Arnold Vane

Bron in Heaton on the 8th Midfall, 574 5E, Arnold Vane knew a life of relative comfort with both his parents being skilled blacksmiths and armor crafters of some renown. An adventurous youth, his parents taught him the basics of swordplay, so that young Arnold might defend himself, should he ever get into trouble.

He seemed right on track to become an apprentice in his parents' shop when in 589 5E, his wanderlust brought him deep into the Heaton Vale, where he was ambushed by a small band of bandits. Kidnapped and held for ransom, Vane's situation seemed bleak, until a scouting party of the Erenian Military discovered the bandits' hideout and soundly defeated the criminals.

Arnold was saved, and was now obsessed with the idea of serving in the military. He enlisted the day he turned 16.

The army proved a natural fit for Vane. Starting his career being sent out on patrol from Heaton, he was soon stationed in various locations all over Erenen. His superiors took notice of the way Vane combined strict discipline with a fatherly demeanor, even with his peers, and squads under his command flourished.

He notably kept his cool during the Siege of Fort Seawatch in 595 5E, when a band of pirates attempted to capture the fortress while the main fleet was out on patrol. By crafting bed linen, tar, and crossbow bolts into improvised incendiary munitions, the small force stationed at the fort was able to hold off the pirates until backup arrived.

In 598 5E, he led a search party deep into the Northern Whisperwoods to defeat what turned out to be a ferocious cult of werewolves that had been preying on travelers. When their camp was surrounded at night, Vane managed to forge the silver pieces and -jewelry worn by his squad into silver pellets, which proved efficient at holding the predators at bay.

In 602 5E, when seven different Goblin clans united under Glub the Ugly, he led his forces deep into the Elenspine Woods, in what was the biggest military campaign on Erenian soil in more than a century. In the campaign's final days, he acted as bait to draw out the goblin chieftain, relying heavily on his squad of shieldbearers to keep him alive. The ploy worked and has been named the Vane Maneuver by the Army, where it is being taught to officers to this day.

Vane's biggest test came in 614 5E, during what is now known as the Battle of Shireston. Vane, now Marshal of the entire Royal Army,