CEYLON DASADAYA

/kēˈlin/

RACE // au ra

ETHNICITY // raen

PRONOUNS // he/him

GENDER // transmasculine

AGE // 30

CLASS // pct / rpr

Not unlike the depths of the ocean he hails from, Ceylon’s surface hides well the void underneath. Charismatic, friendly, enthusiastic, and harmless — it’s hard not to want to take him in, isn’t it? He's good company, and knows how to have fun. He's a great time at a social function, if a little unaware of his own limits, at times. Ceylon gets by on social capital, and he's always looking to trade up.Just beneath the surface… he's not quite as simple as he'd lead others to believe. You’d never know his choices damned his village. Ceylon fled home almost nine years ago, running from the consequences of his actions. Above all else, he just wants to live. What’s so wrong about that?Lying is the one thing he's good at. Vain, impulsive, deceitful, and unstable — he manipulates others habitually, unable to decide between his authentic self and what he knows keeps him safe. Being small and unassuming makes others more inclined to protect him, and he's always been an opportunist by nature, trading away bits and pieces of himself for whatever selfish desires happen to come over him.He doesn't want to die.

I use PlayerSync, and will not use Lightless due to concerns with their use of generative AI and user security.

♡
he/him || they/them
21+
transmasc lesbian, social worker, osdd system, mizrahi

art by me (@somekh)

You can call me Zeke or Ekh - either one's fine! I'm a venue owner, artist, writer, fursuiter, cat dad, and graphic designer. I've been roleplaying in FFXIV since 2015 and in general since 2010. I work full time as a social worker in the substance use and co-occurring mental health field.NOTE // ACAB, Land Back, free Palestine, fuck AI, and punch nazis. These are an assortment of some of the things I believe. If you're not up for me being loudly political, we aren't going to get along, period. No "buts". Do not interact with me if you use generative AI.If you think that you can be "apolitical" in fandom, read this article before you talk to me.Also, I write a webcomic!
And I run a FFXIV RP server and accompanying ARPG!To contact me for RP, please join the Discord server linked above! I am not good at answering DMs!

ceylon sometimes does fuck. if you want information on his adult activities (incl. appearance), or if you want to use his reckless hookup habits as a hook, he does have a profile on that funny horny website that starts with an f. you can find him there if you want to, either by name or in the search function.

DESCRIPTION

Ceylon is a raen of moderate stature; he stands slightly taller than the tallest women of his kind, and slightly below that of the smallest men. His hair is a slight off-white with blues on the underside, and his skin is seafoam pale. He has a gymnast's build; dexterous and athletic, but certainly not strong.He speaks with a slight accent, but it's entirely unidentifiable as any one thing; there are hints of Hingan, Thavnairian, common Eorzean, and others.The effects of his tempering are readily apparent: more scales than the average raen, more monstrous feet, and a fanned tail tip that's become a form of self-expression.

AETHER

Ceylon was once Tempered - or, at least, that's the common understanding of his condition. It's an aetheric imbalance towards water that's resulted in physical changes and behavioral issues. His aether is heavily aspected towards water.As of late, the hint of the Void has crept into Ceylon, attached to his shadow. He often glamours his scales, but when left uncovered, they show signs of corruption.

TRAITS

PROFICIENCIES

Magic, the Echo, deception and social manipulation. Ceylon is a liar through and through, but he rarely lets it be known.

FLAWS

Ceylon is a compulsory liar at times, even when there's little reason to be dishonest. He's also not very strong.

COMBAT

Ceylon uses a modified form of pictomancy using aetheroconductive ink as a focus. As of late, however, he's had most of his abilities involuntarily changed. Not unlike a reaper, he now has to learn to fight together with the voidsent in his shadow.

STATS // approximate

STRENGTH // ✦✧✧✧✧
Ceylon can hold his own against the average person, but would be hard pressed to overpower anyone.CONSTITUTION // ✧✧✧✧✧
Ceylon's constitution is entirely average. He's no more or less prone to or resistant against illness and injury than anyone else.DEXTERITY // ✦✦✧✧✧
A cut above the average person, Ceylon could be accurately described as "athletic". His reflexes aren't extraordinary, but he clearly has training.INTELLIGENCE // ✦✦✧✧✧
Ceylon is well-traveled, and well-read as a result. Years without work left him with time to spare learning about the world.WISDOM // ✦✦✦✧✧
If anything can be said to be a strength, it's Ceylon's quick thinking. He's far from superhuman, and has no formal education, but he's decent enough at quick decisions, and convincing excuses when he's caught in his lies.CHARISMA // ✦✦✦✦✦
It's hard to name anyone who outright dislikes Ceylon. If there's one skill he excels in, it's making himself sympathetic to just about anyone, in every situation. Even when he's not the victim, he still manages to garner sympathy.
_{Nobody hurts the little guy.}

art by @krekael

PERSONALITY & DEMEANOR

Ceylon is pleasant to be around, most of the time. Some find him to be impulsive, rude, and occasionally a little too forward, but he also knows how to be fun. He's great company for going out and spending time with, and he knows how to navigate social events with ease. Somehow, he gets away with causing trouble wherever he goes.

CONDITION // psychotic

Ceylon is prone to psychosis. During periods of heightened stress, Ceylon struggles to sleep, becomes irritable and agitated, makes reckless and impulsive decisions, internalizes false beliefs (often perceiving himself as persecuted unfairly by others), and experiences minor auditory and visual hallucinations.During these periods, his decisionmaking can still be informed and (somewhat) reasonable, but his demeanor clearly reflects that something is off-center. He comes across as especially sensitive, and more impulsive than usual.

CONDITION // dissociative

Ceylon's behavior sometimes swings to extremes. He slips easily between states of being, sharply compartmentalizing the parts of him that are selfish and carefree, and the parts of him that are attentive and sensitive. Being confronted and made to reconcile these can knock him significantly off-balance.Etheirys lacks the proper terminology or understanding of mental health to understand that Ceylon has a dissociative disorder. The closest would be OSDD-1A, in which Ceylon's different parts all identify themselves as the same individual, but exist in distinct states.

disclaimer: i am a mental health provider who often works specifically with this population please do not be weird about these please. psychosis is a real term for an actual symptom, not whatever sterotype the word "psychotic" brings to mind.

MISCELLANY

HEIGHT // 5'7"

WEIGHT // ~150lbs.

BUILD // athletic / swimmer's build

VOICECLAIM // Stevie Howie

NOTE: Ceylon typically speaks in a different tone than his natural voice. He pitches up, and speaks with a light, slightly whiny, slightly nasal tone typically. It's rare that he uses his natural speaking voice; it doesn't lend itself very well to the performance of who he wants to be seen as.

PLAYLIST // THE DROWNED CITY.

✧ MAIN THEME // Runaway - Stevie Howie
I'd let you in, but then I would have to show all my cards.✧ SECONDARY THEME // The Hearse - Matt Maeson
What was it like to feel in love?✧ TERTIARY THEME // Sweet Tooth- Scott Helman
I exploit my opportunities, some broken hearts, some cavities.

THEMES

✦ To what extent is someone accountable for accidents?✦ Does someone unpleasant deserve ill fortune?✦ How do you reconcile with a "good person" making consistently bad decisions?✦ How much tolerance can you afford to someone who's unstable and not wholly in control?✦ How do you tell the difference between love, obsession, infatuation, and other forms of attachment?

HOOKS // FOR ALL

ODD JOBS // past eight years

In the past eight years that Ceylon has been on the surface, he's traveled anywhere that the wind takes him. He fancied himself a vagabond, or a "traveler". To afford food and transportation, he took on odd jobs with just about anyone who needed it. Running out to do someone's errands, hunting and fishing requests, and deliveries were his specialties.

SOMETHING OF A WHORE // past eight years

Ceylon targeted men who he could persuade to give him things in return for sexual favors. Whether that was housing for a night or several, money to buy necessities, meals, repairing his clothes, or giving him a ride somewhere else. Ceylon didn't always make it clear that he had no plans to stick around.Eight years is a long time to travel. He's been across the entire star, just about, and he'd go anywhere he was offered a ride to, for just about any short-term trade offered. He doesn't remember all of the names or faces of the men he's taken advantage of, so it's not unlikely to stumble back across one of them, now that he's retreading old ground again.Not sure if your character is his type? Depending on what he could get out of it, Ceylon's standards are... easily malleable. For the right price, he'd play any part, for anyone who didn't identify as a woman.

ALLY AT THE CLUB // past eight years

Ceylon found most of his partners at bars, taverns, and other social gatherings. While he's never cared much for his own safety or dignity, he's always been quick to put himself between women who were clearly uncomfortable and another patron. "Hey girl, I've been looking everywhere for you" is a well-rehearsed intervention from Ceylon, and directing unwanted attention onto himself.Passing didn't make him forget what life was like before then. He's been in their shoes, and won't be a bystander. Maybe he's even stepped in when it was you, before.

VAGABOND'S CODE // past eight years

There's an unspoken code among travelers. Social rules to play by. You start to learn names, faces, and histories of the others like you. You travel together, sometimes. You watch out for each other, because not everyone on the open road is well-intentioned.If your character is or has been homeless before, maybe they've spent time with Ceylon. He's pleasant company and conversation, and never asks anything of fellow travelers.

DEALER'S FRIEND // past eight years

Ceylon is too much of a lightweight to have ever developed any sort of dependence. He doesn't seek substances out by intent. But... his lifestyle has led him to it, and he's never been one to turn them down, either. It made his circumstances more tolerable, at least.Those who trade in illicit substances might have sold to one of his "partners" before, or offered him some in exchange for his usual favors. Even if he doesn't recall you at first, surely you can jog his memory.

HOOKS // ASK FIRST

VOIDTOUCHED // present

Those with sensitivity to the Void might recognize a kindred spirit. It wasn't by intent, nor does he want to be pacted, but Ceylon has recently made a bond with a voidsent. The voidsent that lurks in his shadow is of no repute, having been only recently turned, and is not of significant strength, either.Ceylon hasn't quite learned to navigate their relationship. Maybe you can tell that he hasn't learned how to stem the hunger, just yet.

BEFORE (AGE 1-22)

✦

Ceylon's backstory involves elements from a homebrewed setting created for a Free Company plotline. It asks for a higher degree of suspension of disbelief, but is entirely optional. Ceylon is unlikely to mention any of this in passing; additionally, Ceylon's home is likely to only be known by characters based in Thavnair.

Ceylon was born somewhere far from here. He's not terribly open about his history, and avoids discussing it where he can, but the way it's twisted him is hard to ignore.22 years under the surface of the ocean, deeper down than light can reach. He spent his youth as someone who no longer exists.Once, he was trusted to be a guardian of his beloved village. He was relied on by others, skilled with foraging and salvaging, talented with magic and deft with a spear, and pleasant to be around. He was a lamplighter. He had a purpose, back then....It was an accident, really. He didn't mean to condemn the rest of them, but he didn't know what else to do. Accountability wasn't an option. Neither was returning what he stole, even if it was by mistake.The person he was died when he set foot on the surface for the first time.

AFTER (AGE 22-30)

✦

Ask to use this as a hook, but I'm likely to say yes. Ceylon has traveled just about everywhere; if your character was involved in the same kind of circles as him, then it's not unlikely they've crossed paths. Maybe Ceylon even broke their heart once.

He was never really good with mundane things like holding down a stable job, or staying in one place (why would he, when he was running away?). To get by, Ceylon involved himself (perhaps irresponsibly) in what some called hookup culture... and did some normal gig work on the side.Some would call him homeless. He would call himself a traveler. His lack of work and housing was entirely voluntary. He didn't want to bother with the hassle that was carrying a coinpurse, and certainly didn't want to linger anywhere for longer than he had to. While he wasn't opposed to doing regular errands and side jobs, he much preferred to prey on lonely hearts and use his charisma to his advantage. He'd say men were especially easy, if you asked him.He crossed practically the whole star in the past eight turns, going from town to town and trading favors for transportation, food, shelter, and anything else he needed. The easiest route to get his way was to find the nearest tavern, and solicit whomever seemed most willing to trade what he wanted for company.Relying on his Echo to keep himself safe, Ceylon left a trail of broken hearts and bitter one night stands behind. He doesn't seem to regret any of it. Maybe he even stayed the night with your character, once, or hitched a ride to the next town over in exchange for a favor or two.

PREMONITION.

Ceylon's Echo does not give him visions of the future or past in the way that the Warrior of Light's Echo grants.Instead, Ceylon has an innate "danger sense" that does not offer him specific insights. Call it a gut feeling. Others would just call it anxiety. Just before disaster, Ceylon is known to get a "gut feeling" that something will go wrong. What exactly will happen is rarely anything within his purview.

WHEN EXPOSED TO WATER...

Ceylon is, however, capable of using his patron's abilities to force a true vision, if he submerges himself below the water's surface. This is less attributed to the Echo, and more akin to actual divination magic, but Ceylon himself is not exactly a skilled practitioner with either. Not enough to identify, at least, what the mechanics behind his own abilities are in any concrete way.

EYE CONTACT.

The Echo is that which breaks down the barriers between souls. Ceylon's takes this rather literally. While he does not experience visions of another individual's past or present, his Echo acts in other ways. Instead, it creates a rather literal bridge between two distinct individuals. The edges of his soul blur when in contact with another. With sustained eye contact, Ceylon gains the capacity to -

Hear another's thoughts. Feel another's emotions. Think the way they do.

The unfortunate drawback of the Echo that Ceylon bears is that a bridge can be travelled two ways. An individual making sustained eye contact with Ceylon is capable of hearing his thoughts, feeling his feelings, and understanding him... whether he wants them to or not._{If eye contact can be forced, he's helpless against it.}

ANDALIS.

Andalis was formerly an outpost in the Ruby Sea. A bubble near Sui-no-Sato. But that was four generations ago, before the current carried it away.Andalis came to rest at the bottom of the Sirensong Sea, off the coast of Thavnair. It drifted to rest in the Abyssopelagic zone; no sunlight reaches the depth where it settled.Few people visited Andalis from the outside. Connected by an aetherial flow to the surface, the raen of Andalis engaged in trade with Thavnair, but rarely ever left. Few knew enough about them to properly call out what was undeniably a cult.It once had a population of roughly 100 individuals. Only ten remain.

ECONOMY.

Andalis had no economy of its own. If a member of the village was in need of something, it would simply be supplied. Home repairs, clothing, medicine, childcare, and more were provided on the pretense that all people in Andalis contribute equally, and receive equally. They had no concept of class or poverty, and no concept of luxury.Andalis traded with Thavnair using the aetherial flow at the top of the tower in the center of the village. They imported rice, building materials, weaving materials, and occasionally spices from Thavnair.Some traders and residents of Thavnair have noticed their absence. The Andalisi were an infrequent presence, but their "missions" to the surface drew attention, at times. More than one raen from the surface nation was convinced to leave for the village in the deep, swayed by its promises.

THE OUTSIDE.

The people of Andalis were deeply distrustful of the outside world. They had no crime, no poverty, no war, no disease, no death, and no hate. They were proud of that. The world on the surface is a world full of pain and cruelty; they were taught that they would never be accepted outside of Andalis, and that there was no place for them in the world on the surface. Those who had left were framed as selfish, sadistic, and mentally damaged by the elders. The people of Andalis tended to take the elders at their word, and feared those who have left deeply.Andalis made use of cult tactics to discourage leaving. Its residents were not taught financial independence, social graces, or anything about the world on the surface. The horrors of the society we know were distant, frightening stories to the people there, who could not conceive of the idea of homelessness or leaving the ill and aging without care simply because they cannot afford it. Theft, murder, vandalism, and other crimes did not exist in Andalis either.Those on the surface were seen as having a capacity for violence that the people of Andalis believed they were without.

WHERE IT IS NOW.

Ceylon's absence damned Andalis to eight years without the blessing that allowed them to survive the ocean pressure. His Free Company attempted to intervene, but were too late.In the end, one of the people of Andalis chose to take matters into her own hands, and attempted to summon a voidsent to replace the village's guardian. In the end, she collapsed the dome. Nothing of Andalis remains except for eight survivors, and two exiles.

The guardian of Andalis. The corpse of an old wyrm, sank down into the deep. Ocean currents tend to guide things that fall into them to the same resting place; Andalis and Dayas fell near one another by coincidence. Not unlike their predecessor Midgardsormr, Dayas' spirit remained in its body, offering its blessing to the people of Andalis, allowing them to survive in a fashion not unlike the Kojin blessing borne by their kin in the Ruby Sea.The people of Andalis credited Dayas with may great feats. They claimed that Dayas gave them the dome that gave them life. They claimed that his power gave them their physical mutations, their magic, their food, and more.In truth, the most that Dayas could do was provide the blessing that allowed them to survive beneath the waves. He had no awareness of their actions, their society, their daily lives, or their culture. Dayas was long dead by the time that Andalis fell to the seafloor beside him. The lingering spirit in his eyes allowed him to interact in some limited ways, but not much.

… Ceylon didn't mean to take his soul with. He just looked a little too long. Stared too deep into Dayas' eyes. His Echo blurred the lines a little too much; he forgot where he ended and where Dayas began, and when he looked away, the piece he'd taken didn't return to where it came from. Afraid of what his village would do, and terrified of death, he ran. He didn't know of any other way to take Dayas' soul back out, other than meeting his demise.Spirit divided between his own body and Ceylon's, Dayas' vulnerable corpse became host to a voidsent summoned by one of the Andalisi, desperate for their protector's blessing. In Ceylon's absence, what remained of Dayas' spirit was corrupted, his body reanimated, and his strength sapped.Ceylon's Free Company helped to free Dayas, but not before Dayas was corrupted entirely. All that remains is a weakened, common voidsent. It and Ceylon have formed something akin to a pact.