Caeric: What Became of Him?

Caeric: What Became of Him?

Original Post: Good friends and students of Shadowbane lore: I have a question I would like to pose: "What are your theories on the First Paladin, Caeric Blackhammer?" I have read his tale with a careful eye, and find his death and the lack of specificity disturbing. The Tale of Caeric Blackhammer tells us the following: The battle was terrible, and there the legends say Caeric himself was slain. Some say that mere chance brought the mighty Knight down, while others whisper that a gang of envious Knights abandoned Caeric in the thick of combat, betraying him to ruin. Zeristan feared the curse of Shadowbane had finally done its work. Though the Paladin had fallen, the battle was won, and the last stronghold of the Elves was broken. Personally, I find little comfort in these "conflicting reports." For such a valiant knight, whe drove back the forces of the Unholy Legion single handedly, to fall to the Elves of Kierhaven, or envious Knights of his own army...it just doesn't sound right. There are numerous plausible explanations of Cearic's "falling." He could have simply dissappeared and was presumed dead. He may have been captured by the Elves, he may have been spirited away, back to the land of the Dead, by some vengeful consort of Ithriana. He may be the Traitor that slew Cambruin...(although explaining that one would difficult indeed...but a fun read I'm sure). If "Paladin" (which had been previously listed as a Discipline but which was later pulled) is a hidden discipline of Shadowbane, perhaps becoming such an embodiement of the Archons requires a test similar to the 3 trials of Caeric...perhaps they must find or liberate Caeric himself. It was said that none of Caeric's followers (the Knight of the Sash) ever became Paladins themselves [Strive as they might, none of these Knights, however virtuous, could ever match Caeric in grace, and the Blackhammer remained the only true Paladin.] Tell me fellow students of lore and myth... whatever became of Caeric Blackhammer?

Posted By Gradishar

Answer: What happended to Caeric? That's really a big muddle. It all depends on which account you want to believe. So far, time and space constraints have only allowed us to release one - I might add that's it's the most accepted version. But, since it's my job to make things as intricate and complex as possible, let me point out a few things that might help illustrate: Bear in mind that whent he Turning happened, most of Cambruin's Champions were essentially trapped on one fragment of the World. The workings of the Runegates did not become common knowledge until DECADES later (and even now their workings are understood by a relative few), so most of the World waited a VERY long time to find out ANYTHING about the battle of Kierhaven. All that most folk were able to deduce was that the World had broken, and the All-Father stopped talking to everybody right around then. Is it any wonder that accounts of the Day of Woe are so muddled and contradictory? Is it any wonder that the rest of the fragments were taken over by Brigands and Dark Knights so quickly? So yes, Caeric's fate remains unknown. Bear this in mind, however - there are some legends that say he's out questing for the All-Father right now. Others say he was betrayed and murdered. The Champions who lived through the battle and the Turning and who didn't immediately renounce the Code spent a LONG time scouring their little pieceof Aerynth for a way to get to their homelands and the rest of the World - and none of them ever came across Caeric, or even any rumor of him. Was Caeric the Traitor? It is, technically, possible, but he's about the least likely suspect I can think of. He certainly has no motive. The All-Father himself might have been the Traitor, you know - maybe Cambruins dath and the Turning were his parting gifts to his Children. Also, bear in mind that toward the end, Cambruin's court was a far from happy place. The tensions mentioned in the Legend are just the tip of avery ugly iceberg. Much like the courts of Earthly legend that inspired it, worldly divisions and petty strife were on the verge of bringing it all down. Ever read Mallory? In le Morte D'Arthur some of the greatest Knights in the world: King Pellenore, Sirs Gawain, Gaheris, Gareth, Lamorack, and even Arthur himself died not at the hands of a Saxon, Pict or Heathen, but at the hands of a Knight of the Round Table. That Caeric should die at the hands of his brothers in arms is not so farfetched. That's the tragedy of Camelot and the High Kingdom: mortal men are gifted enough to conceive of perfection and ture Justice, but never seem able to actually attain it. And when they fail, the backlash is often brutal. Seems to me you could say the same of humanity and civilization in general...