Creature Havardr [Ready]

[starswirlthebearded]

Name: Havardr of Heil-Barn

Sex: Male

Age: Elder bull

Species: Caribou

Eye colour: Silver-blue

Coat: A brown coat which has been weathered with age and significantly grayed, especially down his back. Like most caribou he also possesses white fur on his chest and underbelly. 

Mane/Tail: Havardr does not have a mane, but sports a decently long grey beard. He has a scar over his left eye which he can no longer see out of, from one of his younger exploits. His antlers are likewise damaged from countless battles and tests of strength.

Physique: Despite advanced age, he is still among the strongest of the Caribou, large and burly, with an opposing physique that is greater than many caribou much younger than himself.

 

Residence: Heil-Barn. Though in his younger days he was once called the wandering king, he has since settled down more, travelling only for matters he deems necessary. His daughter is often his proxy.

Occupation: High King of Whitescar

Cutie Mark: N/A

History: Havardr was a warrior born, both his parents were in the vanguard and never was far from battle. Back then he was told there were constant battles between clans, and so he was brought up similarly, but not without high moral guidance and the striking idea that peace could only be achieved through unity. Like many during this time, all his friends and compatriots were brought up similarly. Playtime was done with wooden swords, dulled spears, and wooden shields. Play fights were how they entertained themselves. Natrually during this time fights were one with varying success, there was always someone better it seemed, but as he continued to grow as a calf into a bull, the amount he lost diminished into nothingness. 

 

Growing into a bull of great stature many others took notice, sometimes following him. He was a leader born, his first true test came when a large dragon descended upon his family's land and tried to steal the riches within. He lead a small group of bulls and cows to fight against this threat. The dragon had other plans, rather smart he knew he couldn't face so many and offered a challenge to a one on one battle. As the leader, Havardr took up the challenge, with his shield in one hand and his trusty spear in the other he charged on ahead. The flames of the dragon destroyed his shield, but he used this to his advantage, forging on into the dragons's reach. Tossing the shield aside he attacked as the dragon used his great claw to swipe at him. He lost his eye that day, but the dragon lost far more than that. The spear became legend and Havardr became known by many as Dragonsong, the slayer. This name would stay with him for the rest of his life. The other thing that would stay with him for the rest of his life was the cow that he had met that day who would later become his wife and lover. 

 

Though not the king of Whitescar, he was now the first and foremost protector, every caribou was willing to follow him into battle, however not all were. Some caribou were resentful of Havardr's fame and sought to bring him down. A great inter-clan war erupted and the chieftain lost his life trying to quell the battle. This lead to many intense battles that would leave him scarred and his antlers broken. But even with the scars he never lost always coming out ahead of his opponents.He would eventually quell the uprisings and defeat the jarl of the opposing forces. His clan saw fit to appoint him the new jarl of the clan. It wasn't long after that he had a daughter whom he named Randgrid. He vowed to bring her up the same way as he was brought up. She grew into a strong young cow of which he was immensely proud.

 

Once he was appointed jarl, he vowed to make his clan better by weeding out the corruption and decadence that had befallen them in the days of war. He gathered his clan, and lead them to the Spine of the Serpent. Only he knew what lied ahead and many whom first left with him disappeared along the way through the perilous path to the Spine. He had met Bitr the Blind and other guides whom helped lead him upon the proper path and warn him of the dangers that lay ahead, even suggesting how to avoid some of the more deadly challenges. Though this did not exactly make the trek easier, it did allow him to prepare mentally for what lied ahead. Upon reaching the entrance he told them that upon entering there would be no turning back, and that everyone would either pass or perish. Many battles were fought in the halls of the Spine, through the perils only about a quarter made it to the first tomb. Those that had though had proven themselves honourable and strong. When he reached the tomb of the grandfather he saw the crypt with the sword he wielded. The curiosity was too much when he looked upon the sword that he wielded. When he touched it he had a vision, that to this day he believes was of the future. He saw two possibilities, the first was destruction of the Caribou clans if they remained separate, the other was of prosperity united. When he saw this he deemed the expedition a success, noticing that only the strongest remained. He turned back to those that stuck with the expedition and announced that it was a success and that it was time to return to the homeland.  

 

Then a shadow loomed over his home once again... Shape-Changers who stole emotion. He used his fame as Dragonsong and his power as the newly appointed jarl to amass forces across all clans, especially since he, himself, had made his clan a smaller force, he knew he could not win the battle alone. Most followed willingly, some begrudgingly, but all fought for Whitescar that day. There was a shape-changer that was larger than all the others whom Havadr faced himself. The magic she possessed was powerful but he was headstrong and cunning. With the help of his wife and daughter, enough of a distraction was made, so that he was able to use his legendary spear to wound the invader and force her to retreat her forces. He lead the charge to their hive outposts to ensure they would be unable to threaten Caribou lands again for some time. The leadership he showed that day lead to the Jarls of all the clans (except Olin and other rebellious clans) to name him the first High King in over a century. With great humility he accepted. 

 

The first act as High King was to open up trade and diplomatic negotiations with his neighbors including the Crystal Ponies, Equestrian Ponies and Griffons. This was met with much controversy, but he trusted that strengthening ties with neighbors would serve to do more good for the caribou than being at odds with them. The more allies that were had the greater strength against the evils in the world. Though the shadow of WRAITH began to recruit from the rebellious clans, and Havardr vowed to bring them to caribou justice. This was especially so after his daughter was brainwashed and used in an attack against the crystal ponies. 

 

Character Summary: Havadr is a proud caribou, but has a cool head and never leaps into battle without some assurance of victory. His long life has afforded him wisdom that few caribou could equal, and he knows that war and violence are not the only way. A good leader can lead into battle, but a great one could lead into peace. This is what he firmly believed and despite the many scars he bore from the life long of battle, and in fact he believed that is what those scars taught him most of all. And though he professes peace among all else, he still carries with him his spear.

 

He is good natured and fair, he will never seek judgement without proper cause or reason, and he expects the same of those under his rule. If someone brings a wrongdoer to him, they best have the reason or evidence to support their claim, lest the meeting may not go as they desire. 

 

As a leader he is cunning and strategic. He does not believe entering into any situation half-cocked. This is something he wishes his daughter Randgrid would pick up upon some day. He cares a great deal about his clan, and feels that entering into any situation without a plan could harm themselves as much as whom they are fighting, even if their might is superior to their foes. Naturally this means, though he is king, he has no aversion of leading his own into battle. However he will place the survival of his clan and those in his party over fool hearty endeavors. 

Even despite all of this he will seek to please his subjects as best as he can, even seeking to serve them if the situation calls for it. There are times he can even be found playing with calves in his village. He lives for his people, wishing to make the caribou clans of the north the strongest they can be, no matter what that means. He seeks peace above all else, but never forgets the strength that placed him in this position in the first place. 

[Armony]

How's this coming along?

[starswirlthebearded]

I tend to not have time during the week to do much. I'm going to resume work on it hopefully tonight or tomorrow.

Edit: Weekend got eated quick. So I'm going to try to work on this during the week as best as I can, otherwise it will once again wait until next weekend.

Edit 2: Everything is set. Just letting it sit before I mark as ready to ensure no errors were made.

 

Edit 3: READY!

[Blueblood]

It all looks good to me!  Perfectly willing to pass this up.

[RarityDash]

For the record, I fully approve of the relationship with my character.

[SteelEagle]