Work Text:
Dossier: Bjarni Storm-Born and Egil Blade-Born,
By Ernst Greysson
Introduction
During our investigation into the triplet Aurelias that we have been pursuing as per the instructions of the Divine Council, it was decided to set some time aside to look at the various half-siblings that the parents have gotten between them. This was necessary because it soon became apparent that most of these young people will be the movers and shakers of their generation with the threat of renewed war and other chaos on the horizon. To that end, this is a summary of what we have discovered about the Stormsword’s sons with Ulfric Stormcloak. Bjarni was born during a storm, hence his honour-name, and Egil was born by Reman section, hence his honour-name. The Old Holders are both succinct and punctilious about such things.
Bjarni and Egil were conceived within two years of each other once Ulfric and the Stormsword formalised their understanding with a Talosite marriage on the understanding that the Jarl of Windhelm would adopt her daughter Sidgara. Given her focus on the daughter she believes will be Dragonborn, both sons were somewhat neglected by their mother while their father was imprisoned for his part in the Markarth Incident, the bulk of childrearing duties falling upon Ulfric’s consort and huscarl Galmar Stone-Fist (Nords can and have practiced polygamy in the past). Now that Ulfric has returned, he has played more of a part in their upbringing, including choosing a young warrior named Ralof as their arms master. That has, thank the gods, made them into relatively emotionally stable adolescents when compared to their parents.
Fosterage
No fool by anyone’s standards, Ulfric realised that the Empire was “fostering” the heirs of the nobility in its two remaining external provinces as a means to enforce the White-Gold Concordat and so the boys were sent to different foster parents at the age of eight. Bjarni was dispatched to Ulfric’s mother’s kin, the Grey-Manes of Whiterun, and spent a lot of time at Jorrvaskr, home of the Companions. Egil, given how devout he was, went to the Vigilance of Stendarr and was raised by Keeper Carcette. That fosterage has now ended after several years and they’re now back with their family to be educated for their ultimate destiny as future Jarls.
Appearance
Bjarni is set to be the bigger of the two, already six feet tall at the age of fourteen, and has sable hair with the blue-green eyes of his mother. Egil, on the other hand, is slimmer and shorter but still set to be quite tall like most Old Holders. His hair is sable but his eyes are a paler blue-green than his brother’s or mother’s.
Personality
Bjarni is bold and brash, a true Nord with all his heart on his sleeve, but is surprisingly intelligent, especially with numbers, and quite empathetic. His fascination with the elves is likely to cause friction with his father in the future while that laissez-faire approach to others will make him friends and enemies alike. On the downside, I suspect he’s prone to morose depression when balked and the favouritism towards his sister is wearing on him.
Egil, on the other hand, has all the traits of focused savant’s syndrome – especially the sense of justice and order. He’s already taken vows as a lay Vigilant despite being twelve and had he been in Cyrodiil, we would be recruiting him as a potential Paladin. But that sense of justice could be corrupted easily if he’s ever thwarted or betrayed. He’s intelligent, thoughtful and respectful with an affinity for the Argonians – probably because they all agree his brother is “a pain in the cloaca.” One can only imagine Ulfric’s reaction. Sidgara’s favouring by their parents doesn’t seem to bother him.
Conclusion
Bjarni and Egil are definitely two lads to keep an eye on. I think, if we are clever, we could even sway them towards the Empire (or at least neutrality) when they understand more about their parents favouring Sidgara. Egil especially would make a good Knight of the Divine, maybe even a Divine Crusader, if Casavir does not work out.