In the Beginning...

Christopher doesn't really remember his life beyond the fire that consumed his family and his home. His uncle, Lopik Ashman, attacked his family while they slept, setting their home on fire. Christopher's father thrust a heavy rod in his hands and shoved him out the doorway. Only Christopher survived.

What Christopher did not know is that Lopik had unearthed a powerful artifact of elemental power, the Rod of Flame. His actions became more erratic and his pyromania increased to new levels. Finally, Lopik's family could not look on any longer. Lopik's brother, Christopher's father, stole the Rod. Lopik pretended all was well and reconciled with his family. Then he burned them to death.

Lopik was further provoked by a prophecy which indicated his reign of power as a military general in the Hurvan army would be brought about by one of his kin. Determined to wipe them all out, he became consumed in his quest to destroy the boy.

Desperate and alone, Christopher grew up in the harsh wastelands of Hurva. He learned quickly. As he grew, his weapon prowess began to precede him.

Eventually, Christopher began to raise his own army. Unaware of his heritage and uncertain of the Rod he possessed, Christopher was unable to unlock its power. In the mean time, Lopik continued to search for the Rod, unaware that his nephew still lived.

Christopher went on to become a famous warrior. He learned the language of Wyrms and was able to communicate with dragons. He soon became a Dragon Slayer, implacable enemy of Wetzylbaum and his kin. Christopher saved the kingdom of Bloodstone and married Christine Trent, crowning himself official Baron of New Bloodstone. The bloodstone gem became his royal symbol. He joined the Order of the Gryphon, and met Spartan Silverblade during that time.

Betrayal

Christopher stumbled on his path to greatness. The Rod had its own curse, the curse of pyromania, and Christopher could not resist it forever. His hair slowly turned bright red, another side-effect of the curse.

One of Christopher's most vicious and powerful allies was Fell Kelvin. Every bit as tough as Christopher, he was also much more charming. Fell lost his hand in the initial battle with Christopher. Alternately a dashing pirate or a merciless bandit, Fell and Christopher fought on many occassions.

Lopik and Christopher clashed several times. Much of Lopik's power grew from the Crown of Fire, a gift from the elemental fire prince, Imix. Christopher donned the crown after killing Lopik, thinking he would gain some measure of his power. Instead, it slowly constricted around Christopher's skull, forcing him to do Imix's bidding. Christopher was fled his wife and home, engaging in a personal quest to track down the fabled Nightflame blade. He failed to capture Dralin Nightflame.

As punishment, Imix released him from the crown's grip but killed Christine, who had attempted to track Christopher down. He forced her soul into the Rod of Flame and bound the blade to Christopher.

Beaten and broken, miles away from his barony, Christopher slowly made his way back to his homeland. Upon returning, he was attacked by Spartan Silverblade in werejaguar form, but Christopher was was blamed for the attack instead. He was sentenced to six years in the Keystone arena.

Suicidal, Christopher fought ferociously. His fame reached a peak as thousands of thrillseekers came to watch The Dragon (as he was known) do battle. Ashman survived for six months before he was purchased by Fell Kelvin. Fell used all the cash he had gained as a bandit in an effort to avoid being framed for the death of King Gyrdant. Fell had originally concealed several illegal activities perpetrated by the Council of Keystone, but in the struggle of Council vs. Monarchy, someone assassinated the King and made it look as if it were Fell's fault. Only later did Fell discover that the black rose which was his family's symbol originally belonged to Thadeus Kelvin, who had been beheaded earlier in the arena. Christopher discovered this in the nick of time, barely saving Fell's neck from the chopping block and returning the undead Thadeus Kelvin to his grave.

Baron Bloodstone

Fell Kelvin went on to become the new King of Keystone. This increased Christopher's status considerably.

Christopher spent a period ridden with grief for his wife's death and the curse that beset him. For a time, he refused to fight anyone. Upon returning from a journey to Sosel, he seemed to find an inner peace.

Eventually, Christopher managed to free Christine from the Rod of Flame. Fortunately, she did not remember her imprisonment. The magic required to resurrect her was not stable, however, and she was with child upon her death, a fact unknown to Christopher until her resurrection by Ymerek Stats.

Christopher's fiercest opponent was Wetzylbaum, the Dragon King. The two opponents played many a political game, and more often than not, Wetzylbaum outwitted Christopher, but was never able to defeat him. Wetzylbaum became a dracolich. Unaware that to restore himself to power the dracolich was required to consume 10% of its original body, Christopher came into the possession of the High Knight of War's armor, which was made from red dragon scales -- Wetzylbaum's scales. Christopher gave the armor to Fell Kelvin, who nearly died from Wetzylbaum's subsequent attack. Christopher killed Wetzylbaum's only progeny, Flashfire, who had joined the Darklord's allegiance.

When Wetzylbaum was near death, he teleported Christopher into his lair after consuming as much gunpowder as he possibly could. Christopher's court mages teleported him out, but not before the entire left side of his body was burned to a crisp.

Christopher's combat prowess with the great sabre is legendary. He has the record for slaying a dragon in one-on-one combat. Because of this, New Bloodstone's relationship with the Council of Wyrms is tenuous at best and openly hostile at worst. Christopher has created an academy of dragonslayers, which doesn't help relations.

While the Barony of New Bloodstone flourishes, Christopher is a shadow of his former self. Beaten and battered, he rarely makes public appearances. His left eye has been replaced with a bloodstone which gives him many powers over fire. Nevertheless, Christopher does attend Council meetings for Keystone politics and he has a very strong say in military matters.