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Background
Destrian is the 'black sheep' of House Rosendal - a knight, a poet and adventurer. Fostered by House Cassomir for a time, he converted to the One Faith against the wishes of his family, and earned an exile of sorts as a Gatewarden. From Gatewarden he turned to adventuring as a Gatefinder (among other things). His wanderlust, and devotion to the One have earned him the byname 'The Stray' (which he rather dislikes). He is practically family to the Cassomirs, a warrior of renown - a Spear-Dancer of Rosley - and the most loyal of companions.
Part I
"I'll find a use for him - he'll be paired up with my son, Jaren, who is about his age. He already serves as page in our House - the work will do the boy good." The man speaking regarded his guests with dark eyes that penetrated with their stare, yet gave nothing away as to their own secrets. His gaze left that of his two guests to look down at the young boy standing between them.
Silence reigned for a number of seconds. Eternal seconds.
"That is as it should be," replied the boy's father - who lifted his hand minutely as if to lay it upon the lad's shoulder, then he thought better of it. "Times are dark, and alliances should be as strong as they can be. Raise him as you would your own, and may the Gods smile on both our Houses."
"God," the other baron corrected tersely.
Destrian Marcus Rosendal was born the second of three children to Marcus and Susanna Rosendal, Baron and Baroness of Rosley, in the kingdom of Rivana. His older brother of a few years, Addam, would be heir to their House and lands, while Destrian was told from an early age that he would serve as a Knight in the court of King Lucas of Rivana. Of the two boys, it was Destrian who received the greater amount of attention in his infancy and early childhood - Susanna had miscarried twice before he was born. He also displayed several 'savant' attributes early in his life, which drew further attention.
The Rosendals' third child, Samantha, was born a few years later again. Thus for a time, Addam seemed to have the harder upbringing, whereas Destrian was doted upon. And then, as a young boy of eight, he was sent to be fostered by another House - allies of the Rosendals and their mutual King - and his life changed radically.
There is some speculation among those of House Rosendal, in the Barony of Rosley, regarding the life that the middle child of Baron Rosendal - Destrian, by name - might have had… if he had not been sent to live with the members of House Cassomir in Ironhold. It was a political arrangement after all; the Cassomirs would raise young Destrian under their roof, teaching him of their values and customs - and in turn he would give them insight into the culture of the Rosendals, thus strengthening the ties between these two noble Houses of Rivana.
The arrangement was a success - depending upon whom one asks about it. Granted, ties between the two families remain strong, but it was not expected that the strong-willed youth - Destrian - would actually convert to the faith of the Cassomir's (that being worship of the One). Rosendals were known for their devotion to the Many), and Destrian's rejection of his family's traditional beliefs raised many eyebrows, and questions to go along with them.
What would make Destrian turn so?
To begin with, it appeared that no friendship nor connection of any kind would form between the Cassomir children and Destrian Rosendal. Stalwart stoicism met reckless bravery head on, and rather than result in outbursts and arguments, the two forces seemed to… cancel each other out. This was likely a good thing, as Aric Cassomir was a hard father to his children - and an even harder master to his servants.
And Destrian Rosendal was not family. Not yet - and perhaps not at all.
The tutors of the Cassomir children tried valiantly to 'save' the young Rosendal boy from the pagan ways of his family - for all knew of the Rosendal's resolute faith in the Many, and this was regarded as heresy among the devotees of the One Faith. Destrian proved… a difficult student. True, he excelled in many areas - the martial skills expected of any aspiring knight, horsemanship, and some of the gentler pursuits of the artistically inclined. His was a peculiar perspective upon the world, often speaking in terminology the baffled his tutors and peers, but due to his diligence in so many areas, his oddness was tolerated.
No, it was his steadfast refusal to acknowledge the ways of the One Faith - and his prideful rebuttals to his tutor's arguments - that made him such a difficult student. There was no reasoning with the boy. Visits from Destrian's parents - the Baron and Baroness Marcus and Susanna Rosendal - were infrequent, but regular. Destrian's eldest sibling, Addam, usually accompanied them, much to Destrian's distaste. He had never gotten along with Addam even when they were small children, and no amount of time or distance between them seemed to help the matter.
His parents, however, were gratified to see their son remain true to their own beliefs and values. Whether or not he bonded with the Cassomir children was not deemed important, even if Susanna Rosendal wished it for her son's sake. He was different. He was proud. He was fiercely competitive… and oddly enough, this is where that bonding began.
It took time - almost too much time - in the latter half of the 30-Year War, but Destrian and Jaren finally began to connect. Friendships and playtimes were not things overly encouraged in Ironhold Castle, except for the comradeship found in battle and war - or in the boys' case, the sparring ring. Sword and spear met together frequently, in opposition to one another, as the boys were trained. The Cassomirs were well-known for their martial prowess - particularly when it came to swordsmanship. As blades were to Cassomirs, so were spears to Rosendals.
Training was never restricted to just one weapon - that would have been foolish - but it had been deemed appropriate for Destrian to learn the signature weapon of his own House. A master spear-dancer from Rosley was summoned to further train the boy. Destrian's prowess showed, as did his love of battle - and finally, after a few years since his fostering in House Cassomir had begun, Destrian and Jaren had begun to bond.
As rivals, first.
As friends, second.
Part II
"Are you sure?"
The young knight looked across the armoury at the other man - slightly older, similarly attired, staring back at him - as their squires went about helping both men out of their armour. The younger man, bearded just like his friend, let out a snort.
"You better not be doing this just for me, or my sister. No? Very well. Our bishop will want to talk to you regardless, for proof of devotion - no, not an interrogation. You make a commitment like this and it will be noticed. Scrutinised. The Church will want to make sure of it, of you."
There was a pause as the squires brought forth basins of water for the two knights to wash dirt and sweat from their hands and faces. Skins filled with wine were next to come, for refreshment - followed by trays of meat and various cheeses. The younger man lounged down in a chair opposite his friend, shaking his head.
"There'll be hell to pay when your father finds out…"
It had happened. The untraditional. The unthinkable. And… so very like Destrian Rosendal. Old oaths to myriad gods were forsaken. New oaths to One god were spoken, and with that particular pebble falling into a once-tranquil surface of water, a ripple-effect rolled out beyond the boundaries of Ironhold to reach the ears of noble and peasant alike in Rosley, the barony of House Rosendal.
Destrian, from this day forth, would be a loyal servant of the One.
And 'sod the Many', as several of the devout gossipers would say.
By this time, Destrian was a young man. Aric had taken the boy on as his squire, about the same time Sir Raymund Durante left with Jaren Cassomir under his wing. Life that had once been 'hard' for the young nobleman of Rosendal took a turn for the harder - if that were at all possible. Where Baron Cassomir went, Destrian followed. Orders were given. Orders were carried out. More orders were given in reply, and so the cycle repeated.
In that time, Destrian saw more of the Baron, and his other children, than Jaren did. That, however, is not to say he knew them much better, but the time spent with them paid off in more ways than one. Being instructed by the baron taught him strength - the kind that came from hardship. The tutoring of the household priest taught him patience - if, the grudging kind. Defeat against the older Cassomir siblings taught him less humility than it could have, for the desire to win burned hotly in the blood of the young Rosendal. Battle taught him courage. Victory taught him pride.
A spear-dancer Destrian became - with the potential for true greatness.
Time spent in the company of Jaren whenever he and Sir Raymund returned to Ironhold taught him friendship.
Time spent in the company of Jaren's younger sisters - Raelyn and Emilia, both children - taught him frustration. As Emilia grew older, Destrian found her easier with whom to talk than most, despite the age-gap between them. They both shared a love of animals, especially horses, and of the arts - in particular painting and drawing. Comparing sketches became an amusing habit, especially when Emilia was still a child. Destrian kept many sketches of her, from those younger, simpler days.
Time spent alone, drawing his sketches with the skill for which Rosendals were renowned, taught him beauty. And somewhere along the line, his respect for the family of Cassomir grew to a point at which he could see the connection between their strengths, and the faith in their One God. That taught him… curiosity.
Year after year it was the same, and thus Destrian grew into a young man, different in manner and habit from his own family, and now… different in faith as well. His own knighthood was not granted until he had begun to display the same solidarity of mind and spirit found in Baron Cassomir's other children - but a knight he was made. His skill was undeniable, his fire unquenchable, his faith immutable.
His homecoming… unforgettable.
Part III
"Forgive him."
Destrian's mother, the demure Baroness Susanna, stood across from the young man - now in his early twenties - as he stared out the window of Rosley Castle upon the lands belonging to their House. Laying a hand upon her son's shoulder, Susanna gave him a gentle squeeze.
"You push too hard, my son," she told him in tones both chiding and consoling. "Our traditions are not so easily cast aside, and your frequent attempts to earn your father's - and your brother's - ire are only causing more strife. No, do not speak. Listen."
The woman, beautiful as ever - ageless - removed her hand from her son's shoulder and poked him in the chest in reproach of the mocking, bitter smirk worn on his face. "You mustn't antagonise them; they - we - have hardly seen you all these years, and - stop that. You know that it was necessary. And you have come back… changed."
She took his face - now bearded, making him look so much older - in her hands and stared into his pale, watery-grey eyes. "You are still our son, yet it pains us to hear you speak of our faith, our traditions as if they were grey—yes, I know what you mean. The Cassomirs are strong - they are more than stone: they are iron. Yet there is more colour in them than in all of Rosley? - hush!"
She let out a sad sigh, her hands falling from her son's face as she leaned in to kiss him on his cheek.
"A heart does not bleed grey when it breaks, my son. Remember that."
If Destrian had a fault, a glaring, blaring fault that stood out above all others… it was his mouth. Perhaps his somewhat peculiar perspective upon the world might not have baffled his family (except his mother who knew him better than most), so much if he had not been so vocal.
In everything.
All the time.
Destrian spoke of the colour of people's voices, their emotions, their faith - their ERRANT faith - frequently. His time with the Cassomirs had taught him the importance of NOT giving away information without cause, but Destrian had adapted this mentality into a habit of his own: to say everything - and nothing - at the same time. His own emotions became increasingly harder for his own family to gauge, and he knew it.
He revelled in it.
To make matters worse, his conversion to the One Faith had caused a rift between his family - particularly his father - and himself. For the most part, Destrian's strangeness was tolerated as one would the mannerisms of an errant child, or a stray dog, but the rift was real and often revealed itself at the dinner table. Destrian's younger sister, Samantha, appeared to take it all in stride - but she and her brother were practically strangers.
The only person who seemed to enjoy the new enmity between Destrian and his father, was his older brother… Addam.
It was not to last. A year after his return home to Fairgarden Castle, Destrian was sent away again - this time to join the public Order of the Vigil as a protector of one of the Church's most prized assets: a Faegate. Faegates were structures of legend that one could touch, feel, and use - but they were rare Very rare. And twice as dangerous. Instantaneous travel between locations was not without its perils, and to be chosen as guardian for such thing - a Gatewarden - was a great honour. Destrian's skill in battle, as well as his status as a noble knight and devotion to the One Faith earned him that honour. His friend, Jaren, had become a Royal Lancer and the two men rarely saw each other. Indeed, once Destrian had taken his position as Gatewarden almost nobody saw him.
The culture of the Gatewardens appealed perfectly to Destrian - aside from the fact that he had sworn himself to remain in one place, until his superiors within the Holy Orders deemed otherwise. His faith in the One was accepted without question (he served, after all, among others of similar conviction); his skills were appreciated, his instruction followed. The oddities of his personality became subject-matter for the jests and quips of the other Wardens (just like everything else - particularly when travellers emerged from the Faegate… somewhat changed). Destrian sketched many of them - a talent greatly admired by his comrades.
And when comrades referred to him as 'the Stray of Rosley', it did not sting… much.
Destrian was home.
Then came the Succession War - known also as the War of the Rose and the Thorn - and tragedy found its way into the hearts, minds and bodies of every soul in Rivana.
Part IV
"Red."
Baroness Susanna Rosendal turned around to look at her second son, Destrian, tears staining her face and the silk cloth clutched tightly in her hands. Her face bore a puzzled expression through the grief that was obvious - the cloud of it looming above her head like some malicious entity of the night, casting a shadow across her beautiful, now worn, features.
"What…?" she started to ask.
"Red," Destrian replied, standing in the door to his mother's chamber, his Gatewarden raiment stained with dirt and sweat from a long, fierce ride. The young man's tone was simple, matter-of-fact. He spoke as one answering a question, which he went on to explain. "A heart bleeds red when it is broken," he told her, infinite sadness falling over his face like a veil. He held out his hand to his grieving mother.
With a cry, Susanna took her son's hand and fell into his embrace, weeping openly. Destrian - one hand upon his mother's back, holding her to him tightly, the other resting upon her head - looked past her at the broken spear of his father that lay upon the table by the window. Tears ran down his cheeks.
"It is the rest of the world that is grey."
The Succession War brought Rivana to its knees, with heavy losses on both sides. Although it is entered into the history books as commencing in the year 1853 IA, House Rosendal's involvement began two years before… with the death of one King Lucas' children. Most folk agreed it was illness - be it by pure chance, a sickly body, or the will of the One - but no name could be placed to it.
The apothecaries of House Rosendal were called to Sunsreach to investigate. And although the eventual consensus remained: 'a mysterious illness', some believed that darker forces were at work - specifically assassins and poison. Among the latter group, there lurked rumours of House Rosendal's involvement - not that member of the House had poisoned the king's child, but that they had sold the poisons (knowingly or not) to the assassins who were (allegedly) responsible…
One must remember, this was rumour - the quietest and darkest of rumours - and it did not surface until after the war began in 1853. At which point, House Rosendal declared itself for the Rose (Lord Arturo Tracano, and later his daughter, Alysande), along with Houses Cassomir and Greycen. House Haldis threw in its lot with the Thorn (Lord Anton Tracano), followed by others.
Everyone was expected to choose a side.
For Destrian, however, the experience proved different - he was not permitted to take sides. 'The Stray' of House Rosendal found himself moved even further from the hearts of his family, due to his being a Gatewarden of the One Faith. Matters were not helped by the fact that his father, Baron Rosendal, had pushed Destrian into his 'exile' of sorts in order to make life easier for the Rosendal family in Fairgarden Castle.
And now, just when the (arguably) greatest spear-dancer of Rosley was needed in battle alongside his family, Destrian Rosendal had already sworn not to interfere. At all. How hard it was on himself and his family that - by Holy decree - passage through the Faegates was granted to both Thorn loyalists as the Rose, no matter what. How hard it was to stand there - seemingly idle - while his father and brother rode to war.
Destrian spent most of the War of the Thorn and the Rose without the conflict, rather than within it - and it almost drove him mad with anger. Fortunately, he was not alone, for others of the Gatewardens shared the same burden. The Thorn and his forces marched on both Destrian's family and friends, killing soldiers and innocents alike… and Destrian remained with the Faegate. "The Butcher" - Sir Alphard Haldis - put men, women and children to the sword, or to the flame… and Destrian remained with the Faegate. Assassins hired by the Thorn broke into the Greycen fortress known as Giorgio's Redoubt to try and kill the young Rose and her protector - Sir Jaren Cassomir - yet Destrian remained at the Faegate. In the final battle, which saw the Cassomir family almost entirely decimated, and Destrian's own father slain (having arrived with Tracano and Greycen reinforcements), despite victory… Destrian remained at the Faegate.
How strange it must have been, for the wildest of spirits, the swiftest of spears, to have become known (and praised - by some, at least)… for standing still. He became the talk of the other Gatewardens. Soon, Gatefinders and travellers also spoke of it also - the will of Destrian the Steadfast, rather than Destrian the Stray - even if the latter byname stuck for longer. Such strength of mind and soul could only have been the gift of the One Himself… or so people said. On the other hand, some gossipers said that he HAD picked up his spear and saddled his horse - with the intention of breaking his oath and rushing to his family's side - only to be withheld by his fellow Wardens.
And a few claimed that Destrian did indeed forsake his post around the time of the invasion of Ironhold, and come at last to the aid of his foster family in their hour of need.
The latter rumour, interestingly enough, is closest to the truth.
Part V
"Tea?"
A young man approached the small round table resting on the floor between two comfortable chairs, bearing a tray in his hands. Upon the tray rested a teapot and two small cups set upon two small saucers. The workmanship of each cup - and the pot - was elegant, if simple; the skill had gone into the making, rather than the decorating.
The young man poured in silence - both cups.
"You should try some, you know - it really is quite good," said the voice again: firm, feminine, in a grandmotherly tone that seemed to make a recommendation sound like the gentlest - and strongest - form of commands. "…there. See? I am seldom wrong - and never when it comes to a good cup of tea, bless the One for his faithful bounty."
She paused to sip from her cup, not making a sound.
"I summoned you here for two reasons - one sugar, I think. Yes. - the first being to congratulate you on your answering the blessed One's call to Truth and True Faith. It cannot have been easy for one of your House to seek the Light, alone. And secondly… How do you find the tea? Try milk - only a little with it, mind you. Your behaviour throughout this horrid war has been noted - no, it is not a reprimand. Do enjoy your tea. - Secondly, I feel it is time you embraced a larger work…"
Toward the end of the Succession War, Archbishop Sirrah Cantire summoned Destrian to her side to discuss the kingdom, the war, and his personal role in it. Truth be known, it was not merely for Destrian's prowess or devotion to the One Faith that had brought him before the Archbishop, but his strength of will in keeping his oath (to remain at the Faegate), despite his loyalty to the Rose, his own House and House Cassomir. Furthermore, Sirrah spoke of revelations that she believed the young knight of House Rosendal needed to know.
Darker things were to come, or so Sirrah believed… and she was rarely ever wrong.
So it was, that in 1860 Archbishop Sirrah Cantire formally inducted Sir Destrian Rosendal into the secret Order of the Vigil - the part of the Order that few ever saw, whose purpose few ever knew. Sir Destrian accepted, and was quick to recommend his friend and fellow knight, Sir Jaren, for the same or similar role in the Order - but Jaren's activities in the war kept him from undergoing the ceremony until a more opportune moment arose. After his induction, Sir Destrian returned to his post at the Faegate - to all outward appearances remaining just another Gatewarden, forbidden from involvement in the bloody war.
In 1861, the Thorn launched an all-out attack upon Ironhold, and the outnumbered Rose supporters within the barony cried out for reinforcements… knowing they would likely arrive too late. Baron Rosendal and the Spear-Dancers of Rosley joined the reinforcements (led by the young Sir Devlin Cassomir), but they had far to come, and the enemy's ferocity knew no boundaries.
Sir Jaren returned home - but not in time to save his family, except his youngest sister… Emilia. In the ensuing battle, the Thorn army burned Ironhold Keep and much of the surrounding town to the ground. The Thorn was credited with the butchery of the Cassomir family, and their allies - Sir Destrian's father included.
But that is not what really happened behind those walls.
In the commotion, the Banshee had escaped and murdered most of the Cassomirs - Emilia excluded, thanks to Jaren - but he himself remained trapped inside, locked in a game of Cat and Mouse with the malevolent creature. Under the leadership of Sirrah Cantire, Sir Destrian left his post at the Faegate to join a small, covert group of Vigilants who infiltrated the already-burning castle of Ironhold, and rescued Sir Jaren.
And not a moment too soon. In Ironhold's darkest hour Sir Jaren and Sir Destrian raised both sword and spear in battle - together again for the first time in years. With the ancestral Cassomir blade of Sidhe-Steel in Jaren's hand, the Knights Vigilant were able to reseal the Banshee in her prison. Evidence of the creature's involvement was covered up - the blame laid at the feet of the Thorn and his armies.
Shortly thereafter, the War of the Thorn and the Rose came to an end.
Part VI
"It burns. It burns and beats and shines and burns! It… calls, does it not understand? No, it does not. It calls… It calls for us…"
There it was again - the whispering. The soft, sibilant whispering. Destrian could hear it in the darkness - almost see it in the darkness: threads of white and sickly yellow, flecked with dull red… or what that merely his eyes playing tricks on him? How hard that knock to his head must have been… He reached to the back of his neck and his fingers came away sticky with blood.
The whispers returns.
"It calls! It calls, it calls, it calls… Come…"
Something moved in the dark. He was sure of it. His feet scraping against stone, Destrian began to move backward - toward what he hoped was the mouth of the ancient tomb. Damn the storm, thought he. Damn the rain. Damn the trackers… He stopped. The trackers - probably from one of the local tribes, who knew? - The trackers were all dead. I saw the bodies, he reminded himself. All grey and silent… like this place. That voice…
He was given no further time for thought, for in that moment a creature of nightmare - not unlike the Banshee of Ironhold Castle, only tangible… all sinew and bone and claw - hurled itself at the Gatefinder. Lightning flashed and Destrian caught sight of teeth - rows of broken fangs - just before they bit into his neck.
White. He saw white. Already without spear, without sword - without even a dagger - Destrian flipped backward straight off the uneven ground, not caring if he struck rock behind or above him. The creature's grip slipped as the pair of them hit the ground in a tangle of foot and hand, tooth and claw.
It was fast.
It was strong.
He had but moments, and he knew it. The Knight-Hunter's fingers enclosed about something long and sharp on the ground, and in an act of pure desperation he stabbed at the creature of nightmare in the side. It shrieked. He stabbed it again, harder this time, and the object in his grasp bit impossibly deep into the monster's body. Finally, the beast's teeth at his throat, its breath on his skin, Destrian move to stab it a third time -
- and it turned to ash.
Not sparing a moment for anything, and still gripping the shard or whatever it was in his hand, Destrian fled out into the storm…
The losses were great - especially to House Cassomir - but after the war's end Sir Destrian returned home to Fairgarden Castle… to bury his father. The Baroness Susanna never fully recovered from the death of her husband and retired from public view, content to leave the rulership of Rosley entirely to Addam, who ascended to the position of Baron. Although Destrian found himself welcome among his own family, there remained a trace of difficulty between him and his brother - due in part to the war, and Destrian's oaths of non-interference as a Church Knight.
He did, however, remain on good terms with their sister, Samantha.
For Destrian, the final days of the war changed him just as they changed many others. For reasons he mainly kept to himself (although he did explain some of them to Emilia, of whom he had grown quite fond, and Sir Jaren - now Baron Cassomir - also), Destrian petitioned Archbishop Sirrah to change from Gatewarden, to Gatefinder - one who travelled the Edge seeking other Faegates.
The Archbishop agreed, but with two conditions: 1) for his valour against the Banshee, he accept the rank of Knight-Hunter within the Order, and 2) he follow up on the rumours concerning the death of King Lucas' child - the one that died of a 'mysterious illness'. How Sirrah had known of the possible connection between the (alleged) poisoners, and the herbs (allegedly) sold by House Rosendal to such undesirables… was anyone's guess, but the Archbishop was adamant.
Sir Destrian was to do all in his power to uncover the truth.
He agreed.
What followed since was revealed onto the Archbishop. Destrian was gone for a long time - appearing here and there in far-off places, just another Gatefinder looking to make his fortune. Life back home continued as normal… and when so many months of silence had transpired, people in Rosley and Ironhold began to wonder if they would ever see the knight again… His steadfastness at the Faegate - during the war - was eventually forgotten by most, and Sir Destrian became known once more as 'The Stray', valiant… and misguided in the end.
He returned.
Like a stray dog, missing for so long, Destrian finally returned. With tales of wonders and dangers beyond imagining he spoke to noble and commoner alike. If one were to believe everything he had said, one would have concluded that his adventures were, of all adventures, most fantastic…
If it were to be believed. Few did. Many listened, however - not that it did much good. Most walked away confused… Perhaps, that was the point. For when Destrian returned to the Archbishop and the Order, only then did he tell the truth (if not the whole truth, save to Sirrah). He never found a Faegate, but he did find other treasures and relics - none of them especially valuable or important… save one.
He held forth the shard with which he claimed to have slain a vampire - and revealed that he shard was not a shard at all. It was the tip of a spear, ancient yet unblemished (with the mud cleaned away), made of Sidhe-Steel. Upon the discovery of an ancient tomb, Sir Destrian had been attacked. The Spear-Dancer had fought a legend of horror - without spear… or so he had thought.
The One was with him, or so it was said. Sir Destrian was awarded the spear-head, and charged to continue in his calling as a Knight-Hunter of the Order… then the Archbishop gave him leave to return to his family - with only just one other question for him as he turned to go:
"Did you find out the truth behind House Rosendal and the child's death?"
In answer, Sir Destrian handed Archbishop Sirrah a single leather pouch that he had worn under his clothes, looked at her grimly, and departed…
On the Grid
Upon the head of Destrian Rosendal is a mane of ebony hair that spills down about his shoulders. His eyes are bright - a watery blue-grey - and glint with shrewd intelligence. He has a heart-shaped face with a straight nose, a mouth with a wide smile, and a strong jaw. A short, neatly-trimmed beard adorns his face of the same sable hue as his hair.
Destrian is generally garbed in travelling clothes - dark grey tunic and hose, tucked into black boots on his feet and gathered about his waist with a belt. He wears leather armour over his tunic - pauldrons for his shoulders, vambraces on his forearms, a vest over his body and greaves on his legs. He sometimes wears a tabard and cloak of deep purple, depicting three roses in gold - the crest of House Rosendal. He wears a short sword at his side, as well as a dagger, and carries a long spear slung over his back.
The spear is over five feet in length, and has a polished haft of sturdy, dark wood. Its tip is as long as some short-blades, cunningly wrought and gleams brightly in any light. A tassel of purple and gold thread is tied just under the point.
Personality
For a man in his early thirties, Destrian is already an "old soldier", a veteran; he has no illusions about the difficult (and often conflicting) realities of life - and yet he still finds joy and beauty in the simplest of things, particularly things he can sketch. Despite coming from a 'heathen' House, he has remained a devoted servant of the One - much like those of the House that fostered him.
As both a warrior and a noble, he is a man of honour - although he is fiercely competitive, and outspokenly proud of his status as the 'black sheep' of his birth House. If there is a chance to show off, he will take it - and if there are foes in need of defeating (or people in need of rescue) at the same time, all the better. The Spear-Dancers of House Rosendal are as much performers as they are fighters. The lust for adventure burns brightly in him, and he lives for the danger as well as the reward. His curiosity is insatiable.
The "poet" is strong in Destrian, so much so that he is often considered a "peculiar" man; to him, people do not make sound so much as they are sound - and colour, too. Many is the time that he has described an adventure in terms that have had to be translated or explained. Whatever his issues with people, he is especially gifted with animals - horses in particular.
Quirks
Skill Quirks:
- Unbreakable - Sir Destrian's strength of will (and/or stubbornness) is almost legendary. Despite his skill in battle, he is perhaps more renowned for not running off to war - when he was sworn to stay at his post by the Faegate. With all that befell his family and friends, few can say they would have done the same.
- Talented: Spears - If House Rosendal is known for its Spear-Dancers - knights trained in light armour, to fight with spears rather than swords - then Sir Destrian is the Spear-Dancer. It would be difficult to find another as gifted with this weapon as he.
Social Quirks:
- Fostered - The fact that Destrian does not quite act like a typical Rosendal (to the point of converting to a completely different Faith), is due to his being fostered by House Cassomir for most of his childhood. He considers them family as much as his blood relatives (perhaps more), and shares many of their values and mannerisms.
- Survivor - How many are there that have encountered a real vampire in life? How many still have survived such an encounter? Sir Destrian has. True, also is the fact that vampires are not the only monsters he has seen in his 33 years, or fought… He is a survivor, and others with the same trait will know what it means.
Personality Quirks:
- Empathic - Few would argue that Sir Destrian has a slightly… odd personality. He sometimes struggles with relating to people, and then surprises them with insight into their emotions, desires and intentions. He is especially intuitive when it comes to animals (such as horses). He connects with living things on perhaps a more primal level, than others.
- Recklessly Brave - To a fault. All Rosendals are known for their fierce competitiveness, and their zeal for braving danger. They have courage aplenty, true - but it often tends to backfire when there is no one around to guide or temper their courage. Destrian is notorious for it. "Leap before you look" should be the Rosendal motto - or Destrian's at least…
- Loyal - As the most faithful of hounds (not that anyone should really call him a hound)… Rosendals in general are known for their passionate loyalty to the Rose Queen, and Destrian is highly recognised for his loyalty to his family (both fostered and birth), his faith (that being the One Faith of the Church), and his friends.
- Usual Raiment - Most commonly, Destrian wears a suit of fine quality combat-leathers. He has multiple sets of armour if it needs replacing, as well as barding for his horse. He rarely wears a helmet. As for weapons, he owns a steel shortsword, various daggers, quarterstaff, and of course spears (not that he carries all of this - expect him to have a spear, and a couple of daggers on him).
- Susurri - Susurri is Destrian's spear of Sidhe-Steel (the name is High Imperial for 'Whisper'). The shaft is crafted by the weaponsmiths of Rosley, to fit the spearhead, and it is, from tip to pommel, six feet in length. A full foot of that length is the blade of the spearhead. Destrian tends to wield it for acrobatic, melee combat.
- Heavy Armour - As a knight and a nobleman of a modestly-wealthy House, Destrian owns a full set of plate armour for both ceremony and jousting. Both it and his shield bear the crest of House Rosendal: three gold roses on a field of deep purple.
- Horse - Destrian's riding horse is a nimble Galloway (i.e. 15hh - refers to size rather than breed) named 'Old Friend'. The horse has no special lineage. Destrian owns a couple of warhorses, but they remain (usually) in Rosley.
Logs and Sundry
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(adrienne aidric alina alysande ania artos bartolo bella broderick clara darman dawn destrian elaida elrick emilia eva event gabriel gawain ghazi giorgio graham gwendolyn hashim jaren jean-paul joffrey johanna jordan kabede leander log louisa marcel martyn michael quentyn raelyn raimond rashad rosana samuel samwell stephen thaddeus tristan)
The Following is a List of Quotes from Various Characters - Taken from Scenes, Memoirs etc…
"What is this, Firefly? What has the creature done to you? Where is the red? Where is the gold? I cannot see the threads as once I could - threads and sparks dancing in the dark, the envy of stars. There is grey in your voice, little Firefly. There is grey in your voice…And — I do not know these colours. I do not — "
He pauses.
"There," he says with a sigh of relief. "There you are…"- Sir Destrian Rosendal to Lady Emilia Cassomir
"I have but charcoal, dear Emilia. I could not do better if I sketched with my eyes closed! Perhaps… Aye, I think I'll do just that from now on — and then, after my death, you can release my works in a single tome named for me… Fifty Shades of Black.'"
- Sir Destrian Rosendal to Lady Emilia Cassomir
"In of the moonlit shadows I was of finding a most unexpected of surprise. Something I was never of thinking I would of find, of have. And yet even of now, I am not of certain it was not all of a dream. Them and Their hatred of it all, is of assuring me it was of not a dream."
"Well, Your Excellency, you know me! All substance and no — wait, that's wrong. Or is it? You know what they say: 'You can't judge a book by its cover' — although if it were me, I think I'd be the book without the cover. Covers are like that, aren't they? Deceptive, misleading, unnecessary things — always giving the wrong impression…like clothes."
- Destrian Rosendal to Archbishop Sirrah Cantire
"You can't judge the yellow by the blue and green — but you can judge the green by the blue and yellow. …What? It all makes perfect sense to me!"
- Sir Destrian Rosendal to Baron Addam Rosendal
A peasant steps forward from the crowd gathered in the town square, their faces illumined eerily by the many torches held aloft, and points at Emilia. The firelight glints of the makeshift weapons carried by most of those in the mob, and the peasant shouts:
"Beware that one! The Banshee-possessed witch! She can kill you with her brain, she can!"
Destrian, standing protective just in front of Emilia, rolls his eyes and looks at Jaren standing beside him. "Trust a bloodthirsty madman to come up with a line like that! Probably a playwright, the colourless bastard."
- A dream in which Emilia's secret is discovered.
"I see thee. I see thy webs, thy machinations, thy threads and subtle devices. I see thee — and I swear I will see thee gone. By the One and His immutable word. Now, see me… for I am become grey for this one's sake. I stand between thee and her, and I am not alone. She is not for you."
- Sir Destrian to the Banshee
Relationships
Couviere
Rivana
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(former) Baron Marcus Jason Rosendal (deceased) : Father |
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(former) Baroness Susanna Claudia Rosendal) : Mother |
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Baron Addam Rosendal : Older Brother |
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Lady Samantha Rosendal : Younger Sister |
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(former) Baron Aric Cassomir (deceased) : Foster Father. The iron in the white. The man was unbreakable, but he did bleed. He bled for his family, and his home, and his queen…but he never broke. I have never known a harder man, but I am who I am because of who he was - and who he is, in my memory. |
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Viscount Jaren Cassomir : Foster Brother. The earth burned red and Jaren stepped forth from it like iron from a forge. Now he is silver… but it is not seen in the scabbard. He shines when he must, but his light… has an edge. It is my honour to call him brother. |
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Lady Emilia Taryn Cassomir : Foster Sister. Fading embers of fire in the dying light of day… They forget, the embers, who they are and the fire they come from - and then they remember, and tell the stars who shines most. My little Emilia… I remember the red and gold - the grey shall not have you. |
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Sir Devlin Cassomir : Foster Brother |
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Viscountess Raelyn Cassomir : Foster Sister. |
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Lord (Sir) Thaddeus Greycen : Fellow Knight. |
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