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 (Norse), as he followed the path of medicine, but this changed in his 50s when he became a Jarl of Reingard after the previous leader, Drake Von Marux, retired. Erik picked up some different hobbies and activities from his youth, ranging from tinkering with magic machinery to assisting law enforcement. In addition, Erik is interested in politics and law. 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 crimson eyes, graying hair, a beard, a metal left arm (Black steel, runic enchantments to increase the metal strength and resistance to elements), and a dragon tattoo on his right arm. His attire is that of traditional Ashen clothing.

Younger years
Born in a village in southeastern Sparwood, he was the firstborn in his family, followed by his six 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 a rite of passage for adulthood. He would have to survive a month in the wilderness alone. So, on the 1st of lastlight, the first winter month, he and 19 others set off in different directions. Early on, he found a wagon wreck; in it was a chest with a journal on details about tinkering and artificer; however, the name had worn off. After searching the area, he found several skeletons nearby; they appeared to have been there for a while. A few days later, he found an injured Vargr wolf with pups. Despite the danger, Erik decided he couldn't leave it, so he set up camp nearby, and for any food he caught, he'd bring a share to the wolves. The next couple weeks would consist of reading about tinkering/artificer, feeding the wolves, and earning their trust, up to a point where he could sit next and touch the massive wolf he named Loveta.

On 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, destroying almost everything before turning towards Erik and cornering him. While he was bigger than the boar, Erik knew all too well that hogs, even a third of his size, were still dangerous. Taking out his knife and left with no other options, Erik charged and fought the boar. After some time, Erik was left bloodied, severely injured, and on the break of death, facing a monstrous boar coming around for a final blow. Accepting this as his time, he raised his knife, ready for a last stand. As the boar charged, Loveta came charging out from the woods, latching onto the pig's neck, bringing it to the ground, and holding it there. Seeing an opportunity, Erik charged, hopped on the boar's side, and stabbed under the leg, finally killing the beast. Having won the fight, he dragged the body home accompanied by Loveta and her pups. He would receive treatment and be given congratulations for his 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, Erik left home for a new life abroad, accompanied by Loveta and her grown pups. He settled on the outskirts of Leythe, where he set himself up as a local doctor and bought a small ranch. Over the next few decades, Erik married 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, starting his interest in law and writing up drafts of new regulations, 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 help in repairing Leythe city after years of no infrastructure repairs. He traveled the world to learn about various towns and nations. He would participate in monster hunts, the most dangerous being that of a dragon. He joined a group of hunters and got a tattoo to remember the event afterward. Despite his father being alive, he was made head of the Ironblood Clan at the age of 50. He also put his knowledge about tinkering/artificer to good use 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 his wife and son, setting fire to his house. In the chaos of trying to save them, a cultist attacked him from behind and tore off his left arm. Before the cultist could finish the job, Loveta charged the cultist, taking a few of them down before being stabbed, killing her. Right before he passed 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, Loveta, and his practice, only to keep his life.

Road to recovery
After the attack on Leythe city, Erik was found and 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. He developed a replacement arm made from black steel using what he learned over the years from tinkering. It was engraved with runic enchantments to increase the metal's strength and resistance to elements.

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

City Ownership
5 years after the attack, Erik received a letter explaining that he was being given ownership of Reingard and to become the next Jarl. 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, constructing more buildings outside the city's current walls, a second place of worship for Stahl Riesa worshippers, construction of new ships, and plans for a grand structure.

War and preparations for a better future
A couple of months after taking control of the city, war breaks out within the Tortugan Empire. Having close ties to some people leading the rebellion, 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 made changes 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," and taking the two ships left behind. Although they needed repairs, the Aynor ships could be essential in the future.

Wars End, and new beginnings?
After years of waiting, only one battle happened, with the defeat falling on Allied forces. With the defeat, other towns and nations began to flee; it was clear that the cause was doomed. With encouragement from his adopted son, Magos geðstirðr Ironblood surrendered to Tortuga. Having felt shame from his defeat, he abdicated from the throne and entered a self-place exile. Erik would return years later, at the age of 77, to discover his adopted grandchild, Charles Happ Ironblood, was made lord of Reingard. Settling into a role as a shaman, Erik spent his time praying to the gods until, one day, he received a vision. He saw a great exodus event that would disrupt the worlds of Rathnir and Eldham and bring an end to both. He then saw a new land rich in resources, uninhabited, a land where one could begin anew called Abexilas. With the vision provided by the gods, it was clear that it was time for a new beginning, and this time, it had a better chance of success. Erik would inform the people of Reingard and begin preparations for the Great Exodus.

The Exoduce and the New World Founding
[Month: Snowmelt, 3/28 - 3/30] (March 2024)

On the 28th of Snowmelt, Erik, along with his kin, the people of Reingard, and other Ashen groups, embarked from the shores of Rathnir for the last time. Drifting into the unknown as they watched their home before being frozen in time. For weeks, they sailed, suffering from food shortages and storms, losing both supplies and people. Fortune would soon shine down on them as they arrived on the shores of a new land.