Herald Gromskull was raised from birth in a small, muddy and cold village outside the walls of the Kingdom of Haense. The village’s main economy is livestock but the majority of healthy men join the Kingdom’s army. Herald’s father, Vargus Gromskull, is a very militant and stern man, he believes war is the answer to peace and if it were not for war there would never be peace. His mother, Andras Gromskull, was quite the opposite; she believed that peace will be the product of treaties, alliances and agreements. Ever since Herald was born, his father was gone constantly, only returning for brief periods of time. Vargus, being the militant man he was, never stayed home too long as he was out accompanying the Kingdom in their delegations and turmoil, as it was the period of time called The Troubles, where there was no major conflict or wars, but much political conflict. Herald, as a child, would stay home with his mother. She would constantly remind him how proud she was of her husband, but would also wish he could be home with them. Herald stumbled upon his mother many nights crying and praying for her husband’s permanent return. Andras would fill little Herald’s mind of grand adventures and beautiful places outside of the village. She had never once seen any of these places or gone on these adventures but she read them in books or learned them from outsiders who found themselves traveling through their village. She wished for a beautiful house, with a pastures of crops and livestock all to themselves. Herald was beyond fascinated by these fantasies and stories so much that he saw no reason to want to go war or help the kingdom, but to explore.
As Herald grew older, he began to resent his father more and more after every one of Vargus’ brief returns. When Vargus would return, he would show no compassion to his child or wife. Herald would ask him of his time in the Kingdom and wanted to learn about the sights, the beauty and adventure, but his father would not be cheerful when explaining it to him. He would talk about how loyal they all must be to the king, and how war will never cease and peace will never be obtained. Along with his bland and vague explanations, he would boss Herald around, demanding he run to the market and bring him ale, do unnecessary chores and sometimes beat him. In the odd times he wouldn’t beat him or send him on errands, he would teach him to fight and how to be combat-ready. You would think that sparring or practicing for combat would be good for a young boy in these times, but Vargus would not properly teach Herald. He would beat him with a thick board and demand he fight back, use his strength to pin Herald and tell him to break out and would use his unfair skills to best the boy. This did not improve Herald’s skills and the only thing he learned from these inadequate lessons was how to take a bashing. When Vargus was gone, Herald would visit the village blacksmith, his Uncle Einar, Vargus’ older brother. Einar and Vargus were the complete opposite of each other, so much so that they hated the other. Einar loved Herald, and thought of him as his own son, mainly because he had no children. Herald’s uncle would teach him to smith, whether it be weapons, armour or tools. Along with smithing, Einar taught his nephew basic combat knowledge and fighting techniques. He never wanted to teach him how to easily kill a man, but to defend himself. Einar was a very religious man, practicing the religion of Canonism. He promised Herald that no matter what happens to the children of their god that they will all end up in the Seven Skies. Einar became Herald’s mentor and father figure throughout his life up until the point of his passing.
Einar Gromskull was a strong and proud man, but because of the curse of Horen and him laboring his whole life, he lived a short life. The passing of his beloved Uncle and mentor was a turning point in Herald’s life. He understood mortality and that tomorrow is not promised and vowed to live a wonderful and adventure-filled life that his parents and uncle did not. One morning he approached his mother, who was making a morning stew and explained to her what he had to do. She was neither sad nor happy at what he was telling her, but she understood. She helped him pack a travel sack and even let him have one of their horses. Herald only ever said farewell to his mother as he knew she was the only one who loved and appreciated him for who he was. He then climbed up onto his packed horse, gave his mother one final smile and wave, and then rode off.
