Ragnarr Lyonson, Vol.I

Author's Note: This work was compiled based on an interview of Ragnarr Lyonson himself. None of the other persons referenced in his story were available for comment, so this should not be considered a completely impartial recounting of events.

Ragnarr Lyonson was born on Ruathym Island, a day or two's sail from the coast of Arelith. Ruathym is a bleak, rocky island, regularly blanketed in rain or snow. Its people are hardy, rough, and known to frequently resort to piracy. Ragnarr's family was no exception.

His father was a Ruathian warrior of renown, and so Ragnarr was considered high born by the standards of his people. Despite this, Ragnarr and his father never saw eye to eye, Eventually, Ragnarr grew disenchanted with his father's violent ways, and stood up to him.

Ragnarr was subsequently exiled from Ruathym with little fanfare, and came to Arelith to start anew. He was a mere eighteen years old, and he arrived in the midst of a peaceful period of Arelith's history, soon after the passing of Cordor's Dubious Organizations Act.

He took up adventuring, and his skills and experience with violence served him well as he quickly made a name for himself locally. For the first time in his life, he was free to go where he wished and take whatever work suited him. Yet he was drawn to violent work.   While adventuring, Ragnarr met a strong and good-hearted woman named Lucinda, who would become his first love. For a time they worked together, making a powerful team to face the various beasts and orcs that plagued the island.

Yet Lucinda left Arelith, at least for a decade or two, to pursue other work on the mainland. Ragnarr continued on alone, until he met his second mentor - Alyssa Darkwind, the Mayor of the small logging town of Guldorand.  Alyssa was a reliable friend and mentor to Ragnarr for a time - the first of three mentors who would shape him into the man he'd eventually become. She taught him other ways to enjoy life beyond war and violence and, according to him, was his first true friend.

With Alyssa's help, he gained more friends and contacts across the isle. No longer was he a lone warrior, fighting merely for coin. Eventually, this led him to Benwick, the paladin stronghold, where he became an initiate.  His mentor at Benwick was a beautiful elven woman who taught him of personal honor and the knightly way of living. Ragnarr was quite taken with her, but she left his life prematurely when she was killed in combat with Banites.

It was the first time Ragnarr experienced true loss. He swore vengeance upon the Banite enemy, and stood by the knights of Benwick as the war continued. As their numbers lessened, the Banites made one last push to wipe out the paladins of Benwick.

Ragnarr was in the thick of the pitched battle they fought near Benwick. Despite his relative inexperience, Ragnarr fought bravely amisdt the flying spells and arrows. When the dust settled, the Banites had been defeated resoundingly, with heavy losses including the capture of their leader.  The battle would prove to be the turning point for the Banites, as their numbers would steadily wane for the next few decades.

With the Banites defeated and his first real battle under his belt, Ragnarr's work in Benwick was done. He began to turn his eyes back upon the road, to new adventures that were beginning to take shape on the horizon.