Torolf Gundersen
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| Torolf Sigurd Gundersen | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Born | 5 May 1948, 64 |
| City of Birth | Oslo, Norway |
| Blood status | Pure-blood |
| Physical Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 5'10" |
| Hair Colour | Grey |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Skin Colour | Pale |
| Relationships | |
| Father | Thorvaldr Gundersen |
| Mother | Liliya Gundersen |
| Extended Family | |
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| Children | |
| Magical Characteristics | |
| Wand(s) | |
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| Education | |
| School | Durmstrang Institute |
| Class of | 1966 |
| Occupation | |
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| Character Information | |
| Playby | Anderson Cooper |
| Thea | |
Torolf is a man who has found himself teaching Intangibles at Durmstrang due to a faltering career in politics. He is purist, severe, and has little patience for nonsense. He teaches his lessons the way he sees best- and is also the sort to sprinkle anti-muggle and purist rhetoric into his lessons. Torolf is a dedicated father. He is concerned with appearances, success, and material gain.
History
Torolf Sigurd Gundersen was born in Oslo, Norway in 1948. His father, Thorvaldr Gundersen, was thirty years old upon his birth. Torolf was the last of three children- having two elder sisters. His father comes from a very long line of pure-blood witches and wizards. The Gundersen family claims to be able to trace their heritage back to an incredibly powerful wizard from ancient Norse times- a wizard they claim was the inspiration for the mythology surrounding Thor himself. There is no proof to this, and it is entirely false, but it is a story passed down for innumerable generations. For this reason the first born son of all men of this particular line are in some way named after Thor. Torolf's name happens to mean "Thor's Wolf". Torolf finds this claim to be ridiculous, but has never questioned it to his family. He intends to teach the same thing to his son- because claims to greatness which have lasted for hundreds of years tend to be helpful.
Thorvaldr and his wife Liliya were not the most attentive of parents. Thorvaldr was a prominent political player, and his wife was a very active socialite both in Norway and her home country of Russia. The children were left, more often than not, in the care of of Thorvaldr's spinster sister Torhilda. Torolf always got along well enough with his aunt. She was a proud woman who spent a lot of her time teaching he and his sisters about the family history, purist ideals, and the proper etiquette expected of them. His fondest moments of childhood are with his aunt rather than with his father or his mother.
He was proud to attend Durmstrang- just as his father had done. He was even more proud to be selected as an Oberteil in his first year after being tested by his professors. His aunt had prepared him well for the harsh life that was Durmstrang. Having always been competing with his sisters and then trying to impress his parents to gain their love and attention, he had no problems fitting into the competitive atmosphere of the institution. If anything, he thrived in it. He had a silver tongue- the tactics of playing the game something he had learned from his father. His academic standing at Durmstrang was impressive. Though skilled with a wand, he found Intangibles to be his true calling. He wanted to get into politics, just like his father. So he chose that discipline. Mythology was always his on true lover, however. Especially since it had been drilled into him from a young age that his family was literally descended from Thor himself.
Upon graduating, his father got him appointed to a position in the realm of Norwegian wizarding government. Nepotism had its perks, of course. He took to politics like a fish to water. His father taught him the tricks of the trade, and he enjoyed it.
After a few years he was already starting his climb up the political ladder. But now that he was in his twenties- certain things were expected of him. His parents were encouraging him to find a wife- to have children, produce heirs, to do the things expected of all successful pure-blood men. Torolf had spent no time romantically pursuing anyone. His mother and father, however, had suggestions on who he should be dating. And within a few months he found himself settling into a steady relationship with a young pure-blood witch named Aloisia Storm. She was a recent Durmstrang graduate- and though she was not the most formidable witch, she was pretty and easy going and seemed to understand her place in the world... And she understood as his wife what her duties would be.
The wedding was a small, intimate affair. He had no desire to spend a lot of time planning the thing. He had decided to marry her, and that was all he needed to know. Within a year of meeting, the two were wed and she moved into his home in Oslo.
Torolf was not a particularly attentive husband. He went through the motions as was expected of him. But all he cared about was his political career. Ten years into their marriage- when Torolf was in his early thirties- the two finally had their first child. A little girl named Brigit. Torolf was disappointed not to have a son, and had little to do with the life of his daughter. Her mother spoiled her, and he made sure that the girl had all she wanted and needed- but he was not a loving or involved parent.
By the time he was in his forties, Torolf had found his way into the upper echelon of wizarding government in his country. He was an influential man who had a loud voice. His staunch, purist views- though controversial- were not unsupported by the majority... Especially considering the number of Durmstrang graduates. He began to push anti-muggle legislation. Surprisingly, some of it managed to pass. Torolf was quickly viewed as an enemy of muggle/muggle-born kind, and his tolerance of half-bloods was not much better.
But he was not getting any younger. He needed a son. And his wife was pestering him about it as well- because she did not have very many child bearing years left. With the aid of fertility potions and an extra effort on his part, Aloisia became pregnant again. This pregnancy was hard on his wife, and it required more attention from him. His political career suffered as he had less time to spend working. Ensuring the birth of healthy offspring was more important- especially with there being a chance of a son.
Torolf was not disappointed. At the age of 46, a son was finally born. Following family tradition, his son's name became Thorben. Too many generations had followed the ritual for Torolf to abandon it- especially since his father was still alive.
Now that he had a son, Torolf's interest in his family exponentially increased. His daughter, Brigit, was 13 when her little brother was born. And the girl quickly became resentful of the fact her brother was the reason her father started giving a damn... Or at least pretending to. Torolf, however, was clueless to her resentment. He just assumed that his wife and daughter would be glad to have him home more often.
At the age of fifty two his father died- and Torolf, along with his family, moved into the Gundersen estate in rural Norway. This was also around the time that he was put in charge of one of the most influential governing bodies of Norway. But the happiness of his successful political career and the fact his son was turning out to be a miniature version of himself would not be entirely long lasting.
Torolf- who had never been a particularly faithful husband- would cross the wrong woman. Just two years after moving into he family home, coming into possession of the family fortune, and gaining such an important seat- scandal broke loose. The secretary he'd been sleeping with became enraged when he refused to leave his family to be with her. And after he fired her- she went public with all of his dirty secrets. An investigation was launched, and his political career was ruined.
Though they found no solid proof of her claims- and it was a he-said she-said argument, he was stripped of his position. The people lost faith in his capabilities. His colleagues and peers lost much respect, and those he'd had under his thumb finally had a way out.
His political career was over. He was just glad his father had not lived to see his name shamed. Which left him unemployed... And even though he did not need the money, spending so much time at home with his wife and young son left him short tempered. His wife was angry that his affairs had become so public- her own reputation tarnished in the mean time. So he needed a new job- something to keep him out of the house.
Torolf found himself becoming an educator. He took a position at Durmstrang teaching Intangibles. Given his political career and his knowledge of mythology being what it was, it seemed a good fit. For the last six years he has been teaching at Durmstrang. Now his son is in his fifth year at Durmstrang- making his father proud as an Oberteil. Now that the tournament is in full swing, he has decided to come along to Hogwarts to try and teach these foreign students the important lessons of Wizardkind.
