Forged in War - The Legend of Sir Alexander Tavron

The life of Sir Alexander Tavron was one spent in servitude to the people of Roseport. His legend was formed in the flames of war where he would fight against a monstrous horde, risking his life countless times in order to save those he had sworn to protect.

My legacy matters not if those that I am charged to protect aren't safe when I'm gone.

— Sir Alexander Tavron

Overview

History

Alexander was born near the end of the Time of Roses, back when Roseport was an independent state and not under the rule of Heldrin. He was born to the House of Tavron, a noble family of the highest order in Roseport. Though Alexander was born of high nobility and ran a likely chance of growing into a conceited selfish man he instead grew into an empathic man who cared deeply for his people.
As he entered his teenage years he would become the squire of Sir Clerebolg Baynton, and after years of guidance would become a Knight of Roseport in his early twenties. He would go on to have a long storied career as an adventuring knight and would conduct much personal business on the behalf of King Ingwood of Roseport.
The height of his career would come when he would lead the combined armies of Roseport and Heldrin into war against the armies of Dredarek. This would become known as The War of Dredarek, and is where Alexander Tavron would truly cement his place in history.

Death

Tavron's death would come unexpectedly only a few short months after the end of The War of Dredarek. While returning home after a meeting with the king, Tavron would enter his home and discover a foul beast devouring the bodies of his wife and daughter. The beast had survived and followed him home from the war, it had waited until Tavron dropped his guard to spring its devious plan for revenge.
Tavron would fly into a rage and engage the beast in a bloody encounter that would leave the beast slain and Tavron mortally wounded. By the time the guards arrived, Tavron would draw his last breath amongst the living while cradling his families remains. He would spend five days and four nights in the Royal Castle, his body being prepared for burial. He was interred in the Mausoleum of Heroes underneath Roseport. The citizens of Roseport would mourn deeply at Tavron and his families sudden death by leaving roses at the entrance to the Mausoleum.
This is the official story of his death, though not all is as it seems. The true details are known to only a few, and none other than the two guards witnessed his death. And now much of the truth has been lost to depths of time.

Legend

Tavron's true legend would be forged before his death, during The War of Dredarek. A war in which a horde of humanoid monsters and beasts led by the ferocious Half-Giant Ogre Dredarek, invaded the lands of Heldrin and Roseport. Tavron would eventually be given leadership over the combined armies of Roseport and Heldrin, and over the three years in which the war took place, he would lead them through countless battles against the seemingly endless assaults of their enemies.
Near the eve of the war's end, he stood, amongst a sea of clashing steel and blood, Tavron, clad in a crimson suit of armour, wielding his two-handed sword, the Sword of House Tavron, Glamillion. This night he would finally face off against the blood-soaked leader of the enemy forces, Dredarek. Bards still tell the tale of how they battled throughout the night, steel clashing, bones cracking, and blood spilling against the soiled dirt as they fought. The ferocious battle only ceasing when Tavron finally struck the final blow to Dredarek, running the monster through with Glamillion. With the Dredarek slain, the war finally came to an end.
Alexander Tavron charging headfirst into battle leading his army in his crimson armour would become one of the most well-recognized pieces of iconography in Roseport and Heldrin's histories. Many paintings depict Tavron in his crimson suit of armour, black helm, and two-handed sword Glamillion as he throws himself into battle against the oncoming horde of beasts, their leader Dredarek howling in rage leading his own forces.
Through his efforts during the war, trust and kinship were born between Roseport and Heldrin. Soon the two political entities would begin talks of joining forces permanently, with Roseport planning to join the growing nation of Heldrin as one of its new city-states. With Tavron's sacrifices during the war combined with his sudden death so soon after the war's end it only solidified the growing need for a stronger joint nation.
A few short years after Tavron's death the official decree was signed and the two nations officially joined, ending the Time of Roses and entering into the Era of Crowns.

Remembrance

During the month of Ild, celebrations and festivals are conducted throughout the country of Heldrin to remember Alexander Tavron's life and his victory in The War of Dredarek. The celebrations begin on the 13th of Ild, the official date of Tavron's death and end on the 18th, the date of his internment. The most opulent of these festivals occur in Sumner, the capital of Heldrin, though the most reverent festival occurs in Roseport, Tavron's hometown.
In Roseport the festival begins with prayers to the Gods Ildyr and Hadrian, the Gods of Justice and War respectively. These prayers ask the gods to continue to protect and look after the soul of Alexander Tavron as he once did for them during times of war and turmoil in life.
Afterwards, the bulk of the festival throughout the week is spent in celebration of his life, with dozens of vendors, street performers, and citizens filling the streets of Roseport. Citizens give gifts, play and sing, and compete in contests of martial skill.
The festival ends when all participants gather in the center of town around the cities former royal castle and speak personal prayers to Tavron by candlelight, in the hopes he will hear them and be comforted by their words and continue to look over them in the afterlife.

Red Guard by Florian Dreyer

Date of Setting

8 ToR to 5 ToR

Related Locations

• Roseport

Related People

• Sir Alexander Tavron

Related Organizations

• Heldrin

More about Alexander Tavron

Timeline of the Life of Alexander Tavron

Old Knight Sword by Augustin Cagnat

Glamillion - The Sword of House Tavron