Welcome to the Cornhole

Cornelius is raised as distant Garlean royalty. He becomes childhood companion — or victim? — to the younger Zenos.

Cornelius turns 18, and his career as a politician ends before it can begin when a military deployment topples his comfortable aspirations. Rumor in court for his pseudo-exile was that he deeply upset the tumultuous prince. He spends the next seven years in service across northern Eorzea in the XIVth and is not afforded to return to Garlemald.

At the presumed end of the world he deserts the Garlean military, which did not exactly work out because the world did not end and he is subsequently marked for execution by his officers.

Cornelius wanders Eorzea and becomes a downright menace in his attempts to re-attain the good graces of his Empire while also evading them trying to kill him at every turn. This would be an "It's complicated" relationship on Facebook.

Brought low by a group of adventurers in Gridania, he is left to die. The Garleans hunting him have a chance to catch up and enlist (ie force) him into the budding Resonant project in nearby Ala Mhigo. Body modification trials need their titular bodies. Paperwork is passed along. Cornelius is declared dead.

Cornelius escapes a fate of sedation, tests, and eventual dissection. He roams with distrust for non-Garleans, but takes jobs from — and flat-out takes from — those who don't ask questions. A Corn Chip's gotta eat.