Highvale Family/Gareth

Name	Cedric Highvale
Age	20
Class	Warrior
Honour	28
Prestige	16
Realm	Shadowdale
Title	Knight of Karbala
Items	Screaming Hammer of Battle

The Tale of Gareth Highvale

The Childhood of Gareth Highvale

Gareth Highvale, the youngest of the Highvale brothers, had always been a restless spirit. While Aric bore the weight of leadership and Cedric honed his skills in the forge, Gareth’s mind danced with dreams of adventure and the unknown. His quick wit and sharp intellect were matched only by his keen observation of the world around him. Gareth was never content with the quiet life on the family estate in Watto, nestled in the turbulent land of Beluaterra.

As a boy, Gareth would often wander the forests and hills surrounding the Highvale estate, his bright blue eyes always searching for the next discovery. He devoured every book he could find, his favorite tales being those of distant lands and heroic deeds. His older brothers admired his insatiable curiosity, even as they sometimes struggled to keep up with his boundless energy.

The call to adventure grew louder as Gareth matured. At twenty, he felt the undeniable pull to carve out his own path, far from the shadows of his esteemed brothers. The tales of the East Continent, with its rich history and complex politics, beckoned him. The realm of Shadowdale, known for its mysterious forests and powerful lords, seemed the perfect place for a young man seeking to make a name for himself.

Leaving for a New World

The decision to leave was not made lightly. Thaddeus and Elara, his parents, were supportive yet anxious about their youngest son's departure. Aric, now the lord of Western Watto, gave Gareth his blessing, recognizing the same drive for greatness that had once propelled him. Cedric, preparing for his own journey to Dwilight, shared a quiet moment with Gareth, offering advice and a finely crafted dagger as a parting gift.

Gareth's journey began with a long voyage across the treacherous seas. The ship he boarded, The Stormchaser, was captained by a wealthy merchant named Captain Theron Valen. The weeks at sea were grueling, the ship tossed by waves and battered by storms. Gareth, unused to the sea, did not take well to life aboard a ship. More time was spent next to a bucket than time enjoying the sights and wonders of the open ocean.

Arrival at Shadowdale

After what seemed an eternity, the city of Karbala appeared on the horizon. Gareth stood at the prow, the wind whipping through his wavy, dark brown hair, his heart pounding with anticipation. Karbala, the gem of Shadowdale, was a bustling port city, its docks teeming with activity. The scent of salt and spices filled the air, mingling with the cries of merchants and sailors.

As The Stormchaser docked, Gareth felt a thrill of excitement. He had left the familiar behind and stepped into a world of endless possibilities. His arrival in Karbala marked the beginning of a new chapter, one that he would write with his own hand.

Military History

Notable Captains

Captain Hagar (June 15, 2024 - present)

Artifacts Discovered

Screaming Hammer of Battle (July 5, 2024)

The ravens had returned to Shadowdale bearing tales of blood and iron, their wings heavy with the stench of battlefields lost to Caligus and Perdan. Ser Gareth Highvale, a young knight scarcely twenty namedays old, led his meager company of Emerald Blades on the long march back to the borders of their shadowed realm. Their numbers had been thinned in the recent skirmish at Dulbin, their armor battered and spirits worn. Yet, the fire of duty burned bright in Gareth’s eyes, a blue flame that mirrored the color of his sky they marched under. After a short stay in Krimml to recruit and refit, the Emerald Blades made for the roads again.

Their path led them through Braga, a woodland realm sworn to Shadowdale. Here, the air hung heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth, a welcome respite from the acrid smoke that clung to their cloaks. One fateful dusk, as the men made camp amidst the towering oaks, a cry rang out from the vanguard.

“By the gods, what have we here?” roared Captain Hagar, Gareth’s grizzled second.

Gareth hastened to the site of the commotion and his heart began pounding in his chest. There, amidst the tangle of roots and undergrowth, a strange sight met his eyes. A massive hammer, its head wrought in the shape of a screaming skull, protruded from a moss-covered boulder. The metal looked tarnished by age and the elements, yet a faint glint of silver shone through the rust, as if the weapon itself pulsed with a dormant power. Notable was the large ruby worked into the pommel.

Gareth knelt, his breath catching in his throat. He reached out a trembling hand and grasped the hammer’s haft. As his fingers closed around the worn leather, a jolt of energy surged through him, whispers sounded in his ears that spoke of ancient battles and forgotten heroes. The hammer seemed to hum in response, its skull-like head seeming to grin in wicked delight.

Captain Hagar, his face pale, stepped back. “A cursed thing, I wager,” he muttered, making the sign of the Shadow.

But Gareth was unmoved. He hefted the hammer, testing its weight. It felt as if it had been forged for his hand alone, a perfect extension of his will.

“Cursed or blessed, it matters not,” Gareth declared, his voice ringing with newfound confidence. “The gods have delivered this weapon into our hands, and by the Shadow, we shall wield it against our foes!”

A cheer erupted from the Emerald Blades, their spirits lifted by their young leader’s resolve. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the woods, Gareth raised the Screaming Hammer of Battle high above his head. Its skull-like visage seemed to leer at the darkening sky, a promise of vengeance and a testament to the enduring spirit of Shadowdale.

In that moment, Gareth knew that the tide of war had turned. The Screaming Hammer of Battle, a relic of a bygone age, had found its new champion. And with it, the fate of Shadowdale would be forged anew in the fires of conflict.

Battles Fought as a Knight of Karbala

These battles are presented in chronological order:

First Battle of Evora (June 14, 2024)

Second Battle of Evora (June 15, 2024)

Third Battle of Evora (June 15, 2024)

First Battle of Dulbin (June 23, 2024)

First Battle of Braga (June 26, 2024)

Second Battle of Dulbin (July 1, 2024)

Third Battle of Dulbin (July 2, 2024)

Fourth Battle of Dulbin (July 2, 2024)