The final decision...

During our long, cold trip toward the north, I got the chance to converse with our always busy navigators. They gave me tips on how to navigate once land was no longer visible. They spoke of using the course of the stars and sun, measuring the depth of the water, and identifying visible landmarks such as reefs. Until now, I didn't really realize how much we depend on the science of navigation for survival. Surprisingly, it wasn't long before we landed on the Faeroe islands also known as the 'sheep islands.' This was definitely a change of pace from our last encounters. These islands were less inhabited with less mixing of cultures. However, I noticed that all the languages of the north had migrated to these islands. After some rest, we gathered more supplies and tools and headed north west to the island of Iceland. This trip was a little longer but when we arrived I was in awe of the landscape. The coastal lands were green and fertile while the inland of the island was a collage of blue and white glaciers with peaks above the clouds. Most of the settlements we have visited here are composed of people from southern decent. It was a tough decision, but I have decided to settle in Iceland for the time being. My love still lies with my wife and children at home but my heart still seeks adventure. Maybe one day I will return home. But until then, I will continue seeking new places and ventures.

The many isles to the east...

We set sail again, this time leaving a settlement just above Dublin toward the eastern island once again; this time our target being the northern tip. We missed our mark by quite a lot but eventually hit a grouping of islands somewhere north and arrived in the settlement of Orkney. Like our past landings, we met many of Norse decent. In addition, there were many raids occurring between Shetland (the islands north of the Orkneys) and the mainland. We were very comfortable until a king by the name of Harald Finehair traveled from the north into the Orkneys and established control of both the lands and the Jarls who had previously ruled them. It is said that he now controls the northeast and many the many kingdoms of the south. Our initial intentions were to head back east but our supplies were few in number. One man mentioned the settlement of Brittany on the western coast opposite of our location. However, many crew members said the current Frankish interference was not worth it. At the end of the day, we decided to head northwest toward the Faeroe islands and place called Iceland (sounds inviting!).

Success does not come without failure...

I apologize for not writing sooner. Things were so hectic when we landed I didn't have time to write. We initially arrived at Northumbria, a kingdom on the eastern side of the larger islands. We were successful in our attempts and plundered a substantial amount of goods with minimal casualties. However, it was not a few days after we landed when we caught word of an approaching Danish army. We knew little about this army's intentions but we weren't going to stick around and find out. We set sail, this time traveling down the southern coast and around the tip of the island until our course was due west. We caught sight of the second, more western island and eventually arrived in the town of Cork. I was amazed to see how many settlements were established along the coast line. I soon realized the extent that the culture had mixed by the time of our arrival. It seems that the local Irish along with immigrant eastern peoples has given birth to an entirely new culture. We just passed through Dublin and are making our way north of the eastern coast of the island.

Adventure is all I know...

It seems that my past raid provided enough adventure to get me hooked. After going home, I admitted to my family that I would be going away for a while; this time traveling to a group of islands even further west. I've heard success stories of many viking raids since the initial attack on Lindisfarne a while back in history. It is also said that the land has allowed for winterings or short term settlements. In these winterings, raiders are able to raid on a consistent basis for an extended period of time. Similar to my last raid, I plan to join with a local crew willing to make the journey. I expect this adventure to be longer and even more brutal than the last. However, with more risk comes a greater prize at the end of the road. There are many kingdoms that await us on these foreign lands. I will write when we have arrived.

Success...

Ahh how glorious this day is! I must admit going into the whole thing was very unnerving. But now that it is over I thirst for more! We landed on the shores of Hebrides and struck swiftly. As we ran into town, the crew yelled viciously at the top of their lungs and swung their weapons in a mad rage; tactics I learned from others on the boat before we landed. We hit the monestary first grabbing gold, silver, paintings, and books. Then we moved into the center of town toward the trading posts. There we found furs, glass, pottery, and even silk! I am not a man of violence and it was not in our interest to forcefully kill anyone unless necessary. But when ransacking a small trading shack, the owner came at me with an axe from behind. Luckily, I was saved by I man who I hadn't met until now. His name is Gunna and I truly owe him my life. He is one of two men from the far east. Gunna speaks of a place where many ethnicities come together to trade and connect. A place where silk drapes the buildings and spices fill the air. A place called Constantinople. This adventure thing is addicting and I need more. I believe when I get back I will journey to these Eastern lands in search of more.

Ready to raid...

I'm writing this while sailing to our final destination. We have just left the island of Orkneys. Our ship is now full with all the supplies we will need to fulfill our mission. I must admit that up until this point, the journey has been quite long. Bad weather, rough seas, and for a small period of time a shortage of food, have all made me physically drained and mentally exhausted. But at this moment the the sun is shining and moral is high. I can tell that a lot of the crew is getting anxious. I have met many new faces on this voyage; one in particular I like very much. His name is Banki from our neighboring village Vattern. He is a farmer like me with two sons. We share many of the same interests and he strikes me as a very wise man. Over the course of the past two days he has told me stories about dozens of raids, all of which were successful. It is comforting to know that I have friends who have previous experience in these matters and who I can trust when we are on the front lines. I will write again after our mission is complete.