Danan Isig & Har, Ancient Kings

Danan Isig and Har are land-rulers who have ruled their respective lands since the Years of Settlement, which occurred at least a millennium before the start of Riddle of the Stars.  Danan Isig is the land-ruler of his namesake land, and Har is the land-ruler of Osterland.

Danan Isig 

He is big, thewed like a tree; with hair and beard grey-gold. His eyes are gentle, mild and green, the color of pine. 

Danan Isig has been the land-ruler of Isig since the Years of Settlement.  This would make him at least a millennium old.  He is said to have been as ancient as a tree at the founding of Lungold, a thousand years before Morgon of Hed becomes High One.  He, like his counterpart Har, is known for his shape-changing abilites; however, unlike Har, he turns into a tree, most often a pine tree, instead of a wolf.  This is a skill he has passed on to his children.

In addition to being a talented shape-changer, Danan Isig is also a master craftsmen.  Over the course of his life, he has built his nation into the finest and principle producer of weaponry and fine stones.  People from every corner of the Realm of the High One come to train with Isig and his sons.

Many swords are made for the lords and kings of An and Ymris.  It is likely that he and his men also produce ceremonial swords for the lords of Herun.

Isig was married to Grania, who died sometime before the start of the series.  He and Grania had at least three children; two sons, Ash and Sol, and a daughter, Vert.  He also has at least a dozen grandchildren.  Three of these grandchildren are Bere, Kes, and Suny.

After seeing the vesta scars on Morgon's hands, Danan Isig taught Morgon to change into a tree.


Har  

He was tall, lithe, white-haired...His eyes in his lean, lined face were ice-blue; his hands..were scarred with the white imprint of vesta-horns.

Har has been the land-ruler of Osterland since the Years of Settlement.  He is married to Aia, who in her youth was golden-haired.  He was friends with the great wizard Suth, during his wildest years, and he taught him how to change shape.  As a mark of this teaching, Suth gave him bone-white scars of vesta horns on his hands.  His favorite shape to change into is a wolf.  He often prowls the length of his kingdom in this form earning him the title of wolf-king.  

Har is also a master of mind-work, the ability to guard one's thoughts and invade the thoughts of others.  Throughout his long years of life, many men have begged Har to teach them the mind-work and shape-changing; very, very few of them have ever left with vesta-scars on their hands.  Morgon is one of these select few.

Har is also renowned for his temper and his tendency to take revenge on those he feels have wronged him.  More than a few riddles have resulted from this.  Ilon of Yrye offended Har with a song so greatly he fled for  his life.  Ingris of Osterland angered Har when he appeared at Ingris' door in the form of an old man and was turned away.  Har placed a curse on him which, in the end, resulted in his death.