𝔴𝔥𝔬?
JOACHIM ALDEBOURNE
38- 40 years old.
Originally born in Sharlayan, Joachim chose to study medicine at a young age and traveled extensively, studying at a multitude of schools and working with a variety of practitioners--including Garleans--to learn everything he possibly could about all things anatomical. After earning the proper credentials, he became a traveling medic, called in to assist with severe outbreaks or injuries sustained in the aftermath of war.
He came under suspicion when, after a time, his patients began to die with greater frequency and under unusual circumstances. While temporarily taking up residence in Ishgard, the lady of House Vaubriet discovered that not only had Joachim been dabbling in void magic and necromancy using the corpses of his patients, but that he belonged to a secret collective of those who practiced such forbidden arts regularly. The people of Ishgard swiftly demanded his execution, but he managed to escape, hiding in a secluded cave far out in snowy Coerthas--where he still resides, having turned the underground into a sanctum of sorts where he studies day and night.
While Joachim's practices are unquestionably immoral, he is well-spoken and polite, albeit with a rather commanding presence; those who meet him would likely be shocked to learn that he's pledged his life to working with such dark magic. He successfully used his unwitting sister, Abigail, as a vessel to house a high-ranking voidsent whom he swore himself to in return for rare and forbidden knowledge. As a result of this pact, however, his body has begun to painfully mutate-- just a small price to pay, he thinks.
ZIVA HATAL
44 years old (...but uses magic to look a decade & a half younger.)
A Keeper of the Moon who long since left her tribe, 44-year-old Ziva Hatal is the one responsible for obtaining a majority of the texts the Collective uses for research. Ziva runs a bookstore/library, only attainable via password-- and only five people, all a part of the Collective as well, have this password (which changes on a semi-frequent basis). While Ziva may come across as bubbly, even ditzy, she is actually the most powerful necromancer in the entire Collective. With two decades of research and notes under her belt, she was the first to successfully resurrect an actual person using only old bones-- the "hero" of a semi-forgotten Ishgardian legend, Yvaël Jacquinot.
NICOLA DOWLING
58 years old
(deceased)
Born & raised in Gridania, her interests in more esoteric arts began as a teenager. Little was known about her personally, but she led the Collective once her father passed, and was responsible for organizing all meetings.
She is recently deceased after a ritual gone horrifically awry.
THE TEMPEST
?? years old, assumed to be in his early 50s.
A renowned Thavnairian merchant and collector primarily responsible for the acquisition of relics, both ancient and ritualistic. His true name is unknown, and the only information anybody has about him is his place of birth and the fact he has a Garlean wife, known simply as "Moonflower", who fled the empire. He is also consulted when an artifact is found and its exact meaning is unknown.
Currently, he is the de facto leader of the Collective.
YE'SANMIH RHASAL
31 years old.
A skilled and no-nonsense herbalist from Ala Mhigo who specializes in growing difficult and ancient plants used in rituals. These plants often require extreme conditions, and she takes on this daunting task single-handedly. Her knowledge of herbs, flowers and their meanings in a ritualistic context is unparalleled, and she is the Collective's go-to for questions on the matter.
CYRUS DURANT
owned/played by @parasitic-contagion
roughly 26 years old.
Half-hyur, half-elezen, he was raised in the Brume after he was orphaned early on in life. Born with an illness that drastically shortened his lifespan and left him very weak, he was poorly-suited for direct combat and found himself fascinated by magic--specifically the forbidden arts--instead. As a young teenager, he studied to be a mortician and eventually opened up shop with Swarzedyr Koelzantsyn, whose connections to the Collective would allow him to pursue study in dark magics in exchange for unidentified corpses.
He eventually passed away at 24 due to his disease. Having developed an unlikely bond with Joachim Aldebourne, the necromancer saw fit to use Cyrus for his first human resurrection. It was successful, although the flesh on his arms is discolored.
Cyrus is taciturn, albeit ruthless, willing to cut throats and take risks to achieve whatever goal he's set his sights on. He currently resides with Joachim and Dederic, studying forbidden magic while continuing to supply the Collective with valuable resources for research.