Thorkell

Thorkell the Skald was born as a younger son of a lesser thane in the Mercania. Ever since he reached the age when boys were taken from their mothers, his father taught him a few simple truths. That he will have to make a life for himself, out of sweat and blood. That a mind must be as sharp as an axe, if the latter is to be feared. That no man who knows not of fear, can truly be brave.

Thorkell took the lessons to his heart, and he trained with the axe, spear and shield as much as he could, but also took the time to visit Old Wise Bjorn to learn of the runes of Mercania and tales about gods of old, so that his mind is as sharp as his axe.

Then, as was only natural for a warrior, he won his first fist - duel and earned himself a right aboard the drakkar of Hjorf the Bold, and so had Thorkell's career as a raider of the proud Mercanians begun - until a one, faithful night in the Thuland.

The raiding party had landed by then, and made a terrible mistake - allowed themselves to be cut off from their drakkars by the gathered party of a Laird Erek Lansvard, who wanted to claim the ships as his spoils. The warriors knew, that they had to break through the foe that outnumbered them, or die in hostile land. But their leader, Hjorf, instead of discussing tactics, locked himself away in his tent, succumbing to dark thoughts, it seemed.

Thorkell entered his leader's tent, and with the brashness reserved for the youths, as many men feared Hjorf's anger more then the spears of peasant Thulanders, and asked him why he was moping about, instead of caring for his men. Hjorf then gave an answer that changed Thorkell's life forever. 'For I have no son nor daughter, and who shall remember me when my bones crumble to dust?'

Thorkell, perhaps by the odd stroke of fate, or perhaps by the passion that waited to be unlocked until now, answered simply,

'I will.'

And begun to spin the tale of life of Hjorf, for all the Mercanians to hear. Their spirits uplifted, the next day, an easy victory was stolen from the Thulanders, and though Hjorf's skull was split, he died a happy man, for he knew he shall be remembered.

And from that day, Thorkell dedicated his life for travel, to collect and spread the tales of heroes of Mercaria, so that they may live forever in the memories of those who follow them. A recent disagreement though with the powerful southern Jarl Ostbjorn, almost cost him his hand, if he did not run away, forced Thorkell to flee Mercania for the time being, until the matters are settled - for though a skald has no tribe any longer, foolish is a Jarl that raises a blade against a teller of stories.

So now, Thorkell the Skald decided to visit again the lands of Thul, to find material for his stories - and bring the tales of Mercania to those, who might had forgotten the snows of homeland.

• Name: Thorkell
• Profession: Barbarian
• Rank: 1st

• Skills: Beserk, Track.

• Strength: 12
• Reflexes: 12
• Intelligence: 11
• Psychic Talent: 17
• Looks: 16

• HP: 15
• ATTK: 14
• DEF: 6
• EV: 5
• Stealth: 13
• Perception: 6

• Magic Def: 5

• Languages:

• Mercanian ( Fluent)
• Old Mercanian ( Fluent)
• Visic ( Intermediate)
• Albish ( basic)

• Scripts:
• Nikkar Runic ( Fluent)

• Equipment

• Full mail armour (4), ( bequeathed to him by Jarl Hrolf)
• Battleaxe (d6, 6)
• Dagger (d4, e)
• Lantern
• Flint-and-timber
• Backpack
• Pan Pipes
• Week's supply of bread and smoked fish.
• Stylus
• Wooden tablets.
• 20 florins