Recluse Family/Purple

Purple was the first Recluse to take up the call to Nobility, although he was the third son of his Father and Mother.

For centuries the Recluses had named their Firstborns either "Brown" or "Gray", alternately. Even this was considered 'uppity' by the peasantry of Matakonis. Family names were little more than the name of the profession they followed, 'Tailor', 'Cooper', 'Smith', etc. Keeping a Family Name reflecting some ancient weirdo gave some Matakonins the impression that the Recluses were a bit presumptuous, holding onto an ancient 'Destiny' rather than simply accepting their role as farmers and tanners. This habit of alternating firstborn names was too much like a habit of Royalty.

Then came Brown XVIII, whose "firstborn" were identical twins. There had been some sort of confusion during delivery, so by the time he was brought in for the naming (yep, another "royal" custom, while peasant children were just called 'lad' until they got a nickname that stuck) well, by then no one had taken note of which child appeared first, so XVIII saw that there could be no Gray Recluse XXIV, at least not in this generation.

With that tradition broken and his sons still needing names, Brown XVIII sat and held his sons for a while, eyes closed. Then he rose and handed one boy back to his wife saying, "this is Gold", and the other to his sister (the midwife) saying, "This is Black. These men will share my inheritance and lead the family together when it is their time. My first grandson from either man will continue the Family line in his time."

When a third son came then Brown XVIII did not attend. Still his wife had a strong feeling that all her children should be named. Going further than her husband had years before she called this boy "Purple". This seems at times to have gone to the boy's head.

For many years he worked valiantly heading an Infantry unit for Abington in Atamara. Eventually he took up the life of a Hero, foregoing any other profession from then on. He found quite a bit of success in battle, since his squad responded well to his change in status, feeling more confident and unified in action.

Purple has a quick wit and sense of humor, honed around the Evening Circle on the Family Farm. After he was twelve years old he started doing chores for his father and uncles, so was welcomed to sit in the circle at the end of the day. He was too green to speak on the problems that the farm and tannery faced during that day, but he soon caught on to the sharp wit and word-play that rose up toward the end of the circles.

Unfortunately, that sense of humor did not do him well amongst the Nobility of of Abington. On the farm it was not unusual for anyone to make jest of the foibles of another, even the Family Head, if there was humor in his actions. Such quips were known to be far different from either criticism or anger. That distinction was lost on the Leaders of Abington, and once certain ones took offense at a comment, there was no return to 'unknown' status, nor a path to honored glory. Purple took counsel with his Parents and their siblings back in Matakonis, on the farm. They all agreed that he was just as capable as his older brother, Black, General of the Army of Giblot in the Colonies. It was hard for them to face the solution for his frustration, but it was agreed: he would leave Matakonis, Abington, and Atamara, and start with a clean slate in Beluaterra.

After a seemingly interminable sea voyage, he arrived in Mesh, a land of good promise for his talents to be put to good use.