Arafed man in a bow tie sitting in the woods

Black and white (Person) 1800s; Baron Bjørn Johnson presides over the rugged coastal territory of Manistee County from his formidable stronghold Pine Hill Fortress, constructed inland atop a bluff 20 miles up the Manistee River. As the fifth son of a Norwegian timber baron, Johnson left the family's Atlantic merchant fleet in search of forests ripe for harvest in the Michigan territory. After securing harvest rights from Ottawa bands and financing sawmills along Lake Michigan's fertile shores, vast fortunes flowed back to Baron Johnson’s Norwegian dynasty as virgin white pines were stripped and shipped east to build the growing kingdom. But seeing soil erosion and flooding resulting from clear-cutting practices, Johnson mandated sustainable harvesting techniques be adopted across his timber leasehold. Now entering his 60s, Baron Johnson focuses on research and conservation efforts from his fortified timber lodge. He works closely with local bands and fur traders to map inland ecosystems, document wildlife patterns, and assess best practices balancing commerce and stewardship. Still unmarried, his heirs remain brothers overseas uninterested participating directly in frontier affairs.