Norway 1015

Another night around the campfire , this one was colder than before . It was Erik's turn to take watch. He thought back on that terrible day now almost a fortnight ago.

He walked inside his village, while carrying a deer that he had shot this morning, it was good deer his family would be able to eat of it for at least another week. He saw the other villagers move away timidly when his hunting company walked through de streets. That wasn't unusual people weren't very accepting toward berserkers these days. He remembered that his father always said that is an honor to experience the Gang, to be chosen by Odin to be the ultimate warrior. That all changed when the king became a member of order of the bloodied cross, a follower of the desert god, one of those who submitted themselves to a prophet who died on a tree, born out of a virgin or so they said.

He had heard the stories a dozen times now. A god who tested the beliefs of a man by taking everything from him and a dozen other things that made next to none sense.

As he walked further on with his company he noticed a poster next to the temple of the cross.

He couldn't believe what he saw, the king outlawed berserkers , nobody could house them anymore on the threat of death. He could feel a rage barreling inside him, it took al of his self control not to smash down this foul temple and his priest.

When he walked to his house he noticed that Arvid , Tristan and Bror, who were the other berserkers of his village, were arguing with some guards. When runned to them he saw Tristan wife laying on the ground with her throat cut. He saw a priest standing be saying that it was gods punishment for trying to use magic, it was indeed true that she used the runes , but she had helped this village flourish with her magic, most of the wounded still came to her for healing. He saw also that Tristan was entering the Gang, he saw him shivering , Bror who was a head taller than him couldn't hold him back without the aid of Arvid. While they calm him down the guards leave.

They decided to go to forest to ask the gods for counsel. They took half the deer with them that he shot this morning as an offering. When they couldn't find a sign or an clue from the gods after half a day of meditating and honoring the gods, they returned to village. When they walked near the village, they saw great columns of smoke fill the sky and sprinted to the square to see what was going on.

They saw their families burned on the pyres, only the youngest children had their throat cut, the older ones were burning alive. There was nothing they could do. Their sprinted to their houses and took up arms. He himself toke his two-handed axe up, and toke his bow and arrows. Tristan had his two swords ready and Arvid came out with his axe and shield, while Bror toke his giant warhammer out.

At once they ran to the square and assaulted the guards. He felt himself shivering and his teeth clattered and he saw visions of a bear, the Gang had started. The berserkers were all going wild near the church when the guards there tried to stop them they were cut down brutally with a giant axe. The priest found themselves assaulted by Tristan who ran his sword multiple times through them and Bror ran screaming into the church after battering the gate open.

More and more guards poured into the square, but they simply found themselves behead by a giant axe, cut open by a sword, or simply slammed into the fire by Brors shield. It was an uneven fight only twenty for the most part untrained guards against three berserkers. After that they calmed down they started a fire in the church and fled the village.

And after that they travelled through the land, they decided that they were going south, they were going to Rome and kill the pope.

After another few weeks of hiding in the woods they arrived in Trondheim from were Tristan had a friend called Leif ,who could make an arrangement to take them to Europe's main land, from where it would only be a few weeks travel to Rome.

When they were walking to the place they were supposed to meet him, they were halted by a guard , who thought he recognized them from raid a few years earlier. Bror wasted no time and in matters of seconds he connected his fist with the guards mouth, knocking him out in a single hit. They dragged him to a back ally . there they cut a strip of his uniform and tie his wrist and feet with it. They slipped past the market district and got to Leif's House were they quickly got inside.

Once inside they talked to Leif about their transport. Leif said to them:"your transport will bring you south , you will have to row it and it wil depart at daybreak." They said their thanks and drank a few mugs of meat with him , before they went to bed and slept soundly.

The next morning they woke up after Leif called them, and went to the port. It was still misty above the sea and by the looks of the sky , it was going to be a rough ride. They went aboard the long boat , while Leif handed the captain a heavy pouch.

After that they left. They rowed for an day and half when the thunder storm hit.

Lighting hit the water around them rain poured with gallons at once out of the sky, waves the size of mountains hit the ship. Bror stood up as and walked to the brow of the ship. Bror toke his hammer out and held it high up in the air and spoke:

"Foe of giants , I ask thee , why a storm on this eve. Did we not honor thy name enough Slayer of the serpent". A wave smashed against the ship , but Bror was not smacked down by the strength of the water , he took out his dagger and stabbed himself after that he cried out: "Defender of Ásgard and of Midgard, I ask thee , accept my blood and stop this storm". After those words he held his hammer high up in the air where it was struck with lighting. His hand was burned , but he survived it and the sky cleared up. The entire crew was amazed by the will of him, but they rowed quickly , lest the weather decided to return.