Yumiko’s childhood was a joyful one. As the only daughter of the Hosokawa family, her parents and elder brother loved and spoiled her dearly — she wanted for nothing.As children of the Hosokawa samurai family, Yumiko and her brother Daichi were trained in the ancient Eastern art, though Yumiko was disappointed that her brother was often shown more attention with regards to the subject. Both siblings had a natural talent for bladework, and Yumiko looked up to Daichi for being older and stronger than her, though she was often frustrated by him for the same reason. Despite being young and small, she trained harder than any of her peers in the hopes of standing by him as his equal.Both Yumiko and her brother Daichi had an adventurous streak, and would often go exploring the land around them, against the advice of their parents and retainers. Trailing along behind them was their friend Keiji Uesugi, the latest in the long line of Uesugi retainers to the Hosokawa family tasked to look after the siblings.When the Garleans attacked the Hosokawa tribe, Yumiko and her parents were rushed to safety while Daichi and Keiji remained behind to fight the Garlean soldiers. Keiji returned without Daichi by his side.Yumiko knew of Keiji’s cowardice in battle, and (rightfully) blamed him for not protecting her brother. This put an end to their fifteen year friendship, and she would treat him coldly at best and scathingly at worst for years to come.

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Rhika Atika was found in an alleyway in Ul’dah by his adoptive parents. The couple had been drawn in by the mysterious crying of a baby, and as they struggled to have children of their own, decided to raise this abandoned Miqo’te child as their own son. They gave him a traditional Miqo’te name, Rhika, while his last name followed lalafell naming conventions.Rhika’s life was easy in some ways, but not in others. His parents were very wealthy merchants and when it came to material items, Rhika wanted for nothing. However, his strange family circumstances, odd name, and femininity made him a target for bullying and harassment in his early years. As Rhika grew in confidence, charisma, and beauty, he found that fitting in became easier, but he would never forget how difficult it had been when he was young.Rhika had always had a passion for art, design, and aesthetics so it seemed natural to him and everyone that knew him that he would find a career in fashion design and weaving. When he reached age sixteen he began studying under Redolent Rose of the weaver’s guild and began making a name for himself as an up and coming designer.This wasn’t enough for the easily-bored Rhika, however. As adventurers came and went through the city, Rhika decided he might try to venture outside of Ul’dah and try his hand at adventuring himself. Now, though he originally became an adventurer out of boredom and curiosity, Rhika finds himself further and further from home as he is thrust deeper into the fight against the forces that threaten Eorzea . . .

Etoine was born into a family who had been serving the Benoitants, an influential Ishgardian family, for generations. As the eldest son, he was trained to fulfill many of the duties of his father and to one day replace him. Though he had somewhat of a rebellious streak, Etoine did his job and did it well.The rebelliousness came into play when it came to the manor library. Etoine was a studious sort, and the numerous books that lined shelf after shelf in the great room did much to pique is interest. Though he knew he would not normally be allowed to read the books belonging to the Benoitants, he did so anyway at his own risk, particularly taking interest in studies of the arcane.He was found one day by the head of the household, Master Benoitant, but instead of chastising the boy, Lord Benoitant allowed and encouraged Etoine’s studies, even becoming a mentor of sorts.The two became extremely close, an innocent sort of closeness in Etoine’s young eyes but not so much in the eyes of the young Lord. Though Etoine initially brushed off his master’s advances, he became exceedingly aggressive over time. It came to a head when Lady Benoitant entered the room while Lord Benoitant had been forcing himself upon the young Etoine.The lady of the house had already been growing quite jealous of the attention her husband was showering over the servant boy, and blamed Etoine for seducing the Lord rather than the other way around. She demanded that Etoine be removed from the household at once, along with the rest of his family. This would have been a terrible blow to the livelihoods of the Vuvois family had Lord Benoitant not offered an alternative option: disown the boy and continue working for the Benoitant family or leave altogether.The Vuvois family took the former.Etoine had nowhere to go. His family had abandoned him, and there was no other choice for him besides to live as a street rat. He found his way to the Brume, where the other orphans, the poor, and the desolate found their homes.It was a difficult life. He stole to survive, prostituted himself when possible (to the very people who shunned him on the streets during the daylight hours, no less). He did everything he could to stay alive. Until he decided enough was enough.Throughout all his struggles, and even before then, Etoine had had a friend. The boy was three years older than him but seemed much more mature, more than his years could tell. His name was Aymeric. The two had become extremely close over the years, and though they were different in many ways it didn’t seem to matter so much because they enjoyed spending time together. They were both considered outcasts but they had each other for support.Unfortunately this time their differences proved too much. Etoine, in desperation, begged Aymeric to leave Ishgard with him, to find a better life elsewhere, anywhere. But Aymeric had faith and loyalty in Ishgard that Etoine did not. Though he loved Etoine and wanted him to be happy he simply couldn’t leave.Etoine took this as a betrayal. Abandoned by his family, by his best friend, by a society who cared more about war and honour than bettering the lives of its people, he had nothing left. All he had was his hurt. All he had was his rage.And so he left Ishgard at the age of twenty-three to become stronger. To become stronger so he could fight for the dragons and destroy the city that had always turned a blind eye to his struggles. The path to achieve the peace of mind he so desperately craved was bathed red with bloodshed, but he wasn’t afraid. He would show them all just what he was capable of. And then they would regret casting him out.

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