The Trials of the Sons of Odin: A Paradox AAR. Chapter 2: The Brothers Broken and Blessed

The Valkyrie was is a symbol of judgement, taking those worthy on to their reward: Valhalla, and leaving those remaining behind, relegated to being forgotten by history. Thus was the story of the two brothers, King Sifurdr and Fredrik: The Brothers Broken and Blessed.

The life of King Sigurdr Balderson was one of contradictions and complexities. Perhaps cruelly, he is referred to as The Brother Broken, as all he set out to achieve was never realised, and every victory led to a greater defeat. Whilst not a bad ruler in of himself, his fortunes were never realised and his plans destined to be achieved by other, greater men.

King Sigurdr was a man more focused on wealth. Not a greedy man but rather one who saw opportunity. The North was falling behind in the technological growths that the rest of Europe was experiencing. His solution was simple, to the south were the islands of the realm of Danmark. If these could be given to the burghers and merchants, then they would steer more wealth north. And where wealth went, so did knowledge. And with knowledge, power.

Once the feasts were over and the appropriate sacrifices had been made. King Sigurdr called his vassals and explained his plans, under the guise of his grandfathers and fathers holy mission. Having inherited his father original scepticism, King Sigurdr personally did believe that Jarl George met Odin and viewed his father’s conversion as a sign of weak character, as evident by surviving writing from this time.

Before the war plans could be announced however, the meeting was interrupted by a courtier. Gudfried Tokeson, Chief of Orkno and Austisland had declared his intentions over the whole of the Kingdom of Noregr.

Whilst a rather small battle that would have been forgotten to the ages, the attack on King Sigurdr is significant in one major aspect. It allowed the King of Pomerania to enact his own designs upon Danmark. The only benefit was that the king was now a follower of Odin, and thus was less likely to cause religious problems for Noregr.

A small group of Slavic refugees flee the new King of Pomerania and seek refuge under King Sigurdr. Ignoring the complaints of the local Godi’s, he allows the small settlement.

(Source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7b/1b/3d/7b1b3d6b53c571daf855e8a2aad8906e.jpg)
After the Chief of Nordland attempted to conquer the Kingdom whilst its armies were elsewhere. King Sigurdr sent the full might of his armies, a total of 3000 men strong, against the chieftain’s small holdings with a garrison of less than 200. Leading at the fore, he personally slew the upstart chief and added his lands to the Kingdom.

To the south, the Pope calls for the removal of the largest Tengri kingdom between the west and east church. More than a dozen Christian rulers rise up in support. Seeing that their focus would be elsewhere, King Sigurdr begins to implement a replacement to his original plan for a merchant republic, this time along the Dutch coast.

To help lead him in the charge, he commissions the Foe-Hammer. The great mace of the House of Herja would be a rallying symbol in many battlefields along the centuries. Under King Sigurer, the most he did to contribute to Foe-Hammers legacy was commission it.

A few decades back, the Chieftess of Augusterutland had gathered enough of the realm to claim the title of Queen of Svipjod. Her grandson sought closer ties to the Kingdom of Noregr and proposed the marriage of Crown Prince Porolfr to King Sigurdr’s sister Gyda.

(Source: https://www.wikiart.org/en/peter-nicolai-arbo/battle-of-stamford-bridge-1870)
Wars were declared against several Counts along the Dutch coast and the armies of the Norse descended upon them. Not expecting a challenge, King Sigurdr had ordered his men muster in the province of Oldenburg, not fearing a Christian response. His plans fell apart due to the unexpected presence of the Christian Holy Order, The Knights of Santiargo. King Sigurdr had thought them all to be in the plains of Carpathia. Unready, the Knights and levies of the Christian lords fell upon the army of Norsemen and they were soundly routed.

Defeated, King Sigurdr was forced to sign humiliating peace treaties with the Christian lords, bankrupting the realm. Where once the Kingdom of Noregr was once the richest, now it was heavily in debt.

The final test for King Sigurdr was the same his father faced. The Godi’s claim that Odin appeared to the grandson of Jarl George and offered him redemption, however, not believing the old man that appeared before him, King Sigurdr dismissed the man and continued on his path…

… A path that ended shortly. Slain whilst leading him men on a raid to refill the kingdoms coffers, King Sigurdr met his end when a relief force was spotted too late and trapped him and his men on the coast of Britian. Unable to escape, he led a valiant charge into the enemy’s ranks, before succumbing to his wounds. The charge created a route for his men to escape and dragging his body with them, returned it to Castle Lade. Having only daughters, the crown was passed to his brother Fredrik. King Sigurdr’s death also created one of the greatest arguments in the Norse faith: Does a Warriors Death absolve a sceptical existence, and allow admittance to the halls of Valhalla?

King Friedrik ascended to the throne of Noregr already an old man. The men of his family had been blessed with long lives so far, but still he was almost at the end of his. Therefore, the King sought not to advance his own glories but pave the way for his son to inherit a stronger kingdom. It is for this reason he is known as The Brother Blessed.

To prepare, King Fredrik approached his Brother-in-Law, King Porolfr of Svipjod, proposing an alliance of mutual support. The Svipjod kingdom had been decimated due to the Elective Gavalkind succession laws that it had, something that the great Jarl George had foreseen and prevented. None the less, allies were in short supply and the alliance was agreed to. King Fredrik also added that when his time was done, the alliance was to be honoured with his son as well.

(Source: http://www.burnpit.us/2015/05/battle-cresson-saladins-ayyubid-force-defeats-crusaders)
News from the failure of the 2nd Crusade then reached the court. The Pope was not able to gather the support of the divided rulers of Central Europe to rally together enough men to fight the Khan of Pannonia and his fellow Tengri allies. Thrown back, the twin realms of Pannonia and Bulgaria remained a stronghold of the Tengri faith for many years to come.

(Source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/30/56/14/305614f03357e96312fb564d899c0dd2.jpg)
The losses suffered by King Sigurdr at the hands of the Knights of Santiago had weighed on the mind of King Fredrik for a long time. The Norse faith, unlike the followers of Christ, did not require men to deny themselves their wants in the name of devoutness, so were not able to call upon this as inspirations for men to dedicate themselves solely to war. The solution came to the King in a dream, he saw the grand table of Odin in Valhalla. Seated there were the great leaders of the past, his father and grandfather. Below that was the table for honoured warriors, they all bore the same brand on their chest. Finally, there were the valorous defeated, men who in their death had won their place in this hallowed place. Awaking King Fredrik made ready a royal proclamation. Any man who would forsake all and join would be bound for Valhalla, and thus the Jomsvikings were formed.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_in_medieval_Scotland)
King Fredrik also insisted that his son accompany him to court. Whilst it was normal for rulers to bring their heirs to observe the running of a Kingdom, King Fredrik took it further by deferring decisions to the heir. Thus it was, even before his time to rule, Sæmundr had the respect of the realm.

However, the ravages of time were taking their toll on King Fredrik. With his son having just hit maturity and ready to take his place in history, King Fredrik knew that his time was short …

… The court physician applied his craft well …

.. but in the end it was not enough, King Fredrik moved onto the next life. The realm had been prepared for King Sæmundr Fredrikson, now all that remained was for him to reach forward and claim his destiny. The First Falkir.