Kestrel Family

The Kestrel family owns a large salt flat in Quetli. The salt and other minerals are shipped all over Atamara and the profits have brought the family into minor noblity. The family also has a large camel stable and breeds their own pack camels for shipping goods.

Current troop leaders in the family are three sisters and their cousin.

Lady Kureshtin, Baroness of Quetli

The oldest sister, she is to take over the family business when her parents pass on. In the meantime she has joined the Chocxal army, both to protect her country and to bring fame to the family.

Kureshtin received her first camel when she was 7, named it Maude, and had called all of her camels Maude ever since. She often talks to Maude as though it had been the very same camel all these years.

For a while Telerium was involved in a war to the north, and Kureshtin does not like fighting in such cold climates. She packed a good many camelhair blankets, but is still cold all the time, except while in combat with the vikings. The campaign also give her a chance to make business contacts in Eston and she has developed a taste for a local pie that can only be found in that area.

A battle in Brackhead was a dark day for Kureshtin. She received a blow to the head and was dragged to safety by one of her warriors. When she woke up she found that the rest of her troop had been killed in the battle. Maude was missing, and she had to steal a horse to ride back home to the desert. Also lost was her compact war bow that she received as gift from a desert nomad. Upon returning to Brackhead for a second time. Maude was found, still with the bow attached to the saddle. She was glad to find it again. Although she does not know how to shoot it, the bow has a lot of meaning for her.

A battle in Amdor gave her a serious wound. Her right leg is now a bit stiff in the morning, but she still rides a camel into battle as well as ever.

She is the Baroness of Quetli, an appointment that brings much honor and pride. She is well known by the locals, who welcome her leadership.

She was recently named Marshal of the army of Chocxal, a posistion she is not quite ready for yet, but hopes to learn the job quickly. She could not say no when she was offered the job by Lady Katheryn, a woman that Kureshtin both trusts and admires greatly.

Troops:
Kure's Flock: A well-knit group of desert infantry. Last member was let go in Brackhead.
Kure's Flight: Highly skilled warriors from Ptaphoc. Fought to the last man in Elost.
Kure's Tale: More of Ptaphoc's finest. Current.

Lady Kureshtev, Baroness of Mines of Isadril

Always interested in stories of far away lands, as a child she would grab any books or news scrolls she could find, then hide in the family stables to read them. Her favorite was scroll that had arrived from Ubent, detailing their revolution. As soon as she was old enough to travel, she set sail for the East Continent, eager to fight alongside her childhood heroes.

Upon her arrival Kureshtev eagerly joined the army but soon learned war is not all honor and glory. After seeing her troops slaughtered time and time again, she for a time sought her own death in battle. She still carries the scroll, covered with old camel spit and fresh blood.

A poorly excuted move into enemy territory landed Kureshtev into an Ibladesh prison cell, while her troops were slaughtered once again. This gave her some time to consider her situation. She managed to break out from her cell and rejoin the army, but the experience left her a bit more jaded.

Just when she was considering giving up, a letter from the Senate changed everything. They wished to appoint her Baroness of the Mines of Isadril. She had never considered such a post, but it dramatically changed her life. The responsiblity placed upon her gave her new energy. Over time working with the locals gave her a better understanding of war, and what it does to civilians as well as armies.

Ubent signed an agreement with Ibladesh to exchange the Mines for peace between the two realms. At first Kureshtev was outraged, but after talking with the locals in the Mines, she saw the value in the agreement. The people had been badly mistreated by the war, and switching to an enemy realm so that they would no longer be abused by either side was the best for the civilians. Then she realised she need not abandon her people, she could go with them.

When the documents were sealed and the mines had changed hands, Kureshtev became a member of Ibladesh as well. She was concerned she would not be welcomed, but she would endure what she must for her people. If it came to it, she had seen the inside of the Ibladesh prison before and gotten out, she could do so again. Fortunately her fears were unfounded. She was welcomed by Quake, Pontifex of Ibladesh, who gave her control of her region again. In a stange realm with a religion she does not fully understand, she has at least found one person she can trust. Her newfound faith in Quake has lead to her to believe that her choices were wise, and peace really has come to the Mines of Isadril.

Troops:
Kure's Pride: A rag-tag group of infantry that was turned into militia. A similar group of the same named died in a battle in Oligarch. A third unit died in a take-over attempt in Abadan. (Possibly more than 3, records are sketchy.)
Kure's Watch: Mixed Infantry. Left as militia in the mines.
Kure's Miners: Infantry left as milita in the mines. Recruited again. Current.

Lady Kureshtal, Countess of Hulaferd

She grew up in the desert of Atamara and would often disappear into the sands, seeking to be alone with her camel and her thoughts. When she grew older her family pressured her with responsibilities and duties, so she slipped away on ship to Colonies. She has joined the peaceful realm of Wetham, for she does not desire battle, only solitude.

She has spent most of her career doing civil work in Hulaferd and the contact with simple commoners has shaped her views on life. She has pledged her service to the people there, but is still unsure of her role. She has fought the undead, helped to put out a fire in a granery, and arrested several supected rebels.

She had hoped the peaceful coutry life would last forever, but Hulaferd was surprise attacked by the Assassins. She was twice wounded defending the town and there was an assassination attempt on the count of Hulaferd. She swore revenge. Then the they killed off the last of her original troop, a brave warrior who had come with her from the desert. As she was burying him, she was stabbed twice by an assassin. She was left alive, not as a kindness, but as a message of hate. The wounds healed, but not the anger. It has moved beyond simple revenge, she will not rest until the assassins are defeated.

She was recently named Countess of Hulaferd. This has strengthed her resolve to protect the people who live there. The assassin threat must be ended before the town will be safe. She will see to it.

She also had added to her mission that Hadubrand be restored to his place as the local lord of South Bakker. She was greatly impressed by his choice to revolt with his region from the Assassins to Wetham. She feels he placed great trust in them in doing so, and they let him down when the region was taken back during a badly timed rebellion. South Bakker rightly belongs to him, and she sees it as a matter of honor that need to be fixed.

Troops:
Kure's Surprise: Dedicated set of infantry more used to police work than battle. Killed by the Assassins.
Kure's Vengeance: A newly recruited set of infantry chosen by their ablities and their desire to kill Assassins.

Lady Kurewylle, Minister of Defense of Taselak

After hearing the glory of her cousins, she took 15 desert warriors and set sail for the south-west, hoping to make her own name there. The ship crashed on the shore of Segglin, and the small band found themselves in the midst of a brutal takeover by Ikalak. They tried to avoid combat, but the enemy had seen the ship crash, and easily slaughtered the dazed travellers. Kurewylle escaped into the trees with the ships captain. He had taken an arrow to the leg and could not travel, so she was forced to leave him behind. He gave her three items to take with her: a letter to send home to his family in Quetli, the papers for the ruined ship, and a brass horn with mysterious carvings on it.

Kurewylle recieved a very warm welcome from her new realmmates and was optimistic about her new home. However, it became clear very quickly the realm is nearing the ends of it days. Her optimism was shattered when a region lord she looked up to defected to another realm.

She was briefly named Baroness of the Cave of Guilt, but catpured on her way back to Taselak, so she lost the title. She was only at the cave a short while, and wished to go back to explore its depths in a time of peace.

With so many troop leaders leaving the realm, Kurewylle was named first Marshal then Minister of Defense. She was not qualified for either of these jobs, but tried her best to defend the remains of Taselak.

The city has fallen and the cave is all that remains. With no troops and nothing to do but wait for the end, Kure has had some time to explore the caves. Finally she found what she was looking for, a small hiding place to store her treasured possessions. If she is robbed or killed on the way out, they will not take everything.

It looks as though the nobles of Taselak will be left alone with their cave, for they offer no threat to the remaining two realms. It may end up being death by boredom, but she is too stubborn to give up.

Troops:
Kure's Hope: 10 desert men that died upon arrival to the South-West in Segglin.
Kure's Wish: Infantry trolls hired from Umkinnu. Died in Lesthern.
Kure's Stand: Desperate men hired for a lost cause. Died in Taselak.