Gunston Croan, the Ex-Hellknight Scrapper – Steal this Background

[The following description of Hellknights was borrowed from Pathfinder Wiki…]

The Hellknights are a collection of knightly orders with a unique focus on the promulgation of law. They are interested less in the social goodness and charity typical of paladins, but rather in the foundation and stringent maintenance of order at all costs. They are not concerned with morality or methods, only results. If people cannot be trusted to obey the law out of their own senses of civility and social righteousness, Hellknights provide the need to obey out of fear of a master’s stern hand.

Regardless of their severity, Hellknights are not an evil group. Although there are doubtlessly numerous evil members, the majority of the orders are impartial arbiters and enforcers of order and justice. However, in truth, some of the orders are very much evil.

Every order of Hellknights has a distinctive, intimidating style of full plate armor that distinguishes them from the others. All Hellknights wear the armor of their order as a matter of pride and are rarely seen without it. Each particular order also has a favored weapon. For example, the Order of the Pike (located in Fort Inevitable) favors the long spear.

GUNSTON CROAN

As a young lad, Gunston Croan couldn’t wait to join the Order of the Pike. In fact, he AND his brother trained like fiends to become Hellknights. When the order came looking for “volunteers,” the paralictor nearly choked on his own spit as he saw the two brothers eagerly step forward. Soon after training began, Gunston started having second thoughts – sparring against a summoned devil was not his idea of how a lawful order should operate. Regardless, there was no way out – he would just have to deal with it.

Over the years, Gunston got into more and more trouble as he really just didn’t give a shit. For the most part, he did his duty (at least, enough of it to get by), but he quickly became known as a troublemaker and subpar Hellknight. One thing that got him into trouble was his lack of discipline on the battlefield – he was a scrapper, after all. Sure, he would train with the long spear like everyone else, but when in battle he would drop it in favor of up-close-and-personal weapons.

If it weren’t for his highly decorated brother, the Order would have shed Gunston a long time ago in a very messy way. When his brother became the Lictor of the Order of the Pike (head leader of this order of Hellknights), Gunston simply stopped reporting for duty. Without his distinctive armor and pike, he’s taken what little money he’s saved and went to the Stagger Inn. He’s been drinking there for weeks now – not really sure if the Hellknights come to kill him or leave him be – he doesn’t really care either way.