Leland Edrandson

Leland Edrandson is the Captain of Bern's Light Horse Guards. He is married to Elke Skjadasdotter.
Leland is the third son of Maelgwin Edrandson and his wife Blaese. Maelgwin is dead these
four years, but his eldest son Landen Edrandson succeeded him as Lord Balvanish. Maeldwin's second son, Carras Edrandson entered the service of Haelyn at Flodday. Leland was left to make his way as a free lance. He fought against the raiders of theFive Peaks and became quite a proficient horseman. Rumors of the old helm Vaesil's helm of arrow immunity brought him to Stjordvik. In that Rjurik realm, Leland pursued rumors and sagas of Vaesil, the Anuirean champion from the days of the Empire's dominion in Rjurik lands. He adventured with Aethelwjulf Ylvarrik, the late brother of Eorl Olfjor Ylvarrik.
Since both of them had bloodmarks of red hair, Leland on his head, Aethelwjulf in his beard, they
were known as the two Rufuses. Leland is sometimes still known as Rufus, especially as his father-
in-law, Skjada one-eye calls him Captain Rufus. Leland and Aethelwulf once took a band of four other adventurers on horseback through the Blood Skull Barony into Hogunmark where they sought a sword called Shadowbiter, thought to be a companion of the famed Shadowstrike, wielded by Hodunmark's founder, the great Wjulf. They didn't find Shadowbiter, but Leland did find his braclet of warmth on that adventure. On their return back through the Blood Skull Barony, the six adventurers crested a hill to see a company of Rjurik horse under heavy assault by orog heavy infantry from all sides. Bern's Light Horse Guards of Stjordvik had been ambushed pursuing a band of raiders. Leland and his fellows charged at a full gallop and fell upon the orogs with a brutal vigor. The Guards were in difficult straits, though none were killed and only a few seriously injured. The mass of the orogs was pushing them together where they could not manuever. When Leland's group attacked, they ripped open a hole in the orog encirclement. The adventurers waded into the combat and slew a great number of the Blood Skullers, greatly easing the burden on the Guards. For though the Guard had many a veteran soldier, they were a far cry from veteran adventurers like Leland.
Heidrek Bern, commander of the Horse Guard was very impressed by Leland's prowess on horseback
and asked him to become his lieutenant of the Guard. Leland, sensing an opportunity to settle into
an office fitting his noble birth, agreed.
Leland quickly settled into a new life and began to seek a wife. He struck an agreement with old Skjada one-eye, himself an younger son who married well. The Skalds told Skjada that the geneologies showed a minor bloodline, but also that Leland was the great, great grandson of Thane Edrand III. Leland married Skjada's daughter, Elke. When Bern was promoted to Marshal of Stjordvik, Bern made Leland captain of the guards, despite his foriegn birth.
Although he has lived in Stjordvik for almost ten years, there is little Rjurik about Leland. His Rjurik speech is heavily accented, he wears Anuirean plate mail, fights with the bastard sword of his southern origins, and gives off the knightly appearance which is so typicaly of Anuire. What redeems him in the eyes of the Stjordvik nobles and officials is his Anuirean honor and sense of duty. Leland is steeped in the chivalric conduct and noble virtue which the god Haelyn promotes. He has put most of his adventurer's hoard into purchasing an estate in Saerskaap which he calls Balwick. He has erected a manor house and has encouraged the growth of a village just to the west. Though Aethelwjulf is dead, Leland continues to honor their friendship and is bringing up his son, Hring Ylvarrik, as a warrior.