A Rimmersman, the duke of Elvritshalla.
Overview[]
The second Duke of Elvritshalla. Son of Isbeorn. Husband of Gutrun, father of Isorn and of another son and two daughters. Isgrimnur loves his wife with an intense passion, even after many years together. He declares that if she were to ever die he would never consider remarrying.
Isgrimnur is an Aedonite, his father being the first of his line to convert to the religion.
The duke is fiercely loyal, but is also concerned with the concept of honor. This causes him conflicting feelings when Elias forces him to stay in Erkynland while Rimmersgard is in chaos. Ultimately he joins Josua in the effort to free the realm from Elias' tyrannical rule. He is one of Josua's most trusted allies and the prince sends him on a covert mission to recover the princess Miriamele. This take him across the south of Osten Ard, disguised as a monk. Eventually, he catches up to the princess in Kwanitupul and escorts her to meet Josua at the Stone of Farewell.
Isgrimnur remains a close advisor to the prince as the war with Elias escalates.
Description[]
Personality[]
- Isgrimnur recalls John describing him as having "the heart of a bear and the wit of an ox."
- Cautious, but not interested in endless discussion. A man of action.
- Blunt
- Very caring
- Dutiful and honourable
Physicality[]
- Notably tall
- Huge gnarled hands
- Gray beard, braided but often tangled from tugging
- Still rather swift despite his advanced age and great stature
Biography[]
Prior to the Events of The Dragonbone Chair[]
Isgrimnur inherits the dutchy of Elvritshalla from his father Isbeorn. He becomes a trusted ally of Prester John and develops an uncle-like relationship with the king's two boys. He marries Gutrun and has four children.
The Dragonbone Chair[]
The duke arrives at the Hayholt for the funeral of Prestor John and the coronation of Elias with a company of fifty Rimmersmen. At John's funeral, he places the dead kings batter war-boots on the bare feat of his corpse, as those in attendance watch. After, he watches Josua place the sword Bright-Nail into John's coffin. This surprises the duke as tradition would dictate that Elias should inherit it. At the king's funeral feast he sits at a table with Josua, angered by Elias having slighted him by inviting Skalli to sit where he should have, at the head table.
Some days later, he spars with Josua in a field outside the castle. When Elias and Pryrates appear, the duke takes the opportunity to ask the kind to send more men to the royal garrison at Vestvennby to help protect the Frostmarch. Elias denies him this request and claims that Skalli has reported that the duke is hoarding his soldiers at Elvritshalla and Naarved. Isgrimnur denies this, expressing his loyalty and reminding Elias of the friend ship between he and Elias' father, which only angers Elias further.
Isgrimnur, while looking for the jester Towser, witnesses the house staff having simultaneous nightmares and awakens the scullion Simon. He notes Simon's read hair and admires the chaos of his bed space. Simon guides him to Towser and the old man and the fool discuss what Isgrimnur fears is the disappearance of Josua.
In a hidden room in the archives, Isgrimnur secretly meets with Eolair, The Count of Nad Mullach, to discuss various troubles they have with Elias' leadership. The Duke reveals that Elias has consistently denied his requests to return home toRimmersgard where his subjects have been struggling through the harsher than usual winter that has fallen over the region. After further discussion, the pair agree that the priest Pryrates is to blame for Elias' descent into tyranny. After listening to Eolair's plan to travel to the Nabban to investigate rumors of Lector Ranessin's intention to play peacekeeper between Elias and Duke Leobardis, Isgrimnur divulges his fear of the growing relationship between Skali and Elias.
At a meeting with Elias, the duke makes a great show of outrage at the king's continued refusal to send aid the people of Rimmersgard.
The Stone of Farewell[]
Isgrimnur follows Miriamele and Cadrach across the kingdom of Osten Ard, disguised as a monk. He traces them through Perdruin until eventually catching up to them at the Sancellan Aedonitis in Nabban. There, he attempts to locate them without revealing his identity, but is unable to do so before Pryrates arrives and forces the duo to make an escape. He finds the wounded Dinivan who tells him to find an inn called Pelippa's Bowl in Kwanitupul.
Isgrimnur intimidates a sleazy boatman into taking him down the coast, despite the dangerous weather. The Duke arrive at Pelippa's Bowl in Kwanitupal and meets the Wrannaman Tiamak. An even greater surprise, Isgrimnur discovers that the silent doorman of Pelippa's is none other than the hero Camaris, who has long been assumed dead.
To Green Angel Tower[]
Isgrimnur waits at Pelippa's bowl, in hopes that Miriamele will find her way there. He is fascinated by the discovery of Camaris, and spends a great deal of time attempting to compel the legendary man to speak or to discover if he remembers the past. This effort bares no fruit, but the Duke persists.
After Miriamele's arrival, he departs with her, Cadrach, Tiamak, and Camaris on a boat through the Wrann. The group makes their way back to the Stone of Farewell
The Heart of What was Lost[]
Between the Trilogies[]
The Witchwood Crown[]
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Isbeorn: Isgrimnur's father, deceased before the events of the Dragonbone Chair.
- Gutrun: Isgrimnur's wife.
- Isorn: Isgrimnur's son.
- Unnamed son
- Unnamed daughter
- Unnamed daughter
- Skali Sharp-nose of Kaldskryke: Isgrimnur's cousin
Friends[]
Liegemen[]
Enemies[]
Skills and Abilities[]
- Skilled in the use of a sword, as shown in his sparring match with Josua
- Skilled in the use of a war-hammer
- Witling (not well)
Known Possessions[]
- A war-hammer
- A sword
Quotes[]
Quotes Of[]
- "God grant me a quick honorable death, and never let me be one of those old fools who sits by the campfire telling the young men that things will never be as good as they once were." - Isgrimnur
Quotes About[]
- "He had cried that first night, in a dark alley by himself, where no one would see the huge monk sobbing, where for at least a little while he need not falsify. He was frightened in a way he had never quite been before." - Description of Isgrimnur as he fears for his son and wife, having recently heard of the fall of Naglimund, SOF, Chapter: 7
Notes, Theories, and Trivia[]
- Isgrimnur is among the tallest figures in Osten Ard, rivalling Simon. He is yet shorter than the towering Camaris.
- Though the Rimmersmen are inspired by vikings, Isgrimnur fights with a war-hammer, a weapon that was not historically used by the vikings
- Isgrimnur's use of a war-hammer may have inspired Robert Baratheon's use of such a weapon in A Song of Ice and Fire.