Halvor Gambling

Troll Kinain
Guardian of Caer Yocuna
Lodge of the Second Cauldron


Description


~Well now, if this isn’t a snapshot of a man taken right off the cover of a pulp romance novel! Halvor Gambling is a ruddy-faced muscleman in his late 30s with bulging muscles and a solid, confident build. As his crystal-clear blue eyes guardedly scan the area, his dark-brown hair is tossed back like a mane. It waves down past his shoulders, adding to that romantic look. There the look ends, because Halvor seems quite content wearing blue-collar work boots, jeans, and a tank top. And he almost always has on a broad-rimmed hat, favoring cowboy hats. The headwear covers vestigial horns that grow from his forehead; no wonder he keeps his head covered! Furthermore, although he has the body of a steamy dark prince, his bulbous nose and almost Neanderthal facial construction reduce his attractiveness. That doesn’t stop Halvor from flashing a friendly smile and tossing a wave at a guest with those strong hands. Besides, since he won’t likely be encountered outside the Near Dreaming, it goes without saying that his construction worker attire turns into Norse throwback arms. His archaic armor includes leather that’s been cured very simply and almost primitive (if deadly) weapons. He’s a man that knows he’s not Thor, just a guy who can beat up monsters like Thor.~

OOC: Appearance 2; Faerie Blood 4; Mark of the Blood


"Honor, duty, glory -- what else could a man ask for?"


History


The Nice Jock

The late 60s saw a rush of liberated women fulfilling their dreams. Maude Rothgar certainly took advantage of that lifestyle in which many women indulged. As a professional tennis player, she excelled in athletics and that was probably why she had such a great fling with physical trainer Roman Gambling. They even stayed together long enough to give birth to Halvor in ’68. But the moment ended and she was back on the road, playing ball and avoiding “housewife” responsibilities.

The young boy was raised by a single father, yet at least they had a nice little duplex in the growing suburbs. Roman made his home for Halvor in the Rolling Hills of Kansas City, Missouri. Neither father nor son realized Maude’s true nature: she was a faerie, a Troll, and that made Halvor blood to that fantastical family. Ignorant of that heritage, Halvor was stoically raised with Christian values (though Roman proved too busy to make their disjointed family hardcore religious).

Of course, Halvor attended public school, where he never excelled at academics but at least managed. He was as physical as his parents, so always had a number of pals since he filled the role of the “nice jock”. Keeping a steady girlfriend seemed harder – he was just too nice for his own good. His occasional bizarre behavior – talking to himself, looking past the moment and hoping for more – did not help such perceptions.

Zed’s Not Dead

Out of high school by 1986, Halvor held no direction for his future. He even considered the army. One night that summer, he took a cute girl out for a date to a Mexican restaurant in the city’s Little Mexico district. This proved to be a mistake, for a roaming gang of immigrant punks harassed the pretty girl and instigated the bearish young Halvor into rare action. Outnumbered, the brawl quickly turned desperate. A flare of Glamour swept over the alley as a chill wintry wind, lending Halvor the strength of giants to repel the thugs. As they retreated (the ones still conscious), the young man was frightened at what he was just able to do. His date was likewise freaked out – due to the tiny horns that were now protruding from his forehead.

Before Halvor could come to any incorrect conclusions, the Mists (and fainting) claimed the date and full-blooded faeries were attracted to the scene of the Glamour flare-up. A cruel lone wolf Redcap that strolled poor neighborhoods looking for punks to beat up responded to Halvor’s coming of age first. Zed the Red was his name, and he dazzled the already confused Halvor with a forced enchanted stroke. Terrified of the horrible looking changeling, Halvor was in deep trouble had a Troll patrol not stumbled across the situation next. The three Trolls fought the nasty ‘Cap off, calmed Halvor down, and brought him to the local mew, Trajo Fair.

At last, Halvor learned about his real lineage. Because he was only Kinain, details came sparsely, but at least he discovered he was not some sort of demon. His mother was obviously full-blooded Troll, and that was why he carried a watered-down version of her gifts. He felt right at home among the fae. That blank space was filled. For a few years, he settled into a lifestyle among the fae of the Trajo Fair while working menial jobs.

Fresh Blood

In 1990, Sir Nero Skyhammer ap Dougal showed up to the little mew to recruit new retainers for the Duchy of Julius Maer. Of all possible candidates, Nero chose Halvor over even full-fledged Kithain. It was time to serve king and country, he was told. Would he answer the call that burned in his Troll blood? Yes! He was more than ready to accept a life as a “noble warrior”. He informed his father that he was joining the army – going career – and vanished into the Dreaming like his mother did so many years ago.

Naturally, Halvor found Caer Yocuna, the freehold that existed solely in the Near Dreaming, to be a place of incredible strangeness and wonder. It took him a little while to adapt, but he focused on new physical training to keep him sane. He had to learn archaic medieval weapons and horseback riding to best serve as retainer among the noble Trolls of this Dougal household. When deemed ready, Halvor swore an oath of service to the Sidhe Duchess Letitia Dain ni Dougal and his mentor, Sir Nero Skyhammer. In Nero, Halvor envisioned a perfect version of himself and he idolized the powerful Troll hero.

Yet despite his training Halvor actually participated in very few battles that raged around the vital and contested freehold. He was posted on defense around the keep in that fantasy wonderland. He helped repel chimerical monsters that tried to raze or burrow up into the castle – dragons and stormworms were not uncommon. He always fought bravely and despite advice from Nero and other Trolls, Halvor never hung back. He always leapt into whatever action he could.

The Scarred Legion

Consequently, he fell in battle more than once – chimerically speaking. Though it was a hassle to revive and re-Enchant the Kinain, it would ultimately prove a blessing. It provided the right amount of Banality to keep his feet on the ground (so to speak) and prevent being Dreamstruck. (It also hastened the correction of his aging.) The occasional visit home to his father likewise granted Halvor grounding against being swept away by Glamour. Now Halvor understood why his mother ran off, and he did not blame her.

Finally, in 2003 he received his first opportunity to really show his worth. The mighty Scarred Legion, an army of fir-bholg, was en route for Caer Yocuna. Every man and woman was needed on the field. He was given his own fae steed at last, the chestnut quarter horse-like windjony named Koal. He sallied forth on the brave stallion at Nero and the other Trolls’ sides, fighting alongside them as an equal. The epic battle raged for three days, exhausting all combatants. Yet the Trolls, and Halvor especially, epitomized the advantage of the changeling way – that human reserve of spirit helped them fight to the end and drive the Scarred Legion back into the deep recesses of the Dreaming.

Over the years, Halvor devoted himself to the duties of a retainer of the duchy. This helped him forget about a growing pang of loneliness. Though he was fae-blooded, he wasn’t full fae and even his triumph in the field didn’t change that. His lack of romance along with knightly sentiments and expectations exacerbated that solitude. Only his stoic spirit kept him in check. He may be “only” Kinain, but he would live, fight, and die with as much bravery and heroism as his parentage.


Chimera Companion


Ullur is the name Halvor gave to his proud faerie steed. This horse is like a chestnut quarterhorse, though the specific faerie breed is windjony. This windjony is a proud stallion, but a stoic beta (like Halvor himself). The Kinain takes excellent care of the horse, keeping him well-groomed and well-fed at all times, and his dark-brown tack and saddle in excellent, polished condition.


Significant Other


In 2007, Halvor was paired up with Bodile Gilby, a full-blooded Troll guardswoman at Caer Yocuna. Their partnership was for more than trotting back and forth on the castle ramparts. They were assigned with a secret charge to discern any internal threats to the freehold’s security. Enjoying the semi-autonomy their special mission granted, their professional camaraderie grew heated into a solid and passionate romance. But it’s still too early (as time in the Dreaming goes) to tell how serious it will be as they pursue their duties as well.

Bodile


Weakness
Troll Without the Troll


In many ways, Halvor is expected to do all that a Troll can do. But of course he lacks as much potential power and magical talent that a Troll can wield. One day he may come up fatally short.

Likelihood of Corruption

Low.

Halvor hangs around high Seelie all the time. He's rarely even exposed to wicked chimera or fae. And his personal honor and decency covers any natural temptations he may suffer.

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