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Povel Ulfsson
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P H Y S I C A L I T Y
Appearance
Hair: near shoulder-length, blonde hair
Facial Hair: none
Eyes: dull blue
Build: thin but firm and strong from years of farming
Skin Tone: pale
Height: 5"7
Weight: 9st
Voice: average pitch with a firm tone that makes him sound older than he is
Handed: right
Body Markings: none
Scar Tissue: one, long scar that extends from the wrist to the elbow
Unique Body Features: calloused hands
Dress: Povel wears green, linen clothes with a cloak and fur hat. Altogether, the outfit looks like something a merchant would wear, but it is visibly worn and faded upon closer inspection. A simple, iron sword is sheathed on his left hip and a dagger is in a pocket in his cloak.
Name
Povel Ulfsson
Nickname
The Fox
Title
Mr. for rare formal occasions
Factual Age
18
Gender
Male
M E N T A L I T Y
Personality
Povel has the attitude of a simple farmer: polite, patient, hard-working, and easy-going. What sets him apart from his peers is his cleverness. His eyes are usually alert and he is known for his quick responses and unconventional ideas and solutions. Due to life experiences, he tends to be grim and business-oriented. Additionally, he is a loyal follower who hates the responsibility of leadership. This has been a bane and a boon for him as he is rarely greedy or discontent, but easily bends his will to authority.
Motivation
Povel's primary goal is to survive. When that is taken care of, he seeks to have the wealth, fame, and respect of a folk-tale hero.
Likes
Safety, loyalty, purpose, heroism
Dislikes
Betrayal, having to lead, uncertainty, unjust rulers
B A C K G R O U N D
Marital Status
single
Relatives
A large family of his parents and many brothers and sisters of varying ages.
Bio/History
Povel was born to a poor family of farmers in a small village in Hälsingland. His siblings, both older and younger, were mostly lucky and survived infancy. This was not lucky for the family however as his parents struggled to adequately feed and clothe all of their children. As soon as he was old enough to swing a scythe, Povel was sent to work in the wheat field. It was during this time that he adopted his serious temperament. Youthful joy and softness was replaced with grimness and strength after years of hard living. Like his older siblings and parents, he grew up tough and lean. Still, his childhood was not all negative. There were the occasional village gatherings for dances and feasts. His father, though he did not have the time to give much attention, occasionally captivated his children with folktales of brave warriors and the gods.
As Povel aged, he and his family learned that he was not just simple farm-folk. Unable to work the fields for some time after a poorly-placed scythe sliced his arm, Povel took to wandering in the forest. It was during this time that he started thinking outside of the predictable cycle of farming. He found a previously-hidden stream and started suggesting improvements for the hunters' traps that were in the forest. Noticing his cleverness, he gained the nickname of "the fox". The village saw use in him and he began splitting his time working between the farm and problem-solving for the villagers. Life was tough, but the town managed. This state continued for years until a famine came to the village.
It started with a poor crop yield. No one thought much of it at the time. These things happened and the poor folks just had to make do. However, next year's crop yielded even less and the pattern continued. Povel watched helplessly as younger siblings died of illness or wasted away to nothing. Villagers rarely smiled anymore and feasts were cancelled as there wasn't enough food. Povel's simple, peaceful life had become full of fear an uncertainty as there was always a possibility that he or someone he loved would soon die. Some of the less dedicated young men his age abandoned their families to famine in search of wealth and adventure. Povel, however, was determined to see the situation through with his family and townsmen. Eventually, it became clear that there could not be enough food for all of Povel's family. His father scraped together what money he could and, dividing it among his older sons, sent them out. It seemed that fate wanted to thrust adventure onto Povel despite his attempt at living a quiet life. Seeking the payment and glory of mercenary work, he decided to make the trek to Uppsala.