Kavalyre Winters

the Liberator, Knight Captain

Kavalyre Winters was the original Knight Captain of the Knights of Chevry. She led the Knights and the Colony of Chevry to victory in the War of Northern Independence in 1030.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Childhood (989-1007)

Not much is known about Kavalyre's childhood as she rarely spoke of it. What is known is that that she was conscripted into the Kingdom of Red Veil in 1007, freeing her from jail for crimes unknown. It is assumed then that Kavalyre grew up in poverty.

Early Military Years (1007-1017)

Kavalyre was stationed all around the Kingdom of Red Veil and soon rose through the ranks. She had a natural talent with horses and mounted combat which earned her a position with the Knights of Argo. At the age of 28 in the year 1017, Kavalyre fell pregnant with a son named Artebrand. Disgraced, she was almost cast out from the Knights until she begged the Duke of Argo to instead send her and a few knights to Kehl where they could help fight the Bullfolk raiders.

Service in Kehl (1017-1020)

Even as a single mother, Kavalyre excelled in Kehl with her small group of Knights. They drove back the bullfolk and allowed for the completion of Kehl's walls. Kavalyre notoriously ride into battle against a whole raiding party by herself and returned victorious. She was quickly promoted to the Governor to Knight Captain, who also put in a good word for her with the King. In 1020, at the age of 31, Kavalyre was asked to form the Knights of Chevry to help train new knights for the homeland.

The Knights of Chevry (1020-1030)

For ten years, Kavalyre oversaw the Knights and the training school in Chevry. She reportedly fell in love with the Isle of Chevry and thus took up a family name in the Frontier Folk fashion - Winters, after the cold snows that blanketed Chevry. Artebrand was enrolled in the younger school for children in 1025 at the age of eight, though quickly earned himself a fierce reputation.
Kavalyre's loyalty to the crown was strained during this period as the King of Red Veil made increasing demands on the Knights as well as the colony in general. She allegedly put pressure on the governor to purposefully misunderstand the king's orders and interpret things in her favour, such as making an alliance with the lapine and Qorte. This was largely due to the King's removal of his forces from Chevry due to its relative safety, leaving Kavalyre with the military might on the island.
In late 1029, the King of Red Veil lost patience with the governor and Kavalyre after taxes were underpaid and instead invested in the town. Expecting loyalty, he tried to dismiss the governor and disband the Knights at the same time. Kavalyre - along with her allies among the lapine and Qorte - refused and declared Chevry as independent. When the governor refused and tried to organise against her, Kavalyre had him stripped nude and exiled on a raft across the Channel of Chevry. He was never seen from again.

War of Northern Independence (1030)

Kavalyre's naturally strategic mind and knowledge of the terrain won her the war. She ordered naval defences shored up, the lumber being provided by the lapine to build watchtowers, as well as war sloops. Together with the co-operation of Qorte, the naval dominance meant that Red Veil ships could never quite land on the Isle of Chevry. When they attempted to in spring, the lapine scouts ran ahead to send word to Kavalyre, and the boats were burned in a matter of an hour.
Kavalyre remained in Chevry while commanding the Free Knights of Chevry near the Obsmire Peninsula, where many of the pitched battles happened. The infrastructure of Kehl could not bear the influx of Veilan soldiers, especially with constant raids from the Bullfolk and strategic harassment of supply or troop ships by Kavalyre's fleet.
By the end of the year, it was said Kehl was aflame six out of seven nights of the week as the bull folk nearly broke down the walls. Eventually the Kingdom of Red Veil thought of the war as too expensive, and were worried about losing their main foothold in Kehl. They sued for peace during winter 1030, granting Chevry its independence, but only freeing Qorte nominally. This was due to the Consorti Aquamutus' wanton poisoning and murders of high ranking officials that the King could not forgive.
Kavalyre and her knights renamed the Colony of Chevry to the Free City of Chevry, as well as themselves as the Free Knights of Chevry.

Ruler of Chevry (1031-1050)

Kavalyre and her Knights abolished the governorship and codified their new knightly order under the tenets of loyalty to Chevry, fairness in peace, and honour in war. Kavalyre assumed the position of the governor, though never called herself this - she was always the Captain of the Knights. As the leader of a military order, Kavalyre accumulated sole power over the Knights and Chevry, always being the supreme commanders. This did lose the Knight's some of their popularity with the public, who wanted to be able to form an elder council similar to that of some of the beast folk tribes.
Kavalyre spent the rest of her life training her son Artebrand, expanding Chevry, defending it from monsters, and enacting fairer policies towards magic-talented and independents. Her popularity waned and waxed over the years, but when she died in 1050 in a battle against a frost wyrm, her legend was sealed.
Chevry mourned for a week and a half, and a statue of Kavalyre was raised in the town square.

Relationships

Kavalyre Winters

mother (Vital)

Towards Artebrand Wintersson

5

3

Frank

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Artebrand Wintersson

son (Vital)

Towards Kavalyre Winters

4

5

Honest

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Ethnicity

Veilan

Life

989 1050 61 years old

Spouses

Siblings

Other Affiliations

• The Argian Knights