spirited away

which is stranger: fact or fiction?

Wind chimes. Laughter. Eyes gleaming in the dark. That which has always existed around us, that which we've taken for granted as the natural sights and sounds of our world...Have you ever asked yourself if any of this is natural at all?It's no secret that our world is full of magic and mysticism. We witness it in the flames that dance along our fingertips, in the fangs of monsters small and great roaming the land. Yet for all we've seen and heard and felt, there is so much more out there that thrives right under our noses.Yokai passing us by in the guise of a harmless breeze. A kami bellowing to the sound of a hammer striking steel. Gods and immortals coexisting among unsuspecting men and women. They live their lives day by day just like anyone else. Seen but unseen. Heard but unheard.And right alongside them, Nagano no Kaito hums a merry tune, celebrating their stories and their lives.Perhaps the man himself is just another trick of the wind.

Name: Nagano no Kaito
Gender: Male
Age: Mid thirties, if you ask
Race: Mixed blood (Far Eastern Hyur/Raen Au Ra)
Family: Plenty of found family and sworn siblings
Sexuality & Status: Heteroflexible; in an open relationship
Occupations: Runs The Naganoodle and a small branch of the Adventurer's Guild based out of Empyreum; occasional odd-jobber
Mannerisms: "Y'know?", wide smiles, teasing banter, pulling objects out of nowhere (quite often literally)
Hobbies: Triple Triad, reading, skydiving, creating new dishes, working out fifty new ways to cast the same spell
Combat Style: Dabbles in many different martial disciplines. Values agility and dexterity, even with unwieldy weapons. Onmyodo and Arcanima appear to be his most frequently used magickal arts.

the pride of kiriyama.

first impressions. . .

Visual: Stands at 6'2'', with a mesomorphic build that's deceptively muscular. Riddled with scars all over, with two prominent cuts across his right cheek and over his left eye. Scarlet tattoos frame gleaming golds that were once a haunting, glowing silver. Smiles easily. Has a taste for comfortable, modern styles, but cleans up very well. Tends towards blacks, reds, and golds. If he sticks his tongue out, you'll see the only sign of his mixed heritage: blue.
Aural: Has a bright, airy tone that complements the Limsan and Hingan accents he often jumps between. Kaito has a fluent grasp over many tongues and dialects. Speaks at an easygoing pace, as if the world couldn't move quickly enough to bother him if the Final Days began anew.
( ENG Sample / JP Sample )
Olfactory: Smells of spices and savory meats when coming straight out of work at the Naganoodle. Carries the faint scent of cinnamon and tangerines otherwise. Takes good care of his hygiene.
Demeanor: Easy breezy. He's all smiles almost all the time, and you'd probably find his face next to the words 'moodmaker' and 'chaotic'. Out on the town, he behaves well enough, but weird occurrences seem to be drawn to the Doman like a magnet. Talking animals, floating pottery, and exploding oil lamps are just a taste of what shenanigans one might expect when dealing with Kaito.

synopsis. . .

People have described Kaito with many words. Energetic. Erratic. Brilliant. Brainless. Charming. Clumsy. Inspiring. Indolent.He likes to think of himself as a little 'extra'.Kaito quickly sets the tone as a friendly presence, shades askew and drink to his lips. Despite his many responsibilities and hobbies suggesting he should be very busy, Kaito can often be found wandering the streets of city states, observing the antics other citizens love to wrap themselves up in. He's rarely surprised but often amused by what he sees. The Doman has a bit of a tendency to pull the nostalgia card, too (perhaps a little too frequently...).When it comes to social gatherings, the Doman is a bona fide butterfly (or chameleon?)—if there's alcohol and something fun to do, he'll be there before you can say 'The Entire Nation of Doma'. He's an entertainer through and through, rarely taking himself seriously and thriving on the results of his antics. Playing the fool is one of his most comfortable routines, and it's very difficult to throw the Doman off his vibe.Yet for all his tomfoolery and lack of inhibition, one would be remiss to conflate the actor with his scene. Beaming smiles and harmless mishaps belie a wealth of worldly wisdom. His eyes have seen more than he may ever tell—unless one takes the time to ask. He's knowledgeable on a broad range of academic topics, from local and world history to aetherology to anthropology, and beyond. If he gets even the slightest opportunity to start geeking out over a certain topic, he won't hesitate.The Doman seems to have friends in just about every corner of the realm, and if you ever find yourself in a bind, he'll happily lend his connections to you free of charge. He never takes monetary payment in exchange for his services, though he isn't beyond accepting a favor or two...Suspicious? Probably, but the hyur insists he has nothing but good intentions for those he wishes to help.

other stats. . .

Alignment: Neutral/Chaotic Good
Enneagram: Type 7, the Enthusiast; Wing 6, the Entertainer
Temperament: Sanguine-Choleric
Positive Traits: Compassionate, wise, adaptable, patient, humble
Neutral Traits: Enigmatic, freewheeling, deceptive, flirtatious, competitive
Negative Traits: Secretive, vengeful, willful, power-hungry, stubborn
Notable Tropes: Supreme Chef, The Trickster, Seen It All, Obfuscating Stupidity, In Harm's Way, Hidden Depths, Sole Survivor, Mentor Archetype

tales trailing footfalls.

If any particular hook strikes your fancy, feel free to whisper me for more details!

► Feeling hungry? Come to the Naganoodle! A restaurant chain specializing in Far Eastern noodle dishes and La Noscean seafood, it opened its first location in the Doman Enclave during the reconstruction efforts. It has since expanded explosively, with locations in most city-states or residential districts. Each Noodle is staffed by friendly Namazu (with interesting accents) and patrons range from citygoers to members of the Spoken tribes.► Kaito's network of contacts spans all over the world. Informants, suppliers, hired blades, scholars... Most who are allied with him tend to mention that he's pulled them out of a bind of some sort or another in the past. Perhaps you're one of his contacts?► Or maybe you could use a hand with an issue. Kaito's got a nose for sniffing out people struggling with problems that require unique skillsets. He's particularly keen on tackling hexes and curses, but he certainly won't say no to bodyguard or monster hunting jobs.► Kaito enjoys taking on curious and ambitious individuals seeking magickal knowledge and expertise. Although he isn't aligned to any one Guild in Eorzea, he's willing and able to teach anything from the fundamentals to advanced applications of thaumaturgy, conjury, geomancy, and beyond. His wheelhouse even expands into esoteric and archaic disciplines that few would expect a chef to have any business knowing about, let alone be experienced in.► If your character is a Maelstrom soldier who keeps their ear to the ground, then the Doman's surname and the myriad stories about the intelligence officer might ring a few bells. He never did paperwork, rarely showed up for meetings, and generally seemed to have free reign over his day-to-day duties. Certain former associates of his might just rub their temples at the mere mention of the man.► Those with a penchant for aethersensing will find that Kaito's pool is hidden behind an absurd amount of arcane wards and seals, each wall significantly more intricate in its construction than the last. Without focusing, it appears as if he has an above-average wellspring of aether to draw from.► A grumpy little squirrel gnawing on a darksteel fabrication of an acorn can occasionally be seen trying to murder the Doman from atop his shoulder. His name is Alastor, and his aether is masked in much the same way as Kaito's.► An older staff member or alumnus of Old Sharlayan's Studium might recognize the Doman. Stange thing, though—he looks just like an aetherology student who attended the Studium many decades ago.► You may have seen a figure matching Kaito's appearance popping up in black markets around Hingashi and Doma. He's a frequent participant in auctions featuring restricted magickal reagents and cursed items—and he rarely fails to walk out with them. Perhaps you're bidding against him today? Maybe you need him to procure something discreetly for your needs.► Is your character a Far Eastern mystic or involved in those communities? If so, the Nagano clan's name may ring familiar. To the vast majority they were viewed in a negative light, seen as power-hungry fanatics who profaned the relationship between mortal and kami. Their mountaintop village was blanketed in fog so thick that any outsiders who attempted to cross it would find themselves back at the base of the mountain... if they ever returned. Though the rumors and hearsay are plentiful, it was confirmed that the clan had been wiped out during the Mistwalker rebellion. Would your character be surprised to hear that his bloodline yet continues?

whispers and laughter in the wind.

Common (easily overheard by PCs) –
🗨 "Mister Nagano's always giving those poor folks at the Alchemist's Guild a hard time... Who puts in orders for hundreds of barrels of aetheric ink every few moons!?"
— Riled Receptionist
🗨 "Lookin' fer Captain Nagano? Ye won't find him here anymore. He resigned after returnin' from the Ilsabard Contingent campaign."
— Storm Corporal Blynwyn
🗨 "That squirrel hanging off Kaito's shoulder is absolutely adorable. Too bad he glares bloody daggers at me every time I try to get his attention..."
— Dejected Dahlia
🗨 "The Naganoodle? Great joint for booze and noodles. Kinda weird how all the folks and beastmen get along so well sittin' next to each other, but I guess that's the state of the world today."
— Sated Sailor
🗨 "Oh, Kaito? Yes, he often takes on students looking to hone their skills in spellcraft. I honestly find it a little wild that he doesn't charge. Is he part of the Guild? No, no. But he knows his stuff. We wouldn't let him advertise on the board if he was a fraud."
— Astute AdventurerUncommon (can be heard if you're in the right place at the right time) –
🗨 "Huh. Is it just me or do all of the Naganoodle restaurants look the same? I was at the Shroud location for the first time the other night, but everyone greeted me like I was a regular..."
— Puzzled Patron
🗨 "Nagano-san and his Namazu helpers spent many long suns toiling away at the Ten Thousand Stalls during the reconstruction effort. We couldn't be more grateful. Try some of his ramen at the Naganoodle sometime! He opened his first shop here in the Enclave."
— Errand Boy
🗨 "Me and the Captain go way back. Met at Carteneau, just in time for the damn moon to fall on our heads. He was always a little goofy, but his temper ran a lot hotter before he got promoted! Hah!"
— Storm Lieutenant Rahz
🗨 "Yeah, I don't trust him. He's always smiling and handing out free drinks. Nobody with that much money to waste ever has truly good intentions. Great taste in booze, though."
— Quicksand Cynic (after receiving a free drink from Kaito)
🗨 "It's just my luck that the one time I try to bid for something, that tattooed Doman shows up and cleans the whole auction house out..."
— Bitter BidderRare (ask me before making use of these, please) –
🗨 "Feh! The Nagano clan is nothing but trouble. Monsters, all of them. That their bloodline continues to run is nothing short of an atrocity. Their practices spit on my work and the work of my peers."
— Hingan Onmyoji
🗨 "Kaito Nagano, huh. Don't think I've heard that name in many, many seasons. How exactly did he convince the Forum to overturn his ban from the Studium?"
— Studium Professor of Anthropology
🗨 "I don't think we ever really knew Captain Nagano. He was always bright-eyed and kind to us, but after he retired we learned that he rose through the ranks as one of Intelligence's most brutal interrogators..."
— Storm Private Hawthorne
🗨 "I watched a Raen woman leave the Naganoodle last night and peel her skin off to reveal an oni's body!!! What the hells is going ON in there?!"
— Kugane Drunkard (terrified)PC Rumors (feel free to message me if you'd like to submit your own!) –
🗨 "Yeah, I'm pretty sure Kaito's actually thirteen ghosts in a frog suit."
— Sleepy Cat
🗨 "I will befriend that squirrel."
— Fegasi of the Malaguld
🗨 "He keeps offering people his noodle. I can't tell if it's innuendo or legit. Or a prank just waiting to be sprung..."
— Rinalys Dawnstar
🗨 "Like a ball might conceivably bounce, so too does Kaito."
— M'moke Senyu
🗨 "He's got a fat deck, eyes that can hypnotize, and a good taste in booze. I hate him."
— Nio Jiin
🗨 “I love Kaito, but he needs to stop sending his Namazu pals to the Sushi-Max to deliver noodles. Giving the fish eye to the customers here is not a good business practice.”
— Lupus Maxius
🗨 "He will gladly help with whatever you need his help for. You may not be prepared for the experience, though."
— Honoura Hawke
🗨 "That sigil-ridden mystic? What would you have me say of him? What have I to say about him?"
— Koto Shinonome
🗨 "His costumes are stuffed with secrets, not fluff."
— Meilili Meili
🗨 "Don't try and find out what's behind his teeth. It hungers."
— U'shen Tia
🗨 "I reckon the shutters that keep Doma's suns at bay're cheap, off-brand knockoffs at best."
— Zumie-Fae
🗨 "One could scour the entire realm and the godsdamned lands beyond and still struggle to find a man as infuriating as Kaito Nagano."
— Moss Raincatcher
🗨 "If you're wont for unending, miserable, prying company, Kaito's sure to suit you. Probably."
— Lavender Solace
🗨 "One would struggle to find anyone in the realm as caring as Kaito. I do wish he'd stop asking me to 'try his noodle,' though."
— Tsuya Ishiku

mundane, and yet... nope. still mundane.

🐸 Thanks for giving Kaito's carrd a read. If you're interested in getting in touch with me, you can shoot me a message in-game. I play on Balmung. My time zone is CST/CDT and I tend to be active from late afternoon until around midnight on weekdays. My schedule's a bit more sporadic on weekends as those are my days off.🐸 Folks call me Sagi (he/him). I'm 30+ and have enjoyed writing as a hobby for a long time, with a good chunk of it spent in the XIV community. I like to think I have a decent grasp on the game's ever-evolving (and sometimes shifting :v) lore.🐸 Because of time constraints, I would be more than happy to plot out some pre-established relations between Kaito and your character. See what hooks interest you and send me a tell! I'm also fine with giving out my Discord if we've chatted/plotted for a bit.🐸 One-shots and long-term plots are both great. I'll take 'em. I'm always looking out to make more friendly or antagonistic contacts for Kaito.🐸 Please don't take Kaito's thoughts and opinions to reflect my own. Y'know, the whole IC =/= OOC deal.🐸 I enjoy writing a wide range of themes, from light-hearted shenanigans to the macabre, serious or silly. I'm happy to mirror my partner's RP style, though I prefer not to use first or second-person perspective. I will do my best to match length, but these middle-aged man hands make it a little harder to go into 6+ post multi-paragraph tags compared to my younger years.🐸 If you're below the age of 18, please don't approach me for roleplay. I don't write smut with players below the age of 21.🐸 Kaito's character design is heavily inspired by Japanese folklore as well as the practice of onmyodo. There may or may not also be a few nods to the works of Hayao Miyazaki (as if the landing page didn't make that obvious).🐸 Some of Kaito's plot beats and concepts tread along the line of lore-bending. I enjoy taking what XIV has to offer and playing up some more fantastical magical elements without going outside the realm of in-universe possibility. These aspects of Kaito typically only come alive in roleplay after a few scenes or with prior discussion beforehand. This is one of many disclaimers you'll get if you want to pursue anything long-term with him.🐸 When the context is appropriate, you're free to try and have your character inflict light or serious harm onto Kaito. However, I am not interested in playing out scenes leading to his death.🐸As far as combat goes, I enjoy both free-form and /random-based. I think that Kaito's a pretty strong character, but It's Not That Big of a Deal to me if he loses, especially when it's good for the narrative. Just have fun and try not to get upset if the dice skew heavily in someone's favor over another.🐸 I like frogs.