Outlining the origins of Norway and Sweden, the first characters are mythological -- Snaer, Logi, Kari, and Frosti. They each represent an element of nature, respectively snow, flame, storm, and frost. Their children are given the land in the north, but they must divide the land, a point of strong contention. Snaer's grandson Nor takes possession of Norway, after whom the land is named, along with his brother Gor. Finally the rulers of the Orkney isles are granted their domains by outwitting a giant and King Fornjot.
A faithful servant and soldier to the King of Norway, Rognvald Eysteinsson is given the title of Earl of More. He helped to ride the Orkney islands of Vikings. His son dies in battle, so when Rognvald was ready to pass on the care of his land and peoples, he gave it to his brother Sigurd. In turn, Sigurd served well for a few years, but his life was cut short by a battle. Gurthorm became heir to the earldom, but he died of illness only a year later. His brother, Hallad, was next in line. During his service, he was continually fighting the Danish for the Orkney land, and he eventually gave up, sailing home to Norway.
Hearing of Hallad's resignation, Rognvald calls his other sons -- Thorir and Hrollaug -- together to choose one to reign in Orkney. He imagines that Thorir will remain in Norway, Hrollaug will travel to Iceland, and that his youngest, Einarr, will rule over the Orkeny Islands. Despite his concern that the boy will not amount to much of a leader because he is a bastard, Rognvald consents to the appointment and sends his blessing. Einarr drives out to Danish warlords and cements his position as Earl of More which is passed on for generations after him.
From 980 to 1014 Sigurd Hlodvirsson is Earl of More. He dies in the Battle of Clontarf, defeated by the Irish. The Norwegians were pushed into the sea, where they met their deaths. Near the end of the reign of Sigurd, King Olaf Tryggvasson comes along and brings with him Christianity from Ireland. He forcibly converts the northerners. After Sigrud, Thorfinn Sigurdsson becomes Earl of More. He engages in an epic confrontation with Karl Hundason who was claiming to be the King of Scots and who took land in Caithness for himself. Defeating Karl, Thorfinn marches south and burns and pillages the villages along his way. He gains possession of Caithness and becomes a servant of both the King of Norway and the King of Scots.
Two generations later Magnus Erlendsson has gained his grandfather's title of King of Isles. Known as a pushover because of his extreme religious piety, Magnus was arrested by King Magnus Barefoot. Refusing to fight during his captivity, he remained true to hsi religious convictions. Unfortunately his brother, Erling, dies. Escaping Barefoot, Magnus travels to Scotland for a while to reclaim his domain from Haakon Paulsson, his cousin. Seeking help from Eystein I of Norway, Magnus tries to unseat his cousin. They end up proposing to share the earldom. During negotiations, however, Magnus is kidnapped and killed by Haakon's cook, Lifolf, under duress. The Bishop of Orkney, William the Old, prays at Magnus' grave to regain his sight and does.
Shortly afterward, Magnus' nephew, Rognvald Kali Kolsson, becomes earl. He gains a reputation like his grandfather, as a holy man. Narratively contrasted with one another, Rognvald and Asleifsson serve as opposite virtues. Asleifsson apparently was a drunk, a murderer, and generally an ineffective leader. Rognvald may demonstrate better mastery of his self, he is also perceived as a somewhat ineffective ruler because of his lack of control over his nobles. As earl, however, he complimented the garish leadership of Asleifsson.
