Lucan D'Lere

The current leader of the Freeport Militia and acting head of the city of Freeport since the Crusade of Tears. Sir Lucan D`Lere was once a member of the order known as the Knights of Truth - however following a disagreement with policy, a personal desire for ascension, and a disagreement that resulted in the death of Sentry Dillius, he broke away from the paladin order and centralized the Freeport Militia as the primary police force of the city.

Early Years Sir Lucan D`Lere, by all accounts, appeared to have been orphaned at a young age, as Valeron Dushire remarks that he was "nothing more than a street rat". It seems likely that, with no parents and no lot in life, he resorted to begging and pick pocketing to survive. According to Valeron, he was found and accepted by the Temple of Marr.

Initially slated to become a Sentry of Passion, it was noted that the trainer of Sentries was at the time unable to make room for him, and therefore he was inducted into the Knights of Truth - an unusual situation as it was usually the policy of the knights to only accept those of noble blood.

It was remarked by the Priests of Marr that Lucan was very agile and strong, an excellent candidate for their order. He was trained by none other than Valeron himself - and it was remarked that he was a very formidable knight.

Years as a Knight As they often do, the Knights of Truth received a vision with the Priests of Marr compelling them to launch a crusade against the undead of Faydwer. Heeding what they assumed to be the call from their god, Mithaniel Marr, both orders rallied behind Roley DeFarge and led their assault into Faydwer. Lucan, meanwhile, was left in charge of the remaining knights - which proved woefully inadequate for the defense of the city.

At the time of his taking office to defend the city, the roads were often plagued by orcs and bandits, and the city was constantly at odds with its neighbors, such as the Teir`Dal of Neriak.

Crusade of Tears While little recorded history of the Crusade of Tears remains, evidence exists that indicates that it ended in abysmal failure. Lycanthropy, which had initially been introduced during a Qeynosian mining expedition into the Underfoot had already begun to plague Norrath - and as they returned from Faydwer, the disease only grew. Roley DeFarge was driven mad by his experiences there, and disappeared in a scandal so devastating to the knights, that his history was the center of a vast cover up.

Race : Human Lich Gender : Male Status : Overlord of Freeport Age : Immortal Marital Status : Widowed

Lucan D'Lere is the evil Overlord of the city of Freeport. He rules Freeport from his levitating fortress called Twilight Citadel, keeping order with an iron fist and unbending will. His origins and background are clouded in secrecy and lore; those who tell tales do not often last long enough to be heard again. Some say Lucan appears in public wearing dark, foreboding armor. Others say he came from unusual places to command his post. No clearer information is known.

Lucan is a seasoned, battle-hardened commander of a great army. His face is deeply scarred, suggesting an age greater than Lucan lets on. He is an extremely charismatic individual; his stride is that of a confident and strong ruler, and his voice is rich and deep - audiences are mesmerized when he speaks fluidly and demonstratively. Lucan's sole focus is maintaining and expanding his personal power. He believes the way to do this is to make himself appear indispensable to his people. Indeed, his people cannot avoid his influence. Lucan makes it so, and has created Freeport as his domain for enforcing his influence upon the various races that make their home there.

In his speeches, Lucan will often rewrite history to portray himself as the key figure in epic battles and crucial decisions that have benefited the city of Freeport. He constantly reiterates that he is responsible for keeping his kingdom safe, and that only through his rule can the people prosper.

Unlike most human dictators, Lucan does not need for his people to love him. He demands their respect and total obedience, but any aspect of his personality that needed approval or affection has long since withered away. Lucan will appeal to his people's patriotism, their greed and their fears, but he will never seek to play upon positive emotions. He is only interested in using the population's strength to further his own agenda. While he praises the efforts of his subjects, he always frames their contributions as having only been possible through the security that his rule provides.

Though he tolerates those who practice most religions, Lucan will downplay the role of the ancient gods whenever possible. He has taken advantage of their absence to paint them as weak and false beings who were never really gods at all. Lucan has no qualms about portraying himself as a divine being far more worthy of worship.

Similarly, D'Lere will take every opportunity possible to insult and degrade the rival city of Qeynos and its leader, Antonia Bayle. He will portray her as weak, incompetent and corrupt, playing up the sometimes sordid history of the Bayle family. Though he stops short of declaring open warfare, his goal is to crush Qeynos economically and politically, leaving the city ripe for his influence. He has not, however, ruled out the use of force in the future if it proves necessary.

Sir Lucan D’lere took great pride in having been selected to protect the city while most of the clerics and paladins were off on crusade. He took his duties seriously and spent many weeks trying to oversee every aspect of Freeport’s defenses. His enthusiasm was obvious, and he grew even more popular. This should have brought Sir Lucan satisfaction, but instead it began to worry him. He began to doubt that the crusaders would ever return from their dangerous mission. Moreover, he was learning to enjoy both the respect he was afforded and the power he had as virtual lord of Freeport – and he soon became consumed with the fear of losing those things. The idea of suffering some major failure, and thus being seen as weak or ineffectual, preyed upon him.

Sir Lucan began to seek ways to ensure that his power and popularity would never falter. He sought out members of the Coalition of Tradefolk Underground who had helped the Priests of Marr build their massive fleet, and he cut new deals with them. He allowed them to move openly in the sections of the city near the docks, as long as they took no action against the more affluent Freeport citizens. He also began hiring a few mercenaries to ensure the city walls were always fully manned. He spent the money left in the Knights of Truth coffers, and began going through the temple’s funds as well. As months passed, those few members of the Priests of Marr who had remained to assist him grew increasingly concerned. Eventually, a paladin within the priesthood, Sentry Dilius, confronted Sir Lucan, demanding he relinquish control of Freeport.

No one knows exactly how the confrontation got out of hand. Clearly Sir Lucan was tired and not thinking clearly, having driven himself too hard for months, and Sentry Dilius was not known as a diplomatic man. Perhaps they began shouting, perhaps they came quickly to blows. In the end no justification would ever be enough, however, for Sir Lucan killed Sentry Dilius in a fit of rage and fear. With that act, Sir Lucan angered his gods and was stripped of his power as a paladin forever. The remaining priests and knights turned Lucan out, and demanded he return his Testimony of Knighthood. Sir Lucan refused. Of all the servants of the twin gods of Marr, only one Brother Jentry remained loyal to Lucan.

The Priests of Marr and Knights of Truth who remained within the city lacked the forces to defeat the mercenaries Sir Lucan had hired. They held onto the Hill, but could not remove Sir Lucan’s foothold in the remainder of the city. Sir Lucan quickly expanded the ranks of his forces and officially instituted the Freeport Militia. Both sides settled in for a siege and left everyone asking one question – what would happen when the crusaders returned? Most residents of Freeport assumed Sir Lucan would be forced to flee the city once that day came. Sir Lucan could hire all the mercenaries he wanted, but without the support of the Academy of Arcane Scientists and the Warriors of Steel, he couldn’t possibly face the combined might of the Priests of Marr and Knights of Truth.

Sir Lucan, however, quickly reached the same conclusion. He sought any conceivable ally in his quest to retain the power he had come to love more than honor or truth – and he found such allies in the Dismal Rage, who saw the time was ripe for them to expose themselves once again. Agents from the Dismal Rage contacted Sir Lucan through his Coalition of Tradefolk Underground contacts, and offered him a deal. The Dismal Rage would support Lucan in his war against the agents of the twin gods if he in turn gave them license to operate openly within the tunnels and sewers of the city, and somewhat less openly in the poor eastern quarter. Sir Lucan demanded proof of their power, and was eventually convinced to make a devil’s bargain with the Church of the Dismal Rage.