Hernard of Roche

Elid of Roche; son

Alice of Roche; daughter

Hernard Christopher; mentor

**Hernard of Roche** is the Sheriff of Roche and the Commander of the Striped Knights, an order of rangers of the **Hilton Military**. Being a Talmar, he held his king, Eddard, in high regard. He is a capable fighter and among The Eleven.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Born as Olav, he never met his mother. She died giving birth to him. He lived his father who was a bartender and a cruel man, who was mostly found drunk on the streets. He spent his childhood living in poverty. Having no money to live on, his elder sister was forced to work as a prostitute on the streets, because of which, other children used to fling insults at him, calling him "whoreblood", since then, Olav reacts aggressively to this particular insult.

His father raped his sister for which he killed his father in cold blood and ran away from home. He was caught, arrested, and imprisoned. In prison, Olav met with his mentor, an exiled knight and expert swordsman, who taught the young boy how to fight, until one day, the Port City was attacked, and the prisoners escaped.

### Adolescent

Olav with his mentor escaped but were caught and sold into slavery beyond the Blue Sea in the Kingdom of Easternlands, where he escaped once again, but this time his mentor was killed by guards for entertainment, for which, Olav strangled the guards in the dead of the night, for which he was sentenced to death, but was saved by then City Guard Captain of Cottonshire, Rowan of Roche, and became his cupbearer.

In 102 CE, Lord Rowan returned to his hometown of Roche where he served as the Lord of Roche, following his father and elder brother's death in a military campaign, and Olav living under the alias of "**Hernard**" served as the Household Guard of the Family, where he served as the **Lady Olivia's Guard**.

In 104 CE, during a rebel revolt, when Hernard served as the Guard Captain of Lady Olivia, he was appointed by Lord Rowan to participate as his bannerman in the Battle of Riverholt, where Hernard killed the rebel leader's son and an outlaw captain in a skirmish, after which he was rewarded with knighthood by the Baron of Hilton, Lord Eddard Abbott, who later appointed him as the City Guard Captain of Roche. Hernard admits that, if not for King Eddard and Lord Rowan, he would have ended up either dead at the gallows or indefinitely as a vagabond.

## Knight Enforcement

In 105 CE, following the **Battle of Riverholt**, Lord Eddard formed the Striped Knights, an order of rangers to defend the **Strongholds of Hilton**, such as Riverholt, Roche, Greaseberry, Lemonwood, Cottonshire, and River Thames.

Following the appointment of Lord Eddard as Governor of Hilton, soon a War between the Talmar, the Andal, the Durrandons, the Highgardeners, and the Kingsmen plagued the land that lasted nearly four years, after which the Kingdom of Hampshire was born, divided into smaller kingdoms, better known as the "**Duchies**", and the Duchy of Hilton was formed in Late 107 CE, and King Jonothor reigned as the **First King of Hilton**, who was later followed by his nephew, Lord Eddard Abbott. After his coronation, King Eddard faced threats on three sides of his kingdom, as the fourth was defended by another duchy, the Kingdom of Waxley, ruled by his brother in law. During the Siege of Roche, Ser Hernard acted as the Commander of the Garrison, and later on, serving for three years as the City Guard Captain of Roche and the Captain of Striped Knights, Ser Hernard was appointed as the Sheriff of Roche, making him the Commander of Striped Knights.

For his devotion and efficiency, he was decorated twice with the Order of Bear's Claw, and because of his capability, he became the "**Baron's Right-hand**", and carried a great deal of influence in Roche. In time, Ser Hernard became a Member of the "**The Eleven**", a group of the Greatest Fighters of the Kingdom of Hampshire with its might.

## Family

After his knighthood, Ser Hernard spent his time as the City Guard Captain of Roche and the Captain of Striped Knights, during which a tourney took place in Roche in 105 CE to celebrate the Wedding Ceremony of Lord Rowan's Daughter to Lord Oliver Burnfield. In the tourney, Ser Hernard fought against several opponents and went on to defeat the Groom "**Lord Oliver**" as well as the known fighter and a member of The Eleven, "**Ser Damon Bradford**". After wining, Ser Hernard went on to crown Lady Bela of Louisville as the Queen of Velvet, much to everyone's surprise.

During the **Battle of Louisville**, Ser Hernard was appointed as **Acting-Lord Commander of the City**, and had a secret wedding ceremony with Lady Bela in Winter of 107 CE, after which they had two sons following King Eddard's Coronation. As Ser Hernard was appointed as Commander of the Garrison during the **Siege of Roche**, Ser Hernard and Lady Bela also found themselves with their thirdborn and last child later that year.

## Household

* Ser {Hernard Christopher}, his mentor and close kin.
* Ser {Damon Bradford}, his brother-in-arms and close kin.
* Lady {Bela of Louisville}, his wife.
	+ {Rowan of Roche}, his elder son.
	+ {Elid of Roche}, his younger son.
	+ {Alice of Roche}, his only daughter.