Are you 18 years or older?: Oh, so very Yes...
Have you read our rules?: Yes, yes I have...
Character Portrait (optional):
Character name: Ansvar
Character age: 29 (born on the Winter Solstice 1882)
Physical description of your character:
Tall and broad of shoulder, like most of his people. Ice Blue eyes they reflect a wisdom making his age hard to guess. Blonde hair, often tied in braids grace his Narthwich complexion, hidden only by the facial hair that protects him from the cold...
Notable personality traits or skills:
Ansvar is dedicated to the old ways and the Nomadic traditions of Porval. His piercing eyes are remarkable, as is his ability to remain calm despite his situation. Wisdom and faith drive his actions.
Where is your character coming from? (write a short paragraph about your character’s background before jail):
It is said that Ansvar's mother was lost in the cold, her pride preventing her from calling out save to Osien. Morning revealed the woman dead in the snow, her remaining strength evident in the child her quickly cooling arms held tightly. The babe did not cry out as he was taken from her lifeless form, but stared skyward without flinching as the cold caressed his small form. As he grew, a child of his village, Ansvar seemed charmed and favored by Osien. He learned the rituals of sacrifice and of devotion, finding the hand of Osien in all things. His calm demeanor let him rise in esteem of his people. On the hunt or in the face of hardship, Ansvar was a rock upon which his people could rely.
How did your character find themselves in jail awaiting trial? (Please write a few short paragraphs describing what poor luck brought your character to this point in their life):
The Winter had been long and tribes of Porval had decided to send a party to attend their Chieftan in the Sever Years Gathering hosted by Furne. The arrival of the Porval party, including Ansvar, was quite the spectacle. While the Chieftans gathered, the peoples of Narthwich traded and enjoyed each others company in feast. Games of skill and athleticism were played, ale and mead was comsumed in great abundance. Ansvar was even able to lead a sacrifice to Osien in a clearing near the city walls. All was good, until it was not...
Upon returning from the ritual, Ansvar found that Lothar "Dragonspear", a warrior of great esteem and a provider for the people of Porval, was being held and tied to a great post in the middle of Furne. The Chieftans arrived, even as Ansvar entered the grounds from the opposite direction. Laws had been broken, the peace shattered, it would seem by a brawl between Lothar and a Noble son of Furne. The brawl left the man of Furne dead and the people shouted that murder had been done. Lothar for his part stood firm, but did not resist as he was secured to the post marking the center of the field. Instead, the great warrior looked to his Chieftan for security and deliverance.
The Great Chieftain of Porval, Skad the Greater, lowered his brow and turned away, an unspoken shame haunting his eyes. A verdict was delivered that Furne was wronged and its "Noble" son had been stolen from it. The law required a life for a life, as was their way. As the axe man made his way toward the restrained form of Lothar, it was instead the faithful Ansvar that intercepted the headsman. Ansvar spoke of an ancient custom and honoring Osien, as the Furne people called out for the blood of Lothar. Ansvar's voice boomed, silencing the crowd and siting, that a life for a life would be settled, but it would not be Lothar who paid this toll, but rather that Ansvar himself would take his place. It stood to reason, Ansvar argued, that he was prepared to accept judgement before Osien for what Lothar had done with a glad heart. This would also pay the life toll for Furne's loss.
The gathered Porvalians readied for battle as the headsman started toward Ansvar, blood in his eyes. The warriors surged forward only to be held back by a raised hand from the doomed Ansvar. As the headsman stepped forward once more, the Chieftain of Furne called him to halt. He had been swayed by Ansvar's argument and did not want to see the battle that would surely mar the Gathering as a day of bloodshed should the young scion of Porval be slain. Instead the Chieftain gave his judgement that Ansvar would be sent to the Black Keep for the rest of his days. Furne would be settled and the Porval would keep their great warrior Lothar. As the Porvalians again rose up in anger at this decree, it was again Ansvar that settled them. "It is as Osien wills my brothers and sisters, should this be unjust...I will be delivered", he turned to Lothar. "Raise a stone in my honor, as I know you to be a man of your word and of great fairness, this stain is not upon you..." Ansvar looked to the Porvalian Chieftan, barely visible behind his fellows. No words were needed, whatever guilt was laid upon the Chieftains feet was evident in the eyes of both men...
