<div style="text-align: center">_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_​</div><br/><div style="text-align: center"><i>April 20th, 320 BC.<br/>
A spring season that is both warm and early.<br/>
<i>Fast moving overcast clouds, indicating a storm in the coming hours.</i><br/>
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The Tribe of Nidaros, Norway.<br/>
Ruled by Skngyrd Frostaxe, Petty King of Nidaros and Bergenshus.<br/>
Adjacent the Holy Site of the same name.<br/>
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​</div>It was hard to believe it only took four months to travel this far off the face of the Earth.<br/><br/>Gundahar Yngvesson had walked many lands underneath the high sun of the gods. As a young man when he and his brothers learned the ways of war, before the subjugation of their tribe. In wandering as a mercenary, far and wide did Gundhar go. With martial skill and strength of arm, great zeal in battle allowed the virtues of Latium thus bestowed upon him, as Gentius Investius Varro. Leader of his own century in the Roman Legions, many things did Gundahar learn in Rome, and much did the Empire serve to sate the ambition of a barbarian who wandered bold and free.<br/><br/>Suffice to say that it was both sobering and comforting to be away for so long. Without the Imperial duties, the trite discourse of consuls who knew little, and demanded much, the world seemed a better fit than it had in months before. The excuse of pursuing military interest was not an easy one to make, but for a favor owed to the dictator himself, Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus in Rome. A mission of Roman interest, in securing trade, and empowering the Republic.<br/><br/>It required sailing beyond the known paths of civilization. First through to Celt-Iberia by way of Carthage's furthest trade routes. Then beyond by his own peoples, once allied, once brothers, once bitter rivals. Needless to say, he fit right in. The adventuring man on the road was not unsuited to the whims of seeing all the world, and with a skill in personal combat that had survived terrible routes before, the potential threats were minor at best.<br/><br/>Village ferryman to village ferryman, passing through holy sites to different gods, through massive settlements that rivaled those civilizations of the south with their numbers. Wild paths, the mystique of a world untamed, the stuff of souls touched by wind, water, fire, and earth. The leaves and the hills, the barrows and the temples, all seemed to song off the very land they were built on. It was something that Rome surely lacked. For while one may do in Rome as the Romans do, the Romans could not do what was felt in the heart of this foreigner.<br/><br/>The further north the world went, the greater the experience. Lands barely seen before, and those beyond. Of ice and snow, and a land of people there-untamed. Gundahar's long flaxen hair, done in braids behind his head, along with the full beard similarly kept, were slightly out of place. The people there with bright golden hair, of mixed yellows and blacks, whom all seemed to be as developed and personable as any civilized man met in the south.<br/><br/>The destination was in sight nearing on four months of boating, ferrying, and foot travel. The holy site of Nidaros, seat of the petty king Skngyrd. Gundahar hadn't met him, but from coaxing foreigners along the way, all the stories of that far-flung wayfarer in Latium appeared to be true.<br/><br/>Skngyrd Frostaxe, ironic to his station, was a petty, ambitious man. With a large fleet on the western-most point of Scandinavia, mustering half-a-hundred ships capable of sailing. It was said his face turned like plums or ripened berries when he'd heard that a sailor had beaten him to fruitful lands out on the western sea. Even moreso than, the sailor had almost overnight secured the island under fair rule. Even moreso still, the sailor was rumored to be a beautiful woman whom could hunt wild bear with only stones.<br/><br/>The situation upon arriving in the lands of Nidaros were an awkward one. Skngyrd provoked great attention when singing his own praises alongside his skalds, he invited all to feast in his hall for the promise of great blessings by all the Godi of Nidaros. Such blessings, the Seer of Nidaros thus said, would pave the promise of fortune for all in attendance, and that all feasting would boast great health for generations.<br/><br/>Gundahar was always fond of the parties his kinsmen could throw, but such was not why he was present. Such bold sentiments, perhaps even from a rival looking to blatantly contest the Petty Queen of the island, perhaps brooked no chance of her missing the event. If all rumors were true, Gundahar would want to see the discourse in person. The honor of those close to the earth, outside of settled lands with cowards' laws, typically did not simply forget a pronounced defamation.<br/><br/>The goal of striking bargain with the foreign woman, offering greater successes, and sharing in her own. Not simply for the empire, but ambitions even further beyond. And, even so, it was not as if Gundahar did not enjoy the chance to meet beautiful women. Again, should the stories be true.<br/><br/>And so, at the doors to the great hall of Nidaros, Gundahar stepped inside to meet a banquet fitting for a man of high ego.<br/><br/>Serving girls moved in what seemed an unpracticed dance, handling revelers in a hall, and its fenced in outer surroundings with haste. Fighting men stood in jovial tidings. Every Godi was clustered together, diving and reading as many as could be seen. Bartering men and merchants peddled indiscriminately, with quick hands and sharp wits. Secret-keepers, whisper-listeners, and questionable sorts traded words in secret. All manner of sounds blurred together as the clouds churned overhead. Giggles and soft words of love and desire spread amongst some, while others shouted from the warmth of their cups. Others whispered, others clanged together and danced. All the while, the petty king himself seemed preoccupied somewhere out of sight.<br/><br/>Gundahar breathed deep the scent of honey, hickory, and berries. It felt good to be surrounded by all that he enjoyed.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>