The Blade of Rhalgr
Shay Bladewander
<The Professional Problem Solver - The Every man's soldier - Sword monk>
Devout of Rhalgr - Drunkard - Mercenary - Lutenist
Overview (Desc)
6'4
Naturally light blue eyes (one is tattooed black)
Blonde mullet of power
Doesn't like shoes
Rhomphaia
Harsh accent
Overview (Bio)
Age: 43
Birthplace: Ala Mhigo
Nameday: 23rd sun of the Fourth Umbral moon
Patron Deity: Rhalgr, the Destroyer
Residence: - Solace -
Ward 24, Plot 58 The Lavender Beds, Malboro
Overview (Personality)
Chaotic Neutral - Tries to be good
Often drunk
Usually Kind hearted and well meaning
The walking definition of a Savage
Secretly depressed and afflicted with PTSD
Tattoos and body modifications
Sprawling black fiery and tribal tattoos cover the right half of her torso
More tribal tattoos on the sides of her calves
A simple, dark purple rune of a crashing meteor sits on her left breast
White tapering streaks run under her eyes, dotted with four white spots
Has four white dots tattooed across her right brow
Her left eye is tattooed black
Her Lateral incisors have been removed
Her canines and her premolars have been filed to be sharper
Her incisors have also been filed, though to a lesser extent
Both ears are pierced
Her tongue appears to have been split right down the middle, about a full ilm and then some back. A small stud sits right at the apex of the cut.
Eyebrows are cut short and thin
While she has several minor scars, a few stick out as self inflicted. Namely two pierce points on either side of her neck and a gouge across her solar plexus
Fun Facts
She is incredibly superstitious, and as such is extremely weary around Gridanians, and the Shroud.
Lalafells skeeve her out.
She can read! But not terribly well and easily stumbles over words.
She cannot read Chronometers at all, and generally tells time by the position of the sun.
Her accent takes inspiration from several cultural sources, blending harsh consonants and rolled vowels with an ebb and flow tempo.
Her birth name is: Eldar Arslan
Vibe list
The Interrupters - She's Kerosene
Even for one who stood out, as a Highlander that embodied the ways of old. She managed to blend herself into the crowd fairly well.At a simple glance, she appeared rather plain. Her clothes didn't seem to be overly fancy, though at closer inspection one would be able to see the various intricacies that adorned her gear.
Shay wasn’t one to speak much of her childhood, except to say that the only feelings she had towards her family were not overly pleasant ones. Either leaving her parents, or being cast out to the streets at a relatively young age, she was like so many other of her fellow Abanian youth, raised by the streets. Petty crimes, banditry, gangs and violence. Fueled by the tales of the old days, the times of Ala Mhigo’s strength before the Mad King, before the purge of the Fist.The young Ala Mhigan was at the forefront of a rebellious counter culture rooted in nationalism and want for the old traditions. Down to the point where Shay, and many of her peers went about the rather grotesque rituals of scarring themselves, ripping out and filing down their teeth, and perhaps the most apparent tradition of shaving their eyebrows off. Shay taking this perhaps a step or two further and opting to tattoo the sclera of one of her eyes to be blacked out, giving her an even more unsettling appearance.Venturing rather far off from the citystate proper and into the distant regions of Gyr Abania, Shay fell in with a group called Al Qabda; the Fist, lead by an elder of the Sect of Shadow and veteran of the Autumn war. He was the epitome of an era she idealized and revered as the peak martial strength and show of Ala Mhigan supremacy. A remnant of the Fist of Rhalgr, one that took her and her companions in, trained them, told them the tales of the old days, stories of the war, reinforced the fables of Ala Mhigo’s glory days.When the old monk passed on, Shay mourned him, not only as a mentor, but as a father. The only one in their mind who ever showed any form of acceptance. The old sod didn’t even get to see the invasion of Garlemald and the swift capture of Ala Mhigo as one of its new provinces... Nor the rise of another group from Al Qabda's ashes. The Rhalgr Brotherhood.From deep in the mountains between the Black Shroud and Gyr Abania, Shay waged her resistance, harassing Garlean patrols with a ferocity that had not been seen in the better part of a century. Night attacks, filled with whooping and hollering, deathly shrieks as she and her gang descended upon camps, razing them and disappearing back into the desert mountains. Quite a few years of hit and run attacks before the group would find themselves decimated at a trap. A seemingly easy target that drew her raiders in, only to be slaughtered or captured.While being transported, Shay was able to free herself from her Garlean captors, disappearing off into the inhospitable terrain of Gyr Abania where she eventually made her way through the treacherous mountains she called home and through the even more hostile Black Shroud.She spent quite a few years wandering Eorzea, selling her skills as a fighter for both entertainment and guard duties, barely able to scrape by. Though that soon changed when she happened upon an elderly, seemingly aloof Doman. Hashi Surayama. Their relationship at first, was rocky, with the Ala Mhigan having tried to rob him for his coin and supplies. Though to her surprise, he was more than capable of fending off her savage and relentless attacks using a strange, far eastern blade. Even with the attempt on his life for petty scraps, Hashi opted to not only spare the Highlander’s life, but to share his food with her while he traveled. It wasn’t long from there that the two became traveling companions, working together on various contracts to hunt down bandits, protect farms and the like. Even going as far as to teach Shay how to wield such a blade, though she opted to take up a double-edged Rhomphaia over a proper katana.Traveling together for nearly two decades, Hashi finally met his end when the duo traveled back to Gyr Abania, rejoining the resistance there. With his death at Garlean hands, Shay traveled away from Gyr Abania to the Far East to help with the Doman uprising, seeking to avenge the death of her friend by freeing his homeland.Now that both Doma and her homeland is free, the Ala Mhigan returned to Solace, seeking to rebuild it back in the mountains. Opening the small temple up for any who seek to learn and study the way of the fist, just as the old veteran once had. Though she also keeps a small shrine to her doman friend with his old armor and sword.
Here's a quick list of OOC facts:
Timezone: Pacific Standard (GMT -8)
All RP okay: Though if your intention is to specifically get lewd with Shay, let me know first.
IC ≠ OOC: Shay can be rather abrasive, coarse and mature in nature. Try not to take it personally. If something makes you uncomfortable then let me know.
Lore: I do my best to stay with in FFXIV's lore and expect my partners to do the same. Though we aren't perfect and some mistakes will be made. If you have any constructive criticism feel free to let me know. Conversely if you have any questions about Lore, or if you aren't sure about something feel free to ask me and I will try to help you figure it out to the best of my ability!
Black Flame bandana: Jet black canvas with a dull grey fiery dragon design. Adorned with an unknown metal chain that is adorned with various ornaments such as teeth, carved bone and various colored stones.
Predatory necklace: Strong hempen thread bearing long beast fangs along side various other ornaments such as bone fragments, and carved stone.
Black flame tube top: Like the rest of her gear, it was made of canvas. Though rather than being dyed jet black like the rest, it was instead dull grey with a black flame design on its left side to match her right torso tattoos. Has strap locks on the shoulder strap and on the two that wrap around her waist at the bottom of the shirt.
Black canvas arm sleeve: Nothing was too terribly special about the cloth that was slipped over her right arm. Though it did seem to have a second predatory necklace wrapped around her wrist as a bracelet.
Black canvas elbow sleeve: Much like her right arm sleeve, this piece of cloth wrapped around her left elbow didn't seem to stand out too much. On the inner crook of the arm, there appeared to be some extra layers of cloth, along with metal buckles on the outside.
Twin Belts: Two leather belts crossing each other around her waist. They seemed more to just hold her extra gear, rather than actually keep her pants up. Two matching colored pouches as well as a dagger sat there.
Black Canvas Cargo Shorts: A pair of long shorts made from the tough, breezy canvas that most of her attire was made of. Featuring two large pockets on the side of her thighs and draw strings at the shin cutoff.
It almost looks like a Far Eastern blade, though the prominent edge is on the inner curve of the weapon, while a broader, cleaving edge is sharpened into the outer curved spine of the blade. The blade length measures around around four and a half fulm from guard to point with an extra fulm or so of grip.
To the simple minded, or the uninformed, the sword looked like a Katana. Though to the educated it was a Tachi, a longer blade with a more defined curve and traditionally different mountings on the blade. The weapon seemed to be around four fulm, three ilm in over all length.The weapon looked very well maintained, having a variety of mountings on it that make it less of a traditional Tachi and a bit more customized.
The Tsuka of her blade doesn't bear the notable upward curve of a traditional tachi. It is still there, just no where near as steep.
The Tsuka-ito of her weapon is done in a hineri maki style with white cotton.
The Fuchi, habaki, kaeshizuno and kashira all appear to be plain and sparsely decorated.
The Saya also looked fairly plain, being made of a shiny, black material with bronzed Koiguchi, Kojiri, and Kurikata.
Along the sides of the blade's saya one can spot three different inlets for a pair of Wari-bashi, kogatana and Kōgai.
Uh oh! It looks like you took a wrong turn. Don't you know it is rude to spy on a person while they're changing?
Still trying to sneak a peak, huh? Well, you are clever enough. But you'd still better turn back now, before you get caught.
Made it this far, huh? Oh well, you had better look fast before Shay catches you. You wouldn't want her to turn that blade on you!
NSFW Art
As you stare from your hiding place, you see the Monk's naked form. The full extent of her tribal tattoo's that cover the right part of her torso and stretch down to her wrist. You see her tan, muscular body as it sways through her evening routine. As she turns around, you can spot her near flat, washboard breasts, each dark nipple capped with a simple bar pierced through. Her left breast adorned with a purple rune of a crashing meteor, the sigil of Rhalgr the Destroyer. Your eyes travel down lower, across her chiseled abs. Down, down until you spot something that was not likely expected. Eleven ilms of dark flesh dangling between her legs.Uh oh! She's seen you! The monk doesn't look too pleased with your spying... How'd she get that sword in her hand so fast? RUN!
Ala Mhigan Oud
An instrument of her homeland, the lute like piece bears thirteen strings across its tan body. When played, it takes on either a sound of the desert homeland that Shay came from, or a more nautical sound that she picked up while sailing the seas and skies.Simple panpipes
This piece of wood looked incredibly unassuming. One corner was drilled out to hold a rope lanyard so it could be attached to her body or placed in her pouches. It was nothing more than a rounded block of wood that had holes drilled into one end at varying depths and then was packed with wax. By far it looked incredibly primitive, even though when played it could display a surprising array of tones based on the user's breath
Curious about what she carries around in those two waist pouches? Well, nothing so interesting. But the simple every day necessities. A map, coin purse, reusable match, tools to care for her blade. Just to name a few. She also brought around basic survival tools such as a few small fishing hooks, spooled line and a rather potent smelling clearish white grease that seemed to be some all purpose salve. Look at the trinkets in her pouchesWhat about outside her pouches? Simply a small dagger that sat on her back hip as some sort of utility tool and back up weapon.
Extremely skilled in sword fighting and blade play
Proficient in Hand to hand combat
Lightning Aspected Aether
Can speak the Ala Mhigan dialect as fluently as common
Speaks Doman and Hingashi well enough to competently communicate
Learned how to play pan pipes and the Lute to pass the time while aboard ships and in port
Can shoot a gun with some success
Is a competent cook. Especially in regards to dishes from the Orient and traditional Gyr Abanian cuisine
Like what you saw? Want to leave feedback? Maybe you want to RP? Or maybe you just want to let me know that you've visited! Regardless, leave a message down below for my viewing pleasure!
RP Hooks
Grew up in Gyr Abania-Ala Mhigo: You might have seen her around!
Eorzea's most affordable Ala Mhigan: Do you need a professional soldier? Maybe a bodyguard. You might be able to purchase her services.
Veterans of War's past: Perhaps you fought alongside (or against) Shay during a contracted operation or in the liberation of Doma and Ala Mhigo
Do you want to upgrade your carrd?
I made this profile thanks to Carrd Pro! If you want to get Pro yourself, consider helping me out while you do it, use the link above or promo code: Y35YPBPC at check out!
Home
Translated from an old Ala Mhigan dialect to Eorzean Common for your reading pleasure.
The Brothers:For homeland! (ready!)In the fringes, at the source of the river Velodyna,
We the brothers, stood to defend our homes.There stand Mhigan next to the Mhigan, we're all brothers,
You won't take Gyr Abania while we are living!Loose your fists, fury and blade!(3)
Throw spears, chase them through the spring!!Step forward, arms ready, let all of us sing the song:
"For homeland, brothers, for freedom we are fighting"Listen you, gang of Imperial volunteer & traitors,
We will take revenge upon you even in Garlemald!Rhalgr's justice will get you, everyone knows that.
Fighters from the Lochs will judge you!Listen now to the message of Ala Gannha:
"You will not get in Gyr Abania, as you did before!"Hey dear brothers of the Resistance,
Ala Mhigo won't ever forget you!
The Resistance March:Oi Gyr Abania o cradle of freedom,
Every house holds one flag
The Resistance suits you well,
for homeland blood will spillBoys of the Loch are fighting from Velodyna to the mountains of the Spine, (x2)
For this land my mother bore me
For the purple and white flag
I'm a soldier in the Resistance, I will bring my Nation freedomGeneration after generation in these lands, I'm ancient as Gyr Abania itself (x2)
No I will not abandon my land! Not even an ilm!
Oh mother you're saying 'goodbye' to a soldierBecause here I'm since time immemorial, for Ala Mhigo I'll give my breath (x2)If you belong to the fist, you are Mhigan
We shall protect every ilm of our landBecause here I'm since time immemorial, for Ala Mhigo I'll give my breath(x2)Oi Gyr Abania o cradle of freedom,
Every house holds one flag
The Resistance suits you well,
for homeland blood will spillBoys of the Loch are fighting from Velodyna to the mountains of the Spine, (x2)
For this land my mother bore me
For the purple and white flag
I'm a soldier in the Resistance, I will bring my Nation freedomGeneration after generation in these lands, I'm ancient as Gyr Abania itself (x2)
No I will not abandon my land! Not even an ilm!
Oh mother you're saying 'goodbye' to a soldierBecause here I'm since time immemorial, for Ala Mhigo I'll give my breath (x2)If you belong to the fist, you are Mhigan
We shall protect every ilm of our landBecause here I'm since time immemorial, for Ala Mhigo I'll give my breath(x2)For Ala Mhigo!
For Ala Mhigo!
For Ala Mhigo I’ll give my breath!
Remembrance of the War:My dad is a war criminal (2x)
You can try condemning him (2x)
But no one has the balls to arrest him (2x)My dad used to conquer the Shroud (2x)
You can try condemning him (2x)
But no one has the balls to arrest him (2x)My old man is dangerous, really! (2x)
You can try condemning him (2x)
But no one has the balls to arrest him (2x)
Glory for Ala Mhigo:Arise brave sons,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Defend the freedom of your fatherland,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Come to the rebellion while praying to Rhalgr,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Give us strength o’Destroyer,
Glory for Ala MhigoOrder and unity we will strengthen,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Testify that Rhalgr is strength and the fist is right,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Increasing our faith in the fist,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Give us strength o’Destroyer,
Glory for Ala MhigoRise up to defend our freedom,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Fight against the King of Ruin,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Our lands shall be cleansed of Theodoric's Tyranny,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Give us strength, o’Destoyer,
Glory for Ala MhigoHeroes of the land will be honored, Glory for Ala Mhigo
Their names will be on our flags of freedom, Glory for Ala Mhigo
May Rhalgr grant them guidance, Glory for Ala Mhigo
Give us strength, o’Destroyer,
Glory for Ala MhigoShouts of "Freedom or Death", Glory for Ala Mhigo
Echoes today in the mountains, Glory for Ala Mhigo
Stand up brave boys, Glory for Ala Mhigo
We must cleanse our fatherland,
Glory for Ala MhigoOur hearts are filled with courage,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
We will not surrender to anyone,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
We fear of nothing,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Give us strength, o’Destroyer,
Glory for Ala MhigoBeautifying nature, empowering hearts,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
We will rebuild our cities,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
We will walk the way of the fist,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Rise up! Brave and honorable boys,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
We will walk the way of the fist,
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Rise up! Brave and honorable boys,
Glory for Ala MhigoGlory for Ala Mhigo
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Glory for Ala Mhigo
Hello Sister:Hello sister, my dear, how are you?
Autumn has probably swept the way home already?
The stars are falling over the Shroud in the rays of dawn
Just don't tell mom that I'm in Gridania
The stars are falling over the Shroud in the rays of dawn
Just don't tell mom that I'm in GridaniaIt's Water's day now, and it pours harder, along with the war
Smells like sweat here, boys sleep here, there was a hard battle
I made a bet with my friend Otelin, that he will be back
Just don't tell mom that I'm in Gridania
I made a bet with my friend Otelin, that he will be back
Just don't tell mom that I'm in GridaniaI send my big hello to my sister
Tell them to keep writing, it was a long time since last letter from home
And if they ask what I write to you about, well, just lie
Just don't tell mom that I'm in Gridania
And if they ask what I write to you about, well, just lie
Just don't tell mom that I'm in GridaniaHello sister, my dear, how are you
Autumn has probably swept the way home already?
The stars are falling over the Shroud in the rays of dawn
Just don't tell mom that I'm in Gridania
The stars are falling over the Shroud in the rays of dawn
Just don't tell mom that I'm in GridaniaJust don't tell mom that I'm in Gridania
Just don't tell mom that I'm in Gridania
Hey GriffinHey, there somewhere on the Velodyna,
A young Monk mounted a steed,
Tenderly he bids farewell to his girl
And even more tenderly to Ala Mhigo.Hey, hey, hey Griffin.
Skirting mountains, desert and valleys
Ring, ring, ring little bell.
My little mourning dove.Hey, hey, hey Griffin.
Skirting mountains, desert and valleys
Ring, ring, ring little bell.
My mourning...
Ring, ring ring.Plenty of girls in the world
But most in Gyr Abania
There my heart shall remain
Next to my beloved girl.Hey, hey, hey Griffin.
Skirting mountains, desert and valleys
Ring, ring, ring little bell.
My little mourning dove.Hey, hey, hey Griffin.
Skirting mountains, desert and valleys
Ring, ring, ring little bell.
My mourning...
Ring, ring ring.Sorrow, sorrow for my girl
For the brown Gyr Abania
Sorrow, sorrow, heart is crying
I will never see her again.Hey, hey, hey Griffin.
Skirting mountains, desert and valleys
Ring, ring, ring little bell.
My little mourning dove.Hey, hey, hey Griffin.
Skirting mountains, desert and valleys
Ring, ring, ring little bell.
My mourning...
Ring, ring ring.Ale, ale, give me ale
And when I die bury me
In the great Ala Mhigo
Next to my beloved girl.Hey, hey, hey Griffin.
Skirting mountains, desert and valleys
Ring, ring, ring little bell.
My little mourning dove.Hey, hey, hey Griffin.
Skirting mountains, desert and valleys
Ring, ring, ring little bell.
My mourning...
Ring, ring ring.Hey, hey, hey Griffin.
Skirting mountains, desert and valleys
Ring, ring, ring little bell.
My little mourning dove.Hey, hey, hey Griffin.
Skirting mountains, desert and valleys
Ring, ring, ring little bell.
My mourning...
Ring, ring ring.
Desert Flower:Oh, desert flower
Why have you bloomed so early?
Oh, desert flower
Why have you bloomed so early?You blossomed too early,
What happened, my flower?,
Why have you hung your head?
You blossomed too early,
What happened, my flower?,
Why have you hung your head?My dear is gone
He died far away from me
My dear is gone
He died far away from me
My dear is gone
He died far away from meFor the highest mountains
For the deepest river
For the highest mountains
For the deepest river
For the highest mountains
For the deepest riverHe will not come back to me
Nor after two or three years ...
He will not come back to me
Nor after two or three years ...Oh, desert flower
Why have you bloomed so early?
Oh, desert flower
Why have you bloomed so early?
Asta:
A Monk stood on the mountain. He prayed to
For freedom, for the people, he bowed low.Asta, oh Asta, don't be afraid of me
I won't touch you, don't worry.
Asta, oh Asta, don't be afraid of me
I won't touch you, don't worry.And the Monk also asked for justice for the people,
If there is justice on earth, there will also be freedom.
For friends, the Monk prayed, that in a foreign land,
Greed and pride would be avoided.So that their fathers, wives and children would wait for
Those who seek Mother Justice all over the world.
For the people, the Monk asked for blessings,
That peaceful villages would have bread and salt.Asta, oh Asta, don't be afraid of me
I won't touch you, don't worry.
Asta, oh Asta, don't be afraid of me
I won't touch you, don't worry.So that blood would not be shed on his father's threshold,
So that falsehoods would not live there, he prayed to Rhalgr.
Thus, that Monk prayed for his native land,
That neither grief, nor tears would touch it.Asta, oh Asta, don't be afraid of me
I won't touch you, don't worry.
Asta, oh Asta, don't be afraid of me
I won't touch you, don't worry.A Monk stood on the mountain. He prayed to Rhalgr
For freedom, for the people, he bowed low.
Join the Fist of Rhalgr discord today!
Q. What is the Fist of Rhalgr?
A. It is an Ala Mhigan focused discord server!Q. Do I have to RP an Ala Mhigan to join?
A. Nah, but the server is focused around all things Ala Mhigan and Monk!Q. Is it all ages?
A. No. We'd much rather you be 18+ if you join.Q. I'm new to lore, can I still join?
A. Absolutely! We welcome anyone regardless of experience, and are more than happy to help out newer players with what ever lore questions they have.
Solace: An old Ala Mhigan garrison dating back to the Autumn war. Situated in the mountains that split Gyr Abania from the Shroud, this place has traded hands several times. From being built by the Ala Mhigan military at the start of the campaign, to being captured by the forces of Gridania and recaptured by Ala Mhigo, it has stood the test of time. Its lack of significance let it survive the years as a run down building occupied by Ala Mhigan extremists like Al Qabda who sought to continue the conquest of the Shroud, to the Rhalgr Brotherhood, a group of rebels seeking to reinstate the belief in Rhalgr as the dominate religion in Gyr Abania. Now it stands as a temple to Rhalgr and a Monastery for those who wish to come learn not only the way of the Fist, but the rich and storied history and culture of Ala Mhigo.
