Val

Valentyne Selyen (they/them)

Valentyne's Story

Dalmascan-born Summoner, Spellcaster, Alchemist, Botanist

Seat of Azem

Rhamnous, the Traveler

Family

Valeryan, the Brother
& the Selyens

Val & Evae

Mages, Researchers, Lovers

Gallery/Personal

Art, Gpose, Housing
About the player

Valentyne's Story

Pronunciation: the y is /ee/ as in "Valentino"
[they/them]
Nameday: 14th Sun of the 4th Astral Moon (7/14), Year 1552 of the 6th Astral Era (20 years prior to 1.0)
Age: 25 (2.0, Year 5 of the 7th Umbral Era) - 29 (6.0, Year 9 of the 7th Astral Era) by current reckoning, will be 30 in 7.0
Race: Veena Viera
Gender: "I don't need that" Non-Binary
Sexuality: "Who cares" (Pansexual)
Job: Summoner, Alchemist, White Mage
Art: Val's ToyhouseEarly Life:
Valentyne (city name) was born in a small Veena village at the foot of the Skatay Range in Dalmasca. Val was raised proficient in both archery and lance work, like most Viera, as well as natural herbology and alchemy. They were able to use magic from a young age, but were never instructed in anything beyond standard healing from their mother, who was much too busy as the village healer.
Note: Viera aren't given gender roles until a later age.
Valentyne often snuck out of the village to follow their elder brother Valeryan (city name) who was a wood warder who also visited the village often to train the young in lancework. They idolized him as a hero, and as one does to much older siblings. At age 10, Val followed Valeryan (50) out on a scouting trip. Their brother knew, of course, and when he set up for camp at night he told them to come out of hiding and have dinner with him. After their meal, as the two gazed at the constellations in the sky, it was suddenly aflame. A starshower. The meteors were none other than those used by Hydaelyn to awaken Her new Heroes. Both siblings were endowed with the Echo, which would change the course of their lives forever.
Five years later, repeated attacks by the Garleans spurred Val's father, as well as Valeryan and several other wood warders, to confront a battalion nearing the village. Of course, young Val could not idly sit by in the village, and tailed the squad. Their stealth much improved, they were not seen by the Garleans and most of the Viera squad, though Valeryan knew that Valentyne would be hiding in the bushes and motioned to them to stay completely hidden no matter what. The confrontation saw their father and almost all the other warders killed, save Valeryan and a couple others. They were spared, only to be called "potentially useful vanguards" and captured by the Garleans. Val, frozen in their hiding place, watched the entire event and would be the one to relay the news to the village. They swore to themself that they would get revenge on the Garleans for what they did, and rescue their brother should he still be alive.

1.0-
Resistance Volunteer:
At the stubborn age of 20, Valentyne ran away from their village to the Royal Capital of Rabanastre. They were fed up with the complacency of the village elders and wanted to do something about the Garleans. Only trained for hunting, they found themselves woefully useless to the Resistance they had signed up for. After losing their mentor and most of their comrades to Livia sas Junius (the Witch of Dalmasca) in her sack of the capitol, a traumatized Val decided it was time to become a proper healer and soldier. After four long years in the Resistance, they would seek to study in Eorzea, and once more hope to somehow find a way to satisfy their doubled vengeance.Journey to Eorzea:
Valentyne left the Resistance on good terms ("a good kid who needs a lot of help") and booked passage from Dalmasca to Radz-at-Han. It was here that Val chose their current name, a bastardization of Valentione, after the holiday and their brother's own city name of "Val." They stayed in Radz for a couple months to make contact with various representatives of Eorzean guilds and eventually decided to travel to the city-state of Gridania. Once in Gridania, Val tempered their resolve to become a healer worthy to serve on the front line of battle and thus joined the Conjurer's Guild.

Everything from here on is just excerpts and blurbs about important points of each expac, and nowhere near as comprehensive as all the minor changes to interactions that occur in Val’s canon. It’s a WIP.2.0-
Warrior of Light:
A new recruit of the Conjurer's guild is found by the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to be in possession of a power they call the Echo. It is a power they only considered a nuisance, albeit one that was their only link to their brother, but it has saved them time and time again when others fell around them. Valentyne decides to join the Scions in their quest to stop the Garleans, as it aligns with their personal goals; however, they do not divulge their history to any of their new compatriots. Instead, Val is seen as a helpful, eager healer, who maybe likes to rival Thancred in womanizing. Val also becomes a member of both the Arcanist guild and the Thaumaturge guild, as they are trying to expand their magical repertoire.Praetorium:
Events through 2.0 proceed without much deviation from canon, however... When Val finds out that Livia sas Junius was responsible for the attack on the Waking Sands and the capture of the Scions, they are livid. It was the same woman who killed their Resistance comrades in front of their very eyes back in Rabanastre, and she's done it again. The rising desire for revenge spurs Val to hasten ahead of everyone to confront Livia in Castrum Meridianum, interrupting her monologue about Gaius to give their own speech on how long they have waited for this moment. Livia scoffs and says she should have finished the job instead of leaving that poor, trembling healer in a pool of blood, and the two have a heated duel. Val triumphs and kills Livia with their bare hands, but it is only part of their revenge. After they compose themselves and rejoin the others, they are more focused on the rest of the plan to stop the Garleans.-See Bahamut notes below on changes to the story of Coils.
-Most of ARR + patches, Val is a White Mage. They contract with Bahamut at the end of UCoB and that's their start to becoming an actual Summoner, though they had joined the Arcanist's Guild previously.

3.0-
Heavensward is not a good time:
-While dealings in Ishgard are stressful, Valentyne finds the snowy fields a somewhat comforting reminder of their own snow-capped mountains back in Dalmasca.
-Val struggles with their newfound contract with the Primal Bahamut, earning the ever watchful eye of Midgardsormr and the scrutiny of all First Brood dragons they encounter in the future.
-They fall in love with Ysayle, and the subsequent loss of this first deep relationship sends them spiraling into a deep depression that manifests as rage. Estinien is their closest friend at the time, and his near-immediate possession by Nidhogg robs Val of the only person in whom they wished to confide, as they considered him the only one to understand.
-Val turns to Bahamut to strengthen their power and promises they will never lose a loved one again, a promise that includes never allowing themself to get that close to anyone ever, and do anything they can to protect those remaining close to them.
-After the end of the Dragonsong War, Val is finally able to grieve losing their girlfriend, and goes on a bender in Ishgard. House Fortemps and the Scions beg Estinien to bring them back to their senses. He agrees, and after joining them in drink and depression for a couple days, sobers them up and returns them to their proper place before leaving Coerthas. To this day, Estinien and Val remain close friends who need only nod to get the other to meet up for a drink and talk about their struggles.
-Throughout Heavensward and partially through patches, Val is a Summoner. They learn Dragoon things from Estinien, who has closely become one of their best friends. The job was easy to pick up as they learned the lance from a young age from their brother.

4.0-
Stormblood is... PTSD time:
-Upon being told they would be helping war efforts against the Garleans, Val is conflicted. Their erstwhile deep-seated thirst for revenge has been saddled by the trauma of what happened recently. They are terrified of losing people, and the thought of actual war makes them fearful, so they revert to healing to make sure nobody dies. They want to make up for their past incompetency, as losing people they could've saved is now an easy trigger. They try to hide this from others, though.
-Stormblood events as canon, mostly, but despite the fact that Val absolutely loathes the Garleans, they really do not want to become involved in the politics of other nations (besides helping out Resistances, which is obviously still politics, but there's a difference between vengeance and whatever the fuck Hien is doing in the Steppe)-
-Return to Ivalice is significant, as Val is a native Dalmascan, and lived in Rabanastre for 4 years before they went to Eorzea. They knew well the tales of the Zodiac Braves. Seeing the aftermath of the Dalriada's flattening of Rabanastre, Val is instantly horrified, and this is the point at which their history with the Resistance becomes known to some (and later, all) members of the Scions. They are very eager to help, while at the same time paralyzed in fear that anyone they knew still in the city when they left 4 years prior would now be dead.
-During almost all the events of Stormblood, Val is a White Mage again, but during the fight with Zenos/Shinryu, they revert to Summoner as they rely on Bahamut to defeat the other dragon. They consequently remain a Summoner for the rest of the patches, up to and including the final confrontation with Elidibus (in Zenos' body), during which they go berserk and are only saved by the Exarch's summoning.
-This battle also goes wildly different from canon, as Elidibus and Val are magnetically attracted by souls, but neither understands and it only serves to infuriate them... until Elidibus decides he should capture Val, rather than kill them, because they are clearly someone who was important before the Sundering and could be used.

5.0-
Shadowbringers is where everything changes:
-Early story is somewhat normal canon, except the Crystal Exarch also summoned a catgirl from Vana'diel and she lives next door to Val in the Pendants and they develop a slow-burn romance that leads to marriage sometime during the events of Eden.
-Val also appears to succumb to the Light corruption quicker than expected, and their hair begins turning white. It is because they are already more shifted to Light due to the primal Bahamut, and Elidibus pops in to stabilize them. He says it is not their time yet, and he would not have them fall here as they still have a purpose to serve.
-Val slowly starts getting these weird memories trickling in whenever they learn about the Ancients, and Emet-Selch recognizes them earlier in the story but keeps denying it. Then the shade of Hythlodaeus straight up calls them "my new, old friend, my brother," and consequently Azem memories get stronger and stronger. After Emet-Selch is defeated, he admits Val as part of the soul of someone he knew from their birth: the younger brother of his own husband, whom he cared for and helped raise. They were Azem, named Rhamnous, and once a member of the Convocation of Fourteen.
-Once he decided to grace the First more permanently, every meeting with Elidibus (who is, ironically, puppeting the body of yet another shard of his husband) is the result of the two of them simply drawn together. More memories from Azem flood into Val's mind, until they by the time Elidibus confronts them in the shadow Amaurot, they know who their soul used to be and who he was to them. Val tries to convince their foe of this history as they walk through the city, even as he purposefully antagonizes them. After Val wins their duel, he begins to accede, seemingly willing to accept what they tell him despite any evidence to corroborate this in his own memory, and they [redacted]. Ultimately, they find they have to part ways regardless of any past or even present feelings. There is no ending in which they can both win, as the futures they strive for are in opposition.
-The conclusion of Seat of Sacrifice is way more tragic. Elidibus actually does start to recognize the soul of Azem in front of him, and he apologizes in their arms. He is able to piece what little memories he has together with those shared by Val, who has recovered more memories of Rhamnous from the Azem crystal, and the other Convocation crystals given to him. The two kiss as G'raha shows up to imprison him in the Crystal Tower.
-Also G'raha has developed stronger feelings for Val the whole time, even as he's forced to watch Val and Evae fall in love (this is his fault) and get married (he officiates), as well as whatever the fuck is happening between Val and Elidibus (who is supposed to be their enemy, so why did he find them embracing on more than one occasion).
-Val returns to being a Summoner on the First, through all of Shadowbringers and patches. They only use white magic when necessary, but are reluctant to shoulder the burden of others' lives directly.

6.0-
Endwalker is pretty close to canon until Elpis:
-After defeating Zodiark, Val regains memories from the 7 shards that were previously rejoined. At this point they are 9/14 of Azem's soul, and the influx of memories knocks them out for a while. They do their best to suppress what they can so it's not too overwhelming, but at the end of the story it's part of why they need so much rest. There is much to sort out.
-Elpis is pretty different. This is mostly due to the nature of Rhamnous (Azem) being the brother of Hythlodaeus and raised by him and Hades. Val also has a good amount of knowledge of Rhamnous' life from his memories, and is able to banter with them enough that they do not doubt their identity. Of course, Hades still vehemently denies his future actions, but Hyth and Venat more readily accept the fate of Etheirys.
-Also, because Hermes is Valeryan's original self, Valentyne finds him very easy to get along with and understand. However, because Valeryan is just one shard, and not the one who became the Fandaniel Val is familiar with, they are unable to make this connection. In fact, Valeryan himself does not know, and since the awoken Fandaniel was dragged to the pits of the Aetherial Sea, he will never find out. It will remain secret until he rejoins the Lifestream and searches for the rest of his soul once more.
-At the end of the universe, during their final battle, Zenos reveals that he has had Valeryan with him the whole time, and that he has purposefully kept the siblings apart. He had previously teased that he might know of another similar to Val at the Royal Menagerie, and Fandaniel also alluded to it during their dinner, but it isn't until they are lying on the ground that he fully admits it, and says he left Valeryan in a pool of his own blood as he was not as skilled or important of a friend as Valentyne.
-Pandaemonium is also wildly different, but this is expected as Themis and Rhamnous were married. Themis recognizes Val as his lover, or at least a puppet he designed to control to help him, and thus their relationship is very natural and intimate. It's weird to Val at first, but as they have regained a very large part of memories by now it becomes easy to accept. They are eager to get to know the person in front of them, so different from the Primal-torn, amnesiac soul they had always known. They also understand this investigation will come to an end, eventually, and time will flow as it was meant to.
-At the end, in the Aetherial Sea, Themis and Valentyne can finally be truly honest with each other. Though he is but a soul reconstructed by Athena and sustained by Val's aether, he was able to recover his memories from the Sea, fully. He can see all of their history, and all of his mistakes: from how Rhamnous didn't want him to sacrifice himself as the heart of Zodiark, to how his beloved was Sundered… as a consequence of his own actions, reborn over and over in many of the heroes he helped make and unmake over the millennia. He remembers his halcyon days in Amaurot, his work and all his friends, what he was like as a student to an eager young member of the Convocation appointed alongside his love... and how he lost all of that once he became a Primal.
-This version of Elidibus recognizes Val is part of Azem, and while they may have recovered much of those memories, and even many shards of his soul, they are very much their own person now. The hero who saved the Star and universe from the End of Days, destruction at the hands of the Endsinger, and they must live on. As Emet-Selch did previously, he entrusts to them to carry on the legacy of those who lived before, as Etheirys will never be whole again. They share one last kiss as he fades away, and he imparts the rest of his memories of their souls' lives to them. Once he is gone and Val gazes into the Sea, their eyes begin to glow as Rhamnous' once did.
-Val is a Summoner throughout all of Endwalker and patches. They also will use the gunblade as necessary to protect others, but avoid healing at all costs. They've learned it's better to rely on their own power to eliminate any threat to their loves ones rather than deal with the consequences.

Leading up to 7.0-
"Downtime:"
-After the events of the main story, Val cannot stand the attention and hides away on their new Island. They are mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted, and need to recuperate, pleading with their friends to please only contact in dire emergency. Of course, there is always a dire emergency for the Warrior of Light, so their rest is interrupted and they end up helping out. It was never going to be a real vacation anyway.
-Hearing the news of Tural, Val is initially apprehensive about another grand adventure, as they really want to just sleep for half a year. G'raha does convince them with the allure of new study, which is honestly enough to get Val to go, even though they have little desire to become embroiled in politics yet again.
-As the boat weighs anchor, Valentyne senses a presence they have not in nearly 15 years... it is Valeryan. He is standing on the dock by a boat newly arrived from Kugane. He looks terrible and almost unrecognizable, if not for the fact that the siblings' Echo makes them known to each other should they wish it. At last, they see one another and know they are safe, alive, but very different people since that day in the forest years before.
-With that, Val is resolved to make the most of this new trip. They are traveling with new friends, and Evae, to somewhere far removed from all their past trauma. Also, Valeryan is alive! They would have to find him again in Vylbrand (or wherever he is when they get back to Eorzea) and ask about everything that happened: about his relationship with Zenos… what he knew of Fandaniel during that time… and what he’s been doing all these years without attempting contact.
-Val will remain, canonically, a Summoner (regardless of what I choose to raid on in the future). They are also canonically a Gunbreaker, which is something they learned in their time in the Resistance from Bozjans who came to teach them, but they only use it when nobody else can. Dragoon is another canon job that they learned from Estinien, but rarely use, though they found it somewhat easy since their brother taught them the lance at a young age. Other somewhat canon jobs include: Black Mage, Red Mage, Sage, Scholar, Dancer, and perhaps Dark Knight.

7.0-
Dawntrail goes as canon:
-Val and Evae travel across the sea to Tural with Erenville and Wuk Lamat.
-They are SMN/PCT in this expansion, because as a magick researcher, Val is interested in learning any and all magicks they can! I will be working Pictomancer into Val's canon, as they have dabbled in painting before, but have yet to flesh it out.

Notes:
-4 of the 5 ultimates are considered canon in Val's story! This means that the Praetorium battle proceeded as UWU, the final confrontation at the end of Coils was as UCoB, the final Alexander battle happened like TEA, and the last fight with Omega was as TOP. DSR is not canon, as it is better as a fairytale.
Summons:
-Their main Carbuncle is named Baby. He is purple, based on amethyst, and has a natural lightning aspect that reflects the color of their soul. He is always present.
-Carbuncles are available regardless of job stone equipped, and each has a specialty and affinity for elements due to their nature. Val can also summon ruby, topaz, emerald, sapphire, obsidian, moonstone, rose quartz, peridot, jade, as well as other carbies given the knowledge and tools.
-When they are not summoned directly, carbuncles are still given aether to roam around at home, and thus live around the manor
Bahamut:
Val contracted with the weakened Bahamut after defeating him in the Unending Coils in order to attain stronger magical power. They fell for the primal's temptation of the power to save their loved ones. They do not realize until too late that they are slowly being tempered within their own mind, as they give more and more aether to sustain the primal in their head. Surely, it is worth the risk to be able to save everyone.
Consequently, they are able to summon Golden Bahamut because of their strong bond with the primal, and there is actually no need to use a book or any other medium to channel aether for Bahamut's magicks. Someday they'll probably go berserk from using Teraflare too much, as this strongest power changes them more and more each time.

Val & Evae

Art: Evae’s toyhouse
Evae Lethe belongs to my friend Odd!Eternally bonded Dec 07, 2020Val and Evae are like your rich gay aunts with lots of cats, except they have lots of carbuncles in a big mansion out in the Black Shroud. Evae is a black blue mage from Vana'diel whom Val met in their travels on the First. The two grew close in their discussions on magicks and aetherology as well as working on some experiments run together. They've collaborated to help each other with advancement of stronger bonds with familiars and voidsent, as well as more potent fire (fire v pending) and ancient magical tongues.
Val, through the power of Alexander and G'raha and yuri, was able to bring Evae wholly across the shards back to the Source. Evae had previously been summoned by the Crystal Exarch as a Warrior of Light, but not the WoL he was looking for, as Evae has little interest in saving the world and is merely an extremely skilled mage with the Echo.~Note: They have an open marriage, and it is very stable. Val is extremely flirty by nature and had their fun in Eorzea before meeting Evae. Evae is very into voidsent... which Val also finds fun and interesting. They are very happily married with extras (???)pics by myself and @arielningyo_:

Val's dating history:
-Since coming to Eorzea, their first and last deeply emotional relationship was with Ysayle, which ended badly. (see: Heavensward history)
-Val has had a long-term crush on Y'shtola that they know is unrequited but they can't help it (literally everybody knows).
-They had also previously been turned down by Minfilia, but that was kept between the two of them.
-Another notable dalliance is what is tantamount to FWB with G'raha Tia. Val is not emotionally invested in this relationship, but the other clearly is very much head-over-heels for someone who will not see him the same way. They also both tend to idolize the other as their ideal “hero” and the back and forth hero-worship is anything but healthy. They finally talked out their problems with the relationship at the end of Dawntrail (in the gondola), where they confronted their own shortcomings with viewing each other as versions of themselves that no longer exist (G'raha viewing Val as the WoL who died to the Black Rose, and Val still wanting to see the Exarch). They're working on it now.
-Most importantly, there's Elidibus. The two are soulmates, albeit one whole with missing memories and the other shattered into shards, only slowly regaining knowledge of their past through the events of ShB and EnW. They are star-crossed lovers and narrative foils, doomed to be enemies despite the overwhelming and confusing sense of devotion they feel for one another. They know that only one of them can survive, yet cannot bring their hands to finish the deed. This is the world’s worst lesbian situationship (ancient gender headcanons allow this).
-Dawntrail update: Erenville and Val spent much of their journey making eye contact that was very "what is this" until Alisaie got tired and told them to please stop flirting. They both vehemently denied what was happening, but once the two set off to Shaaloani without the others, they finally could not ignore it. Erenville tried to push Val away, telling them they needn't continue journeying with him if it would be a problem, but Val told him they were exactly where they wanted to be. There's something blossoming there.

Rhamnous

[he/they]
Seat: Azem the Traveler
Age: ???
Gender: -not a concept for the Ancients-
Sexuality: "sure"
Spouse: Themis (Elidibus) (he/they)
Elder Brother: Hythlodaeus (he/him)
Brother-in-law: Hades (Emet-Selch) (he/him)
Art: Rham's ToyhouseRhamnous was a wandering herbalist, who was fond of creating curious plant concepts (weed and cilantro, for example). He was also the creator of the carbuncle (including its prototype) as a familiar. He fought with a one-handed shortsword and spells, as well as using various summoned familiars for magic. He was not the first to start a fight, but he would be sure to finish it. Seeing his elder brother stuck doing so much desk work made Rham ever eager to leave the city and travel Etheirys. Rhamnous and Themis were childhood friends-turned-lovers, and they later bought an apartment in Amaurot.Rhamnous enjoyed a close relationship with his brother, Hythlodaeus. Their parents were both researchers who worked in Elpis, and a freak accident in Pandaemonium saw them return to the Star while Rhamnous was still young. Thus, Hythlodaeus became his primary caretaker, and along with Hades he raised his brother. Rhamnous often visited the Bureau of the Architect after his classes, and became well-known for ridiculous and mostly useless concepts he would try to submit. Rham initially planned to become a researcher in Anyder, as he was interested in the research of Halmarut, and while he still graduated with studies in phytobiology, fate had other plans for him. During his time at Akadaemia, Rhamnous caught Venat’s eye and became her apprentice and choice for successor. As she had long waited to step down, Venat nominated Rhamnous to take her place almost immediately upon his graduation. He was already known to many Convocation members, as he was seen often with his brother, the husband of Emet-Selch, and thus Rhamnous was given the seat of Azem without much effort.Themis and Rhamnous were childhood friends: they met in school, remained close and started dating as teenagers, and entered and graduated from Akadaemia together. Once he ascended to the seat of Azem, Rham proposed to Themis, and the two were married in Amaurot. The couple had a nice honeymoon in Elpis, and not long after they returned Themis was tapped to succeed the seat of Elidibus. He had earned top marks for their class and was working as a junior assistant in the Capitol, but everyone knew it was his aspiration to join the Convocation. Not a soul doubted his ability nor his dedication to his duty, and he soon joined his husband in the highest seats of Amaurot. Themis was always a hard worker, and took his job very seriously, so it saddened him to see an empty seat next to him. Of course, sometimes Rhamnous was absent because he didn’t feel like going, but as he grew more comfortable in his job it took him away from the city more often. Azem must travel, as is his duty, and he journeyed across the Star as his mentor taught him. Ever fond of plants, he would catalogue every new species he found and come up with concepts to submit to his brother upon his return to Amaurot. He also picked up any tales and books he could find to bring home to his husband, who liked to read them in what little spare time he had.
Note: Rhamnous was unwilling to go near Pandaemonium because of what happened to his parents, and Themis knew this. It’s why he easily accepted that his love would send a familiar in his stead to help the investigation, and did not question Val falling from the sky onto him.When the Convocation made the decision to summon Zodiark, Rhamnous had already deserted his Seat and left on a trip to find an alternate solution for the Final Days. While traveling, he received a letter from Themis explaining his decision to become the heart of the new god. His husband sent a reply begging him to reconsider and quickly rushed home; however, he never made it back to Amaurot to say goodbye before the summoning occurred. Once Elidibus was inside Zodiark, Azem entreated his mentor Venat to find a way to recover him. It was to no avail, as she was preoccupied with trying to prevent the Convocation from carrying out their planned second sacrifice. When Elidibus finally deigned to remove himself from Zodiark, the primal that was returned was but a shell of the person who sacrificed himself, and Rham lamented his lover. As this new primal-Themis changed in front of him day by day, Rham grew anxious to find some way to fix him on his own and left for one last journey. Not long after he left Amaurot, Venat came to her final decision. She would become Hydaelyn, sundering Etheirys and all its inhabitants into fourteen shards. Though Elidibus was saved by Emet-Selch and Lahabrea, their dearest Azem would never return whole.For millennia, the soul of Azem would be reincarnated into the bodies of those destined to become great travelers. They would gain the blessing of the Echo, and many would end up heroes of their time. Yet there was one constant: all were fated to encounter Elidibus. He could not help but become part of their stories, even though he did not realize who they were. He would aid them on the start of their journey, or have a hand in awakening their gift if Hydaelyn would not do it herself. A few times, they would be heroes together for a short while, sometimes even lovers, but it always ended badly. Elidibus would also, from time to time, fight against these reincarnations. If they threatened the balance of the Star, he would make them a martyr for their cause. He would become a hero in his own right, and keep to his duty, his promise. Neither the unsundered primal Elidibus nor the shards of Azem knew of their history. The once deeply passionate lovers would only ever be a fraction of their previous selves, and thus remain star-crossed for eternity. It is not until the end of the 6th Astral Era, when a shard of Rhamnous’s soul is reborn in a remote Viera village on the Source, that this cycle will be broken and Azem will begin to reawaken.

Valeryan

Pronunciation: the y is /ee/ as in "Ian"
[he/him]
Born: ??? the Year 1512 of the Sixth Astral Era
Age: 65 (ARR) - 69 (ENW), 70 in DT
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Bisexual
Job: Lancer, Gunbreaker, Rogue
Art: Valeryan's ToyhouseValentyne's elder brother by 40 years, and their idol growing up. Valeryan was a Wood Warder in the forests of the foot of the Skatay Range, protecting his village and all Dalmasca, until the Garleans killed the siblings' father and spared his life to force him to join their army. He is fine with magic in a pinch, but relies mostly on his strength with polearms and knives, as well as the manatrigger. His success in battle is partially due to his possession of the Echo, which he gained on the same fateful, starshowered night as his younger sibling when they snuck out to follow him on a recon trip.
Valentyne has not seen Valeryan in a decade, but hopes he has survived and they may cross paths when there is peace in their home country. The biggest fear either of them has is seeing the other on the opposite side of a battlefield... However, Valeryan knows full well who his sibling is (the WoL), and takes care to stay far from them, lest they see what he's become working for the Garleans they hate so much. He also knows well their reputation as the Warrior of Light, who is considered a monster by most of his colleagues, but keeps this knowledge close to his chest.
Zenos hand picked Valeryan for his elite forces after seeing him in battle, and finds him fascinatingly similar to his greatest friend-and-foe, and eventually is the first to piece together their familial relation. Zenos uses this to his advantage, manipulating both Valeryan and Valentyne into never meeting. Valeryan has a complicated relationship with Zenos, one that has gotten intimate on more than one occasion, but is full of a thirst for vengeance and a desire to kill one another. When Fandaniel shows up, the situation gets even more complicated, as he and Valeryan, unbeknownst to anyone, are actually fragments of the same soul. Valeryan is actually a shard of Hermes, missing from the incomplete Fandaniel.Note on Valeryan’s hair color:
It is obvious that his dark hair doesn’t match anyone in the family. This is because he dyed it after the Garlean Empire collapsed. His natural hair is a light purple similar to his mother’s shade, but he does not want to be recognized easily. He was often masked and helmed for his work in the elite forces, but is cautious about being linked to his past. He also found that he likes the dark hair to stand out less, so he’s keeping it.

Selyen Family

The Selyens: Aster, Gentian, Valeryan, Sylene*, and Edelrose
A family of Veena Viera from a village at the foot of the Skatay Range in Dalmasca, the Selyens are all very skilled individuals. Selyen is their family's city name, as all Viera have names they use in their own village and community and another that they use in the outside world. Their family tradition includes choosing city names based on flowers that grow in the mountains near their home, and these are the names given here. Unfortunately, their family has been torn apart by war and fate. The happy family in the photos seen here are from a dream in which they are all alive and able to see one another. In reality, their father is dead, the two eldest have long since departed from the village for arduous journeys, and their mother and sister have stayed behind.Mother: Aster (140 years at present)
Aster is the village herbalist and their most skilled healer. She is currently a mother of 5, having had three children with her late husband Gentian, and 7 years ago she gave birth to a pair of twin boys. Aster has no idea that the WoL of legend is Valentyne and thinks Valeryan long dead, but still prays for them every night. She hopes that Edelrose will be sensible and remain in the village, but knows it's only a matter of time before she, too, decides to leave for adventure. The heart tattoo that they wear is a family tradition from her side, given to children when they come of age.Father: Gentian (killed 15 years ago at 120, would be 135 today)
Gentian was a seasoned Wood Warder, and he much enjoyed climbing and painting. Unfortunately, he was killed by Garleans in a skirmish 15 years ago alongside many of the village Warders. Valentyne was hiding in the brush and witnessed this, as well as the capture of Valeryan. He was 5 years younger than his wife and very devoted, often visiting the village when he wasn't supposed to so he could bring her flowers. Gentian was extremely skilled with the spear, and imparted this knowledge to his children. It is from him that they also inherited a desire to travel.Eldest: Valeryan (70 years at present)
He doted on his younger sibling when they were born, which led to their attachment later on. He struggles with finding meaning in life, and tends to throw himself in his work, whatever it may be. He often thinks of his family, but is much too ashamed of what he has done to ever face them again. As long as they are safe, that's all that matters.Middle: Sylene Valentyne (30 years at present)
Their original city name was Sylene, but they changed it upon their arrival in Radz-at-Han. It was an effort to leave behind their previous trauma from the Resistance, and build a new future in Eorzea. Val has been purposefully avoiding returning to the village, though they came close when at the Burn. Seeing the mountains of their childhood in the distance was enough to burn their resolve to make sure their home would be truly free.Youngest: Edelrose (15 years at present)
Born mere months before her father and brother had their fateful encounter with Garlean forces, she never had the chance to know them. As Val left when Edy was only 5, her memories of them are few, but still made an impression. She was much less of a troublemaker kid than her elder siblings were, but since coming of age has started to act more independent. Since childhood, she has excelled with the bow. Currently, Edy is in training to be a hunter, but she really wants to travel and help people after hearing about the Warrior of Light. Not a single soul in their village has a clue that the hero they often hear tales of is her older sibling.