Erik Ironblood

Overview
Erik B. Ironblood is an Ashen, originally from the southeast of Sparwood. His nickname “Doc” is from his time as a local doctor, and it’s something used instead of Dr. Erik Ironblood. He initially didn’t follow the Ashen lifestyle (Viking), as he followed the path of medicine, but this changed in his 50’s when he became a Jarl of Reingard after the previous leader, Drake Von Marux, retired. From his youth, Erik picked up some different hobbies and activities, ranging from tinkering with magic machinery to assisting the law enforcement. In addition, Erik is interested in politics and laws. While his primary profession was being a doctor, Erik learned about tinkering from a young age, which he used to his advantage in a side business in machine creation/repair.

Appearance
His physical appearance is that of graying hair, full beard and mustache, Crimson eyes, metal left arm (Black steel, runic enchantments to increase the metals strength and resistance to elements), dragon tattoo on right arm. His attire is that of traditional Ashen clothing.

Personality
A man of honor and a gentleman, he lives by the idea of “treat others how you want to be treated” and honors any deal he makes with someone until completed/broken. He’s a calm individual until pushed enough, after which he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty if necessary.

Occupation and Hobbies
His main occupation is a city leader (Jarl), while his side occupation is a Tinkerer. His former main occupation was as a Doctor. Hobbies are Blacksmithing, Traveling, Law, Gambling, and Learning.

Younger years
Born in a village in southeastern Sparwood, he was the firstborn in his family, followed by his 6 other siblings. During his teenage years, he learned about the standard trades like blacksmithing, brewing, agriculture, ext... It was around this time that he began his studies in the medical field and experimenting with different types of medicines, henceforth his friends gave him the nickname “Doc.” Upon his 17th birthday, he was given the task he needed to be recognized as an adult, he had to survive a month in the wilderness alone. On the 1st of lastlight, the first month of winter, he and 19 others set off in different directions. Early on in his task, he found a wagon wreck; in it was a chest with a journal on details about tinkering and artificery; however, the name had worn off. After searching the area, he found a couple of skeletons nearby, they appeared to have been there for a while. Now with something to keep him busy in his downtime, the next couple weeks flew by, up until the last day.

As he was packing to return home, a monstrous boar, as big as a bear and angry like a dragon, attacked his campsite in a rampage and destroyed almost everything before turning towards Erik and cornering him. While he was larger than the boar, Erik knew all too well that hogs, even a third of his size, can still be dangerous. With no other options, Erik charged with a knife and fought the boar for hours, and in the end, despite receiving severe injuries and being on the break of death, Erik won his fight and dragged the body home. He would receive treatment and was congratulated for the success. He and 16 others returned successfully; the last 3, however, were killed by the same boar. A funeral was held for them on the 1st of Frostlight.

Adulthood
Upon turning 20, he decided to leave home for a new life abroad. He settled in a small town on the outskirts of Leythe where he set himself up as a local doctor and bought a small ranch. Over the next couple of decades, Erik would marry his first love, Frida M. Ironblood, had a son, Sten H. Ironblood, and moved to Leythe city to set up a new practice. He lived there with his wife for 30 years and participated in different hobbies/events whenever he wasn’t tending to patients.

To sum it up quickly, he took part in tracking down escaped criminals, which started his interest in law and to him writing up drafts of new laws, despite never publishing them. He began to brew Ashen drinks for his family, friends, and himself, even assisting the Stahl Riesa Shamans with brewing lessons, in which he learned how to brew “Shaman’s Fate.” He would assist in repairing Leythe city after years of no infrastructure repairs. Spent some time traveling the world to learn about the various types of nations and cities. He would participate in monster hunts, the most dangerous being that of a dragon he with a group of hunters, afterward getting a tattoo to remember the event. Despite his father being alive, he was made the head of the Ironblood family when he was 50. He also put to work what he learned with the journal he found all those years ago by experimenting with magic machinery, using Ashen magic and metalwork to try and improve, and using this to start a small side business.

The Segra attack on Leythe
Life, unfortunately, took a turn for the worst when Segra cultists attacked the city of Leythe. In the attack, while Erik attempted to help the citizens escape the city, the cultist attacked Erik's wife and son and set fire to his house. In the chaos of trying to save them, a cultist attacked him from behind and cut his left arm off. Before passing out from blood loss, he watched as the cultists struck down his wife and son while his home was burning in the background. He would not have survived if it had not been for the previous Jarl of Reingard, Drake Marux. In the aftermath, he lost his home, his wife and child, and his practice, only to keep his life.

Road to recovery
After the attack on Leythe city, Erik was taken to Reingard to have his wounds tended to. After months of recovering from his injuries, he got help from the local blacksmith to create a metal arm to replace his missing one. Using what he learned over the years from tinkering, he developed a replacement arm made from black steel. It was engraved with runic enchantments to increase the metal's strength and resistance to elements.

Although he had physically healed, he was cursed with nightmares of his home burning, the city falling apart, the feeling of excruciating pain from blood loss, and the sight of everything being destroyed. He’d spend years trying to recover, with Marux assisting in his recovery. During his recovery, he’d find a smoking black rose growing in front of the remains of his home. He took it and kept it as a reminder of his wife and son and what he had lost.

City Ownership
5 years after the attack, Erik would receive a letter explaining that he was being given ownership of Reingard and to become its next leader. Marux had decided to retire and travel the world, and with no heirs, he chose Erik as the best choice for his replacement. Erik accepted, becoming the new Jarl of Reingard at 55. Everything didn’t go as smoothly, however, since taking the position of Jarl meant Erik was thrown into the Viking lifestyle that he didn’t take up initially in his youth, effectively meaning he’d have to learn them quickly. He started with his appearance, taking up the traditional armor and clothing of an Ashen Jarl. Next, Erik forged a new kind of sword, calling it “Ulfberht” with the runic name of ᚾᛖᚹ ᚻᚩᚱᛁzᚩᚾᛋ (new horizons). Finally, He began to delve into the workings of the city, recognizing that it required change.

He began by prioritizing the improvement of the roads in the old town, the construction of more buildings outside the cities current walls, the second place of worship for Stahl Riesa worshippers, and plans for a grand structure.

War and preparations for a better future
A couple of months after taking control of the city, war break out within the Tortugan Empire. Having close ties to some people leading the rebellion were leaders Erik decided to join in the effort. Even though he knew it could be the end of Reingard, if successful, this would be the restart of an era once lost many years ago for his people.

After establishing his side, he began to make changes, first by renaming the city back to the original Reingard capital name, Ashborn. He also began to expand the city's territory, claiming the southern mountain and expanding east toward the ruins of the Aynor, land that was promised to the city years prior by the Avarian leader “Richard McNamara.”