Icebound

Date of Birth: 1874

Place of Origin: St. Petersburg, Russia

Occupation (Old World): Coal miner

Purpose: Fame

Description:

A young man of about 22 years old, with a robust and sturdy build. A scar runs across his cheek. He has long black hair and a full beard. He has currently shaved and dyed his beard. His skin is pale and weathered from years of hard labor.

Ivar was born in St. Petersburg. When he was only a year old, shortly after the formation of the League of the Three Emperors, his parents left Russia aboard a merchant ship bound for Grimsby, England. Rumors spoke of abundant work in the mines and the promise of gold. Upon arrival they were captivated by the towering Grimsby Dock Tower, the constant bustle of the docks, and the people who never seemed to waste a moment. With infant Ivar in their arms, they searched for a place to spend the nights and slowly began building a new life.

The early years were difficult. By the time Ivar was six they had settled in Yorkshire, renting a small room. His father found work at the Great Grimsby Coal, Salt and Tanning Company, while his mother labored in the fields.

When Ivar was eight, his mother fell ill with tuberculosis and died within a few months. The tragedy broke his father. He sank into deep depression, turning to opium and other drugs. Unable to overcome the loss of his wife, he died three years later of cirrhosis — what the doctors called “gin liver.”

At twelve years old, left without parents and often hungry, Ivar survived on the streets. He worked first as a shoeblack and later as a chimney sweep. The pay was meager, so at sixteen he sought employment at the same company where his father had once worked. Recognizing the foreman, he managed to secure a place in the mines.

Over time he proved himself a reliable worker — strong, determined, obedient, and uncomplaining despite the long hours underground.

War was the constant topic of conversation. A British recruiter visited the company and ordered all the men to line up. The army did not intend to take everyone; coal was still needed. They sought young, healthy men while leaving those with ailments to continue working the mines. Ivar was called to serve, but a last-minute injury kept him from the front lines. Instead, he was assigned as a coal trimmer aboard the HMS Perseverance.