Stroud has stated that:[1] "I’ve always liked reading Norse myths and legends, and the Icelandic Sagas, written in the Middle Ages by the descendents of Vikings.

The Sagas are interesting because they mix ordinary domestic stories about farms and families with sudden bits of supernatural stuff, featuring ghosts and trolls.

Halli Sveinsson loves to hear stories from the days when the valley was a wild and dangerous place, besieged by the bloodthirsty Trow.

This was when twelve heroes of the valley joined together to fight the ruthless Trows (man eating monsters) who were devastating the land.

In the morning, when the people returned to see what had happened, all were dead, Trows and Heroes, including Svein, their leader.

He is a very short, stout, and headstrong boy who longs for the days of the Heroes, when a man could fight for what he wanted and take what he could win.

His actions eventually lead to an attack by the House of Hakon, and he alone can accept responsibility and take charge of his defenseless village.