Arald functions as a central antagonist and deep-cover operative within the narrative of 774 AM. His professional service involves gathering intelligence for the Cottalemnese expansion and acting as a local informant to identify Skyssian interests. He is a catalyst for multiple security crises, most notably triggering a violent ambush in the streets of the capital city. His ability to survive capture and reappear in high-ranking positions highlights the efficacy and ruthlessness of the intelligence network overseen by the renegade Rojden.

Arald has dark hair and weather-beaten skin, possessing cold blue eyes that suggest high intelligence and constant appraisal of his surroundings. Physically, he is described as being slightly shorter than Noren, though still tall enough to require him to duck under standard door lintels. He typically presents a wealthy appearance, wearing rich, loom-woven wool clothing that is twice or thrice dyed and decorated with ribbons, silver buttons, and rings.

Temperamentally, Arald is secretive and deceptive. He possesses an artistic talent, which he uses as a cover for his reconnaissance work, often seen sketching rough impressions of landscapes while questioning locals. When speaking the Skyssian tongue, he is noted for an accent that sounds as if he has a heavy head cold, a trait that identifies him as a foreigner to the northern islands.

Arald first appears in the narrative of Fierce infiltrating the island of Straven, having arrived on the Mangandlese ship Chantara. He spent several days on the island questioning Yngvild the Fierce about the local geography and the origins of her name. After Old Bjorn received word from the King that Arald was not to be trusted, he was arrested and held in a secure building near the jetty.

He was subsequently transported to Kronstadt aboard the King's Ship Seagull for formal inquiry. During his escort to the House of Justice, his allies launched a coordinated ambush, using rubbish carts and shield walls to trap his captors. Although he was successfully delivered to the facility, his death was later faked using a dose of angelfish egg poison, which induced a death-like state. This deception allowed his network to extract him from custody. He eventually reappeared in the Kingdom of Salicia, serving openly as a guard and advisor to Rojden within the Citadel.

• Rojden: His commander and the beneficiary of his espionage.
• Yngvild the Fierce: The hero who first identified his presence on Straven and later captured him.
• Old Bjorn: The veteran hero who managed his arrest and initial interrogation.
• Lady Helga Trollslayer: The Second Sea Lord who oversaw his transport and the response to his escape attempt.
• Noren: An associate of his captors whom he attempted to bypass during the Kronstadt ambush.
• Major Duerte: A Cottalemnese officer whose forces Arald coordinated with during the Salician campaign.

• Straven: The site of his initial deep-cover operation.
• Kronstadt: The capital where he was imprisoned and where his death was faked.
• House of Justice: The judicial facility where he was taken for questioning.
• Kingdom of Salicia: The territory where he openly joined the Cottalemnese occupation.

• Honour: A social currency Arald lacks, given his reliance on deception and the faking of his own death.
• Board of Trade: The organisation whose intelligence initially identified him as a threat to state security.