DEMONS, DRAGONS, GODS

 Dawn, A.D. 899.  Our young heroes awake to find their village deserted, their families vanished without a trace.

Reeling from the sudden disappearance of their kinsfolk, the seven youngsters are uncertain how to proceed. Two of their number are of royal blood - half-brothers Keneth Kindheart and Ragnar Toughskul. They have opposing opinions and personalities, and are soon vying for leadership of the group. Which of them wins may decide the fate of all.Torn between the brothers, and loved by both, is foreign Princess, Thora Greyeye. She was betrothed to Ragnar and due to marry him until the events of that fateful day.As the power-struggle rages, a mysterious Shamen (actually the God Loki in disguise) appears and speaks to Ragnar. Using flattery and guile he tells him his kinsfolk will never return. It is the 'Time of Apocalypse'. Their parents were the chosen ones. The youngsters were deemed unworthy. They must accept their fate and remain where they are, with Ragnar as their new leader. Keneth's instincts are to set off and look for their vanished families. But when Ragnar tells him of the Shamen's words he is reluctantly won over. Or at least he is until young Snorri Quicktongue appears...Snorri has spoken with the Goddess Freya. And her message was very different from that of the Shamen. Freya told Snorri their destiny is to go in search of their kinfolk. That she will try and help them, and that the fate of the world depends upon them succeeding in their quest.Ragnar laughs dismissively. Can anyone take the words of this stammering soothsayer seriously? When he, Ragnar has already spoken? But Keneth does trust Snorri. The casting vote will fall to Thora, the only other of noble birth.Thora agonises over who to support. Though promised to Ragnar she sympathises with Keneth's plan. After a violent stand-off between the two brothers she casts the vital vote for Keneth, and the seven youths set off into the wilderness...