Izayoi Ryoko-Sha

Izayoi Ryoko-Sha
Personal Information
Born		26th Sun of the 2nd Astral Moon
Locations
Physical Information
Race		Au Ra
Clan		Raen
Gender		Female
Affiliations
Relatives

Izayoi is a Raen Au Ra, shrouded in much mystery, originally hailing from the Ruby Sea. In her youth, Izayoi studied rigorously in preparation of leaving home and following in the footsteps of an ancestor of hers, applying analytical aetherological techniques and cryptography to the most obscure of aetherial phenomena, and where necessary, counter them. Although she colloquially refers to her specialisation as Curses, she openly professes the myriad causes for strange phenomena which are also within her purview.

She has lived many of her recent years travelling the world, as an almost anonymous figure aiding people with their troubles in exchange for coin to live by and the pride of the achievement. Recently however, she has fallen for a Viera named Mielikki Metsäläinen, marking a change in priorities and a greater willingness to engage in ordinary life.

Apperance

Izayoi is a small Au Ra with thin, rounded horns that face backwards slowly siphoning into a rounded tip just before the back of her head. She has hair bleached blonde with vivid red roots at the top of her head. She chooses to style her hair with a central braid that starts at each horn and comes across the top of her head. She has reddish-brown eyes with pink-ish magenta limbral rings. She has a soft pale skin tone, with yellow undertones. She usually styles herself in eastern garb or studious attire, often choosing to accent it with gold dye. Her scales lay neatly at the edge of her face, with two diagonal scales coming from the top of her head to meet between her eyebrows. She has a slim but strong stature, while not at the peak of fitness, she remains strong and agile for her work.

History

Early Life

Izayoi was born to a family of priests in the underwater hamlet of Sui-no-Sato. Though raised with the intentions of leading her to a life as a shrine priestess, Izayoi’s curiosity led to her to discovering journals and advanced treatises on aetherology and cryptography from a very young age, all penned by her late great grandmother, Kannon Ryoko-sha. Reading these exploits inspired the young Izayoi to study the methods and theories which assisted her ancestor in secret, knowing well that these were the writings of an outsider and a pariah.

Leaving Sui no Sato

Upon reaching 18 summers, Izayoi was well versed in aetherology theories and knowledge of ciphers, which she used to great effect in hiding her own studies, beyond those as a priestess. She left home abruptly, making use of the Blessing of the Kojin to brave the oceans until eventually arriving in Kugane. From there, she learned just how small her world had been, and quickly adapted to her newfound life and surroundings, adopting the pseudonym “Ryoko-sha” used by her great grandmother before her. At this time, she gained work through her only real skills of worth; her extensive knowledge of aetherology, and her analytical deductions of the frequent objects and maladies which she encountered beyond what she’d read of. Eventually, her work caught the attention of the Onishishu of the olde of Onokoro, wherein Izayoi was given an ultimatum; cease her activities, or put her skills to use for them in acquiring and locking away dangerous artefacts on their behalf. Given little choice, and even less reason to refuse, Izayoi took this new addition to her employment in stride, doing her work for individuals and the Onishishu both around Hingashi and Yanxia, and eventually further beyond, such as Nagxia and Thavnair, despite imperial occupation of Doma and Nagxia. Having travelled the world for 5 years, Izayoi’s departure from home coincided with Dalamud’s fall upon Eorzea. As such, she was never able to gaze upon the lesser moon’s red glow, despite it being her namesake.

Personality & Motivations

While initially following the exploits of her great-grandmother’s journals, Izayoi’s close encounters with beings with perspectives close to immortal, Izayoi is driven by a desire to accomplish great deeds, in an effort to establish her own capabilities, and through those, prove the potential and greatness of even flawed mortal people. While she derives some satisfaction from the gratitude of those she assists, this is overshadowed by her ego; another impossible problem solved, another challenge overcome. Mia’s company has done much to temper this attitude however, as Izayoi has begun to consider her worthiness of Mia’s affections with her past mentality.