The Dash Action

  Image by D&D Beyond [4 min read] Sigurd Jarlsson is my College of Valour Bard currently being played in the Hoard of the Dragon Queen campaign. Part of Sigurd's back story is the motivation to prove to his father, whom he idolises, that he is worthy of his respect as a warrior.  Harald Elkhardt , Sigurd's father, is a minor jarl in the Elk Tribe of the Reghed barbarians of Icewind Dale and a celebrated gladiator and hero of Ten Towns. I am playing him as a character in my solo run of Rime of the Frostmaiden . With Sigurd being a skald who sings ballads and recites sagas of legendary heroes, I found myself creating short story snippets of key figures from the frozen north to drop into my game sessions when roleplaying. The names of  Wulfgar and the Companions of the Hall, Jerod the barbarian shaman who united both the Reghed and Uthgardht peoples, and  Revjak the king of the Tribe of the Elk in Icewind Dale have all been referenced when called on to perform....

  [2 min read] Sigurd holds the battered, unadorned, breastplate wrought of iron in his two large and weathered hands, turning it over with reverence. With each scratch, each dent he inspects, his mind takes him to a different battle…  …Crafty kobolds try to surround him, but their spears glance off both sides of his armour and Sigurd keeps them at bay with two short swords… …A rival tribesman’s axe bites into his shoulder, only to be turned aside by strong metal, leaving him unbalanced as Sigurd’s longsword drives deep into his bare chest with the force of two hands… …A volley of goblin arrows rattles the armour as Sigurd closes the distance, briefly crouching to pick up a spear left on the battlefield and hefting his round shield into place...  Oh, the stories that shall be written now that Sigurd has come to wear the humble breastplate, hold the simple shield! ‘Son, you want the most metal you can put on your body that doesn’t compromise mobility’. These words, spoken ...

Image by  https://www.mantelligence.com/viking-quotes-and-phrases/ [3 min read] A flavour piece for my character, Sigurd Jarlsson , to help narratively explain away why his real life player can't stay in a Norse accent during sessions! Standing atop the wall of the keep, seemingly a giant as he looms over the crenellations, Sigurd bellows down at the ragged band of kobolds and dark clad men gathering outside the gates - “Fear not death, for the hour of your doom is set and none may escape it! And I, Sigurd the Strong, will ensure that you do not wait too long!” His voice is deep and strong, and the words carry the rugged, curling accent of the Reghed barbarians of Icewind Dale when they attempt to speak the common language of the south. Breathing heavily as he descends the stairs into the keep, the warm blood of battle slowly subsiding, Sigurd’s bearing changes. The way he moves is more relaxed and assured, no longer stomping heavily on the echoing stone stairs but moving nimbly th...

[3 min read] Sigurd is a large and ruggedly handsome Reghed barbarian of the Tribe of the Elk, originating from Icewind Dale in the far frozen north of the Sword Coast.  Jarl Harald Elkhardt, Sigurd’s father, is a famous warrior and minor lord in the tribe of the Elk, related to King Jarund Elkhardt. However Harald disagreed with the king on the future of the Elk tribe, and much like King Revjak before him, advocated for integration and modernisation with the other races of the Realms. This falling out saw Harald and his family estranged from the Tribe, so they settled amongst the civilised folk of Bryn Shander in Ten Towns, where Sigurd grew up.  Sigurd idolises his father and all famous warriors across the realms, with a particular fascination for Wulfgar and his Companions of the Hall. From a young age, Sigurd composed poems and stories to glorify their deeds. Benefiting from martial training overseen by his father, Sigurd entered and won gladiatorial bouts across the Ten T...

  Variant Human Bard Image by  www.dndbeyond.com/ [1 min read] Primary Role: frontline tank Secondary Role: support caster Spell choices: Cutting words - battlefield control & debuffs (e.g. vicious mockery, hideous laughter) Bolstering ballads - healing & buffing self/party (e.g. healing word, disguise self) Background:  Faction Agent: Harpers Personality Traits:  I know a story relevant to almost every situation, and nobody stays angry at me or around me for long, since I can defuse any amount of tension. Ideals:  Aspiration. I seek to prove myself worthy of my idol's favor by matching my actions against their teachings. Bonds:  I idolize a hero of the old tales and measure my deeds against that person’s (my father). Flaws:  I believe I will never live up to my father's expectations and sometimes it shakes my confidence. I won’t be happy until my father hears skalds sing about me. Back story and character development