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284818-Sample.Pdf Sample file “Erik sailed out from Snæfellsjokul; A general timeline of he found land, and came in from the sea to the place which he called Midjokul; it is now Viking Exploration hight Blaserkr. He then went southwards to see whether it was there habitable land. The 789A.D. Norse raids on England begin first winter he was at Eriksey, nearly in the middle of the eastern settlement; the spring 794 Norse raids on Scotland begin after repaired he to Eriksfjord, and took up there his abode. 795 Norse raids on Ireland begin 844 Norse raids on Spain begin He removed in summer to the western settlement, and gave to many places names. 845 Norse raids on France pick up He was the second winter at Holm in momentum Hrafnsgnipa, but the third summer went 860 Iceland discovered he to Iceland, and came with his ship into Vikings attack Constantinople Breidafjord. He called the land which he had found Greenland, because, quoth he, 870 Iceland settlement begins in earnest “people will be attracted thither, if the land 900 Vikings raid along the Mediterranean has a good name.” Erik was in Iceland for the winter, but the summer after, went he 911 Normandy established by Rollo to colonize the land; he dwelt at Brattahlid in Eriksfjord. Informed people say that the 941 Vikings attack Constantinople again same summer Erik the Red went to colo- 981 Erik the Red discovers Greenland nize Greenland, thirty-five ships sailed from Breidafjord and Borgafjord, but only 986 Vikings explore the waters and shore- fourteen arrived; some were driven back, and line of Newfoundland others were lost.” 995 Norway officially converts to Christianity Saga of the Greenlanders 1000 Christianity is established in Greenland Leif Erikson explores the North Sample American filecoast 1010 Thorfinn Karlsefni tries to establish a settlement in North America/Vinland 1015A.D. Vinland settlement abandoned X 2 X Stromgard is, of course, a fictional setting but the exploits of the Vikings can easily translate to in-game adventures with insane stakes and challenges. The real world rise of Christianity during this time period adds Most of us know at least part of the another layer of thematic tensions for players accounts of Erik the Red and his son, Leif to navigate through as they struggle to recon- Erikson. Erik the Red established the first Norse cile worship of the Old Gods of Stromgard, the settlement in Greenland, although many credit lesser know deities of the world surrounding it, him as being the first of European descent to do and the unknown divinities that may or may so, there is some indication that other Icelanders not exist in peoples not yet discovered. How tried and failed before him. Leif Erikson went weighty of a narrative theme this becomes in- on to explore parts of what is now modern-day game is entirely up to you. Newfoundland and, being staunchly Christian, This also brings me to my next note about ordered the building of Greenland’s first church. “Against Expanses”. There are a fair few These explorers set out in tiny boats, opportunities in here for social characters to outfitted with weaponry no more advanced or shine and I encourage you to set spotlight on ranged than rough hewn spears and bows, with them when the time is right. A charismatic no power over the tides than what sails and oars character could be quite useful in keeping could provide. Trekking over familiar waters tensions at a minimum during voyages, keep was surely dangerous enough, especially given morale high during the long months at sea, and the Viking tales of what lie beneath the waves, mitigate rising tensions during resource but to set out into unknown territory entirely allocation. Not only that, but they could and sail to what could be the ends of the earth? influence how the settlers react to not only new Madness. cultures and customs, but entirely unknown Moreso than some of the adventure peoples and strange languages. Of course there content present in the main body of The Wyrd will be resource scarcity, harrowing battles, and of Stromgard, “Against Expanses” is more heavily hard decisions to be made as well, which should inspired on the real world events of the Viking ideally give any character a chance to bask in the Age and their exploits in reaching far flung limelight. corners of the world with little in the way of Above all, “Against Expanses” should be technology and resources. Included on the pre- tough challenge for your PCs, if more in a vious page is a very generalized outline of Viking survivalist/isolationist sense than in bodily exploration and the key events that helped shape danger- at least once they get off the ocean. the latter half of the Viking Age. In The Wyrd of They’ll face problems that will require more Stromgard, I emphasized the lack of importance thought than a honed axe head and dangerous in picking a solid historical date to stand as a environments more deadly than draugr infested backbone for a campaign, in “Against Expanses”, tombs. the adventureSample is more or less set at the latter half file of the 10th century to feel more aesthetically in -Sam line with Erik the Red and Leif Erikson’s efforts towards charting absolutely unknown territory in Greenland and North America. X 3 X Against Expanses When they sailed the weather was favourable, but after they came out upon the high seas the fair wind failed, and there came great gales, and they lost their way. Concerning Thorbiorn, Saga of the Greenlanders No one spoke as the ships cut through sacking, you put your brothers-at-arms in the southern passes of The Black Band as the danger. familiar jutting cliffs and glaciers of Stromgard Jarl Sjór had always been slightly eased away over the curve of Midgard. Someone eccentric- not that Sundfaerr cared as long as on the boat sun-side started up a loud chant of conquests were fruitful and fulfilling- but his a conquesting song popular a few seasons ago. abrupt decision to chart the world across the His voice echoed a little gravelly against the ocean seemed haphazard and when he water and the sloping hills that led to the shore clarified he wanted to take the village with him but no one picked up to join the chorus. The to do this, seemed mad. Sundfaerr was certain effect made something iron-cold settle in the pit his right-hand, the gangling, sallow-faced of Sundfaerr’s gut like a stone. She’d been on druid, Hala, was behind this for some four conquests already, sailed all the way to the mysterious reason. Sundfaerr and some of the golden spires of the Sun Kingdom nearly two other warriors had gone to question the Jarl but months south and had taken a local lover in the one of them had been stupidly goaded into bloody aftermath of a successful assault against calling a Holmgang by Hala’s sharp tongue and the Waveriders in their floating city. She had had died on Jarl Sjór’s elfsteel sword. This, in watched Stromgard disappear from the oarbench accordance with their laws, ensured that Sjór’s many a time. Nothing was different about this wishes had the approval of the gods and the excursion either... She cast a glance about at the village- the warriors and the civilians alike- had other hundred or so boats making their way into obeyed his mandate to amass resources for a the open ocean like so many sharp-beaked birds journey of incredible length to find a new world in flight. in which they could establish themselves. But this wasn’t a conquest, supposedly, Sundfaerr was a warrior, however, and she this was an expedition. There were civilians. could not claim to be wise in the ways of a Jarl Some old folks and a few kids, people who only and his enterprising right-hand. There would took blades to the flesh of tough root vegetables be beasts enough below the black waves for her on their farms and had only spilled the blood axe and once the claustrophobia and restlessness of theirSample livestock. Strength with a blade was all of an extended sea voyage file drove some of the that dictated your right to conquest. It only untried mad she’d likely find use for her skills made sense, Sundfaerr thought again, you had in showing them swift mercy. Not to mention to mind yourself and watch your own back first whatever awaited them on alien shores... and foremost. If you were a liability during a X 4 X.
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