The Oncoming Storm
Fate's Forgotten Fulcrum
Mage. Engineer. Commander.
"Anyone may claim that they will act in the direst times,
yet only a brave person acts in times great and small..."
Basics
The brash and supposedly fearless leader of the Dark Embers Free Company.While her time before coming to Eorzea is obscured, her company made something of a name for themselves as an alternative to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.
Name: Claire
Pronunciation: Kler
Nicknames: Commander, The Fury of Halone, Mother Coeurl, Kitten, Ember, That Bitch
Age: 30
Nameday: 13th Sun of the 3rd Astral Moon, 1552 S.A.E.
Race: Midlander Hyur
Gender: Fluid
Sexuality: Sapiosexual
Marital Status: Single
Physical Appearance
Species: [Redacted] Hyur
Height / Weight: 5'7" (170.18 cm)
Body Type: Wiry, Athletic, Semi-Androgynous
Eyes: Ice Blue
Hair: Varying shades of Blonde
Distinguishing Marks: A scar that cuts across the left half of the left eyebrow, stopping just short of the corner of the eye. Two incredibly faint marks to either side of her eyes, just below her temples.
Common Accessories: Tall boots, back up foci, aetheryte jewellery, daggers, guns, some sort of Allagan device
Relationships
Significant Other: None
Children: None
Parents: Daniel Brea (father, deceased), Ayana Brea (mother)
Siblings: Kala Brea-Attwater (sister, [redacted])
Other Relatives: Edur Attwater (brother-in-law), Edward Attwater (father-in-law), Enheduanna Attwater (mother-in-law)
Pets: Morgana (Palico), Mother Coeurl (Palico, head cook), Arik (runty chocobo), Aya (bitchy coeurl), [name] (young Behemoth), [name] dragonling
Personality
- Profession: Free Company Commander, archmage, researcher, inventor, sky pirate, mentor
- Hobbies: Research, painting, dance, violin, revolution
- Languages: Common Eorzean, [redacted], Allagan, Garlean
- Religion: Semi-Agnostic
- Patron Deity: Halone
- Birthplace: [Redacted]
- Residence: Dark Embers Free Company Hall, The Mists, Limsa Lominsa
- Residence: [Redacted]
Traits & Mannerisms
Strengths
- Fearless. Some call it a strength, others a weakness, however she doesn't ever seem to be afraid of anything, unwavering even when she's faced with certain death. Some cite it as recklessness, but a few rare individuals have seen it for what it truly is, and realise it's not what it seems.
- Strategic. Although it is not always immediately apparent - if apparent at all, there is always a method to her madness, though often she uses the most unconventional strategies.
- Altruistic. Much of the time, her kindness is hidden behind something that seems purely selfish or self-centred or self-motivated - she's become rather efficient at hiding her true motivations for something, particularly if it's going to make her look too kindhearted or make her look like the good guy in a situation.
Weaknesses
- Fiercely Independent. The independence streak that she has puts some Miqo'te to shame; she often refuses aid from anyone, even those who are close to her, opting to work alone, even though it often nearly gets her killed.
- Emotionally Distant. After long years of abandonment and betrayal, she avoids connecting with others on a deep emotional level as much as possible.
- Fearless. Her fearlessness has almost gotten her killed more times than anyone is comfortable with. Fairly recently, someone saw through her act, and rescued her out in Eureka Anemos when she again nearly got herself killed by being a little too fearless and a little too distracted.
Likes
- Technology. Since childhood, she has been an avid enthusiast of technology, studying it to an extent that was far beyond what was considered acceptable for her homeland, which lead to something of ostracization and pariahhood for her.
- Science. As well as technology, she has been interested in science as well, also taking her studies to a level beyond what was acceptable in her homeland, which played apart in her isolation as a child.
- Magic. This was a far more acceptable interest where she grew up, and lead to no end of frustration for those around her, as she was naturally gifted at the magical arts, and while she did have interest in magic, she also had far too much interest in science, technology, and how to make the three work together. Despite the fact that there were a number of adults in her life that were trying to move her down a path that focused solely on her magical aptitude, she still loves it as much as her technological and scientific pursuits.
- Airships. Of course, a love of technology and science seems to lead to an appreciation for airships, however, eventually she became involved with the airship pirates out in the Sea of Clouds, so her love of the wonders has transformed since she first was introduced to them as a young girl - her airship, a mixture of different styles, holds a measure of freedom, and she often uses it to escape the pressures of her life for at least a few hours.
- Guns. Another item that came from her love of technology and science, it turns out that all of her guns lack ammunition, and don't really need aetherometers - they use focusing crystals instead. Marriages of magic and technology in a slightly different fashion, those who know her often question which she loves more - guns or airships - as she has quite a collection of both.
- Sex. Though rather selective of her partners, recreational procreation is her preferred outlet for frustration when she can't find an opportunity to get into combat instead.
Dislikes
- Stupidity. She has a low tolerance for wilful ignorance, which often is what stupidity actually is. She also considers it to be an unwillingness to learn, when the opportunity presents itself, and the unwillingness to learn from one's mistakes. She often claims to have a "low tolerance for stupid", and frequently will simply give up on people who refuse to rise above their current level of mindfulness and knowledge.
- Restrictions. Part of the reason her company operates out of Limsa Lominsa - and is seeking to relocate to Hingashi - is that she dislikes what she finds to be arbitrary restrictions being placed upon her, especially if they get in the way of her work or research. While many believe that she places some sort of insane restrictions upon herself, due to her seeming lack of emotions, it is in fact quite the opposite - she has very little in the way of restrictions upon herself, and none too many that she places upon those in her company.
- Bureaucracy. Although it often doles out the restrictions, she despises the red tape that institutions tend to create, thus often leaving her at odds with the Alliance of Grand Companies, and the individual Grand Companies themselves. While technically holding rank within the Maelstrom, it was forced upon her by the high brass across several conflicts within Eorzea, all as part of commandeering the resources the company had - particularly their airships during the war in Ishgard. Such bureaucracy has left an even worst taste in her mouth, and leaves her trying to distance herself and her company from it even further.
- Grand Companies. Not just for the bureaucracy and their restrictions, but also due to having been a sky pirate and her own boss, she just can't abide by anyone who tries to control her even if they have the best intentions for the world.
- Most Garleans. Largely for the same reasons she dislikes the Grand Companies, she by and large dislikes the Garleans, though she's come to understand there are different factions within the Empire, so not all of the Garleans are of the same mindset; she was well aware of this before most of those outside the Empire, due to her relationship with a Garlean exile, however tracking the shifts between the factions' grip on the hearts and minds of the peoples within the Empire has always been difficult, so she simply distrusts and dislikes most Garleans she meets until they prove otherwise worthy.
- Enclosed Spaces. Given that she sails the open skies, Kitten hates being in small, enclosed spaces.
Quirks
- Make No Movement That Wastes Energy. Due to the kind of combative training she has subjected herself to, she rarely makes any unnecessary movement, to the point of seeming almost statuesque at times; some find this almost unnerving, particularly when she does move and the motions are so fluid and precise, they seem to be made at a speed that is almost too quick.
- Only the Unscarred Eyebrow Raises. At some point, she suffered some sort of laceration to her left eye, the scar starting just above the eye itself, crossing her brow, and tapering off just above the middle of her forehead. Something about the scarring has left her unable or unwilling to ever move that brow, leaving her to only ever raise the right brown when she rarely bothers with making any sort of expression requiring such.
- Flamboyant and Fluent in Innuendo. Although anyone whose know her long will claim it's a recent development, the few gestures she makes are often grandiose, if potent and her speech is peppered with generic pet names and thinly veiled innuendo.
- Deathwish. Not many people realise it, as few catch on to it, but for most of her adult life, she has had what the few who have come to notice it assume is an unconscious deathwish; given that save one who have noticed were close enough to know something of her history, there is an idea of why it exists, even if there is never quite an acceptance or understanding of it.
Additional Information
-Smoking Habits: No one, even those close to her, has an idea when she picked up the habit, but she does smoke - cigarettes in public, cigars in private.
-Illicit Drugs: Unused, though she knows where to get them, or how to make them.
-Alcohol Use: Social drinking, mostly. Heavyweight drinker. Always has a flask of rum on her person.
Role Play Hooks
- Infamy: Due to the fact the Dark Embers and the allies have frequently stepped in to deal with higher taxonomy Voidsent and Primals when the Seventh Dawn is unavailable, the company - and particularly its owner - is fairly well known in Eorzea. They also participated in the final chapter of the Dragonsong War, though their involvement in the Liberation was more behind-the-scenes. The company also owns the Dos Egis Brewery, and the Tales and Feathers printing company.
- Hunted: Beyond the borders of Eorzea, back in her homeland to the Northwest, there's a reward for bringing Claire back - alive. (OOC: This is very specific, contact if interested.)
- Forbidden Knowledge: Places like the Ossuary, the Fane, and other guilds will refer people to Claire when they don't have the information someone is looking for - particularly if the request is for something forbidden by such organisations.
- Artefacts & Magitek: Due to their long adventuring history, the Embers are known for having a variety of odd, rare, and/or dangerous artefacts and magitek.
- Arms & Armour: Claire is a smith, specialising in magitek based arms and armour.
Contact
In-Game: Claire Brea@Balmung
IC Tumblr: The Oncoming Storm
OOC Tumblr: The Fulcrum Agent
Discord: Available on Request