Ellaria Fairao
Blood in the Snow
Quiet and efficient, this Veena is often seen as intimidating or unapproachable. A renown axe for hire, her reputation fits well with her countenance. Even a simple smile is hard-won. It's difficult to get close to Ellaria, but once someone does, they will be hard-pressed to find an ally more loyal.
History
A Simple Tale
Ellaria was whisked away from the Skatay Range as a very young child by her family as part of a small group of defectors from the Vieran culture. The commune settled deep into the mountain range of Abalathia's Spine, a harsh and unforgiving frozen landscape. There, they hoped to find peace from Garleans and Eorzeans alike. Instead, they found refugees and fugitives from both sides taking advantage of their hard-earned resources. Despite productive high-altitude agriculture and selective routes of trade, the years of raiding and harsh realities of their environment, the settlement finally fell to a brutal, coordinated attack from the Eorzeans. Ellaria and her younger brother Veren survived the flames to journey south, to start over in civilization proper. However, Veren had always been a frail young man, and did not survive the journey, leaving Ellaria truly alone, with no ties to her past, save for a borderline unhealthy obsession with frugality-- brutal efficiency in words, actions, and emotions. After all, weakness only leads to more blood in the snow.
Hooks
Means of Approach
Rare Peace: Ellaria find peace in the patience of tending her herb and vegetable garden deep in the Coerthan Lowlands. While she's quiet about this singular hobby, it's one of the few topics she will speak about at length if brought up.
More than a job: Bartending began as a job of desperation on her trek down from the mountains. However, she's found it to be an outlet for creativity. Ask her to go off-script at the bar and see what happens.
Dark Cloud: Ellaria has a pervasive melancholy about her. When not actively engaged, she can be spotted staring, forlorn, out into nothingness. Those who enjoy a true challenge may dare to find out why. Is it a ghost from the past? Or a future stolen from her?
Specialist: While the market for bodyguards perhaps oversaturated, Ellaria has carved out a specific niche for herself guarding the best trade routes in and out of Ishgard. Her intimate knowledge of the terrain and brutal instincts have earned her some renown.
