Struthionis Family/Coturnix

Name: Coturnix Delegorguei Struthionis

Patron Bird: Harlequin Quail

Realm: Madina

Description

Coturnix is a strange individual when placed next to his kin. Rather than the dark and drab aesthetic exhibited by most of his family, he has a strong tendency to dress in whites and other bright colors, and indulges freely in noble opulence.

Fiercely loyal and ready to die for ideals perhaps a little too innocent for a man his age, Coturnix has weathered the worst of battle many a time. Many scars tell of his exploits, and a missing left eye is always covered by a cloth wrap of the finest silk satin.

History

In his playtime with his siblings and cousins, a young Coturnix would always be the valiant hero who saved the endangered damsel and slew the unjust king to bring peace to the land. This romanticized view of glory and knighthood would never escape him. As his peers grew to accept or even embrace the darkness they came to recognize as part of the world, the eyes of Coturnix Struthionis could see only the shining promise of a perfect life in a world tainted by a malignancy that could easily be purged.

Dissatisfied with his dull life in the Colonies, Coturnix ended up setting sail for another land once he was old enough to seriously take up a sword. Seeking a place where his grand ideals of peace, prosperity, and valor could be upheld, he landed in the Ash Sea Islands of Atamara, where he was welcomed with open arms into a society that surpassed his greatest desires.

He would enjoy this peace for but two days before a disaster struck which would foretell of his fate for years to come. The glorious paradise of Ash Sea Islands was swallowed by conflict as a great majority of the continent declared war on the nation. Surrounded on all sides by the land's most powerful entities, Coturnix stood bravely with his new Ashlantean brethren, fighting against all odds and defending vainly a home he had barely had time to settle in.

They fought a losing war with the greatest of passions, staving off innumerable waves of invaders who consistently underestimated the nation's zeal. Every inch the enemy gained was paid for with inordinate amounts of blood, and Coturnix stood in the thick of it, quickly learning of the horrors of war and the true meaning of heroicism from the brave men and women he fought with.

Coturnix would pay for his devotion to this new home. Though capable in battle, luck seemed to stand against the young knight, and so he was plagued by frequent woundings and mishaps. One battle saw the loss of his left eye, and though he cannot rightly recall the circumstances, he is quick to admit that it was not his most honorable sacrifice. He came to recognize his unnatural tendency toward injury as a curse.

Eventually the war came to an end. Ash Sea Islands, battered and bruised and but a ghost of her former glory, survived the conflict. But her viciously raped borders were in no shape to provide for the many valorous nobles who stood by her side. With a hole in his heart and a stagnant depression weighing on his mind, Coturnix wished his brethren the best in restoring their glory and set sail for a home that could make use of his sword.

Though hesitant, the war-weary knight landed on the shores of Madina of Dwilight, and quickly found a different greatness in this new land. Whereas the Ash Sea Islands were a proper and honorable land of peace and prosperity, Madina offered a brave and passionate adventurous spirit he had lost to the trials of war. Newly invigorated, he quickly found the makings of a home in the untamed lands before him, and set about offering the services of his sword.

Eventually, Coturnix was inducted into the exclusive new Border Patrol army with a select few other brave knights, and quickly found fellowship amongst them.

Relationship with the Family

The Struthionis family scarcely acknowledges Coturnix or his noble adventures in foreign lands. However, he does command a quiet respect due to his generous donations to the family wealth, and they are quick to bring up his victories and valor when other members are not performing as admirably.