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Werefish · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 28 Location: Tattenhall

Before selection by the Black Templars neophyte Jacobus was know as Jacobus de Robeck, hailing from the world of Cathar, with black powder level technology. Jacobus was the third son of Duke de Robeck, an influential noble in the Kingdom of Hux, with this influence the Duke purchased his son a commission in the elite Royal Huxian Foot Guards. At the age of 12 Jacobus was the youngest subaltern in his regiment.

Due to Cathar's complicated political system the Kingdoms and Small Empires that make up its surface are often going to war over border disputes or upholding dynastic claims. One such war erupted 6 months after Jacobus had joined his regiment, on his thirteenth birthday the Royal Huxian Foot Guards marches from the barracks towards the frontier with Hux's neighbour Aldersea.

At the battle of Halmoor Pass, Subaltern de Robeck was called to the regimental colours after his seniors were either killed or wounded. He carried the colours as the Guards went on the advance and held them proudly until the Aldersean army was broken and the battle won.

The next phase of the war led to the siege of the border city of Broxtl, after a month in the scorching summer heat the heavy guns of the Huxian army had battered a breach in the thick city walls. The assault on the city began the next day, Subaltern de Robeck requested the honour of commanding the forlorn hope but he was refused on account of his age. During the day, the Huxians attacked the breach four times and each time they were repulsed. Jacobus sought out his uncle, a colonel on the general staff, and asked him to intercede on his behalf, at first he refused but eventually he relented when he realised that the fighting prowess of the guards was needed to carry the breach. As night fell Jacobus and his group of volunteers prepared themselves for hardest fight of their lives. The small party got to within 20 metres of the breach before the Aldersean sentries spotted them and opened fire. The guards scrambled up the slope of rubble and broken masonry with de Robeck at the head. As they climbed higher the enemy musketry became more intense and men began to fall to the young officer's left and right. All of a sudden the world was torn apart by a deafening explosion, the Alderseans had not been idle and had planted a mine in the rubble of the breach. Jacobus was wounded in the shoulder by flying shrapnel, however the majority of the forlorn hope were either killed or dazed. Realising that the attack might falter without decisive action Jacobus drew his sword and threw himself at the sentries perched above him. He fought with such ferocity that the few survivors of his small band managed to rally and reach him on the battlements, the fight that followed was close-quarter and savage, Jacobus received a further wound to his leg from an enemy bayonet. Mere minutes later the breach was secured, out of the thirty-one men that had set out on the forlorn hope just Subaltern de Robeck and three other guardsmen remained standing. Jacobus blew his signalling whistle and the follow-up troops began to stream towards the breach to make good on the guards valiant sacrifice.

After the battle Jacobus received a field promotion to the rank of Captain, the youngest in the history of the Huxian army. Little did he know at the time but the actions of that night had been watched by the keen eyes of Chaplain Halgrect of the Black Templars, which in turn would lead Jacobus' life down a very different road.

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