Olaf Gunnarson is first met in Beretha where he serves as a senior field operative for the Board of Trade, monitoring local politics and trade traffic. Unlike the naval commanders of the Skyssian fleet, Olaf’s work is focused on tracking how people and goods are moving through the nearby territories, what is in demand and the prices being sought. His role is being the eyes and ears of the Board of Trade in this part of the world. In the narrative of the Cottalemnese crisis, he provides the essential “fixer” role, ensuring that the party of Yngvild the Fierce and Noren are supported, as they erroneously present themselves as agents of the Department of Resolutions.

Olaf is characterised as a “gritty operative” and a pragmatic leader, often referred to by his colleagues as “the boss.” He possesses a deep familiarity with the mercantile and political climate of the Kingdom of Salicia and the Kingdom of Cottalem. Physically, he is a capable woodsman and warrior who prefers the practical utility of an axe over the more ceremonial swords of the high nobility.

He is an expert in tradecraft and the use of ruses, particularly the “horse merchant” persona, which he uses to bypass military checkpoints. His leadership style is defined by a commitment to the safety of his team and the successful resolution of Department of Resolutions objectives through caution and superior planning.

Based at the Board of Trade office in Beretha, Olaf was instrumental in briefing Yngvild and Noren on the succession crisis following the death of the Salician monarch. When the mission transitioned from intelligence gathering to a tactical extraction, Olaf left the city to manage the group's overland movement.

He personally oversaw the procurement of a horse-train and cart in Riggin Dale, using his knowledge of regional trade to mask the party's true identity. During the flight to the west coast, he implemented rigorous, cavalry-style forced marches to outpace the pursuit of the renegade Rojden. His final act in the southern campaign was coordinating the dash to the abandoned fort at Ocaso for maritime extraction.

• Erik: His constant partner and fellow Board of Trade operative.
• Yngvild the Fierce: The hero whose terrestrial mission he supported and guided.
• Noren: The subject of the extraction mission whom Olaf helped protect.

• Beretha: Olaf’s primary operational base and the site of his first meeting with the seekers.
• Riggin Dale: The site where he established the horse-merchant ruse.
• Ocaso: The derelict coastal terminal where he completed the group’s extraction.

• Board of Trade: The commercial/intelligence authority that employs him.
• Department of Resolutions: The specialised unit to which Olaf believed that his mission was attached.