Background: Fortunio grew up on his fathers small farm hold. His sister, ten turns older, was married when Fortunio was * turns old. He was left on the hold with only his mother and his father. He quickly bonded with the runnerbeasts and spent most of his time galloping around the paddock with them, grooming them, or simply lying in the barn, watching them.
He became friends with one mare that he thought of as his new sister. He dubbed her Greta after his sister, since he thought "Brighty" simply wasn't good enough for such a magnificent beast. When he was thirteen turns old, he was caught in a barn fire and has a long scar to prove it. Greta had recently given birth, and was killed in the fire, although her sturdy colt survived. Fortunio named him Stalwart for his great power to survive. The name served the colt well. He cared for Stalwart and his mares up until the time he was searched.