Enko

A friendly fish illustrator who bartends to pay his bills.

About

Name / Age: Enko, 29Gender / Pronouns: Male, he/himBirthplace / Residence: Born in Nagxia, currently lives in Gridania and Ul'dah.Languages: Eorzean, Hingan, some Ala Mhigan(spoken)Likes: Frogs, fish, learning new things, and other peopleDislikes: Swimming, getting ink smudges on his hands, failure, and neglected tools

APPEARANCEEnko is a Keeper of the Moon miqo’te who is 5’8” tall. He has olive skin with plenty of freckling on his face and body. His hair is black and kept short, but if he’s spent some time in the sun, it turns a bit browner. His tail is covered in short fur and is not fluffy. His eyes are brown.Notable markings are the notch in his left ear, the scar on the corner of his mouth, and various small scars on his body. Both the ear notch and scar on his mouth came from his time in Gridania. The small scars on his body are from his time in Kugane. He has no tattoos. His physique is decently muscled with some fat. He’s not skinny by any means, but most of his muscle was gained from working and being out in the field, so he doesn’t look bulky at all. Seems at ease in both cities and the wilds.Speaks evenly and from the chest, but allows for inflection. Low tenor to baritone. Ranges between professional and informal, depending on the type of drinker he's serving, or the environment. His voice tends towards the tenor range when being informal. His voice is much softer when he's not working.

PERSONALITYFriendly, with a casual demeanor, but is perfectly happy to be more structured and polite if it seems that’s more appreciated. Attentive too, and inquisitive. Tries to stay light-hearted, but will be serious if needed. Incredibly independent and does not like asking others for help unless necessary. Does his best to be competent at his work and prepared to handle problems as they arise.Tends to be guarded around most people despite being friendly and chatty. The more comfortable around someone he is, the more relaxed and stupid he gets. He gets quite attached to people that he’s worked with or has talked to often. This tends to give him a rose-colored glasses kind of attitude in regards to said persons. He appreciates affection and connection the most, after all.

Background

Originally from Nagxia, Enko’s family moved to Ala Mhigo prior to the Garlean invasion. His parents decided to settle in Ul’dah once Garlean forces became an issue again, and he ran away, disagreeing with their plans for his future. He ended up in Gridania, and worked as a gatherer, then tried to return to Nagxia after some time, and loses all his gil and papers in Kugane. Unable to complete his travels, he was forced into working for a yakuza family for several years. Due to some luck and the brutality of a rival family, he finds himself in a good position to possibly live a calmer life, and heads back to the Eorzean continent to avoid authorities. He found work under a pseudonym as a fish illustrator for publishers in Gridania and Ishgard. Begins bar tending because he likes the social aspect in addition to being able to better make ends meet. Currently living a stable, if somewhat busy, life.

HOOKSAlcohol: Well, he's a bartender. Sure, he's happy to serve you 'whiskey, neat' because you're such a tough guy, but why not try something new? You don't even have to order a drink, he's happy to just chat.Stick to the Bit: If you're being silly or have a bit going on, it's probably going to catch his interest.Fishy Business: He's a fish illustrator and fishing novice, so there's plenty to talk about here.Knife to Meet You: He's a fan of knives.Rough Day?: Have a drink (alcoholic or not) and let's talk about it. Or not. Fine either way.

BONDSLucian Lunetta: Partner. They met at the bar Enko works at, and Lucian pulled a knife on Enko before the two got close. Has also become close with Lucian's family.
Faustus Vertigernus: Coworkers. Sometimes wonders how Faust survives, but ultimately is fond of the strange guy. Eats fish bait with him.

Rules of Conduct

-Please be chill and understand IC is not OOC, and vice versa.
-Please be 21+ (I'll still be polite and friendly if you're younger, just don't expect much beyond that. My character is a bartender after all. I'm most comfortable talking to fellow adults.)
-Open to most RP topics, just send a tell and we can discuss. No is no, though.
-Enko is typically in customer service mode, especially if you meet him when he's bartending. His personality is a little different on and off work hours.
-Speaking of work hours, the player often works demanding hours at his day job. Availability may be spotty, and real life always takes priority.

The guy behind the character:You can also call me Enko. No I'm not a catboy irl. Yeah. I'm a bit disappointed as well. Pronouns he/it. Definitely need more sleep.

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Hey there. Welcome to the hidden lore page.As a warning, the following is a chronological-ish lore compilation and in-depth analysis about Enko. This includes heavy topics such as abuse (physical and emotional), heavily disordered thinking, and mental illnesses. The previous will give you a good idea of the character without the troubling material, so don’t feel obliged to read on if such content will bother or upset you. On top of that, you won't be able to make use of this lore to RP with Enko. This shit is locked behind a lot of walls and requires a lot of closeness between Enko and your character. I would start ignoring you if you try to do that without putting in the time. Treat this lore as 'for fun' reading, or almost non-canon.If that sounds good, and you're ready to do some heavy reading, the link's past the memes. If not, go ahead and backtrack.Thanks for respecting both of our boundaries.

time to find out what this guy's problem is / ain't reading all that, insights now

Gridania is earlier in the timeline. Not as heavy, but still uncomfortable.

Family (negative, emotional neglect)His father is a merchant and his mother is a traditional housewife type. Enko’s father didn’t care about anything aside from his son becoming a merchant as well. He is a good merchant, and he sees it as the best way for his son to become successful in life. Early on, he pushed Enko to become very good at math and keeping track of numbers. Enko has difficulty in doing this, and resents it. Unsurprisingly, he’s far better with art than numbers. His father sees the art as a pointless distraction and heavily discourages it. His mother isn’t kind nor encouraging about the situation, telling him he needs to start trying. She doesn’t mind the art, just so long as the ‘important things’ get done, more keen on not having to deal with Enko nor his father. In the end, Enko just feels like something the parents had in order to continue on a legacy.It gets frustrating enough that Enko runs away to Gridania. His parents are upset about this, and send messengers after him in Gridania. After the first few he ends up living in the woods and losing any consequential messengers much easier there. It only really stops when Enko ends up in Kugane when they can’t find any trace of him, and the parents end up adopting another child for an heir. One that is more competent with numbers. Satisfied, they’ve never thought of Enko since. When he returns to Eorzea, he does find out about this, but since the arrangement seems to be happiest for them, he’s not inclined to meet them ever again.Mentor (positive) + GridaniaEnko did have a good mentor though. While in Gridania, he picked up botany and learned from Fufucha. She also helped him build some connections with the vendors in the Ebony and Rosewood stalls, so he could sell what he gathered more easily. They bonded over having similar experiences, seeking refuge and living in an unfamiliar place. When Enko planned to leave the Black Shroud for Bozja, to meet the Nagxian Resistance stationed there, she didn’t quite agree, feeling the skills she taught him were better suited for rebuilding war-ravaged cities and establishments, but she didn’t discourage him. It was his life to figure out, so she wished him the best of luck. They met again, many years later.Gridania (negative, racial)Gridania as a whole is not the most friendly to Duskwights nor Keepers of the Moon. While living in the Black Shroud, Enko did his best to steer clear of Woodwailers especially. The citizens in the city usually are fine, and any unpleasant ones he can easily give the slip. Enko got very used to the woods, so he typically never had any trouble. Every now and then he failed to get away from inquisitive Woodwailers, and the worst of it would be the usual berating other Keepers of the Moon miqo'te would get. Frustrating and demeaning, but he’d at least still have the harvest he gathered that day, and the ability to walk free after some time. The most unpleasant experience he had was with a group of Woodwailers that kept him detained for a while, picking through his harvest basket and messing with him. At this point in time, Enko relied on complying with authority to just get through it, and thinks it’ll be the same as the other times. One of the Woodwailers has the idea of notching Enko’s ear, to identify him as one of those who won’t fight back. And it’s true, Enko doesn’t fight back. He runs away immediately, spending the night in a hollowed out tree trunk. He never gets his basket back.

On to Kugane.

Kugane is about an eight year span. This is where Enko starts gaining mental illnesses, and is a very dense read.

Kugane - Arrival (physical abuse, disordered thinking)The first stop on the way to Bozja is Kugane. Enko gets off the boat at port to stretch and enjoy solid ground for the first time in a very long time. It’s a nice city, and he took the time to explore a little before heading back on board. Somehow he was pick pocketed. He doesn't know when or where, but he isn’t getting anywhere without gil nor his identification papers and ticket. He heads back to the docks to search and retrace his steps, wandering around the area. Eventually he bumps into some people who ask him what he’s doing. Surprised to meet people who readily spoke Eorzean, he tells them his story, not knowing it paints him as a very good target. They waste his time by saying they’ll help him look, then promise to loan him some money. He only has to come with them to grab the money. He has no reason to suspect the people who spent so much time and effort to help him.By the time Enko is suspicious, he’s already far from the docks and in no position to run or fight. His journey to Bozja is cancelled, and his new unpaid ‘job’ is loading and unloading cargo from a variety of ships. He quickly finds out that a lot of things result in a beating: working too slowly, trying to spare a stowaway, not understanding Hingan. Over time, he comes to think it isn’t too bad. He’s not fighting for his life on a battlefield, right? Who knows if the Nagxian Resistance would have accepted him or needed his help anyways. What did he have to offer to them that was going to help their cause? He’s getting better at what’s demanded of him. You can convince some people that any hell is a heaven if they’ve got something worse to compare it with, real or not.Slowly, he learns that the ‘company’ he’s working for is the Mizugumo company, owned by a yakuza family with the same name. The younger brother of the family runs the company, while the older brother manages the family itself, particularly its criminal ties and turf. Enko continues to work for the younger brother, building up a reputation over the years for being capable and obedient. A few clashes with neighboring families at the docks give Enko the chance to show that he's a willing combatant, and the older brother, Todo, begins to pay some attention to him. He's looking for some new muscle, having recently lost a few.Kugane - Dog Days (neglect, violence, obsession, eroded sense of self)Todo carries himself with grace and charisma. Appearing as a well-mannered and quiet man, Todo is, understandably, far more callous and violent when not in the public eye. Still, Todo maintains a high level of approval within his own circle by highly rewarding behaviour he likes, despite severely, or even fatally, punishing what he doesn't like. Todo's hobby is tattoo art, particularly the tebori method. In fact, Todo has personally tattooed all of his 'attack dogs'. All except one.It confuses Enko. He understands Hingan quite well now, but he doesn't understand what is going on.He was given to Todo to fill a gap left by a punished dog. He does everything he's told to, whether it be intimidating, extorting, or killing. He's been given a name. Suzume. Todo doesn't seem to maintain any interest in him, despite sending him out to do work regularly. Everyone else has been tattooed but him, and it bothers Suzume. Enough that he can't think of much else. Maybe it's because he wasn't doing his job well enough. Maybe he had to help make a name for the Mizugumo family. Maybe he has to be more violent. Surely, he just needs to apply himself. Is he even trying?The most he gets in return in a quiet and disinterested verbal acknowledgement. Suzume doesn't know what he's done wrong or incorrectly, and he can't even ask. At least with the younger brother it was clear when he's done something wrong. Resentful, but unable to do anything about it, Suzume spends his last few years in the Mizugumo family acting like a rabid dog when called to work and little else.Something Enko will never know is that Todo saw him only as a flawed canvas. Skin too dark for his taste, in addition to the freckles and the scars. Todo didn't even want to try. Good attack dog though. Good for siccing on whoever he wanted. Why waste your favorite dog when you've got an eager, disposable one you just don't care about?Kugane - Underwhelming End (mass deaths, a life-changing event is decided for you)Suzume drags his feet. There are a few art galleries in town, and he couldn't help but look. He hasn't given art much thought these days, but it still catches his eye, even for just an hour or so. He's late for a meeting, he's well aware, and he's not looking forward to the consequences. That is, if they even act like they notice he wasn't present. When he finally shows up, he's unsettled by the eerie silence. The stench of blood reaches him next, and he continues to walk down hallways until he reaches the meeting room. Without thinking, trance like, he opens up the door to the room. The room is already drying, congealing. Whichever family had done this struck and left quickly, leaving a mess for someone to find. Anyone really. They probably didn't care.Enko allowed himself a moment to stand there and make a headcount. Then he hurries to make the most of it, knowing that the younger brother or anyone of a lower hierarchy might show up. Not everyone was killed, as he notes some people are missing. He could make a break for it while the rest of the family falls apart or restructures itself, and he doesn't want to go back to working for the younger brother if that's the case.For once, he's forced to accept that there are no more excuses he can make, or inaction he can take. He knows that he has two choices. Only one he could actually make.There is some money in a cabinet, likely set there for negotiations. For a second Enko wonders if this might have been a deal that went poorly. The dead can't answer, so he pockets the money and leaves, formulating plans on how to… Well. He isn't sure of where he might go. Bozja is no longer a goal of his, and he's not sure if Gridania would be a place he could easily return to. Ul'dah maybe, but he has no intention of meeting his parents. He hardly remembers who they are. Limsa Lominsa seems like a good choice. Or at least, the most neutral choice, with enough travelers to make him less conspicuous.He changes clothes twice; once to prevent tracking blood around, and the second to blend in with the crowd more. Somehow he makes a successful journey back to the Eorzean continent.

Congrats on reading all of that. Next is Eorzea and a little Ishgard.

Back in Eorzea - Back to WorkUnsurprisingly, he's aware that his money is not going to last forever, and he's somewhat free to do what he wants, so long as he doesn't go back to Kugane. At first he takes whatever jobs he can get, such as washing dishes or delivery. The anonymity and no-questions-asked nature of these jobs attracts him. He's offered the chance to learn bartending at one such place, and he accepts. After learning the skill quickly, he finds steady work at a few bars. Still, his interest in art keeps him from settling, and he spends the remainder of the money from Kugane(exchanged to gil at a low rate) on supplies and paints for himself at first. His bartending money takes care of his bills.At first he paints flora, inspired by his knowledge of botany from his time in Gridania, but Limsa is known for it's seafood, and he's taken by the beauty of fish. At first he paints simple signs for the many seafood vendors in the city, then he sets his sights on something else. His first contract is a small field guide for Gridanian river fish, intended for the beginner fisher. The authors asked only for a handful of fish illustrations, but they like his work. For some time, he works with them. Years later, they recommended him to some Ishgardian publishers, keen on writing about something other than the war upon its end.And that's his life now. Bartending when his bars are open for the night, in the field fishing or illustrating when he can.

Next is an analysis. Kinda. More like insights.

Again, congrats on reading all of that. Or not. The impatient link sends you here as well, lol.The following is a bit more free form, taking a look at Enko's behavior and explaining it.- Enko's afraid to call attention to himself or share details about himself because that's too personal, and he's afraid people just don't care. He's proven to himself most people don't. He's also afraid of being overbearing, so he often seems a little distant despite being friendly. Easier to just be a friendly, smiling face than to be genuine, which might scare people away and is bad for business. Despite that, attention feels the same as love to him at first. He likes it, even if it scares him.- No matter how hurt he gets he does his best to not show it. He does his best to swallow the pain or work around it until it doesn't sting as badly.- Enko is extremely jealous, he just hides it. A lot of his jealousy comes from the fear of not being good enough. He hides it because he knows it isn't fair to feel this way. He wants to be useful and important to others, because that is his primary understanding of worth. Earning his way through life is the only thing he really knows. Slowly, others have proven that it does not have to be that way, even if it's hard for him to fully embrace that concept.- He hates getting ink or paint on his fingers because it reminds him of how Todo wouldn't tattoo him.- Incredibly clingy and invested once he's aware someone genuinely wants to stay in his life. Incredibly afraid of abandonment but he's not sure why. His approach to this fear is to hide it and forget it. Works about as well as you'd think it does. (Does not work.)- Doesn't value his life and went through a period where he was actively hoping someone would expose all the horrible things he's done in Kugane and kill him. This probably never will go away, just lessens in intensity. He occasionally mentions something messed up and incriminating but isn't too self aware of this.- Not an insight nor analysis, but he still does NOT have any legal identification papers. He's been evading taxes for years without realizing it.Uh that's pretty much it. Thanks for reading all that. Maybe go back and check for more tidbits that are funny and not deeply worrying?

He’s not keen on fighting nowadays, but sometimes words just don’t work.Katana: Not formally trained in this weapon, but has picked up a few skills from watching the Sekiseigumi in Kugane. Had one shoddy katana when working as muscle for his yakuza family as an intimidation factor. Used it when the space allowed for it. They thought it was funny he wasn’t properly trained to use it, yet ended up being effective enough with it.Knife / Kaiken: His preferred weapon. It’s simple and easy to use, especially indoors or in tight quarters. Easy to pair with punches and other blows. Easily concealed.Melee: No formal training in martial arts, but had to fend for himself and learned fairly quickly.Cruelty: Only used when told to by his yakuza family. Main methods included, but were not restricted to: inflicting pain, blood loss, maiming.STRATEGIESEnko approaches fights by trying to figure out who he can eliminate first, or otherwise take out of the fight. While in the fight, he tries to maximize his successes, such as striking early and fatally, or cutting off support. His primary targets are the neck if trying to end it quickly, and the abdomen or major arteries if he has to draw out the fight. He may trade blows, willingly taking damage if it helps him secure his objective and he thinks he can endure it.WEAKNESSESHe’s quite aware of his height and weight disadvantages, as well as weapon proficiency. Rather reckless, and easily goaded if someone he cares about is threatened. Can’t manage large groups easily, nor enemies he cannot get close enough to. Inelegant.Go back