Difference between revisions of "Nocturnal Crusader (Defiant)"

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Nocturnal Crusader Character Details Origin Magic Archetype Tanker Primary Dark Armour Secondary Dual Blades Other Powers Classified. Security Level 50 Formal Name Sir Donald Buckholder Gender Male Supergroup The Fish Tank

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Only known portrait of Sir Donald the Nocturnal, without wearing helm, in existance

The Crusades in Leon were grim indeed. The Church and England were losing the battle in the south west and all the armies of England sent there could not penetrate the vast bastions of the Turkish Muslims. One such army leader was Sir Bernard Richardson (Earl of Glastonbury), the favourite of King William the 1st or, as he was better known, William the Conqueror. Sir Bernard was in such dire need of help, for fear of losing the Kings trust, that he turned to the only man he thought strong enough to turn the tide in their favour. The Earl of Wareham, Sir Donald Buckholder.

Sir Donald the Nocturnal (as he was known) was a man, and county, unto himself. So much so that even King William asked of him no taxes as any collector he sent there never returned.

Sir Donald’s prowess on the battlefields were second to none. Many times he was heard telling that he was the leader of armies, not of countries. This was, most probably, the only reason he never looked to usurping King William and taking the throne. He enjoyed pitting his wits against the greatest of enemies. For the thrill of the battle as well as the raping and pillaging.

Sir Bernard knew that Sir Donald was stationed at this time in his castle in Wareham as all ports at that time were far too busy for Sir Donald to ship out on another battle search. He sent a messenger (about the only people allowed into Wareham without fear of not returning) with a letter explaining the plight of his army in Leon. He promised Sir Donald in this letter, to remove all his troops from the area to allow Sir Donald the freedom of the land for him and his 1000 Nocturnals.

A week later, the messenger arrived back in Glastonbury with an answering letter. Sir Donald told Sir Bernard that he would leave that very night for Portsmouth and to have four ships at his disposal to leave immediately. The letter finished, however, with:

"I ask that my payment not be made to me in gold or jewels. I demand, in return for this service I provide you, that all the land and all that is on it in Dorchester be mine upon my return. As you are aware, I take with me no caravans and only ten horses upon my travels, hence we march on foot for Portsmouth, which I estimate to take me 6 days and 7 hours to reach the ships. If, when I arrive there, there are no parchments declaring the land be mine upon return, I will turn my 1000 men around and march upon Glastonbury to seize your land and all upon it under the banner of the Nocturnals.

Yours

Sir Donald Buckholder"

This certainly surprised Sir Bernard some what for such a thing to be demanded. He knew full well that Sir Donald would not go to battle for the love of his country and was prepared to go to the King to ask for the amount that Sir Donald may ask for, declaring that the money be for his troops. That way there would have been no need for King William to be aware of this arrangement, as it was common knowledge that The King saw Sir Donald as a traitor to the country, and many other things besides. But to be told that he either give Sir Donald this land, which was not even his own, or forfeit his own land and estates? Either way, the news would have to be told to The King that either Dorchester or Glastonbury was under the rule of one of his enemies. This was bad news indeed.

Sir Bernard left that very afternoon for Dorchester to see his cousin, the Earl of Dorchester, Sir James Richardson, to explain this unfortunate turn of events. It took Sir Bernard 6 hours on horseback to reach his cousin and, upon arriving there and knowing he had only 6 days in which to come to a solution, he demanded an immediate audiance with his Cousin, Sir James.

After explaining the situation to his cousin, Sir James was furious that Sir Bernard had made such a foolish mistake in asking for help from such a tyrant as Sir Donald. After calming down, however, he could see that the deed was done and could not be undone. He knew his cousin, Sir Bernard, was foolish and bull headed but did not want to see Glastonbury burned to the ground. He also knew that Sir Donald now had his sights set upon expanding his land and it would not be long before he marched upon Dorchester and took that also. The options were then that they either legally pass over all deeds for the land of Dorchester or, deny Sir Donald the land of Dorchester and prepare for battle when Sir Donald had the power of both Wareham AND Glastonbury. This aside, there was also the fact of losing favour with King William who would not look kindly upon civil war in the south of England when the Crusades were underway. All this and both Sir Bernard and himself would be turned out into the cold by The King for allowing such a matter to exculate to such a point in Leon, that a man, known to be his enemy, was asked for aid before The King knew anything about such matters.

Sir James bid Sir Bernard to stay the night at his castle and to give him some peace so as he could ponder over this prediciment.

The following morning, Sir Bernard awoke from a terrible dream, in which his castle back in Glastonbury had been laid seige to by hundreds of blackened demons. Each with the simble of the moon on its chest. Knowing this to be a dream did not douse his panicy breath however, as he knew that the dream was not that far from the truth if this problem with Sir Donald was not resolved in his favour. The only difference from his dream would be that the demons would be in human form with the simple of the moon on their chests and would be lead by someone far more lethal then the Devil himself.

After dressing, he made his way to the stables to attend his horse and then made his way t the dining hall for breakfast and hoping to further discuss the situation, hopefully, he thought, that would blew the troubling dreams from his head. He was therefor disappointed to find that he would be dining alone that morning. His fears worsened.

It was late afternoon by the time Sir James appeared infront of his cousin. He led him into his study and asked him to sit. Sir James gave Sir Bernard two envelopes, explaining that in the first, addressed to Sir Donald, was a letter signed and stamped in his name and coat of arms, proving it to be a genuine letter from himself. The other envelope was addressed to General Abbotts and Sir James exlained to Sir Bernard that he was to read it now and then sign and stamp his on signature and coat of arms to it. Sir Bernard opened the unsealed envelope addressed the General incharge of his own army in Leon. As he read further and further, his eyes became wider and wider.

Portrait of Sir Donald Buckholder in full armour

'Work in progress'