Khalgar of St. Varont

Statistics

S: 18:35

D: 11

C: 17

I: 14

W: 14

C: 9

Physical Attributes

Age: 28

Ht: 6 ft. one in.

Wt.: 205

Hair: black

Eyes: black

Skin: ash gray

Description: tusks

Born: Commandery of St. Varont, Bailiwick of Korbane, Priory of High Kalmantane, Grand Priory of the Gallaradok

Father:

Mother:

Proficiencies

Weapon Proficiencies

war hammer (spec.), mace, lucern hammer

Non-Weapon Proficiencies

scribe (0), religion (0+1), sage knowledge of the inner planes (3), etiquette (1),

Background

Birth and Childhood

Khalgar was born to Maylen Chelossier on High Paladin's Day in 859, during the years of the Baulastarg Wars. The child of rape, Khalgar was named after the kindest of the men-at-arms that helped save his mother Maylen from the orcs that stole her. But Maylen, the enforced wife of a petty karden-lord, nearly died during the birth, and could not bear the sight or presence of her son. The half-orc child might have been exposed were it not for the influence of one of the canon's of St. Varont, the friar-turned-white necromancer named Darmand. Darmand, inspired by the legend of Malcuin One-Eyed, the monk-turned man-at-arms of centuries past who served the Venerable Kargal himself, could not suffer the bastard-childling to die, and so he put his protection over it, and saw personally to its raising. Fed by the milk of sows and cattle, the young Khalgar quickly become enormously strong, despite his tender age, and he found comfort from his namesake, who aided in his upbringing, as well as from his aunt Irenia and her children. Her husband being slain in war, Irenia found solace in helping to raise the many orphans at the commandery of St. Varont, including her half-orc nephew, towards whom she was especially caring.

Minority

Upon his minority at the age of twelve, Khalgar's mother Maylen, by then a Sister-Militant of the Black Robes at High Kalmantane of considerable repute, bestowed on her son from afar a considerable benefice, providing copious funds to see to his education under the hand of Darmand, who chose Khalgar as his famulus, and assistant in his laboratory. Darmand also prepared Khalgar for holy orders, demanding from the abbot that his half-orc famulus be allowed to pursue such a path, and utilizing his mother's gifts to see to his education. Therefore, Khalgar received training at the bailiwick castle at Korbane, being steeped in holy lore there, and learning weaponcraft from Sir Bastinor, the paladin that had helped save his mother in his youth. He even served a year at High Kalmantane, and took on minor orders there, earning the monastic rank of ostiary. Khalgar also received special combat training at High Kalmantane, where his mother's money paid for exercises with highly experienced men-at-arms of the Order.

Majority

Returning to St. Varont, Khalgar returned to the advanced studies and tutelage of his master Darmand, who had by then taken the abbot's throne, and had become a great master of White Necromancy. Khalgar was being trained to be a great sage, and was being filled with such clerical lore and academic knowledge that the bishop could not possibly deny him holy orders

The Fall of St. Varont

A great Holy Necromancer in his final years, Darmand was often abroad in support of the Order, and the rising tide of war against the undead. Darmand was especially important because he had grown powerful enough to lay St. Everane Stones Minor, a great boon to the Order. However, by 883, Darmand's former master of White Necromancy, called the Black Teacher, sieged St. Varont with his skeletal army. Digging underneath the protective power of the St. Everane Stones, the castle was lost, and Darmand stayed in his tower to face the Black Teacher. Serjeant Khalgar led the evacuation, and they made their way across Albermane Bridge to safety, as St. Varont fell. At first fleeing to High Kalmantane, the survivors were eventually reassigned to different commanderies within the Grand Priory. For Khalgar the Younger, he appealed to High Kalmantane to accepted him as a brother-militant with holy orders, but the High Monastery would not even accept him as a lay brother, for without the support of Darmand, the monks of St. Karant would not accept him as one of their own. One of his former instructors however, the deacon Vandron, sponsored him at the commandery of Mastrony, whereat Khalgar joined the the monastery as a lay-brother, but of the most inferior rank. Seeing that he was at least mistrusted and often despised, despite his learning and strength of faith, and realizing the likelihood that he would forever be barred from being a full brother-militant, Khalgar despaired, and wrote and appealed to aid for any former sponsors. None came until 886, when a field battle came to Mastrony. The paladin Bastinor was among their number, and discovered Khalgar working in the fields. Incensed by his treatment, Bastinor repudiated the narrow-minded abbot there, and approached the Lord Commander Thorbrand, speaking to him of his qualities. Vouching for him, Thorbrand offered Khalgar the Service Oath, and Khalgar became a man-at-arms of Mastrony, training for a time with Bastinor, as he had in his youth. Khalgar was however left as a rear-guardsman at Mastrony once the gathered army marched forth, and it was not long after that news came that Lord Commander Thorbrand had been killed. Thus bereft of his seat at table, Khalgar returned to the monastery until news came of the destruction of the Black Crown, shortly after which he received a write of summons by the Marshal of High Gate, with orders that he journey to Kalestrina in the Erlokt to serve there as man-at-arms. With the orders was attached a letter from his mother, who was now the abbess-militant of a large abbey just outside Kalestrina, along with money for equipment and the passage.

The Letter of Maylen, Abbess-Militant of the Convent of the Blessed Daethena

By Saint Kaylen herself and the Blessed Daethena, word has come to me through the lips of Sir Bastinor that my neglected son yet lives, and serves as man-at-arms in the fertile fields of Mastrony. I praised Mandador when I heard these words, and I wrote quickly to the Grand Prior to bring you here to me at once to Kalestrina, so I might attend to thee, and advance you further, as I may. The Lord Commander avers he will name thee his man-at-arms, for Sir Bastinor has vouchsafed for thee, and I wish my son near, for forever have we been parted, and by St. Kaylen I would make amends for my long neglect. I pray St. Yathamian brings you this letter, and safeguards your path. Use this gold I send to equip yourself smartly, and to overcome whatever obstacle may befall you. Your mother-at-arms summons you. Obey her heed.

-Maylen, at Relmsdine Lake