<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/4/46/Man_117.jpg)</div>The ruthless Baron of Ghoere took over the rulership of the Barony a little over two years ago and has turned it from a collection of small villages prone to being raided to a powerful realm, resounding in strength and unity.  Tael was a senior commander in Darien Avan's army that conquered the initial part of the Baronies that became the Barony of Avanil.<br/><br/>Darien Avan had just appointed one of his old retainers as the Baron of the newly formed Barony of Ghoere and sent Gavin Tael to assist with the pacification of the area.  The Barony was still in chaos with the old retainer died and Gavin Tael was elevated to the title of Baron.<br/><br/>Gavin Tael first formed the Iron Guard, a combination police force and army, before he took power.  Tael further surrounded himself with trusted men and women who had distinguished themselves in campaigns that Tael had commanded.  He wanted only those he could trust close to his banner.  Gavin Tael has been very pro-active in developing his own minor aristocracy, anointing many baronets, knights and county squires, each who rules over a small parcel of lands.<br/><br/>Gavin Tael uses survival and fear as motivators. Cross him, and you won’t survive. Serve him well, and you have nothing to fear. He uses the law of his land to protect those who do not oppose him— and to motivate people who may wish to stand aside. Gavin Tael’s strategies can be summarized as follows:<br/><br/>•   Be patient—put yourself in the right position, and then wait.<br/>•   Direct action speaks louder than words.<br/>•   You have to trust someone.<br/>•   Control your own Barony before you try to control another.<br/>•   If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.<br/>•   A show of strength provokes a show of its own.<br/>•   Brutality can be efficient, but it costs as well.<br/><br/>Gavin Tael prefers to lead from the front. He generally sets up a battle and waits to see how it develops, sometimes getting close to the front to rally troops. Once he identifies a weak point on the enemy side, he leads the Iron Guard to that spot to break them. From then on he is generally in combat. He favours his Morningstar,<em>Warstar</em>, and concentrates on the tougher foes. He has no code of single combat, and uses his companions to help him bring down the most stalwart defenders.<br/><br/>He recently married Laurel Tuor a 2nd cousin to Laela Haensen, Baroness of Tuornen.