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Age: 33
Race: Aasimar
Sex: Male
Date of birth: 10 Uktar 1328
Place of birth: Baldur's Gate
Alignment: Lawful Good
Patron deity: Red Knight
Profession: Knight of the Red Falcon Order
Classes: Paladin, Fighter, Divine Champion, Rogue
Primary language: Chondathan (Common)
Secondary languages: Elven, Draconic
Physical description: Tall man of athletic physique with well-kept red-hued medium length hair and amber-gold eyes. Speaks with a deep strong voice. Often smells of wood-smoke, suggesting time spent on the road.
Sharply defined facial features with a strong jawline and high cheekbones. Beard usually cleanly cut. Dark bushy brows.
In certain conditions his silhouette seems to emanate a faint halo-like shimmer, never constant and disappearing instantly when focused upon in view. Almost an illusion-like effect that's visible only at the edge of an eye, suggesting Aasimar ancestry. In combat he's a hulking mass of muscle and armor capable of performing acrobatic jumps that often catch his enemies surprised.
Psychological description:
Carries himself with an ease that borders on disarming. Often laughing easily and lending a hand without ceremony, making him often misunderstood by fellow knights. Careless on the surface but refreshingly approachable. When it matters his demeanor suddenly changes to don a completely different character like a cloak. Many times his fellow travelers recognize this change and instantly become more vigilant to the nature of their surroundings. When Ignatius speaks with commanding voice those familiar will know it is truly used with purpose. As an Aasimar he's sensitive to the fragility of life. He wishes to make the lives of those around him better. This meshes with Red Knight dogma, as through strategy lives on the battlefield can be saved.
In times of war prepare for peace:
Livelihood of common-folk can be improved in war as Paladins fight to restore balance and safety, already planning for the aftermath. Waging war is not glorified in Red Knight dogma but presented as a strategic necessity, part of the life every society must eventually face in a perpetual cycle. Ignatius sees military strategy as a form of compassion. It is studied to make sure that sacrifices of soldiers in battle are not in vain and the worth of lives lost results in the highest possible positive outcome to those that continue leading their mortal lives.
In times of peace prepare for war:
He tries to live his own life to the fullest and inspire those around him to become the best versions of themselfves. Peace is never permanent. It is a time to prepare and stockpile resources for the upcoming war. Ignatius interprets this part of the dogma as applying it to people more than physical goods. It means physical and spiritual preparation. One will not survive war if all his life during peace was miserable. On the other hand he'd practice discipline, reminding that to get fat on the fruits of peace is also a weakness. His disarming humor and approachability are part of a strategy to build character in people that would help them look into the future with hope and resolve rather than fear.
Religious views: His ease is not neglect. He's truly devoted to the Red Knight but knows when and how to show it strategically. He doesn't preach his faith yet simply lives it, showing that discipline doesn't need to be far away from joy. In fact this relaxed nature is a strategy itself: to be approachable and win hearts as well as battles. The dogma of the Red Knight especially well resonates with his sensitivity to life, because through strategy and planning lives can be saved. Through discipline and example lives can be inspired.
Ancestor: His distant ancestor comes from a line of planetar known as Chordyrael. Ignatius has a vague idea of his ancestry as it was revealed to him during dreams sent by the Red Knight. Such visions were part of the guidance which nudged him onto the path of a Paladin. Other than name and type of celestial Ignatius doesn't know anything specific to this ancestor.
Biography
Family
Lyonhelm is a house of nobles that many years ago lost its wealth and influence. Lyonhelms never held much wealth to begin with but have their own heraldry and militaristic traditions. They were ennobled by the houses of Baldur's Gate not far from the time of the city's founding but it was done in disagreement with some bigger families and with the barely required majority of supporters. Because of this disagreement and perhaps not without scheming, documents confirming this status were lost a long time ago. Many members of the family devoted their efforts to finding those documents or simply regaining their status in service to Baldur's Gate but the number of their supporters dwindled over time. Nowadays few even consider them nobles but their military service still holds some favors among more fortunate houses. Their current fortune can be described as one of merchants of medium wealth and they hold no real political importance.
Family members:
Gregor Lyonhelm - Father of Ignatius, responsible for passing the militaristic traditions of the family and a retired mercenary.
Anna Lyonhelm - Mother of Ignatius. Resourceful businesswoman leading a successful merchant company specializing in ship maintenance parts, including sailcloth and other marine equipment.
Victoria Lyonhelm - Adopted younger sister of Ignatius. Caring healer and herbalist helping aging Gregor in daily chores. She's the daughter of a fellow brother-in-arms of Gregor that he vowed to take care of after his friend's demise in battle.
Family Legend:
The Lyonhelm family name has a short legend to it. Apparently "Lyonhelm" was originally a moniker given to one of the ancestors after a battle in which he lost his own helm and took up a discarded exotic helmet that brought him luck. During the battle, his courage and decisive actions earned him fame and respect. The use of a lion head shaped helmet was regarded as a good omen and lucky charm. Later, upon founding the house, he decided to adopt it as his family name and members of the house continue the tradition of using lion head-shaped helmets.
History
At birth his celestial heritage was obvious, with him looking like a cherub but with age it became more subtle. His eyes glowed faintly in the torchlight and his dreams of the battlefields continued to wake him disturbed. He'd often find himself absent-mindedly recreating battles from his dreams, thinking how the outcomes could be influenced in any side's favor. This led to his interest in strategy and leadership and later education to a level that modest family funds allowed. When he matured, a family friend from the Bloodhawk house sponsored him further at Bloodhawk Castle where he became a Knight and joined the Red Fellowship. Around 1359 he answered the calling and joined the Red Falcon Order during its founding. He was trained earlier by disciples of Lady Kaitlin, who eventually became the Red Knight's Avatar.
He was not taking part in Lady Kaitlin's adventures in Tethyr as he was sent on a quest to find an artifact of strategic value - a scrying orb that would be an invaluable help for any battlefield. For five years he was sailing the seas and visited the Moonshae Isles and Chult in search of the orb, occasionally reporting back to the Bloodhawks. Because of his views and how well the teachings of the Red Knight resonated with his character, Ignatius joined the ranks of the Church shortly after its forming but worked mostly as a traveling agent while fulfilling his quest. He was set as a guardian of an ex-convict group that was supposed to redeem themselves by finding the orb. During that quest many documents describing the orb's whereabouts were recovered but the final search led to a dead end and they returned unsuccessful from the quest. Nonetheless, the group Ignatius was overseeing was forgiven their past criminal days for long service and recovery of many useful manuscripts that bought their pardon.
His easy-going approach would bring him followers from all kinds of social classes. He had friends both among nobility and common rogues - some of chaotic but non-evil nature. His companions were often people abiding the laws of a society but not because they believed in authority. Chaotic individuals that obey the laws simply because they don't want to be exiled and cause they valued stability that comes from it even if it was not an inner choice of following order. Ignatius would seek the company of such people as their non-evil aura suggests a possibility for cooperation and maybe even redemption with a little bit of guidance that he'd gladly offer.
He tended to care about fulfilling life for everyone. All this can be interpreted as "In times of peace prepare for war" part of the Red Knight dogma that demanded spiritual readiness of the entire society regardless of standing. One does not prepare for war if all care is focused on readiness of exclusively Lawful Good people. All need to be ready! That and the above-mentioned adventure made him acquire a unique set of skills which included scouting, reconnaissance, infiltration, and a fair deal of fighting tricks and precise strikes.
Ignatius focused in his training on martial skills and melee combat, building an athletic body to match it. He took Paladin oaths within the Order of the Red Falcon at its founding very recently, somewhere in 1359 DR. He studied the use of scrolls as a form of strategy that adapts his skillset to his lack of divine spell-casting sourced from his deity. Rogue levels reflect his practical knowledge and cunning but only in abilities that can be applied as accepted military craft and intelligence work in alignment with the Paladin Code (Expose Weakness, Use Magic Device, Acrobatics, Sneak Attack). It complements his ability to read combat situations tactically and act before the enemy. He's a leader who studies the use of magical tools as part of his repertoire to accomplish both the duties of a Paladin and a military strategist.
Future With news about the Bloodhawk Castle in ruins, Ignatius files a report of his return from a long-lasting quest and settles in the Coast, seeking to put his newly gained skills in service of Good and Justice. He started to gather like-minded people around him, making friends among adventurers. He'd choose from his battle companions those most reliable. Ignatius is seeking to pass on the knowledge and experience but most importantly guide people towards spiritual and physical readiness for inevitable dangers that the Sword Coast is yet to face.