Vague CS- this is not the final product. This might, or might not work- essentially, Halvar will be playing a role in consolidating perhaps a new age of Viking raids on Britain, starting with finishing up the job in Manx. 

Name: Halvar Dyras Sigurdsson
(OOC: Could be known as "The Serpent" to the residents of Manx, for a particular act he might do.)

Age: 31

Appearance: Halvor looks very contrary to many Vikings of his era, perhaps being a little more eloquent than most, though of course, more rough than any Romano-British soldier could be found. He keeps a short head of blonde hair, shaved almost, being very contra to the usual look of many Vikings, with long flowing hair. This is a rather personal, and painful choice to make, being something that perhaps he prefers in maintenance. A pair of Nordic blue eyes, and a thick, yet somewhat well kept full beard reinforces the point- this is a Norseman, through and through. He stands at about 6"4, and whilst not being the largest of his compatriots, can wield a two-handed axe with fairly good ease, and a Crossbow with significant talent, as he is fairly stocky. In most meetings, be it trade or war, he can be seen wearing an almost full suit of chainmail, over which he wears a red and blue shirt tunic. While being very heavy, many Vikings such as Halvar are able to fight effectively with them on, and it goes up the whole length of the neck, with a Viking helmet (NO HORNS, GUESS FUCKING WHY?*) and fur overcoat joining them. A two-handed Norse Axe is his weapon of choice, with a iron blade that has seen many an opponent felled like a tree trunk. A shortsword and blue and red wooden iron-reinforced shield sit on a holster on his hip and back respectively, the two handed axe incompatible with the two due to their size. Otherwise, he can be seen wearing a blue-dyed woolen tunic when on ship

Culture: Norse

Religion: Norse Paganism

Backstory: Born in the southern realms of Norway, Halvar was brought up in the old ways, the Norse way. His father was a raider and from a young age, he often was taught how to fight, how to hunt and how to read runes, as well as how to help sail a Longboat- from working on the rigging to helmsman duties. He was fairly clever, and whilst not the strongest or the bravest of them all, he had a sharp mind, a mind that did not dreamed but realized. Blood wasn't a scary sight for him. He embraced it quickly, and at the age of 16, took part in his rite of passage, joining his father on an expedition to the western coast of Alba, to raid monasteries and the riches that the Celtic Monks had set up along the fragmented coast. Whilst Scotland was not the glory days of Northumbria, with the tales of gold and immense treasure of false Gods that had been taken, it was a way of subjegating and harassing the mostly disorganized locals, whom on Halvor's first trip, showed far more resistance. He lost his father on his first expedition, and the only thing that ever avenged his loss was perhaps seeing the raiding party's Jarl ordering the murder of the whole population of several Pict fishing villages, of which he took part in. Despite the loss, he returned home remorseless and willing to continue where his father had began him, hungry for the taste of more. He stayed at Orkneyjar, at the Viking garrison of Lerwick, learning of the Celtic cultures from the librarians, perhaps something different to what he had been usually entailed with as a fearless and brutal warrior, whilst trading and often becoming a raiding leader on the West Coast of Scotland. He picked up the language, of those who lived in Fortriu and Del Riata, the Celtic tongue being foreign yet somewhat maintained whenever he has had the opportunity to help trade- be it slaves or iron. While he despised the language, he valued it's importance in dealing with certain disputes. Further raiding parties on the Western coast of Scotland, particularly around Skye and Arran, followed, against Pictish tribes, with slaves taken and trade followed with other Viking civilizations, with Halvor's leadership bringing him about as a key individual to profit from this. He returned home at the age of 26, to find much of his homeland in turmoil. One particular chieftain, Harold I Fairhair, had begun a rallying call to bring the Norse kingdoms together. The bands of isolated Viking parties was in itself, threatened, and Halvar joined him, his own village itself already aligned to the unification of South-Western Norway's fledgling kingdoms.

Four years ago, at the Battle of Hafrsfjord in Eastern Norway, Halvar proved himself a worthwhile and loyal asset to the Norwegian king, who began to unite a fragmented Norse influence, in his home country and across the waves, on the British Isles. It was part of the reason that Halvor earned the title of Huscarl- a personal guard, and elevated in status as the King's personal guards, and more the point, a leader of a group of Norse foot-soldiers under his command. The King immediately sent him to the British Isles with around 100 men, to act as a raiding party. Succeed, and Halvar would obtain a Lordship for whatever he conquered on the Emerald Isles, his knee bent to the Norwegian Empire. Fail, and see Valhalla....it was a true way to deal with things. Halvar is based from Manx, to this end of conquering and capturing, swaying the local King, . To become a Jarl, now that was an aspiration for a lowly warrior, and it would be glorious. The north had been forboding, and few treasures and riches remained. But Cornovia and Gwynned were still available for the taking. And of course, convince the now Viking-ruled Kingdom of Manx to become a Norwegian asset, back to the homeland, as a part of an Empire. Swords were not the only way of achieving that, but in this period, Halvar is aware that any turmoil he brings will need to be followed through with lethal force.

*Find Rage Here.