Snaer, Logi, Kari, Frosti
These are the elemental beings/gods who predate written ancestry. They are associated with natural phenomena -- snow, flame, storm and frost. More mythological characters than ancestral, they account for the oldest origin story of the Norwegian and Swedish peoples.
Nór
Nór is Snaer's grandson who became the original ruler of the Orkney islands. He is the legendary ancestry of the position of jarl, like a governor of Orkney. He predates the earliship of Orkney, but, like the earls, he experienced his own sibling rivalry, fighting over land.
Rognvald Eysteinsson
He was established as the first Earl of Møre, his position granted by the King of Norway. Protecting his lands from Viking invaders, he experienced a largely military rule. Before his earlship, Rognvald served the king in the military. During one voyage his brother died. He conquers lands and preserves the islands until he is eventually appointed official protector.
Sigurd Eysteinsson
Sigurd takes over after his brother, Rognvald's death, because he had no sons. He rules in a violent nature, protecting his people with blood. During his life, the Danish began adding additional threat to the northern islands.
Hallad
He is Rognvald's son who inherits the earlship. He is hard pressed by the Danish threat. Eventually he abandons the position altogether, returning to his grandfather in Norway. He leaves the people to fend for themselves, grossly disappointing the king.
Einarr
King Rognvald's youngest son, Einarr is tasked with the preservation of the Orkney Isles. He is not expected to succeed, but he proves his worth by defeating to Danish warlords who had been terrorizing the area.
King Olaf Tryggvasson
He is credited with bringing Christianity to the Orkney region. Although his involvement with the conversion of many Norwegians in the north has been discredited, he receives a symbolic title as the pious hero. His method of conversion, however, lacked some tact. He threatened the Earl Sigurd Hlodvirsson with the death of his people were he to refrain from converting alongside them.
Sigurd Hlodvirsson
He is the first recorded Earl of Orkney. He dies in a battle against the Irish.
Thorfinn Sigurdsson
He is an earl who devotes the majority of his rulership to contentions with Karl Hundason, a rebel from Caithness claiming to be King of the Scots. When Thorfinn manages to defeat Hundason, he goes on a killing spree, burning villages all the way south to Caithness. There he earns from himself the title of King of the Islaes, as he serves simultaneously the King of Norway and the real King of Scots.
Magnus Erlendsson
He was a devout religious man who devoted his earlship to his religious convictions. His people viewed him as weak and he was once kidnapped by King Magnus Barefoot. Escaping to Scotland, he spent several years regrouping before returning to claim Orkney. Unable to unseat the interim earl, his cousin, Haakon Paulsson, Magnus appeals to King Eystein I. Magnus agrees to share the territory with Haakon, but during negotiations he is captured by Haakon's men and murdered.
Rognvald Kali Kolsson
Ruler alongside Sweyn Asleifsson, Rognvald is presented in comparison to his ancestor. Rognvald is a pious man who seeks peace, unlike his violent, hasty alcoholic grandfather. He divides his attention between managing Asleifsson and promoting cultural accomplishment among his people.
