Ea Roton, Songbird of the Battlefield
Sir Ea Nerunupyon, later changed to Roton (a.k.a. Songbird of the Battlefield)
Farmer, Soldier, Bard, Local Hero. Ea Nerunupyon wanted to be remembered as a musician first, and a soldier second. His lifelong goal had always been to entertain and inspire those around him. In his youth he worked with the Fourteenth Gehenian Troop and the Eighteenth Panwanese Transport Corp. .
The Songbird? I know him, he's a friend really. Served together for sometime, sure as the sun rises so too would that bloke. He'd wake the crew with solos, like our own personal musician. Course, we all wanted to hate him for it but none really could seeing as how the last guy they'd had for wake up was piss poor and prone to screaming. - Private Perchella, Eighteenth Panwanese Transport Corp
Renown Works
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Ea was born to a pair of farmers in the inner lands of a Panwanese High Duke, and was the eighth son of what would go on to be ten children in total. Ea's father had inherited the farm from his father before him, deciding to take up the life after failing to start a successful supply store in one of the larger settlements. Ea's mother had been a soldier in a local nobles guard before being wounded and discharged, she took to the life of farming well and would later be the large reason for their continued survival.
Ea's father had failed to earn his way into nobility, something he'd longed for since his childhood, and was forced to resort to other measures. One was to become a merchant, but he had found no luck in the endeavour. Another was to birth a daughter whom he could marry off to a lesser nobles youngest child. Unfortunately his resolution failed to produce any daughters, and he was instead gifted ten sons for his efforts. Each son seemed to enrage him more and more, and by the time Ea was born the man was either leaving the children for adoption or keeping them as workers for the farm. Ea was thin and would likely have been given up like several of the others, if not for a firm grip he'd given his father.
By six, Ea was tending to the farms duties with three of his older siblings each day and was learning from his mother each night. Their city, Zehab, was small but prosperous enough that they could live in relative safety from the monsterous hordes that would have otherwise been a threat. Ea was less interested in hunting or playing soldier, instead he focused on learning to play an old fiddle that his father had owned and played years back. It was in poor condition, and the sound would seem incomplete as he played, but he loved it and practiced nonetheless. When Ea turned ten he began shirking duties regularly, much to the dismay of his family. While he'd always been fond of the work to the degree that it drove his mind from wandering, Ea figured that it wasn't going to help him to get anywhere.
It was when he turned twelve that his father began to drink, losing himself more and more to the liquid and becoming violent in the process. He seemed to take it out on Ea the worst though, choosing him as the sole reason for each failure of crop or distrustful eye in the market. He would beat Ea on the days he left, trying to make the point of "do as I say or face the consequences" but only ever managing to seem vengeful and driven by hate. His mother tried to temper the mans anger, but never managed to do more than argue with him, spuring his anger further.
He left home at fourteen, selecting to join up with a passing band of soldiers returning through Zehab. One man, seeing the wounds and bruises, offered to help him enlist in the transportation Corp as a way of escaping. They were a "safer unit" by his words, and were often willing to bend the rules for younger enlistees as caravan workers. Ea took the offer and traveled with the unit to their station, where he was promptly accepted, enlisted, given a rank and uniform, and sent to join a departing group the next day.
In 700, Ea was serving as a rear guard for a rather precarious transport that had given the group some trouble over their journey, when things turned for the worse. Large numbers of their smaller Company were seperated or lost in the initial encounter and the remaining forces were pushed into a retreat towards a deserted and broken keep. They survived through brutal fighting, losing even more fellow soldiers in the process. Ea assisted in the saving of seventeen other soldiers and personally led the force of makeshift healers at their camp. For his service, Ea was promoted to Corporal and given the surname "Roton", in honor of the battlefields name.
For the next four years Ea worked with the caravan guards, enjoying the benefits of technilogical growth as certain trips were taken aboard trains, and found himself in the middle of a number of minor skirmishes in the line of duty. During this time, Ea would give performances for free to fellow soldiers and the commoners of towns they passed. He would tell the tales of the other soldiers and their bravery. Speaking of the honor and chivalry that even the lowest soldier shows, and how much more it is than one would imagine. He found ways to incorporate his songs and tales into his music eventually, weaving them into wonderous ballads that capitvated the audiences.
After touring throughout the Imperial Military once and being well recieved everywhere he went, Ea was prepared for another tour. Unfortunately, he was denied the opportunity and was shipped back to the transport corp. He arrived back to his position exactly two years from when he left, and returned to work. From there he continued to practice, and would often recieve requests from the soldiers and passersby for performances. Ea had developed a number of ballads at this point, each one telling the tale of a single soldier and their struggle against the impossible.
Ea was severely injured during a surprise attack on their caravan in late 709, sending him promptly back to the rear for recovery. During this time he continued to practice his art, gaining a new sect of followers at the hospital he arrived at. Here he gave performances, free of charge, to the sick and injured around him as well as the locals and their children. He would delight the youths with the tales of adventure and of the heroes, using the ballads of ancient bards to supplement his own for the younger crowds.
Ea was returned to service six months later, to the dissapointment of both staff and locals.
The Eighteenth Transport Corp was given a surprise assignment in 716 to assist the Fourteenth Gehenian Corp in transporting a number of dangerous relics from the front lines. The caravans were attacked and a number of soldiers were severely injured during the inital engagement. Ea was largely unharmed in the encounter, but later surffered near lethal wounds rescueing a team of trapped soldiers from their position and drawing attention to the creeping forces. Ea was, himself, rescued in the retreat and managed to make a full recovery some months later.
His actions during the attack on the caravan impressed a number of Knight Officers within the Fourteenth Gehenian, who had also heard of his talents musically, and made the request to transfer him to their Corp. The Fourteenth was drafted as a more tactical and mobile force, and had earned a name for itself as being quite proficient at artilery strikes.
Ea was unfortunately present during the Battle of the Glowing Sands in 718, and was ordered to assist in the safe transport of a number of civilians. His team was ambushed and Ea was gravely wounded once more, taking several arrows through the chest and legs. He returned to the camp still walking, a feat none could honestly believe, and claiming he felt like a "pin cushion".
Suffering several injures of near lethal levels had earned Ea a record for sacraficing himself for the greater good, but was jokingly reprimanded for it by his peers. Saying they would kill him if he died and took his talents with him. For his part, Ea was quite content with his new life alongside the Fourteenth, no longer a transport guard and, in 720, the official Musician of the Fourteenth Gehenian Corp.
When Imperial King Bare Kebya, High King of the Peaks and Valleys, Lord of Panwe, died before his eyes during the final assualt on the Abyssal forces, Ea knew he had reached the end of his time in the forces. After the battle ended and the dust began to settle, he placed his resignation and made to return home.
Eventually he founded a small troupe, unnamed and barely connected, and traveled with them throughout the EFK. Their troupe was small and often was rounded out by local talent each night, but would perform to the delight of all they passed or any that paid. Ea himself had retained his name as "The Songbird of the Battlefield" and continued to tell the tales of those he'd fought alongside.
Ea's father had failed to earn his way into nobility, something he'd longed for since his childhood, and was forced to resort to other measures. One was to become a merchant, but he had found no luck in the endeavour. Another was to birth a daughter whom he could marry off to a lesser nobles youngest child. Unfortunately his resolution failed to produce any daughters, and he was instead gifted ten sons for his efforts. Each son seemed to enrage him more and more, and by the time Ea was born the man was either leaving the children for adoption or keeping them as workers for the farm. Ea was thin and would likely have been given up like several of the others, if not for a firm grip he'd given his father.
By six, Ea was tending to the farms duties with three of his older siblings each day and was learning from his mother each night. Their city, Zehab, was small but prosperous enough that they could live in relative safety from the monsterous hordes that would have otherwise been a threat. Ea was less interested in hunting or playing soldier, instead he focused on learning to play an old fiddle that his father had owned and played years back. It was in poor condition, and the sound would seem incomplete as he played, but he loved it and practiced nonetheless. When Ea turned ten he began shirking duties regularly, much to the dismay of his family. While he'd always been fond of the work to the degree that it drove his mind from wandering, Ea figured that it wasn't going to help him to get anywhere.
It was when he turned twelve that his father began to drink, losing himself more and more to the liquid and becoming violent in the process. He seemed to take it out on Ea the worst though, choosing him as the sole reason for each failure of crop or distrustful eye in the market. He would beat Ea on the days he left, trying to make the point of "do as I say or face the consequences" but only ever managing to seem vengeful and driven by hate. His mother tried to temper the mans anger, but never managed to do more than argue with him, spuring his anger further.
He left home at fourteen, selecting to join up with a passing band of soldiers returning through Zehab. One man, seeing the wounds and bruises, offered to help him enlist in the transportation Corp as a way of escaping. They were a "safer unit" by his words, and were often willing to bend the rules for younger enlistees as caravan workers. Ea took the offer and traveled with the unit to their station, where he was promptly accepted, enlisted, given a rank and uniform, and sent to join a departing group the next day.
Eighteenth Transport Corp
In 700, Ea was serving as a rear guard for a rather precarious transport that had given the group some trouble over their journey, when things turned for the worse. Large numbers of their smaller Company were seperated or lost in the initial encounter and the remaining forces were pushed into a retreat towards a deserted and broken keep. They survived through brutal fighting, losing even more fellow soldiers in the process. Ea assisted in the saving of seventeen other soldiers and personally led the force of makeshift healers at their camp. For his service, Ea was promoted to Corporal and given the surname "Roton", in honor of the battlefields name.
For the next four years Ea worked with the caravan guards, enjoying the benefits of technilogical growth as certain trips were taken aboard trains, and found himself in the middle of a number of minor skirmishes in the line of duty. During this time, Ea would give performances for free to fellow soldiers and the commoners of towns they passed. He would tell the tales of the other soldiers and their bravery. Speaking of the honor and chivalry that even the lowest soldier shows, and how much more it is than one would imagine. He found ways to incorporate his songs and tales into his music eventually, weaving them into wonderous ballads that capitvated the audiences.
First Concert Tour
Ea was approached by a Count in 705 about performing for keeps throughout the lands as a way of boosting morale. By this point, Ea had become something of a symbol for the Transport corp, their brillant songbird, but Ea took the opportunity happily and was shipped off for his first musical tour.
by H.B.Bacon using Heroforge
Post-First Tour
After touring throughout the Imperial Military once and being well recieved everywhere he went, Ea was prepared for another tour. Unfortunately, he was denied the opportunity and was shipped back to the transport corp. He arrived back to his position exactly two years from when he left, and returned to work. From there he continued to practice, and would often recieve requests from the soldiers and passersby for performances. Ea had developed a number of ballads at this point, each one telling the tale of a single soldier and their struggle against the impossible.
Ea was severely injured during a surprise attack on their caravan in late 709, sending him promptly back to the rear for recovery. During this time he continued to practice his art, gaining a new sect of followers at the hospital he arrived at. Here he gave performances, free of charge, to the sick and injured around him as well as the locals and their children. He would delight the youths with the tales of adventure and of the heroes, using the ballads of ancient bards to supplement his own for the younger crowds.
Ea was returned to service six months later, to the dissapointment of both staff and locals.
by H.B.Bacon using Heroforge
In 712 he worked alongside Pere and "Heroes" to quell the disorder of the Bulsuno Tribes along the Bonsu and Eastern Front borders. A task that Ea would later refuse to ever speak on. No songs came from this time, and all reports of the event mark it as being one of the bloodiest moments in the Imperial History.
The Eighteenth Transport Corp was given a surprise assignment in 716 to assist the Fourteenth Gehenian Corp in transporting a number of dangerous relics from the front lines. The caravans were attacked and a number of soldiers were severely injured during the inital engagement. Ea was largely unharmed in the encounter, but later surffered near lethal wounds rescueing a team of trapped soldiers from their position and drawing attention to the creeping forces. Ea was, himself, rescued in the retreat and managed to make a full recovery some months later.
Transfer to the Fourteenth Gehenian
His actions during the attack on the caravan impressed a number of Knight Officers within the Fourteenth Gehenian, who had also heard of his talents musically, and made the request to transfer him to their Corp. The Fourteenth was drafted as a more tactical and mobile force, and had earned a name for itself as being quite proficient at artilery strikes.
It took nearly a year for Ea to recover enough to return to service, but during his resting he would play for the soldiers and cheer them up during the longer dreary nights with story and song. Something all seemed to enjoy well enough, even if it was not always successful at pulling their moods higher.
Ea Helping those around him by H.B.Bacon using Heroforge
Ea was unfortunately present during the Battle of the Glowing Sands in 718, and was ordered to assist in the safe transport of a number of civilians. His team was ambushed and Ea was gravely wounded once more, taking several arrows through the chest and legs. He returned to the camp still walking, a feat none could honestly believe, and claiming he felt like a "pin cushion".
Suffering several injures of near lethal levels had earned Ea a record for sacraficing himself for the greater good, but was jokingly reprimanded for it by his peers. Saying they would kill him if he died and took his talents with him. For his part, Ea was quite content with his new life alongside the Fourteenth, no longer a transport guard and, in 720, the official Musician of the Fourteenth Gehenian Corp.
Fourteenth Gehenian Musician/Rising of the Heroes
721 saw the first real rising of the seven new heroes, a general shift in the bleak warfront that had plagued the world for the past century and had nearly consumed all in its darkness, but also for the new Hero that was to lead the group.When Imperial King Bare Kebya, High King of the Peaks and Valleys, Lord of Panwe, died before his eyes during the final assualt on the Abyssal forces, Ea knew he had reached the end of his time in the forces. After the battle ended and the dust began to settle, he placed his resignation and made to return home.
Life after the war
Home, as it were, was no longer in existance. As it turned out, alchohalism and fire don't mix well, and Eas father hand burned the house down in a drunken rage with entirety of his family and himself inside. All that remained when he returned was the ashes. So Ea mourned. He mourned the loss of family he barely knew, people he'd spent more time away from than ever near, and tried to make peace with the reality.Eventually he founded a small troupe, unnamed and barely connected, and traveled with them throughout the EFK. Their troupe was small and often was rounded out by local talent each night, but would perform to the delight of all they passed or any that paid. Ea himself had retained his name as "The Songbird of the Battlefield" and continued to tell the tales of those he'd fought alongside.
Sexuality
Bisexual
Education
After a self imposed resignation from military service, Ea would go on to start a troupe. Occassional members of the troupe would be talented enough in certain instruments or willing to offer their knowledge of technique. By the time he was 70 and giving performances for larger crowds, he was able to play the violin, guitar, piano, and trumpet to a degree that rivaled most classically trained musicians and bards at the time. He was, however, humble in his position, as he would often comment on the annoyances that a lack of classical training had caused in his learnings.
Employment
Soldier
Bard
Accomplishments & Achievements
Personal
- Won several small contest outside Zehab
- Self taught talent at the fiddle, eventually beginning to earn a regular income through perfomances as a youth
- Became a successful perfomer without giving in to greed
- Remembered the fallen and sung their tales, those of bravery and triumph.
- Held concerts for the common and military crowds for cheap (750-778)
- Wrote Lament for the King and performed it for the Heroes years after the war. (755)
- Bought a small hold in Emberglow and became a farmer once more, giving concerts cheaply until he was too old and frail to do so. (771- 778)
Military
- One of the youngest enlistees into the Eighteenth Transport
- Award for Service through skirmishes in duty (680-722)
- Award for Service in the West Bridge Skirmish (699)
- Award for Service in the Battle of the Roton (700)
- Earned Promotion to Corporal with actions
- Medal for Performances (Military Concert Tour) (705)
- Award for injuries suffered in the line of duty (708)
- Award for service in the Bulsuno Tribes Conflict (712)
- Award for injuries suffered in the line of duty (716)
- Earns transfer to the Fourteenth Gehenian Troop for service
- Medal for Serive in the Battle of the Glowing Sands (718)
- Award for injuries suffered in the line of duty during battle
- Became the Musician for the Fourteenth (720)
- Medal for Service through Skirmishes (722-748)
- Self led retirement, Corporal-Full Honors (749)
It's hard to decide if the mans a hero or a curse, his playing is remarkable but its also the first thing that you hear in the morning. The thing forcing you awake. Hard to like a bloke doing that job, to a degree anyway. - Soldier in the Fourteenth
Current Status
Deceased
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Other Ethnicities/Cultures
Date of Birth
4th of Kioturs, 680
Date of Death
17th of Udvik, 780
Life
680 I.C.
780 I.C.
100 years old
Circumstances of Birth
Eighth child
Circumstances of Death
Natural causes, died in their sleep.
Birthplace
Zaheb
Place of Death
Emberglow
Children
Pronouns
He/Him
Gender
Male
Eyes
Bright Red
Hair
Shoulder length brown hair with natural streaks of red
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Light maple
Height
5'6"
Weight
128
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Ah, what a really sad and tragic beginning to this bard's story :( A brutal family life in a characters early years is a hard thing to put them through! It's a great place to introduce his enjoyment of music though, sneaking off to play for coin is great. I like the slow build and slow healing of his life after that, once he gets out into the world at large! One thing I'd suggest for this article, is make use of the sidebar. It looks as if you've got it enabled, just not actually populated with anything. I feel like things like his education, employment, accomplishments -- all those kinds of things would work really well in the sidebar section as bonus info, and help balance out the page a bit! Actually now that I'm at the bottom, I think there might be something going slightly wrong with your formatting D: Seems like there could be a bbcode tag that's been left open -- seems like the sidebar IS there, but it's been wrapped down at the bottom of the article instead. Otherwise, great article and interesting bard! :)
Thank you so much! Yeah, I love Ea, he's a great person who really just wants to help people and make great music that lifts others up. About the sidebar, yeah, I've been trying to figure that out now for the past couple days. If you have any insights, that would be amazing!
If I were to guess, it'd be a set of row tags that haven't been closed... maybe check where you've got your columns set up in the last few sections. It's hard to tell from the presentation side D: