Ardamir's page

Ardamir is a filled out 5'10" 180lbs of pure nobility. He walks around with an air of confidence and a dash of humility which can be seen in his stormy blue eyes. His tan, rough skin lends credence to his long hours of training and his extensive travel. You can tell from the look on his face that he is a generally serious man, but a mug of ale after a good battle gets him going on a good tale or two of his heroic life. Still young and trying to find his place amongst the paladins of Iomedae, he sets out always to find new and sometimes dangerous challenges to conquer in the name of his beloved god.

If you could pin one word on the life and mission of Ardamir, that word would be justice. Since his childhood he was raised and trained in the light of and guidance of the 11 Acts of Iomedae. His father was a paladin of Iomedae and his father before him. In Ardamir's mind there was no other choice but to carry on the tradition.

Ardamir's father, now in retirement, always instilled in him the understanding of justice. The way he explained it was this "Son, we follow in the ways of Iomedae. This is not the only way. It is one of many, but it is the way we choose. Some other ways may seem strange to you, sometimes even "wrong," but it is not up to us to judge whose ways are right and whose ways are wrong. The only thing that we can judge is people's ability to live free. Equality is not always something that makes sense, because it has always been that Kings live richly and peasants live with less, but if a King rules his people wisely and does not persecute them but let's them live freely, he is just. If a man does work for another man and charges him a fair price, he is just. But the moment that one man takes advantage of another, the moment a ruler takes more than he needs from his people for greed alone, then he is no longer just. Justice may have many ways of being understood by the wise, son, but if you can use any sort of measuring stick to judge what is just and what is not, it is this: "You will know justice when you see it." If you stay true to your teaching and to the god which you serve, then this statement will always be true."

So with that understanding Ardamir has lived his life for the renown of his great god Iomedae and in the pursuit of justice over all things. In order to do this he has set himself on a personal quest to understand the meaning of his father's words himself, by going out into the world to "see" justice and injustice alike. He passes no town, no tavern or inn without going in and quietly listening to the people and hearing of their lords, their kings, and their tradesmen, asking a few questions sometimes about their feelings and their sense of freedom, how they feel they are treated and understood by those over them and around them. When it seems right to him, he acts. Dispatching monsters and bandits and challenging lords and nobles alike, Ardamir pursues justice with the hope that Iomedae would show favor upon him, bless his mission and give peace to the people he meets.

With Ardamir he carries a special symbol of his family, passed down from paladin to paladin, a magical wand to help in the fight against evil. Before Ardamir embarked on his quest, his father pulled a dusty box out from under his bed, telling him, ”There will be times when the evil seems so great that no weapon formed by mortal men will ever be able to defeat it. In those desperate times, when all else fails, let this be your guide.” From the dusty box he pulled a simple yet beautiful wand, made from what appeared to be an ashen oak, smoothed out with an inscription on one side in the celestial language जादू हथियार डाली. ”When your weapons seem to fail against a greater evil, use this wand to bless your weapons. Wave it in the eternal symbol of the infinite and chant these words, जादू हथियार डाली, and you will be able to smite any foe that crosses your path.” Ardamir, taking the wand, practiced the motions, which looked something like this ∞, and almost started the chant before his father stopped him. ”SON!” he exclaimed, ”You may practice the action and words apart, but never together, unless you mean to use your power. The power in this wand is great, but limited, you must only use it when all else fails.” Feeling a little sheepish, Ardamir remembered this lesson well, and practiced the use of the wand and the enchanted celestial words vigorously, readying himself for the time which may give him cause to use them.

It was on these travels that Ardamir happened upon the Dragons Draught, a place of which he had heard of long before he arrived. Knowing that this particular inn had a reputation for shady characters and underhand dealings, he felt as if place might help him to further understand a world that is considered unjust. His hand quickly going to the hilt of his Greatsword at the first glance he took of the animated decoration, he just as quickly withdrew it at the realization of what they were. Taking his usual position in any given tavern, back to the furthest corner with a view of the door but an ear close enough to the staff and regulars to catch the news, he orders a draught of ale and waits in silence to hear whatever this place might tell him.