Don't Mess with these Boars

Beware the charging Jofurr's (Boar-men), that fear nothing on the battlefield except that their enemies will run in panic before the Jofurr's can taste their victim's blood!

While not as famous as their Berserker and Ulfhednar brothers, the Jofurr are every bit as fearless and full of battle lust.

While in battle lust and consumed by "Odins Fury," Jofurr are able to ignore wounds that would incapacitate or even kill normal warriors as they rundown and slaughter their foes.

Those that eventually succumb to their wounds are assured a spot at the warriors table in Valhalla. While those that survive gain worldly honor and riches.

These are plastic pieces I painted in July.

Poem or Death-Choose

I am Egill Skallagrimsson (circa 910-990 c.e.), Poet/Saga teller by profession, warrior and killer by necessity. I have lived a full life, cross me and I will destroy you both physically and eternally though my sagas!

As a youth in Iceland, I composed my first saga and learned farming, then I found the joys of being a Berserker, killing to my heart's content on raids against my lords' foes.

Some claim I am headstrong, greedy for gold (who isn't) and vengeful. Others know me as a tender father, loyal friend, poet of renown and shy lover. In other words, a complex man.

It is true I killed Norway's King Eirikr Bloodaxes son, in a fair fight if I say so myself. But I made amends when I was captured by the king and in a single night composed the poem "Hofuthlause" (Head Ransom) that praised the virtues of King Eirikr in long (and tedious ha, ha) detail. Later, after the deaths of two sons, I composed "Sonatorrek (Revenge Denied), one my most meaningful poems. As I age, I have become more mellow and reflective, yet my axe remains sharp and my armor strong, so tread lightly less you incur my wrath.

Egill is a plastic piece I painted this week.

"BERSERKERS-Flee For Your Lives"

BESERKERS! A cry and scene that can freeze the heart of even brave warrior. Having sworn their lives to Oden, Berserkers, worked themselves into such a battle frenzy that they became near immune to pain to such an extent that it took massive body damage to stop them. Wounds that would incapacitate a normal warrior seemed to only furth enrage these crazed warriors. 

This band of three Berserker's under the command of Viggo Bjornblod can easily slash their way through 10 or even 20 times their number.

Mikkel. himself. cut down 12 opponents in his last battle. Although it took him all winter to recover from his wounds.

Joren, as the survivor of more than 20 raids, has lost count of those who have fallen under his blades when he has been und the red eyed mist of his battle frenzy.

Knowing that only death can stop a Berserker in full frenzy has led to many warriors simply fleeing for their lives when the Berserker's are released to into battle.

Only the bravest, or fools, try to stop one of the crazed warriors whose blood thirsty reputation is founded in all too gory facts.

I finished these plastic pieces this morning for my Ragnarök game.

The Brotherhood of Jomsvikings

Near legendary for their fighting prowess, often for the highest bidder, the "Brotherhood of Jomsvikings" where loyal unto death to each other. 

Originally raised form warriors of Jomborg, Daneland, the Jomsvikings were skilled veterans of Norse battles and raids. Limited to men of virtue between the ages of 18 and 50, the Jomsvikings were elite warriors who often formed the core of Norse armies.

The "Jomsvikiga Saga" mentions how membership was exclusive and only for warriors willing to pledge their lives and battle skills to the glory of the gods and their Jomsvikings brothers.

Warrior members were honor bound to protect each other, equally share all loot and spoils of war and to never bring women into their fortress.

Spending more than three nights away from their brothers was strictly forbidden without the leader's permission. 

For over two centuries, the Jomsvikings were among the most feared and respected band of warriors in Western Europe.

These are plastic pieces I painted this week.

Norseman Raider-that's Viking to You

The dreaded cry the "Vikings are coming" was enough to empty any Middle Ages village of its inhabitants as they took to countryside to escape the terrible raiders. For hundreds of years these fearsome men for the North plundered the coast lines of Europe.

But this Norseman, Karl Karlson, could have told their victims that "Viking" was not a nationality-it was a job description. To go "Viking" meant to go raiding. 

These "Viking"" raiders could be Norse (Northmen /Normans), Swedes, Danes or Friesians but none were from a land called Viking.

Karl here is a plastic piece from Monolith's Mystic Battles that I painted in 2021.