Ubby
09-22-2004, 03:45 PM
Like the others, this is a pre-gen for the BW event at NC Gameday
Vandwyn Aechols was born to an Innkeeper’s family in the city of Gaenlingdon, located deep in the northern region of the Empire of Brynn. He grew up a stable boy and had a love of horses from an early age.
One summer war broke out and Gaenlingdon fell under siege. The Aechols’ inn served as a command post for the city’s defenders, and Vandwyn was put to work tending the officers’ and knights’ horses. His care caught the eye of the defender’s commander of cavalry who was desperately searching for able bodies for sorties to harass the besiegers. Though unskilled with weapons, Vandwyn took part in several sorties.
Eventually the siege was broken and the city relieved, but Vandwyn refused to return to his former life. He stayed with the cavalry as Baron Gaenling’s forces continued to campaign against House Drake’s wars of expansion. Though an able trooper, he began to suffer from misfortune. Once on the eve of battle, he fell off of his horse and broke his leg. The next day his unit went on to great glory and prominence in battle without him. Another time he was part of a caravan that was sacked by enemy raiders. He suffered a wound, and a share of the dishonor the unit suffered because of failure.
Then his luck seemed to change. His unit, led by several knights, was pursuing enemy soldiers that had been thought routed, but were in fact the bait in a trap. Though many of his comrades were killed, he gallantly defended the wounded Sir Hobbrick, a high-ranking knight and prominent noble, whom was trapped under his slain horse. The ambush was defeated, though at great cost, and Sir Hobbrick rewarded his valiant defender by making him his squire.
Vandwyn was thrilled with his new position and served Sir Hobbrick well. As the year progressed Vandwyn’s skills improved, and he became a formidable warrior, the victor of several lists. Before Sir Hobbrick retired from campaigning for the quiet life of his estates, he sponsored Vandwyn to be initiated into the Circle of Brynn, the Empire’s knighthood order. He was dubbed Sir Vandwyn, Knight Bachelor, Arc of the Sword (the lowest and most numerous order in the Circle), and he pledged his fealty to his old master, the newly raised Baron Hobbrick, who accepted his pledge.
Unfortunately, Sir Vandwyn’s luck turned ill once again. Within a year of his raising, war had resumed. Vandwyn was charged with leading Baron Hobbrick’s levy in House Stael’s army against the latest aggression from House Drake. Twice he led in battle; twice his command resulted in disastrous defeat for Hobbrick’s forces. It was not incompetence that doomed Sir Vandwyn, who actually commanded well, but sheer bad luck. Baron Hobbrick came out of retirement to relieve Sir Vandwyn who was shamed. Soon after, Baron Hobbrick led the levy in battle, with Sir Vandwyn at his side. This time Baron Hobbrick was killed.
Despite his ill fortune, Sir Vandwyn found another lord to accept his oath, the Baron Peltham. Sir Vandwyn fought hard in his service, yet was befouled by his misfortune yet again. Vandwyn began to earn a reputation through the Circle of Brynn for being a jinx. When the campaigns ended just over one year ago, Baron Peltham dismissed Sir Vandwyn from his service, claiming he could not support a large retinue of knights.
Having no estate of his own, Sir Vandwyn has been eagerly looking for a liege to accept his oath. None have accepted it though, Vandwyn’s reputation being well known in the Circle. Vandwyn has resorted to offering his services as an adventurer and bodyguard. His latest job was to escort a rich banker and his secretary on the Sentinel Pike from the city of Gateway in the west to the city of Eyrie in the east. A week ago, as they were entering the small town of Graymoor, the banker took ill and died. The banker’s secretary left in the middle of the night without leaving a penny for Sir Vandwyn, who is now stranded in Graymoor with little money, and fewer prospects.
Sir Vandwyn is a tall a powerful man over six feet in height with a solid build. He has light brown hair worn in a bowl cut fashion currently popular in the Circle, and hazel eyes. His mustache is well oiled and groomed.
As a knight, he is entitled to bear a coat of arms. His device is the standard quadrants field all Knights of the Circle (that are not also Barons or greater) bear: The upper left quadrant is the sword and star emblem of the Arc of the Sword on a blue field. The upper right quadrant is the gold chevron of a hedge-knight dismissed from service without loss of honor (normally a knight’s liege coat of arms goes here) on a red field. The lower left quadrant contains his personal device of a rearing white horse on a red field. The lower right contains 2 silver stars on a blue field, the battle honors he has earned.
He is currently staying at the Bear North Inn.
Lifepaths: Born city dweller, Groomsman, Lead to Soldier, Cavalryman, Lead to Noble, Squire, Knight
Age: 33
Stats: Pe: B4 Wi: B4 Ag: B5 Sp: B4 Po: B5 Fo: B4
Attributes: Re: B4 Ste: B6 He: B4 MW: B10 Hesitation: 6 Presence: 4 paces
PTGS: Su: B3 Li: B5 Mi: B7 Se: B8 Tr: B9 Mo: B10
Skills: Animal Husbandry B2, Riding B4, Sword B5, Mounted Combat, Armor Training, Shield Training, Lance B3, Spear B3, Knife B3, Etiquette B3, Intimidation B4, Conspicuous B3, Horse-wise B3, Mend B4, Read B2, Brawling B2, Haggling B3
Gear: RotM Arms (Sword, dirk), RotM Plated Mail armor (7D DN3 + Heater Shield 3D DN4), Clothes, Shoes, Traveling Gear, Finery, Heraldic Device on Shield and Gorget.
Affiliation: Circle of Brynn (knighthood order)
Reputation: Known within Affiliation as unlucky or a jinx
Contacts:
Sir Thaemas Caerringal KCS. Castellan of Moorwind Keep. Important (Affiliation Contact)
Nevill Craen: Imperial Customs, caravan master in Graymoor. Minor
Phineas: Innkeep. Insignificant.
Traits: Proud, Unlucky, Gloryhound
Beliefs:
- I will overcome my ill luck and earn glory with heroic deeds
- I will die before I surrender
- I will find a worthy liege to accept my oath.
Instincts:
- Always insist on being addressed as Sir Vandwyn. Correct those who do not.
- Always engage the most potent threat (Assess first then engage)
- When engaging foe, sound my war cry.
Vandwyn Aechols was born to an Innkeeper’s family in the city of Gaenlingdon, located deep in the northern region of the Empire of Brynn. He grew up a stable boy and had a love of horses from an early age.
One summer war broke out and Gaenlingdon fell under siege. The Aechols’ inn served as a command post for the city’s defenders, and Vandwyn was put to work tending the officers’ and knights’ horses. His care caught the eye of the defender’s commander of cavalry who was desperately searching for able bodies for sorties to harass the besiegers. Though unskilled with weapons, Vandwyn took part in several sorties.
Eventually the siege was broken and the city relieved, but Vandwyn refused to return to his former life. He stayed with the cavalry as Baron Gaenling’s forces continued to campaign against House Drake’s wars of expansion. Though an able trooper, he began to suffer from misfortune. Once on the eve of battle, he fell off of his horse and broke his leg. The next day his unit went on to great glory and prominence in battle without him. Another time he was part of a caravan that was sacked by enemy raiders. He suffered a wound, and a share of the dishonor the unit suffered because of failure.
Then his luck seemed to change. His unit, led by several knights, was pursuing enemy soldiers that had been thought routed, but were in fact the bait in a trap. Though many of his comrades were killed, he gallantly defended the wounded Sir Hobbrick, a high-ranking knight and prominent noble, whom was trapped under his slain horse. The ambush was defeated, though at great cost, and Sir Hobbrick rewarded his valiant defender by making him his squire.
Vandwyn was thrilled with his new position and served Sir Hobbrick well. As the year progressed Vandwyn’s skills improved, and he became a formidable warrior, the victor of several lists. Before Sir Hobbrick retired from campaigning for the quiet life of his estates, he sponsored Vandwyn to be initiated into the Circle of Brynn, the Empire’s knighthood order. He was dubbed Sir Vandwyn, Knight Bachelor, Arc of the Sword (the lowest and most numerous order in the Circle), and he pledged his fealty to his old master, the newly raised Baron Hobbrick, who accepted his pledge.
Unfortunately, Sir Vandwyn’s luck turned ill once again. Within a year of his raising, war had resumed. Vandwyn was charged with leading Baron Hobbrick’s levy in House Stael’s army against the latest aggression from House Drake. Twice he led in battle; twice his command resulted in disastrous defeat for Hobbrick’s forces. It was not incompetence that doomed Sir Vandwyn, who actually commanded well, but sheer bad luck. Baron Hobbrick came out of retirement to relieve Sir Vandwyn who was shamed. Soon after, Baron Hobbrick led the levy in battle, with Sir Vandwyn at his side. This time Baron Hobbrick was killed.
Despite his ill fortune, Sir Vandwyn found another lord to accept his oath, the Baron Peltham. Sir Vandwyn fought hard in his service, yet was befouled by his misfortune yet again. Vandwyn began to earn a reputation through the Circle of Brynn for being a jinx. When the campaigns ended just over one year ago, Baron Peltham dismissed Sir Vandwyn from his service, claiming he could not support a large retinue of knights.
Having no estate of his own, Sir Vandwyn has been eagerly looking for a liege to accept his oath. None have accepted it though, Vandwyn’s reputation being well known in the Circle. Vandwyn has resorted to offering his services as an adventurer and bodyguard. His latest job was to escort a rich banker and his secretary on the Sentinel Pike from the city of Gateway in the west to the city of Eyrie in the east. A week ago, as they were entering the small town of Graymoor, the banker took ill and died. The banker’s secretary left in the middle of the night without leaving a penny for Sir Vandwyn, who is now stranded in Graymoor with little money, and fewer prospects.
Sir Vandwyn is a tall a powerful man over six feet in height with a solid build. He has light brown hair worn in a bowl cut fashion currently popular in the Circle, and hazel eyes. His mustache is well oiled and groomed.
As a knight, he is entitled to bear a coat of arms. His device is the standard quadrants field all Knights of the Circle (that are not also Barons or greater) bear: The upper left quadrant is the sword and star emblem of the Arc of the Sword on a blue field. The upper right quadrant is the gold chevron of a hedge-knight dismissed from service without loss of honor (normally a knight’s liege coat of arms goes here) on a red field. The lower left quadrant contains his personal device of a rearing white horse on a red field. The lower right contains 2 silver stars on a blue field, the battle honors he has earned.
He is currently staying at the Bear North Inn.
Lifepaths: Born city dweller, Groomsman, Lead to Soldier, Cavalryman, Lead to Noble, Squire, Knight
Age: 33
Stats: Pe: B4 Wi: B4 Ag: B5 Sp: B4 Po: B5 Fo: B4
Attributes: Re: B4 Ste: B6 He: B4 MW: B10 Hesitation: 6 Presence: 4 paces
PTGS: Su: B3 Li: B5 Mi: B7 Se: B8 Tr: B9 Mo: B10
Skills: Animal Husbandry B2, Riding B4, Sword B5, Mounted Combat, Armor Training, Shield Training, Lance B3, Spear B3, Knife B3, Etiquette B3, Intimidation B4, Conspicuous B3, Horse-wise B3, Mend B4, Read B2, Brawling B2, Haggling B3
Gear: RotM Arms (Sword, dirk), RotM Plated Mail armor (7D DN3 + Heater Shield 3D DN4), Clothes, Shoes, Traveling Gear, Finery, Heraldic Device on Shield and Gorget.
Affiliation: Circle of Brynn (knighthood order)
Reputation: Known within Affiliation as unlucky or a jinx
Contacts:
Sir Thaemas Caerringal KCS. Castellan of Moorwind Keep. Important (Affiliation Contact)
Nevill Craen: Imperial Customs, caravan master in Graymoor. Minor
Phineas: Innkeep. Insignificant.
Traits: Proud, Unlucky, Gloryhound
Beliefs:
- I will overcome my ill luck and earn glory with heroic deeds
- I will die before I surrender
- I will find a worthy liege to accept my oath.
Instincts:
- Always insist on being addressed as Sir Vandwyn. Correct those who do not.
- Always engage the most potent threat (Assess first then engage)
- When engaging foe, sound my war cry.