Ludwig of Ragnarok

*"When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree besides the river of truth, and tell the whole world - no, you move. Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon."*

-Ludwig of Ragnarok

## History

Born in Ragnarok, Ludwig's parents both wished for him to enter the priesthood. Ludwig, who was a young boy during the War of the Philosopher-Kings, was of a more martial bent, and wished to become a knight-errant. He was trained first as a page, and time came to be a squire. Ludwig was thrust into the forefront of the Thunderdome War against the Deep Ones, eventually rising to the rank of Captain of the First Company in the Order of the Einherjar. There he emerged as a bright light in a dark, mad world, impressing all he came across with his courage, farsightedness, and old-fashioned chivalric values. When King Bolgar perished of old age, Ragnarok came under immediate attack by their former ally, the Empire of Shangare, which believed them weak. The kingdom was ravaged, and the attack was only pushed back by the heroic efforts the Red Knight, Khamsa. When time came to choose Ragnarok's next king, there was a movement to make Khamsa his successor as King of Ragnarok, but Khamsa himself refused. The only other reasonable choice for succession, General Vilhelms Eglītis, worried the priesthood for his reliance on heretical methods to win wars. In the face of the General's rising popularity and Khamsa's refusal, the priesthood chose the first company captain, Ludwig, as the compromise candidate. And so, Ludwig accepted a weighty burden - succeeding in the footsteps of one of mankind's greatest heroes.

As King of Ragnarok, Ludwig has continued the war with the Deep Ones, but faced pressure from the Empire of Shangare as well, whose leader, Kuldeep, believed him less tested and less dangerous then his predecessor. In addition, Ludwig was faced with the spreading madness amongst his knights, which Bolgar kept in check by killing his men at the first sign of corruption. And yet, Ludwig, faced with a war-weary people, did not command the same fear, respect, and moral authority as Bolgar, and faced resistance first from families of the slain, and then from the knights themselves.

And yet, Ludwig endured. Ludwig did not falter. Ludwig did not compromise.

Upon the advise of General Vilhelms Eglītis, Ludwig has worked to empower the burgeoning arcane school in Ragnarok, and offer refuge to mages fleeing the Reich. This has provoked the ire of the Kaiserin, but Ludwig firmly maintains that Ragnarok needs every possible weapon in the war against the Deep Ones.

## Personality

Fearless, courteous, unbending. Those who encounter Ludwig come away with the impression that they have met with a knight from a tale of ancient chivalry. He is able to withstand a great deal of punishment and responsibility, never shrinking from his duty, never cutting corners, and never compromising his principles.

## The Great Awakening

Ludwig would be dethroned - in practice if not in name - when Vilhelms Eglītis took command of the Order of the Einherjar, he was left powerless in the city of Ragnarok itself, protected by the loyal clergy. Ragnarok became a ghost city almost overnight.

Mark Patenaude would give the Black Blade of Disaster to the disgraced true King of Ragnarok, Ludwig, who would do battle with the mighty god Cthulhu, known to him as Tholorhee. Ludwig would die on the shore that day, dragged into the depths by the mighty god. Nonetheless, Ludwig would deal a great blow to the god, wounding him and enabling Raine of Atlantis to track him into the sea and finish him off.