Naegel Wainwright spent most of his
early years in Ket, but not exactly living as part of that
society. While the
dastardly son of a Baron of Ket was out hunting for sport and fun
in neighboring Bissel, he happened upon a small community of
peasants and woodsmen. He
took great sport in riding into the village and slaughtering
anybody within sword's reach.
But then he came upon a vision of beauty, name Corilia, and
claimed her as his own, taking her back to his manor in Ket where
he ravaged her repeatedly for years.
It came as little surprise that
Corilia bore the illegitamate child of the Baron's son (Jeslarm)
but the child was never recognized by his father.
Instead, the child was put to work as a slave as soon as he
was old enough to walk and use simple tools.
He spent his childhood under his father's thumb, doing his
bidding and being his whipping boy.
He only knew his name and his maternal family background
and anything of the outside world because his mother taught him.
She especially taught him about the gods to give him hope
that one day justice would be done and he might live a normal
life.
Meanwhile, Naegel's days were consumed
with humiliating and tedious manual labor.
He learned quickly to ascertain his master's moods and talk
his way out of situation when he could.
But in the end it was just a means of survival until one
day justice did indeed arrive at Jeslarm's door.
They came in the form of Elvish heroes from the Perrenlands,
who liberated the slaves and took them back to their homeland
where they might have a chance of living a far better life.
In truth, Naegel was not very well suited to 'normal life'
but he idolized the heroes who had set him free.
He grew fascinated by their warrior spirit and their
continuing fight for the freedom and welfare of others.
And so, Naegel decided that he would
become like them and joined a military order to learn how to
fight. His unselfish
nature quickly put his in high regard amongst his peers and he
became a natural first sergeant, not because he was a fantastic
spearman - although his natural strength served him well.
Naegel was always willing to aid other, dismiss his own
needs in favor of someone elses, and tend to the sick and wounded.
His actions caught the attention of a priesthood of Kord,
who sometimes hired military units like his.
Naegel was easy to recruit because his heart already spoke
much of what Kord stood for and because of his mother's religious
schooling. |