Rodrigo

Rodrigo Birth Name: Rodrigo Claudice Northbroek Birth date: 1637 Birth Place:Kingdom of Haense Political Party:Triumvirate Title: Mayor of Ruriksgrad Tenure: 1660-1662 Other titles: Head Architect of Norland Residence: Haense (Nomadic) Nationality: Heartlander Highlander Santegian Other Names: "Quinton Charles" Wars and Battles: Atlas Coalition War Offices: Mayor of Ruriksgrad Head Architect of Norland Father: Edmund Northbroek Mother: Aria Northbroek Occupation: Architect, Diplomat, Politician, Political Writer Misc: avid outdoorsmen & birdwatcher

Rodrigo (born Rodrigo Claudice Northbroek; 1637–Present) Is a human architect, diplomat, politician, and political writer. Relatively young, he has already garnered much attention through his various political letters, architectural designs, contracting practice, and his charismatic personality. Recently free of his indentures from the Kingdom of Norland, he is now a contractor, political idealist, and writer.

Early life

Childhood

Born to the former Lotharingian Baron Edmund Northbroek and his wife Aria in the newly reformed Kingdom of Haense in 1637, Rodrigo was raised rather comfortably as minor nobility in his infancy. Doubt and failure came to break his father however, who left the family shortly after the move to Atlas occured. Thus Rodrigo was left in the care of his mother in a small shack on the outskirts of Haense, where he grew up with virtually no fatherly influence. When unsupervised he would often act out often, seizing every opportunity to cause trouble. This, combined with the infectious charisma that is a key trait of most Northbroeks, made for a true paragon of adolescent mischief and mayhem. A key event in Rodrigo’s young life was the first group scheme he ever organized, rallying the young serfs of the nearby homesteads into a small “traders guild”. Acquiring a horse and wagon, they rode out at dusk to a mercenary camp north of Markev. Under the cover of Darkness, they snuck into the camp, and began to steal weapons and armor while Rodrigo oversaw the collection. They went unnoticed, but in a dispute of how they would divvy up the loot, Rodrigo was knocked unconscious and left behind as the other boys made their escape. In the morning he was apprehended by the mercenaries, who questioned him on the thievery. He told them his name was Quinton Charles, and relayed to them the story. They were amused by Rodrigo’s tale, and told him of the dangers in being too trustworthy of others. Instead of beating him or turning him in, they let him go, on the condition that he would return for the next three months as a camp attendee.

Teenage Years

While only required to work for 3 months, Rodrigo found the mercenaries’ skills and lifestyle fascinating. He would spend much of his remaining adolescent years in the company of these men (when they were in town), learning lessons of both life and sword. They were the closest Rodrigo had to a father figure in these developmental years, and when his mother died of a respiratory infection (he was 16 at the time), He packed what little possessions he had and joined them as a full-time soldier.

Travel

From Aria’s death to his 20th birthday, Rodrigo would traverse the lands of Atlas as the hired blade “Quinton Charles”. Instilled now with a heavy sense of honor, and with his characteristic personality, he would rise through the ranks of the mercenary band. Being elected the commander at the age of 17, Rodrigo re-organized the group into a military escort service-only defensive assignments- and contracting was expanded to laypeople and the merchant class. This reformation meant that the unit would be deployed to various cities across the continent, and would have a substantial amount of time to experience the wide array of cultures within. Rodrigo, naturally curious, found a passion in the arts and ideas of these homes-away-from-home, still present to this day. During this time he also made the acquaintance of Caspian Lombardi, who would be an integral part of Rodrigo’s life in the near future.

Reunited

On the first return trip to Markev (1657), Rodrigo ran into his father for the first time in almost 15 years. Edmund, upon hearing word of the death of his wife, returned to Haense as soon as possible, but missed Rodrigo’s departure by a few weeks. Having no knowledge of Rodrigo’s use of “Quinton Charles” as an alias, Edmund believed his son had simply disappeared. In effect this was true; the young man that now stood before him was a far cry from the toddler he once nurtured. Upon their first encounter, Edmund mistook Rodrigo for a Santegian Merchant, remarking “If you’ve come to sell me spices, you’re terribly mistaken…”. The next month saw Rodrigo and Edmund rekindling their old family bonds. That same year, Rodrigo received a letter from Caspian informing him of a possible position in the Norlandic Military, the Rurikguard. Delighted by such news, he retired from his mercenary band, and set out to Ruriksgrad, his father accompanying him.

The Norlandic Years (1657-1662)

The Rurikguard

Rodrigo and his father enlisted later that same year, around the time of the first violent incidents between the Kingdom of Norland and the Kingdom of Renatus. Rodrigo was immediately promoted by the new Marshal Caspian to Huskarl, the highest non-officer commanding rank, for his skills in mobilization and motivation. Rodrigo, after various successful raid defenses, and multiple conversations with the King of Norland Godden Ruric, Rodrigo was unofficially appointed the Head Architect of Norland. He designed and oversaw the construction of multiple forts in defense of Norland from the inevitable Renatian assault, even constructing a coastal fort to defend the Norlandic shoreline.

The Mayoral Years

Around this time, the second Mayoral election of Ruriksgrad began, with the two primary candidates being Rodrigo and Hans Torsten. Hans had an early lead according to many of the polls, but Rodrigo garnered a large amount of support after the public debate. With Ser Jorvik Ruric announcing his candidacy, Rodrigo boosted his campaign media presence, and set himself as a man of the people. Due to their similar positions, Rodrigo and Hans formed a political party along with Caspian Lombardi called the Triumvirate. In the end, Rodrigo won the election by a single vote. As a Mayor in wartime, Rodrigo immediately commenced a number of wartime reforms including public trainings and defensive construction projects. He also authored a number of political writings to various nations across Atlas, attempting to spread dissent amongst the Nations of the Northern Atlas Alliance. He acquired a reputation as a skilled writer, and a cunning debater. Unfortunately, though he had a number of plans for the capital, none would reach fruition, as the Kingdom of Norland would collapse at the end of 1662.

Life After Norland

Rodrigo, a month after the fall of the Kingdom, announced in a public letter that he was leaving the service of Godden. After recently completing some contract work for the Kingdom of Haense, he now is travelling, meeting new people, and taking work offers were he finds them.