Artos Murchada

### **Childhood**

Artos Murchada-Havardr was a child of the Frostmarches, who learned nationalism for his once free nation and piety for the Nostíkur faith at his father's knee. He yearned to free the Frostmarches and see its banner high over his homeland once more. But he also learned the almost forgotten story of his family, and their longheld ambition to return to the true homeland.

### **Early Life**

Upon his coming of age he went forth from an unknown home to live near the capital of Frostmarch, Erðvald. He settled at an old monument he found, inscribed with praises to Nostíkur gods from both pantheons. These inscriptions were written in the true way, and once he established himself he charged into translating the inscriptions and spent 2 years at it. He had consulted many across the Valdic world, Rathnir, and Eldham in his translation efforts. When he had finished translating it he recorded his results and made it his purpose to protect and maintain the monument and its history.

This was still during the time of Frostmarch's annexation, a time Artos did anything he could to end, in this he failed. He had heard word of a revolt in Cyrumar led by their first and exiled leader Alpha0S0, Artos met and spoke to this person who told him they would rebel when Tortuga went to war with the CSS, Alpha also suggested that Artos bring in Frostmarch for a three front war. He knew that an opportunity to draw The Pirate Empire of Tortuga into a three front war was an opportunity that only struck once. However, Artos hadn't the social standing to convince anyone to do this, so he tried to convince Earth to support him. Earth believed Artos was a traitor and trying to rebel against Host, Artos barely managed to get him to understand that he was no traitor to Frostmarch. After such a reaction from Earth, Artos swiftly decided to cease his efforts. After that whole incident Artos gained a healthy respect for Earth and decided he'd get to know him better when he finished translating the monument. When his translation efforts drew to a close he decided to properly establish himself in the Frostmarch community and acquire citizenship in the capital. He succeeded in both efforts and even gained citizenship in Havardr Harbour.

### **Earth's Influence**

Earth became Artos' adopted father, and quite possibly made Artos the man he was, many of Earth's beliefs, ideals, and grudges became Artos' as well. Artos had known him since his wife left and Xeka cast him from the council. Earth shared with Artos his feelings on the USSE, Xeroise, and Navarna which Artos made his own. Artos considered Earth to be his own father, and one those precious few worth dying for, and now Earth is truly dead. Artos grieves for him, and has sworn to ascend him.

### **Alpha's Influence**

Alpha0S0 while an odd fellow, struck Artos as a kindred spirit. Alpha sought to break Tortuga and free his nation and Artos sought the very same. Alpha was what made Artos hold the Empire of Cyrumar close to his heart. The two still keep in touch from time to time.

### **His Time in Frostmarch**

Artos has always been something of a firebrand among the freemen of Frostmarch, always pushing his nationalistic ideals and lofty ambitions. His zealotry and fanaticism were something of note as well, he spent his life defending ᚦᛖ ᛗᛟᚾᚢᛗᛖᚾᛏ which certainly meant something for his religion. He became active in the nation shortly after its fall to Tortuga, his only comfort was that they were still autonomous and held all their land. He watched the nation die and become inactive, Host was a great leader and continues to be so, he did his best in these times and held off the end quite well. But the hearts sunk day by day, a nation was depressed, an era known as Depressionmarch. One day the wish of every freeman became true, Frostmarch was free at last, the pirate empire losing all its lands as the last wish of the Pirate Lord. For a time we were free, and those were glorious days, but the tyrants returned to us. They took our lands once more, and we were subject to them. They confined us to a few provinces when we should have held everything, the Jarldom of North Frostmarch? Those Tortugan bastards just couldn't stop themselves from taking everything. Artos became the Minister of Religion in these times, under a Jarl who demanded pluralism rather than the old ways.

## **Family Life**

After leaving his father and mother when he came of age he never believed he’d have that experience again. He was wrong, and was adopted by a man he greatly respected and was quite fond of, Earth Havardr. Artos has now taken the surname Murchada-Havardr and with it came a tight knit family. One that is quite wholesome so to speak, with good parents to their thirty or so children.

Artos was beyond happy to be part of this family, but he placed high value on heritage and pride in those who came before. So when he saw the simplistic state of the then family tree he decided he’d create a new and better one, as his duty to the family that took him in, and to properly honor those that came before and the Havardr lineage. (The Family Tree he made and designed is located to the right.) It took him some time to do, but he was proud of the results and it is now the current Havardr family tree.

One day, Artos came back to the Havardr family home to a grisly scene. His step father had been killed, betrayed and stabbed by his son Radferd Havardr. Radferd had stabbed him where it wouldn't kill him, leaving him to suffer there without remorse or regret. Rai Havardr ended Earth's suffering, and she was affected afterwards by mental trauma from her actions. Artos only arrived then, and joined the portion of the family who wanted Radferd to suffer just as much as Earth did(Frug, Rai, Artos, perhaps more). Artos stormed out of the house and returned the next day, only to find that, miracle of miracles, Earth lived once again. The Familial tension remains, lying under the surface, waiting, and it resurfaced again and again, until Radferd was disowned and banished from the Havardr household.

The Havardr family is an illustrious one, containing leaders of great nations, and many men and women of great significance. An ever expanding house as the Patriarch Earth continues to adopt everyone he finds(please stop I keep having to update the family tree ):). He has been married to Snowy, to Ludju, and now to Rumple, hopefully it shall be a happy marriage.

## **You see a man**

A 6’3” man of a thinner build, he has thick brown hair, which in the back goes down to just below his shoulders; the rest is mostly hidden under a black fur hat. His blue uniform, sash, epaulets, few medals, and signet ring, mark him as the last of House Murchada. The ring shows a bear’s hand holding a broken sword, the words of his house: No Surrender. His face is without emotion, without expression, his steel blue eyes are like the ice that gave his country its name. He’s clean shaven and pockmarked with scars, one a dueling scar from the blade of his adoptive father Jörd ‘Earth’ Havardr granted when Artos spoke of Cyrumar and the struggle against Tortuga. He speaks little to those he does not know, and keeps his thoughts to himself. Although he has been known to be quite amiable among friends, you wouldn’t guess it if you saw him. There’s a certain set to his chin, an iron in his spine, that tells of a man who holds honour and glory above all else. As he turns the tails of his uniform flutter in the wind, although all your focus goes to his blade. A sword that could slay with a glancing blow, she’s a masterpiece from the time of Murchada’s glory. Artos draws it from its scabbard and the craftsmanship in the steel is evident. Forged by the finest smiths of a land long lost, engraved with runes carved by the hands of every Murchada from the first to the last. They tell a story of Murchada’s homeland, a story of its wonder, they tell of Murchada’s deeds, they tell of Murchada’s fall. Felled by foul oppressors who cast them from their homeland for daring to resist. They say that a Murchada in their homeland was a sight to behold, immortal and glorious so long as they never left. Why this is, is an answer only a Murchada knows.