furious as a blaze, unyielding as the earth!
a flame blossoms to defy all odds.
In the forelands of Dravania, a lone woman sought solitude to nurture her miraculous child — a young miqo'te boy, born into the world gifted but ill-fated. A disastrous event caused by a once trusted companion would cost her all she had left to live for. The world would threaten to swallow them whole, but she refused to yield. With forbidden magick, the mother cast her child into the lifestream, so that he may live a life of freedom and hope.And freedom did he find, for the elementals had blessed him with a new breath, albeit at a cost. Now, he wanders in search of his home, his estranged family, and himself.His name is Hip Ehrlich.
BASIC DETAILS
name» Hip Ehrlich [M'heza Tia]
gender» trans male
race» Seeker of the Sun Miqo'te
age» 25
nameday» 1st sun of the 2nd umbral moon
height» 5'3"
sexuality» bisexual, polyamorous
profession» painter / conjurer
likes» flowers, insects and spiders, drawing, collecting rocks and gemstones
dislikes» the ocean, closed in spaces, books, violence
alignment» lawful neutral
other notable characteristics»
» cannot read or write aside from simple words
» tulip that grows from the top of his head
» three large gash scars on his neck
» owns a white knee tarantula named june
PERSONALITY
The resurgence of life spurred by his mother's conjury left Hip with an inability to express himself properly. His speech is often simplistic and a tad awkward or formal, and the effort to form meaningful bonds with others always seemed futile. As a result, Hip approaches life with a cynical nature — he cares little for his interactions with others.At a first meeting, Hip may come off as quiet or reserved, but to those close to him he is quite the opposite. Hip enjoys "toying" with people as he gets to know them, and will playfully offer snide remarks to those who pique his interest. However, he is also quick to dislike or distrust someone if they fall on his bad side. Despite this, his affinity to meddle with others is never driven by hatred or ill will.Although Hip tends to avoid people, he is not afraid of speaking his mind. He will give people his honest thoughts rather bluntly, and feels most comfortable among those who do the same.
PHYSICALITY
Although Hip is very small — well below the average height for males of his species, he is by no means weak or thin. he is fairly toned and has great stamina and high flexibility. In contrast to his warm mauve hair, his eyes shine a vibrant green color. His unkempt hair is normally tied back in a ponytail.For clothing and adornments, Hip tends to wear furs (especially around the collar) and feathers. He also likes brass or gold jewelry, particularly hooped earrings, a choker, and a small ring piercing on his left nipple. He always wears white facepaint underneath his eyes.Lastly, Hip is softspoken with a deep voice that can be quite soothing. He speaks in a very flat tone with no inflections, which contributes to how formal he comes off to others.
a mother's sacrifice - a resilient flame.
content warning: death, underage pregnancyHip's mother, Fema Ehrlich, was a hyur from Gridania once gifted by the elementals of the Black Shroud. His father, M'lekh Tia, hailed from Gyr Abania and left his tribe to explore the world and its wonders. The two had once settled in a village in the Shroud, until Fema abandoned Lekh, wishing to escape the influence of the Shroud's elementals. She traveled far to the Dravanian Forelands to raise her child on her own.Despite her solitude, Fema would eventually find new companionship with an Ishgardian elezen who claimed to also seek refuge from the clutches of the Congregation. They enjoyed each other's company in peace for some years, even nurturing a second child together, Iper Ladeau. However, this peace was short-lived. As suddenly as he had come, the elezen man seemed to strangely change overnight. He turned on Fema and their family, taking Hip and burying him alive. As morning came, their other baby was nowhere to be found.In a desperate effort to save her remaining child, Fema cast a spell that cast Hip's body and soul out from the lifestream, costing her her own life.Her aether warped and manifested into a resilient flame. Stalwart and devoted to its cause, this faint spark would risk all to breathe life and power into the young miqo'te.Hip would be born anew. A primal sprouting from the ashes.Now an orphan, Hip was taken in and raised by the residents of Tailfeather. He was quiet and aloof and it was difficult for him to get along with other children; he was no longer the energetic child he once was. However, Hip grew rather fond of the neighboring Vath tribe and often volunteered to help with their trade. On top of that, he was shown to have a natural talent for white magic like his mother.Once Hip had reached the age of 15, his caretakers decided he should travel to the Black Shroud and study under the guidance of the Conjurer's Guild. He agreed, for what else was there left for him here? None could make sense of him, nor could he himself. The peculiar flower that sat upon his head for as long as he knew, and her voice that only he could ever hear. This presence loomed over him constantly, telling him what to do, hurting his head.If there was anything he could do to escape her fire, he would chase it.But years of wandering led the miqo'te down dangerous paths and discoveries that he could not begin to understand. The world only brought him dissatisfactory answers to his questions. Without the guidance of his mother and father, his purpose was lost to him. The voice followed him wherever he went; but only amongst intimate company did her flame ever dim.So Hip chased it. He chased it until his body felt wretched, until he woke up sick each morning. Until his body morphed into something he couldn't stand to see. Anything to make that voice go away, and it worked. Hence forth did he wander alone, in the quiet of the forest.In his deepest depair did she finally return. Her light burned bright to guide little Hip, as was her purpose, Mach's purpose — to protect him and never let him suffer an untimely fate again. Sick and starving, he stumbled into an inn in a small village in Gridania. The bartender offered him to stay and rest there, but recognized the miqo'te's name when asking for it.Little M'heza, the baby who disappeared along with her mother one fateful night. Many years ago. Her father lived here; although a traveler, he always came back in hopes his child might one day be found.M'lekh was quickly alerted to his child's arrival, and the two were reunited; rather, meeting each other for the first time. It was soon revealed that Hip was with child, and M'lekh decided to stay and take care of him and the baby once it was born.Through his child, April, did Hip find his own purpose. And through M'lekh did he come to discover and understand himself. Now in his adulthood, Hip had one more lingering question...The voice in his head, the flame beneath his heart — who was she?In the coming years, Hip would eventually reunite with his brother, Iper Ladeau, who searched for him with the guidance of the Echo. Versed in arcane magic, he took an interest to Hip's unusual aether and set out to researching its properties in his spare time. The two naturally became close with their mutual interest in drawing and painting, and Hip was brought on as a partner in Iper's portraiture company, the Juniper Gallery.In the present, Hip resides with Iper in his Ul'dahn estate working as his assistant and producing artwork. As the two work towards understanding the primal, Mach, who lives within Hip, the miqo'te enjoys his solitary life with his daughter and his partners who he's met in the following years.
about the dude who wrote this crap
hip 🌷 he/him 🌷 pstany themes of racism, sexism, homophobia, or transphobia will not be tolerated, so please do not approach me with such topics in or out of character.i don't want to interact with anyone under the age of 21 (in or out of character).i separate ooc from ic, and i ask that you do the same. please let me know if something i do (whether in character or not) upsets you or makes you uncomfortable. roleplay is about both parties having fun after all.hip is multiship - any relationships made are in separate timelines. i am not actively looking for ic or ooc relationships. the former is ok if developed naturally and there is respect for my character's other bonds. if you want to be friends or chat just dmim just here to have fun pls dont be weird
Last 4 screenshots by Sun
companions
fema ehrlich» mother, deceased. formerly a padjal, stripped of her blessing and eventually abandoning the shroud to find solace with her child. hip has little memory of her due to the turbulence of her departure, but her sacrifice is the sole reason he breathes life today.
m'lekh tia» father. a miqo'te of the m tribe that travels the world for the thrill of adventure. wields an axe. though he has spent his entire life on the move - adventuring, exploring, searching - lekh had finally retired to a small village of the black shroud when he was reunited with his once lost son. as hip harbored a child of his own, his father taught him love and supported him in his transition.
iper ladeau» half brother, elezen. born in tailfeather alongside hip. now a rather eccentric portraitist with an interest in all types of magic, especially the arcane. once finally able to escape the influences of his father, iper settled in ul'dah and started a painting company with hip. once finishing his apprenticeship, hip has branched out onto his own ventures. but iper has gained much noteriety for his craft, and he never forgets to remind everyone about it.
april ehrlich» daughter. always happy and curious about the world around her. has a deep interest in gemstones and creepy crawlies, something she may have picked up from her father. and sparring... something she may have picked up from her adoptive mother. yokori always lets her win in a fight.
m'yaka heza» significant other. as a retired officer of the immortal flames and duelist in the gladiator's guild, yaka comes off rather shy and tends to keep to herself and her family unit. she helps hip with managing and marketing his painting business after having met him through his brother iper. through their shared ala mhigan roots did she quickly become someone hip felt he could trust, rely on, and relate to. she has since adopted april and takes care of her alongside hip.
mach» the flame. an eikon born from a soul from the second shard.
yokori waspria» significant other. a lieutenant of the maelstrom who wishes to right the wrongs of his past. specializes in black magic. his instinctive need to watch over others has humbled him, and taught him a lesson of trust that he had once failed to understand. yokori was the first person hip felt truly at home with, and he now shares an open relationship with him and sun. (not my oc, carrd)
sun ancariis» significant other. a gentle goldsmith with a penchant for arcane magic. his alluring appearance conceals a more mischeivous side of him. by strange fate did the two meet during the events of the calamity, and once again through their shared partner. underneath the surface the two are much more alike than it seems - and perhaps this is what draws them together. (not my oc, carrd)
kaisar tia» significant other. after being dragged through hell and back, the exiled nunh struggled to find his way in the streets of ul'dah. in the midst of his turmoil did he find solace in hip. the two quickly grew a deep love and trust for each other as kaisar treated april like his own daughter. and to hip, he was naturally not only his and yaka's lover, but their family. (not my oc)
tobias harlan» what if they were both bottoms? wip (not my oc)
hooks i guess...
tempered aura» from first glance, hip comes off as rather unassuming and harmless. but anyone that possesses a heightened ability to sense aether could detect the high density surrounding him from across a room. there is a peculiar air about him that may make one tempted to come closer.
flower boy» it's not often one sees a tulip sprouting upon someone's head... let alone, well, anything growing on a person really. as it comes with the territory, hip has gotten used to the strange looks he receives for it. but he is almost never prepared to answer the dreaded question of why it is there in the first place.
juniper gallery» having learned under his brother's wing, hip has made a name for himself in ul'dah as a painter. one may stumble upon his landscape works in the sapphire exchange, or even the collections of the more noble... with his symbol - a clef with four dots across the bottom - etched carefully into the corner. whenever about, hip makes sure to carry a sketchpad on his person, for whenever the inspiration strikes.
guardians of the forest» hip has a keen interest in insects and arachnids, perhaps partially due to his upbringing in tailfeather. as a child he felt an easier time connecting with the vath tribe than his own peers. wherever he goes, hip loves to collect and watch the bugs of the forest, and sometimes carries his pet tarantula, june along with him.
pacifism» hip would avoid a physical fight as much as possible. he would do his best to deescalate situations, and if it comes down to it, take the punches to prevent anything worse from happening.