Saedrik De Grayle
Contents
Man-At-Arms Saedrik De Grayle of Caerbannog
”I will be the light in the times of great darkness.”
Biography
Birth and the Third Crusade
Saedrik de Grayle was born September 28th, 1168 in York, England. He was an only child whose father was a Knight of the Crown. He saw very little of his father who perished in combat against a group of mercenaries when he was four years old. In 1181 a thirteen year old Saedrik became a squire and was assigned to be the assistant to a Templar name Denz. Through much training and devotion Saedrik himself was knighted and joined the ranks of the Knight's Templar in 1185 for showing such devotion and his family's lineage.
The next four years were mostly uneventful. Mostly filled with combat training, guard duty and various drills. Saedrik ensured he'd be ready for whatever tests came upon him in his service to both faith and kingdom. And soon his training would pay off as he was sent to the city of Acre. There he would spent time training other would be warriors in the art of sword fighting. While also befriending many citizens within the cities walls. All was peaceful for Saedrik and the city of Acre. That is until the Third Crusade broke out in 1189.
Saladin, after having decisively crushed the Crusaders opposition at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. Seeking the destruction of the Crusader's major holds. The Saracen Lord set his sights on Acre and headed out to claim the city. It was there where Saedrik's combat experience was mostly put to the test. Though he would not fight alone. Alongside him were Templar Commander Robert de Sable and Templar Grand Master, Gerard de Ridefort. Guy of Lusignan and King Richard the Lionheart too accompanied the Crusader forces in the defense. Fighting against the siege for almost a complete two years before it was hailed as a victory for the Crusader's.
Once the battle was won the Crusader forces were given short time to rest and recover. King Richard planned to move to Jaffa, knowing he'd need to capture the port before making an attempt to take Jerusalem. The Lionheart gathered his army comprised of Crusaders from England, France, Jerusalem and few other Kingdoms as well as the Knight's Hospitaller and the Knight's Templar. Saedrik was among the Templar forces chosen to join their forces by Robert de Sable, new Templar Grand Master. As Gerard de Ridefort was killed in the Siege of Acre. Captured and beheaded by Saladin's forces. Leaving Robert de Sable as the eleventh Grand Master of the Templar Army.
Richard's army left Acre for Jaffa near the end of August in 1191. As the army moved to Jaffa it was attacked by Saladin's forces in what would be known as the Battle of Arsuf on September 7th, 1191. The battle was fairly tame at the beginning. Richard rotated his infantry units to ensure that his forces remained strong. While Saladin's archers used skirmish tactics to provoke greater conflict. Slinging arrows at the Crusaders from all sides to annoy them and force them to charge. The Crusader King however kept order amongst his ranks quite well. Saladin wished to destroy his enemies resolve. Thus the onslaught was accompanied by the banging of cymbals and gongs, trumpets blaring and men screaming war cries.
Richard's army did not waiver however as they approached Arsuf. He planned on letting the enemy exhaust themselves with their repeated charges and tactics. Waiting for an appropriate time to launch a counter attack. Soon the Vanguard entered Arsuf and Hospitaller Crossbowmen broke the cohesion. The Saracens were quick to take advantage of this. Moving up into wherever gaps they could fill. Garnier de Nablus, the tenth Grand Master of the Hospitaller, pleaded to Richard to make and advance. Richard refused and the Grand Master took to the front and charged the Saracen Ranks. Leading the rest of the Hospitaller forces to break ranks and charge with him. The French Knight's too charged, following in example.
Richard knew that he'd now have to commit all of his forces into the attack lest his army be broken. He ordered the signal for the charge to be sounded and soon the most critical point in the battle was reached. Frankish Infantry opened gaps in their ranks for the Templar to pass through and the attack developed from rear to van. The Saracen's found the sudden ferocity in their formerly passive enemy disconcerting. Realizing now that this was their plan all along. And they soon found out that the Knight's were looking forward to taking revenge for all they were made to suffer during the previous battle. The Saracen forces took great casualties from the counter attack. Templar forces fighting on the left flank had an easy time dealing with the enemy forces. Richard stopped the advance after a mile of ground was covered and regrouped. This led to the Ayyubid forces turning and cutting down any knights who had chosen to continue the advance. Including James d'Avesnes, the commander of one of the French units. Then Richard led into a second charge, once more breaking Saladin's forces and continuing the rampant slaughter.
The wise King, seeing his forces so scattered. Halted once more to reform and regroup. He did not wish to give the enemy any chances at thinning his forces. The Ayyubid Cavalry once more turned to show they still had fight left in them and fought against the Templar ranks who had held their ground despite the order to regroup. The fight was bloody as the Knight's fought hard against the cavalry forces. Saedrik was killed minutes before the third and final charge and a short hour before the Crusaders decisive victory in this battle.
The Keeper of the Outlanders
But that was not the end of Saedrik. Far from it as it marked a new beginning for the Templar Knight. He awoke to find himself in the courtyard of a massive castle complex. Standing atop a gargantuan land mass which floated in an endless void. It looked to be dusk, the light fading away to call into the night. Though how such a place could exist was beyond the Knight's comprehension. Confused he ventured forth and entered the interior of the keep. The insides were gothic styled and in Saedrik's opinion, breathtaking. Massive columns and archways with carved and chiseled walls. Tapestries and windows with symbols both foreign and familiar. Beautiful marble and granite flooring with intricately carved patterns and designs with strips of red carpeting and oak wood floors in the more comfortable places such as the bedrooms and library.
Saedrik wondered who could live in let alone afford such a keep. And soon his question would be answered. Upon his exploration he found a large domed room with black walls and a granite floor. Inside was a man, almost Native American in appearance who was gazing at projections which came from a crystal on the ceiling. Held in by another gothic themed fixture of sorts. This room almost appeared to be a planetarium. Though instead of planets it was for the existing realms. The Templar approached the castle's only apparent inhabitant. Who introduced himself as 'The Keeper' the strange man explained what this realm was and just what that meant for the fallen warrior.
The world to which the castle resided in is called 'The Outlands'. A realm between realms where beings devoted to serving the Light are born or rather chosen as he said. The Keeper then explained that Saedrik was chosen to join the ranks of the 'Outlanders'. Though just exactly what this entailed or meant was unknown to the dead Templar. Who had previously saw this realm as more of a purgatory than a heaven. Though spending a good week aimlessly exploring a castle which seemed to have no life in it tends to give those kind of thoughts.
What he took from it was that he was to travel the many realms as a Warrior of the Light and fight off the forces of the Darkness wherever they may roam. But even that was sketchy to him at best. He was given a ring as a symbol of his status. Which he decided to wear around his neck and he was given a choice of where to go. The Keeper presented Saedrik with a vast number of doorways, each leading to a different realm in need of protecting. He was given no instructions, no information and just told to select one. The only warnings he was given was that wherever he went there would be great darkness lurking to consume all. And that whatever world he would enter would likely be vastly different from the one he was used to. He chose the tenth doorway and after looking back at the Keeper, stepped through the portal.
Entering the realm of Amtgard
Saedrik appeared in a vast meadow in the realm of Amtgard. Quickly growing sick from the uncomfortable and unsettling feeling of interdimensional teleportation. It took about fifteen minutes to regain control of his ill fallen stomach and venture forth. He set out for a keep he spotted in the East in hopes of finding a place where he could get a good meal and a stiff drink. Arriving in Goldenvale he already saw just what the Keeper had been talking about. There were a vast number of strange beings around him. Clearly not all of these people were human. Though this would take some getting used to he did not think of them much differently. Certainly not in a negative way.
He may have been devoted to his own faith. Though he never faulted the Saracen forces for their own beliefs. The battle to him was nothing personal. He was just serving his Kingdom and faith. And he would do the same to this new Kingdom to which he called home. He went to the nearest tavern to try and get some food in himself though realized he had no coin for which to pay. It didn't take him long to decide to accompany a group of adventurers on a manhunt for a bit of pay. The goal was simple, there were reports of bandits attacking citizens heading through the forest.
During the quest all seemed rather quiet. Though it would not stay that way as a new threat to the Kingdom attacked. Calling themselves 'Darklanders' they ambushed the party who drew their weapons and defended themselves. Saedrik found himself back to back with some of his fellow group members. Shayich, Drake and Nexut. The four coordinated, fought valiantly against the Darklander threat and survived the day with little more than a few wounds. It was decided that their findings should be reported to the Monarchy immediately.
Now with coin in his pouch and even more fatigue than before, Saedrik once more made it to the tavern. Paying for food, drink and room to which he would then sleep in for a little over twelve hours. The next day he took it upon himself to learn more about this new world and sought out a library to which he could gain this knowledge from. For the next four months he'd periodically go to the library, spar with the garrison and adventurers, and search the area for any more Darklander incursions. He made many friends in those four months and strengthened his friendship with the three warriors he fought alongside with when he first arrived.
He also met another Templar named Brother Fredrik de Money who had far more experience in this realm than he had. He was surprised to see another Templar here and found himself curious as to how he found himself in this place. He stuck close to Fredrik to see what kind of information he could gain and other things he might learn. And when it was offered for him to be taken up as a Man-At-Arms to the Veteran Templar Saedrik agreed. Believing that he could improve his services to the Kingdom under the guidance of his new Liege lord.
The Outlander fought in many battles for the Kingdom of Goldenvale and travelled around when he found it necessary. For the most part though he kept to the main Kingdom to ensure it's populace would remain safe from the growing darkness in the lands. When Nydgenga Dawnbreaker took the throne of Goldenvale and declared all non humans as abhorrent he was appalled. He fought for the freedom and rights of the non human populace. He planned to stage a rebellion in the name of the non-humans though this never came to fruition as he had disappeared.
New beginning in Caerbannog
Saedrik’s disappearance was no coincidence as he banished by an extremist loyalist. Who feared he'd go against the reign of the crown. The banishment spell landed him back in the Outlands. And while he wasn't there for any longer than a few days for himself. He had found that time in the Amtgard world had gone forward quite a bit without him. When he got back Nydgenga was no longer Monarch and Fredrik had founded a shire to help give refuge to those who had been exiled from Goldenvale. Though the banishment spell did not leave Saedrik completely unaffected. It took it's toll in the form of crippling his memory. Some people he remembered, some were forgotten and most of his exploits.
The Outlander visited Caerbannog and stayed for a few days before heading off into the world. Hoping to regain the memories to which were lost to him. He travelled to Goldenvale which took a long while for he had forgotten where it was. It took much wandering and directions to find the Kingdom he was once so familiar with. Once there he talked with those he once allied himself with to piece together his mind. After that he did the same with Boreal Dale and then went back to take refuge in Fredrik's house of healing in hopes that they could help reclaim his mind. It did not work out very well. Saedrik then left to travel in search of someone who could help.
After wandering the across the many lands in search of a great healer. He set forth to return to Caerbannog, having failed to find someone to repair his broken mind. Though he had not gained back his memories from the expedition he did gain something else, wisdom. While his memories may be lost to the void they were but a few pieces to a much larger part of him. He still had a job and he could still make new memories with the people of Caerbannog to which he had abandoned so recklessly. And while he still finds it hard to retain new information or recall past events he would not let that stop him anymore.
The Templaric Outlander returned the shire of Caerbannog to see it was under the threat of pirates. Not only that but Brother Fredrik had left. Saedrik decided now that the Shire and it's people needed his aid. He would stand and protect those who can not protect themselves from the savages from the sea. In the name of the King, in the name of his faith, in the name of his Liege lord, for Goldenvale and for the people of Caerbannog. He would die a thousand deaths before allowing this scum to reign supreme.
Belted Family
Brother Fredrik (Mentor)
Notable Accomplishments
Title of Quest Monkey (2010)
