Life was kind to Kersten, his early days learning the ways of his father, and his father before him. A logger, along the Sellen River. Days spent out in the forests, learning to survive, making camps, travelling through the forests and fishing in rivers. It was a childhood and early adulthood, which passed happily and though they were never rich, they didn't go without the basics of life. That was until the day Kernsten and his brother Alferton returned from a logging experdition, to find their home and village burnt to the ground.
Bodies of the old and infirm lay dead and charred on the ground, heads beaten crushed underneath an assault of metal balled weapons. In those moments, the blackest of his life, the darkness of revenge and retribution became Kernsten's watchwords, the thoughts that ruled his life. The last words of a victim, written in the earth, then baked under the heat of the fires said, 'Chelxian Slavers'. Driven on, Kernsten and his brother tried their best to follow the tracks of the slavers and their captives. He managed to catch the slavers as they boarded the slaves onto a boat, he even saw his father herded below. As the boat pulled away, he ran and attacked the last remaining slavers still on land. In his fury he slaughted them without mercy, using his axe to full advantage. Although he killed the three, he himself was badly injured allowing the slavers boat to escape his retribution. However he picked up the flail's they used and swore that he would use their own weapons to bring down their own destruction. It was then a gray mist clouded his mind and his memories failed him, his wounds look their tol, his crimson red blood dtained the ground where he slumped.
His brother saved him, picked him up and gently nursed him and his own will sought to keep him alive. His brother took im to he secluded Abbey of Jehonact, now dedicated to the ways of Iomedae. The clerics and paladins that protected the abbey, took Kernsten in and did more than just heal his wounds, but bought solace and succor to his soul. The blackness of despair, the driving emotions of revenge and death, were cleansed and replaced with the tenants of Iomedae, valour, justice, freeedom and life. It was here, in his recovery that Kernsten gave his life to the service as a paladin of Iomedae. His brother, even taking the cloth and becoming a novice and acolyte in the Abbey.
It was some time later, the abbot bade Kernsten good luck and said his destiny lay in bring justice and freedom to the lands of Golarion. Leaving the Abbey, he began his new life, eventually joining the Pathfinders go to lands and bring civilisation and freedom to all people. Allowing justice to be the shining light, as Iomedae truths are protected oin this world by his true Paladins.
