Born to a family of Bronze laborers in Athkatla, Korto didn't have a particularly exciting childhood. He was often dropped off at local temples to be watched while his parents work, but the time bouncing between them didn't stoke a particularly strong sense of faith in him. He did receive a cursory education, learning to read and write in both Common and Chondathan, as well as other basic skills. He was considered to be a rather aimless and lackadaisical child.
When he grew enough to start working, he was brought along by his parents to their various jobs. Hauling, running messages, cleaning, and other such sundry, undignified work filled most of his days. He made friends easy and was diligent if not masterful at the varied tasks that let him survive. He didn't have much strong conviction, or much of a dream - save that universal Amnian drive to climb the social ladder.
At the age of twenty, he signed up for the military on a twenty-year contract. He took to warfare with the same diligence he tackled everything, but his casual affect held him back from promotions to anything resembling authority.
That changed in the Longest Year, when in the chaos military action became a more frequent affair, especially against the many monsters now growing emboldened. This led to a battlefield promotion, and Korto being put in charge of a squad of ten men. He took to the work extremely well, partially motivated by the responsibility and partially because of his loyalty to his friends he fought alongside. He lead them through a few months of skirmishes before the higher-ups wanted to assign a new leader to the squad, but his men banded together to demand he keep the post, and the command structure begrudgingly acquiesced.
He kept up that role through the chaos of the years to come, his unit far from his home in Athkatla. He served under General Craumerdaun, and took part in several battles around Crimmor. His contract's end was delayed by the siege, and his final battle was the desperate struggle to rout the Sythilisians. Once the coast was clear, he was released with honors and given what fraction of his retirement bonus they could get together. He bid his men farewell, and wondered at his future.
He had planned to return to Athkatla, open up a shop with his seed capital, support his parents.
His home was gone. His parents slain in the sack, according to witnesses. The entire city in ruin. His home was no more.
He spent his coin on his own personal fighting gear, survival supplies, and a well-guarded caravan to Murann. Around his neck was an amulet of Steel. His axe was his own to wield, for whatever he wished.
He wished to see the ogres driven from Athkatla by any means necessary.
When he grew enough to start working, he was brought along by his parents to their various jobs. Hauling, running messages, cleaning, and other such sundry, undignified work filled most of his days. He made friends easy and was diligent if not masterful at the varied tasks that let him survive. He didn't have much strong conviction, or much of a dream - save that universal Amnian drive to climb the social ladder.
At the age of twenty, he signed up for the military on a twenty-year contract. He took to warfare with the same diligence he tackled everything, but his casual affect held him back from promotions to anything resembling authority.
That changed in the Longest Year, when in the chaos military action became a more frequent affair, especially against the many monsters now growing emboldened. This led to a battlefield promotion, and Korto being put in charge of a squad of ten men. He took to the work extremely well, partially motivated by the responsibility and partially because of his loyalty to his friends he fought alongside. He lead them through a few months of skirmishes before the higher-ups wanted to assign a new leader to the squad, but his men banded together to demand he keep the post, and the command structure begrudgingly acquiesced.
He kept up that role through the chaos of the years to come, his unit far from his home in Athkatla. He served under General Craumerdaun, and took part in several battles around Crimmor. His contract's end was delayed by the siege, and his final battle was the desperate struggle to rout the Sythilisians. Once the coast was clear, he was released with honors and given what fraction of his retirement bonus they could get together. He bid his men farewell, and wondered at his future.
He had planned to return to Athkatla, open up a shop with his seed capital, support his parents.
His home was gone. His parents slain in the sack, according to witnesses. The entire city in ruin. His home was no more.
He spent his coin on his own personal fighting gear, survival supplies, and a well-guarded caravan to Murann. Around his neck was an amulet of Steel. His axe was his own to wield, for whatever he wished.
He wished to see the ogres driven from Athkatla by any means necessary.