PTOLUS - City By The Spire - en kampanj i 48 akter.

[biggabush]

DEN HÄR KAMPANJEN NÅDDE SITT SLUT LÖRDAGEN DEN 22 DECEMBER 2007.

Regi & GM: Anders Bersten
Regler: D&D3.5 (Platinum Vänga Edition)
Frekvens: 1-2 akter/månad
Plats: Vänga Brunnsnäs (hemma hos Anders)

I rollerna*

Grupp 1 - AGRIKANERNA

1.1 Lucius Iounus (Stefan Nilsson) - kunskapare i agrikanska underrättelsetjänsten (Ordo Salamandri), utsänd av den Heliga Stolen i Lysara.

1.2 Heidrich Gulster (Fredrik Nättorp) - lönnmördare, befunnen vara en av gudabarnen (z'orbakhaierna).

1.3 Fader Radovan Reich (Erik Norén) - agrikansk Ulankh-Herucha (missionär) och befunnen varandes Tokan.

1.4 Elena Tinele (Marie Näsström) - sindar Pelehan, medlem av Ordo Salamandri, utsänd av Högvördige Mestus.

1.5 Einar Arenbjörn (Anders Bergström) - skald, viking och väring, i tjänst i den Azeriska legionen, konvererad till agrikanismen, värvad till Ordo Salamandri.

1.6 Okpaki Boke (Greger Lundstedt) - Fulai hunter från den Anzeloriska djungeln. Slav till Muhktar.

1.7 Muhktar ibn Shihab (Gunnar Alm) - Hepekerisk (moor/arab) tempelriddare vid order of the Octagonal Pit i Hegovnis.

1.8 Betbe Zafeer (Fredrik Ewers)- Fd slav från Fulana, söder om Heperiska ökenmassivet. Välkänd beryktad gladiator från Pamesani-spelen i Meokolis där han också fått sin rudis, träsvärdet som löst honom från slaveriet.

* Fler grupper kommer startas om intresse finnes. Kontakta mig isf.

KILLED IN ACTION / M.I.A. (Gamla karaktärer):

Siegfried Weigarmer (Stefan Nilsson) - KIA akt 9.
Godefroy Bastien (Anders Bergström) - KIA akt 10.
Vespe Glimmerstahl (Fredrik Ewers) - MIA från akt 10.

---

Porten till Ptolus slås upp!

Efter inkomna svar har jag här nöjet att meddela följande TVÅ första speldatum för kampanjen - tillfällen då samtliga spelare kunde närvara.

KAPITEL 1 - EN DOFT AV DÖD

AKT 1
Lördagen den 16 december, 2006
kl. 13.00 - 03.00 @ Vänga

AKT 2
Lördagen den 30 december
kl. 13.00 - 03.00 @ Vänga

------------------------

// Visir som lyfts, kanonader vid horisonten
_________________
// Anders Bersten, ordförande

[Den Gamle]

Jag kan följande datum:

AKT 1
a) Lördagen den 9 december (JA/NEJ)    -Erik
b) Lördagen den 16 december (JA/NEJ)

AKT 2
a) Onsdagen den 27 december (JA/NEJ)   -Erik
b) Torsdagen den 28 december (JA/NEJ)  -Erik

AKT 3
a) Fredagen den 29 december (JA/NEJ)    -Erik
b) Lördagen den 30 december (JA/NEJ)    -Erik

[Ewers]

Övriga följer mitt exempel är ni snälla, dvs kopierar denna text och skriver sedan in när ni själva kan.

AKT 1
a) Lördagen den 9 december (JA/NEJ) -Erik
b) Lördagen den 16 december (JA/NEJ) -Ewers

AKT 2
a) Onsdagen den 27 december (JA/NEJ) -Erik, Ewers
b) Torsdagen den 28 december (JA/NEJ) -Erik, Ewers

AKT 3
a) Fredagen den 29 december (JA/NEJ) -Erik, Ewers
b) Lördagen den 30 december (JA/NEJ) -Erik, Ewers

[biggabush]

Innan första spelningen behöver ni skriva bakgrunder till era karaktärer. Det går bra att skriva på svenska eller engelska. Det behöver vare sig vara långrandigt eller novellbetonat. Stolpar går bra.

Maila mig när ni är klara (home@dotshop.se).

Bifogar ett exempel på bakgrund från en av mina tidigare kampanjer (Something Wicked This Way Cometh):

ANGHAUD OF PENDREIC
(Highpriest of the Ochre Womb, Ochrynn, Araka-Kalai)

Anghaud is a proud, clever and politically aware priest. He sees his Order and by extension himself, as the clear and holy center of the faith on Harn. The proximity of his temple to Araka-Kalai and the flow of pilgrims which enrich its coffers, further assures him of his preeminence in these matters. Devout in his own way, he is none the less very savvy and quite able to deal with worldly matters. His greatest fear is that his faith will be extinguished in the West, followed by anything that disrupts the flow of pilgrims to his holy temple. Anghaud thus can be both kind, wise, and ruthless as the necessity for it arises. He can be a harsh man, but sees himself proudly as the leading light of his god. Of his few faults, his most notable one is his pride.

[biggabush]

Fredag kväll 19.00

Stefan har bil.
Anmäl er till honom.

Vi äter clementiner och pepparkakor.
Gör bakgrunder och utrustning.

Svara här på tråden.

[Gobbos Spider]

AKT 1
a) Lördagen den 9 december (JA/NEJ) -Erik stefan
b) Lördagen den 16 december (JA/NEJ) -Ewers stefan

AKT 2
a) Onsdagen den 27 december (JA/NEJ) -Erik, Ewers
b) Torsdagen den 28 december (JA/NEJ) -Erik, Ewers

AKT 3
a) Fredagen den 29 december (JA/NEJ) -Erik, Ewers stefan
b) Lördagen den 30 december (JA/NEJ) -Erik, Ewers stefan

[biggabush]

Se ovan.

[biggabush]

Ändrat datum, från fredag 19.00 till torsdag 23 nov @ 19.00 hemma hos Anders.

[Den Gamle]

Eftersom jag börjar jobba 21 så funkar inte heller torsdag för min del.

[biggabush]

OK, Erik aka RADOVAN REICH.

Vi får således fixa det som fixas skall via epost.

Maila mig:

1) Svar på vilken bild du vill ha (du fick väl bilderna)?.

2) Bakgrund.

3) Utrustning inkl. vapen och armour.

Gärna denna vecka om du hinner mannen.

[biggabush]

Hoj Stefan,

Kom så här långt. kan du lägga till och dra ifrån. Ser det ok ut?

Siegfried was born in the capital city of Palastan, Trolone, as the third son to Master Tanner Otto Weigarmer. His mother, Hilde, died when she gave birth to Siegfried, and Otto raised Siegfried and his two elder brothers alone. Being darn ugly the prospects for young Siegfried looked gloomy and dim from day one. He got badly beaten at home, by his brothers, by his friends and even the dogs seemed to like to chew on him. Dispised and lonely, Siegfried withdrew and spent most of his time in libraries reading books on astronomy and the stars, which fascinated him beyond reason. He could sit endless hours on end, watching the starlit skies, wishing he one day could travel to the stars, or for them to fall down upon Praermal, crushing all, except him.

[biggabush]

...

[biggabush]

Se mitt förslag på bakgrundstory. En pimp har ingen bra kampanj dött av. Vad säger du Nättorp? Up for it?

Heidrich Gulster is a nasty piece of work. The bastard son of a washer- woman, he became a sailor at an early age. He rose to the rank of able-bodied seaman before a bad fall from a spar to the deck shattered his left knee. He spent months recovering and nearly starved. For a long time he walked with a severe limp, aided by a walking stick.

After his recovery, such as it was, he tried working as a longshoreman. However, his knee wasn't up to the strain and he had to quit. Fortunately, Heidrich was always good with his fists. He began working as a bouncer at one of the local sailors' dives. Although not terribly smart, he noticed that the local whoremaster was making very good gold. He soon weaselled his way into the prostitution business as an enforcer. Before long, he was running several of his own girls and paying a cut to the boss.

One night, a quick and deadly blow from his walking stick resulted
in a rapid promotion, making him the boss. Hedrich spent several years in Trolone, the greatest city of western Palastan, on the very outskirts of the Tarsis Empire, before he bought a wagon and outfitted it as a mobile brothel. He follows the caravans, going wherever the money is.

He currently has six prostitutes, five women (two in their 30s, two in their 20s and a 15 year old) and a thirteen-year-old boy. He treats them brutally. Raping them frequently to demonstrate his power over them. He dishes out cuffs and serious beatings almost on a whim. He considers
them little more than cattle.

Always on the lookout for new "merchandise", Heidrich is not above kidnapping or buying a girl/boy from destitute parents. When the prostitutes get too old or poxed, he sells them off cheap. If they resist or he can't sell them, he will simply kill them and dump their bodies in the forest far from civilization. He does this in front of the other prostitutes to keep them in utter fear of him.

This year he teamed up with his mates from the hood, and decided to take his fortune, and brothel, to Ptolus.

[Gobbos Spider]

Köper Stargazer bakgrunden. Inget uberfancy men det passar mig som näsan på min kind.

[biggabush]

PTOLUS AKT 1/48 - EN DOFT AV DÖD

Akt 1 av 48 avklarad. Vill således med dessa rader tacka för en lyckad och trevlig premiärspelning. Om jag får energi, och tid, kommer jag vad det lider att lägga ut korta summeringar vad som händer i kampanjen här på tråden. Tänker att det är en god sak att dela med oss om vadhelst sedelärande ;-) vi 35-40 åringar pysslar med på fritiden.

Akt 2 går av stapeln lördagen den 30/12 hemma hos mig.

Två platser är alltjämt vakanta om någon känner sig sugen.

De fyra karaktärerna och deras bakgrunder finns i deras slutgiltiga editerade version nedan. Kan säga en del om kampanjen för den som funderar på att vara med - det är den första kampanjen jag spelat och regisserat där spelarna startar som döda...

//

PTOLUS - City By The Spire

featuring

1) RADOVAN REICH, Agrikan Herucha (Cleric of Agrik)
(Erik Norén)

Sir Radovan is the fourth child of Sir Wolfgang Reich, a poor Shorkyni knight-bachelor (landless knight) who fled his homeland Shorkyne (motsvarar Tysk-Romerska riket) and went into exile on accusations of blasphemy and heresy. Being a devout Agrikan, a faith punishable by death in Enselet (the town where they are hailing from), this all happened before Radovan was born. Joining "cause" with three other Enselet clans, the Reich's escaped with a cog all the way to the misty isle called Hârn, and landed in Rethem and the capital harbour city of Golotha. Reich's quickly established themselves as loyal servants to the powerful local Agrikan order, Mamaka the Master of Steel, and soon Wolfgang had risen to the ranks of Heruchai.

As his two elder brothers before him, Radovan entered the Order of the Warriors of Mameka at an early age. He was knighted on his 18th birthday. He began his career in the order at Bedenes as a Haragki (knight), fighting the Barbarian menace of the East. During this time he developed an intense hatred for the barbarians, reinforced by the massacre at Kustan. Sir Radovan argues for a full-scale crusade against the heathens to cleanse the stain of dishonour from the shield of the order. Early on, priests of the clerical order, Mamaka the Master of Steel, took an interest in Sir Radovan, noting his religious devotion (and kinship with Wolfgang, now a powerful master of the order). He was recruited and trained to become a Heruchai (priest lieutenant). The scheming and intrigue of priesthood was not to Sir Radovan's liking. Soon after he was ordained, he transferred back to the Warriors of Mamaka. Sir Radovan is now an Ulankh - a free wandering priest of the church.

Within the order he is considered a ruthless and fearless warrior and something of a religious fanatic, annoying the more secular members of the order with his constant preaching. He is a friend of Sir Eredon Bisidril of Vinarsa manor, whom he served with within the order. The two warriors are brothers in arms and assist each other on occasion.

After leaving the order as Ulankh, he joined his childhood friends Vespe Glimmerstahl, Heidrich Gulster and Siegfried Weigarmer, all three sons to the clanheads who, like his father, fled Shorkyni soil many years ago. Even though they are not by noble birth, their Shorka blood runs thick, and Radovan consider them his most trusted companions.

This year Radovan and companions decided to take their fortune to mainland Lythia. They sat sail, but destiny had second thoughts, and they never saw land. They drowned a few miles west of Golotha. But Radovan did not fear. He was soon to meet his Maker in the mighty flaming halls of Balgashang. All became blurred, and as.he sank into the depths of the gulf, Radovan spoke to himself the hymns of Fire & Blood, and then he slowly passed away...

Sir Radovan is a tall, heavy-set man in his mid twenties. His fiery stare and pompous appearance make him easy to remember. His dark grey eyes hide a wise and ambitious character. He usually dresses in good quality clothing bearing the arms of the Warriors of Mamaka. He always carries his heavy mace, as a symbol of his status and might. His bearing is noble and aloof. Any commoners in his path must move aside quickly or face his wrath.

2) SIEGFRIED WEIGARMER, Lia-Kavair (Rogue)
(Stefan Nilsson)

Siegfried was born in the Rethemi city of Golotha, as the third son to master hideworker Otto Weigarmer, one of the clanheads of an emigrated group of four Shorkyni families that were cast out from Enselet in central Shorkyne two generations ago, on accusations on dabbling with black magic, and to worship Agrik - a crime punishable by death. Unioned not by kin or blood, but by a shared forbidden faith to the Immortal Lord of Balgashang, the Weigarmer's were joined by three other minor clans on the voyage; the Reich's, the Gulster's and the Glimmerstahlers, a small eccentric gnome clan.

On the night of Siegfried's birth, Hildegard, his mother, died from bloodloss and infection, and Otto raised Siegfried and his two elder brothers alone. Being darn ugly the prospects for young Siegfried looked gloomy and dim from day one. He got badly beaten at home, and by his brothers. Even the dogs liked to chew on him. Despised and lonely, young Siegfried withdrew and spent most of his time in the hills north of Golotha, too watch the skies and the stars, both which fascinated him beyond compare. He could sit endless hours on end, watching the starlit skies, wishing he one day could travel to the stars, or for them to fall down upon Kethira.

It was during one such night that he encountered the love of his life, Ginger, the daughter to a wandering actress and member of a mobile theater and troupe of entertainers calling themselves The Company of  Daermal. To Siegfried's big surprise these folks showed him the hospitality he never got anywhere else, and he was stunned when they invited him to join their ranks. With such an appearance the leader of the troupe, Adrian, thought of many uses for Siegfried in his plays. Siegfried accepted willingly as this also meant that he could be close to Ginger.

Siegfried spent some time on the road with these minstrels and it was through them he was introduced to Navehanism, the faith to Naveh. Seduced more by Ginger than by theology he soon converted from Agrikanism (the faith of his father) to the Lord of the Pitch Shadows. The company of Daermal told Sigfried that he was one special kid, and that he had a gift. One day, they said, he will be baptised and learn many secrets. Being a Skorus-Masara cusp, and born on the last day of Navek, the night of shadows, the holiest day of the year, made him "chosen". Unfortunately his time with them were not meant to last and it came to an abrupt end when the entire troupe was caught by the authorities and burned at the stake for heresy, theft and manslaughter. His new found friends were gone, and without his true love Siegfried was devastated. He tried to take his own life. He failed. The roof from which he was about to plunge collapsed and he found himself heads down in a comfy double bed.

When he woke up the first thing he saw was a big nose leaning over him. It belonged to a gnome named Vespe, son to Gert Glimmerstahl and friend to the family. Vespe took pity on Siegfried and started to defend him around the hood, and soon he was accepted into a new friendship. Vespe Glimmerstahl, Heidrich Gulster and Radovan Reich became close friends, and they shared many adventures during their youth. The friendship continues to this day.

Inspired by the actions and virtues of his trusted friend Radovan, an Agrikan priest, Siegfried denounced Naveh, and today he is a devout Agrikan (like his two other friends Vespe and Heidrich).

3) HEIDRICH GULSTER, Slaver and pimp
(Fredrik Nättorp)

Heidrich Gulster is a nasty piece of work. He was born in the harbour city of Golotha, in the kingdom of Rethem, on the third night of Savor, 698 TR, hence he was born a "cusp", under the benefical influence of not one, but two sunsigns - Tarael (The Pentacle) and Tai (The Lantern Bearer).

The son of Gerhard Gulster, a sailor and 2nd generation emigrant from Enselet in Shorkyne, he became a sailor at an early age. He rose to the rank of able-bodied seaman before a bad fall from a spar to the deck shattered his left knee. He spent months recovering and nearly starved. For a long time he walked with a severe limp, aided by a walking stick.

After his recovery, such as it was, he tried working as a longshoreman. However, his knee wasn't up to the strain and he had to quit. Fortunately, Heidrich was always good with his fists. He began working as a bouncer at one of the local sailors' dives. Being terribly smart, after noticing that the local whoremaster was making very good gold, he soon weaseled his way into the prostitution business as an enforcer. Before long, he was running several of his own girls and paying a cut to the boss of the block.

One night, a quick and deadly blow from his walking stick resulted in a rapid promotion, making him the boss. Heidrich spent several years in Golotha, before he bought a wagon and outfitted it as a mobile brothel. He followed the caravans, going wherever the money were, and have been a regular sight on the Salt Route between Tharda and Kaldor in the east. He quickly made some serious gold, and used the lion-part of it to pay a horney former client (a respected priest of Peoni fond of small boys) to completely restore his knee.

He currently has six prostitutes, five women (two in their 30s, two in their 20s and a 15 year old) and a thirteen-year-old boy. He treats them harshly and considers them little more than cattle.

Always on the lookout for new "merchandise", Heidrich is not above kidnapping or buying a girl/boy from destitute parents. He has a knack for ladies, and uses his skill with the lute to lure and charm them.When the prostitutes get too old or poxed, he sells them off cheap. If they resist or he can't sell them, he will simply dump them in the sewers, in a back alley or down in the harbour. He does this in front of the other prostitutes to keep them in utter fear of him.

This year he teamed up with his mates from the hood, and decided to take his fortune, and brothel, to mainland Lythia. But fortune had something else lined up for him. He never saw Lythia. During a freak storm, the ship, a stout Dak cog owned by his his friend, a Agrikan priest named Radovan Reich, sunk in the open sea west of Golotha. Heidrich and Radovan, and their friends Vespe and Siegfried were washed overboard and sank quickly in the high cold waves. It was as if something grabbed him down the depths. Then his memory lapsed and it was all black. For a while...

4) VESPE GLIMMERSTAHL, Gnome rogue/weaponsmith
(Fredrik Ewers)

Vespe was born as the third and youngest son to master Gert Glimmerstahl, the finest gnome weapon- and firearms manufacturer in Golotha, and also an inventor of some renown. The Glimmerstahl clan originally hails from Enselet in Shorkyne, but were forced into exile many years ago due to accusations of heresy and black magic.Together with three other clans who all shared the same forbidden faith (Agrikanism), the Reich's, the Weigarmer's and the Gulster's, the three families fled over the sea to Hârn and settled in Golotha, and have stayed there ever since. All this occured before Vespe was born, during the youth of his father.

Like his father and his brothers before him, Vespe has a knack for mechanics and machines, and he is well schooled in engineering and architecture, weaponsmithing and the fine art of making firearms. His father passed away last year and the Glimmerstahl establishment was inherited by his eldest brother Burro, also assisted by Ado, the second eldest of the three. Fortunately their good father maintained good records of his work, leaving it all behind for the benefit of his sons. In his will, he made it clear that everything should stay within the clan, except one tome, which was to be brought safely to uncle Gaster, currently in the service of the King of Melderyn.Young Vespe were given letters of recommendation, credentials and a small sum of pennies to make the journey. Inside the book, a heavy dusty volume titled "On The Arte of Making Guns" master Gert has collected all his notes and theories. Because of its value,Vespe guards the book closely and keeps it with him at all times. The knowledge contained within would be of immense value to any human.

This year Vespe re-united with his closest friends from his childhood; Radovan Reich the Agrikan priest; Heidrich Gulster the pimp and slaver; and with Siegfried Weigarmer, the ugliest necker in Golotha, and a member of the Lia-Kavair. They had decided to test their fortune abroad, and this wanderlust fitted in just nicely - he was planning to travel to uncle Gaster in Cherafir anyway.

Unfortunately destiny had something else lined up. The companions never reached the mainland, neither did they see the Wizard's Isle (Melderyn). During a freak sudden storm that ravaged the Andurien, the cog went under and took all men with it into the cold depths of the sea. Gnomes are not known to be good swimmers. This is even more true for Vespe, and thus he quickly sank into the waves, his lungs filled with salt water, his book getting wet. His book! His book! As he realized he would fail his father, and that the tome would be forever lost, he snapped. Blurred by his panic, the lack of hope, and air, he struggled until all went black.

"This could frickingly NOT be it", was the last thought he had...

5) ELENA TINELE, Sindarin, Evoker/Sjarin
(Marie Näsström)

Elena Tinele was born on the second day of Morgat, in the year 575 in the tranquil realm of Evael, in a small but luxurious clan house just west of the secluded harbour town of Ulfshafen. Being the twin daughter of a small clan known for their aptitude in the magic arts, and whose members have been accomplished Sjari as long as one can remember, Elena's choice of career was both easy and obvious. Elena's parents, Alduin and Inarve Tinele, are both renowned in the ancient arts.

Born wealthy, Elena, or simply Eea as her brother (Ectharion) calls her, is used to a life of privilege. Her family's connections earned her an apprenticeship with Mirth - the greatest magician and Sjari-master of the elven realm. She excelled at her studies, completing her apprenticeship in only six years. Her desire for a life of research was all, and she was only content when locked away among her tomes in her study. Elena became withdrawn from mundane life, and began studying the workings of the elements, particularly fire, which always intrigued her more than anything else. Within a few years she had earned the rank of Sjarin, which equals a Sheneva among the Shek-Pvar. Her experiments used the estate staff and residents as unwilling subjects. There were a number of unfortunate incidents that attracted the unwelcome and dangerous attention of the Sjari Council. In 708, she was declared renegade and forced to flee for her life. To cover her escape she set fire to the small section of the clan house, killing several servants and leaving sufficient evidence to make the Council believe she had perished in the flames. Elena fled west, eventually reaching Golotha in Rethem. There, she encountered the Agrikan church. Elena found she had much in common with the Agrikans and came to a mutually beneficial arrangement. The Agrikans built a laboratory and library for her research. They provided her with a generous stipend and a steady supply of research material. In return, Elena has happily broadened her research to include the study of conditioning and behaviour modification requested by the Agrikans.

In 719 something terrible occurred. Whilst conducting research around her favourite element, fire, a catastrophical misfire caused a total release of uncontrolled elder flames from Balgashang, which got loose on the mundane world, and devastated the lab, the temple and was fatal for Elena, who died there in the fiery havoc. But weird or sick as it may all sound, the only sensation Elena felt while her her flesh burned away was intrigue, fascination, and calm. She knew that she was going home, cleansed by the fire, carrying her half-way to Balgashang - to Ptolus, the city by the spire.

Fire, here I come!
Fire, walk with me!

6) GODEFROY GUILLAUME BASTIEN DE REGRISSE, Haragki (Agrikan knight)

(Anders Bergström)

Godefroy was born the third son of Lallamaur Bastien, Telmen (Knight-Commander) of the chapter house Regrisse, located a few miles northeast along the coast of the southern Trierzi town of Magris. Known throughout the land as pious men, the Bastiens had a long tradition of serving the Agrikan church, raising their sons to be proud vessels in the service of the Immortal Warlord. And be it as clergymen or righteous warriors, Godefroy and his brothers were no exception: as soon as they would reach the appropriate age, they too would serve within the Order of Mamaka, the Masters of Steel.

Lallamaur was looking forward to the day his sons would be sworn in. He had himself been sworn in under the rule of his father and he only feared that they might be deemed unworhty of service, like his own brother Etienne. This had rightly upset his father, but Lallamaur did not realize the full consequences of his brother's flaws until years later.

On the very day he learned that his brother had denounced Agrik, Lallamaur Bastien de Regrisse took upon himself to restore the good name of the Bastien family. By nightfall the heretic, along with the loyal elements of his household, was gutted and set to flames just outside the walls of the town of Magris. Much of his property met the same end on the following morning. Riding northeast, back to the chapter house Regrisse, Lallamaur felt in his heart that the effort, albeit just and in accordance to the will of the church, wasn't enough in itself. He turned to his favorite sons and solemnly declared that they were no longer to be mere sons of Bastien. At seventeen and fourteen years old, they had been accepted as full members of the order.

Godefroy Guillaume had not been allowed to accompany Phillipe and Fredrick on their father's grim quest. Twelve years old, he would perhaps have been brought along had he not been considered the lesser of the three brothers in more than just age. Phillipe was the perfect heir to the Regrisse estate - being the eldest only made it the more easy on Lallamaur. And to his credit, Fredrick not only excelled in his studies with the clergymen but he also did not covet his brother's heritage as one might expect from a second-born. Indeed, only their mother's unquestionable loyalty towards her husband kept young Godefroy Guillaume from being labled a bastard. Lallamaur would, on occassion, still ask his beloved Virene if she did not keep things from him that could explain why his youngest son was such a remarkable failure.

Truth told, Godefroy Guillaume was not entirely the great mistake his father would have him be. It was true that his shortcomings often resulted in great disappointment, but what could be expected if the ambition was equally great? He would fail as often as not, but over time he would grow weary of struggling in the shadow of his brothers: nothing he could do would win his father over.

As Godefroy reached the age of fourteen , Lallamaur no longer had any reasons to keeping him from being sworn in as a full member of the order. By strict instructions of the Telmen he was only allowed to parttake in less honorable tasks in the domains of the chapter. Since no one was expecting anything of him, he was in a way more free than his brothers. Free to explore the boundaries of his privileges which earned him a reputation of being a cynical brute.

One day, he was assigned to a small party charged with smoking out a band of heretics supposedly hiding in a small hamlet.  Upon arrival it was concluded that the villains had taken refuge in a barn . Following the instructions to the letter, the now nineteen years old Godefroy was singled out to set a cart afire which was then to be used as a ram. It travelled but a few yards from atop the nearby hill before it got stuck however, and the young Bastien saw it only fit that he wrestle the blasted vehicle into motion. Not only the cart would stuck that day, as the unfortunate Godefroy soon would learn.

The men gasped in amazement as the courageous laumak clung to the roaring carriage making its way down the slope. In a way, Godefroy thought before the chariot of fire smashed through the side of the barn, this was perhaps for the best. For all. Well stacked with hay, the barn was soon a blazing inferno. Had it not been for the sudden streak of admiration in his brothers-in-arms, Godefroy would have met his demise on that day and perhaps even pleased his father.

He wasn't a beauty in the past but the fire certainly had done him no good. Wicked tongues whispered that he was "the one even Agrik rejected". But in his heart he knew that it was through Agrik's grace alone that he had survived the ordeal. When fully recovered, he was still the towering athlete he had always been. And as for the marks on his person, he had learned one thing in life: the more grim a scar, the greater the experience. Besides, the dead did not grow scars at all. Indeed, he felt most fortunate.

As it were, he grew to believe that it might in fact have been the eternal flame itself that had touched him. The now aging Lallamaur, on the other hand, was less impressed by the piety of his youngest son - sincere as it may have been. Godefroy's fervor did not pass unnoticed by other order officials however. And in 714, much thanks to the efforts of Virine, Godefroy Guillaume was dubbed a Hagraki (knight) upon his twenty-first birthday. During his very first audience with the Telmen of Regrisse, he was given the option of transferring to a chapter on the mainland. Only in so many words had his father finally cast him out. And Godefroy rejoiced. For now, finally, he could make a name for himself.

On the morning, eight years after Agrik had scorched him, news reached Godefroy by messenger that Philippe was now the ruler of Regrisse. Later that day, Le Boudin the Magris* was the first of twelve to fall in an ambush. Godefroy could only watch as his sergeant rushed to his side through the hail of another volley of arrows. All in vain. Life was already leaving his body through his chest and throat. With blood clogging his lungs and all turning black around him, Godefroy Guillaume could not help but wonder how his father would greet him in the afterlife.

(* sv översättning - "Blodkorven från Magris")