Miilo Cantavis

## Biography

### Growing Up in Silent Grove

Since ages long past, the Strix of Silent Grove have shunned other races. Refusing to let eons-long grudges lie, they have forbidden their members from making contact with outsiders, under threat of exile. Because of these edicts, Strix have become a rare sight to the larger world and a valuable prospect to unsavory individuals.

Since he was but a fledgling, young Miilo has entrenched himself in the songs of the world, singing along to tunes only he could hear. Believing that the music filling his heart deserves to be shared with all, he was distressed by his clan's policies of segregation and secretly wished to meet people of all kinds. Nonetheless, he did not resent his people and went along with their rules.

The only living hatchling of his clutch, Miilo spent much of his childhood alone until he met Kiira, an older girl intimately connected with the magic of the land. She took the young Miilo under her wing and cared for the lonely boy. Upon her 12th summer, her magical talents and intelligence were noticed by the current Rokoa, who decided to take young Kiira away to be trained as her successor. While he was happy his friend's skills were being appreciated, this left young Miilo alone once again.

### Banishment

One day, when he was 9 years old, an injured adventurer stumbled into the clearing where he was singing. This man, to Miilo's shock, did not have wings sprouting from his back, but blood. Rushing to the injured human's side, all thoughts of rules far from his mind, he knelt down and began to sing. His ministrations and mournful crooning soothed the man's pain, and he soon fell into a restful slumber. Sitting back, the blood-covered young Strix sighed with relief. A week passed, and the adventurer had begun to heal, lying in Miilo's favorite clearing. After he awoke, the grateful man began to spin tales of travel, endless horizons, and tales of the world outside the Silent Grove. He also spoke of the great Captain Cor, a legendary swashbuckler who had helped the man along his journey. To the young boy's delight, he even gifted him a necklace that the Captain enjoyed handing out to her sailors as a token of friendship. One day, entrenched in daydreams of the outside, Miilo failed to notice suspicious eyes watching him depart from his village. It was a surprise to him, then, when a flock of city guards appeared around him and his Human companion. Before the young Strix could think, arrows flew and his new friend was struck dead in an instant. As the horrified and traumatized young bird expected to suffer the same fate, exile seemed almost a blessing, though this opinion would soon change.

### Enslavement and Rescue

The outside world was not as kind as Miilo had hoped, especially to a member of such a rarely-glimpsed race. It was not long before slavers from the Empire of Drevaria, seeking a paycheck from collectors of rare creatures, had locked the young songbird in a cage. Wings clipped and ankles shackled, the young boy was sold to a tyrannical pirate lord, as entertainment for long voyages. After 4 years of being forced to sing for his captors, the music in his heart had all but faded, followed by his smile. It wasn't until his 13th year of life that the winds of change began to blow. Pirate lords think a lot of themselves, especially tyrannical ones. When approached by Captain Cor, therefore, they don't often think about the dozens before them that have tried and failed to best the legendary sailor. They quickly come to resent this lack of forethought as their ship is boarded and their men quickly overwhelmed. When the great Captain confidently swaggered into the quarters, she expected to see gold or rum, not an emaciated young bird, locked in a cage. To her further surprise, she saw her crew's signature emblem resting on the boy's chest.

### Living with Cor's Crew

Captain Cor is used to taking in new sailors, each of them from all walks of life. What she was not ready for, however, was dealing with the silent empty stare found on the young Strix's face. Thankfully, the ship's surgeon Mimino was well equipped to care for the trauma ridden young boy and took him "under" her wings. For multiple years, the silent Strix sat at her side as she worked on patients in the sick bay, and over time she slowly coaxed him out of his shell. Mimino introduced the crew to Miilo as a new family, one that thrived on their differences instead of allowing them to be a point of contention. By the time he was 15, Miilo seemed a completely different person than the one they met two years prior. He was now full of life and song, chirping and calling for all to hear. Though at times his memories may catch up to his racing mind, he tries his best to keep them at bay. Cor's son Caspian became reluctant friends with Miilo, sighing as the Strix boy followed him around prattling endlessly. If you looked closely, however, you could see a soft smile on the Half-Orc's face.

### Present Day-

Miilo and Cor struck out from the crew, attempting to find a cure for Caspian's illness. Finding themselves among an unlikely group of adventurers, they press on with earnest, worrying for the safety of their family.

## Appearance

A slim, short young man with long green hair, and large wings covered in teal feathers.  He wears comfortable adventurer's clothing, designed for ease of movement, with a hole to accommodate his wings.

## Relationships and Acquaintances

#### Cor

"She saved me when I was at my lowest. She is a light in the darkness, a song in the silence, a gentle hand amidst countless blows, I owe my life to my Captain."

#### Caspian

"Oh Cas.... I hope he can hold on until we make it back, I couldn't handle burying another friend."

#### Mimino

"The sweetest bestest lady the world has ever seen. Even when she yells at me I know its because she cares. She means the world to me, and I strive to make myself worthy of being her family."

#### Kiira

"I worry that she'll try to find me, the world is not ready for a soul as pure as her."

#### Kliff

"Who? Oh, you mean Fluffy! He's a great guy, dedicated to his ideals. I fear his dedication may get him into trouble eventually, but I know his heart is in a good place. He's the most calming member of the group, so I tend to hang around him a lot."

#### Yukiko

"Isn't that Fluffy's sister? She's okay I guess, a little harsh. I can tell she cares for her brother though, so we can get along."

#### Dugall

"Wait, he's not Amy's pet? He never says much unless Amy's around, and even then he just wants kill people or touch their genitals... I don't like him."

#### Amos

"He scares me. He clearly cares for nothing other than his own desires, and will sacrifice others for his goals without a hint of remorse. The way I see it, he's just a dictator who hasn't gotten his throne yet."

#### Pipin

"The crew liked to call me an airhead, space-cadet, head empty, or anything else to imply I didn't think things through. Though that may be true at times, I cannot come close to this little guy's level of clueless. He's a sweet kid, but he's needs babysitting at all times."

#### The Strix of Silent Grove

"Even despite the whole banishment thing, and everything that followed, I can't bring myself to be angry at my people. It's actually the opposite, my time in the outside world has made me appreciate my people more, as I can finally understand their fears. I still think change is needed, but I realize that the world lying outside the Grove is not ready for such a naïve people. I know they would suffer as I have, and I dream of a day they can come out and find a kinder world."

## Proficiencies and Skills

#### Performance

As a Songbird Strix, Miilo is predisposed to musical talents which, encouraged by his family, grew more impressive throughout his childhood. Though his time in captivity added somber note to his singing, Cor and Caspian were eventually able to coax the smile back onto Miilo's face.

#### Medicine

Miilo's life mission is to spread the music of his heart to those who cannot sing, and this often involves medical aid. While he studied medicine a small amount in Silent Grove, his talents truly grew under the tutelage of the Surgeon on the Princess Buttercup.

#### Scouting

As the Barrelman on the Princess Buttercup, Miilo is well trained in observation and scouting. With his trusty spyglass in hand, he can spot threats and land on the horizon.

#### Cathartic Magic

The strength of his emotions drive Miilo's magic, sometimes resulting in an overflow of emotion.

## Trivia

**Favorites**
 **Hobby** | Singing
 **Ice Cream Flavor** | Chocolate Chocolate Chip