https://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=LBMackenzieTemple of the White Rat - User contributions [en]2026-04-23T07:02:17ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.37.1https://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Grace&diff=30828Grace2023-01-09T05:46:23Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
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<div>Grace Angelica is the title character in Paladin's Grace.<br />
<br />
She lives with her pet civet in Archon's Glory, in the back rooms of her perfume shop. Her landlady and confidant Marguerite lives upstairs. <br />
<br />
Grace is described as a curvy brunette with gray-green eyes. Like Stephen, she does not consider herself to be remarkably attractive or interesting, especially when compared to Marguerite, who is a beautiful spy. <br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Grace was raised in an orphanage run by the sisters of the Four-Faced God, until a master perfumer picked her to be his apprentice. He was not kind, and had only selected an apprentice because his own health was failing, and his arthritis was worsening to the point that he could no longer perform his job. According to Grace, she suffered only the occasional beating, more of a threat than a punishment, and over time she found a way to work with and around his ill temper. She became quite a talented perfumer under his tutelage.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 19</ref> Her first husband, Phillip, purchased her articles of apprenticeship, effectively buying her out of the old man's service. Unfortunately, Phillip was no better to her. He cheated, accused her of being sexually worthless, and emotionally abused her through anger, dishonesty and manipulation. Grace fled their marriage with Tab the civet, and started anew in Archon's Glory. As a consequence, she trusts few people and prefers the safety of independence.<br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Grace&diff=30827Grace2023-01-09T05:44:27Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Grace Angelica is the title character in Paladin's Grace.<br />
<br />
She lives with her pet civet in Archon's Glory, in the back rooms of her perfume shop. Her landlady and confidant Marguerite lives upstairs. <br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Grace was raised in an orphanage run by the sisters of the Four-Faced God, until a master perfumer picked her to be his apprentice. He was not kind, and had only selected an apprentice because his own health was failing, and his arthritis was worsening to the point that he could no longer perform his job. According to Grace, she suffered only the occasional beating, more of a threat than a punishment, and over time she found a way to work with and around his ill temper. She became quite a talented perfumer under his tutelage.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 19</ref> Her first husband, Phillip, purchased her articles of apprenticeship, effectively buying her out of the old man's service. Unfortunately, Phillip was no better to her. He cheated, accused her of being sexually worthless, and emotionally abused her through anger, dishonesty and manipulation. Grace fled their marriage with Tab the civet, and started anew in Archon's Glory. As a consequence, she trusts few people and prefers the safety of independence.<br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Grace&diff=30826Grace2023-01-09T05:38:01Z<p>LBMackenzie: Created page with "Grace Angelica is the title character in Paladin's Grace. She lives with her pet civet in Archon's Glory, in the back rooms of her perfume shop. Her landlady and confidant Marguerite lives upstairs. == Background & Personal Life == Grace was raised in an orphanage run by the sisters of the Four-Faced God, until a master perfumer picked her to be his apprentice.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 19</ref>"</p>
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<div>Grace Angelica is the title character in Paladin's Grace.<br />
<br />
She lives with her pet civet in Archon's Glory, in the back rooms of her perfume shop. Her landlady and confidant Marguerite lives upstairs. <br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Grace was raised in an orphanage run by the sisters of the Four-Faced God, until a master perfumer picked her to be his apprentice.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 19</ref></div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=World_of_the_White_Rat&diff=30825World of the White Rat2023-01-09T05:31:01Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
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<div>The [[World of the White Rat]] is a fantasy setting the author describes as "faux early Renaissance”<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1490764404211826692</ref> with multiple nations and city-states where several gods are worshipped, including the White Rat. Books set in the World of the White Rat include the Clocktaur War duology, Swordheart (eventually to become a trilogy), and the Saint of Steel series. <br />
<br />
== Society ==<br />
<br />
At the present time, the societies of the World of the White Rat are at a pre-modern (early Renaissance) level of development, but they are generally feminist and queer-friendly: people of all genders hold religious and political office, there is a gender-neutral honorific (Ser), non-binary people are common enough that there is a standard way to identify pronouns (“vestments bore the slender silver stripe indicating the polite form of address”), and same-sex relationships are common and unremarkable. The nations and city-states of the World of the White Rat have governments ranging from moderately competent (Archenhold) to failed (Morstone).<br />
<br />
== Religion ==<br />
<br />
The people of the World of the White Rat worship a variety of gods, major and minor, who tend to make their presence known in the world in concrete, verifiable ways; there is little to no atheism because the gods demonstrably exist.<br />
<br />
The cult of the White Rat is widespread; the Dreaming God, whose religious fight demons, is also widely worshiped, demon-hunting being a necessary societal task. In the Archenhold area, other regionally worshiped gods include the Forge God, the Four-Faced God, the Many-Armed God, and the Lady of Grass. The Saint of Steel’s god-touched paladins specialized in killing those who needed killing, until the god’s death.<br />
<br />
Saint Ursa holds a status somewhere between saint and minor deity, with an order of nuns in the north. The Hanged Mother is a minor deity worshiped in Archenhold; the current Archon favors her and allows wide latitude to her followers.<br />
<br />
== Technology ==<br />
<br />
Technology is generally at an early-modern level, with some convenient modern additions. The printing press exists, and has existed for long enough that books are widely available: there is a library in Archon’s Glory that the public can visit. Anuket City is famous for its artificers, whose automatons rely on steam for their power:<br />
{{quote<br />
|Everywhere he looked, Caliban saw clockwork. Doors did not swing, they ratcheted open. A display window crawled with oiled brass insects. One of the teapots at an outdoor café had climbed up the side of the building and clung there, exhaling steam.<br />
|[[The Wonder Engine]], chapter 29<br />
}}<br />
<br />
The “ancients,” who lived an unspecified amount of time before the present day, appear to have had more advanced technology than is available in the present. One common ancient material is an ivory-like substance that is “much harder” than ivory. There is also mention of a fabric of a “finer weave than anything we could make… one corner of it had been singed, and it didn’t burn, it melted like wax.”<ref>Paladin’s Hope, chapter 6</ref><br />
<br />
== Magic ==<br />
<br />
Some people, known as wonderworkers, have a magical talent. While some religious orders, including the Hanged Mother’s cult, frown on wonderworkers, they seem to be widely accepted in most places. The talents are usually very specific; one in-world theory holds that “everyone is a wonderworker, it’s simply that most of us are never in the situation to learn what talents we may have.”<ref>Paladin’s Grace, epilogue</ref><br />
<br />
As with technology, the ancients had access to more advanced magic than is available in the present day. One remaining vestige of this advanced magic is wonder engines, which still work in the present day, but are entirely inexplicable by the current understanding of magic and technology.<br />
{{quote<br />
|”What’s a wonder-engine?”<br>“Nobody’s really sure. Some of them do things… miracles. Marvels. Completely useless things. It doesn’t seem to follow any particular pattern.”<br />
|[[Clockwork Boys]], chapter 15<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Geography ==<br />
<br />
[[File:Official-map.jpg|1000px|A map of the World of the White Rat, showing inland Charlock in the northwest, and Morstone in the northeast on the sea, north of Arral Territory. The Dowager's City is in the southwest, in a mountain valley through which flows the Falsefall River. The Vagrant Hills ("Probably") are farther east, and Archenhold is north of the Vagrant Hills. Rutger's Howe is westernmost in Archenhold, with Amalcross to its east, and Archon's Glory farther to the east, on the Elkinslough River. Across the Elkinslough and further south is Anuket City, with the East Falsefall River flowing through it from its source in unnamed mountains to its northeast to join the Elkinslough at Anuket City. Moldoban is well south of the Vagrant Hills, on the sea. South of Charlock and north of the Dowager's City are (in order from northeast to southwest) The Court of Smoke, Ghaston, and the Hundred Houses. West of these three locations is a mountain range, which curves around to the southeast until it ends in the mountain valley that is home to the Dowager's City. At the top of the map is a pointer to the northeast, reading "To Baiir."]]<br />
<br />
Places mentioned in the books include<br />
<br />
* Anuket City, a major city-state<br />
* Archenhold, a nation near Anuket City<br />
* Archon’s Glory, the capital of Archenhold (sometimes written as Archen’s Glory)<br />
* Rutger’s Howe, a small town of 400 people, five days’ walk west of Archon’s Glory<br />
* Amalcross, a town between Rutger’s Howe and Anuket City<br />
* The Dowager’s City, several days’ travel west of Anuket City, in the Falsefall River valley<ref>Clockwork Boys, chapter 6</ref><br />
* Ghaston (has a monastery of the Many-Armed God)<ref>Clockwork Boys, chapter 6</ref><br />
* [[Charlock]], a kingdom far north of Archenhold, with a drier climate<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 23</ref><br />
* The Vagrant Hills are (or at least should be) south of Rutger’s Howe<br />
* Morstone, well northeast of Archenhold, on the sea<br />
* Baiir (formerly known as the Weeping Lands), far to the north<ref>Swordheart, chapter 23</ref> and also distant from Charlock, famous for their weaving<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 23</ref><br />
* Devilspine Islands (supplies cloves to Archenhold)<ref>Swordheart, chapter 60</ref><br />
* Moldoban (has a wonder engine, nothing more known)<ref>Paladin’s Hope, chapter 11</ref><br />
<br />
Archenhold and Anuket City are on two tributaries of the same river, and are in competition for river trade. Anuket is the larger city, with the larger tributary.<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 14</ref> They are three days’ walk and a ferry crossing apart<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 25</ref>, considerably less than one thousand miles distant from each other.<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 9</ref><br />
<br />
== Timeline ==<br />
<br />
The books are set in the mid-1300s; [[Swordheart]] begins in the year 1346<ref>Swordheart, chapter 3</ref>. The dates below are calculated relative to 1346.<br />
<br />
; ~550 (1346−800): cult of the White Rat emerges amid plague, in cities of the old empire, in the west<ref>Swordheart, chapter 26</ref><br />
; ~900 (1346−450): Sarkis enters the sword<ref>Swordheart, chapter 23</ref><br />
; 1341: end of the Clocktaur War<ref>Swordheart, chapter 16</ref><br />
; 1346: [[Halla]] first draws the Sword<ref>Swordheart, chapter 3</ref><br />
; 1349: death of the Saint of Steel<ref>https://twitter.com/mlkharrington/status/1486856862754656256</ref><br />
; 1352: [[Stephen]] meets Grace<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1486819132385501191/photo/1</ref><br />
; 1353: [[Istvhan]] travels north with Galen<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1486819132385501191/photo/1</ref><br />
; 1354: Galen meets Piper<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1486819132385501191/photo/1</ref><br />
<br />
== Notes ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Piper&diff=30824Piper2023-01-09T05:30:19Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
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<div>Piper is a lich-doctor, or medical examiner. In translation from gnole-speak, Piper's pronouns as a "bone-doctor" would be "ours." Otherwise, he identifies as he/him.<br />
<br />
Piper is a minor wonder-worker, who is able to experience a creature's final moments by touching or laying hands on them. As a consequence, he is generally an ovo-lacto-vegetarian, preferring not to live out the brutality of an animal's death while attempting to eat.<br />
<br />
He has a frank manner,<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 1</ref> and is shamelessly no-nonsense at work, reserving sensitivity and emotion for his private life. While Piper has a talented medical mind, he prefers not to operate on the living because he hates the burden of expectation to save people who cannot be saved. He is passionate about reducing birthing people's mortality rates and securing women's reproductive health, hoping to save them from painful lifelong illnesses caused by improper medical care. He often pretends to be dispassionate, not because he is angry or especially pessimistic, but because once he softens, he begins to babble.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 18</ref><br />
<br />
He is described as being incredibly fair-skinned, pale to the point of Galen's concern. He has dark hair and a lean, muscular figure. He has long fingers and attractive hands, something that catches Galen's attention immediately.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref><br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Piper self-identifies as a "city boy," however self-deprecatingly. His medical training lends itself to street smarts, including the ability to defend himself against intruders.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref><br />
<br />
Piper prefers smoky whiskey.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 7</ref><br />
<br />
He is gay, but a bit shy about all things romantic, and has only had a few lovers in his life, none of whom were deeply engaged or serious. He is, to Galen's surprise, completely unafraid of the paladin's rage or sword, believing him to be a fundamentally good and likable person.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 18</ref> <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30823Galen2023-01-09T05:27:51Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are somewhere between hazel and jade green, and while he is the smallest of his fellow paladins, he is still fairly tall and muscular. He is described as being "handsome and hilarious."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma from the death of the Saint of Steel and the events at Hallowbind, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in a berserker rage that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> He is the most susceptible to berserker rages, once losing it after Clara lost her temper with him. Istvhan is very protective of him, and careful to ensure he does not kill innocent people when he loses control, as that would make his traumatic stress and regret worse.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 10</ref> Privately, he considers himself to be "insane" due to his berserker fits and nightmares, and he treats this condition similarly to a curse. He is terrified of scaring or harming those around him.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref> <br />
<br />
He is kind and loyal, apologetic about using force, and skittish about his "brokenness." He uses humor and charm to compensate for his insecurities, and is the most boyish of his order, quick to laugh and joke.<br />
<br />
== History with The Saint of Steel ==<br />
Unlike Istvhan and Stephen, Galen was born into a family of the order of The Saint of Steel. His mother was a priestess of the Saint, something that ultimately ended her relationship with his father when Galen was young. She was one of the god-touched priests, meaning that she either died outright, took her own life, or fell into a permanent coma after the death of the Saint. At the time of Paladin's Hope, Galen does not know which, only that he lost her as well as his god.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref><br />
<br />
He was twenty when he first fought against the Clocktaurs in Anuket City, and was touched by the Saint of Steel around this time.<ref>Paladin's Hope ch. 6</ref> Unlike fellow paladins Istvhan and Stephen, Galen was at Hallowbind when the god died, meeting with local men who they slaughtered when they ran mad. A dozen paladins fell into comas, but only Galen and Marcus awoke. He is one of the seven surviving paladins of his order.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
<br />
Galen is openly gay. Istvhan describes him as having "definite tastes, and they [do] not run to women."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> He jokes with Clara about any "handsome lay ''brothers''" of her order that she might want to set him up with. He is sexually experienced, and considers sex "as complicated as you chose to make it."<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 9</ref> Prior to his marriage to Piper, he doesn't believe himself to be worthy of love beyond sex, and fears accidentally killing a partner while in a berserker rage. He also fears intimacy on the grounds that being a paladin is a "high-mortality profession," and believes "the only cure for him [is] a sharp knife."<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 18</ref> Fortunately, Piper literally interrupts this line of thinking by exclaiming "spongiform erectile tissue." So there's that. <br />
<br />
He has a thing for attractive hands, something that attracts him to Piper from the beginning. <blockquote>"Insomuch as Galen had a type, it was 'male with good hands.' His first great love had been another youth at the Saint of Steel's temple, who had not been conventionally attractive but had possessed quite exquisite hands." - Paladin's Hope, ch. 4 </blockquote> <br />
<br />
His mother was dedicated to the Saint of Steel and his father left the family when he was young. Galen speaks fondly of his grandmother, who was a weaver, and gave her grandchildren drop spindles as soon as they were old enough to handle them. Galen still carries a drop spindle, preferring to weave to busy his hands rather than sit idly, and he shares the yarn he spins with Stephen, who knits them into socks.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref> Galen mentions at one point that his grandmother kept a truffle hound.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref><br />
<br />
== Relationship with Piper ==<br />
Galen gets to know Piper while investigating a string of murders in Anuket City, and they are attracted to one another fairly instantly. Galen pretends to be Piper's lover to justify their presence at an early-morning crime scene, and Piper makes a move while they are trapped in an ancient maze during their investigation. Throughout their early relationship, Galen is insistent that he is a monster and that their relationship won't work. Piper is equally insistent that Galen's sleep disturbances are not a deterrent, even after Galen goes mildly berserk when Piper wakes him. <br />
<br />
At the conclusion of Paladin's Hope, Galen and Piper are married. <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30822Galen2023-01-09T05:25:43Z<p>LBMackenzie: /* Background & Personal Life */</p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are somewhere between hazel and jade green, and while he is the smallest of his fellow paladins, he is still fairly tall and muscular. He is described as being "handsome and hilarious."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma from the death of the Saint of Steel and the events at Hallowbind, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in a berserker rage that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> He is the most susceptible to berserker rages, once losing it after Clara lost her temper with him. Istvhan is very protective of him, and careful to ensure he does not kill innocent people when he loses control, as that would make his traumatic stress and regret worse.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 10</ref> Privately, he considers himself to be "insane" due to his berserker fits and nightmares, and he treats this condition similarly to a curse. He is terrified of scaring or harming those around him.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref> <br />
<br />
He is kind and loyal, apologetic about using force, and skittish about his "brokenness." He uses humor and charm to compensate for his insecurities, and is the most boyish of his order, quick to laugh and joke.<br />
<br />
== History with The Saint of Steel ==<br />
Unlike Istvhan and Stephen, Galen was born into a family of the order of The Saint of Steel. His mother was a priestess of the Saint, something that ultimately ended her relationship with his father when Galen was young. She was one of the god-touched priests, meaning that she either died outright, took her own life, or fell into a permanent coma after the death of the Saint. At the time of Paladin's Hope, Galen does not know which, only that he lost her as well as his god.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref><br />
<br />
He was twenty when he first fought against the Clocktaurs in Anuket City, and was touched by the Saint of Steel around this time.<ref>Paladin's Hope ch. 6</ref> Unlike fellow paladins Istvhan and Stephen, Galen was at Hallowbind when the god died, meeting with local men who they slaughtered when they ran mad. A dozen paladins fell into comas, but only Galen and Marcus awoke. He is one of the seven surviving paladins of his order.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
<br />
Galen is openly gay. Istvhan describes him as having "definite tastes, and they [do] not run to women."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> He jokes with Clara about any "handsome lay ''brothers''" of her order that she might want to set him up with. He is sexually experienced, and considers sex "as complicated as you chose to make it."<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 9</ref> Prior to his marriage to Piper, he doesn't believe himself to be worthy of love beyond sex, and fears accidentally killing <br />
<br />
He has a thing for attractive hands, something that attracts him to Piper from the beginning. <blockquote>"Insomuch as Galen had a type, it was 'male with good hands.' His first great love had been another youth at the Saint of Steel's temple, who had not been conventionally attractive but had possessed quite exquisite hands." - Paladin's Hope, ch. 4 </blockquote> <br />
<br />
His mother was dedicated to the Saint of Steel and his father left the family when he was young. Galen speaks fondly of his grandmother, who was a weaver, and gave her grandchildren drop spindles as soon as they were old enough to handle them. Galen still carries a drop spindle, preferring to weave to busy his hands rather than sit idly, and he shares the yarn he spins with Stephen, who knits them into socks.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref> Galen mentions at one point that his grandmother kept a truffle hound.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref><br />
<br />
== Relationship with Piper ==<br />
Galen gets to know Piper while investigating a string of murders in Anuket City, and they are attracted to one another fairly instantly. Galen pretends to be Piper's lover to justify their presence at an early-morning crime scene, and Piper makes a move while they are trapped in an ancient maze during their investigation. Throughout their early relationship, Galen is insistent that he is a monster and that their relationship won't work. Piper is equally insistent that Galen's sleep disturbances are not a deterrent, even after Galen goes mildly berserk when Piper wakes him. <br />
<br />
At the conclusion of Paladin's Hope, Galen and Piper are married. <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30821Galen2023-01-09T05:08:45Z<p>LBMackenzie: /* The Saint of Steel */</p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are somewhere between hazel and jade green, and while he is the smallest of his fellow paladins, he is still fairly tall and muscular. He is described as being "handsome and hilarious."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma from the death of the Saint of Steel and the events at Hallowbind, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in a berserker rage that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> He is the most susceptible to berserker rages, once losing it after Clara lost her temper with him. Istvhan is very protective of him, and careful to ensure he does not kill innocent people when he loses control, as that would make his traumatic stress and regret worse.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 10</ref> Privately, he considers himself to be "insane" due to his berserker fits and nightmares, and he treats this condition similarly to a curse. He is terrified of scaring or harming those around him.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref> <br />
<br />
He is kind and loyal, apologetic about using force, and skittish about his "brokenness." He uses humor and charm to compensate for his insecurities, and is the most boyish of his order, quick to laugh and joke.<br />
<br />
== History with The Saint of Steel ==<br />
Unlike Istvhan and Stephen, Galen was born into a family of the order of The Saint of Steel. His mother was a priestess of the Saint, something that ultimately ended her relationship with his father when Galen was young. She was one of the god-touched priests, meaning that she either died outright, took her own life, or fell into a permanent coma after the death of the Saint. At the time of Paladin's Hope, Galen does not know which, only that he lost her as well as his god.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref><br />
<br />
He was twenty when he first fought against the Clocktaurs in Anuket City, and was touched by the Saint of Steel around this time.<ref>Paladin's Hope ch. 6</ref> Unlike fellow paladins Istvhan and Stephen, Galen was at Hallowbind when the god died, meeting with local men who they slaughtered when they ran mad. A dozen paladins fell into comas, but only Galen and Marcus awoke. He is one of the seven surviving paladins of his order.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
<br />
Galen is openly gay. Istvhan describes him as having "definite tastes, and they [do] not run to women."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> He jokes with Clara about any "handsome lay ''brothers''" of her order that she might want to set him up with. He is sexually experienced, and considers sex "as complicated as you chose to make it."<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 9</ref> <br />
<br />
He has a thing for attractive hands, something that attracts him to Piper from the beginning. <blockquote>"Insomuch as Galen had a type, it was 'male with good hands.' His first great love had been another youth at the Saint of Steel's temple, who had not been conventionally attractive but had possessed quite exquisite hands." - Paladin's Hope, ch. 4 </blockquote> <br />
<br />
His mother was dedicated to the Saint of Steel and his father left the family when he was young. Galen speaks fondly of his grandmother, who was a weaver, and gave her grandchildren drop spindles as soon as they were old enough to handle them. Galen still carries a drop spindle, preferring to weave to busy his hands rather than sit idly, and he shares the yarn he spins with Stephen, who knits them into socks.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref> Galen mentions at one point that his grandmother kept a truffle hound.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30820Galen2023-01-09T05:08:29Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are somewhere between hazel and jade green, and while he is the smallest of his fellow paladins, he is still fairly tall and muscular. He is described as being "handsome and hilarious."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma from the death of the Saint of Steel and the events at Hallowbind, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in a berserker rage that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> He is the most susceptible to berserker rages, once losing it after Clara lost her temper with him. Istvhan is very protective of him, and careful to ensure he does not kill innocent people when he loses control, as that would make his traumatic stress and regret worse.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 10</ref> Privately, he considers himself to be "insane" due to his berserker fits and nightmares, and he treats this condition similarly to a curse. He is terrified of scaring or harming those around him.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref> <br />
<br />
He is kind and loyal, apologetic about using force, and skittish about his "brokenness." He uses humor and charm to compensate for his insecurities, and is the most boyish of his order, quick to laugh and joke.<br />
<br />
== The Saint of Steel ==<br />
Unlike Istvhan and Stephen, Galen was born into a family of the order of The Saint of Steel. His mother was a priestess of the Saint, something that ultimately ended her relationship with his father when Galen was young. She was one of the god-touched priests, meaning that she either died outright, took her own life, or fell into a permanent coma after the death of the Saint. At the time of Paladin's Hope, Galen does not know which, only that he lost her as well as his god.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref><br />
<br />
He was twenty when he first fought against the Clocktaurs in Anuket City, and was touched by the Saint of Steel around this time.<ref>Paladin's Hope ch. 6</ref> Unlike fellow paladins Istvhan and Stephen, Galen was at Hallowbind when the god died, meeting with local men who they slaughtered when they ran mad. A dozen paladins fell into comas, but only Galen and Marcus awoke. He is one of the seven surviving paladins of his order.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
<br />
Galen is openly gay. Istvhan describes him as having "definite tastes, and they [do] not run to women."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> He jokes with Clara about any "handsome lay ''brothers''" of her order that she might want to set him up with. He is sexually experienced, and considers sex "as complicated as you chose to make it."<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 9</ref> <br />
<br />
He has a thing for attractive hands, something that attracts him to Piper from the beginning. <blockquote>"Insomuch as Galen had a type, it was 'male with good hands.' His first great love had been another youth at the Saint of Steel's temple, who had not been conventionally attractive but had possessed quite exquisite hands." - Paladin's Hope, ch. 4 </blockquote> <br />
<br />
His mother was dedicated to the Saint of Steel and his father left the family when he was young. Galen speaks fondly of his grandmother, who was a weaver, and gave her grandchildren drop spindles as soon as they were old enough to handle them. Galen still carries a drop spindle, preferring to weave to busy his hands rather than sit idly, and he shares the yarn he spins with Stephen, who knits them into socks.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref> Galen mentions at one point that his grandmother kept a truffle hound.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30819Galen2023-01-09T05:01:15Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are somewhere between hazel and jade green, and while he is the smallest of his fellow paladins, he is still fairly tall and muscular. He is described as being "handsome and hilarious."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma from the death of the Saint of Steel and the events at Hallowbind, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in a berserker rage that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> He is the most susceptible to berserker rages, once losing it after Clara lost her temper with him. Istvhan is very protective of him, and careful to ensure he does not kill innocent people when he loses control, as that would make his traumatic stress and regret worse.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 10</ref> Privately, he considers himself to be "insane" due to his berserker fits and nightmares, and he treats this condition similarly to a curse. He is terrified of scaring or harming those around him.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref> <br />
<br />
He is kind and loyal, apologetic about using force, and skittish about his "brokenness." He uses humor and charm to compensate for his insecurities, and is the most boyish of his order, quick to laugh and joke.<br />
<br />
== The Saint of Steel ==<br />
Unlike Istvhan and Stephen, Galen was born into a family of the order of The Saint of Steel. His mother was a priestess of the Saint, something that ultimately ended her relationship with his father when Galen was young. She was one of the god-touched priests, meaning that she either died outright, took her own life, or fell into a permanent coma after the death of the Saint. At the time of Paladin's Hope, Galen does not know which, only that he lost her as well as his god.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 14</ref><br />
<br />
He was twenty when he first fought against the Clocktaurs in Anuket City, and was touched by the Saint of Steel around this time.<ref>Paladin's Hope ch. 6</ref><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
<br />
<br />
Galen is openly gay. Istvhan describes him as having "definite tastes, and they [do] not run to women."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> He jokes with Clara about any "handsome lay ''brothers''" of her order that she might want to set him up with. He is sexually experienced, and considers sex "as complicated as you chose to make it."<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 9</ref> <br />
<br />
He has a thing for attractive hands, something that attracts him to Piper from the beginning. <blockquote>"Insomuch as Galen had a type, it was 'male with good hands.' His first great love had been another youth at the Saint of Steel's temple, who had not been conventionally attractive but had possessed quite exquisite hands." - Paladin's Hope, ch. 4 </blockquote> <br />
<br />
His grandmother kept a truffle hound.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Piper&diff=30818Piper2023-01-08T18:58:02Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Piper is a lich-doctor, or medical examiner. In translation from gnole-speak, Piper's pronouns as a "bone-doctor" would be "ours." Otherwise, he identifies as he/him.<br />
<br />
Piper is a minor wonder-worker, who is able to experience a creature's final moments by touching or laying hands on them. As a consequence, he is generally an ovo-lacto-vegetarian, preferring not to live out the brutality of an animal's death while attempting to eat.<br />
<br />
He has a frank manner,<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 1</ref> and is shamelessly no-nonsense at work, reserving sensitivity and emotion for his private life. While Piper has a talented medical mind, he prefers not to operate on the living because he hates the burden of expectation to save people who cannot be saved. He is passionate about reducing birthing people's mortality rates and securing women's reproductive health, hoping to save them from painful lifelong illnesses caused by improper medical care.<br />
<br />
He is described as being incredibly fair-skinned, pale to the point of Galen's concern. He has dark hair and a lean, muscular figure. He has long fingers and attractive hands, something that catches Galen's attention immediately.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Piper self-identifies as a "city boy," however self-deprecatingly. His medical training lends itself to street smarts, including the ability to defend himself against intruders.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref><br />
<br />
Piper prefers smoky whiskey.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 7</ref><br />
<br />
He is gay, but a bit shy about all things romantic, and has only had a few lovers in his life, none of whom were deeply engaged or serious. <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Piper&diff=30817Piper2023-01-07T02:57:37Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Piper is a lich-doctor, or medical examiner. In translation from gnole-speak, Piper's pronouns as a "bone-doctor" would be "ours." Otherwise, he identifies as he/him.<br />
<br />
Piper is a minor wonder-worker, who is able to experience a creature's final moments by touching or laying hands on them. As a consequence, he is generally an ovo-lacto-vegetarian, preferring not to live out the brutality of an animal's death while attempting to eat.<br />
<br />
He has a frank manner,<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 1</ref> and is shamelessly no-nonsense at work, reserving sensitivity and emotion for his private life. While Piper has a talented medical mind, he prefers not to operate on the living because he hates the burden of expectation to save people who cannot be saved. He is passionate about reducing infant mortality rates and securing women's reproductive health, hoping to save them from painful lifelong illnesses caused by improper medical care.<br />
<br />
He is described as being incredibly fair-skinned, pale to the point of Galen's concern. He has dark hair and a lean, muscular figure. He has long fingers and attractive hands, something that catches Galen's attention immediately.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Piper self-identifies as a "city boy," however self-deprecatingly. His medical training lends itself to street smarts, including the ability to defend himself against intruders.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref><br />
<br />
Piper prefers smoky whiskey.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 7</ref><br />
<br />
He is gay, but a bit shy about all things romantic, and has only had a few lovers in his life, none of whom were deeply engaged or serious. <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Piper&diff=30816Piper2023-01-07T02:51:14Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Piper is a lich-doctor, or medical examiner. In translation from gnole-speak, Piper's pronouns as a "bone-doctor" would be "ours." Otherwise, he identifies as he/him.<br />
<br />
He has a frank manner,<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 1</ref> and is shamelessly no-nonsense at work, reserving sensitivity and emotion for his private life.<br />
<br />
He is described as being incredibly fair-skinned, pale to the point of Galen's concern. He has dark hair and a lean, muscular figure. He has long fingers and attractive hands, something that catches Galen's attention immediately.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Piper self-identifies as a "city boy," however self-deprecatingly. His medical training lends itself to street smarts, including the ability to defend himself against intruders.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref><br />
<br />
Piper prefers smoky whiskey.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 7</ref><br />
<br />
He is gay, but a bit shy about all things romantic, and has only had a few lovers in his life, none of whom were deeply engaged or serious. <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30815Galen2023-01-07T02:51:10Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are somewhere between hazel and jade green, and while he is the smallest of his fellow paladins, he is still fairly tall and muscular. He is described as being "handsome and hilarious."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma from the death of the Saint of Steel and the events at Hallowbind, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in a berserker rage that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> He is the most susceptible to berserker rages, once losing it after Clara lost her temper with him. Istvhan is very protective of him, and careful to ensure he does not kill innocent people when he loses control, as that would make his traumatic stress and regret worse.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 10</ref> Privately, he considers himself to be "insane" due to his berserker fits and nightmares, and he treats this condition similarly to a curse. He is terrified of scaring or harming those around him.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref> <br />
<br />
He is kind and loyal, apologetic about using force, and skittish about his "brokenness." He uses humor and charm to compensate for his insecurities, and is the most boyish of his order, quick to laugh and joke.<br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Galen was twenty when he first fought against the Clocktaurs in Anuket City, and he was touched by the Saint of Steel around this time.<ref>Paladin's Hope ch. 6</ref> <br />
<br />
Galen is openly gay. Istvhan describes him as having "definite tastes, and they [do] not run to women."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> He jokes with Clara about any "handsome lay ''brothers''" of her order that she might want to set him up with. He is sexually experienced, and considers sex "as complicated as you chose to make it."<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 9</ref> <br />
<br />
He has a thing for attractive hands, something that attracts him to Piper from the beginning. <blockquote>"Insomuch as Galen had a type, it was 'male with good hands.' His first great love had been another youth at the Saint of Steel's temple, who had not been conventionally attractive but had possessed quite exquisite hands." - Paladin's Hope, ch. 4 </blockquote> <br />
<br />
His grandmother kept a truffle hound.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Piper&diff=30814Piper2023-01-07T02:45:22Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Piper is a lich-doctor, or medical examiner. In translation from gnole-speak, Piper's pronouns as a "bone-doctor" would be "ours." Otherwise, he identifies as he/him.<br />
<br />
He has a frank manner,<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 1</ref> and is shamelessly no-nonsense at work, reserving sensitivity and emotion for his private life.<br />
<br />
He is described as being incredibly fair-skinned, pale to the point of Galen's concern. He has dark hair and a lean, muscular figure.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Piper self-identifies as a "city boy," however self-deprecatingly. His medical training lends itself to street smarts, including the ability to defend himself against intruders.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 8</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
Piper prefers smoky whiskey.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 7</ref><br />
<br />
He is gay, but a bit shy about all things romantic, and has only had a few lovers in his life, none of whom were deeply engaged or serious. <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Piper&diff=30813Piper2023-01-07T02:41:12Z<p>LBMackenzie: Created page with "Piper is a lich-doctor, or medical examiner. In translation from gnole-speak, Piper's pronouns as a "bone-doctor" would be "ours." == Background & Personal Life == Piper prefers smoky whiskey.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 7</ref> == References =="</p>
<hr />
<div>Piper is a lich-doctor, or medical examiner. In translation from gnole-speak, Piper's pronouns as a "bone-doctor" would be "ours."<br />
<br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Piper prefers smoky whiskey.<ref>Paladin's Hope, ch. 7</ref><br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30812Galen2023-01-07T02:35:02Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are somewhere between hazel and jade green, and while he is the smallest of his fellow paladins, he is still fairly tall and muscular. He is described as being "handsome and hilarious."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma from the death of the Saint of Steel and the events at Hallowbind, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in a berserker rage that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> He is the most susceptible to berserker rages, once losing it after Clara lost her temper with him. Istvhan is very protective of him, and careful to ensure he does not kill innocent people when he loses control, as that would make his traumatic stress and regret worse.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 10</ref><br />
<br />
He is kind and loyal, apologetic about using force, and skittish about his "brokenness." He uses humor and charm to compensate for his insecurities, and is the most boyish of his order, quick to laugh and joke.<br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Galen was twenty when he first fought against the Clocktaurs in Anuket City, and he was touched by the Saint of Steel around this time.<ref>Paladin's Hope ch. 6</ref> <br />
<br />
Galen is openly gay. Istvhan describes him as having "definite tastes, and they [do] not run to women."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> He jokes with Clara about any "handsome lay ''brothers''" of her order that she might want to set him up with. He has a thing for attractive hands, something that attracts him to Piper from the beginning. <br />
<br />
His grandmother kept a truffle hound.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30811Galen2023-01-06T05:27:23Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are jade green, and while he is the smallest of his fellow paladins, he is still fairly tall and muscular. He is described as being "handsome and hilarious."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma from the death of the Saint of Steel and the events at Hallowbind, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in a berserker rage that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> He is the most susceptible to berserker rages, once losing it after Clara lost her temper with him. Istvhan is very protective of him, and careful to ensure he does not kill innocent people when he loses control, as that would make his traumatic stress and regret worse.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 10</ref><br />
<br />
He is kind and loyal, apologetic about using force, and skittish about his "brokenness." He uses humor and charm to compensate for his insecurities, and is the most boyish of his order, quick to laugh and joke.<br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Galen is openly gay. Istvhan describes him as having "definite tastes, and they did not run to women."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> He jokes with Clara about any "handsome lay ''brothers''" of her order that she might want to set him up with. <br />
<br />
His grandmother kept a truffle hound.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30810Istvhan2023-01-06T05:19:37Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].<br />
<br />
Istvhan is the biggest of the paladins, "a great bear of a man with shoulders like an ox."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 2</ref> He has dark skin, "black and fiercely curly" hair, "shot with gray at the temples." He has an angular jaw, bright white teeth, and a close-cut beard.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref> At the time of Paladin's Strength, he is about forty years old.<br />
<br />
He is often presumed unintelligent because of his hulking size, but [[Stephen]] notes that he is a dangerous man to underestimate. He has a tongue-in-cheek wit and a pleasant optimism, even if it amounts to gallows humor. Istvhan holds the rank of Captain among his remaining order of paladins, taking orders directly from Bishop Beartongue. [[Galen]] refers to him as "boss."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref><blockquote>''"What if she kills you, Boss?" called Galen.'' <br />
<br />
''"Then either avenge me or put her in charge. Your choice."'' <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 1 </blockquote><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Istvhan comes from the southern border of Charlock,<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> hill and desert country, and his native language is Harshek. He is also fluent in War-tongue, and "a few others."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 3</ref> He finds the idea of keeping slaves abhorrent. <br />
<br />
Istvhan left home when he was twenty, and says he goes back every few years so his nieces don't forget his face.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> He comes from a large and seemingly eccentric family that seems to be almost entirely composed of women. He tells Clara that he has "many, many sisters," and later reminisces about assisting one of them in childbirth, which resulted in a happy and healthy nephew who is now taller than he is. At one point he says that some of his favorite aunts (and since their passing, some of his favorite cousins) are bandits.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 8</ref> Galen corroborates this.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> <blockquote><br />
"And if he did not turn aside and help a nun, his maternal relatives for nine generations would rise from their graves and come to his dreams to box his ears, with his mother at the forefront." <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 2</blockquote><br />
<br />
He makes a muscle rub of cinnamon, pepper and ginger, which he claims is from an old family recipe, which he shares with his friends to help with the wear and tear of their profession. The rub causes its wearers to smell strongly of gingerbread.<br />
<br />
In Paladin's Grace, he was "friends with benefits" with Bishop Beartongue of the White Rat, "but she wore him out."[https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1337148945286524928] They remain friends, and he harbors no regrets.<br />
<br />
He was married once, "for about six weeks," and describes the marriage as "more of a fling with extra paperwork."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 25</ref><br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30809Istvhan2023-01-06T05:17:31Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].<br />
<br />
Istvhan is the biggest of the paladins, "a great bear of a man with shoulders like an ox."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 2</ref> He has dark skin, "black and fiercely curly" hair, "shot with gray at the temples." He has an angular jaw, bright white teeth, and a close-cut beard.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref> At the time of Paladin's Strength, he is about forty years old.<br />
<br />
He is often presumed unintelligent because of his hulking size, but [[Stephen]] notes that he is a dangerous man to underestimate. He has a tongue-in-cheek wit and a pleasant optimism, even if it amounts to gallows humor. Istvhan holds the rank of Captain among his remaining order of paladins, taking orders directly from Bishop Beartongue. [[Galen]] refers to him as "boss."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref><blockquote>''"What if she kills you, Boss?" called Galen.'' <br />
<br />
''"Then either avenge me or put her in charge. Your choice."'' <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 1 </blockquote><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Istvhan comes from the southern border of Charlock,<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> hill and desert country, and his native language is Harshek. He is also fluent in War-tongue, and "a few others."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 3</ref> He finds the idea of keeping slaves abhorrent. <br />
<br />
Istvhan comes from a large and seemingly eccentric family. He tells Clara that he has "many, many sisters," and later reminisces about assisting one of them in childbirth, which resulted in a happy and healthy nephew who is now taller than he is. At one point he says that some of his favorite aunts (and since their passing, some of his favorite cousins) are bandits.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 8</ref> Galen corroborates this.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> His family is described largely through the women, insinuating that he had a fairly matriarchal upbringing. <blockquote><br />
"And if he did not turn aside and help a nun, his maternal relatives for nine generations would rise from their graves and come to his dreams to box his ears, with his mother at the forefront." <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 2</blockquote><br />
<br />
He makes a muscle rub of cinnamon, pepper and ginger, which he claims is from an old family recipe, which he shares with his friends to help with the wear and tear of their profession. The rub causes its wearers to smell strongly of gingerbread.<br />
<br />
In Paladin's Grace, he was "friends with benefits" with Bishop Beartongue of the White Rat, "but she wore him out."[https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1337148945286524928] They remain friends, and he harbors no regrets.<br />
<br />
He was married once, "for about six weeks," and describes the marriage as "more of a fling with extra paperwork."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 25</ref><br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30808Galen2023-01-06T05:15:19Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are jade green, and while he is the smallest of the paladins, he is described as being "handsome and hilarious,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> and Piper notes that he is tall with sculpted muscles. <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma after the death of the Saint of Steel, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in berserker mode that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> He is kind and loyal, known to apologize for using force, and skittish about his "brokenness." He uses humor and charm to compensate for his insecurities, and is the most boyish of his order, quick to laugh and joke.<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Galen is openly gay. Istvhan describes him as having "definite tastes, and they did not run to women."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 5</ref> He jokes with Clara about any "handsome lay ''brothers''" of her order that she might want to set him up with.<br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30807Galen2023-01-06T05:11:17Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are jade green, and while he is the smallest of the paladins, he is described as being "handsome and hilarious,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> and Piper notes that he is tall with sculpted muscles. <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma after the death of the Saint of Steel, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in berserker mode that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> He is kind and gentle, known to apologize for using force, and skittish about his "brokenness."<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Galen is openly gay.<br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30806Galen2023-01-06T05:10:05Z<p>LBMackenzie: /* Background & Personal Life */</p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are jade green, and while he is the smallest of the paladins, he is described as being "handsome and hilarious,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref> and Piper notes that he is tall with sculpted muscles. <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma after the death of the Saint of Steel, including screaming night terrors that can turn into berserker fits if he is touched. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in berserker mode that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref><br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Galen is openly gay.<br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Galen&diff=30805Galen2023-01-06T05:06:45Z<p>LBMackenzie: Created page with "Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of Paladin's Hope. He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are jade green, Galen suffers from considerable trauma after the death of the Saint of Steel, including terrible nightmares that can bring on berserker fits if he is touched in his sleep. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which P..."</p>
<hr />
<div>Galen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin of [[Paladin's Hope]].<br />
<br />
He is known for his dark red hair, which earns him the name "Tomato Man" among the gnoles. His eyes are jade green, <br />
<br />
Galen suffers from considerable trauma after the death of the Saint of Steel, including terrible nightmares that can bring on berserker fits if he is touched in his sleep. According to Istvhan, he "wails like the quiet undead,"<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 27</ref> which Piper corroborates after the first time Galen falls asleep in his presence. He once snapped while sparring with Stephen, and they got into a fight while in berserker mode that led to him breaking his arm, as well as several of Stephen's ribs.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 44</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Paladin%27s_Strength&diff=30804Paladin's Strength2023-01-06T04:58:51Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{WR-Books<br />
| title = <br />
| file = Paladinstrengthcover-324x486.webp<br />
| wrbk-date = February 2021<br />
| wrbk-rating = PG-13<br />
| wrbk-link = https://argyllproductions.com/product/paladins-strength/<br />
| wrbk-prev = [[Paladin's Grace]]<br />
| wrbk-next = [[Paladin's Hope]]<br />
<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Summary ==<br />
<br />
Saint of Steel Book 2.<br />
<br />
He’s a paladin of a dead god, tracking a supernatural killer across a continent. She’s a nun from a secretive order, on the trail of the raiders who burned her convent and kidnapped her sisters.<br />
<br />
When their paths cross at the point of a sword, Istvhan and Clara will be pitched headlong into each other’s quests, facing off against enemies both living and dead. But Clara has a secret that could jeopardize the growing trust between them, a secret that will lead them to the gladiatorial pits of a corrupt city, and beyond…<br />
<br />
== Main Characters ==<br />
<br />
* [[Istvhan]] <br />
* Clara<br />
* Brindle<br />
* Doc Mason<br />
* Tolly<br />
* Ethan<br />
* [[Galen]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Saint of Steel]]<br />
[[Category:Books]]<br />
[[Category:World of the White Rat books]]</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Halla&diff=30803Halla2023-01-06T04:58:11Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Halla's husband died of a fever and left the whole of his estate to his brother, leaving her penniless. Being of "no particular wealth and no particular beauty," the widowed Halla moved in with and cared for her husband's elderly Uncle Silas, acting as caretaker for both his property and the man himself until his death. To her surprise, Silas left her the whole of his estate, causing an uproar among his disinherited relatives. At the beginning of Swordheart, she is 36 and being forced to wed her late husband's cousin Alver so the family can reclaim the money they believe they deserve. <br />
<br />
Halla is described as having fair skin, pale blonde hair, and an hourglass build. She firmly does not believe herself to be beautiful, though Sarkis insists otherwise. <br />
<br />
She is tremendously curious and innocent about the ways of the world, with a strong sense of fairness and goodness. She is full of questions, something that irks Zale and Sarkis at times, but which they both come to find charming. <br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Halla was raised as the middle of five children, and all of her siblings have since died. She has two nieces by her sister, Erris and Nola, to whom she hopes to leave some of Silas's fortune to serve as a dowry for their future marriages.<ref>Swordheart, ch. 16</ref> <br />
<br />
Halla's late husband was either uninterested in her sexually, or uninterested in sex in general, described as "more dutiful than passionate."<ref>Swordheart, ch. 1</ref> Their marriage was amicable, but not passionate, and they did not share a bed<ref>Swordheart, ch. 12</ref> except for an obligatory sexual encounter every few weeks. He gave her jewelry during their marriage,<ref>Swordheart, ch. 4</ref> out of amicable obligation, and expressed interest in having children, which Halla did not share due to the rate of mortality among the childbearing women of her family. <br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Halla&diff=30802Halla2023-01-06T04:47:24Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Being of "no particular wealth and no particular beauty," Halla moved in with and cared for her husband's elderly Uncle Silas, acting as caretaker for both his property and the man himself until his death. <br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Halla was raised as the middle of five children, and all of her siblings have since died. She has two nieces by her sister, Erris and Nola, whom she hopes to leave some of Silas's fortune to serve as a dowry for their future marriages. <br />
<br />
Halla's late husband was either uninterested in her sexually, or uninterested in sex in general, described as "more dutiful than passionate."<ref>Swordheart, ch. 1</ref> Their marriage was amicable, but not passionate, and they did not share a bed<ref>Swordheart, ch. 12</ref> except for an obligatory sexual encounter every few weeks. He gave her jewelry during their marriage,<ref>Swordheart, ch. 4</ref> out of amicable obligation, and expressed interest in having children, which Halla did not share due to the rate of mortality among the childbearing women of her family. He died of fever a few years into their marriage, and his estate went to his brother instead of Halla. <br />
<br />
Halla has fair skin, pale blonde hair, and an hourglass build.<br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=World_of_the_White_Rat&diff=30801World of the White Rat2023-01-06T04:45:04Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>The [[World of the White Rat]] is a fantasy setting the author describes as "faux early Renaissance”<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1490764404211826692</ref> with multiple nations and city-states where several gods are worshipped, including the White Rat. Books set in the World of the White Rat include the Clocktaur War duology, Swordheart (eventually to become a trilogy), and the Saint of Steel series. <br />
<br />
== Society ==<br />
<br />
At the present time, the societies of the World of the White Rat are at a pre-modern (early Renaissance) level of development, but they are generally feminist and queer-friendly: people of all genders hold religious and political office, there is a gender-neutral honorific (Ser), non-binary people are common enough that there is a standard way to identify pronouns (“vestments bore the slender silver stripe indicating the polite form of address”), and same-sex relationships are common and unremarkable. The nations and city-states of the World of the White Rat have governments ranging from moderately competent (Archenhold) to failed (Morstone).<br />
<br />
== Religion ==<br />
<br />
The people of the World of the White Rat worship a variety of gods, major and minor, who tend to make their presence known in the world in concrete, verifiable ways; there is little to no atheism because the gods demonstrably exist.<br />
<br />
The cult of the White Rat is widespread; the Dreaming God, whose religious fight demons, is also widely worshiped, demon-hunting being a necessary societal task. In the Archenhold area, other regionally worshiped gods include the Forge God, the Four-Faced God, the Many-Armed God, and the Lady of Grass. The Saint of Steel’s god-touched paladins specialized in killing those who needed killing, until the god’s death.<br />
<br />
Saint Ursa holds a status somewhere between saint and minor deity, with an order of nuns in the north. The Hanged Mother is a minor deity worshiped in Archenhold; the current Archon favors her and allows wide latitude to her followers.<br />
<br />
== Technology ==<br />
<br />
Technology is generally at an early-modern level, with some convenient modern additions. The printing press exists, and has existed for long enough that books are widely available: there is a library in Archon’s Glory that the public can visit. Anuket City is famous for its artificers, whose automatons rely on steam for their power:<br />
{{quote<br />
|Everywhere he looked, Caliban saw clockwork. Doors did not swing, they ratcheted open. A display window crawled with oiled brass insects. One of the teapots at an outdoor café had climbed up the side of the building and clung there, exhaling steam.<br />
|[[The Wonder Engine]], chapter 29<br />
}}<br />
<br />
The “ancients,” who lived an unspecified amount of time before the present day, appear to have had more advanced technology than is available in the present. One common ancient material is an ivory-like substance that is “much harder” than ivory. There is also mention of a fabric of a “finer weave than anything we could make… one corner of it had been singed, and it didn’t burn, it melted like wax.”<ref>Paladin’s Hope, chapter 6</ref><br />
<br />
== Magic ==<br />
<br />
Some people, known as wonderworkers, have a magical talent. While some religious orders, including the Hanged Mother’s cult, frown on wonderworkers, they seem to be widely accepted in most places. The talents are usually very specific; one in-world theory holds that “everyone is a wonderworker, it’s simply that most of us are never in the situation to learn what talents we may have.”<ref>Paladin’s Grace, epilogue</ref><br />
<br />
As with technology, the ancients had access to more advanced magic than is available in the present day. One remaining vestige of this advanced magic is wonder engines, which still work in the present day, but are entirely inexplicable by the current understanding of magic and technology.<br />
{{quote<br />
|”What’s a wonder-engine?”<br>“Nobody’s really sure. Some of them do things… miracles. Marvels. Completely useless things. It doesn’t seem to follow any particular pattern.”<br />
|[[Clockwork Boys]], chapter 15<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Geography ==<br />
<br />
[[File:Official-map.jpg|1000px|A map of the World of the White Rat, showing inland Charlock in the northwest, and Morstone in the northeast on the sea, north of Arral Territory. The Dowager's City is in the southwest, in a mountain valley through which flows the Falsefall River. The Vagrant Hills ("Probably") are farther east, and Archenhold is north of the Vagrant Hills. Rutger's Howe is westernmost in Archenhold, with Amalcross to its east, and Archon's Glory farther to the east, on the Elkinslough River. Across the Elkinslough and further south is Anuket City, with the East Falsefall River flowing through it from its source in unnamed mountains to its northeast to join the Elkinslough at Anuket City. Moldoban is well south of the Vagrant Hills, on the sea. South of Charlock and north of the Dowager's City are (in order from northeast to southwest) The Court of Smoke, Ghaston, and the Hundred Houses. West of these three locations is a mountain range, which curves around to the southeast until it ends in the mountain valley that is home to the Dowager's City. At the top of the map is a pointer to the northeast, reading "To Baiir."]]<br />
<br />
Places mentioned in the books include<br />
<br />
* Anuket City, a major city-state<br />
* Archenhold, a nation near Anuket City<br />
* Archon’s Glory, the capital of Archenhold (sometimes written as Archen’s Glory)<br />
* Rutger’s Howe, a small town of 400 people, five days’ walk west of Archon’s Glory<br />
* Amalcross, a town between Rutger’s Howe and Anuket City<br />
* The Dowager’s City, several days’ travel west of Anuket City, in the Falsefall River valley<ref>Clockwork Boys, chapter 6</ref><br />
* Ghaston (has a monastery of the Many-Armed God)<ref>Clockwork Boys, chapter 6</ref><br />
* Charlock, a kingdom far north of Archenhold, with a drier climate<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 23</ref><br />
* The Vagrant Hills are (or at least should be) south of Rutger’s Howe<br />
* Morstone, well northeast of Archenhold, on the sea<br />
* Baiir (formerly known as the Weeping Lands), far to the north<ref>Swordheart, chapter 23</ref> and also distant from Charlock, famous for their weaving<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 23</ref><br />
* Devilspine Islands (supplies cloves to Archenhold)<ref>Swordheart, chapter 60</ref><br />
* Moldoban (has a wonder engine, nothing more known)<ref>Paladin’s Hope, chapter 11</ref><br />
<br />
Archenhold and Anuket City are on two tributaries of the same river, and are in competition for river trade. Anuket is the larger city, with the larger tributary.<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 14</ref> They are three days’ walk and a ferry crossing apart<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 25</ref>, considerably less than one thousand miles distant from each other.<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 9</ref><br />
<br />
== Timeline ==<br />
<br />
The books are set in the mid-1300s; [[Swordheart]] begins in the year 1346<ref>Swordheart, chapter 3</ref>. The dates below are calculated relative to 1346.<br />
<br />
; ~550 (1346−800): cult of the White Rat emerges amid plague, in cities of the old empire, in the west<ref>Swordheart, chapter 26</ref><br />
; ~900 (1346−450): Sarkis enters the sword<ref>Swordheart, chapter 23</ref><br />
; 1341: end of the Clocktaur War<ref>Swordheart, chapter 16</ref><br />
; 1346: [[Halla]] first draws the Sword<ref>Swordheart, chapter 3</ref><br />
; 1349: death of the Saint of Steel<ref>https://twitter.com/mlkharrington/status/1486856862754656256</ref><br />
; 1352: [[Stephen]] meets Grace<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1486819132385501191/photo/1</ref><br />
; 1353: [[Istvhan]] travels north with Galen<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1486819132385501191/photo/1</ref><br />
; 1354: Galen meets Piper<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1486819132385501191/photo/1</ref><br />
<br />
== Notes ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Stephen&diff=30800Stephen2023-01-06T04:43:28Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Stephen is a paladin of [[Saint of Steel|the Saint of Steel]], and the aforementioned paladin in [[Paladin's Grace]]. <br />
<br />
He is described as being brunette with blue eyes, and handsome - though not as "pretty" as the paladins of the Dreaming God. Stephen is quieter and more sensitive than his friends Istvhan and Galen, who are quicker to joke and employ dark humor. He doesn't believe himself to be especially attractive, believing that "there was nothing about him that would set a maiden's heart alight." Rather, he is proud to be dependable, caring, deeply devoted to his siblings in the order of the Saint of Steel, and dedicated to lending his talents to the Temple of the White Rat. <br />
<br />
He is characterized in Paladin's Grace by the signature scent of "gingerbread," which is a balm made by his fellow paladin [[Istvhan]]. <br />
<br />
== Background ==<br />
Stephen was raised in [[Archenhold]] by a presumably single mother in a building "full of seamstresses and tailors." To avoid professional redundancy, his mother knit and sold socks for a living, and she taught Stephen, saying "people always need socks." He joined the army rather than seeking an apprenticeship with a weaver, as "the weavers could take their pick of apprentices, and mostly they picked ones that looked easier to feed."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 19</ref> His large size and desire to provide for his mother led him to some success in the military. In his early twenties, he joined a special unit to clear out violent cultists, that led to him being chosen by the Saint of Steel as a god-touched precision berserker. <br />
<br />
He and Grace bond over the experience of having lived in poverty.<br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Stephen&diff=30799Stephen2023-01-06T04:43:07Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Stephen is a paladin of [[Saint of Steel|the Saint of Steel]], and the aforementioned paladin in [[Paladin's Grace]]. <br />
<br />
He is described as being brunette with blue eyes, and handsome - though not as "pretty" as the paladins of the Dreaming God. Stephen is quieter and more sensitive than his friends Istvhan and Galen, who are quicker to joke and employ dark humor. He doesn't believe himself to be especially attractive, believing that "there was nothing about him that would set a maiden's heart alight." Rather, he is proud to be dependable, caring, deeply devoted to his siblings in the order of the Saint of Steel, and dedicated to lending his talents to the Temple of the White Rat. <br />
<br />
He is characterized in Paladin's Grace by the signature scent of "gingerbread," which is a balm made by his fellow paladin Istvhan. <br />
<br />
== Background ==<br />
Stephen was raised in [[Archenhold]] by a presumably single mother in a building "full of seamstresses and tailors." To avoid professional redundancy, his mother knit and sold socks for a living, and she taught Stephen, saying "people always need socks." He joined the army rather than seeking an apprenticeship with a weaver, as "the weavers could take their pick of apprentices, and mostly they picked ones that looked easier to feed."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 19</ref> His large size and desire to provide for his mother led him to some success in the military. In his early twenties, he joined a special unit to clear out violent cultists, that led to him being chosen by the Saint of Steel as a god-touched precision berserker. <br />
<br />
He and Grace bond over the experience of having lived in poverty.<br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30798Istvhan2023-01-06T04:42:16Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].<br />
<br />
Istvhan is the biggest of the paladins, "a great bear of a man with shoulders like an ox."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 2</ref> He has dark skin, "black and fiercely curly" hair, "shot with gray at the temples." He has an angular jaw, bright white teeth, and a close-cut beard.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref> At the time of Paladin's Strength, he is about forty years old.<br />
<br />
He is often presumed unintelligent because of his hulking size, but [[Stephen]] notes that he is a dangerous man to underestimate. He has a tongue-in-cheek wit and a pleasant optimism, even if it amounts to gallows humor. Istvhan holds the rank of Captain among his remaining order of paladins, taking orders directly from Bishop Beartongue. [[Galen]] refers to him as "boss."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref><blockquote>''"What if she kills you, Boss?" called Galen.'' <br />
<br />
''"Then either avenge me or put her in charge. Your choice."'' <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 1 </blockquote><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Istvhan's native language is Harshek, "from the south and west." He is also fluent in War-tongue, and "a few others."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 3</ref> He finds the idea of keeping slaves abhorrent. <br />
<br />
Istvhan comes from a large and seemingly eccentric family. He tells Clara that he has "many, many sisters," and later reminisces about assisting one of them in childbirth, which resulted in a happy and healthy nephew who is now taller than he is. At one point he says that some of his favorite aunts (and since their passing, some of his favorite cousins) are bandits.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 8</ref> His family is described largely through the women, insinuating that he had a fairly matriarchal upbringing. <blockquote><br />
"And if he did not turn aside and help a nun, his maternal relatives for nine generations would rise from their graves and come to his dreams to box his ears, with his mother at the forefront." <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 2</blockquote><br />
<br />
He makes a muscle rub of cinnamon, pepper and ginger, which he claims is from an old family recipe, which he shares with his friends to help with the wear and tear of their profession. The rub causes its wearers to smell strongly of gingerbread.<br />
<br />
In Paladin's Grace, he was "friends with benefits" with Bishop Beartongue of the White Rat, "but she wore him out."[https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1337148945286524928] They remain friends, and he harbors no regrets.<br />
<br />
He was married once, "for about six weeks," and describes the marriage as "more of a fling with extra paperwork."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 25</ref><br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Halla&diff=30797Halla2023-01-06T04:41:51Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Being of "no particular wealth and no particular beauty," Halla moved in with and cared for her husband's elderly Uncle Silas, acting as caretaker for both his property and the man himself until his death. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Halla's late husband was either uninterested in her sexually, or uninterested in sex in general, described as "more dutiful than passionate."<ref>Swordheart, ch. 1</ref> Their marriage was amicable, but not passionate, and they did not share a bed<ref>Swordheart, ch. 12</ref> except for an obligatory sexual encounter every few weeks. He gave her jewelry during their marriage,<ref>Swordheart, ch. 4</ref> out of amicable obligation, and expressed interest in having children, which Halla did not share due to the rate of mortality among the childbearing women of her family. He died of fever a few years into their marriage, and his estate went to his brother instead of Halla. <br />
<br />
Halla has fair skin, pale blonde hair, and an hourglass build.<br />
<br />
== References ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Halla&diff=30796Halla2023-01-06T04:40:50Z<p>LBMackenzie: Created page with "Being of "no particular wealth and no particular beauty," Halla moved in with and cared for her husband's elderly Uncle Silas, acting as caretaker for both his property and the man himself until his death. Halla's late husband was either uninterested in her sexually, or uninterested in sex in general, described as "more dutiful than passionate."<ref>Swordheart, ch. 1</ref> Their marriage was amicable, but not passionate, and they did not share a bed<ref>Swordheart, ch..."</p>
<hr />
<div>Being of "no particular wealth and no particular beauty," Halla moved in with and cared for her husband's elderly Uncle Silas, acting as caretaker for both his property and the man himself until his death. <br />
<br />
<br />
Halla's late husband was either uninterested in her sexually, or uninterested in sex in general, described as "more dutiful than passionate."<ref>Swordheart, ch. 1</ref> Their marriage was amicable, but not passionate, and they did not share a bed<ref>Swordheart, ch. 12</ref> except for an obligatory sexual encounter every few weeks. He gave her jewelry during their marriage,<ref>Swordheart, ch. 4</ref> out of amicable obligation, and expressed interest in having children, which Halla did not share due to the rate of mortality among the childbearing women of her family. He died of fever a few years into their marriage, and his estate went to his brother instead of Halla. <br />
<br />
<br />
Halla has fair skin, pale blonde hair, and an hourglass build.</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Swordheart&diff=30795Swordheart2023-01-06T04:32:46Z<p>LBMackenzie: /* Characters */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{WR-Books<br />
| title = <br />
| file = Swordheart.jpg<br />
| wrbk-date = November 2018<br />
| wrbk-rating = PG<br />
| wrbk-link = at [https://argyllproductions.com/product/swordheart/ Argyll Productions]<br />
| wrbk-prev = [[The Wonder Engine]]<br />
| wrbk-next = [[Paladin's Grace]]<br />
<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Cover Synopsis==<br />
{{quote<br />
|Halla is a housekeeper who has suddenly inherited her great-uncle’s estate… and, unfortunately, his relatives. Sarkis is an immortal swordsman trapped in a prison of enchanted steel. When Halla draws the sword that imprisons him, Sarkis finds himself attempting to defend his new wielder against everything from bandits and roving inquisitors to her own in-laws… and the sword itself may prove to be the greatest threat of all.<br />
|Blurb from Argyll Productions<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Setting==<br />
;Rutger's Howe: in Archenhold<br />
<br />
==Characters==<br />
;[[Halla]]:inheritor of Silas' estate. A respectable widow.<br />
;Silas: Halla's dead husband's great-uncle<br />
;Malva: Halla's aunt (by marriage)<br />
;Alver: Malva's son and one of Halla's unnumbered cousins<br />
;Sayvil: Malva's sister<br />
;Roderick: Malva's guard, an ex-mercenary<br />
;Sarkis: servant of the sword<br />
;Erris: one of Halla's nieces. She's 15<br />
;Sorcerer-smith that made the sword<br />
<br />
==Places==<br />
;Archenhold<br />
;Anuket City<br />
;Weeping Land: Sarkis' home country<br />
<br />
==Animals==<br />
;Silas' bird: small finch-like bird<br />
<br />
==Gods==<br />
;Four-Faced-God<br />
;The great god: Sarkis' god<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
There will be two other books related to this one. Ursula Vernon is working on the next one.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Books]]<br />
[[Category:World of the White Rat books]]</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=World_of_the_White_Rat&diff=30794World of the White Rat2023-01-06T04:31:46Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>The [[World of the White Rat]] is a fantasy setting the author describes as "faux early Renaissance”<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1490764404211826692</ref> with multiple nations and city-states where several gods are worshipped, including the White Rat. Books set in the World of the White Rat include the Clocktaur War duology, Swordheart (eventually to become a trilogy), and the Saint of Steel series. <br />
<br />
== Society ==<br />
<br />
At the present time, the societies of the World of the White Rat are at a pre-modern (early Renaissance) level of development, but they are generally feminist and queer-friendly: people of all genders hold religious and political office, there is a gender-neutral honorific (Ser), non-binary people are common enough that there is a standard way to identify pronouns (“vestments bore the slender silver stripe indicating the polite form of address”), and same-sex relationships are common and unremarkable. The nations and city-states of the World of the White Rat have governments ranging from moderately competent (Archenhold) to failed (Morstone).<br />
<br />
== Religion ==<br />
<br />
The people of the World of the White Rat worship a variety of gods, major and minor, who tend to make their presence known in the world in concrete, verifiable ways; there is little to no atheism because the gods demonstrably exist.<br />
<br />
The cult of the White Rat is widespread; the Dreaming God, whose religious fight demons, is also widely worshiped, demon-hunting being a necessary societal task. In the Archenhold area, other regionally worshiped gods include the Forge God, the Four-Faced God, the Many-Armed God, and the Lady of Grass. The Saint of Steel’s god-touched paladins specialized in killing those who needed killing, until the god’s death.<br />
<br />
Saint Ursa holds a status somewhere between saint and minor deity, with an order of nuns in the north. The Hanged Mother is a minor deity worshiped in Archenhold; the current Archon favors her and allows wide latitude to her followers.<br />
<br />
== Technology ==<br />
<br />
Technology is generally at an early-modern level, with some convenient modern additions. The printing press exists, and has existed for long enough that books are widely available: there is a library in Archon’s Glory that the public can visit. Anuket City is famous for its artificers, whose automatons rely on steam for their power:<br />
{{quote<br />
|Everywhere he looked, Caliban saw clockwork. Doors did not swing, they ratcheted open. A display window crawled with oiled brass insects. One of the teapots at an outdoor café had climbed up the side of the building and clung there, exhaling steam.<br />
|[[The Wonder Engine]], chapter 29<br />
}}<br />
<br />
The “ancients,” who lived an unspecified amount of time before the present day, appear to have had more advanced technology than is available in the present. One common ancient material is an ivory-like substance that is “much harder” than ivory. There is also mention of a fabric of a “finer weave than anything we could make… one corner of it had been singed, and it didn’t burn, it melted like wax.”<ref>Paladin’s Hope, chapter 6</ref><br />
<br />
== Magic ==<br />
<br />
Some people, known as wonderworkers, have a magical talent. While some religious orders, including the Hanged Mother’s cult, frown on wonderworkers, they seem to be widely accepted in most places. The talents are usually very specific; one in-world theory holds that “everyone is a wonderworker, it’s simply that most of us are never in the situation to learn what talents we may have.”<ref>Paladin’s Grace, epilogue</ref><br />
<br />
As with technology, the ancients had access to more advanced magic than is available in the present day. One remaining vestige of this advanced magic is wonder engines, which still work in the present day, but are entirely inexplicable by the current understanding of magic and technology.<br />
{{quote<br />
|”What’s a wonder-engine?”<br>“Nobody’s really sure. Some of them do things… miracles. Marvels. Completely useless things. It doesn’t seem to follow any particular pattern.”<br />
|[[Clockwork Boys]], chapter 15<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Geography ==<br />
<br />
[[File:Official-map.jpg|1000px|A map of the World of the White Rat, showing inland Charlock in the northwest, and Morstone in the northeast on the sea, north of Arral Territory. The Dowager's City is in the southwest, in a mountain valley through which flows the Falsefall River. The Vagrant Hills ("Probably") are farther east, and Archenhold is north of the Vagrant Hills. Rutger's Howe is westernmost in Archenhold, with Amalcross to its east, and Archon's Glory farther to the east, on the Elkinslough River. Across the Elkinslough and further south is Anuket City, with the East Falsefall River flowing through it from its source in unnamed mountains to its northeast to join the Elkinslough at Anuket City. Moldoban is well south of the Vagrant Hills, on the sea. South of Charlock and north of the Dowager's City are (in order from northeast to southwest) The Court of Smoke, Ghaston, and the Hundred Houses. West of these three locations is a mountain range, which curves around to the southeast until it ends in the mountain valley that is home to the Dowager's City. At the top of the map is a pointer to the northeast, reading "To Baiir."]]<br />
<br />
Places mentioned in the books include<br />
<br />
* Anuket City, a major city-state<br />
* Archenhold, a nation near Anuket City<br />
* Archon’s Glory, the capital of Archenhold (sometimes written as Archen’s Glory)<br />
* Rutger’s Howe, a small town of 400 people, five days’ walk west of Archon’s Glory<br />
* Amalcross, a town between Rutger’s Howe and Anuket City<br />
* The Dowager’s City, several days’ travel west of Anuket City, in the Falsefall River valley<ref>Clockwork Boys, chapter 6</ref><br />
* Ghaston (has a monastery of the Many-Armed God)<ref>Clockwork Boys, chapter 6</ref><br />
* Charlock, a kingdom far north of Archenhold, with a drier climate<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 23</ref><br />
* The Vagrant Hills are (or at least should be) south of Rutger’s Howe<br />
* Morstone, well northeast of Archenhold, on the sea<br />
* Baiir (formerly known as the Weeping Lands), far to the north<ref>Swordheart, chapter 23</ref> and also distant from Charlock, famous for their weaving<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 23</ref><br />
* Devilspine Islands (supplies cloves to Archenhold)<ref>Swordheart, chapter 60</ref><br />
* Moldoban (has a wonder engine, nothing more known)<ref>Paladin’s Hope, chapter 11</ref><br />
<br />
Archenhold and Anuket City are on two tributaries of the same river, and are in competition for river trade. Anuket is the larger city, with the larger tributary.<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 14</ref> They are three days’ walk and a ferry crossing apart<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 25</ref>, considerably less than one thousand miles distant from each other.<ref>Paladin’s Grace, chapter 9</ref><br />
<br />
== Timeline ==<br />
<br />
The books are set in the mid-1300s; [[Swordheart]] begins in the year 1346<ref>Swordheart, chapter 3</ref>. The dates below are calculated relative to 1346.<br />
<br />
; ~550 (1346−800): cult of the White Rat emerges amid plague, in cities of the old empire, in the west<ref>Swordheart, chapter 26</ref><br />
; ~900 (1346−450): Sarkis enters the sword<ref>Swordheart, chapter 23</ref><br />
; 1341: end of the Clocktaur War<ref>Swordheart, chapter 16</ref><br />
; 1346: Halla first draws the Sword<ref>Swordheart, chapter 3</ref><br />
; 1349: death of the Saint of Steel<ref>https://twitter.com/mlkharrington/status/1486856862754656256</ref><br />
; 1352: [[Stephen]] meets Grace<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1486819132385501191/photo/1</ref><br />
; 1353: [[Istvhan]] travels north with Galen<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1486819132385501191/photo/1</ref><br />
; 1354: Galen meets Piper<ref>https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1486819132385501191/photo/1</ref><br />
<br />
== Notes ==<br />
<br />
<references /></div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Paladin%27s_Strength&diff=30793Paladin's Strength2023-01-06T04:28:13Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{WR-Books<br />
| title = <br />
| file = Paladinstrengthcover-324x486.webp<br />
| wrbk-date = February 2021<br />
| wrbk-rating = PG-13<br />
| wrbk-link = https://argyllproductions.com/product/paladins-strength/<br />
| wrbk-prev = [[Paladin's Grace]]<br />
| wrbk-next = [[Paladin's Hope]]<br />
<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Summary ==<br />
<br />
Saint of Steel Book 2.<br />
<br />
He’s a paladin of a dead god, tracking a supernatural killer across a continent. She’s a nun from a secretive order, on the trail of the raiders who burned her convent and kidnapped her sisters.<br />
<br />
When their paths cross at the point of a sword, Istvhan and Clara will be pitched headlong into each other’s quests, facing off against enemies both living and dead. But Clara has a secret that could jeopardize the growing trust between them, a secret that will lead them to the gladiatorial pits of a corrupt city, and beyond…<br />
<br />
== Main Characters ==<br />
<br />
* [[Istvhan]] <br />
* Clara<br />
* Brindle<br />
* Doc Mason<br />
* Tolly<br />
* Ethan<br />
* Galen<br />
<br />
[[Category:Saint of Steel]]<br />
[[Category:Books]]<br />
[[Category:World of the White Rat books]]</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30792Istvhan2023-01-06T03:15:48Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].<br />
<br />
Istvhan is the biggest of the paladins, "a great bear of a man with shoulders like an ox."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 2</ref> He has dark skin, "black and fiercely curly" hair, "shot with gray at the temples." He has an angular jaw, bright white teeth, and a close-cut beard.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref> At the time of Paladin's Strength, he is about forty years old.<br />
<br />
He is often presumed unintelligent because of his hulking size, but [[Stephen]] notes that he is a dangerous man to underestimate. He has a tongue-in-cheek wit and a pleasant optimism, even if it amounts to gallows humor. Istvhan holds the rank of Captain among his remaining order of paladins, taking orders directly from Bishop Beartongue. [[Galen]] refers to him as "boss."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref><blockquote>''"What if she kills you, Boss?" called Galen.'' <br />
<br />
''"Then either avenge me or put her in charge. Your choice."'' <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 1 </blockquote><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Istvhan's native language is Harshek, "from the south and west." He is also fluent in War-tongue, and "a few others."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 3</ref> He finds the idea of keeping slaves abhorrent. <br />
<br />
Istvhan comes from a large and seemingly eccentric family. He tells Clara that he has "many, many sisters," and later reminisces about assisting one of them in childbirth, which resulted in a happy and healthy nephew who is now taller than he is. At one point he says that some of his favorite aunts (and since their passing, some of his favorite cousins) are bandits.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 8</ref> His family is described largely through the women, insinuating that he had a fairly matriarchal upbringing. <blockquote><br />
"And if he did not turn aside and help a nun, his maternal relatives for nine generations would rise from their graves and come to his dreams to box his ears, with his mother at the forefront." <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 2</blockquote><br />
<br />
He makes a muscle rub of cinnamon, pepper and ginger, which he claims is from an old family recipe, which he shares with his friends to help with the wear and tear of their profession. The rub causes its wearers to smell strongly of gingerbread.<br />
<br />
In Paladin's Grace, he was "friends with benefits" with Bishop Beartongue of the White Rat, "but she wore him out."[https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1337148945286524928] They remain friends, and he harbors no regrets.<br />
<br />
He was married once, "for about six weeks," and describes the marriage as "more of a fling with extra paperwork."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 25</ref> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== Citations ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30791Istvhan2023-01-06T03:11:30Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].<br />
<br />
Istvhan is the biggest of the paladins, "a great bear of a man with shoulders like an ox."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 2</ref> He has dark skin, "black and fiercely curly" hair, "shot with gray at the temples." He has an angular jaw, bright white teeth, and a close-cut beard.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref> At the time of Paladin's Strength, he is about forty years old.<br />
<br />
He is often presumed unintelligent because of his hulking size, but [[Stephen]] notes that he is a dangerous man to underestimate. He has a tongue-in-cheek wit and a pleasant optimism, even if it amounts to gallows humor. Istvhan holds the rank of Captain among his remaining order of paladins, taking orders directly from Bishop Beartongue. [[Galen]] refers to him as "boss."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref><blockquote>''"What if she kills you, Boss?" called Galen.'' <br />
<br />
''"Then either avenge me or put her in charge. Your choice."'' <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 1 </blockquote><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Istvhan's native language is Harshek, "from the south and west." He is also fluent in War-tongue, and "a few others."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 3</ref> He finds the idea of keeping slaves abhorrent. <br />
<br />
Istvhan comes from a large and seemingly eccentric family. He tells Clara that he has "many, many sisters," and reminisces about assisting at least one of them in childbirth. At one point he says that some of his favorite aunts (and since their passing, some of his favorite cousins) are bandits.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 8</ref> His family is described largely through the women, insinuating that he had a fairly matriarchal upbringing. <blockquote><br />
"And if he did not turn aside and help a nun, his maternal relatives for nine generations would rise from their graves and come to his dreams to box his ears, with his mother at the forefront." <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 2</blockquote><br />
<br />
In Paladin's Grace, he was "friends with benefits" with Bishop Beartongue of the White Rat, "but she wore him out."[https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1337148945286524928] They remain friends, and he harbors no regrets.<br />
<br />
He makes a muscle rub of cinnamon, pepper and ginger, which he claims is from an old family recipe, which he shares with his friends to help with the wear and tear of their profession. The rub causes its wearers to smell strongly of gingerbread.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== Citations ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30790Istvhan2023-01-06T03:11:10Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].<br />
<br />
Istvhan is the biggest of the paladins, "a great bear of a man with shoulders like an ox."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 2</ref> He has dark skin, "black and fiercely curly" hair, "shot with gray at the temples." He has an angular jaw, bright white teeth, and a close-cut beard.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref> At the time of Paladin's Strength, he is about forty years old.<br />
<br />
He is often presumed unintelligent because of his hulking size, but [[Stephen]] notes that he is a dangerous man to underestimate. He has a tongue-in-cheek wit and a pleasant optimism, even if it amounts to gallows humor. Istvhan is the leader of his remaining order of paladins, taking orders directly from Bishop Beartongue. [[Galen]] refers to him as "boss."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref><blockquote>''"What if she kills you, Boss?" called Galen.'' <br />
<br />
''"Then either avenge me or put her in charge. Your choice."'' <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 1 </blockquote><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Istvhan's native language is Harshek, "from the south and west." He is also fluent in War-tongue, and "a few others."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 3</ref> He finds the idea of keeping slaves abhorrent. <br />
<br />
Istvhan comes from a large and seemingly eccentric family. He tells Clara that he has "many, many sisters," and reminisces about assisting at least one of them in childbirth. At one point he says that some of his favorite aunts (and since their passing, some of his favorite cousins) are bandits.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 8</ref> His family is described largely through the women, insinuating that he had a fairly matriarchal upbringing. <blockquote><br />
"And if he did not turn aside and help a nun, his maternal relatives for nine generations would rise from their graves and come to his dreams to box his ears, with his mother at the forefront." <br />
<br />
-[[Paladin's Strength]], ch. 2</blockquote><br />
<br />
In Paladin's Grace, he was "friends with benefits" with Bishop Beartongue of the White Rat, "but she wore him out."[https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1337148945286524928] They remain friends, and he harbors no regrets.<br />
<br />
He makes a muscle rub of cinnamon, pepper and ginger, which he claims is from an old family recipe, which he shares with his friends to help with the wear and tear of their profession. The rub causes its wearers to smell strongly of gingerbread.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== Citations ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30789Istvhan2023-01-06T03:00:41Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].<br />
<br />
Istvhan is the biggest of the paladins, "a great bear of a man with shoulders like an ox."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 2</ref> He has dark skin, "black and fiercely curly" hair, "shot with gray at the temples." He has an angular jaw and a close-cut beard.<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref> At the time of Paladin's Strength, he is about forty years old.<br />
<br />
He is often presumed unintelligent because of his hulking size, but [[Stephen]] notes that he is a dangerous man to underestimate. He has a tongue-in-cheek wit and a pleasant optimism, even if it amounts to gallows humor. Istvhan is the perceived leader of his remaining order of paladins, taking orders directly from Bishop Beartongue. [[Galen]] refers to him as "boss."<ref>Paladin's Strength, ch. 1</ref><blockquote>''"What if she kills you, Boss?" called Galen.''<br />
<br />
''"Then either avenge me or put her in charge. Your choice."'' </blockquote><br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Istvhan's native language is Harshek, "from the south and west." He is also fluent in War-tongue<br />
<br />
<br />
comes from a large and seemingly eccentric family, at one point saying that some of his favorite aunts (and since their passing, some of his favorite cousins) are bandits.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 8</ref> In Paladin's Grace, he was "friends with benefits" with Bishop Beartongue of the White Rat, "but she wore him out."[https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1337148945286524928]<br />
<br />
He makes a muscle rub of cinnamon, pepper and ginger, which he claims is from an old family recipe, which he shares with his friends to help with the wear and tear of their profession. The rub causes its wearers to smell strongly of gingerbread.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== Citations ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30788Istvhan2023-01-06T02:53:21Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].<br />
<br />
He is the biggest of the paladins, "a great bear of a man with shoulders like an ox."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 2</ref> He is often presumed unintelligent because of his hulking size, but [[Stephen]] notes that he is a dangerous man to underestimate. He has a tongue-in-cheek wit and a pleasant optimism, even if it amounts to gallows humor. He has dark, graying curls and a beard to match. He is the perceived leader of his remaining order of paladins, taking orders directly from Bishop Beartongue.<br />
<br />
He makes a muscle rub of cinnamon, pepper and ginger, which he claims is from an old family recipe, which he shares with his friends to help with the wear and tear of their profession. The rub causes its wearers to smell strongly of gingerbread.<br />
<br />
== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Istvhan comes from a large and seemingly eccentric family, at one point saying that some of his favorite aunts (and since their passing, some of his favorite cousins) are bandits.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 8</ref> In Paladin's Grace, he was "friends with benefits" with Bishop Beartongue of the White Rat, "but she wore him out."[https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1337148945286524928] <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== Citations ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30787Istvhan2023-01-06T02:48:24Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
<hr />
<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].<br />
<br />
He is the biggest of the paladins, "a great bear of a man with shoulders like an ox."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 2</ref> He is often presumed unintelligent because of his hulking size, but [[Stephen]] notes that he is a dangerous man to underestimate. He has a tongue-in-cheek wit and a pleasant optimism, even if it amounts to gallows humor. He has dark, graying curls and a beard to match. He is the perceived leader of his remaining order of paladins, taking orders directly from Bishop Beartongue.<br />
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== Background & Personal Life ==<br />
Istvhan comes from a large and seemingly eccentric family, at one point saying that some of his favorite aunts (and since their passing, some of his favorite cousins) are bandits.<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 8</ref> In Paladin's Grace, he was "friends with benefits" with Bishop Beartongue of the White Rat, "but she wore him out."[https://twitter.com/UrsulaV/status/1337148945286524928] <br />
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== Citations ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30786Istvhan2023-01-06T02:34:34Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
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<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].<br />
<br />
He is the biggest of the paladins, "a great bear of a man with shoulders like an ox."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 2</ref></div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Istvhan&diff=30785Istvhan2023-01-06T02:33:18Z<p>LBMackenzie: Created a character page for Istvhan</p>
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<div>Istvhan is a former paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the title paladin in [[Paladin's Strength]].</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Stephen&diff=30784Stephen2023-01-06T02:29:39Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
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<div>Stephen is a paladin of [[Saint of Steel|the Saint of Steel]], and the aforementioned paladin in [[Paladin's Grace]]. <br />
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He is described as being brunette with blue eyes, and handsome - though not as "pretty" as the paladins of the Dreaming God. Stephen is quieter and more sensitive than his friends Istvhan and Galen, who are quicker to joke and employ dark humor. He doesn't believe himself to be especially attractive, believing that "there was nothing about him that would set a maiden's heart alight." Rather, he is proud to be dependable, caring, deeply devoted to his siblings in the order of the Saint of Steel, and dedicated to lending his talents to the Temple of the White Rat. <br />
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He is characterized in Paladin's Grace by the signature scent of "gingerbread," which is a balm made by his fellow paladin Istvhan. <br />
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== Background ==<br />
Stephen was raised in [[Archenhold]] by a presumably single mother in a building "full of seamstresses and tailors." To avoid professional redundancy, his mother knit and sold socks for a living, and she taught Stephen, saying "people always need socks." He joined the army rather than seeking an apprenticeship with a weaver, as "the weavers could take their pick of apprentices, and mostly they picked ones that looked easier to feed."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 19</ref> His large size and desire to provide for his mother led him to some success in the military. In his early twenties, he joined a special unit to clear out violent cultists, that led to him being chosen by the Saint of Steel as a god-touched precision berserker. <br />
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He and Grace bond over the experience of having lived in poverty.<br />
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== Citations ==</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Stephen&diff=30783Stephen2023-01-05T05:45:58Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
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<div>Stephen is a paladin of [[Saint of Steel|the Saint of Steel]], and the aforementioned paladin in [[Paladin's Grace]]. <br />
<br />
He is described as being brunette with blue eyes, and handsome - though not as "pretty" as the paladins of the Dreaming God. Stephen is quieter and more sensitive than his friends Istvhan and Galen, who are quicker to joke and employ dark humor. He doesn't believe himself to be especially attractive, believing that "there was nothing about him that would set a maiden's heart alight." Rather, he is proud to be dependable, caring, deeply devoted to his siblings in the order of the Saint of Steel, and dedicated to lending his talents to the Temple of the White Rat. <br />
<br />
He is characterized in Paladin's Grace by the signature scent of "gingerbread," which is a balm made by his fellow paladin Istvhan. <br />
<br />
== Background ==<br />
Stephen was raised in [[Archenhold]] by a presumably single mother in a building "full of seamstresses and tailors." To avoid professional redundancy, his mother knit and sold socks for a living, and she taught Stephen, saying "people always need socks." He joined the army rather than seeking an apprenticeship with a weaver, as "the weavers could take their pick of apprentices, and mostly they picked ones that looked easier to feed."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 19</ref> His large size and desire to provide for his mother led him to some success in the military. In his early twenties, he joined a special unit to clear out violent cultists, that led to him being chosen by the Saint of Steel before his mother passed away from consumption. He and Grace bond over the experience of having lived in poverty.</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Stephen&diff=30782Stephen2023-01-05T05:26:58Z<p>LBMackenzie: Created page with "Stephen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the aforementioned paladin in Paladin's Grace."</p>
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<div>Stephen is a paladin of the Saint of Steel, and the aforementioned paladin in Paladin's Grace.</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Zale&diff=30781Zale2023-01-05T05:21:56Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
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<div>[[File:Zale.png|thumb|Zale, fanart by @magpiemalarkey<ref>https://magpiemalarkey.tumblr.com/post/184774135694/i-was-disappointed-by-the-lack-of-swordheart</ref>]]<br />
Zale is a priest of the Temple of the White Rat, a solicitor-sacrosanct with a rank of advocate divine. Their specialty is property law, which they use to defend Halla's right to her inheritance in Swordheart, and which creates a bit of a challenge defending Grace against murder charges in Paladin's Grace. <blockquote>"I will defend you," said Zale firmly. "I fear that I am not the best possible person for this, but I am the best possible person available at this time, which is much the same thing." -[[Paladin's Grace]] </blockquote>In [[Swordheart]], we learn that they worked as a clerk for five years before being called into the Rat's service. They are described as being a slender person, with a narrow face, pewter braid, brown eyes, and "excellent teeth." According to Grace, they smell like "wintergreen and ink and clean laundry."<ref>Paladin's Grace, ch. 33</ref> They are older than Halla, who is 36 during the events of Swordheart, likely placing them in their 40s. <br />
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As a priest and representative of the White Rat, Zale holds egalitarian beliefs about the individual right to respect, independence, and fair trial, holding no prejudice against gnoles or fellow humans, and helping when they can. <br />
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They have a scientific curiosity about such wonderworker magic as that which keeps Sarkis in the sword. This is evidenced by an incident in Swordheart in which they, along with Halla, perform an experiment to see if urine vanishes as Sarkis does when the sword that binds him is sheathed. Zale is described as taking copious notes to determine the boundaries of Sarkis's confinement. They describe necromancy as "anathema in every civilized nation" and "the blackest of black arts,"<ref>Swordheart, ch. 29</ref> and are openly squeamish about murder. <br />
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== Personal Life ==<br />
Zale is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. At one point, Red, a Motherhood priest, tells Zale that they "talk like a guilty man,"<ref>Swordheart, ch. 27</ref> implying that Zale may have been assigned male at birth ([https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/AMAB AMAB]).<br />
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In Swordheart, Zale rebuffs Sarkis's guesses about their attraction to Halla or himself by expressing that they are too similar to get on romantically with Halla, and that Sarkis is not their preferred type of man. In Paladin's Grace, Zale says that the presiding judge Consul Gucciard is "not my type, and I am not at all his." <br />
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== Appears In ==<br />
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* [[Swordheart|Swordheart (2018)]]<br />
*[[Paladin's Grace|Paladin's Grace (2020)]]<br />
*[[Paladin's Hope|Paladin's Hope (2021)]]<br />
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== Citations ==<br />
*<br />
*</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Zale&diff=30780Zale2023-01-05T05:08:02Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
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<div>[[File:Zale.png|thumb|Zale, fanart by @magpiemalarkey<ref>https://magpiemalarkey.tumblr.com/post/184774135694/i-was-disappointed-by-the-lack-of-swordheart</ref>]]<br />
Zale is a priest of the Temple of the White Rat, a solicitor-sacrosanct with a rank of advocate divine. Their specialty is property law, which they use to defend Halla's right to her inheritance in Swordheart, and which creates a bit of a challenge defending Grace against murder charges in Paladin's Grace. <blockquote>"I will defend you," said Zale firmly. "I fear that I am not the best possible person for this, but I am the best possible person available at this time, which is much the same thing." -[[Paladin's Grace]] </blockquote>In [[Swordheart]], we learn that they worked as a clerk for five years before being called into the Rat's service. They are described as being a slender person, with a narrow face, pewter braid, brown eyes, and "excellent teeth." As a priest and representative of the White Rat, Zale holds egalitarian beliefs about the individual right to respect, independence, and fair trial, holding no prejudice against gnoles or fellow humans, and helping when they can. <br />
<br />
They have a scientific curiosity about such wonderworker magic as that which keeps Sarkis in the sword. This is evidenced by an incident in Swordheart in which they, along with Halla, perform an experiment to see if urine vanishes as Sarkis does when the sword that binds him is sheathed. Zale is described as taking copious notes to determine the boundaries of Sarkis's confinement. They describe necromancy as "anathema in every civilized nation" and "the blackest of black arts," and are openly squeamish about murder. <br />
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== Personal Life ==<br />
Zale uses they/them pronouns. At one point, Red, a Motherhood priest, tells Zale that they "talk like a guilty man," implying that Zale may have been assigned male at birth ([https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/AMAB AMAB]).<br />
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In Swordheart, Zale rebuffs Sarkis's guesses about their attraction to Halla or himself by expressing that they are too similar to get on romantically with Halla, and that Sarkis is not their preferred type of man. In Paladin's Grace, Zale says that the presiding judge Consul Gucciard is "not my type, and I am not at all his." <br />
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== Appears In ==<br />
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* [[Swordheart|Swordheart (2018)]]<br />
*[[Paladin's Grace|Paladin's Grace (2020)]]<br />
*<br />
*</div>LBMackenziehttps://wiki.templeofthewhiterat.com/index.php?title=Zale&diff=30779Zale2023-01-05T05:06:15Z<p>LBMackenzie: </p>
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<div>[[File:Zale.png|thumb|Zale, fanart by @magpiemalarkey<ref>https://magpiemalarkey.tumblr.com/post/184774135694/i-was-disappointed-by-the-lack-of-swordheart</ref>]]<br />
Zale is a priest of the Temple of the White Rat, a solicitor-sacrosanct with a rank of advocate divine. Their specialty is property law, which they use to defend Halla's right to her inheritance in Swordheart, and which creates a bit of a challenge defending Grace against murder charges in Paladin's Grace. <br />
<br />
In [[Swordheart]], we learn that they worked as a clerk for five years before being called into the Rat's service. They are described as being a slender person, with a narrow face, pewter braid, brown eyes, and "excellent teeth." As a priest and representative of the White Rat, Zale holds egalitarian beliefs about the individual right to respect, independence, and fair trial, holding no prejudice against gnoles or fellow humans, and helping when they can. <br />
<br />
They have a scientific curiosity about such wonderworker magic as that which keeps Sarkis in the sword. This is evidenced by an incident in Swordheart in which they, along with Halla, perform an experiment to see if urine vanishes as Sarkis does when the sword that binds him is sheathed. Zale is described as taking copious notes to determine the boundaries of Sarkis's confinement. They describe necromancy as "anathema in every civilized nation" and "the blackest of black arts," and are openly squeamish about murder. <br />
<br />
== Personal Life ==<br />
Zale uses they/them pronouns. At one point, Red, a Motherhood priest, tells Zale that they "talk like a guilty man," implying that Zale may have been assigned male at birth ([https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/AMAB AMAB]).<br />
<br />
Later in Swordheart, Zale rebuffs Sarkis's guesses about their attraction to Halla or himself by expressing that they are too similar to get on romantically with Halla, and that Sarkis is not their preferred type of man. In Paladin's Grace, Zale says that the presiding judge Consul Gucciard is "not my type, and I am not at all his." <br />
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== Appears In ==<br />
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* [[Swordheart|Swordheart (2018)]]<br />
*[[Paladin's Grace|Paladin's Grace (2020)]]<br />
*<br />
*</div>LBMackenzie