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Étoileaux "Charbonnier"

"She is the sun and I a mere moon that reflects her light."

― Étoileaux about Rina'ta

A Twelveswoodborn Duskwight elezen loyal to House Durendaire. He is usually seen donning either the armour or uniform with the golden bell of Durendaire. Despite carrying bitterness in his heart, he's polite and has a bit of a goofy side to him that is hidden beneath layers of snark.

• Biography
• Background
• Family

Biography

• Front page
• Background
• Family

Hobbies, past time etc.

To pass the long nights of sentry duty while looking out for the flapping wings of Dravanians, Étoileaux would often stare at the night sky and memorise the constellations. This habit eventually led him to become interested in astrology to the point he would visit the First Dicasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena any chance he could and pour over the star charts and notes made by the astrologians. When Sharlayan astrology made its way to Ishgard through the likes of Lord Jannequinard de Durendaire, Étoileaux was amazed to witness first-hand its healing properties and took a new interest in it. But due to its difficult nature and the Vault's opposition, Étoileaux never approached Lady Leveva or Lord Jannequinard and has never received formal training. His knowledge in astrology includes nocturnal shields, basic benefic heals, earthly star, gravity and float spells. He cannot read cards or bring the severely wounded back to consciousness.

Besides stargazing, Étoileaux is a big fan of tactical board games. During his days as a squire he was known for causing discord at the barracks thanks to a long winning streak in Nine Men’s Morris and Alquerque, which often led to accusations of cheating, followed by fist fights.

Long marches meant long stretches of silence which the soldiers often filled with song. Singing became somewhat of a therapeutic outlet to Étoileaux, and he didn't hesitate to join the military choir when given the chance. It is one of his least spoken about hobbies, as he feels it a very personal one.

After the Dragonsong War came to an end, Étoileaux found himself participating in tournaments on a regular basis. Most of his accomplishments there came in the form of jousting; a martial game between two chocobo-mounted knights wielding lances with blunted tips. He has won three trophies in said sport so far.

Out of his hobbies, Étoileaux holds listening to Rina'ta read for him the most precious. Due to his time living in the darkness of the mines for five years, his daylight vision was harmed and has made reading for long periods of time difficult if not outright impossible.

When in need of time to contemplate or mull over past happenings, Étoileaux often is found sitting on rooftops where he finds comfort close to the stars and far away from the hustle and bustle of nobility and paupers alike.

Family

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• Biography
• Background

Severinaux: Étoileaux's father attempted to instill his bandit values to his son from an early age, but found his son very resistant and hesitant to do what Severinaux deemed necessary. For this he saw his fourth son as undeserving. He regularly abused Étoileaux both physically and mentally. When he was apprehended by the Woodwailers, Étoileaux believed he could breathe freely and have a better life with his family.

Severinaux died in the dungeons from lack of decent hygiene.

Ninette: Ninette supported her husband's way of life fully and was disappointed by her son's relucancy to adopt the Redbellies' lifestyle. After her husband was captured, she struggled to provide for her four children - her only adult son being taken along with his father. She decided to sell her son to a coalmine owner for a hefty sum of gil.

Ninette died to a mysterious plague that ravaged the Duskwight community and was buried in Silent Arbour.

Silvaire: Silvaire took his responsibilities as the eldest son and only adult of the five siblings very seriously. He strove to impress his father and always came along to hunt and pillage with him. He saw Étoileaux as a softy, unworthy of their family name and treated him with cold indifference. Étoileaux believed that with his and his father's capture, the family would be better off.

Silvaire later escaped the dungeons and took it on himself to continue his father's legacy to unite Wildwood and Duskwight under one banner, without the intervention of the Elementals. His charismatic persona and talent for persuation worked in his favour when rallying the scattered brigand factions to his cause. He was killed by his youngest brother Loupmont when escaping the Greenwrath to slow down the pursuing wildlife.

Fernandmont: Fernandmont was more emphatic than rest of the family and took his younger brother's differences less heavily. He would often play games with Étoileaux and their sister Melanie and comfort his younger brother after confrontations with their father.

Fernandmont later became a willing underling to Silvaire and the one to oversee the training of the Redbellies in preparation for war against the Gridanians. He was killed by Étoileaux during the raid of the adventurers. His favoured weapon was an earth aether-infused sword which mass he could increase to use it as a percussion weapon.

Florentel: Bastard son of Severinaux. Étoileaux and Florentel are unaware of their familial connection, although they almost immediately formed a brotherly bond. Étoileaux took Florentel as his squire when the latter expressed his desire to become a knight of Ishgard.

Loupmont: Loupmont idolised his eldest brother and mostly followed his example of not interracting with Étoileaux. However at the insistence of their only sister, he would sometimes join Fernandmont, Étoileaux and Melanie's games.

He later became the tactical mastermind that worked from the shadow of his elder brothers to bring Gridania down on its knees and allow Redbellies and Duskwights take their rightful place in the hierarchy. Cold and calculative, Loupmont wasted no effort to reach his goal and was willing to kill both Étoileaux and Silvaire for it.

Loupmont is most easily recognised by his short stature, scrawny body and electric twin whips. During the battle to defend his home against a party of adventurers, he lost his ear to a gunblade shot, and was severely wounded by fire magic. He was known best as a tamer of various beasts.

Melanie: Far younger than her brothers, she was completely unaware of the tension within the family. She enjoyed playing with Étoileaux the most as he would often surprise her with self-made wooden toys. She was confused and saddened when her favourite brother disappeared.

As an adult, Melanie hardly resembles her sweet child self. She's sassy and snarky and has fully adapted the Redbellies' way of life. She finds thrill in pickpocketing people in taverns and fooling gullible men by using her wit and charm. Despite their differences, Étoileaux dearly loves his sister and tries his best to keep her away from harm and from the other Redbellies. He hopes to whisk her away to Ishgard, but Melanie has no intentions of leaving the Twelveswood. Not until she meets a certain nobleman who outwits her...

Espoiroix: Firstborn of Étoileaux and Rina'ta. He takes after his father in hair colour, body structure and demeanor, while the fair skin and cat-eyes are inherited from his mother. His facial markings are from Rina'ta's father. As the eldest, he takes it on himself to watch over his younger siblings and set an example. Espoiroix has a strong moral compass and expresses interest in pursuing his father's path. He is known to carry a wooden sword on his hip which was carved by his father and enchanted to never break by his mother. Despite often taking a protective role over his younger siblings, Espoiroix is quiet and shy, and usually lets his mother do the talking for him.

Aimerquile: Second son of Étoileaux and Rina'ta. He takes mostly after his mother in terms of colouring and personality, and is able to manipulate energies around him. He is a thinker, very curious about the world around him and like Rina'ta, speaks only what is needed. Étoileaux enjoys teaching strategy games to Aimerquile and encourages him to pursue knowledge. As Aimerquile grows older, he begins to resemble his uncle Loupmont in both appearance and intellect.

Foielle: The first of the twins, Foielle takes mostly after her mother in terms of appearance, but is unlike her siblings when it comes to personality. She is energetic, outgoing, talkative and social, and often under the spotlight. She loves physical activities and is eager to learn martial arts from her father and his circle of adventurers and soldiers. Foielle reminds Étoileaux of his only sister Melanie in her youth.

I'esla: The unexpected twin whom Rina'ta named, unlike the other children who were named by Étoileaux. I'esla is the only child to inherit her father's dark skin, albeit few shades lighter, and is the only child with a tail. Unlike her energetic twin, she is shy and timid, but observant and studious. Like her father, she takes an interest in astrology and would surpass him after joining the guild and receiving formal training. She is a daddy's girl through and through.

Background

• Front page
• Biography
• Family

Étoileaux was born as the third son to a family of five children. He was given the name Étoileaux—little star—by his mother Ninette who saw stars twinkling in the newborn baby's eyes.

His parents were both part of the Redbelly brigands who pined for the days of Gelmorra when Wildwoods and Duskwights were considered equals, and believed themselves to be descendants of the White Mages of Amdapor. They held a festering grudge towards Gridanians and the Elementals, who they held accountable for the suffering of their kind. Étoileaux's father Severinaux had tough time instilling his values to the child, which resulted with Étoileaux often being at odds with his family, as he could never see the appeal of holding on to ancient grudges or prospering to the detriment of of others. Only with Melanie, his youngest and only sister, Étoileaux shared a loving sibling bond with, as she was too young to be influenced by the tension within the family. When Severinaux and the eldest brother Silvaire were captured by the Wood Wailers, Étoileaux thought he could finally have a resemblance of a normal life without his father's hateful presence. Alas, his mother couldn't provide alone for the four remaining children. In her desperation, she opted to sell her least loved off-spring to a shady Coerthan man who paid a handsome sum of gil for the boy. Étoileaux was only ten years old when he was taken to a Coerthan coal mine where he would labour for five long years in darkness before an opportunity to escape presented itself.

However his newfound freedom was shortlived as he was caught by the Ishgardian for trespassing on sacred grounds and sentenced to trial by combat. A nobleman of a lesser branch of House Durendaire, Lord Soleilmont, was present at the Tribunal during the trial and was impressed by the starved and weakened child's determination. Étoileaux would've surely met his end had Soleilmont not ordered a knight dressed in white to take his place in exchange for the boy's fealty. Having limited options, Étoileaux agreed and joined the knights of Durendaire, pledging himself to Lord Soleilmont and his immediate family.

When Étoileaux first arrived to Whitebrim Front to train with the would-be-knights, he had yet to have the chance to clean himself from the soot that stained his face and clothes from his time in the mines. He was given the demeaning name "Charbonnier"—coal miner. His low status and Duskwight heritage accompanied with his failure to win the trial by combat by his own deeds did him little favours when trying to fit in with the squires. With the help of Tim, his recruiter, Étoileaux managed to endure the exclusion and bullying. Besides patching him up after exchanges of physical blows among the squires, Tim lent Étoileaux a friendly ear, something he sorely needed.

Lord Soleilmont saw promise in Étoileaux's talent with polearms and had him train with the future Knights Dragoon of Durendaire. However when the boy failed his final trials, he was transferred back to his original unit, much to his shame.

A year later, mere weeks after his knighting, Étoileaux was deployed with a squad of Durendaire knights to defend against a joint attack targeted at both Stone- and Dusk Vigils. Due to the Durendaire knights being thingly spread on both fronts, House Haillenarte sent reinforcements and engineers to support Durendaire in Dusk Vigil. Both Houses suffered heavy casualties under the Dravanian Horde's assault. During Dusk Vigil's siege the men learnt to put their differences aside and work together. Unfortunately their newfound camaraderie did not avail them when they were betrayed by a heretic disguised as an Ishgardian knight. The men defended the fort valiantly, but were ultimately overrun by the combined forces of heretics and Dravanians. Those that remained made a final stand within Saint Guenriol's Chapel, among which were Étoileaux and Tim. The last of the knights were massacred by aevises and heretics, but the two men managed to escape by pure happenstance.

As the pair left the overrun Dusk Vigil behind, Étoileaux found out that the one person who had had his back all this time hadn't been what they claimed to be, but a Seawolf roegadyn. Her deep voice had passed for a man's and her unusual appearance had been explained as a crossbreed between a Duskwight and a Midlander. Having lost her last reason to remain in Ishgard after the death of her men, "Tim" deserted the army and fled to Mor Dhona where her brother lives. Étoileaux never learnt her real name, but he still often thinks fondly of "Tim" and wishes to reunite with her.

Étoileaux returned to Ishgard alone, ashamed and broken. Among the casualties had been his friend Ser Raitmefort with whom he first had butted heads on countless occasions before reaching an understanding and becoming close brothers-in-arms. Having no-one left and seeing no future in Twelveswood, he returned to Lord Soleilmont's side and continued to fight in the Dragonsong War until its conclusion. He was present during the recapture of Stone Vigil, amongst other things. When he turned twenty-three, he was given the rank of Knight Banneret and his own unit of knights to lead. His personal banner is black with a single silver star.

After the war Étoileaux was assigned to be a part-time bodyguard to Lady Adaillie, the niece of Lord Soleilmont, as he was one of the few men who could track the elusive noblegirl down whenever she ran from home. He's also often found training squires, sometimes even partaking in regular sentry duties around Ishgard or in one of the many outposts of House Durendaire. As the gates of Ishgard are opened to the outsiders, Étoileaux fears he will become nothing more than a glorified tourist guide.