Septimus Champion Lore
Sir Septimus is one of the wealthiest nobles in Kaerok. He is the Golden Knight, a friend to princes and paupers alike, the protector of the innocent, the upholder of the righteous, and the slayer of giants and monsters. He is the wielder of a holy broadsword of prodigious size and sharpness, gifted to him by no less a figure than a Lightbringer of Lumaya. Septimus makes all of these claims regularly. Most of his fellow knights and Banner Lords agree only with the first one – that Septimus is indeed one of the richest men in Kaerok.
If the knight himself is to be believed, he certainly did not start life that way. Born to a noble but impoverished family, Septimus inherited his father’s meager title and his old, battered suit of armor, neither of which were enough to live on, let alone bring the renown he craved. He embarked upon the life of a traveling hedge-knight, little more than a sellsword who wandered the lands on a nameless nag, lending his strength to those who could pay. He was at least blessed in one sense — he knew how to fight. He slowly accrued experience and reputation, which led to more work, and more money. Things really changed, however, when the terror known as Mudfoot the Big struck at the Free City of Delanos.
Whether Mudfoot was unleashed by the forces of the Gaellen Pact, or simply waded to the prosperous port on its own volition is unknown, but what is certain is that the bellowing monster would have devastated much of Delanos had not a raggedy knight wielding a great, shining sword ridden forth to oppose it. The battle was long and fierce, but by the end of it – at least as Septimus tells the story — Mudfoot lay slain, Septimus standing astride the creature’s slumped shoulders, his broadsword buried to the hilt in the cross-eyed brute’s skull. Rumors that the clumsy monster fell and injured itself before Septimus finished it off are, of course, just that – rumors.
The people of Delanos rejoiced, and lavished praise on their savior. Even more importantly as far as Septimus was concerned, they also lavished money on him. For the first time in his life, Septimus could afford to eat well, bathe semi-regularly, and purchase new armor and a fine, white charger. He put his wealth to work by hiring a small retinue of men-at-arms to accompany him as he set out once more across Anhelt. Naming his band the Giantslayers, he made a very public oath that he would ride to the aid of all those who found themselves beset by monstrous terrors.
That particular avenue of employment proved profitable, for slaying large beasts naturally drew a great deal of attention and, with it, reward. Septimus’ retinue grew, allowing him to concentrate on the money, rather than the fighting. His wealth increased, helped by the fact that he was sure to pay traveling troubadours to spread stories of his famous exploits. He soon funded and led other expeditions, vanquishing everything from huge lizards to the hulking Ogryn king, Stegorax. Eventually, he used his funds to purchase a castle and land in Kaerok, cementing his own title by marrying into another noble bloodline.
Septimus has worked hard to establish himself as a member of Kaerok’s gentry. His giant—hunting days are now reserved for when the Banner Lords are called together for campaigns, though it is said he still makes a great deal of money from his old retinue, who continue to hire out their services as monster killers under the command of Septimus’ old right-hand man, Davo Two-Eyes. Indeed, how much of Septimus’s wealth is truly legitimate remains a point of debate. None can deny that the once-destitute sellsword has come good though, at least financially-speaking.
When he rides to battle, Septimus makes a show of wearing gold-plated armor, the cost of which could probably feed every peasant in his fiefdom for the rest of their impoverished lives. He still wields the great broadsword which he first used to slay Mudfoot. There are strong claims that it is not a holy gift from a servant of Lumaya, as Septimus makes out, but a weapon forged by, and once belonging to, the chief blacksmith of Delanos, Mikael Strongstrike. According to Mikael, Septimus stole the blade in order to fight Mudfoot, and in the aftermath of his victory no one would listen to Mikael when he demanded its return. It seems the blacksmith has neither the funds to fight Septimus in the courts, nor the influence to recruit a band foolish enough to try to steal it back, for every mercenary in the west of Anhelt knows that if they cross Septimus, he has the wealth to ensure they are hunted to the ends of Teleria.