Saint James, who went on to become the first ruler of Cambria, was born to a herdsman and his wife, in the
Green Hills region of
Reetland. Both of his parents were devout followers of
Pelor although at the time the
Caravingian Kings were not inclined to see that
religion favourably. Saint James was given his rather unusual name by his mother, Malva, after
she dreamed of an ancient hero of the
Pelorean Empire of that name shortly after his birth.
From
a very early age his local priest, Father Sadoc, saw something special in Saint James and he acted like a
second father to the boy. When Saint James entered the church at the age of 16 Father Sadoc acted as his
mentor and he was later to go into exile with him. The rise of Saint James in the Church was very swift
as he impressed all who had dealings with him and by the age of 25 he was already a Bishop and deeply
concerned by the ambitions of King Carloman I. When the King announced his own divinity and that of
his ancestors Saint James denounced the idea and to forestall an inevitable reaction from the King
he announced that he would go into exile with many of his followers.
The King was at first pleased to be rid of Saint James but when he learnt that several thousand of
his subjects were also preparing to leave he sent a troop to the border to close it. Such was the
presence and persuasiveness of Saint James, however, that many of the soldiers chose to lay down their
weapons and follow him. Saint James led his followers beyond
Brimmingstone, which was already a bustling frontier town
to the area of
Pell's Hold. This he knew was an ideal place to settle but
for a demonic beast that lurked nearby. Men called it the Bloodbeast and it killed all who tried
to till the fertile soil of that area as well as their livestock. Many said that it was immune to any
weapon or spell but when it attacked the camp Saint James defied it without arms or armour. Some
stories say that Saint James slew it with his divine power, others that
Pelor sent an angel armed with a blazing sword to defend him. Either
way the Beast was sent back to Hell and the settlers were free to begin building what became the
capital of a new country.
Many are under the impression that Cambria was unpopulated before the exile of Saint James
but there were many independent settlements beyond the western borders of Reetland and news
of the slaying of the beast spread quickly. The settlements sent delegations to the camp
partly to trade but also to see if the stories about its leader were true. Soon delegations were coming
asking Saint James if he had ambitions to lead a new country. At first he replied he was
a humble Bishop not a King. Five years after his exile, however, he fulfilled many
promises by visiting several of the existing settlements and after returning to Pell's Hold
and much meditation and prayer
he accepted the Kingship.
Many were the trials of the fledgling country. Saint James had to oversee the first laws and
form an army for he was well aware of the ambitions of the Kings of Reetland. Perhaps he is best
known for his encounters with the many perils still hidden in the woods and forests of his new
realm of which the most famous was with the Dragon of Greatwood. As he grew older, however,
his advisors began to talk of his responsibilies to the kingdom and, wishing to leave an heir,
in the year 21 he married the daughter of the Duke of
Ragenport, then a large independent city. The
marriage produced a single child,
Olwyn who would become the first Ruling Queen of Cambria.
Sixteen years after his death Saint James was canonised by the Reetland Church but Cambrian
citizens were already sure of his divinity; clerics were dedicating themselves to following in his
footsteps while peasants had begun to direct their prayers to him.