Wintertime ....

A week or so after the various contingents arrived in the northern hills of Oppland it started to snow; winter was setting in early.  The men were found places to stay in various villages and towns - they hunkered down. The land was soon covered in snow and ice

The winter was severe, men muttered that Niflheim was seeping into the land. Wolves were seen close to settlements....

but after a couple of months the thaw started - much to the relief of all...

Support arrives for Angstromsen ....

Having seen the Beacon fires, Angstrom Angstromsen had sent for his cousin to come and support his endeavours to conquer Oppland.

In the mean time, Angstromsen received some news to cheer him up - a contingent of Eastlanders responding to the beacon fires had been turned back with heavy losses

Sails were sighted a couple of weeks later, Harald Orsted had brought his men to help ...

Angstromsen shouts a greeting to his cousin as the ship rounds the headland...

the gathering commences ...

after seeing the beacon fires alight various contingents have set off to help the Opplanders...

The 'knights' of Krona...

 The warrior monks of St Olaf from Stavinga ...

 Erik Forkbeard and his men from Skienmark ...

 The Northlander's  took a couple days to muster their contingent.  Beornwulf the Bold leads the force off on the march ...

The King and Queen watch them file past ..... 

Northlanders on the march ...... 

Beacon fires burn ....

Men have been gathering in the northern hills of Oppland; a number camps have sprung up near settlements. One of the largest is at Arendal, near the first of the beacon signal fires.

After much deliberation it is decided that it is time to set the beacon signal fire....

 The beacon is lit and burns furiously giving out a warm red glow ...

 As the sun sets, they can see the next beacon a-blaze, soon a chain of beacon fires can be seen. The signal has been sent, now they must wait to see who will come to help them .....

slinking away ...

With news from the northern hills of men loyal to King Odemars gathering -  Nogbad thought it was time to make the best of things and get away before it got too dangerous.

Early one morning Nogbad and his most loyal supporters loaded up a boat with as much booty as they could get their hands on and set off ....

Angstrom Angstromsen was furious when he learnt of Nogbads actions, there was still too much to do to passify Oppland to go after him - he would have to wait.

In the north of Oppland ...

In the northern hills of Oppland, men loyal to King Odemars had taken control of the last of fire beacons, now they could signal for help when they were ready...

 --oXo---

Meanwhile Angstrom Angstromsen (the usurper), had journied northwards, to investigate why his men would not go up into the hills. He looked skyward above the foothills,

 there it was - a fire dragon, swooping about.

No wonder his men would not advance any further. Hopefully the dragon would go back to its lair now the eruption of a small volcano nearby had stopped - then perhaps he could take control of the northern hills.

Beornwolf accepts command ....

After King Odemars of Oppland had been deposed and his kingdom seized by Angstrom Angstromsen with the help of Nogbad the bad,  Noggin had been considering what to do.

Queen Alfhilda who had made it to safety in Nogland had asked him for assistance. Learning that many men loyal to the King were gathering in the northern hills of Oppland, Noggin sought advice from the soothsayer who lived in the hills nearby.

Outside, after getting a reading ....
 
Noggin: Well the runecast and omens are good for intervention, Beornwolf will you lead the men south when the time comes ?
Beornwulf: Yes, certainly
Noggin: I will stay in Nogland, with Nogbad around I will protect the kingdom.