Kusan Ra-Yahk
"The Walking Sylph"
About
Age: 31(By Endwalker)Sexuality: Bisexual (leans towards women)Relationship Status: SingleHair Color: Black and WhiteEyes: Honey BrownHeight: 6'4Body: Lean BuildOccupation(s): Adventurer, Novice CulinarianClass: Bard, Dragoon, Machinist, Monk, Paladin, Dark Knight
Personality
Kusan, while living in Little Solace, was shy and timid around people who passed into the village, but was open and friendly to the sylphs. He's very close to himself and never allowed anyone to talk to him, being rather harsh in the way he talked to others, outright ignoring them, and giving them the cold shoulder. He did this only because he did not trust anyone outside of the sylphs who took him in and have wronged him.. He has no trust in any nobility aside from ones who genuinely strive to improve the common folks lives.After leaving Little Solace, Kusan becomes more open with other people and tries to approach others for conversation. He's more outgoing and confident in himself, though he falls back on his sylph talking fits by accidednt. Kusan is more tactical , always coming up with a plan before acting...sometimes. He's rambunctious and lets his emotions get the better of him when his emotions are riled up. He tries to treat everyone nicely so there's no bad blood.
Appearance
Kusan is a much shorter Elezen than other the other male Elezens and some females as well. His family, the Ra-Yahk family, as a trait of black hair with white highlights which can be seen though his sister, brother, and mother. Their other trait are the black freckles they have across their face, but only Kusan and his siter adopted them from their mother's side of the family. While living in Little Solace, he was a lot more thinner and scrawny which is why he chose a bow. Because he traveled by jumping tree to tree, he kept his body in admirable shape, but not so much bulking up. After joining the Lancer's Guild, he indulged himself with more meats and poultry so build up more lean build.The scars on his face have different stories to them. The one on the right side of his cheek and other scar on his forehead is a more recent scar that he got from a more recent event.
History
Kusan was born in to a small noble merchant family of Gridania: the Ra-Yahk's. Orianne Ra-Yahk, Kusan's mother who hailed from Ishgard and mastered her skills in alchemy. Dalaux Ra-Yahk, the father and current lord of the house. Vallerin, Kusan's older brother and heir to the family fortune, Mourinette, Kusan's beloved older sister, and Kusan himself. The family conducts business in arms dealing. From swords, shields, lances, axes, and much more.Dalaux handled the business the products being crafted, shipped, and sold to each city state. The efficiency of the of the Ra-Yahk family was fairly known across Eorzea. Well known enough to attract business from another malefactor that would pay handsomely under the table further pushing the wealth of the family.Vallerin caught wind of his father and suddenly vanished without a trace as though he never existed. The future and heir of the household then fell to Kusan's shoulders, but the young Elezen dreamt of traveling the land of Eorzea and beyond and the adventure laying in wake. Unfortunately, his father did not support the dreams and claimed only "savages" partook in such indulgence.Mourinette, upset by the treatment of her youngest brother and his dreams, proposed to take up the mantle of the Ra-Yahk lordship. She was training in the Lancer's Guild to get recognized by the dragoons of Ishgard as she aimed to become the Azure Dragoon like the hero she looked up to, Ser Alberic. As she did, the Ra-Yahk family name spread as she matched the strength of the dragoons before her. Dalaux used this newfound popularity in his favor as a means progress the family fame further.One day from one of their frequent visits in Ishgard, Orianne and Dalaux came back with an unexpected surprise...a child. A small, fair skin toned, brown hair Elezen named Gaimont. He was a child from the Brume of Ishgard that lost his family one from the dragon attacks. From that day forward, he would be an adopted son of the Ra-Yahk family. Kusan welcomed his new step brother, but Gaimont did not yearn to do so with him. He showed no compassion to make relations with his 'siblings' and often accompanied Dalaux to learn more of the family and the business that brought it about.Then one day in the middle of the night, Mourinette was brought to her parents room where awaited Dalaux and Orianne. Whatever was discussed in that room caused Mourinette to storm out and crying. Not long after, she and Kusan robed in a cowl, ready to walk out on their home. Before they could make it out, they were encountered a familiar face and in just an instant, Mourinette fell to the ground bleeding out. Kusan screamed as the figure swiftly ran away while dropping a murder weapon. Mourinette smiled at her beloved brother one last time before the life faded from her eyes.Dalaux and Orianne showed up along with Gaimont leading them. After seeing the weapon near Kusan and Mourinette's blood on his hands, they accused him of killing his own sister. Dalaux considered to do away Kusan himself, but not before taking away more away from him. Kusan was taken to somewhere hidden in the manor where no sound escaped. Hours went by...Mourinette's body tended and taken away and Gelther, Kusan's retainer, carried Kusan's unconscious body out of the manor and into the Shroud.Gelther brought Kusan to the East Shroud and laid his body down carefully before he made his way back to the Ra-Yahk home. Kusan's smell attracted a crowd of Ziz who hollered at their next meal, surrounding Kusan as he woke from his senseless state. Hearing the hollering, Kusan tried to run, but could only see black from the night. He curled up crying and calling for help. Before the Ziz could get a bite on the elezen child, they were struck with lightning from afar and were driven away.Frixio, leader of the Sylphs, and others came to the aid when the got too close to their home of Little Solace, Frixio then noticed boy crying on the ground. He hovered above him and called out to the elezen. Kusan got himself up, trembling with fear, not knowing where to go, remaining silent. Frixio examined the boys and to look into his eyes to only see white. Kusan was blinded. His vision taken away from him and small holes in his neck as a needle penetrated his skin. Frixio lead Kusan back to Little Solace where he comforted the boy who was still in a catatonic state. Being like this for days on end, Kusan came to the reality what he had lost and what he could do. He only had one choice...He stayed in the Sylph village and where he was taught how to use aether to see and induce lightning magic, but only could see blotches of people and bits of the aether in the environment around him, though it takes a toll on his life till this very day. Kusan taught himself the bow thanks to a certain bard within the Shroud, jumped and climbed trees, hunted Garleans who threatened Little Solace and fought with the Touched Ones. Seventeen springs pass and Kusan made a name for himself amongst the sylphs and other who journeyed to through village. He was "The Walking Sylph."
Mourinette
Mourinette was Kusan's older sister and the one sibling that stuck by him when his parents were against the way he wanted to live. She was a loving soul who accepted anyone no matter of what origin they came from. Even though she had a status of noble, she saw herself amongst the common people and wanted to do more for them with her position she was in. She would be the one to read the stories of adventure and legends to Kusan, inspiring him to be travel the world, be an adventurer, and help the ones who needed it. Mourinette would usually take Kusan out around the Shroud to get away from the home, take her to the guild where she trained, and even made him sweets with their retainer and head chef F'laago. Kusan was the brother she felt responsible for and wished to steer him in the right direction.
Vallerin
Vallerin is the oldest sibling of the Ra-Yahk family. He practiced under the retainer of Gelther in the way of Rhalgr's Fist so hand-to-hand combat is his main source of fighting. He's headstrong and pretty dull when comes to some situations. But he speaks kindly from the heart and is trustworthy is a T. He tries to act as a playboy and hits on women, but to no avail. Kusan still has no idea of his whereabouts until recently...
Frixio
Frixio is the leader of the sylphs in Little Solace and the father-figure of Kusan. Frixio taught Kusan the ways of the sylphs and tried to get him adept into using lightning magic, but Kusan had little skill to using his aether. He taught him how you he could use his own aether to use to see again, even though now it doesn't have much affect, Kusan uses it so he can try to see people when he can. Frixio worries a lot for Kusan's safety especially when he goes scouting and finding out the trouble the Touched Ones of the Sylphlands are up to and the trickery they cause. Kusan is like a son to him and is protective of him. This is why Kusan drops by to visit every now and then to let Frixio know that he is safe.
MORE COMING SOON...
Hooks and General Information
Since Kusan was a child, he had always wanted to be an adventurer. So he's never likely to stay in one place for too long, but you'll always find him in few places which would be the Black Shroud - his home, Thanalan, Ishgard, and Mor Dhona. He can look intimidating especially when he he's focused on his next goal, but if you do, he's very welcoming and open to listen to anyone's troubles no matter how minimal they may be. He needs the gil, but he always believed in helping the common folks with their trouble seeing as he grew up in royalty for a time.
If you're ever in Little Solace, Kusan will most likely be there! He frequently goes back to check in with Frixio to let him know he's safe and still breathing. But he also goes to wipe the Garleans who's been entering the forests of the Sylphlands.
If you're in the Shroud and hear of a man that walks among the sylph called "The Walking Sylph," this would be Kusan. They call him this not only because he lived with them throughout his life, he has adopted their way of speech as well. Frequently, he will fall into the habit calling others "...ones." Ex: "These walking ones would bring harm to these ones. Foolish ones will know their place soon enough."
Being an adventurer, he takes up multitude of quests and gets himself a fair amount of gil for it. But he's pretty terrible with money, spending money more on equipment and inns than food, which leads to him going hungry. When there's someone who cannot pay in money, but will pay in a hearty meal, Kusan will be the first in line to take up the job.
As a child, Kusan played music when growing up under his family. They felt that it was what a noble child should do to show talents to suitors. He plays the harp, piano, and violin, but he favors the flute more than anything because that was the instrument his sister loved hearing him play and was the first musical tool she suggested him to play. If you walk thru Little Solace or the Sylphlands and hear the tune of a flute, that's Kusan playing from afar.
Even from being an adventurer, Kusan is HIGHLY afraid of large, deep bodies of water. He does not know how to swim and almost drowned as a kid when being tossed into a river by as a child. That's when his phobia started and sticks with him. If he has an option to take a boat, he will happily take it without hesitation. He's working over his phobia.
Because of his traumatic experience, Kusan is prone to panic attacks and is activated by certain trigger words or specific things that replicate a feeling that brings him back to those days. He starts to breathe heavily, his head throbs, body trembles, and tears stream from his eyes. The one way to calm him down is for someone to comfort him physically by putting their hands on his shoulders for one or a hug. Kusan speaks to a professional who helps him try to lessen that trauma.
Kusan has a very big sweet tooth! In Ra-Yahk, he had two retainers, Gelther and F'laago who come from Ala Mhigo. F'laago, a former warrior from the Ala Mhigan Resistance, became a baker and culinarian under Ra-Yahk and always baked apple tarts, Kusan's favorite dessert! She would sneak them to his room whenever he got scolded by his parents or did a fantastic job on one of his musical lessons. This where Kusan's loves from apples stem from. If you happen to bake apple tarts or have any fresh, ripe apples, you will become Kusan's favorite person!
Kusan lacks in hand-to-hand combat, which is where Gelther, a monk who practiced in the Fist of Rhalgr, stems from. He taught Kusan the ways of the fist, but Kusan partook no interest in it and did it because Gelther was like a father to him than his actual father. Seventeen summers later, Kusan started to get back into training after he left Little Solace so he could count on his close combat and not just his preferred ranged weapons. If you'd like to teach Kusan the ropes of a monk, he's be happy to obilge!
