Kevin Cardiff *

Welcome to Crossroads

After arriving in Gateway, Mathis has had his fair share of misadventures and fun. On his way to report to duty, he met the young homeless girl, Ellie Clapton - while she was searching for her wayward brother, Gregory. The two became friends shortly after. It was during his early days in the chantry, he met the young healer, Rosette. The two were rumored to be close, but neither of them showed a sign of a relationship in public, settling for stealing glances and time.

Yearly Tournament

• Talent Competition: During the annual Gateway celebration, Mathis participated in two events. The first of which was the talent competition. With him on the stage - Ellie. His talent? Stuffing things in his mouth. In this case, six whole eggs. Unfortunately, one of the eggs hatched in his mouth, and the young squire became the 'proud mother' of a chicken. For his determination, Ellie and Mathis won third place. Their prize? Ellie kept the chicken and Mathis got a brand new, ornate lyre.
• Pie-Eating Contest: The other event that Mathis was in was the pie-eating contest. Even though he did not place, being out-eaten by both Addison and Duchess Aileana, the young man did get a month's supply of pies and ale. Sadly - he does not like ale.

Death of Vox

Happenstance put Mathis in position to go on the party lead by Duke Raziel to finally destroy the demon/demogod Vox. Mathis does not feel like he did much to assist, even though it was timely attack from behind the demon that kept him from retreating. Unfortunately, after getting soaked in both the blood of the demon and others as Mathis tried to pull him back - Mathis became ill. Soon afterwards, he guided the healers to the site of the attack to deal with the wounded. Since the attack, Mathis has been plagued by nightmares of Vox coming back and hunting him down for his role, which has led Mathis to become quite withdrawn of speaking proudly about what his role was.

Magical Debate Magical Debate

Mathis escorted Lady Soranus and Miss Clapton to the magical debate. During a particularly long speech, the squire fell asleep, just to get plagued by a nightmare vision of Vox just as Ellie and Ravelle tried to awake him. The young squire jumped and asked the necromancers that when/if he dies, not to be resurrected into their undead forces.

Extra Log: Meeting Ravelle

Matters of the Heart

After being reported to Sir Brody by an unknown person for being too close and romantic with Rosette, Mathis was placed on a punishment duty - dredging out the stables of Gateway and dumping the refuse on the beach. When he was in this task, he was visited by his friend Ellie, and when Sir Kreshnik assumed that Mathis was being romantic with her too, things snowballed, culminating with Ellie attempting to stop Kreshnik from attacking Mathis, and Mathis disobeying an order to strike Ellie.

A New Course Decided

After getting a good offer from Cael Kilgannon, Mathis decided to leave the Knights to pursue his heart and his path. He staved off his decision until after Unity Day, where Mathis represented the Knights one last time by winning the Unity Day race (and giving the prizes to Ellie Clapton, who he 'tied' with) and going to the Unity Day feast with Ellie and Rosette. Afterwards, he packed up his gear and returned it to Sir Gerard, while he waits to speak with the Keeper to complete his transfer. On November 28, 504, Mathis Cardiff was released from duty as a squire and entered the Ducal Guard.

Blood and Roses

For a while, after Mathis left the Knighthood, he had allowed himself to become closer to Rosette. However, Rosette feared that Mathis would eventually want to take their relationship to the next level, as he had mentioned that he would like to get married sometime in the future. Realizing that Phoebe Forester would never approve of Mathis, Rosette abruptly ended things with Mathis on December 1, 504. The young man was devastated, and went to drown his sorrows in milk and cookies - unfortunately, the tavern maid, realizing that Mathis was a Guardian lad gave him 'Warrior's Milk' instead. After downing two straight pints of the strong concoction, Mathis stumbled out into an alley - but was not alone. Someone attacked him - either in revenge for Vox, or to get his Unity Coin, or some other sinister reason. If it had not been for the arrival of Ellie and Zephir, Mathis would have been killed - instead, he suffered a bad knife wound to his back and was sent to the castle to recover. While at his side, Ellie had interceptted any letters or gifts coming from Rosette, blaming her for why Mathis is in the infirmary in the first place.

Recovery Blues

Things finally came to a head between Rosette, Mathis and Ellie, as Rosette was persistent in her contact. In a verbal argument that brought all the confusion and misguided words into a punctual end, Ellie nearly got thrown out of medbay, and Mathis barely avoided aggravating his wounds. While under recovery, he's been visited by all from the girl he saved from choking, Newt, to the Duchess Arianell, to the City Guard Godfrey, who took his and Ellie's statements to start investigating who attacked Mat. However, wanderlust struck and eventually Mathis took to travelling again.

Tick Tock Trouble

Finally released from the infirmary, Mathis went to meet with Newt on the beach. The two talked for a while on some feelings that had been mentioned by Ellie the night prior - and Mathis decided to ask Nerissa out on a date, and she kissed him in return. After the two parted ways, Mathis was speaking with Empress Mena in the Keeper Center Plaza when two carts collided when a small child ran out in front of one of them. In the chaos that ensued, Mathis has lost his Unity Coin and started a mad search to find it, falling asleep in Ellie's room so he could return to search some more in the morning.

Afterwards, Khalani asked Mathis to visit. After scolding the just recovered young man for crawling around in wreckage, she revealed that she thought Ellie had a major crush on Mat, which left him Gobsmacked. He had never considered Ellie romantically and when he told Ellie as much, she confessed her feelings before running off.

Extra Log: A Lesson In Flowers

Right Under Your Nose

Mat, scared he has lost one of his truest friends went off for some alone time and found Newt. Nerissa comforted him and they ended up sharing another kiss before he had to return for curfew, leaving Mathis with feelings for the redhead - while wondering how to handle the crush of his youngest and closest friend. A few days later, Newt unexpectedly broke a date with Mat. After spending a day training in the rain then playing in the snow, Mathis came down with a small cold and Ellie followed him to seek out Natalia for treatment. Mathis and Ellie had time to speak alone afterwards and have decided to try to give each other a shot at their hearts. For a short time, it seemed that Mathis was willing to settle, but then something happened that would change the young man's life.

Sliding Into the New Year

While this was all going on, Mat and Baroness Khalani Paggion continued to talk and be friendly. After an incident where Mat slipped and bumped his head and was getting chewed out by Lady Aeryn Kilgannon, Mat invited Lani to go ice sliding with him on a pond near the castle. The two were out sliding and playing.. and playing ended in kissing, much to both of their surprises. Not sure what to do, Mathis asked Khalani to go to the dance for the turn of the New Year - after explaining to Ellie that he was going to go out with the Baroness. Ellie met him at the dance and tried to kiss him, Mathis pulled away - shortly afterwards Lani and Mat left to celebrate the New Year and Khalani's birthday. A few days later, Ellie and Mathis had a heated argument as Mathis confessed his feelings, old and new for the Baroness and they went their separate ways. The friendship between Ellie and Mathis became strained while the one between Mathis and Cael Kilgannon took a turn for the worse, ending when Cael removed Mathis from the service of the Ducal Guard. Shortly afterwards, realizing that Mathis had nowhere else to go and secretly supporting Khalani and Mathis's relationship, Duchess Guardians hired Mathis as her administrative assistant.

Extra Log: Green Fields Music Night

Vanished / Blood and Honor

With feelings growing between Khalani and Mathis, the two at first attempted to take things slow. However, their hearts have come up with other ideas and the two are in a very strong attraction. With the news that Ellie has upped and vanished, Mathis has blamed himself in part for her disapperance and accepted Khalani's offer to help him find his friend. Ellie would be found by Lady Soranus on the Isle of Mists. After she talked to Mathis, he realized that things had been completely broken between them and he has no idea how to fix it, especially after Ellie insulted Khalani's sister, Natalia, and was slapped for it. For a few days afterwards, there had been mysterious packages sent out suggesting that Mathis is unfit to be with the Baroness Amphorae, sent to Khalani and Catelyn both. These were addressed in private.

Extra Log: Facing Destine, Welcome to Crossroads, Cherry!

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Mathis, a little embarrassed by a pair of gifts that were sent out, got into a verbal confrontation with Sir Gerard on separate occasions. While the two reached an understanding, others did not take it so easily and late one evening while talking to the recently reinstated Duke Green Fields, a pair of Knights and a Squire called Mathis out for a beating. The young man took it without returning a blow, and so far only a few people know the truth of the incident. Mathis took a pair of days to recover and returned to his duties as Duchess Arianell's assistant without complaint.

Growing Pains

In the months since Khalani and Mathis started dating, the two of them matured together and more importantly, matured seperatedly. Mathis took the steps forward to go through his Becoming Ceremony with the assistance of Lord Jenoch of Trickling Dart. After that, himself and Natalia have started to talk on a friendly level, even if Natalia continues to rib him in the name of 'bettering Mathis'. In early spring, Mathis was having a conversation with Ravelle Soranus when he came in contact with the entity that has been causing problems in Gateway. Falling unconscious and half-frozen, Mathis had a vision from Iseldis, a young woman from Green Fields. What the vision and poem he has means, he is unsure of, but it was an important lesson in the change of his duties.

The Courtship of Mathis Cardiff

After a quiet meeting with Duchess Draught in late April, 505, Mathis began the formal courtship of Khalani Paggion.

Wrapped up in the Moment

A series of misadventures followed the attack of the ghost on Mathis. Him and Khalani kept missing out on the chance to ask Duchess Draught if they can formally start seeing each other. On May 4, 505, Mathis and Khalani were fishing when the Courtesan Copper came to swim - and all three of them found themselves under attack by an infant kraken. Khalani and Copper were injured in the attack, and Mathis, in a fit of rage, nearly jumped into the Tidal Pool to try to stalk the creature and kill it utterly - instead, the kraken escaped. Because of this, the young couple hasn't been seen about much as they recover.

Extra Log: Bubble Trouble

The Gathering

While demonstrating a possible event for the Spring Festival with Khalani, the Ambassador Rosier appeared before Mathis and Khalani, stating that Duchess Aileana had requested the watermelon that Mathis was holding under his tunic. Spirited away to somewhere, the two found themselves amongst friends, acquaintances and enemies. After 4 days, the two were returned, but Mathis may have undergone a marked change for the experience.

Touching Sandy...

Shortly after the Gathering, Mathis had a meeting with Empress Mena. What happened in that meeting is not known, but shortly after, his life would end up irrevocably intertwined with that of the widow Vaia Wendt, as she is brought back from Mists and her life is turned upside down.

Visiting Amphorae

Mathis, Khalani and Natalia travelled to Amphorae to meet the other sisters of the Paggion clan - Meliana and Shala. Feeling a little overwhelmed and wanting to make a good impression, Mathis wrote Tabatha to send some of her cookies. Instead, Mathis's mother travelled to Draught in the events afterwards, things became strained. Coupled with the possession of the Paggion home by Ovelia Paggion, the first Lady of Amphorae, things were strained as Mathis and Khalani learned of both the deaths of the Baroness and Baronet Miller's Isle and of Baron Ethos's assassination of the vampire, Zipporah. After a brief visit to Miller's Isle to express their condolences in person, and Mathis having cut his apron strings completely, the Paggion family and Mathis, without Natalia, boarded a ship to return to Gateway.

Extra Log: Teenage Demon Fighting Club

First Steps

After being attacked by a vampire on the beach while Lani and Mathis were helping Tiege, things started to look a little bit more bleak for the couple in Mat's eyes. While Khalani carried the poise and confidence of being the Baroness and sure that things will work, Mathis became more worried which resulted in a series of missteps that has nearly cost him Duchess Catelyn's favor. He's started on his own mission of self-discovery to try to straighten himself out under the tutelage of Duke Phineas. The first step was his departure from Guardian Towers and his own removal from his position as Duchess Arianell's Assistant. Now living on his own in Crossroads City, he is continuing to rebuild himself from a good foundation. He also starts to visit Vaia, who is in isolation in the Ethos Suite.

Travellin' Mat

After talking with Emmaline Sheppard, a member of the Merchant's Guild, Mathis was handed the key to start on his new life. he has started to open relations with several of the clinics and healers around Gateway, as well as with the Healer's College within what has become his homeland. Among the items he has secured is travel papers within the Isles and a letter of intent to trade from Amphorae. He has attempted to secure travel to Tyr for himself and some companions - what will come of this is still in the works. But, that hasn't stopped Mathis from living his life a little...

Double Eclipse

Most of the day of the Double Eclipse was spent with Khalani, however the young man did make some appearance around the city. While in the newly open maze, Mathis discovered not only a secret passage, but was with Basthsheba and her companion when they were approached by what appeared to be the shadow of a demon that took off into the eclipsed sky. He spoke to Empress Mena and Duke Raziel on it, before going to get his hand treated for a wound he had recieved in the maze.

Extra Log: Teenage Demon Fighting Club Meeting 2

Travels Abroad

Taking with him Tiege Soranus, Addison Brandivere and Ambassador Tezca of Tolek, Mathis travelled off of the barrier to visit Tolek first. While there, he created a strong bond with the local merchant council, securing a good amount of trade with both Draught and his father's business back in Guardian. On the way back, it is rumored that the group stopped in Avanna, but there is no record of their travel there and what was accomplished on such a trip.

Travel Illness

Mathis was one of the victims of the sleep disorder that had plagued a number of the citizens of Gateway. He took nearly a month to recover from it fully, but shows no ill side effects from the exposure.

Homecoming Murder

Shortly after arriving back in Gateway, Mathis and Khalani were informed of a series of deaths at the Healer's College in Amphorae. After a visit there, the young man has taken up the lead investigator role with assistance from rangers in Green Fields. The two made their way back to Gateway, where they have spent time together while tracing after the murderer.

Extra Log: Dinner After Mayhem

Change of Venue

A year after Duchess Draught allowed Mathis and Khalani to be recognized as a couple, Mathis swore his oath of fealty to the Isle of and Duchess of Draught, officially becoming a citizen of Amphorae. Things seem to settle down as other baronies come to the forefront and Mat and Lani start to settle down more.

Extra Log: Miller's Isle Debate, Butter-Currant Buns

Detours and Deadends

With the lead in the Healer College murders assassinated, Mathis found himself drawn into the investigation of the kidnapping and brutal murder of Healer Aithne Corbaine. His investigation led to Draught, where he, Khalani, and Cynara Dhaval faced down thieves to recover the healer's information, which was transported to both Claremont Manor and then on to the Baronial home for further research.

While this was going on, Khalani became involved in her own situation as her cousin, Imani, and Cynara became embroiled in a murder investigation.

End of the Rainbow

On September 25, 506, Mathis and Khalani were officially betrothed by the new Duke of Draught, Dorian Claremont. They are scheduled to marry on March 25, 507.

Start of the Yellow Brick Road

Despite the betrothal - Mat's story is only just really beginning. Now comes the hard (some) say fun part - learning and surviving in politics.

Call of the Wild

Mathis ended up getting involved in the Mists hunt coming to Gateway, and he witnesses the murder of a friend.

Extra Log: Call of the Wild, The Gateway Hunt

Winter Festival

Mathis participated in a number of events in the Winter Festival, including a snowball fight with Tiege, Ellie, and Vaia Wendt, a young woman of which he's been tied to in the past.

March 507 came and went, and Mathis and Khalani did not marry. What happened seems to be quietly held under wraps, and what happens next a mystery, but the two were still seen together after the postponed wedding, and appear to be still a couple, though soon after Mathis ventured off to take care of some business on Tolek.

Spring Festival

The Spring Festival could have gone on without Mathis there, despite his selling of many of the raffle tickets that went out around Crossroads City, including a number of the winning tickets. The only incident that truly marked Mathis presence was the argument between former squire and the gilted girl, Vaia Wendt, of which rumors of the two had swirled about. What happened is left between the two, but it caused Mathis to withdraw to Tolek.

Back to Start

Though never officially announced, sometime in June 507, after Mathis returned from Tolek, and soon after, his relationship with Khalani Paggion ended. Since then, he has opened a shop in Gateway Plaza, Cardiff Trading and Acquistions, and often seen around there if not out in public with an most peculiar source, Vaia Wendt's family. In fact, the young man and woman are seen together often, with Vaia making constant trips from the shop to the castle.

Kicking the Down

On August 1, 507 - Three knights and a squire leaving the castle with focused direction is usually the sort of thing that most citizens avoid. Easily done, for the Imperial Guards were not interested in aught but their purpose. They went to the relatively new shop in Gateway Plaza West, and a rather violent conflict ensued with Mathis Cardiff. After a bit of a tussle, his unconscious form was hauled to The Fire Pit. A healer was sent for, one of the newer ones in the vicinity (with a name like Emirashe? Emishen?), and then later Cardiff was hauled toward the Blue Tide. What happened? Why? It's just the latest in a series of troubles for the young entrepreneur, and the magnitude of it remains as of yet unknown. This is followed by a late night fire, that left Cardiff Trade nothing more than a charred shell. Guards spent well into the night investigating the area and keeping curious folks from interfering with their efforts.

Freefalling

August 3, 507 - Emmaline Sheppard removes Mathis from the Merchant's Guild to appease the Keeper.

Out into the Light

August 8, 507 - After a flurry of letters and few visitors, a black clad Mathis makes his reapperence on the beach with Phineas' dog, Ivanhoe, at his side. Why he's in mourning colors is not immediately known.

Life Number Nine

September 14, 507 - For the Double Eclipse, Mathis dressed as a giant cupcake from the Food for Thought and was among the drugged drink victims. His choice of joke is ironic, for the following day, Phineas hires Mat to manage both the Isle of Ale and Coffee and Tea shop. Back on his feet again, the boy is back to running things again. However, a few days later, he is removed from the Coffee and Tea shop where he was living and the locks changed. Phineas instead adds the Ocean View Restaurant to his duties. Mathis thrives at the Isle of Ale, running the Tavern, handling groups, and running day to day operations. During which, Duchess Aileana convinces Mat to come to Green Fields for Harvest.

Off to Harvest

Early-Mid November, 507 - Mathis travels to Green Fields to participate in Harvest. While there, he comes across Elspeth Toet, his friend from Gateway. Mathis is determined to participate in every event that he can at the festival. He finishes second in the pie-eating contest to Elspeth, and spun not one, but two stories at the storytelling event. He even tosses out an insult or two at the insult contest. Sadly, his streak would end at the Grape-Stomping event, where after an unfortunate accident, Mathis fractured his leg after a misstep in the basin. He's still around the Fields, helping where he can and rumors continue to go about as he and Mistress Toet seem to spend a lot of their time together, though the two of them are sure it's just as friends that have a lot of complications in their lives. After Elspeth went away to study for a university course, Mathis continued on, participating in the insanity that was the Truth or Dare game that Cynara and Iain hosted, and later was approached by the Landros family with an offer to marry their youngest daughter, Elwyn. Mathis politely declined.

End of the Road

On January 26, 508, Mathis entered the First Knight's office. When he came out, he was broken and beaten into a comatose state. Left if the infirmary, he would survive only until February 5, 508, when he passed away.