A Field Guide to
Viju of the Okhaali-Rohazi

Weaver Witch ✦ Mushroom Magi ✦ Clan Farseer

About Her

When people were in serious trouble they went to a witch. Sometimes, of course, to say, “please stop doing it.

Please Note: The information here is not always shared in public capacity. Use your best judgement and avoid roleplay with meta knowledge of private details. Thank you!-- Revamping character a bit, some aspects may get tweaked --BASICSName | Viju (vee-joo)
Gender | Answered she is a woman of the clan.
Orientation | Unknown. Not observed.
Clan Status | Belonging the Okhaali and Roha'zi clans
Relationship Status | Unknown. Not seen taking any special interest in a potential partner during our observations. (polyamorous demisexual/bisexual but private about it)
Moral Compass | Appears to possess a neutral view on many moral stances. May rise to violence to protect what she holds dear.
Voice | A quiet drawl unique to the southern clans, the tone of which rises to higher pitches during moments of excitement. Slow and measured unless she touches on a topic of interest.
Age | Difficult to tell, as can be the case with miqo'te. Fully adult, however. (tbd 23+)
Citizenship | Possesses a pass for mercantile business in Gridania. Sharlayan Gleaner's stamp of temporary citizenship and a workers permit by the same.
Current Residence | Okhaali and Rohazi Clan territories - ranging from the Tinolqa (Twelveswood) forests northeast of Rootslake, to the bogs southwest of the Timmon Beck River.
General Overview | Which mushrooms are safe to eat? How do you find your way back from the twisting dark cave depths? What does that tree-carved symbol mean? For the young miqo'te information quickly became an invaluable tool, and a well trod generational path - so it was she cleaved to the way of the knowledge seeker and story spinner.Viju follows her own curious nature to learn of the world around her - taking a special interest in the tales and histories of her neighboring miqo'te clans and in memorizing the old stories from the elders.As an adventuring botanist and part-timer gleaner, she has a keen interest in the natural world and has been working on a method to control funguar and other seedkin. Augury and other occult activities are commonplace in her life - given her clan's connection to spirits and wildlings, and she can easily be drawn away by tales of monsters or ghosts. The inquisitive keeper nevertheless always find her way back to home and hearth, and places great value on community and family.

"A witch ought never to be frightened in the darkest forest, because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her."

APPEARANCE
Height | Amongst the shortest beside her kin, but the clan may have developed a smaller stature compared to Seekers of the Sun, to help them to hide during hunting activities.
Hair | Wears styles incorporating the use of braids and plaits due to the religious beliefs of her clan. Cycles out a variety of feathers, bones, and other flotsom of natural decorations in her hair. This items appear to have some significance and meaning, but she changes the subject when asked.
Tattoos and Scars | Tattoos peek out with thin coiling lines, dots, and geometric symbols. Tribal but also delicate patterns resembling something else. A star chart? A sewing pattern? We've yet to determine.
Eyes | Golden as gil or sunset on a river at dusk, quick to catch movement and very expressive of her moods when she's feeling comfortable.
Build | Shoulders narrower than her hips, built softer and rounder than some of her kin. Small but quick when necessary.
Distinguishing Features | Large fluffy tail shaved down to a lion's shape in the hotter cycles. Pale white painted designs on the face and body.

PERSONALLanguages | Common, Huntspeak, Several written/spoken/hand-signed/sung languages of multiple keeper clans. She has some variance of working knowledge of the following: Old Thavnairian, Sylphic, and a limited understanding of Mooglespeak.Professions |Ethnographer (Tribal Folklorist): Common amongst keeper clans is the practice of histories and religions being remembered through spoken word. As one of the Paathar Lorekeepers, Behl is able to recite clan works and scriptures orally by memory. The Okhaali people place a high importance on those with such talents, not only for keeping their stories but for entertaining the ancient Faer and keeping them calm and satiated.Botanist / Herbalist: One of her great passions is the study of the natural world. She has a personal space to practice herbalism, in but does not open it to the public as a shop. Those in need are expected to be taken to her by the fates, and payment is accepted in anything but coin. Her employment is scattered and transitory to any outside her blood-kin, given her independent nature.Most loyal to the Sharlayan Gleaner faction when it comes to outsiders, she also dabbles in side jobs supplied by Eorzean Geographic to explore certain regions - with her notebooks full of drawings and observations fetching a nice sum of gil whenever she parts with them.The side of Viju not all are permitted to see, is a fascination in the cycle of life and death that holds no disgust at the latter, which has lead her into beginning the practice of Necrobotany. By working with certain kinds of mushrooms, she can exert limited forms of control over other (non-spoken) beings. This is at a work in progress stage at the moment, however.Merchant and Trader: The Okaali are highly skilled in the textile arts, having a long-standing practice in weaving, quilting, knitting, and curating custom dye colors from naturally sourced materials. Viju often acts as an intermediary for the clan, selling woven wares. These weavings are sometimes imbued with aether in such a way that allows them to function as talisman and wards.Magical Disciplines |
A blend of Arcanist, Conjurer, and Bard classes serves as an in game stand-in for her unique skillset. Circle of Spores (Mushroom Druid), Circle of Greenblight (Necrobotanist), and College of Spirits (Spooky Bard) are close examples when translated to DnD.Behl uses an ancient form of magic passed down by her clan. Over time, the Okhaali miqo'te have adapted this style of sigil casting into an artesian based skill to match their passion for crafting. Weaver Witches are known for their ability to shape and manipulate patterns in a similar manner to that of an arcanist, but more primitive in design. The arcane weaving skill is most easily cast through weaving fibers, but can nevertheless be accessed even if it’s with a skein of yarn, a chalk design, or utilizing sparkling aetheric linework in the air.Separate from her weaving skills is that of an intimate connection to the land around her. Over time she has developed a personal bond with fungi, symbiotic plants and other spore-releasing agents and makes use of them in combat situations. As Gridania has seedseers, so do the clans of Miqo'te have those born into a special closeness with the land and the spirits that dwell there. RP to learn more.New / future projects include memory magics and dreamweaving.

All witches are a bit odd. It’s best to get your oddness sorted out early.

MISCSkills/Clan Jobs | Tattooing both medicinal and decorative. Assisting with mushroom farming.
Pursuits of Leisure | Traditional keeper cooking and indigenous style non-invasive land cultivation, Geology (ok, it's rock collecting).
Religion | Her religious beliefs might resemble the back of a quilt pattern - complex and interconnected between many points. Through the Okhaali she worships the threefold goddess of the moon in her states of crescent, quarter full, and full appearances. This appears to be an old Miqo'te deity possessing passing similarities to aspects of Menphina, Nophica, and Nymeia. Behl also participates in ancestor worship with the Rohazi.
Patron Deity | In the Rohazi clan this is especially important and falls to one of The Lovers. The ancestor Kahlina represents the understanding of knowledge with a wisdom beyond simply collecting information.Random Viju Facts- Very good sense of direction, and can be a functional scout when necessary, although not a skill she advertises oftenRELATIONSHIPSKeeper Clan Bloodlines |
Okhaali - Arboreal artisans and tradesmen.
Roha'zi - Cave dwelling ancestor worshipers.The Okhaali people are excellent artisans and craftsmen, but the cornerstone of the clan lies in the use of textiles and weaving. Using natural vegetable dyes made from minerals, flowers, bark, herbs, and roots; colorful swaths of fabric are made and carefully cut into geometric patterns to be sewn into quilts. The quilts play an essential role of spiritual significance in the lives of the keepers. Highly proficient in this specialized type of weaving, they're also able to imbue the maker’s own aether into geometric patterns comprising the quilts. Each one has its own purpose and power, most often aimed at promoting health and good fortune, especially when sold to the public. Although important, quilts are not the only trade-craft made by the Okhaali clan, though they are most known for them. Outsiders step carefully around them, as they're also said to make people disappear once nature's ire seeks to claim someone tainted with Woodsin.The Roha'zi are a reclusive people keeping to their massive cavern systems below ground. Nearly antisocial, not much is known about them even amongst other keeper clans. Cautionary tales of the miqo'te of the dark below coming to get children that wander off the path are common, and accurately describe genetic traits of the Roha'zi - glowing amber eyes and dark ashen skin. Despite rumors, the Roha'zi have a thriving family driven community, and place high value in crafting skills and religious fervor. A rich culture of ancestor worship and self sufficiency in resource gathering means some Roha'zi members never see a reason to leave the caves anymore.Parents | Mother - Bahvi of the Okhaali, Father - Mosibhe'to of the Roha'zi.
Siblings | Sisters - Okhaali: Aiyawa, Kaliwe, Behl, Rohazi: Minakha. Brothers - Rohazi: Mahuzi'a, Mahuzi'to.
Pets | Befriended a family of crows. Keeps miscellaneous seedkin around her person.INVENTORYBow, staff, small hand loom, musical instruments, a notebook. Bundle of homespun threads and knitting needles. Knife or sickle by which to gather herbs. Dark glasses and wide-brimmed hats for use during the brightest hours.

undertangledboughs.tumblr.com

Media Gallery &
Artist Ref Sheet

There’s always been someone watching the borders. They didn’t decide to. It was decided for them. Someone has to care. Sometimes, they have to fight. Someone has to speak for that which has no voice.

Old Custom Tattoos - needs an update since this style got super popular since I made this custom mod. I'll probably hand make a new one when I get time, and create custom symbols and meanings. (yay procreate)

Artist References

Visual Themes | Plant growth, Fungi, Weaving with Magic, Necrobotany, Bow and Arrows, Bardic Magic. Musical Instruments: Lyre (sudanese Kerar / Kisir), handpan, and Lithophone.
Body Type |
Clothing & Accessories |
Tattoos and Scars | Tattoos with coiling lines, dots, and geometric symbols.
Weapons |
Friends |
Distinguishing Features | Quite large fluffy tail, pale white painted designs on the face. Wears animalistic masksExamples in the gallery below represent certain visuals I feel represent her general aesthetic and vibes.

Clan Aesthetics: Okhaali - Tree Dwelling Artisans

Clan Aesthetics: Rohazi - Cave Dwelling Ancestor Worshippers

Hooks & Inspiration

This was when you started being a witch. It wasn’t when you did headology on daft old men, or mixed up medicines, or knew one herb from another. It was when you opened your mind to the world, and carefully examined everything it picked up.

WIPFolklorist As a wandering historian of her clan, Viju collects stories and cultural beliefs and practices from people all across the shroud and behind, but she takes a special interest in other Miqo'te clans. Perhaps she's visited yours for an evening before taking up the trail again.Healer and Tribal Tattooist: Part of Viju's healing arts deals in small tattoos meant to contain restorative properties, somewhat similar to acupuncture. She's most apt to preform this on other Miqo'te or trusted outsiders with chronic illness and pain.Readings of Fortune: Performed in natural places, where the witch and the questioner will walk together and answers are determined by what they find in nature - be it objects on the ground, local fauna, or other signs.Speak with the Dead: Got unfinished business with someone? Missing a departed loved one? Viju doesn't advertise this connection with the deceased openly, but ask for an RP set up and we can figure something out.INSPIRATIONS
Mushishi
Girl from the Other Side
Otyken
Miyazaki films in general
Indigenous peoples the world over - Siberian, Inuit, Métis, Chulym, and Native American tribes to name a few. I also draw inspiration from Ethnoarchaeology and Paleopathological studies of mummies from ancient cultures.
My grandmother, her tribe, and her forest.CREDITS
Site quotes by the wonderful Sir Terry Pratchett
Art by Rituhell
Okhaali Clan lore is my own
Roha'zi Clan lore is by Kilari, with some embellishments from myself and other FC members

Basic Knowledge

Family History
Tribal Connections: As a wandering historian of her clan, Viju collects stories and
Family Roles
Tribal Connections: As a wandering historian of her clan, Viju collects stories and