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Some reigns are measured by the magnificent monuments that are created or the grand accomplishments, this would not be the fate of Fylkir Saemundr. The reign of the elder ruler was a short and bloody affair. During his time on the throne, the Catholics would push harder than before and launch multiple assaults on the Jomsvikings, the Republic of Danmark and Pomerania. Every advance the Fylkir made was measured in blood, either of Norseman or of Catholic. Even when the machinations of other rulers prevented the Fylkir from the ideal way to meet his needs, every action he did was for the realm. Thus he was known as the Bulwark. Some reigns are measured by the magnificent monuments that are created or the grand accomplishments, this would not be the fate of Fylkir Saemundr. The reign of the elder ruler was a short and bloody affair. During his time on the throne, the Catholics would push harder than before and launch multiple assaults on the Jomsvikings, the Republic of Danmark and Pomerania. Every advance the Fylkir made was measured in blood, either of Norseman or of Catholic. Even when the machinations of other rulers prevented the Fylkir from the ideal way to meet his needs, every action he did was for the realm. Thus he was known as the Bulwark.

At the time of his ascension, Fylkir Saemundr Starkadrson was an old man. Gluttonous and deceitful, he was not exactly the image of a mighty ruler. He was however a brave and humble man, not seeking anything but a better world for his people. Throughout his reign he would have to weigh every gain he achieved against what it cost.

The new Fylkir did not just inherit a throne, but also a war. In contrast to himself was the young boy who held the title King of Hwicce. The infant king had sat in the Hwiccian throne for almost his entire life since his fathers’ death.

King Wulfgeat was not the only child that was of concern. The Fylkir had four daughters and therefore no heirs. The next in line was a distant relative and chief of lands in Skotland, not a worthy the throne in Castle Lade. A solution was needed.



The war was quickly won a few years after Fylkir Saemundr and the Regent of Hwicce was forced to surrender and cease the invasion. As well as compensation paid to the Jomsvikings the Fylkir took another prize. The sister of the Hwiccian king was captured in the assault on the capital and was made Fylkir Saemundr’s concubine. With this was two problems solved, the humiliation of the Hwicce and the future line of succession. (Source: https://imgix.ranker.com/user_node_img/50061/1001205550/original/incest-in-viking-culture-photo-u2?w=650&q=50&fm=jpg) The war was quickly won a few years after Fylkir Saemundr and the Regent of Hwicce was forced to surrender and cease the invasion. As well as compensation paid to the Jomsvikings the Fylkir took another prize. The sister of the Hwiccian king was captured in the assault on the capital and was made Fylkir Saemundr’s concubine. With this was two problems solved, the humiliation of the Hwicce and the future line of succession.

The cultural changes of the people that called themselves the Swedish had started to spread to the people Noregr. Originally a pastime of the Greeks of old, the records of the Fylkirs would be recorded no more on stone. Instead their history would be recorded in the great work called the Frœði Noregr, the History of the Noregr. An extension to the library was ordered to house the tomes that were to be created and writers sent to record all the past histories that were borne on the great stones that were raised by those that had past.

Although the Fylkir was an old man when he first sat on the throne, the Queen-Consort was older still. Some say that it was the betrayal at publically taking another woman into his bed, others say that it was more sinister and that Hwiccian princess was trying to make her way to a position of power. These rumours of the princess became more vocal as the Fylkir was observed spending more and more time with his new concubine.

Shortly afterwards the concubine began to show signs that she was with child. And so 9 months later a son born. Named Bjorn, he was a sickly child and the Court Physician summoned. The fate of the line of the Fylkir hung in the balance.



The young prince’s life was not the only thing in balance, several Christian lords had mustered forth and were marching on the lands of Pomerania. Each sought a different part of the realm, and between them there would be no Kingdom of Pomerania left. (Source: http://narcotic-nightmares.deviantart.com/art/Army-Speedpaint-403343100) The young prince’s life was not the only thing in balance, several Christian lords had mustered forth and were marching on the lands of Pomerania. Each sought a different part of the realm, and between them there would be no Kingdom of Pomerania left.

Hearing of this, the Pope leant his authority to the endeavour. Any Christian who assisted in the wars being waged would be richly rewarded in heaven. The armies of the King of Germany, Duke of Thuringia and Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order were expanded by the Catholic peasants who marched with them.

This would be the defining moment of Fylkir Saemundr rule, a conflict that would last over a decade. Although other conflicts and wars would be fought on the side, the wars of Pomerania would be what the Fylkir would be remembered for.



The war would drag on, as one by one the holdings of the aggressors were sieged down. The Catholics would continue to assault the armies of the Northmen during this time as more and more peasant armies arrived from the south. At times it would seem that one side would take victory, only for it to be clawed back by the other. (Source: http://yusufahmedwriting.com/siege-resistance/) The war would drag on, as one by one the holdings of the aggressors were sieged down. The Catholics would continue to assault the armies of the Northmen during this time as more and more peasant armies arrived from the south. At times it would seem that one side would take victory, only for it to be clawed back by the other.

The Northmen were not a united force against the Catholics however. The alliance between Noregr and Pomerania fell apart when, in a jealous rage, the boy King of Pomerania accused the Fylkir of funding raids across the coast of Pomerania. The real reason is believed to be that the Fylkir marched on a host of Catholics that had surrounded the Pomeranian force. Had the Noregr army not been there then it could have been a rout. Afterwards a particularly boastful Noregr general had remarked at the prowess of the army he led and belittled the Pomeranians. Whilst a pettier ruler might have withdrawn his troops, Fylkir Saemundr knew that there was more at stake than the ego of a child. This however prevented the Fylkir from directly attacking the Papal forces, and was therefore required to declare several wars against the various leaders who assisted the Crusade.



The battles in Pomerania were not the only place that the Fylkir had deployed his force. A large host of men marched on the southern lords of Wales, reconquring lands formerly held by the Grand Republic of Wales. As the men marched over the land where the Germanic faithful had lived until the republic had fallen apart from Catholic invaders. (Source: https://asatruassembly.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/halls-of-the-norse-gods/) The battles in Pomerania were not the only place that the Fylkir had deployed his force. A large host of men marched on the southern lords of Wales, reconquring lands formerly held by the Grand Republic of Wales. As the men marched over the land where the Germanic faithful had lived until the republic had fallen apart from Catholic invaders.

Seeing several years of conflict against the Catholics had changed the Fylkir from a man who wanted to see the realm prosper to one who sought the destruction of his foe with righteous determination. After one particularly devastating battle, the Fylkir wandered the field as the men began clearing their fallen. Appearing from the fog was an old man who walked with the ruler and talked with him. When his guards approached, the fog temporarily covered them both. The guards arrived to find their liege alone.

The wars that were being fought involved a long time marching and a long time sieging. During this time the Fylkir was able to study the matter of law. The requirements of the Jarls were finally to paper and the agreements that had been passed from father to son were now a matter of codified law.

After the subjection of most of most of the Welsh lands, the Fylkir was able to reform the Grand Republic of Brythoniai. Styling itself as the Second Republic, the capital was setup in the town of Newport. The original capital of the republic was no more than a burnt shell, still under the control of the hated Kingdom of Hwicce. More than ever, this fierce rival stood between the Northmen and their control of the main isle.



After over a decade of battles, the Crusade for Pomerania was finalised in a decisive battle at the capital of the Kingdom of Germany. Luneburg was the missing link in the defence of Pomerania, which allowed the Germans direct access to the Republic of Danmark. Although the Northmen had been able to assault several of the castles on the border of the German lands, Luneburg had remained secured. Because of this, the Pope had arrived to bless the men who had assembled for a push across the river. A Pomeranian cavalry force and the Wolves of Midguard fell upon the ceremony. (Source: https://s-media-cache-ak0 . pinimg . com/originals/fe/1c/03/fe1c03235ed824647594935eec6f68a4 . jpg)After over a decade of battles, the Crusade for Pomerania was finalised in a decisive battle at the capital of the Kingdom of Germany. Luneburg was the missing link in the defence of Pomerania, which allowed the Germans direct access to the Republic of Danmark. Although the Northmen had been able to assault several of the castles on the border of the German lands, Luneburg had remained secured. Because of this, the Pope had arrived to bless the men who had assembled for a push across the river. A Pomeranian cavalry force and the Wolves of Midguard fell upon the ceremony.

Although the German army was defeated was in itself a major victory, of greater note was the capture of Pope Lucius. Forced to sign a humiliating peace with large reparations and cessations of hostilities, the treaty would prevent the large mobilisation of Catholic peasantry by the Holy See.

The north was not the only failing of the Catholics, in the east the Muslims had been uniting into several large realms. The King of Portugal had pushed across the straights of Gibraltar and the followers of Islam had banded together against further advances and to finish their conquests in Anatolia.

Heathens were not the only threat to the realm and the faith. Ever since the establishment of the new Norse faith the Godi’s had faced a dire threat in the Fellowship of Hel. These secretive order had devoted themselves to the worship of the goddess Hel and the preparation for Ragnarok. One of their order was discovered and the heretic was presented to the court by the Archpriest of Lothian.

Seeing the followers of Odin slowly surrounding them, the Anglo’s launched several offensives against the Jomsvikings to try and break the encirclement. Again the men of Noregr marched upon the isle to defend their brothers in arms.

Seeing an opportunity, the Prince Mayor declared his own war for the half of the remaining Cornish realm. To assist, part of the Fylkir’s army returned to their boats to land in support of the war of aggression.

The old Fylkir would not live to see this victory, as the wear of old age and the illness within him won their own war. In the end, his time as head of the realm had almost been entirely spent in the field of war. The kingdom has spent the last years in a state of almost total war and one person who knew this was son of the former ruler, only seeing his father a few times over his 10 years of life.