Theodoric DaCavalier

### Details

Sir Theodoric DaCavalier is a knight of the Kingdom of Frania, sworn to King Artuer DaMaros. He displayed exceptional skill while fighting in the Franian heavy cavalry, earning him a knighthood and the surname "DaCavalier." He now teaches martial combat at the Kampshcule in Oerpont and occasionally serves in high-profile military expeditions (Such as the Battle of the Fearless Forty).

Theodoric took in Stevyn Havens in 1428, on the boy's 16th birthday, and began training him as a soldier. The boy showed an affinity for swordsmanship and divinitry, prompting Theodoric to enroll him in a temple of the Everlasting Flame to hone said abilities. After 16 years of training and time spent in the town guard of Contrefort, Theodoric sent him to Rankein to hone his skills even more, giving him the chance to become an officer. Theodoric worries for Stevyn's safety as well as his morality; he exhibited dangerously cruel tendencies from a rather young age, but the discipline of the Kampfschule would do him good.

Theodoric joined Kylon's side of the Ludanian Civil War, traveling with the Fifth Order on multiple adventures. He gave Stevyn Pendrich "The Giantslayer" Havens' sword; Jotunschlager.

#### Interaction Traits

* *"I prefer to go about my life with caution. You never know when something will go wrong, so it's better to be prepared than unawares."*
* *"I always speak my mind, even if that means offending the people around me - no matter their rank."*

#### Ideal

* **Loyalty.** *"I am fiercely loyal to my sworn friends, and will do whatever I can to protect them."*

#### Bonds

* *"I wasn't there to save my best friend; I will not make the same mistake for his son."*

#### Flaws

* *"My caution and protectiveness can often seem stifling to those I care about. Sometimes it even drives them away, towards danger."*

### Skills

Theodoric is a master tactician and cavalier, favoring the lance and cavalry spatha in combat. His strategies often employ maneuverable cavalry, defensive infantry, and few archers and artillery. His greatest asset is his mind for asymmetrical warfare, placing troops and cavalry in just the right places to lure and crush enemies.

### Backstory

Theodoric was born the son of a groom in Borzato, sering under the DaMaros family. He joined the Franian Royal Military, starting as a light cavalry skirmisher and moving his way up to heavy cavalry. He later rode in the Ludanian Imperial Cavalry as a sergeant, fighting against the Skoths in the Ludo-Skoth war of 1412. During the Blood-Valley Siege of the Andolfort, the Ludanians were thoroughly routed. Theodoric managed to organize most of the retreat while his closest friend and commanding officer, Sir Pendrich Havens, covered their retreat. Pendrich was the only man in the past hundred years to fell a giant, earning him the epithet "Pendrich the Giantslayer," on his deathbed.

Theodorc returned to Borzato after the war, finding that his wife - Eilie DaHynder - had tragically passed away due to a catastrophic town fire. Bereaved, He traveled north to Barbaarland in search of Pendrich's wife and sister, who he hoped to offer up his protection to to 'redeem' himself for not being able to save Sir Pendrich. There, he found that Sir Pendrich's wife had given birth to a son - Stevyn Havens. Theodoric swore to protect Stevyn with his life, and to train him in the ways of his father.

He moved to Contrefort to tutor Stevyn, earning a seat in the knights under DaHart's authority. In order to pay for Stevyn's training, Theodoric took over the patrols of the Barbaarland foothills, fighting goblin raids on and off whenever they appeared. In 1444, Stevyn left for Rankein to receive better training, and Theodoric followed shortly thereafter as Stevyn was never enrolled, and instead the two followed Kylon Ludan and helped secure the Andolfort in the Battle of the Fearless Forty.