Eustace Rivers of Eastridge

Ser Eustace of Eastridge is a knight of Eastridge Township of Eastshire. He is a sworn sword of Lord Adam Fry, who served him as his bodyguard and enforcer from his time as squire to his knighthood till his death protecting Lord Adam's granddaughter, Lady Renna Fry.
== History ==
=== Origins ===
Born in Eastridge Township, his father died in a military campaign after which his mother married his stepfather, a seafarer turned sworn sword of a local lord. He was five years old when his mother died in childbirth of his younger half-brother, after which he was physically abused by his step-father and targeted by his step-siblings.
At the age of ten, he was adopted along with his sister by their maternal uncle, a young sellsword in the service of a young lord who served as the Tax Collector of Eastwood after the Eastwood Skirmish of 142 CE. During his time in Eastwood, he and his sister adopted the names, Eustace and Lana respectively, and lived with their uncle, aunt, and cousins, who were a family of loving people.
Growing up in Eastwood, Eustace learned to the skills of horse-riding, fighting with sword and lance, archery, dancing, and playing with dice alongside his close and distant cousins, Politó of Eastridge, Riénna of Eastridge, Oliver Wood, Garner Wood, Ben Rivers, Eddmund Green, Adam and Edna Scott.
=== Sellsword's Life ===
In 147 CE, when Eustace was caught in bed with a local lord's wife and daughter to which he was challenged to a trial by combat by the local lord, Eustace desperately fought to defend himself, eventually killing the lord to save himself, but in doing so committed yet another crime, although the trial was to death or forfeit of the one who challenged. Eustace's uncle, Ser Manfred defended his nephew and saved him with a two-year exile period to the Free Cities.
During his time in the Free Cities, Eustace learned to survive by sword, living his days as a mercenary, a sword for hire. In this journey, he befriended a lot of clever men and strong fighters, who went on to becomes his closest companions, Hastel Rivers, Albus Rivers, George Stone, Small Walder, Bill Fencer, and Elliot Green.
=== Knighthood ===
Past his exile period, Eustace was visited by his cousins Garner Wood and Ben Rivers to bring him home. First they were denied, but he later joined after hearing of Eastwood facing another skirmish due to a fight between two knightly houses. Eustace was joined by his companions, Albus Rivers, George Stone, Bill Fencer, and Elliot Green.
Eustace with his companions and a group of mercenaries ambushed the two knightly houses surrounding them in a death match, killing most of their men who resisted, while capturing the lords and their bannermen, arresting and handing them over to the Sheriff of Eastwood for crimes on waging war by new decree of the land. Impressed by his determination and sense of right and wrong, Eustace was knighted by the Sheriff of Eastwood along with his companions and the band of mercenaries were rewarded with coppers and the opportunity to serve and became the First Appointees of the Townsguard of Eastwood by the Sheriff of Eastwood, Lord Adam Fry.
=== Sworn Sword ===
Following the victory at pre-skirmish event near Edgarwood, Ser Eustace swore featly to Lord Adam Fry as his sworn sword.
In 152 CE, six years after taking Lordship of Ashwood, Lord Adam hosted a joust in his family estate in Eastwood for his seventhborn and younger daughter's name day. During the joust, Ser Eustace unhorsed 16 opponents only to loose to Lord Adam's nephew, a young knight and the Steward of Ashwood, Ser Xavier Fry who won as the Champion of the Joust. Ser Eustace coming second in place won 400 coppers and earned respect of lords, knights, and commoners alike. After which, Ser Eustace entered into Lord Adam's service as a member of his household guard and the personal bodyguard of his middle son, Jack Fry.
It was later in 157 CE when Lord Adam formed a group of ranger guards to protect his family members. Men and women were chosen from his sworn swords and joust winners from Eastwood and Toyne to Montágue and Rosengard. Ser Eustace was among the knights chosen as ranger guards of the Fry Family of Eastwood and Ashwood. In August 157 CE, Ser Eustace became a Ranger Guard for Lady Renna, the Granddaughter of Lord Adam Fry.
=== Death & Legacy ===
For four years, from 159 to 163 CE, Ser Eustace became a prominent bodyguard and enforcer of Lady Renna Fry with her rise from Maiden of Ashwood to Stewardship of Fort Harlet.
In Late 163 CE, during a hunt led by Lord Eddward Greenfield, uncle of Lady Renna, there an ambush led by a hundred mercenaries in an assassination attempt at Lady Renna. During this attempt, Lady Renna's bodyguards gathered around her to protect her from any harm, including Ser Pedro of Perth, Ser Rodden Rivers, Ser Graham of Rook, Ser Otto of Perth, Ser Léonardo of Lys, Ser Eustace Rivers of Eastridge, Ser Politó of Eastridge, and Ser Darren of Greenfield. During the assassination, four knights died protected Lady Renna, including her guard captain Ser Graham and three bodyguards Ser Eustace, Ser Darren, and Ser Rodden, while Ser Pedro took leave for South Vale after the incident.
Ser Eustace was remembered as an honest and loyal person in Lady Renna's journals, and in the memories of the Jack I Fry, Jason Fry, Renna Fry, and Jacob Fry. So much so that Jack Fry named his firstborn after Ser Eustace, Eustace I Fry.