Dacien Chevalier
The Basics
Race: Duskwight Elezen
Affiliation(s): The Chimeriad, Immortal Flames, House Chevalier, Ala Mhigan Resistance
Sibling(s): Rosalyn (informal), Astrid (quantum), Astrid (deceased), Aviene (deceased), Junene (deceased), Elsette (deceased)
Spouse: Dornnithota Chevalier
Title(s): Warrior of Light, Security Chief for the Chimeriad, Warrior of Darkness, Lord Chevalier
"There's not a thing I don't cherish."
Born the only son in a family with 4 daughters, Dacien grew up in a curious place: a Duskwight research colony located underneath the earth in Gyr Abania. In this sense he is Gyr Abanian, though he associated little with the people that lived on the surface.
This existence, dominated primarily by research into pacifist-leaning Magitek Engineering would not last. Summoned to a meeting with Garlean researchers, the colony was presented with an offer to join in exchange for great prestige. Ultimately rejecting this choice, the colony's Overseer declared that they'd never help a militarist empire use their inventions to hurt and oppress others. This eventually resulted in retaliation by the Garleans, who deduced the location of the colony thanks to information provided by a traitor within.
By the time the "bunker buster" bombing ended, Dacien was left the only survivor. Traumatized, dazed, and dying. If it were not for the sudden glimpse of Hydaelyn and the intervention of the Viera woman that would eventually become his best friend, he wouldn't have survived.
A curious thing, that. Survival is what Dacien is famous for.
Timeline of Events
A Realm Reborn
-Research Colony destroyed, leaving Dacien with nothing.
-Dacien meets Rosalyn Valens (then named Rosmet Leskreta), who helps him survivor and pulls him out of his melancholic state, albeit with a shattered personality.
-Heading to Ul'dah, Dacien joins the Pugilist's guild and becomes a member, spending time earning victories in the arena.
-During the main events of ARR, Alexei and Dacien agree to help Rosalyn form the Chimeriad, a Free Company.
-More insights from the Blessing of Light result in Dacien becoming a Monk and participating in Operation Archon.
-Operation Archon proves successful after being fraught with peril, proving to the world that the Chimeriad is capable of battling both Garleans and primal-class threats alongside the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.
-The celebratory period that follows proves short-lived, with the Chimeriad betrayed by the Crystal Braves and framed. Dacien makes a final stand in Ul'dah, the same place he became a Pugilist legend, so his friends can escape. He is MIA.
Heavensward
-The Chimeriad take Haurchefant's offer to take shelter with House Fortempts, forced to hide.
-After months of being told to move on, Rosalyn receives a linkpearl transmission from Dacien's location.
-Rosalyn mounts a rescue mission, discovering that her friend was held captive and tortured by the same Duskwight traitor responsible for the research colony's bombing. While his friends free other prisoners, Dacien confronts the traitor, Lord Dunant, who is unable to defeat him even with a magitek reaper and is forced to flee.
-Rejoined with the Chimeriad and new friends, Dacien participates in the final events of the Dragonsong War. Proving successful yet again, he waits for the mourning period over Haurchefant and Ysayle to end before calling in a favor, obtaining a minor lordship. A first step in regaining a People.
-House Chevalier is formed, however tiny and uninfluential. Dacien takes an active interest in Ishgardian politics, doing his best to participate in the House of Lords. He is often exasperated. He is subject to criticism because he does not have a wife.
Stormblood
-Once more called into service, Dacien rejoins the Chimeriad in their efforts to help the Ala Mhigan resistance. Dacien steps foot on his homeland for the first time in years.
-After an encounter with Zenos yae Galvus, Dacien is left with the scar on his face, the mark of Galvus' sword. If not for the intervention of his friend U'mahji Tia, his skull would've been split.
-Needing more allies but suddenly also needed on two fronts, Dacien volunteers to stay in Gyr Abania while Rosalyn departs for Othard.
-Working with U'mahji Tia to coordinate intelligence and war efforts, Dacien ultimately works to revive the Fist of Rhalgr at the behest of his friend and fellow Monk Widargelt.
-While seeking to take this new unit to help the returning other half of the Chimeriad, Dacien is again attacked by the traitor Dunant, who tries to kill Dacien but is, in the end, slain by his target in a duel that nearly kills Dacien.
-Forced to press on, Dacien is attacked by Dunant's remaining forces, facing a losing battle until the Sea Wolf warrior Dornnithota came to his aid. This resulted in a bit of a romance.
-Thanks to the help of the woman he would eventually be proposed to by, Dacien is able to arrive at the rally point and help his friends with his borrowed monk unit.
-Zenos yae Galvus and the primal Shinryu are defeated, but a series of strange "spiritual attacks" proves an even stranger threat.
Shadowbringers
-These "attacks" proved to be a summoning that results in the Chimeriad and most of the Scions winding up on the First, a world parallel to the Source where Light is the dominant element.
-Dacien encounters the First's "equivalent" to one of his deceased sisters, Astrid Chevalier. He discovers that on this world, his own equivalent perished. They adopt each other as siblings.
-Once again the Chimeriad is called to heroic action, having to face Eulmore, the sineaters and their Lightwardens, and the Ascians Emet-Selch and Elidibus. After being overloaded with Light, scattered, and nearly wiped out yet again, the Chimeriad proves victorious. For now.
-Returning to the Source, the Chimeriad faces even newer horrors. Astrid is heartbroken at her brother's departure, though he promises to always be there for her.
-And yet...