Layla
Warrior of Light
1
Layla's life - before a certain realm was reborn...
2
A change of heart
3
A timeline
1
Layla was born in Radz-at-han to a Hannish father and an Ala Mhigan mother. Her father, Waoud, was a mild-mannered, mischievous and polite man who hailed from a long standing and wealthy line of well-known alchemists in Radz-at-han who loyally served the Sartrap. Waoud dedicated himself to alchemy and it was expected that Layla would follow in his footsteps. Layla was said to resemble his polite and eccentric personality, though she wasn't nowhere as impish as Waoud.Layla's mother Lavena was a socialable monk from Ala Mhigo who fled the tyranny of the Mad King Theodoric years before the Garlean Empire invaded Ala Mhigo. She ended up taking odd mercenary jobs in Thavnair, eventually meeting Waoud in Radz-at-han. Soon, Lavena earned her gil by escorting Waoud for his travels around the more dangerous parts of Thavnair as he was no fighter. As soon as Lavena threw her first punches Waoud was completely heads over heels for her and he wasted no time to propose. Lavena was enarmored with him also and so they impulsively got married much to everyone's surprise.Soon Layla was born and she was pampered and adored by her family. Layla grew up barely knowing what it meant to struggle. When she was 5 years old a dark cloud loomed over Layla's picturesque life. The Garlean Empire invaded Ala Mhigo and turned this proud yet troubled nation into an imperial province. Lavena was devasted. On many nights she kept thinking of returning to her home country and lend aid to the resistence fighters, however her hands were tied. She hasn't honed her body for a long time and if she were to come back to Ala Mhigo, death would be certain for her. Waoud did not want her to leave but he was nowhere as verbal as little Layla.Lavena never left and instead taught Layla all about Ala Mhigan culture, the Fist of Rhalgr and monkhood. She never managed to pique Layla's interest but it never stopped her to try and train Layla as a monk. She even entrust Layla with her monk soul crystal. And while Layla managed to hit and kick like a monk (her strength far superior to those of her peers), she did not open a single chakra, making her nothing more than something akin to a pugilist. Perhaps Lavena was overly strict in her teachings as Layla was never keen about the Ala Mhigan blood that flowed in her veins. A sentiment she would learn to regret in the future.To the general populace, Layla was known as a spoiled lady who got what she wanted (even if she wasn't terribly vocal or demanding). Layla constantly wore the most lavish attire, the most expensive perfume and the fanciest maquillage. But what Layla desired even more than any material wealth was joining the dazzling dancers that Thavnair was known for. Every day she would spend her free time in the Meyhane, carefully studying the dances. During Layla's 15th summer, her parents allowed her to join Troupe Falsiam under the condition that she kept studying alchemy in order to take over her family business. However by then Layla has secretly rejected the idea of becoming an alchemist and so she started training under Nashmeira's watchful eye.During her 18th summer Layla first expressed her wishes to leave Thavnair to become a dancer in either Aldenard or Othard but her family plainly rejected her wish. Feigning acceptance Layla then turned to her fellow dancers, most of whom did not originate from such privileged families, and conveyed her dreams to them. However, they only laughed at her in secret, believing Layla to be a confused young woman who was simply too bored.
However on her 19th namesday Layla ran away with gil stolen from her family and left for Aldenard, settling in Ul'dah 1 year prior to the events of FFXIV 1.0. She was a successful dancer and the Ul'dahn people praised her beauty, graceful movements and refined manners. Though when the Seventh Umbral Calamity hit Eorzea, Layla's glamarous life as a dancer abruptly came to an end. The people who willingly award her with money, were penniless themselves. The mood around her changed and soon noone wanted to see the alluring dancer from the Near East.Layla herself spent all of her coin for extravagent Ul'dahn clothing and had no gil to her name either but luckily an orphanage was willing to take her in as a worker. Soon Layla learned how to do chores (albeit clumsily) and take care of children. And while the orphans adored her due to her gentle nature, Layla left the orphanage 5 years later. She knew she was more sturdy than most people and thanks to her mother's monk training she knew how to fend for herself. Rather than doing domestic chores, Layla chose to travel to Gridania in order to join the Conjurer's Guild which marked the start of A Realm Reborn...
2
For as long as Layla knew she had dismissed her Ala Mhigan roots, wholly calling herself a Hannish woman and even introducing herself to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn as such. However, ever since arriving in Ul'dah and seeing the plight of the Ala Mhigans firsthand, her sentiment started to change bit by bit, even if she did not want to admit it. Upon meeting Arenvald in the Waking Sands Layla realized that there were many people who were like her, people who were half Ala Mhigans. People who were younger than her and have yet to set foot in Gyr Abania.And when she arrived in Little Ala Mhigo for the first time, her previous demeanor completely faded at last. She could never get the image of young Wilred trying to summon Rhalgr out of her head, nor can't she forget Widargelt's pleas to help him liberate Ala Mhigo together with him as monks. And every time she was confronted with the truth about the predicament of the Ala Mhigans, the picture of her heartbroken mother would flash in her head. She knew she had to do something, she had to protect the people her mother held dear, the people Layla had learned to love.It did not take much time for Layla to fully embrace her Ala Mhigan roots. The first people she opened up about her Ala Mhigan mother were Erik and Widargelt who accepted her as a fellow Ala Mhigan. Unbeknownst to Layla both Minfilia and Arenvald both received a glimpse of her life through the Echo. A fact she would learn from them during the events of 2.0. And when Yda revealed her true identity as Lyse at the end of 3.5, Layla would finally find the courage to tell the rest of the Scions and the world about herself.And as Layla would be known as the Warrior of Light she would always think of her mother with a heavy heart.
3
ARR: 25 years old, CNJ → WHM main
The Coils of Bahamut: WHM
Crystal Tower: WAR
ARR Hildibrand quests: MNKpost-ARR & HW: 25/26 years old, WHM main → RDM main
Shadow of Mhach: BLM
Alexander: MCH
The Warring Triad: BRD
HW Hildibrand quests: DRKSB: 26-28 years old, RDM main, NIN, MNK
Omega: MCH
Return to Ivalice: DNC
The Four Lords: AST
SB Hildibrand quests: PLDShB: 28 years old, RDM main
Eden: DNC
YorHa Dark Apocalypse: DNC
The Sorrow of Werlyt: SMN
Void Quests: SCHEW: 28 years old, RDM main, DNC
Pandaemonium: RDM
Myths of the Realm: WHMDT: 29 years old, RDM
Arcadion: MNK
Echoes of Vana'diel: VPR(to be updated)