ㅤNameㅤ Ser Elioud Hadrien Athos de HoltemaigneㅤNationaltyㅤ IshgardianㅤAgeㅤ 57ㅤRaceㅤ ElezenㅤTitlesㅤ Ser | LordㅤMarital Statusㅤ UnmarriedㅤOccupationㅤ Temple Knight | Heir to House HoltemaigneㅤPatron Deityㅤ Halone, The Fury

Once an energetic and reliable figure that could make others rally around him and push forward through adversity by mere inspiration, Ser Elioud fell victim to the many grim aspects of strife and conflict that constantly showed its worst side. Lives lost, futures obliterated, and a constant test of an individual's hope - it changed a man who wanted nothing more than to lead by example, bringing honor and glory to his predecessors.The peace that followed after the Dragonsong War was one that Ser Elioud could not adhere to. The beacon of House Holtemaigne turned into a man devoid of hope and purpose after the Archbishop and the Heavens' Ward were gone forevermore, taking his only lifelong purpose for which he had been trained since childhood.Inconsolable, he could only take refuge in faith. Not in the Church's, but in the teachings of Halone herself: finding glory and virtue in battle. He believed the change of circumstance to be a trial to test his mettle in the face of adversity. War and institutions passed but his faith in The Fury and Ishgard remained to this very day.Whether near or far, any battlefield that Ser Elioud visited earned him the reputation of a reliable halberdier and stalwart ally. Following the teachings of Saint Finnea, he became a reliable yet silent pillar. One that people could only look from afar, as he bravely stood his ground in combat. There are only so many struggles a simple mortal can endure... And every single battle or test of his conviction began to chip away at his faith in himself. Hope, to this day, slips away from his iron-clad hands. To him, most things, in the end, feel somewhat... pointless.In social circles, Elioud presents himself as a stoic individual, somewhat aloof, always going by the 'unspoken script' that noblemen of his status follow at all times. With some rapport, he shows a calm and understanding side. It is welcoming, like the crackling fire of a hearth on a cold day. Yet lacks patience for most of things that imply waiting idly for conditions to change. Without a word, he tends to take matters into his own hands given the opportunity.

Showing long ash brown hair, Elioud's gaze has morphed throughout the years from an intense, energetic stare into what could be considered a soulless, tired, melancholic expression behind his light blue eyes. The mild wrinkles and eyebags that can be seen around them, show what his overall face can tell without words: the look of a grizzled young veteran, who once had hoped for more in a life that started feeling tame and devoid of purpose.Elioud's demeanor adds yet another layer to his overall presence: a silent, taciturn reflection that is constant. A stern face that rarely has something else to say or to show. It wasn't always there, but stayed by his own choosing. The eager, hopeful eyes and confident smile that Ser Elioud once had, dimmed down with each turn that passed. Physical and mental exhaustion started to silently show in his features, yet, in spite of that, he never let go of the poise or the bearing that a man of his post is meant to show at all times, conducting himself gracefully around others when the situation would demand it.A towering man of athletic complexion after decades of training, he was raised to be a paragon of virtue. The ideal of an Ishgardian Knight, clad in his House's black, gold and silver liveries. The only two exceptions to this rule come in the shape of his Temple haubergeon and habilments after being knighted and deployed abroad. The second exception, being the long, darkened coats used in social gatherings, adorned with many pieces of gold and silver that proudly show his heritage just as much as the burdens he carries due to his House name.

Ser Elioud was trained in the Ishgardian martial arts from the age of ten, taking part in what would later become a secondary pursuit and pastime: fencing. He began as a squire to a house knight, who acted both as his direct mentor and as the one responsible for ensuring that Elioud upheld his oath of service, while he learned all the basic skills that an Ishgardian soldier must master in order to serve his nation.Sword and shield were the first weapons through which he learned the importance of a proper fighting stance, a steady mind that kept track of his own footing at all times, and the balance of body weight paired strength required in his limbs to be considered a true opponent. Nevertheless, his father and House Holtemaigne required that, as heir to their traditions, Elioud also learn the art of the lance, along with several other polearms.During his service as a Temple Knight, he chose the halberd as his primary weapon, resorting to sword and shield only when emergency situations demanded it or for close-quarters combat in confined spaces, with the exception of situations where it must be handled hand-to-hand, mainly putting focus on hard strikes to momentarily incapacitate the enemy, and place them back at spear's length.
His combat style favors agility and speed over brute strength, using momentum, gravity, and body weight to reinforce the impact of his strikes. Ample swipes that leverage the inertia moving his entire frame, paired graceful thrusts of his polearm in response to an adversary's movements, are the things that define his combat style: deliberate movements that aim to be a decisive strike from the very first swing.Due to his natural ability with polearms, Ser Elioud found an unexpected harmony between his love for chocobo riding and his polearm skills... Becoming extremely prolific at jousting and, by proxy, mounted combat as a whole.

ㅤThe Prospectㅤ - Raised and trained from the age of ten under exceptionally high expectations, Elioud was shaped by his House with the hope that he might one day be knighted and chosen by either the Archbishop or the Heavens’ Ward Archimandrite. As a squire, he took vows of chastity and served a single House Knight for decades - one among the hundreds, or thousands, who clung to the slim chance of such an honourㅤVeteran of the Dragonsong Warㅤ - Elioud fought alongside Ishgard’s knights during the war’s zenith, defending the city’s walls against the Dravanian horde and participating in joint field operations led by House Durendaire across the Western Highlands. The conflict devastated House Holtemaigne’s ranks; many knights perished - including the very knight under whom Elioud had servedㅤTemple Knight | Congregation of Our Knights Most Heavenlyㅤ - Following numerous testimonies from highborn knights attesting to his mettle, Elioud was recruited into the Congregation. His knighting came after his voluntary participation in the Grand Tournament held in the wake of Thordan’s fall. Victory earned him the honour of joining the Temple Knights during the final days of the Dragonsong War, aspiring to embody the virtues exemplified by Saint Finnea - his foremost inspirationㅤEorzean Alliance | Gyr Abanian Frontㅤ - With the thousand-year war at an end and purpose uncertain, Elioud volunteered for deployment in East Aldenard after Ishgard rejoined the Alliance. It was his first venture beyond Coerthas, and his first exposure to a war fought not against beasts, but people. The experience left him with much to reflect upon upon his return homeㅤA Measuring Spearㅤ - Ever willing to aid fellow Ishgardians, Elioud freely instructs those wishing to learn the halberd or lance. Though initially trained in sword and shield at his mentor’s insistence, his House duties demanded mastery of the spear. This focus reflects both Halonic symbolism and House Holtemaigne’s role as a training ground for lancers and, in rare times of war against dragonkind, the raising of new DragoonsㅤNoblesse Obligeㅤ - Charitable, devout, and selfless, he lives by his House’s creed: “Whenever a fellow Ishgardian cannot stand on their own, help them rise.” His service to Ishgard has never been questioned, often carried to personal extremes, in faithful pursuit of his House’s oldest purposeㅤA New Ishgardㅤ - Pro-republic and supportive of reform, the man welcomes newcomers to Coerthas, albeit cautiously. Cultural dissonance and the aftershocks of Ishgard’s long isolation give him pause, and while he remains polite, he maintains a measured distance from unfamiliar customs and individualsㅤLone heir to House Holtemaigneㅤ - The only child of Lord Altremont Holtemaigne and Lady Margaux Aubrenard, Elioud is frequently pressed into attending galas and soirées dictated by Ishgard’s rigid social order. With his father’s advancing age, the future of House Holtemaigne rests squarely upon his shouldersㅤWary of the Churchㅤ - The Orthodox Church lied yet Ishgard’s survival was built upon that altered truth. After all that was lost to dragonkind, Elioud finds trust in the Holy See and its reinstated allies difficult to extend. The institution that calls itself “faith” offers bridges already scorched by betrayalㅤVows Renewedㅤ - With the fall of the Archbishop and the dissolution of the Heavens’ Ward, the vows Elioud once took as a squire were irrevocably changed. The loss of his mentor and Ishgard’s forced transformation marked an abrupt coming of age, compelling him to uphold new oaths- ones that align with his personal convictions and, above all, his House’s legacyㅤLeading Through Uncertaintyㅤ - House Holtemaigne now depends on Altremont’s only son - a man many believe suited solely for the barracks or the battlefield. Whether Elioud can lead beyond war, navigate politics, and guide his House through peace remains an open question… one yet unanswered

  • ㅤThe Writerㅤ Hi there! The name's [redacted] and I'm Elioud's writer. EN/SP speaker, always happy to make new acquaintances and gaming buddies.

  • ㅤLanguagesㅤ My main language is Spanish, but I always try my best with English as a second language. Sometimes, however, something might get lost in translation, or I might express myself in a somewhat awkward/strange way when trying to convey an idea or two, ending up being something that I probably did not mean. Please keep this in mind!

  • ㅤRP Prefences - Pacingㅤ I prefer short term stuff or very sporadic scenes when it comes to public RP. I love long-term writing, but I've grown to be picky about it for many reasons which I don't mind sharing in a conversation if it comes up

  • ㅤRP Prefences - Topicsㅤ Different topics can be discussed before writing together. Elioud, however, is permanently unavailable for romance or erotic writing. Out of respect for my partner, those two topics I will not write

  • ㅤRP Prefences - Charactersㅤ I have many thoughts on what lorebending and lorebreaking characters really are. If you think you fall any of those categories, I'd like to have a small chat to clarify those points and to define how much lore can be bent for my roleplaying taste

  • ㅤScheduleㅤ When it comes to pacing, I'm anything but a hardcore RPer nowadays regarding scene length or consecutive sessions. So it's mostly slow-paced, writing a couple of times a month at most. So please, don't rush me or the plot, unless you need to because of time constraints. If so, then tell me beforehand

  • ㅤContact Infoㅤ Discord, yes... But let's talk for a while and write a scene or two first. If there's something you'd like to know about rules, boundaries, preferred themes or overall roleplaying etiquette - I would rather talk about it than finding out as a "surprise". Putting that same list that everyone has won't tell me anything. Knowing you, fellow writer, will tell me all I need to know in due time

  • ㅤRP Etiquetteㅤ ... Yeah. If you were expecting to read the usual "IC is not OOC" or the "I'm not my character keep separate... yadda yadda" stuff... You won't find it here, since it's almost redundant to explain with so many experienced people in RP all around, right...? ... R i g h t?

ㅤMottoㅤ "Rise"ㅤVassal toㅤ House DurendaireㅤHead of Houseㅤ Lord Altremont HoltemaigneㅤRoleㅤ Assets protection and logistics, oversight of fortifications, military instruction in service of the High HousesㅤHeraldicsㅤ Three rising spires, as the Three Spears in The Fury's sigil, signaling the House's martial orientation. A lone crown on top, signaling allegiance to King Thordan I and His descendants.

Steadfast ally to House Durendaire since its origins, House Holtemaigne's current regents, Altremont of House Holtemaigne and Margaux de Holtemaigne (nee Aubrenard) have carried out the main roles assigned by their lordship for ages.Among these roles, House Holtemaigne is responsible, first and foremost, the training of footmen and and production of new recruits for the ranks of the Congregation of Our Knights Most Heavenly, while bolstering the ranks of House soldiers and knights during times of war. Their specialty among other houses with the same role, is the creation of lancers/ halberdiers, with the past hope of producing very few, but skilled knights dragoon to be commissioned in the Temple Knight's elite forces.Also, the protection, oversight, and rebuilding of critical infrastructure for the Holy See, with the main focus on aiding with rebuilding efforts during the Dragonsong War and on its aftermath. Between funding and assisting efforts during the Firmament's rebuilding and their help in Ishgard's return to the Eorzean Alliance through provision of footmen, the Holtemaigne estate is making efforts to recover financially. Their resources were pushed to their limits, ending up drastically diminished after the help provided.The house adhered to traditional values and unwavering allegiance to the Holy See, the late Archbishop Thordan VII and his Heavens' Ward during the Dragonsong War. Their relationship with the Orthodox Church and the Faith, became somewhat estranged after the thousand-year conflict came to an end. Their fervent patriotism and dedication to the teachings of Halone, however, remains unyielding to this day.In the present day... A war effort oriented House without a clear purpose or resources, and skeptical of the many changes happening around the city-state as outsiders are being offered hearth and home... Its fate ests upon the Fury's hands, and Her hands only.