Name: Cherry Age: 37 Contact:circadia, (Discord) flightstone Invited by: Cia thirdimpact (proof: here) Other Character: n/a
Character Name: Lahabrea (birth name: Hephaistos) Journal:phantomry Character's Age: Unknown. We still don't have a clear idea of how old the Ancients typically live to be, but it could easily extend into the hundreds or thousands of years. They are essentially immortal (but can be killed!) and (most) have the luxury of choosing the time of their own death. Lahabrea here has been described as a senior citizen by the dev team and is implied to be the eldest of the major named characters of his time. It's also been stated that the ancients are nigh on eternally youthful, and as Lahabrea shows clear signs of age (wrinkles, hair turning white, etc), with one of his colleagues later referring to him as an old man - yeah, he's up there. By human standards, we can assume he's equivalent to a man in his 60's or potentially older. He ultimately lives to be 12,000+ years old at the time of his death in Heavensward. Canon: Final Fantasy XIV Canon Point: Endwalker 6.4 Pandaemonium Raid Series; The True Lahabrea. Following the last moments we see him in the ancient world after reclaiming the tainted half of his soul and tasking Hegemone with becoming the new chief keyward of Pandaemonium. It can be a assumed that a few months have passed since then.
Powers: (I am open to nerfing suggestions as you see fit. There will also be some self-nerfing taking place initially as Lahabrea will not be the most willing participant of physical and emotional intimacy - though ultimately that will change as he determines that the generation of thumos will assist him in his responsibilities and personal goals (ie. it would be foolish of him to willfully allow himself to be weakened when he just took direct action in his own time to regain his strength/powers).
"The Gift" - Possessed by all ancients, this ability takes many forms, but allows its people to understand foreign languages, to share in the memories of others (if allowed) or to absorb them from the ambient aether (energy) present in a particular location. Ancients can identify one another by their very essence without the need to rely on visual or verbal cues. As a member of the Convocation, it is also said that those with an office have methods of detecting whether or not another person is lying. In addition, Ancients are capable of travel via summoning and stepping through portals. (The portal-ing is limited in scope/distance and to places he has visited before. He will not be able to portal into restricted areas of the game world.)
Creation Magicks - The ancient civilization of Etheirys excelled at using their magicks to give form to objects and creatures, limited only by their focus and imagination. As the premiere expert on phantom entities, Lahabrea is certainly no exception. He specializes in the creation of the arcane, with a penchant for fire-aspected concepts such as Ifrita and the phoenix. More powerful and complex creations typically require a group of people working together to summon them as well as a very large amount of aether. As per their society's laws, all concepts are required to undergo a rigorous testing process and be approved for general use by the Chief of the Bureau of the Architect. Concepts deemed too dangerous but whose existence is determined to be useful for study are sent to Pandaemonium - which is basically a holding facility or jail for these monsters, and was under Lahabrea's command until very recently. (The general consensus in some of the other games I've played Ancients in has been that concepts are not meant to be permanent, and will last only so long as they are needed to complete a particular task. I'm entirely open to your thoughts on this one, and have also taken a look at some of the other players's suggestions, such as limits on the amount of magicks that can be performed being based on the character's reservoir of aether, excessive magicks leading to exhaustion or required rest periods, any foods created lacking true nutritional substance, and that magicks cannot be used to create in-game currency, etc.)
Transformation - Like most of his kind, Lahabrea is capable of changing into a larger, much more monstrous form which is said to be a reflection of the wielder's deeper desires and aspirations. His is quite terrifying, includes way too many eyes, and looks like this. (And yes, I will definitely be tagging it appropriately for anyone unsettled by so many blinkers. It's quite unsettling. As with above, I'm open to any nerfing or size restrictions you feel is necessary. There's no way he's fitting inside an average doorway like this, for example.)
Soul Fusion - Lahabrea is capable of merging his soul with another's, a voluntary, temporary act which allows him to feel, sense, and understand the other individual completely. Later in life, he is able to merge with another to form a separate entity known as Ascian Prime which combines the powers of those two individuals. (He will NOT be able to become Ascian Prime or any similar entity at this time. He will also be remiss to attempt merging his soul with another's due to the dangerous knowledge he now holds, though I would like to keep this as a possibility for later because, well...soul sex.)
Fire and Darkness - Most of Lahabrea's magickal abilities relate to the elements of fire and darkness. He seems to have a preference for fire and is seen using it to bind and burn away other spells, summon fireballs, and conjure the shapes of fiery phoenixes and serpents.
Aetherial Shackles and Internment - Used to bind unruly creatures. Aetherial shackles summons chains to ensnare a target while internment immobilizes the space around a target, thus trapping them for a prolonged period of time. These magicks are of Lahabrea's own design and something he later teaches to his son.
Sample(s): Bakerstreet Sample 1. Test Drive Meme Samples 1. 2.
As this is a game set loosely in Regency England, we want to know how your character will adapt to this setting. How might they react to the culture and societal expectations placed upon them as a member of the upper class?:
Occupying a new world will be an adjustment for Lahabrea, perhaps moreso than some of his cohorts who come from the future and have been adapting for centuries. That being said, he understands well the importance of order and adhering to societal expectations, and is like to make a point of familiarizing himself in the dress and habits of the people in this world. He comes from a culture where everyone dons black robes and masks are worn to hide faces, so standing out is generally frowned upon, really. He may be prompted to dress appropriately to better conform, however his mask and symbol of office will never be far from his person. Although he is not used to being waited upon, he is familiar with being afforded special privileges thanks to his station (though it is not something he craves nor requires).
Naturally inquisitive and analytical, Lahabrea will be curious to learn more of the finer details of Andovale and its people, as well as those summoned here. While he is hardly one to find enjoyment in gossip, meeting with others willing to engage in intellectual debate or share their innovations and creative pursuits is another matter entirely. Any knowledge he may gain, even in hypotheticals, will doubtless make social events feel a touch less frivolous to him, and will be the surest way for others to gain his attention and respect. While not precisely eligible himself (being an elder man and widowed besides), he does have an eligible son - although he will be loath to involve himself in such discussions.
Lahabrea is a government figure and an academic/researcher from his own time, and someone who is supremely dedicated to his office. As such, he'll be seeking out a means to fill his time with meaningful work of a similar vein. The academy will doubtless be of particular interest to him, and if it is allowed, he may be deigned to take on a role as teacher. Although most of his knowledge is related to creatures and magicks, he is also an orator so may be an acceptable guide when it comes to navigating topics of debate, philosophy, or public speaking. (His people love debate, 'tis one of their favorite pasttimes.) Recreationally, he may take well enough to equestrian sports and the visual arts, if the pegasus statues and sculpture garden present within the halls of the Words of Lahabrea are to be believed.
The other responsibility of his which I plan to explore in depth now that he has ample time to dedicate to the effort, is learning to be a more positive, supportive presence in his son's life and to reclaim his role as a father.
Lahabrea's late wife was a brilliant researcher with a keen mind and innovative ideas, qualities Lahabrea would have found highly attractive. Despite everything, it is clear that he truly loved her. However, hers was a selfish ambition, and she was willing to do horrible, unconscionable things to further her own goals. As a result, Lahabrea takes her life and rips out the half of his soul capable of truly feeling, as well as the half with knowledge of those machinations, choosing to distance himself from Erichthonios to spare him the harsh reality about his beloved mother. It is many years later that he finally restores this half of himself - seeing it as the best way forward to allow him to complete his duties in service of his people.
Thus do I look forward to watching Lahabrea grow emotionally and learn to form connections and trust with those around him, as well as bear the weight of his wife's quest for godhood. (As you can imagine, this leaves him with a great many reservations about being whisked away to a new world at the whims of some goddess.)
You've been invited to a formal dinner! How charming! Now, how do you plan to conduct yourself in such a space? Remember, appearance is everything!:
Charming, is it? Despite my being invited to much the same only three evenings prior? While I understand their purpose to you and yours, the nature of these formal dinners leaves much and more to be desired. Pageantry in which individuals may see and be seen, and so much talk of marriage and personal, private affairs. I have little to contribute if the chosen topics of discussion cannot manage to take a more academic turn.
You may rest assured, however, that I will make an appearance if such is required. To listen, to learn, and to fulfill whatever societal duty it is that is expected of me. Though I may disagree with the opinions of those gathered, if all else present appear to be enjoying themselves, I see little cause to disrupt them. But however much you may try to convince me to participate further, I do not intend to involve myself in purely idle conversation.
Application for The Ton
Age: 37
Contact:
Invited by: Cia
Other Character: n/a
Character Name: Lahabrea (birth name: Hephaistos)
Journal:
Character's Age: Unknown. We still don't have a clear idea of how old the Ancients typically live to be, but it could easily extend into the hundreds or thousands of years. They are essentially immortal (but can be killed!) and (most) have the luxury of choosing the time of their own death. Lahabrea here has been described as a senior citizen by the dev team and is implied to be the eldest of the major named characters of his time. It's also been stated that the ancients are nigh on eternally youthful, and as Lahabrea shows clear signs of age (wrinkles, hair turning white, etc), with one of his colleagues later referring to him as an old man - yeah, he's up there. By human standards, we can assume he's equivalent to a man in his 60's or potentially older. He ultimately lives to be 12,000+ years old at the time of his death in Heavensward.
Canon: Final Fantasy XIV
Canon Point: Endwalker 6.4 Pandaemonium Raid Series; The True Lahabrea. Following the last moments we see him in the ancient world after reclaiming the tainted half of his soul and tasking Hegemone with becoming the new chief keyward of Pandaemonium. It can be a assumed that a few months have passed since then.
Powers:
(I am open to nerfing suggestions as you see fit. There will also be some self-nerfing taking place initially as Lahabrea will not be the most willing participant of physical and emotional intimacy - though ultimately that will change as he determines that the generation of thumos will assist him in his responsibilities and personal goals (ie. it would be foolish of him to willfully allow himself to be weakened when he just took direct action in his own time to regain his strength/powers).
"The Gift" - Possessed by all ancients, this ability takes many forms, but allows its people to understand foreign languages, to share in the memories of others (if allowed) or to absorb them from the ambient aether (energy) present in a particular location. Ancients can identify one another by their very essence without the need to rely on visual or verbal cues. As a member of the Convocation, it is also said that those with an office have methods of detecting whether or not another person is lying. In addition, Ancients are capable of travel via summoning and stepping through portals.
(The portal-ing is limited in scope/distance and to places he has visited before. He will not be able to portal into restricted areas of the game world.)
Creation Magicks - The ancient civilization of Etheirys excelled at using their magicks to give form to objects and creatures, limited only by their focus and imagination. As the premiere expert on phantom entities, Lahabrea is certainly no exception. He specializes in the creation of the arcane, with a penchant for fire-aspected concepts such as Ifrita and the phoenix. More powerful and complex creations typically require a group of people working together to summon them as well as a very large amount of aether. As per their society's laws, all concepts are required to undergo a rigorous testing process and be approved for general use by the Chief of the Bureau of the Architect. Concepts deemed too dangerous but whose existence is determined to be useful for study are sent to Pandaemonium - which is basically a holding facility or jail for these monsters, and was under Lahabrea's command until very recently.
(The general consensus in some of the other games I've played Ancients in has been that concepts are not meant to be permanent, and will last only so long as they are needed to complete a particular task. I'm entirely open to your thoughts on this one, and have also taken a look at some of the other players's suggestions, such as limits on the amount of magicks that can be performed being based on the character's reservoir of aether, excessive magicks leading to exhaustion or required rest periods, any foods created lacking true nutritional substance, and that magicks cannot be used to create in-game currency, etc.)
Transformation - Like most of his kind, Lahabrea is capable of changing into a larger, much more monstrous form which is said to be a reflection of the wielder's deeper desires and aspirations. His is quite terrifying, includes way too many eyes, and looks like this.
(And yes, I will definitely be tagging it appropriately for anyone unsettled by so many blinkers. It's quite unsettling. As with above, I'm open to any nerfing or size restrictions you feel is necessary. There's no way he's fitting inside an average doorway like this, for example.)
Soul Fusion - Lahabrea is capable of merging his soul with another's, a voluntary, temporary act which allows him to feel, sense, and understand the other individual completely. Later in life, he is able to merge with another to form a separate entity known as Ascian Prime which combines the powers of those two individuals.
(He will NOT be able to become Ascian Prime or any similar entity at this time. He will also be remiss to attempt merging his soul with another's due to the dangerous knowledge he now holds, though I would like to keep this as a possibility for later because, well...soul sex.)
Fire and Darkness - Most of Lahabrea's magickal abilities relate to the elements of fire and darkness. He seems to have a preference for fire and is seen using it to bind and burn away other spells, summon fireballs, and conjure the shapes of fiery phoenixes and serpents.
Aetherial Shackles and Internment - Used to bind unruly creatures. Aetherial shackles summons chains to ensnare a target while internment immobilizes the space around a target, thus trapping them for a prolonged period of time. These magicks are of Lahabrea's own design and something he later teaches to his son.
Sample(s): Bakerstreet Sample 1.
Test Drive Meme Samples 1. 2.
As this is a game set loosely in Regency England, we want to know how your character will adapt to this setting. How might they react to the culture and societal expectations placed upon them as a member of the upper class?:
Occupying a new world will be an adjustment for Lahabrea, perhaps moreso than some of his cohorts who come from the future and have been adapting for centuries. That being said, he understands well the importance of order and adhering to societal expectations, and is like to make a point of familiarizing himself in the dress and habits of the people in this world. He comes from a culture where everyone dons black robes and masks are worn to hide faces, so standing out is generally frowned upon, really. He may be prompted to dress appropriately to better conform, however his mask and symbol of office will never be far from his person. Although he is not used to being waited upon, he is familiar with being afforded special privileges thanks to his station (though it is not something he craves nor requires).
Naturally inquisitive and analytical, Lahabrea will be curious to learn more of the finer details of Andovale and its people, as well as those summoned here. While he is hardly one to find enjoyment in gossip, meeting with others willing to engage in intellectual debate or share their innovations and creative pursuits is another matter entirely. Any knowledge he may gain, even in hypotheticals, will doubtless make social events feel a touch less frivolous to him, and will be the surest way for others to gain his attention and respect. While not precisely eligible himself (being an elder man and widowed besides), he does have an eligible son - although he will be loath to involve himself in such discussions.
Lahabrea is a government figure and an academic/researcher from his own time, and someone who is supremely dedicated to his office. As such, he'll be seeking out a means to fill his time with meaningful work of a similar vein. The academy will doubtless be of particular interest to him, and if it is allowed, he may be deigned to take on a role as teacher. Although most of his knowledge is related to creatures and magicks, he is also an orator so may be an acceptable guide when it comes to navigating topics of debate, philosophy, or public speaking. (His people love debate, 'tis one of their favorite pasttimes.) Recreationally, he may take well enough to equestrian sports and the visual arts, if the pegasus statues and sculpture garden present within the halls of the Words of Lahabrea are to be believed.
The other responsibility of his which I plan to explore in depth now that he has ample time to dedicate to the effort, is learning to be a more positive, supportive presence in his son's life and to reclaim his role as a father.
Lahabrea's late wife was a brilliant researcher with a keen mind and innovative ideas, qualities Lahabrea would have found highly attractive. Despite everything, it is clear that he truly loved her. However, hers was a selfish ambition, and she was willing to do horrible, unconscionable things to further her own goals. As a result, Lahabrea takes her life and rips out the half of his soul capable of truly feeling, as well as the half with knowledge of those machinations, choosing to distance himself from Erichthonios to spare him the harsh reality about his beloved mother. It is many years later that he finally restores this half of himself - seeing it as the best way forward to allow him to complete his duties in service of his people.
Thus do I look forward to watching Lahabrea grow emotionally and learn to form connections and trust with those around him, as well as bear the weight of his wife's quest for godhood. (As you can imagine, this leaves him with a great many reservations about being whisked away to a new world at the whims of some goddess.)
You've been invited to a formal dinner! How charming! Now, how do you plan to conduct yourself in such a space? Remember, appearance is everything!:
Charming, is it? Despite my being invited to much the same only three evenings prior? While I understand their purpose to you and yours, the nature of these formal dinners leaves much and more to be desired. Pageantry in which individuals may see and be seen, and so much talk of marriage and personal, private affairs. I have little to contribute if the chosen topics of discussion cannot manage to take a more academic turn.
You may rest assured, however, that I will make an appearance if such is required. To listen, to learn, and to fulfill whatever societal duty it is that is expected of me. Though I may disagree with the opinions of those gathered, if all else present appear to be enjoying themselves, I see little cause to disrupt them. But however much you may try to convince me to participate further, I do not intend to involve myself in purely idle conversation.