Mavros the Red

• Race: Human, Daiven tribe
• Sex: Male
• Age: 43, although 582 years passed
• Status: Commands the Red Guard

Born over six hundred years ago in the frozen wastelands of the north to a simple woodcutter and a nameless woman he rescued during a blizzard. Although his mother disappeared once he was born, his father raised him with a strong moral code. However, during his ninth year raiders came and killed his father and made Mavros their slave. Just two years later the raiders were mysteriously attacked by a bloodthirsty pack of wolves and only Mavros escaped into the deep snows.

Tired and hungry he was found by a witch woman just hours from dying. She took him in and taught him the was of the spirit world. He stayed with her and learned her ways until she pushed him out just as he turned twenty. With some coin and a spirit guide, Mavros made his way south towards the scattered Northman tribes.

It was there that he rose to power, using his magic to destroy his foemen and take their possessions for himself. Without the witch to curb his tendencies he was drunk on his own power and sought to forge his own empire upon the frozen earth. For thirty years he turned his fortunes into a vast army, which he used to conquer all those that stood against him. It was after the battle of Yagrs Pass that he walked away from everything he had become.

While his second took up his mantle and sought to follow his leader's bloody example — Mavros wandered lost. One day he found himself in the house of a young woman whose husband he had killed two years previously. When he left that house five years later, Mavros was a changed man and the village had three more children to raise. Taking the name Mavros the Red, he raised the village's banner and gathered another army to destroy the evil that he started thirty-five years previously.

Main Article: red_guard

With his magic having matured and tempered by battle he sought out others with an inner peace and sense of justice. To those that flocked to his banner he taught them a small taste of his magic and knowledge so that would realize his vision. This core of his army became known as the Red Guard in honor of their tabbards and glowing red magical armor they wore into battle.

For three years Mavros plunged into the empire he founded, each time whittling away more of their strength. Finally, on the fourth year he sent his army to the south while he and a small contingent went directly for the seat of power. With their armies battling in the north Mavros and his trusted second crossed blades. As his closest friends were falling before the palace guards, Mavros cast a spell that reduced the entire palace to a smoking crater.

With a leader the empire collapsed and all of the villages again found themselves free to live their own lives. All of the Red Guard journeyed to the hidden tower where they trained and were never seen again. Still, the legend of Mavros lives.

Phoenix Force found the Red Guard asleep in their tower and when they woke them up to help them clean up an evil presence — the guard quickly found and revived Mavros. Now that they have fulfilled their obligation to their saviors, Mavros and the Guard travel the world to explore what has changed in the nearly five-hundred years they slept.

Mavros is a force to be watched. Once considered a man of limitless evil, he instead because a force for good — for reasons history never records and he will not talk about. Now he and the Guard travel throughout the land imposing their own definition of law and justice.

Mavros has dark brown hair streaked with gray at the temple and sideburns. His eyes are hazel and close together on his face, giving him a hawkish appearance. At just a little over five and a half feet he is dwarfed by many of his fellow tribesmen, but his tenor voice is clear and presents both a feeling of underlying power and obvious culture.

When at court he favors tunics of burgundy with black trim and gold embroidery worked throughout. While the style is currently out of fashion his tight leather breeches and half-cape are holdovers from the style when he disappeared from this world. When riding often wears a rakish hat and braids his hair.

When he goes to war as the commander of the Red Guard, Mavros shows he is no mere nobleman. His armor is black leather reinforced with plates seemingly made from rubies; although no gemstone could be so perfectly cut to withstand the punishment his endures. With a silvered sword, heavy dwarven steel axe, and lance — Mavros leads his company from the front and is often the last to leave the battlefield. PC Connection

Mavros's magic slumber was disturbed by the Phoenix Company during their search for a weapon to confront a growing evil presence in their lands. This journey took them to the far north where they found a ruby talisman and the promise that it would smite their enemies. With that bit of the puzzle they found the lost tower of Mavros. Inside they freed the Red Guard, who after helping Phoenix Company defeat the presense uncovered the hidden tomb of Mavros and once again set him loose upon the world.

It is quite possible that future groups, or Phoenix Company, may again encounter Mavros on his travels. This might not always be on the same side as he upholds his own brand of justice, regardless of the local laws. This has made him unpopular with many, but because of the power his company wields; no single lord could hope to present enough force to turn him aside.