Kale Aideron

Error creating thumbnail: File missing  Kale Aideron
Error creating thumbnail: File missing "The enemy is the enemy, no matter the uniform."
Gender	Male
Race	Hyur
Clan	Unknown
Citizenship	Ul'dah
Age	Early 30s
Height/Weight	6 fulms 3 ilm / 195 ponze
Occupation	Sipahi

Kale Aideron is an Ul'dahn sipahi in service to Chairman Lolorito and the East Aldenard Trading Company. Once of the Immortal Flames 1st Main Brigade since the Grand Company's resurrection, a series of incidents with his former unit saw Kale Aideron face disciplinary action from the Hall, before a representative of Lolorito approached the staunch Royalist. Instead of accepting disgrace, Chief Sergeant Kale Aideron agreed to being plucked from the Flames to serve as an elite retainer for the Syndicate. Now, Kale Aideron ventures across Eorzea, protecting the interests of the merchant prince's trade empire, if not for the Syndicate, then for the Sultanate as a whole. At least in his eyes.

History

Kale Aideron was born in Pearl Lane sometime between 1546 to 1548, to an Ala Mhigan woman and unknown father. Thus growing up as a half-orphan, Kale is known to react strongly against being called a 'whoreson', implying that his mother resorted to prostitution to keep the household afloat. At perhaps thirteen or fourteen summers of age, Kale was inducted into a Highlander mercenary band that operated as far as the Near Eastern city-state of Radz-at-Han and the wider Thavnairian region. When the Immortal Flames was resurrected in 1572, Kale returned to Thanalan to join as a rank-and-file soldier. He survived the Battle of Cartenau against the Garlean Empire's VIIth Legion, and was spared the mental trauma inflicted upon many other Eorzean soldiers. Kale distinguished himself over the next five years against Amalj'aa border raiders as Ul'dah rebuilt itself from the Calamity, reaching the rank of Flame Corporal. In the winter of 1577, Kale was promoted to Chief Flame Sergeant on Grand Company need and assigned as the commanding officer of a unit in the 1st Main Brigade, nicknamed the Flame Yataghans. Kale led his men in Operation Archon, joining the rest of the Immortal Flames in the feint operation at Castrum Meridanium, which allowed the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to penetrate the Praetorium and defeat the Black Wolf.

Kale continued to lead the Yataghans for the first few moons of 1578, until Alliance orders saw him stationed in the Holy See of Ishgard, leaving a Gridanian conjurer, Flame Lieutenant Dweia Delacroix, as interim commander. Upon his return two moons later, a series of unrecorded incidents with his unit allegedly resulted in Kale's desertion. He would return to the Sultanate, and rather than face demotion or worse, instead allowed himself to be recruited by Syndicate prince, Chairman Lolorito. Kale maintains at least some connections with the Immortal Flames. It is said most of his pay as a knight is given to the Grand Company's subsistence fund for refugees, and assists the Free Brigade in military operations.

Occupation

Kale has been in the fighting business for over fifteen years, and as a result has mastered the Ul'dahn gladiator and pugilist disciplines, with functional training in all other melee arts, including the lance and axe. He is trained to fight in heavy armour, but due to the climate of the Thanalan desert, is more commonly seen waging combat in lighter materials. Kale's specialties lay almost exclusively in frontline fighting, taking on enemies toe-to-toe. He has the most experience with human opponents, as well as Amalj'aa and (to a lesser extent) other beast races. Wildkin is not his forte, but Kale should be able to survive against a wild animal, if only because of his years of fighting experience.

Though the sword and shield is Kale's primary combat discipline, the Ul'dahn has a relatively slow and powerful pugilist form, emphasizing impact and damage over speed and dexterity. Combined with general unarmed techniques, Kale aims to be just as deadly without weapons as he is with. However, his hand-to-hand form is focused primarily on engaging human opponents, and is somewhat limited in engaging other types of enemies with pugilist weapons. Additionally, Kale is able to fight on chocoboback, his faithful mount Eskandar being a trained battle chocobo originally from Ishgard.

Appearance

Kale's rough and calloused appearance puts him as an individual who has served as a rank-and-file soldier for many summers. Indeed, a small number of very faded scars and cuts are visible on his torso, at least on the parts that are exposed. Additionally, his mannerisms and accent seems to support the possibility that he grew up either in or around Pearl Lane, a slum in Ul'dah. When working, Kale is typically seen in chainmail, either a haubergeon or tabard, along with a scimitar or falchion. Between work, Kale may be dressed more casually, although a set of vambraces and sollerets always seem to compliment his choice of clothing. When not working at all, Kale dresses very simply and plainly, blending in with the citizenry of Ul'dah. A kurta is accompanied by a turban, or sometimes he might be seen in a plain tunic with a set of chausses. He may not be able to be identified from the crowd of commonfolk, which is more than ideal in his mind.