Kasjös av Havardr

== Species Background ==
Kasjös Av Havardr belongs to a unique subspecies of cyno-sapiens exclusively found in the North-Eastern tundral plains of Frostmarch within the southern continent of Sørligste, more commonly referred to as the Old March. This rare subspecies possesses distinctly canine features in most areas except for a few crucial physical traits that led to their success alongside homo-sapiens, such as opposable thumbs and typically larger brains. These unique human-wolf hybrids -better known by their folk name, the “Snjåðréki”- have incredible senses of smell, hearing, and eyesight compared to the average human, yet it was their profoundly human-like intelligence that made them equals to humans socially, culturally, and intellectually, thus allowing the Snjåðréki to integrate into wider human society. 
Those differences that did separate them from the average human, however, came to be their greatest strength, as it was due to their more canine attributes that the Snjåðréki became so highly sought after by those in power. Widely recognised for their overwhelming loyalty and finely-tuned senses, the Snjåðréki made for highly competent guards during times of peace, and incredibly accurate scouts on military campaigns and raids.
== Family History ==
During the First People’s Jarldom of Frostmarch, formed by the revered Jarl Green around the Spring of Year 18 TE (circa. December of 2020), the Snjåðréki began to take a larger role in service under the Jarl. Seeking a loyal and skilled guard to protect his dynasty, Jarl Green hired the Snjåðréki for their reputation as having the exact traits he was in need of. It was through this new purpose as the royal guard that the Snjåðréki were introduced to the Havardr family. A royal bloodline that was closely interlinked with that of Jarl Green’s, the Havardrs had served as the Jarl’s personal bodyguards for generations. Through their decades of loyal service to the Jarl, the Snjåðréki were allowed to marry into the Havardrs and eventually assimilated into it entirely, thus forming the family branch in which the future Kasjös would be born into just under a century later.
== The Havardr's Fall from Grace - Personal Background ==
Kasjös was born in the Spring of 195 TE (November 15th 2022); only a few weeks after the beginning of the Lorentish War of Subjugation against the Jarldom of Frostmarch. Despite his family previously holding a large degree of influence and strength across the Jarldom, the Havardrs’ power was severely crippled from much of their land and property being seized by the Lorentish invaders and subsequently sold off to their foreign nobility at the behest of the Lorentish Luth. This left the Havardrs with practically nothing but the wealth they were able to seal away and save from being pillaged within their remaining holdings, as almost all of their property was held in the west of the country -closest to Lorent- except for the Holy City of Erðvåld which lay in the far east of Frostmarch. Whilst they still held enough wealth and regional power to maintain their familial status, it was clear that the Havardrs would no longer be anything more than minor nobility within the vast Lorentish Empire, were the Jarldom to fully surrender. Thus, in an attempt to improve their standing within the Lorent, the Havardrs would decide -opposition notwithstanding- to willingly join the Empire.
In the end, the Havardrs’ decision proved to be the right one, as their new suzerains allowed the family to keep any property or wealth they still owned within the Jarldom. In the case of Kasjös’ parents, they were fortunate enough to have saved up enough money to keep themselves living comfortably for the foreseeable future. Though extremely controversial amongst the rest of the family, they decided -for the sake of their young son’s future- to move from their ancestral homelands in the March to the Lorentish capital city, Lumaire: ‘The Shining Light of Sørligste’.
== Amongst the Rough... - Early Life ==
Through many hardships and arduous struggles, Kasjös’ parents were able to fund his education at one of the finest institutions in all of Sørligste, the Academy of Lumaire. During his time at the academy, Kasjös studied tirelessly in the arts of politics, war, economics, diplomacy, and culture, growing up to be a bright, well-mannered gentleman who -despite his often-beastly appearance- became rather well-liked amongst his peers. It would also come to be at the academy that Kasjös would earn the nickname “Fraz”. Each morning before class, he would forget to brush down his bed fur, which -for a Snjåðréka- caused him to look more akin to the Gruffalo or a grizzly bear than anything else; his hair so frazzled, the nickname naturally stuck.
== ...A Diamond Shines - The Luth's Invitation ==
Upon completion of his studies in Lumaire, Kasjös lacked a distinct sense of purpose that left him longing for something not even he knew; a problem which his ancestors never even had to encounter. Wasting away his days barking at squirrels and digging the odd hole or five, Kasjös could never stop pondering on what to dedicate himself to next. One day, however, Kasjös received a letter upon which laid the Lorentish royal seal.
Opening the letter, inside was written an invitation: By the decree of His Majesty the Luth of Lorent, the former Snåðrékan student of the Academy of Lumaire
‘Kasjös Av Havardr’
is hereby summoned to the Imperial Palace before His Majesty this evening for a dinner hosted before His Highness.
 Signed, Rience de Relmont
Luth. Loyalty. Lorent.Bewildered as to the nature of his summons to the royal palace, and before the Luth himself no less, Kasjös made immediate preparations to meet the most powerful man in the Lorentish Empire.
== To You, Years From Now - The Royal Feast ==
Walking through the monumental cast-iron gates to the Royal Palace, Kasjös was greeted by one of the palace’s servants, before being instructed on the relevant formalities, and finally guided towards the grand banquet hall.
Whilst en-route to the event through the many winding halls that seemed to endlessly twist and turn, Kasjös’ head spun with what the Luth could possibly want from him, or what for. His mind raced with possible reasons; perhaps it was an attempt to placate the former Frostmarch nobility? Or perhaps other former students from the academy have also been invited, and this is just a graduation ceremony of sorts? Whatever the reasoning behind this feast with the Luth, Kasjös certainly could not figure it out.
Entering the grand hall, he couldn’t help but be astonished at the architectural prowess it displayed. Golden chandeliers hung from obsidian-tiled roofs; a shining light engulfed every inch of the grand hall. Before it all sat the Luth himself, Rience de Relmont. In all his splendour, the most powerful man west of Not Venice took to his feet upon noticing the young Snjåðréka.
=== The Feast ===
The following interactions between the Luth and Kasjös Av Havardr originate from an account made by one the servants who attended to the feast, detailing what was rumoured to have happened and what had been said:“Greetings, sir!” the Luth exclaimed. 
Seemingly still enchanted by the sheer scale of the banquet hall, Kasjös was barely able to reply, “Good evening, your majesty.”
“Do sit,” Rience said more calmly, before gradually setting himself back down on his throne.
Kasjös cautiously scanned the 20-man-long dinner table for a place to sit, yet found all of them to be filled except for one; A throne almost as equally grand to the one the Luth sat upon himself. Kasjös naturally assumed the throne wasn’t for him, yet after showing clear hesitation a servant came over and signalled for him to sit in the throne.
After setting himself down, the Luth spoke out with a booming voice across the table, “Kasjös Av Havardr, brother of Rose Havardr, son of Earth Havardr; that is you, is it not?”
“It is, my Luth,” Kasjös replied.
“Good. In which case, I trust you are aware of the reason behind your summons before me?” the Luth asked.
“No, my Luth, I’m afraid I have not been made aware of anything with regards to my summons.”
His face contorted into that of displeasure, targeted towards one of his advisors who was presumably meant to inform Kasjös before the feast began. Realising his slip of façade, Rience quickly resumed his former look of stoicism and faced back towards Kasjös.
“Very well then, let us feast tonight as I tell you of what I should desire from someone such as yourself.”
Over the 5 courses of the banquet, Kasjös was told in intricate detail what the Luth had planned for him and it was not until the early dawn when the sun began to peak its head over the horizon that the Luth had finished talking to him.Further details concerning the exact contents of what was explained to Kasjös could not be attained as the servant who leaked the interaction had been sworn to secrecy as a condition of working inside the Luth’s palace. The morning after the above information was leaked, the servant in question’s body was found lying on the street outside the inn they were lodged at, presumably after having been assassinated during the night via defenestration for their treachery to the Luth.
After departing from the grand feast in the early hours of the morning, Kasjös began to pack his belongings before embarking on a journey back to his homeland, the snow-covered tundral plains of the March.
Although exactly what Kasjös was told remains a mystery, his objective certainly wasn’t; Kasjös was tasked with aiding the Jarldom of North Frostmarch -a puppet state of Lorent- in ending the war with a Lorentish victory. His family’s loyalty to Lorent, combined with Kasjös’ upbringing in the heart of the Empire, made him the ideal candidate as someone who could -firstly- keep the newly vassalized Jarldom in check and -secondly- ensure the Jarldom’s leadership was competent enough to repair the devastation caused by the war after it ended.
== Luth. Loyalty. Lorent. - Lorentish-Frostmarch War ==
Upon arrival to the provisional capital of North Frostmarch, the famously well-fortified city of Erðvåld, Kasjös was met with a rather peculiar-looking character. Stepping out of his boat at the ice highway station, there at the platform stood a man wearing a fine black velvet suit and a top hat to match. Assuming this fine-looking gentleman was Kasjös’ protégé, he approached the man and explained where he had arrived from, why he was sent, and by whom. The man, upon hearing Kasjös’ explanation, then began to introduce himself in turn. His name was Reginald Av Temsyod, and he was the Grand Jarl of North Frostmarch.
After introductions and pleasantries were exchanged, the pair made their way to the Erðvåld Citadel to meet Temsyod’s right-hand man. Entering the main hall of the citadel, Kasjös’ attention was drawn to a large roundtable in the centre of the room covered in various maps and documents. Generals and military strategists crowded round the table as they drowned out one another with their bickering and squabbling. Noticing the appearance of the Grand Jarl, the crowd hastily fell silent and they all turned to face him. A few moments later, it was inside that very hall that Kasjös would have an unexpected reunion...
Coming out from the crowd to make his way towards the Grand Jarl, there was Rose Havardr - Kasjös’ long-lost older brother. Having moved to Lumaire at a very early age, Kasjös could barely recognise his now much older battle-hardened brother, but was thrilled nonetheless to be finally reunited. As a celebration, a large festival was held in the town square that continued long past the night and bled into the early hours of the next morning. After his warm welcome back to the March and an unexpected reunion, Kasjös could finally begin to focus on matters of the state at large, and more specifically, on the war at hand.
To read more in depth on the conflict, please see the standalone Frostmarch Civil War wiki entry.
Category:Traveler's Era
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Category:Abexilas
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