... also, I opened a full box of magic boosters on Thursday, which was not necessarily a good idea...
But, anyway, I did promise you fluff, and on that I will deliver. So, without further ado; the history of Major Joshua Grayden.
Major Joshua Grayden, has served as a veteran ranger for over two decades. In this time he has served almost exclusively with the Second Army, and his cloth-wrapped form is a well-known sight amongst those soldiers who patrol along the Black River. He knows Cygnar's eastern border better than almost any man alive, and far more of the Protecorate's than anyone born outside the Theocracy. Though recent years have changed his modus operandi from reconnaissance to raids, he applies the same will and techniques to the protection of his homeland.
Born in 575 AR to relatively humble beginnings, Grayden's talent was discovered early, and he was sent to the Strategic Academy at the age of fifteen. There he was trained in the arts of battle-magic, tactics, and personal combat. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to Captain Kraye, who further schooled him in the finer points of reconnaissance, teaching him that sometimes a light touch could overcome a heavy hand.
Though they parted on good terms, Kraye's later resignation over the execution of his uncle left a gulf that never quite closed. Grayden may not have agreed with then king Vinter, but to his mind it was the way of kings to rule and others to follow.
Perhaps this is why he found himself a scout in the Second Army. When the Lion's Coup commenced Grayden was deep in Protectorate territory, and he did not discover the events until several weeks after the fact. Though he never spoke out against King Leto, nor rose up as did Magnus, he never really hid his opinion on the matter.
Resigned to eternal border patrol, Grayden turned his exile into a calling. Infiltrating deep into Protectorate-held lands for sometimes months at a time, he learned to thrive in the desert, attracting the attention of a Idrian Tribe. Though initially hostile, Grayden slowly earned their trust, and later respect. Though both knew that the relationship between the Heirarch and the King was swiftly souring, they spent much time working together - Grayden hunting alongside their trackers in exchange for snippets of information. In his time with them, he earned the nickname Haddi, which means 'Sand-Strider' in their tongue.
Sadly, of course, this could not last, and when Voyle launched his Great Crusade the Captain was forced to put aside his friendships and fight back against the theocracy's military. taking advantage of the slow, clumsiness of their initial 'jacks, Grayden hamstrung columns, raided supply lines, and sabotaged factories. Though he was not involved in either the fight for Caspia or Sul, Grayden instead put all his effort into drawing valuable reinforcements from the front, putting himself into increasingly dangerous positions in order to entice the Protectorate to launch a counter-assault. Eventually, they obliged, trapping him against the banks of the Black River, where Grayden was forced to abandon his battlegroup and swim for the safety of the western shore. Grayden only returned to Caspia after the end of the conflict, having spent near a month alone and hunted by Protectorate irregulars. For his actions he was raised to a Major, but he remained a footnote on the war as a whole.
Grayden is a stern man - unflinching in the fulfillment of his duties and unsympathetic to the difficulties of those under his command. While this earns him few friends, at the least he has the respect - for whilst he asks a great deal from his men, he has shown time and again that he asks no more than he offers himself. If he is harsh, it is because war cares not for niceties. If he is cruel, it is because battle is infinitely crueler, and the sooner others realise it the less chance they have of getting someone killed. Still, it leaves him a lonely life, and the sacrifices he has made sometimes weigh heavily.
The heaviest weight for Grayden though, is the weight of religion. Although he grew up in the predominantly Morrowan Midlunds, Grayden converted to worship of the Creator around the turn of the century. Years spent alongside pious Idrians led him to this decision, and it is one he hides with a passion. While he is loyal to his nation first, and does not follow the call of the Sul-Menites, he doubts his superiors would feel the same, and worries that such a discovery would be the final straw in his career, leading to a forced retirement at best.
... Yeah, I like this. Mostly written on the spot, but it follows what I wanted. Didn't find a way to describe his equipment without it being incongruous, but you can't have everything.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading that. And I look forward to sharing my last month of ToMG for you in a week. But for now, I am tired. Thank you all for reading.
Volodanti out.
