Summary
Thorkell serves as a Jomsviking general and the sibling of the Jomsviking Chief. A colossal warrior driven by an insatiable passion for combat, he deserts the Danish army to fight as a mercenary for the English, reasoning that battling fellow Vikings offers a superior challenge. This same zeal for war compels him to back Prince Canute’s campaign for the Danish throne. Prior to Thors’ defection, Thorkell works alongside and holds deep respect for him, while also developing a fondness for Thorfinn throughout the main narrative. He engages Thorfinn in two separate duels, dominating both encounters despite losing two fingers in the first and an eye in the second. In combat, he primarily utilizes a pair of axes, though his most formidable attribute is his immense physical strength. During a skirmish with Askeladd’s group, he demonstrates this power by hurling a spear from several hundred feet away, skewering three men simultaneously. The character draws inspiration from Thorkell the Tall, a historical Jomsviking lord who mentors Canute in the Flateyjarbók.
