Post by Karling on Jan 24, 2016 1:38:13 GMT -5
Character Name:
Elwin SiwardNationality: Angle
Religion: Celtic Christianity
Character Age:
26
Profession:
Soldier
Family Members:
Rendel Siward (Father - Alive)
Guthild Siward (Mother - Dead)
More to be announced, possibly
Physical Appearance:
Elwin is of average height, although for a man of his profession he seems scrawnier then most. He has a pair of dark brown eyes. His nose is slightly bent out of shape.
Personality:
Elwin is a loyal man, and believes strictly in justice as well as his faith. As he sees the two go hand in hand. He does reserve some pity on pagans, knowing they are but ignorant to the lord Jesus's love. He is determined in his duties, and will continue to try to complete whatever he sets out to do.
"Brief" History:
Elwin was born in the year 610 A.D. within a small village on the western edge of the Vale of York to Rendel and Guthild Siward. The family owned a fair plot of land, that was quite fertile for farming. At a young age, Elwin was taught of his families origin. He was a descendant of Siward, a warrior (a great one if you ask certain people) who was among the first Angles to arrive during the invasions of England. The warrior spirit within the Siwards had declined, however with the ownership of land. Not much in the way of swords and axes is needed when it was more profitable to have scythe and hoe. Elwin spent the majority of his young life working fields and herding livestock, although some times his father would teach him some basics of combat.
Elwin enjoyed a quiet and peaceful youth, sometimes visiting the old Roman city of York with his father to sell their goods at market. Life was good and peaceful under King Edwin's rule, the united kingdoms of Deira and Bernicia together as the Kingdom of Northumbria were prosperous for a time. When Elwin was seventeen, a Christian priest had come to their village, proclaiming that King Edwin had converted to Christianity, and that all who had faith in their liege should be baptized as well. Elwin was worried, his family had always been pagans, but when he brought his worries to his father, Rendel sat his son down, stating. "My boy, if there are too many gods for the king, there are too many for us." The next day the whole Siward family had been baptized, now Christian.
Two years later, the peaceful and prosperous nature of the Kingdom was in jeopardy. King Edwin's foster brother, Cadwallon ap Cadfan, had challenged Edwin's rule. Men were called to arms, and Rendel had decided to join his king in this time of need, leaving behind Elwin and his wife on their farm. Elwin prayed daily for his father's return, as well as the King's swift victory. His prayers were answered, Cadwallon had accepted King Edwin's authority, and his father returned back to their village, unharmed. Life returned to it's prosperous and peaceful nature. However tragedy struck the Siward's when Elwin's mother, Guthild, died of illness. Rendel was in a state of depression for a time, and Elwin witnessed his father's ups and downs when dealing with the loss of his beloved wife. Elwin would walk with his father to a local abbey, to pray for Guthild's safe journey to heaven. Soon, his father was better, and he and his son grew a close bond that they hadn't before.
Trouble was brewing however, King Penda of Mercia and Cadwallon had joined forces, and together attacked the Kingdom of Northumbria. King Edwin called for men to come and fight for him once more, and again Rendel left Elwin behind to look after their farmland. However, months had gone by with no word yet of anything, Elwin took part in a militia that was formed in his village, to hopefully defend their homes if the Mercians would ever come to it. One day in the midst of sparring, a herald came running to the village, waving his arms frantically. "THE KING! THE KING IS DEAD! HIS HEAD IS IN YORK!" Elwin felt his heart fall into his stomach. The king had failed, was his father still alive? He couldn't bear the thought, but with the other men in the village, he traveled to York. There Elwin witnessed King Edwin's head, and he wept.
A hand was on his shoulder, and to his surprise it was his father. The two embraced, and when walking solemnly back to their village he told of the tale. "People are already calling it the Battle of Hatfield.. it was a... bloody business. Our men were tired from days of marching, endlessly searching for the Mercian dogs, but when we did find them, it was a slaughter... the terrain was all wrong. We were cut down by tens, and when I saw the king fall...me and some others grabbed his body, and hid the forest of Sherwood. At least until the enemy was done looking... we brought him back. His body is buried elsewhere." It was then Elwin noticed that his father was wounded from battle, whilst Rendel slept that night, Elwin prayed for both him and the fallen king. Who could possibly protect them now?
The answer he wasn't looking for was Osric. Osric was the king's cousin, and proclaimed himself the King of Deira. But Osric was no true king. Once in power he reverted to his pagan ways, but the war was still raging, Northumbria now separated and ravished by Cadwallon. Osric called for men, and this time Elwin went in his father's stead. Osric's force was large, and soon they had besieged a fortified town that Cadwallon was within. King Osric was certain of an easy victory, and with this arrogance, his downfall. Cadwallon sallied forth from the town, and battle ensued. Elwin held in the loose formation the soldiers managed to form. He thrust his spear forward feeling it sink deep into a man's neck. He drew his seax once he had realized the formation had faltered. Warriors were upon him, all the more experienced than himself. A man with a pitchfork tried to stab it through his stomach, but Elwin evaded the attack, lunging forward and stabbing the man through his chest. Looking up from his kill, a large club had connected right with his nose, and he fell over, blood gushing down his face. However he managed to recollect himself, his assailant busy dealing with other warriors. Crawling over dead bodies, he noticed none other than King Osric, his throat slit. Elwin found it within himself to get up and run, and so he did.
Elwin returned to his village, his nose broken from the hit, but otherwise he was fine. He knew that soon Cadwallon would perhaps take his place in York as king of Deira, and so he and his father both prayed again for good fortune. This time God had answered favorably. Oswald, son of Æthelfrith, had returned from exile. He had reclaimed Bernicia, and in the opposite light of Osric, he was a devout Christian. Elwin felt it his divine right to help purge Cadwallon from the earth, and once again bid farewell to his father. Travelling north, he and other Christian men flocked to Oswald's banner. The army of Cadwallon had met Oswald's at Heavenfield. King Oswald erected his wooden cross, and knelt before it in prayer. Elwin was among the first to kneel with the King, praying for victory as well as vengeance for King Edwin. The might of the Lord had given Oswald the advantage, and soon, battle ensued.
Alongside the Roman wall, Elwin stood with both his Northumbrian kin, as well as Scots the young king had befriended during his time in exile. The forces of Cadwallon were greater in number, but Elwin took note that they would have to be funneled through a narrow passage near a stream. When the enemy arrived, Elwin stood firm, using a shield as well as his seax, he braced. The enemy charged, but were easily cut down by the Northumbrian forces. Once the enemy was called into retreat, Elwin heard his king. "Ride down Cadwallon's forces! Kill them all!" In a zealous rush, Elwin charged with the rest of the men, catching men in the stream. The water ran red, Elwin cut down men whilst their backs were turned, they didn't stand a chance. One warrior swung an axe at Elwin, but he blocked it with his shield. The man roared and swung again, lodging his axe into the shield, tearing it to pieces. Elwin dropped it and tried to slash at the man, but he dove forward, the two falling in the shallow water. Elwin felt the man's hands at his throat, and for a moment could feel life slipping away from him. Balling his hand into a fist, he struck his opponent in the side of the head. Elwin rolled on top of the man, and drowned him, his face but an inch away from the surface. The battle was over. Cadwallon was found dead, and now King Oswald ruled a united Northumbria.
Now Elwin sets forth from his small village again, heading back north. He realized that his life wasn't meant to be spent farming. Something at the battle of Heavenfield had changed him. It was the wall, the Roman wall. He felt as if he had to be there. And so he set out, praying with his father a final time before leaving. No matter what is to come for him up in the lands of Fortriu, he shall perform his duty loyally.
