Ivar and his bodyguard Vigrid travel the Silk Road. As they enter Kievan Rus', they are captured by men loyal to Prince Oleg the Prophet. After torturing and dismembering Vigrid, Oleg finds out Ivar's full story and takes an interest in the exiled king. The pair form an uneasy friendship after Oleg reveals how he murdered his wife. Oleg discloses to Ivar that he plans to reclaim the Rus' people's ancestral lands in Scandinavia and invites Ivar to join him. In Kattegat, Bjorn outlaws White Hair a
Against Lagertha's advice, Bjorn decides to go to Harald's aid. Kjetill returns to Kattegat in search of new settlers to help build Iceland. Ubbe is interested in following him as Kjetill claims that one of the settlers is the fabled Othere, who has sighted a new land west of Iceland. Torvi reveals that she is pregnant. Kjetill says Floki has vanished, raising the suspicion of Bjorn. Bjorn browbeats Kjetill into joining his war party. In Kievan Rus' Oleg and Ivar travel to Novgorod to meet Oleg'
After returning to Kiev with Igor and Ivar, Oleg has Dir attacked and imprisoned. While Ivar teaches Igor Old Norse, they discover Dir mutilated and bound like a dog. The sight amuses Igor but troubles Ivar. In Kattegat, Bjorn is seduced by Gunnhild's servant Ingrid. As he leaves to rescue Harald he places Ubbe in command while leaving his children Hali and Asa with Lagertha. Ubbe announces plans to send Hvitserk on a trade expedition along the Silk Road. Hvitserk is tormented by visions of his
Bjorn's army is surrounded by Olaf's. Kjetill confesses to Bjorn that he murdered Eyvind and his family but had nothing to do with Floki's disappearance, but Bjorn is unconvinced. In Kiev, Ivar secretly undermines Oleg: he reminds Igor that everything in Rus' is his, and promises Dir that he will help him escape in return for his support against Oleg. Oleg informs Ivar that he is gathering an army to invade Scandinavia, and Ivar accuses him of using him as a puppet king. White Hair's band attack
Jarl Thorkell arrives in Vestfold and is welcomed by Olaf. Gunnhild finds Lagertha and learns of Hali's death; she decides to stay and defend the village with her shield-maidens. Hvitserk has another vision of Thora; he swears on his arm ring that he will avenge her death by killing Ivar. Thorkell proposes that any of the leaders be allowed to contest the election; everyone agrees. Bjorn is introduced to Jarl Hrolf and King Hakon. Ivar and Igor free Dir; they are then introduced to Oleg's intend
White Hair and his bandits attack the village again. The villagers win after a hard battle, which culminates with Lagertha killing White Hair in single combat. Seriously wounded, Lagertha rides back to Kattegat to meet Bjorn. In Kiev, Oleg and Katia are married; later, they torment Ivar by having sex in front of him. In Vestfold, Harald wins the election and is crowned King of All Norway; Harald and Kjetill campaigned for Harald's victory with promises to the various kings and earls, Kjetill bei
In Kattegat, Lagertha's body is found and Hvitserk is missing. Worried about her children, Torvi travels to Lagertha's farmstead and Asa tells her of Hali's death. In Vestfold, King Hakon pledges allegiance to Harald; when Olaf refuses to do the same, Harald has him imprisoned. Amma locates Hvitserk in the forest and brings him back to Kattegat; Ubbe asks him if he knew of Lagertha's death, but Hvitserk refuses to answer. In Kiev, Ivar is told by a messenger that Dir is in hiding and will help I
Bjorn puts Hvitserk on trial for the murder of Lagertha; Hvitserk confesses and Bjorn sentences him to be burned alive. Ubbe attempts to convince Hvitserk to ask for mercy, but Hvitserk believes he was guided by the gods to avenge Aslaug. When Hvitserk is about to be burned, Ubbe saves his life; then, Bjorn banishes Hvitserk. Later, Gunnhild discovers Bjorn having sex with Ingrid; she suggests that Bjorn take Ingrid as a second wife. Ubbe, Torvi, and Asa travel to Iceland with Kjetill. In Kiev,
In Iceland, Ubbe is introduced to Othere, a wanderer who glimpsed the coasts of a golden land to the west. Torvi has difficult labor and almost dies, but survives and gives birth to a boy whom she and Ubbe call Ragnar. Othere is revealed to be a former Christian monk named Athelstan, who has adopted the identity of a dying wanderer. Ubbe wants to sacrifice Othere to the gods, but he is reminded by Torvi that he himself was once baptized. Othere gives Ubbe Floki's wedding ring, saying that he met
In Vestfold, Bjorn and Harald prepare for the incoming Rus' attack by fortifying Tamdrump's fjord, the river to the north, and the beach in between; during the preparations, Gunnhild loses her unborn child. Frustrated with Bjorn having taken a second wife, Harald rapes Ingrid. Of the many kings and earls of Norway, only Thorkell and his men have joined Harald's army. In Kiev, Katia offers herself to Ivar, but he refuses; she later tells him that she is not satisfied with her marriage to Oleg. Iv
After the defeat of Harald's and Bjorn's forces, the Rus have occupied Tamdrup and prepare to attack Kattegat. Harald is revealed to still be alive and captured by the Rus as well as King Olaf. At Oleg's behest, Igor burns King Olaf alive. Meanwhile Harald, intent on not being a pawn for Oleg, escapes. In Kattegat King Hakon and Jarl Hrolf have arrived with their armies. Bjorn is revealed to still be alive, but slowly dying from his wound. In Iceland, Ubbe prepares for their expedition. Othere r
Oleg's army returns in defeat to Kiev. Oleg has Igor and Ivar separated and destroys Igor's chamber, claiming to want to make a man out of him. In Kattegat, Gunnhild mourns the death of Bjorn. Erik approaches her, suggesting she summon an Althing to elect her as queen of Kattegat. Secretly, he makes a similar offer to Ingrid. They accept since Gunnhild wants to uphold Bjorn's legacy and Ingrid believes she is carrying Bjorn's child. Oleg forces the officers of his army to dig their own grave and
In Kattegat, Ingrid and Gunnhild are running to be the Queen of Kattegat but King Harald returns, invoking his right to the kingship as Norway's elected king. After seeing Ingrid performing a ritual in Bjorn's mound, Erik thinks that she is a witch. On the Atlantic Ocean Ubbe's expedition is hit by a storm. Torvi's daughter Asa is washed overboard after seeing Jörmungandr and is lost. In Kiev, Ivar is prevented from seeing Igor by Oleg's guards, including Hvitserk. Hvitserk claims Oleg treats hi
Ivar's and Igor's cart passes through a passion play where Oleg is playing the role of Jesus. Bishop Leon stops the cart but then allows the cart to pass after seemingly recognizing Igor. Ivar successfully delivers Igor to Novgorod and Dir who has gathered substantial support against Oleg. In Kattegat, Harald is crowned as king by Erik who in turn is made the head of his bodyguard. Harald proposes to marry both Gunnhild and Ingrid, convinced that the child the latter is carrying is his and not B
Dir's forces march on Kiev, with the garrison surrendering peacefully to him. Oleg, who is losing his grip on reality, appears on a balcony and pleads for forgiveness by Igor. Encouraged by Ivar, Igor shoots him to death with an arrow. During the celebrations, Katia tells Ivar that she is carrying his child, but Ivar states he has other ambitions. As Ivar prepares to leave Kiev he is confronted by Igor who does not want him to leave. After telling Igor that he has to stand on his own legs to be
Ubbe's expedition is lost at sea with their meager supply of food and water quickly dwindling; a boy drinks seawater and later dies. Torvi is unable to produce milk to feed baby Ragnar. Ivar and Hvitserk return to Kattegat, but are seen as traitors by the public. At a feast, Harald makes a charismatic speech to the people convincing them to forgive Ivar and Hvitserk for fighting with the Rus. Hvitserk mourns at Bjorn's mound where he is visited by Iðunn who spends the night with him. Ivar confid
Harald assembles a fleet. Harald appoints Erik the acting king in his place, with Erik having the last say over Ingrid. As the fleet leaves, Erik makes it clear that he wants to take Harald's place as King for life and claim Ingrid as his. Ingrid starts an affair with Erik but secretly curses him using her witchcraft which makes Erik eventually blind. In England, Ivar suggests the Norwegian fleet take position at Eddington. The Norwegians then start to ravage the countryside to lure Alfred to th
The new land found by Ubbe's expedition is found to be rich in berries and wildlife, saving them from starvation. As they build and explore, Othere discovers signs of previous Norse settlement. Ubbe leaves gifts close to some carvings and later finds the gifts taken and replaced by new gifts. In England, Ivar plans to ambush the English in a nearby forest. Ivar states his wish to Hvitserk to be the most famous Viking who ever lived and his child by Katia will make sure his bloodline lives on. Hv
In the new land, the native warriors make peace gestures. The tribe, introducing themself as the Miꞌkmaq, invite the settlers to eat with them. Orlyg confides to his fellow slave Nissa about Erik's request for him to kill Ingrid. Othere, and later Ubbe, recognizes that the sagamaw of the tribe, Pekitaulet, knows some Old Norse. Ubbe is told of another Nordic explorer who appeared in their land before their arrival. The settler Naad has discovered gold among the gifts the natives left for the set
Floki tells Ubbe and Torvi of how he traveled to the new land from Iceland after being disillusioned with the Icelandic settlement. In England, Ivar and Alfred negotiate but Alfred refuses to agree to Ivar's conditions. Naad goes looking for gold in a hut and kills Pekitaulet's son We'jitu when he tries to stop him. The natives capture Naad and Ubbe promises to punish him. After initially preparing to carve a blood eagle, Ubbe opts at the last minute to quickly slit Naad's throat instead. The No