Hlaford Paratus

Hlaford Paratus was an Etrandish Knight and the master of Stephánus Tavilrond.

Early Life
Hlaford Paratus was born on the 818.39529044271846, in the Kingdom of Etrand. He was born as the third son of a minor noble family, and without much of a prospect of inheriting land, he was sent to join the Knights of the Blood Red Light. Being a true child prodigy, he rose through the ranks rather quickly.

Teaching Stephánus
Promoted to the rank of Crusader in his mid-20s, Hlaford Paratus was expected to take on an apprentice - at the time when apprenticeless masters were expected to take on a pupil, he heard rumors of a child prodigy being raised by the Knights of the Blood Red Light, and he was intrigued. When he first laid eyes on Stephánus Tavilrond, he saw potential, but also a mysterious and uncertain origin. Stephanus had been born to unnamed homeless parents in the city of Grandfolk in the late 809 AEKE. No one knew anything about his parents, and they were never mentioned again. Hlaford wondered if this lack of a stable family might hinder the boy's potential, but he was quickly proven wrong. Hlaford recognized Stephanus's potential and saw in him a kindred spirit. As a child prodigy himself, Hlaford felt he was uniquely suited to guide Stephanus.

During their first missions together, Hlaford was impressed by Stephanus's effectiveness, but he was also concerned by the young knight's recklessness and indiscriminate actions. Stephanus's upbringing as a knight from infancy made him less hesitant than others to resort to drastic measures to solve problems. Hlaford has proven to be a good master, and Stephanus was an even better student, as the youngling knight was ready to take the Trials of the Knight at the tender age of 16.

Death
Stephanus being considered for promotion to the rank of Crusader at the age of 19 was an unusual honor. Other knights his age were still preparing for the Trials of the Knight to become a Paladin. However, the duo's happiness was short-lived, as he had a brutal encounter with some old enemies. The same necromancer he met when he was 15 years old, Ria Baeni, accompanied by a vampire Death Knight named Héli Calbae, appeared again. During the ensuing battle, Hlaford Paratums himself perished, but his apprentice Stephanus survived and emerged victorious, carrying the corpses of his deceased master and defeated enemies back to headquarters.

Following the battle, the council convened, and before Hlaford's funeral began, it was decided that Stephanus would be promoted to the rank of Crusader, while Hlaford was posthumously promoted to the rank of Master.

Ways of Darkness (FRPG)
Hlaford Paratus' first appearence was being a posthumous character in Stephánus Tavilrond's biography.