Askeladd

The leader of the professional Viking group, Askeladd's band. He is from Denmark. A nonchalant individual, his skills are ruthless and merciless. He is always thinking ahead, adept at discerning and manipulating people's talents and personalities. Despite being targeted for revenge by Thorfinn, he skillfully uses him as a subordinate. He has short hair and a beard, and always wears a Roman-style single plate armor (lorica). In formal settings, he wears something akin to a toga. Thorfinn calls him "Baldy."

He is a mixed-race child born to a Danish noble father, Olaf, and a former Welsh princess mother, Lydia. He goes by the name Askeladd Olafson (Askeladd, son of Olaf), but Askeladd is a nickname meaning "covered in ash." This is because his father did not give him a name, having been born to a slave. Raised in a stable as an illegitimate child, he was recognized for his talents by his father at the age of 11 and allowed to live in the manor with his other sons. Within two years, he solidified his position within the family, assassinated his father to avenge his mother and acquire wealth, and framed his brother, who had a bad relationship with their father, to divert suspicion from himself. This method was later used in his plan to assassinate King Sweyn. At 14, he took his terminally ill mother to his homeland of Wales, where he gained connections.

His mother is a descendant of the Celtic general Artorius, who is considered a model for King Arthur, making Askeladd the last of his lineage. His identity lies with his Welsh maternal side rather than the Danes, and while leading a Danish band, he despises the Vikings who plunder through violence and is also ruthless towards the Anglo-Saxons who destroyed Britannia. His allegiance to Wales is evident in his oaths; while typical oaths are sworn to the Norse god Odin, he swears by the name of Artorius in true promises, such as accepting a duel from Thorfinn or making a promise to Thors.

Having grown up hearing from his mother the legend that "the legendary ruler Duke Artorius will return from Avalon to save the country," he longed for the emergence of a great king like Artorius. After the destruction of his band, he found the qualities of a ruler in the awakened Canute and pledged his loyalty, assisting him in becoming the King of Denmark. When King Sweyn of Denmark forced him to choose between his homeland Wales and Canute's life, he decided to offer his own life as a choice that could save both, and killed King Sweyn. At that time, he declared himself the King of Britannia to the King of Denmark, using the true name given by his mother, "Lucius Artorius Castus." After being fatally wounded by Canute, he left Thorfinn with the words, "Become a true warrior."

Later, he appears in Thorfinn's dreams, who has become a slave, advising him to fight "the true battle" that is not a chain of killings.