Alexander Taborer

[Alexander]

I have been told by the people here that it would do me well to explain my
life. I am not one to talk about my past. To me, it is nothing but that.
The past. A life that I have lived so far. A simple life. However, if this
is what the people of this place, this Mittelmarch, believe I should do,
then I will honor their request.

My name is Alexander Taborer. I am a simple man. As my name suggests,
I am the son of a musician. A court bard who performed for the lord of a
small town to the far west of Mittelmarch. My mother died during the birth of
my younger brother, Jonathon. A common death at the time, but one that hurt
our family no less. My father raised us himself, but I could see the strain
it put on him to try and keep two boys in line while continuing his duties
with the lord.

It was almost a blessing when my father found a knight from the far west,
Dragonspire as you know it, to take me as a servant. I had no hand
for music and I hoped to be better with a sword. My father sent me off with
no real farewell or celebration. We traveled for several weeks and my hopes
of learning the sword were dashed. I spent more time pouring tankards of
wine than with a weapon. It wasn't for several years that I was able to
be formaly trained.

With the constant arrival of bandits and highwaymen that plagued the lesser
civilized lands to the far west, every able hand was needed for protection.
I was given trainning in sword and shield. My teacher was a knight named
Sir Hector. A knight of distinction. He didn't just speak to me about
proper stance and how to swing a blade, but also of honor and respect. These
words were forged and implanted into my mind. I found them to be the truest
words that I have ever heard spoken. It was these words that kept me warm
during cold knights and kept me sharp during battle. Even as Sir Hector fell
in battle a year and ten days after I met him, his words stuck with me for
the remainder of my life.

I lived in that realm for several years. I had companions. I developed
dreams and desires of being knighted so that I may serve my land even
moreso. I believed with time and hard work, that I might accomplish what
I wished for. It was a good time, but it was all for naught.

I was betrayed.

More than a year ago, I had helped my companions form a new unit so that we
might train together: The Order of the Sapphire Tree. We had planned to be a
formidable team, one that would go to tournament and make a name for
ourselves. I had helped in the trainning of new recruits, teaching them
what little I knew of dueling. It was during this time that I was attacked
by some of my own. An ambush organized by a older man. To this day, I do
not know why I was attacked, but it was a brutal assault that left me
wounded and weak. I was not killed, but I was told that this was only the
beginning of such assaults as long as I remained in Dragonspire.

I have been taught that a man of honor should never let a blow go
unanswered. That he should respond with strength unseen. However, it was
at that time that I knew that if I were to stay with such little to my name,
I would die. So, with nothing more than the clothes on my back, I made to
return to the east in hopes that I would find something more for me there.
It took me a year and a half of hard travel, but I found myself in
Mittelmarch. The people here seem to be good folk. I intend to stay here for
as long as the times and the people let me.

My name is Alexander Taborer. I am a simple man. I have much to learn and
much to accomplish. I am a man of honor above all else. When I am cold,
my honor makes me warm. When I am weak, my honor makes me strong. It is my
shield, my sword, my banner. If you will have my back, I will have yours.
I will stand beside you no matter what you may face. No matter how many
times I must pick myself back up from defeat, I will stand. And I will
fight.