|
|
|
A young man seemingly near 20. His long black hair is usually pulled back in a pony tail, and dark hard eyes peer at those he meets, but the rest of his manner is polite and caring. His features are handsome but his experiances with life give him a cold look. But to any who can look past his exterior, they know him to be a warm and generous man, sharing what he may have with anyone who needs it.
|
|
|
Benard never had much of a childhood; the bastard son of the King of Goldaron and a minor noblewoman, he was esquired to a knight named Sir Gunthar by the age of 7. By the time he was 9 the king had died, with no hier, and Goldaron was pitched into a furious 8 year civil war. At 11, with his teacher dead. Benard became a mercenary and a brigand. Killing on the side of whomever would pay him the most money. He spent 3 years in such service until he came under the employment of Barron Wise. Barron Wise helped Benard to turn from his evil ways, and helped him back on the path to knighthood. Now at 14, Benard was witness to the final battle of Barron wise at the hands of the Duke Noxis. With nobody to turn to, Benard swore an oath then and there to uphold the laws and honor of mankind, for the good of all. Martialing the Barron's shattered forces, he lead a reckless counter offensive that killed many hundreds, but in the end saved the Barron's land for his son Torn. He was repayed with a small fortune, and banishment from the realm 'For failing in the service of his liege lord.' Benard disapeared for two years, though rumors were whispered about an army of peasants forming in rebellion against the lords of the land. On his 16th Birthday, Benard marched from the Snowflake forest with an army 2,000 strong, funded by the money he was awarded. To any who joined his cause, he promised peace and stability, and the return of a rightful member of the royal family. He unfurled his banner for all to see, the royal coat of arms was displayed proudly on it. Many of the nobility flocked to Benard, seeing an end to the war and strife as a possibility. All would have ended peacefully, but Duke Noxis, and Torn, the two most powerful lords in the realm refused, pledging death to the "false hier of the king" and marching to do battle. In yet another bloody war Benard lead his forces against the two rebel lords, it was not until the battle of Culp's Hill over a year later that it all ended. Noxis was slain in battle, and Torn was captured as he fled. But there was much loss, the bloodiest battle in the nations history, 15,000 men had died in 10 days, thousands more were wounded, including Benard, who lost his left hand to Noxis as he died.
|
|
|
Benard was a hero, and was declared the King of Goldaron at the age of 17 and immediatly began to restore order to the kingdom. He took two major steps, the first was to centralize the governing of the land around himself. He removed the lords millitary powers, instead centralizing all armies under the king. Lords were allowed small numbers of bodyguards. He set a maximum tax rate that lords were allowed to take from the peasantry, and freed all the serfs, giving them the ability to move between states if they wished. He in turn, would tax the nobles, all the money from them was used to rebuild the kingdom. His second step, to insure that the country would be safe; was to form an order of warriors, devoted to protecting Goldaron. He called this order his Azure Knights. People from the world over heeded to the call, and within months the Azure Knights were an influence that was felt throughout the realms. In thier quest to protect the home of thier Master Knight, Saint Benard; the knights travelled the length and breadth of the world, illiminating threats too thier liege and to any who pleaded for help. They became a major force for good in the world.
|
|
|
Though he was king, Benard did not idly stay in Goldaron. He had his hand replaced, a metal hand, that looks like and armored gauntlet. Enchanted to behave like a normal hand, he can also use it to deflect weapons and some spells. Benard also travelled on occassion like the rest of the knights, leaving his cousin in charge. But he was always in contact with the country through a magical shield. On the course of his adventures Benard was gifted with a magical weapon, the Long Sword Rion, from an Elvish prince. The blade of this weapon passes through metal and living flesh like it is not there, but can still deflect blades as a normal weapon. The weapons magic is innefective against the undead though, behaving like a normal weapon in all aspects.
|
|
|
|
In the second year of Benard's short lived rule. A dark god began his millenia old plans to conquer the world. Magus, with his four-horsemen, and a massive army of undead abominations and evil warriors began to lay siege to the whole world. Benard and his Knights were ready. But alas his country was not. Leaving to fight the dark god and his hordes with only his order behind him, Benard searched for any allies he could find in his cause. He found the dragons. Together with the dragons Benard and his knights fought most fearsome battles with Magus. Until Magus himself challenged the puny mortal after he slew the Horseman Pestulance. Benard and the god Magus fought, the battle lasted for hours, niether giving the other any quarter. In the end it was Benard who struck the final blow, and the god cursed him with what remained of his power. "You shall never find the peace of death, you shall walk among the living until all is destroyed. Unloved, and all alone. You shall always be alone, and never shall you step foot in your homeland again!" Benard was torn from his homeworld and sent to the Nexxus, where he now resides for the last 200 years. Forever lonely, forever searching for home.
|
|
|
Wandering the world of the Nexxus alone for 200 years. Benard is somewhat of a defeatist now. His confidence is nearly shot, but somehow he hangs on. Whether it is hope that someday he can reverse the curse, or maybe a need to do good. Perhaps he searches for a friend... he does not know anymore, nor does he much care to think on it.
|