It took me forever to figure out what Santier was, until it hit me. He is a walking statue, right? So essentially living stone. What else is stone and "alive" (in a way)? Vendrick's golems in Drangleic castle. I originally thought maybe a Giant, but they have more of a rough hide than stone flesh. Hopefully this is enjoyable, and "don't you dare go Hollow!"
/[]\
Gaisteel footsteps echoed across the stone atrium of Drangleic castle. The two knights guarding the large ornate staircase leading to the throne room stood at attention as Sir Syan marched to the king. His footsteps were vicious, filled with rage, but his heart's rage was not toward his king. However as he went to mount the stair, the guards would not move aside.
"What is the meaning of this knight?" Syan asked, straining to keep his voice in check, "I have urgent news for the venerable lord."
Not refusing an inch, one of the guards responded, "The king is partaking in a council of war. I have strict orders not to let anyone in. Apologies, sir."
"I see… Very well. Do your duty sir knight."
/[]\
As tears cascaded from the sky onto the castle, aloud crash echoed across Drangleic as the door to the throne room burst open. As Sir Syan strode inside, his silver and blue cape brushing over the unconscious bodies of the two guards, three men looked up from a table blanketed in maps. Head to toe in invisible mountains, non-existent lakes and oceans, and envisioned armies. Farthest from Syan, at the head of the table, sat Vendrick. To the king's right stood Velstadt, a warrior radiating honor and might, and to the left of Vendrick was Raime. Unlike his brother-in-arms, Raime did not radiate anything. In fact the black cloth that adorned his armor seemed to be melting into the shadows, trying to escape from the light.
As Vendrick stood to welcome the new arrival, Syan spoke. Losing control of his anger he raged at his lord, "You assured me you had control of the golem! You lied to me!"
Not willing to allow his king to suffer a slight such as this, Velstadt stepped forward to challenge Syan, but was stopped by Vendrick with a single motion.
"My apologies, Syan. I was confident in my ability to retain dominance over the creature. However we have encountered some… complications, as of late."
You're apologizing? Apologies won't fix what happened. APOLOGIES WON'T BRING MY MEN BACK!"
And so they went on, like a miser would bargain at a store for the cheapest price, they argued on end to reach a settlement. Vendrick insisting he had no idea such a thing could happen and Syan insisting for an instrument of revenge. At last an agreement was reached, and while he was satisfied by the outcome, Syan's body still quivered in rage.
"So it is decided then," Vendrick declared with complete continue of his voice, "Each of the families of your men shall be granted a gift from the treasury, amounting to five times the standard battle pay."
"And?" Syan pressed.
"And you shall be given an army to track and destroy the golem, as well as this." Vendrick said as he motioned towards Raime. The Raven was carrying forth a large, black spear.
"This spear has been enchanted to be nigh-indestructible. The stone flesh of the golem should be no issue for it. Are you satisfied?"
"Indeed my king," Syan said as he twirled the spear in the air, "this will do nicely."
As Syan turned to leave Vendrick gave one final blessing toward his favorite knight.
"Go forth Sir Syan. Go forth, and kill Santier."