At the age of eight, Alajos was brought to a monastary of holy warriors by a trade caravan. The caravan driver told the monks and knights who dwelled there that the young boy was found wondering the road, barely able to keep his feet. Dirty and half-starved, Alajos was accepted into the monastery, cared for, and nursed back to health.
In the months to come, young Alajos found a place for himself at the monastery. Though he was never provided a formal education, he was treated well and rewarded for hard work. He fetched water, cleaned, and helped prepare and serve meals, but his favorite task was tending the stables and caring for the knights’ mighty horses.
At the age of ten, Alajos’s skills with horses grew to an affinity. The stable’s upkeep became his prime responsibility. It was during this time that his life would take a leap forward. Rumors of banditry were spreading in the region. Because of these rumors, the knights left the monastery to vanquish the brigands. This left the monastery relatively unprotected, except for a few monks, priests, and older knights. The bandits’ ruse worked and they attacked looking to plunder. What the bandits did not expect though were stalwart defenders, trained, disciplined, and strong.
The bandits were unprepared as they attacked the monastery proper. The stables though, a side building away from the main fortification, was less defended. When the attack began, Alajos was alone tending to some older mares and cart horses. Alajos quickly sprang into action and locked the doors. Finding a longsword that he could barely wield, he stood outside the locked stables. The defeated bandits ran toward the stables, hoping to find horses for a quick escape. Alajos, the boy, stood there with the too heavy longsword grasped in his hand. With unwavering courage he stood his ground and disheartened the fleeing bandits. With all reason, if the bandits had time, Alajos would have been overcome and defeated. The young boy was protecting his horses though, and was prepared to die to save them. Since he had no idea reinforcements were coming, after the bandits were routed, Alajos was given the honor of becoming a squire.
His martial training was now underway. Taught by some of the finest swordsman, Alajos learned to wield a blade proficiently. Growing stronger by the day, the youth turned into a lean, muscular boy. His days were long: stable cleaning in the morning, followed by morning practice, followed by religious instruction and prayer, followed by evening practice. At the end of his day though, Alajos would spend some time back in the stables. His love for horses was absolute, and although he was becoming a man, at night the boy came out as he pretended that he was a great Knight on horseback ridding the land of evil.
It was on one of these nights, six years after his training began, that Alajos had a vision. Muir the Goddess of Valor appears and tells him that he is courageous and has earned the right of Paladinhood in her service. Muir wants him to travel to Bard’s Gate and find her Temple located there. Once reaching the destination, he will receive further guidance.
So Alajos sets out to follow his vision and destiny in the service of Muir …
