The Jarl poured over maps and reports...His neighbours to North and West forming an aggressively large alliance, menacing independent landholders and absorbing them, a crusade of conquest launched against the small kingdoms of the desert, a closing of borders all around. "We mustn't be idle", he muttered.
His peoples' fathers had journeyed from their ancestral homelands in the North, and settled in the rugged forests and mountains on the eastern border of the Great Steppes. Remarkable but not unheard of amongst the sagas of Norse adventurers who travelled far and wide to trade, conquer & pillage. Now with the stead threatened, the spirit of wild adventure must be tempered into something more pragmatic.
Grabbing his ink pot he began writing the orders to be sent out to the border patrols, and made a note to see the priests after concerning preparations of the proper sacrifices to the gods.
Norse Horde borders are now closed, all existing trade agreements and understandings declared null & void.
The only exceptions are for a few small landless clans and independents with whom I have had discussions with (you know who you are).
