|
|
|
Lord
Thorgrimr `utlagr
Award of Arms
Thorgrimr `utlagr 's SCA Awards - Offical Kingdom OP entry |
||
Thorgrimr `utlagr 's SCA Resume | ||
Thorgrimr `utlagr 's History
I was born in the spring of 842 near Mælar Lake just south east of an area which will eventually be called Sigtun Sweden. My father was the Chieftain of our village and he imparted honorable actions above all to everyone in his household. I had an older brother; therefore I was not to inherit our family lands or titles and it was going to be up to me to make my own place in the world of men. While still young, I spent most of my days quietly watching my father and my uncle work in their areas of expertise. My father was often busy with matters of the village, longhouse, and dispatching his small fleet of ships on raids or trading. His younger brother was a master shipwright who oversaw & built most of the local ships. Since I was very curious about how things were made and how they work he was the one I most closely bonded with. As we grew up, my brother & I learned many skills after our daily combat training. It was often said that we looked as if we were two bears standing back to back while we practiced our fighting techniques. Father insisted on reading and writing runes among other dull lessons but Uncle persuaded him to allow, leatherworking, brewing, and many kinds of metalwork in our studies. These experiences would prove invaluable later in life by helping me build/evaluate/repair items intended for the battlefield and as a merchant. In late 864, my father received notice to send able men to fight in an army forming under the great warlord Ivar Ragnarsson. Late in age, my father dispatched my Uncle and me with two fully provisioned longships the following year. But before we left, I received my prized armaments which I still carry to this day. From my father, his father’s sword Talon and from my brother a finely crafted boar-spear, called Greyflank. It was not long before I was battle forged and quickly moved through the ranks gaining much honor and word fame. In 869 Ivar decided to return home from fighting in England and he relinquished control of the great army to his brothers. A contingent of men and ships were selected to travel with him to Ireland, I was one of them. Not yet ready to settle down I sailed the trade routes, did some raiding when necessary and transported goods to many lands. I learned about a discovery of land to the west and had many requests for passage. With a full boat I reached Iceland for the first time in 877, returning many times. I decided to stay in 881. Five years later a messenger arrived announcing that I needed to return to Mælar Lake to assist my brother in a dispute. Upon my arrival I found out that a blood feud over land borders had developed between my brother and a neighboring chieftain who wanted my family’s farms and ports. Employing diplomacy over force, I negotiated a reasonable resolution which was agreed to by both parties. A feast was ordered by the Chieftain in celebration of the settlement. Much food and drink was prepared along with overnight lodgings. That night one of the Chieftain’s servants set fire to the longhouse next to our lodgings which was occupied by widows and children. Alerted by the smoke and muffled yells, I awoke before the rest of my party and quickly entered the burning hall to help get everyone out. I was badly burned in the process slowing my own escape but just emerging in time to see many of my kinsmen dying along with my brother by the hands of the chieftain and his guards who were lying in wait. As the only surviving member of my family and of the negotiation party, I was held captive until the next Thing was held. A corrupt lawspeaker who was involved in the Chieftain’s plot to take our property, found me guilty in my brother’s stead; wergild was taken in the form of all of my families’ land and assets at Mælar Lake and I was outlawed. I will return to Iceland as soon as my family honor is restored or as the gods see fit. Until then I travel with my beloved Snotra applying my trades in this new land of these current Middle Ages. |