Saint Geldhere Salter
| Saint Geldhere Salter | |
| Full name | Geldhere Salter |
|---|---|
| AKA | Saint Geldhere Salter |
| Physical information | |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair color and style | Brown |
| Eye color | Blue |
| Skin color | White |
| Biographical information | |
| Father | Alle Salter |
| Mother | Osgifu Salter |
| Date of birth | 183AJ |
| Place of birth | West Grinstead, Nova England |
| Date of death | 234AJ |
| Place of death | Southern Border of East Moorland |
| Nationality | Nova English |
| Allegiance(s) | Nova England |
| Occupation | Ealdor Bunda of the Brotherhood of The Holy Lance |
Saint Geldhere Salter is a Nova English warrior saint canonised by the Church of the Holy Lance.
Early Life
Little biographical information remains of Saint Geldhere’s early life save that he was born to an Alle and Osgifu Salter. His family were freeholders within the coastal south eastern region of Eastmoorland. During this period large parts of Eastmoorland were subject to constant raids by Asiatics by land and sea, leading most settlements to establish strong local militias and self defence forces. It is within one of these militias that the young Geldhere was recognised by a recruiter for the Brotherhood of the Holy Lance for his skill-at-arms and was asked to join. Geldhere was quick to join the Brotherhood and thrust himself into his studies and training. Within a few years Geldhere was able to rapidly rise through the ranks supported by a number of patrons thanks to his success in battle and his theological knowledge.
The Great Crusades
As Ealdor Bunda of the Brotherhood in 220AJ, Geldhere led an army of 60,000 men across the Eastmoorland border to battle against the various Asiatic city states. The crusade was seen as an opportunity to create a buffer zone to reduce raids and impose Nova English hegemony. Geldhere’s forces undertook mass raids against the city states, destroying crops, supply lines and trade routes, in an effort to bait their forces from their fortified cities and into the open ground where Brotherhood forces had the advantage. The Great Crusade lasted for a period of three years before the city states negotiated a truce which lasted a further 95 years.
Death
Geldhere met his death in 234AJ when he was killed during an ambush exploring the wilderness north of New Sussex. He and forty Ealdor-Knights were taking shelter in a small settlement, during the night the chief of the village barred the doors of the hall and set fire to its thatch roof. Woken by the smoke and heat Geldhere hacked an opening through the wattle and daub walls and quickly set upon their would be murderers. Unbeknownst to him a party of bandits had paid the locals and were waiting in the woods to ambush the survivors. Geldhere ordered the majority of his men to fall back to New Sussex whilst he and two others stayed at the village to hold off the bandits. Geldhere and his two men managed to slaughter more than half of the bandit force, breaking their spirit and sending them back to their hideout. However during the course of this he suffered several mortal wounds that ultimately killed him.
Legacy
Geldhere was canonised in 246AJ by Guardian of the Lance Leofgeat Hogg for his valiant services to God and the Church. He remains a popular symbol within the church for extolling the virtues of courageous sacrifice and unwavering martial prowess.
He was also known for publishing a number of theological texts in which he explored the unique aspects and mission of the Church. These being the Homilies of Detsab, Discord on Meaning, Letters to the Guardian (of the Lance) and the Life of St Eorkonweald.
