Hord Karling

Legend
Novrus wasn’t built in a day, but was instead created through a series of conquests and subjugation of neighboring settlements by Hord Karling. First of his line, Hord Karling would give rise to the Karling dynasty currently ruling over Novrus, the latest ruler being his great granddaughter, Natalia Versatio Karling. The Karling’s legitimacy to their rule over Novrus is further strengthen not just by Hord Karling being the first King, but the Karling dynasty being descendants of Versatio the Patient, a legendary figure well-respected amongst most of Draivros.

Hord Karling’s youth is not well-known, but what is known is that he was born in the town of Novrus, now known as Hordgorod, as the son of the son of Versatio and a native woman. Though he never truly knew his father, who shortly went to assist in the sealing of the beacon after Hord’s 10th birthday, Hord grew up learning of his proud legacy and heritage, yet never acted upon it, fancying himself a simple man. This would all change after the death of his wife’s father at the hands of raiders from a rivaling settlement, a grave mistake as Hord led his own band of raiders to fight back. However, instead of simply raiding and leaving with the spoils, Hord occupied the rival settlement and dueled those who questioned his rule. In an attempt to restore the status quo, most of the free settlements of the north sent small bands of warriors led by a former Ord general named Scipii Tarquinius. Hord’s forces would conflict with Scipii’s own superior force at the Battle of Novrus, of which was concluded with Hord’s victory, Scipii’s embarrassing retreat from the battlefield opened the path to the start of Hord’s reign as ruler of the north.

Within 9 years, all of the north was conquered, with the center of the newly-founded kingdom being Novrus. Despite having a hold over Novrus, Hord, seemingly either believing that it was better to subjugate the bickering city-states of the south or perhaps just blinded by his greed and lust for power, marched his forces south and conquered the settlement of Pechae, alerting the city-states of the south who quickly formed the Federation of Ordo and repelled Hord at the Battle of Marchae. Hord would soon die after this in his bed at the age of 30, though scholars are unsure whenever his death was through natural causes, wounds he suffered in battle, or due to assassination by uncontent nobles… or other things.

His appearance during life is noted to have flaming red hair, fierce blue eyes, and lightly-tanned skin, a sign of his half northern native, half Ord origins. His clothing before the rise of Novrus was noted to consist of well-sewn fur coat, leather-bound trousers, and a wolf hood. During the rise of Novrus, his clothing changed to include metal chain and leather armor, of which increased as he continued his conquests. His weapon of choice was the javelin and the sword, of which he is often seen holding in Novrus paintings located within the palace of the Karling family within Hordgorod.