The White Viking

King Olav prays and hears the voice of Jesus, the White Christ, guiding his faith. This prophetic moment stirs jealousy in his adviser, bishop Thangbrandur, who fears losing influence. Olav's fervor to root out paganism sets the stage for a brutal clash of faiths.

Olav and his men storm a pagan ceremony in Norway, turning ritual into a violent confrontation. Kolbeinn shatters the wooden statue of Odin, enraging the pagans and pakcing the confrontation with tension. Embla kills Kolbeinn with an axe, sealing the ambush in blood.

Embla and Askur are captured as the conflict spirals. Godbrandur, seeing a desperate turn, agrees to be baptized to save Embla and Askur. The exchange highlights how faith becomes both weapon and shield in the struggle.

Embla is kept in a convent as a hostage, separated from the immediate clashes of the conflict. The convent becomes a political pawn in the broader war between Christians and pagans. Her fate hangs in the balance as power shifts around her.

In Iceland, Thangbrandur's missionary tricks prove ineffective and he is treated as a local joke by pagans. Meanwhile Gunnar, Askur's half-brother, and their mother Hallbera plot to frame Askur for Völondur's murder, driving him toward danger.

Askur is gagged and presented to Thorgeir, who, avoiding a martyr's death for Askur, exiles him back to Norway rather than executing him. The exile reframes Askur's mission and marks a setback in the conversion timeline.

Returning to Norway, Askur tries to free Embla from the convent. He disguises himself as Jesus to scare the nuns, and the pair manage to swim away together, only to be captured again on the shore by Olav.

Embla convinces Olav to let Askur return to Iceland to finish his mission, giving him a necklace bearing an image of Freyja as protection. The gesture binds Embla's fate to Askur's cause and to the broader religious struggle.

Askur returns with Thangbrandur to Iceland, where Thorgeir confronts him on the beach and stages a faux-duel. The fight moves into a pagan temple, and Askur is drenched in sacrificial blood as his companions flee with the necklace.

Thorgeir hides Askur in a mound while he travels to the Althing. He resolves the conflict by converting Iceland to Christianity, decreeing that pagans may worship in secrecy, a compromise that pleases both sides.

Thangbrandur and Gunnar realize Thorgeir's ploy and attempt to kill Askur to seize the jewelry. Askur outsmarts them, but Thangbrandur is mortally wounded and begs forgiveness. Askur tells him that only White Christ can forgive, and Thangbrandur prays to Odin to gain entry into Valhalla.

Back in Norway, Godbrandur completes a stavechurch to vindicate Olav. Embla rejoins her father and plans to flee to Iceland, but Olav's ships appear in the fjord. Embla sets the church on fire in a desperate suicide bid, Godbrandur dies, and Olav saves Embla. A vision of Odin appears as a ship carrying Askur appears in the fjord.