The Trials of the Sons of Odin: A Paradox AAR. Chapter 7: The Eldest King-Brother

(Source: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsEurope/ScandinaviaSweden.htm)
Fylkir Arnbjorn ruled over a time where the House of Herja ruled over three separate kingdoms, rather than one nation. His brothers ruled the kingdoms of Skotland and Pomerania, whilst this meant that the separate nations were able to pursue their own destinies, it mean that the wolves at the door suddenly saw the Norse nations as individually weaker. Thus the kingdoms were united by paper and brotherly duty, but time would show which of these would be weaker. Thus began the rule of the Fylkir that would be known as Eldest of the King-Brothers.

[Quick recap of the current ruler, as shown from the last chapter]

As was tradition, as part of the funeral rite, was for the son to raise a runestone commemorating his father. As the eldest Starkadrson and ruler of Noergr, this fell to the newly crowned Fylkir. The growing collection of runestones had started spread out over the surrounding lands around Castle Lade and it was Fylkir Arnbjorn’s idea to start to bring these to a centralised place so that the people could learn the history of the rulers past, however this would not happen in his lifetime.

During this time, it was reported that a large bearded man with a wide hat was among the mourners. Many stated that Odin himself wept for the loss of Fylkir Starkadr Hrodgarson. His son, still angry at his father, would not be drawn publically in these claims. If he were to deny it, there would be great damage to the prestige of the House.

(Source: http://donhollway.com/clontarf/)
The other realms were not idle in this time of mourning. Not even waiting for the body of the former Fylkir to be interred into the family crypt, the levies of Catholic lords were raised and marched towards Norse lands. Declarations of war were sent to both the King of Skotland and Pomerania, but still the men of Noregr marched alongside them.

The major engagement was the Battle of Forres where a Catholic force that was sieging the small castle. Catching the attacking army between their escape route and the walls of the castle, few of the English made it out from that battle. It would later be claimed that their defeat here would be the event that turned the tide against the various attacking Dukes.

During the war the Fylkir received very welcome news, he was the proud father of a newborn son. Upon hearing this the new father was forced to re-evaluate his entire motivation up until now. Fylkir Arnbjorn had always thought that his father had been his competition, always demanding more and more from him. Now he saw it all through the eyes of his father, a man who pushed because he knew that his son could do anything. Arnbjorn swore that he would be as great of a father as his had been, and ordered that his own son be honoured with his father name.

Not the fighter that his father was, Fylkir Arnbjorn knew that the safest place was just behind the lines. From here he was able to ensure that the battle went according to plan, but his men saw that their King and Fylkir fought beside them. This did not mean that he did not see combat, and during one of the battles in the Skottish lowlands, the Catholics managed to pierce the front lines. Gathering his personal guard, the Fylkir lead a cavalry charge that shattered the foes in the breach and carrying forward to shatter foe.

Despite the glory won in individual deeds and the battles won by feats of aggression, the Fylkir knew that wars were won by the side whose armies stayed in the fight and did not run. Although this meant that the foe was more likely to escape, it was better to remain and defeat the army again another day then to charge forth to destruction.

Not all the wars were fought on the defensive during this time. Whether his intention was the completion of the original stages of the Great Reaving or to succeed where his father had failed and complete his legacy, the one count that his father could not subjugate, was not known.

Not all of battles went in favour of the Northerners, and the secondborn Starkadrson fell to the Irish who sought to extend their grasp beyond the Irish isle and the ruins of the Welsh Republic. His crown was passed to the fourthborn, now known as King Hrodgar.

Slowly the tides of war turned in favour of the Skots and Pomeranians, as one by one the armies were turned back. Rather than work as one, like the Norse armies were, they attacked one by one, each hungry for glory and righteous retribution. They would find neither.

Yet just as it looked like the Northman would triumph and end the hostility, the Pope sent out a rallying call. Every Catholic soldier was ordered to march north and raise the cross over the corpses of every Norse village they found. The Fylkir ordered his men to the boats, Skotland would have to finish their wars themselves.

(Source: http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-40/major-crusades-to-east-christian-history-timeline.html)
The armies of the Catholics had always been a lightly armed force with the bulk of it being made up of peasants raised from the fields. This differed from the men of the north, whom were expected to maintain their own armour and a large axe. One on one, the Odinson was superior to the Catholic, but wars were rarely fought like this. The waves of enemies would need to be overcome if the Crusaders were to be beaten.

Of a side note, as was expected by the scouts and cartographers that were sent out by the Fylkir, upon the death of their King, the Lithuanian realm was sundered ….

… And as was also expected, the Slavic vassals of the new Polish King were quick to rise up.

(Source: http://thedockyards.com/the-origins-and-usage-of-the-norse-longboats/)
The Fylkir gathered his generals and discussed the progress of the war. The Northerners were winning the Crusade, but they were being worn down. The Crown could not afford to keep the men provisioned and in fighting condition for much longer. A solution was needed and many were suggested. A young general put forward perhaps the boldest plan, a small force would sail south and, disguised as raiders, would harass the coastal cities as they travelled, allowing them to go further than ever before …

(Source: https://s-media-cache-ak0 . pinimg . com/originals/1f/b1/e7/1fb1e7a52a5e4de5c5159e4d08b13d62 . jpg)
… to the gates of Rome herself. A strike at the very centre of the Catholic world would surely shake the moral and faith of the attackers, forcing them to concede. And so a small force of 2000 men were selected to sail south and make history. For the second time in history, the Germanic followers swept in and brought the great city of Rome to her knees. Where before a great empire fell, now it was a faith that was brought low.

Yet as is the way of war, there is ebb and flow. As the Norse crashed through the gates of Rome and sacked the city, the King of Pomerania was felled in battle. Now the second Starkadrson to fall in battle, the House of Herja had now lost the crown of Pomerania.

The new king, not as sure as his predecessor in the prowess of the Germanic armies, was quick to seek peace with the upstart leader of the Catholics. Although the Crusade was a failure, the Pope had gotten off lightly. It was at this point, seeing the weakness of this new King, that the Fylkir would start to prepare to remove him from power.

When Starkadr was nearing maturity, the Fylkir took him under his wing. Where his father had the young Fylkir need to strive for greater and greater things, instead Fylkir Arnbjorn instilled in the young Starkadr the drive to make sure he was meticulous and thorough at any task he turned his mind to.

In perhaps the most controversial move that had been done since the House of Herja claimed the authority of the church of Odin, even more than the whispers of his grandfather, was the betrothal of the heir of the Crown of Crows and the daughter of the heathen King of Lithuania. The strength of this alliance was simple to see, however many argued that the moral damage it did to the faith was too much.

In what would be claimed as some as divine retribution and others as a great light that wanes too soon, the passing of the Fylkir meant that only King Hrodgar of Skotland was the only surviving son of the previous Fylkir Starkadr. A new Fylkir Starkadr now sat on the thrown.