Abo Harunik

Early Life:

As a member of the Emuki tribe Abo was born the small village of Skansou which was part of the Jarldoms of Karelen at the time. Abo Harunik lost his mother during an ilygre attack when he was 3, so he was primarily raised by his father. Abo spent the early years of his life hunting for food with his tribe across the southern tundra. While he was considered a poor shot with a bow, he proved to be the fastest runner in his age group and made an adequate spear thrower. Food however had become increasingly scarce as his tribe had to provide yearly tribute to the Jarl of Woastland. 

Abo’s father was always resentful of towards the Jarldoms. He taught his son tales about life before their tribe fell under Karelen’s rule. He complained about how quickly their culture was in decline and made sure Abo grew up following the old ways. In 2810 SA several members of the Emuki tribe were accused of treason by the Jarl of Woastland. Among the people who were imprisoned was the tribal elder and Abo Harunik’s father. Left with no one to care for him Abo was sent to a boarding school in the human settlement of Frostport (modern day Usatasi). 

Abo was an intelligent, but clumsy student. His cultural upbringing and centaur anatomy made it difficult for him to adjust to life among humans. He was frequently punished for things such as making fun of the High Jarl or speaking his native language rather than Karelen. These punitive actions only served to make him more defiant towards human authority. 

At age 19 Abo Harunik became a mailman and spend much of his time delivering letters and packages to remote settlements scattered across the southern Jarldoms. He became an expert at traversing the countryside and learned paths and shortcuts few knew about. At age 20 he started courting a centaur woman named Ivalu Nivi who lived in the nearby village of Ohiro.

Involvement with the Southern Sovereignty Movement:

It was through his relationship with Ivalu that Abo Harunik learned of the underground organization known as the Southern Sovereignty Movement. They secretly advocated for complete independence for all beastkin in Karelen. Abo soon became enthralled by this secretive organization. Through them he would study banned cyclops literature about republican forms of government and the harm feudalism caused society. 

While the Southern Sovereignty Movement aimed for peaceful secession at first, it became increasingly radicalized as the Jarl’s attempted to further centralize the country at the expense of previous tribal leaders. Abo Harunik became deeply involved with the movement. He used his position as a mailman to deliver secret letters, set up clandestine meetings between tribes, and spy on important human messages. 

Slowly he rose through the ranks of the organization to become its de facto leader. In 2841 SA a highly infectious disease known as the Darkwood Plague began to spread amongst the humans of East Parthus. Few places were as badly affected as the Jarldoms of Karelen, which lost countless lives. 

However the beastkin of the country slowly realized their biology made them immune from the pandemic. Seeing a once in a lifetime opportunity, Abo Harunik convinced the others in the Southern Sovereignty Movement that now was the best chance they would ever have to revolt. As the long winter set in and the Bay of Knives froze over, Abo spent his time coordinating a rebellion. He would even gain clandestine support from Goryn who helped smuggle in weapons and explosives. 

Southern Beastkin Revolt:

On New Years Day 2842 SA, Abo Harunik delivered a package to the barracks at Frostport. It was a bomb, and the blast was the opening salvo in a war now known as the Southern Beastkin Revolt. Across the southern tundras the beastkin rebels seized control of their villages, capturing or killing the few healthy human guards left to defend them. Abo Harunik helped command the beastkin rebels during the revolt. While Abo was considered something of a subpar tactician, his organizational skills and deep knowledge of logistics helped turn the tide against the isolated and unprepared Karelens. 

He even managed to convince several wild felenid tribes to join the war effort. Abo Harunik would meet his untimely demise at the Battle of Blastedrock Crossing, where he was mortally wounded on the shores of the Danvul River by canon fire. Despite this the battle was a decisive victory for the beastkin and would eventually lead to Karelen’s surrender. Knowing his peoples future was secure, Abo passed away in the arms of his loving wife and children several days later.

Legacy:

Today Abo Harunik is considered to be the founding father of Namnavu. Many statues and monuments throughout the country are dedicated to him and his face adorns Namnavui currency. He is revered as a selfless and charismatic leader whose sacrifice secured Namnavu’s place among the independent nations of Tyrrell. Yet throughout the greater region of East Parthus he remains a complex and controversial figure. 

Modern opinions about Abo Harunik are often more of a reflection on current geopolitics than the man who lived over 100 years ago. To the Namnavui he was a heroic freedom fighter who saved his people’s culture from certain extinction. To the Karelen’s he was a cowardly terrorist who betrayed his country while it was suffering the most. To the people of the Palatinate he was a pawn of the Elderkin without a mind of his own. To the Shawnese he was a wild uncontrollable beast incapable of understanding reason.