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Message: <blockquote data-quote="njorgard" data-source="post: 907334" data-attributes="member: 919">Kalten HawkshandFor the few of you who are following our humble story hour, I am taking the liberty of posting some background info for each one of the main characters involved in "The Age of Blood".  We begin with Helfdan's character..... the paladin known as Kalten Hawkshand.This essay was written by Helfdan himself (I could never write anything this good).  I hope he will forgive me for not asking him for permission before posting this.  It just seemed like a good idea...enjoy.  -Njorgard------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kalten Hawkshand (Pronounced Hawk's-Hand, NOT hawk-shand)Kalten was born in the Archbarony of the Falcon, the son of a landed knight of modest means.  Although his upbringing was not particularly pious, he soon discovered his faith ran deeper than he ever knew.  For although Kalten was not war-like, fighting was a way of life for his people, as they were constantly under attack from the evil Black Nomads who rode like the desert winds from their stronghold in the Caliphates of Afalzim.    Thus by the time he grew a beard, he was already skilled in the use of sword and spear, the only argument that Na' Aman's* dervishes understood -- or so was thought throughout the Archbarony.  It was on his first trip to the Baronial court that Kalten's life changed forever.  On his eighteenth birthday, his father sent him with a small retinue of men at arms to swear fealty to the Archbaron.  On their way, they encountered a band of desert raiders attacking a village, and desecrating the shrine of Tilsman, the Great Arbitrator.  The enraged knights attacked, and after a short but bloody struggle they killed or captured all of the raiders.  Among the prisoners was their leader, a young Sheik named Hassan ibn Suleiman.  As his men prepared the ropes for execution, Kalten spoke to Hassan, and to his surprise learned that not all of the Jahad’M warriors were followers of Etigon, Father of Devils.  These were men such as himself, not the monsters he had imagined.  And as he was placing the rope around the sheik's neck, he became a Paladin -- for he realized that more courage was required for mercy than for vengeance; and that strength lay not in revenge, but in justice.  He thus released the nomads in exchange for a sacred oath of non-agression against the barony.    Needless to say, his men were flabbergasted.  News of his actions, both in battle and afterwards, preceded his arrival to the baronial court, where notoriety was always negative.  Even his fathers' prompt arrival was not enough to protect him, as the old country knight had little understanding of the complexities of courtly politics.  In the end: The Archbaron accepted his oath of fealty, for his selfless actions in defending the people.  But he condemned young Kalten to Exile, for sparing the lives of the enemies of the people.  Kalten did not understand this decision, and was bitter at first, not knowing what he would do.  He spent his last night in the Archbarony in vigil at the baronial chapel.  With the dawn, however, he knew his course.  Even now he does not know whether he had a vision, or if the suggestion just appeared in his mind:  He would ride to Kundria and wage war against the orcs.  That was palpable evil.  He would purify his spirit in the fires of war, if he were worthy -- or die trying.Thus he set out with nothing but his steed, sword, spear, and hauberk, and entrusted his fate to Tilsman and Morcandor.</blockquote>

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