Gwendolyn Faurechort

• Back

Background

TLDR;

Born in the impoverished Brume district, Gwendolyn’s early life was shaped by the devastation of the 7th Umbral Calamity, which claimed her parents and transformed her homeland. As Ishgard gradually reopened and restructured in the wake of societal upheaval, she seized the chance to rise unnoticed, using her time at Saint Endalim's Scholasticate to uncover a forgotten noble lineage—Faurechort—once tied to House Dzmael. Through a risky deal with a voidsent in the Dzmael Darkhold, she scarred herself both literally and figuratively, but successfully claimed the lost name. As political tides shifted with the liberation of distant nations and the War of the Black Rose, Gwendolyn rode waves of national pride and military reform to embed herself within the halls of power. Now 33, with her past choices catching up, she finds herself drawn fully into the dangerous theater of Ishgardian politics & worse, that of the voidsent cult of apotheosis that's sprung up around her.

timeline

• Born to poor residents of the Brume in 1556, 16 years before the Calamity.

• In 1572, the 7th Umbral Calamity changes Coerthas from an alpine region to one of rime & ruin. Not long after, her parents die of exposure.

• About 7 years later when she's 23, Ishgard opens its gates to adventurers, and in turn brings about the first big shift in ishgardian society since the Calamity.

• The following year with the fall of the Heavansward leads to a great shift in Ishgardian politics and culture. Gwendolyn see's her opportunity: as all of Ishgardian society is in upheaval, nobody will be paying attention to the political maneuverings of a young girl from the Brume, not while the fears of dragonkind run rampant.

• During her studies in Saint Endalim's Scholasticate, Gwendolyn comes upon the histories of the Ishgardian Great Houses, and in doing so, learns of the Faurechort family line, integrated into House Dzmael almost 300 years ago. A plan is hatched. She hires a lowly group of adventurers to take her into the Dzmael Darkhold, knowing full well why it was abandoned so many years ago. In exchange for the would-be heroes, the voidsent who made it's home in the Darkhold offered an exchange... one she still bears scars from.

• Gwendolyn is about 25 when Ala Mhigo & Doma are liberated from Garlean control. In the time between this & the fall of the Heavansward, Gwendolyn has successfully inserted herself into the long abandoned family name of Faurechort. Though at this point the family tree bears no fruit, anyone who hails from Ishgard knows the power in a name.

• The War of the Black Rose between the Eorzean Alliance & Garlean Empire begins when she's but 28. Riding the wave of national pride, Gwendolyn champions the cause of refitting Ishgardian soldiers with old pre-calamity gear to combat an economic downturn. This earns her the in she needs with House Dzmael, who refused to acknowledge the young upstart previously.

• Varis yae Galvus is assassinated, plunging Garlemald into civil war and for all intents & purposes, the War of the Black Rose ends as quickly as it began.

• Gwendolyn protects her own peace during the Final Days, and emerges unscathed for her efforts. It turns out locking yourself away and studying Mhachian tomes are a great way to distract yourself from the end of the world.

• Now 33, the terms of her deal are coming due, and Gwendolyn is forced to take a more central role in the stage performance of Ishgardian politics.

• Back

Relationships

River Ghotti
The enigmatic Miqo'te responsible for Gwen's moral about-face, River has done what Gwen thought impossible - made her feel like she was enough. Now with River's unbidden aid, Gwen is attempting to remove herself from the cult she's painstakingly entangled herself in the first place. But unlike anything she's ever felt before, Gwen finds herself enraptured with River's opinion of her - a concern she's never felt for another soul living or dead.

Halcyone Vallasia
The first person Gwen dared to bring into her necromantic workings in pursuit of freeing herself from the voidsent contract which binds her. Halcyone's dedicated support and curiosity has unearthed myriad threads of inquiry Gwen would've never unfurled without her first true friend's support.

• Back

hooks

• Is your character from Ishgard? Gwen grew up in the Brume, though you won't not quite recognize her anymore, she might recognize you.

• Is your character some variety of magi? Gwen may be a noblewoman but she dabbles in archaic arts befitting any discerning Scholar.

• Is your character a Reaper, or otherwise tied up with Voidsent? Gwen would be interested in how your contract came to be, if you're willing to share.