Coast of Lindisfarne

The waves pounded against Odin's Whisper, making a deafening crash, most of the raider's had been asleep despite the sound, but one raider simply couldn't sleep, the wave's were too noisy. he sat at by the edge of the ship, next to him was Odin's Crow another ship full of raider's, the two ship's were close enough for the raider's to communicate to one another. Why does everyone name their ship after odin? thought the raider as he stared down the sea, then suddenly land appeared over the horizon, happiness filled his soul, he had been at sea for weeks and this was the first view of land and by the god's what beautiful land it was. a church came into view as well, one that was no doubt filled to the brim with gold. The Raider sprung up yelling Land!, praise the god's we found land!. causing the raider's to wake up from their slumber on both ships.

OOC note: you can pick which ship you're on @BlackBishop@TheWildBunnii@pandapolio@Winterwake@Sirkaithethird

Odin's Whisper
Uffr awoke to find him self dosing at the tiller,
To his crew he commanded, "To the Oars, Grab your gear, and pull hard, we will beat the Crow to the shore" Uffr already in his armor looked to the shore, and sure enough there was land. Uffr instinctively touched his amulet in the shape of Thor's hammer, Uffr asked the gods for this day to be one of good battle, good drink, and good riches.

Odin's Whisper
Harek had been fast asleep when he heard the captain shouting for the the men to get to the oars. Harek sat there dazed for a second before realizing that he should get to the oars. He immediately ran to his post, not bothering to put any clothes on other than the pants he had on already. He sat at his bench prepared to run his oar out as soon as the drummer began to call a pace.

Odin's Whisper
Uffr looked to the deck of the ship and saw Harek sitting on a bench rowing with only his pants on. To him he called "your not going to fight like that? Get into something!"

Odin's Whisper
"I'll be ready by the time we make landfall, don't worry captain" Once Harek said this he shouted at one of the men running around, and they passed him his pack. Harek then slapped his helmet onto his head and gave Uffr a grin, then went back to rowing.

Odin's Whisper

Uffr smirked,
There was something about Harek, the man had humor in the face of danger. A trait that could save him or get him killed. The whisper had pulled ahead of the Crow. The men of the Whisper called insults as the distance of the ships lengthened. Uffr figured that his men could handle it, and he focused on steering the Longship

Odin's Whisper
Ulf Thrallson opted to dress himself in his armour before he joined the rowers, and quite obviously took his time about doing so. Once all his armour save for his helmet was on he took a seat by one of the oars and joined in rowing in unison with the rest of the crew. For now he addressed no one as no one had addressed him but he laughed aloud at some of the insults being thrown back and fourth from the two boats.

---

Predawn gloom had settled over the world. A hazy veil slowly being lifted as the first golden fingers of the sun crept across the sky to the lament of rolling waves crashing upon the hulls of two ships. Dubbed The Crow by its crew, the longship cut across the rough waters with speed and agility, its keel spine parting the frigid waters with ease as its oars dipped and splashed in hypnotic rhythm.

Most of the fifty raiders aboard the vessel slept, save its captain, Edric Godseye. Sitting at the steering oar, the large man brushed his ash grey hair from his brow, lazily adjusting the oar to keep it parallel to Odin's Whisper. His attention was more concerned with the small stump of wood held in his lap. Taking his hand from the oar handle, Edric lifts up a knife and continues his work, whittling a figurine from the wood. The sharp edge of the knife made short work of the soft birch, cutting away timber to forge the shape of a head and shoulders.

A cry from Odin's Whisper broke Edric's concentration.

"Land! Praise the Gods, we have found land!"

Edric slapped the shoulder of his sleeping helmsmen, motioning him to take the oar. He grunted sheepishly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes before taking the oar. Edric rose from his seat, and began making his way toward the prow where a crow, black as night, perched in eternal watch before the ship.

Before the prow stood Edric's trusted lieutenants; young Skuli Guthornson and Hafr, Edric's oldest and most trusted friend. They seemed to be arguing as they looked out upon the land on the horizon.

"I don't see it," Hafr was saying, squinting into the horizon.

"It's right there," insisted Skuli, pointing at a dark shape in the distance.

"What do you see," asked Edric, joining them.

"A building, Jarl Edric," answered young Skuli. "You see the spire? I'd guess its a church."

"I see nothing," grumbled Hafr. "The boy is still dreaming, I say."

"I'm telling you its there!" Laughed Skuli, amused his comrade couldn't see it. "You need only open your eyes!" Hafr furrowed his brow in concentration, his eyes straining to see what was ahead of him. Skuli began talking very slowly, as if to a child. "You see, Skuli, there's land ahead."

"I can see the land!" Snapped Hafr.

Edric squeezed Hafr's shoulder. "Your eyes are not what they used to be. Skuli, you and your men with me. Hafr, secure the Crow then follow us up the beach." Skuli nodded and left to gather his men while Hafr continued his strained gaze into the horizon.

Edric walked back across the length of the ship. The raiders had all awoken, lured from slumber by the call of land. They busied themselves, strapping boiled leathers across their torsos, flinging shields over their backs, and draping chainmail over their shoulders. The men stopped their preparation, and exchange of taunts and japes with Odin's Whisper, as a seagull squawked overhead. All looked up to watch the bird as it circled and screeched. It dove down before the ship before flapping its great wings and careening high up in the air to disappear into cloud and gloom.

Edric watched the bird carefully. The Gods often use animals to herald their presence, and this sighting appeared beyond happenstance. Whether this be a good or bad sign, Edric couldn't say for sure without deeper thought. His men, however, expected a quick answer. The grisled old raider lifted his axe above his head. "Víkingr, the Gods are with us!"

The men cheered and crashed their axes and shields together in a bloodthirsty cataphonic song. The landmass loomed overhead, their landfall imminent. Skuli slapped Edric's back, signalling his readiness. Hafr strode back from the prow.

"There's a building on the horizon," Hafr stated. "I'd guess a church."

Skuli smirked wryly. "Thank the Gods you are with us, Hafr."

The Crow lurched to a stop as it grinded up onto the beach. Edric led the charge, Skuli and his men just behind him. Edric flung himself over the rails of the ship, his axe tight in his hand and the blade calling for blood. Edric shouted into the crisp morning air.

"The Gods are with us!"

Lindisfarne

The young monk was terrible at sleeping, he was pretty certain that sleeping was a skill, one that couldn't be taught but innately learned, he had spent most of the night staring at the top of his bunk, around him all the other monks snored loudly, the sound of it deafening, he was always the last to fall asleep and because of it, the first to suffer the earthquake of snores. finally the monk couldn't handle it anymore, he wanted some goddamn peace and quiet, he shoved himself off of the bed and stumbled across the bunk room, opening the door.

Outside was a stone wall, it wasn't very tall, any saxon with two arms could easily scale it, but the true protection was faith itself, only the most depraved of men would dare attack a church, lest god smite them down for the scum they are. he breathed in the fresh morning air, it was cold but in a nice way, like a glass of water. he smiled at the red morning sun, Lindisfarne was a beautiful church and it was his home.

Then suddenly he heard a barely audible roar, he paused, a shiver tingling down his spine, he moved closer to the wall and listened deeply, the roar grew louder, it sounded like shouting, the shouting of a thousand demons. he gasped, as he spotted a small horde of leather-bound men, each of them screeching praise for their foul pagan gods. he ran to the top of the church, nearly tripping over a staircase leading to the top, he reached a brass bell at the top and rang it ten times, causing a deafening sound to wake up the entire church, it had been rung every day, once for their daily prayer, twice for food, but it had never been rung ten times, ten bell ring's meant the coming of death, it meant demons, it meant pagans.

@BlackBishop@Winterwake@Sirkaithethird@pandapolio

Ulf Egilsson roared with the rest as he disembarked from the Odin's Whisper and made his way up the beach alongside his fellow Norsemen and women. He kept up with the rest of the raiders at a sprightly jog just behind the men at the front, and despite the weight of his armour and helmet, which he favoured for its unparalleled protection and sinister appearance, he had no problems keeping up with them. He held his dane axe in two hands up over his shoulder so that it was poised for an overhead swing and roared to his fellows as the alarm bell atop the monastery began to blare

"Good! Now they know that we are coming!"

Harek jumped off the ship at a sprint to join the line of raiders making their way across the beach, hoping to not be left behind. As he ran he slipped a shirt over his head, but didn't put any of his armour on; not wanting to slow himself down. As he caught up to the front of the raiders he drew his sword and let out a yell with the rest of the raiders.

Uffr commanded 5 of his men to stay on the ship,
He grabbed his axe and leaped over the bow the the Whisper. "With me!" Uffr called to the rest of his crew. They charged up to the wall, even with the armor Uffr was wearing he could easily summit the wall. The ringing was growing more stressed. As Uffr looked down into the courtyard of the building, he saw nobody, they muct be hiding except for the asshole in the tower. The Bells must be heard on the shore. Uffr jumped down into the courtyard and taunted "Come out little Pigs" Uffr felt the battle joy taking over, he was in enemy territory.

Harek made sure he was close behind Uffr going over the wall, so the captain wouldn't go get his back stabbed. After he jumped the wall he looked around, but could not see any enemies nearby. He jogged up to the front door and knocked.
"Anyone home."
He listened for a second then looked over at one of the nearer raiders with an axe and smiled.

---

Odin's Whisper had beat the Crow to shore, its raiders already nearly at the temple before Edric put his boots to the ground. It was in moments like this, running alongside fifty men to raid some heathen Saxons, that Edric really felt his age. His legs burned, and a dull ache radiated out from his knees each time his heel found the ground. Within a few moments, Skuli and many of the other raiders had outrun him, leaving Edric nearer the middle.

It suited him fine, however. The bells indicated the church spied their approach, and may have arms prepared against them. The impatient youth keen to outrun their own captain will be the first to be pierced by arrow and steel.

Edric reached the church, wiping the sweat from his brow and catching his breath. Herek was knocking at the door, Uffr stood nearby, and Skuli and his men were circling the church.

"The door is barred shut," said one raider.

"The windows are all shuttered as well," said Skuli, returning from behind the church. "Some Saxons have fled inland, into the hills."

"Saxons are cowards." Edric stated plainly. He studied the door of the Christ temple. It was solid oak and wrought with iron. It would take some effort ramming it open, and the bells may have alerted nearby men. There were nearby trees to fashion a ram, but that would take all day, and Edric didn't exactly relish being here longer then he had to.

Edric studied his fellow raiders, rubbing a hand through his course, grey beard. "They think their Christ will save them, but they only delay Gods' will. We could make a ram from the trees over yonder, but those bells are bound to attract attention. Lets say we smoke these rats out of their whole, end this quick."

The early morning air was quiet and crisp while the men continued to sleep the previous day's activities. And yet there was something in the air that spoke of growing tension.

Like the string of a hunter's bow being drawn too tight.

Astrid felt it as surely as she felt the breeze against her skin and it made her anxious. Made her fidgety. She spent most of the night at the end of the line, mediating at her own risk, trying to ignore the odd feeling that had been growing in the pit of her stomach for a few hours. Her fingers tighten around the wooden staff which laid upon her lap, she felt each snore and wave around her. Using her duties to distract herself was amiss and calmly dismissed the notion. But right now something just felt off and she couldn't explain even if she tried to.

"Land!, praise the god's we found land!"

The familiar words rang out, a blessing to these Vikings. She was not surprised when the ship shifted from complete silence to utter chaos of men bouncing around her. Each one brought out from their slumber by the call of dirt.

With a deep breath, she rose from her state and pushed herself towards the front of the boat. On the horizon, indeed land was approaching and the church which claims most of the view. She let out a weak, frightened sound, as she saw the stone cross that has come to harm her kind. She could feel the heavy weight of watching eyes as she maneuvered through the ship, back to her spot.

''

Astrid was never one to act recklessly, nor to be found in the front of the line of attack. However, something pulled and tugged at her soul. A powerful force had lured the young volva to the dark shore more potent than her instinct to stay abroad along with the remaining men. She strode to the where the men have had gathered on land. She shoved herself once more to the front and the men all moved, turning towards and stilled when they saw her, saw a woman, standing there in not but in a simple dress and staff.

Ulf took a deep breath and strolled lazily about the yard, meandering in and out of the crowd. Occasionally he wanders away, though he kept close to the pack of Norsemen and never strayed too far, he did make a show of remaining just far enough from them to be singled out. As he walked he'd occasionally tap the butt of his axe on the palisade, a fence or the wall of a building. "Why do you hide, priests?" He barks out suddenly in Norse "Have faith, won't your god protect you?" which prompts a chuckle or two from some of the gathered Norsemen.

Harek and a few of the men were laughing around the door, because when Ulf yelled at the building they were sure they heard a priest squeak. "Maybe an axe will get this door down, because sooner or later this will stop being funny." As he said that he slammed his fist on the door and a priest screamed.

---

The vikings circled the priory like vultures around a fresh kill. Uffr paced around the church grounds, stopping only to hurl taunts at the priests inside, while Harek pounded on the door and barked venom. With no opposition to his plan, Edric nodded at Skuli to begin preparations. Within a few moments Skuli had built a large fire on the church grounds.

At that moment, Edric's second huscarl, Hafr, strode breathlessly to join them, a few men at his back. "The Crow is secure," panted Hafr. "I left Garn and his son to guard it, and it seems Odin is smiling upon me. It seems I haven't missed anything."

"The Saxons have locked themselves inside to pray to their deaf Christ," Edric returned coolly. "Instead of silence they will get fire."

Men began approaching the large fire, dipping their arrows in the flames and turning them on the church. The singed arrows burned like comets across the morning sky, landing upon the roof and walls of the church. A dozen small fires merged into one, and smoke rose in the air in a great plume that darkened the sky. Now all the raiders had to do was wait for the monks to come shrieking and coughing out of the church.

As if on cue, the oak door unlatched with a loud click, and it slowly swung open, releasing a large puff of smoke. Edric squinted to see past the ashen veil, but saw nothing. Then about a dozen men, clad in chainmail, helms, sword and shield came out of the church eager for blood. Edrid didn't have time to ponder what these men-at-arms were doing here. He only had time to act.

"Shield wall!" Edric hollered! His men began to form up, while others were caught off guard, easy marks for the saxons, and screaming as they were cut down.

Uffr yelled shield wall seconds after Edric,
He placed his men so that they made a V with Edric's formation. Leaving the Saxons to run into a triangle of swords.

---

Sorry for the short post I'm currently on the road

Harek was one of the Vikings caught off guard by the charging Saxons and scrambled to draw his sword and get back. He managed to clumsily block a sword that got close to cutting his stomach open. A stray weapon cut his thigh and he winced in pain. He saw multiple raiders around him get cut down and others were running. He looked around and saw shield walls were forming up behind him. He made a quick stab at one of the Saxons, yelled at the remaining with him to follow, and sprinted toward one of the shield walls. Once he got to it he yelled ,"make way!!!" and leaped over the initial men in the shield wall. As he dove over the front row, accidentally kicking one in the shoulder, men in the back rows saw him coming and moved out the way. He hit the earth with a thud and got the wind knocked out of him. He crawled away and stumbled to his feet. He really should have worn his armor and shield.