Mirn Krollnar
Son of Viscountess Rowena Krollnar of Bergen
Viscount of Bergen
AC 1013
"I owe it to my father, my mother and all the Krollnars before me to be the best I can and be second to none!"
Appearance
Very handsome, Mirn Krollnar is 5'7" tall and of muscular build. He has a square face with a prominent jaw line. His eyes are brilliant blue like his mother, and his hair is wavy and reddish-brown. Mirn prefers to keep his hair very short. Following an ancient Flaemish tradition, Mirn has recently started growing his beard; but in keeping with a more modern Glantrian trend, he has chosen to style the beard into a goatee. (This annoys Flaemish purists but the younger Flaemish fops refer to him as "The Lofty Noble Goat.")
Mirn Krollnar's tone of his voice is low, but he likes to modulate it when he scolds someone or when he gives an order. The resulting raucous voice comes from the Course for Graduates he attended when in the Glantrian Army.
Mirn likes to dress elegantly, changing his styles depending of vogue. And the Viscount of Bergen always carries this off flawlessly, whether in military uniform or traditional Flaemish dress or whatever concoction the modish couturiers of Glantri come up with.
Personality & Quirks
Mirn has been the subject of the dreams of countless unmarried Flaemish girls and of those who already are. Unfortunately for them, women have not been his interest until recently—when he realized he needed a wife to have an heir.
Nonetheless, Mirn is not the type to waste his time. For some months, Mirn has been seen in the company of Klara Wjesmans (T2, CG), the daughter of a humble peasant of Bergen and probably the only girl who has stirred some emotion in Mirn. The fact that Klara is a mundaner has not helped his reputation among Flaemish purists.
Mirn recently developed another hobby: fashion. He spends a lot of money on clothes as his personal tailor, Vanserie Krjilens (M4, CN)—who also happens to be the official dressing adviser of Baron Pieter Vandehaar of Oxhill—is definitively the happier for it!
Mirn is convinced he was born to be the best in whatever he does. This attitude has caused him to gradually lose interest in activities when he realizes someone is better than him. Until now, his life has been an endless search for something more suitable for him.
His has much self-esteem and self-confidence that often borders on arrogance. And his style of dressing has not helped him at all.
Background
Mirn was born in Adlerturm, in AC 990, son of Rowena Krollnar, Viscountess of Bergen, and her secret lover, Maximilian Hiltier. Mirn had a happy youth, since his mother was always present, in order to prevent him from missing his father.
Rowena sent Mirn at a very young age to the Great School of Magic, but with little benefit. Mirn greatly resented the competition with other young prodigies at the Great School, first with Angus McGregor and then Sean McAllister, and even with other children of Flaemish nobles such as Pieter-Eeuwke Vandehaar. Mirn progressed slowly in his studies, and he felt he was disappointing his mother and his people.
Mirn eventually realized that magic was not his future, so upon coming of age, he decided to join the Great Army of Glantri (much to his mother's dismay!). With his noble status and the impending war, Mirn rose quickly in ranks. But in AC 1008, Mirn fell victim to the Plague and was granted a leave without having the opportunity to distinguish himself at anything.
Mirn dejectedly returned to Bergen, where his mother had become the Viscountess, and under her care and with the help of her friend, Bernardus Sager (Flaemish Shepherd lupin, Healer12*, AL NG), healer and leader of the Sager Clan of Flaemish Shepherds of Bergen, Mirn regained his health.
This homecoming proved more beneficial to Mirn than he realized, since his long lost father had recently returned and the two finally spent time together as father and son. Maximilian himself was instrumental in reconciling Rowena and Mirn, and their differing opinions about Mirn's career as a military wizard.
At the end of the Great War (and with the death of many military officers), Mirn gained the position as Captain of the Seventh Banner under Princess Juliana Vlaardoen in Linden. Mirn mistakenly took this as a positive sign that he was a great military commander—instead of a simple matter of luck.
In AC 1012, Mirn's future changed once more. Lady Rowena decided to confront the fiend that had cursed the Krollnars and the Chariot of Horst Krollnar, and the subsequent battle resulted in her death.
Rowena had named Maximilian as her successor, knowing Mirn's own interests lay not in ruling Bergen. But Mirn felt a great debt towards his mother and the legacy of the Krollnars, and decided to leave the Glantrian Army to assist his father in ruling his mother's dominion. (Of course, the fact that Mirn realized that many of the new military wizards—most of whom actually graduated from the Great School—were actually better than him, only made his decision of leaving the army much easier!)
Maximilian himself preferred to focus into his magical studies, and made way for Mirn to become the new Viscount of Bergen. As usual, Mirn took to the new task with optimistic vehemence, determined to prove he would be the best ruler in the whole Glantri. He chose a very capable Flaemish Spokesperson (related to the Vandehaar family), hired a private tutor in Glantrian politics, and reenrolled at the Great School of Magic. So far, Mirn has proven to be a competent ruler.
Web of Intrigue
Mirn's greatest friend and ally is his father, Maximilian Hiltier. They are as different as close, but they blindly trust each other. Mirn is determined to show Maximilian that his mother's sacrifice was not in vain and that father's trust is not unfounded, by becoming the best ruler and politician he can be.
Mirn also has close ties with the Flaemish Shepherds of the Sager Clan in Bergen, particularly Cletus Sager (Flaemish Shepherd lupin, M4, AL LG), son of Bernardus and the future leader of the clan.
Mirn is only starting in his political career and has so far proved to be a capable one. He has allied himself with Pieter Vandehaar, Baron of Oxhill , whom he idolizes and trusts beyond a doubt (much to Lord Pieter's liking!) As Viscount of Bergen, Mirn is loyal to House Linden, but he also shares Princess Juliana Vlaardoen's tolerant attitudes towards non-Flaems. However, Mirn is careful no to appear friendly to everyone—as per the advice of Lord Pieter Vandehaar.
Mirn does have a genuine hatred of the Ethengar, as he blames them for Maximilian's exile from Glantri before he was born. This hatred has earned much approval with Lord Pieter Vandehaar, as well as the traditionalist Flaemish circles in Bergdhoven.
Mirn has recently realized the importance of his parents' connections in the intellectual circles of Glantri in expanding his political powers. Maximilian has introduced him to such academics and scholars with equivocal results. The best Mirn has achieved so far is a possible alliance with Bartolomeo di Malapietra, an instructor at the Great School and once heir to Caurenze.
Style of Magic & Combat
Statistics: 4th-level mage (Glantrian Military Wizard kit); Str 13, Int 11, Wis 8, Dex 9, Con 15, Cha 16; AL N (D&D), NG (AD&D).
Languages: Flaemish, Thyatian (Glantrian and Aalbanese dialects). Mirn speaks foreign languages with a slight Flaemish accent.
Weapon Proficiencies: dagger, short sword.
Skills: etiquette, meditation, politics, reading/writing, spellflash, spellcraft.
Mirn did not progress far the first time at the Great School of Magic. Upon entering, the Glantrian Army, Mirn's began learning spells for combat and defense. Since becoming Viscount of Bergen and reenrolling at the Great School, Mirn has redirected his interests into magic useful in politics and scholarship.
From his mother, Mirn has inherited The Brooch of Fiery Travels, one of The Seven Legendary Brooches of the Flaem.
"He has changed his mind again, just after he had made up his mind for the very last time. Perhaps he should make that final decision to accept that he is a failure in anything he does."
(Angus McGregor)
Notes:
*The Healer is an NPC class found in Sages and Specialists, a TSR supplement for AD&D.
References:
Author: Giovanni Porpora