Marshal Osku of Pilkala

Osku hails from the relatively minor noble house of Taijanen which has long-standing roots in the fortress town of Pilkala, Osku himself spending much of his childhood within the garrison honing his arts of combat. He grew in notoriety by rising in the ranks of the local military, as was common amongst his family, becoming captain of the garrison guard at the young age of seventeen, only a few years later would he succeed his elderly predecessor and become marshal of Pilkala, answering directly to Grand Duke Tapani VII in his new role. After the death of the much-beloved Grand Duke, Osku became somewhat a confidant and mentor of Tapani's son, Arttu, now Grand Duke. This would play a pivotal role in the Grand Duke's decision to place second command of the Grand Duchy's army in the hands of Osku during the Doric-Aijian War ahead of the youthful marshal of Canyndor, Little Woljoka.   Osku would play a key role during the war with Aijia, both during the initial phase of Doric dominance and in the latter phase where the Aijians would beat back the Doric army into their own homelands. He would initially accompany the main force of Grand Duke Arttu I during the The March over the Bryn, before being granted an army of his own which he would use to great effort in capturing the settlements of Hestrja (Siege of Hestrja), Cadlinz (Battle of Jaer River), Camenlin (Capture of Camenlin) and Vollun (Sacking of Vollun). The latter battle leading to the taking of Vollun would be of particular controversy as the armies of Osku and Surcount Veli of Ilkweir would defeat the Aijian defenders of the city before capturing it, however, Surcount Veli would engage in destruction and slaughter in the city as tensions grew out of hand, despite protests from Osku. Though no one who had witnessed the atrocities attributes any to Osku or his men, the incident is still a stain on his otherwise noble performance during the war. The latter stages of the war would see Osku take part in the battles of the Battle of Wheatash Bridge, the Battle of Eaking Bridge where he employed deceptive tactics to aid a retreat and the Siege of Pilkala where he would fend off the Aijian besiegers for over a year.