Kjell Caan, Herald of the Avalanche

"Tame me? As if YOU could stop a cascade of ice and snow with your bare hands. Life is meant to be lived out, not in." -Kjell Caan, to one of his suitors, a northern noble "He is gone... but what of his courage? It still roars it's song across the mountains to the north. It still sounds in the spires of his homeland, and in our hearts, does it not beat out its anthem?... If any of you would hesitate to answer me that, if any of you would dissent to that... you do not belong in this room as we mourn our loss." -Voak Skedrow, following the last heroic sacrifice of Kjell Caan

Summary

Kjell Caan was a soul who fought everything he ever knew until the day he expired; a day to be remembered by all Ausran, fresh faced or ancient. As a youngling, Kjell always had the short straw. Always the last to eat dinner, always the one to clean the dishes, always the one to chop firewood, always the one to clean up after every little mess his sisters made. As he grew older, he became strong through the burdens he took upon himself, growing taller than his tallest sibling, and stronger than a boulder rolling down the mountainous landscape of the land he called his home. Here, within this newfound strength, he found his inner hux, and with it, his iron will. He set out to unlock his full potential in the ranks of the Northern militias, and ended up serving under the venerated admiral Voak Skedrow. When the militias of the North began to collapse, he was one of the few to join Voak after the fact, and the two became inseparable friends. Kjell was known to have countless suitors in his lifetime, including Lilith Skedrow and, according to rumors, Braccus Grier. However, the only things he ever committed to in life were service to Voak and his debt owed to the town in which he was born. He was rowdy and vigorous, like a bonfire kept alight in a cave with a snowstorm raging outside. His memory was only bolstered by his last act- an extraordinary feat of valor. In the mountains of the Himalayas, he led a final charge against a force he had no chance of defeating, only to buy some time for a civilian compound until they were evacuated and help arrived. Footage from his helmet's video feed can only be described as heroic, beginning in an icy trench, and ending at the barrel of a Baru-tan colossus's anti-personnel cannon. He managed to save the lives of many innocents that day, and although the cost was great, it can never be counted as a defeat.

Historical Basis

A siege took place during the first years of the war, on May 5, 2030 (Terran years). In this battle, a full platoon of Ausran enforcers and human mercenaries was wiped out, but not before destroying the enemy in kind. The leader of the platoon, Kjell Caan, perished accordingly. A helmet feed video exists, and can be viewed at the on-site memorial.

Spread

Before his death, Voak Skedrow made sure his friend's escapades wouldn't go unnoticed. He dedicated a holiday to Kjell's sacrifice. This holiday is only celebrated by Earth-dwelling Ausran, and Braccus Grier. An attempt is being made at introducing the holiday on Auser officially, although it will be more geared toward the sacrifice of all service members.

In Literature

Many works were written about the battle and Kjell Caan himself, but there is the question- are any of these worth reading? I would argue the negative. Kjell Caan's own autobiography is one of the few I'd recommend.

In Art

Paintings depicting the battle and Kjell are said to have been commissioned across a grand majority of Ausran colonies. Otherwise, it has not affected the world of art.

Date of First Recording

May 5, 2030.

Date of Setting

May 5, 2030.

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