Dame Despina Kournis

Despina Kournis grew up largely in Voros, in the Duchy of Padokis, with little time spent in Elis. Her parents were quite dedicated to the wellbeing of the town and, besides, preferred the rugged countryside there to the bustle of the isle of Elis. While initially she received some education in courtly manners and diplomacy, later into her teens, she demonstrated far more aptitude for martial matters, and so her education pivoted towards strategy and tactics.

In early adulthood, she spent a time commanding soldiers in the duchy. However, for some time, she had held a quiet fascination with the chapter of Custodians stationed in Voros, and ultimately sought and was granted entry to the order in 627. She was posted to the Sanctuary chapter, as often happens with more notable nobles, and she has spent years in service there, travelling with the chapter or indeed by herself.

She has been a little unconventional as knights of the order go. She has a strongly held belief that it should stand up for the defenceless and the helpless in all circumstances. While the order's mission is strictly supposed to be focused on beings from the Other Side, it sometimes protects travellers on the road or provides safety in its chapterhouses. Despina takes this to an extreme. She routinely offers protection to people, whatever it may be against. Once, she punched a tax collector. Considering her royal relations, and the significant funding received from House Kournis, the order has refrained from really trying to stop Despina.

Despina has a deeply held belief that she should do all she can to safeguard the weak and the helpless, whatever the circumstances may be. It is not especially a religious belief, although she occasionally offers prayers to one deity or another, most often Valon or Adri, whom she believes is fundamentally the benefactor of the weak. Being that she is based in Sanctuary, she socialises in the imperial court from time to time. There, though she avoids direct political entanglements or public speeches, she will advocate staunchly for the common folk in her personal engagements.

Despina is a fine warrior, especially when she is driven by her cause of defending the defenceless.