Colborn Sergeant

"Murphy always said things would go wrong" - Colborn Sergeant, AoR 597, speaking about "Murphy's Law"
Colborn Sergeant was an Atmoran solider turned adventurer once within the confines of Barovia. Known as "Sarge" to his friends and allies, Colborn was the defacto leader of the Saviours of Barovia, the group responsible for ending Strahd Von Zarovich's reign over the valley. Most recently, Sarge returned to Greenfield and began a quiet life with his wife, tending to a small farm.

History

Life in Atmora

Born in AoR 565 to the Sergeant family, Colborn had lived most of his life in Greenfield, a small farming village within the rolling hills of the Venerath Plains. For most of his early years Colborn learned the basics of farming, a necessary skill crucial to surviving the tough Atmoran lifestyle. However as he grew older and entered his teenage years, Colborn began to train as a solider. It would be expected of Colborn to serve at least a few years within the Atmoran Military, a mandatory appointment of most young men in the country. Colborn found joy within this aspect of his life, as his great great grandfather had been a Atmoran war hero in generations past. Living up to the Sergeant name was all Colborn could hope for. In AoR 584, Colborn finally shipped out from Greenfield, marching towards Aramoor to begin his official military training.

Appointment to the 23rd Regiment "Bad Company"

After a sufficient amount of time within the military academy, Colborn was appointed to his first post as a solider. Colborn was stationed within the 23rd Regiment of Atmora's Infantry Division, a group known as "Bad Company". Typically, Bad Company was seen as an expendable group of soldiers, often being tasked with the most dangerous objectives that would otherwise be thought of as suicide missions. During the Battle of Blester Field, Colborn rallied the failing left flank of Atmora's infantry line, successfully pushing back against a large onslaught of Quaan forces. After that battle, Colborn was promoted to Commander of Bad Company, and earned the nickname "Sarge" from his brothers-in-arms. At some point after Blester Field, Sarge returned home to Greenfield for a time of military leave. It was then that he met a woman, who would quickly become his fiancée. However, Sarge returned to active duty before they could wed.
In AoR 596, Bad Company was tasked alongside several other regiments to push an offensive into Quaan territory, hopefully establishing a new foothold from which attacks could be launched. Almost immediately, the operation failed, with disastrous consequences. Hordes of Quaan Orc had been waiting for them, ambushing and defeating several Atmoran regiments. The survivors quickly retreated back across Atmoran lines. However, Bad Company had been the first into the fray, and was now cut-off from retreat. What followed was a grueling fight for survival, as Sarge attempted to keep most of his men alive over a week's period within Quaan territory. Eventually Sarge was able to lead his men back to safety through a mountain pass of The Teeth, though the 23rd Regiment had already suffered dearly.

Draft into The Inquisition

In the weeks that followed Sarge's return to Atmora, he was quietly drafted away from the 23rd Regiment. Instead he would now report to a unit with The Inquisition , a religious branch of the Atmoran military. It was due to Sarge's experience and time in the Quaan Empire that he was chosen for the new appointment. Unfortunately, Sarge's first mission in The Inquisition would fail, as his unit was sent to infiltrate and destroy a rumored cult of Dead Three worshippers. The unit was unsuccessful, letting the cult escape almost completley intact, and losing several members of the unit to dark magic.
Upon return to Krysset, Atmora's holy city, Sarge was appointed to a joint operation with the The Uhara Sanctum. The objective; hunt down and destroy a group of dark creatures, specifically thought to be werewolves. Sarge joined with Vindril, a Paladin of the Sanctum, though the rest of the hunting party was filled by adventurers and mercenaries. This group would later become the Saviours of Barovia, with Sarge serving as their leader.

Entering Barovia

Sarge and his allies quickly found themselves trapped in Barovia, the result of a plan hatched by the traitor Vindril and The Vistani. Sarge found himself in yet another inhospitable environment, surrounded by a group of people that began looking to him for leadership. Sarge led them to the nearby Barovia Village, where they met Ismark Kolyana and Ireena, siblings that quickly asked Sarge and the group for help. Each night the siblings' estate was overrun with dark creatures, the result of some cruel plot by the Master of Barovia; a Higher Vampire named Strahd Von Zarovich. Sarge agreed to help Ismark and began setting up defenses around the ruined mansion.
Night fell and the attacks began. Sarge and the group held out against several waves of dire wolves, ghouls and other undead. Nearing the end of the night, the group caught sight of a strange figure lurking in the shadows, a figure that Sarge correctly predicted as Strahd himself. Following the attack, Ismark explained that Strahd seemed to be after his sister; Ireena. He pleaded with the group to help in escorting her to Vallaki, a more secure settlement deeper in the Barovia valley. Sarge agreed to this, and set-off towards Vallaki with Ireena in tow.

Vallaki

Once in Vallaki, Sarge and the group managed to locate an infestation of vampire spawn in the local coffin maker's shop. They battled the beasts, managing to slay all of them without much trouble. Unfortunately the commotion drew the attention of the city guard, and because these actions were not sanctioned by the Baron, Sarge was arrested alongside Shamruuc as they rest of the group fled from sight. Sarge was taken to the Baron's estate for questioning, though the group had other ideas, specifically Tylus and Shamruuc, both of which began fighting back against the local militia. Sarge was able to escape during the confusion, although he was forced to kill multiple guards in the process. Now wanted, Sarge and the group headed back to the Blue Water Inn, and readied themselves to flee the city.
Before they could flee, Izek Strazni, the captain of the town guard arrived at the inn and challenged the group to fight. It was a bloody battle, but Sarge and the group succeeded in killing Izek, though much damage was caused to the inn as a result. Now with the remainder of the town guard posted at the Baron's mansion, the group felt free to wander the city uncontested. That same night, the Bones of Saint Andral went missing from the church, prompting Father Lucian Petrovich to ask Sarge and the group for help in protecting the church from evil creatures. Strahd himself soon arrived at the church, easily crossing the threshold of the building and killing Father Petrovich. He then engaged the group in combat, mostly taunting them as Argynvost fought Sarge and Tanka.
Later, Sarge led a rescue attempt for Urwin Martikov, the owner of the Blue Water Inn and member of the Keepers of the Feather. Urwin had been arrested by the self appointed new Baron of Vallaki; Fiona Wachter. Sarge fought his way to the basement of the old Vallakovich mansion, finding Urwin and his son held within. Unfortunately, Sarge was too late and found Urwin already dead. Sarge delivered Urwin's body back to his father, Davian Martikov at the The Wizard of Wines.

Acquisition of the Sunsword

The Saviours of Barovia continued to search for the weapons and relics to aid them in their struggle against Strahd. Eventually the search led high into the mountains above Barovia. Crossing over Tsolenka Pass, the party entered The Amber Temple, the possible resting place of the famed Sunsword. Upon entering the temple, Sarge and the group was met by a massive statue within the main temple chamber, it's face shrouded in a magical darkness. From within the face of this statue launched spells from an unknown assailant. Joining the fray were several flameskulls, furthering complicating the situation for Sarge and the group. Eventually the spellcaster inside the statue was dealt with; an arcanaloth that quietly escaped before the group could capture it. However, inside the face of the statue was the treasure the group had sought; The Sunsword of Sergei Von Zarovich. Sarge took up the Sunsword as his own weapon and began brandishing it's power against the foul creatures of Barovia.
Upon a later visit to Krezk, the Sunsword consciously pulled Sarge towards a small pool deep in the heart of the village. Emerging from the pond, ripping the Sunsword from Sarge's grasp, was the spirit of Sergei Von Zarovich himself. Sergei questioned Sarge's intentions with his ancient weapon, eventually blessing Sarge's acquisition of the Sunsword. There was only one thing Segei asked of Sarge in restitution; the safe rescue and return of his past bride Tatyana, whom had been kidnapped in the form of Ireena by Strahd. Sarge promised Sergei that he would do all in his power to reunite the two lovers once more.

The Wedding

As a final confrontation between the Saviours and Strahd loomed, the higher vampire invited the groups themselves, to his own wedding to Ireena. This was a taunt and attempt to embarrass Sarge and the rest of the group, who had failed to initially protect Ireena from Strahd, giving her up in a bid to save the population of Vallaki. The party accepted Strahd's invitation, traveling to Ravenloft with the intention to attend the wedding, but destroy Strahd once the time was right. Sarge himself carried the Sunsword to the castle, where he was able to successfully sneak the weapon past the front door. As the party awaited the start of the ceremony in Ravenloft's grand hall, Sarge was summoned to the bedroom of the bride, as Ireena herself had a request to make of him. Under the guise of joy and excitement, Ireena asked Sarge to serve as her escort to Strahd's side at the ceremony. Sarge accepted the appointment, knowing it would give him a good chance to strike at Strahd himself. Before he departed, Ireena managed to deliver a desperate plea to Sarge; she wished to be killed before ever being wed to Strahd. Sarge agreed to do everything in his power to halt the ceremony before this occurred.
The time of the wedding arrived, with the group taking their respective assigned seats in Ravenloft's cathedral. Sarge escorted Ireena to Strahd's side, and took his own place, standing only a few feet away from his target. The ceremony progressed quickly, halted only briefly by an appearance by The Abbot of Saint Markovia. As Strahd leaned in to kiss his bride, Tylus launched an arrow, signaling the beginning of combat. In this moment Sarge finally drew the Sunsword, itself blazing bright for a chance at Strahd's undead flesh. Sarge's attack struck true, causing immense damage to the vampire, though not enough to outright slay the beast. Strahd would eventually retreat, leaving Sarge and his allies to finish off the other servants of darkness present in the chapel.

Strahd's Defeat

Later, upon the Outlook of Castle Ravenloft, Sarge and the Saviours faced Strahd, Arygnvost and the newly turned Tylus Symshade in a final battle. The Sunsword flashed with fury as Sarge divided his attacks between Strahd and Tylus. With the power of the Sunsword combined with the strength of his allies, Sarge was finally able to strike down Strahd Von Zarovich, sending his remains to his coffin deep within Ravenloft. As Tylus also fell, Sarge stayed the hand of a furious Tanka, who wished for nothing more than to end the sun elf's life. Sarge decided to let Tylus leave with his life, wishing to believe that his former ally was merely charmed by Strahd's magic. Regardless, Sarge banished Tylus from his sight, stating that if ever he saw his face again, he would not hesitate to kill him.
Finally, in the catacombs of Ravenloft, Sarge himself plunged a wooden stake into the chest of Strahd, ending his reign over Barovia. Sarge and the remaining Saviours left Ravenloft, sending Tatyana (Ireena) back to Sergei at the Krezk pool. Upon seeing Tatyana once again, Sergei's spirit, along with Tatyana and the Sunsword, left Barovia as souls destined for Empyrean, an afterlife they would enjoy for eternity. It was so that Sarge had returned Sergei's ancient weapon, and he would now leave Barovia without it.

Return to Greenfield

The mists of Barovia began to clear, allowing Sarge and his allies the freedom to leave. Through the woods they traveled, eventually finding themselves deep within a valley of The Teeth. Together with Norgold, Sarge traveled back to Greenfield, hoping to find his fiancée still awaiting him. To his utter joy, she remained and welcomed Colborn Sergeant back with open arms. Sarge allowed Norgold to stay with him for a time, but eventually the old dwarf moved on, in part because of his discovery that Sarge had at one time served in The Inquisition, the very organization that had wiped out Norgold's family. Sarge began a new life, swearing to do whatever he could to remain at his homestead, running his family's small farm. Though in the back of his mind, Sarge knew that someday he would be called back into service, and that it was a day he would not look forward to. After all, the Sergeant family had always seemed to be cursed this way.

Basic Information

Race: Human, Male
Ethnicity: Atmoran
Occupation: Solider, Adventurer
Other Names/Titles: Sarge, Wielder of The Sunsword
Home: Greenfield, Atmora
Status: Alive

Dates

Born: AoR 565
Death: Not Available