About
nickname: A'po
tribe: Keeper of the Moon
patron deity: Rhalgr
job: Paladin, Dark Knight, Red Mage, anything with swords
sexuality: cismale, gray-asexual, married!
age: 22 in ARR, 30 in EW
nameday: 10th Sun, 6th Umbral Moon (Dec.10, Sagittarius)
height: 172 cm (~5'8")
build: functional muscle, most bulk in chest, arms, and core; medium fat mass
physical features:
Conventionally handsome face. Black fur/hair with creamy-white sections of fringe.
Unusually stubby, short ears; Very long tail with long wavy fur.
His right ear is all white and the tip of his tail is white. (as of post-SHB)
His right arm is a mechanical prosthetic. When not wearing it, the arm ends mid-bicep. (as of post-EW)
Scars: large lateral scar on right waist, stab scar near left clavicle, vertical cut across left side of lips, cuts and scratches on arms and shoulders, callouses and small cuts on hands.
Carries himself like a solider, straight posture.
Skin is sun-toasted, cheeks have a natural light flush.
His temperature runs high and he's accustomed to heat.
booba warm and soft
strengths: strong/skilled in battle, financial management skills, steady under pressure, loyal, straightforward, good with animals and plants, strong moral compass, good personal hygiene, articulate writer
weaknesses: unskilled with magic/tech, prone to brooding and self-blaming, literal/gullible with trusted parties, avoidant of interpersonal issues, overly self-sacrificing/compliant, doesn't know how to hold back when sparring or playing, clumsy with cooking/housekeeping, overprotective to his own detriment
Story
Backstory
Sury'a Jhvaalha was born to a Keeper of the Moon group of poachers and bandits living in the Black Shroud. He was an unwanted pregnancy to his adventurous mother, and raising the kitten was a challenge with her unpredictable lifestyle. The tribe pressured her to get rid of him, and she had an idea of just how to do so. Having once saved the life of an Ala Mhigan refugee traveling through their turf, she drew upon the life debt that he owed her. She asked the man, Adalfarus, to adopt her kitten. Though trepidatious, he kept his word.Adalfarus renamed him (poorly mimicking the naming format of the Seekers of the Sun he was familiar with) to cut the boy's ties to the poachers, as was his mother's wish. He raised the kitten with an emphasis on etiquette, self-sufficiency, literacy, and financial wit.Now named A'pollo, he set out to become a gladiator when he was barely of age. Then, urged by curiosity surrounding his roots, he befriended an actual member of the local A tribe of miqo'te. Together they tried to investigate his past, only to reach a dead end in their inquiries. A'pollo became an adventurer for hire in Ul'dah, hoping to gain more connections and a new lead.
*The following will contain spoilers for the main story quests of FFXIV.
A Realm Reborn
A'pollo joined a free company led by the lalafell Desiderio Bolton, an avid researcher and A'pollo's close friend. The company helped him grow stronger and more confident until he was able to become a paladin. As he rose to prominence as an adventurer and had more opportunities to travel, he continued his search amongst the miqo'te of the Black Shroud. There, he met communities of poachers and bandits that were his most likely lead. They simply turned him away, telling him the woman he sought was dead.Dejected, A'pollo prepared to relocate once again. Despite Desiderio's attempt to stop him, A'pollo left the free company, but was promptly swept up by the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. He lost touch with his friend as his priorities shifted.By then, A'pollo had become acquainted with fellow Scion, Shen'a Yang. Together, they survived the encounter with the primal Ifrit, sparking a friendship that seemed like destiny. A'pollo wrote letters to Shen'a when they were apart, and felt closer to him every time they were together. Days before the Scions' confrontation with the Ultima Weapon, A'pollo wrote a long letter to Shen'a. The new lovers triumphed over their greatest enemy yet. A'pollo took up an apprentice role with the postmoogles and poured his heart into flower gardening. At Revenant's Toll, A'pollo took great pride in his work with the Crystal Braves, and becomes close friends with Alphinaud.
Heavensward
Reeling from the betrayal at the Sultana's banquet, A'pollo emotionally withdrew and spiraled into pessimism. He tried to keep those feelings to himself.While the Scions stayed at Fortemps Manor, A'pollo began to spend his nights taking up the art of the Dark Knight. Gradually, that lone vigilante justice effort devolved into a violent outlet for his bitterness; He was out of the manor most nights, returning low on sleep and hiding unexplained injuries. Shen'a, Alphinaud, and Tataru received lukewarm, distant treatment at best. His relationship with Shen'a was, in effect, over.After Haurchefant's death, A'pollo realized how little he had done to support Shen'a during their months in Ishgard, and vowed to change that. He showed up to share meals with the others, and began writing Shen'a letters again. Gradually, their relationship mended. Finally, A'pollo proposed.A'pollo was reunited with his friend Desiderio in Idyllshire. Struggling with the Scions' work relating to aetherology and planes, A'pollo focused instead on the restoration efforts in Ishgard.
Stormblood
A'pollo and Shen'a took up a series of somewhat rambunctious adventures, enjoying their engaged life by thrill-seeking.A'pollo met X'rhun Tia and took up red magic. Inspired by X'rhun's tales of the Ala Mhigan resistance, A'pollo was heartened when the Scions' travels took them east. Ala Mhigo was A'pollo's father's homeland. He developed a strong friendship with Lyse, relating to her issues of identity and disconnection from her origins. The liberation of Ala Mhigo and Doma was personal to A'pollo and Shen'a, for the same reasons.A'pollo was devastated when Shen'a was injured in their encounter with Zenos at Rhalgr's Reach. In his effort to turn his regrets to action, A'pollo gained a new ferociousness to his attitude. He had a noticeable gusto that he'd never had before.The Scions' victories made A'pollo happier than he had ever been.
Shadowbringers
When the Scions were summoned by the yet-unknown voice, Shen'a was among the last to go. A'pollo found himself utterly gutted with his fiance torn away from him so suddenly. It was Tataru who dragged him from his depression and led A'pollo to travel to the First. Once reunited with Shen'a, A'pollo had a breakdown over his dependency on Shen'a for a sense of purpose. He could not quite shake the anger he felt toward the Crystal Exarch, blaming him for their separation. In time, he collected himself, resolving to become independently stronger.As the Scions defeated the Lightwardens, A'pollo's hair and fur began turning white with the flooding of light-aspected aether. His right ear stayed white permanently.A'pollo found himself shaken by the revelation that Hydaelyn was essentially a primal. It was a strange sort of fear, however, that culminated in the desperate wish to save Shen'a and the others no matter what happened to himself.Following the Scions' return to the Source, A'pollo knew that he had been thinking in unhealthy, twisted ways. He feared for his future with Shen'a. He made a solo pilgrimage, returning to places he had been on his journey, remembering words that shaped him. He spoke with Granson, Sidurgu, visited the graves of Haurchefant and Branden. He found a new wisdom in the resolve to live without his beloved, so that he may return to Shen'a no longer a broken man.During that pilgrimage, A'pollo had considered their engagement annulled; When he returned, he proposed to Shen'a anew (which made Shen'a a little angry).
Endwalker
A'pollo and Shen'a have their spring wedding at long last.Thavnair becomes a favorite region of his. There, he can show off his mercantile skills, and the land reminds him of his home in Ul'dah.Despite the sudden signs of the Final Days, A'pollo feels stronger than ever and ready to protect his world. For the first time in his life, he believes that he has a home: Etheirys, with his family, the Scions. Though he finds it hard to trust Hydaelyn anymore, he begins to warm again to her presence. Her Elpis flower especially enraptures him.Left alone in the far reaches of the heavens, A'pollo's fight with Zenos is wild and aggressive. Though he's done everything he could to deny it, his hatred for Zenos never stopped burning. That anger creates recklessness, and that allows Zenos to cut off A'pollo's sword arm. Without the limb, he finally defeats Zenos in desperate, bestial hand-to-hand combat. He is unconscious and reaching dangerous levels of blood loss when his body teleports back to the Scions.A'pollo experiences a deep depression without his arm. Without swordsmanship, he feels he has no purpose, no path. He withdraws to cope. As he heals, Cid presents him with an Ironworks bionic arm. A'pollo undergoes rehabilitation in hopes of a glorious return. As he spends time at home recovering and navigating his emotions, he takes up animal care as a new pastime.After moons of rehabilitation and training with his new arm, A'pollo finds joy in returning to his roots as an "adventurer," no longer a Scion. He helps others on the road, and spends more time at home with Shen'a whenever he can.No longer does he chase an identity that is anything other than himself; He considers himself just "Apollo"--the same name as the ancient that once held his soul along with its other shards, but also the name that his father gave him.
Gallery
ARTWORK BY ME
SCREENSHOTS
ARTWORK BY OTHERS
Contact
send a tell in game to A'pollo Dhalitso
message me on discord
Contact info on my hub carrd.
Format
Read on my OC hub carrd.
Lore
In his own story, A'pollo is one of two Warriors of Light, following the main scenario quests. He can also be headcanoned as a non-WoL Scion/adventurer, for compatibility purposes. I'm not too strict about it and I'm happy with having semi-AUs or having our characters just cameo in each other's worlds.
Shipping
A'pollo is married in his canon storyline and that relationship has been integral to much of his development beyond that due to the type of person he is. I am open to AUs, but it would take a bit of rewriting (which I am happy to do if I see character chemistry).Friendship and working relationships are easily doable and I love having little connections even if they're not super detailed!
Hooks & Connections
Bloodsands Pantheon: True fans will know that A'pollo started his career at age 17 as a gladiator with the ring name the Undercat--a somewhat condescending title given to the skinny young contender. Through his growing success (and growing muscles), the name became somewhat ironic. He would only obtain his new title, Rhalgr's Redeemer, after returning from the Ala Mhigan resistance front and winning the Ul Cup at age 26. Any frequent coliseum-goer is sure to know of him.Chocobo Caregiver: A'pollo is a passionate chocobo dad. He loves chocobos like one might love puppies, yet he has the high care standards fit for any professional racing or war chocobo. If your chocobo is well-loved, he will be glad to greet it and shower it with adoration (and perhaps an appropriate treat). If your chocobo is not well taken care of, he may have some stern words for its owner... Naturally, he would be delighted to introduce you to his battle-ready steed and most beloved partner, Corvus, a raven black chocobo.Hired Sword: At its core, A'pollo's true profession is adventuring. Like other adventurers, he takes all manner of jobs, big and small, alone or with others. Plenty of fellow adventurers have had the pleasure of working with this polite swordsman, and you could be the next. Alternatively, if you have a job that needs doing, you may be surprised to see a somewhat renowned knight take up the task--especially if it involves travelling, slaying, or heavy lifting. He lives well within his means. Helping who he can, when he can, is the life he's accustomed to.
Important note: Please bear in mind that I am not my characters. Sometimes I use my characters and art to express myself, but at the end of the day, they are fictional. Anything your character does, I will also consider fictional. So please consider our feelings and actions as completely separate. If you have something to say to me, please don't cross the line of fiction to do so.
Let's read about A'pollo's sex life!
NSFW ADULT CONTENT WARNING
PLEASE ONLY VIEW THE FOLLWING IF 18 OR OLDER
StoryA'pollo is gray asexual and panromantic.When he was in his late teens, A'pollo befriended a fellow Ul'dahn miqo'te named A'sali. She asked him to date, and he agreed. Although he loved her company, he had problems getting aroused with her. He did everything he could to pleasure her, but had a growing fear that something was wrong with him. Unable to bear his anxieties, he abruptly ended their relationship and left the city, getting swept up in the life of an adventurer.From then on, A'pollo avoided romance and never spoke of his sex life.As he grew closer to Shen'a, he knew that something different was happening. Their relationship was coy at first, and A'pollo courted Shen'a in a very modest and overly traditional romantic way. While he was dreading the possible sexual aspect of their relationship, Shen'a was suspecting that A'pollo may have ulterior motives.Shen'a's cynicism made him fear that A'pollo was only using him for sex. That anxiety drove him to rush their relationship physically. A'pollo, suddenly advanced upon, found that he was able to get aroused after all. Half-frightened and half-giddy with the realization, A'pollo was relieved when Shen'a ended things before it went further that night.From then on, their relationship proceeded gradually; Shen'a's fears were eased and he let his desires be known. A'pollo, though clumsy and trepidatious at first, began to enjoy sex with Shen'a.He still can't get it up for anyone else lmao
AboutEarly in their relationship, A'pollo always tops. A'pollo is still asexual and experiences arousal differently; He almost never initiates, which is a source of frustration for Shen'a. Both are romantic types, and enjoy sex simply as an affirmation of love and show of affection. It is months into their relationship when they start to experiment with some light bondage (of which A'pollo became a biiig fan).A'pollo only tries bottoming after they were engaged. Although he had been the "top" all along, what really turns A'pollo on is relinquishing his body to Shen'a, and having Shen'a's total attention. So, it turns out he really likes bottoming.Since then, A'pollo has gained a lot of confidence and become a much more assertive top, which Shen'a loves! (They still have issues with A'pollo being reluctant to get as rough as Shen'a encourages him to be.)They've also discovered, together, that A'pollo has much stronger submissive tendencies than either of them expected. Thankfully, Shen'a is willing to provide.
GALLERY
All artwork by me unless otherwise stated.