Head of the Lion: A Brief Account on the Silvermane Origin

Within this book you will find the relative history behind the Knights of Silvermane and leader, Varfogar Arrellanes. All accounts are accurate to the best of the knowledge and information provided, however are still susceptible to both bias and the flow of time.

The Beginning:

Varfogar's family was poor, as are many in the common class. His mother sought to encourage him towards a better life despite pulling herself into debt in hiring a local monk to properly teach him. Following his education, he became a page for a local knight, learning combative prowess and strategy from various wars and battles that followed. In doing this he had hopes to repay his mother's debt while carving his own way in the world. He found that in doing so, he would be adept in leadership and teaching local militias, finding that many of his own recruits took to the boar spear rather well considering their common use in hunting. It was better to utilize common strengths than to beat a dead horse with skills that were oftentimes foreign to the generations that most commonly filled his regiment. He would later meet Vashti Silvermane among the regiment and work alongside him in the coming battles against foreign and neighboring invaders. During the final defense of his lord's keep years later, Vashti would fall while defending the gate.

Following the death of Vashti and the end of his lord's reign, Varfogar would have left his homeland for Skaljard. Though the land was frigid and the soil nearly infertile, he and his family continued their struggles to make a life for themselves. No less than a year following their arrival, Varfogar was blessed with a daughter, Amelia and the realities of Skal began to grow even more clear as they struggled to make do with each season passing. On their sixth spring, his wife, Evelynn and Amelia went out foraging, as Varfogar had been late in his own hunt for game between his mercenary work. The night grew closer as he returned to his home finding both girls missing. He turned back out into the frostbitten woods in search of them.

With the dropping temperature and the frigid mist overtaking, Varfogar found himself at the foot of the snowpeaks, a sheet of ice laid before him. A frost dragon descended, clearing the area of mist surrounding two frozen bodies, both left standing and only partially encased in ice. Their eyes and portions of their arms and legs were left exposed but unable to move. It was unclear whether they were still aware, or had already died from shock. The dragon's brood were eating through their icy limbs until each leg snapped and their bodies fell to the ground, frozen pieces shattering as the wyrmlings scattered to fight for them. In his horror he made his escape as they were busy feeding. Heart overcome with grief, fear and a growing fire of hatred, but he knew he could not defeat them as he was. He would spend the next few years between drink, guilt and bereavement as he trained.

Becoming Boarcious AR 175:

Having left Skal to Cordor's frontier in AR 175 he would establish Boaracious Appetite. Having assumed that many of those he would recruit would take up the boar spear just as his regiment did more than a decade before, he hoped they might also share his insatiable hunger for killing dragons. He would recruit to his mercenary company while building a name of respect with the people of Arelith and the former chancellor of Cordor, Devon Marshal. Starting as a small group of likeminded or coin-hungry individuals, Boaracious would soon become something more prominent among the city's people. With seemingly lofty claims and promises of fame for the death of red and frost dragons, he would further his name with expeditions with the young arrivals to the isle.

Varfogar knew his way around words and making connections. Though his intent was to seek vengeance, it later turned into duty to defend Cordor as well. With numerous successful hunts and adventures, Boaracious Appetite was becoming more than a 'for-hire' group. The thought of ridding the isle of dragons and watching over those whom he grew to care for would end up quarreling with his hope for justice to his wife and child. To slay the dragon of Skal, he would need those willing and able enough to slay their kind. His passion for vengeance and mother's early sacrifices had molded him to the man he is today.

He and his company assisted in the defense of Cordor during the demonic attack on the city in AR 175 when corrupt prisoners and guards turned on the people while a portal to the Rift was opened. Alongside the Cordorian Guard, Gauntlet and Crimson Blades, the city had defeated the enemy and saved many of the lives of the injured.

Knights of Silvermane AR 176:

Though still stricken with grief, his ideals formed a bond with the people, as he never wanted to allow others to suffer as he did if it could be prevented. His seemingly humble nature and strong ideals gained him favor among many Cordorians, as his mercenary company became the Knights of Silvermane, in tribute to the man he spent much of his early days with. One who selflessly sacrificed himself for the people in his land's defense at the final gate. This change in company name would ensue following his appointment as Lord of Darrowdeep Castle in the beginning of AR 176, with the goal of establishing the safety of Pax Cordorian routes that the Knights of the Road once upheld. Willingly accepting the responsibility to the people who came to acknowledge his leadership potential and ambition within only a year's time, Varfogar turned from sell-sword for his own gain, to a knight of the people. Though his quest for vengeance never wavering, he found new purpose in the people as well. On the behest of Devon's successor, Seamus would bestow the title of Landed Noble to Varfogar, furthering his reputation.

Having spent more than two years between the defense of Cordor against the Abyssalist Alica Stein, the submission and execution of the serial killer, Wilham Pigsbane, and the continuing threats of the Shadowclaw kobolds and Drow slavers, Varfogar would work alongside the Skull Craig Rangers and extend his hand to the fortress city of Guldorand. By the beginning of Leaffall of AR 176, Guldorand would secede from the Axhold Accords under the command of the High Sheriff Kesa Hillside and become independent from the alliance. Having refused to work further with Cordor because of the moral disagreements of their King's newly established Lodestar System, Guldorand wished to separate themselves from their aid and deny further help from the Knights of Silvermane.

With the growing threat of undead in Minmir's Endless Battlefield, Devon Marshal along with members of the Silvermanes and the Gauntlet would be stationed on the forefront of the Earl?s Chateau. During Leaffall of AR 176, word of a prophecy coming to pass rose with risk to the Containment being breached. The Containment has left Minmir Manor in a near endless time loop to prevent the escape of undead hordes since the sinking and dredging of Kohligen back in AR 76. Originally erected by the Elves of Myon, the Containment prevented the destruction of the Earl's Manor, and lessened the breach of undead to far fewer than before. Varfogar's men would work alongside the Gauntlet should the Containment fall and undead repeat their rampage across Arelith as they did more than a century before.

Written by: Lyrothil Reydove

[A sigil can be seen beside the signature. A solar eclipse is bordered by a scarlet red hue. A white dove rests in the center upon a branch while belladonna flowers surround the image.]