Aedida Aldricht

"ɪ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ, ᴏɴᴄᴇ sᴘᴇɴᴛ, wʜᴀᴛ ʟᴏsᴇs ɪᴛs vᴀʟuᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢᴏʟᴅ ᴅᴏᴇs ɴᴏᴛ."

❇

Details

"ʏᴇѕ, ɪᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛs, ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ.
ʏᴇʟʟᴏᴡ ɪѕ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴɢ.
ɪ’ʟʟ sᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ, ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ʜᴏɴᴇʏ — ᴇᴀᴛ."

Appearance

• Hair & Eyes
• Physique & Markings
• Hygiene & Attire

Personality

• Voice
• Philosophy & Mannerisms
• Preferences

Return

Hair & Eyes

One's first impression upon spotting Aedida in a crowd would be Uninspired. With her dark hair cropped short it would take a second glance to notice the the delicate and intricate weave of braids in the thick mass, the light catching it at the right angle to bring out its earthen tones. Within the braids Aedida wears beaded jewelry as decoration; carved bone to painted wood creating an image of composure and lost culture in her otherwise unadorned appearance. The beads vary in size and shape, though all distinct and unique they bear the mark of an expert craftsman with a fondness for detail. The sets rotate without a pattern or purpose, just as she braids her hair in whatever fashion she fancies at the time. The effect is whimsical yet balanced with her austerity.Her eyes, however, tell another story. Glassy as the reflection of a full moon on water; an imperfect mirror warped and ever shifting, obscuring the depth below. The faint gray, lingering on the edge of violet, is a trait of her Clan known to her and her own as the Augu Vindur. Their light colour and faint pupil give the impression of cataracts though her vision, poor as it is, is in perfect health. Often lacking in honest emotion contrary to her personality, they are nonetheless striking on their own and could be described as unnerving.

Return

Physique & Markings

Aedida's most notable feature would be a dark mole beneath the corner of her left eye, all other moles covered or swathed in clothing too large for her narrow frame.Her complexion is clear beside a smattering of freckles that cross over her nose from cheek to cheek, easily disguised by a dusting of cosmetics. It is a sign of vanity that she bears no visible damage to her face outside of the redness of her eyes and the dark circles beneath from a lack of sleep and proper rest. Were one to brush the hair from her eyes the may see a small thin scar disappearing into the dark mane. Stripped of her clothing she is fair of skin without any indication suggesting she spends a large amount of time outside in the sun.She bears another handful of distinct scars and markings, the old wounds showing signs of immediate and expert treatment. Blossoming from her heart are veins more blue and distinguished than the rest beneath her near transparent skin; the dark branches stretching toward her left shoulder before fading. The faint touch of spider-like tendrils curving down her left arm only to fade near the elbow as though struck by lightning. On her left there are two scars from projectiles, one just over her tenth rib, and another not much lower. The tissue is clean, showing both sign of surgical treatment and immediate aid of magic, the location of the lower more fatal than the other.Physically, Aedida is small even by Highlander standards, at five fulms tall she is hardly imposing. She hides her physique beneath large, heavy clothing. Her body is androgynous and thin but delicately toned. While she does not give the impression of being exceptionally strong, she is not as malnourished as she first appears either. The woman would appear to be built for climbing and running long distances.

Return

Hygiene & Attire

Every morning Aedida bathes herself in the manner of the girls of the brothel would, with whom she learned from. Her routine is simple and without fuss, cleaning herself head to toe occasionally in a state of half-dress as she prepares for her day. Even if she is running late she will do the least required of her as she is not fond of appearing in public, or in front of friends, unwashed.Wearing a modest amount of powder and khol, and lacquer on her nails, Aedida does not often spend an inordinate amount of time in front of a vanity table. However, where she lacks in rouge she makes up for in her choice of scents and perfumes. From the heady fragrance of a pure Heather, to the exotic distilled essence of fennel and sandalwood, she will always leave behind a warm impression on the senses as she leaves the room.Aedida's wardrobe is simple and sparse. With her gil going elsewhere, she does not find herself with enough left over to purchase attire suitable to her preference in style or in her own size. Her clothing is all second hand, purchased from stalls known for their thriftiness, and discarded articles from her friends. Each piece has been hand mended many times over, her favoured shirts often thin in the elbows and shoulders where the suspenders have worn the hempen fabric threadbare. As with her clothing, her shoes also bear the scuffs and worn soles - her commitment to keeping things despite their declining value and high maintenance highlighting her stubbornness and distaste for waste.

Return

Voice

Aedida's voice possesses a unique quality to it, a broken rasp just a hair above a whisper, mature yet soft - cut with her heavy northern accent. She rolls her R's, and clips every D with an added T. Her tone has a musical quality, teasing light with a suggestion of a secret. In some instances it could be considered seductive, a lure all on its own to gain attention where she cannot raise her voice. She never uses contractions when speaking eorzean merchant common, lending her speech a formal edge. When speaking her mother tongue she speaks more fluidly and swiftly. Aedida never swears or uses curse words in common, nor does she use euphemisms or suggestive remarks. This can lead to a misunderstanding of her innocence, but as she is not fully fluent in common it is one's understanding she does not speak often and when she does it is careful and deliberate. Or at least, she does try.

Voice Inspirations

Click for audio examples

Björk | Fran; FFXII

Return

Philosophy & Mannerisms

Aedida's philosophy in life is that in mercy she will find herself closer to Rhalgr and to the Gods, and where she might find forgiveness in her own sins. She would not suffer to watch another in pain if she could ease it - and she could not bear to be the hand to deliver punishment without quick end. To her, the end must justify the means - even if they seem cruel, they must be quick and painless.When she is nervous she rubs the back of her neck and paces, and when she is enthusiastic or desperate in her emotions her gestures become full bodied.

Return

Combat, Abilities & Weaponry

"ɪ ʟɪᴇ! ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴄᴇss! - ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛʀᴜsᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ."

• Non-Combat Abilities
• Combat Abilities

Return

Non-Combat Abilities

■ Sixth Astral Vision: When caught in the spell of the late Louisoix on the fields of Carteneau, Aedida was struck by a projectile to the side of the head. Her glasses had shattered. A piece of the enchanted glass entered her eye, giving her an uncoordinated and unpredictable insight into the past to the start of the Seventh Umbral Era. The vision allows her to see a shadow of what was up to a period of 5 cycles. When the aether is particularly strong, or a storm is on the horizon, she must wear a pair of specially crafted glasses to filter the images out, as it is more or less a handicap than an asset. Examples of cons being seeing rocks and roads and are no longer, or potentially stepping too far off a short fall. The pros being, on occasion, seeing beyond a glamour or tracking a person if given enough time, focus and energy.■ Rune Reading: In her free time Aedida studies the ancient magic runes of civilizations past, giving her an edge in her pursuit of knowledge in the Arcane arts.● Alchemy: Quick and dirty, or in a lab, Aedida is a graduated student of Fronadale's. Having learned from the best in Ul'dah, she can produce anything from potions to poisons to suit any occasion. The downside being she refuses to let anyone be a test subject... Outside of herself.■ Of the Songstojo'ri: Aedida can project her voice or a sound for malms if conditions are met by aetherial manipulation. A learned skill from her home, it is used infrequently. It is useful to carry a message long distance, or alert a party left behind that the way is clear. It is also quite fun to sing in an echoing cavern.■ Unassuming Character: Aedida often lies about her experiences in combat and hardships - either in part due to trauma experienced in the weeks leading up to the battle to Carteneau, or because she finds comfort and enjoyment in being under estimated. As she needs time to form a strategy in a fight, she will feign defeat or weakness to work her way into a crushing opening against her opponent. She might be reckless, but she isn't foolish.

Return

Combat Abilities

■ Sleight of Hand Poisoning: Be mindful of keeping your flesh covered, and the rings on Aedida's fingers. Using a combination of her speed and a gamble of allowing others to get close in combat Aedida has a spring loaded ring coated in poison that can pierce the flesh of near any Spoken - the needle not nearly thick or long enough to pierce through scale or armour however. While the poison is often just paralyzing, she does not wear just one ring.■ Potion of Fire Breathing: Two vials held together with sealing wax and twine; This potion, when uncorked and poured into her mouth, can produce a cone of fire for either the effect of causing distraction or to damage an opponent. If thrown the mixture would produce a flame equal to that of an oiled torch, capable of setting off explosives or catching things on fire. Occasionally it has been used to produce a campfire under dire circumstances, but do be cautious.■ Aerial Aether: With her expertise, and clan heritage, in the manipulation of the wind Aedida can jump higher and further.■ Mithridatism: Aedida has spent her late teenage and early adulthood immunizing herself to common, and increasingly less common, venom and poisons. So long as they are organic and can be broken down by the body, it will have little effect on her. However she is not immune to supernatural ailments to her aether, nor to toxins that build up in one's body to disable them.■ Held Spells: Not always having a full grimoire on hand, Aedida takes time every morning to tear pages from a book to draw Arcanic spells of healing and harming. With the aid of specialized enchanted inks; They can be activated either with enough aether to initiate the spell or, in the case of incomplete spells missing a component in the ink, activated with spoken blood. Her own, of course - lest there is an unfortunate foe beside her.

Return

History

"I'm waving in the wind a flag of white but I'm not scared - See, this whole scenario can only to me serve."

• Childhood

Childhood

■ Aedida was born early in the midst of a snow storm around the eve of Starlight. Given the weather and harsh conditions of the turn, an exact date of her birth is unknown. A complex birth in the middle of a flu epidemic, it was a miracle that both mother and child survived and later thrived.■ Upon reaching five or six, Aedida (Then known as only Vedís to her family and village) would have reached the age to begin following after her mother, responsible for being able to wake herself, dress for the day and prepare the fire for the morning meal as well as help around the kitchen and learn how to manage a household. However, it was around this time that both of her elder sisters required a mother's attention and Aedida turned mute for years for attention, though it never drew her mother home long.■ Without a mother's support and tutelage, Aedida's care was entrusted to her father and elder brothers. Too small to do much beyond following her brothers around, it was then that the men would take turns caring for her. Between them, they taught her rudimentary stitches and mending, as well as her letters before she would begin school.■ When not tending to the lambs and aldgoats with her family, Aedida spent her mornings with the tutor and other children learning her letters and numbers. It was in the small schoolroom that she excelled. The more she grew and shirked the meagre lessons of becoming a wife, combined with the temple's disinterest in the young girl as a potential bride, the more her family worried. While they mourned her dismal future and the knowledge they did not possess the title nor dowry to entice a husband for Aedida, they were relieved that during tantrums their daughter sought comfort and shelter with the village's wise woman where she began her studies in medicine and midwifery. Even if she were to grow alone, the position was necessary and therefore highly respected.■ At nine or ten years of age her village was approached by a Scholar of a small Academy in the Coerthan region known as the Peacemeet. Through means unknown to Aedida funds had been sent in advance to pay the tuition to see the youngest Ölldricht daughter through traditional schooling. Her father, spitefully taking advantage of what he knew to be a ruse, gave his blessings for her to attend. With a promise to continue her study of advanced medicine Aedida left for the Peacemeet in hopes of improving the lives of her people. While at the Peacemeet Aedida studied natural science, history and language. When not attending service in the church, she would learn martial skills with a lance alongside lessons in military tactics. When she would return to her family in the village every few moons she would show off her skills to the boys and girls of the village below.■ At fourteen Aedida would find the book that she would later take her 'name' from. Shedding the shameful provincial brand of Vedís, she adopted the pseudonym Aedida after Lady Aedida Dewin from the book of Mythos volume XI. Empowered by the ancient scholar's accomplishments in the arcane and military prowess despite all odds - it comes to no surprise that an impressionable young girl would mistake a mad woman's hubris for strength, something she would later learn many turns later as a young woman speeding dangerously towards the same tragic, early end.■ At seventeen Aedida would have sat for an exam that would later result in a letter of recommendation to continue her education in the sciences in the city state of Ul'dah. It would not be another turn that she would be accepted, barely passing and receiving her certifications in the natural sciences as well as History.■ At Eighteen Aedida set out for Ul'dah, having spent several moons with her family convincing them of the importance to learn more of Alchemy from the physickers and chirurgeons of Frondale's. With the expectations she would return within two turns, they begrudgingly gave her leave providing her with a bare minimum of gil and supplies in order to reach the city.

Return

Family

Clan Ölldricht

❇

• Matriarch ⊹ Sigurd Ölldricht
• Patriarch ⊹ Oddbjørn Ölldricht
• Eldest Sister ⊹ Sigrid Ölldricht
• Eldest Brother ⊹ Enok Ölldricht
• Elder Sister ⊹ Una Ölldricht
• Elder Brother ⊹ Hinrik Ölldricht
• Elder Brother ⊹ Reginn Ölldricht
• Elder Brother ⊹ Natan Ölldricht

Return

Sigurd Ölldricht

Sigurd, since the fall of Dalamud, believes her youngest daughter to be dead. Having forgotten her in the five turn span following the Calamity, she believes it to be the shock of losing her beloved child - and has grown increasingly ill as time passes.
Aedida, wishing to have known her mother more in 'life', visits her whenever Natan arrives with the news that she is growing weaker. Near of the gil she has made working for Frondale's and Fizan has gone toward ensuring her mother and family would receive the best care at the sacrifice of her own comfort.After learning that her mother does not wish to return to Abalathia upon the reconstruction of the village because Sigurd believes Aedida's spirit is trapped too far from the mountains, she has begun to reconsider keeping her family in the dark of her survival if it means they will move on from Thanalan.

Return

Oddbjørn Ölldricht

The clan fashions mementos from the dead's bones, in particular those of their family, believing in their power to protect their living kin. Oddbjørn has created numerous of these mementos and passed them onto his children, as well as passing those older onto his eldest. It is his creations that Aedida wears in her hair, the delicate beads from her grandmother her most cherished and bringing her the most peace.Oddbjørn, in Aedida's youth, was the model father. Kind and honorable, he cared for Aedida in her mother's absence alongside her youngest brothers. He made certain to bring back gifts after every season of riding the caravans down into Coerthas and to the gates of Ishgard - bringing back straw dolls, scented soaps and other frivolous treats that Aedida yet enjoys into adulthood. As a refugee in Thanalan he works outside of Camp Horizon, selling hand crafted leather goods with his sons.

Return

Sigrid Ölldricht

Eldest by twelve years, married to her childhood sweetheart Baldur with two children.

Sigrid mourns her family's distance, and wishes for nothing more than returning to the Mountains having lost two siblings to the wars of the Alliance - despising their military and forbidding her children from joining their ranks.

Return

Enok Ölldricht

First eldest brother. Unmarried.

Enok had not participated in the battle of Carteneau, less a bruiser than his younger brothers and without the knowledge of healing that Aedida acquired. Recently having acquired the knowledge she is alive after the death of Hinrik, he silently works alongside Natan and Reginn in uncovering the secret to their sister's uncharacteristic absence.

Return

Una Ölldricht

Second eldest Sister. Widow to Henry with three children.

Una lost the most between Carteneau and the Rhalgr's Beacon. Her husband Henry followed the manic rantings of The Griffin, dying at Baelsar's wall believing his actions would free his homeland and give his family a better home. Her brother Hinrik, having spent the good half of a turn attempting to persuade him to turn back from the senseless fight, also lost his life. Since their death, unable to care properly for her children and maintain a home she has been shepherded to Gridania to live with Sigrid.Her children have been learning beneath Sigrid's husband's tutelage to make up for their lack of an education in Ul'dah. While they never knew Aedida by name, their memory of the Doctor that played with the children of the Lane has begun to fade. Aedida misses her young nieces and nephews dearly, having spent much of her time and coin on their care and happiness when Una could not after Henry's death.

Return

Hinrik Ölldricht

Deceased. Second Eldest Brother. Unmarried.

After five years he turned a stranger away claiming to be his sister, suppressing the creeping suspicion and acknowledgement that Aedida had survived - and that the trauma of Carteneau had temporarily erased her from memory - Hinrik wrote a letter to pass onto his brothers before setting out for Rhalgr's Reach to liberate Ala Mhigo in hopes he could repent and regain his strength, honor and earn Rhalgr's mercy for turning away his kin.It was there he passed, surrounded by enemy and alliance alike, praying for his salvation so far from home.

Return

Reginn Ölldricht

Third Eldest brother. Twice engaged. Unmarried.

A jack of all trades. Reginn is practiced with pugilism – given during their youth, Hinrik really gave him no choice with their often frequent rough-housing.Having been the last person to see Aedida during the battle, he blames himself for losing her during a scuffle with two Imperial Centurion – as well the loss of brother-in-law, Henry and most agonizing of all: his dear brother and best friend, Hinrik.

Return

Natan Ölldricht

Fourth, and youngest brother. Unmarried.

Natan remains ever weary for the future and was the slowest to adjust to life in Ul'dah – finding little comfort in their new home ever after several turns. Similar to his youngest sister – Aedida – he is on the smaller side, having used his size as an advantage to escape fights with his brothers as a child and later to escape their harassment as an adult. As it stands, his unintimidating stature often keeps him out of trouble.Having had the closest relationship with Aedida – being closest in age and her playmate growing up – he sought a means to become more courageous after the Battle of Carteneau. The loss of his sister and death of his elder brother spurred him to take up her reckless mantle and travel – when he has get the gil that is.

Return

Personal Screenshots

Art Gifts ⊹ Commissions

Gifts from Ludda

Return

Out of Character

Return

Inventory

■ Enchanted Staff: Aedida has enchanted a common staff with aetheric runes and wind crystals to achieve flight in lieu of being unable to ride a chocobo.■ Magitek Staff: A staff created with aethercells for flight and magic in the Wastes, a desolate land in greater Gyr Abania where aether is thin.■ Weathered Coin Purse: A paisley print, sun-faded purse containing no more than three hundred gil at any one given time.■ Silver Cast Ring: A large, thick banded silver ringed band. Nothing about it suggests a promise ring, but when spun, the seam along the center opens a hatch to a spring loaded needle with the compartment filled with poison.■ Black Agate Bracelet: A gift given to Aedida by her now-deceased sworn sister – Hestia de'Bayle. The bracelet is made up of materials from Hestia's childhood location.■ Leather Bound Journal: Half an ilm thick this journal is common and contains everything from shopping lists, things to remember, as well as several prepared spells in the back pages. By no means a Grimoire, Aedida is always prepared.■ Foci of the Mountains: A leather sachet she wears beneath her clothing and around her neck. A combination of lucky charms and wards from her home, and protective herbs. It bears the sigil of Rhalgr burned into its front and smells sweetly of heather.■ Somnus Pipe: A terrible habit in self-medication, and while Aedida has not reached a level of dependence - having it near even without the associated drug makes her feel more secure.■ Hair beads: Cut from the bone of man and animal alike, Aedida's culture of keeping your loved one's near manifests in the craft of turning the sun-bleached remains of family members bones into good luck charms, believing that the tether between the dead and the living will keep their ancestors alive. Aedida has few of the more morbid, the ones of her grandmother being the most prominent and given to her moons after her passing. The rest are carved from Aldgoat who had protected and served their clan through the harsh winters, the most beloved carried as a reminder for their sacrifice - and that it would never be forgotten. Each one is expertly carved and ornate, symbolic for whom and what they represent.

Return