EBC | Ventus, the Nightingale (NPC)

GENERAL

Name: Ventus Sr. 

— Pronounciation: VEHN-TUHS
— Nickname: Ven
— Meaning: Means "wind" in Latin.

Most felines living in the city have heard of Ventus Sr. in one way or another. The former elite hunter has settled in nicely with the flow of the city after his return from Rome, enjoying a much more quiet life working by the docks. Despite the hardships he had faced by losing his mate and getting separated from his cubs, the older feline has never stopped carrying a smile on his face. Most come to him for advice or just to talk, profiting from his experiences and many stories he has to tell. He loves to surround himself with the cats of the city, and welcomes everyone with open arms. He's generally good company and loves to crack a joke here and there, but most importantly, he's loyal to the felines that surround him. After seeing so many of his loved ones come and go, he's glad to at least be back in a familiar place. You'll often catch him wandering around whenever he isn't working, and even when he is busy with his job, he never lets the stress of it get to him. Nothing seems to break the laid-back guy's stride!

But Ventus has the tendency to be overly caring of others, and be almost too forth-coming. While many appreciate his kind gestures, some might try and use his kindness for their own good. While Ventus does not let himself be led around by the nose, he struggles to actively pull through with consequences or scold them. You can get away with most things around him, but losing Ventus' trust isn't something you'd like. Once he feels hurt by someone, he struggles to forgive, and will carry that grudge with him for a long, long time. He can be extremely stubborn, especially when he tries to hold his ground. It takes a lot to make him change his mind on something!

Overall, Ventus is an easy-going feline who doesn't want to get caught up in any trouble, wanting to leave a life of bloodshed and violence behind him after working as an elite hunter back when he first left Massilia. Now that he's back, he's focused on his family, and acts selflessly to ensure their wellbeing. He is far from the youngest anymore, but he's still full of energy and love for the world around him, seeing the good in everything and everyone. Acting as an advisor for not only his cousin Aemilius, Ventus carries on his experiences and knowledge onto other felines, hoping to have them learn from him in some way or another.

STORY

He's lost count over how many times he's repeated his backstory, be it to friends, family, or mere strangers. But truthfully, Ventus' life began on a cold and dark night in february, just off the border of Massilia where his coliseum fighter parents escaped to in hopes of offering their offspring a better life outside of the arena. But to their horror, a group of hunters followed them swiftly, killing off the leopard who threw himself in front of his family in hopes of letting them get away unharmed. The hunters left the mother to die, ripping her of her two cubs and returning them back to the city. After all, the hunters were just – they knew that the cubs had nothing to do with their parent's escape, and really, they were innocent in this matter. Besides, who doesn't want some additional paws running the city's defense...?

The brothers were like two peas in a pot. Inseparable, they did everything side by side, entering warden training as soon as they were ready to do so at the age of six months. Training was tough, but Ventus never let it faze him much. Compared to his brother, Ven was a lot more laid back and easy going, taking everything as it came. Thus it was also no surprise that it was Judas who went on to prove himself worthy of the title as elite hunter right away, while Ventus settled down with his childhood sweetheart, Eiffel.

Together, the pair welcomed a litter of four into the world. Unfortunately, their son Vitalis happened to fall ill with no hope for a remedy. The humans took him away from the family, but whether it was to spare them from the pain of losing a cub or selfish reasons wasn't known to the young pair. But life went on, and their three cubs left the nest one after another to step into their parents' footsteps. But it seemed like fate had separate ideas for the pair, as their respective humans went on to different life aspects. This prompted Eiffel to move away from Massilia with her owner, leaving Ventus behind with their three children. Ventus, having risen to the rank of an elite hunter in the meantime, was inconsolable. He became sluggish and distracted, far from the typical energetic feline he was. Not long after his children got promoted to full-fledged hunters, their owner announced a sudden move to Rome, where he'd receive better payment for his work. And on top of that, he can offer his beloved felines a comfortable home and retirement from their hunter tasks.

For a moment, life suddenly became peaceful again. The move helped him get his mind off of things, and allow him to enjoy a life without the brutality he experienced among the ranks of the hunters. He also had the chance to meet his aunt, and his two recently born cousins. But while he liked Rome, it was clear that his daughter, Calypso, was getting homesick. After a couple of years, she caught the eye of a legionnaire in Gaul, prompting her sale and move back to their homeland. Ventus knew that his owner was getting older, and clearly planned for his felines' futures after his death. He brought Ventus' son, Zarian, along for his last visit, though neither returned. While Ventus never learnt of his son's fate, he knew that his owner was no longer alive due to his successor moving back to Massilia with Ventus, Octavia, and Aemilius. He couldn't deny that he was nervous about returning to Massilia. Would he be able to reunite with Calypso and Zarian? How's his brother's legacy holding up? And which of his old friends would still recognize him, given that they were still around too?

While Aemilius and Octavia were quickly transferred over to the Massilian warden programme, their owner had something different in mind for Ventus. He'd now be tasked with helping around the docks, where he'd be able to watch the waves crash ashore and felines pass through – one of his favorite activities ever since he's been a cub. So really, it was perfect for Ventus. But just as soon as they all got settled in, a ruckus went through the household as the news of Octavia's fatal miscalculation in training caused the death of another feline. It was Ventus who last caught sight of her, watching her sneak out of the house before the wardens could get to her for her punishment... Knowing it won't be anything short of violent, Ventus has decided to take this secret to the grave. After all, he couldn't handle losing another family member like that.

With this secret carefully hidden away deep inside of him, Ventus has been tending to the felines in his household aside from his work, ensuring their happiness in their new living circumstances. The world is ever changing – but Ventus decided that he was now ready to sit back and observe, without intervention.

RELATIONSHIPS

Mother: Asha
— Cheetah | Unknown

Father: Alexios
— Leopard | Deceased


Maternal Family:

    Half-Brother: Ishkur
    — Cheejag | Alive

    Half-Sister: Matea
    — Cheejag | Alive

    Half-Sister: Zeel
    — Cheejag | Unknown


Paternal Family:

    Aunt: Reyna
    — Leopard | Deceased

    Aunt: Riva
    — Leopard | Deceased

    Half-Aunt: Cardea
    — Leopard | Unknown


    Cousin: Octavia
    — Leopon | Alive

    Cousin: Aemilius
    — Leopon | Alive


Offspring:

    Daughter: Callis
    — Jagcheepard | Unknown

    Daughter: Calypso
    — Jagcheepard | Alive

    Son: Icarus
    — Jagcheepard | Alive

    Son: Zarian
    — Jagcheepard | Alive