Karl von Miltenberg
Karl was born to a father who married a Catholic woman. His childhood was spent working the hop fields in Miltenberg with his uncle Clement and learning how hops gave beer its wonderful flavor. Hops are used in brewing for their antibacterial effect that favors the activity of brewer's yeast over less desirable microorganisms and for many purported benefits, including balancing the sweetness of the malt with bitterness, contributing a variety of desirable flavors and aromas. Just from the stories told to him by his uncle Karl would choose beer over water any chance he could.
As a teenager he then started learn the basics of leather-working. His father a Lederer who traveled with the local war band. At age 16 Karl was learning the craft and traveling with his father the first time. Marching with the war party for the first time Karl realized he did not care at all for the leather working. While working Karl only did as much work as he had to keep father off his back, but watched everyday as the arquebusiers drilled. Watching the fine details of the arquebusiers, he dreamed every day to join them instead of working with his father.
While marching to Rome the war band was attacked by group of bandits. During the attack Karl’s father was killed leaving Karl alone with the war band. He worked his fingers bloody trying to keep up with the leather work needing to be done, the Hauptmann had Karl learn to use the arquebus finding that the arquebusiers lived longer then the pike men.
During the 9 month siege the war band was not getting paid. So they would entered the city they were bent on plundering and proceeded to loot and pillage ceaselessly for eight days, inflicting harsh treatment upon those who were directly associated with the Roman Catholic Church, most notably the clergy. Karl did what he had to survive, however he was not sure how he felt about the chaos he helped create. After some time he and a few others head back to Miltenberg.
Finding himself near home, he left the group to see his mother. After 8 long years Karl found his mother no longer waiting for the return of his father. A new lord of the house has taken her as wife under the Huguenot laws. Not wanting to upset this new lord and seeing his mother's new life Karl lied about his choice of religion.
After the lord of the house saw that Karl knew how to use a gun, swing a sword, and fix armor he ask Karl to lead his company into battle. Being a young and confused 19 year old boy, Karl jumped at the chance to play war and gladly marched on to the town his step father order sacked.
Thinking Karl was young and inexperienced the commander of the town watch invited Karl for dinner the night his host arrived. Hoping to end the fighting before it started, the commander added hemlock seed to the soup. Not wanting to be rude Karl gave a grace speech before the meal. Finding the young boy was smarter then he appeared, and Catholic to boot, the commander decided not to serve the soup. The men met again on the field of battle and being religious man did not stop Karl from following the orders given by the men paying his army.
On this campaign for 5 years being bored of the fighting and having earned a fair amount of money for his step-father, he was called back home. Thinking the money he earn was his he quickly found that it was not. His step-father kept it all. Angered in this Karl left Miltenberg to find his own way.
Being talented with a sword Karl found himself in England. Near the harbor he ran into a ship’s master that was in trouble. He felt sorry for the man so he decided to help. Finding that Ship’s master not needing the help but not turning it way. Joining the Master for drinks turned into a good or bad idea. No one knows what happen after these two men meet.