Skala Heemora

"Am I free? Aye, I've always been free, and will be til sea swallows all!"A former pirate, Skala is a free spirit who loves all things adventure. She dreams of seeing all the wonders the world of Hydaelyn has to offer, and revels in the scraps and the detours she gets into along the way. Though she is mainly in it for freedom and adventure, Skala is always on the lookout for sparkling treasures and jewels that might crop up along the way. While she may see herself as a certified badass hardened from a life at sea, she has a few soft spots as well. In addition to shiny jewels, she also has a hidden sweet tooth she is sometimes compelled to indulge during her private time (or when in the presence of a few trusted friends).Age: In her mid 20s
Height: 6'3
Pronouns: She/Her
Orientation: Straight (bicurious)
Job: Machinist
World: Gilgamesh
Likes: Freedom, Adventure, Treasure, Machines, Meat, Liquor, Sweets
Dislikes: People who try to restrict the freedom of others

Bard

Though still an amateur, Skala has recently taken up the art of music! Though her favored instrument is the Cello, she is proficient in a few other instruments as well. If you see her, ask her to play a shanty or two!

Crafter

Growing up on the high seas, Skala found it necessary to develop certain skills. As a carpenter, she learned how to manage her ship when repairs became necessary, and as a goldsmith, she learned to appraise the true value of the jewels she recovered during her pirating endeavors, and avoid being deceived when attempting to sell them later. Then, after plundering a Garlean vessel and being awestruck by the technological wonders within, Skala become entranced by the idea of machines. Though her primary interest is in technology, Skala also developed skills in smithing and armory along the way.

Fisher

Skala has been proficient in fishing from a young age, beginning as a way to feed herself on the high seas. Though she often lacks the patience for it, Skala developed a fondness for the angler's art, and continues to practice it on occasion in her free time.

Bink's Brew

Skala also runs a restaurant on behalf of an old rival out of an old pirate ship! Come check it out Wednesdays at 7PM PST!

Sixth Astral Era, Year 1545

A Fateful Meeting
A Roegadyn woman by the name of Sunnswys arrives in the deserts of Gyr Abania. Her destination? The Drowned City of Skalla. Her goal? The pursuit of buried treasure. Instead, she finds a treasure of a different kind: her future husband, Dahn Heemora.Dahn is a Hellsguard Roegadyn, born and raised a monk of the Fist of Rhalgr. A stubborn man, his mission is to guard the entrance to the Drowned City. But the free-spirited adventurer Sunnswys would prove to be more than he bargained for.

Sixth Astral Era, Year 1552

Fall of the Fist
Dahn Heemora has perished. The tyrannical King of Ruin, Theodoric, in his infinite greed, has put an end to the monks of the Fist of Rhalgr. Heemora is survived by his three sons, Skar, Skrib, and Skodd, as well as his wife Sunnswys, pregnant with their fourth child. Amidst a terrible storm, the four prepare to flee the wrath of the mad king with aid of Sunnswys' old friend, D'navi, a pirate of the infamous crew, the Thorned Roses. Five years later, the mad king would be overthrown by his subjects, but they would find their freedom short-lived, as not long after they would be conquered by invaders from Garlemald, taking advantage of the nation's chaos.Amidst the storm, Skala is born. The daughter Sunnswys always wanted, named for the place that brought her and Dahn together. Tragically, she is born far smaller than expected, and shortly after Sunnswys perishes in the childbed. As the storm rages, D'navi and the newborn Skala and the brothers Heemora make their way to meet with the Thorned Roses, where their fate will be up to the dread pirate Lena Auclair.

Sixth Astral Era, Year 1563

The Times They Are A-Changin'
10 years later, Skala is now a young girl who's spent all her life reaving with the Thorned Roses. Having taken to the sea much better than her Hellsguard brothers, she elected to live with the pirates, while her brothers opted instead for a life on land after being dropped off at Vesper Bay.However, Skala's adventurous life at sea is suddenly overturned by Admiral Merlwyb's new decree: that piracy be outlawed in all La Noscean waters.The response from the Thorned Roses is one of outrage. While their captain Lena Auclair decides to continue her acts of piracy despite the Admiral's decree, D'navi chooses to leave the Thorned Roses for more profitable waters - namely, the Ruby Sea of Othard. While Skala is torn between her respect for her guardian D'navi and her friendship with the captain's son, Percy, she ultimately chooses to follow D'navi to the seas of Othard. Tragically, a few years later, D'navi perished in a skirmish with Garlean soldiers, leaving Skala alone with nothing but hatred and sorrow.

Seventh Astral Era

Dodging the Tithe
Since D'navi's passing, Skala has made a new life for herself as a pirate on the Ruby Sea. Having formed a crew of her own and become an expert at deceiving Garleans and Confederates alike, she has made a living smuggling people across these waters for a lesser tithe than the Confederates have, and guaranteed safety from the Garleans. Unfortunately, this life is upended after the installation of a new Doman viceroy: Yotsuyu goe Brutus. Outraged that the Confederacy has gone unchecked for so long, she declares all who pay the Tithe to be enemies of Garlemald. Even Skala would not continue to brave these waters under such circumstances, so she and her crew return at last to Eorzean waters. Not long after, however, Skala and her crew are captured by none other than the Admiral herself. Impressed by Skala's skills at sea, the Admiral gives her the rare offer of a position at the Grand Company of the Maelstrom. Skala does not entirely trust the Admiral, but seeing little choice, she accepts the offer, vowing to only raid vessels of the Garlean Empire in the future.

Seventh Umbral Era

A Storm of Blood
Thanks to her lifelong experience on the high seas, Skala is able to rise through the ranks of the Maelstrom relatively quickly. However, due to her blunt honesty and resistance to following orders, she also makes several enemies, and never truly adjusts to military life. But eventually, a tragedy strikes. Her eldest brother, Skar, ever eager to retake Ala Mhigo from the Empire, recklessly joins up with the Griffin to attack Baelsar's Wall, where he is swiftly killed. This battle forces the Eorzean Alliance to enter open war with the Garleans. As a member of the Maelstrom, Skala fights on the front lines building explosives, alongside her two surviving brothers fighting in the Ala Mhigan Resistance.This is a dark time for the Heemoras, as the grief for their fallen brother drives them in the fight against Garlemald. Having lost two people ot the Garleans now, Skala becomes focused on revenge, driven by her anger and bitterness.

Seventh Umbral Era

A Peaceful Life
While Skala remains embittered by her experiences, she finds her happiness again after being reunited with Percival, her childhood friend. Before long, they become close again, and reaffirm their bond, considering each other to be siblings. They soon have multiple other fateful encounters, meeting new friends and form other strong bonds. Skala is revitalized, but she is still unhappy in the Maelstrom. However, she finds it difficult to leave due to the circumstances of her joining. After winning a duel against a stubborn commanding officer, she is able regain her freedom and leave the Maelstrom once and for all.However, she finds herself lost. Piracy no longer seems sustainable, but she knows no other life. She is reunited with a retired old rival from when she was a child on the Ruby Sea. Binosuke (nicknamed "Bink") shares with her his dream to run a restaurant out of a boat. Amused, Skala agrees to help him, but he is killed by a heart attack just days before they were set to open.While uninterested in running a restaurant, Skala refuses to let Bink's dream die with him, and becomes the proprietor of the newly-opened Bink's Brew. Today she busies herself with running it, and while she held little interest in it at first, she finds it surprisingly fulfilling. However, the sea is always calling for Skala Heemora, and before long, she may have no choice but to answer...

Former Maelstrom Captain

After being recruited by the Admiral herself, Skala led an accomplished career as an officer of the Maelstrom, achieving the rank of Captain. Despite her accomplishments, her presence was a polarizing one among her colleagues. She often argued with the Admiral about how best to deal with matters such as the Sahagin, and her deterrants would call her names like "fish woman."Skala eventually took her leave of the Maelstrom after a climactic duel with one of her superiors, making her a free woman once more.

Ruby Sea Smuggler & Pirate

For a time, Skala made her living as a pirate and smuggler in the Ruby Sea. She would often smuggle people from Yanxia to Kugane and vice versa. If you're from around there, maybe you've heard tell of the nefarious Captain Skala and her merry band of pirates.

Ala Mhigan Family

Though Skala has little connection to the place herself, her father came from a long line of monks in service to the Fist of Rhalgr. They also have an odd history of strange birthmarks on their faces. In the modern day, the surviving members of the Heemora family have taken a prominent role as members of the Ala Mhigan Resistance.

Pell

A parrot Skala adopted as child, Pell has become Skala's constant companion. He loves eating crackers and playing with water.

Ulti

Many ride Chocobo, but Skala prefers an Elbst. After helping a struggling Sahagin Clutchmother give birth, she was gifted with a female Elbst who she decided to call Ulti. Ulti loves to swim and run around. Her main diet consists of kelp and meat.

Sertrout

Ever since Skala saved his life from a sea monster during a fishing trip gone awry, Sertrout has devoted himself to her service as a cabin boy. Since settling down with the Maelstrom, Skala has trusted him with the management of her assets while she is off on various voyages.

Job: Fisher
Birthplace: Aleport

Larkone

A former ninja of Doma, Larkone has sought for nothing since its fall save a master to serve. After Skala saved him from a misunderstanding with the Confederacy that could have cost him his life, he found in her the master he sought.

Job: Ninja
Birthplace: Doma

Dahn Heemora

A monk of the Fist of Rhalgr, Dahn was sworn to celibacy until the day he met Sunnswys. Together, they had four children, but due to the whims of the King of Ruin, he would not live to see the last...

Job: Monk
Birthplace: Ala Mhigo
Status: Deceased

Sunnswys

An adventurer to the core, Sunnswys' love for the sea never faded after she met Dahn. To him, she was always a pure soul, but her association with D'navi may suggest otherwise...

Job: ???
Birthplace: Limsa Lominsa
Status: Deceased

Skarnfhet Haemyra

The eldest son of Dahn and Sunnsys, Skar was still a monk in training when the king came down on the Fist of Rhalgr, though he insists he was "basically a full monk" at the time. After the loss of both his parents, Skar lost himself to anger, and decided to take on his family's ancestral Roegadyn name. Ever since Ala Mhigo fell to the Empire, his heart has yearned for vengeance. Thus, it should come as no surprise that when a certain Griffin came knocking, Skarnfhet Haemyra was there to answer the call.

Job: Monk
Birthplace: Ala Mhigo
Status: Deceased

Skribthubyr Haemyra

As the more level-headed brother, Skrib would often be the voice of reason to talk Skar down. But when the Griffin came knocking, and Skrib had a bad feeling, even Skar would not listen to his brother.
Ever since, he has coped with his grief by burying himself in his work, conducting alchemical experiments of dubious morality.
He has recently taken on his family's ancestral Roegadyn name, like his brother Skar before him.

Job: Red Mage, Alchemist
Birthplace: Ala Mhigo
Status: Alive

Skodd Heemora

The youngest of the brothers, Skodd was only a toddler the last time he saw Ala Mhigo, and can't recall either of his parents' faces. As a result, he does not blame Skala for the death of their mother, and is the only one of the three to show her true warmth.

Job: Paladin
Birthplace: Ala Mhigo
Status: Alive

Lena Auclair

Captain of the fearsome Thorned Roses, Lena is a ruthless pirate. After a failed attempt on the Admiral's life, she spent time in a cell, but due to her various connections has managed to secure an early release.

Job: Rogue
Birthplace: Ishgard
Status: Unknown

D'navi Relanah

The former Navigator of the Thorned Roses, D'navi was a woman of mystery who used the stars to navigate the seas. After the death of her old friend Sunnswys, D'navi decided to take on her daughter as a ward.D'navi shaped Skala's view of what it means to be a pirate. Despite having two perfectly functioning eyes, Skala started wearing an eyepatch in imitation of D'navi when she was young, and after she died, continued to in honor of her.

Job: Astrologian
Birthplace: Limsa Lominsa
Status: Deceased

Takagi

A Doman Samurai with a penchant for mischief, Takagi was exiled from his homeland, and when his would-be refuge in the Confederacy turned out not to be to his liking, he found himself hunted for a deserter. It was in such circumstances that he first met Skala Heemora, and promptly fell in love. Though his feelings were unrequited, he devoted himself to her service. He continued to serve her as a member of the Maelstrom, rising to the rank of Storm Lieutenant as her right-hand man.He eventually betrayed Skala to the Maelstrom in order to ensure his own freedom, a decision which has since paid off poorly for him. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Job: Samurai
Birthplace: Doma
Status: Unknown

Hook

An automaton built by Skala in order to impress the people at Garlond Ironworks into giving her a job, Hook took to calling her 'mother' and in turn Skala decided to treat her as she would a daughter. Her future is unknown.

Job: Pugilist
Birthplace: Empyreum
Status: Functioning

Percival Auclair

A close friend of Skala's since childhood, they often adventure together to this very day. Due to their close bond, they often think of each other as siblings.

Job: Dark Knight
Birthplace: Limsa Lominsa
Status: Alive

Skafos

Skala's ancient self. Originally assigned to the Bureau of the Architect in Amaurot for her experience with mechanical-type creations, she was later sent to Metabaseos Thalassai to help with a certain problem. While there, she fell in love with the study of the ocean, and later requested a transfer. After that, she continued to work diligently under the woman who would one day become her patron goddess, Llymlaen, until the advent of the Final Days...

Birthplace: Amaurot
Status: Sundered

Skott

Skala's counterpart on the First. A skilled blacksmith, Skott was exiled from his dwarven tribe after a terrible incident. As a result, he chose to abandon his beard and carve out a new life for himself sailing along the Kholusian Coast. With a crew of mighty Talos by his side, he soon garnered a reputation as the dread pirate Blackbeard.

Job: Warrior
Birthplace: Kholusia
Status: Alive

Sgarra

Skala's counterpart in the Thirteenth. A former airship pilot in the Red Wings, she defected after seeing what the Empire had become, choosing to lead the life of a Sky Pirate. After the Flood of Darkness, she became a powerful voidsent who answered to no one. At least, until she met her match in the self-proclaimed void queen Scáthach. Sgarra became her thrall and did her bidding until Scáthach met her demise at the hands of the Warrior of Light. Since then, Sgarra's whereabouts have been unknown.

Job: Voidsent
Birthplace: Baron
Status: Unknown

"Mistbeard"

In another life, when the Eighth Umbral Calamity occurred and the world fell under darkness, Skala's life took a darker turn. After the tragic death of her brother Skodd at the Ghimlyt Dark, Skala deserted the Maelstrom and donned the mantle of the dread pirate Mistbeard. She then returned to the Ruby Sea and ran a deadly campaign against the Garleans and the Confederacy both, before meeting her death at the hands of the bioweapon Black Rose.