Meredith Stannard
"But how can we allow them freedom when so many would use it to commit atrocities? They control minds, they become abominations, they blackened heaven itself."Meredith Stannard is a Knight-Commander in the Templar Order and serves as the highest ranking member of its Kirkwall chapter. A woman of unshakeable conviction, she has overseen the city's Circle with an increasingly iron grasp. Driven by personal tragedy, she views the suppression of mages as a moral necessity to quell the inherent evils of magic. Under her leadership, the Circle has become one of the most strictly regulated Circles in the world.
History
Early Life & Joining the Templars
Long before Meredith became a prominent Templar, she was a confused little orphan of Kirkwall. She was adopted into the Stannard family alongside another slightly older girl, Amelia. Meredith's sister was gentle and quiet. Easily frightened by crowds and loud noises, Amelia never strayed far from her mother's side. Meredith longed to see the world; Amelia only wished to be home, tending to her small garden. Amelia's fragile nature made the discovery that she was a mage all the more heartbreaking. The family faced the possibility of having to send their child to a Circle Tower full of strangers, but feared she'd crumple under the stress and rigid rules. The mere mention of all this caused a wild-eyed panic in her. Unwilling to see their daughter suffer, Meredith's parents decided to instead hide Amelia away. This plan worked, for a time, but the family had neither the knowledge nor skills to train an apostate. Strange things would occur when Amelia became stressed, so the parents began doing everything they could to keep her calm and placated. Glass would shatter when she was angry; fires erupted when she was afraid. Eventually, neighbors took notice and templars were called. Meredith frequently cites the memory of what came next as the catalyst for much of her worldview. In her account, Amelia began uncontrollably shaking as the crimson banner of the Order marched down the street one day. Nothing their mother said made any difference, and Amelia barricaded herself in a cupboard and wept. Then, all went silent. When the cupboard was opened, a twisted monstrosity with eyes dark as the Void climbed out. It ripped their mother apart, something Meredith will never forget. Meredith would've been next if not for the intervention of one templar, who himself was then mauled. With barely enough time to escape, Meredith huddled into an alleyway and shivered with fright behind the templar's shield. She was never found by the creature that was her sister, but seventy people were and all of them were massacred. After the fact, Meredith was found by a templar whom she begged to let her join the Order. The two grew to have a paternal bond.Rise to Prominence
A quick-learner, Meredith became an accomplished warrior and rose the Order's ranks. Her consistent displays of competence and charisma grew her much favor. Aided further by Kirkwall's lackluster templar commanders in recent history, Meredith secured a reputation for improving the administration and efficiency of Kirkwall's Circle — much to the benefit of templar and mage, alike. Her defining moment came when the city's viscount, Threnhold, began blocking naval traffic through the Waking Sea and charging large fees on Orlesian ships. Orlais wanted to declare war. As the number of templars in Kirkwall rivaled a small army, Viscount Threnhold grew nervous of their presence and used mercenaries to hang Kirkwall's Knight-Commander. In response, Divine Beatrix III issued a command for Knight-Captain Meredith to gather her closest allies and storm the viscount's keep. In accordance with her spiritual leader, Meredith dissuaded the city's guards from retaliating and had her people arrest Threnhold — stripping him of his lands and titles. To honor this service, Kirkwall's Revered Mother promoted her to Knight-Commander and she's exercised this role with an iron first. Eventually, a new viscount was installed at Meredith's strong suggestion.Leadership
Some have viewed the Knight-Commander's reign as draconian and cruel; others see it as a necessary evil for the city where blood magic is most common in all the world. What's undeniable is her enactment of strict policies and harsh penalties towards apostasy and attempts to flee Kirkwall's Circle. If nothing else, the number of tranquil that are seen walking amongst the Gallows is higher than any other time in recent memory. Unshakeable in her belief, Meredith views the very existence of mages as a threat to the general populace and thus sees intense vigilance over her charges as imperative. Despite this, she's rejected propositions for a "Tranquil Solution" — plans to turn all mages in Kirkwall tranquil.Relationships
Ethnicity
Church/Cult
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Templar Knight-Commander
Birthplace
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Gender
Woman
Aligned Organization
Comments