Rickard Karstark

Rickard Karstark is the son of Arnolf, and Danese Karstark making him the patriarch of House Karstarke, and the lord of Karhold. Rickard has one sibling in his younger brother Arnolf Karstak II. who is his second in command and the most loyal member of the goverment run by Rickard in Karhold. Rickard himself married Janise Karstark early in his life and together they have three children together.

Rickard Karstark continues a series of Lords of the Karstark house that are diehard loyalists to House Bolten, and for this reason he believes in whatever is being sold by the upper leadership in a way that allows this normally honorable man to commit some rather violent and sadistic acts in his name.

Early History
The Kingdom of Bolten is utterly dominated by the powerful House Bolten, but officially they are ruled in a triumverate of the three great Houses of Bolten. House Bolten controls the three Houses by making the heir to the throne of the other two houses forced to live in Dreadfort, where he is controlled by House Bolten. Because of this setup at the age of six Rickard Karstark was sent to Dreadfort where he would be the silent hostage of House Bolten to ensure their loyalty, and at the same time hopefully turn them to thier side of thinking.

Dreadfort
Main Article : Dreadfort