Gunnar Iceaxe

By The Shadow Stallion

• January 31, 2015

Age: Young Stallion 18-21 years roughly

Gender: Male

Species: Pegasus

Appearance: Is 2 heads taller then the average equestrian. He weighs a bit more, but that is more due to his height. He is still a few inches shorter then others of his race. He has a wild dark brown mane and tail. The mane is long and flowing while the tail is cut somewhat shorter. About medium length. Gunnar's hide is grey and his eyes are a dark brown that gleam with intelligence. The feathers of his wings look a bit sharper though and are a bit larger then the average pegasi's. Doesn't have the wild beards like his kinsmen, he prefers to shave.<br /><br />In normal attire he wears a brown dire wolf leather chest piece. He also wears a cloak lined with white dire wolf fur. An insignia of an axe coated in ice lies on the center of a dark blue backdrop.<br /><br />In combat and on Kingly occassions he wears a set of hard chainmail mixed with leather. He also wears a unique viking-styled helmet with chain running down to protect his neck. He still wears his cloak in this. Typically equipped with a war axe, great circular oaken shield fitted with steel bands, some daggers and a spare sword. Armed to the teeth basically.<br />

Cutie Mark: Twin axes as a background with a viking helmet facing the viewer as the foreground. They are rimmed in ice.<br /><br />It symbolizes his position as High King of his people. It also shows his nature to protect them against any threat.

Personality: Gunnar is the kind of leader that leads from the front instead of in a tent at the back. He is a natural leader and can inspire his men. However, he is a loner and isn't a socializer. He is intelligent, brave, and loyal. He also has a high sense of honor. In normal public he keeps a calm and reserved demeanour not showing any emotion. In combat though he is a fiercesome force to be reckoned with and the loyalty of his soldiers to him is something to be feared as well. He is kind to his people and wishes for them to prosper and live. He also wishes to preserve the old ways of his people. The ways of war against the constant dire wolf menace. He is a pony of reason though.<br /><br />He has many loyal soldiers and citizens, but very few friends if any. He is distrusting of outsiders, but is willing to hear them out. He does love a good fight though whether it be a brawl in a bar, or a fight on a battlefield.

Backstory: Gunnar Iceaxe was raised in the nation of Volund. A nation in the Frozen north comprised of a mixture of pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies all banded together for mutual survival. The ponies here are larger then your average equestrian, but even so Gunnar was still a runt compared to the rest of his kin. He was slightly shorter and had to prove himself.<br /><br />His father was the current High King of Volund and lead the ponies there. He only had sired one son, and he was a runt. This was Gunnar. Gunnar was a brave one though and despite his smaller stature, his father saw potential in the young colt. <br /><br />Day and Night Gunnar would learn of his culture and would learn to fight against both the cold and the monsters that his father and his soldiers kept at bay. Gunnar grew up in harsh conditions and a lonely existence. Being High King did not give you much time to make friends though you were supposed to hold many social occassions to keep morale up.<br /><br />Gunnar proved himself at a young age when he had killed a young dire wolf that had slipped by his father and made it to town. The young colt took the dire wolf head on with his old grandfather's axe and a great battle had ensued between the young colt and the beast. The colt emerged victorious with quite a few war wounds, but he had proven himself.<br /><br />Later on he would prove himself again as he lead charges against dire wolf lairs. Unfortunately nature had a way of balancing itself. A large White dire wolf had appeared and seemed to be more powerful and dangerous then its kin.<br /><br />Gunnar's father went after the beast, but was killed, he with 10 of his bodyguard. Gunnar was enraged, but had realized the flaw that his father had made. He had underestimated the beast's intelligence.<br /><br />Gunnar orchestrated an ambush and used himself as bait for the beast. He went in alone, his axe rimmed with ice due to recent snowstorm. His men watched from the side as their leader went to face the beast alone and they were conflicted. They wanted to disobey orders and help the young, newly crowned high king. Gunnar drew the beast out and had his men use spears and bows to target weakpoints on the beast. In the end Gunnar finished off the beast with his "Iceaxe." From then on he was known as Gunnar Iceaxe. Sometimes even as Gunnar Wolfsbane or Direwolf Slayer.<br /><br />He gained reputation for the kill, but the loss of his father had affected him greatly. He knew that he had to lead the nation though, despite his own grievances. Those closest to him knew the pain in which he felt, but respected the strength in which he placed his people before himself.