Quinlan

Quinlan
Captain's Uniform Scout Uniform .
Age: Early-mid twenties Gender: Male Origin: Terria Family: Caldus (Paternal Grandfather) Allegiance: King Dabheid of Terria Occupation: Soldier Rank: Captain of the Royal Guard Weaponry: Tesque, Treewalker Blade, Archery Status: Injured Appearances: Beyond the Western Deep The Land's End (mentioned)

Quinlan is a Tamian warrior in his early-to-mid-twenties.

Personality

As a child, Quinlan was very shy.

Quinlan is quiet, reserved and naturally cautious. He dislikes battle and political intrigue. More comfortable taking orders than giving them, Quinlan avoids being the center of attention and has trouble commanding a room. He copes with his problems and the stress of his duties by not thinking about them. Whenever he is troubled or stressed, Quinlan hides far into the Western Deep and draws.

Quinlan has no desire for power or glory of any sort- in fact, he actively avoids responsibility because he does not like being weighed down and prefers the freedom to make his own choices. Quinlan doesn't want to sacrifice the important things for the greater good. Quinlan weighs decisions of life and death carefully, and is not keen on making such heavy decisions.

He would prefer to stay at home and sketch instead of going out adventuring. Unlike most Tamian, Quinlan is attached to his house and maintains it. He keeps trinkets and keepsakes on a shelf in his room- a conch shell and a drawing done by a child. He has also furnished his house with a hammock, a chest, a desk and pillow chair.

Relationships

Dakkan

Since a young age, Quinlan and Dakkan have been close friends. Whenever Quinlan is troubled or down, Dakkan is the one who cheers him up.

Janik

Janik and Quinlan have known each other since they were very young. Janik knows all of Quinlan's hiding places in the Western Deep.

Caldus

Quinlan had a rocky relationship with his grandfather, largely due to their different attitudes towards combat. Caldus loved battle, and having risked his life many times for the sake of the Tamian, Caldus felt insulted when Quinlan chose to become a scout because it was safer than becoming a soldier and nearly disowned him as a result. However, Quinlan still cared for his grandfather. It was Caldus' dying wish that Quinlan succeed him as Captain of the Royal Guard. It has been implied that Caldus does not approve of Quinlan's artistic pursuits, as Quinlan practiced his penny whistle in the Western Deep out of his earshot.

King Dabheid

When Quinlan shirks his duties to the King to hide in the Western Deep, Dabheid would search for Quinlan with little success. They have a strong bond thanks to their mutual relationship with Caldus.

Crim

Crim and Quinlan knew each other as scouts. Crim has never liked Quinlan, and liked him even less after Quinlan was promoted to Captaincy over Crim. Crim wants to prove his skill in Tesque by defeating Quinlan in a match. Crim thinks Quinlan is unfit for captaincy because he is irresponsible and unambitious.

Quinlan's Parents

Quinlan's parents are dead.

Skills

Quinlan is acrobatic and a skilled treeflyer. He holds the highest rank, Master, in Tesque. Unlike his grandfather, he is also skilled at archery.

He has been described as "the best scout in Sunsgrove." He has spent enough time in the wilds to know a reliable night watch in proper shifts is the best way to stay alert to danger. Due to his experience as a scout, Quinlan knows how to handle sentry duty.

Quinlan enjoys recreational art, and has been seen drawing plants with a stick of charcoal wrapped in cloth. He also plays a penny whistle, and is "fairly decent" at it, usually playing it in the forest outside his grandfather's earshot. He has also dueted with Dakkan, who plays the fiddle.

However, Quinlan is not skilled when it comes to socialization.

History

Backstory

Quinlan when he first met Dakkan

Quinlan met Dakkan shortly after Kenosh returned from his time as a prisoner of war. When Dabheid called Kenosh to Terria, Dakkan accompanied his father to the meeting and Quinlan came with Caldus.

In his youth, Quinlan’s Tesque training was overseen by his grandfather. In one specific instance, Quinlan lost a match to Crim, and Caldus asks Quinlan why he held back. As Crim walks away, Quinlan wipes away tears and pulls away from Caldus, who tells Quinlan that he will hate Caldus until the moment where it’s Quinlan’s life or another’s.

Against Caldus' wishes, Quinlan chose to become a scout instead of a soldier. Enraged, Caldus almost disowned him

Shortly before present events, Quinlan was promoted from a scout to Captain of the Royal Guard.

Chapter One

In the Deep

Quinlan is drawing alone in the woods when Janik finds him and reminds him of his responsibilities, then informs him that the Lutren envoy has arrived. Overwhelmed with the workload of his new position, Quinlan expresses his grief at his grandfather's passing and his doubt that he will be able to make his grandfather proud. Janik comforts him then sends him back to Terria for the meeting, reminding him not to forget his Captain's uniform. Stopping at his house, Quinlan is reminded of his grandfather when he sees the uniform and has a moment of quiet contemplation.

The Audience with the King

After quickly changing into his uniform, Quinlan rushes to the King's audience chamber, where Dakkan is waiting outside for him. The two enter and are greeted by Dabheid, who gently chastises Quinlan for his tardiness before the meeting starts. Captain Kenosh briefs the King and Quinlan on the growing tension between the Canid and the Ermehn. If the two races fight, then Sunsgrove will be forced to send military aid to the Canid, an act that would plunge the entire world into war. Since Sunsgrove cannot endanger their alliance with the Canid, Kenosh suggests that the Sunsgrovians send an envoy to Deltrada Garrison in Aisling to convince the Canid General Clovis to stand down and requests that Quinlan accompany him to show a united Sunsgrovian front to the Canid. To Quinlan's dismay, and over his stammered protests, Dabheid agrees.

The Tesque Demonstration

After the audience, Quinlan and Dakkan are accosted by Crim, who suggests that Quinlan demonstrate the tenets of Tesque to his students. At first, Quinlan tries to turn him down, but then Crim tells Quinlan that Caldus would have done it. Wordlessly, Quinlan accepts. It quickly becomes clear that the "demonstration" is intended to humiliate Quinlan. Rusty from his constant duties, Quinlan receives several hefty blows from Crim, enraging Dakkan. However, a gesture from Quinlan is enough to keep him from interfering in the match. Quinlan dodges Crim's next attack and trips him before Crim can land any more blows. Enraged at the humiliation, Crim attacks Quinlan outright. Quinlan easily defeats Crim, but accidentally knocks him out in the process.

Adieu

The night at the Land's End Tavern, Janik, Quinlan, Kenosh and Dakkan discuss the fight with Crim. Janik notes that Crim was next in line to be the Captain until Caldus named Quinlan as his successor, which only solidified the dislike for Quinlan that Crim already had. Janik changes the subject to the trio's upcoming journey to Deltrada, which is not expected to take longer than a week or two. Janik reveals that she is working with her father, the diplomat to Nessa, and she will be travelling to Nessa to meet the Vulpin Council while Quinlan, Dakkan, and Kenosh travel to Aisling. The quartet drinks to the success of their respective missions.

Chapter Two

The Road to Deltrada

Quinlan travels with the envoy. The envoy stops when they pass the border, and Kenosh tells Dakkan and Quinlan that they are both taking a watch that night. Quinlan asks if it is really that dangerous here, and Kenosh replies that it can be after the trees start thinning. Quinlan sleeps through the first two watches. When sunlight starts coming over the horizon, Dakkan wakes Quinlan for his watch. Quinlan notes that Dakkan woke him late, then stretches. Quinlan feeds the fire, puts on his gloves, then asks Dakkan why they’re going to a military garrison instead of the Canid capital to see the Canid King. Dakkan tells him that King Janus has no real power and he’s only king because the Canid Generals say he is.

A trio of bandits- a brother and sister duo of Ermehn and a Felis- enter the campsite, and tell them they want everything the group has. Enraged, Dakkan attacks Dakkan is quickly disarmed. Quinlan aims an arrow at the bandits and tells them to let Dakkan go. The bandits put a spear to Dakkan’s throat, and tell Quinlan that if they give up their valuables, Dakkan will remain unharmed.

Reluctantly, Quinlan begins to let up tension on his bowstring. The Felis bandit tells the sister to wake the Kenosh so they can finish their business, but when she goes to do so, Kenosh is not in his pallet, and emerges behind the Felis with a drawn sword.

Argument

Kenosh let Quinlan choose what to do with the bandits, and Quinlan chose to let them go. When Dakkan claims the Ermehn got what was coming to them because of the awful things they did during the war, Quinlan backs him up, saying that he’d heard similar stories from his grandfather. However, Kenosh claims the uprising was more like a massacre. He tells them that before the Uprising, the Canid lied to Sunsgrove to get them to helping the Canid fight the Ermehn, and that Sunsgrove didn’t realize the truth until many innocent Ermehn were dead. He adds that Sunsgrove helped destroy the Ermehn civilization, but won’t accept any of the blame.

Quinlan considers Kenosh’s words, a bit guilty he never thought of it from that perspective before. Quinlan is shocked to see Kenosh raise his hand against Dakkan when the latter vocally disagrees with his father. Kenosh apologizes to Quinlan, and says this is not the time for such debate. Quinlan notes that Kenosh is passionate about the subject, and Kenosh replies that someone has to be. Quinlan begins to ask Dakkan a question, but Dakkan tells him not now and starts walking.

General Clovis

A couple days after thebandit incident, the envoy approaches the walls of Deltrada, and Quinlan asks Kenosh what he knows about General Clovis. Kenosh reminds that Generals Clovis and Tosch wield a lot of power in Aisling, and warns Quinlan and Dakkan that the Canid sense of humor is nonexistent. Quinlan asks if there are two Generals, which Kenosh confirms. Quinlan starts to ask another question, but Kenosh cuts him off, saying that the Canid can hear them now.

Once the Canid check their paperwork, they enter the garrison and see Canid trainees hard at work. As they walk through Deltrada, Quinlan comments that it’s like the war never ended here, to which Kenosh replies that it didn’t. The envoy finds General Clovis critiquing the form of the Deltrada bowmen.

Clovis greets Kenosh as an old friend. Kenosh returns the greeting and Clovis notes that he hasn’t met Quinlan, who intoduces himself as Quinlan. Kenosh corrects him, informing Clovis that Quinlan is a Captain. Clovis tells an underling to ensure the archers finish their quiver and invites the envoy to walk with him.

As Quinlan mentally berates himself for messing up his introduction Clovis reveals that Tosch has been delayed on the road from Arklow, and adds that this development may be for the best as Tosch doesn’t care for Sunsgrovians. He then asks Quinlan if Caldus has retired. Quinlan tells him that Caldus died two weeks ago, and was his grandfather. Clovis begins to express condolences, but is distracted by a young Canid trainee.

Quinlan watches, intimidated, as the General emphatically sets the trainee straight. Clovis returns to the envoy. Kenosh tells him they received word that the Ermehn conflict had escalated. Clovis tries to avoid the subject but admits the Ermehn have increased their attacks on Canid Patrols in the Wastes, prompting Quinlan to ask what Canid Patrols are doing in Ermehn land. Clovis says that while it is Ermehn land according to the Treaty of Cenolau, the reality is more complicated than that. Clovis claims that the Ermehn should be content with their lot, but since they keep fighting back the Canid have had to take measures to keep the Ermehn contained. Dakkan asks how the Ermehn pose a threat.

Clovis tells the envoy that the Canid have been hearing reports of a curious Ermehn tribe that’s been gaining strength over the past few months. Dakkan asks why one tribe is concerning. Irked, Clovis tells Dakkan that from the meaning of his name, it’s clear that Kenosh wanted a successor- but since Dakkan is along for experience at his age, he is a disappointment to his father. Quinlan tries to confront Clovis, but Kenosh cuts him off, telling Clovis that’s enough. Despite being cut off, Quinlan remains indignant.

Diplomatic Differences

Pulling his hood up, Quinlan asks Clovis if they can continue their meeting indoors. Clovis asks if can’t handle a little rain, then lets them into the keep. Clovis tells them that the name “Sratha-din” means “Sratha’s Tribe” and that when the Ermehn ruled Aisling, Sratha the Warlord oppressed the Canid cruelly.

Clovis leads them to an inner room and tells them that Sunsgrove’s intervention was the only thing that kept the Canid from being destroyed. Kenosh comments that it can’t be the same tribe, and Clovis agrees, saying hs ancestors killed Sratha in open combat. Quinlan asks if that means someone is using his name as a symbolic guesture, and Clovis tells them that Sratha is a name they forbid the Ermehn to use, because they will rally behind it.

At that moment, a Canid soldier enters with news of a sighted campfire. Clovis decides he needs to attend to the campfire, and tells Captain Kenosh that since he’s spent time among the Ermehn, Clovis wants Kenosh to stay at Deltrada to help him. Quinlan asks Dakkan what Clovis means, and gets no reply. Kenosh tells Clovis that his cause is peace, and Clovis tells Kenosh that he must help the Canid keep it.

Clovis tells the envoy that if they leave the garrison, it’s in defiance of the Treaty of Cenolau, and that they are required to lend aid. Clovis orders his soldiers to make the envoy comfortable, as they will be there for a while.

Time With the Ermehn

As the envoy is being held in a tower, Quinlan- who is not wearing his armor- is composing a letter to King Dabheid when water drips on it. Annoyed, he looks at the dripping water while Dakkan stifles a laugh.

Quinlan asks Dakkan what was so funny, and Dakkan replies that the most powerful army in the Four Kingdoms can’t fix a roof. Dakkan asks what Quinlan is writing, and Quinlan tells him it’s a mission report to King Dabheid. Sobering, Dakkan reminds him the Canid will never let Quinlan send the letter. Quinlan says he knows.

After a pause, Quinlan asks Dakkan what Clovis meant when he said Kenosh had spent time among the Ermehn. Dakkan hesitates, and Quinlan begins to ask if it’s why Dakkan and his father were arguing on the way, but Dakkan roughly cuts him off, telling Quinlan they argue all the time and that wasn’t anything special. After a beat, he apologizes to Quinlan, then asks him if he remembers the Oran Uprising that happened when they were kids.

Dakkan tells Quinlan about the Oran Uprising, and reveals that Kenosh was captured by Ermehn near the end, and came back changed. Dakkan also mentions that his mother died a couple years later. Quinlan says he remembered Dakkan’s mother dying, but never knew Kenosh was a prisoner of war.

Dakkan also mentions that they met just after Kenosh came back. Quinlan starts to comment, but an alarm bell cuts him off. Quinlan and Dakkan rush to the window, but can’t see anything. The alarm bells awaken Kenosh, who instantly recognizes them.

Getting out of bed and drawing his sword, Kenosh tells Quinlan and Dakkan to stay put while he goes to have a look. Dkakan protests, but Kenosh shouts at him, telling him it’s an order. Kenosh calms, and tells him the order is from his father. Kenosh leaves, and Dakkan and Quinlan gear up.

Rooftop Fight

Once he’s dressed, Quinlan looks out the window, and tells Dakkan he hears fighting. Dakkan notes the alarm was sounded. Joining Quinlan at the window, Dakkan hopes his father’s alright, and starts to ask Quin a question, but Feyn and two Ermehn- one with an axe, and one with a katar- break into the tower. The Ermehn with the axe expresses surprise at the Sunsgrovian presence in Deltrada, and Feyn says they should kill the Sunsgrovians. Quinlan realizes he forgot to equip his sword, and the Ermehn attack.

Quinlan sees his sword lying on the bed, but is attacked by the Ermehn with a katar before he can reach it. Quinlan leaps over her head and kicks her into the wall, stunning her. Feyn comes up behind Quinlan to attack, but Dakkan throws his enemy into Feyn, knocking them both down. Dakkan tells Quinlan they need to go. Quinlan agrees. Grabbing his sword off the bed, he ties it on his belt as he follows Dakkan into the rain.

They peer over the wall and see heavy fighting between Canid and Ermehn. Dakkan finds a grappling hook on the wall, and Quinlan asks what they should do. Dakkan hesitantly says he wants to find his father, but he is interrupted by the same Ermehn who attacked them in the tower. Dakkan tells them they aren’t working with the Canid,and begins to tell the Ermehn the envoy’s true purpose, but is cut off when Feyn calls Dakkan a liar. Quinlan tries to tell the Ermehn he doesn’t want to fight, but is attacked by Feyn.

Quinlan blocks the blow with his treewalker blade, and redirects Feyn’s blade. However, Feyn strikes again and slams Quinlan against the wall, disarming him and sending Quinlan’s blade over the side of the wall. Quinlan backs away in fear, while Dakkan is too busy with the other Ermehn to intervene. Quinlan dodges Feyn’s strike, and grabs his cloak. Quinlan throws Feyn against the wall, disarming him, and goes to punch him but Feyn catches the strike, and bites Quinlan on the left shoulder.

Breaking free, Quinlan and Feyn grapple for a moment until Feyn gets his hands on Quinlan’s neck and starts choking him. Quinlan hefts Feyn’s weight up and breaks free, tipping Feyn over the wall. Feyn falls to his death, and Quinlan looks down at the body, briefly flashing back to his childhood Tesque training with his Grandfather. Quinlan is snapped out of his reverie when Lady Canid shouts a warning to Quinlan as she cuts down the Ermehn that had been creeping up behind him.

Finding Kenosh

Dakkan starts to ask Quinlan if he still needs help but he sways and falls onto Lady Canid when he sees the blood. She asks what’s the matter with him, and Quinlan tells her Dakkan has a problem with blood as he pulls his hood up. Lady Canid tells them to stay put, and Dakkan asks her if she’s seen Kenosh. She tells them he’s at the front gate with Clovis. Quinlan asks if they can follow her there, but she tells them she’s going to check the aviary next. Dakkan insists they can’t wait, and tells Quinlan to come. Quinlan starts to protest, but Dakkan glares at him. Cowed, Quinlan follows Dakkan down the trapdoor into the keep. Dakkan and Quinlan run down the steps to the outside As they run toward the gate, they hear Kenosh telling Clovis to stop.

Betrayal

Kenosh tells Clovis he cannot kill the Ermehn currently held hostage by Clovis' guards because he is unarmed. Quinlan and Dakkan watch Clovis tells Kenosh to remember his place and go home, and try to kill Hardin, but Kenosh stabs Clovis in the back before he can kill Hardin. Quinlan and Dakkan are stunned by this turn of events. Recovering, Quinlan calls for Kenosh’s using his title and steps forward, reaching for his bow, but he is shot in the left shoulder by Rhosyn.

Quinlan falls back onto Dakkan and says his friend’s name. Quinlan sits hunched on the ground in shock as Dakkan attacks Rhosyn. Quinlan is grabbing the front of his tunic and bleeding as the events play out.

Dakkan goes to check Quinlan’s wound, but the Canid catch up to them. The Canid separate the two, and lean Quinlan back.

Description

His scouting uniform is a simple green tunic with brown accents.

When dressed as the Captain of the Royal Guard, he wears a red and green tunic with a white sash emblazoned with an oak leaf.

Of the two, Quinlan prefers his scouting garb because he's not used to the heavier, more complex ceremonial clothing and after his experience in the field, the idea of wearing clothing that might impede his movement is almost unbearable.

For weapons, he carries a bow and quiver of arrows with a Treewalkers#Treewalker Blade Quinlan has a closed glove for his right hand- which is his shooting hand– that protects his fingers from the bite of the string, while also providing all-around protection. On his left arm keeps, he wears a bracer to keep it safe from the bowstring.

Quinlan speaks with a more proper English accent.

Appearances

• Beyond the Western Deep
  • Chapter One, Pages 1-46
  • Chapter Two, Pages 1-16, 28-47, 56-88, 93-95
• The Land's End (Mentioned)

Trivia

• Originally, Quinlan was intended to have grey fur to poke fun at the Redwall Series for giving all their squirrels red fur. However, the creators realized that red fur was more visually interesting. More information on Quinlan's evolution can be found in the commentary on Beyond the Western Deep: Chapter One, Page 7.
• Quinlan was named for a steamship in Max Allen Collins’ graphic novel “Road to Perdition”.
• He is of noble blood, which means that his family has worked for the king for the last few generations.