Baralion

BARALION

Sir Baralion Kalestorn, son of Bastenor the Elder

Age: 21

16 10 11 11 16 17

Proficiencies

Weapon Prof.: Dwarden hammer, bastard sword, light crossbow, footman's mace

Nonweapon Prof.: tracking (0), woodland/highland survival (0), animal lore (0), hunting (0), horse riding (1), endurance (2), blind-fighting (2)

Languages: Dwarden (0)

Background

Born at the standing Kalestorn thirty-five miles southeast of Kalestrina on the near side of the river Rans, born in freedom to Bastenor of Thelendor by Baralia Karedan of Kalestrina. Earning freedom from villeiny by proven service in the militia, Bastenor left his home of Thelendor and settled for a time to newly open lands in one of the forested marks of Kalestrina. There his farm prospered after years of toil, and despite his renewed militia service, patrolling the woods and marls of his new home. At length he was offered service as a forester at the seneschal's table, and employed villein youths to works his lands. Soon after he married a beautiful daughter of the Karedan families in Kalestrina, striking down in challenge several youths of her affection when she turned sixteen. After three years of service, Baralion retired from these duties, and set forth with the standman Torian to Kalestorn, an abandoned fortalice southeast of Kalestrina, and beyond the commandery's formal bounds.

Baralion was born the sixth of the children of Baralia, and the fourth son. With his family he knew the hard life of settler, but as the years passed and his strength waxed, Baralion learned under his father the ways of the woods and hunt, setting snares and hunting deer and rabbits in the wild lands about Kalestorn. Jealous of his freedoms and those of his sons away from the commandery, Bastenor volunteered his sons not for service, nor to this was he obliged, for as a standing, his sons and daughters served only the standman when there was need. Need came however in 885, when the undead forces of the Black Rook crossed the River Rans in boats of burnt rock. Although Sir Daraneau of Kalestrina came forth with a strong company, already several had died defending the march of Kalestorn, including Bastenor the Younger, firstborn son of the Elder. Although rebuffing the undead, Sir Daraneau ordered the abandonment of Kalestorn, knowing that a column of orcs in service to the Black Rook watched from heights of the marl, hidden by the lich's magic. Wishing to destroy the undead and avenge his slain son, Bastenor demanded they not retreat but pursue the undead, and fight through any ambush of the orcs. Refusing his lord's command to abandon his hard won lands, Bastenor was put in bonds, and taken perforce to Kalestrina in chains.

Allowing the shamed Bastenor to keep his second son Kormanion, the knight commander took in service his third and fourth son, Barandor and Baralion, appointing the elder to the infantry and the younger a footman, to support the Order's wars. Shortly thereafter, the outraged Bastenor stole into the castle to take back his sons, but was caught by the men-at-arms, and taken before Daraneau once more, was pronounced exiled on pain of death, and commanded to serve the Lord Bailiff of Reldemar. It is known that Bastenor served in the final wars with the Black Crown, but his final fate is unknown, and his family is all but certain he is dead.

During the war, Barandor served in battle abroad and was slain in the infantry, but Baralion remained a footman at the service of the seneschal. When the serjeant Balredor became seneschal, he took note of Baralion, making him a page to serve the squires of the castle. As Baralion aged, his force of will and character grew to dominate much of the castle as the knight commander and his battle warred abroad. His mere presence and firm words brought calm and confidence to the hearts of the few defenders of the commandery that remained, and as a page his will was strong enough to make demands of equestrian and even karden lands. When the war at last concluded in victory, and a new paladin Relant Chelanauex was appointed to replace Sir Daraneau, Baralion's place as a squire could hardly be denied.

Baralion received the blessings of both priest and knight, and took to vigil on St. Mandor's Eve at the Cathedral of the Blessed Manthenar in Kalestrina. In prayer at dawn, he was adjudged a paladin, and was offered the Kargal Oath. At High Sextine that day he was annointed and blessed before the clergy and people. That night before a sacred fire outside Kalestrina, knights and serjeants bore witness to the blood Oath of Kargal, the laying of sword by Sir Relant, and the creation of a new Knight of the Order of the Beleaguered Shield.

Family

Baralia has only just remarried her childhood romance Baldon, a returned militia veteran, who is a boat maker along the river.

Kormanion runs his fathers lands within one of the marks of the commandery, and is master of many of his younger siblings. Toria, the eldest child of Bastenor, is married to a second husband, now a serjeant named Nalend, a hero of the war, who lives and serves at the Priory of Blessed Theylayne, possessing magic and considerable wealth.

Toria: residing at the Priory of Blessed Theylayne

Bastenor the Younger: slain by a karex's spear

etc.