Ser Barristan the Bold is the Commander of the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Sardukar.

A hero of the evacuation of Harn, he is an honorary member of every Order of Knighthood in The Free Imperia, and well regarded by all from Harn. He is perhaps the most respected man serving in the Free Imperia Military.

Cavalier L23 LN(NG) High Human

Ser Barristan's character sheet

Character History

Ser Barristan, called “Barristan the Bold,” is a celebrated hero and knight of the Imperial knights, serving before the time when the portal was open to Arda.  

He has served four kings faithfully and with great distinction, and though he lost his last King in the Battle of Harn, it is well known that it was due to his leadership that many of the Men and Elves of Harn were able make transit to the new world. It is a well know fact that Ser Barristan was the last man to make his way through the magic portal carrying a baby and a crying toddler in his arms.  He would later adopt them as his own wards after it was found they were orphaned. In his own childhood he was raised as a fourth generation knight.  The son of two knights of the Northern realm of Harn, his training started very early.  He received his knighthood at the age of sixteen when he won his first knights tourney.   He was named to the Northern Kingsguard at the age of twenty-three and In joining the Kingsguard, he gave up the claim to his family seat, and the girl he was to wed was married to his cousin instead.  An eminently successful tourney knight throughout his career, he also proved his worth on the battlefield, killing the Harnic Orc king after cutting a bloody swath through the entirety their army to get to him. His tactical know-how ensured that he held the new Harnic Armies off while the Magic of Harn could escape.    It is said by all those who watched him, he was like an artist that only knew battle.  A legend in his own time, Ser Barristan known far and wide as Barristan the Bold a name that commands respect from all beings that came from Harn.  It was because of this that Aragorn asked him to head up the Imperial guard in the forming of the Free Imperia.  Not only is he a consummate Imperial Knight loyal to the Imperial Family at all cost, because of his notoriety and warriors charisma, he has increasingly looked to as an Imperil Grand Master by all the knightly orders, no matter what the origin.  With Aragorn's wishes Ser Barristan reformed the old orders, and adjusted them to the situation on Arda.  Even as a de facto Grand Master, Ser Barristan often led groups of knights from different orders into battle on the front line. He held an honorary membership in all the Orders of the knighthood from peoples of Krynn and Harn as well as the Krynnic Elf court and the Dwarves of Harn.  Aragon Knighted him a the first Grand Master and Lord Commander of the Imperial guard or Sardaukar; a dual position that as the Grand Master and Lord Commander  he could fill, for both are obliged to answer only to Emperor himself. He is loyal to a fault and so honorable he could be mistaken as a paladin.

Ser Barristan is tall and has blue eyes that many consider sad. He is an older man, with long white hair and lined features. Human women often consider him handsome at least for an older man. Despite advanced age, he looks strong and graceful and every bit the skilled knight he was in his youth.  Ser Barristan was considered the finest swordsman in all of Harn at one time. Though he may have lost half a step in the intervening years, he is still an exceptional warrior, able to readily beat men 30 and even 40 years his junior in the lists. His almost superhuman longevity means he is still tall and straightbacked, with white hair. He is as chivalrous as a knight can be, and would never act to dishonor himself. He is extremely loyal and focused to establish the Free Imperia's Orders of knighthood as an important and influential military arms as well as honorable service entities.  When he was on Harn he was clean shaven, but he grew a long white beard when he was unable to save his king.  Although many see him as a fearsome warrior, Ser Barristan loathes seeing the death or suffering of children and often gives a hefty portion of his pay to the orphans of the war torn peoples of the Free Imperia.