when she confronted him but unfortunately this bold action and her immobility lead to her death at Imperial hands. And he did nothing to stop it. The sole reason he found and took Takame again was because he demanded a villager lead him to his son. When the boy asked where his mother was, he was told she was gone but not told how.
And thus did Takame spend the next 13 years under Garlean thumb, travelling throughout Othard for Its sake, learning the ways of the Samurai, gaining an Imperial education and being brought up to obey all orders given by their masters.
The young Takame was very curious, asking a lot of “why”’s and “who”’s. All these would earn him is physical abuse by his father with his only “comfort” being that had he been anyone else, Takame would have been killed without restraint. From dawn till dawn he was made to train. When not learning letters, he would study the blade inside and out. He would become the blade and nothing else. Blades need not rest. Exhaustion would be met with reprimand, tears would be met with discipline, slacking off would be met with more beatings and questions would be met with starvation. He was a slave despite being told he would be working for the greater good. He didn’t even understand what the greater good was and the lack of liberty to learn made him grow up angry. He took this anger out on anyone who would stand in his way, it became his outlet.
In between these cycles of abusiveness, Shiden managed to befriend an Imperial engineer by the name of Jethro Kesona who worked up ranks enough to be able to give Shiden direct commands. The two hit it off very quickly as Jethro had a great interest in the cultures of Othard and Hingashi and less in the army. The man expected daughter recently in fact and settled in Hingashi.
As the years went on, Shiden’s health deteriorated. Eventually illness took him when Takame was 15. By this point Takame was a well established soldier, always the first to quash even the smallest hints of rebellion. In fact, a mission to investigate the village a lake in the vicinity of Namai is what caused him to meet someone. A young Sun Seeker Miqo’te named O’zhian. He saw her leaving the village and thinking she would know about his mom said nothing to her, only drew his blade and pointed it at her neck demanding to know if she knew the anyone involved in the rebellion. This horrified her and yet she didn’t run away. Mostly because she was petrified in fear and knew nothing, which she told him. He didn’t believe her for a second and spouted all manner of expletives at her… which she spat out right back at him with tears in her eyes and they went back and forth like the teenagers they were. It was a pathetic display really and the only reason he didn’t kill her on the spot was because he had a mission to carry out.
His commander after his father’s death ended up being Jethro of all people. Under his wing Takame had been entrusted with countless missions, most of them bringing him in and out of Kugane to, of all things, deliver paperwork to his young daughter Helena Kesona. He was also asked to conceal his face every time. A strange detail, but the armor he wore often had a helm that did so either way. It wasn’t long after Jethro assumed command that he summoned Takame and gave him a simple order; “We’re leaving the army. Nothing for me here.” This absolutely baffled Takame but at the same time. The order was given while the Hyur was his commander still. He would do what he was told.
They went to Kugane and established themselves there in secret where he continued to raise his daughter who Takame grew very close with. Of course the fact that Jethro deserted was still an issue, thus did he start going by Jed Kesi, telling his daughter to introduce herself as Hina going forward and offering Takame the surname to use as well. Such is where he spent the next three years.
Over this time, Hina baffled him with her optimism, smiles, friendliness and concern for his well being. He didn’t know anyone could be like that and as a result he became very protective of her like an older brother. The way she expressed her distaste for the Empire despite being Garlean, her desire for everyone to get along and for wars to cease. It was through her that he considered what he did, the subjugation, the killing, the violence, was not a good thing because of the horror in Hina’s eyes every time she would ruminate on it. The idea for peace that she painted for him inspired him to keep her dream alive because she couldn’t be wrong. She had such conviction, there was no way. She asked him one day to make her dreams real and being the one to do what he’s told, he did. When he was 18 Hina made him leave Jed’s custody to accompany her on a journey all across Othard to see everything it had to offer. He went everywhere with her, did everything she asked of him because he never knew anyone so incredible in his life. She became his sister, he would do anything for her.
When he reached the age of 20, he came across a familiar face on the border of the Azim Steppe. The Miqo’te girl he nearly killed that one time, O’zhian, and was surprised to learn that she met and befriended Hina a short time after he encountered her. Explaining that she hails from Eorzea but refusing to elaborate on why she was this far, she joined them in their travels for the next four years. By this point the Miqo’te and Au Ra were both embarrassed of their childishness and exchanged apologies for the incident.
The five year period was quiet, Takame continued to do everything that Hina wanted, not thinking about why or what they were. Everything she did was the right thing in his eyes, even her out of nowhere whim to travel to Eorzea where tales of a famous Adventurer were sung. In the midst of this, Takame began having strange dreams where he floated in an aetherial rift surrounded by floating crystals and a voice echoed in his mind. Hear… feel… think… Not only that, but their third party grew concerned for the Au Ra as over the course of their travels Hina asked of him more and more demanding tasks to facilitate their trip to Eorzea. Takame was being taken advantage of and tensions began to grow high between Hina and O’zhian as a result.
Things came to a head one day after an argument between Hina and O’zhian reached a boiling point and she screamed at Takame, asking him if he was going to spent his entire life as Hina’s shadow. The fact that his paragon of virtue, his only family was being questioned for no reason made Takame fly into a rage. Emotions ran high, so much so that Takame’s head began to pound, he felt as if his mind went into a fog. And he passed out, dreaming of a young Miqo’te hiding from others of her kind in fear.
When he awoke, Hina and O’zhian had long since apologized to each other and he, not understanding the dream he had, apologized as well. He then asked to be left alone for a while. He recalled the voice telling him to hear, feel and think. And he did. For once, he thought. Thought about himself. Who was he, what was he, why was he here, did he want to stay in the shadow of his sister? It was overwhelming, he found himself crying when he found that he had no answer to any of those questions.
A week later he called to them, the two people he loved like sisters, to tell them he would be making the journey to Eorzea alone to find his calling. The girls were shocked and concerned for him, but wished him well, proud that he finally made a choice for himself. And he was too.
Thus did he travel from Kugane to Eorzea, registering Limsa Lominsa’s Adventurer’s Guild to find his purpose in life, meeting with other adventurers along the way.
SAMPLES
Network Sample
Meme thread.
Log Sample
TDM Top Level.
PLAYER
Name Bon
Are you 18 or older? Yepperdo.
Contact Plurk @ bonpuns.
Current character N/A
Name Takame Kesi
Canon Final Fantasy XIV [OC]
Age
Birthright Jewel Purple Dusk
Dreams made flesh Protection for his younger sister and best friend.
Canon point Some time after the Main Scenario Quest "Emissary of the Dawn", but before "Sisterly Act". The events of the main story don't directly affect him much, but the most recent thing he would be aware of just by word of mouth would be the summoning of a Primal in Doma. It's this knowledge that will cause him to ask that his family be protected as he isn't in Othard during this time.
Canon Powers The normal way the ability system works in FFXIV is that you start with a Class and eventually promote to a Job and are given a soul crystal granting them access to the Weapon Skills of that Job. The more you gain experience in that Job, the more skills you unlock from the crystal.
Takame is a Samurai, which doesn’t have a base class. Samurai in FFXIV use Katanas as their weapon. He does have a soul crystal since he started with the Job and he has all Weapon Skills, Traits and Abilities a playable character of that class would possess up to level 70. The main draw of SAM is entirely raw damage and its weapon skills have high potency to achieve that.
Beyond his combat ability, he also has a special and rare gift known in universe as the Echo. This ability is still a mystery for the most part in canon but there are a few perks that all with this ability are granted. Universal understanding of all languages, immunity to mind control, ability to see where enemy attacks will land (this will be nullified), and most strikingly the ability to glimpse into a person’s past memories. This happens infrequently, at random, usually during intense emotional moments, and he has no control over it. This will pretty much never happen in normal play, but there will be a permissions post put up for it just in case. I'll only use this for things like player plots.
Specific to Takame as no one version of the Echo is exactly the same, he has exceptional eyesight and can visibly see the other people's level of Aether. So what this means is if you have a lot of magical power, he’ll be able to tell at a glance. If there is an unnatural or unstable magical energy around a person, he’ll also be able to tell.
As for miscellaneous things, he's light on his feet for someone who’s 6’5, has great physical strength with or without a weapon, and can hold his breath underwater for a long time.
Because Takame possesses a Jewel one shade lighter than Opal, the nerfs I'm applying to his abilities are as follows:
*The cast time of Iaijutsu will increase from 1.8 seconds to 2.0 seconds. so essentially it'll take him more effort to cast them.
*The buffs he gains from using Shifu and Jinpu after using Hakaze will decrease by 5%. So for example, instead of getting the normal 10% damage increase after using Jinpu he'll only get a 5% increase.
*The potency for Midare Setsugekka will be decreased by 5%.
*He will not have access to Hissatsu: Guren.
Most of the SAM Weapon skills are Slashing moves, in fact the only ones that don’t have Takame slashing the enemy in some way are, Yukikaze and Hissatsu: Shinten which are stabbing moves.
Since Sen and Kenki don’t matter for the purposes of AGN, how I’ll be treating moves that require those gameplay mechanics is that the Iaijutsu will take longer to cast as mentioned before and draw from the Jewel’s power to reach the potency they have in game (still applying earlier mentioned nerfs).
Higanbana is a series of quick, thin, barely visible slashes that leave damage over time from bleeding wounds. Tenka Goken releases energy from his blade in a cone shape in front of him, without Jewel strength the range is cut by a fourth. Midare Setsugekka will exhaust him greatly after casting, but is a deep twin diagonal slash.
Two offensive moves he has that require Kenki, Hissatsu: Gyoten and Hissatsu: Yaten, which are a distance closing move and a distance creating move respectively, will not require Kenki, but will need to channel from the Jewel to be able to use to travel their furthest distances. Without channeling that power, he will not travel as far forward or back, the distance will be cut by about a fourth.
The buffs gained from Jinpu and Shifu will not work unless he used them after Hakaze with the Jewel’s strength. Yukikaze is a vertical slash, followed by a stab that crushes armor, leaving the opponent more vulnerable to his slashing moves. The additional effect will not be applied against armor without the Jewel’s strength.
All of his weapon skills are offensive except for Third Eye, Meditate, Hissatsu: Kaiten and Merciful Eyes. Third Eye is a slight defense increase where he anticipates and braces for an unavoidable attack and Hissatsu: Kaiten moderately increases the damage of his next attack which would most likely be him using energy from his Jewel. Merciful Eyes is a minor self healing technique that can only be used after Third Eye.
Meikyo Shisui, Hagakure and Meditate effectively have no use as Sen and Kenki are not applicable in AGN. Unless he can Meditate enough to channel some power into his sword from his Jewel and then Kaiten is releasing that energy.
Personality Takame is someone who wants to find himself. He is lost in his life, wandering through it without a purpose desperate to find his calling. He doesn’t know who he is or what kind of person he’s supposed to be. Unless he’s given an explicit goal or task to achieve, he’ll do one of two things: Stay in the same spot until he is or scurry off on his own letting instinct guide him into something that will more than likely get him or someone else hurt. This isn’t to say he has no regard for the wellbeing of others, just that his regard for his own wellbeing is kind of inconsistent.
The main reason why he’s so lost is because of his circumstances growing up. He was raised to fight, to be on guard at all times, to be a servant of Garlemald and quell any of its opposition before it had a chance to sprout. He only knew that life until he reached adulthood. When it all gradually changed and he saw that there was more to the world it overwhelmed him, made him feel vulnerable. He still isn't used to it. He is a creature of habit, constantly seeking out the next order to follow, always looking for his next commanding officer. Though he never complains, he doesn’t react emotionally to change very easily.
In fact, he doesn’t even react emotionally. Rarely does his face show any readable expression, barely a furrow of the brow, hardly a quirk of the lips, never a change in his tone. He can come off unsettling and uncaring. Emotions he had growing up were treated as unnecessary. When he was young this suppression of his feelings manifested in anger that he used to intimidate if not brutally cut down anyone who stood against him. As an adult this rage faded and fizzled out leaving nothing more than a shell of an Au Ra that’s severely emotionally stunted. On his worst days feels that anything done is pointless, simply prolonging the inevitability of someone stronger annihilating everything. Takame has picked up on the fact that many find his pessimistic outlook off putting so he’ll take cautious steps to avoid making it known. He learned he had trouble in with his expressiveness, so instead of voicing his actual thoughts he’ll say things that are more optimistic and altruistic, spouting empty words and platitudes because he believes it is the “right” thing to say. It helps to not push people away, though it makes the question of who he is harder to answer.
Since he’s so apathetic and used to being pulled around all the time, he’s honestly kind of a pushover. More often than not you’ll see him following along with or being literally dragged by the whims of someone more authoritative, even if they have him doing something life-threatening or just plain ridiculous. If he’s asked to do something, he’ll more than likely do it. He won’t even ask what it is. Of course, he has some limits, like he’s significantly less likely to do something if he doesn’t know the one asking him or if they’re not otherwise his superior in an established hierarchy. Usually. If not that he’ll just freely allow someone to insult him and he’ll just stand there and take it. Not necessarily because he believes them, but he won’t confirm or deny what they say.
Takame is a pushover socially to be sure, but he isn’t one in battle. He’s merciless. He was brought up with the view that the strong will prevail over all. He has confidence in his skills with the blade. In battle he is relentless and swift, seeing nothing but his opponent. He gets an incredible high from the adrenaline rush an intense fight provides. Especially when up against someone much stronger than himself as he loves to be challenged. When his blood rushes, be it in a fight or otherwise, his impulsiveness goes into overdrive. While his respect for a hierarchy will almost always overcome this and thus keep him in control, he does tend to overestimate his abilities and get himself injured in an attack he could have otherwise avoided. He doesn’t have a fight or flight response, he has a fight or fight response.
One thing that cannot be denied about Takame is his absolute loyalty. Often to a fault. If someone acknowledges his skill, or acknowledges him at all he will swear fealty to them for life. Nothing will break his conviction. That applies whether the person in question is morally sound or not. Takame has no morals, his morals are that of whoever his current “Master” is. They can be just, honorable, and kind and he will obey. They can be cruel, murderous and oppressive and he will obey. He will become that person’s right hand, cling to them, drop everything to carry out their wishes. He is extremely dependent on other people to function. And should someone call into question the one he swore his life to, they will undoubtedly feel his ire. The anger within him didn’t completely dissipate, and the best way to get it out of him is to insult his most cherished individuals.
This is where the core aspect of many of his virtues becomes important. His younger sister Hina. It’s entirely thanks to habits he picked up from her that Takame isn’t completely socially inept. For one he lacks the superiority complex typical in most Garlean soldiers. In fact, he’s very polite and kind. He follows commands to the letter, yes, but he will never consider another person to be beneath him. Not because he believes he’s at the bottom of the barrel, but because he learned that they are all people fighting for their lives in a world most harsh. It’s thanks to her that there is any wonder for him to find in the vastness of the realms he resides. Not because he’s a true optimist, but because he wants to learn why people have such zest. He wants to understand.
His loyalty is just as much an asset as it it a flaw. As said earlier, he will swear fealty to a person for life. He would never ever betray someone’s trust, the thought alone disgusts him. Whether they trust him with a secret or their life, he takes the duty completely seriously. He puts every single ounce of his energy into his duty, even if he has to push himself to the limit to make sure it's done. He does not work in halves. Sometimes he does take things a bit literally but it just goes to show how hard working he is even with his talents mostly being limited to combat. Like his “fight or fight” response, he doesn’t have an all or nothing mindset, he has an all or all one.
This extends to wanting to keep his loved ones safe. Whether he’s defending them directly or not, he’ll go to any lengths to make sure the people he cares about are protected. When it comes to defense, he trusts his own skills the most and would rather not have to ask someone else. If he sets aside his warrior's pride and asks someone else, then he either trusts that person exponentially or senses great power in them. He’s aware of when someone can do a job better than him. The people around him give him purpose. For good or for ill, he will make sure people who deserve to live do and ones who don’t are eliminated. Under all of his stunted emotions is a loving heart.
For all of Takame’s habitual clinginess, impulsiveness, and stoicism he wants to be more than he is now. It took the literal heart of his world calling to him in a dream and telling him to think to make him do it. In the end he only did because he was told, more of him falling into habits, but for once it was to his benefit. He wants to learn about himself, he wants to learn why people are defiant. He wants to learn why people smile, why his sister smiles all the time even in the most dire situations. He knows now that he cannot be stronger unless he grows. And he is willing to.
History Information on the world he lives on can be found here. Most of Takame’s life is spent in the Far East and events of the main story don’t affect him directly. He arrives in Eorzea around the time of Main Scenario Quest "Flame General Affairs".
With that all out of the way, let’s talk about Takame’s history.
The subjugation of Doma was on the horizon when Takame was born in Sui-no-Sato. He scarce lived his first year before his parents sought to leave the sanctuary in search of a life more fulfilling for their new family. And so did they travel to Isari on the East Othard Coast and eventually settling in Doma.
They shouldn’t have left. A year passed in peace before the Garlean Empire’s aggression stretched across the lands of Yanxia. Instead of delivering brutal death to all, some were spared such a fate. Included among those “lucky few” was Takame’s father Shiden. He delivered himself freely into the Empire’s hands to spare his wife and son. He wouldn’t be seen again for the next four years, leaving his mother Minami to flee the Doman Enclave to Namai and care for him alone.
Takame was taken care of, taught to speak little by little and of the kami who watch over them. But in all her valiance, Minami rushed into situations that would leave lasting harm to her body all for the sake of her son. By the time Takame was four she was barely mobile.
Eventually, Shiden returned. But he was a changed man, believing the Empite’s means to be that which would lead to prosperity for Othard. He returned as a foot soldier accompanying a superior on an outing to conscript even more. He barely recognized Minami when she confronted him but unfortunately this bold action and her immobility lead to her death at Imperial hands. And he did nothing to stop it. The sole reason he found and took Takame again was because he demanded a villager lead him to his son. When the boy asked where his mother was, he was told she was gone but not told how.
And thus did Takame spend the next 13 years under Garlean thumb, travelling throughout Othard for Its sake, learning the ways of the Samurai, gaining an Imperial education and being brought up to obey all orders given by their masters.
The young Takame was very curious, asking a lot of “why”’s and “who”’s. All these would earn him is physical abuse by his father with his only “comfort” being that had he been anyone else, Takame would have been killed without restraint. From dawn till dawn he was made to train. When not learning letters, he would study the blade inside and out. He would become the blade and nothing else. Blades need not rest. Exhaustion would be met with reprimand, tears would be met with discipline, slacking off would be met with more beatings and questions would be met with starvation. He was a slave despite being told he would be working for the greater good. He didn’t even understand what the greater good was and the lack of liberty to learn made him grow up angry. He took this anger out on anyone who would stand in his way, it became his outlet.
In between these cycles of abusiveness, Shiden managed to befriend an Imperial engineer by the name of Jethro Kesona who worked up ranks enough to be able to give Shiden direct commands. The two hit it off very quickly as Jethro had a great interest in the cultures of Othard and Hingashi and less in the army. The man expected daughter recently in fact and settled in Hingashi.
As the years went on, Shiden’s health deteriorated. Eventually illness took him when Takame was 15. By this point Takame was a well established soldier, always the first to quash even the smallest hints of rebellion. In fact, a mission to investigate the village a lake in the vicinity of Namai is what caused him to meet someone. A young Sun Seeker Miqo’te named O’zhian. He saw her leaving the village and thinking she would know about his mom said nothing to her, only drew his blade and pointed it at her neck demanding to know if she knew the anyone involved in the rebellion. This horrified her and yet she didn’t run away. Mostly because she was petrified in fear and knew nothing, which she told him. He didn’t believe her for a second and spouted all manner of expletives at her… which she spat out right back at him with tears in her eyes and they went back and forth like the teenagers they were. It was a pathetic display really and the only reason he didn’t kill her on the spot was because he had a mission to carry out.
His commander after his father’s death ended up being Jethro of all people. Under his wing Takame had been entrusted with countless missions, most of them bringing him in and out of Kugane to, of all things, deliver paperwork to his young daughter Helena Kesona. He was also asked to conceal his face every time. A strange detail, but the armor he wore often had a helm that did so either way. It wasn’t long after Jethro assumed command that he summoned Takame and gave him a simple order; “We’re leaving the army. Nothing for me here.” This absolutely baffled Takame but at the same time. The order was given while the Hyur was his commander still. He would do what he was told.
They went to Kugane and established themselves there in secret where he continued to raise his daughter who Takame grew very close with. Of course the fact that Jethro deserted was still an issue, thus did he start going by Jed Kesi, telling his daughter to introduce herself as Hina going forward and offering Takame the surname to use as well. Such is where he spent the next three years.
Over this time, Hina baffled him with her optimism, smiles, friendliness and concern for his well being. He didn’t know anyone could be like that and as a result he became very protective of her like an older brother. The way she expressed her distaste for the Empire despite being Garlean, her desire for everyone to get along and for wars to cease. It was through her that he considered what he did, the subjugation, the killing, the violence, was not a good thing because of the horror in Hina’s eyes every time she would ruminate on it. The idea for peace that she painted for him inspired him to keep her dream alive because she couldn’t be wrong. She had such conviction, there was no way. She asked him one day to make her dreams real and being the one to do what he’s told, he did. When he was 18 Hina made him leave Jed’s custody to accompany her on a journey all across Othard to see everything it had to offer. He went everywhere with her, did everything she asked of him because he never knew anyone so incredible in his life. She became his sister, he would do anything for her.
When he reached the age of 20, he came across a familiar face on the border of the Azim Steppe. The Miqo’te girl he nearly killed that one time, O’zhian, and was surprised to learn that she met and befriended Hina a short time after he encountered her. Explaining that she hails from Eorzea but refusing to elaborate on why she was this far, she joined them in their travels for the next four years. By this point the Miqo’te and Au Ra were both embarrassed of their childishness and exchanged apologies for the incident.
The five year period was quiet, Takame continued to do everything that Hina wanted, not thinking about why or what they were. Everything she did was the right thing in his eyes, even her out of nowhere whim to travel to Eorzea where tales of a famous Adventurer were sung. In the midst of this, Takame began having strange dreams where he floated in an aetherial rift surrounded by floating crystals and a voice echoed in his mind. Hear… feel… think… Not only that, but their third party grew concerned for the Au Ra as over the course of their travels Hina asked of him more and more demanding tasks to facilitate their trip to Eorzea. Takame was being taken advantage of and tensions began to grow high between Hina and O’zhian as a result.
Things came to a head one day after an argument between Hina and O’zhian reached a boiling point and she screamed at Takame, asking him if he was going to spent his entire life as Hina’s shadow. The fact that his paragon of virtue, his only family was being questioned for no reason made Takame fly into a rage. Emotions ran high, so much so that Takame’s head began to pound, he felt as if his mind went into a fog. And he passed out, dreaming of a young Miqo’te hiding from others of her kind in fear.
When he awoke, Hina and O’zhian had long since apologized to each other and he, not understanding the dream he had, apologized as well. He then asked to be left alone for a while. He recalled the voice telling him to hear, feel and think. And he did. For once, he thought. Thought about himself. Who was he, what was he, why was he here, did he want to stay in the shadow of his sister? It was overwhelming, he found himself crying when he found that he had no answer to any of those questions.
A week later he called to them, the two people he loved like sisters, to tell them he would be making the journey to Eorzea alone to find his calling. The girls were shocked and concerned for him, but wished him well, proud that he finally made a choice for himself. And he was too.
Thus did he travel from Kugane to Eorzea, registering Limsa Lominsa’s Adventurer’s Guild to find his purpose in life, meeting with other adventurers along the way.
SAMPLES
Network Sample
Meme thread.
Log Sample
TDM Top Level.
PLAYER
Name Bon
Are you 18 or older? Yepperdo.
Contact Plurk @ bonpuns.
Current character N/A