King Hardrada
High King Haardrada Haarthassen Iceaxe, The Hammer
A mighty warrior of House Iceaxe, Haardrada Haarthassen Iceaxe is the current high king of the Eighth Kingdom of Aedrinar and hero of the Tumbrian campaign of the 40 Year War. A hero of the lengthy conflict, Haardrada has become an idle slob in his senior age, resting on his laurels and spending most of this time "drinking, hunting, and whoring" in his own words, often seen as neglecting his kingdom at large.
Haardrada was elected unanimously as high king in 1035, 3e as the 6th monarch of the eighth kingdom and as the 54th (55th including King Knut) High Monarch of Aedrinarans in general. He is the youngest of the Iceaxe siblings but shows his age more than his brother, Haarold Iceaxe. He is the second king from House Iceaxe after Sven II in 789.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Haardra was born the second of two sons to Haartha Iceaxe within his family keep in the Icehill district of Odinsthrone in summer 1006. A strong boy even at an early age, Haardrada began military training early under the tutelage of Magni Fairhair alongside his brother. As young noble and Alderman, Haardarda spent time at court and worked as a warrior for the ruling House Thornstrom, forming a friendship with Karl the Younger, the future Karl V.
When Aedrinar entered the war in 1022, 3e, Haardrada sailed with many other southern hold houses to Tumbria. He would be placed in the armies of King Karl IV under the military guideance of his brother, Haarold, who acted as general for the front. Haardrada became known for his use of the warhammer as a weapon, earning him the nickname of the "The Hammer of Tumbria."
Haardarada's father Haartha died in battle with his funerary pyre being so bright it 'lit up the night sky in flames.' Haardarda was appointed as Alderman of Icehill in a unanimous moot. He returned briefly home to store some of his father's loot and war trophies before returning to battle once again.
Karl IV would die of wounds sustained in battle in 1028, and his son Karl Thornstrom, Haardarda's childhood friend, would become High King Karl V. Karl V continued to wage battle on the frontlines with Haardarda and his Iceaxe warriors by his side. This alliance was so strong that Haardarda would marry a cousin of the king named Ingrid Thornstrom, the two having a child in 1031.
In a particularlly messy battle in 1032 during the Push to Rassendorf - Eldrian battle mages pummeled the Aedrinaran lines with heavy magic causing a retreat and regrouping. As the popular legend goes, Haardrada saw his king and friend die and stood over the body with his war hammer, refusing to retreat, and defending the body of the king and his family until the regrouped warriors returned to flank his attackers. For his role in defending the bodies of the king and his family, Haardrada would be unanimously elected as High King in a moot at Ceannastra. Haardarda later confessed to Val that at the time he had no idea it was the body of the king, he just wanted to fight and believed it was a fallen soldier, not the royal family.
Whilst at war, his wife would commit ritual suicide by wandering into the Wold to die at the hand of monsters, leaving Haardara's son Prince Sven to be raised by stewards, warriors, and family friends not at war. In another set of battles the king and his warriors as well as Erik Valkinshor were encircled by Eldrian knights. Fighting as many as they could but having made peace with the fact they would enter Valhalla, the king and his entourage were saved by the timely intervention of Elder Tiristar Furyborn who ambushed the attacking Eldrians. Erik Valkinshor, the king, and the elder, would form a life long friendship and fought together numerous times throughout the war.
Haardarada returned to Odinsthrone at the war's conclusion in 1042, sending other noble houses to act as his emmisaries at the various peace conferences. He would move out of his family keep and into the Palace of the Heroes with his son.
Haardrada's first year as a peacetime ruler was marked by celebrations and feasts celerbating a well fought war - he kept the kingdom together through his heroic and now legendary actions but over time his focus on the realm waned. He spent more time hunting and sneaking out to Odinsthrones brothels. His son's education fell behind and it was left up the king's brother and House Fairhair to see the boy's learning.
The king's absent rulership was good for the fiercely independent jarls and rulers, but it did see a rise in crises and internal difficulties by 1052. The king did not respond to Lastlight's call for aid when Fisk and the Cult of Rangarok kidnapped 14 of its citizens, nor did he launch any counter invasion when Teng and The Dragon Clan took the entire island of Drekenheim.
Haardara did send his brother to handle Western Skallen in the Western Hold but did not allow Haarold to fight The White Will or send any emissaries to Jarl Earling Horfhand's war council. His eastern borders also lie on the brink of war with tensions between Ice Elf and Aedrinaran settlers in the eastern islands pushing the two peoples to the brink of war.
Heir of Furunheim Arc
In Duskfall, 1052, 3e, Haardarada threw a feast as an excuse to meet with his dying war friend Elder Tiristar Furyborn and invited numerous nobles from across the realm and notable adventurers Doomed 2 Die as guests of honour. At the feast, Haardarda faced off with Jarl Olaf Dragontooth, with the two men almost coming to blows before the intervention of Val. In the aftermath of the festivities, the king was with his friends Thane Erik Valkinshore and Elder Tiristar when Tiristar's son and heir, Arystyr Furyborn was nearly assasinated. Haardarda tasked Doomed 2 Die with keeping the heir safe and investigating the attempted murder.
Status
Alive
First Appearance:
Session 107: Invitation from the King
Appearances: 2
Alive
First Appearance:
Session 107: Invitation from the King
Current Location
Species
Honorary & Occupational Titles
| High King of Aedrinar |
| Reign | 1032, 3e |
| Present |
| Predecessor | Karl V |
| Jarl of the Southern Hold |
| Reign | 1032, 3e |
| Present |
| Predecessor | Karl V |
| Alderman of Icehill |
| Reign | 1028, 3e |
| Present |
| Predecessor | Haartha Iceaxe |
Currently Held Titles
Age
46
Family
Children
Current Residence
Palace of the Heroes
Pronouns
He/Him
Sex
Male
Gender
Man
Presentation
Masculine
Eyes
Brown
Hair
Medium length, unbraided, straight, blonde
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
White
Height
6"2
Ruled Locations
- Session 107: Invitiation from the King
- Session 108: Who Dunnit?
- Session 109: Conclave of the Wold
Comments