History

An Elezen of fifty-one summers originally from the Coerthan countryside, Iolanger Dauphinet, known to most as Lang, is the renowned Warrior of Light.

Since childhood, Lang possessed high sensitivity to the aether, and for this reason he was sent to the First Observatorium to become an apprentice astrologian. Soon after he completed training at the age of sixteen, he was visited by a group of adventurers who called themselves the Twelve's Scribes. Inspired by their deeds and aspirations, he left his post and joined them to travel all over Eorzea.

The band of adventurers were led by an Ala Mhigan highlander named Lybek Fairscribe. Although Lybek was once a follower of Rhalgr, he was a man of peace. He founded the Scribes in hope of understanding the true nature of the Twelve, so that they could unite the fractured nations of Eorzea who waged war in the name of the gods. Under Lybek's tutelage, Lang's strength and magic flourished, and he began to question the strict teachings he grew up with.

The Twelve's Scribes became an accomplished order, wielding powerful magic born of their faith in the Twelve. But they disbanded in the wake of the Ala Mhigan revolution, when Lybek was captured and executed by King Theodoric. Lang had little time to grieve for his mentor in the chaos of the following Imperial annexation. He noticed signs fortelling Nidhogg's reawakening in the stars, and returned to Ishgard alone. He offered what aid he could, but there seemed to be no hope that his homeland could ever be freed from its eternal war. Lang was more lost and unsure of his role in the Twelve's plans than ever before, and he realized he was deeply estranged from his own countrymen, who viewed him as a heretic.

After Lang pledged himself to the service of House Leonguin, he confronted the dragon Arvakr. He defeated the wyrm, yet he could not bring himself to strike the final blow. He made an offer to the dragon: he would spare Arvakr his life, if he would learn to live in peace among mortals. This was accepted, and Lang casted a transmutation spell on Arvakr. He expended all of his aether to make the transformation permanent, giving up his ability to use magic. Though he was relieved to be freed from the burden of his powers, he came to regret this act of mercy, a final unforgivable sin committed in a moment of weakness. Yet, he still could not bring himself to kill Arvakr, who had committed no crime since his transformation. Instead he kept him close, to keep him under watchful gaze.

Nearly two decades passed fairly uneventfully. Lang started a family, and his steadfast service to his House was rewarded with some measure of peace. The adventures of his youth faded to a distant memory, yet he still felt as if a wall of ice stood between himself and his loved ones. He remained within Ishgard’s walls as it weathered the chaos descending upon the rest of Eorzea, even through the Seventh Umbral Calamity.

Then one day, he was seized and imprisoned by the Inquisition. Arvakr, with the aid of Lang's son, had found a way to undo the transmutation and escaped Ishgard. As a consequence, House Leonguin was eradicated for heresy. Lang himself was subjected to a trial by combat. He expected Halone to grant him no mercy, but miraculously his aetherical abilities returned during the trial, saving his life.

Lying in a hospital ward, Lang mourned his fallen house, his mistakes, and the hope he had abandoned long ago. Though he was exonerated, he struggled to understand why the Fury forgave him. Once he recovered, he quietly left Ishgard and headed south.

In Gridania, he unexpectedly found an old friend from the past: the Scribe of Menphina, Naji Olahli, now enjoying a peaceful retirement in the Shroud. She invited him to stay with her and encouraged him to join the Conjurer's guild. Lang adapted to the life of a simple healer, with no particular goals in mind other than to live day to day. This quiet state of affairs was not to last, for one day, he heard Hydaelyn call to him again, after she had been silent for almost twenty years...

Years later, after a myriad of trials, Lang would finally see his old mentor's visions realized: his homeland freed from its perpetual war, and an Eorzea free and united in hope.

Abilities

Lang is proficient with a variety of weapons as well as conjury. He mainly wields a sword or a spear, either paired with a shield or without. This allows him a great deal of flexibility in combat.

He can also wield powerful ice-aspected thaumaturgy spells, but they tend to drain his aether and leave him weakened.

He is a practitioner of Ishgardian astrology, the art of using celestial observations to predict the future. He is well-versed in mathematics and astronomy.

Portrait by @bunnipuff

Lang first met X'rhun Tia in Ala Mhigo, when the Crimson Duellists still in the early stages of reviving the lost art of red magic. Their respective orders became close allies, for despite their differences in combat style, they shared a common goal of protecting Ala Mhigo. Lang and X'rhun bonded over their mutual interest in studying magic, and they looked forward to sharing their research whenever they met. Their relationship stayed platonic, as Lang had a fiancée in Ishgard at the time.

As the tide of the Ala Mhigan revolution began to swell, the two crossed paths less often. In the chaos of the Garlean annexation they parted ways, and did not hear from each other again.

Five years after the Seventh Umbral Calamity, X'rhun heard news about the Scions and the new Warrior of Light, and was quite surprised to recognize Lang’s name. He was happy to hear that Lang was doing well, but it had been so long, and he was quite accustomed to life as a solo adventurer, so he didn’t feel the need to reintroduce himself. By circumstance, they ran into each other outside the gates of Ul'dah. They caught up on the last twenty years. Lang learned that the Crimson Duellists had been betrayed by one of their own number. X'rhun had tried to take on apprentices a few times since then, but fearing he'd create another Lambard, he did not have success as a mentor.

Lang was glad to see an old friend, but they had their own places to be. Lang went to deal with the threat of Bahamut, where he met Alisaie and recommended she seek out X'rhun as a mentor. Not long after that, the Bloody Banquet forced Lang to return to Ishgard.

The next time they met was after the end of the Dragonsong war. Lang helped X'rhun with mentoring Arya and uncovering her past, and as they spent time together, their old and familiar friendship was renewed, as if they had never separated in the last twenty years. Yet feelings both old and new were burgeoning, and after they defeated Lambard, X'rhun confessed to Lang, who affirmed that he also felt their comfortable bond changing shape. But neither was sure what kind of romantic relationship the other desired, and neither felt ready for it yet.

((tbd))