Emperor Harknude Stuuhrgard

Emperor Hardknude came from an unknown continent 75 years ago and invaded Varyndale with the army of his father, Kraterous Sturhgaard. When Kraterous was assassinated by local lords during an ensuing civil war amongst the provinces, the Emperor made a Faustian Pact with a devil he met during an expedition into the Expanding Waste.

This allowed him to return with greater powers for vengeance as a Vampire. Hardknude was able to capture all the lords guilty of murder and their sons and threw them into "The Gates of Hell", a volcano located to the northwest peninsula of Varyndale. This sealed the Pact he made with the  devil.

Hibernating in a castle built within The Gates of Hell he is fed with subjects brought to him by his army. His Emporer's Hand runs the kingdom and deals with day-to-day issues regarding provincial rules and tribulations. He will be brought off his Throne of Bones only by the imposing threat of Tariendome’s invading army along the borders of Varyndale and within the Dragonspine Ridge.