"The Naked Berserker " Told in the words of Stal

It was a fine crisp fall morning when the  warriors of the Tor' Mark Fell  arrived at the gates of Sardar to revenge the crude deeds of the Sardar.  The Sardar men  having  stolen some FW and bonds of IronHall the day before  to sell  at the Winter Festival.   After breaking camp we went back to the gates to plan our final thoughts for the raid.  Each man testing his weapons  swinging his sword  and testing  the weight of his Spear and Axe.  Their thoughts deep in the up coming battle and  the blood and screaming rages that comes in the heat of battle.    Each man knowing that  the Valkyries  would take them to Valhalla if they fell in battle.

When the the battle started I took  three men in a diversion to hit the Sardar  fort ,  setting  fire to their front gates and keeping them  trapped in the  fort while our men raided the stores and goods of the Sardar village.  The plan worked well and the fires were set  and we stood fast with our shields held high in the hail of their arrows.  My Second Axe, Conner of the Wind, was at my side  as we tossed our spears in an effort to keep them busy.  The fight was fierce and  when they could not leave their fort because of the fires they repelled down  their walls and were upon us with ax and sword.    

Conner went  down knocked unconscious as I was also shortly after he was.    We were then dragged  into their fort after they  were able to put out there fires.  Having taking my weapons  they stripped Conner of his cloths  and  most of his weapons .  But did not remove his sword which was still partly sheathed and lying under him.   After coming out of my dazed state and shaking off my unconsciousness I looked to Conner lying about a meter away from me. He also was also conscience.  After a we had small talk about whether  they were going to serve us mead we watched the Sadar's men  running to their ramparts  and shooting over the side at out kin.  The were unaware and not watching us lying in the dirt.  Conner  worked his bindings with the edge of half sheathed sword  and cut himself free.  

Grabbing his sword he cut down two Sardar warriors.   Another approached  and he cut him down.  He returned to me to aid me and I was free to scramble looking for weapons.  Out of the corner of my eye I see Conner fighting a group of Sardar  warriors.  His frenzy was a sight to see.   

Second Axe Conner was screaming in a rage, fighting naked as the day he was born with only his  helmet on and his manhood flying in the wind.  I laughed at the sight as I  joined the battle.  This crazy  berserker  fought brilliantly.    Around the court yard we fought  all the time I watched this crazy naked berserker.  Finally our men  were over the wall and were in  to aid us.  I had to yell at Conner in the heat of the battle as he in his blind berserker rage, he  attacked a group of Sardar and hit our own men  with sword strokes.   I am sure if he had died this day the Valkyries would have grinned as they took him to Valhalla.    

So next the next time I go into battle with Conner at me side I will  be sure to carry a spare kilt and leggings in me pack for the man,  he may catch a chill .  And to all the men who fought at Sardar.  Well done and glory to all Northern Marauders of Torvaldsland.

Ardo's Family Found!

I took the serpent to Kassau, laden with my goods and trinkets. I took the Lady Ira with me, for she wanted to buy some fine cloth. We wandered the markets there and I stumbled upon two of the greatest treasures...

The greatest treasure a man can ever have... 

...His family.

There behind the potter's wheel was none other than my sister Maeve!

You can imagine my joy at finding my lost sister, a sister I thought dead - slain by the vile kurii as they raided our village of Sotvann.

She also believed I was dead, slain by the stinking beasts; but I had been knocked senseless and awoke after the evil beasts had killed all. I thought my beloved sister and my only child had been killed and eaten.

All were killed and eaten...

Save Maeve and...

My darling daughter Ana!

Both sail as we speak, they arrive as soon as wind and tide permits.

I am beside myself with joy!

My dear friend and warrior Mamut saved them, but died from his wounds. I know he now sits in Valhalla, above the salt on the Allfather's table, among all the greatest heroes.

Ardo beats his chest and howls praise to Odin and Mamut.

Blood and steel!

My daughter is now a young woman, proud and free, kept so by the love and labour of my sister.

Ardo Acquires Ama

 After the fall of Kassa He wandered, coming to rest at a tavern in the city of Lara on the River Vosk. 

He saw a girl on stage, the look on her face showed she was battered and bruised and scared to death - being made to dance for her life (a normal practice there). 

He saw her handler crack a whip at her - the tip coming within an inch of her face, and the crowd were baying for her blood. 

He felt enraged at the cowardly and brutal way the girl was being treated, and he approached her handler about purchasing her after the show was over.

He acquired her for a pittance and took her onto his chain.

Ardo's Back Story

 I was born in Kasra, the son of a warrior. I was a young Scarlet Lieutenant on an errand as protective escort to an ambassador. When I returned, the city had been sacked and it's inhabitants slain or sold. Miraculously my sister Maeve had survived; she had hidden in a storm drain for four days.

We buried our loved ones and roamed the land with my sister and brave Ama for a long time, searching for sign or story of our lost citizens - all to no avail; each lead ended in a lost trail or was too dangerous and futile to consider pursuing, without an army of warriors to guard my flanks.

We travelled to Turia and I enrolled as a Guard of the Scarlet Order, but the city was then led by fools ruled by their women. I will not bear the frustration of serving under vain and incompetent boys, so we took up our baggage and once again embarked on our travels.

We arrived at the desert city of Tor and made our home there, but for us the city was as empty and barren as the desert it served; so we once again took up our travels in search of adventure and fortune.

We headed north, following the childhood stories of our father's adventures, eventually finding a home in the tiny hamlet of Søtvann, where I became innkeeper, brewer and carpenter. I took a companion Holga and we raised a daughter, Ana.

Søtvann fell prey to the vile kurii and the village was burned, only a handful survived to tell the tale, and these were scattered to the four winds. Sadly, my beautiful Holga succumbed to her wounds and I was once again alone in my travels. I know not what became of my beloved daughter and sister or my slave Ama.

I wandered along the coastline and stumbled upon a secluded village in the shadow of the Hrimgar Mountains called Hamrar, where I was met with a cautious but warm welcome. Enjoying the good natured humour and hospitality of the village, I decided to offer my services as a hunter, skinner and fur trader, having learned that the position was vacant.