Road and Roar

From birth he was seen as wild and hard to deal with. He had his own code of morals and values, and to him, a warrior’s honour and the fierceness of fair battles was worth more than petty disputes and empty titles. To the weaker he offered protection, diplomacy, support. To the strong, he sought a challenge. His eyes were always on those higher up. He knew he could have more, if he challenged those stronger than him, or above him in the ranks of House Caradhras.

He was brutal but honourable, traits often seen as the true essence of the North. Khelgaro always knew his limits and was never shy of giving responsibilities to those around him capable enough to earn his confidence. His comrades trusted him for he trusted them. Together they were unstoppable.

His daring strength and confident army saw him quickly rise in ranks among Caradhras Army. He rose in ranks and reputation. Songs started singing tales of his strength in war and of his fair nature.

And that alone started threatening House Caradhras as he grew older and as the North saw its former warrior glory slowly fade away under the still calmness and complacent nature of its leaders. As Khelgaro started being seen as the one who would drive them back to their former battle glory, The Leader of the North decided to find this Infamous Commander and strike him down before tales of his noble strength and fierce skills turned him into a figure of legend, a contestant for the crown of the North.

By the time whispers talked about making off with the aspiring new leader, Khelgaro’s own advisers had told him to leave.

He would not desert the North; he wasn’t born to be a coward.

He knew it was time to make his own army. His own conquest. His own house. He knew from his visions that his journey was meant to take him elsewhere and return one day, to make do with the complacent leadership of House Caradhras and with his land.

He could not desert the North; but perhaps to conquer North, he had to venture South.

He stepped onto boat on a bright afternoon, and the people of the North watched as he proudly sailed away from his homeland, not in the darkness of the night like traitors and deserters do, but under the last rays of autumn sun, before winter settled in; to the last minute, he was a proud and true warrior of the North.

The northern Leaders saw its rising enemy depart, and tried its best to paint him as a deserter who had forsaken the north; but its voice was muted, silenced under the songs. It tried as it could to censor the whispers, the tales, the musings, but they still found its way back, in rumours and songs: the promise of light returning once more.

The people of the North saw Khelgaro as the noble and fair sun, that would rise once more in glory for their land. In his warmth, they would not be idle like the ice of House Caradhras; in his warmth, they would be warriors again