Ordo Sylvanus
When Strangers Meet -An Excerpt from Codex: Lothar

That afternoon we were quite busy at the tavern. We were out of ale, and seeing how Buntaro was far too inebriated to pick up ale, Mini Me asked me to pick some up from the abbey. I know it would look bad for a knight of the quest to purchase alcohol, but the shop was in need, and no one was available to help.    It was on my way back that I encountered a stranger chopping wood. He wore weather-beaten robes, but from seeing his movements and inherent strength I could tell that this was a man of battle. He seemed to try and hide his abilities in those humble robes. The bow strapped to his back looked like it had been crafted in haste, the string itself seemed worn, and it was not fashioned by a master bowyer.    "Hail, good citizen," I said. "I am Lothar."    "Hail, my lord, they call me Gilgamesh. Might I help you with something sir?"    "Well I was just noticing that your bow is quite worn. Would you like a bow crafted of superior quality?"    "Yes, that would be excellent!" he replied. I offered to take him to the tavern, where the strange pasty man would craft him a longbow. On our way, he decided he would help me carry the ale.    The tavern was very rowdy that afternoon. Buntaro, as usual, was making a fool of himself, and he and Mini Me were teaching my council Katy O’Toole some tricks mages were capable of when they were over-indulged. Gilgamesh thanked me for the bow, and said he would like to commission the pasty man to make bows for him, as he had not seen such quality.    About four nights later at the palace, I happened into this man again. Although he did not notice me, I watched him slay creatures of the woods with deadly accuracy. Surely, he lacked the pure graceful marksmanship of my brother and Genjuro, but it was his combat prowess, his wisdom which lead him triumphant over enemies he should not be able to conquer with pure skill alone. Aye, this man had seen his share of battle. It were almost as if he were ashamed of it though.    I invited him into our palace. There, I had my servant Hecubus craft him some more suitable clothing and leather armor. Then, I noticed something interesting when this man went to put on the armor.  Under his humble robes, on the arm of his tunic he wore the insignia of a royal guard! This man had served in the royal army, his badge was of the older style, but it was an officer's badge! From my memory, I reckon he was a lieutenant.    "Sir, you have been to kind to me. Let me offer to cook a meal for you and your wife, the princess. I have not much gold, this is all I can offer someone as wealthy as yourself." He said.    "Aye Gilgamesh, the princess and I would enjoy such a meal. But we would insist you join us and tell us your tale during dinner."    He cooked for us a fine meal, with ribs and foul. While the content of our questions were about his combat training and past, he deftly avoided answering anything about the royal army. He merely stated he was raised by a shepherd to live modest and humble, and to fight for a greater cause of good. I invited him to join our fellowship, as I would need knights of this man's caliber to join. He explained to me that he was out of training, and he would reconsider once he honed his skills to a higher level. It was when Bob and Genjuro offered to help train him, that he would take his place among my most loyal. His past, however, was never made clear.    It was when Gilgamesh accompanied me during one of my many campaigns against the mages of the fire caverns that he disclosed the information that would forever change not only me, but my fellowship of comrades.    We were ambushed by two archmages. We each went after one. My inherent resistance to magic protected me from my enemy, whom I cut down in short order. Gilgamesh was not so fortunate. His body was not used to the powerful magics of the mages. I regrouped to find him badly wounded, yet he managed to slay his enemy. He lay dying. Yea, through my faith I have been able to raise the dead with my bare hands, and such a miracle was needed now. As I healed him, he assured me that he was not afraid of death.    "Fear not my passing, noble knight," he gasped, "for I will know when it is my true time. The Gods have sent me to you, Sir Lothar, yet I am not sure why." What he explained to me next was shocking. You see, Gilgamesh was a legend of a lost civilization, a man so extraordinary he conquered death itself. However, in doing so, he has become a slave to the winds of battle and the Gods of War. This lifetime, he was sent to me and my men, as we would need him to defeat the evils that would rise against us, for which we would never be ready for.

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