Welcome to this text-based game on the Varangian Guard. In this game, you will play the role of the court-poet (or skáld) of King Harald Hardrada during his time in the Byzantine Empire.
You will be given the descriptions of these events, and it is up to you to decide how you would like these events to be remembered. Different options will lead to different outcomes in how you and the king will be seen and remembered in the future.
(click-goto:?page,"Bosphorus")
(enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
The year is 1033 on a hot summer morning. You watch the water lap over the bow of the longship as it crosses the Bosphorus with ease. There is little wind, but the current pulls you eagerly towards Miklagarðr.
After another hour of smooth sailing, you begin to notice an increase of smaller Greek merchant's ships. In the distance, over the light mist, you can begin to see Miklagarðr's massive and intimidating fortifications.
As your ship begins to draw closer and closer to the harbour, you notice some of the locals approach the water to take a closer look at your foreign vessel. There are men and women from all walks of life, stopping their work for a brief moment to look at what you and your men are doing.
The city itself is impressive, bustling with people as far as the eye can see as its denizens flow down the streets like water in a canal.
(click-goto:?page,"whats_wrong")(enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
You arrive to Miklagarðr's massive Phosphorion harbor, the crew begins to drop the mainsail and prepare the mooring line to dock. For a brief moment, you catch Harald's eye. He looks worried.
He gazes at the harbour and the crowd that has begun to gather there, seeming overwhelmed.
"Do you feel like... we may have signed on for too much?"
You look at him, confused.
"How will the basileus treat us, I wonder, once they find out they are dealing with a king's brother?"
[[Comfort him.]]
[[Try to convince him to lie about his heritage.]]
(enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
As you wait for the royal envoy on the harbor, listening to the men talk, you find yourself thinking about your experience entering Miklagarðr.
[[The whole thing had been annoying and alienating.]]
[[There have been hardships, but your people should know about Miklagarðr]]
[[It had been a new and enjoyable experience.]](enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
(set: $heritage to true)
"Surely the king of the Greeks would bear no ill will to another nobleman."
Harald takes another look at the harbour, then back at you, with a knowing smile.
"No, I suppose you're right. And who knows? Perhaps this is the start of a new glorious alliance between our peoples. Our grandchildren may recount this day for centuries to come."
You and your crew finally get off the longship and onto the harbour after what feels like an eternity on the water. Some of the men have begun trying to talk with the local girls, others are apprehensively eyeing the locals as their curiosity drives them closer to you and the crew.
[[Sit down with your crew while you await the envoy.]](enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
(set: $heritage to false)
"If I may," you begin. "Perhaps it's in our best interest if the locals know nothing of your identity."
Harald looks at the harbour for a brief moment, then back at you.
"Yes, you're right. Admitting that we would equals would muddy things politically." He smiles at you.
You and your crew finally get off the longship and onto the harbour after what feels like an eternity on the water. Some of the men have begun trying to talk with the local girls, others are apprehensively eyeing the locals as their curiosity drives them closer to you and the crew.
[[Sit down with your crew while you await the envoy.]](enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
(set: $text1 to 'negative')
You think of all the trouble you went through to get to Miklagarðr. The rapids in the East had been violent and exhausted, the Pecheneg nomands had been violent and inhospitable. You look down at your hands, scarred and calloused from the portage through the lands in the East.
The city was too big, too lavish, its people had been hardly accomodating or pleasant. Instead, they had flocked to gawk at you as if though you had fallen out of the skies.
You find yourself longing for the simplicity of your farmhouse.
You recenter yourself when Sveinn, one of the men on the expedition with you, taps your shoulder and asks:
[["Do you think that's our man?"]](enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
(set: $text1 to 'positive')
You thank the gods for your smooth travels through the long rivers in the East, that your crew had all made it to Miklagarðr safely and in good health. You are proud of what you have accomplished to arrive here, eager to recount the story to your loved ones back home.
The Greeks had been ready to welcome you as best as they could without speaking your language. Miklagarðr was a beautiful city, ornate and clean, it must have taken great strength and craftsmanship to build anything as beautiful.
You recenter yourself when Sveinn, one of the men on the expedition with you, taps your shoulder and asks:
[["Do you think that's our man?"]](enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
(set: $text1 to 'neutral')
The journey had been long and rough, you look back on how often you had to say goodbye to simple comforts and the sacrifices you've had to make along the way. The only restful part of the journey had been crossing the Bosphorus.
Miklagarðr itself was massive and bustling with people, filled to the brim with life and movement. The whole city crawled with people going in and out of impressive buildings, like bees in a beehive.
You recenter yourself when Sveinn, one of the men on the expedition with you, taps your shoulder and asks:
[["Do you think that's our man?"]](enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
You look towards where the crew and Harald are looking. Some of the crowd around you has dispersed when a two Greek men, both clad in bright colors and in regal-looking jewelry. They are both clearly high-ranking politicians, bearing the colors and insignia of the basileus.
One of the men has fairer hair than the other, and is also less lavishly dressed. As they approach, you presume them to be the royal envoy and his interpreter. The latter turns to Harald, greeting him in Greek before his interpreter translates:
"Welcome to Constantinopolis, the emperor has been expecting more Northern mercenaries. Are you the leader of your band?"
Harald looks at you for a brief moment.
[["Aye, that'd be me."]](enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
(if:$heritage is false)["Harald Sigurdsson. I was appointed as their leader by our king."
The interpreter translates his words to Greek, the envoy smiles politely, but still regards you with a certain sense of superiority.]
(if:$heritage is true)["Harald Hardrada. Brother to the rightful king of Norway."
As the interpreter translates his words to Greek, the envoy seems taken aback slightly, now seeming humbled by Harald's response.]
Harald introduces the rest of the crew to the envoy, who is feigning interest as his interpreter comically tries to translate the Norse names into Greek. When all formal introductions have been made, the envoy clears his throat.
(if:$heritage is false)["Very well. You will all be staying in the garrison along with the other //Varangon//." The interpreter doesn't translate that word, and you make a mental note of it.]
(if:$heritage is true)["Very well. Your men be staying in the garrison along with the other //Varangon//." The interpreter doesn't translate that word, and you make a mental note of it. "Hardrada may have his own quarters, if he so wishes."]
[[Some time passes.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(if:$text1 is "positive")[A few weeks pass, and you begin to make yourself feel more and more at home in gargatuan Constantinopolis. Although much of your time is spent with Harald and his newly-appointed crew of varangians, you enjoy the time you spend within the walls of the city. You fall in love with the little parts of the city, its massive markets that offer more than your tiny fishing village could ever produce in 100 lifetimes, its glorious architecture from its churches to its administrative buildings, and the myriad of cultures you find throughout the city.]
(if:$text1 is "neutral")[A few weeks pass, and you spend more time in the city. Much of your time is spent outside the city walls with Harald and his newly-appointed crew of mercenary varangians. Gradually, you learn to coexist with the constant movement and action within the city. The markets are always full, the people always seem to be running from one place to another, and it seems there's always a building needing construction or renovation.]
(if:$text1 is "negative")[A few weeks pass, and you are begrudginly forced to spend more time within the Miklagarðr's walls, rather than out raiding with Harald and his band of mercenaries. The city tires you, there are too many buildings, bleeding with expensive distanste. The people here are insincere, they seem to constantly gossip about you behind your back in a language you cannot bring yourself to understand. You miss home, your people, your village, where everything just seems //normal//, the people aren't fork-tongued and the streets don't reek of sewage.]
Today is different, however. You find yourself in one of (if:$text1 is "positive")[Constantinopolis'](if:$text1 is "neutral")[The city's](if:$text1 is "negative")[Miklagarðr's] many administrative buildings. One of the emperor's envoys demands an official report, and you, as Harald's court poet, are appointed to deliver this report.
When you and Harald had arrived, the first assignment that was given was to clear out the Arab strongholds in the East to aid the Greeks in pushing them back from their lands in the East. It had been a long and daunting task, but your crew had managed it with little to no difficulty. In total, Harald and his men had managed to clear 8 Arab strongholds.
"Well then, poet. How many strongholds did Harald (if:$heritage is true)[Hard-Rule](if:$heritage is false)[Son of Sigurd] claim? There are reports that claim [[3]] or [[5]], others [[8]], and some even arguing as high as [[10]], I heard someone on the forum say [[12]]! I never know what to believe with you northern-folk."(enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(set: $stronghold to 5)You clear your throat and look down.
"Unfortunately only 5. Though his men did try they met with much resistance from the Arabs and failed to capture more." You lie to him. The politician scoffs and makes a note of what you told him.
"Our own army managed to capture 5 in less time. Disappointing, although not unexpected." He says.
[[You leave his office.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(set: $stronghold to 8)You clear your throat.
"Harald and his men managed to claim 8 strongholds. We were met with some resistance but nothing (if:$text1 is "positive")[the Varangian Guard](if:$text1 is "neutral")[we](if:$text1 is "negative")[the mercenaries] couldn't handle." You tell him, truthfully. The politician looks up at you from his desk, mouth ajar.
"That's..." He recollects himself for a moment. "Amazing. Well beyond what emperor had expected of Harald (if:$heritage is true)[Hard-Rule](if:$heritage is false)[Son of Sigurd]." He smiles at you. "Thank you, poet. That will be all."
[[You leave his office.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(set: $stronghold to 10)You clear your throat.
"Harald and his men managed to claim 10 strongholds. We were met with little resistance and managed quite easily." You exaggerate. The politician gawks at you from his desk, frowning in disbelief.
"That's..." He recollects himself for a moment. "...Impressive. Well beyond what emperor had expected of Harald (if:$heritage is true)[Hard-Rule](if:$heritage is false)[Son of Sigurd]." He frowns at you. "And seems almost impossible." He mumbles under his breath before scribbling down your answer and ushering you out with a movement of the hand.
[[You leave his office.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(set: $stronghold to 3)You clear your throat and shake your head.
"Unfortunately only 3. It feels though Harald's men have gone soft and prefer to spend their time drinking and hanging in brothels rather than following orders." You lie to him. The politician shakes his head as he makes a note of what you told him.
"Disappointing. And somewhat unexpected." He says, looking down.
[[You leave his office.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(set: $stronghold to 12)(set: $stronghold to 10)You clear your throat and grin at him.
"Harald and his men managed to claim 12 strongholds. We were met with little to no resistance. It was like stealing from babies." You lie, leaning on the politician's desk. He looks up at you with a frown, then rolls his eyes.
"That's..." He sighs. "...Something. Well beyond what emperor had expected of all the armies in the South combined." He scibbles down an answer, willing to entertain your lie. "And also a barefaced lie. Tsk. Norsemen." He mumbles under his breath before ushering you out with a movement of the hand.
[[You leave his office.]](enchant:?page,(background:#99d1e3))
It's on a quiet sunny morning that your friend Ormulfr finds you to tell you that he can't find Harald. You spend most of the morning looking for him all throughout the city, in the inns, in the garrison, among the crowds in the market.
In a brief moment of curiosity, you suggest to Ormulfr to look in (if:$text1 is "positive")[Hagia Sofia, gem of Constantinopolis](if:$text1 is "neutral")[the central church](if:$text1 is "negative")[Miklagarðr's Christian grossly large Christian temple.].
As you push past its colossal doors, you are met with Hagia Sofia's massive and ornate domes that seem to reach the skies themselves. The church is an impressive feat of architecture and craftsmanship, its pillars run high and its transept is covered in cool, cut stones. You look over at Ormulf, who is just as impressed as you are. Surely enough, however, you find Harald, kneeling by a wooden bench, seeming lost in thought.
[[You approach him.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
While Ormulfr is busy gazing upwards at the painted ceiling, you lay a hand on Harald's shoulder, snapping him out of his daze.
"We weren't expecting to find you find you here." You tell him. He shushes you and tells you to keep your voice down.
"Have you ever read their stories, skald?" He asks you, in a hushes tone. You shake your head. "The longer I spend here... The more of their stories I hear, the more I feel closer to Christ than I ever have to our gods. I think perhaps... Perhaps it's time I was reborn as a man of God. It seems ridiculous to be one of His agents and still pray to our false gods." You're taken aback by his revelevation. "And yet how should I know? I'm only one man. Would you support me, skald? Would you serve a Christian king?" He asks you.
[["Yes, I would."]]
[["No, I couldn't."]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
Harald smiles as he looks at you. "Thank you. I had hoped for the support of my oldest friend if I am to be converted."
[[Emphasize your support. Reassure him that you would follow him.]]
[[Refuse to support his decision, but offer to follow him regardless.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
Harald sighs, seeming more sad than you had ever seen him. "I thought you might say that. I doubted many of our men would see things my way."
[[Tell him he should be ashamed of shunning the old ways so quickly for a foreign god.]]
[[Tell him he can pray to whomever he likes, so long as he does not forget he is a norseman.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(set: $christianity to 'anti_christ')
You look at him with disgust. "You would be so eager to renounce your gods? And for what? Gold? Greek fame? Should your father be alive, he would be ashamed. Perhaps it's better your brother remains on the throne, lest you turn Norway into a Christian country as well." Harald looks angry.
"Fine." He says coldly as he begins to walk away. "I expect to see you and Ormulfr in the barracks before tonight." Before you can say anything else, Harald is out of the church.
You have to practically drag Ormulfr out of Hagia Sofia.
[[You leave the church.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(set: $christianity to 'pagan')
"You are free to do with your free time as you wish. Pray to their god, if you so desire. But neither me nor your men wish to be a part of it, neither does your country, I imagine." You tell him.
Harald nods slightly, looking down. "I suppose you must be right." He says, flatly. "Well, I expect to see you and Ormulfr in the garrison before nightfall." He adds before walking away.
[[You leave the church.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(set: $christianity to 'devout')
"I made a promise and your family to follow you no matter the obstacles. If you see yourself as a man of God, then so be it. If you wish to see Norway become a Christian land, so be it." You tell him. Harald is beyond pleased with your support, practically beaming.
"Thank you, old friend." He pats you on the back as you leave the church together.
You completely forget Ormulfr, who is still wandering around the church.
[[You leave the church.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(set: $christianity to 'reluctant')
You shake your head. "I still believe in the wrath of our gods. My father's gods. But if this is the path you have chosen, I will follow." You tell him. He looks up at you, looking thankful.
"Then your understanding is what I will take, skald." He tells you with a small smile as you both leave the church.
You completely forget Ormulfr, who is still wandering around the church.
[[You leave the church.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
(if:$christianity is "devout")[You and Harald, along with 15 other Varangians, are baptised a week afterwards. Reborn as Christian men, you await your next orders from the basileus.]
(if:$christianity is "reluctant")[Harald and three other Varangians were baptised a week afterwards. You watched the ceremony filled with pride for your friends, but with some confusion over their decision.]
(if:$christianity is "pagan")[There are rumours that Harald continued to visit Hagia Sofia quietly, yet continued to revere his father's gods around the other Norsemen. That week, three Varangians converted to Christianity. The ceremony was kept a secret.]
(if:$christianity is "anti_christ")[Harald would go on asking his old gods for help and guidance whenever he was sent to battle by the basileus, much to your approval, although Harald seems to pay less mind to you now. The Varangian guard remained a mainly pagan mercenary group.]
[[More time passes.]](enchant:?page,(background:#750000))
It's on the day after a successful battle near Ostrovo, that you spend some time with Harald again, this time alongside the emperor's army as well. The battle had been bloody, ruthless, the ground of the battlefield had been strewn with burnt corpses. You recall how, in a moment of blind rage, Harald had managed to massacre so many men, and then ordered to set fire to their encampments.
"Well, (if:$christianity is "devout")[old friend](if:$christianity is "reluctant")[poet](if:$christianity is "pagan")[skald](if:$christianity is "anti_christ")[] you seem quiet tonight, is there not reason enough to celebrate?" He asks you, nudging your side.
[[Tell him you were reminiscing over his prowess in battle.]]
[[Tell him you are tired from the battle.]]
[[Tell him you could not believe how he could celebrate having caused such atrocities.]](set: $opinion to 'positive')
"No, Hardrada, I was thinking of my next verse in your saga. You fought well, surely the tale of Harald Bulgar-burner will live on for centuries." You tell him with a grin. He roars with laughter and recounts the story in Greek to the emperor's men as well.
You sit with them the whole night, laughing and drinking and eagerly discussing the way home.
[[You return to Constantinopolis]]
(background:#5f9c6f)(set: $opinion to 'neutral')
"Hm? No, I was simply tired. Forgive me." You tell him as you stifle a yawn. He looks at you with understanding and returns to join his comerades.
You pass out, exhausted in someone's tent that is not your own, only to be woken too early in the morning by the true owner of the tent kicking you out.
[[You return to Constantinopolis]]
(background:#5f9c6f)(background:#5f9c6f)
(set: $opinion to 'negative')
You look at him with great disgust. "What are you celebrating then? The ruthless slaughter of men who were offering no resistance? Excessive and cruel bloodshed? Sorry, I don't see cause for celebration." You return to your tent, angry, sad, and perhaps a little troubled by the events of the day as well.
Harald laughs at you as you leave, offering another drink to his Greek comrades.
[[You return to Constantinopolis]]
(background:#5f9c6f)(enchant:?page,(background:#000546))
After three years in the court of the Greek emperor, Harald and his mercenary band of Varangians have amassed quite a reputation, even garnering the attention of the emperor himself. He now had fought in 18 large battles, turning the Varangian Guard into a force to be reckoned with. You were tasked with writing down his efforts in these battles, doing so meticulously.
Unfortunately, Harald's favor in the Greek court would quickly decline after the death of Michael IV as his successor rose to power. A letter had come to you from a fellow Varangian telling you that Harald (if:$heritage is true)[Hardrada](if:$heritage is false)[Son of Sigurd] had been emprisoned by the newly appointed empress Zoe on the grounds of (if:$christianity is "devout")[defiling a noblewoman](if:$christianity is "reluctant")[defrauding the emperor](if:$christianity is "pagan")[murder](if:$christianity is "anti_christ")[murder]. Knowing him, you knew these claims must have been (if:$opinion is "positive")[false](if:$opinion is "neutral")[false](if:$opinion is "negative")[true].
As his (if:$christianity is "devout")[poet](if:$christianity is "reluctant")[poet](if:$christianity is "pagan")[skald](if:$christianity is "anti_christ")[skald], you and three of his men came to visit him during his emprisonment, where he begged for your understanding.
"Skald! You of all people must know I would never do such a thing!" He spoke from behind the bars. "I'm clearly being framed by the empress, she hates having a foreign force in her land!" He continued.
[[You believe him.]]
[[You refuse to believe him.]](set: $belief to 'true')
"I believe you, as do the rest of the Varangian Guard." You tell him, he lets out a sigh of relief.
"Good, then you must help me out of here! The guards are already preoccupied with the uprising, there aren't many located around the prisons." Harald looks around him, then turns back to you. "You need to take Ingvar and Alfhild and prepare a ship, we need to go back to Norway tonight." (if: $christianity is "devout" and $opinion is "positive")[Harald looks at you for a while. "Thank you again, dear friend."]
[[Ask him where he will be.]]
[[Accept the task.]]
[[Refuse the task.]](set: $belief to 'false')
You look down at him in his cell. "I have trouble believing you, Harald. (if:$opinion is "negative")[I know of the atrocities you are perfectly capable of committing, this could very well be one of them.]" You tell him. The rest of his men look at you, shocked.
Harald sighs. "Then keep believing that I (if:$christianity is "devout")[defiled that woman](if:$christianity is "reluctant")[defrauded the emperor](if:$christianity is "pagan")[killed him](if:$christianity is "anti_christ")[killed him]. But know that Zoe is distrustful of the Norsemen in the Varangian Guard and finds you too loyal to Michael IV, unless you wish to be hanged then helping me escape and return to Norway is your only option." The room falls quiet. "Good. The guards are already preoccupied with the uprising, there aren't many located around the prisons." Harald looks around him, then turns back to you. "You need to take Ingvar and Alfhild and prepare a ship, we need to go back to Norway tonight."
[[Accept the task.]]
[[Refuse the task.]] "What will you be doing during that time? Are you not coming with us?" You ask.
"I still have one more thing to do before I leave. I cannot tell what that is now." He says, enigmatically.
[[Accept the task.]]
[[Refuse the task.]] (set: $task to 'false')
"No," you say. "This is pure madness, nothing good can possibly come of this plan.(if: $christianity is "anti_christ" and $opinion is "negative")[This is the last straw, Hardrada.]" You tell Harald and his men.
For the first time in an eternity, Karl, a shy Dane, speaks up. "If you don't leave with us, skald, you'll be captured for certain. Who else would Zoe want to interrogate if not the person who has followed Harald throughout his journey?"
You let out a groan in frustration. (if: $text1 to 'negative')[You aren't ready to die in a place as horrible and stinky as Miklagarðr.]
[[Accept the task.]] (enchant:?page,(background:#000546))
You return to the docks where you once began your adventure, this time with only Ingvar and Alfhild. Security as lax is the guards are focused on calming the turmoil in the streets caused by the uprising. Alfhild quickly finds the quickest boat she can spot in such short notice, and helps you and Ingvar check that it is stocked enough for a short journey.
After what seems like hours, you hear the sound of clamouring in the distance as a group of Varangians, lead by a bloodied Harald run towards the ship.
"Hoist the sails! Go, go, go!" Harald yells as he leaps from the pier into the boat. You, Ingvar, and Alfhild rush to hoist the mainsail in order to sail out of the harbor.
Once the ship is out of the harbour, you turn to Harald. His clothes and his beard are completely bloodied.
(if: $opinion is 'positive' and $belief is 'true' and $christianity is 'devout')["You truly always know how to make an entrance, old friend." You tell him. He grins at you.]
You sail out further into the Bosphorus with high speeds and a favorable gale, saying your goodbyes to the city (if: $text1 is 'positive')[that you onced loved so dearly and will miss forever.](if: $text1 is 'neutral')[that has been your home for all these years.](if: $text1 is 'negative')[that stank of sewage and old dog and eagerly await to see the shores of your home] and look ahead, full of hope and wonder.
[[Ask Harald what happened.]]
[[Ignore all the blood and rest instead.]](enchant:?page,(background:#000546))
(set: $ask to 'true')Unable to ignore the blood on Harald and the stench of death around him you ask:
"Tell me, what happened back there?" Harald briefly looks down at his clothes, a smile playing on his lips.
"Oh, this?" He chuckles quietly. The rest of the crew have tuned in to your conversation and are eagerly awaiting his explanation."Ah well, let's just say that Michael V likely won't be returning to Constantinopolis for a while."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Asks Halfdan.
"It means I blinded him and exiled him to a monastery, that's what!" Calls out Harald. The crew cheers.(set: $michaelV to 'true')(if: $belief is 'false' and $christinity is 'anti_christ')["Ah nothing. A wounded passerby fell onto me." Despite this, he lets out a small chuckle as he watches the city drift away.(set: $michaelV to 'false')]
[[You sail the rest of the way home to Norway.]](enchant:?page,(background:#000546))
(set: $ask to 'false')
(set: $michaelV to 'false')Exhausted, you choose to ignore the king's bloodied state and instead choose to rest.
[[You sail the rest of the way home to Norway.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
Years have passed since your time in the Varangian guard. You have returned to your home village to retire in peace and quiet. Your niece, now a girl of 12 and full of energy and adventure sits down next to you by the fire.
"Would you tell me the story of Harald Hardrada?" She asks. You smile at her and comply.
"Well, it all begins in a city called (if:$text1 is "positive")[Constantinopolis](if:$text1 is "neutral")[Constantinopolis](if:$text1 is "negative")[Miklagarðr's]. We arrived with 55 men, and Harald Hardrada."
"The king's brother?" Asks your niece.
"(if:$heritage is true)[Yes, none other](if:$heritage is false)[Yes, although he never did tell the Greeks of his true identity].(if:$text1 is "positive") [Constantinopolis was glorious. It's like walking into a dream, golden gates all around you, kind people to welcome you in, and the food! It's unlike anything you could imagine. The city behind the walls is bigger and more gilded than the night sky itself. I don't think I shall ever know a place more heavenly than Constantinopolis.](if:$text1 is "neutral")[Constantinopolis is bigger and richer than anything you could ever imagine. It's filled to the brim with people that work all day and run down the streets-- because life there moves so quickly. There's always something happening, someone to talk to, someone to buy from, someone to sell to.](if:$text1 is "negative")[Miklagarðr is the reason I'm not afraid of Hel anymore. Whatever awaits me when I die surely cannot be worse than that place, where the streets reek of piss and the people refuse to show you any common decency unless you happen to be rich, famous, or both. If you look at the city from above it seems to crawl like a rotten fruit with maggots.] In his first year in the Varangian Guard, Harald managed to (if: $stronghold is 3 or 5)[only] capture $stronghold Arab strongholds to the East. (if:$stronghold > 7)[It was a feat not even the emperor's army could match." Your niece looks up at you with great awe.]
"I heard that the king converted to Christianity while he was there." Asks another voice, you recognise it to be your sister, walking towards the hearth.
[[You greet her and continue your story.]]
(enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
"(if: $christianity is 'devout')[Yes, we did. It was thanks to him that I converted.](if: $christianity is 'reluctant')[Yes, he did. I could not follow him down that path but supported him nonetheless.](if: $christianity is 'pagan')[No, not officially. Although I know Harald always had a keen interest in Christianity, and I knew he kept going to church.](if: $christianity is 'anti_christ')[No, he didn't." You laugh for a moment. "What an embarrassment that would have been."]
"After a few years," you continue. "We fought against Peter Delyan's army in the East. (if: $opinion is 'positive')[Harald fought like a beserker, that's the battle that earned him the title of //Bolgara brennir//. It was thanks to his actions that the Greeks won." You laugh as you remember that day fondly.](if:$opinion is 'neutral')[Harald did what he had been hired to do: fight. And he did it well. Victory at any cost, that was how he fought."](if:$opinion is 'negative')[It's there that I saw Harald turn into a monster." You say, looking down. "He murdered those men without remorse, caused more bloodshed and death than was ever necessary. Sometimes at night I can still see those fires crackling."] You look over to find your sister and your niece still watching you with rapt attention.
"It's this sort of fighting that got him the emperor's approval. He went on to fight in over 18 major battles in total. Harald was well-loved by the Greeks. Well, until the emperor died and his successor tried to convince us he had commited horrible crimes against the empress. (if: $belief is 'true')[Of course, I knew Harald, and I knew he would never do such a thing. So naturally I followd his plan to escape to Norway with him.](if: $belief is 'false')[But I knew Harald and I knew that those thing could very well have been true. Naturally though, as the skald to the man who was thought to have betrayed the emperor I needed to leave the city to avoid capture. That meant my only chance at freedom was escaping back to Norway with Harald.]"
[["Then what?" Asks your niece.]](enchant:?page,(background:#c59b63))
"Then well..." You try to remember that day as best you can. "Me and two others stole a ship.(if: $michaelV is 'true')[ During that time Harald decided to blind and exile the new emperor out of Constantinopolis." Your niece frown a little at that.]"
"And then, and then!" Asks your niece again. You smile at her as you explain.
"Well, it was an uneventful journey back home. And you know what happens after." You say.
"Harald Hardrada died at Stamford Bridge." Answers your sister.
"Yes," you reply. "He did."
[[The End]]
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The battle was lost, and Harald was dying. Despite never being particularly wise in the ways of medicine, you knew that these would inevitably be his last breaths. When he finally fell, soaked in blood and rain, he called out to you.
"Come, old friend." You stumble as you walk towards him. "Long have I supported you and I suppose now it is your turn to support me." He laughs weakly, coughing as he does so. You help him sit up against the nearby boulder and listen to his dying words. "Thank you, friend. For everything. You have done the impossible and you are the reason that history will remember me, us, the Varangians."
"I did nothing but my job."
"And it is thanks to you we shall both be reborn one day, as stories." He smiles at you one last time.
You hold him up until eventually his body falls like a dead weight, slumped against the stone.
"Goodbye, old friend."