Earl Rambert is a minor antagonist from Heroes Chronicles: Revolt of the Beastmasters. He was an Erathian noble, perhaps the most influential of Mad King Gryphonheart's three main supporters.
Biography[]
Earl Rambert was an Erathian noble who, along with two other nobles, the infamous Lord Onsten and Baron Paglon, supported the activities of the tyrant Mad King Gryphonheart. The king subjugated the mud landers, who had previously been slaves to the barbarians, and now the Erathians became the oppressors. Most of the nobles did not support the mad tyrant, but the three evil nobles did and actively aided him against the slaves. The Ancients then sent Tarnum, the immortal hero, to free the mud landers and stop the Mad King Gryphonheart. He defeated Onsten and later Baron Paglon, leaving the king with only one supporter, Earl Rambert, who in turn had a larger army and power than the previous two combined.
The king sent his son Niven to defeat the rebels, but it was partly his intention that they kill the boy, as he did not like him, since unlike his father, he was supported by most of the nobility and was a humane, kind-hearted person. The prince was also a great strategist, he defeated the rebels with an unexpected attack and many prisoners were taken. Earl Rambert tried to convince him several times, he almost begged to execute the prisoners, but the prince refused. However, Tarnum and his companion Droglo sneaked into the camp, killing three guards and kidnapping Niven. The rebel leader and Rambert then communicated by letters. The nobleman threatened him several times that if he did not immediately return the prince, he would execute the prisoners one by one, but he did not do this, probably just trying to intimidate the rebels. However, the rebels gradually advanced and inflicted a great defeat on Rambert's army and even captured his castles. However, the noble fled, taking with him the female slaves, including a gnoll witch, Adamina.
Tarnum was worried, as Rambert probably knew that wise women were highly respected by the mud landers and their loss would be a great loss. The nobleman's castle was in a very difficult place to reach, and he finally offered to exchange prisoners. If the rebels bring him Niven and leave the area, he will release the prisoners. However, Tarnum did not want to accept the deal at first, as he and Niven had developed a strong bond, and he knew that if he left the area, the Mad King could become stronger again. Instead, he offered another deal, but Rambert immediately refused and said that he would really kill the women if he did not get the prince back as soon as possible. After telling the leaders this, Niven announced that he would volunteer to go there to protect the rebels, and Tarnum and the rebel leaders agreed to make the exchange. However, they already wanted to see the nobleman dead, because like the previous two, he also showed his true face. Tarnum and his captains learned that Rambert had ordered his soldiers to start killing the animals living in the swamp. Many of the basilisks were killed, some of them were chained by archers and shot to death by them, while others were burned to death by zealots. They also saw swordsmen strung up gorgons by their rear hooves and slaughtered them like cattle and the serpent flies were locked in cages. With his actions, the noble earned the wrath of Tarnum and the inhabitants of the swamp, so even though they made a deal, they did not trust him.
The rebels, led by a gnoll commander named Brellick, took Niven to the appointed place in a cage. Rambert brought the prisoners, but tricked the rebels and ambushed them. However, he brought few soldiers with him, either afraid of or underestimating the rebel army. Rambert killed Brellick, but Niven then became enraged, fed up with the evil of his father and his minions, broke free from his cage and killed the last important minion of the Mad Gryphonheart King with his sword.
Personality[]
Earl Rambert was a rather demanding, willful, blackmailing, perfidious person. He was loyal to the Mad King Gryphonheart, obeying his son, although unlike Niven he was malicious and disagreed with the prince's decisions.