Akiko (Ah - Key - Ko)
Akiko
Physical Description
Body Features
Akiko has dark black hair, kept straight to neck length. Her tail is long, covered in bright yellow scales and tipped with a long, pointed fin resembling a sunburst.
Facial Features
Akiko has almond shaped, light brown eyes. She has monolid eyes, a exceptionally rare feature Kornôgel and all but unheard of in Ys-Beneath-the-Waves.
Akiko has yellow fin-ears.
Apparel & Accessories
Akiko typically wears garments made of a crystal-silk/byssus blend, resembling the silk robes of her homeland and its neighbors. Her clothing is saffron with maroon accents on the sleeves, neck and Obi, which is tied tightly around her waist. A pink ribbon floats freely around her upper back, resembling a celestial rainment or a pair of wings bobbing in the water.
Specialized Equipment
Akiko uses a red Bo staff with silver tips.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Akiko claims to come from the land of Fusō, far to the East past the The Shifting Sands. As it is widely believed to be impossible to cross the desert, the veracity of Akiko's story is sometimes questioned. Some consider her to be an eccentric, her tales of the great cities of jade, the jungle temples of the Naga kingdom and the spice markets of Tenjiku passed off as a creation of an active storyteller. Others point to her wide and detailed knowledge of martial arts techniques, spices and languages as proof her stories are real. No one, including Akiko herself, knows if she came from across the Sands in Bedouar, or from another world entirely, the details becoming vague and dreamlike as a result through passing through the liminal space of deep Faerie.
Akiko, as far as she can recall, was once a religious adherent named Akihiro, who honed his skills through a dedication to martial arts and meditation in the mountains of his far-off island home. Akiko does not recall what prompted the monk to leave his monastery, setting forth on an arduous journey towards the setting sun, learning martial traditions from cultures he passed along the way. He was caught in a great sandstorm that lasted for days before stumbling into an oasis outside Iram of the Pillars
Akihiro quickly became an object of interest in Ubar, a result of his unusual appearance and mannerisms, eventually earning him the attention of a corrupt nobleman, who invited the monk to dine with him. Akihiro was disgusted by the man's treatment of his servants and slaves, especially towards the elderly Franceza. Akihiro vowed to release the man's slaves, returning to carry out his promise, but too late to save Franceza, who had been sold to a passing slaver caravan.
Franceza's trail brought the brash warrior to Pharos, but, outnumbered, Akihiro was defeated despite putting up a strong fight, thrown in chains into the bowels of a slaver ship bound for the North. As the ship neared the Armorican Peninsula, a great Wyldstorm arose and Akihiro managed to free himself, Franceza, and others to try and take back the ship. At the same time, the Beg-Sabrenn of the Marie-Morgane launched an attack on the ship as well, sinking it. Recognized as prisoners rather than crew, Akihiro and Franceza were given the chance to join the Marie-Morgane, transformed with the Oceansong. Akihiro was transformed into Akiko, who continues to live in the Beacon City, adapting to her new home.
Gender Identity
Akiko was originally known as Akihiro, but since joining the Marie-Morgane, has completely transitioned to a female identity as Akiko.
Sexuality
Akiko is asexual, typically avoiding sexual and romantic relationships. She is an object of desire for many of the Marie-Morgane, drawn to her elegance and charm, and she has amassed quite a large fanclub among the younger denizens of Ys.
Education
Akiko received a fairly robust education, first at her monastery, then on her journeys, training with a wide range of peoples between Fusō and Ker-Ys. She is considered on of the most well-rounded, unorthodox and trained fighters in Ys, but she is also skilled at poetry, calligraphy and botany.
Employment
Despite her martial prowess, Akiko has chosen a path of peace since her ordeal, and does not belong to the Beg-Sabrenn or the Merrow, despite both groups clamouring for her. Instead, she opened a small tea-shop and meditation center on Gardenhill. The challenges of creating tea in her underwater environment has proven a challenge, but she has risen to the occasion and her shop has become one of the most popular places in the Beacon City.
From time to time, she will train other Marie-Morgane in the arts of self-defense in special classes and on an informal basis. She is a part of the reserve and has risen to defend her new home from outside threats, maintaining her fighter's edge to make her one of the most formidable warriors in the city,
Intellectual Characteristics
Once a hot-headed fighter, Akiko has taken on a more relaxed, contemplative attitude since becoming a Marie-Morgane, maintaining a stoic elegance that has made her one of the most popular individuals on Gardenhill.
Relationships
Commonalities & Shared Interests
Ailinor has attached herself to Akiko, along with Aisha and Rozenn as part of an informal philosophical/theological discussion group that meets in Akiko's teashop.
History
Along with Ailinor and Rozenn, Akiko and Aisha are members of a philosophical debate circle that regularly meets in Akiko's tea shop.
Current Location
Species
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Gardenhill
Pronouns
She/Her
Sex
Female
Gender
Woman
Presentation
Feminine
Eyes
Brown
Hair
Dark black, neck length
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