Cassius av Havardr

Species Background
Cassius Av Havardr belongs to a unique subspecies of cyno-sapiens only found in the tundral plains of North-Eastern Sørligste, more commonly referred to as the region of Frostmarch. This rare subspecies possesses distinctly canine features in most areas except for a few crucial physical traits that led to their success alongside homo-sapiens, such as opposable thumbs and typically larger brains. These unique human-wolf hybrids -better known by their folk name, the “Snjåðréki”- have incredible senses of smell, hearing, and eyesight compared to the average human, yet it was their profoundly human-like intelligence that made them equals to humans socially, culturally, and intellectually, thus allowing the Snjåðréki to integrate into wider human society.

Those differences that did separate them from the average human, however, came to be their greatest strength, as it was due to their more canine attributes that the Snjåðréki became so highly sought after by those in power. Widely recognised for their overwhelming loyalty and highly fine-tuned senses, the Snjåðréki made for highly competent guards in peacetime, and incredibly accurate scouts on military campaigns and raids.

Family History
During the 1st People’s Jarldom of Frostmarch, formed around the Spring of Year 18 TE (December of 2020) under Jarl Green, the Snjåðréki began to take a larger role in service under the Jarl. Seeking a loyal and skilled royal guard to protect the Jarl and his royal family, Jarl Green hired the Snjåðréki for their reputation as having the exact traits he was in need of. It was through this new purpose as the royal guard that the Snjåðréki were introduced to the Havardr family. A royal bloodline that was closely interlinked with that of Jarl Green’s, the Havardrs had -for generations- served as the Jarl’s personal bodyguards. Through their decades of utterly loyal service to the Jarl, the Snjåðréki were allowed to marry into the Havardr family and eventually assimilated into it entirely, thus forming the family branch that which the future Cassius would be born into centuries later.

Personal Background
Cassius was born on November 15th, 2022; several decades after the Lorentish subjugation of Frostmarch. Although his family were once strong and widely respected, the Havardrs’ power and influence was almost entirely dismantled after their land and properties came under foreign rule, where they were subsequently seized and sold to foreign nobles at the behest of the Luth of Lorent. This left the Havardr’s with nothing but the wealth they already held locked away and saved from pillaging. Whilst they certainly still held enough to maintain their status and living as nobility, it was clear that the Havardrs would no longer be anything more than minor nobility within the vast Lorentish Empire.

Despite their lowered status and wealth, however, the Snjåðréki branch of the family were among the few to have realised the potential in warming up to their new rulers. Cassius’ parents were lucky enough to have saved up enough money to keep themselves living comfortably for their foreseeable future, and had taken the decision -although extremely controversial amongst the rest of the family- to move from their Frostmarcher homelands to the Lorentish metropolitan capital: Lumaire.

It was exactly a year after moving there that Cassius Av Havardr would be born; in the “Shining Light of Sørligste”.

Early Life
Through many hardships and arduous struggles, Cassius’ parents were able to fund his education at one of the finest institutions in all of Sørligste, the Academy of Lumaire. Through his studies at the academy of politics, war, economics, diplomacy, and the arts, Cassius grew to be a bright, well-mannered gentleman who -despite his often beastly appearance- become rather well-liked among his peers. Additionally, it would be at the academy that Cassius would earn the nickname “Fraz”. Each morning before class, he would forget to brush down his bed fur, which -for a Snjåðréki- caused him to look more akin to the Gruffalo than anything else; his hair so frazzled, the nickname naturally stuck.

Return to Tradition
Once he was finished with his studies in Lumaire, Cassius lacked a distinct sense of purpose that left him longing for something not even he knew; a problem which his predecessors never even had to encounter. Wasting away his days barking at squirrels and digging the odd hole or five (5), Cassius never stopped pondering on what to dedicate himself to next. One day, however, Cassius received a letter upon which laid the Lorentish royal seal. Opening the letter, inside was written an invitation: By the decree of his majesty the Luth of Lorent, the former Snjåðrékish student of the Academy of Lumaire

‘Cassius av Havardr’

is hereby summoned to the Imperial Palace before his majesty this evening for a dinner hosted before His Highness.

Signed, Rience de Relmont

''Luth. Loyalty. Lorent.'' Bewildered as to the nature of his summons to the royal palace -and before the Luth himself, no less- Cassius made immediate preparations to meet the most powerful man in the Lorentish Empire.

To you, many years from now
Walking through the monumental cast-iron gates to the Royal Palace, Cassius was greeted by one of the palace’s servants, before being instructed on the relevant formalities, and finally guided towards the grand banquet hall.

Whilst en route to the event through the many winding halls that twisted and turned, Cassius’ head spun with what the Luth could possibly want from him, or what for. Perhaps it was an attempt to placate the former Frostmarcher nobility in hopes of settling down the unrest in the newly conquered region? Or maybe other students have also been invited, and this is just a celebration event for all the University’s graduates? For whatever reason it was, there had to be one, Cassius was sure of it. Entering the hall, Cassius’ couldn’t help but be astonished at the architectural prowess the hall itself displayed. Three gigantic golden chandeliers dangled from the obsidian-tiled roof, shining light into every little crevice of the room, leaving no place shadowed in the entire hall. Before all this splendour, there sat the Luth himself, Rience de Relmont; in all his majesty, the most powerful man west of Not Venice took to his feet upon noticing the young Snjåðréki, and proudly exclaimed, “Welcome, sir!“. Still enchanted by the sheer scale of the banquet hall, Cassius barely replied, “Good evening, your majesty.”.

“Do sit.”, Rience said more calmly, before gradually setting himself back down on his throne. Cassius quickly scanned the seats along both sides of the table -the length of 20 men- for a place to sit, yet found all of them to be filled... except for one. A throne equally grand to the one the Luth sat upon himself, Cassius did not believe that was where he was to sit, yet after some hesitation, the servant signalled to him to take his seat on the throne. “Cassius av Havardr. Great Grandson of Rose Havardr, Son of Earth Havardr; that is you, is it not?”

“It is, Your Highness”

“Very good. I trust you are aware of the reason behind your summoning before me, then?”

“I am afraid not, Your Highness”

“Very well then, in which case, allow me to inform you of what I desire from you.”