Caleb Stratton (d. August 1267) was a dwarven mercenary from Mahakam and member of Zoltan Chivay's company during the 1260s.[1]
He was killed fleeing the 7th Daerlanian Cavalry Brigade near the Ina river, somewhere in Armeria.[1]
Biography[]
At some point, Stratton made final plans to marry his fiancée, though as he went to ask the woman's father for permission, he was chased away as a "penniless bum".[1]
Meeting Geralt[]
Once, the group waylaid and robbed a rich hawker who tried to flee Dillingen after the townsfolk exposed his trade with the Scoia'tael. The merchant defended his property like a lion, shouting for aid several times before the dwarves attacked him with batons. Intending to fund future enterprises of each individual with the treasure, the group helped load the trunks on a wagon and set off into the forest.[1]
Not long after, in August 1267, Stratton and the rest had been escorting Kernow refugees, specifically mothers and children, to safety. They met Geralt of Rivia and the witcher's own group for the first time on the way toward the Yaruga river from Brokilon. Chivay advised the witcher to join up with dwarves on their way eastward to refuge, which was accepted.
After crossing into Brugge, the group stopped at the river O. Convinced not to carry the treasure any longer, Zoltan ordered Munro Bruys, Yazon Varda, Figgis Merluzzo, and Stratton to hide it; the rest continued to Fen Carn. Much later, during an unexpected battle between the refugee-killing Nilfgaardians and the Temerian Army, Chivay's company reunited. They evaded death by running to the woods, but Stratton caught a sword across the head and when he fell, was finished off by bear spears. After burying Stratton and mourning his passing, the dwarves continued.[1]
Legacy[]
Upon giving Geralt his sihil sword, Chivay told the witcher "when you use the blade to slaughter your Ciri's persecutors, take one down for Caleb Stratton".[1] The surviving members of Zoltan's company served in the Battle of Brenna in March 1268, and it was they who intercepted Nilfgaardian Field Marshal Menno Coehoorn's retreat. As they killed the marshal (unaware of who he was), they commemorated Caleb, much to Coehoorn's incomprehension. A couple of months later, in early June, just before the Rivian Pogrom, Chivay commemorated him again, along with their other fallen companions, to Geralt, Dandelion, and Yarpen Zigrin in Wirsing's tavern. A couple of days later, after the pogrom, after Geralt was killed by rioters and sent on a boat to Malus Island, Chivay saw Stratton in the fog helping them, a trick played by the magic of the loch.[2]
Notes[]
- In The Witcher, if Zoltan is invited to Shani's party, he will raise his mug to Caleb Stratton when they mention fallen friends.