Atlantic:Miller

http://uoresurgence.com/design/extra/Miller-Hero.jpg
Miller
Player: Miller
Place of Birth:	Britain, Felucca (Pre-Facet Split), Great Lakes
Class:	Paladin
Guild:	None Currently
Personal Data
Real Name:	Miller
Aliases:	None
Race:	Human
Age:	27
Height:	6' 2"
Weight:	210 lbs.
Eye Color:	Piercing Blue
Hair Color:	White
Biographical Data
Residence:	Unknown
Former Guilds:	Highland Guard, Dileaban a'Gallda, The Minoc Knighthood
Marital Status:	Married
Relatives:	Spouse: Julienne
Accolades
Awarded the Freedom Medal by Jakob Covenant [HG], and other various medals, badges and awards during service to the Britannian Armed Forces.
Abilities
None specified, none told of.
Unique Equipment
Unspecified
Uncharacteristically slow to anger, but fierce when triggered. Often attempts to outwit rather than outlast, though will turn to force when advantageous.

Expanded Appearance

A male human stands before you. He's tall, but not towering, walking with correct and confident posture. His hair is natural white, his eyes a piercing blue. The man's muscled, athletic frame supports his daily-worn armor. His sword and shield are within a moment's grasp. A small scar lies over his left eye, and a golden ring is on the third finger of his left hand.

History

I was born in Britain as the only son of a serviceman father and mother. I had what most would call a normal childhood. My father's business of protecting caravans took him to many lands and, as a boy, I always tagged along. I had visited the cities of Minoc, Yew, Skare Brae, Vesper, Cove and Trinsic by the time I was four years old. I longed to someday see the lands of Ocllo and Moonglow, but they were only reachable by boat or moongate, and, since the moongates were so unreliable at that time, we never traveled there.

My father protected caravans of goods traveling from town to town. The goods were, for the most part, armors and weapons that my uncle crafted all the time. My mother also contributed to the family via baked goods and health elixirs, but her hidden talent was knowing what something was worth. She was key in helping my father's business survive, always letting him know where good deals lied so that he could purchase necessities at a discount. My father told me that I would take over his business when I was old enough, but I never had any interest in it. When we went to town, I always watched over the Royal Guards. They were so swift in their movements. If they spotted a criminal act, they acted as judge, jury and executioner all with one swift thwack of the halbred. Their quick justice and inability to let a criminal go was much more interesting than protecting a caravan where, most of the time, if you beat marauders you just let them run away. “Always stay with the train,” my father would say, “They pay you to protect, not to run off hunting.”

I was a popular little tyke with the guards too. I often spent my free time watching them train, sparring each other, and I even stood on the sidelines a few times as they worked around the town banks, which were a hot bed of criminal activity. I was like their mascot, and a couple of them even persuaded the local armorer to make me a wooden sword and flimsy shield. Those were my prized possessions as a boy. With them, and my wild imagination, I was Miller, Vanquisher of the Evil ... sewer rats. But hey, I knew not to go after large monsters at least.

When I was six years old, my adventures took me further away from the town in which my father was conducting business in. While chasing a small hind in the forest outside of Minoc, I ran into a wandering healer... literally, headfirst. He barely budged, and I was immediately knocked to the ground, wrenching my ankle and scratching the palm of my hand. I gritted my teeth hard, but I would not let myself cry in the presence of the man. He looked down upon me, and took pity on me. As he took my hand and helped me to my feet, he said, "I'm amazed at your spirit, boy. I've seen many young ruffians your age who swear at the Gods when something like that happens."

"Take responsibility for your own actions!" I managed to blurt out. The priest looked at me with a surprised face. "I mean, that's what my dad says. He says, 'Miller, take responsibility for your actions. If you did it, don't go blaming anyone else.' I always thought that meant don't blame the Gods either. I mean, I was the one who ran into you… they didn't make me."

"That's a very wise thing your father told you," he replied. "I'd like to teach you so much more, if you'd like. Meet me here in the afternoons around three o'clock and I promise to teach you ways to channel your virtues to work for you."

I looked at my hand. There was no longer any cut present. Also, my ankle was not sore or swollen either. I thought to myself, This man has a gift… perhaps he’ll share it with me.

"But what if my dad and I go to a different town? Other than Minoc?" I asked. "I can't run all the way back here!"

"Simply walk into a nearby forest, and concentrate on your surroundings. Be aware.. and I will find you," he responded. With that, he vanished into the woods.

The next few years went just like that. My dad packed us up and we headed out for Britain. Next was Yew. All the time, though, I spent the mornings playing around the local Royal Guards and the afternoons talking with the priest. When I was ten years old, the Guards gave me a real sword and shield, much to my mother's chagrin. I was only allowed to keep it because the Guard that gave it to me promised to look out for me and teach me the proper way to defend myself. He did the talking for me, and convinced my wary mom that it would be better that I could defend myself since horrid monsters or rogues might one day cross my path. Mom reluctantly agreed, and my sword training begun. The priest took note of my training as well, and decided to up the ante on his own teachings. We started talking not only of history and mathematics, but also of philosophy, economics and psychology. He always told me, every day, that a fast mind was worth twice as much as a strong back. He said that with both, I could do anything. I was still a weak swordsman, though, so I had my doubts. Besides, I was only thirteen at the time.

On my fourteenth birthday we were stationed in Yew. It was mid-May, and the entire city was beginning to prepare for the first grape harvest and festival. May is usually early for harvesting grapes, but in Yew's fertile soil it was the perfect month to make First Harvest Wine (a quite elegant wine, adorned by Royals). I was walking and talking like normal with the priest, and he began to ask me very peculiar questions.

"So, young Miller, what do you plan to do with your life?"

"Eh, I dunno. Dad wants me to continue his business, so I guess I'll do that," I replied.

"What about all these teachings? Could you do something with them? Perhaps become a prie..."

"Whoa, she's a FOX! Some day I'm gonna marry a girl like that!" I interrupted, pointing to the pretty little girl that rode a horse along the path heading into Yew. I hadn't even noticed that she rode with the Royal line, and was dressed in golden silk.

The priest chuckled to himself. "Eh? Going to marry into Royalty?"

"Wha? Uh.. umm.. I mean…,” I stammered, kicking a nearby stone.

"Never mind that," he said. "You keep shooting for the stars. That's the way men come to conquer mountains."

"So what were you saying?" I asked.

"Oh. Well... " he started. He looked down at the sword attached to my hip, and then glanced back at the girl riding by in the Royal line, and smiled warmly. "I thought that perhaps priesthood isn't the route for you. Perhaps, though, if you can get the guardsmen to train you better... maybe even take you as a 'traveling squire'... that you might become a paladin."

I thought about it for a few moments, stunned at the thought. Never before had I thought seriously about my future before, and I was paralyzed in concentration, taking into account all things. Finally I broke my trance and said the words that would change my life: "Sir, if you'd train me, then I'd be honored."

The priest slipped a small white book of spells into my pack as he sent me back home for the evening. "If you're quick," he said, "I believe you can track down that young woman and introduce yourself."

I sighed and frowned. "Unfortunately, she's Royal. I'm merely the son of a serviceman. I’m not even allowed to look her in the eyes without her permission first."

"Do not let man's preconceptions of what is possible prohibit your destiny to do the 'impossible'," he told me, and with that he vanished into the woods again.

"I really wish he'd stick around to explain when he says things like that," I said as I headed back to town.

Over the next seven years I tortured the sword by the morning light, and learned of the paladin ways in the afternoon sun. Occasionally the Royal Guards would allow me to accompany them on their rounds and, as I grew older, I participated as an honorary member of the Royal Britannian Guard. I even earned such recognition from Lord British, and was awarded a sash with the status embroidered upon it.

My training with the priest also leveled off as I became extremely skilled in the art of Chivalry. His final teaching to me was one of sacrifice. He took an innocent lamb and slew it. Upon his order, I spoke the words of power. I don’t remember much, except a sharp pain through my chest as if I had been struck by a sword in my torso. I fell to my knees and yelled in pain. As I looked up, the lamb nudged me and licked my cheek. “Wasn’t this lamb dead?” I asked. The priest nodded solemnly, conferring to me that my training was complete.

“I… I hope to see you again,” I started.

“I truly hope you won’t have to,” he replied with a chuckle. “But perhaps we will meet on terms other than grave in the future sometime. Nothing is impossible.”

I winced as I began to get up, noticing that I was in terrible shape and out of stamina as well. My friend helped me to my feet and by his touch I felt rejuvenated. I stood tall before him, and as he looked up at me he said, “I.. I will miss you.”

With that we quickly embraced and he walked off into the woods.

Other Information

For the rest of Miller's autobiography, which is a good read but can be rather lengthy, go here: http://forums.uoresurgence.com/topic/1238593/1/

Miller is not in the realm today. His whereabouts are wholly unknown. He was last seen walking into the woods outside of Minoc, where he vanished.