Post by Sir Caradoc the Brave on Nov 9, 2008 10:33:19 GMT
Sir Caradoc the Brave
Knight of Caché Creux, Ivraie Vivace
Devastatingly Handsome Swordsman, Hero, and All-around Nice Guy
21 November; 35 years old
It is safe to say that Caradoc was born for knighthood. The son of a noblemen of Caché Creux, he was raised in comfort and wealth, and received the best that his father's money can buy, which included education, entertainment, and any other desired material possessions. His handsome face, golden hair, blue eyes, and strapping, muscular build only enforced that heroic image. Yet unlike many other spoiled boys, that was simply not enough for Caradoc. Strong-willed with an inherent sense of justice, he yearned to become a knight, and live his life as a hero by upholding the codes of knighthood, protecting his home in times of trouble, and most importantly, saving helpless damsels in distress.
Needless to say, after his father pulled countless strings, Caradoc was promptly made into a knight and joined the ranks of Caché Creux's finest.
It was not long before the young man discovered that knighthood was not all it was cracked up to be. Countless hours of training, not to mention days spent in toil and gander, reduced Caradoc to a shadow of his former pampered self, and were it not for his pride and determination, he would have readily quitted. Yet in the end, he bore through the various hardships, which in turn contributed to his growth as a knight and his overall character.
Even still, beneath the heroic front, the pampered little boy still lurked somewhere, and tended to surface at the oddest times. One such time came after the death of his first squire following a skirmish that occurred along the outside borders of the city. Distraught and royally vexed, the knight stormed into his parent's noble home, battered and bruised, his armour all but destroyed, his ego nearly shattered. It was on that day that his armourer was fired, and when his impulsive decision was questioned by his father, Caradoc whirled on him and said while waving about the scrap metal remains of his armour, "I will not stand for such flimsy armour and that's that!"
"But that armourer has been working for our family for years," protested his father.
"Enough with the sentiments, Father. I am a knight and I need the best armour to protect me in battle. People usually laugh at a knight with pathetic armour." Caradoc stuck out his chin in a determined manner. "I'm sorry Father, but you will just have to find me a new one."
'But who?"
"Anyone," answered the knight, "but she will have to look nice."
"She?" cried his father in dismay. "A maiden armourer?"
"Ivraie Vivace has always been a free-thinking nation, and I wish to have the first woman armourer in my employment to boost my image as a knight of the new century," said Caradoc in his typical carefree manner. "I want her to be comely of face. I want her to have an attraction of the most uncanny sort. No! Better still, I want her to be so fair that when people look upon her, they will say, 'My word, Sir Caradoc must be some knight to have an armourer like that.' I don't care how long it takes, I don't care how far you have to search, but find me this armourer."
"She is already found," said the knight's herald, who had been listening in on the conversation the entire time, and the next morning, escorted the knight to the working-class district of the wondrous city. Dressed in the garb of commoners, the two men tried their best to blend in with the rest of the populace. "She runs her errands here in the morning," said the herald.
"And you're certain she is fair of face?" asked Caradoc.
"Hmm...well, she was considerably covered in soot the last time I glimpsed her, but the potential is there nonetheless."
"A blacksmith's daughter." The knight ran through his list of common female stereotypes. "Isn't it common for the daughters of men with such professions to be a little...masculine in nature? I'm not certain if I trust your judgement on this."
"We can always try Anatheme, sir."
"It's all vineyards and farms in Anatheme," spoke Caradoc in a huff. "If they do have blacksmiths there, their skill sets would merely suffice as a common farrier here--"
"Quiet a moment, sir!" whispered the herald excitedly. "There she is!"
The knight peered out from behind the vegetable cart just as Emmeline de Vance walked by with a basket of fruit tucked securely under one lithe arm. "I'll take her," was his simple answer.
The rest is history.