Ortolf Kruger-Ysern
The son of a tavenkeeper, Ortolf Kruger was born in 1289 and signed on with a free company, the Winter Wolves, at the age of sixteen. After completing his seven-year term as a bond-soldier, he reenlisted with the Winter Wolves and continued to rise through the ranks, eventually taking command of the unit in 1323. He was elevated to the low nobility by House Ysern in 1329, in part payment for his services and those of the Winter Wolves - now renamed the "Wolves of Kruger" in his honour - and adopted several of his officers into the newly-formed client house of Kruger-Ysern. We note that there have been longstanding suspicions that the Winter Wolves were affiliated with the cultic worship of an entity known as the "Keeper of the Hounds", said to be a mask of Lady Midnight. Whilst we have no definitive proof to confirm this, or that Ortolf may be a devotee of the Keeper of the Hounds, we have never been able to categorically rule out this possibility. Ortolf and his Wolves fought in the Battle of the Karst in 1331, and like many of the other Alderni units involved in that battle, took heavy casualties. Ortolf himself was badly wounded and left for dead, but managed to survive and evade capture, returning to Alderni lines several days later delirious with fever from infected wounds. He claims that he experienced some manner of religious awakening whilst on the edge of death; since then, he has spent a great deal of time politicking with the High Houses, apparently keen on winning their support for his vision of a stronger Aldernord. He is thought to have gathered a number of patrons and supporters from those among the High Houses who were dissatisfied with the outcome of the Zallenkirk Accords, particularly House Canthor and House Riddacci; we are also aware that he was able to infiltrate agents into the Gilded Tower and the Queensknife. Ortolf’s political stances are somewhat unclear and inconsistent, and seem to be tailored to his audiences; the one consistent factor is his call for national unity under a strong and centralised leadership, which has resonated with those who blame the fractious and fragmented nature of the High Houses for the loss of the Long War. We understand that his son Edgar was killed in Savura several weeks ago, whilst attempting to retrieve the Ring of Zaal from a fugitive servant.
Intelligence Report, Nera Arrighetti-Sarren
A terrible evil is abroad in your lands, a wolf who wears a mask of civility and a robe of righteousness. He is hidden from our sight, not by darkness as your futures are, but by a blazing light that interposes and blinds. He draws power from three wells; power gifted for service, power traded for sacrifice, and power seized from fate. He would weave a knot amid the warp and weft, and turn it to his own ends; cut the threads, and he shall fail. We see his future and his fate: that he shall conspire against two sovereigns, and unseat both or neither…Akandra, speaking through Ilaria Riddacci
Plots and Schemes
Influence over Duna Ysern
It has emerged that Ortolf has been blackmailing the Grand Marshall of Aldernord, Duchess Duna Ysern van Ysberwaal, in order to maintain his influence over the Alderni military. Whilst the specifics are not entirely clear, it appears that his hold over Duna Ysern relates to knowledge of her actions during the Battle of Cameri, and by threatening the safety of her secret lover, the disgraced captain of the Cameri garrisson Leonora Marivaldi-Zaal, who was held in custody by his allies in the Queensknife. It is understood that the choice of his adopted sister Saskia Kruger-Ysern as First Blade of House Ysern was at his behest, and that Saskia is as much Duna's handler as she is her bodyguard.Assassination of Galiana Votellian
Ortolf is alleged to have given the order for Heinrich Sturmkind-Canthor to assassinate the young Galiana Votellian in the Academy of Gildenschloss, shortly after the failure of the Everstorm Covenant's plan to take control of the Gilded Tower. It is understood that this may have been to eliminate a valid, albeit unlikely, heir to the throne of Aldernord.Thief of Fates
During the wedding of Zeraphina Mettvergen and Pandion Erastes at Witharen in 1344AK, Ortolf is thought to have attempted to bring about the death or downfall of five of the other attendees. The exact purpose of this gambit is unclear; whilst it was implied by the words of Akandra to be metaphysical in nature, it is thought that there was also a political motive for his actions as well, likely to attempt to throw the High Houses into disorder and in-fighting. As Ortolf's plans were all foiled by a party of adventurers before they could come to fruition, it is difficult to be certain what was intended; it appears that he was however responsible for instigating Ferrante Riddacci's attempts to undermine the Ceremony of the First Flame; that he had planned to bring financial ruin on Hrodbrand Ysern n'Zaal and stoke the resentment of Rodrigo Zaal against Duchess Yolente Zaal van Cameri; that he was intending to manipulate Nikomedes Canthor into some manner of rash action; and that he was blackmailing Gotswin Briggerman-Mettvergen with knowledge of his embezzlement, in order to set Natalia Sarren van Kalakust and Niobe Riddacci van Kallia at each others throats by means of anonymous letters alleging knowledge of "what really happened at Fianicci".Ortolf's Pacts
Though the precise nature of Ortolf's power is not fully understood, it is thought that he has somehow entered into two pacts with different entities - one of the Four Hells, and one of the Celestial Vault. The former is suspected to be the Keeper of the Hounds, a demon of the Hell of the Cruel, but the nature of the latter is unclear. Quite how Ortolf might have pledged his soul to two diametrically opposing powers is unclear, as is the method by which he is able to balance their competing directives.
Species
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Baron of Jagenhof
Year of Birth
1289
55 Years old
Birthplace
Family
Children
Pronouns
he/him
Aligned Organization
He shall conspire against two sovereigns, and unseat both or neither
Comments