To master the basics of swordfighting.

To start my own unit or sub-unit.

To learn the art of making full-plate armors.

I started fighting after I moved to Des Moines from Cedar Falls, IA in '01.  A friend introduced me to the sport back then, and after my first practice at Nan Belegorn I was hooked.  It was difficult for me to make it to the practices since I would have to drive 2 hours on the weekends to get there, and another 2 hours back, but I loved every minute of the fighting.  Very few fighters had garb and even less had armor.  The weapons were still pretty crude to, as the realm was still in its early stages.  I remember one week they said they would be taking pictures of the fighting and anybody in garb would not be able to fight, so I got myself some sweatpants and tore up a t-shirt so I could be in the pictures. 

Later the next year I joined the Army, and shortly after I was sent to basic training for the summer.  I took a break from Belegarth during that time, talking about it to my new friends in Des Moines.  When I returned from AIT in late '03 I started attending practices in Nan Belegorn again.  After a few of these I got the idea to start a new realm in Des Moines with my friends.  My friends, now by their fighting names Harbainian, Loklamone, and Abberant, and I formed the realm Solasmahr Tir in early '04.  I continued to fight was Solasmahr Tir until I moved to Milwaukee, WI in '05.  Up there I looked into attending practices with Clan of the Hydra (now Rhun), but could never get my schedual to work out.  Then in late '06 I was deployed to Ft Bliss, TX for the Army.  In that area of the country there are no Belegarth realms at all, so I decided to start fighting with the SCA.

SCA combat was alot different for me.  I had the power and concept of sword fighting already, but what I had always lacked was the basics of the art.  I am by no means a good fighter, many times a completely new person has walked onto the field and killed me without losing so much as a limb.  This is not something I liked, but never quite knew why it was.  The SCA group in El Paso taught me alot about sword fighting, and showed me where to learn more.  I learned different drills, stances, defenses, and some new attacks.  I also got accustom to using [i]much[/i] heavier equipment that I was used to and gained a new appreciation for metal armor.

Now my time in El Paso is comming to a close, and I am going to return to Solasmahr Tir.  I hope to breathe new life into the realm during my time there by sharing my new knowledge and skills with them, but only time will tell.

Warhawk Al'Ritte stumbled upon the Nan Belegorn, Valley of the Trees, many years ago during one of his trips north out of the Luminous Valley.  Being a Nomad he did not settle down in this land, but returned often.  Many times during these visits he would be attacked and defended himself as needed.  After many of these encounters, he decided to become a mercenary, a blade for hire.  Now a professional soldier, Warhawk would venture to this land and others like Tir Asleen or Chamonix for profit and the thrill of the fight.

Warhawk's bloodlust built over the years.  He fought with a bloodlust rarely seen on the battlefield.  After a while people began to wonder whether this nomadic mercenary was good or evil, then the question was answered.  Chieften Bodhi of the Uruk-Hai offered Warhawk a permanant position among his ranks.  Eager for the taste of battle and seeing the might of the Uruk-Hai Warhawk took Bodhi up on the offer.  Warhawk was inducted into the army of the Uruk-Hai, and chose a more fitting title, Grim Warhawk.  Grim advanced quickly due to his skills at war and his knowledge in the homeland.  Soon he became Ravager Grim, a full member of the Uruk-Hai.  Unfortunaley, Grim's nomadic past caugt up with him and he was forced to leave the Uruk-Hai.

He traveled far south, to a place he had been long ago.  This was not his birthland, for that was [i]much[/i] farther to the east on the other side of the world, but he had been here before when he was young.  Buisness had to be taken care of.  During this time, Grim made many new allies and learned much discipline in his fighting.  Soon he will return to the Luminous Valley, and there he will wage a new war.

Race: Human

Age: 22

Realm: Solasmahr Tir

Fighting Style: Heavy Line Fighter