Karetos Erickson

Karetos Erickson (Born Karetos Erickson, 15th of August, -7 L.C) is a Gilnean paladin and knight of the Silver Hand. He currently resides at the Golden Keg in Stormwind City, selling his services as a bodyguard to whomever may be interested in hiring him. Preferring to keep his past as a veteran of the Second and Third war quiet, few know he took part in these events except those who were there. However, a good number of survivors from the Third war, especially people that lived in Hillsbrad during these dark times, have heard of a hero dubbed The Bulwark of Chillwind Pass. When he is recognized as such he cannot help but feel proud and melancholic.

=Description=

Despite the ravages of time, Karetos' body remains in good shape, his physique being the result of many wars and struggles. While being fit he truly was not the bulky type and could be qualified as very average. Although he has fought in many battles, his body remains relatively unscarred except for the left side of his face where a massive scar lies, the flesh torn decades ago and the sight in his eye gone. Lastly, as a result of his upbringing and his training as a paladin, he prefers to keep his hair short and his beard well trimmed at all times. Golden Eye His milky left eye lights up sometimes bursting with golden energy. This happens periodically when something peaks his interest, an emotional rush occurs or during combat.

Armor
Void Tempered Plate

The paladin's heavy armor exudes weak void like energy, shadow priests might even find this energy familiar to their own. Although weak, it seems to remain potent, the extent of it's effects unknown.

Equipment
Arms

The knight usually fights with an array of hammers, maces and swords. Having been trained in the art of war by soldiers during the second war but also as part of his training with the order of the silver hand. In recent years, however, Karetos has found a preference for maces and hammers, feeling a bit nostalgic about the glory days of the order. The weapon he currently uses has been infused with frost energies and has been found during the Northrend campaign.

Libram of Compassion

​​​​​The paladin carries with him at all times a holy blue libram. The cover is tarnished and old, if one were to take a closer look they could also notice that on the bottom of the pages lies dryed blood.

Crystalized Lilac

​Karetos carries with him at all times a single branch of crystalized lilac from Crystalsong Woods. The paladin's most prized possession, it was Lily's favorite flower and he keeps it as a memento of their love. =History=

Youth
Born from a gilnean fisherman named Brandon Erickson and a kind former farmer from Hillsbrad named Eleanor Redpath, Karetos grew up on the shores of Gilneas in Stormglen Village with his twin brother Harald. Their father chose the latter's name, a strong gilnean name, while their mother named Karetos, a name fit for a Lordaeron noble she always said. Constantly competing against one another, Harald was always the stronger brother and often won their races and few squables. Karetos on the other hand was always the smartest and the most compassionate of the two. When they grew older, they became a very good duo and brought a hefty number of fishes with each trip. Having learned to complete each other in their craft, one brother led the boat to key areas while the other's strong arms would catch the biggest of prizes! The two brothers had planned on becoming the best fishermen in all the village and often ventured as far as Menethil Harbor to trade with the dwarves of the Wetlands. They truly were a force to be reckoned with in their craft at the time, until the war that is. As they were but boys they heard stories of the orcish invasion but were far too young at the time, they even heard stories of the fall of Stormwind and as they grew older felt a bit ashamed that their own kingdom was not taking part in the effort. Then, as soon as Gilneas joined the newly formed alliance of Lordaeron in 10 L.C both brothers, then 17 years old enrolled in the Gilnean forces and fought during the second war. Harald being much wilder and eager for battle was more the soldier type, while Karetos tended to the wounded. However, he was as eager as his brother and arranged to be usually sent straight to the battlefields, to the front lines, becoming a field priest of sorts.

Second War
Throughout the second war, Karetos came to admire the newly formed Order of the Silver Hand and it's now legendary leaders. So much so that his biggest dream at the time was becoming a paladin himself. And so, he began training and sparring with his brother in between battles. Shunned by his more pacifistic fellow priests, he found himself more comfortable with the company of his brother's men and comrades. The brothers fought in Alterac and their strong relationships with dwarves helped them quite a bit, especially when the time came to liberate Ironforge from the horde. It is said Harald fought with a fury greater than that of a wolf this day. Then one day, the time came for the assult on Blackrock Spire. While Harald and the troops were sent to the battlefield, the priests were to remain in Dun Morogh to take care of the wounded there. Karetos kept training by himself, his dream in sight as his brother left for battle. Then, near the end of the war, the news came. His twin brother Harald went missing. Shocked, Karetos knew what missing in action meant, his brother was most likely dead. And so he grieved his brother for the years to come, the gushing wound of his loss never truly closed. Now more focused than ever on his objective, he lessened the pain in the fray. It was then that he left his fellow priests and began fighting on the front lines, sword in hand. He had saved countless lives during the war, but now at the end of all things, in front of the dark portal the time for vengeance had come.

Order of the Silver Hand
After the war, Karetos chose to remain with the alliance instead of returning to Gilneas with his fellow countrymen. Shorlty after, in 13 L.C, Gilneas left the alliance and began the construction of the Greymane Wall. Meanwhile, the order of the Silver Hand began the training of new paladins to add to their ranks. Already being strong with the light and having received proper martial training aswell as possessing battlefield experience, Karetos ended up being a prime candidate for the order. And so, he left the north for Stormwind where the training of this new generation of crusaders mostly took place. During these peaceful years, Gavinrad the Dire wielder of the libram of Compassion took a liking to Karetos and took him under his wing, overseeing many parts of the young paladin's training. After he was officially welcomed into the order in 18 L.C, Karetos went back to the northern human kingdoms and instead of going back to his home in Gilneas decided to make a new life for himself in Lordaeron, he then lived there in the Bastion, in Stratholme, with his fellow paladins, serving the kingdom.

Third War
As the events of the third war took place, Karetos witnessed the fall of the kingdom into undeath, disease and tragedy. When the scourge first arose, he served under Uther as one of his paladins and left with him, disgusted, after the prince ordered the purging of Stratholme. Long after, Arthas came back from the cursed land of Northrend, killed his father and laid further ruin to the kingdom. As the scourge rallied to their new leader, the knights of the Silver Hand were gathered in Andorhal under Uther, in 22 L.C. It was there that Karetos lost the sight in his left eye and became horrifically scarred, fighting for his life and the countless innocent citizen as his charge. As one by one the great knights fell, including his mentor Gavinrad aswell, Karetos led a group of citizens out of the city as the undead legions came forth. As they were escaping, undead screeching behind them, a lone woman and her older father fell behind. Without a moment of hesitation, Karetos ordered the citizens to push forward without him and promised he would come back for them. He then rushed back and faced a flood of dead bodies, clawing and biting, determined to tear the young woman and the old man apart. It is there, near what is now known as Chillwind Camp, that he took his stand against the army of undead. He fought them for hours, protecting the young woman and her father until none remained but the three humans in a pool of blood and a torrent of ashes.

=Personality=

Karetos was a kind soul, always seeking to help others since a very young age. In his early adulthood, he was the kind of soldier who would throw themselves into the fray without a second thought if they could save but one more life. Nowadays, he is less naive and more pragmatic, the loss of his own twin brother, the love of his life and many comrades has left him with a colder heart. His trust is easy to get but once lost, is gone forever. He may be understanding and compassionate but he who incurs his wrath shall have no mercy. At first glance, he may seem melancholic and serious but proves himself a stalwart ally aswell as a strong shoulder to lean on. Finaly, he may be a bit of a strong silent type sometimes but once someone knows him for a while he ends up proving himself a total softy.