The Knighted figure began to climb within the ranks, he bested Knights all over the realm to earn a spot in the Marian Retinue of Ser Varon – The bond of Marius and the Paramount was one of renown and respect, brothers in youth, brothers in arms. His life in the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska was one of desire by many, a landed Knight with dextrous aptitudes in combat; unmatched by his peers and comrades at the time. He fought bravely, he fought willingly, he fought the enemies of his Kingdom, he was the bridge between alliances.
Then it all went dark. For men desire more, men have their own ideals and they will defend them to the last – Was it the pact Marius signed with the Reivers? Was it the Owynist menace joining Joseph Marna? Or was it the Fennic Cavaliers; reasons that drove “the Loyal” to become what Haense knew as “the Traitor”? Only one thing was for certain. The man believed in something right under his gaze, he felt betrayed by those decisions, he felt stabbed my Marius, a brother plunging a blade into his chest, a blade that The Grand Knight took and wielded against those who opposed him. He fought. He bled. He lost. He won. The tales of valiant grandeur that once filled the corridors of the Prikaz now were instead tales of an errant Knight whose only purpose was to cause pain, hatred towards the Highlander, hatred towards the Hanseti.
Rodrik fought bravely, Rodrik fought valiantly, Rodrik acted willingly.
For in his eyes he was right, but the memories haunted him ever since, Nikolaus by his side, Sarah with his children, Otto and the army, Lotte in the clinic, Erik... being Erik.
If only time could be returned, perhaps he would’ve acted differently.
A ship in the horizon, its flags of vibrant red, a dragon atop the black, wings extended like a web. The traitor was seen next. “It’s been a while.” he’d state after docking into foreigner lands and riding towards Haense on a war-horse “Nikolaus...”
@Zanthuz