[Ravager]

Eleint (September), 1372- The Year of Wild Magic- 2 Years Ago.

It was just another day for hard work for Sh’rarn, cutting logs for the fire and helping his father with the tasks of running a farm. Lately his father had been gruffer than usual; it was soon to be Sh’rarn’s birthday…and the anniversary of his mother’s disappearance. Thanks to this, the boy’s birthdays were rarely happy affairs despite the efforts of his father.
Father had gradually been turning to drink as the answer, though of course this only served to make him more irritable and even dangerous. In these alcohol-induced fits of rage he blamed himself and the birth of Sh’rarn for Rhilassa’s desertion of them. Sh’rarn knew little of his mother, only what his father and the locals had said, but he didn’t truly believe that she had deserted them willingly. Now he could get away from his father, attempt to find his mother and carry on her good works in Faerun. Secretly he had been training his combat skills and soon he intended to leave. He felt guilty about leaving his father to fend for himself, but he’d try to send gold back when possible and hope that he would accept it.

~~~

A tenday later it was time to leave, Sh’rarn snuck away in the darkness, full well knowing that his father would oppose his leaving, he just hoped that his disappearance would not be seen as a betrayal.

~~~

Several days later he heard the sounds of swords clashing over a nearby ridge, what he saw astonished him. A huge force of humans and goblinoids were fighting each other and even though the humans were outnumbered they seemed to be getting the upper hand. Nearby were some impressively armoured men giving instructions to runners. Sh’rarn cautiously wandered over…

One of the men attired in plate armour looked in his direction and spotted him.
“Ho! Who are you?! And what are you doing here?”
“I..er..”
One of the others stepped in and saved him, “He’s obviously no spy for the goblinoids! He’s barely armed. What’s your name, son?”
“Sh’rarn, sir. What’s happening here?”
“We're fighting the goblin heathens that threaten the area.”
“How? You're not on the battlefront, nor so you appear to be spellcasters.”
The man glanced back at him “We fight them with strategy, these men could be overrun if they didn’t know the enemy tactics, how they fight and what they do”.
“I’m interested in learning more.”
“Really? You could always visit our stronghold nearby”. The armoured man gave directions and Sh’rarn headed off. He really was interested in this ‘Red Knight’. Knowledge seemed to be saving lives here and yet the faith was still relatively unknown. Perhaps he could learn more of his faith and even spread the word of its existence. Surely this was a cause his mother would approve of.

~~~

Upon arriving at the stronghold Sh’rarn was welcomed by an acolyte, “Sir Kiradien sent word for us to expect your arrival, I hear that you wish to learn more of our faith?”
Sh'rarn nodded.
“New initiates are always welcome as are those seeking knowledge.”
They discussed the finer points of the dogma and beliefs in the faith and Sh’rarn confirmed he wished to join after hearing after more of the details. After completing some tests designed to check his abilities, the hierophant suggested Sh’rarn become a Paladin similar to Sir Kiradien and to train with him. Over the next two years Sh’rarn traveled with his new mentor, learning much of the foes of mankind in Faerun.

Kythorn (June), The Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR).

It was finally time to leave the stronghold of the Red Knight and his mentor behind. Soon he would be spreading the knowledge of the Red Knight by himself.

~~~

Rhilassa witnessed the young paladin leaving the stronghold through a scrying device in Elysium. She had been watching Kylath and Sh’rarn for a while now, since the Solar had relaxed the rule somewhat, however, she was still not allowed to visit the Prime Material Plane or communicate with anyone on it. It was at least slightly more bearable being able to see them.
She was proud of the path her son was taking, she only wished she could see him in person…