Viking

A Realistic Viking Brawl

“Thorir had a bear-hunting knife in his hand and rushed at Ospak, lunging at him, but Ospak averted the blow. Since Thorir had thrown himself into a lunge which did not find its mark, he fell forward on to his knees with his head bent over. Ospak then struck down on Thorir’s back with his axe and there was a loud crack.” […]

Violence

A Daring Raid

“Boldly entering the river himself, he ordered his men to seize the island, instructing some to swim and other to ride across as best they could, even though the deep waters made this dangerous.” […]

History

The Founding of the Templars

“By persuasion, prayer and every means in his power, he induced all such pilgrims as were men of arms either to surrender themselves for life to the service of the Lord in that place, or at least to devote themselves for a time.” […]

Britons and Celts

Saxons Take What They Want

“And when the leaders of the Saxon army saw that the land was broad and fertile, and that the hands of the natives were slow to draw the sword, whereas they themselves and the greater part of the Saxons were without secure homes, they sent for an even larger army.” […]

Violence

A Kiss or a Kill

THE SCENE: After the Spanish General El Cid defeated the army of King Bucar of Morocco, he pursued the fleeing monarch to the sea. After cornering Bucar, El Cid offered him one chance at surrender: […]

Greek and Roman

One Family Humbles Two Empires

“The princes hesitated over what to do. Should they abandon a great and costly expedition without hope of recovering their losses? Or should they allow the lord pope, the City and the church be cast into slavery, or rather destroyed?” […]