Sach, Where you at? Looks like its on you to lead us!
Is Jarl like “King” ? I just thought it was his first name. But they keep calling him “the Jarl”
Also, How is the Viking Government run? Feudal System? Where does Bjarni rate on the scale of things.
It’s been used as a name, but in this context it’s a title.
“Jarl” is a noble title, the ruler of a significant area of land. The English equivalent is apparently Earl; an Earl was the ruler of a city or county. It falls in the middle of English titles (Baronet / Baron / Earl / Duke).
Bjarni is on a fairly low rung, as the chieftain of his own settlement - a jarl is much higher on the scale. There is a King. There is also a parliament (the Thing) but the King doesn’t have to listen to it if he doesn’t want to. The Thing also functions as a grand fair and a court of law. Nobles below the rank of King are reasonably autonomous as long as they fulfil their obligations to the King.
The whole country could be considered quite chaotic in D&D terms. Law is mostly what any person of rank and power says it is, and can enforce. Kings generally tend to recognise this and, while not bound to listen to the Thing, do not usually issue decrees unless in their judgment the nobles are likely to go along with them.
The above may not be historically accurate, but it represents the approximate political structure in the campaign, at least as far as a reasonably well-educated character will know.
Gautrek, you sly dog!
There are only two ways to deal with Vikings like him:
- order the liar off your land, and thrash him if he refuses
- offer him a job (what a great improviser and negotiator!)
Random Skills of Osvald:
Sewing
Tea-Brewing
Spellcraft
Haggling
Anyone care to explain to me what this means? Well, I get Tea Brewing- I can make a mean cup of Tea.
Also, I was asking earlier in the game about Odin's Wizards more in regards to myself. I am a follower of Odin, hence the spear and all, but I don't know if I get any fun benefits other than that really. A natural affinity to ravens?? No Clue.Sewing and Tea-brewing do exactly what it says on the tin (so to speak).
The Tea-brewing would probably be especially useful in a formal ceremony.
Note your tailoring skills would not extend to repairing Leather Armour, since that is the Armourer skill.
Spellcraft - if you see (or hear) someone casting, you have a chance to identify what spell they are about to cast. (If you are a specialist, those spells are usually easier to identify.)
Haggling - you can try to get us better prices when we buy or sell.
These skills can be useful and interesting, so watch out for chances to use them. 
I don’t know what benefits, if any, you get from being an Odin Wizard. Your GM will know.
I assume you have already got one benefit from somewhere: extra spells in your specialisation (very useful.)
We are looking forward to our Skald (Little Plastic Ninja) joining us soon, I believe. 
Malacandra, would it make sense to get another player character?
I notice that What Exit? was politely offering to be a reserve - he would certainly take an active role!
I don’t have any random skills for Jorund was that an oversite?
Note I may be gone from Friday until Sunday this upcoming week, so I may have to loan my character to someone to just deal with and keep him alive.
Shouldn’t be too hard. Just panic all the time, and focus on staying alive, that’s about it really.
I suggested to the DM that it would add to the fun.
I’ve sent him some ideas for Ulf, but haven’t had confirmation what Ulf got yet.
They’re not really random skills; they just can’t be weapon skills (hence they are sometimes called non-weapon proficiencies)
You could have a think about what areas Jorund might have picked up a skill…
I’m cool with either of those - I believe I hinted as much. There will be opportunities to add extra PCs and ample reason why they shouldn’t have happened to be around for the inital encounters.
Yes, do. By all means think of something that would add interest and might be occasionally useful. I didn’t bother in the first instance in the interests of keeping things simple, but it certainly won’t hurt if you want to flesh your guy out a little more.
I look forward to an ingenious plot twist!
Such as:
-
the party have been sailing for some hours now, with no sign of pursuit. Suddenly there is a loud fart from beneath a tarpaulin - and a stowaway appears, offering to join us.
-
Jorund is crushing his opponent with his ‘two hammer’ attack. The opponent cries out “Mercy! I submit! … oh, are you looking for someone to join you?”
-
as the party ride beneath the only tree on the deserted moor, a new player falls out of it.
P.S. Have you had a chance to determine Ulf’s skills?
Let’s say gaming (probably hnefetafl) and weather sense. I think berserkers just display prowess with weapons in the direct sense, really.
Well I think that fishing would fit right in with Jorund’s personality but most of the one’s I can find online are a little too complicated for his mind
We can leave it at fishing, if you like. Low-INT characters don’t have many additional skills anyway.
Ah, hnefetafl! Yes, fitting the gap neatly between Thud and chess…
Heh. If Pterry didn’t blatantly rip off hnefetafl when he was thinking up Thud, I’ve a well-seasoned Akubra waiting to be served up for dinner. 
I also ran across nine men’s morris when the Vikings attended our village millennium celebrations last year. I’d seen it maybe once before and handed their champion a horrible hiding (which I think mostly means she wasn’t very good).
so… Do we negotiate/ call him a liar or Fight?
i think you know what my wizard would say in this case.
Though maybe we can call him a liar, and then web him down. See how he reacts to that?