Arnolf Wull

Arnolf Wull is the current head of the Wull Clan, a title he has held since his father's death in 393 AC.

Appearance and Character
Arnolf Wull is a large, physically intimidating man. He has unkempt long black hair and beard that are beginning to grey. Arnolf barely smiles, his expression existing in a permanent scowl.

Arnolf is an intense man, who despises any encroachment of the south on northern ways. He is a fervent supporter of the Old Gods.

History
Arnolf Wull was the first son born to Artos Wull and Maege Wull, out of five other children, only three of which lived to maturity. He was always an intense child, born into a frozen wasteland with every winter taking some of his clan. He was particularly close to his brother Larence, who died in a wilding raid when he was 12.

Arnolf Wull was said to be particularly religious from a young age, especially in the harsh conditions in which he lived. He has been said to have travelled all over the north in his youth, but at the age of 19, settled down in the mountain clans and began to preach.

He had seen the north, he said, and all over he had seen the black rot of the southerners, eating the heart of their fair country from the inside and out. The Manderlys were heretics, and the winter palace was a disgrace to all good northerners. His teachings were mainly ignored, and perhaps Arnolf Wull would have died an unknown man if fate had not intervened.

He wed Lyarra Flint i the year 385 AC, a marriage to the First Flints, a clan that his father had disputed with on many occasions. It was a difficult marriage to obtain, as Arnolf had at this point acquired a reputation for being both unrelenting and possible dangerous. Their first son, Eddard Wull, was born in 386 AC, and their second son, Torghen born in 387 AC. Their first daughter, Leona Wull was born in 390 AC

In 393 AC, his father, already weak from a wildling raid, died in the great famine, leading Arnolf to become the chieftain of Clan Wull. It was at this time that Arnolf's son also died, Eddard already being a slightly frailer boy, a condition only exacerbated by the lack of food. From this death, Arnolf was said to have further mired himself in his fanaticism, becoming even more fervent. He continued his theological teachings, and acquired a following among some of his own clan, and others.

In the year 394, his next daughter was born, Bethany Wull. Arnolf had by 397, a more loyal following who spread their xenophobic message through the mountain clans. But it was only in the scarlet winter that it all came to a horrendous climax.

The Scarlet Winter
Arnolf Wull and his followers, notably including his son, Torghen Wull, the young chieftain Owen Knott, and the heir to clan Norrey, spoke of the Scarlet Winter as a force of punishment from the Old Gods onto the north. It was the worship of the seven, and the South's influence that had lead to such a winter, and only be appeasing the Old Gods could they be saved from a frozen apocalypse. His daughter Bethany died in the beginnings of the Scarlet Winter, of a chill.

The mountain clans closed off their borders to any southerners, not that many came to the mountains in the first place. Any that did were threatened with death until they leave the North. Idols of the seven were burned, and rumours spoke of darker worship; blood sacrifice to the heart trees of southern merchants who had strayed too far and wildling prisoners taken in raids. It was during this time that the chieftain Jon Liddle, most outspoken of the mountain clans against Arnolf disappeared. He was last seen leaving his clan for a long walk, and it is said that he must have chanced upon a bear, or perhaps had fallen down a snowbank and frozen to death. People spoke of foul play, but not very loudly. Arnolf ruled the mountain clans now, and his intense followers took to calling him High Chieftain of the Mountain Clans, a name he discouraged, claiming that all the mountain clans were equal before the Old Gods.

When the winter passed, many in the Mountains said that it was only because of Arnolf's strong leadership and theological nature that it had not been worse. Any who had spoken against Arnolf now held their tongues, or backed him stronger than ever. He was now undisputed in the Northern Mountains.

Family
Artos Wull: Father of Arnolf, born in 338 AC, died 393 AC

Maege Liddle: Mother of Arnolf: born in 343 AC, died 376 AC
 * Arnolf Wull: High Chieftain of the Mountain Clans: born 364 AC
 * Lyarra Wull, née Flint born in 370 AC, wed to Arnolf Wull in 385 AC
 * Eddard Wull: born in 366 AC, died 393 AC
 * Torghen Wull: born in 387 AC
 * Leona Wull: born in 390 AC
 * Bethany Wull: born in 394 AC, died in 401 AC
 * Rogar Wull: born 406 AC
 * Larence Wull: Arnolf's brother, born 366 AC, died 376 AC
 * Barbrey Norrey née Wull: Arnolf's sister, born 369 AC
 * Artos Wull: Arnolf's brother, born 372 AC, died 372 AC
 * Rickard Wull: Arnolf's brother, born 374 AC
 * Alysanne Wull: Arnolf's sister, born 376 AC

Household
Hugo Flint: Chieftain of the First Flints, brother of Lyarra Flint

Artos Norrey: Chieftain of the Norreys, wed to Barbey Norrey

Donnel Norrey: Heir to Clan Norrey, one of Arnolf's disciples.

Owen Knott: Chieftain of the Knotts, one of Arnolf's disciples.

Duncan Burley: Chieftain of the Burleys

Brandon Burley: Duncan's second son, one of Arnolf's disciples.

Eddard Liddle: Chieftain of the Liddles.