Bjorn Bloodtooth was a Viking berserkr from Norway who lived during the late 9th century.
Biography[]
Rising reputation[]
A famous viking berserker in Norway, many young thegns wanted the glory of killing the famous berserker but every time one came they died at the hands of Bjorn and eventually he got tired of all the killing. To get a new start and a quiet life Bjorn and his wife Alfhild travaled and settled in England. While in England, he found a young white bear cub who he and his wife named Njal and raised in lieu of a child.[1]
During his time in England, his fame reached other's ears. A Mercian lord wanting to boost his own name decided that he wanted to be the man to kill the famous Bjorn Bloodtooth. The lord demanded Bjorn drink of the berserker brew but he refused, not being persuaded by taunts and even gold the Lord went for the only thing Bjorn had. The lord hung his wife Alfhild from a gallows tree, Bjorn devastated buried his wife among the roots of the gallow tree. From that they forward Bjorn swore revenge on the mercian lord.[2]
Revenge against the Mercian lord[]
Sometime after the norse Shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir got news from her scout that the legendary Bjorn Bloodtooth was spotted near Norwich. Making her way into East Anglia to offer a place in Ravensthorpe to him, she arrived at the cave where Bjorn lived seeing him surrounded by Mercian soldier corpses. Not wanting anything but revenge, the berserker decided to think on if he wanted to join Ravensthorpe while Eivor helped Njall catch fish. A short while later hearing commotion, he ran out of his cave, helping Eivor kill a couple mercian guards sent to challenge Bjorn. After the fighting was over Bjorn explained to Eivor everything about his wife's death and Eivor decided to join in his revenge. Wanting to be berserk while fighting he sent Eivor to pick up some nightshade for the berserker brew.[2]
Bjorn offering Eivor the berserker concoction
At Eivor's arrival back from gathering nightshade Bjorn added it to the concoction he had prepared under the gallow tree. Bjorn and Eivor swigged the potion, singing a battle-shant and entering a hallucinatory trance where Bjorn turned into a bear. After the short fight they made their way to Beodoricsworth where the Mercian lord was hiding. Ariving they caused a comotion, killing guards to attract the Lord out. The lord soon came out to fight the berserkers but swiftly fell. Leaving the area Njall was gravely injured and tired. Bjorn requested eivor to bring some of Njall's favourite flowers, he brought the bear to the Gallows tree where his wife had died long ago, building a funeral pyre and setting it ablaze laying Njall to rest.[1]
Having filled his purpose in killing the Mercian lord, Bjorn joined Eivor in Ravensthorpe as a skald on her longship, Sea-Chariot.[1]
Personality and traits[]
Bjorn had the vegvísir sigil tattooed on his stomach.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
References[]