A Wandering Minstrel
I'vanoh Tola.
A Miqo'te whom hails from deep within the Twelveswood outside of Gridania.
A retainer who specializes in botany and began their journey as a traveling musician.
One who embraces life with every ounce of strength they possess.
Once a Storyteller, Twice a Bard
As the only male born of seven siblings, I'vanoh found themself struggling to live up to the gendered expectations of their father I'kayah Nhun. They never truly felt an interest in most of the things their father wished for them to do or to partake in. Every hunting trip was an ordeal, each lecture on showing "strong leadership" a jab at every quality their father deemed "too soft" or inadequate. Their interests in botany and music most of all, while not actively discouraged by their father, were frowned upon and labeled a distraction from I'vanoh's duties as a "man of his tribe".Their many sisters and mother, however, all delighted in the many stories I'vanoh weaved at their nightly campfire, overjoyed by the flowers they would often bring home... Their mother I'tola Ndai allowed them to help her in growing her small garden of herbs, appreciating their growing interest in the craft as a young child. The many questions they would ask, their overflowing curiosity about the woods they lived in, delighted her most of all.Such joys were marred by the weight of expectation, however, and the pressures placed upon them only grew as they entered their teens. Their father often drilled archery lessons into his youngest, day after day, in hopes that I'vanoh would set aside those interests he deemed frivolous, and instead focus on becoming the strong man I'kayah had envisioned them to be. At some point, I'vanoh found themself giving into the pressure and thought of nothing but honing their skills with a bow and as a tracker.There was a time as a teenager when they had all but forgotten about the things that had once brought them joy, when the only thing they felt they could look forward to was their father's approval. An approval that seemed further and further away as time wore on and nothing they ever did seemed to be enough as their father always found something to criticize.When they were 17 and nearing their 18th nameday, they approached their mother, confessing their worries and the stress they felt with all the mounting pressure. Their mother, ever kind and gentle, encouraged them to stand tall and proud of the person they were becoming, to embrace the things that once brought them joy and... talk to their father about what they were feeling, no matter how daunting that may be.And so, during a trip to Gridania not long after, the young Miqo'te resolved to act.The original plan, of course, was to talk to their father, as their mother had advised... But, when the time came, I'vanoh couldn't bring themself to say the words.Instead, they panicked overthinking what to say and bolted off.Against all odds, they had managed to give their father the slip and found themself hiding behind the stage of the theater district till nightfall before, of course, their father eventually found them... only for an argument to break out, ending with I'vanoh refusing to return home until they had proven to I'kayah that they could be successful and provide for their family in their own way, as themself.So, I'kayah left them, leaving his nearly grown child behind with the words, "If that is your wish, so be it. Do not return home until you've had your fill of this foolish venture and have seen reason," echoing in the young teen's ears.
Every Story has a Beginning
Much of the time after parting ways with their father was a blur. I'vanoh had been left with nothing but the clothes on their back, their bow, a handful of arrows, and a small wooden flute.But, as it turns out, hard work and dedication are often rewarded by those who may benefit from said labor.Those early days were a flurry of odd jobs, mostly granted by the proprietress of Gridania's tavern. She had taken in the young teen when they tumbled uncertain into her establishment, golden eyes wide with anxiety as fingers clutched at their tail. I'vanoh didn't share much with her, but they had stayed there often with their father when they came into town and she knew their father as someone who often traded goods frequently with those in the market. The Miqo'te was mostly just grateful she never sought to pry and was generous besides with opportunities to prove their skill in a few notable areas.Eventually, I'vanoh's days were filled with gathering for the Botanist's Guild and hunting... and their nights were preoccupied with playing at events in the theater district. Those relationships forged eventually brought the young Miqo'te to other cities across Eorzea to perform, traveling to hone their skills as both a botanist and musician.In their travels, I'vanoh came into contact with someone from The Scions of Seventh Dawn and found themself recruited into the Crystal Braves for a time. Their time as a Brave was intense and incredibly trying, though the intense bonds they forged with some of their fellow Braves left a lasting mark on them. They could never regret their time there, even with the stinging pain of betrayal and loss at the hands of many within the Grand Company's ranks.I'vanoh, to this day, does not fully know how they had managed to escape death, along with many of their peers... Very rarely do they ever speak of their time as a Crystal Brave, except to those who knew them during that time. When the Braves were disbanded, I'vanoh opted to slip into the background, rejoining The Twin Adders, and focusing on both botany and their music. Their work within the field of botany often takes them all over the star, to places they had never expected to see or learn about.
Stats
Name: I'vanoh [ EE-vahn-oh ] Tola [ Toe-lah ]
Nicknames: Van (by family and close friends)
Age: 24
Height: 4'11"
Gender: AMAB nonbinary (they/them)
Orientation: Pansexual
Species: Seeker of the Sun Miqo'te
Job: Botanist and traveling musician
Class(es): Bard, conjurer, and Botanist
Birthplace: The Twelveswood
Affiliations: Ex-Crystal Brave, current member of Gridania's Grand Company The Twin Adder, FC member of the Big Bad Evil Mog, & supplier of many goods to a handful of notable peoples.Hooks
❄ I'vanoh is often more than happy to talk about their travels. Ask them questions about the places they've seen and they will regale you with tales of their grand exploits across the star.
❄ If you are also a musician, I'vanoh is quick to ask what instruments you play and would be delighted to jam with anyone they vibe with.
❄ Mention Gridania and I'vanoh will sing their praises of their home--no matter how long they are away or how far they travel, Gridania and the Twelveswood will always have a special place in their heart.
❄ (& many more besides)
Pay no mind to the cat behind the curtain!
Hey, uh... sup. How's it goin?You can call me Wind (he/him). I've been writing and roleplaying for longer than I haven't by this point in my life, which is crazy to think about actually. (30+)That said, I am fairly new to the RP scene in FFXIV, so bare with me. I've just recently caught up in MSQ and excited to do more!You can find Van on Crystal > Zalera, and my pirate cat boy Blade is on Dynamis > Kraken.My availability is (most reliably) mainly weekends and most evenings, though this is subject to change with schedule changes (GMT-8 standard/GMT-7 daylight savings). I am always open to queries!