Kára Ipsen (カーラ・イプセン Kāra Ipusen) is one of the characters of the NO\NAME manga series, written by Rafal Jaki and illustrated by Machine Gamu.
Appearance
Kára has a normal build and shoulder-length hair that is either styled or naturally a bit curly or wavy. When she was introduced, she was wearing a patterned jacket and baggy pants.
Personality
Kára was an emotional person who doubted her ability to be a good parent and questioned bringing a child into a chaotic world. She felt overwhelmed by the pressure and responsibility of becoming a parent. She had moments of losing control of her Name Power but always apologized and tried to make things right. Kára loved her son deeply, but she was conflicted about her feelings due to the control exerted by her husband, Bodil. She was forced into having a child against her will through Bodil's use of his Name Power. Despite her inner turmoil and the manipulation she experienced, she tried to regain her sense of self and make her own decisions. Kára was determined to protect her son from Bodil's influence, even if it meant running away and living a life on the run. She was deeply hurt and angry, feeling that the system failed people like her, leading her to seek a future away from Bodil's control. Ultimately, Kára's fierce protectiveness of her son and her desire for autonomy and safety drove her actions, even in the face of grave danger.
Plot
Background
Kára met her husband, Bodil, in college, and they quickly fell in love and got married. A few months before their son was born, Kára’s behavior began to change. She became increasingly emotional and started doubting their ability to be good parents, even considering abortion. However, after discussing these feelings with Bodil, they attributed it to her hormones and decided to move forward with the pregnancy.
Despite an incident where Kára lost control of her Name Power, which they resolved privately, she seemed to return to her usual self after their son was born. However, one Friday, she suddenly disappeared with their son. Bodil discovered she never reached her mother’s house and contacted the authorities after receiving a text from her stating she was visiting her mother but never returned.
During an investigation by agents from the Nordic Naming Bureau (NNB), it was revealed that Bodil’s controlling nature and use of his Name Power, "Human Commander," significantly affected Kára. Although initially, Bodil appeared loving, he became increasingly domineering, especially about having children. Kára, who had never wanted children, was coerced by Bodil using his Name Power to desire motherhood. This coercion led her to question her true feelings and intentions regarding her pregnancy and their child.
As their child grew, Bodil's plans to name their son Bodil and mold him into a manipulative figure like himself horrified Kára. Fearing for her son’s future and determined to prevent him from becoming like his father, Kára plotted to escape. She intended to rename her son and leave Bodil permanently. When confronted by the NNB agents, Kára explained her desperate desire to protect her son from Bodil's influence.
In a tragic confrontation, Kára, defending herself and her son, was ultimately killed by Ursula, an NNB agent. This happened as Kára was using her Name Power, associated with "Wild" and "Stormy One," in an attempt to fend off the agents. After Kára's death, her mother, Vivica, was devastated and accused the agents of failing to protect her daughter and grandson. She feared that Bodil, who always managed to get his way, would harm the child despite the agents' reassurances.
Relationships
Bodil Ipsen (Father)
Kára's relationship with Bodil began in college, where they fell in love and eventually married. Their life together was initially happy, but during Kára's pregnancy, she began to struggle with doubts and emotional issues, partly due to the pressure of becoming a parent. She even considered abortion at one point, but after discussing it with Bodil, they decided it was just a phase related to her hormones.
Bodil's Name Power is "Human Commander," which he used to control people, including Kára. He forced her into having a child, despite her reluctance. Initially, Kára loved Bodil, but over time, she grew to defy him. Bodil's persuasive nature made it difficult for her to resist his desires. Although she tried to convince herself that Bodil would not misuse his Name Power, she eventually realized he did use it on her, particularly to influence her decision to have a child.
Kára struggled with her feelings about becoming a mother, especially after Bodil decided their son would carry the same name as him. This decision deeply upset her, and she wanted to escape Bodil and protect her son from following in Bodil’s footsteps. Kára's plan was to give her son a different name before he could attach to Bodil’s name and then disappear to ensure her son would not be used by Bodil.
Kára's attempt to flee led to a confrontation with Ralf and Ursula, agents from the Nordic Naming Bureau. During this confrontation, Kára expressed her deep anger and frustration towards Bodil and the system, ultimately leading to a violent encounter where Kára was killed by Ursula to protect Ralf. Vivica, Kára’s mother, was left devastated by the events, believing that Bodil would still get his way and that her grandson was in danger. Despite reassurances from Ralf that Bodil would face justice and not harm the child, Vivica remained skeptical and distressed.
Bodil Ipsen (Son)
Kára's relationship with her son is marked by turmoil and fear. Initially, Kára never wanted children, but Bodil, her husband, used his Name Power to force her into having a child. Although Kára loved Bodil at first, she grew increasingly defiant and distressed as he became more controlling and persuasive. This manipulation led her to question her own desires and ultimately led her to attempt to abort the child, but Bodil's intervention thwarted her plans.
When their son was born, Kára feared that naming him after Bodil would perpetuate the cycle of control and manipulation. She understood that once her son attached to his name, it would be permanent and bind him to Bodil's legacy. This fear motivated Kára to try to escape with her son, hoping to rename him before it was too late. Her primary concern was protecting her son from Bodil and ensuring he would not follow in his father's footsteps.
Kára’s desperation to escape and protect her son was evident in her actions. She believed that the system would fail her, and she planned to leave the country with her son to seek refuge elsewhere. However, her attempt to flee led to a tragic confrontation with Ralf and Ursula, resulting in her death. Despite her intentions to safeguard her son, Kára's actions were driven by fear and a belief that the only way to ensure his safety was to sever ties with Bodil permanently.
Abilities
Name Power
- Wild/Stormy One (
荒 々 しく野 生 的 な者 Ararashiku Yaseiteki na Mono): Kára is shown to possess Name Power associated with "Wild" and "Stormy One," which allows her to transform into a powerful and threatening form. This power is notably demonstrated when she uses it to attack Ursula and Ralf. Her abilities also seem to involve some control or influence over her environment, as she is able to cause significant disruption and exhibit a fierce demeanor.
Etymology
- The name Kára comes from Old Norse and is related to the name "Kári," which means "curly-haired" or "storm." It’s connected to the Norse god Kári, who was associated with the wind and storms. This links to Kára’s wild and stormy Name Power.
- The surname Ipsen is Scandinavian and means "son of Ip." "Ip" is a variation of names like "Ivar" or "Ivor," and "-sen" means "son of" in Danish and Norwegian. So, "Ipsen" means "son of Ip/Ivar/Ivor."
Trivia