High King
The High King of Fjallheima is the elected monarch and supreme ruler of the High Kingdom of Fjallheima, a northern realm renowned for its warlike traditions, intricate artistry, and fiercely independent clans. The High King presides over the kingdom from the royal seat at Fyrsthólm, wielding ultimate authority in matters of law, war, and ritual.
Qualifications
Royal Blood or Marriage: Must be a member of the royal family (by blood) or wedded to a king’s daughter, E.g. a High Jarl’s son who marries the king’s daughter becomes eligible.
No Age Minimum: Infants, minors or elders may stand. If a minor wins, a regent governs until they mature.
Proven Merit & Honor: Candidates must usually have showed martial skill, loyal service in Things, and/or fealty to Fjallheima’s customs.
No Age Minimum: Infants, minors or elders may stand. If a minor wins, a regent governs until they mature.
Proven Merit & Honor: Candidates must usually have showed martial skill, loyal service in Things, and/or fealty to Fjallheima’s customs.
Requirements
Electors & Vote Weights
The 94 Jarl's: 1 vote each (total 94)
The 4 High Jarls: 3 votes each (total 12)
The Outgoing High Kings: 5 votes (total 5)
Grand Total: 111 votes
Election Threshold: A candidate needs at least 70 % of 111 = 78 votes to win outright.
Convening the Althing: Within a fortnight of the king’s passing, the Lawspeaker summons the Great Thing at Fysthólm.
Electors attend in person or by sworn proxy to cast their weighted ballots. Failure to Reach Threshold: With no one at ≥ 78 votes, succession war may erupt among rivals.
The 94 Jarl's: 1 vote each (total 94)
The 4 High Jarls: 3 votes each (total 12)
The Outgoing High Kings: 5 votes (total 5)
Grand Total: 111 votes
Election Threshold: A candidate needs at least 70 % of 111 = 78 votes to win outright.
Convening the Althing: Within a fortnight of the king’s passing, the Lawspeaker summons the Great Thing at Fysthólm.
Electors attend in person or by sworn proxy to cast their weighted ballots. Failure to Reach Threshold: With no one at ≥ 78 votes, succession war may erupt among rivals.
Appointment
Opening of the Great Thing:
The Lawspeaker declares the vacancy, reads all qualified names, and calls for votes.
Each Jarl and High Jarl proclaims their vote; the late king’s 5‐vote bloc is cast by his privy council.
Tallying & Proclamation:
Votes are counted publicly beneath the Crown Banner.
If a candidate reaches ≥ 78 votes, the Lawspeaker proclaims them High King.
Regency Clause: If the chosen monarch is underage or incapacitated, the Thing appoints a regent—traditionally a High Jarl or the Lawspeaker.
War of Succession: Absent a 70 % majority, claimants may bear arms. Victory comes to whichever faction seizes Fysthólm or forces a fresh council majority.
Once one claimant is unambiguously supreme—by conquest or renewed vote—the Lawspeaker reconvenes the Thing to ratify and anoint the new High King.
The Lawspeaker declares the vacancy, reads all qualified names, and calls for votes.
Each Jarl and High Jarl proclaims their vote; the late king’s 5‐vote bloc is cast by his privy council.
Tallying & Proclamation:
Votes are counted publicly beneath the Crown Banner.
If a candidate reaches ≥ 78 votes, the Lawspeaker proclaims them High King.
Regency Clause: If the chosen monarch is underage or incapacitated, the Thing appoints a regent—traditionally a High Jarl or the Lawspeaker.
War of Succession: Absent a 70 % majority, claimants may bear arms. Victory comes to whichever faction seizes Fysthólm or forces a fresh council majority.
Once one claimant is unambiguously supreme—by conquest or renewed vote—the Lawspeaker reconvenes the Thing to ratify and anoint the new High King.
Duties
Preside over the Great Thing at Fysthólm: Open and close assemblies, hear appeals from High Jarls, and ratify major laws.
Lead in War and Peace: Muster the royal host, command strategy in war, and negotiate truces or alliances.
Uphold the Law: With the Lawspeaker, ensure ancient customs endure; sign new edicts into the rune‐carved code.
Perform Sacred Rites: Offer sacrifices at the hof, oversee seasonal festivals (Solstice, Spring Blót), and invoke the gods’ favor.
Receive Foreign Envoys: Host ambassadors, negotiate trade pacts, and maintain Fjallheima’s standing among neighboring realms.
Lead in War and Peace: Muster the royal host, command strategy in war, and negotiate truces or alliances.
Uphold the Law: With the Lawspeaker, ensure ancient customs endure; sign new edicts into the rune‐carved code.
Perform Sacred Rites: Offer sacrifices at the hof, oversee seasonal festivals (Solstice, Spring Blót), and invoke the gods’ favor.
Receive Foreign Envoys: Host ambassadors, negotiate trade pacts, and maintain Fjallheima’s standing among neighboring realms.
Responsibilities
Realm Unity: Mediate disputes between High Jarls and Jarls; preserve balance of power and prevent internecine feuds.
Defense and Security: Maintain frontier fortresses, authorize levies, and equip the king’s guard.
Justice and Mercy: Grant pardons, hear petitions of outlawry, and supervise the enforcement of verdicts.
Infrastructure & Trade: Oversee upkeep of roads, mountain passes, and harbors; sanction seasonal fairs and tolls.
Dynastic Succession: Mentor heirs, arrange strategic marriages, and secure the royal bloodline’s prestige.
Defense and Security: Maintain frontier fortresses, authorize levies, and equip the king’s guard.
Justice and Mercy: Grant pardons, hear petitions of outlawry, and supervise the enforcement of verdicts.
Infrastructure & Trade: Oversee upkeep of roads, mountain passes, and harbors; sanction seasonal fairs and tolls.
Dynastic Succession: Mentor heirs, arrange strategic marriages, and secure the royal bloodline’s prestige.
Benefits
Royal Fiefs & Tribute: Exclusive domain of Fyrst: revenues from farms, forests, mines, and customs duties.
King’s Guard & Household: A personal retinue of 300–400 elite housekarls and thanes, plus a royal court of advisors, skalds, and goðar.
Judicial Supremacy: Final arbiter in all legal matters; “Crown’s Eye” veto over jarldom‐level verdicts.
Ceremonial Honor: Sole bearer of the Golden Crown Standard; central figure in saga recitations and skaldic verse.
Diplomatic Immunity: Granted safe‐conduct across all jarldoms; foreign rulers defer to his person and banner.
King’s Guard & Household: A personal retinue of 300–400 elite housekarls and thanes, plus a royal court of advisors, skalds, and goðar.
Judicial Supremacy: Final arbiter in all legal matters; “Crown’s Eye” veto over jarldom‐level verdicts.
Ceremonial Honor: Sole bearer of the Golden Crown Standard; central figure in saga recitations and skaldic verse.
Diplomatic Immunity: Granted safe‐conduct across all jarldoms; foreign rulers defer to his person and banner.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Regal Regalia:
The Crown of Fysthólm: A circlet of beaten silver, set with five sapphires (one for each province), worn only at formal Things, investitures, and high festivals.
The Royal Cloak (Korung‐skjǫldr): A heavy bear fur lined with cerulean colored wool, edged in silver filigree, fastened by the King’s Brooch (a jewelled Stag-head pin).
The Signet Ring (Kjörhringr): Silver ring inlaid with the Crown emblem, used to seal royal edicts in red wax.
The King’s Belt (Konungr‐belti): Wide leather belt embossed with wolf motif, holds the ceremonial scabbard, purse of tribute, and a small pouch of runic charms.
Personal Arms & Armor:
High King’s Sword “Konungr-blað" A one-handed sword, the fuller is inlaid with silver runes invoking Sol’nus’s fire, grip bound in white-dyed leather; pommel shaped like a stylized wolfs head.
Shield of the Crown: A round shield of seasoned yew, faced in linen and painted white with a silver crown, reinforced boss and rim for durability in shield-wall formation.
Helm of Fysthólm: Steel helm with nos-guard, adorned with a silver crown-shaped diadem, interior padded with bear-hide for comfort.
Mail and Plate Hauberk: Chainmail shirt reinforced by steel plates over chest, shoulders, and forearms, Light enough for mounted warfare, strong enough for frontal combat
Ceremonial Items:
Scepter of Office: Oak staff capped in Silver and topped with a bare head, held when opening the Great Thing or presiding at blóts.
Horn of Sovereignty: A large drinking horn of polished ox-horn, mounted in silver and etched with the names of past High Kings, used for solemn toasts at royal feasts.
Rune-Carved Codex (Law-Stave): A carved wooden stave bearing new edicts; presented to the Lawspeaker for inscription alongside ancient laws.
The Crown of Fysthólm: A circlet of beaten silver, set with five sapphires (one for each province), worn only at formal Things, investitures, and high festivals.
The Royal Cloak (Korung‐skjǫldr): A heavy bear fur lined with cerulean colored wool, edged in silver filigree, fastened by the King’s Brooch (a jewelled Stag-head pin).
The Signet Ring (Kjörhringr): Silver ring inlaid with the Crown emblem, used to seal royal edicts in red wax.
The King’s Belt (Konungr‐belti): Wide leather belt embossed with wolf motif, holds the ceremonial scabbard, purse of tribute, and a small pouch of runic charms.
Personal Arms & Armor:
High King’s Sword “Konungr-blað" A one-handed sword, the fuller is inlaid with silver runes invoking Sol’nus’s fire, grip bound in white-dyed leather; pommel shaped like a stylized wolfs head.
Shield of the Crown: A round shield of seasoned yew, faced in linen and painted white with a silver crown, reinforced boss and rim for durability in shield-wall formation.
Helm of Fysthólm: Steel helm with nos-guard, adorned with a silver crown-shaped diadem, interior padded with bear-hide for comfort.
Mail and Plate Hauberk: Chainmail shirt reinforced by steel plates over chest, shoulders, and forearms, Light enough for mounted warfare, strong enough for frontal combat
Ceremonial Items:
Scepter of Office: Oak staff capped in Silver and topped with a bare head, held when opening the Great Thing or presiding at blóts.
Horn of Sovereignty: A large drinking horn of polished ox-horn, mounted in silver and etched with the names of past High Kings, used for solemn toasts at royal feasts.
Rune-Carved Codex (Law-Stave): A carved wooden stave bearing new edicts; presented to the Lawspeaker for inscription alongside ancient laws.
Type
Nobility, Non-hereditary
Form of Address
Formal/Ceremonial: The High King of Fjallheima, His Majesty. Direct Address: My King.
Alternative Naming
Hárkonungr
Current Holders
Related Locations
Related Organizations
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