Saint Paynifier
Born in SC 263, Paynifier Ahalin was the only daughter of a Farin army sergeant in a family whose sons traditionally served in the army or other soldierly work. Her youth was shaped largely by the violence and tragedy of the Farin war with the Daravi. Having fled the city of Farin for Montford as a child with her family, she developed a deep devotion to the Order's quest to eradicate magic and provide security to those around her. Extremely driven and persistent, not to mention large for her age from fighting with her brothers, she was belted as a page to the Knights of the Chalice at the age of fourteen.
Her career as a knight became intertwined with that of Ambros de Montford, former Earl Marshall, as she served him as a squire. She was knighted in SC 281 and spent the majority of her time in the fields of Farin, hunting mages and patrolling the border. She worked closely with the inquisitorial staff there, and developed a reputation for her devotion to the Order and piety. Amongst the Knights she became favored as an attentive and caring teacher, if a rather strict disciplinarian.
When the Grand Master's position became vacant in 296, the Earl Marshall was quick to put forward his faithful fellow countrywoman to the Lithmore position. She was the first woman to receive the honor of the post. She soon became a common face about Lithmore, both in defense of the city, but also in the social scene. It was often thought by many that she and the Lord Justiciar, Garrid ab Versin, shared a romance soon after her arrival.
While serving as Grand Master, she was placed in charge of putting down an uprising in Lothos in the fall of 298. The campaign was ultimately successful, though the uprising proved to be one of the most organized and bloody the north had seen in many years.
In SC 298, the Knights of the Chalice and the Queen's Guard of the Reeves were dissolved by King Iain II. In their place was formed the Knights Lithmorran to handle all peacekeeping matters in the Kingdom. Paynifier was appointed to be the Grand Master of this new Knighthood. She continued to work and steer the Knights to be a strong and disciplined group.
She was killed in action on the first of Silent White in the year 299 while pursuing a fugitive mage, attempting to rescue a fellow knight.
Following her death, the Dame's remains were ordered by Queen Richael to be taken back to her personal domain within the barony of Musgat, where they were buried near her familial home. Little was made of it for many years, but over time, it has become a site for pilgrims to visit and pay homage to the life and sacrifice of a great knight.
In 363, to honor the 100th year anniversary of her birth, Baron Garrith de Versin personally funded the creation of a modest pilgrim house just down the hill from it. This move presaged a campaign in 364 SC that saw her named as Saint Paynifier Ahalin, a patron example for Knights that reminds them to serve in humble but steadfast discipline, in recognition of her selfless commitment to the Holy Order and her devotion to the Knights Lithmorran.
