leonhardt lochte

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Lionhearted

General Info
Naturalized Name: Leonhardt "Leon" Lochte
Birth Name: Lihrhu'to Lhatrhe
Birthplace: Ilsabard
Sex/Gender: Male
Sexuality: Gay

Personality: More often than not described as excitable and eccentric. He tends to be in good spirits, humming to himself or sporting a crooked half-smile. Despite this friendliness, there is a feeling of detachment to him. A mix of Keeper culture and living a wanderer's life has not made him familiar with keeping constant company – nor does he plan on becoming anything more than an acquaintance; he can very quickly depart without a second thought.Though soft-spoken, and gentle-looking, Leonhardt prefers a life of spontaneity. This resonates into his life choices as well - he is quick to make decisions and to judge; he is quite easy to sway as well. His haste has led him to various fights in his youth, and very often leads him into more trouble.His act can be perceived as confidence - in reality, he is plagued by insecurities fostered from childhood and seeks to leave impressions on all he meets.

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The cat inside the costume

Every clown has a tale - this cat also has one.

History
Childhood: Many moons had passed since the Garlean Empire had invaded and won, claiming many territories as their own. It was under these circumstances that our protagonist came into being, born the second son of Lihrhu Lhatrhe and her partner.He and Lihrhu lived within a group of two other families made up of mothers and their children. In the past, Keepers of the Moon such as them would have lived off in a village together – however, the uncertainty of war brought their ancestors into the city. They would all pool their income and lived on the same plot of land together. The ladies also covered each other for childcare as needed, while the children would stick together as much as possible. It was quite a peaceful existence, but there was always a solemn air within the home.It was not often brought up, but the eldest son, Lihrhu’a, had been sent off to war alongside their father. While stationed, the young man had fallen in battle, leaving the parents mourning his loss. Though she was suffering, the matriarch held herself together for the sake of her youngest son.Lihrhu’to’s mother, stoic and calm, earned her living through trade. She was never one to lose her head when under pressure, and she managed to earn them a decent living through these traits. Perhaps the only thing that held her back was the disdain many Garlean citizens held for "beasts." As she held a traditional keeper name, he often heard it called as almost a hiss by some, "Lihrhu bas Lhatrhe".Occasionally, he would witness the different fathers come by to check on the families, but he never became overly familiar with any of them. This included his own. Though his parents by no means had a strained relationship (in fact, they were quite close, with his father always happy to return home), it is common for Keeper men to be rather distant from their families.This was true in Lihrhu'to's life, to the point where he couldn't even give his father's name if asked. He just never knew it - the men were only really mentioned when they were around, and his mother referred to his father as her "moon", a term of endearment he could never forget. "My moon," she would almost purr when she spotted him from afar, "how wonderful that you have drifted back to us." His father would sheepishly laugh and offer presents from his time abroad.His father was a conscript of the army (as were many), his only boon being the years he served before dying somewhere. Serving the empire for multiple generations meant the Keepers' children were considered citizens, albeit barely.Per tradition, mothers ran the family. Under Garlean subjugation however, Mother's power amounted to little but a whisper. "Traditions" under this new rule, often amounted to allying with the side that is considered a "beast." Beneath the Emperor's banner, he was not a Keeper of the Moon, but a vague subject of the Empire - no longer a "savage," and heavily encouraged to abandon such thoughts. Thus, he was granted a "civilized" name as well.His father had chosen to adapt their custom of honoring the matriarch, taking a modification of his mother's name as the "surname" - Lochte. Because he was a clearly a beast - marked with horridly pale skin, feline ears, prominent fangs, and a long tail - he obviously needed to have those traits accentuated. "Leonhardt Lochte." Close enough to his birth name, but distant enough from Garlean naming conventions to set him apart. He needed to belong, but just enough so.Leonhardt received a formal education befitting a Garlean commoner - forays into science, technology, history and philosophy mixed with disdain toward the primals, beastmen, and other "savages”, loyalty to the empire. It was very confusing to understand the material when he both was and wasn't considered to be a part of the beastmen. The classification seemed to change depending on who was analyzing his existence.He couldn't help but start to feel that disdain emanating toward himself.There were moments of respite from hate in humor and lark, he found, so he often used his wit to be humorous. If people were laughing with him, they could not leer at him at the same time. They'd also see that they were intellectually on the same level, besides. Leonhardt became the class's ever mischievous but endearing kitten.Teenage: Leonhardt continued to live with his mother until it became his time to serve, as his father did. The parting didn't prove as difficult as he thought it would. Despite his mother being there for him from the start, both of them were stone-faced when the airship came. Perhaps it was just part of their nature, knowing it would happen eventually. Or perhaps it was her way of dealing with the uncertainty of his parting.Her name would never leave his lips again, including his own birth name.He was to attend military training at an academy, going on to the army afterward. With war always looming, the empire was always wanting for another warm body.Because he was not of the Garlean stock, he held the ability to manipulate aether; this would be important in fighting those who could, even with the impressive feat of technology in the form of magitek. He was placed in classes where he learned the bare basics of being a conjurer, gladiator and thaumaturge. After being observed for his prowess, it was decided that he would best serve with a sword and shield in hand.While in the academy, he continued his reputation as the class clown - less tolerated as it was in this environment. Truancy was in this cat's time, ever finding ways to avoid formal instruction.There came rumors of the time the cat, Leonhardt, put on the mascot's suit to leave the premises. Because they were looking for feline features, they didn't see him stroll right by, and even joined in his merrymaking! The propensity to wear full body costumes was something he came to do after that.In these, he was not distinguished by animalistic or human features; he was just a silly person in a suit, whether it included an additional tail unlike his own or not.It was not until he graduated from the academy that he was officially declared a gladiator. He was to be stationed in Gyr Abania, the latest of the countries to be taken by Garlemald. The Empire made sure not to place the conquered in their own lands to avoid dissent."Leonhardt oen Lochte." He was now a Legionarius. With sword and shield in hand, he proved quite the opponent. It wasn't in his nature to stick out however, preferring anonymity whenever possible; so he did not seek "glory" or the like. He was content to do what was required, and nothing else.He could not deny himself that there was a strange feeling in him when he fought, however. To say that he enjoyed it was something he could not admit, because who in their right mind finds it enjoyable to hurt others? But when he sparred alongside the newly conquered who now had to earn their citizenship to train them, he felt an exhilaration he couldn't describe.Without animosity on either side, just sparring to push their own limits and see who won the exchange - he found that the purest test of the self. Though these people were conquered, they held a strength of their own, a passion that ran deep.He knew many of them would be on their way to a different place once they had been broken in, as he had. Although his education suggested intensely that he did otherwise, he found himself empathizing with the conscripts he encountered.They had not yet been "tamed" by Garlean law and sought to voice their unwillingness to do so. A part of him resented them as well, because if Miqo'te were to submit, if Ilsabard had submitted - why did they believe they could do otherwise?And that question lingered in his mind. Why did they have to submit? Why did they believe they could do otherwise?For many years, he pondered these questions.He began mingling with others, donning a costume on occasion to entertain. He found that people were more open and honest with an armed rabbit or chicken than a man with cat features. And as a brightly colored animal, he did his best to bring even a moment of respite along with the shackles he represented to the natives.Adulthood: Moved between countries - from Gyr Abania to Thavanir, he came to meet many others; came to hear many opinions of him and his own. Despite being "lesser" to his peers, he was no different to the natives of these counties he "trespassed" in as an occupying solider. In Imperial armor, there was no difference between the conquerors and the conquered. He learned quickly to recognize that, and strike accordingly. As a weapon of the state, he was there to establish and maintain order. If it slipped, it would put everyone at risk.He knew his family had given so much for him to be here. Both his father and brother had fallen in battle, let alone the many nameless Miqo'te in their history that died fighting the Garleans - each death bolstering his status as a "citizen" now. Thus the armor had to be respected.But after years of serving as a Legionarius, he grew weary. Leonhardt one day caught wind of an escape amongst the recent conscripts. This time, instead of retaining order, he planned with them. In the middle of the night, he boarded a boat, leaving his title alongside his armor atop his bed.Leonhardt Lochte became a new man on the ports of Limsa Lominsa.

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Lore Assumptions

Keeper Lore
Established:
Historical
During the Third Astral Era, the Allagan Empire persecuted the Miqo'te and drove them from Eorzea, forcing them to dwell in southern Ilsabard. Despite this, Miqo'te were still used as conscripts in the imperial army.
Source: FF14 Console Games WikiPhysical
Roughly a head shorter and smaller of body than the average Hyur, the Keepers of the Moon are distinguishable from their diurnal cousins by their fur, dark as fog, and rounder eyes with large pupils. They also have larger ears, more pronounced canines, and longer, skinnier tails.Though lacking the physical stamina of the Seekers, they make up for this with a fierce strength of will and unerring instincts. .. Keepers are known for their reticent and brooding personalities, but are also respected and sometimes feared for their tenacity.
Source: FF14 Console Games WikiCultural
In contrast to the Seekers of the Sun with their male-dominated tribes and harems, the fundamental unit of Keeper of the Moon society is the family, centered around a strong mother figure and her children. Keepers are known to form small communities composed of two or three families who hunt together.The ritual application of war paint to the face is still regularly practiced before going on the hunt, a tradition symbolizing their readiness to stain their hands with blood, as well as sending a message to their gods that they are prepared to serve them as warriors in the afterlife should they fall. It is believed the vivid colors grant lunar powers.The men of the Keepers of the moon live a wanderer's life, and the women generally believe that men are at their best in small doses. Keepers of the Moon are not raised with a father, and so women and children keep the hearth, ply various trades, and accept game and visits from the menfolk.
Source: FF14 Console Games WikiHeadcannonedCultural
There are very few Keepers shown in FF14, and even less information is actually given about them. In other cases, I take other users' ideas into account and go, "wow, so true, bestie."Assimilation
As Garleans are sometimes shown to lie on the nationalistic and racist side, I assume that they would attempt to assimilate the territories they conquer over time. For Keepers native to Ilsabard, I could see the Empire "civilizing" their Miqo'te names along with attempting to attempting to dissuade them from their traditions.Though a lot would be relative to the individual judging what is too "beastly." Whether that's allowing a Miqo'te's claws to grow out, adhering to hunting rituals, or other things.Garleans preach racial superiority, so I imagine this would extend to trying teach the children of their conquered the same. This would create some sort of self-loathing agenda for Garlean-controlled Miqo'te, being that they are considered as beastly as the beast tribes.Keepers show more "primal" traits in having prominent fangs and nocturnal tendencies, so I imagine a bias would emerge prioritizing Seekers, who look more human and dwell in the light, over the night-preferring Keepers.Keepers, in an attempt to placate this, would adapt their schedules to diurnal tendencies. This of course goes against their internal clocks, so it would lead to crankier Keepers; this may make them seem more stereotypically reticent and brooding to the average person.Keeper men are described as wanderers, existing far from their families and coming back occasionally to visit with gifts. This supports polygamy within Keepers, although I'm not sure if marriage would even be a thing outside of consolidating assets for legal purposes. The concept of monogamy would possibly be something introduced by the Empire.[In relation to what life as a Garlean conscript would be like]
It depends on where you stand in the Garlean hierarchy. Are you a pure blooded Garlean with a family history of strong military or political ties? Your military career is probably going to be pretty cushy and you'll probably end up reaching a relatively high standing within a few years as long as you don't prove to be grossly incompetent.If you're a conscript from a conquered or annexed territory however, you'll probably have an uphill climb to make, for the first 10 years at least. Anyone who doesn't directly hail from Garlemald that completes 10 years of service in The Empire's military becomes a fully fledged citizen of the Empire, and gains all the perks that come with it. That also puts them roughly on the same ground as their pure blooded counterparts, and their progression throughout their military career (if they choose to continue from that point) will likely be more streamlined than it was prior to that.However, you're probably more interested in what those first 10 years look like, and the truth is it varies between commanding officers. Typically speaking, foreign conscripts are tasked with the dirtiest jobs in the Empire. Since Garlemald isn't unbeholden to racism, most commanding officers will view their foreign recruits as pawns and cannon fodder, figuring that the ones who are competent enough to survive a trial by fire will actually be worth something. However some are more sympathetic and less inclined to throw their recruits into the meat-grinder.In the end though, the Garlean military isn't really about being dicks to their soldiers for the sake of being dicks. Garlean culture is one that rewards success and has a very small tolerance for failure. If a soldier proves to be useful, regardless of where they came from, most commanding officers will entrust them with more and more important tasks. However, if they're either incompetent or otherwise unremarkable, they go straight to the front lines until they either die or make something of themselves.As for punishment for insubordination. It once again depends. Unless the soldier who committed it was someone of notable standing, I'd imagine just a field execution, but the context of why they didn't follow orders and the result that ensued from their insubordination could also play a factor in their punishment as well.Lastly, in regards to the food, I don't know. I imagine it would be a bit bland with maybe a bit of salt to bring some flavor out.
Source: Posted by Valen originally on FF14 Roleplayers site, 2019