The Tartars

In what is now Russia, a Viking settlement lives in harmony with Tatars and Slavs. A fragile peace sets the stage for everyday life until tensions later threaten it. The alliance is central to the story's backdrop.

Togrul, a Tatar chief, seeks Oleg's help to attack the Slavs. Oleg, leader of the Vikings, refuses and a confrontation follows. Oleg kills Togrul and abducts Togrul's daughter Samia as a hostage.

Burundai, Togrul's brother, erupts in fury and proclaims 'I am your Khan' to his troops. The high priest Ciu Lang cautions that Samia's promised status gives the Tatars leverage and urges restraint. The threat to the Vikings escalates as Burundai eyes revenge.

A Viking longship is attacked, and Oleg’s wife Helga is captured along with her handmaidens. Burundai promises to treat Helga well for the exchange but tortures the maids to test Viking strength. He rapes Helga and hands her over to his men before exchanging for Samia.

While Samia is held hostage, she falls in love with Eric, Oleg's brother. The relationship adds a personal dimension to the looming exchange. Oleg remains determined to protect Samia and his people.

Oleg travels to exchange Samia for Helga. Ciu Lang leads Helga out to the battlements; she leaps down and is fatally injured. Oleg retrieves Helga and Samia to the Viking settlement, where Helga dies after asking him to kiss her.

Grief-stricken Oleg contemplates vengeance against Samia. Eric reveals that Samia is pregnant with his child and wishes to marry her. Oleg orders Eric and Samia to stand trial for their actions before the tribal elders.

Ciu Lang urges peaceful retrieval of Samia, but Burundai rejects restraint and murders the priest. He leads the Tatars toward wiping out the Vikings, driven by megalomaniac dreams of conquest. The internal leadership fractures deepen as the threat grows.

In the elders' trial, the votes are split between acquittal and death, leaving Oleg to cast the deciding vote. Word arrives that Burundai is attacking; Oleg orders the women and children to flee to the mountains. He and Eric organize the defense of the settlement with the remaining men.

The Tatars overwhelm the defenses; Oleg commands the defense and instructs Eric to take Samia to safety. Eric rescues Samia and guides her to a longship, while Oleg fights to hold the line. The longship departs as the siege intensifies and the settlement burns in the background.

Oleg fights Burundai, throwing him into the water where he drowns. He salutes Eric and Samia on the departing longship. A Tatar spear strikes Oleg, mortally wounding him as the ship sails away and the settlement burns behind them.