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Jarl Kjalarr af Blek
Norsman
Follower of the New Way
The Blek House are the founders of the great Ring Fortress of Blekborg, several hundred years before the Frostsverd House takes over with "the Crownless" Jarl of the Pale. The Frostsverd's who fought the Dark One again as Asger did and stopped his mad assault on the East. The Blek were the dominant family to rule the island of Bronsholm and through its riches thanks to being on the center of the main rivers grown to become the Jarls of the Pale stretching their influence all the way into Ísskógur to the south of the island. Now besides from trade and metals they have gained access to grain and woods to be transferred into coins in their treasury.
Jarl Kjalarr Torsönnir is the 18 year old son of the previous Jarl who died too early. His Lord has a sharp mind with it all focused on the betterment of his House, to see it through these turbulent times and make a better world for himself and his brethren. As most of Blekborg he is of a zealous character and worships the All-father, bringer of light and life and the Unnamed One, the guide of the dead. But he has yet to do his Train of Mourning to his last resting place, the sacred pilgrimage every Pale One has to perform. With now vast land under his disposal that are not yet truly Pale Ones he faces a problem his ancestors have not faced before, how does he rule people of not his own kind...
Next to Jarl Kjalarr is his two younger brothers Tÿr and Baldr who act as his commanders, his advisers and eyes of the realm and are inseparable from him at the court. Because of his fathers ill-timed demise when he was young he was never betrothed to any fair maiden.
Pale Lore Index
Kjalarr Lore Index
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First Assembly of the Pale
- "Thane Valdemar you shall do as you are ordered" Jarl Kjalarr stared at the big commander infront of him as he slowly stood up and raised his voice but were still only up to the chest of the Thane "or I will make you tell our Brethren why their hamlets are burnt to a crisp!"
Even with his smaller stature Kjalarr did know how to handle his men and tenacity usually made them back off. That and Uncle's drawn sword usually helps.
- "But my Lord you do not even know if the information is reliable, we should first verify....." Thane Torbrand voice quickly dies as the Jarl's gaze focus on him.
- "When it comes to our home, we should never take any risks that might make us lose it." He looks down on the map on the table infront of them and points at the assembly location "If you are not here by tomorrow with your troops I shall brand you as traitors to your own kin, I don't care if you find this inconvenient for you and your men. Tomorrow you march."
Thane Valdemar grit his teeth and his grip on his sword tightened but one of the other four Thane's slapped him on the back of his head. Valdemar had a low fuse but he wasn't rash, he just didn't like being told what to do by a young-ling who havent even been scared in battle but he and all of the other commanders knew their young Lord always was right and they had to follow what he said.
In unison they slammed their right fist onto their chest and performed a low bow to confirm they shall do as told and then started to walk out. Jarl Kjalarr kept his posture and calm for as long as he could but the second one of his many servants, a thrall, closed the door behind the commanders he was finally enveloped in the rage that had been brewing since the beginning of the meeting this morning. The poor thrall that closed the door has to throw himself out of the way as a table comes flying towards the door.
"EVERY DAMNED TIME! MAY THE UNNAMED ONE CURSE THEM TO FOREVER WANDER!" His mute uncle stood next to him and waited for him to finishing cursing his own men and every Norse man alive to eternal damnation.
As Kjalarr finally calmed down he pointed out the thrall lying on the floor having barely avoided death and terrified out of his mind. The other servants didn't dare to go close to the poor elf boy as they had never seen their Lord lose his composure. He waived at them to help him up and then turned to his Uncle as he was rubbing his hands onto his face as if he was exhausted.
"I'll ride tomorrow with the soldiers from Blekborg, maybe that will finally win me the respect that a Jarl deserve." His uncle had worry in his eyes but he could see on his nephew that he would not change his mind. "If these dimwits require a man with a sword to follow I will give them that."
As he was walking to his chambers and a train of servants formed behind him you could hear him mutter further curses upon everyone that looked down on him. His uncle's favorite one were the one where Kjalarr vowed to make Thane Valdemar the bride of a sperm whale.
Humilitation and Bravery
The entrance to the Vale Mountain Passage
The frost was biting into the pelts of the men and the twentieth night was approaching fast as the first rangers were coming back to report their findings. No army was marching over the passage or anywhere near it, no enemy was heading for Blekborg.
The entrance to the Vale Mountain Passage
"You stupid little twat" Valdemar screamed at the boy "You forced us all to come out here when winter is at its coldest because of some rumor you picked up on your way back from the Empire"
Jarl Kjalarr remained silent focusing his eyes on the fire making cracking sounds in-front of him. How could he have been wrong? He made sure the information was reliable, he didn't just act out on a whim. Why haven't the forces of Ulf Erovran been spotted by the scouts?
"Something must have happened..." he mumbled to himself
The last scout eventually returned to the camp. He was the one sent furthest all the way to the settlements of Valegard. He tells the same story as the previous scouts. Kjalarr's mood became even more blue and his doubt on his own ability grew even further.
"See! Why do you persist on keeping us here in the forsaken nowhere's land and freezing to de..." Valdemar was however silenced as he heard the Scout continue his story to the Jarl
"...but the lands of Valegard are telling about a battle between the old Lord of Valegard and Jarl Ulf Erovran..." a smile grew on Kjalarr's face but Valdemar refused to admit fault "So? That doesn't mean he was coming to attack us!"
"... I saw at the locals who are allies of Jarl Ulf that they had prepared a supply train for the Barrowland armies to march through the Vale Pass...." the scout answered with a bit irritated look "... but these news pale by the rumors of sightings of a dragon in Barrowland...."
Finally Valdemar was quiet, hs face filled with an expression of suprise. Jarl Kjalarr's eyes opened in curiosity and excitement and his soul was filled with joy again and he forgot all about the past cold 20 days he had spent for nothing.
"I want two thousand of our bravest men to follow with me through the pass, we have some hunting to do..." he doesn't even look at Valdemar as he orders him "Thane Valdemar, your services are no longer needed and I want you to lead the rest of the soldiers home to Blekborg and remain there until I return"
Valdemar didn't respond but simply acknowledged that he would do as commanded before he retreated to his tent in silence. He knew he was punished by being forced to do what he himself found as the act of a coward, to take his men and hide behind walls while others march on towards glory and adventure.