Vinland Saga
Japanese manga author and artist Yukimura Makoto is the creator of the Vinland Saga series. The story follows the life of Thorfinn, a teenage warrior who joins Askeladd's mercenary band to get revenge for his father, Thors, in a historical setting of Europe during the Viking era.
Character Spotlight
Thorkell Profile
Thorkell is a genuine monster of the battlefield whose strength is renown and feared amongst allies and enemies alike. As a member of the Jomsvikings, Thorkell has boasted his strength and tactical experience for any client who could afford his services. The Jomsvikings were reportedly a legendary band of Viking conquerors or mercenaries that operated in the tenth and eleventh century. Although devoted to the worship of the Old Norse gods, they allegedly would battle for any ruler who could afford to pay their high fees, even if they were Christians. A true instigator of conflict and enjoyer of war, If you ever find yourself faced against this pure force of nature… Say hi to Odin for me.
Feats of Strength:
Thorkell has be seen hurling sharpened tree logs at enemy ships while defending his bands position. according to the geographic loaction and the most common trees in that area, it can be assumed that the logs Thorkell was playing with are that of the Ash Tree. At a length of 10 feet and diameters between 12in - 18in, the weight of these sharpened logs ranges between 370lbs - 830lbs. Additionally, when not tossing these nukes at his enemies, he can also be seen utilizing the logs as a makeshift spear, twirling it around with ease as he combats opponents 1 v 1.
For reference, the actor Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, who plays Gregor Clegane (The Mountain) on the awards winning series Game of Thrones, max bench press is 250 kg (551 lb). So just imagine, someone's max bench press being hurled at you from the top of a bridge.
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Profile
*Oh yeah, and he also uppercut a full grown horse off the ground; The average weight of a full grown horse is from 1000 and 1500 pounds…*
Berserkers
The Viking berserker was a specific group of elite Norse warriors that stood out in the violent warrior culture of the Vikings for their fighting fury and brutality. Due to how careless they were in their wrath, many historians think they used drugs to psych themselves up for battle. It's probable that berserkers thought they were impervious to damage. Additionally, the English word "berserk," which typically denotes a ferocious state of wrath, comes from these Norse warriors. Viking berserkers were mercenaries who roamed in packs to fight wherever they could be paid for hundreds of years throughout the Scandinavian Middle Ages. Norse berserkers finally became so fearsome that by the 11th century, they had been forbidden entirely.
Before going into their ferocious trance, berserkers first started to quiver, endure chills, and grind their teeth. Then, their cheeks were swollen and red, soon after they became enraged. It took days for the berserkers to become physically and emotionally recovered as they were rendered completely exhausted once their trance ended.
According to study by Karsten Fatur, an ethnobotanist at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, each Viking berserker probably accomplished this with a drug that is thought to be Hyoscyamus niger, rather than a mushroom, to elicit an acute rage-filled condition for combat. The herb, sometimes known as henbane, was used to make psychoactive concoctions that were intended to intentionally generate flying feelings and irrational hallucinations.
“This state has been variously claimed to involve anger, increased strength, a dulled sense of pain, decreases in their levels of humanity and reason,” - Karsten Fatur
Bjorn
Bjorn spent the most time with Askeladd out of all the band members. Despite this, all he knew about his leader was that he was a Dane. He progressed to become Askeladd's right-hand man and was well-liked by his allies.
Berserker State: Bjorn is an expert fighter who used a sword and shield in battle. He consumed a berserker mushroom, unleashing all of his might. When in this state, he showed incredible ferocity, strength, and pain tolerance, developing into a very formidable foe capable of fighting on despite suffering numerous wounds. The drawback was that Bjorn could not discern between friend and foe in this state, making him potentially deadly to even his comrades.
What is Valhalla?
Old Norse Valhalla, also known as Valhöll, is the hall of slain warriors who live there contentedly under the rule of the god Odin in Norse mythology. It is stated that Odin requires heroes who die in battle to bolster his army before Ragnarök, therefore the Valkyrie (a being from Norse mythology who is portrayed as a warrior woman riding a winged horse, wolf or a boar while carrying a spear) would decide the fate of soldiers in combat, and transport the dead to Odin's Valhalla.
The warriors, once in Valhalla would feast on the flesh of a boar that is killed everyday and made whole again each evening in the magnificent palace that is shown as Valhalla, depicted as having shields covering its roof. They engage in daily combat as their sport and consume alcohol that comes from goat udders. They will continue to do so up to Ragnarök (Doomsday), when they will march through the palace's doors and join Odin in battle against the giants.
Weaponry
During the Viking Age, swords, axes, bows and arrows, knives, and spears were among the weapons utilized. A handful of the equipment the Vikings used to protect themselves in battle included shields, helmets, and chain mail. The Vikings' access to armament based on their level of wealth.
Axe
Sword
Knife
Spear
Bow and Arrow
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