Background: To Hefyrt, Bane of Trolls, Greetings.
Thine request for a tale of mine past has not been answered in a timely fashion, I fear. The reason is quite simple: I am no hero of legend, and mine tale has little embellishment to it. But since thy requests was most insistent, I put quill to paper on this day hoping to meet thine requirements.
I was born in Skara Brae, son of Lord Rennidac, Knight of the town, and his wife Teline. I was first child, with mine sister Myriam born not long after. Mine father was much like thee: grizzled, and born old (no offense intended, mine friend), but he was a warrior with a keen grasp of tactics. Mine mother was a kind, gentle person, but with a will of steel under her merry demeanor.
Hoping to follow in mine father's footsteps, I became a squire to a Knight called Lord Faren. I daresay I was gifted at swordplay, and could best mine teacher quite rapidly. I also learned the use of armor and shields, as well as riding and tracking, with the Knights of Skara Brae, the famed Knight Rangers.
I saw my first real true battle when I turned eighteen. The orcs had gotten in their head to attack Skara Brae. Rennidac and Faren were on patrol that night, and of course I was with them. We saw the horde at about the same time as they saw us. They attacked, and though we felled many a beast, we would not have escaped had a wisp not come close by. The wisp, seeing the defenders of the Spiritwoods nearly overcome, rose an unnatural fog to cover our escape, and we made to the ferry in haste.
The defense of Skara Brae was one of the easiest in military history. I believe Rennidac's tactics on this day are in the military textbooks on how to exploit an enemy's stupid mistake. Using the moongate, we sent most of our forces to Trinsic and rode hard north until we were behind the attacking force, strengthened by warriors from Jhelom and a number of paladins. The orcs saw only a small unit of archers to defend Kinship, and that meager barrier was quickly routed away. Then they hit the river.
They had no boats.
The Knights, supported by archers and spearmen, then struck from behind. Those they didn't slay, they hurled in the water. It was a complete victory. Except, to me, for one thing. My father was injured and acquired a permanent limp.
He did not like to be kept out of the action, but after a time he grew to accept and even relish the role of armchair tactician. My second battle, five years later, was once again planned by him. We had had word of a raid on Kinship and he decided to raid the orc fort before then. A small force of our finest men ran charging in the orc fort, slew several orcs including three chieftains, then retreated. The disorganization was enough to delay the raid by several months.
I would have been knighted after that, but I delayed. I wasn't sure the life of a soldier was for me. I longed to see the world, and find for myself what I would like to do. There is a saying in Skara Brae -- the goal of any spiritual quest is to find what one already has. With that in mind, I left Skara Brae on a spiritual quest, traveling as a gleeman, to see the world and what is what made of.
Hence we first met, some time ago, and then again -- and I'll not forget thy "Thou hast the look of one far-traveled." After this I took to traveling with the Rosmars. While mine obligations to the town of Skara Brae and mine childhood friends (who would become the Legion of the Golden Lily), as well as mine own free spirit, forbade me to swear fealty to the Rosmars and join their Guard, I did become their Battle Minstrel, and as Brianna says, their advisor, though this usually means that I am very good at stating the obvious clearly.
The rest thou knowest, my friend. Mine life took an unexpected turn, however, when my father passed away not long ago. I was much aggrieved, as thou canst imagine, but there was also some surprise in the event, for it seems mine father had neglected to tell me his honorary lordship was hereditary. Lord Loic Talecaster. Faugh, as thou wouldst say, yet the honor of mine family doth ride upon my shoulder, and on Virtue and the tomb of mine beloved father, I'll do it proud.
Lord Loic, known as Talecaster,
Knight of Skara Brae,
One of the Legion of the Golden Lily,
Battle Minstrel to the House of Rosmar
Age: mid - late twenties
Notable Quote: "A tale? Aye, I have many! Hast thou heard the tale of the Last of the Sapphire Knights?"
Played By: Mathieu Roy
ICQ: ###-#####
E-Mail: someone@someplace.com