It was a few years after the end of a war between the Hooligan tribe of Berk and the wild tribe of Vikings known as the Berserkers. At this time, Oswald was known as Oswald the Antagonistic. Though he was a fierce warrior, he was then repelled by a young warrior and new chieftain, Stoick the Vast, a brilliant tactician and unlike most Vikings ever seen in Scandinavia and the Archipelago. Some, who have viewed Stoick as weak, in particular Spitelout Jorgenson, have challenged Stoick to a duel in hopes of taking control only to lose and be spared in return for fealty, while another, Alvin, had been exiled after a failed duel and then attempted murder and of Stoick.

Times were dire as recent dragon attacks had decimated most of the food supply and this attack coupled with the war between the Berserkers and the Hooligans had left most of the food stores depleted. In the great hall, a meeting was taking place between the once sword enemies, Stoick and Oswald.

"As usual, the dragons have devastated our food supplies," said Stoick. "We could acquire more food and supplies by trade but the fact of the matter is that we don't even have enough gold or silver to purchase what we need."

"And our war between each other didn't help," Oswald replied. "Though I know of a man who would give us a generous trade deal and if we could earn his favor, we could acquire a bit of the spoil as to help us buy food and supplies for the Hooligans and Berserkers."

"And who would be so generous as to just give us anything?" Spitelout asked. "It's not like anyone is just going to hand over a handful of food and supplies for nothing!"

"I'm talking about a man from the mainland of Scandinavia, a warlord from the Jutland peninsula," Oswald replied. "Should we build an alliance with him, we could take a share of the spoil."

"Wait, are you speaking of the one the bards have sung of all the way here in Berk?" another Viking asked. "The raids he heads off on are dangerous."

"Yes, I am speaking of course of Ragnar Lothbrok," Oswald replied. "Knowing him, he certainly appreciates allies when it comes to acquiring the means of justice."

"But his raids are dangerous considering the raids he's conducted into Wessex, Sussex, East Frankia, Kent, East Anglia, and Hibernia!" said Gobber. "How do we know that we will even be able to make it back alive?"

"We're Vikings, it's an occupational hazard," Stoick replied. "Besides, if we don't act now, our people will starve."

"Whatever the case, I'm with you Stoick," Valka proclaimed proudly. "After all, one should be able to stand by the one they love no matter what the case."

"If we succeed in this deal, we will be able to feed our villages ten times over and sagas will be written of any brave deeds it took for us to accomplish this deal, now who's with me?!" Stoick shouted.

Cheers from all across the great hall came as Stoick shouted. It was afterwards that the Berkians and Berserkers later sailed out on longboats headed southeast in the direction of Denmark. Though Stoick wasn't feeling uneasy because he felt that he wouldn't be able to meet the demands for a good deal. If this involved a military expedition then he was placing the lives of his crew members at risk as well as those of his entire village. Though he gave a memorable gathering call, he was going out on a gamble not sure if there was going to be success or not. While he was sailing on, he was staring on the horizon with Valka by his side as the crew was sailing on.

"What am I doing Valka?" Stoick asked.

"You're leading us into the future," Valka replied.

"But I'm going in blindly," Stoick said. "I'm putting the lives of everyone on the line here including yours as well as your own. They're my men and my people and should this endeavor fail, they could starve."

"But it won't," Valka replied. "The men are too devoted. Plus Berk has faced hard times such as this before."

The ships sailed on into the horizon though the stress weighed heavy on Stoick as he knew the very survival of Berk and Berserker island was at stake.