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On the Life and Death of the Saint of Huntshill (Godwein Stafyr)


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On the Life and Death of the Saint of Hunthills is the biographical retelling of the life of Godwein Stafyr, a Hansetian-born lord in the service of Prophet-Emperor Godfrey during the era of the First Empire of the 20s and 10s AES. Godwein was known both in life and postmortem as a pious and wholesome man, being canonized in the Canonist Church in the early 10 ES. The account was written by historian Berendon Hanethor, a distant kinsman to Saint Godwein.

 

(OOC: Full credit to @Emenzi who wrote all of this, posting it here for easier access. Link to his original thread below:

 

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ON THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE SAINT OF HUNTSHILL

AKA

GODWEIN STAFYR

 

WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF

BERENDON HANETHOR

 

PUBLISHED BY

HIEROMAR LUDOVAR THE ELDER, SSE

 

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CHAPTER I

or, the Harsh First Steps

 

Saint Godwein was born in a small isolated town called Rivacheg it is unclear if this town was located in Aegis or Asulon but most recollections suggest it would have been in Asulon. He was the son of Theor Stafyr and Ravenna Midrasa and the oldest child of three, having two younger siblings named Guiner and Marian.

 

It is said that Godwein could read and write at the age of five and that his grandfather Graveth saw that the boy was blessed by God with abilities most grown men even lacked. Thus he put it on himself to educate the child to the best of his abilities.

 

However very little is known about the early life of Saint Godwein, his grandfather acted much as his mentor and early in his life his mother would pass from an unknown disease with his father passing shortly after struck by grief. The first trials sent by the Creator.

 

Godwein was tasked to safeguard and raise his younger siblings however his grandfather and two uncles aided the bright young man to the best of their abilities. So the years passed and Godwein kept raising his siblings but his torments were not over there.

 

It appeared to be a regular day as Godwein was out hunting in the woods surrounding Rivacheg, there were no signs of any wildlife so he was forced deeper and deeper into the woods until he came across a white stag in the distance. But he could never get a clear shot with his bow. He kept following the deer for half a day until it had just vanished.

 

When Godwein returned by nightfall he found that the entire town had been burnt down by a large warband. Finding his younger siblings and remaining family all murdered. The houses set alight by the marauders and no one in the town could be seen alive. Godwein only alive due to the White Stag.

He travelled far and wide, having no place to call home he started his walk southbound towards the Kingdom of Renatus. But on his way a distant cousin managed to find him, delivering him the will of his grandfather. It is unclear what the will of Graveth said but he set upon his journey with renewed vigour, dedicating himself to God and the three lines of Stafyr. Hanethor, Galtor and Sybilla.

 

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CHAPTER II

or, Rebirth of Stafyr

 

Godwein’s journey took him to the Kingdom of Renatus where the king of Renatus, Godfrey needed men to expand his royal capitol. Godwein took employment under the king working diligently cutting down trees for the city’s expansion. Some men have said that Godwein worked for twenty days and twenty nights before feeling the need to rest but not even then he would sleep, allowing other men to have leave and rest in his place.

 

It was during these times that the first Orenian Empire was formed by Saint Godfrey after he had united all the fractured human kingdoms. Godwein however had no lust for power only a desire to serve God and Emperor. Thus he began to travel around Asulon, looking to attain knowledge.

 

The Saint traveled far and wide and every village, homestead and town that he traveled through would suddenly grow more crops than ever before and they would flourish due to the divinity of the presence brought with him by God.

 

His travels would eventually bring him to the caverns of Menocress. Godwein is assumed to have spent months down in these caves and not much is written about his time with the Mori’Quessir but it is assumed that he tried to bring enlightenment and piety to the race as well as he studied for higher knowledge.

 

In the caves of Menocress God would once more bestow him with a trial. After studying deep in the caverns a growth of fungi would appear on his body, beginning to grow to encompass more and more. It is said that Godwein then travelled far to St Everard’s church where he prayed for three days until the growth of fungi had stopped. Now covering half of his body.

 

Godwein then continued his travels, this time finding himself at the Adunian town of Ildon, ruled by Artorus Elendil. There he offered his services to the Lord and was offered a place at the court of Ildon and would later find himself granted the title Baron due to his strong ties with His Imperial Majesty and the diligent work he offered Lord Elendil.

 

As a Baron of the Adunian lord, Godwein would often travel between the court of Ildon and the court of Arethor. Finding himself strained between the ambitions of the Adunians and his loyalty to the Emperor. He had many friends within the Adunian clans but he knew that they strived for goals he could not follow.

 

In Ildon he would meet a young and beautiful woman of Heartlander descent. Alesira Teya. They quickly fell in love and married and on their wedding night she became pregnant. Godwein continued travelling between Arethor and Ildon, putting his duty above all and as the months grew shorter his wife gave birth to two baby boys. They named them Graveth and Theor.

 

As the years went on Godwein grew in age and his children aged with him. Graveth grew to be very handsome and an envy of many in Ildon. He had a beautiful singing voice and loved to play the lute and as he became older he would serve well as an excellent swordsman. Loving to meet people from around the land and very flirtatious with women.

 

Theor was very different. He was often quiet lost in his thoughts and would spend many hours within his study reading. When he wasn’t in his study he would often stay in the background of his gregarious brother and even though Theor shared many physical traits of Graveth women did not flock to him as they did to his brother. His one passion was to hunt, loving to take his bow and ride into the forests for days.

 

During their life in Huntshill Godwein arranged so that his grand niece Leana would begin to court the esteemed knight Ser Edmond Brunswick as well as his grand nephew Farley would court the Lady Kinra Stark.

 

Godwein cared deeply for his two sons but his duty came to the court of Oren, working relentlessly to further the strength of the empire and to increase its circle of influence and it wasn’t long until he was forced to choose sides.

 

The house of Tarus, Elendil and Norsem all rebelled together with their bannermen and vassals. They sealed the gates of Ildon and declared themselves free of the Empire. Godwein barricaded his manor together with his family as he was not going to betray the grace of God that had been bestowed upon the emperor.

 

It was not long until the large Imperial host led by White Roses and Teutons marched upon the gates of Ildon. Together with Dwarves and Orcs the Imperial troops breached the gates of the city and stormed towards the citadel. Graveth who were loyal to his friends wanted to fight against the empire but was ordered by Godwein to stand down.

 

The battle was harsh and brutal ending in a complete slaughter of the rebels with the death of Jon Norsem and Artorus Elendil his son Torrhen surrendered the town and bent the knee to the emperor. He was granted leniency of his father’s crimes and retained his titles

 

Godwein swore himself once more to the Lord of Elendil but his ties to the Adunians were all but a fragment of what they once were and his connection with the Imperial court grew due to his loyalty to Oren during the rebellion.

 

Shortly before the floods of Asulon a young man was brought into his attention, the son of his great cousin Brenton came to his hall and seeked a place to stay. Edmund Stafyr.

 

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CHAPTER III

or, Huntshill and Kalos

 

Godwein, his wife and children all travelled together over the sea after the flood of Asulon. Upon one of the human vessels they learned from Edmund that there were at least two more Stafyrs alive and perhaps even more then that.

 

As they arrived to the Isle of Elysium Godwein travelled forth into the land and marked out an area for settling. There once more the lord began to clear trees and a small homestead was constructed with the help of his sons and nephews. They raised a large banner on the top of the small keep and named it Huntshill.

 

In Huntshill, Godwein would take in Asulonian refugees and give them homes, food and coin so they would survive and prosper. The small hamlet was soon an important stop for any man or woman travelling around Elysium.

 

Huntshill prospered and the large banner called many distant Stafyrs such as Farley, Leana, Altes, Alistier and Emmanuel home to their own court. His son Graveth were being groomed for rule, Theor for stewardship his grand nephews for command and knighthood. However Godwein would once more suffer.

 

His wife had gotten ill on the journey towards Elysium and was rarely seen outside the doors of the small keep. There in bedrest she spent most of her time with nurses and clergymen who travelled far and wide. But not even the prayers of Godwein could save her, as she passed calmly in her sleep.

 

After the death of his wife Godwein would travel a lot between Huntshill and New Arethor drowning the pain in work. The emperor transferred Stafyrs vassalage to himself and shortly after Torrhen Elendil followed his father’s footsteps and rebelled against the Empire.

 

Godwein’s oldest son Graveth now fully of age had grown to be very handsome but also very lustful. He met with a dark elven woman who he passionately fell for and made pregnant. Godwein chastised his son and disinherited him for his sinful ways. Declaring Theor his heir.

 

Graveth left Huntshill and travelled to live with his heathen dark elf wife in Eyveror along with the Orenian rebels. Godwein returned to his work and focused more than ever to further the cause of God and righteousness through intense studies.

 

Not long after the Battle of New Arethor and the Sack of Eyveror, Graveth returned home to his family. Godwein had his son’s lover converted and baptized under the true faith and allowed her to stay within Huntshill as she carried her grandchild of Almannir blood.

 

The life in Huntshill continued and many that travelled through it would feel blessed by the presence of Saint Godwein. He would often take in beggars and allow them to stay and offer them work. Giving them purpose to life.

 

As they once more boarded the ships and travelled to the island of Kalos. Godwein made an agreement with the Lady Chrestienne of Valois. They were to together construct a manor upon one of the mountainsides overlooking the Orenian settlements. There they would live together in harmony.

 

And so it was that the friendship between Lady Chrestienne and Saint Godwein was formed. He would mentor her on matters of state and teach her the honourable and pious ways of his own. Even though it is rumored that Godwein would harbour romantic feelings for the Lady Valois they shared more of a bond between a father and his daughter.

 

The manor they constructed was a beauty to see and many other nobles of Oren came there to meet with the Lord of Stafyr and Lady of Valois. A pillar of strength as Almannir and Auvergne bannermen would patrol along the mountainside.

 

There was one incident where a frost witch tried to put a spell upon the heir Theor but Godwein sent his nephew Ser Edmund and Farley to chase her off. When Ser Edmund explained that he had been sent by Lord Godwein of Stafyr the unholy witch screeched loudly and vanished over the mountain.

 

But once again Godwein were to suffer trials by God. After Graveth’s lover had given birth to two bastard twins, Graveth and his family vanished from the manor and was never seen again. Not even giving word to his father where he was going. But not long after his second son Theor disappeared after a long hunting trip. Riding away from his retinue not to be found again. Godwein declared his grand nephew Edmund as his heir apparent.

 

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CHAPTER IV

or, the Rise of Schattenburg

 

As the cloud temple monks guided the mortal races to new world of Anthos, Godwein was granted by imperial grace a manor in the capital city of Abresi. In the new city the Stafyrs settled as Godwein worked dutily in the new world. Taking in refugees and aiding the poor as best as he could.

 

The emperor elevated Godwein’s status from Baron to Marquise as he was granted a March on the southern border of Oren. There he ordered the construction of Schattenburg and even though Godwein was now an older man he would himself carry the stones to help construct the first section of the later grand castle.

 

His vassalage was once more transferred, this time to the Duke of Silverblade but his loyalty remained to God and Emperor. He was elevated to the Imperial privy council and granted the title of Lord Privy Seal. Being the voice of the emperor.

 

He served his imperial majesty diligently and spent countless hours in the court of Abresi. Being beloved by nobles and commoners alike he gained the nickname “Honest Godwein” due to the fact that he never told a lie. Even how harsh the truth may have been it was his duty to speak such.

 

His council was much appreciated by the Prophet Emperor Godfrey and they would confide in one another. Godwein’s March of Schattenburg was bustling and the empire grew in size. Godwein even though he was older seemed to be strong and worked as diligent as ever. Never seeming to be tired.

 

After the Sack of Malinor Godwein worked hard to convert and teach Elven refugees the way of the faith and Oren making Schattenburg a melting pot for commerce and trade and supplied goods through the tunnel of the Shadow Mountains to Furnestock and Abresi.

 

After the death of the blessed Patrick Denims, Godwein was elevated to the status of Lord High Treasurer of Oren. Governing the finances of Oren and further increasing the Orenian treasury. Implementing many systems of noble taxation and justly compensating common folk for their work.

 

Shortly before the Blackmont - Teuton war Godwein was found dead in front of his throne. After examining his body it was concluded that his heart had failed him and he had succumbed to the stress that he had carried for so many years. God had risen him up to his immortal kingdom. Leaving many men and women all over Anthos in great sorrow.

 

Years after his death when his tomb was moved it was discovered that the fungus that had been upon him was still alive even without a host to feed on and his axe and shield which had been used throughout the years had never dulled. Thus the Church canonized Godwein as Saint Godwein of Huntshill and named him the Patron Saint of Honesty, Woodworkers, Fungi and Skin afflictions. By all accounts the greatest lord of Stafyr history and all of Almannir.

 

Saint Godwein is believed to have never once during his long life have said a lie.

 

Duty in Truth

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