Diehardt was originally a nameless homeless boy who accidentally stowed away on a sailor ship. When the ship was pillaged by pirates, they took pity on the poor body found among the cargo and decided to adopt him. Wanting to not have the rough pirates influence him to much, the first mate did his best to give Diehardt an education, teach him manners, and avoid making him develop any bad habits. The captain only cared for his cabin boy to become a brave fighter among is men, bestowing the name Diehardt upon him in hopes he’ll live up to the image of a mighty warrior. Unfortunately, Diehardt turned out to be more timid than imagined, but he eventually became the crew mascot due to his naivety and enthusiastic earnesty.
The pirates had maintained a secret headquarters on an unknown island on the seas for years and raised Diehardt in the village there. The pirates returned to the island every year to restock and bring in new supplies. The pirates took Diehardt with them every other year to show him the ropes of being a pirate. All the pirates tried to teach him their fighting styles in hopes Diehardt would inherit their weapons and will.
However when Diehardt turned 17, the pirates never came back that year, nor the year after that. With the help of an ex-pirate who lived on the mainland, Diehardt found the last known designated location of his pirate family. Aeternum.
Diehardt set sail with two of the other pirate boys that grew up on the island in hopes of finding what happened to the pirates, to only be met with an oncoming storm that smashed his boat against the rocks and he would wash up in what would be known as First Light with nothing but the clothes on his back and an abandoned hatchet found on the beach. He would find one of his friends somewhere in First Light a month later practically peer pressuring him to join the Marauders because Marauders had the least territory and it would be fun to try and take over. While Diehardt admired the Syndicate’s power and the Covenant’s dedication, in the end he chose Marauders for the freedom and in hopes of finding his pirate family among them. It was definitely not because his friend was continuously harassing him to do something more challenging.
In a year, Diehardt would distinguish himself as jack of all trades, able to diligently harvest herbs, mine ore or chop trees all day because of his upbringing on the island. He could alternate between weapons on a whim due to his pirate family’s various teachings on fighting. He would mostly become infamous as a ferocious melee dueler who could adapt to any opponent in 3 matches.
Outside of battle, Diehardt is as upbeat and cheerful as any normal person, completely hiding his bloodthirsty habits he gained as a pirate. After joining a simple, but powerful company that would be known to raise many powerful rookies over the years, Diehardt often worked with a few veterans Marauders to learn as much as he could. His company occasionally also worked with members of other factions, allowing him to befriend various figures and weaken any hostility towards the factions themselves. Though he fought wars and crushed acquaintances with a smile on his face, and died to other close friends that were on the opposite side, it never truly bothered him due to the thrill of battle and incapability of death.
He eventually met with his other friend again, a member of the Syndicate. Neither friend let the factions bar each other, as all three friends joyously gathered together again to discuss experiences. Once they finished describing their pasts and gotten their bearings about the island, they could finally start working towards the main reason they came here. Diehardt had seen and heard tales of most pirates becoming Lost due to crazy rituals and catostrophe, but Diehardt refused to believe either could happen to his jolly captain who was built like a mountain, and the stern yet kind first mate who was a demon with a rapier. The two friends shared his sentiment, but Aeternum is not a land of happiness. It may be a land of reunion, but it will be filled with more tragedy, betrayal and futility than any hell.
Welcome to Aeternum, a land of glorious riches, power and despair.
