The Story of Austlend

UNDER REVISION

Austlend Members

Karr Hunnason (Lloyd Thomas Salter), called Grabiorn (Greybear) born 1018 on Hjaltland(Shetland),

 St. Niniane's Isle, where his father and uncle were jarls and power farmers under the Earldom

of Orkney. Karr learned combat from Thorfinn Shieldbreaker and Ulf the Forester.

He learned to sail at an early  age and by age twenty was operating a merchant vessel

between the Orkneys, Shetlands and Faroe Islands.  Karr also went on the  occassional

raid of Isle Of Man or the Hebrides.  After his father died in 1040,with Rognvalr Bruason

out of favor with the Norwegian court, Karr emigrated to East Anglia, ending up at Austlend.

Randr Arason (W. A. "Bill" Lewis,Jr.) by-named  Lageles (Lawless) because of his rowdy, care-free nature.

Born 1018 A.D., in the year the Great Knut (Canute) was crowned king of Angle Land.  A great-nephew

of Thorkell the Tall; grandson of Hemmingus (his mother was Englisc), he was carried to his

paternal grandmother to be reared, in 1022, when Thorkell's retinue was banished from England

for retaining "heathen practices."   He grew up in Borghojde with cousins (including a distant girl

cousin)learning to "go a-viking."  In 1034, at age 16, he formed his own "here" or raiding party

and attacked northern Scotland, conducting three raids over two years.  In 1040 Lageles became

a captain in Hordaknut's army attacking England.  When Hordaknut suddenly died in 1042 A.D.

Lageles found himself relocating to East Anglia.

Vigstyrkr Blaketilsson (Harvey Eubanks) called "Vig" for short.

Aslfgerr Azorkelsson (Sean McLaren) - Aslfgerr (Ulfgerr) is a Dane born ca. 997,  His mother died when

he was five years old.  His father, a shipwright, taught him the trade and sailing skills.  However, the

viking life beckoned him and tales of the Jomsvikings filled his boyhood dreams.  At eighteen he faced

the ''holmgang'' or trial of strength, defeating a much larger and older warrior.  He was a Jomsviking.

In 1015 he was part of a group that invaded England, but then sold their services to Ethelred the

Unready.  In 1030 he was part of Jomsviking mercernaries that fought for King Olaf.  An eclipse on

the eve of Stiklarstadir was foreboding.  Olaf lost.  Aslfgerr and his surviving Joms companions

retreated to they stronghold.  Over the years he went on many raids.  In 1040, being a true

mercenary, he join Hordaknut's forces invading England that June.   After the tribute was paid, he

stayed in eastern England settling in the small coastal village of Austlend.

 A confirmed pagan and follower of the Old Gods, he often argues with the Kristmenn in the town.

Rondaelf  Ulfgarson, called "the Reluctant"  (Ron Phelps) - of Norwegian descent  he was born

circa 985 A. D. outside of Jorvik (York) in the Danelaw.  He was born on a small farm and did

farming, but became a shipbuilder by trade, as his father and granfather were.  He can build

and repair longships, knars (cargo boats), and smaller boats that sail the coasts.  After the

sumer crops are planted, Rondaelf satisfies his obligation to his Hersir by going on raiding""

expeditions for a share of "the loot."  As a young man, hearing of the explorations of his

distant kinsmen Erik the Red and Leif Ericsson, he traveled to Iceland and Greenland. In

1002 he joined Thorvald's expedition to Vinland.  The journey was nearly two years long.

After Thorvald's death he traveled the seas, north and south, east and west, raiding many

small towns and villages in many kindoms.  He became a trader, traveling between Torvik,

Orkney and Norway, as well as Sweden.  Early in 1040 he settled in Austlend.

"I have loved a few good women who have born me good sons who have become good

men.  I am a skilled shipbuilder, an adequate farmer, a willing seaman, and a reluctant

warrior. I believe in God the Father and his son Jesus, but still pray to the old gods

because they may still be listening ..."

Ulfgard  Thorloffson  (Roy Hollar) - Ulfgard, born 1005 A.D. on a large farm near Borre, Norway

was the son of warrior-farmers.  Son of Thorlof, the son of Ragnar of Daneland, called Ragnar

Halfdan, when Olaf the Good returned to rule Norway in 1015, Ulfgard, his mother and two

sisters accepted the Christian faith.  He fought at Holy River in 1026 and supported  Olaf

at the Battle of Stiklarstadir, July 1030, where he was wounded and King Olaf died.  Afterwards,

he joined a band that moved east into Russia, then Constantinople, then Persia.  Wounded

against the Moslems at Bagdad, Ulfgard led the surving vikings to Iberia(Spain) living in

 Tuy for several years.  In 1042 he sailed to England, settling in the trading town of

Austlend on the coast of East Anglia.

Bryntryggr Knudson (A. Bryan Salter) called Bryn  is  the ninth child of adventurer Knud Sturluson and a Welsh nobleman's daughter, Aeronwen verch Merfyn.   

RED WOLF PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

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