FleebJuice — Roleplayer Guild

Name: Hugo Dederick, the Just

Appearance: 

Age: 37

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Rank: Knight-Lieutenant

Personality: Hugo is a man despised for his uncompromising disposition, but cherished for his dedication. When it’s time for the cavalry to charge, there are few men you would want by your side before Hugo. Wartime too, however, is where Hugo is met with the most vehement reprimanding. Hugo believes passionately in the adage of victory at any cost, and that cost is usually estimated at the hefty price of human, elven, or dwarven life. Hugo does not tolerate cowardice, and would sooner see a man pull the fletching from his chest and return to battle than retreat back to the line.

History: Hugo was not born of a particularly established family. Hugo’s father was a knight, it was true, but Viktor Dederick was known mostly for his accomplishments at the drinking taverns than on the battlefield. Hugo didn’t resent his father, however; Viktor was a man tortured by his shortcomings, and who wished nothing but the best for his only son. For this reason, Viktor employed for Hugo a trainer in the arts of war and single combat as soon as Hugo was able to lift a sword. Hugo took quickly to the training, particularly in the craft of sword fighting. Hugo trained with other boys of his age, who often felt the need to remind him of his father’s failures. The heckling would not have bothered Hugo so much, if he had not begun to see the truth behind it. The boys with whom he trained--sons of esteemed households whose fathers were either nobles or decorated knights—taught Hugo the value of a family name. The Dederick name was latrine water in these people’s mouths, and that truly irked Hugo.

One night, Viktor returned home in a particularly drunk stupor. Hugo, nearly 16 years of age and in far better shape than his portly father, pressed Viktor against a wall and brought his mouth to his ear. Viktor was no longer allowed a public life; if need be, Hugo would purchase alcohol for the poor drunkard, but he was never allowed to leave their home. He would live and die in that place, and if ever he was caught outside the home’s walls, it would be his life. Viktor had never known Hugo to be so insolent, his alcoholism had shaded his eyes from what his son had become. In a rage, Viktor threw himself at Hugo, but the boy was far too quick. Hugo beat his father within inches of his life, and drew away only when his knuckles had started to bleed. 

Viktor lived out the rest of his life in that small hovel, while Hugo went on to become one of the most skilled disciples his teachers had ever seen. As such, training came at no cost to Hugo, and he no longer had to rely on the dwindling funds of his drunkard father. At age 20, Hugo sought greener pastures, and took up employment as the protector of a small-time lordling. The lord, Master Farling, was an old man bothered only with collecting the taxes from those he lorded over. Hugo’s main task under his employment was collecting those taxes, whether monetary or otherwise. Hugo was not well liked by the smallfolk, they often felt he was too demanding of them, but no one could deny that he got the job done. After a time, Hugo began to notice a discrete insolence among Master Farling’s underlings. Far too many of them were either not giving enough or flat out refusing to pay tribute. To those who refused, Hugo paid back in kind, but he could not regulate all of Farling’s holdings on his own. The smallfolk had begun taking advantage of the old man, and Hugo began to pick up on the stench of rebellion. Even some of Farling’s own tax collectors and personal protectors had begun to scheme of uprising. Hugo approached Farling on the matter, but the old man was not convinced, so Hugo took matters into his own hands. Gathering those still loyal to the Farling household, Hugo organized a purge of the Farling manor. Heading the investigation and the trials, Hugo made countless arrests, bringing them before Master Farling himself so that he could be convinced of their insolence. Those convicted were promptly executed, and Hugo was eventually able to pinpoint a ring leader, one of Farling’s smallfolk. The rebellion was quick to respond to Hugo’s investigation, gathering their forces and enacting a siege on the Farling manor. With his own small force of loyalists, Hugo led the charge that would eventually break the siege. It was his first taste of battle, and Hugo performed brilliantly, cutting down the rebellion leader in single combat.

The childless Master Farling died shortly thereafter, gifting Hugo the Farling manor and all its holdings in his will. Hugo took his role as Lord very seriously, adopting the eagle as his personal sigil. As Lord, Hugo maintained a force of highly trained soldiers and knights, often leading expeditions into the far wildernesses to exact justice against crime syndicates and organized bandit groups. Hugo Dederick’s name began to reach the furthest reaches of the land, striking fear into the hearts of ne’er-do-wells and other criminals alike. Eventually, Hugo was approached at his manor by a member of the Knights of the Dawn Covenant, requesting that he give his blade to the service of a higher good. A man often moved by stories of fate, Hugo saw this as a purpose even greater than himself. Handing off his manor to one of his own landed knights, Hugo joined the Covenant, rising to the rank of Knight-Lieutenant despite his headstrong attitude and unprincipled tactics. He was simply too effective not to hold a position of leadership.

Weapons: A broadsword, dagger, and lance (when on horseback).
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