Robert Patenaude

“Only a conqueror bothers to honor a fallen foe.”
-Robert Patenaude
== History ==
The eldest of the Patenaude siblings, Robert was barely an adult when it was discovered that their father Vespasian had betrayed his family and his people, leading to the death of his brother, nieces, and nephews, all so that he could marry his brother's wife. Patenaude rallied his brothers, who cornered their father and killed him, righting a wrong but incurring the sin of patricide. The brothers swore never to marry or have children, so that their tainted family would die out with them. 
== Personality ==
Wild, reckless, and mirthful. On the surface, Robert Patenaude laughs off the stigma on his family, ignoring the judgement of his peers and determinedly fighting for his people and later for the fate of the world. Still, Patenaude has internalized being a pariah, and resents those who live sheltered lives. He hates the idea of relying on anyone or anything, with the exception of his brother Mark, even symbolically refusing to carry a shield in battle. Still, Patenaude has a deep sense of responsibility, and feels a need to shoulder great burdens. 
== War of the Philosopher-Kings ==
Robert Patenaude was a child during the war, and witnessed many horrors. 
== After the War ==
After the patricide, Robert Patenaude stayed away from his gypsy brethren, fighting in various small engagements as a guard, mercenary, and hunter of bandits. Though not the best swordsman among his brothers, he was the strongest, fighting in full armor and wielding a two handed claymore. He returned during the Shadow War, becoming one of the principal gypsy warleaders and killing many Arendurian Army soldiers. 
After Mark Patenaude's departure on the Third Northern Expedition, Robert Patenaude founded a mercenary company, the New Arendurian Colonial Legion, making secret agreements with the St. Franz's College Munitions Department, Icarus Industries, and Cardinal Lucille Montgomery's faction of the Church of Transcendental Theosophy. Patenaude recruited gypsies, Arendurian Army soldiers, Hexenjägers, Forester Town Rangers, town guards, bandits, and youth of all different backgrounds, promising them a new life and warning all of them that the feuds of the past needed to be reconciled. 
== The Great Awakening ==
"Part of winning is a downdeep certainty that, no matter how bad things look, a road to victory will open." 
-Robert Patenaude
Upon the end of the Dream of the Old Ones and the fall of the Reich, the Colonial Legion is flooded with recruits, including gypsies, St. Franz's College students, and Hexenjägers who had not joined before, looking for a strong leader in a chaotic time. Patenaude quickly aligns himself with his brother, the Godhunter, and wars with the Arendurian Army. Still in contact with Isaac Icarus, the Colonial Legion coordinates with the Free Arendur forces and strikes as Icarus' rigged train plunges off the tracks, taking Pontiff Leo Calixtus and the church leadership with it. Patenaude captures the city of New Arendur, and turns it over to Icarus in return for a position on his War Council. Icarus is quick to compare him to General Farcraft, making the gypsy uncomfortable, but it is a comparison noted again by the summoned Tolumvire of Arendur during the battle against Tsathoggua. The Colonial Legion, which had been held in reserve, refuses to fight alongside the old Emperor of Arendur, who Patenaude attacks in a rage, drawing blood. Patenaude is quickly restrained and chastised for his short-sightedness. Tolumvire tells him telepathically that he knows Patenaude's next battle will be last, and that he should not waste that fighting him. 
True to Tolumvire's augury, Robert Patenaude dies saving his brother from the Spinner in Darkness, Atlach-Nacha. 
Category:Elves
Category:New Arendurian Colonial Legion
Category:Gypsy
Category:Dead
Category:Patenaude Family
Category:Wild Abyss
Category:Chaotic Neutral