BACKGROUND
Birthplace: Kyriake, Dusky Mountains.
Current Residence: Calcia, a small settlement along the River Cora.
Occupation: Hunter & part-time apothecary.
Daily Life: She doesn’t have a set schedule at all, but she tends to wake up later, instead of early, in the morning.
Family History: See General Background.
Family:
Father: Krisiu Essytia
Mother: Ceri Lusus
Cousins: Astelea, Eusimand, Anamet, Heanoly, and Zito.
Paternal Grandparents: Unknown
Maternal Grandparents: Zerilu Lusus, Vita Dicamo
HISTORY
Growing up, Ionia went to bed hearing stories of hard battles fought by her mother, grandparents, great-parents, great-great-grandparents, and so on. She was born in times of war, and has developed the practicality of people raised in those circumstances. Her parents met in the skotadi army. The two were deeply attracted to each other and knew each other for nearly a year. Then one day, Krisiu charged to defend a fort from attack and was never heard from again. Ceri was devastated, and further troubled when she discovered the existence of baby Nia.
Born out of wedlock, Ionia was the talk of the town for a few years, but her nature was soon overlooked as the struggle between skotadi and apali powers were more important. Ceri left a few years after Ioni’s birth to return to her duties. Thus, she grew up among her two maternal grandparents, a healer aunt, and a circle of cousins. She was the middle child among her cousins, but she got enough attention. Though Ceri was not often around, her visits always left positive impressions on Ionia.
Even as a child, she trained to one day become a warrior skotadi. Though she possessed
some idea of stealthiness, she was better known for her speed and eagerness to battle. Her energy came to good use within the air force, and as airman, corporal, and sergeant, Ionia participated in many successful raids. War, however, took its toll on her in the form of heartbreak, disappointment, and bloodshed.
After one particularly bitter incident, something Ionia snapped. She became obsessed with training and improving herself, and overtime, became notorious for her aggressive style of fighting. Any encounter with the Apali was quickly ended, if possible—she was
that eager to fight the
next white-winged enemy. Her efforts did not go unrewarded, and she eventually reached as high as Wing Commander. Peacetime was declared a few decades later, and with no more enemies to battle, Ionia returned home.
Peacetime discomforted her to a sense of paranoia in Kyriake. To keep her mind off of war, Nia helped to guard the town from beasts, and often worked with her herbalist grandmother. But she wanted more, so a decade later, she left home and became a wanderer. She discovered the small town of Calcia a few years later. It endeared her at first, since the riverbanks were so different from the Duskies, but there was still very much activity from inhabitants, travelers and wild beasts. She eventually bought a home in Calcia, and resides there with one other person.