Lord Caramig ap Blelyd

Knight Banneret of Hemel Hempstead

Lord Caramig is an older knight who's seen more woe than his soul cares to bear. He became patriarch for his household in his early thirties, during the same year when most of the player knights were born (464.) He's served two Earl Hertfords on the battlefield, fought for and against Vortigern, was ransomed by the King of Malahut, and has ridden down countless foes. He's known mostly for keeping his body hale and his spear point sharp. Among his vassals and friends, he's considered a man of unimpeachable honor and loyalty. Sir Caramig has broken his left leg twice and walks with a noticeable limp. His piercing eyes match the silvery gray of his hair and beard.

As lord of Hemel Hempstead, Lord Caramig expects his steward and master sergeant to keep a tight crew. He treats his knights the same, though affording them the respect due a knight, and will brook no disobedience or unpreparedness. He would give his life for any of his men and expects no less from every one of them. This stern taskmaster nature of Lord Caramig has served the Earl well through the years. When Earl Aralyd assumed his station, the Earl immediately chose Lord Caramig as the man who would train all squires sworn directly to the Earl. Lord Caramig has treated this task with his usual brusque competence. Newly knighted men are also usually placed in Lord Caramig's eschille until they prove worshipful and able to belong to another eschille.

There is long standing enmity between Lord Berkhamstead and Lord Hemel Hempstead over the fealty of the house of Windridge. Sir Rhowydd of Windridge Hall was a squire serving Sir Henlow at the Siege of Carlion in 468. When the battle was waxing poorly for the knights of Hertfordshire a new reserve eschille was rapidly formed by the lone stragglers making their way to the back lines. Desperately needing more knights and having a plentitude of equipment and horses, Lord Caramig acted as the Earl had earlier that day bid him act and made worthy squires into knights on the field. Sir Rhowydd was knighted and through the course of the day eventually found himself swearing fealty to Lord Caramig directly. Windridge Hall, however, had its charter from Lord Berkhamstead. Earl Hertford, seeing both sides of the argument, let the two lords duel to yield in order to settle the dispute. God was on the side of Lord Hemel Hempstead. Sir Rhowydd and the charter of Windridge Hall passed into the hands of Lord Caramig. Since that time the house and vassals of Lord Berkhamstead have held a grudge against Lord Hemel Hempstead. That grudge does sometimes come to blows and blood has been spilled multiple times over the ensuing years.
