There are many stories told by the Greycloaks of Crossroads keep, when they gather at the end of the day to eat, and drink, and boast of their own greatness.
Most of these are tales told wherever fighting men tell their tales, and they are always the same, though with their own fanciful decorations. There is the tale of the terrible monster, whether it is lich or troll, demon or zombie, that was brought to bay by the daring patrol, and slain in desperate battle. There is the story of the bandit lord, hunted down in his fortress lair, his minions put to flight, and himself dragged back in chains to face justice. There is the tale of the noble maiden, relieved (to her great delight) of the burden of her maidenhood, and of the riches and favours she showered on the valiant Greycloak who had so relieved her. And there is, of course, the tale of staggering quantities of ale drunk to win a two copper bet, and the consequent awakening in a pigsty, suffering the interested attentions of an amorous sow.
One of these stories is even true.
But there are three stories told by the Greycloaks of Crossroads keep that are told by no other fighting man anywhere in all Faerun. Indeed, these three tales are told by no other man or woman anywhere. And, unlike the tales of vainglorious boasting that are the common coin, these tales are told in soft voices, and stone cold sober. Usually they are told in the dead of night under the pitiless winter stars, while on patrol in the wild lands far from the keep; or in isolated corners of the walls during the darkest hours of the watch. And if a sergeant or officer should be nearby, then they will carefully turn a blind eye and a deaf ear, for fear they will have to dismiss a good soldier for telling a forbidden tale.
One of these stories is of the Knight Captain who wasn't nobility, but was a common swamp farmer. Who rose to high rank through his own heroism and skill, and who never licked the boot of any of the 'high born'. Who turned back an army of undead, where all of Lord Nasher's efforts had failed. Who then travelled with only his close companions into the darkness, to confront and defeat a great evil, and so save all of Neverwinter... "Neverwinter? The world, gods love him, the whole damn world!"
And who, despite all the stories told by the bards (and paid for by Nasher's court), did come back.