Name: Brynjar War-Weary
Gender: Male
Race: Nord
Age: 38
Skills: Smithing, Two-Handed, Heavy Armor, One-Handed
Background: Brynjar comes from a long line of blacksmiths and warriors on both sides of his family. His father, Kotgar, met his mother, Runa, in battle while serving in the Imperial Legion, and the two married shortly after. Runa birthed three children, Brynjar, and his two older sisters, Hiltte and Idra. When Brynjar was 8 years old The Great War began, and his mother, father, and sisters went off to fight the Aldmeri Dominion while he stayed in the rear, helping his uncle forge shields, armor, and weapons for the Imperial soldiers. His parents survived the war, but Hiltte was never seen again, presumed dead or captured. The family returned to Skyrim after the signing of the White-Gold Concordat, but the peace was not bound to last. After settling into Markarth, an uprising occurred, and once again Korgar and his family were in battle, but this time led by a Nord by the name of Ulfric Stormcloak. Brynjar, still a young boy, looked up to the man, even forging a sword for the commander. Once the rebellion was quelled, Kotgar and Runa heard word of Hammerfell, who chose to continue resisting the Aldmeri Dominion even after the White-Gold Concordat. Seeking revenge for their daughter, the family migrated to the desert kingdom, along with many other Nords, to fight.
Brynjar, now a young man, got his first taste of battle in the dunes of Alik’r desert, where he discovered his potential as a warrior. The family fought well together, impressing both the Redguards and Nords alike. After five years, the Aldmeri Dominion withdrew from Hammerfell, and Brynjar’s family returned to Skyrim for good. They settled in the city of Windhelm, and here Brynjar mastered his smithing skills under the guidance of his father, while his sister Idra started her own family with a retired soldier. Finally, the family enjoyed peace. Brynjar met a girl, a Nord healer named Faiela, and quickly fell in love with her. When Brynjar was 25, like his father, he signed up to serve in the Imperial Legion, and he left his family to start his career as a warrior, promising to marry Faiela when he returned.
Brynjar served in the Legion for eight years, and while he learned valuable skills as a warrior, even receiving a commanding position, the blacksmith found the experience to be disappointing at best. Instead of plotting to strike back against the Aldmeri Dominion, his time was spent stomping out rebellions across the empire and fighting bandits and mercenaries. His career came to an end in the Morrowind when he sustained severe wounds, including the loss of his left eye, fighting invading Argonians. He returned home to Windhelm to his parents and married Faiela the day he arrived. The two purchased a home in Windhelm and Brynjar continued to work with his father in the forge, and shortly after, Faiela gave birth to a girl, who they named Hiltte. Two years later, Faiela had a boy, and she died giving life to her son. Brynjar was devastated by the loss of his wife, and held on to his children closely in fear of losing them.
Three years later, Brynjar’s mother Runa died and his father retired from the forge, handing it all over to Brynjar. Just as the world around them seemed to settle, the Aldmeri Dominion slowly began creeping into Skyrim, their influence felt even in Windhelm. Their Jarl, Ulfric Stormcloak, killed the High King of Skyrim, Torygg, and rebelled against the Empire. Knowing the cruelty of the Dominion towards Nords, Brynjar immediately pledged his allegiance to Ulfric, believing the only way to secure a safe future for his children would be for Skyrim to completely break free from the Empire, away from the Dominion.
Personality: Looking at his past, it would be expected that Brynjar be a cold, distant man with a hatred for any race other than Nords, but this is quite far from the truth. In his youth, after the death of his sister, Brynjar was an angry soul, which earned him many of the scars he bears today. Now, his anger has dissipated through years of discipline and work, and he is a very level-headed and patient man, traits earned from both his age and experiences as a widowed father. It is quite hard to get a rise out of Brynjar, as he usually brushes off insults with a chuckle and light jab back at the offender. A threat to his family, though, will quickly infuriate him. If a situation should come to blows, Brynjar will never back down, a quality obtained from his parents. Brynjar enjoys his work as a blacksmith much more than being a warrior, preferring to create rather than destroy, but he understands that sometimes, blood must be spilled. When in battle, Brynjar does not fight with reckless abandonlike other Nords seeking to reach Sovengarde, but takes on a more cautious, calculated approach of a seasoned veteran who will do anything to survive. The thought of death alone does not frighten Brynjar, but knowing that in the event of his demise his children would be without parents, and possibly be subjected to the harsh rule of the Aldmeri Dominion frightens him to no end.
Brynjar, while not an extraordinarily social man, can maintain a conversation effortlessly, his warm, soft-spoken nature being quite agreeable, though he likely won’t be the one initiating the chat. He enjoys listening to others more than anything, as he has grown lonely without the presence of his beloved wife, Faiela. Brynjar’s father encourages him to find another wife as he has done, but Brynjar cannot bring himself to abandon Faiela, the love of his life and mother of his children, even after all the years.
Unlike some Nords, Brynjar holds no prejudice against those not of his race and judged individuals based on their interactions with him rather than their reputation. He understands that not all Altmer enjoy torturing innocents, and not all Nords are necessarily his allies. His bloodlust for elves is gone now, and he is weary of war after participating in so many. However, he fights along the Stormcloaks, knowing that Ulfric’s ideals might be the only chance for his children to live a life free from oppression like that which he saw while serving in the Legion.
Equipment: Brynjar wears a set of steel plate armor he crafted himself, with thick black leather clothes beneath. The armor takes on a more Nordic appearance than others, the angles more defined, and several animals are embossed into the metal chestplate, including a snake wrapping around the neck, a dragon on the back, and an eagle soaring on the chest. It is also relatively lighter than other sets, geared more towards more towards mobility than heavy defense, although it still serves this function well. The left pauldron is significantly larger than its counterpart, comprised of a large steel piece resembling a bear's head without the lower jaw, and the gauntlet’s vambraces are shorter than most. Brown fur lines the inside and out of his collar to prevent uncomfortable rubbing. Brynjar does not wear a helmet, as his vision is already impaired with one eye. Unlike most Nords, Brynjar opted not to don the traditional loincloth as he found it impeded his movement. The steel armor is painted with occasional streaks of blue paint, signifying his loyalty to Ulfric Stormcloak. When travelling in colder climates, Brynjar wears a fur cloak over his armor. The blacksmith carries with him a large claymore he created after swearing allegiance to the Stormcloaks. Brynjar smelted down his old Imperial Legion armor and combined the molten steel with quicksilver so the blade retains its edge. Starting at the hilt and extending almost to the blade's tip, Brynjar has carved his history into the blade, similar to the carvings within Nordic burial chambers. There is little space left on the blade for any more carvings. When not in his hands, the claymore is sheathed on his back in a black leather scabbard. Slung at his hip, Brynjar also bears a steel simple shortsword in case he is disarmed, or he finds himself fighting in confined spaces.
Appearance:
Brynjar stands at 6’4, his large frame wrapped with thick, corded muscle from a lifetime of physical labor. A thin layer of fat covers most of his body, giving him an overall sleeker appearance rather than looking as if he were carved from stone, though his muscles are still fairly defined. Brynjar’s hands are rough and callused from wielding both hammer and sword. Much of the flesh on his hands is splashed with burn scars from working his forge. The rest of Brynjar’s body is a roadmap of scars as well, the majority of which were earned in battle. Some are more faded than others, but a few still burn red as if they just recently healed. His face is not unscathed either, with a large scar carving itself from his forehead to cheek. Brynjar’s left eye is completely blinded, existing only as a mass of scar tissue. The blacksmith’s hazel hair is sparsely streaked with grey and falls to his shoulders, though he generally ties it in a bun. Brynjar normally allows a generous amount of facial hair to accumulate on his face as well to guard him from the harsh winter winds of Skyrim.
