The Elder Scrolls: Tamriel

An elderly Nord in his seventies with a weathered face carved deep with lines of age and wisdom. His once-broad shoulders have stooped with time, but he carries an air of dignity. His pale skin is creased and freckled, with thinning white hair pulled back in a tidy knot. His short, carefully trimmed beard is more salt than snow, and his pale blue eyes remain sharp and observant. He dresses in stately noble robes of deep green and gold, embroidered with the sigil of Markarth, and wears a simple signet ring that once belonged to Jarl Hrolfdir, which he turns slowly between his fingers when deep in thought.

Raerek is thoughtful, composed, and shrewd. He speaks in a slow, measured cadence, always polite but never without purpose. He’s seen enough blood and betrayal to know that survival in Markarth requires more than strength—it demands patience, subtlety, and the occasional well-placed favor. Unlike the brash Silver-Bloods or the stiff Thalmor, Raerek believes in balance—maintaining peace, even if it means tolerating uncomfortable compromises. While loyal to Igmund and the Empire, he is no blind follower; he will quietly push back when he feels a path endangers the hold. Though his body has weakened with age, his mind is razor-sharp, and his voice remains one of the few in Markarth that even the Silver-Bloods hesitate to ignore. In a city where power shifts like sand, Raerek is the stone beneath the foundation—quiet, constant, and unyielding.

Raerek has spent his entire adult life in service to the throne of Markarth, first as steward to Jarl Hrolfdir, and later to Igmund, his nephew. He watched the rise of the Silver-Bloods, the fall of the Reach to the Forsworn, and the blood-soaked reconquest that followed. Through it all, Raerek remained a steady hand behind the throne—measured, loyal, and keenly aware of how to navigate the labyrinthine alliances and grudges that make up the court of Understone Keep. His experience has made him invaluable to the young Jarl, whose trust in his uncle borders on absolute. Though his role is largely administrative, Raerek wields influence far beyond his title—often advising the Jarl on matters of law, diplomacy, and which battles are worth fighting. He knows everyone who matters in Markarth—and what they’re hiding.