Super Awesome Viking Time Part 3

   

With losing no time season two jumps off with the land dispute with King Horik and the Early Jarl Borg. Earl Ragnar Lothbrok and his men stand with their new alliance but Ragnar's brother Rollo has chosen to switch sides hoping to finally be in the spot light and gain dome power for himself. The two armies battle losing forces on both sides. Floki is badly injured and might die my Rollo. Ragnar helps negotiate both sides to terms over the land dispute saving the lives of the rest of his men. One of the terms is that Earl Jarl Borg will be allowed to raid with them on their return to England during the next summer's raid. They return with the injured and Rollo to be held on trial for his crimes. The local law keeper rules Rollo must live with his crimes by the order of the gods. He is cast into exile still spring when he returns to ask for forgiveness. Lagertha learns of Ragnar's affair and forbids him to see her again. When the ice melts he runs into trouble when Aslaug arrive heavy with child. Lagertha believes this is her fault from the events of praying to the gods for Ragnar to have more sons. She Divorces Ragnar and leaves with Bjorn.

Four years pass since Rollo left and everyone's forces have been rebuilt.

Ragnar is now married to Aslaug and is on his third child with her all which are boys.

When Earl Jarl Borg arrives Ragnar breaks his promise by orders of King Horik to allow him to raid. He leaves before the raiding armies take off. Ragnar forgives Rollo but forbids him to join them on the raid. The raiding party leaves and once coming ashore begins to leave a path of destruction.

Sacking a church of a famous saint. Meanwhile Earl Jarl Borg returns with a army and kills most of Ragnar's remaining men back at the village. Rollo manages to get Ragnar's family out and into the higher mountains. Lagertha has married Early Sigvard and hears the news of the sacking of her former home. Against his wishes she takes Bjorn and a small army to aid Ragnar's family. Back in Wessex Ragnar's effects have drawn the attain of the King Ecbert. He arranges a meeting and they come to terms just as the news of his home reaches him. He leaves King Horik behind with Athelstan to translate. When they leave the King breaks his promise and most of King Horik forces are killed as he barely escapes. Athelstan is captured and crucified for aiding the Vikings against Gods people.

King Ecbert pardon's Athelstan life after he had been nailed to a cross.

On the way back haft of Ragnar's boats are sunk leaving little help to free his family           

They arrive and Ragnar meets his son for the first time in five years. They trick Earl Jarl Borg out of the town and defeat his armies. They settle back in and start to rebuild over winter. Lagertha returns to her village without her son and her Husband Earl Sigvard has her beaten and raped. In revenge she kills him in front of his men and assumes his mantel and lands as Earl.

When the ice melts King Horik arrives informing Ragnar of the Saxons breaking their word to them. Also Horik tells Ragnar that his friend Athelstan was killed. They would like to travel west to seek justice but lack the overall forces to do so. King Horik invites Earl Jarl Borg to talk on Ragnar's behalf without his consent. Once he arrives he goes back on a promises of no retaliation to Jarl and has him arrested. Horik begs him to not kill him until they can find another allie to add forces to their cause. This was also part of a ploy to de seat Ragnar's popularity within his own people. Horik begins to seek out those who would turn against Ragnar. He gets though to Floki, Siggy, and a few others. Lagertha returns with a fleet of warriors and with promise aid as a new Earl.

Now that another source of warriors have been found Jarl Borg meets his fate dying by blood eagle.

A blood eagle is death by cutting a bird shape hole in your back flesh then breaking apart your rib cage to remove the lungs out the back of your body.

 

While this crazy Viking revenge blood bath goes down. The Three kings of Wessex have combined their forces to bring down the second coming of the pagans. The Vikings return to Wessex to face a huge army which they meet head on. Though Ragnar and his forces are taking losses they still seem to have the edge in battle. They force their way to the cattle of King Ecbert. When they arrive they are greeted with a feast and a humble king asking for forgiveness. Ragnar also finds out that Athelstan is still alive. Ragnar agree against the wishes of Horik, and Lagertha to meet with Ecbert and the other kings. They come to a peace ideal about a promises of farming land in Wessex. Some of Ragnar's actions have lead his family and friends to doubt him and even more so with King Horik whispering in their ear.

They return to the village and King Horik whole family arrives and join in a great feast. Horik convinces Floki to spy on Ragnar and even to kill Bjorn. King Horik one night puts his plan into action that he had been setting in motion for over a year. His people attack the village. All the friends of Ragnar that he poisoned meet up in the Hall were Ragnar's family slept. When he got their Ragnar's wife and sons were gone. The people Horik placed his trust in never lost there faith in Ragnar but instead had been letting him know of Horik plan.

Ragnar kills Horik and lets his family go but takes the tittle of King from his blood line. The season ends with King Ragnar coming into power.

That was season two Vikings season run down. As a whole season two has the most content and story development.

If you have read my previous blog you known Ragnar has a lot of historical back story. This season brings his history alive and a super awesome bloody way. Part four of Super Awesome Viking Time will be out soon covering season 3 and my predictions of season 4 due out on tv in 2016.

Brace your self's, the Hashtags are coming!

Joe The Grey

Super Awesome Viking Time Part Two

Welcome back for Part two of the blog post that was just two long to squeeze into one.

Well this entry will cover the historical past of Ragnar Lothbrok(lodbrok in legend) who is the main character on the fictional based History Channel show Vikings. Now when you read this I want you to keep an open mind because some event are similar but are in different orders. Now there are many different tales that all have some similar points from multiple books but here is my take.

Ragnar Lodbroth was of noble and legendry decent unlike a poor farmer like he is in the history channel show. Son of a Swedish King Sigurd Hring with a Danish King Gudfred as a uncle. Ragnar was a young warrior who was proving his name when his grandfather King Siward was killed by invades from the Swedan King named Fro while in Norway. All of Siward female family members were made into sex slaves to dishonor the former kings name. Ragnar heard the news and came to avenge his Grandfather death. When news traveled that Ragnar, grandson of the late king arrive to recalm his blood's honor all of the slaved women including the former Chief(who must have been the kings wife) Dressed up as men and joined forces winning the battle. It was not until after that it was revealed the nature of their deceit. The one female warrior that stood out the most was a Shield Maiden name Lagertha. 

Now she is Ragnars first wife in the tv show but it is unclear in what order two of his wives were wed in.

Now Ragnar asked for her hand though a messenger. When he came to properly propose he was attacked by her pet bear and dog which she sent lose on him. He killed both and they wedded, but Ragnar was angered. 

Later after she bore his son Fridleif and two daughters. He left to fight in a civil war in Denmark. He had heard a tales of Herrauor who was the Earl of Gotaland said to have been from a god's blood line. These tales included his daughter who was trapped in a tower by a serpent from her father's own doing. It was said any worry enough to defeat this Serpent no matter who shall take my daughters hand. Ragnar finish his part in the civil war and decided to take on this challenge. He grew angry with the thought of his first wife trying to kill him so he sent word that they were divorced. He took shaggy cloths and covered them in tar and sand when dried harden like armor. 

He took on the serpent, who's fangs could not pierce his jackets toughness. He stuck the serpent though with a spear that broke in two. He left to recover and later claimed his prize of the fair maiden Thora Borgarhjort.

Her father the King was so deeply impressed he gave Ragnar(just a first name written at the time) his own Surname of Lodbrok which means hairy-Breeks. Though born from noble blood lines, Ragnar has made it on his own path rather then by his parents worth. Thora gave him Eirkr, and Agnar his second and third sons. Now how can this wife be second if his story starts with his surname in other stories already part of him. To be fair most Northern men could not read or write so either these tales were taken down later in history by many people or by a bios source outside of their culture. Much like the stories of the Jews of writing the Torra in Babylon long after the said timed events. Or even later with the Christians who wrote the words of Jesus and all of his work over 100 years after his death. Many believe this was lax from the said second coming which never came.

So onto the third and final wife Aslaug Lodbrok. The history channel show use's the back history of Thora for this character who is his second wife. Her parents were the nobles Sigurd and Brynhidr. They died for unknown reasons and her foster father Heimer thought many would like to calm her for her beauty even at a young age. So he made a giant harp and hid her inside of it. He went around masked as a poor begger playing music for coins. One night staying at the peasant's Ake and Grima house the two killed Heimer believing there to be treasure in the harp. When they broke it open they found the girl who they dressed in rags and kept dirty to hide her beauty which was a sign of noble blood. Years go by when King Ragnar's ship sales by and his men come to shore to attain food. They find Aslaug bathing and report her beauty back to Ragnar who when seeing her from afar back covered in the dirt again does not believe it. He sent her a riddle and she figured it out. They waited to be married till Ragnar mission he was sailing to in Norway was complete. She gave birth to many sons Ivar the Boneless, Hvitserk, Ragnvald the Mountain-High(Bjorn Ironsides by other names), Sigurd Snake in the Eye.

Another change was Bjorn was born though Lagertha in the tv show.

Now Ragnar was known for using his wit and cunning to attain his victory's. In fact the only proof recorded of actual events were his sons victory's that gave credit to three different men as fathers that all sum up to the legendary King Ragnar when you break them down. 

Now when Ragnar forces were fighting againstKing Aella of Northumbria in Britain they find out Eirkr, and Agnar died fighting for the fathers sake against Eysteinn Beli who was Earl of Sweden that Ragnar had placed in power.

Enraged all of his other sons and current wife Aslaug took to arms and left Ragnar to fight without them. Aslaug left Ragnar a special shirt for protection against all the snakes in the area. King Ragnar remaining army was defeated by King Aella and he was thrown into a pit of snakes after they removed his special shirt. 

On the way back to Britain Aslaug and sons heard the news and gather every ounce of Northman that they could and fought Aella back and came to terms with the king gaining land from him. Creating the town of York and once enough forces and men had built up they attack again killing the King Honoring there father. 

That in a nut shell is his history. Now Ragnar was known to be a poet and many more books are out there about his tales and wisdom. I just touched up his main story and parts that conflicted with the show. 

Super Awesome Viking time part three will cover season two of the tv show.

Brace yourselves, the hashtags are coming! 

Joe the Grey

Well shoot

Just blew out all my photos featured in any blog.... Oh fun. Should be fixed by tomorrow

new intro - Created using Flixpress.com

first intro video - Create your own at http://ift.tt/wFUlm2
http://youtu.be/1qZokbY-OQA

Duel Monsters Final Boss

Duel Generation final boss of classic mode
http://youtu.be/HaiVdazVsbE

May The 4th Be With You 2015

I spent my morning quoting star wars and light saber fighting my 18 month old son. I have forever been a Fan Boy since the moment I first saw the original films as a child. They have always brought me a sense of comfort and a fictional wisdom. Here is a link to a CNN news story posted today on there web site that made me smile.
what-is-star-wars-day

May the 4th be with you, always!
Joe The Grey

Super Awesome Warrior Viking Time! Part 1

That's right the rippling chested warriors dripping in blood and sweat known as Vikings just wrapped up their third season on The History Channel. This will be a review of past seasons one following my next blog with will be the history that inspired this show. 

Ragnar Lothbrok played by Travis Fimmel is a farmer who has dreams of achieving greatness. To smart for his own good he constantly strives towards forwarding his knowledge of the world. He has had visions in his summer raids to the east. We get to witness him see Odin walk over the fallen Viking warriors after a battle with a Russian settlement. After this he is haunted by a number of other vision concluding he is of Odin's blood. His goals are halted by his Earl, the Lord Haraldson. 

Ragnar has a vision of sailing to lands that the Northmen have yet to raid, let alone sail to. To a lord a bright warrior and Eager explorer could bring him riche's. But in times of power brought on by conquest, brings the earl to fear for his title. 

You meet Ragnar's son Bjorn as he pledge's himself to the Earl as he enters manhood. Bjorn also has a sister both born from Ragnard wife Lagertha a shield maiden. Around this point you meet the anti hero Rollo which is Ragnar's  brother. Ragnar seeks his oldest friend Floki the ship builder to construct a new type of vessel that would allow longer travel on the sea to be possible. Floki fulfills his promise and build the mighty Viking long boat that also allows travel up rivers. Ragnar rallies his closest friends and breaks a new command forbidding any raiding to the Western unmapped lands by the Earl.  They set sail using a new type of navigation a sun stone which allows you to look directly into the sky to see the position of the sun without glare. They also use a water compass that when you figure out the position of the sun you can tell the proper time to use this compass allowing them to travel west without being lost at sea. On this first journey they came across Lindisfarne on the tip of the British Isles which was a monastery filled with Christian monks who had traveled the known world. They were now scribing there travels onto parchment along with creating new bibles when Ragnar's raiding party landed. They pillaged the monks godly treasures, slaying most of them. One monks life was spared.

 His name was Athelstan. Ragnar was taken by Athelstan vast knowledge of the world.  Once returning Ragnar faced the Earl's wrath with the sacking of his and his friends lands by those still loyal to the Earl. Ragnar and the Earl face off with the god's to decide their fate. Ragnar wins and becomes Earl Ragnar Lothbrok. He is once again visited by Odin though his visions and he takes it as a sign that he is pleased. The Viking King Horik arrives hearing of Ragnar's travels. All of them travel to Uppsalla a Norse temple to offer sacrifices to the god's. Series one ends with Ragnar traveling to Gotaland on the request of Horik to settle a land dispute with earl jarl borg as the village comes under a attack from a plague losing many including the late earl's children and Ragnars daughter.

                                                                                  (Earl Jarl Borg)

Most of season one builds Ragnar's back story and the bounds of his friends that allow him to reach his goals. The key point is that they are Vikings and as Pagans worshiper's to the Norse gods. Their everyday lives revolve around honoring these religious ties. To people such as the Saxons at these's time there pagan life styles scared, and angered all outside of there culture.  

I decided to turn this blog post into 4 parts. This is part one dealing with season one. Part 2 tells Ragnar's historical past and how his legend help shape early Europe. Part 3 will be season two and part 4 will be season 3 and were I think they will go in the last season of the show. 

Brace yours self's, the Hashtag's are coming!
Joe the Grey