[Other] Level Up 5e - As Above, So Below

[Drifter One]

Ok, looks like the other game is a non starter so ill stick something in. Suppose I had better read those books now!

Bear with me.

[Nade]

Originally Posted by Ermine

It's too bad you've withdrawn, but I do have 2 more people who will be posting soonish, hopefully.

Ehhhhh, I may have been a bit hasty in my withdrawal.... As long as you don't mind taking on a complete newbie to the system and have a bit of patience with me I think I'd still like to be considered for this one. Sorry again for my indecisiveness here, but the premise I think is just too compelling for me not to go through with it.

[Ermine]

Did not expect that. But complete newbie is okay.

[Drifter One]

Ugh, time is getting away from me this week!

I will have an app in this weekend, I promise!

[Ermine]

It's fine. I haven't set a deadline yet. ^~^

[page6e23]

And I still haven't completed my app, hopefully in the first half of next week.

[Ermine]

Works for me. I'm still waiting on someone who said they'd apply.

[Drifter One]

Name:Arneulf Bjornsson
Heritage (Gift): Human (Diehard Survivor)
Culture: Settler
Classes (Subclasses): Berserker (Defiant)
Background: Soldier
Destiny: Dominion

Goals and Motivations: [
Short Term Goals:

Find his brother, Bennigaar (Bennie) Bjornsson to tell him his wife is ill and he must return home.

Earn enough coin to form and pay for his own warband

Marry and extend the family name

What the hells is that red mist about?

Long Term Goal(s)

Unseat the usurper Olaf Sigurdson from the hold, Ravenrook

Locate, settle and build a new community (hold) where he can grow his own tribe.
Deity: The Raging Wrath, lord of War and thunder. Also known as "The Rage".

Connection:Olaf Sigurdson - Betrayed Arneulf's grandfather, Uskald Bjornsson to usurp the hold of Ravenrook, seizing power from the Bjornssons who had long held the seat for 300 years.

Bennigaar Bjornsson - Arneulfs warring brother who has gone off east to raid lands, rumour being he was last located in small towns and villages around Bryn.

Sigurd Sigurdson - son of Olaf and has been ordered to find and destroy any last remaining bloodline of the Bjornssons

Memento: A silver brooch from his father who had died in battle. It has been passed down from father to son for generations.

Description: Tall and muscular, Arneulf was born and bred to fight in the name of his tribe, the Bjornssons. He has braided brown hair, often down to his shoulders, sometimes worn up in a topknot and has several tattoos over his body, mostly of animals such as birds of prey or wolves. He has a long beard, also braided and wears blue facepaint when heading to battle to intimidate his foes. In battle, he is angry and relentless, and unsatiable thirst for blood for the enemy must be defeated at all costs. He is often called reckless when charging into the fray, for speed and power are his ultimate weapon. He is not a thinker.

Outside of combat, Arneulf can be socially awkward, due rather to his straight talking and blunt address, rather than lack of confidence. He is poorly mannered, mainly due to living his lifestyle of raiding and wandering and has not had the civilised "influence". He does, however, have extreme loyalty to those who earn it, and will never betray someone who has out their trust in him. He may have unorthodox ways of solving problems, but solve them he will.

Backstory: Born and bred in the Hold of Ravenrook far to the west, Arneulf and his older brother, Bennie, were raised to fight; both to protect the family and tribe, and also to further the cause of the hold. Ravenrook had been held by the Bjornssons for many years, and was a thriving hold within the lands of Fendark, a hilly, tree covered landmass which was ideal for farming, forestry and other things, which helped the community thrive and grow. Arneulf often help the Hold by farming, or woodcutting, anything his grandfather, the Jarl, would ask of him.

Unfortunately, the loyalty within the bloodline, something the Bjornssons were famous for, had become infected. Jarl Bjornssons own son-in -law, Olaf Sigurdson, had become sick with envy and the desire for power gnawed at him as would a starving hyena chew a bone. It resulted in the ultimate betrayal with Olaf usurping the Jarl and Ravensrook itself. Of course, Jarl Bjornssons own son, Erik, who was Arneulfs father, gathered a huge warband which included both Bennie and Arneulf, to march upon Ravensrook and destroy the Usurper Olaf. The smell of victory was near, but the conniving Olaf used dark magic and turned the tide of battle in an instant, slaying Erik and ultimately sending the Bjornssons reeling in defeat.

Both Bennie and Arneulf made a vow that they would return to Ravensrook and kill the tyrant, Olaf and his son, Sigurd. In an effort to gain both wealth to fund a warband, and the people required, they both headed out across the lowlands to fulfil their goal. Bennie went east and Arneulf went south. Yet, on his travels, he was sent word that his sister in law, Bennies wife, had been taken ill with a mysterious plague, and so Arneulf set out to deliver the urgent message for Bennie to return back to the settlement.

Note: The settlement is an encampment of no more than 50 people, mostly refugees from Ravensrook. It does not have a name but currently is made up of ramshackle huts and mostly tents. Arneulf hopes to create a proper village from this small tract of land.

What are you doing? Have come to Bryn and the surrounding area looking for his brother, Bennigaar

Decide one of the following: (because I am bad at names)

The surname of a fancy/influential family (can be repeated): The Von Kesslar Family - Control the lands banking system.

[Ermine]

Oh good, you mentioned a plague. I have one in my notes. Works.

[Drifter One]

Oh!

Just noticed TRQ's character is Olafs daughter...

Could be, erm, interesting...

[Ermine]

Or there could be more than one Olaf, if the drama isn't wanted.

[Drifter One]

Of course, there is that.

[The Rat Queen]

Brenna's father is a farmer, though technically he may not have always been a farmer.

He's definitely not a tyrant (despite what teenaged Brenna might've thought) or in a position of power, though.

[Ermine]

I'll have to make up a new country/confederation for you vikings. Or a whole region.

[The Rat Queen]

Or a whole world!

Viking World!

Vinland

Herjolfsness - major homestead founded by Herjolf Bardsson

Helluland - land of flat stones

Markland - land of forests