Chokoi is the descendant of migrating Tengu who traveled north searching for a home free from the misery and tyranny of the Sodden Lands. What they found was at best grudging tolerance in human controlled territories.
Chokoi was born in the Dog's Teeth in Cassomir. His youth was spent surviving by his wits, one day at at time. He grew up resentful of the discrimination and and casual abuse suffered by the tengu migrants who ekeing out a living at the fringe of human society, while his parents were more philosophical counting themselves lucky to have escaped the Sodden Lands unharmed.
As Chokoi grew to young adulthood he began felt the urge to wander, as so many young tengu do. his passion stoked by tales of the Five Companies of Cassomir. Maybe somewhere there was a place where Tengu could earn a place as an equal. Like many tengu Chokoi was trained with blades from a young age, and as he wandered north into the Riverlands he heard stories of legendary swordsmen in Brevoy. He reasoned that there his natural affinty with blades might win him acceptance.
Sadly the the Swordlords of Aldori saw nothing to respect in this strange little creature and one mockingly challenged Chokoi to a duel, only to beat him with the flat of his blade. Hurt more than he could ever admit Chokoi retreated into wine and petty theft, moving about the outskirts of Brevoy settlements. He became an unpopular nussiance in southern Brevoy but his quick wits and always at hand blade made the locals reluctant to murder him outright.
Eventually a local constable rounded up a group of local toughs and presented the bird man with a choice. Brevoy needs brave folk to explore the stolen lands, Chokoi could join them or never be heard from again. All assembled hoped the result would be the same no matter what his choice.
Except for Chokoi, who's latent passion for adventure was kindled by the notion of a new place, still unshaped by civilization. Perhaps it would be place where a stranger could prove himself, and carve out something to call his own.
