Samilen Jawantal
Bard - Carpenter - Botanist
Strengths
Flaws
Quirks & Tidbits
Personality
Even into adulthood, Samilen is a very exuberant man with a lot of energy that he rarely is ever able to run dry. The worst thing in the world to him is boredom, and boredom comes when he is left with nothing to do–he relishes the opportunity to fiddle with trinkets and explore new areas, which is why he takes to carpentry and botany as well as he does.Though he is generally very friendly, Samilen has grown very introverted in the days since the Great Calamity. He often doesn’t instigate the meeting of new people but will never turn down a conversation or brief companionship. Moreso, though he is still a brilliant archer, Samilen rarely takes part in any battle or skirmish unless he is absolutely needed or if a loved one is in danger.The trauma of the Great Calamity has left Samilen with a great deal of issues, including PTSD, a fear of crowds, selective mutism among several others. He has lost many friends and comrades, and so holds sacred what relationships he’s blessed to have.Despite his tendency for self-isolation, Samilen is also a man looking for companionship, though he often hides his vulnerable need for intimacy as a character trait–it’s much easier for him to play it off as simply being a charmer, after all, and often finds himself thirsting after anyone who fits the profile of being strong, self-assured and assertive in some shape.
Current Events
Though still dealing with the trauma of five years past, Samilen is still very much a productive member of the Gridanian homeland--he can often be found working hard within the botanists’ or carpenters’ guild, hoping that one day he’ll be able to lay to rest the ghosts of loved ones that continue to haunt him.Samilen is no longer officially a member of the Twin Adders--after The Great Calamity, he resigned to live the rest of his life in a manner far more peaceful than that of a soldier. Despite this, he still is recognized prominently among the members who knew and fought beside him, and is regularly welcomed to train up-and-coming archers when the extra help is needed.In recent days, Samilen is most likely to be found within Gridania or its surrounding forests, often tasked by one of the guilds he is prominently a member of, such as the botanists’ or carpenters’ guild.
Background
Samilen Jawantal was born to a small family in Limsa Lominsa and is the eldest child of three. He has two younger sisters, N'mahzi (19) and N'leiha (11), and all three were born to father N'obuli Tia (Miqo'te) and mothers Sami (Miqo'te) and Lenphi (Hyur).Sami and Lenphi were born, grew in and married within the city-state of Gridania, but later moved to Limsa Lominsa in search of prosperous jobs, as both of them were skilled carpenters and Limsa was then with a sore need for their skills in the growing demand for ships.The two of them met N'obuli, a local fisherman and well-known womanizer at the time. Over the course of several years he managed to win the hearts of both Sami and Lenphi–or at least, that’s in his own recounts of the history. Regardless of the truth behind their story of romance, the two women eventually took to his charms and settled down together within the seaside city-state.Several months after the three of them married officially, their first son was born: Samilen. He was named after both of his mothers as part of Sami’s values, and quickly proved himself to be quite the handful. Until he was a young teenager, Samilen got into trouble very often around the docks of Limsa: stealing fish, playing pranks, getting into fights with other kids. There seemed to be no end to the chaos he could get himself into (many likened to say that he took after his father, N'obuli).Several years after N'mahzi was born, Samilen found his calling in archery and botany, two skill sets that were not at all common in Limsa nor its surrounding areas.
Though his parents had reservations about allowing Samilen to take up a skill that may lead him into the growing skirmishes against the Garlean Empire, as many other parents were for their not-yet-adult children, they allowed him to move back to Gridania to learn archery and botany while under the care of extended family.He took to both skills very quickly and soon became well-known across others of his age for his quickness, dexterity and extraordinary aim with a bow, but also his curiosity and enthusiasm in learning, which would later aid in his talents to the art botany and carpentryOn the eve of his 16th nameday, Samilen joined the ranks of Order of the Twin Adders as an initiate. Though there was much discrimination against Miqo'te, especially Keepers, Samilen did his best to prove his worth both as an archer and a person while under the mentorship of NIjoh'a Jesyho, a man who would help guide the young Jawantal through many a hardship and periods of growth.He honed skills both physical and emotional, though nothing could have prepared him for what happened on the year of his 20th nameday: The Great Calamity. Samilen was one of many young fighters who were tasked with defending Eorzea from the Garlean Empire on the Carteneau Flats on that fateful day–and one of few who were left alive to speak of the horrors he had encountered.But speak of them he never did, as Samilen quickly found himself troubled by the emotional turmoil the battle had wrought upon him. The loss of friends and allies, the visions of pain and suffering–the memories follow the man wherever he goes, leaving it difficult for him to build relationships with people or to even speak aloud.
About
Character Summary
If you asked someone to describe a man named Samilen Jawantal, the answer would vary greatly depending on who you asked.An older member of the Twin Adders might recall an exuberant up-and-coming archer, while a local merchant would recall the name simply being the signature on the delivery of new weapons and herbs and little else. And if you asked any other Gridanian native, their answer would invariably be ‘a strange miqo’te who keeps to himself and never speaks’.All of these things are correct; while Samilen was at one point of his life a very accomplished archer among the White Wolves, the Great Calamity changed him, leaving the once high-spirited man timid and mute—being friendly to few and familiar to fewer.But despite this, Samilen is currently an extremely accomplished botanist and carpenter. If you take the time to be patient with this trauma and learn a little sign language, you’d find a faithful, loving friend in him.