Ashe Krailen
The Shadow of Ala Mhigo
About
Backstory
Personality
About
Name: Ashe Krailen
Age (as of Endwalker): 25
Race: Half Seeker of the Sun Miqo'te, Half Lupin
Gender: Trans woman (She/Her/Hers)
Height: 7 fulms 1 ilm
Sexual Orientation: Lesbian
Deity: Rhalgr
Languages: Common Eorzean, traditional Ala Mhigan, Old Auri, Hingan, several other regional dialects
Birthplace: Refugee camp outside of Ul'dah
City-State: Ul'dah, Ala Mhigo
Main Jobs: Dark Knight and Reaper
Backstory
A'ilah Zoma was born several years after the fall of Ala Mhigo, the event which caused her family to flee. Assigned male at birth, as well as growing up in a diverse refugee camp, she became accustomed to suffering and sorrow; those she looked up to falling into alcoholism, the poor and hungry turning to crime for scraps of food and gil, and a strange feeling of never feeling right in her body. The natives of Ul'dah treated her no better. A'ilah was routinely cursed and mistreated, called a dog when hunger forced her to beg for food. This squalor was all she knew, an ever-present companion as she grew.Upon turning 14, she was gifted her first blade, a shoddy hand-me-down that would allow her to assist with hunting for food. However, rather than battle animals, she set on a different course: With her blade, she made her way to the Bloodsands, set on finding some way to bring gil home for her family. Wishing to avoid bringing attention to her home, A'ilah forged a false last name by mixing together two she had heard, going by Ilah Krailen, and set out to earn her glory. It would be a goal never achieved, however, for not a single victory did she achieve. Lacking skill and proper equipment, the Ala Mhigan was unable to best any opponent she crossed. A turn of fate brought money her way, with the onlookers of battles taking a shine to the Miqo'te for her powerful will and unwillingness to give up until her body could move no longer. This drive brought her repeated bouts, adding more money to her name. Upon her 16th nameday, she had collected enough money to undertake two tasks: One, to purchase new equipment and set out for Ala Mhigo, and two, to begin a transition to female. The process was slow, little by little coming along until A'ilah finally felt happy in her own skin, and finally having proper equipment to her name. Casting aside prior names and statuses, she chose a new name, with a new purpose: She was now Ashe Krailen, one ash from which Ala Mhigo would be reborn.Journeying across Eorzea, she found herself facing a challenge: Her directional skill was horrible, and being unable to read disallowed her from proper use of a map. Rather than finding her way to Ala Mhigo, the Seeker ended up in Coerthas, finding herself ill-suited for the bitter cold. There she fell, death's embrace close to her, before a kind Knight of House Fortemps rescued her from the snow. Nursing her back to health in Camp Dragonhead, the Knight ensured she was fed and clothed, a debt which Ashe would repay by lending her blade. Along with the Temple Knights, Ashe found herself a dragonslayer, battling the Dravanian hordes. One day, she was presented with excellent news: For her contributions to the wellbeing of Ishgard, and from the Knight's praise, she would be granted entrance to the Holy See as a ward of House Fortemps.Making her way into the city, it was similar to what she had seen in Ul'dah; in spite of the city's magnificence, squalor and suffering abounded, the common citizens forced to weep in the cold, always at the mercy of the Temple Knights. Seeing one such knight's abuses, she quickly stepped in, putting the fear of Halone in the man before he fled. Intending to kill him, she readied to chase before a voice called out to let him run. Looking for this voice, she would find herself facing another knight, clad in darkened armor and wielding a claymore. Introducing herself as Talia Fray, this knight would offer Ashe a chance to harness her emotion and sense of justice to defend and avenge the weak; the chance to become a Dark Knight. Being given a claymore of her own, Ashe trained under Fray, her intense emotions quickly reigned in by her own willpower and the training she was given. Before long, she had become a full-fledged Dark Knight, learning of Fray's true nature as a mirror to herself, and taming her in battle.Once more she had intended to make for Ala Mhigo, yet another distraction came about. A trial by combat was to be held between the Knights of the Heaven's Ward and a young Elezen boy, along with his Lalafellin companion. Ever despising the Ward, she made her way to the arena, hearing the calls for someone to take the Lalafell's place. Without thinking, she called out and lept into the pit, taking her blade from her back and readying for battle. By her new companion's magic and her might, the Knights were thrashed, forced to admit defeat. After the battle, the boy and his companion revealed themselves to be Scions of the Seventh Dawn; an organization which Ashe had heard of, but never given any thought to. Leaving them to their own devices, she set out for Ala Mhigo once more... Only to stumble into Dravania, and once more into confusion.After time spent in the wilderness, Ashe finally made her way back to Ishgard, only to hear the sounds of battle taking place on the Steps of Faith. Making her way over, she witnessed the great wyrm Nidhogg locked in battle with her old companion and a red-haired woman. Knowing that she could not turn a blind eye, Ashe ran to a spire, climbing up for a vantage point before launching herself onto the wyrm to garner its ire. With blade in hand, she and her new companions struck down the wyrm, only to find a man within, the eyes of Nidhogg attached to his pauldrons. Each taking one eye, Ashe and the red-haired woman listened as the Lord Commander, Ser Aymeric, called at them to cast the eyes into the abyss. While her counterpart did so, Ashe was much farther away, mishearing what was said. Rather than casting the eye away, she plunged a hand into it, absorbing the powerful aether housed within. However, unlike with the man before her, she was not consumed. Her own rage, her own hatred, forced the eye to submit, her will dominating that of the wyrm. Even as she fell unconscious, new power stirred within her, ready to be unleashed in battle.Upon her awakening, she was greeted by the Scions; each introduced themselves, including Alphinaud Leveilluer, X'hanna Lheldu, and Tataru Taru. At the behest of Alphinaud, Ashe joined the Scions, lending her blade to a cause much larger than she. New friends and allies would bring about change, Ashe looking to the future that she and her companions would shape.
Personality
Ashe is somewhat hot-headed, and has a very difficult time understanding social situations, cues, and context due to a lack of positive socialization while growing up, along with being on the autism spectrum. She can be very rude with her words, as her brain doesn't process how others will perceive what is said; she just says what comes to mind immediately. Those who know her well would tell you to pay attention to her facial expressions, as that is where her true thoughts and feelings lie. Though she talks of ignoring issues that do not concern her, Ashe will intervene in any conflict that she has an opportunity to, focusing pain and harm done onto herself over others if it can be helped. Ashe is selfless by nature, and even if she's incapable of showing it, harbors a deep love for those around her, and will do anything for those she cares about.However, this is all contrasted by a natural tendency to violence, with most situations she finds herself in being resolved with a fight. Her hatred and rage is controlled by her training as a Dark Knight, as well as the soul crystal itself, but sometimes it becomes too much and she lashes out. The apathy and disdain shown by too many around her have dampened her value of life, in stark contradiction to herself; She cares deeply for those around her, yet taking a life doesn't bother her in any way as long as she can justify it to herself.