Karli

Karli is temperamental and prone to crying as an infant, especially during the exhausting early portion of the group's journey. He nevertheless bonds quickly with the people caring for him and becomes comfortable traveling among adults accustomed to much harsher responsibilities.

As he grows older, Karli proves unusually observant and intelligent. At four, he can follow Hild's explanation that the Earth is spherical and immediately begins reasoning about what "down" means on a globe, surprising her with how quickly he understands an idea many adults around them reject.

Karli is a young child and has no formal combat ability. His physical capabilities are those of an ordinary boy growing up among travelers and settlers.

His most notable aptitude is intellectual. He absorbs complicated explanations quickly, asks questions that show genuine conceptual understanding, and grows up surrounded by people who teach him sailing, farming, engineering, languages, and the practical demands of travel.

Karli is discovered after Thorfinn's group lands on the Shetland Islands and finds a settlement devastated during a feud involving Arngrim's family. His wounded mother entrusts the infant to Thorfinn before the travelers depart.

The group repeatedly discusses finding another household for him, but caring for Karli gradually turns that temporary responsibility into a family bond.

Thorfinn and Gudrid eventually adopt Karli as their son, and he later accompanies them to Vinland rather than being left behind in Europe. By 1022, he is four years old and growing up as one of the children of Arnheid Village.

Karli's presence becomes especially significant as conflict develops around the settlement. Thorfinn's dream of creating a peaceful country is no longer only an ideological goal; it is also about creating a world in which children such as Karli do not inherit the cycles of violence that destroyed their first families.

Thorfinn finds Karli as an infant and later becomes his adoptive father.

Gudrid becomes one of Karli's principal caregivers and later his adoptive mother.

Arngrim is Karli's biological father and an old acquaintance of Leif.

Karli no Mama protects Karli from infancy and becomes his constant animal companion.

Hild becomes one of the adults involved in Karli's upbringing and encourages his curiosity.

Leif Erikson recognizes Karli's family through his acquaintance with Arngrim.

Ylva becomes Karli's adoptive aunt through Thorfinn.