scholarship of erenth

Guerren Decio

The son of Provincial sea captain, Guerren Decio first practiced his swordsmanship on the rolling deck of his father's trader in the narrows of the Dagger Sea. While in his youth he is said to have helped fend off Northruners bent on piracy, often engaging in pitched battles among the ships rigging.

The sailing life is one of intemperate approaches to drink and gaming. Guerren was not immune. On his 18th birthday, he was put ashore in Watersedge for gambling debts incurred. A stint in debtors prison saw him ransomed on his 22nd birthday. Having run afoul of the Vicegerent, he could not be licensed for captaincy, and he left the life at sea for the life of a caravan guardsman.

His travels eventually brought him to the lawlessness of Harmony and there he began his reputation for fighting in the style of the Fraternity -- with sword and axe.

At the Tournament of Darhollow he taught an exposition of saber and dagger, scoring blooms on 22 opponents. His skill at arms was unparalleled in his lifetime and he is famous for having dueled two men simultaneously while armed with two longswords. This was said to be over a game of chance.

Guerren lived for a time in Balduren as a horse breeder and gentleman about town. At the age of 40, he was brought before the Marksmarshall of Balduren for unpaid debts. In satisfaction of which, he was forced to give his right arm at the elbow. Humiliated and impoverished, Guerren made his way back to the Provinces and taught himself to fight left-handed.

Even handicapped, he had few true rivals. He won multiple tournaments using sword and shield, and the Saier Trophy without a sword, at all. Attendees agree that Guerren strapped a small shield on each arm, alternately using them for defense and for bludgeoning his opponents -- this odd combination the result of a sizable proposition bet made with another gentleman.

At the age of 50, he founded the school which bears his name in Old Dovaris.

Guerren is consistently named as one of the greatest swordsmen of all time.

Leorus Argens

Before he was exiled and before the ruin of the Vyrum Republic, Leorus was considered the perfect embodiment of the Cavalier ideal. He eschewed the struggles at the end of the 6th Age and became an itinerant swordsman for hire well into the rise of the kings of men.

He was tall even for a Vyrum, and possessed of uncanny balance which allowed him to recover almost effortlessly from lunges that many contemporaries would find unwise.

His duel against Prince Caladros on the Steps of Ald Veyr remains mandatory study in several surviving fencing traditions. Chroniclers claim that Leorus had struck Caladros four times before the prince realized he had even been wounded. His final stroke, an act of mercy to a dying man, left his blade buried to its hilt in the prince's abdomen. As Leorus' lunge had carried him past his opponent, he turned to catch the stouter man as he swooned, so he would not fall ungracefully to the ground in front of his bride and courtiers.

Leorus is consistently ranked in the top ten swordsmen of all time.

Elathir Valorun

Elathir Valorun, also known as Valorun the Dancer, was not nobly born, but earned more renown than dozens of kings born since his time. He was said to have fought in over 100 disputes of honor, and never once struck at an opponent before being attacked himself. An elf of the 6th Age, Elathir was no mere tourney swordsman. He ultimately gave his life at the Battle of the Dry Rift, but not before slaying many who opposed his lord.

Before the great war of that age, his reputation had already earned him several powerful rivals, almost all of whom spoke in terms of respect, if not admiration. However, he also suffered the enmity of dishonorable men, including the White Prince of Wosonia who hired assassins to end his life at Darrow Hall. He is said to have faced the three of them of them at once, and after giving them many opportunities to depart in peace, dispatched them from oldest to youngest, and without spilling his wine goblet.

The instructional tome which bears his name, "The Form of Valorun" was written by his apprentice, Talethir, who carried his sword out from the Dry Rift and wrote his treatise just into the dawn of the 7th Age. According to the Form, Valorun espoused a narrow stance, economy of movement and timing over strength. From him, comes the maxim, "He wins who strikes fast slowly."

Among modern swordsmen, Elathir is considered to be a grandmaster and in the top ten of those who have ever held a blade. Several schools bear his name, but few if any can claim direct lineage to the elf or his students.