Askaryn Ottarson (ᛆᛋᚴᛆᚱᛦᚿ ᚮᛏᛏᛆᚱᛋᚮᚿ) or simply Karyn is one of the members of the The Mistdelvers. He is a noble of the House of Nidhoggungar.
Biography
Early Life
Darkness. Death. Decay. These are the words that come to mind when one thinks of the family legacy of the Nidhoggungar. Though the lights in the underground city of Helgard burn bright, one cannot help but imagine the life outside, where the only ceiling is the sky, and the biggest light is the sun. This was why Askaryn set out from his home in the depths to join the newly opened Häxört Akademi branch in Jordtræd, he wanted nothing to do with that legacy of his family... leading to no small amount of friction. Light. Life. Passion. These are the words that people would use to describe Askaryn. A kind, if not foolhardy soul who continues to seek out an adventure. His talent for magic would have been immense, but it always felt like he was too busy denying his blood to let his arcana flow freely. But his talent for words was undeniable - whether it was in prose, poetry, or speech. He loved stories - whether it be history or myth, he could not help but pursue the magic of these chronicles.
Then came the mission in 3E228 - delving into the darkness of "Hewer's Barrow" in the Deeproot Depths. Untouched by any living hands in centuries, it was said to have had a deep connection to ancestors of the Nidhoggungar. Askaryn's history professor Agatha was assembling a team. Everyone on the team had a purpose, he was there because he knew the legacy intimately, and he would be the storyteller who chronicled their descent. The mission, however, seemed doomed to fail. Nightmares of death and loss would deter them, mysterious illnesses would plague them - all of it warnings, for them to turn back. Before long, almost everyone had abandoned the quest - save for Askaryn himself, who seemed resistant to these effects. Something called to him from the shadows... As he reached the bottom, there was only one thing waiting for him. A tear between the realms - a communion... with what seemed like Nidhogg themselves.
"You thought you could outrun the dark ink that stains your blood. You cannot. Those of your house do not know it themselves, but they have been preparing you for this your whole life. To be my avatar. You will bear my dark fires, and you will bring with you death and miasma. It is not a great evil that you represent, but merely a fact of life. You do not have a choice, but you may certainly TRY to resist."
—Nidhogg.
And Askaryn certainly resisted. His magic now burned brighter than it had ever had, yet he knew well it might burn down those he cared about - the very life he had barely begun to build away from home. So he once again did what he has been doing best - running. Having left everything behind, the people of Appal and the nearby towns knew him as the cheery young battle mage and talkative negotiator, "Karyn". He tried to bring hope and joy wherever he can, as if making up for some past sins. Karyn was at peace now, with where he was. As well as he could be. But on those cold, dark days, when death claims another soul - he knew well... the things he is running from couldn't be outrun.
Cloud Maiden's Blight
Check the main campaign page for the detailed plot summary.
In 3E230, he heard about a foreign Adventurer's Guild called the DoD being allowed by the Branchkeepers to set up their first guildhall in Appal. Though it is led by another famed retired adventurer-in-all-but-name, he had no idea what to make of this guild yet.
Timeline
3E209 - Askaryn is born in Helgard.
3E228 - He is separated from the academy members within Hewer's Barrow and gains his powers from Nidhogg, "dying" in eyes of the outside world. He then runs away and settles down in the region around Appal.
3E230 - The events of Cloud Maiden's Blight begin.
