Rasmus Armfelt
Titles: Introduction: Sir Baron Rasmus Armfelt Valdyr of House Valdyr, Judex Primaris, Knight Commander of the Right and Noble Order of the Iron Wall, Lord of the First Estate
Formal: Sir Judex.
Formal Subjective: Baron Valdyr/Sir Armfelt - Normal, everyday address
Familiar: Baron Rasmus - Close Allies
Intimate: Rasmus - Family
Jim Brandr: Raz - Only he has this privilege.
Coteries/Societies: None yet
Notable Traits: Politeness and honour, a thin veneer holding back the beast.
Concept: Naval Kommodori
Rasmus is, in essence, angry.
He was broken in his mortal life when he lost his fleet to Lothar.
He was a pawn in the game between the Volmark and the Valdyr, he was inducted into the Covenant of Oppression and has enemies on both sides.
He was denied the pleasures of the beast and forced to take care of a mewling babe that shies away from conflict.
Overarching all of this is his steel hard honour. He does not ever speak his mind about his position however he must hate it, he treats the Volmark with respect despite their absolute destruction of his life and he cares for Eira however much she disappoints him.
But he is not happy. The only times he does seem to enjoy himself is when he fights, but even that is tainted by his constant war against the beast inside. When his enemies are facing him, he will fight honorably and calmly: declaring his intent to fight and meeting their eyes and banter. When their back is turned, he harries them viciously from behind almost mad in his intent to cause them harm.
Lineage
Vassals
Timeline
Pre-Embrace
Born into a Noble Finnish lineage, Rasmus has been able to trace his family history back into the days of the legendary Vikings. He was a quite a strong boy and a natural leader. He took very seriously the faith he had been taught by his Catholic schooling and often engaged in heated debate with his father and grandfather as to their pagan, Nordic beliefs. He was taught the skills of war, diplomacy, etiquette and estate management. He seemed born to sailing and command and by the time he was 18, he had already claimed command of a ship in the Finnish Royal Navy and was stationed in South Africa to support the Boer resistance against the British. He gained great acclaim for his tactical savvy and powerful leadership. This earned him the title of Lippueamiraali (Flotilla Admiral) and a fleet of ships. Upon attaining this title, he was given a silver cross by the Finnish Prince in recognition for his efforts.
During this time he encountered his first Kindred, not a Valdyr but in fact their ancient enemy, Lothar of the Volmark line. Lothar had been terrorizing ships in Europe and his infamy had spread even to Scandinavia, a ghost ship that appeared out of clear waters and mercilessly destroyed ships. It was rumoured that he was headed around Cape Town and Rasmus was dispatched to encounter him. Rasmus instructed his fleet to spread out in order to catch the so called ‘invisible’ ship. One by one, his ships were attacked, the pillars of smoke appearing on the horizon. By the time Rasmus’ ship arrived there was no sign of the attacker, the victim ship destroyed beyond repair but oddly all the sailors survived jumping ship. Eventually only Rasmus’ Captain’s Vessel remained, heavy in the water with the sailors from his fleet. Looking out onto the horizon, a dark ship appeared out of nowhere. Crewed by savage looking humanoid shapes and captained by a monstrous shark-like man, the ship approached readied for battle. Rasmus stepped up onto the railing and faced down the oncoming ship.
“To the depths with you Pirate!” he roared, fumbling at his chest to pull out his silver cross. “Though you have hellish powers and fearsome appearance, my faith in the Lord shall see me through this fight!” Holding the silver cross high, Rasmus proclaimed “for His grace protects me and His wrath shall be your undoing!”
At this resounding denouncement, the shark/man/monster turned his head away and the ship simply disappeared leaving Rasmus bewildered and forsaken on the calm seas off Madagascar.
After this, Rasmus‘ resolve, like that of the Boer resistance, was broken. He fought a rearguard action against the British troops, however his ship was forced further and further north and had to put in to Australia.
There he met Berengaria Lange who immediately recognised him for who he was: a descendant of Fenrisulfur. Rasmus’ life was changed forever.
Embrace
Rasmus spent many years learning the true history of his lineage from Berengaria. He learnt the creation myth, the history of his family and the legends of his grandsire. He felt cheated of his faith, that the stories told to him by the mortals (for he thought of them as such) were simple lies meant to control him. Over the years, he learnt the history of the Valdyr and begun to learn his place in the family. Together he and Berengaria reconstructed the family line, sought out the more promising members and worked on perfecting them.
Over time, Berengaria embraced more childer and Rasmus no longer held such a pivotal role in the family. He grew more enticed by the story of Fenris, he began to slip into the beast, revelling in the selfish glory of the hunt, of the power he held over mortals and beasts. He began to hunt mortals for sport in secret away from his family, stealing them, setting them free and then hunting them down as a beast, surrounded by his fellow wolves. It wasn’t until one fateful day when Berengaria, alerted to his strange behaviours followed him in secret.
Rasmus was hunting well that night. He had found a mortal that seemed weak and vacillating but held a hidden, powerful drive for survival. The hunt had gone on for days until finally Rasmus had ambushed the stupid kine, hamstringing it and harrying it while it ran. He leapt up onto its back and was ready to snap his jaws shut on the mortal’s neck and taste its sweet blood when suddenly he was slammed off the human into a wall. Standing protectively over the human was a huge wolf: Berengaria. Unbeknownst to Rasmus this mortal was in fact one of his blood, a descendant of Fenris and in truth descended from his very familial line: Eira. He had almost killed and eaten a member of his own lineage. In fact this mortal had been picked by Berengaria for the embrace. Rasmus was instructed to embrace Eira as a form of punishment and also to give him the responsibility to maintain his humanity.
Rasmus was one of the Kindred to answer the call for support in fighting the Livian Heresy. It was there that he met his ancient fear: Lothar the Pirate. Rasmus held a command of ghouls and undead beasts and was holding off the enemy’s forces when he saw a sight he had not seen for almost 100 years. He saw the shark monster that had terrorized him when he was once mortal. He was momentarily transfixed by the sight but knew that he had to finally confront his old terror and that now was the time. He fought his way over to where Lothar was finishing off the Livian leaders and gained the hill just as the Nosferatu had finished off the leader. Slowly Rasmus approached and Lothar turned, arms half raised in a fighting stance. Momentarily lost for words, Rasmus simply stared at the smaller man, brimming with fury. Finally he managed to plainly ask “Why did you quit the field all those years ago? You had the advantage, the win was yours.” Lothar, taken aback, replied “It was your faith that saved you; I had no need to continue my pursuit.” Rasmus resignedly replied “I have learnt many truths since my embrace. The faith I once had has been eroded by the fantasy of reality.” Lothar raises up his hands in supplication, murmurs a short prayer and in a resounding voice proclaims “then witness a miracle of the Lord!” As blood rains from the sky Livian Heretics spear Lothar through the chest and he explodes in flame. Lothar turns and in a frenzy dispatches the Livians as he falls torpid. Rasmus hesitates for a moment, and then pulls Lothar’s body from the blaze. He quits the field, returning Lothar to his family, stating simply that ‘his debt is repaid.’
Currently
Rasmus is still recovering from his loss of humanity and consequently spends a lot of time in counsel with his childe Eira. He is very protective of his family and will assist them in any way he is able. He is very supportive of his Sire Berengaria just as she is watchful of him.
He is an honourable, loyal Invictus Lord, Leige to a number of Vassals
Quotes
Quotes By
"Furl out the sails you dogs! We’ll outride this storm if I have to lash you together and use you as a raft! - Rasmus, when training potential Vassals
"I think that, were you not so perpetually cheerful and believing of my humanity, there would be more blood on my coat." - Rasmus to Eira, after subduing an attacker
Quotes About
"You're not a monster, Raz, you're... like Jesus in the desert. You're being tempted to sin. That's all."
- Eira, trying to rehabilite her Sire.
"I love your spirit, but remember that surrendering to the beast is still surrender, and thus is to be avoided if at all possible."
- The Liulfr, discussing the nature of what it is to be Berserk.
"Who the Devil are you?"
- Batavia, trying to shake Rasmus off on the battlefield in WW1.
"Rasmus Armfelt...oh, yes. I know your name, now. Congratulations. You have succeeded in coming to my attention.
...I hope you have a plan, boy."
- Batavia, in 1955.
"This one, This one I shall watch... He stands on a precipice. He has chosen a path which may lead him out of the Valley of the Beast, or send him plummeting right down into it's jaws. Should he fall, then I shall honour him with a swift death."
- Lothar
"See? If House Volmark is admiring you, something has definitely gone wrong."
- Eira
"Not the most disappointing of my Grandchilder. But we are yet to see how he fairs dealing from within the Covenant of Oppression"
- Vilrec Langlifr
"It's called The Art of War, brother. I suggest you read it. And before you start with me, the text is older than you."
- Adrian Dansk
"Over the phone the man reminds me of my uncle, typical stoic military sort. In person, well, thank fuck he lives in Brisbane, what a mess" - Les Crassus 1976
"The ocean at night holds a darkness, and power than no Man can rival. It's awful grip has crushed many who have underestimated it's reach."
- Lothar
"Only a madman knows no fear. Never forget that there are situations in this world that even you cannot face and live Baron Rasmus. Circumstances that cannot be fought with Claw, Blade or Bullet, and to confront them would be nothing but a futile waste of your Sire's blood. In those events, remember that you serve best alive and not sacrificed upon the altar of vain glory."
- Henry Lawford