WHAT MAKES A HERO?FLAVIUS FRANCISCUS: A Special breed of Knight called Paladin, Fearless Warrior, Hero of the Battle of the Great Stone Bridge, Slayer of the Great Wyrm Vollenax,Leader of the Free Companies, Determined, Gallant, Champion of Justice, Defender of the Faith, Upholder of Righteousness Great deeds of courage and valour are the staple of any person of greatness; But, a true hero has something more... |
 THE KNIGHT PENITENTAcrylic on Illustrationboard Flavius kneels in prayer before the altar in the Grand Cathedral at Loftewicke |
IT IS ALL ABOUT CHARACTER.FLAVIUS FRANCISCUS: God-fearing, Humble, Penitent, Wise, Quick to act, Compassionate, Gracious, Charitable, Diplomatic, Tactful, Courteous, Chivalrous, Strong Leader, Generous Benefactor, Protector of Widows and Orphans, Devout Servant of the Most High God ĀNAK. The Pax Valorum: Flavius will live and die by this code of honour, considered by most to be the Chivalric Ideal. |
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⇐ The young Flavius about to cross into the realm of Sprackland. At the age of twenty, Flavius gained fame as one of the heroes of the battle of Auldsteinbrücke (the ancient stone bridge) against the Smeddeg hordes. ⇒
Flavius, with his holy sword Deus Irae, and his loyal friend and comrade-in-arms Branco Vasquez find themselves in tough against a horde of Glamressu (minor demons inhabiting the hellish nether-realm of Pandeimos. The shekinah (the radiant glory of God) repulses the monsters, inflicting pain on them, while Branco stands ready with his frost-sword, Aquilón. Will our heroes have what the courage to survive this onslaught?
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 DEUS IRAE Sword of Flavius |
 ⇑ Having lost his shield-arm in the first fight with the dragon, Flavius must fight the Ogre. The nine-foot-tall behemoth gives our brave knight a rough ride. Really rough!  ⇑ The first appearance of Flavius in a painting, from 1988. |
 ⇑ Whilst on his way to a rematch with the dragon, Flavius encounters the newly-hatched young dragons (Wyrmlings). Being every inch the carnivore, the little beast gives our brave knight yet another rough ride. Flavius does manage to inflict enough pain to drive off the aggressive and hungry young reptile without killing it. |
 ⇑ Flavius, in his first encounter with the great wyrm, finds himself once again in trouble. The ancient sword of power, Deus Irae, lies just beyond his grasp. This painting was done in 1989, before Paladin was written, and thus shows Flavius wearing the gold armour. In the story, he has not yet acquired the the magical gold armor when this fight takes place. Needless to say, the dragon crushes his shield and devours his arm but still, somehow, Flavius manages to escape to later take on the ogre.  ⇑ The initial sketch of Flavius's great white steed, Alcegon |
