As'kari Tia

A Two-letter Vagrant

A man for whom nowhere was home and none were family, whose place and purpose he decided for himself.The circumstances of As’kari’s birth placed him on the outskirts of miqo’te society, and his decisions have made a pariah of him even amongst those who themselves were ostracised and outcast.Poor judgement followed his transition to an urban lifestyle from the nomadic, tribal existence he’d lived until then, for what could a young hunter know of guile and deceit? He learnt—the hard way—if not nearly quickly enough, acquiring allies, enemies, and a mountain of debt through his stumbling struggles.Yet there are always opportunities for those who dare to create them.These days, he ekes out a living working odd jobs, some more savoury than others, some better paid than others. He has enough time and freedom between his obligations to seek out the company of others, and perhaps for want of a connection, or in the hope of reclaiming something once lost, seek it he does.Recently, he has found solace and kinship amongst the Stargazer clan, and gainful employment at Buscarron’s Druthers alongside a group of freelance adventurers known as the Unsung. Having had the mantle of its leadership passed to him by one Sven Cloudwrath, a dear friend of his who went on to pursue his own dreams, he lives between worlds; levemete of the Unsung and Dusk Stalker of the Waning Moon.

Name: As'kari Tia, Naoh'as Zasta
Race: Miqo’te of mixed clan heritage
Age: Looks to be in his early thirties
Sex: Dinner and a drink first
Orientation: Pan & poly
Nameday: 22nd Sun of the 2nd Astral Moon (22/3)Location: Wherever his duties take him.
Occupation: Dusk Stalker, levemete, mercenary, tracker, handyman, and many more.
Status: Ceremonially bonded with Naoh Zasta, lover of Moya'to Inyanga, sire of twins by Naoh
Affiliations: Adventurer's Guild, As’ tribe, Auric Eclipse sept (formerly), Stargazer clan, the Zasta familyHeight: 5 fulm, 6 ilm
Weight: 158 ponze
Build: Stocky, athletic
Hair/fur Colour: Brown
Eyes: Sapphire-blue, slitted pupil; faintly luminescent in the dark
Ears: Tattered and notched – they’ve seen better days
Scars: None on his face, minor marks on his hands and forearms
Tattoos: Traditional markings around his eyesAccoutrements
Six rings are divided between his ears. Any seasoned jeweller could tell they aren’t composed of valuable metals. The gilded collar that guards his throat, and the matching bands adorning each of his wrists, on the other hand? They’re not only solid gold, but finely-crafted, and a snug fit on their owner. Despite the skill that went into their creation, they’re plain. Boring, almost. Furthermore, there are no visible clasps or clips to detach them, so a discerning thief would come to the conclusion that the quickest way to pilfer them would be via removal of the wearer’s head and hands. He wears a single ring, into which a linkpearl is embedded.Clothing
Mostly as he appears. Tends to favour waistcoats and leather in a sepia palette. Belts are the accessories he makes the most use of, and he usually has a few small saddle bags and satchels attached to those. As for weapons, it’s unusual for him to openly carry any in cities, and it isn't obvious which he is proficient with – if any.

→ In-game
• As'kari Tia
• Mateus, Crystal→ Timezone
UK resident. I’m active in-game during EU evenings (GMT+0/BST) from 6pm – 12:00am. Weekend and Discord availability is slightly more flexible.→ Tone & Themes
Most anything goes as long as it doesn’t feel too gratuitous. I’d rather keep wanton animal death to a minimum, though. Aside from that, I prefer to discuss plot elements that would permanently cause a significant change in how As’kari could be played. This includes, but is not limited to: Death, physical disfigurement, dismemberment, sensory impairment, mental impairment, etc., to give an idea.→ Lore
My characters and stories are lore-adherent, but sometimes I fill in the more vague sociocultural aspects with headcanon. I’m fairly laid-back about other characters holding special powers, positions, or belongings, but I reserve the right to ask how and why they came to be.Lore-bending and outright breaking should be discussed before any RP takes place. I generally lean away from it, but if you’ve got a good idea, I might be sold on it.→ Style
Long-term RP is preferred, but sparse meetings, one-shots, or story arcs with defined conclusions are all very welcome. All of the above can be arranged.As a storyteller, there’s always a reason behind the things my character does and says. My plots are best enjoyed by people who like to unravel character motivations, and I enjoy unravelling mysteries of all kinds myself, too. I appreciate emotional turmoil and heartbreak, too.I try to be open and upfront about how I feel, and I appreciate the same from my RP partners, so OOC communication is important to me. With that said, I conceal many aspects of my character's backstory so that their discovery can be enjoyed ICly.

→ Levemete
As’kari is a recognised levemete serving the Adventurer’s Guild. He is currently based out of Buscarron’s Druthers, where he holds a room and can often be found setting up levequests for local adventurers to pick up and carry out. He is available as a questgiver of sorts to anyone wishing to carry out small group events within the Shroud alongside the ‘Unsung’ of the Druthers. Check out the Unsung carrd for now! As of 1/1/21, the Unsung are on a pilgrimage travelling around Eorzea, but As’kari is not with them!→ Tribal Connections
As’kari has an interest in connecting with traditional tribes. While the old ways are still fondly fascinating to him, he doesn’t want to treat them like a living exhibition – he wants to help preserve them, and will offer what assistance he can to achieve this.→ Bridge Between
Perhaps something is threatening your sept’s continued existence. Maybe you’re clashing with city-dwellers, or you’ve stepped on the toes of the local mercantile collective, whose caravan routes cut across your hunting grounds?As’kari would be all too glad to attempt to mediate in exchange for nothing more than hospitality.→ Antagonistic Aspirations
On the other hand, maybe your tribe’s heard of the As’. Perhaps they’ve no tolerance for two-letter tribes and actively hunt them down. And the sept known as the Auric Eclipse aren’t just two-letters. Worse, they’re a collection of half-breeds with a dual totem.It's possible you’ve heard the rumours. A mixed-blood from a neighbouring tribe left her family to join them. Unthinkable! Those reclusive nomads keep to themselves, true, but have they any right to poach hunters from other septs? To split up families? To hold territory? To sire children?And perhaps it’s these kinds of questions that cross your mind when you hear of As’kari.** → Defender **
Likewise, he might be concerned to hear that a person or a sept is hunting his people. He no longer walks among them, but does that mean he could countenance them being massacred? Does he know where they might be found?** → Looking For Work **
As’kari isn’t too picky as long he is fairly compensated for his time, and he has a wide range of talents. There are those who could vouch for his talents in a scrap, or on the road as a mercenary, and others who might speak highly of his joinery. He’s even been known to repair damaged firearms and gunblades. Make him an offer he can't refuse, alternatively.
As’kari has a steady paycheck right now, and more work than he can reasonably keep up with. He might still take on the odd job if it’s near and dear to him, but he’s more likely to employ you right now. If that interests you, take a look here!** → You’ve lost someone? **
He’s particularly good at finding things and people. Having spent more than the past decade in Ul’dah, he has built up a network of acquaintances and contacts upon whom he can call to help in a pinch, and his reach extends even to La Noscea and the Shroud.If it’s for a good cause, or if it sounds like it means a lot to you and you don’t have much to give, he’ll probably volunteer his assistance for free.** → Company**
If you're just looking for something down to earth, As’kari is more than capable of offering easygoing, noncommittal company.If you’re young, lost, or naïve, in need of guidance or even martial training, he'd make a good mentor. He is naturally protective of those who are younger than he is, and may be inclined to adopt a stray duckling.It's equally possible that you just need a space free of judgement and a friendly ear, alternatively. He might, too.Romantically, you’d have to ask.

This is where you'll find ideas that are not overtly linked to As’kari, but are still explorable options if you have a character or scenario that fits the bill.** → Crime Pays **
Whether you’re an enterprising young thief who picked the wrong pocket, a seasoned assassin who slit the wrong throat, or a player in an unclean political game, you’ve attracted the attention of a well-meaning benefactor whose only interest is making things right.Perhaps you didn’t mess up at all. Maybe you’re doing well for yourself—too well. Your success has caught the eye of your competitors, and they seek to undo your good fortune. A helping hand could spare you from their schemes… or lead you to your downfall.Either way, someone’s here to sort things out. They’ll either be a spanner in your works, or the gear that moves the machine. Trust them, or don’t. Work with them, or shun them—but they’re involved, and you aren’t going to get rid of them until the matter is resolved.** → A Proposal**
You? You’re smarter than the rest. Perceptive and watchful. Well-connected. You’ve heard rumours of an esoteric order carrying out covert operations. They don’t broadcast their name if they go by one, and their agents’ identities are closely-guarded secrets. It’s not clear whether one person is behind them, or a group.They don’t seem to be motivated by gil or political affiliations. They have no discernible creed, assisting and undermining all factions indiscriminately, and seemingly at random.You want to find them. You have need of the services of those who can employ discretion and produce results. You need information that no one else has managed to uncover, an item no one else has managed to acquire. You want someone dead, but they’re out of reach.Or, could it be that they’ve crossed you? Someone’s been meddling in your business. Your allies have turned their backs on you. And you suspect they’re behind it.You can’t prove it yet, but you will. You're eager to unravel their mysteries.

The adoption of a two-letter affixation is only one of the ways in which the Auric Eclipse deviates from traditional customs. Before they found one another, many were already marked as outcasts or otherwise disfavoured within their own clan, often for their heritage.While some Seeker septs and Keeper clans may be tolerant or even accepting of the product of unlikely couplings, the Auric Eclipse provides refuge for those who were either cast out, or left of their own accord. They are composed entirely of such children.

→ Location
Shunned by traditional tribes, they make their home in the underground recesses of north-western Thanalan, where they may fall beneath the notice of those who roam the plains. While the network of tunnels provide a reasonable measure of shelter, they are home to a host of other dangers.Antlings and worms are among the creatures those of the Eclipse must contend with.

→ Society
Provisions are made for diurnal and nocturnal preferences, allowing their sentinels, scouts, and hunters to operate when they are most alert, whether under the high sun or the full moon. They divide their forces carefully, few as they are, and there are times when all must stand as one, day or night.Although the Auric Eclipse are self-sufficient, drawing their water from subterranean wells, cultivating their underground gardens, and preying on the beasts of the depths that would otherwise prey upon them, they have been known to trade with city-dwellers (rarely other tribes) for certain metals and wood.

The sept encourages a diverse range of hobbies and pursuits to ensure its independence. Mining and metallurgy are practiced alongside smithing. They have leatherworkers and tailors, carpenters and unspecialised artisans.Hunting is undertaken by the younger members of the tribe, usually led by a seasoned veteran, while the elders practice finer crafts and tutor the next generation.Children are raised communally once weaned.

They are educated in basic literacy and numeracy, and encouraged to learn a variety of crafts while they’re taught about their world as well as a heavily abridged account of its history.They tend to specialise in the crafts they excel at, but they may be groomed to develop skills the sept lacks. Their first hunt takes place around the age of six, with guidance. By nine, they are expected to be capable of tracking and taking down small game alone, though they are usually depended upon to forage until the advent of puberty.Artists make a canvas of the caves they reside within, painting stories of the sept’s history, achievements, and spiritual allegories. Each member of the tribe's life is recorded within these works. From birth to death, arrival to departure, all are immortalised in shape and colour.

It is rare for the sept to grow more than twenty strong in number. Occasionally, they take in wanderers, the hurt, and the lost, but there is ever a clear sense of mistrust for outsiders.It is unheard of for a full-blooded member of either clan to seek to join the Auric Eclipse, so there is no consensus on whether or not they would be welcome amongst the sept.Most who find them seek them out for who they are.

Due to their low numbers, it’s common for one person to fill multiple roles. The hunter must craft her own bows and arrows, fashion her own arrowheads, and know how to prepare, cook, and preserve her kills.Everyone contributes. They must. While the Eclipse is a haven for the shunned, Thanalan is not a land known for its generous bounty. Life in the sept is as difficult for the As’ as for any tribe, if not more so.

→ Religion
Children of the Eclipse may openly revere both Menphina as well as Azeyma. They are encouraged to associate with either or both, but never neither. Their sept’s name is taken from the conjunction of the heavenly bodies as a metaphor for how they came to be by the joining of Seeker and Keeper as one.It is considered sacrilegious to forswear alignment to both goddesses, tantamount to claiming that one is neither Seeker, nor Keeper, nor both—not even miqo’te—nothing. One who walks neither with Azeyma’s warmth at his back nor with Menphina’s light to guide his steps is believed to walk the realm of the dead.To be born during an eclipse is considered an auspicious sign. Such children are believed to be blessed by both goddesses, and great expectations weigh down upon them. To a lesser extent, to be born within twilight, whether at the break of dawn or the onset of dusk, is viewed as a blessing. It is believed that the time of day during which a child was born will affect their personality and whether they will adapt more Seeker or Keeper-esque tendencies later in life.Many founding children of the Eclipse brought their original sept or clan’s customs with them. Out of respect for their origins, many still practice these varied rituals and pass them on to the next generation. All are permitted to take part, but for many, spirituality is a personal, private affair deeply connected to their identity.Annual contests are held to honour both goddesses, testing competitors’ endurance and devotion. These take the form of various physical feats, such as marathons that span a full day and night, or duels between those who pride themselves on their martial skills.They often entail a full week of revelry, where art is showcased, magic is employed for spectacular displays, and stories are shared by the lorekeepers.Totemically, the As’ are guided by both Antelope and Zu. Rather than electing a new totem, they chose to follow those of their founders. The way this reverence manifests varies between individuals, but parts of the tribe's painted mythos are punctuated by images of both creatures, occasionally hybridised.

→ Combat
The Auric Eclipse’s skills are geared towards survival. They know the beasts that walk their halls and lands, and they know the dangers of the terrain. Their magic is in tune with their environment. Where possible, they seek to elude rather than confront.They are astralogians, conjurers, thieves, archers, bards, lancers, monks, beastmasters, and dancers. They employ guerrilla tactics when forced to clash with sentient foes, and retreat below ground, where traps and other arcane dangers protect their number.

→ Nunh, and Sexuality
As with most tribes, only the serving nunh has the right to reproduce, but as a caveat, he may take no lovers. Should he wish to do so, he must cede his position, as his role is a duty as much as it is a privilege.As with all miqo’te, males in the Eclipse are somewhat uncommon, and the tribe is small besides. As such, it isn’t customary for a squabble over the role of nunh to be decided by a duel to the death. Contests that challenge the contestants’ fitness in various fields are favoured.They may compete to see which can hunt the most game, or finish a race first. →

Trickery and deception is encouraged, as intelligence and cunning are just as valued as strength and stamina. Nunh tend to hold their positions for terms ranging from moons to years, until a new arrival or Tia is capable of unseating him.There are no strict codes concerning which individuals bear children, or when, if at all. Those who wish to do so may when they are ready, if they are willing to procreate with the standing nunh.All save the nunh can and do take lovers. Their relationships are often fluid, though many will grow close to and bond with just one or two others.

Same sex pairings can be observed among the children of the Eclipse, and are treated no differently.Likewise, gender identity isn’t policed—if you can fulfil your duties, you’re free to be yourself. Nunh must be capable of carrying out their responsibility in the traditionally expected way, but it matters little beyond that.

→ Seeker Dominance
It is rare to find a child of the Eclipse with Keeper-dominant ancestry. There are a couple of reasons for this:Thanalan is where they were founded, and where they reside. Keepers are an uncommon sight on the plains, so the odds are against proliferation of Keeper lineages. Those who pass through do not typically stay.

Furthermore, they style themselves and live as a Seeker sept. Those who straddle the line between Sun and Moon yet are more drawn towards the structure of the Keeper lifestyle will often pursue that over joining the Eclipse.Notably, they do have a sister clan among the Keepers, and while contact between the two is rare, it isn’t unheard of for a young hunter to undertake a pilgrimage to the sept’s Shroud counterpart if there is a strong feeling that they don’t belong.Likewise, the Auric Eclipse welcomes the children of her sister when they find their way to the sept. While they exist many malms apart, they consider one another two halves of a whole—a cosmic duality.