Rii'va
Dragonsong Veteran
Snatched away as a trophy of war within moments of his birth, Rii'va was with the Buduga long enough for puberty to reveal his feminine features as permanent and earn his exile despite the "glory" the child soldier tried to bring his brothers.It was in the cold of the Steppe's Winter that he heard the call of a woman to journey to the West. He has lived in Ishgard, devoted to Halone, ever since being "welcomed" by the dragon-hating Elezens of Ishgard.Loyalty was proven in the spilling of dragon's blood, after which the Xaela would find a home as an adopted son of House Gaiser, and find brotherhood in the Band of the Croc.
"Final Days? Ask Nidhogg how many days are in a Thousand Years." - Rii'va
Chasing glory by representing Ishgard in the Battle of Carteneau, Rii'va and his Oathkin rode with hearts aflame with both Pride and Fury in the face of Fate.
While Louisoix Leveilleur's ritual had allowed for Althyk to deliver many of the Eorzeans there to a safer place, five years into the future, it was Halone who posed as a bastion on Rii'va's behalf. Her ice saved him, and only him, that day. Clinging to metal tags that never forgot the heat of Bahamut's flame, the Xaela never let a single one go until he fell atop the stones of Foundation.
With the conclusion of the last skirmish fought in the name of the Dragonsong War, despite its formal ending, Rii'va had been warring against the horde of Nidhogg alongside his adopted brothers and sisters for 20 years.During the Endsinger's attack on the star, Rii'va rose up as one of Ishgard's generals to aid in the defense of the city and Coerthas, fulfilling a purpose he viewed Halone had chosen him for.
Time Bubble
Rii'va only told his family a half-truth when he said heading to Tuliyollal was simply for fun and adventure. Despite the oaths he swore during the Final Days, he wanted to beat his rivals to the next big discovery. He suceeded.He was first to arrive to Heritage when he felt the gathering of Lightning aether. For a reward, the master of Levinmancy became a victim of Zoraal Ja's scheme. For 30 years he had been barred from his family and every ambition he had ever known.
While he was able to reignite his ambitions, serving the interests of Solution 9 Government and Corporations, the time spent away from his family have changed him.
Soul-Repo of S9
Rii'va has chosen a feral soul for himself to aid his opportunistic exploits of Solution 9. After uniting with his family, he played the victim. And while he never confesses how irony brought him low, he has chosen to continue living a much quieter life.Whenever he isn't reaping the souls from regulators that belong to criminals and debtors alike, he fights in the Arcadia not to entertain the masses but to continue his religious pursuits of mastering war without participating in legitimate ones.
Meta-information
Character Combo: Three parts Thomas Shelby (Peaky Blinders), Two very loud parts of Astolfo (Fate/Apocrypha), and One part Paul Atreides (Dune - 2021)
On the surface, Rii'va is a "femboy". However, the in lore reason fueling this choice is his religious views on Halone, as well as Nhaama, Garuda, Asura, and other bosses.
Using the abundance of feminine boss monsters with lore that emphasizes their war-like and violent nature, I've been able to design Rii'va with the presented palette.
His femininity, from his mannerisms to his attire to his formal titles, all reflect his belief that "War is feminine". When his wife wears a dress, for example, it is to look pretty. When he wears a short skirt, its to weaponize his appearance.He lives and reacts to the world presented by the game. While this means game crossover events are canonical to his world and story, real-world politics projected onto the game are not. The sole purpose of roleplaying with and as Rii'va is to escape reality and embrace Eorzea.
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For reading :)