[i]Looks at clock, then at deadline.[/i]

[hider=Ishgardians beware, mild heresy ahead]
[center][color=0072bc][i]"I remember the first time I heard the song of the Dragons upon the wind, my mentor at my side. At first all I could hear was the unending, eternal rage of creatures that had been our mortal enemies since time immemorial. It was fierce and bestial, but somehow I found tears in my eyes as I grasped the soul stone. That was when I heard the anguish beneath the rage, pulling at my heart as I found not just an enemy upon the wind, but a strange kinship beyond the soul bound to mine."[/i][/color]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/to6H5C1.png[/img][/center]

[SUB][U]ＮＡＭＥ[/U][/SUB]
Isabella Desrosiers
[SUB][U]ＲＡＣＥ[/U][/SUB]
Hyur
[SUB][U]ＣＬＡＮ[/U][/SUB]
(T)Highlander
[SUB][U]ＢＩＲＴＨＰＬＡＣＥ[/U][/SUB]
Foundation, Ishgard
[SUB][U]ＯＣＣＵＰＡＴＩＯＮ[/U][/SUB]
Fisher
[SUB][U]ＳＯＵＬ ＣＲＹＳＴＡＬ[/U][/SUB]
D A R G O O N
[SUB][U]ＡＰＰＥＡＲＡＮＣＥ[/U][/SUB]
[hider=Business][img]https://i.imgur.com/nn1vM50.png[/img][/hider][hider=Casual][img]https://i.imgur.com/F1oXRot.png[/img][/hider]
Whether by intention or not most adventurers have something or another about themselves that set them apart as remarkable in order to get noticed and get the job. Distinct hair color, heterochromatic eyes, height compared to their race, notable scars or any number of other minor details. Isabella's is that when it comes down to it, she's got none of those things. She's an easy 5'6" and lithe in figure from a couple years in the adventuring business as well as her preferred hobby, which is to say that while she's by no means short for a Highlander, she's also nowhere close to the tallest. Her shape is easily achieved by anyone with a mind to focus on keeping themselves in shape, showing off a distinct feminine form but with nothing too much in any one department or another. While she's easy to look at by most opinion, she's not exactly the belle of the ball either and her slight smile shows her own modest opinion of her modest appearance.

One could argue that perhaps the rather striking clarity of her green eyes might be remarkable in a way, in how they tend to catch the light as a well-cut emerald, but it's a stretch even if they accent well the light freckling across her cheeks. Blonde hair frames her face, put up in a sideways ponytail when she's got the time for it, sometimes simply loose down her back, or if she's really in the mood she'll put it in a single braid, but that takes some doing and generally only happens if she wants to look nice. No scars grace her smooth skin, pale by the standard of anyone south of Coerthas… But seeing as how she's Ishgardian it's pretty much expected.

In terms of clothing and armor, she trends towards the casual and relaxed for the former and practical for the latter. Her favorite while out and about in towns are the windsilk pants she acquired from a traveling merchant back in Foundation with a button-up jacket, though doesn't mind anything with long-sleeves and adequate covering. That said, with the rather distinct shift in weather from her homeland, she has been thinking that shorts would come in handy. In the end though, what may be the most remarkable about Isabella Desrosiers, is that she is rather the opposite until one gets to know her.
[SUB][U]ＰＥＲＳＯＮＡＬＩＴＹ[/U][/SUB]
Frigid as the Coerthan winds and with a bite to match, her steely gaze has rooted many to the spot before they could even open their mouths to begin what could have been a clumsy pickup line or offer to join up with their company. At least… That's what she thinks sometimes as she sits quietly and on her own in the local tavern, family history leading her to keep to herself until sure she can trust someone. It's not uncommon among adventurers, or Ishgardians at that. She's never the first to speak in a group, staying reserved and thinking carefully over what she wants to say, but she's also not one to miss her chance to give her say either, speaking softly in smooth and practiced tones that almost immediately betray her more noble heritage. It gives her the appearance of first being just like any other Ishgardian noble, swiftly replaced by the realization that she's just shy and careful around new people.

That much is especially proven once she has come to find comfort around one person or another, and as hard as it may seem to get on her good side it's actually not too difficult at all. For all her learning she's quite trusting and relies on her physical ability to get herself out of potential trouble, always falling back on the whole "keep your distance and feel people out" thing until she relies on her habits again. And once she has gotten to know someone, she does become quite a different woman. It's like a switch, where one side is the quiet noble girl, and the other is the lively adventurer out to have a good time and see the world. Around friends she [i]will[/i] neglect boundaries, volume and start to show some of the razor-sharp wit she keeps in reserve. Get a good enough party going and she might even start up a song and dance, but that probably wouldn't be a good idea.
[SUB][U]ＢＩＯＧＲＡＰＨＹ[/U][/SUB]
[hider=History]Born in Ishgard to the minor house of Desrosier, early life was one that straddled the line between the two classes of the city-state, not quite within one or the other. While she and her family were considered nobility of a sort, keeping a home of their own in Falconrest and never wanting for the necessities, nor were they truly considered true nobility. Part of this owed to how her parents Marseille and Sebastian became citizens shortly before her birth, and through circumstances she is not inclined to speak of, if she even knows. Regardless she was able to acquire a decent education, attending with the children of the major houses and from an early age she was taught the martial skills that would form the foundation of her adventuring career.

Where life became interesting was when she started to come of age, and for many reasons at that. Isabella's schooling had always been rather moderate, her studies where they should be and competent even if her arcane ability had been found rather lacking. She was always rather quick with picking up a concept and understanding it, able to get the grasp of something usually well ahead of her peers. The only problem came to when tasking her abilities and determining how best she would serve the Holy See when the time came. With no shortage of knights and dragoons to combat the Dravanian threat, the inquisitorius had been rather keen on selecting new pupils to take into their ranks for seeking out the dangers from within. Her keen intelligence and quick wit drew their attention rather swiftly, and it didn't hurt that her martial ability was above average for her age as well. All that stood in their way were two rather minor issues. First was that her father had strongly objected to the idea of her joining into the Inquisitorius, going so far as to take the issue up with the Lord Commander of the temple guard.

While that alone would normally have been quite enough to forestall the attempts, especially as it has been said that the shouting match between her father and the other lords was quite spectacular, some were not as easily swayed. No, she was still pulled from the potential knights and tested for her abilities, which then proved the second issue. To their incredible embarrassment, the inquisitors responsible for the over-zealous attempts to bolster their ranks issued an apology to the Desrosiers and the matter was settled within a day of it starting. Some favors exchanged hands over the next few months, her father spending some extra time with the Skysteel Manufactory and curiously it seemed everyone in the Pillars forgot that anything had happened. On her part, Isabella simply focused on her studies and picked up the lance with the intention of potentially becoming a Dragoon, something which she found a passion for not too long after.

Those years would find themself quite active though, and only partially due to the shenanigans around the Holy See. There had been a shift in the order of the world, something that even Ishgard couldn't fully isolate themselves from. Rumors persisted of a coming disaster, the moon Dalamud seemed to act strangely, and the monsters about Coerthas even stranger. In particular as she was finding herself coming of age with all the changes that come with it, she recalled of how concerned her parents were looking up into the night sky. Neither had ever spoken to her of where they came from before Ishgard, their homeland a mystery to her that had always been a curiosity never quite sated except with a promise of some day. On the eve of her fifteenth year, the day came. Being a more idealistic sort she had nevertheless feared darker secrets, and as all know children are wont to give in to their imaginations when there are blank spaces to fill. It was almost a relief to her then when she learned of the reality, something she has kept to herself in the years since.

Then came Calamity. While all of Eorzea it seemed had come together to take a stand against Garlemald, life continued as a parody of normal within Ishgard. If not for the far reach of that event, Isabella might not have even been aware it had happened. Yet a chill wind blew while the earth was rent asunder to the south, destruction like none she had ever seen wrought across the land. Ice and snow enveloped her homeland for reasons that still remain unknown, and when all was said and done she couldn't help but wonder if it was some form of penance against Ishgard by Halone for refusing to aid the Eorzean Alliance. That thought sat ill with her while she tended to her studies, while she practiced the lance and eventually became a full-fledged Dragoon, and even as she tried to fish the icy rivers to settle her mind. Life within Coerthas seemed different after the Calamity to her, as if the peace of before had been a lie, and that there was something more that could have been done. That something could still be done.

So it was that three years after she would set out for lands south, taking her lance and rod with a pack and as brief a goodbye as she could bear to her parents. From place to place she offered either a hand in fending off monsters, or providing food for stay. Either sat well enough with her, though her preference had led her to make friends on the way and learn of distant lands, strange peoples and stranger happenings. One in particular had stuck with her long enough to provide rumor of something she couldn't quite ignore, and set her on the road to meeting with the Blessed Twelve.[/hider]
[SUB][U]ＯＴＨＥＲ[/U][/SUB]
- Strictly physical: While most adventurers have a little bit of spellcraft on hand to supplement their primary job or dabble in as a sort of side-project, Isabella for whatever reason she may have, has no such abilities to her. Whether it's simply because she has a bad taste for it, poor aptitude or just no interest she won't say, but it has left her a little more focused on the more physical aspects of combat.
- They're designer: Above all her possessions, yes even the family pendant around her neck and her lance, there is one thing that she absolutely will not let anyone else touch and reacts strongly to any attempt to do so without her permission. The sunglasses. It's not because they have any sort of sentimental attachment, or that they were particularly expensive either. She just really likes them.
- Fisher friend: Everyone has connections whether they admit to them or not. Some have the more illicit kind such as pirates, bandits, smugglers, rebels or general malcontents. Others have the coin or the ear in more legitimate circles. Isabella's is more along the lines of the latter, and more often than not her friendship with fellow fishers has been underestimated to the embarrassment of a doubter. While they aren't the most prestigious group, nor the most powerful or prolific, they are usually well-liked and on the good side of both sides of the coin, which tends to prove pretty useful when the gil is on the table. More than that, one of two of her fisher friends are quite capable in things other than fishing as well, and in some instances those friends just happen to be among the beast tribes.
- Pistols at Noon: Though by far her preference is the lance, on her hip is usually a well-maintained pistol of Ishgardian make. The cherry-wood finish and blued steel shows years of dedicated care that was instilled in her by her father along with her tendency to fish as stress-relief. How exactly she came by it is not nearly as interesting as the why, for it was simply a piece made within the Skysteel Manufactory by her father while working for Haillenarte. Right around the incident with the Inquisitorius, she had also taken a brief detour in her studies that ended just about as awkwardly. Despite just a passing interest, she had apparently impressed the Machinists with her marksmanship enough that they too insisted on recruiting her. Unfortunately for them, she preferred something a little more stabby, but kept the pistol regardless.
- Minor notes: As anyone who gets to know her might note, she doesn't exactly get on well with folks back home for a few reasons, among them some incredibly slight insinuations of heresy and past disagreements. Isabella also trends towards the idealistic, often fielding thoughts that really don't have a chance of working considering the current political clime of Eorzea. She is also rather partial to bourbon and catfish despite having caught more than her fair share over the years.
[SUB][U]ＲＥＡＳＯＮ ＦＯＲ ＥＮＬＩＳＴＭＥＮＴ[/U][/SUB]
[hider=Catfished][color=9e0b0f]"Pray cease your chicanery and return to whencever you two came at once!"[/color]

Somewhere, she thought to herself, a bard was telling a joke in a tavern that began with a description of this very moment. An uncomfortably warm Ishgardian squatting at the edge of a ravine, a fishing rod in hand. One rather irate yet bewildered Amal'jaa. Then there was of course the one who was the cause of all of it, the aloof woman in yellow and silver arguing with the lizardman. All of this in the Sagolii desert of all places, perched atop the far side of a ravine across from a settlement of the beastmen, a few of whom were observing with some degree of curiosity. Yes, she was there fishing. Fishing in sand of all things, while her companion was arguing with one of the beastfolk.

[color=aba000]"I've already told you that we'll be on our way once we've confirmed the rumor!"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"And I am telling you, that by Ifrit's flaming arse, you are wasting your time Rey'na!"[/color]

[color=aba000]"Reyna! One word! How would you like it if I called you Sasha instead of Sau'Sha?!"[/color]

She wondered exactly how long the two had been going at it, casting a weary glance at the equally spiteful sun hanging high in the sky. It was casting a rather intense heat upon the land, and she was dearly wishing that she had insisted a little more to Reyna when the skywatcher told them of the impending heat wave. Then again, it had been altogether far too warm for her since departing Foundation several years ago. If only she had thought to pack shorter sleeved shirts… A long sigh passed her lips as she quietly hung her head and tried to focus more on her own thoughts and the task at hand instead of the bickering beside her. When they first got there things had been simple enough. Talk to their Amal'ja contact, get a lay of the land and an understanding of the tribe's attitude at the moment. If everything was good, then make a trade of fish for some time on the dunes near the settlement and be on their way once all was said and done.

Part one had gone well, relations between the Amal'jaa and the local settlement were at a state of indifference at the moment, likely due to the heat keeping most people out of the desert proper and closer to the springs. The fish had been easily taken care of as well, a basket of harbor herring from Limsa relatively fresh caught and preserved. Apparently their tribal leader had a taste for it, and providing some smoothed things out enough to allow both Isabella and Reyna safe enough passage to the village with their guide. A guide who seemed to be shifting from friend to acquaintance in a hurry, and none too pleased with the shenanigans of their impromptu quest. If she was being honest with herself though… She kind of agreed with Sau'Sha. The very absurdity of fish in the sand had her dubious from the start, and if it hadn't come from Reyna, she might have called her a stupid bint and been done with it. Yet here she was.

Yes, here she was. In the sweltering heat. Wearing long sleeves and dark leather pants. Fishing rod in hand, remaining as still as it was when she first cast… Again she couldn't quite recall just how long she had been squatting there. No, that wasn't quite right. It wasn't that she couldn't recall how long it was, it was that she couldn't be assed. Yes, that was it. Sweat dripped from the soaked bandana across her forehead into the sand, sizzling and evaporating almost as soon as it hit. That was perhaps the sign that enough is enough, a pomf sounding as she stuck the rod into the sand and sat back for a long moment to try and steady herself and focus on anything that could help cool her off. Water sloshed around in its pouch as she brought it to her lips, glancing up and to the side to see those two [i]still[/i] arguing.

[color=9e0b0f]"Three! Three of your kind have already attempted this in the last week!"[/color]

[color=aba000]"Three amateurs!"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"How do you know, you weren't here and you didn't see them!"[/color]

[color=aba000]"Because they didn't catch the godsdamned fish!"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Or maybe there's JUST NO FISH HERE."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"I wonder if the fish aren't biting because there actually aren't fish in the sand, or because you two are scaring them away."[/color]

Her first comment in at least an hour reminded them of her presence, both turning to look down at the blonde woman sitting in the sand beside them. For a moment it had them quiet as well until irritation crossed her features from seeing Reyna struggling to hold back laughter and their Amal'jaa friend turning away with what she swore was the same effort. "What?"

[color=aba000]"You are going to burn [i]so[/i] bad."[/color]

With a quick reach into the side pocket of her pack she fetched out a small hand-mirror, turning it to face her and look at her reflection. Such were the pains of being fair-skinned it seemed, circles around her eyes where the sunglasses she usually wore had protected them and strips of pale skin surrounded by red. Not just red, but an [i]angry, sunburnt[/i] red. Isabella groaned as she knew she should have taken the advice of the puntable peddler back in Ul'dah, now regretting not having purchased some ointment to protect against the sun. Lesson learned it seemed, just like that of how to dress in Thanalan. At least next time she would be prepared… If there was a next time, as it only felt hotter when her attention was drawn to just how much she was going to suffer in the days to come.

[color=0072bc]"Yeah… Thanks."[/color]

[color=aba000]"You know, I heard that free company the Blessed Twelve is looking for new members and supposedly they've already got a few offers to join by some competent healers."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Reyna. Are you suggesting I join a free company for free sunburn care? You know that's not what the free in free company stands for, right?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Free is free, is it not?"[/color]

Both women paused for a moment as they turned to regard Sau'Sha, all before bursting out laughing at his rather blunt observation. It helped to alleviate the tension that was building, something she was glad for as she wasn't sure she wanted to see if he could actually toss her clear across the ravine as he had somewhat, yet not entirely joked about earlier. What it also did was distract her for just long enough to miss the subtle tug on the line. Reyna though did not, and her eyes went wide as she leaned in close, jabbing at the Amal'jaa's side to grab his attention. For her part though, it was completely lost on Isabella. "What?" Both pointed as once more there was a gentle tug, and this time she saw it. Then another, and as if losing patience whatever was on the other end of the line gave a yank that nearly dislodged the rod and pulled it into the ravine.

[color=aba000][i]"Ho[/i][/color][color=0072bc][i]ly[/i][/color] [color=9e0b0f][i]shit!"[/i][/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"There's actually something down there?!"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Stop gawking and help me! By Halone it's a strong one!"[/color]

Isabella had managed to grab the rod in time, but just about fell into the ravine as she was pulled to her feet and the reel screamed as it loosed ilm after ilm of line. Close to a dozen yalms of high-strength line had disappeared into the sand, the steel fibre straining and bending the rod when finally she managed to brace herself into the rock at the edge. Her fellow Hyur was first to put hands to hers, assisting as best she could with the little room they had. Every moment was a fight now as the hook set, sand whipping up along the ravine floor to trace the path of whatever was at the other end of her rod. [color=0072bc]"Sau'Sha! Find your footing and keep us from getting pulled in!"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"My strength is yours! Ifrit guide us to victory!"[/color]

True to his word he braced himself just behind the two, one claw grasping her by the shoulder and ensuring that she wouldn't be dragged down just yet, while the other reached out to take hold of the rod and begin pulling backwards. Yet even with all three of them it resisted with all the might of Leviathan, an audible creak sounding as wood bent in a way it was most certainly not supposed to and the steel reinforcement started to bow outwards. Reyna was the first to see it, her eyes widening behind her goggles as she swore under her breath and momentarily lost her grip. That allowed them to slip just an ilm forward, all three shouting as a rather unceremonious end was ever closer. But Isabella would [i]not[/i] let that be her fate, determination setting in her sunburned features as she widened her stance and leaned back into Sau'Sha. Across the ravine others of his kind had gathered to watch, what once was merely curiosity now a battle for survival as a growing mound formed racing along the bottom and kicking up sand the entire way.

[color=0072bc]"Hold! We need only hold until it tires!"[/color]

Screeching line continued, a building crescendo that was steadily ticking down just how much time they had left until the end. Smoke was even rising from the reel, the mechanism simply not built to handle this kind of strain, and if there was one thing she would resolve herself to do assuming they did not get pulled down, that was to get a new one as soon as she could. For now their fight continued, and to her relief what was once a fierce and intense pull ever so subtly shifted, signaling that indeed the beast was tiring. That meant only one thing and Reyna saw it as well, moving closer in to assist in the long process of reeling it in. Back and forth they went, drawing back ilm after ilm of line back into the reel, allowing it to take a little back when they felt the struggle renewing.

Finally though, after what felt like forever, something broke the surface of the sand below. Neither fisher dared to take a look, but the Amal'jaa on the other side cheering them on was all the proof they needed as one last effort was made. For that they depended on the strength of their comrade, who with a mighty bellow put all he had into yanking back on the rod, pulling all three back into the sand. At first as Isabella lay there staring up at that scornful sky, she thought perhaps that the rod had snapped and they had lost. It would not have been the first time, and she almost started to laugh in defeat until a shadow crossed her vision. There it was, their prize. Sailing through the air from the momentum of Sau'Sha's last effort, it was truly a magnificent beast that rivaled any she had caught before. It must have been several yalms in length, confusion in its eyes as it flailed about with fins and whiskers until landing with a thud just behind them.

[color=0072bc]"A desert catfish?"[/color]

Once more her impromptu and rather deadpan comment brought no small amount of laughter from her comrades, though this time she joined in with them as at last they had managed what they set out to do. It was a good feeling, this win as she lay in the sand for a long moment, Reyna sitting up beside her and wiping at her goggles as the faint cheering from across the ravine signaled their audience's enthusiasm as well.

[color=9e0b0f]"Alright, so maybe there actually was something down there."[/color]

[color=aba000]"Hey Sau'Sha, don't worry about it. That's half the fun of it after all. Just finding out if there's actual truth to the myth."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Yeah, it was a good catch too, couldn't have done it without you. Why don't you take it to the village? It's a bit big for us to carry back to Ul'dah, and besides I don't think we could finish it in a year between us."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"I'll do just that, you two take care on the road, and know we count you as friends."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"By the way, just as a quick question Sau'Sha."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Yes, by all means ask."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Is Ifrit's arse really on fire?"[/color][hr]

It took them a bit afterwards to recover, burning muscles and stinging skin from being out so long in the sun delaying their efforts, but eventually both women would find themselves on the road north and to different futures.

[color=aba000]"So, about that free company?"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"The Blessed Twelve? What about them? Still trying to get me to join up?"[/color]

[color=aba000]"Well it wouldn't hurt to join up with one at some point. They don't seem too bad, certainly better than those guys going around calling themselves Salt."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"I mean, I suppose so. You off on another job then?"[/color]

[color=aba000]"Yeah, got some things to take care of up in Ishgard with some nobles or whatever. I know how you are about that stuff, so figured to keep you out of it. Take some time to make a name for yourself and we'll swap stories later, kay?"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Alright, you got it Reyna. Take care of yourself up there and be careful. They like to plot and scheme."[/color]

[color=aba000]"Hey, careful is my middle name! Well, it's not actually but I'll be fine. Certainly better than you will be in the morning with that sunburn."[/color][/hider][/hider]