Lore:Jorunn

was a  ic High King born to Queen   in  . The twin brother of   Strong-Prince, Jorunn grew up believing their elder sister   was fated to take the throne, and as such became a singer and did quite a bit of traveling while still uncrowned. He showed rare talent as a bard, highly prized among Nords, and was eventually dubbed the "Skald Prince" of Skyrim. However, his mother and sister were killed in an  i invasion. He led the Nords to victory against the invaders, and took on a new life as High King of Eastern Skyrim.  

History
Before Three Banners War
Jorunn studied at Skald's Retreat on the Isle of Gold outside of  , and also spent time in  ,  ,  ,  . He is even thought to have visited  , then a separate kingdom from Eastern Skyrim, in disguise. He claimed to have no interest in politics, but still became the unofficial leader of the creative community. Though he received little formal schooling in the arts of arms and warfare, traveling across   was always a dangerous activity and he learned how to handle himself.  For example, during a visit to Stormhold with his four companions some time before 2E 572, Jorunn befriended the    . Soon after, they and her three companions rescued their friend Xocin and other Saxhleel who were taken captive by Dark Elf slavers at a   enclave in  .  

Jorunn was in Riften when the  i of Dir-Kamal assaulted the northeast coast of Skyrim in  . Jorunn and his closest comrades, the "Pack of Bards", fought their way up the coast to  , arriving just in time to see its gates breached by the Akaviri. Jorunn hurled himself into the fray, but was unable to prevent the fall of the city and the slaying of his mother and sister, who both went down fighting. 

Wounded and devastated, Jorunn barely escaped alive. One legend says he decided to appeal to the   of   for aid. They taught him a shout to summon a hero from Sovngarde. Using this shout, he summoned   the Ash-King to fight at his side, now claiming the title Skald-King.  Another account credits Almalexia with summoning the Ash-King.  Regardless, Wulfharth and Jorunn rallied the Nords of eastern Skyrim, mustering an army from   and the outer regions of   which heavily fortified Riften. Dir-Kamal was convinced to bypass the city and march on Mournhold, assuming that the Nords would be glad to see him go. 

That choice was a fatal mistake. Jorunn and Wulfharth led their army in pursuit of the Akaviri force, and a Nordic army entered Morrowind for the first time since the  . The Akaviri army was caught in    between the Nords and a   legion led by Almalexia. On a beach west of Ebonheart, the   took place. Aided by the surprise intervention of a phalanx of   shellbacks led by a trio of battlemages, the coalition broke the Akaviri line and drove them into the sea, where they drowned by the thousands. The Ash King, his purpose fulfilled, returned to  . In Windhelm, three weeks later, Jorunn was crowned High King in the throne room of the Palace of Kings. 

At some point in his youth  during his travels, Jorunn fathered a son, Irnskar, who later aided him during the  . 

Three Banners War

Dark Heart of Skyrim
Around circa   King Jorunn sent an expedition from Windhelm to look into a sudden barrage of storms in the Sea of Ghosts around the isle of Icereach.   Although initially most of the forces sent by the King Jorunn were met with fierce opposition ultimately the members of Icereach Coven who resided at the island were defeated by combined forces of Lyris Titanbon, the Undaunted guild and the Vestige. 

Activities of Icereach Coven drawn Jorunn's attention once again, due to their continued activity in Tamriel. He once again sent Lyris Titanborn to investigate, who assisted by the Vestige managed to find out that the Icereach coven planned their next step in the city of Riften. They ventured to Ratway under the city proper and found out that Coven has allies among Vampires and influence over some Nord merchants as well as that the next step of the Witches is in the Eastmarch . Soon they found out that one of the members of the coven, Sister Balra planned an assassination of King Jorunn and that coven plans to continue their activities in the other part of Skyrim, namely in Haafingar hold. They managed to return to the Palace of the Kings right in time to witness an assault of the Icereach coven forces on the palace and foil Barla's attempted murder, saving King Jorunn. 

Ever since this event Jorunn kept an eye on events that were happening in the Western Skyrim.   Vestige aided Lyris Titanborn once again, this time to help the holds of Western Skyrim against the threats of Grey Host and Icereach Coven. After the actions of the Gray Host were foiled in the Western Kingdom and the treacherous king Svargrim was deposed Jorunn personally traveled to the Solitude to promise to aid the Western Kingdom in rebuilding after the onslaught of the Vampiric forces in the area.  Later, when Ard Caddach of Markarth, the leader of Reachfolk announced the moot he visited the city and attended the meeting of local rulers. Together with Ard and Jarl   of Solitude they signed a peace between the Eastern Skyrim, Western Skyrim and the Reach. 

Gallery
 

See Also
For game-specific information, see the ESO and   article.
Books
 
 

References