Nurembega Vikings

[Tamijo 2,036]

This is the the continuation of a story starting here 

Prologue, 913 - 914

In the year 913 the Danish Viking Leader Njal had been living in Normandy, fighting the Franks with other Danes and Norsemen for several years, now intending to travel back to Isefjord, where his family and wife was living. 43 men left the Frankish scores at springtime 913, 12 Vikings and 29 “trælle”, on top of that a number of women and children. After being caught up in a thunder storm Njals son Bjørn’s ship saw land at an unknown coast, to his best knowledge far west of Írland. Little did he know that his younger brother Asbjørn, about a week earlier, settled about 36 mil (approx. 270 km) to the south east. Bjørn and his men sailed up a river, called Wolastoq by the local people. On a riverbank, they created simple shelters of wood and hide, to survive through the first cold season.

Never the less several trælle lost their lives due to the cold winter and also the elderly Viking Ulfhild died. Four Vikings survived the winter, The Leader Bjørn Njalson, his wife Signe, a niece of King Haraldr Hárfagri *, their daughter Astrid, and the young fearless warrior Herleif Bloodsword, living with a dark skinned træl women named Ysabel. The Vikings had 9 trælle left after the winter including children. Luckily Bjørn had a load of sheep onboard the ship, providing food during the first very difficult months. They had no other options than to split the ship apart and build some better houses, but now they were stuck here. The small group of houses, built on frames from the ship's planks, were placed a little further into the woods to get more shelter and avoid the cold wind from the river. Surprisingly everyone survived the winter 914/915 and everyone were able to leave the primitive shelters at springtime 915. How it was time to gather more food and wood, before the little they had left ran out.

* Harald Hårfagre, (Harald Fairhair) was the first known King of Norway, putatively on the throne from 872 to 930 

[catty-cb 4,413]

Nice start 

[Tamijo 2,036]

Thanks catty

[Tamijo 2,036]

October 915

We got Turnips seeds in the ground just in time to get a decent harvest, and the sheep are also fenced of and got some winter shelter. Bjørn and Signe believe everything is alright for the coming winter, hopefully without loss of life. Most of the pit houses are full, we got shelter and a supply of firewood. Herleif Bloodsword have been hunting deer and the trælle woman gathering onions and blueberries. In the evening we gather around the campfire by the water well, roasting meat or chicken, drinking the beer the træl woman Freja makes from malt, hops, yeast, honey, straw and water. We are telling stories of our ancestors or singing old songs from our homelands, until it too dark and cold to stay outside.

 

[Tamijo 2,036]

January to March 916

In January 916 Bjørn and Signe get a son, they name him Styrbjørn *, the same month Herleif Bloodsword get a daughter Gyðja ** with Ysabel. Herleif gives Ysabel her freedom, she is no longer considered a træl. It is freezing cold outside with daytime temperature as low as -13°C. The Vikings are making capes from the deer hide to keep everyone warm. Not only the Viking have kept each other warm at night, three trælle children was also born this winter, a newborn in every family. A charcoal burner was up is late January.

In the first month of spring, we prepared for Pásk ***, venison and mutton roasting over the two fireplaces. The ground is still too hard for planting the Turpin seeds, but we have been able to start the first small clay dig in the forest north of the settlement.

* Noisy Bear, ** Goddess, *** Easter. 

Map on the surrounding area spring 916

[Tamijo 2,036]

I will move the story to Forums/Gamer Topics/City-Building Games. Noticed that if you post in "Club" is not seen or show as a "forum" post, and will be less likely to be noticed.