Asmund Hjortr (ahs-moond hyo-tur)
Jarl Asmund Hjortr Rolfsson
Hjortr is the oldest of the Frost Giant jarls of the Demesne of Ice. He rules over the town of Asmundskiir, as his ancestors have for almost 2,000 years. Being the oldest, Hjortr commands a bit more respect than the other jarls - also because he is unofficially the jarl of Lakewatch, the nation's capital and largest town.
Hjortr has served as Asmundskiir's jarl for 298 years, beginning his reign in 1187 2A. He is nearing the end of his life, and his old age is beginning to challenge his faculties and ability to rule. He has not, however, officially chosen his successor yet from among his six children, several of whom have received training and education to succeed their father and believe they should be the obvious choice. Many across the Demesne are preparing for the possibility that Hjortr dies before he names an heir officially, which would begin the controversial process of a Moot. Having been used recently to determine the new leader of Ulfskiir, the tradition's legitimacy and future usefulness has been called into question. Another hotly contested succession crisis might spell the end for the Moot and, by extension, the Frost Giant supremacy in the Demesne.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Hjortr was the fourth of six children, though all of his siblings died of various causes over the years. By the time he was 45, Hjortr was the only remaining child and began his tutelage to take over for his father Rolf. For better or worse, Rolf had never officially recognized an heir from among his children, so once Hjortr was the only one left it was more of a formality than anything. Perhaps this is why Hjortr has refused to name his own successor for so long, leading many to speculate there will be a succession crisis if he dies unexpectedly.
Like many Frost Giant noble children - and especially those of reigning jarls - Hjortr was given the best possible tutors and education growing up, preparing him to take over some part of the family's business or to be married to another influential family and run part of their business. He successfully completed his pilgrimage to the Forbidden Forest and even managed to take out a Stone Giant hold with his war party. This in and of itself was a noteworthy accomplishment in Giant culture, but it stood out even more that none of his siblings were able to complete similarly challenging pilgrimages.
When Hjortr was 25, the first tragedy among his siblings struck, as his eldest sister contracted some type of disease and died before a proper healer could be summoned to help her. The same disease quickly spread to two other siblings, and within a fortnight the six children of Rolf and Thora were only three. Two years later, Hjortr's younger brother was killed by a massive bear on a hunting expedition. It was at this point that Hjortr's mother, Thora, fell ill with heartbreak and sadness due to the passing of so many of her children. Despite the efforts of several healers and the remaining family to raise her spirits, she passed peacefully in 1098 2A. Five years later, Hjortr's only remaining sibling died in a duel with another noble who had disrespected the family's name.
At this point, it was expected that Rolf would fade away and Hjortr would take charge of the country in a few years. Rolf defied everyone's expectations and ruled for another 84 years. Meanwhile, Hjortr had been prepared to take over for several decades, while he had gotten married and had begun to manage his own business. When the time eventually came, Rolf passed, and the community grieved. Hjortr was then coronated in 1187, and he has ruled ever since.
Hjortr and his wife have six children themselves, ranging in age from 347 to 160. It is widely assumed that the two eldest are too old to take the throne after Hjortr, though there have been older jarls before. Many other nobles and Hjortr's own advisors have tried to get him to nominate his successor, reminding him of the recent succession crisis in Ulfskiir and the civil unrest that resulted from the controversial Moot.
Portrait art by me using HeroForge
Age
427
Birthplace
Children
Pronouns
he/him
Gender
Male
Eyes
Dark blue
Hair
Bald
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Icy blue, faded and white in many places
Height
21'2"
Ruled Locations
Comments