Ubbe

King Halfdan had an affair on his pregnant wife with a woman named Signy, and Ubbe was the result of that. King Halfdan was an honorable man, and made sure Signy and Ubbe were well taken care of. When Ubbe was four his mother died to illness, and King Halfdan took the boy in, much to his wife's dismay. Halfdan treated Ubbe just as he did his legitimate son, however his wife Elisif treated Ubbe with quiet contempt.

Being that Ubbe was only seven months younger than his half-brother, the two grew up right along side each other, working and training. The brothers formed a special bond that not even Elisif could break, or dared to break. The two would tend the fields together during the day, laughing and having fun all the while, and then play fight one another in the evenings. It was fairly evenly matched between the two, though Harald did manage to win a little more often than Ubbe.

Eventually the brothers began going on raids together. Ubbe loved it. He loved sailing on the ocean. He loved seeing new lands. He loved fighting along side his brother(always watching Harald's back like their father instructed him to do). Harald felt the same, and the two would go on any raid they could possibly manage.

It was during one such raid that a small ship from the homeland came bearing news that Jarl Angantyr had invaded Tonsberg, burned their family alive in the hall, and then claimed himself to be the King of Tonsberg. Harald grew heated, ready to jump in the boat and immediately make his way back home. But Ubbe calmed his brother down and got him to think more rationally. There was no way they could reclaim Tonsberg with just their raiding party. They needed help. They listed out all the Jarls and Kings they could beseech for aide, and settled on trying King Sigurd of Birka.

The brothers and their raiding party sailed to Birka where they were received as guests. Harald plead his case to King Sigurd, who then agreed to send 5 ships of warriors to aid them in reclaiming their ancestral lands.

The battle was long and bloody, but Harald and Ubbe were able to claim victory and kill Angantyr. Then came the task of rebuilding. First was the Great Hall. Ubbe worked right along side his brother to build a larger and more elaborate hall than what had stood there before. All Harald kept talking about was princess Gyda of Birka, and finally Ubbe stopped and said,"You talk too much about Gyda, brother. Why don't you just marry her?" Those were words Harald took to heart, because they went back to Birka and he asked Sigurd for Gyda's hand in marriage.

Unfortunately, that didn't stop Harald from talking about Gyda. That was, until Vigdis showed up at their door. Harald gave her hospitality, which she eagerly took. Ubbe would often see the two up late at night by the fire, leaned in towards one another, talking and laughing while sharing a drink. Something didn't seem right to Ubbe. Harald no longer seemed interested in Gyda, when before he couldn't shut up about her. And then Harald told Ubbe he wanted him to go to Birka to tell them the marriage was off. It wasn't like Harald... he was never so wishy-washy of flippant. But Ubbe did what his brother asked him to do.

Ubbe was expecting to see King Sigurd, but instead was invited into the Great Hall by the son of Angantyr, Egil. It appeared Egil had invaded Birka, killed King Sigurd, called himself King of Birka, and then married Gyda. Something didn't seem quite right with that. Why would Gyda agree to marry her father's killer when she was engaged to Harald? But he could never get Gyda alone to ask her if she was alright.

Instead, he was pulled aside by the pretty Volva who served Gyda as a handmaiden. Dyrfinna asked if Freydis had arrived in Tonsberg yet, to which Ubbe said she had not yet. Dyrfinna then told him Egil had attacked Birka, killed Sigurd, and forced Gyda to make the choice between being his thrall or being his wife. Ubbe shook his head in disgust. Dyrfinna asked him to inform her fiance of this, surely thinking Harald would send warriors to come to her rescue.

Ubbe said he would try, but told Dyrfinna about how he thought Harald's mind was being controlled. He said he didn't know for sure, but he thought Vigdis was responsible, as he was completely enamored with her. Dyrfinna advised him to keep an eye on Harald and Vigdis, and that if Freydis showed up to Tonsberg to let her know of his suspicions.

And so Ubbe returned to Tonsberg, and sure enough Freydis had already arrived. He quietly informed Freydis that he suspected Vigdis of being a Volva, and that he thought she ensnared Harald with magic. He also informed her that he had met with Dyrfinna and that she told him to tell her that she could send her fjylga to her at any time she needed to but to be cautious around Vigdis if she really was a Volva. It appeared they would need to rescue Harald before they could rescue Gyda.

Harald

"I think... it is not wise to rush into things. You haven't known her that long."

Harald had this tendency to think with his heart rather than his head, and Ubbe's job was to help him think with his head when he really needed to. As well as watch his back in battle. Even though that was Ubbe's task his whole life, the half-brothers were the best of friends. Never has Ubbe been jealous of Harald or held desires for the throne of Tonsberg. He's merely concerned his brother is being bewitched.

Torsten

"Thank-you for always having my brothers' and my backs."

Ubbe and Torsten became pretty good friends when they were boys, training in the practice yards together. It wasn't until during an actual raid that Ubbe got to see what a Berserker really fought like, and it made him glad Torsten never showed that side of himself to them.

Freydis

"I think Harald has been bewitched, and I suspect it's Vigdis who's charmed him."

Ubbe met Freydis briefly the first time they went to Birka, asking for Sigurd's aid to reclaiming their kingdom. But now she's in Tonsberg asking for the same kind of help. But now Freydis is seeking refuge in Tonsberg, having fled Birka. And she's asking for the same aid Birka gave to Tonsberg. Ubbe is trying to convince Harald to help Freydis, and admitting to Freydis what's really going on with Harald.

Dyrfinna

"I've never met a woman quite like you. Please stay safe, and do what you can to help Gyda."

Ubbe met Dyrfinna when he had the unfortunate task of delivering the break up message to Gyda from Harald. She asked him for news on Freydis of which he had none, then told him about what happened in Birka. Ubbe revealed to her what was happening in Tonsberg. And Dyrfinna asked him to deliver a message to Freydis upon his return home.

Fjormos

"I know I'm right about this. Vigdis is using magic against Harald."

Fjormos is Freydis's shield-maiden and protector as Freydis travels around and tries to keep out of Egil's grasp. They came to Tonsberg looking for help, but Ubbe doubts Harald will help them in his current state.

Vigdis

"I think you underestimate Harald's and my bond, witch."

Ubbe does not like Vigdis at all. He knows she must have done something to bewitch Harald, who's acting so out of character it's frightening Ubbe. But what can he possibly do against magic?

Heimdall

"Heimdall, Keen Eyed Watchman poised upon the mighty bridge keeping safe those to whom You have sworn Your duty, I honor You. "

Although Ubbe is technically a descendant of Odin, one of his primary deities is the watchman, Heimdall. He feels a kindred spirit between the two, as it's Heimdall's duty to protect the Aesir, and it's Ubbe's duty to protect Harald.

Tyr

"Hail to the God by whose names we swear oaths, Hail to Tyr! Help me uphold my oath to protect my brother."

Tyr is another god whom Ubbe feels a connection to. Just as Tyr would hold his hand in the mouth of Fenrir to uphold his oath and honor, so too would Ubbe. Tyr was called upon by Halfdan to bear witness to Ubbe swearing an oath upon his arm ring to always have Harald's back.