My background thus far:
[sblock=A Letter to the Preceptor]
Preceptor Fairfax,
Greetings old friend. I hope you are well. It is long since we corresponded and we must catch up. However, that will have to come from my next missive.
An incident occurred near the Unclaimed Lands at the village of C'ffey. Over a year ago, a young man called Garyd, a village hunter and scout, survived an encounter with some sort of undead beast. It left him pale, weak, and barely alive. If not for his family and his betrothed, he probably would not have survived as long as he had.
Fortunately, I had been on my way to minister to C'ffey as part of my circuit and arrived a day after the attack. They thought the boy was delirious with fever causing him to hallucinate and rave. They were overjoyed at my arrival and took me to him straight away.
My examination of him revealed that he was not suffering from a natural affliction. A foul beast of the risen dead had taken a piece of his soul! I quickly went to work and with the glory of the Light I was able to wrest the boy from the creature's unclean grasp. I searched for any sign of the creature lurking around the village but found none. I attended to my duties to the villagers while Garyd recovered and, when I left to continue my circuit, he was responding well to his family and betrothed's care.
I returned to C'ffey this year certain that I would be performing at least one marriage. My expectation was not met. Garyd's family told me that after his recovery he had become reclusive and hunted almost exclusively at night. His behavior had strained his familial bonds and had been responsible for his betrothal ending. The smith also accused him of stealing a sword from his forge.
I went to the boy to talk with him, who looked healthy despite the pale pallor of his skin. He told me a tale of a hunt that had taken a year to complete. Unable to recall the attack or where it had happened, he patrolled the village every night he was able since his recovery. He finally found signs of the creature's passing and began tracking it. The trail led him to a forgotten barrow mound. For weeks he watched the barrow until the thing finally left it.
He began stalking the creature. With horror, he realized the undead was headed toward the village. Garyd began a series of harrying attacks with his bow in an attempt to weaken or kill the beast. Finally wounding the thing, it broke away from Garyd and raced to the village. Only Garyd's intimate knowledge of the land enabled him to intercept it before it could arrive. In desperation, he attacked, using the sword that he had indeed stolen from the smith. In single combat he destroyed it then returned the body to the barrow mound.
I marveled at his story and requested to see the barrow mound. He took me there the next day without protest. Upon arrival at the mound I was immediately struck with the sight of the correct preparations had been made to put a soul to rest. Lacking any education, this boy had seen to Last Rites. He later told me it seemed to be the proper way to do things.
I examined the remains and came to the conclusion that this young man had survived a battle with a wight! Twice! Finally slaying it in single combat no less.
Some in his village say he has the Mark of the Unliving because of the pallor of his skin but I think he has been Chosen by St. Krypta, Patron Saint of the Dead and Souls at Rest. He has faced a terrible trial and become stronger for it. He cannot be allowed to languish in this place.
With your permission, I would send him into your care where you may have the Order train him as a Knight of the Light. St. Krypta's Chosen are rare and she has obviously chosen this young man to become a Hunter of the Dead. I think this is an opportunity that should not be missed.
He is strong, capable, and forceful. He has a determination that will grow even more powerful. This pale light should not be extinguished.
My thanks. I look forward to your reply.
Yours in Service to the Light,
Father Genrus [/sblock]