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{{Era|Individuals|Ancients}}{{WP-REAL|Kjotve the Rich}}
{{Era|Individuals|Ancients}}{{WP-REAL|Kjotve the Rich}}
{{Update|''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory]]''}}
{{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}}
{{Quote|I fought as I did, as hard as I did, to survive. For I know what awaits us in the end.|Kjotve to Eivor, 872.|Assassin's Creed: Valhalla|A Cruel Destiny}}
{{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 = 872<br>[[Kjotve's Fortress]], [[Rogaland|Rygjafylke]], [[Norway]]
|active =
|species = [[Human]]
|species = [[Human]]
|database = [[Database: Kjotve|Kjotve]]
|database = [[Database: Kjotve|Kjotve]]
Line 14: Line 10:
*[[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 2|Issue #02]]</ref> was a 9th century [[Vikings|Viking]] who reigned as a petty king of [[Agder]] in [[Norway]] 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="SongOfGlory2">''[[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 also one of the first [[Norse people|Norse]] members of the [[Order of the Ancients]], operating under the cryptonym of '''The Axe''' and holding the rank of [[Palatinus]] in 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]], leading to a confrontation with [[Varin]] and [[Rosta]], the parents of [[Eivor Varinsdottir]]. 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 go back on his word and order the entire town massacred, including Rosta, although Eivor escaped.<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]]
In 855, Kjotve led his [[Wolf Clan]] on a [[raid]] on the settlement of [[Heillboer]] in [[Rogaland|Rygjafylke]], leading to a confrontation with [[Varin]] and [[Rosta]], the parents of [[Eivor Varinsdottir]]. 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 go back on his word and order the entire town massacred, including Rosta, although Eivor managed to escape.<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" />
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 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 were harassed by Eivor and the [[Raven Clan]], despite King [[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 extremely valuable and was angered by the news of her capture at Eivor's hands during one of the Wolf Clan's failed raids in Rygjafylke.<ref name="SongOfGlory2" />
 
After executing one of the warriors who delivered the news, [[Roscoe]], Kjotve ordered his men to launch an assault on [[Stavanger]] and recover Gull.<ref name="SongOfGlory2" /> Although the Wolf Clan was ultimately defeated due to Eivor's intervention and never found Gull,<ref name="SongOfGlory3">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Song of Glory 3|Issue #03]]</ref> they would later succeed in driving the Raven Clan out of Stavanger, occupying the town.<ref name="ACV">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''</ref>
 
In 872, Kjotve was accompanied by his sons to the southern mountains of Rygjafylke 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===
{{Quote|How long have you been chasing me, Wolf-Kissed? Seventeen winters? Eighteen? Do I now haunt your dreams? Do I warm your loins? (laugh)|Kjotve to Eivor following her capture, 872.|Assassin's Creed: Valhalla|Honor Bound}}
{{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|left|Kjotve taunting Eivor after her capture]]
[[File:ACV Honor Bound 3.png|thumb|250px|Kjotve taunting Eivor after her capture]]
Later the same year, Kjotve's men captured Eivor and presented her to him. Kjotve mocked Eivor for pursuing him for seventeen years, before showing off [[Varin's Axe|Varin's axe]]. He kept mocking her, going so far as saying he would be pleased to kill her with her father's axe, before saying he envisioned her end in humiliation, as a slave. He left his men to deal with her and gave permission for his lieutenant [[Rikiwulf]] to use Eivor's crew for a blood sacrifice. Eivor, however, escaped their grasp and killed Rikiwulf in [[Avaldsnes]].<ref name="Honor Bound">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[Honor Bound]]</ref>
Later that same year, Kjotve's men captured Eivor and presented her to him. Kjotve mocked Eivor for pursuing him for seventeen years, before showing off [[Varin's Axe|Varin's axe]]. He kept mocking her, going so far as saying he would be pleased to kill her with her father's axe, before claiming he envisioned her end in humiliation, as a slave. He then left his men to deal with her and gave permission to his lieutenant [[Rikiwulf]] to use Eivor's crew for a blood sacrifice. Eivor, however, escaped their grasp and killed Rikiwulf in [[Avaldsnes]].<ref name="Honor Bound" />
 
Eventually, Eivor and her brother [[Sigurd Styrbjornson]], aided by the [[Assassins|Hidden Ones]] [[Basim Ibn Ishaq]] and [[Hytham]] and King [[Harald Fairhair|Harald]]'s men, led an [[Assault on Kjotve's Fortress|assault]] on [[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.<ref name="A Cruel Destiny">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[A Cruel Destiny]]</ref>


[[File:ACV Promotional Screenshot 33.jpg|thumb|250px|Kjotve fighting a ''holmgang'' against Eivor]]
[[File:ACV Promotional Screenshot 33.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Kjotve dueling Eivor]]
Eventually, Eivor and her brother [[Sigurd Styrbjornson]], aided by the [[Hidden Ones]] [[Basim Ibn Ishaq|Basim]] and [[Hytham]], and King [[Harald Fairhair|Harald]]'s men, [[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>
During the duel, Hytham attempted to assassinate Kjotve but was intercepted and thrown aside, severely injuring the Hidden One. Despite the interruption, Eivor continued their fight, and eventually managed to slay Kjotve. With their ''jarl''{{'}}s death, the remaining Wolf Clan forces, led by Gorm, fled the battle<ref name="A Cruel Destiny" /> and were later banished from Norway by King Harald.<ref name="Birthrights">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Birthrights]]</ref>


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>
After Kjotve's death, Eivor took a [[silver]] [[Order of the Ancients medallion|medallion]] bearing the insignia of [[Yggdrasil|an ash tree]] from his body.<ref name="A Cruel Destiny" /> Basim later explained that this signified Kjotve as a member of the secret organization known as 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==
==Personality and traits==
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.
{{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 opponent, even in his old age.<ref name="A Cruel Destiny" />
 
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" />


===Skills and equipment===
===Skills and equipment===
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" />
[[File:ACV A Cruel Destiny 9.png|thumb|250px|left|Kjotve dodging Hytham's attack and throwing him aside]]
[[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 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 first chose to engage Eivor using his fists alone. His reflexes were seen when he took down Hytham mid-air, blocking his assassination attempt, and continued fighting Eivor without any sense of mental shock or physical exhaustion.<ref name="A Cruel Destiny" />


==Behind the scenes==
==Behind the scenes==
Kjotve is a character in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''. He is voiced by [[Sweden|Swedish]] actor [[Björn Bengtsson]], who also voiced [[Finnr]] in the game.
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 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>
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>


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''{{'}}s "[[Prologue (Valhalla)|Prologue]]" memory sequence, where he is depicted with a full head of light-colored 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 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 beheading him with [[Varin's Axe|his own axe]] in the latter.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Line 52: Line 64:
ACV - Kjotve the Cruel concept.jpg|Concept art of Kjotve
ACV - Kjotve the Cruel concept.jpg|Concept art of Kjotve
ACReb Kjotve Concept Art.jpg|Concept model of Kjotve in ''Rebellion''
ACReb Kjotve Concept Art.jpg|Concept model of Kjotve in ''Rebellion''
ACV Promotional Screenshot 33.jpg|Kjotve dueling with Eivor
ACV Prologue 28.png|Kjotve offering Varin a compromise
ACV SoG - Varin death.png|Kjotve killing Varin as depicted in ''Song of Glory''
ACV A Cruel Destiny 14.png|Kjotve impaled in the Memory Corridor
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>


Revision as of 18:16, 5 August 2024

"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 also one of the first Norse members of the Order of the Ancients, operating under the cryptonym of The Axe and holding the rank of Palatinus in the Wardens of War sect.

Biography

Rivalry with the Raven Clan

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

In 855, Kjotve led his Wolf Clan on a raid on the settlement of Heillboer in Rygjafylke, leading to a confrontation with Varin and Rosta, the parents of Eivor Varinsdottir. 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 go back on his word and order the entire town massacred, including Rosta, although Eivor managed to escape.[4]

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 its first Norse member.[5] For the following seventeen years, Kjotve and his clan were harassed by Eivor and the Raven Clan, despite King 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 extremely valuable and was angered by the news of her capture at Eivor's hands during one of the Wolf Clan's failed raids in Rygjafylke.[1]

After executing one of the warriors who delivered the news, Roscoe, Kjotve ordered his men to launch an assault on Stavanger and recover Gull.[1] Although the Wolf Clan was ultimately defeated due to Eivor's intervention and never found Gull,[7] they would later succeed in driving the Raven Clan out of Stavanger, occupying the town.[8]

In 872, Kjotve was accompanied by his sons to the southern mountains of Rygjafylke 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

"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 seventeen years, before showing off Varin's axe. He kept mocking her, going so far as saying he would be pleased to kill her with her father's axe, before claiming he envisioned her end in humiliation, as a slave. He then left his men to deal with her and gave permission to his lieutenant Rikiwulf to use Eivor's crew for a blood sacrifice. Eivor, however, escaped their grasp and killed Rikiwulf in Avaldsnes.[6]

Eventually, Eivor and her brother Sigurd Styrbjornson, aided by the Hidden Ones Basim Ibn Ishaq and Hytham and King Harald's men, led an assault on Kjotve's Fortress. There, Eivor challenged Kjotve to a holmgang to avenge for her parents' deaths, which Kjotve readily accepted, brandishing his two axes.[10]

Kjotve dueling Eivor

During the duel, Hytham attempted to assassinate Kjotve but was intercepted and thrown aside, severely injuring the Hidden One. Despite the interruption, Eivor continued their fight, and eventually managed to slay Kjotve. With their jarl's death, the remaining Wolf Clan forces, led by Gorm, fled the battle[10] and were later banished from Norway by King Harald.[11]

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

Personality and traits

"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 opponent, 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

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 first chose to engage Eivor using his fists alone. His reflexes were seen when he took down Hytham mid-air, blocking his assassination attempt, and continued fighting Eivor without any sense of mental shock or physical exhaustion.[10]

Behind the scenes

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 beheading him with his own axe in the latter.

Gallery

  • 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

References

  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

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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

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