Brief biographies of but a few of the honorable heroes of our faith, as recorded by Agent Eltaor Orilana
Bedwyn “The Bladeless” (1493)
Mirroring Tyr’s own depiction having lost his hand in a brutal battle, Bedwyn serves as a Hammer in Bryn Shander. Fighting with only his shield, the forges of Sundabar designed for the Knight a shield made of a lightweight platinum variant which could also be sharpened to a razor’s edge. Bedwyn recently made a regional name for himself in Icewind Dale when a raiding party of Frost Giants seeking an ancient relic of their fallen kingdom of Ostaria threatened to destroy the entire community. When it was thought the walls were lost, “The Bladeless” commanded the gates be opened and marched with the some-odd hundred guards remaining and grasped a stalemate and eventual retreat by the giants from near certain defeat and the city’s ruin. When speaking on the events of the day, Bedwyn, a Knight true to his depths, gave credit to the brave men and women who heeded his cry for aid and the valor of those who stood fast against such threats. Even so, it is Bedwyn whose statue is expected to be erected in the months to follow.
Kleef Kenric, The Sentinel (1486)
During an attack upon the city by a force of Shadovar warriors, Topsword Kenric, a leader among the Marsember Watch, found himself suddenly wrapped up in the plans of a pair of Chosen who had stolen the Eye of Gruumsh from a secret orc stronghold in the Stonelands. As Kenric retold events, the respective gods of the Chosen had sent visions to their followers to steal the relic in order to thwart Shar, who was going to use the Eye of Gruumsh in a ritual to bind the Shadowfell to the material plane. As events unfolded, the newfound companions traveled toward the Underchasm to complete a ritual of their own to prevent the goddess of death from succeeding while being pursued by multiple threats and enemy factions seeking the stolen artifact. Despite being haunted nightly in his dreams by a nemesis who tried to convince Kenric to forsake his newfound allies and steal the Eye of Gruumsh, the paladin remained true to his pledge of faith in Helm and the defense and protection of his friends and their purpose. Ultimately, the sacrificial final act of one of the party members inspired Kleef to take a definitive stand against the threats which assailed the party and in this crucial moment, he discovered within himself a divine spark of Helm’s essence and ascended to the status of Chosen of Helm. With Helm’s blessing, Kenric held back the forces of evil long enough for the Chosen of Sune to complete the necessary ritual. Following these events, the Topsword and now Chosen of Helm returned to his home to restore Marsember’s defenses and rid it of the corruption which plagued the city.
Dedication to the Unknown Hero of Elturel
“Though we do not know her name, let none forget her bravery. Let us commemorate forever the courage shown and the sacrifice willingly made for the safety and security of all of Elturel.
In the miserable shadow of fear we lived for too many seasons. By the hand of this warrior and her gleaming blade gripped tight, the dragon who caused so much strife was slain. No longer will we wake in a panic to fields aflame or flocks filched in the night. From this day forth, we live beneath clear skies in the safety of peace won through bloodshed and loyal determination.
We honor the memory of this Unknown Hero, fittingly, here in the High Hall catacombs, for she has served as a beacon of Torm’s courageous will in living flesh. Standing fast against her foe, unyielding and unrelenting, until her task completed, her sacrifice offered. Here in these hallowed resting grounds, we shall forever remember her valor and live in gratitude for her devotion to The Loyal Fury.”
Optallita the Devout (Unknown)
Ages before the persistent glow of the Companion, a particularly wise and devoted acolyte to the Hand of Righteousness sought the presence and will of Torm. Day and night, for tendays on end, Optallita recited her litanies and prayers in the crypts beneath the chapel of the High Hall. To such a display of loyalty and unremitting faithfulness, Torm responded. In her desire to commune directly with Torm, this acolyte’s faith transformed an otherwise ordinary ossuary into a place of sensitivity to the higher powers of the divine. It is said a psychic connection between Torm and his devout exists within these halls unlike any other in the planes. Like so many followers of previous generations, Optallita’s remains now rest in those very catacombs and it is believed her devotion continues to maintain the powerful connection to the Loyal’s Fury’s celestial essence.
Galthont “the Inspirer” (13th century)
As so many do, the tales of Galthont “The Inspirer” begin when the wandering Tormite was but a young, capable swordsman. Touring the Moonsea North as a caravan guard and personal bodyguard, the warrior watched for particularly noble and diligent individuals and inspired them to worship the Righteous Fury. Many knights from this region during the early thirteenth century credit Galthont as the catalyst for their life’s turn towards Torm. Four years into his journeys of inspiration, the Inspirer fought off a raid from the Lashing Tails, an army of brigands led by half-orc Oegont and the evil mage Mastertas of Melvaunt. Galthont deterred the army long enough for the local civilians to escape by challenging the scoundrels to a series of single combat duels. After defeating the first eighty challengers single-handedly, the remaining Lashing Tails attacked en-mass, but not before Galthont slipped past them and sent them hunting after his trail. To their surprise and aggravation, Galthont snuck back to a fort previously pillaged by the Lashing Tails, laying many traps for the brigands to discover upon their return. When the army does indeed return to the fort infuriated by their embarrassing defeat and Galthont’s escape, chaos envelops the entire fort as the traps catch the army unawares while Galthont sets fire to the inner structures. As the flames consume the keep, Galthont finds and overwhelms both Oegont and Mastertas of Melvaunt, leaving the rest to retreat in utter defeat. Among the treasures of the defeated mage, Galthont discovered the Veloghon of Vigilance and carried it with him to the blessing of Torm the rest of his days.
Gauntlet Severause “the Specialist” (14th century)
Serving primarily out of the House of the Triad in Ten Towns, Gauntlet Serverause earned his famed moniker for the impressive, even by Knight’s standards, list of monsters slain by his hand. Though chastised for often outright rejecting contracts which didn’t entail the hunting of monsters, even his superiors could not condemn his devout focus to Torm’s commands of bravery and valor when it came to the unrelenting pace at which he threw himself at the monstrous threats of the Spine of the World. As with any figure who passes from history into legend, it is sometimes difficult to separate exact truth from embellishment, but there’s little doubt to Gauntlet Severause’s list of accomplishments including the slaying of dragons, trolls, vampires, chimaera, and at least one lich, among countless other lesser threats. The Specialist is believed to have fallen during the Year of Blue Flame, buried in an avalanche caused by the Spellplague while hunting a white dragon.
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