SiroVai
Roleplay baby!
Vikings Vs Saxons!
An accurate, historical RP!
This popular period in European history has been a source of inspiration and wonder for over a thousand years. I live in the North East of England which was to witness some of the most pivotal moments during this period. There are vivid reminders all around of the Northmen's influence on our history. Lindisfarne, the site of the first bloody raid by the Northmen launched the scourge of what has become known as the Viking period.
England, all but collapsed back into iron age peasantry with the departure of the Roman legions in the 4th Century, were now faced with a new, demonic threat from across the sea. The Vikings (Scandinavians who raided) not only wanted to claim riches and slaves (which they shipped to as far as Constantinople) they wanted land.
The Vikings would eventually come to conquer and settle large swathes of Northern England, Ireland, Wales and Normandy. The Normans were descended from these Viking settlers and we all know the impact they had on English history in 1066AD.
At the time, England was divided into kingdoms of Anglo Saxons each with their own ruler. The hit TV series Vikings is set during this time.
I think this would be an excellent setting for a roleplay. Your choices are as follows:
Viking raider:
Feel free to be as creative as you like with their personality and appearance. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Vikings were indistinguishable to other Europeans at the time and weren't all hulking, blonde supermen from the fables.
The typical Viking would carry a spear, hand axe and wooden shield. They wore an iron helm (with no horns - that's a modern myth) with some degree of body armour. The more wealthy amongst them would own a sword with some kind of scale armour. Again, feel free to be creative just don't go mad and have flintlocks.
You can of course choose to play as a Berserker. They were typically amped up on hallucinogenic mushrooms and went into battle fully naked.
Saxon Villager:
The Saxons were armed much like the Vikings with the preference of spears/shield combo over axe/shield. Again, feel free to be creative in your equipment descriptions. The Saxons were no strangers to battle as infighting between kingdoms was rife and not forgetting the Celts in the Scottish highlands which constantly harried the northern kingdoms.
Celt:
Should you wish to, you could play as an Irish or Scottish Celt. These were pagan warriors of fame and fierce prowess in battle. For war, they would cover their bodies in elaborate patterns with woad (blue dye) and worshipped old and strange gods. This is the choice for the more experience roleplayer as you could play as a neutral or perhaps be a mercenary to one of the sides.
Here's the character template:
Code:
Viking/Saxon/Celt:
Character Name:
Character Age:
Character Gender: (Viking women were called shield-maidens and were welcomed into battle!)
Your allegiance: (Whom will you be fighting for?)
Character Appearance: (Insert a picture)
Your equipment: (Please keep to period items 600AD-900AD)
Profile Summary: (Please include back story, personality, family etcI'm thinking the roleplay will start with the Vikings onboard a longship heading towards an unknown coast with the aim of getting booty, slaves and honour or even a place in Valhalla. That coast is home to a Saxon village which has been dealing with Celtic raids of late. Yes this stuff really happened back in the day. If you have any queries or suggestions please post!
