Gilles de la Grave is a Frankish knight, originally from Languedoc, to the south of the Kingdom of France. Born into a family with considerable land holdings Gilles, though now in his 35th year, has yet to marry and take on the role of local landlord over the frozen mountain holdings. Gilles’ family are followers of the Cathar heresy, which is currently gaining significant support in the Languedoc region of Toulouse. The French Cathars have a link to the Byzantine Bogomils. Gilles has pledged to his church to bring back holy relics for the protection of the French Cathars. Before an assembly of Cathars Gilles’ father Hubert declared that the French Cathars—who would ultimately need protection against invaders—must receive similar protection through the possession of holy relics. His life was vowed to the attainment of such relics. Sadly, Hubert died only two years later, his promise to the church unfulfi lled. This vow,
however, became handed down to Gilles. Thus it was that when he reached adulthood he took up sword to become a knight. While known to be loyal to Count Baldwin, Gilles has earned a reputation as a man with secrets, something his personality—a mixture of cynical pessimism and dark fatalism—has encouraged.