Codex Aernus Dolnor¶
The Orphan
I don't remember much from my earliest years, then again, who does? I was
found wrapped in a red cloak on a small makeshift nest of twigs and leaves in
the brush of the grasslands. The only reason I was located at all was because
of the eruofera standing over me, tail lashing, eyeing me as an easy meal. The
beast was slain quickly and skinned for it's hide and meat. The men of the
caravan barely paid me heed as the drover plucked me from the nest.
Seberus Dolnor
The drover that found me was named Seberus Dolnor. From my first memories I
always remember riding next to him on the carts the pack animals pulled. He
had tanned skin and stood nearly a head taller than all of the guards on the
caravan. His gaze was distant, but he always talked to me as he would anyone
else. Never treating me like the child I truly was.
Seberus always had a gladius as his side and a shield on his back. In all the
years he raised me I only asked him once about his skill and where he learned.
He never answered me, but one of his veteran guards simply said 'The Legion'
to me after Seberus went to sleep in his lean-to.
Seberus was the closest thing I had to a father. He treated me well and worked
me hard. Since he was and remained single when he found me, he was unable to
said I was his natural son, rendering me a foreigner. Seberus never saw a
point in teaching me any other language than Common, as nearly the whole
populous of Iridine dealt with the Common tongue. He taught me to run, jump,
play, and many other vital skills. We sparred daily to teach me about combat.
Early Work
When I was around ten or eleven years of age, Seberus thought it was a wise
idea for me to start earning my way on his caravan. He posted me three hundred
feet ahead of the caravans at all time and told me to scout the road ahead.
There were always bandits, ruffians and rogues willing to kill and steal for a
handful of gold and a mouthful of bread.
My eyes were young and they could see farther than any of the other guards. My
nose was sharp, and the scent of sweat was easy to smell from more than a
hundred yards away. When I spotted trouble or simply sensed it, all I had to
do was whistle as loudly as I could and sprint back to the caravan.
I never participated in defending the caravan from the raids until I was
twelve years of age. I had ran behind the caravan and was watching the fight,
trying to learn from each blow that was being landed on the men of ill-repute.
I screamed! The cold point of a dagger pierced my shoulder from behind. I
whirled around, hand already on the hilt of my gladius. It took a precious
moment to understand it was merely a boy my age, iron dagger in his hand, the
look of hunger in his eyes.
Blood seeping from the wound, I lunged forward with my gladius, hoping to
scare him off. He stood his ground and blocked the blade with the length of
his dagger. Knowing full and well this boy meant to kill me so long as he
could eat, I had to think quickly. As the hit of my gladius met the hilt of
his dagger, I push upward as hard as I could, flinging his weapon to the side.
Stepping back on my rear foot, I spun completely around and brought my gladius
down in a vicious blow at his head. I'll never forget the way his lifeless
body connected with the ground, the way his blood flowed over my sandals, or
the look in his eyes as the light left them.
I dropped my gladius and wept bitter tears of remorse, screaming to Ereal
until I couldn't scream anymore. Seberus had seen the fight between us. He
gently lifted me up and placed me in the cart, covering me with a bear hide
rug and he let me cry until I could cry no more. I don't remember anything for
the next few days after my first brush with death. It was a traumatic
experience to say the least.
Death of a Father
It had only been a short year later on a caravan from Iridine to Vetallun that
my worst fears were finally realized.
Normally the men that tried to ambush the caravan on this length of road were
unskilled, unorganized and very easily dispatched. However, this time, it was
very different.
I was posted ahead of the caravan to scout for any trouble. The rain was heavy
and the wind was strong. I didn't even see the bandits laying just under the
brush as I passed them. To my great regret, I didn't hear the attack until it
was nearly over. I spun around when I hear the faint sound of gladius on
gladius only to see four bandits fighting the caravan guards. I ran back
through the mud as quickly as my legs would take me. By the time I'd arrived
the bandits had fled, and everyone was dead.
I stood over Seberus' body, looking down at his throat that had been so neatly
slashed open. This time, I did not cry. Thankfully the bandit had not killed
the pack animals. With strength unknown to me, I managed to move all of the
guard's bodies, and Seberus' onto the cart. I had the pack animals turn around
and set off towards Iridine. Just had Seberus had told me, I had him burned on
the pyres with a gladius by his side, a denar on each eyelid.
Life in the City
From the amount of money Seberus had given me as a hired hand, and the amount
I'd earned diving for clams on Signal tower Island, I was able to slowly and
surely increase my wealth, buy my food, and ever so rarely, find a place with
a warm bed and a roof.
Around the year 248, I applied to join the Legion to follow in Seberus' steps.
I was still very inexperienced, and I had a hard enough time defending myself
against a full grown man back then. I spoke with one of the Centurions after a
few classes and respectfully withdrew myself from the class.
Shortly after forgetting most of what I knew about the gladius, I decided to
pick a unique weapon and see where it took me. The fluidity of the weapon and
the necessity to master it before you lost one or both of your eyes.
In the year of 250, I managed to impress a man that was attending some
Colosseum basement fights. He gave me a ring and said that I fought as nobly
as a 'White Lion'. To this day, I still don't know what group of people he was
talking about. I was thankful for his kind words and that my training was
paying off.
Decisions
I applied to the Constabulary to lend my assistance to the great city of
Iridine. As a strong believer of Ereal, I fight for what's right. The city has
fallen into a great mess of disarray and near chaos in the past few years. The
decision was quick and well thought-out. I simply wish to be the best
Constable I am able to be under the teachings of Captain Alejandra and
Sergeant Mystikqua. The Republic needs constables to enforce laws and protect
those who cannot protect themselves. I feel, with my limited skill, I would be
a good addition to the Constabulary.