Hrutger Ironbeard

Born in a coastal village ravaged by both sea-raiders and unforgiving winters, Hrutger learned early that only the strong survive. As a young man, he sailed with the legendary Jarl Olaf the Unyielding, earning his "Ironbeard" moniker by surviving a greataxe blow to the face during a raid on the Frankish coast, the scar now a badge of honor. Over the decades, he has raided from the frozen fjords of the north to the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean, accumulating wealth, enemies, and an unparalleled knowledge of battle. Now, weary of the endless cycle of violence but bound by honor to his jarl, he seeks to pass on his knowledge and forge a new generation of warriors, spending his twilight years in the great hall, a grizzled mentor and living legend.