Brother Methius

I was born the lands of Eu in what is
known as Ponthieu, across the cold
watered channel from the town of
Pevensey on the 15th of March, 1174. It
was my father, Franklin Vaux, a trapper
and hunter by nature and trade that
taught me the ways of the wood; to track
the wounded and to bring low the prey.
It was he that took my cousins Jameson,
Thomas, John and I to the court of Phillip
Augustus II in Rheims to witness his
coronation in the year 1181. I was only a
child during that dark time, but I can
remember the amazing sparkle of the
court of Kings, the gold and glimmer was
not something I was accustom too. I
thought with the ignorance of youth that
this must be what heaven is like.

From Rheims my father took his family
on a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Rome,
where we were hired as guards to Minor
Nobles on the way back through France
and into the English Isles. There at the
age of ten I witnesses the finishing of the
rebuilding of the Canterbury Cathedral
by the Hands of William of Sens. This was
a spectacle of endearment in my heart. I
had been to the Tomb of Peter and
witnessed its splendor, and then I had
seen the tumbling of a ruined church be
brought back to life in its own
resurrection. I had seen many facets of
the faith and grew stronger for it.

In 1187 Saladin destroyed the Christian
Army at the Battle of Hattin. Word
Reached the Normans and my father
once again headed on a pilgrimage. This
time taking his family to fight the Sons of
Islam.

In 1192 at the Age of Eighteen, I was
captured by forces of Saladin in the
country of Acre. I was torture, my ankles
broken to where I now hobble in my step
and my left arm mangled beyond repair.
My cousin Thomas, with the help of
Knights of Barbarossa, manage to free
me along with other prisoners. In this
escape and rescue I met my dear friend
Yon Von Metzger and became close
adventuring companions with the
German from the Black Forest.

The Vaux Family headed back to Europe,
I however stayed in Outremer to keep the
roads of Damascus safe for Christians.
My ordeal as a prisoner put allot of
hatred within my heart and I did not
want to travel back home with it. I also
needed time to mend to horrible wounds
afflicted upon me.

Protecting Missionaries moving back to
the lands of Caid, I fell in love with the
fair maiden Juliana. Whom I wed in
1202 and had a Child named after my
mother, Ellen. Juliana has proven herself
time and time again as a women of
temperance and guidance. She is my
rock and I am thankful to God for
bringing her into my life in these troubled
times. Ellen is inspiration giving form. It is
her that drives me to become a better
man, to leave her more than I had.

I also met Lord Pedar Jensen and
became his man at arms. I joined the
Warband of Dun Tyr and fought within
its Gryphon Lance. Duty called me to
follow Lord Pedar as he left the
Warband of the Black and Silver.
Together we had many adventures, it
was during this time, with the help of
many friends and allies, that we created
our own House Hold called Clan
Gryphon, named after the Lance we
each fought in as well as the heraldic
Gryphon that blazoned Pedar's arms.
Lord Pedar released me of my vow as
men-at-arms and traveled onto his
pilgrimage north to the Principality of the
Summits within the Kingdom of An Tir. I
stayed in the lands of Caid with my love,
becoming great friends with Sir Halfdan
Haraldsson. To my surprise the knight
offered to train me as his Riddarasvein.
This I humbly accepted and await the
day to prove my worth.

In the Year 1203 I was given the honor
of acting as Primus enter Pares of Clan
Gryphon, I lead the warriors of the Clan
with Pride in the prowess and
enthusiasm they shown upon the field. I
also acted as Scribe to the House,
detailing the past upon scrolls for our
children to witness.

I served two terms on the Baronial
Guard in the court of David and Adelicia
Baron and Baroness of Calafia in the
years 1204 and 1205.

Also in the same year I took the vow of a
Fighting Brother of the Hospitallers of St.
John of Caid, In October traveled into
Northern Caid to the Great Western War.
There I fought alongside my Brother
warriors of the army against the foes of
King Uther of Antir, King Jade of the
West, King Edward of Atenvelt and the
Mercenary force. Defending King
Dietrich of Caid as Gonfanier of the
Hospitallers has been one of my greatest
achievements.

Together with many of my brothers and
sisters of the Order we made stand
within the Queens Guard of Basillias
Chamayn of Castille, where his Majesty
Dirk entrusted us with the Queen’s
protection. I was awarded the Crescent
Sword of Caid during the Queen's
Champion Tournament, an honor I do to
think I am worthy of receiving, yet
grateful for nonetheless. May God look
down with favor on her Majesty.

The drums of war are once again called
the Hospitallers into action., our king
called us once again to prepare for
battle. As Gonfanier, I prepared the
Hospitallers for the days ahead. In
February 1206 we marched to the Sun
Kingdom of Adenveldt and where we
delivered a mighty blow to its
armies on the dusty, wind swept fields of
Estella. It was there that I made new
friends such as Viscountess Lorissa du
Griffon, Mistress Flauvia, and Master
John. I was acquainted with old friends
as well such as Owen of the Hand, Bjorn
and Mina. The Hospitallers fought with
the Grace of God, like warriors born of
conviction. We were awarded the Cross
Swords of Caid, Yon Von and myself were
made Lieutenants of her Majesties
guard. Fellow Hospitallers Gonzalo Otsoa,
Lord Daniel von Ravensfueld and Grand
Master Christian were given Corrde du
Guerres for their service upon the war
field. We returned home victorious from
the war and await the summons of the
King.
May of the same year found us at
Potrero Pass defending the Southren
Borders of Calafia from an Atenveldt
invasion. As Baronial Marshall I tried to
keep peace among the many factions
that fought. During a feast members of
Griffin Freehold and my fellow
Hospitallers purchased a Great Helm for
me, an act that still humbles me to this
day.

In the Year that Edric and Faizeh set the
thrones of Caid, I was summoned by His
Grace Duke Christian du Glaive to be
made as active Grand Master of the
Hospitallers in his absence and until the
election of the new Grand Master. I do
not have the connections His Grace
does, nor am I of heroic stock as the
Lion of the West. I concentrated on the
inner circle of the Hospitallers, building
our faith and brotherhood. I also joined
the queen's guard with my Squire
Brother Murchadh, although my
participation is little I still remain loyal to
the crown of Caid.
Once again we pressed into war with
Adenveldt.. I took the Hospitallers into
the burning sands with their Majesties
and fought as best we could. Acting as
the Grand Master is by far the greatest
accomplishment of my Fighting life...one
not soon to be forgotten. I was asked on
the second day of fighting, when my
ankle was ruined in the battle..to stand
beside Edric and Direct the armies of
Caid into the Castle and take it from the
adverasy. It was a High Honor and I am
proud to have done it.

In 1206 I was released as GrandMaster
and became the Chaplain of the
Brothers of St. John. My position is that
or Moral and the keeping of the Sacred
Codex. I was whitnes to Edric and Faizah
doing honor to the Hospitallers with our
camp as they Whitnesed the Change of
the New GrandMaster Lord Yon Von
Metzger, the Squireing or Erasmus and
Lord Cormac to Sir Njal, and the
Ceremonies of Brotherhood for Cormac,
Cistivol, Urbano and Rorik.

The reign of Drogo and Ilthuna found me
once again on the Queen's Guard. A
queen I have most respect for and hope
to bring honor to her name. Tested by
the Chivalry her guard defeated the
Knigths of Caid on the Open Battlefield
and to my relief they found us most
worthy to be her guards.

During the reign of Erdic V and Faizeh II
I served as Guard for her Majesty and
Issued a thousand death tournament in
which I succeeded before the Queen
stepped from her throne. Each Death
cost the participates one dollar which
went to a Charity of the Queens
Choosing. I also stepped down as
Chaplain of the Order. During the
Estrella war I was given the Honor of
Commanding the Iron Brigade of Calafia,
the greatest fighting force in the Known
World. I was also asked to be a
Champion in a battle of Champions from
the known world. With other non belts of
Caid I entered the fight and we came out
victorious. The Hospitallers once again
recieved the Cross Swords of Caid for
their service upon the field as well as
service to the Kingdom.

During the Reign of Edward and Mora I
once again take on the mantle of
Queen's Guard and Lieutenant.