Welcome to Assassin's Creed Wiki! Log in and join the community.

Kjotve the Cruel: Difference between revisions

From the Assassin's Creed Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
imported>Darman36
m Text replacement - " <ref" to "<ref"
 
(40 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Era|Individuals|Ancients}}
{{Era|Individuals|Ancients}}{{WP-REAL|Kjotve the Rich}}
{{WP-REAL|Kjotve the Rich}}
{{Quote|I fought as I did, as hard as I did, to survive. For I know what awaits us in the end. Only darkness.|Kjotve's dying words to Eivor Varinsdottir, 872.|Assassin's Creed: Valhalla|A Cruel Destiny}}
{{Update|''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory]]''}}
{{Imageneed}}
{{Stub}}
{{Character Infobox
{{Character Infobox
|name = Kjotve the Cruel
|name = Kjotve the Cruel
|native =
|image = ACV_Kjotve_render.png
|image = ACV_Kjotve_render.png
|birth =
|death = 872<br>[[Kjotve's Fortress]], [[Rogaland|Rygjafylke]], [[Norway]]
|death = c. 872<br>[[Kjotve's Fortress]], [[Rogaland|Rygjafylke]], [[Norway]]
|active =
|species = [[Human]]
|species = [[Human]]
|database = [[Database: Kjotve|Kjotve]]
|database = [[Database: Kjotve|Kjotve]]
|affiliates = [[Wolf Clan]]
|affiliates = [[Wolf Clan]]<br>[[Order of the Ancients]]
[[Order of the Ancients]]
*[[Wardens of War]]
*[[Wardens of War]]
}}
}}
'''Kjotve the Cruel''' (died 872), also known as '''Kjotve the Rich'''<ref name="SongOfGlory2">[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory|''Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory'']] – [[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory 2|Issue #02]]</ref> was a 9th century [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[Viking]] who reigned as petty king of [[Agder]] during the 9th century. He was the father of [[Hrolfr Kjotvesson|Hrolfr]]<ref name="TheHornoftheValkyrie">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]] – [[The Ravens' Wound]]'' – [[The Horn of the Valkyrie]]</ref> and [[Gorm Kjotvesson]]. Kjotve also had a brother, [[Alrek]] who married [[Thora]], sister to [[Kiarr Rawbone]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Floating conversations]]: Ship stories</ref>
'''Kjotve the Cruel''' (died 872), also known as '''Kjotve the Rich''',<ref name="Song of Glory 2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory 2|Issue #02]]</ref> was a [[Vikings|Viking]] ''[[jarl]]'' who reigned as a petty king of [[Agder]] in [[Norway]] during the 9th century. He was the father of [[Hrolfr Kjotvesson|Hrolfr]]<ref name="Horn of the Valkyrie">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – ''[[The Ravens' Wound]]'' – [[The Horn of the Valkyrie]]</ref> and [[Gorm Kjotvesson]]. Kjotve also had a brother, [[Alrek]], who married [[Thora]], sister to [[Kiarr Rawbone]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Floating conversations]]: "Ship stories"</ref>


In addition to being a ruthless Viking leader, Kjotve was also one of the first [[Norsemen|Norse]] members of the [[Order of the Ancients]], operating under the cryptonym of '''The Axe''' and holding the rank [[Palatinus]], in the [[Wardens of War]] sect.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla''</ref>
In addition to being a ruthless Viking leader, Kjotve was one of the [[Order of the Ancients]]' first [[Norse people|Norse]] members, operating under the cryptonym of '''The Axe''' and holding the rank of [[Palatinus]] within the [[Wardens of War]] sect.


==Biography==
==Biography==
===Rivalry with the Raven Clan===
===Rivalry with the Raven Clan===
In 855, Kjotve led his [[Wolf Clan]] a [[raid]] on the settlement of [[Heillboer]] in [[Rogaland|Rygjafylke]] that resulted in the deaths of [[Varin]] and [[Rosta]], the parents of [[Eivor Varinsdottir]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[Prologue (Valhalla)|Prologue]]</ref> It was also around this time that Kjotve caught the attention of a traveling member of the Order of the Ancients, who was impressed with both his skill and his ferocity in battle. He was recruited into the organization shortly thereafter, becoming the first Norse member.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[Target menu]]: "Bio: Palatinus Kjotve, The Axe"</ref> For the following 17 years, Kjotve and his clan were harassed by Eivor and the [[Raven Clan]], despite King [[Styrbjorn]]'s reluctance to engage in open battle.
{{Dialogue2|Kjotve|Now it's my turn to offer you a deal, slave-whore. Accept your fate and die a coward, here before your people... and I will spare the rest.|Varin|If I give my life, will you spare my clan?|You have my word.|Kjotve offering Varin a compromise prior to executing him, 855.|Assassin's Creed: Valhalla|Prologue (Valhalla)}}
[[File:ACV Prologue 28.png|thumb|250px|left|Kjotve offering Varin a compromise during the attack on Heillboer]]
In 855, Kjotve led his [[Wolf Clan]] on a [[raid]] on the settlement of [[Heillboer]] in [[Rogaland|Rygjafylke]], where [[Eivor Varinsdottir]]'s parents [[Varin]] and [[Rosta]] were hosting a feast and pledging loyalty to ''[[jarl]]'' [[Styrbjorn Sigvaldisson]]. Kjotve offered to spare the town further bloodshed if Varin surrendered and defied [[Vikings|Viking]] tradition to die in battle. Varin agreed and allowed Kjotve to execute him, only for Kjotve to renege on his word and order the entire town massacred. However, Eivor escaped with the help of Styrbjorn's son [[Sigurd Styrbjornsson|Sigurd]] and was later adopted as Styrbjorn's ward.<ref name="Prologue">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Prologue (Valhalla)|Prologue]]</ref>


In mid-872, Kjotve was accompanied by his sons to the southern mountains of Rygjafylke in search of treasure.<ref name="TheHornoftheValkyrie" /> Eivor and Vikings from her clan were hunting Kjotve and tracked him and Gorm to an abandoned hunting meadhall on the mountain summit, where they caught up with them. Hoping to recover important scrolls after killing both men, the Vikings attacked the pair but were soon overcome and heavily wounded, prompting Kjotve and Gorm to escape with the scrolls. Although incensed at their defeat, Eivor advised to wait for another chance to meet Kjotve.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Rebellion'' – ''The Ravens' Wound'' – [[The Hidden Annals]]</ref> Kjotve's youngest son, Hrolfr, would die during the raid.<ref name="TheHornoftheValkyrie" />
Around this time, Kjotve caught the attention of a traveling [[Order of the Ancients]] member, who was impressed with both his skill and his ferocity in battle. He was recruited into the organization shortly thereafter, becoming its first Norse member.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Target menu]]: "Bio: Palatinus Kjotve, The Axe"</ref> For the following seventeen years, Kjotve and his clan harassed and were aggravated in turn by Eivor and the [[Raven Clan]], despite Styrbjorn's reluctance to engage in open battle.<ref name="Honor Bound">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Honor Bound]]</ref>
 
By 870, Kjotve had come into possession of a [[Slavery|thrall]] named [[Gull]], who cryptically informed him of a [[Gull's Apple of Eden|treasure]] in the [[Feiknstafir mountains]]. Although Kjotve dismissed Gull's stories and believed her to be mad, he still considered the thrall to be extremely valuable, and was angered when he heard that Eivor had captured her after a failed Wolf Clan raid in Rygjafylke.<ref name="Song of Glory 2" />
 
After executing the warrior [[Roscoe]] who delivered the news, Kjotve ordered his men to launch an assault on [[Stavanger]] and recover Gull.<ref name="Song of Glory 2" /> Although the Wolf Clan suffered heavily casualties due to Eivor's intervention and never found Gull,<ref name="Song of Glory 3">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory 3|Issue #03]]</ref> they succeeded in driving the Raven Clan out of Stavanger, occupying the town.<ref name="ACV">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''</ref>
 
In 872, Kjotve and his sons left for Rygjafylke's southern mountains in search of treasure.<ref name="Horn of the Valkyrie" /> Eivor and Vikings from her clan pursued Kjotve and tracked him and Gorm to an abandoned hunting meadhall on the mountain summit, where they caught up with them. Hoping to recover important scrolls after killing both men, the Vikings attacked the pair but were soon defeated, allowing Kjotve and Gorm to escape with the scrolls. Although incensed at their defeat, Eivor advised to wait for another chance to meet Kjotve.<ref name="Hidden Annals>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – ''[[The Ravens' Wound]]'' – [[The Hidden Annals]]</ref> Kjotve's youngest son, Hrolfr, was not as fortunate and perished during the raid.<ref name="Horn of the Valkyrie" />


===Hunted by Eivor and death===
===Hunted by Eivor and death===
Eventually, Eivor, [[Sigurd Styrbjornson]], [[Basim Ibn Ishaq]], [[Hytham]], and several warriors of the Raven Clan, aided by [[soldier]]s fighting for King Harald, [[Assault on Kjotve's Fortress|assaulted]] [[Kjotve's Fortress]]. There, Eivor challenged Kjotve to a ''{{Wiki|holmgang}}'' to avenge for her parents' deaths, which Kjotve readily accepted, brandishing his two axes. At some point during the duel, [[Hytham]] attempted to assassinate Kjotve but was intercepted and thrown aside, severely injuring the [[Hidden Ones|Hidden One]]. Despite the interruption, Eivor continued their fight, and eventually managed to kill Kjotve.<ref name="ACruelDestiny" "="">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[A Cruel Destiny]]</ref>
{{Quote|How long have you been chasing me, Wolf-Kissed? Seventeen winters? Eighteen? Do I now haunt your dreams? Do I warm your loins?|Kjotve to Eivor following her capture, 872.|Assassin's Creed: Valhalla|Honor Bound}}
[[File:ACV Honor Bound 3.png|thumb|250px|Kjotve taunting Eivor after her capture]]
Later that same year, Kjotve's men captured Eivor and presented her to him. Kjotve mocked Eivor for pursuing him for years, before showing off [[Varin's Axe|Varin's axe]] and reminding her of her father's cowardice. After declaring how pleased he would be to kill Eivor with the axe, he claimed that he envisioned her end in humiliation, as a slave. With that, Kjotve left his men to deal with Eivor and gave permission to his lieutenant [[Rikiwulf]] to use the [[shieldmaiden]]'s crew for a blood sacrifice. Eivor, however, escaped their grasp and killed Rikiwulf in [[Avaldsnes]].<ref name="Honor Bound" />
 
Eventually, Eivor and Sigurd—aided by the [[Assassins|Hidden One]] [[Basim ibn Ishaq]], his [[Assassin apprentice|apprentice]] [[Hytham]], and ''jarl'' [[Harald Fairhair]]'s men—led an [[Assault on Kjotve's Fortress|assault]] on [[Kjotve's Fortress]]. There, Eivor challenged Kjotve to a ''{{Wiki|holmgang}}'' to avenge her parents' deaths, which Kjotve readily accepted. Believing the duel would be easy to win, Kjotve went so far as engage Eivor with his bare hands, leaving his axes behind.<ref name="A Cruel Destiny">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[A Cruel Destiny]]</ref>
 
[[File:ACV Promotional Screenshot 33.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Kjotve dueling Eivor]]
During the duel, Eivor proved formidable enough to force Kjotve to retrieve his axes and take the fight seriously. After Kjotve tackled Eivor into a nearby pit, Hytham attempted to [[Assassination|assassinate]] Kjotve but was intercepted and thrown aside, severely injuring the Hidden One. Despite the interruption, Eivor continued the fight and eventually slew Kjotve, who in his final moments mocked his killer with the notion that she and her clan would eventually be forgotten. With their ''jarl''{{'}}s death, the remaining Wolf Clan forces fled the battle<ref name="A Cruel Destiny" /> while Harald ordered Gorm's exile from Norway.<ref name="Birthrights">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Birthrights]]</ref>
 
After Kjotve's death, Eivor took a [[silver]] [[Order of the Ancients medallion|medallion]] bearing an insignia of the ash tree [[Yggdrasil]] from his body.<ref name="A Cruel Destiny" /> Basim later explained that this signified Kjotve as a member of the Order of the Ancients, which he and his fellow Hidden Ones had been [[Assassin-Templar War|fighting]] for centuries.<ref name="Birthrights" />
 
==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|I will make you beg as your father begged, Wolf-Kissed! Squeal as your mother squealed!|Kjotve to Eivor prior to their ''holmgang'', 872.|Assassin's Creed: Valhalla|A Cruel Destiny}}
[[File:ACV Prologue 33.png|thumb|250px|Kjotve ordering the massacre of Heillboer's population]]
Despite being a Viking and strictly upholding the Viking traditions, Kjotve had no sense of honor and would break his own treaties if they benefited him. He would even go as far as to murder unarmed people in cold blood and actually see "beauty" in the carnage he caused.<ref name="Prologue" /> His willingness to engage Eivor in a one-on-one duel indicates that he enjoyed the thrill of battle and would not turn down the opportunity to face a worthy foe, even in his old age.<ref name="A Cruel Destiny" />


After his death, Eivor took a [[silver]] [[Order of the Ancients medallion|medallion]] bearing the insignia of [[Yggdrasil|an ash tree]] from his body.<ref name="ACruelDestiny" /> Basim later explained that this signified Kjotve as a member of the secret organization known as the Order of the Ancients, an organization that he and his fellow Hidden Ones had been [[Assassin-Templar War|fighting]] for centuries.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[Birthrights]]</ref>
As revealed to Eivor during his final moments, Kjotve strongly adhered to the "survival of the fittest" philosophy, which was the driving principle behind all of his actions in life, be they noble or cruel. Despite his Viking upbringing, he did not believe in [[Valhalla (afterlife)|Valhalla]] or any other afterlife, which motivated him to try and accomplish as much as possible during his short time on Earth.<ref name="A Cruel Destiny" />


== Personality and traits ==
===Skills and equipment===
Despite being a Viking and strictly upholding the Viking tradition, Kjotve had no sense of honor and would break his own treaties if they benefited him. He would even go as far as to murder unarmed people in cold blood and actually see "beauty" in the carnage he causes. As revealed during his passing to Eivor, that Kjotve strongly adhered to the "survival of the fittest" philosophy and that it was the primary motivation for all the actions he has taken in his life, no matter if they were noble or cruel. His willingness to engage Eivor in a one-on-one duel sows that Kjotve holds a strong lust for battle and the thrill of a good battle, regardless of his age.
A physically imposing man, Kjotve possessed incredible physical might, strength, reflexes and endurance for a man of his build and advanced age. He was also battle hardened and overconfident and did not hesitate to mock his opponents mid-battle to amuse himself during combat.<ref name="A Cruel Destiny" />


=== Equipment and abilities ===
[[File:ACV A Cruel Destiny 9.png|thumb|250px|left|Kjotve dodging Hytham's attack and throwing him aside]]
A physically imposing man, Kjotve possessed incredible physical might, strength, reflexes and endurance for a man of his build and advanced age. He was also battle hardened and overconfident and did not hesitate to mock his opponents mid battle to amuse himself during combat. Despite his advanced age, he was still more than a match for a much younger, experienced Viking like Eivor. Kjotve was so confident in his battle prowess and physical might, that he first chose to engage Eivor using his fists alone. His reflexes were seen when he took down a [[Hytham|Hidden One]] mid air and continued fighting without any sense of mental shock or physical exhaustion.  
Despite his advanced age, Kjotve was still more than a match for a much younger and more experienced Viking like Eivor. Kjotve was so confident in his battle prowess and physical might that he initially chose to engage Eivor using his [[fist]]s alone. His reflexes were sharp enough to intercept and hold Hytham in mid-air, blocking the Hidden One's assassination attempt, and he continued to fight Eivor without any sense of mental shock or physical exhaustion.<ref name="A Cruel Destiny" />


==Behind the scenes==
==Behind the scenes==
Unlike his historical counterpart, Kjotve has two sons, Hrolfr and Gorm, not just the one named Thor Haklang (Tore Kjotvesson).<ref>{{WP|Kjotve the Rich}}</ref>
Kjotve is a character in the 2020 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''. He is voiced by the [[Sweden|Swedish]] actor [[Björn Bengtsson]], who also voiced [[Finnr]] in the game.


Kjotve first appeared in a flashback in the [[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory 1|first issue]] of ''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory]]'', where his depiction is based on [[Yelim Kim]]'s concept art of the character, with dark hair, a braided beard and mostly shaved head rather than his look featured later in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s "[[Prologue (Valhalla)|Prologue]]" memory sequence, where he is depicted with a full head of light-coloured hair and a clean shaven face. The method with which he executed Varin also differs between the two, with Kjotve stabbing Varin through the chest with a [[sword]] in the former and cleaving Varin's head with [[Varin's Axe|his own axe]] in the latter.
Kjotve is a historically attested character, a petty king of Agder, south of Rygjafylke. He fought at the [[Battle of Hafrsfjord]] against Harald Fairhair where his only known son Thor Haklang (Tore Kjotvesson) was killed while he fled. After this he faded from the historical record and his fate is unknown.<ref>{{WP|Kjotve the Rich}}</ref>


==Appearances==
Kjotve first appeared in a flashback in the [[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory 1|first issue]] of the prequel comic series ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory]]'', where his depiction is based on [[Yelim Kim]]'s concept art of the character, with dark hair, a braided beard and mostly shaved head, rather than his finalized look in ''Valhalla'' with a full head of light-colored hair and a clean-shaven face. His execution of Varin also differs between the comic and the game, with Kjotve stabbing Varin through the chest with a [[sword]] in the former and killing him with his own axe in the latter.
*''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory]]'' {{c|first mentioned}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – ''[[The Ravens' Wound]]''


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery position="center" widths="180" captionalign="center">
<gallery position="center" widths="180" captionalign="center">
ACV - Kjotve the Cruel concept.jpg|Concept art of Kjotve
ACV - Kjotve the Cruel concept.jpg|Concept art of Kjotve
ACV Promotional Screenshot 33.jpg|Kjotve dueling with Eivor
ACReb Kjotve Concept Art.jpg|Concept model of Kjotve in ''Rebellion''
ACV SoG - Varin death.png|Kjotve stabs Varin
AC Reb Kjotve.png|Kjotve as he appears in ''Rebellion''
AC Reb Kjotve.png|Kjotve as he appears in ''Rebellion''
ACV SoG - Varin death.png|Kjotve killing Varin, as depicted in ''Song of Glory''
ACV A Cruel Destiny 8.png|Hytham attempting to assassinate Kjotve
ACV A Cruel Destiny 14.png|Kjotve impaled by a tree in the [[Memory Corridor]]
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory]]'' {{c|first mentioned}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – ''[[The Ravens' Wound]]''
*''[[Discovery Tour: Viking Age]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One]]'' {{Mo}}


==References==
==References==
Line 61: Line 82:
{{ACVSoG}}
{{ACVSoG}}
{{ACRebellion}}
{{ACRebellion}}
{{DTVA}}
<!--[es:Kjotve el Cruel]
[fr:Kjotve le cruel]
[it:Kjotve lo Spietato]
[pl:Kjotve Okrutny]
[ru:Кьётви Жестокий]
[zh:“残暴者”科约特维]-->
[[Category:872 deaths]]
[[Category:872 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Norwegians]]
[[Category:Norwegians]]
[[Category:Norsemen]]
[[Category:Norse people]]
[[Category:Vikings]]
[[Category:Vikings]]
[[Category:Jarls]]
[[Category:Jarls]]
[[Category:Wolf Clan members]]
[[Category:Wolf Clan members]]
[[Category:Order of the Ancients members]]
[[Category:Order of the Ancients]]
[[Category:Wardens of War members]]
[[Category:Wardens of War]]
[[Category:Palatini]]
[[Category:Palatini]]
[[fr:Kjotve le cruel]]

Latest revision as of 17:05, 28 May 2026

"I fought as I did, as hard as I did, to survive. For I know what awaits us in the end. Only darkness."
―Kjotve's dying words to Eivor Varinsdottir, 872.[src]-[m]

Kjotve the Cruel (died 872), also known as Kjotve the Rich,[1] was a Viking jarl who reigned as a petty king of Agder in Norway during the 9th century. He was the father of Hrolfr[2] and Gorm Kjotvesson. Kjotve also had a brother, Alrek, who married Thora, sister to Kiarr Rawbone.[3]

In addition to being a ruthless Viking leader, Kjotve was one of the Order of the Ancients' first Norse members, operating under the cryptonym of The Axe and holding the rank of Palatinus within the Wardens of War sect.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Rivalry with the Raven Clan[edit | edit source]

Kjotve: "Now it's my turn to offer you a deal, slave-whore. Accept your fate and die a coward, here before your people... and I will spare the rest."
Varin: "If I give my life, will you spare my clan?"
Kjotve: "You have my word."
—Kjotve offering Varin a compromise prior to executing him, 855.[src]-[m]
Kjotve offering Varin a compromise during the attack on Heillboer

In 855, Kjotve led his Wolf Clan on a raid on the settlement of Heillboer in Rygjafylke, where Eivor Varinsdottir's parents Varin and Rosta were hosting a feast and pledging loyalty to jarl Styrbjorn Sigvaldisson. Kjotve offered to spare the town further bloodshed if Varin surrendered and defied Viking tradition to die in battle. Varin agreed and allowed Kjotve to execute him, only for Kjotve to renege on his word and order the entire town massacred. However, Eivor escaped with the help of Styrbjorn's son Sigurd and was later adopted as Styrbjorn's ward.[4]

Around this time, Kjotve caught the attention of a traveling Order of the Ancients member, who was impressed with both his skill and his ferocity in battle. He was recruited into the organization shortly thereafter, becoming its first Norse member.[5] For the following seventeen years, Kjotve and his clan harassed and were aggravated in turn by Eivor and the Raven Clan, despite Styrbjorn's reluctance to engage in open battle.[6]

By 870, Kjotve had come into possession of a thrall named Gull, who cryptically informed him of a treasure in the Feiknstafir mountains. Although Kjotve dismissed Gull's stories and believed her to be mad, he still considered the thrall to be extremely valuable, and was angered when he heard that Eivor had captured her after a failed Wolf Clan raid in Rygjafylke.[1]

After executing the warrior Roscoe who delivered the news, Kjotve ordered his men to launch an assault on Stavanger and recover Gull.[1] Although the Wolf Clan suffered heavily casualties due to Eivor's intervention and never found Gull,[7] they succeeded in driving the Raven Clan out of Stavanger, occupying the town.[8]

In 872, Kjotve and his sons left for Rygjafylke's southern mountains in search of treasure.[2] Eivor and Vikings from her clan pursued Kjotve and tracked him and Gorm to an abandoned hunting meadhall on the mountain summit, where they caught up with them. Hoping to recover important scrolls after killing both men, the Vikings attacked the pair but were soon defeated, allowing Kjotve and Gorm to escape with the scrolls. Although incensed at their defeat, Eivor advised to wait for another chance to meet Kjotve.[9] Kjotve's youngest son, Hrolfr, was not as fortunate and perished during the raid.[2]

Hunted by Eivor and death[edit | edit source]

"How long have you been chasing me, Wolf-Kissed? Seventeen winters? Eighteen? Do I now haunt your dreams? Do I warm your loins?"
―Kjotve to Eivor following her capture, 872.[src]-[m]
Kjotve taunting Eivor after her capture

Later that same year, Kjotve's men captured Eivor and presented her to him. Kjotve mocked Eivor for pursuing him for years, before showing off Varin's axe and reminding her of her father's cowardice. After declaring how pleased he would be to kill Eivor with the axe, he claimed that he envisioned her end in humiliation, as a slave. With that, Kjotve left his men to deal with Eivor and gave permission to his lieutenant Rikiwulf to use the shieldmaiden's crew for a blood sacrifice. Eivor, however, escaped their grasp and killed Rikiwulf in Avaldsnes.[6]

Eventually, Eivor and Sigurd—aided by the Hidden One Basim ibn Ishaq, his apprentice Hytham, and jarl Harald Fairhair's men—led an assault on Kjotve's Fortress. There, Eivor challenged Kjotve to a holmgang to avenge her parents' deaths, which Kjotve readily accepted. Believing the duel would be easy to win, Kjotve went so far as engage Eivor with his bare hands, leaving his axes behind.[10]

Kjotve dueling Eivor

During the duel, Eivor proved formidable enough to force Kjotve to retrieve his axes and take the fight seriously. After Kjotve tackled Eivor into a nearby pit, Hytham attempted to assassinate Kjotve but was intercepted and thrown aside, severely injuring the Hidden One. Despite the interruption, Eivor continued the fight and eventually slew Kjotve, who in his final moments mocked his killer with the notion that she and her clan would eventually be forgotten. With their jarl's death, the remaining Wolf Clan forces fled the battle[10] while Harald ordered Gorm's exile from Norway.[11]

After Kjotve's death, Eivor took a silver medallion bearing an insignia of the ash tree Yggdrasil from his body.[10] Basim later explained that this signified Kjotve as a member of the Order of the Ancients, which he and his fellow Hidden Ones had been fighting for centuries.[11]

Personality and traits[edit | edit source]

"I will make you beg as your father begged, Wolf-Kissed! Squeal as your mother squealed!"
―Kjotve to Eivor prior to their holmgang, 872.[src]-[m]
Kjotve ordering the massacre of Heillboer's population

Despite being a Viking and strictly upholding the Viking traditions, Kjotve had no sense of honor and would break his own treaties if they benefited him. He would even go as far as to murder unarmed people in cold blood and actually see "beauty" in the carnage he caused.[4] His willingness to engage Eivor in a one-on-one duel indicates that he enjoyed the thrill of battle and would not turn down the opportunity to face a worthy foe, even in his old age.[10]

As revealed to Eivor during his final moments, Kjotve strongly adhered to the "survival of the fittest" philosophy, which was the driving principle behind all of his actions in life, be they noble or cruel. Despite his Viking upbringing, he did not believe in Valhalla or any other afterlife, which motivated him to try and accomplish as much as possible during his short time on Earth.[10]

Skills and equipment[edit | edit source]

A physically imposing man, Kjotve possessed incredible physical might, strength, reflexes and endurance for a man of his build and advanced age. He was also battle hardened and overconfident and did not hesitate to mock his opponents mid-battle to amuse himself during combat.[10]

Kjotve dodging Hytham's attack and throwing him aside

Despite his advanced age, Kjotve was still more than a match for a much younger and more experienced Viking like Eivor. Kjotve was so confident in his battle prowess and physical might that he initially chose to engage Eivor using his fists alone. His reflexes were sharp enough to intercept and hold Hytham in mid-air, blocking the Hidden One's assassination attempt, and he continued to fight Eivor without any sense of mental shock or physical exhaustion.[10]

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

Kjotve is a character in the 2020 video game Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. He is voiced by the Swedish actor Björn Bengtsson, who also voiced Finnr in the game.

Kjotve is a historically attested character, a petty king of Agder, south of Rygjafylke. He fought at the Battle of Hafrsfjord against Harald Fairhair where his only known son Thor Haklang (Tore Kjotvesson) was killed while he fled. After this he faded from the historical record and his fate is unknown.[12]

Kjotve first appeared in a flashback in the first issue of the prequel comic series Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory, where his depiction is based on Yelim Kim's concept art of the character, with dark hair, a braided beard and mostly shaved head, rather than his finalized look in Valhalla with a full head of light-colored hair and a clean-shaven face. His execution of Varin also differs between the comic and the game, with Kjotve stabbing Varin through the chest with a sword in the former and killing him with his own axe in the latter.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Concept art of Kjotve
    Concept art of Kjotve
  • Concept model of Kjotve in Rebellion
    Concept model of Kjotve in Rebellion
  • Kjotve as he appears in Rebellion
    Kjotve as he appears in Rebellion
  • Kjotve killing Varin, as depicted in Song of Glory
    Kjotve killing Varin, as depicted in Song of Glory
  • Hytham attempting to assassinate Kjotve
    Hytham attempting to assassinate Kjotve
  • Kjotve impaled by a tree in the Memory Corridor
    Kjotve impaled by a tree in the Memory Corridor

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory – Issue #02
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – The Ravens' Wound – The Horn of the Valkyrie
  3. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Floating conversations: "Ship stories"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Prologue
  5. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Target menu: "Bio: Palatinus Kjotve, The Axe"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Honor Bound
  7. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory – Issue #03
  8. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
  9. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – The Ravens' Wound – The Hidden Annals
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – A Cruel Destiny
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Birthrights
  12. ↑ Kjotve the Rich on Wikipedia

Characters
Assassins
Order of the Ancients
Children of Danu
Bellatores Dei
Ravensthorpe Residents
Ake • Alvis • Alwin • Arth • Azar • Bertham • Braun • Brigid • Bronson • Osbert of Lunden • Dandelion Puff • Dwolfg • Eira • Eivor Varinsdottir (Sýnin) • Eluric • Everold • Eydis • Gudmund • Gudrun • Gunnar • Holger • Hildiran • Hunwald • Hytham • Leofric • Mayda • Kari • Knud • Merton • Mundi • Nessa • Norvid • Olsen • Petra • Randvi • Reda • Rowan • Runa • Sigurd Styrbjornsson • Sunniva • Svanhildr • Svend • Swanburrow • Swinda • Sylvi • Tarben • Tekla • Thyra • Tove • Valka • Vagn • Viggo • Wallace • Winfrith • Yanli | Sea Chariot's crew (Birna • Bjorn Bloodtooth • Bragi • Dag Nithisson • Finnr • Fyl • Hermod • Hrefna • Nali • Skarde • Sten • Revna • Rollo • Valtar • Vili Hemmingson • Yrsa)
Daughters of Lerion
Lost Drengir
Frankish Nobles
Isu
Ægir • Andhrímnir • Angrboða • Asvid • Baldr • Búri • The Builder • Einar • Eysa • Fafnir • Fenrir • Freyja • Frigg • Heimdall • Glöð • Gunnlöð • Hel • Hyrrokin • Iðunn • Ivaldi • Jörmungandr • Kára • Loki • Lug • Mímir • Mórrígan • Nodens • Njörðr • Odin • Saklas • Samael • Sif • Sigyn • Sinmara • Skaði • Suttungr • Surtr • Thor • Týr • Ullr • Vé • Víðarr • Vili • Yaldabaoth
Other
Acha • Aelfgar • Ahmad ibn Tulun • Alfida • Angharad ferch Meurig • Azar • Bárid mac Ímair • Birna • Bernard • Birstan • Brothir • Broder • Burgred of Mercia • Ceolbert • Ceolwulf II of Mercia • Charles the Fat • Ciara ingen Medba • Conchobar mac Taidg Mór • Cynebert • Cynon • Deirdre Na Linni • Deorlaf • Domnall mac Áeda • Eadwyn • Erke Bodilsson • Estrid • Faith • Faravid • Finnr • Flann Sinna • Galinn • Geadric • Goodwin • Grendel • Guthrum • Gwenydd • Halfdan Ragnarsson • Harald Fairhair • Hemming • Hjorr Halfsson • Ivarr the Boneless • Kassandra • Ketil Flatnose • Leofrith • Lif • Ljufvina Bjarmarsdottir • Modron • Muhammad I of Córdoba • Niall Glúndub • Nornir (Skuld • Urðr • Verðandi) • Odo of France • Oswald of East Anglia • Pierre • Rhodri the Great • Richardis • Ricsige of Northumbria • Rollo • Rued • Rurik • Sichfrith • Sigfred • Sinric • Soma • Stowe • Styrbjorn Sigvaldisson • Thorstein the Red • Toka Sinricsdottir • Ubba Ragnarsson • Valdis | Brendan of Clonfert • Cú Chulainn • Niall of the Nine Hostages • Ragnar Lothbrok • Rig Reidarasson • Thorgest
Factions
Locations
Events
Terms and concepts
Weapons
DLC

Characters
Factions
Locations
Events
Terms and concepts
Weapons and Tools

Characters
Assassins
Legendary
Epic
Rare
Common
Templars
Others
Legendary
Epic
Rare
Common
Factions
Locations
Events
Terms and concepts
Helix Rift Events
Campaigns

People
Mythical
Ægir • Baldr • Beowulf • Fenrir • Freyja • Freyr • Heimdall • Jörð • Jörmungandr • Kvasir • Loki • Mímir • Njörðr • Níðhǫggr • Nornir (Urðr • Verðandi • Skuld) • Odin • Rán • Ratatoskr • Sigurd • Sigyn • Surtr • Thor • Ymir • Víðarr
1st-7th century
Hengist and Horsa • Matthew the Apostle • Vortigern | Æthelthryth • Benedict of Nursia • Birinus • Cenwalh of Wessex • Eadwig Basan • Bede • Wine
8th-12th century
Other
Aemma • Aelfwald • Alvíg • Asketill • Bertwald • Bjorn • Cyneweard • Dagnor • Deorwine • Dougal • Eadith • Eadberht • Ealric • Eivor Varinsdottir • Frode • Gunnhilda Gunnarsdottir • Hamaar • Heidrun • Leofsige • Jarn •Jerome • Judith • Kort • Ímvaldr • Magdalena • Mikjel • Odelyn • Oswine • Salim • Skaga • Sigmund • Siegeweard • Steinunn • Stigr • Thorsteinn Silvertongue • Torbjorn • Trygg • Ulf • Ulla • Winifred
Factions
Locations
Events
Terms and concepts
Culture and society (Danelaw • Flyting • Runes • Ships • Slavery • Orlog) • Currencies (Silver) • Mythology (Fólkvangr • Mímisbrunnr • Ragnarök • Yggdrasil • Valhalla) • Religion (Christianity • Norse paganism) Titles and occupations (Blacksmith • Ealdorman • Jarl • Skald • Thegn)
Development/creative team
Adrien Paguet-Brunella • Aldo Sampaio • Alexandre Poirer • Alfredo Cristinziano • Audrey Murray • Benoit Lebel • Benoit Richer • Cecilie Stenspil • Dann Yap Yeau Choong • Danny Hung • Eddie Bennun • Einar Selvik • Eric Baptizat • Eric Porowski • Gabriel Blanchard • Israel Chua • Janice Leng • Jean-Claude Golvin • Jeff Simpson • Jesper Kyd • Joël Pelletant • John-Paul Tan • Julien Koch • Junjie Lin • Katy Bouvier • Magnus Bruun • Martin Bonev • Nicholas Grimwood • Nicolas Rivard • Oliver Bodwell • Olivier Carignan • Patrice Hamel • Pierre-Alexandre Côté • Pierre Raveneau • Raphael Lacoste • Sébastien Genest • Sébastien Maingot • Sarah Schachner • Simon Landry • Stéphane Joncas • Vladimir Eskandari • Yelim Kim
Retrieved from ‘https://assassinscreedwiki.accesstheanimus.com/index.php?title=Kjotve_the_Cruel&oldid=1147502’