Name: Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn Canon: FFXIV: A Realm Reborn Age: Never specified, likely around mid-thirties. Gender: Female Canon Point: Post patch 3.3, Heavensward. Background Link:Here Inventory:Storm Admiral regalia (Minus the muskets), 1 quill, 3 sheets of parchment.
Personality: Merlwyb's affinity for the ocean and all it entails is embedded even in her name, by traditional Roegadyn standards (Merl = Sea, Wyb = Wife/Woman, thus Merlwyb = Sea Wife), and plays a crucial part of who she is and why she does what she does. As the Admiral of the Eorzean city-state of Limsa Lominsa, Merlwyb presides over what is effectively the Final Fantasy version of Tortuga: a haven for pirates and the scrapings of society to live a (relatively) normal life where judgement over lifestyle and/or occupation is little to none. Where Ul'dah has their noble Gladiators guild dedicated to valiantly defending others, Limsa Lominsa has their Marauder's guild - men and women who make butchering their enemies with an axe their one and only concern. After all, only a fool would ignore a bigger threat with a battleaxe over some namby pamby with a mage's staff.
The intrinsic nature of two guilds are theoretically identical - protect the weak - but are as day and night when compared side-by-side in practice. The Marauders are brutal, yes, but also considerably more practical. And they are very, very good at their job. Less Flash, more Smash. The best defense is a good offense, after all.
Which neatly slots in to Merlwyb's motto. "Impossible is a term coined by the weak." For Sea Wolf Roegadyns, the drive to succeed is the greatest measure of the soul. Money, respect, and a long life can all be amassed if you are strong and unwavering in your convictions. A pirate captain must always have control over their deckhands lest the whole ship sink; doubly so when certain buccaneer crews chafe under the Admiral's iron grip on Limsa's trade routes and various restrictions on piracy. The law enforced by the Limsa Lominsan military is as fair as it is tough, reflecting Merlwyb's no-nonsense modus operandi; keep your hands clean, your nose out of shady business, and you'll reap the rewards that come with honest work. You leave your former life at the border once you become a Lominsan. The city has flourished under her leadership even with the constant threat of keeping Sahagin fish-men at bay, which most of the citizens grudgingly acknowledge; partly due to the fact Merlwyb meets any and all threats levelled at her city with instant, unwavering brute force. Nothing irritates her more than pussyfooting around a problem when slicing clean through the Gordian Knot is the simplest solution.
In this manner, each of the three leaders of the Eorzean Alliance reflect the territory they control to some degree; Kan-E-Senna, the Seedseer for the Gridanian forests, is peace-loving and reluctant to take part in conflict, while Sultana Nanamo-Ul-Namo must rely on her subordinates to act for her, since royalty can't be seen to do much other than be a figurehead. Both are reactionary with little room to take action on their own unless the matter is urgent, but act as a steadying hand to offset Merlwyb's combative style of leadership. For example, with the Crystal Braves rebelling and causing no little amount of mischief, she's more than ready to pop Ilberd in the head to end the issue then and there - she is only dissuaded from that course of action when her aide hurriedly reminds her that murdering a neutral party on foreign soil would be a diplomatic nightmare to deal with afterwards. Later, she makes it expressly clear that the Warrior of Light is not to be taken into custody or impeded in any fashion while residing in Lominsan borders, effectively drawing a line in the sand for the Crystal Braves to cross if they dare.
In a nutshell: Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn is absolutely the most aggressive of the three and the most likely to take command at the front of their army. A captain must always lead by example as far as she's concerned, and the respect she's earned by doing so has served her well. Her second-in-command, a Roegadyn man named Eynzahr Slafyrsyn, is strongly hinted to be none other than the legendary dread pirate Mistbeard. After the Warrior of Light completes the quest "King of the Hull", a cutscene occurs. "The Storm Marshal unlocks the coffer to produce a mask bearing a menacing visage, which he explains has been worn by all the individuals who have borne the name Mistbeard. The legendary pirate, it would seem, is not one man, but many. Eynzahr goes on to say that the current Mistbeard will be the last, having chosen to consign himself and his predecessors to the pages of history-- all for the sake of one woman and her dream of a brighter future for Limsa Lominsa... " Slafyrsyn's secret Mistbeard identity is somewhat of a running joke between him and Merlwyb. She openly teases him about it while debriefing the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, stating "Truly, Marshal, upon the subject of the pirate king, you are as a scholar". Slafyrsyn hurriedly changes the subject much to the Admiral's amusement. Despite his origins, he and the Admiral complement each other nicely. With their combined nautical and battle knowledge it's no wonder there's no fleet in the world that can hope to breach the city's defenses from the sea.
Anything short of a Primal, that is.
In the questline "Through the Maelstrom", Merlwyb risks her own safety to personally oversee the prevention of the water Primal Leviathan's summoning, dispatching the Sahagin priest and his underlings with precise gunfire to save the Warrior of Light and Y'shtola from being overwhelmed. This is the first and only time players ever see one of the Alliance leaders actively participating out on the field since the Calamity, and a clear indicator of how seriously she takes that particular threat after Leviathan has already washed away one small coastal town in recent history. A great number of her fleet is severely damaged while trying to drive away the sea serpent, however Merlwyb expresses frustration over not having a viable strategy to go on the offensive rather than devoting her energy on defensive measures and damage control. It's after Leviathan is defeated that Merlwyb admits in private as to the reason for the Sahagin summoning their god: Limsa Lominsa's rapid expansion into the surrounding countryside - slowly but surely pushing the Beast Tribe out of Halfstone altogether and thereby denying them spawning grounds to safely raise their young. However, she amends her apology with the statement:
"Eorzea has become as a raging sea. If we are to keep our heads above the waves, we cannot scruple to drown the man next to us." Which is to say, attempts at peaceful coexistence is all well and good, but useless if conflict is a certainty... which it always is. She's not a woman to sit on her laurels when a threat approaches. Either force must be met with force, or superior strength must be turned aside by skill instead, and damn the consequences. She cares very little for those not under her protection or by proxy via the Eorzean Alliance.
TL;DR Merlwyb is the kind of woman to give anyone and everyone a fair shot at success, firmly believing that social constructs such as inherited wealth or noble bloodlines are nothing more than unnecessary restrictions on freedom - the one true cause she would gladly lay down her life for. In her city, every man and woman earns their keep through their own merits and the sweat of their brow, and attempts to impinge on that freedom (Primals via Tempering, the Garlean empire, etc) never fails to rouse her ire. For a supposedly bloodthirsty ex-pirate, she has surprisingly resilient moral fiber. Whether or not that's simply Sea Wolf Roegadyn culture at work - strength of conviction, strength of body, strength of spirit - is somewhat debatable.
Flavor Abilities: Roegadyn are one of the tougher races to roam Eorzea, with inherent physical strength and hardiness to rival some beast tribes; in all but name, almost literal sea giants. Merlwyb relies mostly on her skill with firearms and her command experience rather than sheer muscle to win her battles, and so is probably slightly less bulky than the average Roe. Imagine her surprise when she finds out she's as limp-noodle-arms-y as any normal human. Otherwise, she's a crack shot with most guns and accomplished with throwing axes or knives; capable of gauging the speed and angle of an incoming throwing axe, catching it between two fingers (Wtf, Merlwyb why...), and chucking it back at her attacker with unnerving accuracy. (Not even fronting, shit is canon.) Obviously that kind of animu stunting isn't gonna happen in Snowblind so she'll have to avoid being a complete dumbass or get a knife in the hand for her trouble. Additionally she is an exemplary sailor born to a seafaring life, excelling in keeping morale high through demonstrative leadership. Her tactical knowledge is strongest when naval combat is concerned - Merlwyb's crowning achievement is methodically picking apart an "Invincible" blockade of ships from a foreign country known to previously be undefeated - but she is competent in day to day operations on land as well.
Suitability: Merlwyb will have absolutely no clue what to do with herself for the first little bit upon arrival. Unfamiliar terrain, no access to ships, the sea, weapons, manpower, basic comforts, anything even vaguely familiar... not to mention she's not fond of the cold. Like it or not, she's gotten fairly complacent after taking up the head honcho crown and needs to be knocked down a few pegs before rebuilding her confidence back up to where it should be. Coordinating with others when she has no seniority over them will likely be another sticking point as well. "My way or the highway" doesn't fly in a crowd of strangers no matter how impressively she words it - the Admiral will have to buckle down and work on her rusty diplomatic skills after butting heads with the more sedate folks a few times first.
(Plus an extra Network post just in case I don't have enough replies in that thread!)
@ dreadnought, Text
this farce of a prison wears thin on the patience. is there nothing - no-one - against which we can readily resist? what is the purpose of trapping us here? it's simply not to be borne.
[ The cold and thin resources have not been kind to Merlwyb - struggling to contain her growing frustration is starting to take it's toll. Worse, she has no strategy to wriggle free of the snowy hellhole she's been dumped in, and for someone accustomed to winning almost all the time, she's not taking her failures well. Automatically, she stabs a string of text with her fingers and lets it stand for however long it takes for her to take in a deep breath through her nose and struggle for control. ]
damn the spineless craven responsible and piss on their swiving corpse
[ The previous line is promptly deleted once Merlwyb feels a little less like breaking something in her fist. ]
seven hells, i'm like to go mad. never before have i so sorely yearned to drown a man with naught but mine bare hands since last valentione's day.
pray forgive me my rancor. sleep does not come easily in such foul weather.
Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn | FFXIV | Reserved
Name: Clamor
Age: 25
Contact Info: AIM - witcardsnribbons
Other Characters: N/A
Character Information
Name: Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn
Canon: FFXIV: A Realm Reborn
Age: Never specified, likely around mid-thirties.
Gender: Female
Canon Point: Post patch 3.3, Heavensward.
Background Link: Here
Inventory: Storm Admiral regalia (Minus the muskets), 1 quill, 3 sheets of parchment.
Personality: Merlwyb's affinity for the ocean and all it entails is embedded even in her name, by traditional Roegadyn standards (Merl = Sea, Wyb = Wife/Woman, thus Merlwyb = Sea Wife), and plays a crucial part of who she is and why she does what she does. As the Admiral of the Eorzean city-state of Limsa Lominsa, Merlwyb presides over what is effectively the Final Fantasy version of Tortuga: a haven for pirates and the scrapings of society to live a (relatively) normal life where judgement over lifestyle and/or occupation is little to none. Where Ul'dah has their noble Gladiators guild dedicated to valiantly defending others, Limsa Lominsa has their Marauder's guild - men and women who make butchering their enemies with an axe their one and only concern. After all, only a fool would ignore a bigger threat with a battleaxe over some namby pamby with a mage's staff.
The intrinsic nature of two guilds are theoretically identical - protect the weak - but are as day and night when compared side-by-side in practice. The Marauders are brutal, yes, but also considerably more practical. And they are very, very good at their job. Less Flash, more Smash. The best defense is a good offense, after all.
Which neatly slots in to Merlwyb's motto. "Impossible is a term coined by the weak." For Sea Wolf Roegadyns, the drive to succeed is the greatest measure of the soul. Money, respect, and a long life can all be amassed if you are strong and unwavering in your convictions. A pirate captain must always have control over their deckhands lest the whole ship sink; doubly so when certain buccaneer crews chafe under the Admiral's iron grip on Limsa's trade routes and various restrictions on piracy. The law enforced by the Limsa Lominsan military is as fair as it is tough, reflecting Merlwyb's no-nonsense modus operandi; keep your hands clean, your nose out of shady business, and you'll reap the rewards that come with honest work. You leave your former life at the border once you become a Lominsan.
The city has flourished under her leadership even with the constant threat of keeping Sahagin fish-men at bay, which most of the citizens grudgingly acknowledge; partly due to the fact Merlwyb meets any and all threats levelled at her city with instant, unwavering brute force. Nothing irritates her more than pussyfooting around a problem when slicing clean through the Gordian Knot is the simplest solution.
In this manner, each of the three leaders of the Eorzean Alliance reflect the territory they control to some degree; Kan-E-Senna, the Seedseer for the Gridanian forests, is peace-loving and reluctant to take part in conflict, while Sultana Nanamo-Ul-Namo must rely on her subordinates to act for her, since royalty can't be seen to do much other than be a figurehead. Both are reactionary with little room to take action on their own unless the matter is urgent, but act as a steadying hand to offset Merlwyb's combative style of leadership. For example, with the Crystal Braves rebelling and causing no little amount of mischief, she's more than ready to pop Ilberd in the head to end the issue then and there - she is only dissuaded from that course of action when her aide hurriedly reminds her that murdering a neutral party on foreign soil would be a diplomatic nightmare to deal with afterwards. Later, she makes it expressly clear that the Warrior of Light is not to be taken into custody or impeded in any fashion while residing in Lominsan borders, effectively drawing a line in the sand for the Crystal Braves to cross if they dare.
In a nutshell: Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn is absolutely the most aggressive of the three and the most likely to take command at the front of their army. A captain must always lead by example as far as she's concerned, and the respect she's earned by doing so has served her well. Her second-in-command, a Roegadyn man named Eynzahr Slafyrsyn, is strongly hinted to be none other than the legendary dread pirate Mistbeard. After the Warrior of Light completes the quest "King of the Hull", a cutscene occurs.
"The Storm Marshal unlocks the coffer to produce a mask bearing a menacing visage, which he explains has been worn by all the individuals who have borne the name Mistbeard. The legendary pirate, it would seem, is not one man, but many. Eynzahr goes on to say that the current Mistbeard will be the last, having chosen to consign himself and his predecessors to the pages of history-- all for the sake of one woman and her dream of a brighter future for Limsa Lominsa... "
Slafyrsyn's secret Mistbeard identity is somewhat of a running joke between him and Merlwyb. She openly teases him about it while debriefing the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, stating "Truly, Marshal, upon the subject of the pirate king, you are as a scholar". Slafyrsyn hurriedly changes the subject much to the Admiral's amusement. Despite his origins, he and the Admiral complement each other nicely. With their combined nautical and battle knowledge it's no wonder there's no fleet in the world that can hope to breach the city's defenses from the sea.
Anything short of a Primal, that is.
In the questline "Through the Maelstrom", Merlwyb risks her own safety to personally oversee the prevention of the water Primal Leviathan's summoning, dispatching the Sahagin priest and his underlings with precise gunfire to save the Warrior of Light and Y'shtola from being overwhelmed. This is the first and only time players ever see one of the Alliance leaders actively participating out on the field since the Calamity, and a clear indicator of how seriously she takes that particular threat after Leviathan has already washed away one small coastal town in recent history. A great number of her fleet is severely damaged while trying to drive away the sea serpent, however Merlwyb expresses frustration over not having a viable strategy to go on the offensive rather than devoting her energy on defensive measures and damage control.
It's after Leviathan is defeated that Merlwyb admits in private as to the reason for the Sahagin summoning their god: Limsa Lominsa's rapid expansion into the surrounding countryside - slowly but surely pushing the Beast Tribe out of Halfstone altogether and thereby denying them spawning grounds to safely raise their young. However, she amends her apology with the statement:
"Eorzea has become as a raging sea. If we are to keep our heads above the waves, we cannot scruple to drown the man next to us."
Which is to say, attempts at peaceful coexistence is all well and good, but useless if conflict is a certainty... which it always is. She's not a woman to sit on her laurels when a threat approaches. Either force must be met with force, or superior strength must be turned aside by skill instead, and damn the consequences. She cares very little for those not under her protection or by proxy via the Eorzean Alliance.
TL;DR Merlwyb is the kind of woman to give anyone and everyone a fair shot at success, firmly believing that social constructs such as inherited wealth or noble bloodlines are nothing more than unnecessary restrictions on freedom - the one true cause she would gladly lay down her life for. In her city, every man and woman earns their keep through their own merits and the sweat of their brow, and attempts to impinge on that freedom (Primals via Tempering, the Garlean empire, etc) never fails to rouse her ire.
For a supposedly bloodthirsty ex-pirate, she has surprisingly resilient moral fiber. Whether or not that's simply Sea Wolf Roegadyn culture at work - strength of conviction, strength of body, strength of spirit - is somewhat debatable.
Flavor Abilities: Roegadyn are one of the tougher races to roam Eorzea, with inherent physical strength and hardiness to rival some beast tribes; in all but name, almost literal sea giants. Merlwyb relies mostly on her skill with firearms and her command experience rather than sheer muscle to win her battles, and so is probably slightly less bulky than the average Roe. Imagine her surprise when she finds out she's as limp-noodle-arms-y as any normal human.
Otherwise, she's a crack shot with most guns and accomplished with throwing axes or knives; capable of gauging the speed and angle of an incoming throwing axe, catching it between two fingers (Wtf, Merlwyb why...), and chucking it back at her attacker with unnerving accuracy. (Not even fronting, shit is canon.) Obviously that kind of animu stunting isn't gonna happen in Snowblind so she'll have to avoid being a complete dumbass or get a knife in the hand for her trouble.
Additionally she is an exemplary sailor born to a seafaring life, excelling in keeping morale high through demonstrative leadership. Her tactical knowledge is strongest when naval combat is concerned - Merlwyb's crowning achievement is methodically picking apart an "Invincible" blockade of ships from a foreign country known to previously be undefeated - but she is competent in day to day operations on land as well.
Suitability: Merlwyb will have absolutely no clue what to do with herself for the first little bit upon arrival. Unfamiliar terrain, no access to ships, the sea, weapons, manpower, basic comforts, anything even vaguely familiar... not to mention she's not fond of the cold. Like it or not, she's gotten fairly complacent after taking up the head honcho crown and needs to be knocked down a few pegs before rebuilding her confidence back up to where it should be.
Coordinating with others when she has no seniority over them will likely be another sticking point as well. "My way or the highway" doesn't fly in a crowd of strangers no matter how impressively she words it - the Admiral will have to buckle down and work on her rusty diplomatic skills after butting heads with the more sedate folks a few times first.
RP Samples:
Action
Network & Action
(Plus an extra Network post just in case I don't have enough replies in that thread!)
@ dreadnought, Text
this farce of a prison wears thin on the patience. is there nothing - no-one - against which we can readily resist? what is the purpose of trapping us here? it's simply not to be borne.
[ The cold and thin resources have not been kind to Merlwyb - struggling to contain her growing frustration is starting to take it's toll. Worse, she has no strategy to wriggle free of the snowy hellhole she's been dumped in, and for someone accustomed to winning almost all the time, she's not taking her failures well. Automatically, she stabs a string of text with her fingers and lets it stand for however long it takes for her to take in a deep breath through her nose and struggle for control. ]
damn the spineless craven responsible and piss on their swiving corpse
[ The previous line is promptly deleted once Merlwyb feels a little less like breaking something in her fist. ]
seven hells, i'm like to go mad. never before have i so sorely yearned to drown a man with naught but mine bare hands since last valentione's day.
pray forgive me my rancor. sleep does not come easily in such foul weather.