Skard Rolfsson

*Page Status: Accepted Canon*

Skard Rolfsson was the founder of Vinterföld and marked the start of Skardoving era. He was born to Rolf Sigurðsson and was renowned for his honor, courage and ambition. during his rule the Jarldom of Vinterföld begun as a small town and eventually expanded it's borders and restored Strondholm Vale, conquered the Republic of Grimsburg and carried several raids against the nations of the south most notably the raids on Ilios.

## **Early Life**

In his early life Skard carried out raids on his father's behalf in the village of Varstad and gained a renown as a promising warrior. after visiting the major cities in the south he became bored of the small conflicts in the Svearia, it was always the same, small warchiefs raided each other for plunder and stopped each village from developing and growing into something bigger, his father was too old and experienced to try and listen to his offspring, he was laid back in his way of things, afraid of change like most men. After a few days, Skard gathered his belongings and went with his brother and a couple of warriors south, They settled in one of his old campsites on the southern edge of Försvar.

## **Vinterfold**

### **Skard's rise to power**

At first Vinterföld was nothing but a hall where they could drink ale and feast but Skard wanted more, he made clear his intentions, he wanted to be in charge, to have the last say, to move forward with his vision in mind. Another man wanted to have such power in his hand and he challenged Skard to ritual combat, The man standing last will be declared Jarl, The duel between the two was long and hard on both sides, Finally, Skard found an opening in the man’s defense and struck his iron axe to the man’s ribs killing him, Skard was victorius and was declared the Jarl of Vinterföld.

Vinterföld grew quickly into a prosperous town, Skard's newly aquired renwon attracted many new settlers.

he found new companions, Ulf Brant and Finnr Truelsson were made Huskarls.

## **Mercenary work**

A new conflict broke in the south, two major powers were at war and both offered Vinterföld a mercenary contract, Skard presented both contracts in the assembly and together the people of Vinterföld decided to join Nivoa in war in return for large a payment.

### **The Battle of Honeybay**

The Vinerian force was placed in island of Honeybay, They garrisoned the fort and waited for the enemy to attack while the Nivoan forces marched foward.

Skard was told to listen to the Nivoan officer in command and wasn't given authority by the Nivoans, the officer proved himself incompetent and the battle was a massacre with no clear winner, eventually the Nivoan General Timerius flanked the enemy forces and ended the battle, Timerius was killed on the battlefield.

*" I've sent my men here to die over some southern land that doesn't concern them, those Nivoans aren't warriors and I should have never followed them into battle. I won't repeat my mistakes, I must learn from them, I wont let this failure mark my end, this might be the end for the Nivoans but my story just begun. " Skard Rolfsson reflects on Honeybay*

## **Skard's growing influnce**

Fenvik Veltensson a freeman in Vinterfold heard Skard's plans for expanding Vinterfold's influnce and offered to repouplate Strondholm vale, Fenvik gained Skard's trust and was given the title of Chief.

Vinterföld's influnce grew, Skard made a marrige alliance with Queen Dagmar Jerrick Kodota and now Kodotan warriors were at his disposal.

### **The Raid on Ilios**

The seas were starting to get calmer and the weather more forgiving, it was not long from the rading season, this time Skard wasn't satsfied with raiding some minor southern town like before, he chose the grand city of Ilios as his target, Ilios was the most pouplated and richest city that Skard has visited in his earlier years, this visit will be much different then the time he was welcomed as a guest by the Ilians.

Ilios trying to save itself from the northerner's warth offered plenty of gold as tribute to the Vinterians but it was too late, Skard knew his warriors were eager to fight in the name of Vinterföld, some wanted to reach the afterlife, some wanted glory and renown and some like most men wanted the riches of the Ilians to themselves.

Skard and his Huskarls breached the city and broke the Ilian forces with ease, they looted and burned the place before leaving back home,

*"It was shameful to see such a beautiful city guarded by men who didn’t even know how to hold a sword properly." - Halvard to Skard on their way back to Vinterföld*

## **Expanding Vinterfold**

Skard was willing to take bold risks to ensure Vinterföld wouldn't be bound to any southern nation, his neighbours to the south were growing weary of his raids, and the Republic of Suiris tried to expand it's influnce north, their ruler was meeting with a tributary forsvarian village and were planning to free them from the Vinterians tribute, Skard took his Huskarls and crushed their leader's party in combat marking the end of Suirisian affairs in Försvar.

### **The Siege of Grimsburg**

To the south-west of the Jarldom stood Grimsburg, Skard begun making plans to conquerer it and turn into a prosperous trading hub in the Vestrian sea, as Vinterföld lacked any harbour in it.
Soon enough Skard rallied his warriors and marched towards Grimsburg, Grimsburg's allies the Nivoans were busy fighting a war in the south and couldn't send any aid, Skard ordered his men to climb on Grimsburg walls with ladders and a battering ram was built to breach the gate, the fighting on the walls was bloody and there were major casualties on both sides but when the gate was breached and the Vinterian warriors were inside the city walls, the enemy forces broke formation and the siege was over.

### **Vassalizing Miðfjall**

Skard freed Miðfjall from the Suirisian rule, a local governer was given the title of chief and swore his allegiance to Skard.

## Skard's fall

Skard's ambitions only kept growing, every time he achieved one of his goals, he started thinking about the next one, his next goal was to claim the old Försvarian crown of Velos. He became distant from his friends and companions, His Hersir Finnr plotted to overthrow Skard in ritual combat, Chief Fenvik disagreed with Skard's bloody path and begun advocating for Strondholm's independence, His brother left Vinterföld leaving Skard alone with friends that turned to foes.

Skard marched his armies south with the intention to raid Nivoa, he accepts a meeting with the Nivoans and takes his Huskarls near their city walls, he offers them protection from Försvarian raids and in return they will pay tribute to him but he fell to their deceit, the Nivoan statesman ordered his bowmen to fire at Skard, Skard with an arrow in his chest draws his sword 'banishment' and with his loyal Huskarls makes his final stand as the Nivoans open their gates and are heading towards them.

Skard and 15 Huskarls were slain that day, the next day with no one to lead them his armies retreated to Vinterföld, some groups raided Nivoan villages on their way back. After his death Grimsburg opened in rebellion and was aided by the Nivoans, Strondholm became independent and took Ørstad as it's fief, Finnr Truelsson became Jarl in Vinterfold.

**Skard was the last Forsvarian ruler to stop the inner fighting that ensued Forsvar after the fall of Velos, he died before he could finish his mission to create a strong Forsvarian Kingdom once again. Some say that he fell because of the treachery of his friends, others think that he made a mistake when he put his trust in the southerners, and the wise think that the gods punished Skard for seeking too much in this world, but in the end, he will be remembered as one of the greatest leaders in the pages of history.**