Background

Berchtwald is the son of Gerd and Coenred, one of the local fisherman. In fact, his entire family is involved in the fish trade in some form or another. Many of the local fishermen are distant relatives and his uncle Eanfrid is the local village fishmonger.

As per tradition, Eanfrid’s only son, Eadric went to live with Coenred and Gerd when he was eight. As their nephew, he was the heir to the family fishing business and was expected to learn the fishing trade. Eadric and Berchtwald were already good friends and became even more so when living together. Eadric, being slightly older, was expected to work longer hours than Berchtwald and was occasionally allowed to travel on Coenred’s boat. It was while out on a fishing trip that Eadric tragically drowned. No-one is entirely sure what happened, although Coenred was generally regarded as a skilled sailor with a very fine boat. An accident seemed so unlikely. And yet there was no other explanation and Coenred himself refused to say much about the incident.

It was particularly tragic for Eanfrid. Eadric was his only son and indeed his only immediate family, since he was a widower. And since the tragedy, he and his brother Coenred have barely spoken more than a few words to each other.

At the age of 7, Berchtwald went to live with Eanfrid in order to learn the fishmonger’s trade. They quickly developed an affection for each other. Eanfrid was a kind and gentle teacher and did his best to teach the young boy the details of the fish trade. But Berchtwald was not really interested. He enjoyed serving customers and talking with the local villagers, but he hated fish. Eanfrid should have probably been stricter in his discipline of Berchtwald, but the young boy reminded him of his own son. He didn’t have the heart to yell at him.

As a 16 year old, Berchtwald is fairly non-descript in build and general appearance. Those who talk to him find he has a natural, easy going charm that immediately puts people at ease and he is generally well liked throughout the village. He does what he can in Eanfrid’s shop, but yearns for a better life. He desperately doesn’t want to die like his cousin, without having experienced some of the greater joys in life. He certainly wants no further part in the fish trade, and in fact has developed a deep fear of boats (though he is reluctant to admit it). Unfortunately for Berchtwald, Eanfrid’s eyesight has become increasingly poor and he relies on the lad to help run things.

Berchtwald is still fond of his mother Gerd but does not talk with his father much. In fact, Coenred speaks to very few people these days and goes about his business quietly. Berchtwald also has an older sister Bebba, who married into a family in the neighbouring village. He hasn’t seen Bebba for several years.

Berchtwald’s aspirations have seen him occasionally take risks and fall in with the “wrong” crowd. Fundamentally, he is good hearted but his sense of adventure causes him to sometimes make foolhardy decisions. He has been admonished in the past for having a lack of respect for tradition and for his elders.

“One day” he has promised to himself “things will be different!”

Journal