Jarl(ess)//Warlord: The mighty one and rightful, Rolar Marathis.
Marathis is a beast of a man, standing over seven feet tall. His imposing build is furthered by his deep voice. He possesses long hair that is shoulder length and snow white dispute him being a mere thirty-five. It is likely that this is due to not only the stress of his leadership but the snow itself. His past is that of legends, slaying the great harrackian wyrm. Shooting a five headed tiger beast with five arrows at once. In reality its an exaggerated twist of him killing men with tiger head-dresses and in the case of the wyrm, a giant python like snow beast. The feats for a normal man were still impressive and he wears that mantle well, adorned with the teeth from the tiger headdresses around his neck and a mighty gauntlet with the metal infused skinned skull of the python.
God: Quetzul, this god respected is an older deity that revolves around justice and revenge. Mathis and his kin have used the sun, moon and fire itself to represent the gods eternal power against darkness. The deity is said to reward honored heroes, people who die in his name but it is preached that death should not be sought as it means one will not be able to serve the god any longer.
Death is not desired but seen as noble sacrifice.
Clan and Kin: Ruhna, the concubine of Marathis. She was seen as one of the most attractive in the kingdom so Marathis laid sole claim. She has bore one unsuccessful child and the kings son Addar.
Addar, the only son of Marathis. He is nearly identical in build as his father but not quite as tall. He possesses his mothers jet black hair.
I'll add more as I think of them. Plot will always make more.
Dynasty Bio: Long ago, there was a (high ranking) member of the (imperial family of that time?) who was so arrogant that he believed he could get away with anything. This man, Van Rolar, was a heavy drinker and drug abuser who found himself so suave that he attempted to court the kings (daughter or wife). This action was sadly successful and after what was supposed to be a fair trial for adultery turned into outright exile. His family and top military officials were sent into the wilds for the fear of rebellion. There was no (equivalent rank of landowner of that time) chosen to lead Van Rolar's land so the king had it carved up by the houses of that time, forever burying the kings shame.
The trek north was arduous with many perishing along the way. It was months before they found an ancient ruin, the now modern castle of Kararch. Kararch was the beginning of Van Rolar's new lordship, a mighty underground castle that was protected not only by stone but the blinding blizzards that ravaged the land often. It was horrid at first as game was near impossible to find and with the sheer cold, even trees were hard pressed to grow in the desolate lands. Over time though, Van's men started to domesticate the animals they could find and use the underground areas to grow mushrooms and a leaf-less tree like object called a Iak. The Iak's had bark that when soaked for a few hours would be almost bread like in texture and was by a miracle, very nutritious. It was at this time that Van Rolar fell ill, likely to the mushrooms so his son, Van Rolar II took up his fathers mantle.
After a prosperous generation led by Rolar II which amounted to many tribes being taken in and an outside castle built around the still mighty Kararch, Rolar III became enthralled in a history where his grand father was king, retribution for the lands that were stolen... it became his perceived birthright. It was around this time when the god of justice "Quetzul" came only to him in his throne room to promise vengeance and rightful justice for the usurping of the throne. History became ever more diluted and the facts long twisted into a tale of Rolar I being the high king and dethroned due to an uprising where Rolar's wife was impregnated by another lord of that time.
Regardless of the confusion, the family line became diluted as well with many tribal leaders claiming the throne of Kararch and the promise of one day returning to the capitol, to retake it either by guile or force. a number of generations passed and soon the name Rolar turned into a title rather than a formal name. To be crowned and referred to as a Rolar was the highest honor possible, second only to a person taking the throne of Ethica.
Tribe Bio: Marathis' tribal empire is by far one of the largest groupings in the north. Many have have joined by will or force under the promise of serving the divine and taking the world back from the evil in the south.
Jealousy is used as a powerful tool as tribesmen are told stories of places where heavy coats are not required, where sweet fruits grow from green trees.
The Rolar clan has not experienced any real defeat, only small setbacks.. This has only led to leaders like Marathis who have grown increasingly arrogant that when he does invade, nothing will or could ever stop him.
The general population has a general manifest destiny to varying degrees, mostly due to the constant reminders of the bounty in the south. For now they are content with their every day goings. Men and women alike share mostly the same burdens for keeping the tribe fed and happy.
Underground farms are very common as well as above ground animal pens. The main domesticated beast is the hogant, a six legged, furry elephant like creature. They are one of the few creatures of the north docile enough for domestication.
For entertainment, puppetry, tribal gatherings at the tavern and always ever the dancing around a fire. All in all, life for the average man and woman is difficult due to the weather but simple in terms of what they must do.
Military: The Rolar clan military is all warrior workers. In the north there is no room for the weak as if nothing else, the cold would take them. That said, they aren't a particularly organized force as its mostly shock units of berserkers carrying an wide assortment of weapons.
There is nearly no cavalry presence due to the lack of cold weather mounts in any abundance to make much of a difference. Siege equipment is constructed on field and is likely one of their biggest strengths as generations of practice against one of the most heavily fortified locations, Kararch.
There are elite units within the ranks that are uniform, fighting as a unit with standardized weapons and armor but this is a very small force.
