Hauld Rurik Ragnarson

Matt developed the following character history for his Tiefling Warlord. #A-1 Good Job!

Hauld Rurik Ragnarson is the son of Hauld (Nobleman) Johan Ragnarson (the Cunning), son of the Great Jarl (Chief) Ragnar the Charred from whom the honor of the Ragnarson name comes from. Jarl Ragnar was a great Warlord who established a mighty stronghold deep within the dormant volcano Helsblud, deep in the interior of Midgard, where only the Teifling noblemen of his tribe dwelt. His tribe were excellent warriors and raiders but also prospered through mercenary services, slave trade, mining and blacksmithing. This is the world that Rurik grew up in - groomed from an early age in the skills of the Jarl.

During the early years of the foreigner's invasion of Midgard Jarl Ragnar stayed behind with his eldest son, Ollie Ragnarson, to defend the family's hall and homelands (as is the custom for the first-borns) while sending his younger son (who was more experienced with travel being the younger son), Johan, with the refugee boats to preserve the family bloodline.

Upon landing in the new world of Hyborea Rurik tried hard to adapt. He was seperated from most of his family (who stayed behind) and the collected refugees were wary around those of the mercenary tribe of the Ragnarsons. His training as a Warlord could not be put to use as there was no army that would have him as a leader. To show that his loyalties were with the displaced Midgardians he took a common elf for a wife (as Tieflng maidens are rare and the few that existed were spoken for) and tried to start a farm to help feed the massive influx of refugees. This failed horribly as he had neither the patience or skill for farming or hunting, especially in the malnourished soil of Hyborea. His attempts at building a homestead were pitiful at best. Leading men of labor was not like leading soldiers and courtly diplomacy had no place in small colony life. The rich trappings of nobility his family brought from Midgard proved to be less valuable then the simple tools and farm implements others thought to bring. Because of this his wife, finally realizing his gross ineptitude at domestic colony life (and inability to sire offspring), honorably divorced him.

Rurik's outlook shortly changed after the Great Famine of the Second Year. Food was short and the winter harsh. The colony had to make sacrifices to survive - food could not be wasted n any refugees to old, sick or infirm to contribute to the survival of the colony. Instead of waiting to be forced off the sea cliff like the other useless elders Rurik's parents ventured into the wilderness and died honorably from exposure. The morning they found their frozen bodies Rurik was filled with pride and knew he couldn't play at being a colonist farmer anymore - he had to rise to the glory and honor that he was due as a Ragnarson and face his family's fate or die trying.