Samuel Bealcrest
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Samuel Bealcrest was the second Hochmeister of the Teutonic Order and Realm of Hanseti, succeeding the legendary Gaius Marius following his death. He served as OrdernMarschall during the peak of his predecessors exploits, leading his fellow Sariants towards the formation of the Realm of Hanseti in Aegis. He was renowned among his comrades for his great skill in maintaining the morale and sense of unity for all those in the Order. During his tenure as Hochmeister, he repositioned the Teutonic Order from a conquering force to one dedicated towards serving the common peoples of Hanseti. Under his guidance, the first of many cities were built in the newly settled Realm after the migration to Asulon. Despite the constant threat of war from the Renatians to the North, Samuel Bealcrest was always kind, caring and compassionate towards his citizens and was regaled as a hero of the people. Prior to his death, he successfully defended the Realm of Hanseti from the first instance of declared war by the Kingdom of Renatus- earning a critical victory at the Battle of the Boot. He was assassinated by Blood Mages in 1353, killing many of the magically enhanced agents before succumbing to his wounds.
Early Life
Samuel Bealcrest was born in 1305 as the son of a traveling blacksmith in the city of Sargoth within the Kingdom of Oren. While still very, his father was killed by Dwarven mercenaries on business trip to Malinor. Without any other skills imparted onto him by his father, he continued his family's business as a blacksmith under the care of his mother. Over the years he was able to hone his skills, earning local renown within Sargoth as an expert blacksmith. His craft also allowed him the opportunity to master how to use a blade, of which he made many. He was also noted as being exceptionally proficient in armor smithing and earned a name for himself by producing great quantities of chainmail that was often used against the Undead incursions in the North of Oren.
As he grew older and the threat of the Undead intensified, he was forced to take up arms in defense of his home. Eventually joining ranks with the local militia stationed in Sargoth, The Nords. He worked for a number of years as the dedicated blacksmith but sooner took on more leadership and administrative roles within the group. At the age of 20 he ascended to the position of Chief Warlord of The Nords, leading expeditions into the wild North in search of Undead staging positions. However, the constant aggression of the Undead proved to be more than what The Nords could handle and after a number of years the settlement of Sargoth began to wither. It was in the year 1325 that Samuel encountered Gaius Marius of the Teutonic Order, striking up a deal to merge their forces to better fight against the encroaching Undead.
Military Career
Samuel Bealcrest was recruited into the Teutonic Order by Gaius Marius, immediately being elevated to OrdernMarschall- the equivalent to a General in traditional military ranks. With him brought the many warriors from The Nords of Sargoth that had already been tested against the Undead in battle. By this point, Samuel had become greatly proficient in archery, assuming the command specialty over the archers of the Teutonic Order. This skill in archery would later becoming a defining characteristic of his, wielding a specially crafted long bow in battle. This affinity for ranged combat allowed for greater effectiveness against the Undead, denying the ability to get into close quarters combat with ground forces during raids. As Samuel and the rest of his cohort from Sargoth integrated into the Teutonic Order, their prior home fell to the influence of the Undead tide that had been rapidly sweeping over much of the Northern settlements in Aegis. Not all who lived in Sargoth followed Samuel when he joined ranks with the Order and many saw the order as taking advantage of the hardships they faced. On a mission led by Gaius Marius back to Sargoth, the Sariants of the Order razed what was left of Sargoth, compelling all those who yet remained to either join their ranks or flee to Oren at once. Though Samuel had been from these lands he knew that the only means for their survival would be to join the main fold of Humanity or else face death alone in the North.
During these earlier years in service to the Teutonic Order, Samuel established himself as a formidable commander and approachable leader amongst his peers. Despite his willingness to embark on brutal missions in support of the Orders goal at forcing the reunification of Humanity by any means, he maintained a great sense of patience and sincerity. The attitude he brought to the Order helped instill a greater sense of brotherhood which complemented Gaius Marius's ability to inspire a sense duty among the Sariants. Within the confines of Nuremburg, Samuel was creditted with developing the combative arena competitions that produced legendary sword fighters and marksmen for the Orders cause. As well, he- alongside a Dark Elf Sariant named Ventraux- established a tavern within the stronghold that came to be the favored meeting location for the general soldiery.
In the years that followed, the Teutonic Order would systematically target minor settlements throughout the Human lands, absorbing those willing or forcing them to flee to the Capital of Oren, Al'Khazaar. Samuel would command many such missions, employing aggressive ranged hit and run tactics that would usually conclude with a final melee charge to overwhelmed whatever opposition remained. In the midst of a siege of a poorly defended fringe stronghold called The Vale, an Undead necromancer ambushed a group of Sariants being led by Samuel. With quick thinking, Samuel expertly maneuvered his force consisting mostly of archers and sent several missiles at the necromancer commanding an army of the dead- scoring a killing blow. Up until that point, no other member of the Order had been able to inflict a casualty of that magnitude against the great foe. He would display further amazing feats in marksmanship, killing enemy commanders and important figureheads that opposed them as they marched across Aegis bringing the free settlements to heel.
In the year 1343, tragedy struck and Hochmeister Gaius Marius fell ill. Before passing, he named Samuel Bealcrest as his successor and elevated Mirtok DeNurem into the rank that had been vacated. In the weeks that followed, Samuels compasionate leadership was what prevented the Order from collapsing and the recently realized dream of the Realm of Hanseti from failing due to grief.
Reign
In the final days of Aegis, before the destruction of the Nether forced the mass migration of all the descendant races, Samuel Bealcrest worked tirelessly to build a nation often proselytized to him by Gaius Marius when he was alive. In the wake of the abdication by King Enor Sheffield to Gaius and the sundering of the title into two indepedant Kingdoms, Samuel redirected the purpose of the Teutonic Order from a conquering force into a nationalized and defensive army. Attracting many Northerners- now called Highlanders- to the Realm of Hanseti, he fostered a sizable civilian population. As the last of the contested cities of world fell to the Undead, refugees from many diverse culture groups also found safety within the Capital city of Konigsburg. Under the orders of Hochmeister Bealcrest, a mighty dockyard was constructed and several ships were commissioned. Originally as an economic and explorative venture, these ships proved critical when the lands of Aegis fell and all were forced to escape by sea into a portal opened by the Wandering Wizard. Samuel personally directed the evacuation of any who could hear his call, not discriminating between citizens of Hanseti or elsewhere.
In the year 1346, while at sea, Hochmeister Samuel ordered a scouting party to sail ahead of the civilian transport vessals in search of suitable lands in which to settle and start anew. Chosen to lead said party was his long time friend and OrdernMarschall Mirtok DeNurem. Upon making landfall in Asulon in 1347, Samuel guided the citizens of the Realm of Hanseti to the lands claimed on Mirtok's expedition. Far to the South of what would later become the Cloud Temple, the Realm of Hanseti was resettled in vast frozen lands nestled between an impossible mountain range on the Northern borders and an abyssal sea to the South. Along the southern coast, near where the only arable land in the basin existed, the new capital city of Dresden was founded. Other cities under his reign would also take root in various parts of the Realm, including Watcherstadt, New Sorovitz, the Maw, and Dovasjkr. The city quickly began to take shape under the combined designs of Hochmeister Bealcrest and OrdernMarshcall Viador. Many administrative centers, defensive fortifications, and civilian structures were erected. Samuel meted out swaths of farmlands and land for other means of food production, kick starting the civilian economy of Hanseti. However, in the few short years they had come to occupy the lands of Hanseti, the weather turned bitter and increasing inhospitable. In the year 1349, the Forever Winter took hold of the basin, devastating the Realms ability to produce food for its citizens and soldiers. Samuel would do much to try and levy the fledgling economy by trading raw construction materials and metals with willing nations. Through long studies and selective breeding, the nation was able to develop a cold resistant wheat but the resulting bread was tasteless and tough. From then on, the Realm only slowly progressed at the heart of the Capital.
On only the fifth year in Asulon, 1351 a war between the Kingdom of Renatus and Hanseti broke out. The conflict drew in the attention of the Orcs whom offered to aid Hanseti after some political maneuverings by Hochmeister Samuel. Two battles were held with a victory going to each side, but the war fervor eventually died down, returning the nations efforts inward to fight the new world's problems instead. For many years following the war, The Capital increased in size and occupants. Massive efforts in the industrialization of mineral and lumber production quickly filled the nations stores with valuable trade materials. But, despite the relentless efforts of the Realms workforce, food production was at an all time low. For a long period of time the nation relied on the aid of Salvus to feed their people in exchange for military training and strategic guidance. Hochmeister Samuel and Ordernmarschall Viader jointly drafted a great number projects in the nation to spark immigration- with significant success. However, war would be declared once again in response to increasing aggression by the Kingdom of Renatus.
The Hochmeister looking for revenge for the lives and economic momentum lost in the previous war, decided to make use of the momentary surge of Hansetian zeal. He soon declared war on Renatus with the full backing of Salvus, the Orcish Warnation, the many Dwarven clans and the Kingdom of Alras. Due to the leadership of Hochmeister Samuel, Renatus lost two of it's territories in the war, The Boot and Green Wall. Recent innovations in siege weaponry prior to the war's conception, Hanseti along with the coalition of nations made quick work of Renatian defenses at a number of their strongholds. Despite having the advantage and ability to destroy the Kingdom of Renatus, the Hochmeister instead decided upon forced reforms and the execution of many Renatian political and military figures. Though few ever saw punishment, the vacuum of power left behind following the execution of the Renatian King allowed for Godfrey Horen to ascended to the throne. The two territories conquered by Hanseti were returned to Renatus, and the Teutonic Order returned to Hanseti in hope of a brighter future between the two sister nations.
Death and Legacy
Hochmeister Samuel Bealcrest was allegedly assassinated by a Blood Mage hit squad in 1353. His remains were discovered frozen in ice at the bottom of a river by Sariant Jack Kai, a close advisor to the Hochmeister. It was noted that several Blood Mages lay dead near where Samuel was found and that he had likely died of his wounds- the most grievous of which was a stab wound to the heart. Sariant Jack would assume temporary powers in the wake of Samuels death and many in the Realm mourned the loss of their Hochmeister. A grand funeral pyre was held in the Capital city of Dresden though the bodily remains of the Hochmeister were hidden away on orders of Sariant Jack.
Samuel Bealcrest left behind a wife and son- Samuel II Bealcrest- but the customs of the Teutonic Order and the Realm of Hanseti did not grant rights of inheritance to his offspring, a tradition integral to core beliefs instilled by Gaius Marius. His son would continue on and enter service in the Teutonic Order, attaining the rank of Landmeister. Under the reign of Hochmeister Mirtok DeNurem, the Bealcrest Heart was commissioned in honor of his comrade, a medal awarded to those who sustain grievous injury in battle. Through the remainder of the Realm of Hanseti and the Teutonic Order's history, Samuel Bealcrest was regaled as a legendary figure, being attributed with the Sariant virtues of Patience and Sincerity.
