Kestrel Family/Kureshtal

Lady Kureshtal Qattara VonRavenHeart is the Royal Consort and Treasurer of Wetham.

Description

Kureshtal is the prettiest of the sisters, and she knows it. She is short, slight of build, and does not resemble a warrior at all. She has long, dark hair and bright green eyes. Though she is still beautiful, motherhood and the stress of recent event have caused her age to start showing. She can usually be found with a set of tax documents in one hand, pile of letters in the other, and one of her children tucked in her arms in between. She has taken to wearing gloves when writing, to keep from getting ink stains on her fingers. In recent years she has become less impulsive than in her youth, but still changes her mind quite often. She is a well known pacifist, but is quick to ride to the realm's defense when they are threatened. She now wears a wedding band, yellow gold with a strip of white gold inlaid. The names of the couple are engraved in the white gold.

Hulaferd

Kureshtal has fallen in love with the region of Hulaferd. She has served as countess there on two occasions and is well respected by the people there. She is dedicated to defending them.

She has a large estate, Serenus Vigeo, although war and duties often keep her from it. The gardens are the most impressive part of the estate. She loves flowers of all kinds and has devoted much of her personal wealth into importing rare and beautiful varieties. The estate was the site of her wedding reception and many changes were made to the garden for it.

Recently the estate was looted by the combined army of the Assassin's Guild, Outer Tilog, and Alebad. Kureshtal's cousin, Kurewylle, has taken over the project of rebuilding it.

Guilds

The church of Via of Filiolus has been founded in Wetham and Kureshtal is an avid member. She does not really have a religious nature, but hopes (and prays) the church will help with the war effort and keep regions in better shape. She built a temple in Hulaferd and helped to fund the temple construction in Wetham city. She has earned the rank of Elder within the church.

She is also a Master Moneylender in the guild Usurers Anonymous. The point of the guild is to help create profit for the members, but it is little used.

The Family

The Family barely noticed when Lady Kureshtal left home, they always knew she would. They were happy with her choice to live in the peaceful realm of Wetham, for it seemed a fitting choice for her. However, when the war had turned her so blood thirsty, they were concerned for her sanity for a while and tried to get her to return home. Lately she has been more cheerful, and they are less worried about her. They are glad for her success in Wetham, but wish she would stop asking for so much money. They were delighted to hear of the birth of her children.

History

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 did not desire battle, only solitude.

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

She had hoped the peaceful country 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 quickly, but the anger took much longer to pass.

Kureshtal was greatly impressed by Hadubrand, who revolted 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. He was captured while defending Hulaferd and deported to the Far East. He had a mission he was set on, and she took it up in his stead. She hopes to see him again.

Hulaferd was briefly taken over by the Assassins. During the take over she was captured by the enemy. Their Judge let her sit in a cell for a few days before taking her money and setting her free. He gave her a personal invitation, so she challenged him to a duel, which he refused. She is holding on to the invitation to use at another point in time. After a second trip to the assassin dungeon she began to consider Innocent a friend. After many letters they became quite close. Following his ascent as Dictator their friendship became strained. Lately they have not written to each other at all.

Kureshtal appointed Royal Treasurer of Wetham by King Sasuke. At first she took the job simply because it needed to be filled. It took her a long time to learn the skills needed for the job, but now the tasks come to her as easily as breathing.

Kureshtal stepped down as Countess of Hulaferd so she could focus her energy on banking. For a while she used the extra time to try to track down a secret cookie stash left by one of Wetham's former kings, but she has since given up finding it.

Kureshtal has switched to the bureaucrat class. Wetham was in need of one, and she has taken the opportunity to step back from the aggressive part of the war effort. With the skills she has gained as a countess and a banker she expects the paperwork will come easily to her and she is glad to be working with people instead of watching them die.

When Corali Forest came to Wetham, Kureshtal spent a lot of time there, both tracking down rebels and trying to rebuild the administration of the region. She likes the forest well enough, but would rather be at home in Hulaferd. She was especially distressed that she needed to be there for the birth of the twins but she could not stay home and neglect her work.

Shortly after the birth of the twins, Lady Kureshtal married Lord Wolfgang Constantine VonRavenHeart, King of Wetham.

Children

Lady Kureshtal oldest children are twins, Lady Kurecalle Dahlia VonRavenHeart and Sir Elijah Tal VonRavenHeart. Currently they have just become squires, in service to Lady Vidara and Lord Wayslis, two nobles who are greatly respected and trusted to teach the children what they will need to know to become nobles of Wetham.

Less than a year after her wedding, Kureshtal gave birth to a son, Sir Claudius Edward VonRavenHeart. A few years later she gave birth to a daughter, Lady Kurespera Gwendolyn VonRavenHeart.

Troops:

Kure's Surprise: Dedicated set of infantry more used to police work than battle. Killed by the Assassins.
Kure's Vengeance: Infantry chosen for their abilities and their desire to kill Assassins. Died defending Hulaferd.
Kure's Anger: Cheap infantry bought with family money. Left as militia in Hulaferd.
Kure's Wrath: Decent infantry paid from the royal treasury. Left as militia in Hulaferd.
Kure's Red Line: Infantry. Fought to the last man attacking South Bakker.
Kure's Promise: Infantry. Died defending Corali Forest.
Kure's Vow: A police unit for region maintenance. Current.