Cosaint, Bairdéir Shuileamhain

Human (Armengarian)

In a community which lives for war, what place is there for a pacifist? When a person's worth is measured by their warrior's prowess, what use is there for one who cannot condone the futility of killing? When even healers carry the tools of slaughter into battle with them, what is left for those who cannot bring a warriors code of honour into their heart. There is shame for their family. There is isolation from their peers. And there is one chance to make it right.

Deep in the bowels of Armengar is a school for those who just cannot fit in. A school where swordsmanship is thought not as a means to an end, but for the beauty of the art-form itself. It is a place where those who cannot abide bloodshed may learn to abstract the skills from the act itself. A place where the very rare student who graces the halls takes solemn vows to blunt their own eventual betrayal of the beliefs they hold so dear.

Such a student is Cosaint, who refused to take part even in the practice fights which are a part of every Armengarians life from the age of five. A stain on his families name, he has dropped it so as not to bring any further shame upon them. For years he trained in anonymity knowing that one day he would have to take his place in the endless war that raged outside the walls of Armengar, and in that learnt to remove his feelings from battle - revelling only in the pure form of swordplay. As the time came to join the larger community, he settled on a vow to keep himself focussed. He would protect the healers, in the hope that some good might come of his participation. True, those who are healed will throw themselves back into battle and so commit more slaughter, but for now it is a lie which Cosaint can live with.

Yet while his vows might allow him to participate in the ubiquoitous warfare, they could do nothing to help Cosaint deal with the feeling of being an outcast among his own people. Rather than dealing with the look of betrayal and loathing in people's eyes he anticipated when they discovered who and what he was, Cosaint took to wearing outlandish dress bequeathed to him by his teacher as a public sign of his shame, and as a sign of his inner pride. Let all who see him know that he does not belong. In this at least he will be a warrior and face the barbs of their contempt.

His initial start in Armengarian society was rough, as the man he was initially assigned to protect rejected his services. What followed were a few years of quiet, where Cosaint didn't talk much to anyone, but silently did his duty. In spite of this, it appeared that Chareos Suileamhain saw some potential in him, and eventually he was assigned to train and lead the healer guard units.

The end of the Caleb wars were a revelation for Cosaint as gradually he came to recognise that there were others who shared at least some of his views, and he accepted the friendship of a few. At the Gathering of Nations 1102 he became one of the first to leave the military structure of Armengar and it seemed that happier times were on their way

That Winter brought a double blow. Firstly, Emperor Joshrum invaded Armengar, plunging the society back into war. Secondly, Chareos Suileamhain was killed by the Voor only hours after the two of them had cut a deal which had been in the making for months. On his return for Armengar, Cosaint formed a new unit to honour the fallen High Protector, the Order of Suileamhain.

Having thought to have made his peace with the shade of Chareos, it came as a shock to have him turn up - his mind still warring with the Voor inside him - on Tamerus. Having to be the one to kill him is a duty that he is still having trouble reconciling...

Stats

Small Weapon Use [0]
One handed Weapon Use [1]
Pole Weapon Use [4]
Light Armour Use [2]
Body Development [6]
Ambidexterity [2]
Literacy [1]
Bind Wounds [1]
Numeracy [0]