Kjartan the Bloodaxe

Kjartan the Bloodaxe plays a major role in The Epic of Crossed Axes, and is chief rival of Asbjörn Sigurdsson. Kjartan is a historical figure, who is said to have died quite some time ago; though the location of his grave is unknown.
Kjartan was born with the patronym Ottison, a rare and often controversial name. He was born to an unwed mother far in the mountains of The Fylkirate. When asked who the child's father was, Kjartan's mother had said, "The man deserves to be devoured by the Dread Wolf for abandoning this boy and I". Not long after, a man she identified as the father was found dead, attacked by wildlife while on a hunting venture. The village took it as an omen from the gods, then and there that the boy was destined to be surrounded by violence and misfortune. As he grew up, he was feared by his peers at every stage of his life. Kjartan became quick to rage as a result, earning his nickname of 'the Bloodaxe' for the sheer number of duels to the death he would challenge people to.
Kjartan was, however, still plagued by a deep seated fear of those with magical aptitude. He held a great deal of credence to what the goði had said about his name carrying a curse, and avoided any who may be able to manipulate magic to take advantage of it.
Kjartan's quest to become the strongest man in Tascallon started with an earnest desire to be rid of his perceived curse. He had come to believe that through dominating and defeating The Dread Wolf in combat, he could have his curse removed. As he continued along his journey, however, Kjartan soon came to believe that if he could force the wolf to bow to his will, he would be able to stand above all others, and rule the Material plane.
At the end of the Epic of Crossed Axes, Kjartan and Asbjörn manage to put aside their differences for the sake of the plane in a grand bout against an empowered herald of Otti, and afterwards the two founded the Holmsgarðr. 
Unfounded rumors claim that Kjartan has been seen from time to time, wandering near the edges of his old home village. Often, when others go to investigate these rumors, they find a pyre in the shape of the gargantuan man, burning away quickly.