Étoileaux Charbonnier

### Nickname(s):

Toile, Charbo, Ed, Star, Bon, Coal-kun, Chibbles, Dark one, Bonny... (too many to list)

## Powers and Abilities

### Physical Abilities:

Excels at aerial combat, mounted combat and fighting with polearms, but has also had training in wielding various types of swords, maces and axes, as well as shooting a longbow and a crossbow. However, due to his eyesight, he is not reliable as an archer and tends to stick to melee weaponry.

### Magical Abilities:

Has some skill with astrology, but has never trained it and cannot read cards.

### Non-Combat Abilities:

The five years spent in captivity underground have given him good night vision, but he is at the same time vulnerable to flash blindness from bright lights. His soft tenor voice has secured him a place in the military choir.

## Physical description

### Eye color

Black

> "*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 speaks politely and has a bit of a goofy side to him that is hidden beneath layers of snark.

## Personality

At first Étoileaux can appear serious, gruff, snarky and downright insulting, but once people get to know him, they discover that he hides a good heart and a wry sense of humour. He doesn't sugar coat when people ask for his opinion. Étoileaux has peculiar ways of showing people he cares as you won't find him admitting to such emotions even at gunpoint. At the sight of a maiden's tears he will crumble immediately, pushing his cold persona aside in hopes of closing the floodgates. He values his personal space greatly and gets uncomfortable whenever someone gets too close. When exasperated, he has a habit of pinching the bridge of his nose.

## 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.

## Backstory

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.

Nine-year-old Étoileaux as a Redbelly after committing his first kill.His parents are both proud Redbellies who take their way of life very seriously. Étoileaux's father Severinaux had tough time instilling his values to the child, which resulted with Étoileaux often being at odds with his family, excluding his youngest sister Melanie who was too young to care. 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 with his family. 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. There he laboured for five long years in darkness before an opportunity to escape presented itself.

Thirteen-year-old Étoileaux as a slave in Coerthan coal mineHis newfound freedom was shortlived as he was caught by the Ishgardians for trespassing on sacred grounds and sentenced to trial by combat. Étoileaux would've surely met his end had not a knight dressed in white taken his place in exchange for his fealty. Having limited options, Étoileaux agreed and joined the knights of Durendaire, pledging himself to Lord Soleilmont, a lesser lord from a minor branch of said House.

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.

Seventeen-year-old Étoileaux as a squire of House DurendaireTwenty-two-year-old Étoileaux as a knight of House Durendaire, equipped with a halberd, a knife and a star globeThe year Étoileaux reached knighthood, he was deployed with a unit of Durendaire knights to Dusk Vigil, to support House Haillenarte. 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 a newly recruited Ishgardian knight. Étoileaux managed to escape the massacre alongside Tim who deserted shortly after.

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 and was promoted to a knight banneret.
After the war Étoileaux was asigned to be a part-time bodyguard to Lady Adaillie, the niece of Lord Soleilmont. He's also often found 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.

Various quotes from ÉtoileauxÉtoileaux helping Rina'ta off the roof of First StepsRina'ta and Étoileaux sharing an accidental kissKieo pushing Étoileaux off a bench by getting into his personal space at Kugane's hot springsÉtoileaux and Rina'ta making snow aegyls in IshgardKieo attempting to give Étoileaux ear scritches, seconds before Étoileaux slams him on the floor.Kieo, Kigoh'a, Azekiel and Étoileaux at the Sinner's Den"Tim" and Étoileaux after escaping the massacre at Dusk VigilAzekiel and Étoileaux
## Family

Ninette de Veilleuse
 Silvaire de Veilleuse
 Fernandmont de Veilleuse
 Florentel de Sellecerre
 Loupmont de Veilleuse
 Melanie de Veilleuse

*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 Wood Wailers, Étoileaux believed he could breathe freely and have a better life with his family.

He has recently died in the dungeons to exposure.

*Ninette:* Ninette supported her husband's way of life fully and was disappointed by her son's reluctance 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 coal mine owner for a hefty sum of gil.

She has recently died to an unknown disease that has began to plague the Redbelly communities.

Étoileaux's eldest brother, Silvaire
*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 soft-hearted, unworthy of their family name and treated him with cold indifference. Étoileaux believed that with Silvaire and their father's capture, the family would be better off.

Étoileaux's elder brother, Fernandmont
*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.

Was recently killed by Étoileaux.

Étoileaux's elder half-brother, Florentel
*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.

Étoileaux's younger brother, Loupmont
*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.

Étoileaux's younger sister, Melanie
*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. 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.