The Griffon Empire one of the most wealthy countries on Equis has never been invaded because of their strong, brutal military force, this has also given the Empire's populace a false sense of pride and security.

Recently they've grown prosperous off of their sea trade, but this has not gone unnoticed. Recent reports of attacks and raids on their northernmost coastal villages have caught the eye of the Empire, these raids are pulled off expertly, no one left alive and everything looted. Recently a few locals from a village in the north have come to the empire claiming to have survived a raid and asking for help.

They describe these raiders as extremely tall and immensely strong, the locals in the north have even come up with names for them, Northmen, Norsemen, Nordic warriors and the most popular Vikings.