Baudwin

Sir Baudwin Malo Bourgault (a.k.a. Holtsword)

Sir Baudwin was a Knight of the Round Table and served under both King Uther Pendragon and his son, Arthur Pendragon. 
Though scarcely mentioned in the legends of Camelot, Baudwin is more well-known amongst the Glaue and the Glenguard as "Baudwin Holtsword" - protector of innocents and explorer of the far reaches of Poraile. 
Most find his name unknowingly of the edge of copied maps, meekly marked as "Holtsword" for the thoroughly curious. His efforts to learn more about Beasts and many other magical mysteries gave rise to some of the most comprehensive cartography of his time period. Where the journey seemed too perilous or the dangers too vast to overcome, Baudwin would endure them all with a veiled grin and a sharp whistle for one of his many steeds.

Mental characteristics

Gender Identity

He used (he / him) pronouns, but preferred to remain anonymous once he retired from his position in the Round Table.

Employment

His early military career was spent under Uther Pendragon, who was King of Camelot and long friend of Merlin. When civil unrest ignited and resulted in the king's death, Uther's will named Baudwin along with Kay and Brastias to be guards of the young Arthur Pendragon. 
After the young king was crowned, Arthur appointed Baudwin as the High Constable for honouring his duty to the crown. This meant he was responsible for leading the royal armies and all military matters, whilst also being in charge of both civil and military jurisdiction. In the Arthurian Court, this position was a vital and honourable one, owing to his bravery.

Accomplishments & Achievements

His battle prowess and stamina were infamous in his day, even though only the Glenguard seem to remember his many feats nowadays. A main combatant in the civil war before Arthur's coronation and in the unification wars that came after, he certainly helped pave the way for the King of Camelot to finally rule a centralised nation. In the Battle for Carlion, he helped Arthur get back on a horse when he was knocked off. It was this, along with his extraordinary defence of the castle from King Lot's forces, that earned him great respect in the Round Table.
Though otherwise left unmentioned by the annals of legend, Sir Baudwin made quite an impression in more civil matters when he retired. Determined to set the beast crisis to rights and make the Faeholt a far less perilous option for travellers and traders, he sought originally to discover its depths and no further. Taking a company of Glenguard on this mission, he died having surveyed most of the Faeholt and therefore Alain - a feat not before achieved by human society. 
Liking these odds, he also travelled the other side of the Faeholt and into the little known eastern regions of Poraile. Without his expeditions, it is unlikely that a map would feature Gildegan or the Kingdom of Garka, which wasn't home to wraiths in his lifetime. In these regions where wizard scholars found their magic of little use and had to turn back, the endurance of Sir Baudwin was plain to see. Some maps of these regions - still unfinished - are copies of his original work.

Morality & Philosophy

The main reason people respected Sir Baudwin were his principles and how he stood stalwart by them, no matter if he found himself at a disadvantage. It's often remarked that it was lucky he didn't survive until the internal strife that led to the Battle of Camlann, else he would have never forgiven himself - if he was on the victor's side or not.  

The Three Oaths

Sir Baudwin made it his business to travel far and wide to find a solution to the Beast attacks plaguing Poraile. This led him not only to survey the Faeholt and Alain, but also into the eastern regions and the Southern Beastwilds. He saw it as his duty to protect innocents from the terrors he saw on a daily basis. Though unable to find a way to permanently put a stop to beasts, it was on these adventures that he swore a traveller's oath that he would honour from then on: 

1. Never deny anyone food or drink
2. Never fear death
3. Never be jealous of another

Though the Glenguard were formed before Baudwin swore this oath, they consider it part of their creed to this day.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

He was motivated to protect others who didn't share his talents for warfare or exploration. If he could uncover some secret that would get Poraile closer to prosperity, what mark it made on his wellbeing mattered little. He put himself last in many respects - most infamous of all were his attempts to finish his maps despite his failing health and advancing age. 
Though not enthused about protecting Arthur, he did so because he owed his father - Uther - a great deal. When the potential of their new king became ever clearer, he fought to keep the hope of Camelot alive just a little longer. In the end, his greatest wish was for a time when his skills would no longer be useful.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Sir Kay and Brasias served alongside him even in King Uther's reign. They continued to work together when they swore loyalty to Arthur Pendragon, but inevitably him and Sir Kay parted ways once Baudwin and Brasias retired. 
He has a web of foreign contacts, not to mention members of the Glenguard keeping an eye on the happenings in the Faeholt. Though Baudwin faded quietly from the otherwise chaotic legends of Camelot, those who personally met him preach his capability even in old age.

Religious Views

Though he thought it a useless feat to attempt fighting against the Apocalypse, being kind to others and living a pious life had its own secular benefits. Baudwin thought that religion's premise was to keep people in line the otherwise cowardly and wicked, which earned him few friends in Camelot.
He believed most fervently in the power of co-operation and the unbreakable spirit, which when honed could face evil with a hopeful smile. As a result, his loyalty to others and promises gained a sacred fervour unique to him alone. These idealistic views proved to spread well on his travels, especially amongst the fae and light elves he met. 
It should be noted, however, that after insulting the Divine Prophet of Oksal by expressing these views he had to steal a horse else to escape law enforcement. The bounty for his head remains for symbolic reasons.

Hobbies & Pets

"His forever blighted groom, John of Farrow, had a new horse to wash by every few months. If he were unlucky, a herd of horses would make themselves known and Baudwin would expect any groom or squire to remember the names of every one."

— Giles of Bilbury, former squire of Sir Baudwin

Sir Baudwin was well-known for giving all his horses names, even if he was only borrowing them for a short while. The first horse he bought with his own money was called Jacques, after whom he named most of the horses that didn't have names already upon purchase.
Perhaps his most long-serving equine companion was a horse he rode in his eastern travels - a black, small stallion named "Iliad" in the hope he would live long enough to make the journey across the aether-drained wastelands. Funnily enough, it was his last ever horse.

Wealth & Financial state

He used most of the wealth gained from his position to found the Glenguard and keep it financed for at least 10 years after his death.

Alignment

Lawful Good

Species

Human

Ethnicity

Camelan

Honorary & Occupational Titles

High Constable of Camelot, Holtsword

Life

459 523 64 years old

Gender

male

Aligned Organization

Knights of the Round Table

Other Affiliations

• Camelot
• The Glenguard

Known Languages

He knew many languages, owing to how far he travelled through the years. People expect him to be literate, but he always had other people write for him. He was the most fluent with non-verbal languages.

Related Historical Events

• 487
  Sir Baudin establishes the Glenguard