Naresh
Dalamud

Ex-War Prisoner. Adventurer. Flower Lover.

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Personality
Empathetic to a fault, Naresh often puts the needs of others above his own, as he can't stand seeing others in pain. This, combined with his childhood trauma, has caused him to develop a Hero Complex, and he ties his personal value and self esteem to his ability to help and protect others.
The naiveté of his teenage years caused him to put himself into a deeply traumatic situation that has left him disillusioned. While he used to be aggressive and violent as a teenager, the years of experiences have mellowed him out, making him relatively reserved.
When it comes to relationships, Naresh has a bad habit of being somewhat emotionally unavailable, mainly in regards to expressing his own feelings, or showing vulnerability in general. However, his hero complex allows him to overcompensate for this by being very supportive of others emotionally - a sort of fawn response.

"I'm sorry, I know I'd be better off if I just minded my own business, but I can't just let you suffer like this - not when I know I can help you."

Basics 
Name:Naresh (n uh - r ae sh) Dalamud
Race:Rava Viera
Height:6’ 3.4″ (191.5cm)
Hair Color:Black
Eye Color:Golden
Age:25 (as of DT)
Gender:Male (trans, he/him)
Sexuality:Bisexual
Jobs:DRK ⋄ RPR ⋄ DNC ⋄ VPR
Voice:Robert Pattinson (The Batman)
Bonus Facts
Naresh has both Autism and ADHD, which is reflected in his resting bitch face and special interest in Botany. He can easily ramble about plants (especially flowers) for hours if it ever arises in conversation, breaking his normally quiet demeanor. He is particularly fond of poisonous flowers, such as the moonflower.
As the Warrior of Light, he has honed his martial skills to a phenomenal level - it is one of the few things about himself that he is proud of. He also has scars all over his body, though combat is only responsible for some of them.

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!!! DESKTOP ONLY, OUT OF ORDER ON MOBILE !!!

Before the Fall
_____ was born in the Golmore Jungle in a small Rava village. From the time they could speak, they were dead set on becoming a wood warder, as was the destiny of all boys in their village. However, those dreams were crushed on their 11th birthday, when it was discovered they were female. They begged their mother, the village leader, to make an exception for them, but she refused. Their relationship with her was severely wounded that day, and it never truly recovered.
They were 15 years old when Dalamud fell. The ramifications of the event were felt across the world - and their reclusive jungle village was no exception. The young viera demanded a team of warriors to take with them to help in the war effort against the Garleans, but their mother refused him, citing their village's tradition of no contact with the outside world. This lead to a massive argument between the two, which ended with _____'s exile.

"You have every right not to trust me, I don't blame you. But I can't sit back and watch as the world burns because of the damned ambitions of a few inbred bastards and the complacency of many ignorant fools."

The Frozen Scythes
Four years after his exile and Garlean capture, Naresh met Durand, a pure-blooded Garlean. Durand was the leader of The Frozen Scythes, a small resistance group of reapers who used their power and connections to free prisoners and help them escape to Eorzea. Durand himself was related to Druscilla (the leader of the reapers in Ul Dah) by blood, and his connection to her was part of what made his operation feasible.
It was through one of these liberation missions that Durand discovered Naresh and the dance troupe. While Naresh was initally extremely wary of him, Durand's charisma and genuine desire to help wore him down, and the two grew suprisingly close. Eventually, when Durand believed the time right, they formed a plan of escape. Naresh found Durand's ambition inspiring, and found himself wanting to join his cause rather than leave for Eorzea.
Escape to Eorzea
Unfortunately, Durand was not as unflawed as he seemed. Due to his carelessness, agents of the empire had been tracking him and his group of freedom fighters. While The Scythes were initially successful in the early steps of their plan, they were soon discovered. Many prisoners, Scythes, and prison wardens alike were killed in the bloodshed. Some, including Durand himself, were captured. Despite this, a few prisoners including Naresh escaped.
Some of the troupe, including Shruthi, stayed behind, as they wanted to continue to spread hope through dance amongst the oppressed people of Garlemald. Naresh still holds guilt for leaving the troupe and Durand behind, and he hoped to find and free them one day.
Once Naresh made it to Eorzea, he got in contact with Drusilla as Durand bade him. She helped him get established in Ul'dah, and gave him a job with the reapers. A year after his escape, he met Thancred while on a mission for Drusilla, leading to Naresh joining the Scions. [Start of A Realm Reborn MSQ]

"Gods, Durand.... Why didn't you wait? Why couldn't you just wait for me?"

"Please mother, you have to tell them I'm a boy! You're the village elder, they'll listen to you!""You know it doesn't work that way, little flower. The Warders would never accept it."

Captivity
Determined to make a difference and prove their worth, the now nameless viera vowed to one day bring an end to the Garlean Empire, one way or another. However, on their first self-imposed mission in a Garlean Castrum, they were easily discovered and captured. The now imprisoned viera was sent to the IVth Imperial Legion, where they were forced to work as laborer with the other captured prisoners. What's worse, they spent many days and nights being tortured and experimented on by the legion's inhumane scientists. A twisted blessing in disguise, these hypertuning experiments gave the young viera obscene levels of strength and endurance never before seen - something that was later falsely attributed to Hydaelyn's blessing.
It was during this time that they met a Raen woman named Shruthi, the leader of a dance troupe from Thavnair. She and her troupe had been captured during the first Garlean raids of Ala Mhigo, where they had been performing at the time. She took the viera under her wing and gave him a new family. Among the troupe, the young viera was finally given the opportunity of self determination, and asked Shruthi and the troupe to see and treat him as a boy. It was then Shruthi gave him his new name, "Naresh."
The troupe would still practice their craft in secret despite the circumstances, inspiring hope that the prisoners' cultures lived on in them - despite being stolen from their homelands. It was through Shruthi's strict instruction that Naresh picked up the art of dance.

"Thank you for this. It's nice to see the stars again."

Bittersweet Reunion
[Post-Endwalker] Years later, Naresh was finally strong enough to return to Garlemald - or rather, the empire had eaten itself to weakness. The fall of an empire is a violent one for everyone involved - and the final days only complicated matters even more. In the chaos, Naresh finally managed to free the remaining members of his dance troupe. But some had been lost to the years - notably Shruthi, who had since passed. Those who remained he escorted out of Garlemald and back to Thavnair. With Vrtra's assistance, Naresh helped them rebuild their lives. Shruthi's body was recovered, and her ashes were scattered in the warm waters off the coast of the island nation.
Durand was not so lucky. The years of torture during Garlean interrogation caught up to him during The Final Days, and he and his Reaper Avatar were corrupted and merged into an abomination that ravaged the frozen wastelands. When Naresh found Durand, he was forced to put him down, his soul dissipating into nothingness in Naresh's arms - the fate of all corrupted blasphemies. The guilt and loss continues to haunt Naresh to this day, and will likely continue to do so for the rest of his life.

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Divra - His Mother
Naresh and his mother were never able to see eye to eye. From his perspective, her refusal to vouch for him to join the wood warders was the first of a long list of betrayals. But to her, she was just doing her duty to her village - to tradition. She couldn't understand why Naresh couldn't sacrifice his happiness for that, because thats what she has done all her life. Aside from Naresh, she has two daughters: one around 100 years old, the other around 150. She herself is over 200 years old.
Naresh tries his hardest to put her from his mind, but her rejection of him is a deep wound - the root of all his insecurities and uncertanties within himself.
Aruna - His (Not?) Girlfriend
A young midlander woman from Thavnair, Aruna met Naresh while they were both imprisoned in Garlemald. When Naresh freed her and their other dance troupe members, she demanded he take her with him on his adventures, never wanting to be stuck in one place again.
Her bright whimsical demeanor shines against Naresh's quiet and reserved nature, something he is honestly greatful for. Different they may be, they've grown extremely close, relying on and confiding in each other. However, as much as they both desire a romantic relationship, their respective traumas prevent either of them from being able to truly commit to each other. She fears he has grown outside of her league while she stagnated in captivity, and he fears he will never be the man she deserves.
Ranika - His Grim Reminder
Ranika is Aruna's older sister, who met Naresh some time after he arrived in Ul'dah. Despite also being from Thavnair, Ranika left her home after Aruna's capture. While originally trained in healing magic, she settled in Ul'dah in hopes of becoming a powerful black mage, with the goal of eventually being able to free her sister from Garlean imprisonment - which she was able to help Naresh do when the time came.
Ranika has always been an intimidating presence to Naresh, though Ranika secretly finds him endearing, like a little brother. Their relationship had always been strained due to the survivor's guilt they both had surrounding Aruna's imprisonment, though this has improved significantly now that Aruna is free.
Durand - His Lost Love
The Garlean freedom fighter that allowed Naresh the chance to escape. Durand was a deeply charismatic leader, but he was not without flaw. While his heart was in the right place, years of growing up surrounded by Garlean propaganda prevented him from ever truly seeing the people he helped as equals - including Naresh.
As much as Durand's capture and eventual death was due to his own carelessness, Naresh still harbors intense guilt for what happened to him. He often has nightmares about him.
As a blood relative of Druscilla, Durand is the reason for Naresh's close ties with her and the other Reapers who have made their homes in Eorzea.
Jayanth - His Unexpected Ally
A hot-headed 19-year-old, Jayanth dreams of becoming the greatest swordsman in the world. Born in Thavnair, he grew up listening to the stories of his father, a once-renowned adventurer. As soon as he turned 18, Jayanth left home to travel the world and defeat powerful foes.
[Post-Dawntrail] Somehow having become part of Zoraal Ja's retinue, Jayanth was left lost and alone in Shaaloani at the loss of his idol to Alexandria, and later for good. However, upon meeting Naresh - the man who defeated his former master - Jayanth quickly attached himself to him, hoping to one day defeat him in a duel. Naresh would never admit this, but Jayanth reminds him of himself when he was younger. He finds this strangely endearing, if not a little aggravating.
Aadavan - His...Dad?
Aadavan was once a strapping young adventurer who, at the age of 20, somehow managed to win the heart of a rather uptight Viera warrior - though, she may have just pitied him too much to kill him instead. Their love was brief, however, as she turned down his offer to leave her village and start a new life with him. She was never one to choose her own happiness over duty to her village.
Now, having long since retired from adventuring, Aadavan makes a habit of tailing his hot-headed son Jayanth (unbenownst to him, of course) on his adventures, just to make sure he didn't get in too over his head. There's something strangely familiar about this viera man his son finds himself in the company of, but Aadavan can't quite put his finger on it...
Vishnu - His Past Life
Before they were known as Azem, they were Vishnu. Unlike most of the Ancients, Vishnu was not one to turn a blind eye to the suffering present on their star. But unlike Hermes, they chose to face it head on rather than find an out, for they loved their world too much to ever even consider abandoning it. Using their position as Azem, Vishnu found ways to help protect and preserve the people of the star however they could.
While Naresh could never know them personally, Vishnu's heart, their love for humanity and the desire to protect it, lives on in him.

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Monster

⟡ Endwalker, Tertium Questline ⟡

“ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴍʀᴀᴅᴇꜱ, ᴍʏ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ…ꜱᴡᴇᴘᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀꜱɪᴅᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴅᴏᴢᴇɴꜱ, ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ…ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴏɴꜱᴛᴇʀ.”Naresh’s jaw clenched - it was all he could do to keep his boiling rage at bay. He knew he had to keep his emotions in check for the sake of the twins, but the hypocrisy of the elezen woman before him was almost too much to bear.He stepped closer, towering over her as the intensity of his piercing gaze made her blood run cold. The hatred was plain on his face as he spoke, “You have two children in shock collars, like animals, and you dare call me a monster?”
“A safety precaution!” she replied, stepping forward defiantly.
He scoffed bitterly at her, “Typical of your ilk. Was brutalizing entire continents - enslaving and torturing hundreds of thousands of innocents - also a safety precaution?”
She hesitated before replying, “Y-you would do it to us if we hadn’t done it to you—”
“Is that how they justified it to you?”She glared at him, but the words wouldn’t come. She worried she had said too much to provoke him - that savage demon who took everything from her - and the fear spiked in her heart. They stood like that for a painstaking moment, the both of them struggling to wrangle their heated emotions into coherent thoughts.“They weren’t nothing to me,” he finally said quietly, his voice shaking, “I hated them. I hated them more than you could ever know.” He leaned closer, until their faces were barely inches apart, “I promise you, the only reason you’re still alive is because those children you collared want you to be. If it weren’t for them, I would gladly send you and everyone else in this frozen wasteland to meet your ‘friends’ again in The Seventh Hell.”Octavia wanted to retort, but the fear gripped her so deeply that all she could do was stare at the man in horror, mouth agape, as the reality of his words dawned on her. Unable to look away from his terrifying eyes, she thought for a moment she could feel one of his taloned gauntlets pierce through her skin into her rib cage, crushing her heart. But all he did was turn to walk away.

Scythe

⟡ Post-Endwalker ⟡

“ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏᴇꜱ ɪᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴍᴀɴ?”To my people, a man is a wood warder: a protector of the forest. But what does it actually take to be a protector?Strength alone is not it - Zenos was strong, stronger than most men. Did that make him a protector?That line between seeking strength to become a protector, and becoming the sort of person others need to protect themselves from, is one that can easily be crossed. That’s what makes strength so dangerous. It’s why Garlemald, for all the strength they had to conquer the world, simply ate itself to death.But if you don’t learn to be strong, how can you learn to protect? The answer may not be an easy one, but it’s not as complicated as you think.In your quest for strength, you will find yourself surrounded by violence. But never, ever, let it define you - not the violence you’ve endured, nor the violence you learn to become strong. Never let it become your identity.Yes, people call me “The Warrior of Light,” but it’s not how I define myself - it’s not who I am. Who am I then?I am a botanist. I love plants, especially flowers. Nothing makes me happier than the gentle fragrance of a flower newly bloomed.Do you think that makes me soft? That it makes me a lesser man? Let me ask you then: What is a scythe?The scythe is a gardening tool. Sure, it can be used for violence if needed - that’s where reapers came from, after all - but that’s not what it’s truly for. It’s purpose is to help harvest crops to be used for food and medicine, both of which are things needed for people to live.In other words, the scythe cultivates life - it cultivates community.That is the sort of man I want to be.

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