Hel Vasso

Hel Vasso

Raised in the Northern Mountains of Knurden as a Jotunn Hel now frequents the darker, less civilized places of the the lands to the South. A Bounty hunter by trade he is now on the trail of a group of Slave lords who may have the answers that both he and the Jotunn need....

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

8ft tall with a powerful muscular physique.

Facial Features

Long scar along left hand jaw line

Special abilities

Resistant to the cold.

Apparel & Accessories

Hel carries two ornate hand axes that were given to him by Ska Vasso on becoming a member of the Jotunn. The hand axes are known as the two Sisters and have their own history...

Mental characteristics

Personal history

It had not always been like this, or so that’s what he had been told as a child, but those times were long gone, and the memory of those days brought little comfort now. Hel was now his name, not his real name but a warrior’s name, a Jotunn name given to him many years ago…..
But Hel remembered. He always remembered. There would be time they told him, when the old ways would be new again and he would find his way. Time to remember – The old replaced by the new. Long gone were the ties of the past but the ways of the Jotunn remained strong. The shared memories of his ancestors and those of his kind who had been killed or driven away during the dark times still lingered through the ages. The hushed stories of how the gods had abandoned them and the magic had failed. A time of death and destruction. A time of dishonour and shame.
He was the only child when found, barely alive, laying in the snow. His face disfigured, covered in blood, a matted gash across his left cheek, nobody present thought that the boy would last the day. The bodies of his kin folk lay all around him. Mutilated, dismembered, and left in the open. His own defiled body left as a deliberate reminder and warning…
Angered by arriving too late to save the others, the child was quickly picked up by a stranger, known as Ska Vasso. Vasso and several others tended to the dead. Vasso then carried the child to the standing stones at Anoch Tor high in the Northern Mountain range of Knurden to a place where others could save him. Following pathways to the ancient stones that were known to only to the Jotunn, the child was carried by Vasso to the revered site, to the one person who could save him – the old Runeweaver Jarnsaxa.
Jarnsaxa was old, maybe as old as the great mountains themselves and her ways were those of long ago. Many regarded the old hag as crazy and confused but others knew better. Anoch Tor was her home. It had been for a long time. Jarnsaxa knew the old ways and whilst others had long stopped believing when the magic had failed, she had not.
She cursed when she heard what had taken place in the southlands and gasped when she saw the child for all Goliaths were the children of Jotnar. The wounded child was an affront to everything she believed in. There was no honour in wounding or killing of children.
No one can truly say if was it the power of the old runestones and knowledge of the old ways that saved the boy but Jarnsaxa smiled when he first opened his eyes
Hel or “Anew,” that was the name they had given him. Alive but weak, ‘Where are my brothers?’ were the first words they heard. Slowly, Jarnsaxa explained that he was the only child that was found. There were no others, only the bodies of the elders who were all dead. Hel remembered. There were three of them. Three brothers together….
The sun rose and set, Jarnsaxa spoke to the young Goliath and explained that his body would heal and that he would grow to be strong and that she could teach him the ways of the Jotunn. His new home would be here, but now he needed to rest.
Vasso and Jarnsaxa exchanged looks. This was not the first time that young Goliaths had been taken. It was happening again, but why…? Years passed in the mountains. Jarnsaxa looked on at as Hel grew and smiled. Hel did not know it but there was a path laid before him. He would need help to find this path and purpose in the world now that his Clan and his family had gone but Jarnsaxa and others would help him do it.
As Hel grew older Jarnsaxa began to teach him more and more about the land that he lived in, the ways of mountains and how his kindred, the Jotunn were intrinsically linked to it. Hel learned about its rhythms, its cycles, it’s patterns and the power that lay within. Hel learned of Anoch Tor, runestones and rune magic, the children of Jotnar and what it meant to be a Jotunn.
Hel became of age. He was stronger and faster than he had ever been, but he was also angry and frustrated. He could thrive and survive in the mountains, but his path was calling. Where were his brothers? There is time she would tell him, patience, but Jarnsaxa knew he was ready. It was time to become Jotunn. She summoned Ska Vasso.
Ska Vasso returned to Anoch Tor. It had been many years since he had last attended due to circumstances across the borders of Knurden and Orlay. Summoned by Jarnsaxa and the conclave he was instructed to take the boy and teach him the path of the warrior and to show him the ways of the Jotunn.
Hel was much older now but Ska recognised the young goliath with the scar. He remembered the image of the blood-soaked boy he had brought to the sacred site many years. They embraced in recognition and understanding.
Ska Vasso would teach Hel the tenets of the Jesol’narix – the ways of the Jotunn and what it was to be part of these ‘Fabled’ Rune knights of the North.
Hel joined Ska Vasso and his group for a time, travelling far and wide throughout the Northern Realms. Living by the creed of Jesol’narix. Seasons passed and Hel honed the skills that he needed to be a Rune knight and he took up his place as Jotunn earning the right to wear the fabled Iron skin.
But it wasn’t enough. Still the memories of his brothers remained. There were quiet whispers of young goliaths going missing across the north again. Every few years it was the same. The same cycle repeating over and over. Each time the Jotunn became aware they were too far behind, or too late.
Ska Vasso and the others travelled north once again but in frustration, He bid farewell to the others. Ska Vasso looked on, ‘Follow the tenets and be true to your Kin, we will see you again Hel Vasso.’
Hel turned South towards Orlay. It was time. He had promised himself – To find his brothers, those responsible for his murdered kin and his scarred face.
Two years later. Another rumour. The Orlayan City of Fallaval. A strange place for a Goliath from the mountains but this was a strange Inn in strange times.
The usual stares. Bounty hunting had lost it’s fun. Hunt or be hunted. One man’s mark was another man’s betrayal. It was one way of earning a living in these lands but was it honourable? It was always about the next mark. Hel was too tired to think.
Hel sat alone listening to the raucous sounds of a drunken evening. A slurring voice telling a drunken tale of the old gods and better times. Not an original tale for this part of the world but not unusual as there was unrest on the borders and rumours of war. Indifference and boredom set in.
Two years of searching. Rumours of Goliaths being taken as slaves, twisted and corrupted into weapons of war. Talk of Rune magic, Rune blades and the return of ‘new gods. What did this all mean?
He was told to wait. A man by the name of Carrow would come. He had links to the city gangs. He could point him in the right direction of the slave lords and folk being pressed into service.
It was time to head home he thought. Back to the mountains. War was coming that was for sure. Head back towards Anoch Tor before the roads and paths were choked with soldiers and refugees travelling the old the roads west.
Maybe tomorrow? One more drink. Tomorrow after he had spoken to Carrow. Carrow owed him and he knew it…

Employment

Hel Vasso has been employed by various individuals, businesses and guilds in his role of Bounty Hunter across the northern regions of Eruvar.

Personality Characteristics

Likes & Dislikes

Elves - All kinds..

Social

Contacts & Relations

The Jotunn - Rune knight Clan. Ska Vasso - Rune knight and Clan Elder. Jarnsaxa - Mystic. Carrow - Bounty Hunter contact and go between.

Family Ties

Vin Veskyr - Brother. Sol Veskyr - Brother.

Religious Views

Jesol’narix, or the Six Tenets:
A Jotunn must wear armour. A Jotunn must speak Giant. A Jotunn must defend themselves and their family. A Jotunn must contribute to the overall well- being of the clan. A Jotunn must raise their children as Jotunn. A Jotunn must heed the Jorrori’s call and rally to their cause.

Raised in the Northern Mountains of Knurden as a Jotunn, Hel now frequents the darker, less civilized places in the the lands to the South. A Bounty hunter by trade he is now on the trail of a group of Slave lords....

Character Location

Fallaval

View Character Profile

Alignment

Lawful Neutral

Age

35 Years Old

Birthplace

Knurden

Gender

Male

Eyes

Blue

Hair

Bald

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Grey/blue

Height

8ft

Weight

300lbs

Known Languages

Common and Giant.