Orion
Orion, also known as Orion of Suda, is a Paladin Defender of the 15th Cohort of the Order of the Sacred Ark.
He was first introduced to Kings of War in the novel 'Steps to Deliverance' and continues in the follow up novel, 'Faith Aligned' and 'Last Light'
About
One of three sons of the Lord of Suda, Orion initially grew up in the family castle overlooking Suda Bay on the south coast of Basilea. With the oldest of the brothers, Leoni, set to inherit the family title and estate, Orion was sent to the Order of the Sacred Ark to train as a paladin. As a squire, the thin and meek Orion failed to excel in any areas and by the age of sixteen had still failed to earn his spurs.
He was taken on as squire to Jahus, his paternal uncle, who took pity on the underconfident aspiring paladin. Whilst leading a small expedition to the Mountains of Tarkis to bring a rogue Legion captain in to face charges, Jahus was killed in combat in front of Orion. The event changed Orion's entire outlook on life, and the formerly quiet and unassuming boy diverted all of his efforts into becoming a strong, powerful and brutal fighter.
Some eleven years after losing his uncle, Orion was moved to the 15th Cohort and placed under the command of the newly promoted Lord Paladin Tancred of Effisius. Tancred led the paladin contingent of the detachment despatched by the Duma to bring the rogue Captain Dionne - the very man responsible for killing Orion's uncle - to justice.
In the weeks that followed, Tancred and Orion fought rebels in the Tarkis region until a greater threat was discovered - a planned Abyssal invasion of Basilea itself. At the Battle of Andro, the Basilean forces defeated the vanguard of the Abyssal invasion and prevented the main force from utilising a portal stone to mount the attack. Orion was one of a small band of warriors who faced the demonic Dionne in mortal combat, striking the final blow that killed the Abyssal warrior.
For his actions at the Battle of Andro, Orion was promoted to Paladin Defender. His respite was brief, with Tancred leading the 15th Cohort against a rebel uprising on Basilea's western border only weeks after returning from Tarkis
Orion was involved in a small but significant series of clashes across rural areas of western Basilea alongside Kateryn, a fellow Paladin Defender of the Order of the Sacred Ark, combating an undead uprising which was in turn manipulated by forces of the Abyss. After what culminated in the clash that would be known as the Battle of Peasants' Hill, Orion returned home to Suda to convalesce at his parents' estate.
Biography
Early Life
3838
Orion was born in 3838 in Suda and has two brothers, Leoni and Godfrey
Time as a Squire
3854
By the time Orion was 16 in 3854, he had joined the Order of the Sacred Ark and was assigned as squire for his uncle, Jahus. They were ordered with another Paladin, Antoni, to hunt down Captain Dionne who had disobeyed the orders from the Basilean Duma. They journeyed to the Mountains of Tarkis in search of him.
On the way to Dionne's encampment they were ambushed by raiders. As Antoni and Jahus were fighting off the attackers, a group of raiders came straight at Orion, however he was saved by an unknown woman, later discovered to be Aestelle, who appeared to be part of the Basilean Sisterhood in brutal fashion. The group continued towards the encampment after defeating the attackers and some brief observations on the new arrival.
They approached the encampment and managed to call out Dionne, who attempted to resolve things peacefully. Due to the tense situation, Dionne's lieutenant Lourne and Antoni drew swords then Antoni took Lourne's head clean off. The fight broke out and soon enough Orion was being charged at by a spearman. Antoni spotted this and intervened, killing Orion's attacker however this allowed one of Antoni's previous attackers to plung his sword into his back which emerged from his chest which killed him.
Enraged, Orion lunged at Antoni's attackers, beating them the best he could until he was pulled back and then stood back-to-back with Aestelle. Dionne then commanded for the fight to cease and revealed Dionne had defeated Jahus badly and bloody. Dionne allowed Orion to take his Uncle, Jahus, and he carried him down the mountain. Jahus soon died as he was taken down the mountain and Orion was left to mourn his Uncle by Aestelle who told Orion that he needed to grow up quickly. Orion would take this to heart and attemp to become the best paladin fighter in memory of his Uncle, Jahus.
Time as Paladin
Between 3654 and 3865
After earning the title of paladin, Orion was sent to the 9th Order of the Sacred Ark Cohort and saw action in many campaigns across Pannithor over the next decade, earning a reputation as a quick-tempered, barbaric thug who was barely tolerated within his Cohort for his temperament and constant fighting. This alienated him from others within the 9th Cohort.
Taking on every opportunity to fight and better himself as a warrior, Orion even bested Ragran the Mighty in single combat after the northern barbarian challenged him to fight over an argument.
3865
In 3865, Orion was reassigned from the 9th Order of the Sacred Ark Cohort to the 15th Order of the Sacred Ark Cohort and had earned a reputation of being brutal and savage paladin. High Paladin Augus, commander of the Order of the Sacred Ark, did this in order to give Orion a fresh start and assigned newly promoted Lord Paladin Tancred to take him as his deputy as they travel to the Mountains of Tarkis to hunt for Captain Dionne with the 32nd Legion (led by Dicator-Prefect Hugh of Athelle)
While in City of Goldern Horn awaiting the beginning of their expedition, Orion was taking on five squires with wooden training weapons. Orion easily defeated the squires and moved to greet Tancred and Augus who had arrived at the training grounds. Angus was summoned away by one of the Quartermasters due to an undisclosed urgent matter and Tancred, clearly intimidated by Orion's fighting ablity, questioned Orion on the purpose for defeating the squires in training. After being corrected by Tancred on how Orion should address him, Orion explained it was to prove that the squires were not ready for their final trials which were only days away. Tancred ordered for Orion to go get his equipment ready for the expedition north and Orion left towards the Barracks to do so.
The next morning, Orion (riding his unamed horse Star) left the City of Goldern Horn with the rest of the 15th Order of the Sacred Ark Cohort including Tancred, Xavier, Jeneveve, Reynaud, Tantus and squires Max and Kell, to begin the expedition north along with the 32nd Legion led by Captain Georgis with a leaving parade was put on for the exiting force. They begun to travel north and the rest of the force traveling with Dictator-Prefect Hugh of Athelle scheduled to meet up with them in a few days on their way to the Mountains of Tarkis.
After meeting up with Hugh of Athelle and a unit of crossbow mercenaries led by Constance, they continued to travel north. One night after the expedition was resting for the day, Orion was resting by a campfire while his squire Kell was sharping Orion's swords. After giving some harsh advice to Kell about his sharping technique, Orion opened a letter from his mother and began to read it, he thought back to his uncle Jahus and after some thoughts decided to save the rest of the letter for a later time. Deciding instead for evening prayers and to redo the efforts of sharping his weapons because of his squire Kell poor attempts.
Eventually the expedition came upon the town of Emalitos. Hugh ordered Tancred to take a couple fellows with him into the town and access how much room they had at the local inn. Tancred took Jeneveve and Orion into Emalitos and made their way into town. As they arrived in the town square of Emalitos where the town hall was located, the paladin's dismounted and began to secure their horse when suddenly three men in mail hauberks, equipped with swords exited the town hall. Unknown to the paladin trio, one of these men was Phellius who was part of Dionne's rebel group. Suddenly one of the men yelled "Go! Run!" and they quickly moved to the stables and bolt out on horseback. Tancred quickly remounted Desiree and began chase, with Jeneveve and Orion following close behind however wasnt able to catch up with Tancred. Jeneveve and Orion evenyually arrived after Tancred had captured Phellius and Orion offered to go back to town while Tancred and Jenevene brought the prisoner back. Puzzled Tancred agreed and to Orion's request to return to the town.
Time as Paladin Defender
3865
Gallery
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Orion of Suda -
Orion Riding -
Orion
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