Samsom Dumagne

Ser **Samsom Dumagne** is the bastard son of the late Baldarian Dumagne, Archon of Falsa. He has three half-siblings: Peraz, Sun, and Lutur. Archon Baldarian fathered Samsom by 'Chekeshna', an Azaryan 'witch of fortune', and Samsom spent much of his early life in Castle Elegorgou as the ward of Lord Nemnous Artruz, Demarch of the Vale of Gittipas. After fighting against the Sun King's army in the lost war for Terresol, Samsom spent a wayward year-and-a-half before returning to his ancestral home and taking his place as an honoured retainer of House Dumagne.

Samsom is one of the most lauded warriors in Terresol and a hero of Falsa, known for his agility, ingenuity, and prowess at scouting. He worships the sulphur dragon Gittipas as his divine guardian, and acts as one of the god's priests for the annual rituals in Elegorgou.

## Appearance

Samsom is a lean and strong young man, though he has a wary face and eyes that seem 'old' to many. Whereas his siblings are cool-bronze of skin, hazel of eye, and have curly or wavy chestnut hair, Samsom's skin is a touch lighter, his eyes more grey, and his hair is pin-straight and black as tar, all a consequence of his Azaryan heritage. His face is also notably leaner than his siblings, and one might think him more lupine looking than the typical 'bull-faced' Dumagnes. Despite his parentage, he bears a striking resemblance to his half-sister, Peraz, and the hair of his eyebrows and his beard is all brown like his father's.

## Character

Samson is devoted to Falsa and its people to a brutal fault, dedicated to protecting it and the rest of Terresol from outside threats, especially that of Northwind. He is reticent, soft-spoken, and tends to stay at the periphery of parties and conversations. Samsom has an heir of unspoken thoughts. He hates Ibbish mercenaries with a passion, and has a great fear of drowning after his traumatic experience during Kelwynd's Conquest, even shuddering whenever a sudden rain comes.

## Biography

Samsom was born in 376 to Lord Baldarian Dumagne, by an Azaryan witch of fortune, 'Chekeshna', whom he had bedded while out on campaign. The witch bore her child in Ibethiel and brought him to the Ramna. Lord Baldarian was required by his honour to acknowledge his new-born son, whom had been conceived while his wife was still pregnant with their first child, Peraz.

Samsom grew into a fit, handsome youth, and was fostered by Lord Nemnous Artruz, the demarch of Elegorgou and the Vale of Gittipas, later becoming his squire. During his fosterage at Castle Elegorgou, he forged a close bond with Lord Nemnous' heir, Daurryn.

Samsom and Daurryn (both knights by then), along with Lord Nemnous, fought Vronti Kelwynd's army alongside the two remaining Vortigon princes at the Battle of the Regit Swamplands. In the disastrous encounter, Lord Nemnous was felled by Ibbish arrows, Samsom's hand was severely injured when he nearly drowned and grabbed out at a blade, and the two young men were ultimately separated from the rest of the loyalist army in a messy retreat. As they made their way out of the rainy swamplands, Daurryn pricked himself off the spine of a poisonous mollusc, and quickly took ill. Samsom had to carry his friend all the way through the Plain of Akno, through the hills of Ittazmia and the dense pineland of Augergus Forest. To avoid the Kelwynd soldiers that were swarming around the great lakes of Falsa, they had to cut through a treacherous limb of the Palnallians, before finally arriving in the Vale of Gittipas.