Maya Kotetsu
Blossoming Plum of Doma
"The Kotetsu's iron-armored halls
are proof against attacks by man." ᴺᵒʳᵗʰ ᴰᵒᵐᵃⁿ ᴾʳᵒᵛᵉʳᵇ
Dispossessed Heiress | Minor Noble | Naginata-For-Hire
Mateus | Crystal
The First Kotetsu
The history of the Kotetsu family in Doma dates back 300 years, to a single loyal spearman in the army of King Shoen of Doma. After deposing his despotic brother, the new king granted a number of small feudal estates to faithful retainers to secure the country's northern border. The estates were commanded to develop the land, but also to defend it should attack come: A "Great Wall" of fortified manors protecting against any incursion from the Azim Steppe. One of these was Kotetsu Commandery, and the man in charge of it – Jun, the first Kotetsu – took its name as his own.
Under later generations, the estate became self-sufficient and even began to prosper. However, around 130 years ago, a split arose in the family: The lord Shinbei Kotetsu was on his deathbead with no heir. A cadet branch under the name Hatsuyari now lived by the One River, but had been in little contact for generations. Terminally ill and with little time to spare, the lord chose to adopt the son of a nearby, allied Xaela chieftain friendly to the Kotetsu as his own.
Lord Nurhaci Kha – now under the name Hachizo Kotetsu – led the clan to continue its age of prosperity. Naturally, when the Hatsuyari found out, there was protest, but nobody could argue with the wisdom of the old lord's decision. The castle was stronger than in years.Since that day, the Kotetsu have been unique among Doman Au Ra for their black horns and scales – a sign of their Xaela heritage.
Kotetsu no Maya: Current Heroine
When the Garlean invasion struck the gates of Doma, Maya was still in her mother's belly. Level-headed and resourceful, Hanami Kotetsu brought her two-year-old son, her unborn daughter, and a handful of family servants on an escape which took them through the Azim Steppe and dropped them in Kugane. Her father Kazuo was called up to lead the estate's militia into battle. Though he knew the risks, he accepted his duty, and presumably perished in the fight.
Maya grew up in Kugane alongside her older brother Eizan, learning her family's traditional spearfighting style and earning the nickname "Blossoming Plum of Doma" for her lively spearwork. The family was one of the cornerstones of the Doman community in Kugane, though Maya always entertained notions of crossing the sea and taking back the family's rightful land. However, when she was just 19, two things changed Maya's path forever.
One, Dalamud fell in the far western continent of Eorzea.
Two, in the immediate aftermath of the Calamity, the family received a letter.
Written on Ul'dahn stationery and in her father's penmanship, it held a simple few sentences:
"I'm all right. Don't look for me."
"–Kazuo"
With ironclad proof of her father's living, Maya immediately sought a way to travel to Eorzea and search for him. With high hopes, she moved to Ul'dah, where her father's letter had been postmarked... and was greeted by a cold trail for years. Despite this, she made a grand return to Doma to fight in the army which liberated her homeland, but when she tried to claim her family's halls, she found them already taken.
The Hatsuyari family, not forgetting their feud with the Kotetsu, had used the country's unrest to occupy what they considered theirs. Now that the unrest was settled, there was little means to uproot them – and the country of Doma had more pressing concerns than settling a 130-year-old succession dispute.
Maya now splits her time between serving in the Doman army on their Eorzean front, her mother's residence in Kugane, and a small place in the Doman Enclave where she can continue to petition for her lands to be restored. Meanwhile, she continues to search for her father – his presence would strengthen the Kotetsu claim, with his service and bravery undeniable – as well as working to pay for a militia to oust the Hatsuyari by more martial means, if necessary.
RP Hooks
Eorzea
– Maya is constantly on the lookout for new jobs, especially ones with a substantial reward. Rebuilding a family fortune requires money.
– Maya's father is still somewhere in Eorzea. Any leads, even if they don't pan out, are welcome.
– As a Samurai of Doma, Maya has obligations to uphold when it comes to fighting at the front against Garlemald. Her tours of duty have taken her to the Ghimlyt Dark and back, and Grand Company soldiers may know her this way.
Hingashi
– Maya grew up in Kugane, and knows it well. She definitely has some childhood friends still in the city.
– Maya's brother Eizan threw away his spear for a katana, and now works as a guard on Kugane's merchant vessels. A trader or traveler could easily meet Maya through him.
– Maya's mother and her servants still live in the Shirogane district. Owing to their experience as refugees, they're more than willing to aid struggling individuals for a few nights.
– Maya doesn't bear an ill will toward Garleans in general. She would have been fine with being a puppet lord under them, like King Kaien was for the whole country.
Doma
– Retaking an estate requires help. Maya's taken it upon herself to aid all citizens of Doma, regardless of status, with the hope that she can call upon them when the time comes.
– Growing up away from Doma, there are a number of local traditions which Maya never learned about her own culture. She could use some help there.
– A Xaela with a Doman accent is bound to raise eyebrows among people from the Far East.
About Me
My timezone is EST (GMT -5), and the times I'm most likely ingame are Monday evenings, Thursday evenings, Fridays and Saturdays.
Maya is on Mateus, but I'm open to world visit anywhere on Crystal! If you're on another DC, though, we'd have to use Discord. If you'd like the username, message me ingame!
Looking for:
– Other Domans! If you're from her country, Maya definitely wants to get to know you.
– Far Easterners of all sorts! She's been all over the region, and enjoyed every second of it.
– Au Ra! Maya likes spending time with other lizards, though sometimes people expect her to understand Xaelic just because of her scales.
– Eorzeans! Especially the races you don't see in Doma, like Miqo'te and Lalafell. Maya's really interested in how their cultures are different from hers.
– Lancers! Maya's style of spearcraft is a source of pride for her family, and she'd be glad to pass down the techniques to anyone willing to carry it forward into the next generation.
Miscellany About Maya
Maya's Xaela heritage is a reference to how the Qing Dynasty – the last dynasty to control China – was established by the Manchu, whom later adopted more elements of Chinese culture. However, she also draws a lot from the Japanese feudal system, because the canon Doma does.
Maya's family estate is based off of the real-life Chinese province of Shanxi. It lies on a trade route between the Doman heartland and the Azim Steppe, but is surrounded by much larger landholdings by other families. Its claim to notability is that the outer wall of the main fortified compound is sheathed in thick iron plating outside of its stone brick construction. As threats of a Xaela invasion have faded to near-nothingness, it is no longer maintained for its defensive properties but more as a display of prosperity and matter of family pride.
Maya has a middling level of power. It's above that of an average soldier, but not that of an elite forces member. Because of this, she tries to fight her way to a negotiating point, rather than try to beat an opponent outright.
When Maya came to Eorzea and before, while growing up, her hair was a lot shorter. It's only after the Doman Liberation that she grew it longer, in order to put off a more ladylike image.
Images
Other images of Maya I haven't used in the rest of the profile! I'll probably try and organize this section better later.
Akito Hatsuyari
Rival
The youngest son of the head of Maya's rival clan, Akito was also the head man on the front lines of their campaign to take Kotetsu Castle – or so the story goes.
Maya hasn't met him yet, but his reputation precedes him. His spearmanship skills will make him a formidable foe.
Harutsuki Tachimaru
Head of Tachimaru-kai, Ally
When she heard about the Monzen Restoration Project, Maya sought out the man in charge of it immediately. She has immense respect for Haru as a fellow Xaela in Doma, and looks forward to assisting his efforts.
She also appreciates his informal attitude, which was a relief to her returning to the East.
Shana Rangetsu
Trusted Friend
When she first met Shana, Maya sensed she'd found a kindred spirit in the Hingan samurai. Despite being from different countries, they have quite a bit in common, and Maya would gladly lend her spear towards any venture Shana has in the works.
Shana Rangetsu
Trusted Friend
When she first met Shana, Maya sensed she'd found a kindred spirit in the Hingan samurai. Despite being from different countries, they have quite a bit in common, and Maya'd gladly lend her spear towards any venture Shana has in the works.
Statistics
Name: Maya Kotetsu
Race: Au Ra
Nationality: Doman
Age: 29 Summers
Birthplace: Ijin District
Personality: Impulsive, Dutiful, Self-Confident, Cheerful, Traditional
Alignment: Lawful Good
Likes: Wheat noodles, Red and green, Thanalan
Dislikes: Eggs, Being called a Xaela, The short end of the stick
House crests - kamon - are common among Doman and Hingan families, and the Kotetsu are no exception. The pinch-cornered square is the shape of a well-defended fort, with a main keep and four guardhouses. The three circles in the middle are in the form of old Doman currency, representing the centrality of trade to the Kotetsu's self-sufficiency. As a whole, it hearkens to the Kotetsu family duty of helping secure Doma's northern frontier, and protecting the trade that flows through it.