Ērēus

Ērēus of Amra, Heartguard of Elárwið

Ērēus was introduced as a paladin of Amra, summoned by the High Priestess to help deal with the familiar of Dammon Shroudson.

Ērēus was born in 608 DR to Kaléum and Ara Talórēun. His father was a weaver and his mother tended to the house, garden, and pigs that sustained them. When Ērēus was very young his father was commissioned by the priests of Taldàna to weave a ceremonial tapestry to be lain across the feet of Amra for an upcoming holiday. His father worked long and hard on the task, refusing paying jobs in favor of this prestigious request. When the tapestry was done, he took Ērēus with him to the city and presented it to the Temple where it was thankfully received. Because it was not proper to offer payment for work rendered as an act of faith, the priests offered Kaléum something more. They offered to admit his son Ērēus into the temple schools, a boon that would otherwise have never been possible for the family to afford. Kaléum thanked the priests for the opportunity and left his son in their care.

Though his training and studies prepared him at an early age toward priesthood, at the young age of eleven he was squired to Ðr. Kēána Indéren, a knight of Evermið. He traveled throughout Taldàna and Ezmir with Ðr. Keána and her entourage, answering the call to repel Ortor and serve as justices in backwaters. It was during this time in the city of Wyme’er that Ērēus was confronted by the prophetess Heréda. After many questions and a spell or two, Heréda had a long conversation with Ērēus’s lady. Following this intercourse the ðard sat with her squire and discussed his future. She explained that the seer had claimed that he was touched byAmra and that the Temple priests should investigate the matter more closely. They resolved to return to the City of Taldàna and seek the Temple’s counsel.

On the return trip to Taldàna the entourage was beset by bandits. Ðr. Keána dealt fearsomely with many of the bandits but three of her entourage were slain. The remaining two servants, the unconscious ðard and Ērēus were captured and taken deep into the woods where the knight was dealt with in unvirtuous ways. That night, while the bandits sat drinking and smoking and remarking on their good fortune and the ransom the Temple might pay for one of its knights, Ērēus dreamt of a lady bathed in golden light. The lady said to him, “You must awaken and rise now. You will know no pain for my love will shield you. Your captors are heavy with sleep and drink. There is no love in their dark hearts; as there is no love in mine for them and their deeds. The Golden Lady will look away. Strike at these demons and when she turns again, you will be filled with her undying love.” When Ērēus awoke his lady’s sword and shield lay near him. He offered a silent prayer of forgiveness and then tore through the bandit’s camp with an exceptional fury. Those few bandits that found their way to their feet were cut back down mercilessly by the young swordsman, until only those who offered surrender remained. These he bound to a wagon that they might walk behind. He freed his lady and lay her in the wagon’s bed, for she could not be wakened from her state. In this way, Ērēus returned to the City of Taldàna where he was met by priests who had been “told” of his coming.

In the weeks to come, Ðr. Keána recovered from her state and told the priests the words of Heréda. The priests held rituals and many were awed by the secrets revealed. Finally, Ðr. Keána came to the chamber of Ērēus and asked that he follow her to the citadel. There he was presented to the High Priestess. She spoke briefly with him and listened carefully to his recount of the visitation in the forest. Following this she nodded and told him to return on the next afternoon. Fine clothes were brought to him on the following day before he traveled again to the citadel. When he arrived at the Temple he found a grand ceremony awaited him. Surrounded by all the priests of Taldàna and many from the surrounding towns and cities, Ērēus was asked to approach the altar. At the altar the High Priestess led the congregation in three prayers. Following this she came forward and kissed Ērēus (i.e., the Love of the Goddess) and then, sadly, presented him with a silver sword. Upon taking this sword one more prayer was offered and then all turned their backs on him. In this way, he left the temple a Ðardor.

For many years Ērēus served his country well. He trained long and hard and prayed for the goddess to give him further direction. That direction never came. When his parents had died, he returned to their small house north of the City and took care of their garden and animals. It seemed strange to some that Amra would chose a Ðardor when there was no need for one, but Ērēus had remained faithful that she would not place this burden on him without care. He knew that one day she would call upon him and all his suffering would at last make sense.

Ērēus looked back and forth between the two. They were young and confused; that was obvious. Without a priest inside fifty miles, he was the only person that could help them. This morning there had been a knock at his door. Visitors were not common in the mountains, unless there was an emergency. He’d gathered his bearskin around his shoulders, climbed from his bed, and opened the door. They were standing outside in the snow and the wind, a quilt shared between them. The young man was no older than fifteen, and his young bride years younger. “What brings you to this place on such a morning,” he asked the two. Suddenly the two looked embarrassed. He watched them carefully. The girl looked to the ground and the boy looked away, but he did not take his arm from her shoulders. “We’re here to be married good sir,” said the boy with a cracking voice. “We can pay you.” Ērēus smiled at this. “Money is not the question children,” he replied coolly. He let that final word sink in for a moment before continuing. “It’s cold and early for a wedding,” Ērēus said. “Amra will bring you Spring flowers in two months time. You would be better to…” The boy interrupted him. “No, we can’t do that,” the boy pleaded, his voice stronger than before. Pulling the quilt back from their shoulders, the young girl was revealed to be with child. Ērēus nodded and let the two into his home, closing the door behind them. He showed the girl to a chair and made tea for her at the fire, leaving the young man standing cold and alone in the middle of the room. He returned with a cup for the girl and then faced the young man. “An understanding,” he began. “Marriage does not make this an honest crime. Only through your endless love and support of this young woman will you find salvation from the Goddess.” Fear crept into the young man’s eyes as he nodded. Ērēus laid a strong hand upon the boy. He could have crushed the boy’s shoulder within that fist and he let the boy know it as he tightened his grip. “Every child is a blessing of the Goddess, son. Speak your intentions.” The boy began to speak, but Ērēus stopped him. “Tell your intentions to her.” The boy was now quaking with fear. This was not a priest they had sought, but a paladin, a holy warrior chosen by the Goddess herself. The boy stepped toward the young girl and knelt before her. “Sathàlda. I will love you, and support you, and protect you and our child forever.” Tears streamed from the young man’s eyes as the realization of this oath struck him. He was fifteen. This was a pact he would carry for the rest of his life. Ērēus stepped between the two and laid a hand on each head. “The Goddess hears your promise and blesses both of you. Stand and be joyous for you are loved, and will be blessed until the end of your days.” The children stood weakly, each holding to the other and crying. The boy placed silver in Ērēus’ hand and led his bride from the humble house. Ērēus watched as the boy but his arm around his wife’s shoulders and led her away, not thinking to take part of the quilt for himself. Nodding, the paladin closed the door and returned to bed.

In the year 653 DR, two women came to the house of his parents with a Calling from the High Priestess. He did not understand the request they carried, but he knew that Amra had need of him and that he would never see the house of Kaléum and Ara again. He knew this and it was good, for he felt this was the time he had been waiting for all his life. So it was with terrible sorrow that he accepted the amulet from High Priestess Elésea the Ninth and took part in the ritual that closed off his spirit from the Golden Lady. For the first time since he was a youth, his world grew eerily quiet and his prayers would go no further than the closest ears.

Basics

Attributes

  • ST (base 10, mod +6, cost 60) 16
  • DX (base 10, mod +3, cost 60) 13
  • IQ (base 10, mod +0, cost 0) 10
  • HT (base 10, mod +3, cost 38) 13

Characteristics

  • HP (base 16, mod +4, cost 8) 20
  • Will (base 10, mod +2, cost 10) 12
  • Per (base 10, mod +5, cost 25) 15
  • FP (base 13, mod +2, cost 10) 15
  • Basic SPD (base 6.5, mod +0.5, cost 10) 7.0
  • Basic MV (base 7.0, mod +0, cost 0) 7.0
  • Thrust (base –, mod –, cost –) 1d+1
  • Swing (base –, mod –, cost –) 2d+2

Subtotal: 216 points

Advantages

  • Blessed: Heroic Feats (mod –, cost 10)
  • Charisma (mod +3, cost 15)
  • Claim to Hospitality (Dekàli Cults) (mod –, cost 5)
  • Empathy (mod –, cost 5)
  • Fearlessness (mod +3, cost 6)
  • Hard to Kill (mod +1, cost 2)
  • Healing: Faith Healing (mod –, cost 33)1
  • Patrons (mod –, cost 10)
  • Rank: Religious (Heartguard of Amra) (mod +4, cost 20)
  • Social Regard (Ðardor) (mod +2, cost 10)

† BASp291 Traits Gained in Play; no cost
1 BASp59 Healing; 30 pts (Base) +20% (Faith Healing) -10% (Pact:Vow) = 33 pts

Subtotal: 116 points

Disadvantages

  • Charitable (mod –, cost -15)
  • Code of Honor: Chivalry (mod –, cost -15)
  • Discipline of Faith: Ritualism (mod -5, cost -5)
  • Duty: Extremely Hazardous (mod 6-, cost -7)1
  • Social Stigma: Minority Group (Taládan Soldier) (mod -2, cost -10)
  • Truthfulness (mod –, cost -5)
  • Vow (Service to the Cult of Amra) (mod –, cost -15)
  • Quirk (Humble) (mod –, cost -1)
  • Quirk (Enjoys Farming/Simple Life) (mod –, cost -1)
  • Quirk (TBD) (mod –, cost -1)
  • Quirk (TBD) (mod –, cost -1)
  • Quirk (TBD) (mod –, cost -1)

† BASp291 Traits Gained in Play; no cost
1 BASp134 Duty; -2 (Frequency: Quite Rarely) + -5 (Extremely Hazardous) = -7 pts

Subtotal: -77 points

Skills

  • Animal Handling IQ/A (base 10, mod -1, cost 1) 9
  • Area Knowledge (North Coast) IQ/E (base 10, mod +1, cost 2) 11
  • Armoury IQ/A (base 10, mod -1, cost 1) 9
  • Dancing DX/A (base 13, mod -1, cost 1) 12
  • Diplomacy IQ/H (base 10, mod +0, cost 4) 10
  • First Aid IQ/E (base 10, mod +2, cost 4) 12
  • Heraldry: Coat of Arms (North Coast) IQ/A (base 10, mod +0, cost 2) 10
  • Leadership IQ/A (base 10, mod +1, cost 4) 11
  • Literature IQ/H (base 10, mod -1, cost 2) 9
  • Melee/Impact: Axe/Mace DX/A (base 13, mod +0, cost 2) 13
  • Melee/Impact:Broadsword DX/A (base 13, mod +5, cost 20) 18
  • Politics IQ/A (base 10, mod -1, cost 1) 9
  • Riding DX/A (base 13, mod +1, cost 4) 14
  • Savoir-Faire IQ/E (base 10, mod +1, cost 2) 11
  • Shield DX/E (base 13, mod +2, cost 4) 15
  • Soldier IQ/A (base 10, mod +0, cost 2) 10

† BASp291 Traits Gained in Play; no cost

Subtotal: 56 points

Languages

  • High Dekàlari / High Davar (cost 4) 2|2‡
  • Oðic / Late Oðávar (cost 1) † 1|0‡
  • TaládicN / Taldàvar (cost 3) 3|3‡

† BASp291 Traits Gained in Play; no cost
‡ BASp24 Language; Spoken/Written (0) None/Illiterate, (1) Broken/Semi-Literacy, (2) Accented/Literacy, (3) Native/Native

Subtotal: 7 points

Magic

Combat

Mêlée

Mêlée

a CAMp480 Heartsword; Broadsword; Accuracy +1; Penetrating Weapon /2; Charm
1 BASp274 Very Fine Weapon (Non-Iron); +2 Cutting and Impaling Damage, -2 Breaking

Ranged

Defenses

Defenses

a CAMp480 Golden Maille of Ardhiran Shalvas; Maille Haubergeon; Fortify +2; Lighten

Awards

  1. NA (298)
  2. NA (298) Will 2
  3. 2 (300)
  4. 1 (301)
  5. 1 (302)
  6. 2 (304)
  7. 2 (306)
  8. 1 (307)
  9. 2 (309)
  10. 3 (312)
  11. 0 (312)
  12. 1 (313)
  13. 2 (314) HT 1
  14. 1 (315) First Aid 1
  15. 0 (315)
  16. 2 (317) HT 1, First Aid 1
  17. 1 (318) HT 1
  18. 1 (319) HT 1
  19. 2 (321) HT 2
  20. 2 (323) HT 2

Total Points: 323 earned / 323 spent