Xen

Xen left the Golmore Jungle longing to explore the world beyond her village. As she began to discover new things, her thirst for knowledge grew, reminiscent of her time learning from her mother. Her journey led her to Dalmasca, a land rich in history and culture but uncertain of its Garlean neighbor. Settling in a small town nearby, Xen immersed herself in the study of local history and aetherial sciences. Her talents allowed her to blend the traditions of her Viera heritage with the pragmatic sciences of the wider world. It was during this time that she encountered a Garlean legion scout and scholar. Through expeditions and travel, they bonded and became secret lovers, sharing their stories and views on the Garlean cause. Xen admired their strength and unity, and her lover further reinforced her fascination with their history and technology.

Despite the racial incompatibility that made their relationship unusual and forbidden by most, Xen bore a child with her lover, initially to his disbelief. This unlikely success was attributed to Xen's unique ability to manipulate Aether, which influenced the conception and survival of their daughter. Though born Viera, she had little connection with magic, like her father. Their child became a symbol of their love and a testament to the bond they shared, solidifying Xen's emotional ties to each other and their history.

During her imprisonment, Xen was sent to a Garlean research facility and subjected to horrific experiments and torture. While Garlean science usually focused on large creations, here they focused on the unique, smaller lifeforms that could create big changes. Multiple directors and scientists embarked on this secret endeavor to exploit Xen's aetherial abilities, aiming to harness and embed these powers for their own use. They hoped to embrace magic as she could. Through technology, genetic manipulation, aetherochemical research, drug trials, resonance transference, and attempts to conceive and clone Garlean children with aetherial abilities, their efforts brought little success and nearly killed her many times over. Each experiment left her body and mind increasingly fractured and broken.

Eventually, the decision was made to transform Xen herself into their weapon. If they couldn't gain it themselves, they would control it. Using a combination of recovered Allagan, machina, magitek, and omicron origin technology, bonded through bio-enhancement in untested and imperfect experimentation. This complimented with the conditioning, and programming to further subjugate and bend her to their will. Her autonomy, stripped away as she was programmed to serve the will of her masters. Returning to the IV'th legion she became a weapon and soldier of unknown origin, dispatched regularly to assist other legions for covert operations and high-risk missions, while under the watchful eyes of her handlers. Even as she was forced to carry out the Empire's orders, a small glimmer of identity and defiance remained as she clung to the memory of her lover and the ideals they once shared. As her body and mind were pushed to oblivion, amidst the shadows of her new self, Xen's spirit refused to be completely broken and her deepest senses remained.

In the years that followed, Xen undertook many missions designed to destabilize enemy forces and secure further knowledge and technology for the Empire's dominance and her project. These missions were dangerous and often shrouded in secrecy, necessitating recovery, repair, and augmentation, which allowed rare moments of clarity where she could see beyond the haze of control and duty. Despite her programming, Xen's internal struggle persisted, offering hope to break from her chains.

During the chaos of the IVth Legion's defeat by the Bozjan resistance and loss of her commander, she was given an opportunity. Severely wounded, her programming was disrupted, and the Empire's control over her weakened. Xen seized this chance to flee, but her injuries, years of experimentation, fractured psyche, and sudden loss of control left her abilities dampened, preventing her from traveling far before succumbing to what she could only hope for at the time as death.

Xen awoke with a shock as a bolt of lightning struck nearby in the midst of a storm. She found herself alone in a small, remote cabin, unaware of where she was or how she had gotten there. Her surroundings hinted that she had been brought there for care: supplies and food were left, and her items and clothing had been cleaned, repaired, and neatly folded, with nothing missing. Despite this mysterious care, she never encountered anyone.

In solitude, she embarked on a painful journey of rehabilitation and recovery and discovered she was once again in her childhood village, long abandoned. Despite her wounded and demoralized state, Xen found a strange lightning energy source left behind. Through her ability to adapt, she managed to mend her body by infusing herself with this new mysterious element. She gradually restored control over her augmentations and renewed her aetherial connection. Once she felt ready, she began a new journey of rediscovery and redemption. Traversing the vast expanses of Eorzea, she sought to reclaim her identity and purpose, helping those she encountered along the way.

Xen's transformation from a wanderer to a loyal soldier and ultimately to a complex individual was marked by profound loss and trauma. As she ventured through Eorzea once more, she found herself increasingly drawn to the plights of others. Initially neutral and then duty-bound, her past actions weighed heavily on her conscience, driving her to confront her role in the legion and seek redemption for her actions. She worked tirelessly to undo the harm she had once been a part of under the Garlean banner.

Despite her initial distrust, she slowly began to form new bonds and alliances, learning to trust and care for others once more. Her knowledge of Garlean tactics and technology became invaluable to the various resistance movements she aided. This newfound sense of duty, familiar yet renewed, drove her to fight against the oppression of the Empire and any similar forces. She was determined not only to ensure her own freedom but also to achieve the liberation of all those still under such control.

Her journey was far from over. The years of experimentation and control had left deep scars on her mind and body. The combination of technology rejects each other as she attempts to maintain her sanity. In her travels she sought to bridge a divide between races, fostering understanding and unity in the face of a common enemy. Her love for Garlean culture and its people remained, a complex bond forged through years of manipulation and genuine admiration. Xen's past still weighs heavily on her conscience, though she barely remembers much of it while under the the programming and control and lost much of her ability. Her path is now one of redemption, and rediscovery, not only for herself but also for those who may suffer the same. Additionally she aims to uncover the layers of Garlean secrets, technology and projects she endured, dismantling, burring or burning it to disallow it's discovery or use once more.

From here she aimed to be part of a new legacy as she reclaimed pieces of her lost self and forged new connections. Her journey was marked by countless battles, both internal and external, but she remained steadfast in her resolve. Each step forward was a testament to her strength and determination, a promise to those she had lost and to those she had yet to meet. Her experiences, tempered by suffering, strength, and wisdom, guided her towards a future where she could wield her power once more for the right cause. Once a tool of another, she now stood as a beacon of hope and resilience, lighting the way for a new era.