Hello! I'm Gemma

Name: Gemma
Age: 28 (2.0), 34 (6.1)
Gender: Woman
Nameday: 22nd Sun of the 1st Astral Moon
Height: 5'5" (165cm)
Race: Hyur, Midlander
Body Type: Lean and slender, but strong
Personality: Compassionate, elegant, loyal, selfless, graceful, resilient, polite, gentle, motherly
Interests: Crafting, botany, astrology, writing letters, reading
Job: DRG / Dragoon
Deity: Halone, the Fury
Closest Companions: Hades, Hythlodaeus, Themis, Aymeric, Estinien, Thancred, Y'shtola, Edmont, the twins

Gemma was born in the outskirts of Gridania to her parents, Cora and Arnis. Her parents make a living as traveling merchants, and so she journeyed with them all over Eorzea until she began her own adventuring. That future desire for wandering and adventuring blossomed from all the cultures and people she interacted with in those travels. As an only child and never really having a place to call home, Gemma often kept to herself. Despite this, she was always kind and empathetic with anyone she would meet. Such compassion was apparent even as a child when her mother read her stories about the Dragonsong War. She always wondered why man and dragon couldn't coexist together, so her dream since childhood was to become a dragoon knight and fight for a future where she could fly side by side in the skies with dragons. When she was 23, Dalamud fell upon Eorzea. Seeing how changed the world became after the catastrophic event, she decided to part from her parents to carve her own path to aid the people of Eorzea, spending most of her days in the forests of the Shroud while honing her combat skills at the lancer's guild.

Gemma joins the Scions of the Seventh Dawn at the age of 28 when the threat of the primals becomes something she cannot ignore. She slowly opens up to her newfound allies, particularly finding someone akin to a sister in Minfilia, a reliable friend in Y'shtola, and a blooming curiosity for the charms of Thancred. When tasked to find the defecting Azure Dragoon during her travels in Coerthas, the eye of Nidhogg speaks to Gemma in a twist of fate, much to the shock of her future dear friend and comrade, Estinien. She begins her formal training as a dragoon with Alberic, eventually earning the title of Azure Dragoon shortly before the events of Operation: Archon. With the beginning of the new Astral Era, new alliances are formed, but Gemma can sense something amiss with the formation of the Crystal Braves. Her caution continues when she meets Aymeric, the Lord Commander of Ishgard, but her concerns are quickly quelled with his obvious passion for the well-being of his city. Unfortunately, this was not the case for all of her newfound allies...

The betrayal and tragedies at the Bloody Banquet deeply traumatized Gemma, fleeing to the city of Ishgard for refuge with Alphinaud and Tataru. Now nearing her 30s, never has she felt more alone and hopeless with the absence of many of her comrades in a place where she would be treated as an outsider. But the warmness of her new allies - Aymeric, Estinien, Ysayle, Haurchefant, and the entire Fortemps family - revitalize that spark within her to fight for this nation's freedom from the shackles of a false faith that would continue the war between man and wyrm. And after the defeat of the primal King Thordan, Gemma realizes she may yet have found a place to call home with her affections for a certain Lord Commander blossoming. With their determination to bring peace, they work together to end Nidhogg's bloody war against Ishgard, freeing their comrade, Estinien, from the wyrm's hold. Gemma has become the Savior of Ishgard, and it was she who completely enamored Aymeric, their affections for one another at last reciprocated after a fateful dinner together. Unfortunately, their blossoming relationship would go through many trials with the challenges to come.

Though many allies have returned, so many more are lost. Haurchefant, Ysayle, Minfilia, Papalymo - but still, Gemma carries on with resolve. A year and a half has passed since the Bloody Banquet, and Gemma is 31 when she first arrives in Rhalgr's Reach. Her confidence is shattered when she faces the terrifying Zenos yae Galvus in combat during a surprise attack against the Resistance. To challenge Garlemald, a plan is crafted to fight the war on two fronts in both Doma and Ala Mhigo. The journey to Othard will be the longest Gemma is away from Aymeric since their relationship began, and so they share as much time as they can together before she departs across the sea. Their plan is a success when they liberate both Doma and Ala Mhigo, but the rumors of the Garlean prince returning from the dead weighs heavily on her mind. And when the Scions are "called" away one by one, their souls all but gone from their bodies, Gemma is determined to bring them back. During her recovery in Ishgard from the Ghimlyt Dark, she and Aymeric share a promise with the offering of his mother's engagement ring before her life changing journey to the First.

Gemma is 32 plus some moons when she arrives in the First and meets the Ascian, Emet-Selch. From the moment she first sensed his presence, she'd felt a strange pull at her chest as though her soul were reaching out towards the Ascian. Yet why, she could not understand at first. But as she continued to kill the Lightwardens of the First, she only felt herself more drawn to him. And the pieces slowly began to come together - a world long ago now forgotten, the origin of both Hydaelyn and Zodiark, and the sundering of their very souls. The realization that she was once the unsundered soul of his soulmate, now his enemy, is a bitter twist of fate. Yet their goals would never align, and she could not remember who she once was, much to his anger. And so he pushed her to fight him as Hades, both their titles cast aside, where one would become the victor and the other the villain. But in his final moments after his defeat, he bid her to remember them with a whisper of the true name of her unsundered soul. And in a flash, all the memories of her life with him came back in a rush. Their happiness. Their partnership. Their love. But it was too late, for he dissipated in her arms to the aetherial sea.

Who was she truly? Was she Gemma? Or was she Persephone? The memories that felt like they were both hers and not hers plagued her mind. She was wrought with grief and mourned Hades, but none of her comrades could understand why. It was Thancred she turned to at her lowest point, her trust all but crushed from what Urianger and the Exarch had planned. The torture from the absorption of the light was something that still haunted her. Elidibus is her enemy now, and she can only somberly think of what she would have to do. Forced to kill the last of the unsundered, she nearly gives herself over to her inevitable death until the invocation of a sunset hued crystal gives form to Hades. "Herein I commit the chronicle of the traveler. Shepherd to the stars in the dark. Though the world be sundered and our souls set adrift, where you walk, my dearest, fate shall surely follow. For yours is the Fourteenth seat - the seat of Azem." And so she will always remember, for he entrusted the star to them in his final moments. After they successfully return home to the Source, it is Aymeric she opens up to about the events of the First. If anyone could understand her grief and confusion over her identity, it was he.

Six months on the Source have passed since she journeyed to the First, and with the Final Days looming, Gemma travels with the Scions to Sharlayan in search of the answers on how to stop the coming calamity. On her journey, she speaks with a ghostly figure of a woman in white who rings very familiar to her. It is Hydaelyn that bestows upon her a gift - a bright bloom that will guide Gemma on her journey. In her travels through Sharlayan, Thavnair, Garlemald, and Mare Lamentorum, she finds the flower blooming a different hue with the array of emotions she experiences. Joy, friendship, acceptance, and gratitude. But Fandaniel's plans come to fruition when he takes the place of Zodiark's heart, forcing her to strike down the weakened ancient primal. The Final Days were upon them now, Zodiark's power in stagnating the corruption lost with his defeat. With Thavnair burning from the horrors of the calamity, she has to find the answers within the "Elpis" bloom. She speaks to Elidibus in the Crystal Tower of the First, and in recognition of the bloom's name, bids her to travel to the past unsundered world to find the gentle Hermes. But it was not just he who she would cross paths with.

Gemma's time with Hades and Hythlodaeus in Elpis is hauntingly familiar, just like the memories of Persephone she held. Her true identity is revealed when she meets Venat, and the pain in Hades's heart when he realizes that she was the sundered soul of his love brought immense sorrow to them both. Still, the four of them work together to reveal the root of the Final Days, but not before Hades and Hythlodaeus's memories are wiped. "Do not squander it. The legacy I leave you." Once again, Hades entrusts the fate of the star to her. After an honest parting from Venat in the aetherial sea, Gemma travels to Ultima Thule to confront Meteion. All the Scions are gone, carving a path for her to the bringer of despair, but she is not alone. With the invocation of Azem, she calls for Hades and Hythlodaeus, half faded but with their memories restored. A field of Elpis blooms is the key to their final confrontation, and she must say goodbye to the two souls. For the first time, Gemma and Hades truly know one another in this moment, and their final emotional parting is full of acceptance and love. A song of hope is taught to Meteion, and with the Final Days averted, Gemma returns to Etheirys with newfound resolve.

For the first time in so long, Gemma is finally at peace with herself - she no longer feels like she's living in the shadow of her Ancient soul, able to live her life for herself now, but will always keep close the precious memories she has of the time when the world was unsundered. She receives ample rest in Ishgard from her injuries at the battle in Ultima Thule, and soon knows exactly what she wishes for after overcoming despair and saving Etheirys from the Final Days. After a long engagement, not knowing if they would survive the calamity, she desires nothing more than to finally marry Aymeric. They have a beautiful ceremony in Ishgard with their friends and family, and she semi-retires to spend some much needed relaxation with her now husband. She gets back into her hobbies she's neglected for so long - with her natural green thumb, she plants an array of herbs and flowers at the Borel manor. But she never forgets the promise she made to herself. After temporarily leaving Ishgard in Lucia's ever responsible hands, she and Aymeric embark on an adventure to travel together across Etheirys for many more moons. Hades left her with quite the long list of places to discover, after all...

Other Names: Azem of the Convocation of Fourteen
Age: ??? (has the appearance around the age of 30)
Gender: Woman
Height: Ancient equivalent of 5'11" (180cm)
Race: Ancient
Body Type: Hourglass figure
Personality: Fiery, passionate, carefree, flirty, whimsical, stubborn, vibrant, shrewd
Interests: Sparring, dancing, botany, playing instruments, collecting trinkets, creating obscure concepts
Job: Sorceress / All-Rounder (her main jobs are the Ancient equivalent of SMN, LNC, WAR, and WHM)
Closest Companions: Hades, Hythlodaeus, Venat, Themis, her traveling companions from all over Etheirys

If there was a soul more bright than Persephone, then they would be a challenge to find. Born in Amaurot, she's an odd soul that doesn't quite fit in with Amaurotine society. Full of wit, passion, fire, and whimsy, she makes her mark upon everyone she meets. Whether that impression is good or bad depends on the soul. She cannot be shackled to one place, desiring to explore every inch of Etheirys and wander aimlessly to her heart's content. That passion is conveyed in every part of her life, her stubbornness often hitting the nerves of more traditional souls. She always sticks strongly to her convictions and intensely fights for what she believes is right. Growing up, she was constantly surrounded by circles of friends as it was simply in her nature to befriend all she met. Even with a single bright "Hello!", she would enrapture the hearts of every soul. Sometimes there were concerns from Amaurotines about their children adopting some of her more unorthodox ideas or traits, but Persephone never minded the negative musings. Often times, she would even win them over with her passion and love for their star, even if it was conveyed differently than what society deemed normal.

Persephone enrolled at the Akadaemia Anyder at the insistence of her family. While sitting in a hall studying the books was far from her preferred way of learning, she would not deny that the talented scholars would open her eyes to many new ideas and concepts about their star. Particularly, she begins to work under her mentor Venat, a knowledgeable scholar she met in her travels holding the seat of Azem in the Convocation of Fourteen. She becomes quick friends with Hythlodaeus in her classes, the duo becoming tied to the hip full of unmatched energy. Persephone also has a chance encounter with the surly Hades outside the Akadaemia, and their connection is immediate, even if neither necessarily see it yet. He is also the closest friend of Hythlodaeus, who hadn't introduced the two yet. The three become best friends that spend every moment together, from then until the rest of their days. Though Hades would grumble his irritations with their antics, she knows deep down how much they mean to him. He always answers her invocation's call, after all.

There is a rare but special partnership some few privileged Ancient souls experience called soul bonding. Though the phenomenon puzzles even the most knowledgeable scholars of Etheirys, it is an undeniable bond that's born of the purest love, respect, and adoration. Their souls would reach out to one another in a warm embrace, coalescing together to share each other's emotions and experiences in the most beautiful way. It is believed that this love transcends time itself. Persephone and Hades are two such souls that finally understand this tug at their souls after Hades ascends to the seat of Emet-Selch. For many years did their love blossom, that admiration for each other's differences and strengths flourishing akin to a beautiful bloom. For Persephone, it was his compassion for their star and his sentimental heart that drew her to him. As for Hades, he fell in love with the brightness of her soul and her strong convictions. He now wears one of her signature earrings, each bearing one of the pair for their newfound partnership. To say the least, Hythlodaeus is not shocked at all by these turn of events.

With Venat choosing to step down from the seat of Azem, the Convocation of Fourteen unanimously elect Persephone to the esteemed group of leaders. The Fourteenth seat is the most unique of the Convocation - instead of remaining in Amaurot to work at the Capital, Azem would travel the star to gain intimate knowledge. The counselor to the people and the world. The Shepherd to the Stars. Persephone was a perfect fit for the role, and she accepts the seat with determination to make their star a better place. As expected, she challenges the other members over their more traditional solutions, often choosing to solve matters herself with her comrades around the star instead of involving the Convocation. She will quarrel with Lahabrea in particular, both getting on each other's nerves with their strong but differing personalities. But with others, she forms even more bonds of friendship and respect. She grows fond of Themis, the Emissary of the Convocation and holder of the seat of Elidibus, and finds someone akin to a little brother she never had in him. But in her time as Azem, she notices a subtle change within Hades as he completely devotes himself to his own Convocation duties...

A calamity that would be called the Final Days befalls their star and spreads all across the lands. The Convocation of Fourteen tries to find a solution to the catastrophe in Amaurot while Persephone travels Etheirys to gather any information she can. She fights with all her strength to protect the people, but the calamity spreads quickly through the negative emotions twisting their magicks to create beasts of nightmares. Despite all their efforts, no one can find the root of the spread. A plan is formed to summon a being of immense power to rewrite the laws of the land, and Persephone is vehemently against it when she realizes how many people would sacrifice themselves for the summoning. But the Final Days reaches Amaurot, and still she refuses to participate in the summoning. She implores Hades to reconsider, but he's made up his mind to side with the Convocation. Zodiark is born, and Persephone is wrought with grief at the loss of so many lives - including Hythlodaeus. She resigns from the seat of Azem and plans to leave Amaurot, but not before one final meeting with Hades who begs her to stay by his side. Yet their tears and pain would not sway her, and she leaves her love behind, vanishing in the night.

Persephone has wandered the star for many years after the Final Days were averted. Venat finds her one day watching the city from afar, and the two speak for the first time in so long. But before Venat leaves, she speaks cryptically, telling the young mentee: "Save Emet-Selch." Remembering how Venat's followers approached her to participate in another summoning, Persephone rushes to Amaurot when she realizes what is about to happen. She finds Hades and begs him to escape into the tear Venat spoke about. But he is at a loss and can't understand the urgency of her words - the love of his life who'd left him, harbored so much sorrow and anger over, had returned to him. A summoning begins over Amaurot, and Hydaelyn deals her devastating blow to Zodiark that would sunder the world. Persephone forces Hades into the tear with Lahabrea and Themis who are nearby, and they end up in the void. With grief, they look upon their star and people sundered into shards. But Persephone did not survive the devastation, and in her last moments held within the arms of Hades, shatters into fourteen shards after bidding him to remember her.

Casual

Main Hand: None
Head: Thavnairian Ribbon (Optional)
Body: YoRHa Type-55 Jacket of Maiming (Dark Blue)
Hands: None
Legs: Falconer's Bottoms (Slate Grey)
Feet: High House Boots

Elpis

Main Hand: None
Head: None
Body: Sophist's Robe
Hands: None
Legs: Sophist's Podea
Feet: Sophist's Hupodema

Post Endwalker

Main Hand: None
Head: Thavnairian Ribbon (Optional)
Body: Asphodelos Himation of Maiming (Dark Blue)
Hands: None
Legs: Mheg Deaca Bottoms (Ash Grey)
Feet: YoRHa Type-55 Thighboots of Maiming

Winter

Main Hand: None
Head: Thavnairian Ribbon (Optional)
Body: Darbar Coat of Healing (Ice Blue)
Hands: Antiquated Orison Fingerless Gloves
Legs: Theophany Skirt (Ice Blue)
Feet: Idealized Ebers Thighboots (Pure White)

Post Endwalker AU

Blue Dress

PAJAMAS

ISLAND CASUAL

Formal Gown

Fall Dress

Pre A Realm Reborn

Main Hand: Wyvern Spear
Head: None
Body: Hyuran Chemisette (Midnight Blue)
Hands: Hyuran Halfgloves (Jet Black)
Legs: Felt Kecks (Soot Black)
Feet: Hyuran Longboots (Jet Black)

A Realm Reborn

Main Hand: Gae Bolg Animus
Head: Legacy Warrior Coronet (Snow White)
Body: Wyrm’s Mail, no stomach window
Hands: Wyrm’s Gauntlets
Legs: Wyrm’s Breeches
Feet: Wyrm’s Greaves

Heavensward

Main Hand: Areadbhar Lux (Ink Blue)
Head: Yafaemi Circlet of Maiming
Body: High Allagan Cuirass of Maiming (Dark Blue)
Hands: High Allagan Gauntlets of Maiming (Dark Blue)
Legs: Augmented Shire Pathfinder’s Hose (Ink Blue)
Feet: Midan Boots of Maiming (Dark Blue)

Stormblood

Main Hand: Areadbhar Lux (Metallic Silver)
Head: Omicron Circlet of Maiming
Body: Elemental Armor of Maiming +1 (Pearl White)
Hands: Edengate Gauntlets of Maiming
Legs: True Linen Breeches of Maiming
Feet: Edengate Greaves of Maiming

Shadowbringers

Main Hand: Gae Bolg Ultima
Head: Exarchic Circlet of Maiming (Void Blue)
Body: Idealized Pteroslaver Mail (Dark Blue)
Hands: Facet Gauntlets of Maiming (Dark Blue)
Legs: Augmented Drachen Breeches (Dark Blue)
Feet: Replica Dreadwyrm Greaves of Maiming (Dark Blue)

Endwalker

Main Hand: Gae Bolg Ultima
Head: Exarchic Circlet of Maiming (Void Blue)
Body: Tiamat Mail
Hands: Tiamat Gauntlets
Legs: Tiamat Trousers
Feet: Tiamat Greaves

Azem

Head: None
Body: Sophist's Robe, black mask
Hands: None
Legs: Sophist's Podea
Feet: Sophist's Hupodema

Amaurotine

Head: None
Body: Sophist's Robe, white mask
Hands: None
Legs: Sophist's Podea
Feet: Sophist's Hupodema

Traveler V1

Head: None
Body: Obsolete Android’s Cloak of Scouting (Dark Blue)
Hands: None
Legs: Taoist’s Slops (Soot Black)
Feet: Sophist’s Hupodema (Slate Grey)

Traveler V2

Outfit design by: @elorabrovodah

Ascian

Weapons

Soulbound
Warrior of Light/Emet-Selch
Rated M, 117k
Multi-Chapter (Finished)

Solace
Warrior of Light/Emet-Selch
Rated E
Multi-Chapter (Ongoing)

Taste So Sweet
Azem/Emet-Selch
Rated T, 2.8k
One-Shot (Finished)

If I Lost You
Azem/Emet-Selch
Rated T, 2.9k
One-Shot (Finished)

Comes Animae
Azem/Emet-Selch
Rated M, 5.6k
One-Shot (Finished)

Inferno
Azem/Emet-Selch
Rated M, 14.1k
Multi-Chapter (Finished)

Angel's Hands
Warrior of Light/Aymeric
Rated T, 7.2k
One-Shot (Finished)

Longing
Warrior of Light/Aymeric
Rated T, 8.7k
One-Shot (Finished)