Gunnar of Allenker

“*Yer song be sweet, aye. But, am sorry to say lassie; yer 'delights' hold no sway o'er me.*”
―Gunnar, just before harpooning a siren.

## Political Information

### Alias(es)

Gunnar of Allenker, Gunnar the Clanless, The Crow of Undvik, Bearsbane

## Relationships

### Lover(s)

Henryck von He'eran (Formerly) Svansif Iron-Blood (Wife) Ingmar Frigurd (Lover)

### Other

Amund of Rannveig (Shield-Brother)Svadi (Horse)

**Gunnar Ulfdensson of Allenker** is a Skelligan ranger and raider who once served Clan an Craite as a reaver and later in the restoration of Undvik. He was found washed up on the shores of Allenker after his parents' ship was sunk by the Nilfgaardian fleet. Gunnar lived as an urchin in and around the docks of Kaer Trolde from the day he was found until just before he reached the age of manhood, when he was formally adopted by the man who found him washed ashore as a babe; Ulfden Ragvarsson captain of a merchant vessel called *The Banshee*. He served under Ulfden most of his early adulthood but was eventually driven by a desire for revenge against Nilfgaard into becoming a raider.

Despite having at one point pledged his axe to Clan an Craite, as an orphan he is clanless and therefore has no rights to any lands or titles. This does, however, allow him greater freedom and he has therefore spent the last decade amidst the wilds of Undvik as a ranger. Though he may occasionally venture into the villages to gather supplies and sell his pelts, or to warn the Jarl of any particularly dangerous beasts in the area, Gunnar largely keeps to himself whilst dutifully patrolling the wilds. If he is not amidst the mountainous forests of Undvik, or in the humble cottage gifted to him by Jarl Tordarroch he can occasionally be found once more amidst the crew of The Banshee, for only she may call him from home.

## **Personality**

Gunnar is considered cunning as well as savage, even by Skelligan standards. His youth spent as an orphan, barely surviving off of scraps from the docks and whatever he could trap with simple snares, left him with a venomous hatred of Nilfgaardians and a general disdain for his apathetic countrymen, save a select few. He is, by his very nature, a loner who hovers at the edges of any group he is conscripted into and prefers not to form strong attachments. For those to whom he has bonded himself he often goes to drastic lengths in order to protect their honor, placing little stake in his own and has in recent years become something of an alcoholic. He claims being drunk improves his aim with a handaxe, but those closest to him suspect it is a coping mechanism. Gunnar was a merciless reaver who threw himself into every fight as though it were his last and who often disobeyed direct orders to show mercy to captives simply because his family was shown none. He also does not believe in loose-ends. As a result, in recent years he is often only called in as a last resort, as his volatile temperament and persistent drunkenness make him an unpredictable ally.

Surprising to many, Gunnar is an extremely devout worshipper of Freyja. One of the few surviving items he had of his parents was a talisman bearing the goddess' symbol which was around his neck when he was found and if asked, he will claim it was the goddess who saved his life when he was a boy. He fully believes it was she who ensured he survived into manhood and it is she who continues to watch over him. Gunnar prayed to Freyja every night as a child and since becoming a man has made yearly pilgrimages to her temple in Hindarsfjall. It was through his devotion to Freyja that he eventually pledged himself to aid his fellow Skelligans for even if he could never come to love or embrace them, he would still protect them and their lands from the Black Ones in the name of his goddess. In time, he grew into a proud warrior, but his callousness toward his countrymen and blood-thirsty ferocity in battle gave him a rather conspicuous reputation. His time in the wilds did little to rectify it, nor improve his general outlook on his fellow men.

## **Physical Appearance**

Gunnar is a large man with broad shoulders whose face possesses pronounced features, marking him as distinctly Skelligan; a strong, prominent brow hangs over sharp, deep-set eyes the color of a summer storm. He bears a prominent nose and thin lips, the upper of which is hidden beneath the mustache of his full, pointed beard, the end of which is braided in a single long plait that stops just above his breast bone. His hair, which is cropped to the scalp on either side from nape to temple, spills from the unshaved middle of his head in rich, golden blond braids adorned with the spoils of his victories. On the right side of his head is a traditional Skelligan tattoo in the form of a crow. He is muscular, as expected of a man who has faced not only years of battle, but a lifetime of hard labor. In recent years the bulk of his form has become lean and hard, but the broadness of his frame makes him appear quite large, even in the presence of taller men. He has various maritime tattoos on his chest, arms and back. Each bares some significance to him and he often commemorates successful raid or sea voyage with a new tattoo.

Perhaps his most distinct visual marker is the thick, black bear-skin cloak he rarely goes without. It rests heavily on his shoulders and often drags along the ground when he walks. Due to its thickness and size, it visually widens his frame, adding to the illusion that he is larger than he actually is.

## **Biography**

### *The Urchin of Kaer Trolde (1251-1266)*

After he was miraculously found washed up on the shores of Allenker as a baby, Gunnar was given to an orphanage which sat on the docks of Kaer Trolde by Captain Ulfden. Ulfden would visit the infant Gunnar, whom he named, whenever possible, but his life as the head of a prominent merchant family meant he could not formally adopt a baby so young. Gunnar thusly grew up half-raised by the orphanage, and half raised by Ulfden. Most young boys from the orphanage would aid the sailors come to port in order to earn their keep as they grew older, but if the Banshee was not in port Gunnar preferred to lend his aid to trappers and hunters. Still, his life on the docks revolved primarily around assisting in the upkeep of Kaer Trolde's port through free child-labor. All, if any, of the money he made would go back to the owner of the orphanage, who would scold and ridicule the children who didn't make enough, unbeknownst to Ulfden. Gunnar, who would often take risks in leaving with the trappers, was especially met with her ire whenever his gamble bore no fruit. Due to the competitive nature bred by the owner's constant demand for extra capital, the other children didn't take kindly to Gunnar's gambles either, especially when they succeeded.

One of the few children Gunnar found kinship in was a little girl named Svansif, the youngest cousin of Jarl Tordarroch . She and her mother would visit the Kaer Trolde orphanage and offer their charity, and it was in fact a wetnurse from Clan Tordarroch who nursed the infant Gunnar. Svansif and Gunnar looked so alike as children that people often thought of them as twins and they often got along like it were so. Despite the striking resemblance the pair had no immediate relation. Whenever Svansif and her mother would visit they were inseparable. It was with Svansif that Gunnar discovered his preference for men, through a conversation they'd had together where they described the sorts of people they felt drawn to in their burgeoning adolescence. To his surprise, neither Svansif nor her mother, who'd overhead them, rejected or teased him over it, as the Mistress and the other boys often did. This in turn strengthened he and Svansif's bond and wherever one went the other would soon follow, until the day Gunnar was finally adopted by Ulfden.

### *Aboard the Banshee (1266-1269)*

Gunnar began his life as a crewman of The Banshee at the ripe age of 15 and he quickly found that life began to take a turn for the better. Guided onto the path he believed to be set before him by Freyja, Gunnar took to life at sea as though salt-water flowed through his veins. It was surprising, considering as a child he had feared the water, likely due to the trauma of having been ship-wrecked, but when questioned about this by Ulfden the young Gunnar simply said that Freyja willed him to be brave. Their relationship deepened, and though Ulfden had always thought of and treated Gunnar as his child and charge, it was only aboard the Banshee that the young Skelligan truly felt himself come into the role of Ulfden's son and learned the ways of trade and sea-fairing. However, young Gunnar bore mental and emotional scars from his time at the orphanage and so conflicts between them were by no means scarce.

About a year into his new life, he was reunited with Svansif while the Banshee traded in Undvik. This happened by chance, as Svansif had no idea that the ship she boarded in an attempt to run away from home on belonged to Ulfden. She revealed to Gunnar that her great-aunt was pushing her family to marry a man twice her age and that she did not wish to be tied down and made into some jarl's second or third wife. She begged Gunnar to smuggle her away with him when next they left port, but Gunnar refused. Instead, he challenged the man Svansif was set to marry for her hand and killed him in their duel. Thus began the start of his vicious reputation, as he had successfully bested a man twice his age and who had himself been a reaver of some rapport. As per Skelligan custom, the two were still too young to marry each other without familial authorization, but by rights Gunnar had successfully foiled the would be arrangement and was free to claim his prize when they were both older. Three years later, Gunnar again dueled another man on Svansif's behalf, re-asserting his claim after Jarl Torderroch's own wife attempted to undermine it in a bid to consolidate more power for the Clan. Gunnar formally proposed and Ulfden, who had good standing, made the arrangements with Clan an Tordarroch. Thus, Gunnar was officially and unequivocally betrothed to Svansif and the Jarl, unwilling to foster further bad blood between his clan and the others ordered his wife to leave it be.

For various reasons, the Gunnar would not be able to actually wed Svansif. He had every intention to fulfill his promise of marriage but the timing was never right. Despite this, he and Svansif's engagement would remain unchallenged, even as the years dragged on.

### *First-Mate (1269-1273)*

At some point in the year 1269, The Banshee was thrown off course by storm and directed ashore to an island somewhere off the coast of Cidaris. The island was not on any known map, but Ulfden spotted what appeared to be a partially sheltered saltwater lagoon that they could anchor in until the storm passed. Captain Ragvarson was able to maneuver The Banshee into the lagoon and there they stayed until the storm had passed. The men then went ashore to harvest what they could and to walk on solid land for a bit before they set themselves back on course. Gunnar was among the few that stayed behind and that would prove to be what saved him. Unbeknownst to them all, the island was home to a colony of sirens, for it was an old nesting ground which had recently seen a surge in population due to the approaching breeding season. As the men who had gone ashore attempted to return their skivvy was beset upon by a pack of fish-tailed maidens. They began to surround and tease the men with flirtatious displays from the water and though most of the men were seasoned sailors in their own right even the most stalwart among them felt their resolve fade when the sirens began to sing. The men still on the ship, upon hearing the sirens' songs, found themselves entranced as well. Gunnar, much to his own confusion, remained the only one unaffected and was therefore the only one who noticed when the sirens began to climb out of the water and onto The Banshee's deck. One even approached him, a young and exceptionally beautiful siren who called herself 'Little Song'. She attempted to distract and enthrall Gunnar as her sisters had done the crew, but he quickly proved himself immune to her charms when he sank a harpoon into her chest. With her dying breath she emitted a piercing screech. This sparked the other sirens into dropping their facade and attacking. Most of the men in the skivvy met their ultimate fate the the hands of the sirens, but the ones still on the ship were able to shake the yoke of their infatuation just in time to fight them off.

Gunnar was promoted to first-mate after this incident and continued to serve aboard The Banshee for many years. His ability to resist the temptations of sirens and keep a clear head during high-stress situations made him a valuable asset to the crew, despite his youth. When the jotun attacked and ransacked Undvik Gunnar and the Banshee aided in the evacuations, personally seeing to it that Svansif and most of Clan Tordarroch escaped. Sadly, Svansif's mother and father were lost and their plans to finally wed were once again halted. Svansif and the rest of her clan were relocated to Kaer Trolde and Gunnar continued to work in order to aid and support them. Gunnar enjoyed his time aboard The Banshee. For the first time in his life he felt valued and like he was part of something. However, a restlessness soon settled upon him. As he grew accustomed to the peace the humble life of a merchant vessel's first-mate enjoyed, thoughts of his family and their needless deaths arose in him, possibly invoked by the loss of his future in-laws and a sense of powerlessness in his inability to save them. Somehow he had regained the life he was always meant to have, yet neither he nor his betrothed would have their parents to share in that life with. Eventually, as tensions with Nilfgaard began to rise thoughts of revenge swelled higher than even the tides.

### *Reaving the Coasts (1273-1275)*

Gunnar's thirst for vengeance against Nilfgaard and the desire for retribution for his family eventually drove him to leave The Banshee. He was not so foolish as to take his frustration and hopelessness out on the jotun single-handedly and so focused a lifetime of built up anger at Nilfgaard. He was determined to take as much of the fight to Emhyr's ships as he could and his already questionable reputation developed into something truly wicked during these years. He allied himself with bannermen from across the Isles, loyal to any who would allow him to slaughter and reap his fill from anywhere and everywhere the Black Sun hung above. The spoils he sent back to Svansif, and they proved numerous indeed. He eventually amassed a small group of like-minded and similarly clanless kinsmen, all of whom eager to wet their axes on Nilfgaardian blood. It was during this time that Gunnar lost contact with Ulfden and the crew of the Banshee, leaving him free to throw himself into battle after battle, in the name of his lost family, the future of his betroth's, and for the glory of his goddess.

In the summer of 1274, Gunnar met a man named **Jarrett-Andrej Henryck von He'eran**. Henryck, as he preferred to be called, claimed to be a wandering nobleman from the Northern Realms, supposedly hailing from somewhere in Aedirn. After an altercation with a gang of roaming bandits, Gunnar and his small company of raiders, humored this adventure seeking nobleman by allowing him to accompany them. Henryck quickly proved himself an exceptional fighter who could keep up with Gunnar and his raiders, despite insisting on entering battle in nothing but clothes befitting of nobility. In fact, his abilities were so exceptional that Gunnar began to grow suspicious of him, and by chance Gunnar soon thereafter discovered that Henryck was a Higher Vampire. Gunnar immediately became fascinated, and though he thought Henryck rather pompous at first, the two eventually became lovers. Their relationship was kept secret from everyone, including Gunnar's closest shield-brothers, and seemed to be functional for the most part. Henryck confessed that he had been traveling the Northern Realms for the last century and had something of a small blood addiction, which he began to indulge more openly. Gunnar did not seem to mind, in fact his own disconnection from his fellow men seemed to make him far more amenable to Henryck's habits. It was the first time in his life Gunnar had gotten close to another man in such a way and Henryck seemed to enjoy romancing a human.

One night, Gunnar returned to the camp and Henryck was gone. He was left a single note which very simply instructed him not to look for the vampire. Naturally, Gunnar did not take this well. He had learned enough of Higher Vampires from Ryck to know he would never find him if he looked, but he tried anyway to no avail. He shortly thereafter developed a rather serious drinking problem.

### *The Crow of Undvik (1275-1286)*

After facing the Wild Hunt alongside his shield-brothers in service to Clan an Craite, Gunnar willingly remained in service to the clan under Hjalmar. He was among the men hand selected to aid in rebuilding the village of Undvik after Cerys was named **Queen of the Isles**.

After their work was done, the village and the surrounding lands were returned to Clan Tordarroch, but Gunnar chose to stay in order to range the wilds along with hunters from the village. He became known as **The Crow of Undvik** and earned the moniker **Bearsbane** when he slew an enormous cave bear which had descended from the mountains and begun to feast on villagers in the night.

### *The Nilfgaardian Conquest (1286-1288)*

In the winter of 1286 a coup was discovered by Queen Cerys and civil war broke out amid the clans. Nilfgaard had seen fit to take advantage of Skellige's dulled fangs and finally seize the Isles.

## **Relationships**

* **Amund Stigandr of Rannveig:** Discovered by Gunnar as a young orphan and then brought up amongst the crew of The Banshee, Gunnar considers Ammud of Rannveig the closest he'll ever have to a younger brother. When the lad began to show a proclivity for magic he introduced him to **Mousesack**, who then took him under his wing. Gunnar would make it a point to visit Amund whenever possible and brings him trinkets from his time at sea. Occasionally, Gunnar manages to convince Ermion to allow Amund to accompany him on voyages himself.
* **Svansif "Iron-Blood" an Tordarroch:** Though their promise of marriage may have been made under false pretenses, Gunnar loves and cherishes Svansif as a sister, his closest friend, and treasured confidant. Though he cannot love her as a husband should love his wife, Gunnar fully accepted all that would come from his decision to marry her himself, including one day producing an heir for Clan Tordarroch. If Gunnar has anything left to fight for, it is Svansif's future. Savnsif had been aware of Gunnar's preference for men when they were both children, and so when they agreed to be married she told him he had her blessing to pursue any man he wished to, so long as he kept her in the know. Likewise, Gunnar gave her leave to to do the same, with the same conditions, however Svansif appears content not to pursue romantic relations and instead focused on rebuilding Undvik.
* **Captain Ulfden Ragvarson:** Gunnar's adopted father, mentor, and the only man who can commands his unconditional respect. Gunnar would lay down his life for Ulfden if he asked and might even still do it if not. Despite having waited so long to adopt Gunnar, Ulfden considers him his true son, borne to him by his lifelong mistress; the sea. Ulfden confided in Gunnar the true nature of his lycanthropy early in life and Gunnar accepted him without question, even in adulthood. Though he often treats it as though it is a thing of little import, Gunnar has always understood that his captain and father possessed the potential to be dangerous to him and the crew, and knowledge of this danger is given its due respect, but never fear. Through Ulfden and from him Gunnar learned all that it was to be a Skelligan and, ironically, how best to be a man.
* **Jarret-Andrej Henryck von He'eran:** A Higher Vampire of the Gharasham Tribe and the love of Gunnar's life, or so he believed. Though tumultuous and damaging, their relationship played a huge role in Gunnar's life course. Gunnar had fallen in love with Henryck very quickly into their relationship. He was the first man Gunnar had ever been intimate with and truly believed that they were meant for each other, that Freyja herself had brought the vampire to him. He treated Ryck's status as a vampire the same way he treated Ulfden's lycanthropy. He respected that Henryck was a powerful supernatural, unbeholden to mortal law, but nonetheless made to live in a world of men. Perhaps it was his own detachment from humanity, his own past as a reaver, or simply pure naivety, but Gunnar never felt strongly for or against Henryck's violent tendencies. When Henryck left Gunnar was completely crushed and for a very long time vehemently refused to take another lover.
* **Ingmar Frigurd:** What began as a trepid friendship quickly became something more. Ignmar was a clansman of Clan an Tordarroch and among the ones driven from his home when the Ice Giant ransacked the villages of Undvik. After Clan an Craite gave their assistance he returned to his main trade as a fisherman after Queen Cerys outlawed reaving, but retained his loyalty to his clan. Like Gunnar, he'd felt attraction to men from a young age and had limited experience save one prominent relationship, which was cut short when his lover perished fighting against Nilfgaard. Both he and Gunnar were intensely attracted to one and other, but hesitant to move the relationship further. Tension rose when Ingmar discovered Gunnar's betrothal to Svansif, but Gunnar assured him that she was aware of his preference and had given him her blessing to pursue Ingmar.

## **Skills and Abilities**

Over the course of his storied life, Gunnar has acquired and honed various skills.

* **Animal Tracking** -
* **Hunter's Senses** -
* **Expert Marksman** -
* **Hand to Hand Combat Expertise** -
* **Dual Wielding Axes -**
* **Sailing** **Expertise** -
* **Immunity to Siren Songs** -
* **Unshakeable Faith -**

## **Trivia**

* Gunnar's horse is named after **Svaðilfari** who was a powerful stallion from Norse mythology who aided his master in building the wall of Asgard, but was lured away before his task was complete by Loki (in the form of a mare).
* Though most Skelligans attribute his immunity to his stalwart faith in Freyja, Gunnar is unaffected by the songs of sirens and succubi-induced dreams because he simply isn't attracted to women.