Han of Normandy

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Han was born in a small hamlet near the northern shores of Normandy just west of Bayeux. He was close enough to see the Channel of Saint George, dividing his homeland from Wessex. As a young boy, Han’s dream was becoming an expert swordsman. His father was once a man-at-arms in the English army, discharged due to injury and age, now a craftsman that sold to travelers and traded with the inhabitants of Bayeux. A few years had passed since the English King Henry VI and French King Charles VII began a truce, but the fighting did not stop altogether. His mother, an Irish woman with a fine sense for food and creating items and clothing from leather and hide, was usually the only comfort from his father’s grim tales of battles and predictions of wars yet to pass. She graced him with a Saxon name, remembering what she had learned of the ancient days of her ancestors and the disappearance of Avalon. Han was trained at home in many of the warrior’s and craftsman’s arts, such as leatherworking, cooking, carving wood, and the use of a sword, but Han never felt it was enough to satisfy his desire for an expert’s skills with a blade.

On Han’s fifteenth birthday, a friend from town by the name of Gawain Browning invited him to go with his family on their weeklong deer hunt in a local forest. Gawain’s father and his family were the huntsmen for the local lord of Bayeux. It was then that Han had his first experiences with the longbow and the art of the hunt, and rather liked it… almost as much as the sword and the art of battle. Due to the law of ownership of a bow, Han was given a longbow, quiver and a set of arrows from Gawain as a birthday gift.

When Han finally returned to his home, he found nothing but the burned-down remnants of his father’s home and his mother’s gardens. After hours of anguish over the loss, he gathered his senses and then searched the rubble and embers for any items of value before setting himself on the road. There was no proof his parents lived through the blaze, just as there was no proof of their death. He was lucky enough to find his father’s small stone chest, containing six silver groats (enough coin to feed himself for a few weeks), and his family’s only heirloom, a silver ring with gold highlights and a fiery green gem. Han added the small wealth to his own (pitiful as it was) and placed the ring in his boot for safe and secret keeping. He made his way to Bayeux, thinking that his parents may have made an escape there. His search came to no avail, but he did find Gawain’s sizable home. Inquiring about his parents did no good, as they had not been seen nor heard of. Realizing his dilemma, it was decided that he could stay at the Browning’s home as long as he does his part and helps with the taxes. Han was overjoyed, and began working immediately with household chores. He also learned the art of arrow making from the family, which was no easy lesson. Within time, he began putting his craft skills to work, creating leather clothing and other goods to sell to local merchants. In his spare time, he carved two wooden swords for himself and Gawain, and continued to purse his dream. He also developed skill with his longbow during hunts and archery competitions that the family held within the home.

Some years passed and Han had become well known locally for his quality wares at a young age. One bright April day, he was bickering over the price of a long leather coat he had made with a merchant, when he overheard a man speaking of a Festival that was to be held near here. Another man chimed in to the conversation, and offered to add an archery tournament for entertainment and show. The man was tall, wearing a coat of red and black, and wore a sword at his hip finer than any Han had ever seen. He addressed himself as “Sparrowhawk” to the apparent organizer of the Festival, and the man graciously accepted, and told him he would discuss the terms with him in a moment. Distracted, Han hastily agreed on a fairly low price (a good, long coat would be worth a good amount of silver with the harvest rains coming soon) and paid close attention to the details of the tournament. After Sparrowhawk and the organizer settled and agreed on the terms, Han approached the swordsman and introduced himself. The man responded kindly, and introduced himself as a Sergeant in the company of Ravenwood, a free company of specialized longbow archers. He was also the master of weaponry for the company, which alerted Han of something: This may be his chance! If he could join these “Archers of Ravenwood”, this man may be able to teach him mastery of the sword! He decided to partake in the archery competition, and speak with him then.

He went back to his home that day and began working on a set of arrows for himself, knowing a lot of practicing will be in order. He was tired of being a burden upon his friend’s family, and saw the opportunity he had been searching for. The festival was not scheduled to happen for another week, so he had the time he needed. Han discussed his plans with the Browning family, and there was no objection.

One more thing crossed Han’s mind. He would need a sword, as the Archers may not award him with one for just joining their ranks, if he could even gain membership. The next morning, he went to the local blacksmith, a constant customer of Han’s for leather gloves and work clothes. The last time Han had been to his shop, he was working on a sword in his spare time. Han did not have much money, but he did have something: his family’s ring. He was aware that this was the only item he had connecting him to his family, but it would do him no good simply lying around, and he did not dare wear it for fear of thieves and greedy brutes that may take his entire arm for that trinket. The trade was painful, but Han told himself it was for the better as he walked home with the sheathed blade in his hands.

The festival was everything Han had imagined, and it seemed the entire town had attended. The archery competition was not difficult to spot; many of the archers attending wore red and black coats like Sergeant Sparrowhawk’s. Han found good conversation with a friendly member of the company by the name Richard of Waverly, and was quickly signed up for the tournament with his help. The competition started, and Han was glad of two things: his diligent practice and the tips for precision that Richard had graciously given. He was victorious in the first round of the competition (along with several other archers, as this was a large competition), but tied with another the second. The one he tied with was none other than Richard of Waverly. To his disappointment, yet not his surprise, he was beaten by the seasoned longbowman. He stayed to watch the remainder of the competition, and hopefully speak with the leader of the company. When the final match was called, he felt a pat on his shoulder, finding Richard’s hand there. He had apparently lost to another archer. Only two archers remained to compete for the victory, a craftsman and hunter from town by the name of Oliver, and Anton of Ravenwood, the Captain and Commander of the company. Oliver, though an exceptional hunter, was outclassed from the first arrow, and it was no surprise that he lost. As the prize was being awarded to Captain Anton, Han noticed Oliver slowly draw a dagger from his belt. Anticipating something awful, Han pushed his way toward the crowd nearest to the Captain. Oliver quickly drew the dagger and hurled it towards Anton’s unarmored back. Han lunged toward the Captain and pushed him out of the way of the thrown weapon, watching it nearly impale his own head as it whirled past. Han fell to his back, quite bewildered of his luck in avoiding the dagger, but found Anton looming over him a second later, and his sword against Han’s throat. Richard of Waverly, who had seen the entire act, called to Anton, explaining what had happened. Anton looked over to find Oliver’s dagger sticking out of one of the straw archery targets (in the center ring no less). Oliver was quickly subdued in a brief escape attempt and taken by the constables. After the incident, Han was noted for his actions, and was invited to join. He graciously accepted, full of pride.

Han has learned many new skills working for the Archers of Ravenwood, as well as improving the ones he had already posessed. Some time had passed, with many battles won. Han had been saving his pay as a Swordsman Infantry and as a Battlefield Archer, and he set his sights back on his hometown, and, more specifically, the blacksmith of Bayeux. He had enough money to buy back his family ring, plus enough to ask the smithy for some repairs on his armor. It was a blow to find that the smith no longer had the ring. He claimed that a wealthy Knight had come for some quick repairs, and had noticed and bought the ring from him. With mixed emotions of sorrow and rage, Han left with a sunken heart. To this day, he searches the hand of every nobleman who falls to his blade. Though his heart is broken, its pieces still tell him that his ring will find its way back to its rightful hand.

Someday.