March 19, 395 AC

Fate lost me during birth.

I was born the son of an honorless pirate, Forelesh Dokaan, in the port city of Haant, in the Barbarian Kingdom of Nordmaar. My mother, Korra Galadran, was a foriegner in that land; a native of Solamnia who had been outcast for reasons she would never tell me. She was quiet, and alone. When Forelesh came around after one of his many stints in the sea, they found each other. After a few nights of passion, Forelesh left, and I was concieved. My mother realized the error of passion, but bore me anyway, and rose me as her son.

While I was a child, my mother taught me everything she knew of the world. That which sticks strongest in my memory are her tales of the Solamnic Knights. She told me of their honor, and valor, and all they had been through to do what was right. She instilled in me a great respect for these beliefs. She also told me who my father was. She was ashamed for what she had done, and was determined to raise me right. She wanted me to become what my father never could be.

I loved my mother dearly.

When I was 9, she fell ill. We didn't have much money, and so couldn't afford any sort of medical attention. I knew, even at that tender age, that death would come in only a matter of time. I stayed by my mother's bedside, and cried for her.

A few days before her death, a stranger came knocking at our door. It was Forelesh. He had come seeking what vile pleasures he could from my mother, after oh so many years. When he found out that she was dying, he shed many a fraudulent tear to convince me that he cared. I knew he did not. After she was dead, Forelesh took me from my home, and my mother.

For 10 years, I lived with the scoundrel. He took me onto his pirate ship, LionShark, and tried to turn me into his son. He tried to teach me his dishonorable ways of treachery, thievery, and murder. And, I must admit, he taught me well, for I soon relished in his practices. I became a pirate, a loathsome parasite. I was no better than Forelesh.

When I was 19, my life was changed yet again. After many years on the open sea, I had become used to my piracy. It seemed I was destined to become a shadow of my father. I had resigned myself to this post. However, one night, I had the most vivid dream. A dream in which my mother, flanked by the Fisher-King, Habbakuk, confronted me with my sins. She chided me about what I had become, and told me of her dissappointment. Finally, she just cried, and sobbed that I was no longer her son. After that, the dream was over, and I awoke with the full realization of everything that I had done wrong.

I left the LionShark that night, never to return.

After leaving, I was determined to get to Solamnia, and fulfill my destiny as a Knight. It took me almost a year of travel, but I eventually made it to the hallowed halls of the Solamnic Keep in Kalaman with nothing but the clothes on my back. There, I first met Sir Claudius Willem.

I told this noble knight of myself and my past, and of what I wanted to become. In his wisdom, he saw fit to take me on as his squire. I cannot explain how happy I was! After 20 years of purposeless existence, I finally found my calling. I was accepted into the warm embrace of the Code and the Measure. I knew that my redemption would soon follow.

The next years were not easy. The Blue Dragonarmy was pressing heavily against our defenses, and the Knights had a tenuous hold on Kalaman. Sir Willem fought hard in many a battle, with me faithfully by his side, providing weapons and armor for him. In one battle in particular, Sir Willem was knocked off his horse amidst a horde of slathering Draconians. Sir Willem surely would have fought his way back to the horse, but anger took me over. I pulled out one of my Sire's bastard swords, and charged into the fray. I tried as best I could to hold off the vicious creatures as Sir Willem jumped back onto his steed. When he was re-mounted, he single-handedly slew all the beasts around me, and grabbed me from the ground. He rode me back behind the front lines, and placed me down. As he lifted his face-plate, I could see that he was breathing heavily, and his face was a deep crimson, but his smile was even deeper.

"Thank you, Lyam," he said. "You saved my life."

I couldn't believe it. It as the greatest feeling in the world knowing what I had done for my Sire.

The next day, after the battle was over, and we were victorious, I was brought up to the Council of Crown Knights, and Sir Willem spoke on my behalf. He spoke of my bravery, and recommended me for initiations into the Crown Knights.

Three days later, I was a Knight.

When Sir Willem came to tell me of my acceptance, he brought along a gift. A small puppy. He told me that he knew how I had a hard time making friends with the other squires, and now that I was a Knight, things might get even lonelier. The dog would keep me company. I heartily thanked him, and named the dog Korra, after my deceased mother.

This was almost 5 years ago. Now, Korra is a loved companion, and I, an experienced Kinght. However, to this day, I still keep the name Dokaan, and wear my hair in the tailed north sea pirate style to remind me of just how close I came to becoming something so vile. This, I shall never forget.