The Lands of Himanor are known by foreigners as a place of great and fantastical chivalry.
The reality however, is more grim than that.
While the four Elvish Kingdoms seem to begrudgingly prosper in a state of political balance under the Holy Emperor, the country itself lays in poverty after the last war, enduring long falls and winters. Famine plagues the land like it had never done so before, and the young and able are occasionally drafted to the war at the northern borders.
But yes, there are knights in these lands. Bearing polished plate and the the finest of clothes, wielding blades of exquisite craftsmanship, with styles as diverse as the stars in the sky, and harnessing the magics of their houses' mages, these paladins, these spellblades wield the awesome powers of creations as a butcher his cleaver, chopping away at the enemies of their masters. No deed too dirty, no price too high.
It is in the land of these butchers, these Matarifes, were the man known as Orlandeu decided to find a blade to carve himself a name with. Born from a small state-owning family that had to pay off a great debt, he amassed copper little by little, and made of the old crippled and maimed veterans of his hometown his first teachers. He then went on to whore his skills out, to the cities of the great houses.
Taverns, traveling merchants, brothels, he sold his sword-arm to whomever could afford it, and, eventually, to wealthier and nobler employers. It was through these and through courting that he became retainer and servant to the youngest daughter of the House of the Bloody Rose. However, the Houses play a dangerous game, one that Orlandeu ended up losing.
Now, Orlandeu of the Wilted Rose flees to a world he has never seen before, with a bounty on his head. Carrying with him a simple, yet acceptable rapier, and bereft of his status and power as a Spellblade, only his skills and bravado will serve him now.