Exemplars of the Virtues: Part 1

Exemplars of the Virtues: Part 1 is a book uncovered through use of Study-related Inquiries by Sigmund.

## History

Seemingly without much obvious sense or reason, less than a year after arriving in town, the mysterious adventurer Sigmund sought to undertake a research project of his own amongst a slew of other inquiry efforts from other members of the town. Whatever his intention - or the source of his interest - his efforts would not be in vain.

## Reading

### Completed by Sigmund

It is not difficult to find tales of romanticised valour when looking through the history books of the Realm of Atralran, given its long-standing history for matters of chivalry, rectitude and maintaining steadfast principle in thought, word and deed. What is difficult is picking but a few to discuss in any meaningful depth, to pick the finest amongst them, but it nonetheless what has been thus endeavoured within this tome. Naturally, all those included within are True Knights, having completed their Trial of Spirit, created their banners, and pledged themselves ever more to the Golden Realm. Discussed in this part are that of Lancet Erstborn, Renod Alderstaff, Perrin Azais, Havidis Craneward, Almaurry Brassadorn and Tazmora Starkhorn.

#### Lancet Erstborn

Many followed the Truetouched Gilbert Goldlor to Orchard Crest, bearing witness to his coronation to the first King of Atralran. Said to be the truest amongst these, and first to complete the novel Trial of Spirit - beyond that of King Gilbert I Goldlor himself - was that of the Knight-Errant Lancet. Working tireless for the boon of the newly-founded Realm, Lancet's efforts soon encompassed all aspects of what would become the Seven Virtues of Chivalry, and thus was the first to be dubbed a True Knight amongst the servants of the Gildhearth Throne. For the remainder of Lancet's life, he remained a steadfast defender of his King, before being slain defending him during the Battle of the Divide, after which is was said that the Gawylthlian victors of the battle made an effort to return his greatsword, *Grace's Favour* to his family in recognition of his martial prowess.

Lancet took a seven-pointed star for his banner, a *Silver Mullet of 7 Points Voided and Interlaced on a Field of Tan with Black Ermine.*

#### Renod Alderstaff

After the untimely demise of the last heir of the House of Osvine, it was ordered by King Gilbert III Goldlor that another noble house was provisioned to take their place watching over the Stalrose Vineyard, which had begun to falter in productivity many years later. Renod Alderstaff would be eventually responsible for uncovering a hag coven's curse placed upon the vines at the behest of two neighbouring noble houses - Darche and Curstalk - slaying the members of the Barbed Well Coven during an expedition he led personally, and uncovering sufficient evidence to result in the two Atral houses to have their nobility stripped of them. In doing so, Renod Alderstaff saved the Stalrose Vineyard, which has flourished ever since, producing the arguably finest wines in the continent.

The Alderstaffs took the sprig of the alder tree for their banner, *Two Alder Sprigs Countercharged on a Field of Blue and Red Divided Per Fess.*

#### Perrin Azais

Perrin Azais' life as a True Knight was short-lived, but considered well-lived by all historical tales and accounts. After completing their Trial of Spirit with a exemplary act of bravery and mettle at the Battle of Artanges, Perrin declined a parcel of land upon which to build a keep, and instead requested to be installed as a member of the Gilded Guard, the sworn protectors of the Gildhearth Throne. At the decree of Larkin I Goldlor, the act was done, though but half a year later, Chalimar, the capital of Atralran was attacked by the Blue Dragon twins Izzendor and Vodundax, who desired the Crown Jewels of the Gildhearth Throne, the Crown of Civility, Sceptre of Sanctity, Blade of Benevolence, Orb of Oblige, Paten of Prosperity and Gilded Diamond. For all the might of the Atral army, the pair wrought terrible destruction to the fields and hills surrounding the city, before laying siege to the settlement proper. In the resulting conflict, it was said that the grievously wounded Perrin launched themselves into the maw of Izzendor, embedding their blade and body so deep that they acted as a conduit of charge that detonated the dragon from within - at the cost of their own life.

Perrin took a scorpion for their banner, a *Brown Scorpion Tergiant on a Field of Yellow with Brown Orle*.

#### Havidis Craneward

Hailing from a poor household, Havidis often japing that she had been indeed been born in a barn - and was thus not a suitable choice for guard duty due to her proclivity to leave doorways open - Havidis rose to become particularly well-known after firstly making a name for themselves in a series of tourneys celebrating the coronation of Arnaud II Goldlor, and secondly for the discovery of the long-lost *Staff of Irhudae*, which vanished during the flooding of the Green River a century and a half prior. Havidis, who claimed to have seen the Staff poking through the dirt when they were hunting cranes on the northern bank of the river. Henceforth, Havidis undertook her Trial of Spirit, ascending to Knighthood and being granted land by the House of Goldlor directly. Multiple Cranewards since has served as Lord-Generals of the Silvertowers, following in Havidis' own, eventual, footsteps.

Havidis took a carmine crane for her banner, a *Red Crane Amongst Reeds upon a Field of Blue with Brown Terrace.*

#### Almaurry Brassadorn

Almaurry Brassadorn was far from the first True Knight of the House of Brassadorn, but is considered amongst the most famous. In 552AG, Larkin III Goldlor lost his throne and head alike during a military coup staged by the Kassian Margaste, Lord-General of the Silvertowers, Marquis of Vardony and Custodian of the Hills and Sands, sending much of the royal household into flight. Amongst these was the Prince Irving Goldlor, son of Larkin III, who fled alongside Almaurry Brassadorn to neighbouring Gawylthlan to petition the Rose Throne for an army to reclaim his own Throne. At this time, Almaurry was not a young man, approaching his seventh decade of life, and yet still managed to aid the King in fending off all manner of threats in the form of the associates and supporters of the Margastes utilising both brute force and covert attempts at assassination, raiders embracing and exploiting the chaos of the coup, beasts of the wild stretches of the Greater Greensong and a chance encounter with a drow slaving party that crept from a hidden entrance to the Underdark in the dead of night. Upon Irving's eventual reclaiming of his father's throne four years later, he honoured Almaurry with a lavish ceremony in which he was presented a new set of plate to replace that which had become dent, rusted and chipped in service to his liege, and a new title, Bulwark of the Beneficiary.

The Brassadorns wear and fly their banners as a *Three Brass Bells, Two and One, upon a Field of Silver with Indigo Orle and Point.*

#### Tazmora Starkhorn

Called the Glassmaker and Tazmora the Thunderer, Tazmora Starkhorn was a dwarven noble most well-known for her campaigns along the northern border of Atralran, clashing with forces from both Anorcor and the Empire of Raq under the rule of Utultar the Sunderer. In response to the seemed kidnapping of noble children from three Régysseur houses close to the borders of the Realm of the Dustlords, Tazmora, a Knight-Régyr in service to the Baronnet House of Galliard led an expedition party to retrieve them, plunging deep into the Uncharted Lands beyond the near-impenetrable sandstorms that marked the borders of the Realm. Through combination of her arcane skill, talent with sword and axe, and ability to inspire her troops, Tazmora managed to recover all but one of those taken, bringing back tales of a vast and cruel ritual dedicated to an entity known as the Everstretching Tempest that they had managed to disrupt. Later in life, Tazmora would further acquit herself at the Battle of Craftman's Cull, the Siege of Meten, and through the War of the Bleeding Hills, fighting alongside other heroes of the Golden Realm as Collinet Swanfletch, Roven the Retributor and the first recorded instance of the Bronze Dragon Toravut taking the field alongside Atral soldiers.

Tazmora took a storm cloud for her banner, a *Thunder-Cloud Above a Shattered Glass Eye upon a Field of Tan with Yellow Fess Cotissed.*