Picture Challenge: Vikings

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un jour je serai de retour près de toi
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NOTE: They say that a picture can tell a thousand words; this challenge aims to see how many words our members can tell from a picture. Each week an image relating to a certain genre shall be posted, and members are challenged to see what sort of plot, character or idea can be developed from it.

You can post as much or as little as you want to; post the short story the image inspired, or post the quick idea for a plot that it gave you. Quantity is not what this is about; this challenge is all about trying to inspire you to get ideas for genres you may not previously have had any interest in.

There is no time limit on these challenges; feel free to get involved whenever you like.

CATEGORY: This week, the category is VIKINGS.
And so without further interruptions...

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Next week's category will be CYBERPUNK.
 
Ominous black clouds guarded the sun from the grassy hills. Lightning raced through them and a deafening crash of thunder rang through the lands as the small troup of vikings topped the last incline. Wind whipped the loose strings and cloth of their armor around their bodies and near ripped the flag their leader carried. The soldiers were weary from the long travel but as they looked down upon their enemies a renewed sense of purpose gripped them. They were outnumbered more than ten to one but they were skilled in the fine art of swordplay, trained all their lives for this one moment. Their chieftain looked down upon the mass that stood before them knowing his and his men's inevitable fate. With his mighty strength he lifted the flag and drove it down hard into the earth so that it may stand tall and proud. Releasing it he turned to his men looking over each and every one of their determined faces. At this moment he felt pride to be with such men, his family. As he spoke his voice bellowed over the howling wind and the thunderous crashes from above.


"Brothers! Today is that day we find out what we are made of! All that we have worked for and bled for will be put to the test this day! Look not at the numbers that are before us but think rather of your training! We are worth ten of their soldiers, each one of us! And remember your purpose! We fight for the freedom of our land! We fight for our women and children! We fight so that others will live! Look toward the sky my kinsmen! The Gods are with us! So let's show them what we can do so that we may enter the Halls of Valhalla with honor!"


The chief smiled a harsh and saddened smile as he listened to the warcries from his men. He knew that not many, if any at all, would survive this battle. He turned to face his enemy, his people's enemy, and drew his swords from their sheaths. He let out a shout of his own and lead the charge down the hill, leaving only his clan's flag in their stead.
 
They were tired, weary, and bent on success. The time was coming when their people would no longer be needed. As the group stopped a top a tall hill, placing their banner high at the tip, setting up their camp, one looked back. The sky had turned dark, clouds and lightning cramming the sky, and yet, there were the faces of those they sought, the faces of Gods. The young man turned back to his elder, motioning to the faces. The Gods were smiling on their journey, yet, they knew that this night would be the hardest. None ever got this close without the Gods testing them one last time.