heed spring's word.

Anaya Ravenwood

_{( druidic entity | ice focus | former nightwalker )}

A man who forswore his own life for the pursuit of power after a lifetime of powerlessness is given a new life, a new gender, and with it a second chance at redemption. Will spring blossom beautifully once more? Or is the changing of the seasons merely a precursor to a terrible winter...

_{❝ Forsaken,
Abandoned to the dark,
What choice, but to follow the flame? ❞}

likes.

dislikes.

Spoiled and egotistical to a fault, it's unclear whether or not her greedy, narcissistic tendencies come from a childhood of depravation, an immature personality, or simple misanthropy. Even so, despite her less than desirable personality traits, she keeps an affable demeanor in social situations, and has been known to extend a helping hand when her friends are in true need, even going as far as to put her life on the line.

the age of sakura.

The woman who would become Anaya began her life as a scrawny pink-haired boy named Rael, born to one of the countless tribes of Veena nestled deep within the valleys of the Skatay Range in Ilsabard. His mother ruled as chief for many long centuries, commanding strange and unique powers over nature, believed to derive from her unique connection with the Green Word, which legend dictated were bestowed upon her to keep her tribe safe. And as her latest child, it was believed by many that Rael, a child born with the same unusual pink hair color which she bore, might have somehow inherited her gifts, and in doing so may be destined to ensure his tribe's safety for the coming generations, as she had done......yet, it was not to be. Try as he might, Rael was found wanting in every respect. Not only was he lacking in his mother's unique gifts, but so too was he found wanting in every other respect a male of the Veena is expected to excel. For as a male Viera, there was no other place for him but to take on the role of 'Warder', a solitary hunter and soldier dedicated to the tribe's protection. Yet it was clear enough as the years passed that Rael would never measure up to such a lofty responsibility, having no strength to speak of, nor skill at arms, nor even basic survival skills. He was, for all intents and purposes, a failure. A burden on his people.Despite all of this, his mother protected him from the tribe's judgment as best she could, perhaps seeing something the others could not, or perhaps simply out of a mother's love. And despite the overwhelming scorn he felt every day from his brothers and sisters, there were still many moments of joy to be had for young Rael, held in his mother's arms.But even a Viera's time on this star is limited, and soon, his mother passed away, dead overnight for unknown reasons. The tribe's collective grief threw yet more fuel on the fire of their hatred towards Rael, and with his mother no longer around to shield him, the task fell to his father to finally put him out of the tribe's collective misery, as dictated by tradition.But whether it was pity that stayed his hand or mercy, Rael was spared from execution, and instead condemned to a lifetime of exile, within a cave at the very peak of the Skatay Range. For the tribe, this was good enough: someone as useless as Rael would surely meet his demise just the same, under those circumstances. Yet, unbeknownst to the tribe, Rael would find better fortune than even he expected, during his exile. Gifts from flying birds and skittering squirrels would supplement the rainwater and mushrooms, of which there always miraculously seemed to be just enough.Soon, days turned to weeks turned to months turned to years...and when he was certain no one would follow, he climbed back down. No longer as Rael, but with a new name: Sakura. One inspired by the lost beauty of his homeland. And he let the beauty of nature be his guide, as he fled from his ancestral home, making the long journey across Illsabard to the Far East. And from there, eventually, many years later, to Eorzea...

the age of alistair.

Eorzea did not prove to be the land of Sakura's dreams, anymore than the Far East had been. There was civilization, yes, but civilization only came to those who could afford it, and Sakura had spent all he had simply in chartering a vessel to Eorzea. But just as he'd learned in Far East, even without skill or money, he would always have one thing to leverage: his appearance. So he made the easy choice to throw himself into Eorzea's booming brothel culture, where he was determined to make a comfortable living for himself at long last.And find a comfortable living, he did...though not perhaps in the way he imagined. Courtesy of a lucky friendship with a powerful Ascian, Sakura was one day given an extraordinary gift. A gift which, unbeknownst to the giver, had accidentally corrupted with great darkness...darkness enough to kill him, and then resurrect him anew as a vampire. While Sakura was at first caught off guard, with the help of his friends, he soon realized just what had happened to him...and it soon began to dawn on him all that he had gained, in the process. All the power he could ever want...and much, much more.Enraptured by the possibility of having everything after a lifetime of having nothing, Sakura surrendered completely to the dark power he'd inadvertently been gifted. Within months, the cheerful, gentle soul he'd been raised as had died, replaced entirely by a cackling, bloodthirsty monster worthy of a horror novel. He allowed himself to be totally consumed by his lust for blood and riches, devouring any who crossed him to further enrich his power, while plundering hundreds of million in gil with his powers of mind control.With all his newfound wealth and splendor, he soon established himself as a landholder in Ishgard, the newest face in a long line of 'Nouveau riche' immigrants since the city state's opening. The wintery climate suited his vampiric nature perfectly, as did the city's 'genteel' sensibilities, which Sakura took to like a fish to water, effortlessly adopting the persona of a charming nobleman, and along with it, yet another new name for himself: Alistair.It didn't take long for Alistair to start living a life of luxury that humble Rael could never have even dreamed of. His powers of enchantment and charisma had earned him a lofty seat in Ishgard's Parliament...while his strength had grown to such an obscene level from ceaseless feeding that he could exterminate even the strongest enemies with ease. Including the Warders among his old family...which is exactly what he did, returning to the Skatay Range in a year's time to vengefully slaughter the tribe that had forsaken him with his bare hands, subjecting them to the same fate they had long wished for him: death. And yet, even with the genocide of his tribal family, and the life of splendor he now lived in Ishgard...even still, he was left wanting...wanting for something he couldn't quite articulate.The truth would only become apparent to him following a chance encounter with a Voidsent that had left him stripped him of his powers, filling his undead form with life energy and rendering him an impotent 'Dhampir'. He struggled for many months alongside his allies to have his power restored...yet when the Voidsent was finally defeated, it did not bring the outcome he had expected. On the contrary, rather than purging the life from his body, the voidsent's death had actually unleashed the life energy stored within him, curing his vampirism completely. But by no means was he reduced to the powerless Veena he'd been before...

conventional.

I'll buy it at a high price!
Wealthy and vain individuals like Anaya are always looking for new trinkets to add to their collection, and new garments to add to their wardrobe. Does your character run a business of any sort? If so, don't be surprised if a certain aristocratic Viera comes inquiring...

Vote for Anaya
Anaya's most public facing role by far is that of a member of Parliament in Ishgard's recently founded House of Commons. Are you a constituent with concerns? A noble or businessman wishing to curry influence? A shady individual wishing for morally dubious favors? Anaya is ready to listen! As she so often says, "Adventurers with tragic backstories are this nation's backbone!"

Your mission, should you choose to accept it...
In a land filled to the brim with mercenaries and adventurers, a rich man like Alistair has no need to pursue every single matter of interest to him personally. He has a long track record of hiring mercenaries to dispatch vampire hunters on his behalf during his time as an undead, and even now, it's not unheard of to find a task posted on a job board bearing his insignia. Even those who might not ultimately take the job may still wish for a consultation with the man himself...

unconventional.

What's better than a devil you don't know?
While she may no longer be a vampire, her thirst for dark, unholy power has not waned in the time since his transformation. Voidsent, nightkin and demons alike are nothing new to her, and she would gladly roll out the red--or perhaps pink?--carpet for any such being wishing to bargain with her...

Die, monster! You don't belong in this world!
Anaya's transformation into a druidic figure may come as cold comfort to the thousands of lives she'd taken and countless families she'd destroyed during his reign of terror. Even now, she contends with monster hunters of all stripes, seeking justice in the form of blood. Perhaps even your character may soon come knocking at Ravenwood Manor, weapon at the ready...

Rules of Nature
Anaya's inherited powers over nature, once long dormant, are now awakened, and as with all sources of power, Anaya is keen to explore them to the fullest extent possible. If your character happens to possess similar powers, perhaps they might sense the same in Anaya...or perhaps she might sense the same in them....

Sedrick

skallan prince and trusted friend

"What better place to begin a list of my friends and loved ones, than with a man like this? Sedrick has long been one of my closest friends, and a trusted ally besides. He's one of the few who knew me before I was ever a vampire, in fact! We may have our differences, but we've gone through much together, and come out the other side stronger for it. I wouldn't want to imagine life without him."

Wisp

dalmascan knight

"Wisp? Hah...honestly, I'm amazed he didn't run me through with his sword, when we first met. Sometimes, it still amazes me, even now. I suppose it goes to show that even a holy knight can move beyond their teachings...that, or knowing him, his curiosity to learn all he could about me simply proved stronger than his desire to smite me. I never thought a holy paladin would become one of my closest allies, but I'm bloody well glad that he is."

Mikh'a

first vampire spawn

"First and greatest, I should say! He may not know it, but he's already every bit as powerful as I was, at my height...he just needs the confidence to see it for himself, that's all. I tried to lead him down a dark path long ago, but it seems that despite all my efforts, he always took more joy in the company of his friends than in bloodshed. Perhaps he was the wiser of us both all along, on that measure..."

Caecilia

sorceress of a bygone age

"How could I not pay Caecila her due respect? I owe her for a great many things...not the least of which being my vampirism, even though it was little more than an accident on her part. Yes, she's a powerful mage, indeed...and the story of just where that power derives is quite a tragic tale, to say the least. But more than that, I'll not divulge, lest she bring her great power down to bear upon me. ...again..."

Kini

self-described "punch cat"

"An aspiring monk, of sorts, and a rather successful adventurer besides. I've seen the proof of her strength demonstrated on more than one occasion, but more impressive than even that much is her sheer willpower. It's no surprise I offered to make her a vampire...and it's even less surprising that she refused me. She never was one for doing things the easy way, after all..."

Leorise

"mistress" of machines

"Don't let her ladylike demeanor and genteel style of dress fool you: she's capable of miraculous feats of engineering that would humble even the vaunted Garlond Ironworks. And her grasp on time magic is even more impressive, yet. She still has some ways to go before the extent of her ambitions are realized...but from one ambitious person to another, I'm keen to see to it that she succeeds. Or, should I say, 'ascends'...?"

Ezzie

lover of flowers and friends

"Matriarch of the Wingrave clan, Proprietress of the Dueling Otters...yet even all those titles hardly begins to cover it all. It often feels that for every new thing I learn of her, two new questions arise. But if nothing else, one thing is certain: she clearly cares for me a great deal. In fact, she's likely cared for me for far longer than I could suspect even know...even back when I was at my worst, long before I deserved such care from anyone. Just thinking about it now...it gives me a feeling I can't quite explain. But it's a good feeling, even I know that."

Xavier

Ala Mhigan grand master

"And I suppose while we're speaking on the Wingraves, I would do well to mention Ezzie's husband. He's as Ala Mhigan as they come, as you'll soon learn when he inevitably screams something incomprehensible in his 'native tongue'. And he's a peerless hand-to-hand fighter as well...no mere pugilist, but a full blown Monk, one who can boast a mastery over Levin that rivals even Sedrick's. I'm pleased to say I've learned a fair bit about the art of combat through him, since meeting him...and that's despite his annoying habit of pushing my buttons at each and every opportunity. Hmph."

Tohru

okami of the hanamachi

"Ahh, this one...! To say they became everything I hoped for from a vampire spawn would be a grave understatement. Not but a moon after leaving my side, and already they have half of Hingashi under their thumb! And they've sired an impressive collection of vampiric oiran progeny for themselves, at that. They're a flawless vampire in every way, that much is obvious. And yet...part of me can't help but wonder...will this path Tohru's chosen truly help them find what they seek, when all is said and done...?"

Rin

master conjurer of the reach

"She's the head one of a large group of time travelling wizards and warriors based out of UI'dah. ...no, you didn't misread that. They call themselves 'The Reach'. And the entire history of their generational conflict against a fae king could probably span as many tomes as I have in my library, combined. Her side business peddling drugs is quite noteworthy, too. But it's what was inside her that's caused me the most trouble, lately...namely, that bloody voidsent responsible for taking away my vampiric powers: Harbinger. Oh yes, I bear quite the grudge. And yet...without Harbinger, I suppose I'd never have discovered my new powers. Hmm. I wonder...should I be furious, or grateful...?"

Kai

leader of the Azure aegis

"What's that? Never heard of the Azure Aegis? Think the Scions, but with a fanatical love of the color blue. Not that I can blame him for having a favorite color, Twelve knows I do, too...what I do blame him for is his ridiculous naïveté. The fool has extraordinary power, but he uses every scrap of it on other people, no matter how worthless the cause. He'd run himself ragged handing sandwiches to the poor one day, and gladly take a bullet for some random stranger on the next simply because they happened to be nearby. He's thickheaded and stubborn to a fault...and, loath as I am to admit it...he's quite likely the best chance this Star has of salvation."

Ziuz

lethal spymaster

"Ziuz happens to be Kai's sister, so it's no surprise the two work closely together. But don't be fooled; there's far more that separates the two than her preference for purple apparel over blue. Whereas Kai might be likened to a blunt intstrument, strong but inflexible in its usage, Ziuz is one to favor cunning over brute force. And that makes her the more dangerous of the two by far. You see, unlike her brother, Ziuz won't give you the courtesy of a fair fight before taking your life. I should know...she very nearly took mine, on one occasion. Not that I blame her...I did have it coming. Even if I'd never admit it to her face."

Kniar

estranged son

"Ah, yes. My son. 'Bastard' son, actually, even though the term is rather harsh. From what I gather, he was born a short time after my tribe had exiled me. Of course, I had no idea that he even existed...right until we were brought together by the whim of fate in Eorzea, that is. But once I learned the truth, I wasted no time turning him into a vampire, training him, and essentially doing everything I could for the poor boy. For a time, things were nice...idyllic, even. Right up until the boy's mother resurfaced, and snatched him away from me with Kai's assistance. I see little of him these days ever since, beyond 'scheduled visits'...but perhaps it's better that way. As cowardly as it is to admit...seeing him now just serves as bitter reminder of all I've lost..."

Nyxara

vampire queen of another age

"How to put it...? Nyxara...essentially, she's the parallel version of Ziuz from another timeline. A timeline where I, as Alistair Ravenwood, came to rule the star as a tyrannical vampire king, and took Nyxara as my vampiric henchwoman. It all sounds rather lovely, really...up until the point where Nyxara betrayed that other version of me, and brought about my death. One might reasonably expect that I'd distrust her in light of that, but in reality, her arrival in this timeline was nothing less than the wake-up call I so sorely needed. She put the proof to my grandiose ambitions, once and for all...proof that my hopes of world conquest would not have ended with me seated on an enormous throne, but with my ashes being tossed to the wind."

Lavender

Former lover

"'Former lover'...hah. Sometimes I amaze even myself, with how glib I can be. In truth, she's far more than just that: A peerless warrior, and a dauntless commander. It would be a stretch to say that she single-handedly saved her former timeline from utter devastation...but it also wouldn't be so far from the truth. It was inevitable, perhaps, that I would find myself attracted to such strength...and yet, it wasn't meant to be. She recognized my nature better than even I could, and ended things before they could become...irreparable. Even so, the experience nearly broke me...yet I emerged stronger for it, as I have from so many other tragedies. She's in a better place now, thankfully...and remarkably, so am I."

Natsume

a man with many names

"What an enigma, this fellow is...at first, I had him pegged for another relentless do-gooder in the mold of Wisp and Kai. Yet there's far more to this fellow than meets the eye...an intolerable self righteousness, that much is certain. And yet at the same time, a surprising willingness to kill that surpasses even my own, at points. Since when does a 'hero' have the sort of talent with poison that he has? And why do I keep running into him wherever I seem to go, despite my best intentions? More than that...why do I get this queer feeling whenever we speak, that I've yet to understand a fraction of the whole that is Natsume? I should like to keep an eye on this man...we may not exactly be 'friends', but I rather doubt I could survive being his enemy for long..."

Kyanite

Alexandrian conjurer

"From when I first laid eyes on Kya, I had her figured for just another flashy fighter from Tural...specifically, the city of 'Solution Nine', with its equally spectacular 'Arcadion'. Yet there seems to be more to her than just that...far more. Where once she relied upon electrope to power her arsenal, she's now all but abandoned it in favor of 'gifts' from none other than the Elementals. Not that I'd begrudge anyone for taking power when it's offered, but even an outsider like myself knows that the Elementals don't do anything for anyone without expecting something in return. And wouldn't you know it? It seems they have a grand 'destiny' in mind for Kya to carry out. Go figure. Let's just hope this vaunted 'destiny' doesn't become a tragedy, where she's concerned..."

August

Partner

"August...what might I possibly say about this man, who I love so dearly? To have him so far at the end of this list feels almost a crime, were it not for the ethos of 'save the best for last'...and yet, I could say so many words on him, that it might easily dwarf all the other entries combined. Should I describe how easy it was to fall in love with him? Might I describe how he's given me the confidence to change my life and body for the better, in ways I'd never imagined possible? Should I dare attempt to describe the beauty of his fire magics, or his dance routines? To say nothing of the beauty of his physical form? Or perhaps it would be better still to say nothing at all...for in those rare moments where such perfection can be found, it speaks for itself better than words ever could."

about me

Hi! I'm Mo, the author of Anaya! If you made it this far, thank you for reading! I hoped you enjoyed learning about my character, and I'm just as eager to learn about yours!Feel free to reach out to me on Discord anytime! And if you do happen to see me out and about in the world, don't hesitate to say something. Please do be aware that I generally have a rather packed RP calendar, so it's usually better to schedule things in advance rather than just hoping it can be done on the spot. On that note, please keep in mind that I live in the EST timezone, for scheduling purposes!

discord @ the.mo.you.know

guidelines

Within the (hopefully obvious) bounds of common sense, there's very little I'm not willing to RP out with Anaya. Drama is most always welcome (so long as it's strictly IC drama!) and even permanent consequences are something I'm happy to consider, so long as it's negotiated beforehand.One thing I do ask for is grace and understanding considering scheduling RP scenes. I am honored and blessed to have many spectacularly talented people that I RP with regularly, but this means that I may not RP with your particular character on a regular weekly basis. As much as I wish I could RP with everyone I know every week, each one only has seven days to work with! On that note, I strongly encourage anyone with an idea in mind to reach out to me, rather than waiting and hoping for me to do so first. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!One last note on ERP: While I do write ERP, and can certainly enjoy doing so, it is not my driving motivation for RP as I know that it is for some people. Please note that I am asexual in real life and while sexuality can certainly be an important part of writing, at the end of the day, it really is simply a part of writing to me, not the main attraction in my eyes. Please keep this in mind so that you're not disappointed if your eagerness for ERP winds up exceeding my own. Thank you!