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Toshiko is a headstrong woman born in the fall of 1547, who had her morals instilled early in life. Her parents were wonderful people, who worked closely with the tribes nearby, despite the issues many La Nosceans had with them She had started out as a Scholar, wishing to heal and learn as much as she could, however she learned eventually that her bedside manner needed work, and more often was better as the shield to guard the weak. While she can seem standoffish and curt upon meeting, Tosh is extremely caring and empathetic, which Kaiprys sometimes likens to psychic powers as to when someone is upset or sick. While no longer as naive as she was before joining the Scions, she still wants to believe that everyone means well, and everyone has good in them. She gets attached very quickly, and will defend those she loves to the death. She fights to ensure everyone can have what they need to live a happy life, including the tribes that Eorzeans look down on. She has no tolerance for people who do, and is quick to anger when she sees an injustice occurring. She chose to be an adventurer instead of joining the Maelstrom directly because she chafes at someone trying to determine her life for her, and hates anyone telling her what to do.
Toshiko had a fairly normal childhood on a farm in the western parts of La Noscea raising aldgoats, sheep, and cattle. Her farm was on the coast, somewhat close to a Sahagin cluster, a kobold cave, and even Garlemald. Here she learned how to fight, cook, fish, and how to tell right from wrong. Her parents instilled a sense of diligence, honor, and a thirst for knowledge in her, teaching her to look out for others, treat people fairly, and to help those who need it. As she lived so close to Kobolds and Sahagin, she was able to build trust and understanding with them, showing she wasn't like most of the Eorzeans they had met with. They eventually traded with her family, and this just grew her need for knowledge and to travel. She began worshipping Menphina as a child, as the love between her parents made her a romantic. This later changed to Thaliak upon taking on the job of Scholar, and helping the Nymians.
She was the one who would travel the routes between city states, and the various regions, so she met a lot of very interesting people, and quickly became acclimated to different climates. She found that, while she loved the beaches she grew up on, she much prefers the colder climes, despite her heritage of Hellsguard. Originally, her favorite place to travel to was Ishgard, until she met Kaiprys on one of her journeys through the East Shroud, heading to see the Slyphs. Her and Kaiprys quickly became friends, and began occasionally traveling together when Toshiko had to pass through the Shroud. She saved up for months to buy a linkpearl set for herself and Kai, and eventually they both decided to begin adventuring full time when their families were in good places. Kaiprys was already skilled in the bow from hunting for her mother and brother, and therefore began learning from the Archer's Guild, while Toshiko decided to focus on the arcane arts in the Arcinist's Guild.
While learning there, Toshiko found she had a natural gift toward healing, and so focused more on Scholarly research, and eventually the Nymian way of healing. This made her more protective of those around her, and led to the way she eventually took the Leveilleur twins under her protection. She was fiercely protective of the Scions as a whole, but the twins being so young made that feeling stronger. She has a closer connection to Y'shtola, since she met her first, and they have pretty similar temperaments.
Once with the Scions, she of course did join the Maelstrom, due to her roots in La Noscea, however she did serve in the Flames, and plans to also devote some time to the Adders, to be able to see how each city state is run. She would have joined the Knights of Ishgard as well, but being the Champion of Ishgard for the day of battle was enough for her. The zealotry the runs through the ranks is a bit much for her, and her fight with Raubahn was enjoyable enough she doesn't feel the need to do so again.