Chapter 1: The betrayal of Halfdan Whiteshirt
((Before I begin, when I tried to load my save, the game said it was a “BROKEN SAVE.” So, I had to start over again from the beginning. The upshot is that while all of his sons have the same names as they did before, even the same pictures, all of the stats and traits are completely different. So, basically, ignore the prologue is what I’m saying.
))
7 January 867, Jorvik
I have found a wench for Sigfrid.
She will make a good woman, I think, and bear him many children, that our dynasty might last a thousand years! Indeed, her choice is an auspicious one, as the Petty King of Jylland has answered our call to arms. May we slay many a priest together, and pillage this land!
10 January 867, Jorvk
My own wench took longer to arrive. She is a seer, and a wise one, good with money, and even strong in battle (for a wench).
With a new woman, one who may also bear me many young, I feel invincible, as if Odin himself is watching over me. I shall become the mightiest warrior the world has ever known!
25 January 867
A strange man, wearing strange clothes, approached today. He is called Aymar, and comes from West Francia. He wanted to share the “Gospel” with me. I was, as you can imagine, amazed. A spell to summon one of the gods is powerful magic indeed! I discussed matters with Ragnarr, though, and he pointed out that summoning Loki, for example, would be dangerous. I consulted this “Aymar” about which god he proposed on summoning. He appeared to be completely flustered, then insisted there was only one god!
I spoke with Ragnarr again; surely this man was a lunatic? Of course, Ragnarr, a loyal son, reminded me that some of our brothers in the faith consider the All-father to be the mightiest of all, and thus deserves more respect and sacrifices than any other god. So, I asked Aymar if he proposed to summon Odin.
It is then that Aymar revealed who he truly was: not a powerful sorcerer, but a follower of the White Christ!
He can preach to the rats; they are the only worthy audience for such drivel.
6 August 867, Lancaster
We have been on campaign for eight months already. It is hungry work!
29 November 867, Jorvik
With Gudfrid and Ubbe leading our troops in Westmorland, I took a moment to visit our holdings in Jorvik. Aymar was still alive! I asked him how many rats he had converted, and he ignored me. He even said he was “praying for my soul!” The insolence, that I would end up any place other than Valhalla without his mumbling, infuriated me.
12 December 867, Jorvik
There’s the White Christ for you. The poor fool couldn’t even last more than two weeks. I return to the battlefield, eager to spill the blood of my enemies! Ubbe and Gudfrid have led well, and many a castle has fallen.
3 July 868, Durham
Our armies are mighty indeed. My brother, Sigudr Snake-in-the-eye, has joined our fight as well! Our enemies tremble!
11 September 868, Appleby
Finally! The cowardly English run from us no more, and do not hide in their little houses of sticks. They face our steel at last, and suffer the consequences.
I beheaded 12 Englishmen myself, but Ubbe used his monstrous greatsword to slice 13 of them in half. I am in awe of his prowess; he shall be richly rewarded for his skill!
26 October 868, Durham
Fresh off our victory at Appleby, my brother Ivar asked us to partake in his campaign against the Scots. More battle is always welcome, and I hear they are cunning indeed. A worthy foe to challenge! It is meat and drink to me.
14 February 869, Northumberland
Two years have passed since this campaign began. Many a foeman has suffered defeat at my blade and the blades of my sons. Yet today, for the first time, I knew that we could not fail. I met the All-father!
Odin is no White Christ; he rewards his followers for their glory while they can still enjoy it. What good is plunder in Valhalla? Give me riches now, that I may buy more swords and strengthen our walls against any who would oppose us!
15 February 869, Northumberland
I was right! The English castle fell the day after Odin appeared. I was even gifted with a new wench.
Her features were pleasing, but she cannot bear young. I asked Svanhildr what we should do with her; she told me to “send her to the gods.” That is precisely what I did, and I received news from Ivar that he had conquered the Scots.
Afterwards, the woman scolded me, telling me that I should have waited for a proper blot and then offered her as a gift. Silly wench, there are always more victims!
8 July 869, Northumberland
Gods be praised! Thank you, Odin, for this wonderful gift! Sigfrid has had a son, and he has named him after the most skilled and powerful fighter in all the world!
The whelp is healthy and strong. He will be a fine King someday. I will instruct him in the handling of a blade myself, when the time comes. Who else should he learn from?
10 July 869, Northumberland
It has been less than two days since Halfdan’s birth. I notice that Sigfrid’s wench’s attitude has changed towards me. I asked Rikuflr of Richmond, my loyal friend, why she was always staring at my mead and mutton. Was she overly hungered? There was always plenty of feasting to be had. He had very shocking news.
A wench? A wench wanted to slay me? I jokingly offered her trial by combat, if she would but name her champion. She spat at me, called me a usurper, and demand I give my crown to Sigfrid. I am puzzled; why could Sigfrid not wait? All that is mine will belong to him and his brothers. I even asked Sigfrid, and he was equally puzzled. Odd behavior from a wench. I apologized to Sigfrid, promised to find him a new wench, and ordered her imprisoned. Such lunacy is best kept away from a child.
Later that same day
She escaped! What manner of sorceress is she, to outwit my soldiers so easily? If she had not given birth to Halfdan, I would think she were actually a man.
I have been speaking to Ragnarr about the Roman Empire; if I am to be a strong ruler, I should learn from the best. True, they eventually followed the White Christ – and lost their Empire and all of their plunder. That is a lesson worth noting. If they had stayed true to their gods, strange though they be, there is no telling how far they would have conquered!
Ragnarr told me that the Romans had once conquered the very lands we pillage now. I asked them how they did it; he told me of a policy that instilled great discipline in their warriors. If warriors failed in their duties, one of every ten was killed. A fine policy! I put it into practice with the fools who could not catch the wench. Gudfrid told me afterwards I had killed eleven, not ten. We had a good laugh and another barrel of mead.
27 November 869, Cumberland
This war, sadly, like all others, will eventually end. End with victory, of course, but it must end. There are many foes to slay and conquer, and sometimes a good warrior needs time to rest and recover. For a king, there are lands to be looked after, wrongs to right, and decimations to carry out. (The Romans knew their words!) So, knowing that Cumberland shall someday belong to me or my sons, I have decided to visit. I chose a bad day to visit. They are having their silly archery games!
Why they continue with this foolishness I will never know. A good, strong ax will never fall prey to something as puny as a pointed twig!
I wonder why that one is aiming at me?
And thus ends our first chapter (of many, I hope!) I kind of like the first person format, and I think I’ll use it for Sigfrid and his heirs too. Comments on the style are always welcome, of course!
For gameplay, I didn’t do anything terribly clever – just sieged castles and chased the English. There were a few battles I didn’t mention; unless it’s a loss, I get captives, or it’s really important, I won’t bother. I’m also skipping the global events (the Magyars settling down, for instance) unless they directly apply to us.
I actually don’t know who killed Halfdan. I suspect it was Sigfrid’s wife, but it could also have Charles of France, or really anyone. I don’t know if I’ll ever find out.
Sigfrid’s reign, at least, will take multiple chapters, and I haven’t finished with him yet. I want to finish before I post another update – so expect it Wednesday or Thursday, time permitting.
