Tomana Dawnstar

Light DC - Zodiark

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About Tomana

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Character backstory

I was born more than 40 summers ago in the high Skatay Mountains, where the thick temperate forests give way to pastures teeming with grazing animals and invaded by the snow during the winter.My tribe lived on these slopes since the times immemorial, hunting and gathering medicinal herbs, rich mineral ores and gemstones that went to markets of Dalmasca. Therefore, our tribe wasn’t poor by any means, but our existence was a harsh one.I was a small and fragile kit, much to my mother’s dismay, because she wanted me to wield a bow or a spear. However, it quickly became apparent that my small frame concealed an affinity for earth and healing magic that far surpassed that of my sisters. Therefore, I was trained as a healer and for many years, tended to many little mountain settlements – villages, herbalist camps and mining sites, delivering kits and protecting my sisters from the elements, old age, claws and weapons.My existence was the same as my sisters’ – a harsh living in a breathtakingly beautiful mountain range, commanding a glorious view of the jungle beneath. And on a clear dawn, the whole landscape would, for a few moments, turn blood red from what we consider our spirit protector – the star we draw our name from. For all these years, I knew no other possible existence – until it changed one day.On that bright and windy summer day, I was walking from one village to another when I saw an airship pass above my head. The pilot was not familiar with the winds and the aether clouds and before my very eyes, the airship struck a peak and tumbled down. Together with my sisters, I searched for the wreck and the survivors and brought them to a nearby village. And among them was a high-ranked Gridanian diplomat who headed to the Far East and who would give me a wholly new life.I nursed him back to health with what I thought to be an average recovery speed, given the injuries he sustained. But, as it turned out, what I considered "average" was nothing short of a miracle in Gridania. Sensing the opportunity, the shrewd diplomat asked and obtained from the tribe Elders what he wanted – my services for Gridania in exchange for other favours for the tribe. Thus, a new life started for me.Upon my arrival in Gridania, I was granted audience with the Gods’ Quiver commander, who offered me a position as a chirurgeon and medicus. These were harsh times, as Gridania has just started recovering from the fall of Dalamud. Healers' services were required everywhere and at all times, but I was up to that task.However, beneath my healing skills, I was still little more than a village girl coming to a capital city, barely capable of reading or holding a conversation. Thankfully, some Elezen officers were able to overcome their aversion for strangers and introduce me to literature, etiquette and arts.Among those officers were several famous bards, who were using their songs to drive their troops into battle. They taught me the lute and the harp and introduced me to the vast scroll collections from Gridania and Ishgard. I must say that I proved myself as a capable student.

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(( OOC note: The text below is my attempt to reconcile the existence of instant healing magic in an MMORPG such as FFXIV with the constraints of a RP character development and of RP-ing as a chirurgeon.))

Healing philosophy

« A rabbit is faster than a marid, but has a shorter life.» - Ala Mhigan proverb.

«Consider Gods' handiwork - who can straighten what they hath made crooked?» - Unknown Elezen philisopher.

While not summed up in any written record, Viera healing tradition spans several millenia, as one could expect from a race with an average life expectancy of 250 years. During all these years, the Viera healers were the mainstay of their respective tribes, preserving their sisters from any harm and helping them to live the long life which is allowed to them by Gods and Nature.In summary, Viera healing tradition distinguishes between two varieties of healing:

Iron healing

In essence, "iron healing" is referred to any healing performed in an emergency situation, such as a battle (hence "iron").It is typically performed by making a powerful spell course through the patient's body in an emergency attempt to restore it back to normal. The energy to repair the body essentially comes from outside the said body and is channelled by the healer through a powerful magical device - staff, wand, star globe, or book.While such a healing can indeed pull a person from the death's door, it has dangerous side effects. Indeed, such a quick healing - where the body can literally pull itself together - cannot be done perfectly and leaves traces within the body. These traces may be invisible at first, but repeated use of healing magic can lead to a long-term cumulative effect. Moreover, such a powerful discharge of magical energy tampers with the patient's aether, which could lead to other undesirable long-term effects and a shortened life span. While this is acceptable for a dying soldier on the field of battle, it is less so in a time of peace.In summary, while a good Viera healer should absolutely be able to perform this type of healing, she must keep in mind that it should only be saved for the situations where the alternative is death or permanent disability. It is still highly advisable to put the patient through a full course of restorative healing afterwards (cf. infra).

Restorative healing

In this much slower process, the healer "guides" (some say "nudges") the patient's body in the right direction to correct its own damage. Essentially, the body takes from its own reserves to repair itself, the healer simply leading the process. Moreover, to make the process less taxing for the patient, the healer will use a combination of herbs, potions and other means - along with the tiniest bits of magic. Every tribe healer has her own small recipes, some passed on from generation to generation and some taught by the harsh mistress called "life".By being thus guided, the body can repair almost any damage or traces of old damage - such as old breaks and scar tissue. Most importantly, it can also fix at least some of the damage caused by iron healing. However, the speed of this process is very limited by the body's reserves. If no reserves are left to "burn", it is not advisable to even start the healing. Moreover, the patient must be well-fed to maintain his or her life reserves.In summary, while being a much slower ordeal, restorative healing allows an almost complete remission from most types of damage or disease. Some types of damage however, resist this approach. In particular, it has been reported that some accidents related to use of long-distance magical transportation hamper the body's ability to repair itself, essentially dooming the patient in the long run. It is not yet known what causes this type of reaction.A healer should also remember that while a broken body can be healed, broken minds are a much tougher nut to crack. In particular, you will face situations where an old person knows that it is his or her time to go away, and no amount of restorative magic will change that. In these cases, it is best to walk away.

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Chirurgeon's office (Zodiark - Lavender Beds Ward 24 - Lily Hills - Apartment #34)

Nested within the evergreen frame of Lavender Beds, Gridania's new housing area, my office allows me to have a private practice in addition to my Twin Adders duties.In there, I use a combination of ancient Viera healing techniques and modern research to fix the effects of past and present diseases, wounds and overuse.

Allagan diagnostics module

The fruit of the latest research collaboration between Garlond Ironworks and Gridanian chirurgeons, this diagnostics device made from repurposed Allagan technology allows the chirurgeon to look inside the patient's body, looking for injuries and diseases that could escape traditional means of detection.It does not, however, replace the healer's experience, nor a full examination and patient's anamnesis.

Traditional Viera medecine

Traditional Viera medicine uses a combination of herbal balms and potions to facilitate the patient's recovery and help the body to recover from past and present injuries. During the patient's examination, a proper course of treatment will be determined. If multiple courses of medication are necessary, these will be provided to you after the consultation.Another technique I rely upon is an induced trance that helps the body to recover from the damage. Although its duration is limited outside of a hospital ward, it can still produce a good effect, especially if repeated several times.((OOC note: During the trance, your character will be placed into a deep sleep by Tomana. While this can be considered power-gaming, I believe it is a necessary part of the RP and immersion. If you're not comfortable with that, it can be discussed beforehand.))

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Jazz band - Meet the Dawn Jazz Sextet!

(( Picture by Marie Korbel @ Phoenix ))

The Dawn Jazz Sextet is a collective playing Dalmascan and Ul'dahn music, including but not limited to jazz, swing and blues!With a repertoire of many well-known jazz standards, the Dawn Jazz Sextet is a perfect pick for any evening, providing ambient or dancing music for the patrons!

The Musicians

Tomana Dawnstar - Vocals & lute

Originally a wandering tribal healer from Othard mountains, Tomana picked up the lute when she joined the Twin Adders and discovered warriors who were inspiring and soothing their comrades not just with spells, but with music as well.

Anna-Maria Meowzart - Trumpet

An extravagant miqo'te famous for her hat and a bleached white wig that she never removes, Anna-Maria is an expert saxophone and trumpet player, backing up the lead voice with fast-paced cadenzas and amazing solos.

Asteria Purr'zolla - Piano

Born in Gyr Abania before fleeing the war and settling in Limsa Lominsa, this startlingly pretty and mischievous miqo'te is the band's keyboard player, sometimes picking other instruments as well, but mostly known for her fast-paced solo piano play.

Santiana Meowrcia - Violin & Harp

This dark-skinned Moonie miqo'te is an accomplished violin and harp player, often assisting other band members with the most difficult pieces.And do not believe her if she tells you that cat-gut strings are made from naughty miqos!

Emmanuel de Visée - Double Bass

An Ishgardian born in a renowned family, Emmanuel studied the strings at the Holy City's Conservatory before leaving and travelling to Ul'dah, learning the local street and folk music. He is a double bass virtuose, although he sometimes chooses to use a cello or a metal-stringed lute instead.

Josephine-Eve Royer - Drums

The great-granddaughter of a harpsichordist famous across all of Eorzea in his time, Josephine shattered the family tradition by choosing to pursue a career in what has been traditionally considered as a males-only domain. She has been quite successful at it so far!

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Upcoming performances

Do not miss any of the performances!
(This list is being kept as up-to-date as possible):

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Gallery

((Disclaimer: For all pictures below, credit is due to the person who took it, none of them were taken by myself.))

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OOC notes

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