Count Hamnet Thyssen would much rather be safe home in his
castle in Raumsdalia than away in the northern Bizogot
country.  However, when Emperor Sigvat II summons him and
orders the count to go north beyond the glacier that has
always been the northern border of the world.  According to
a jarl of the Bizogots, Trasamund, a gap has opened to the
other side, allowing them to travel beyond the glacier.  
Along with Ulric Skakki, a man who, though not always the
most trustworthy off the field of battle, you would always
want right by your side on it, Eyvind Torfinn, an earl of
the empire, and the husband of Hamnet's ex-wife, and Audun
Gilli, a mage found drunk in the sewers, the count and jarl
set off to explore beyond the edge of the world.  However,
much to the count's dismay, during one stay in a serai,
similar to an inn, Gudrid, Hamnet's ex-wife, joins the
group along with a small group of imperial guards led by
Jesper Fletti.  Throughout the whole trip, she causes
trouble by bedding many of the Bizogot jarls, including
Trasamund.  After passing through the empire's northern
border, the group stops at many of the Bizogot nomad
tribes' camps.  Each one welcomes them like family, and the
group learns more about the Bizogot way of life then they
might have liked.  Before continuing through the glacier,
the group stops at Trasamund's tribe, the Three Tusk Clan's
camp.  There, a Bizogot shaman, similar to a Raumsdalian
mage, joins them.  Her name is Liv, and enchants the count
with her beauty.  Then, the group sets off through the gap,
and make it through the glacier within the short summer.  
On the other side, they encounter many new animals, but not
what they came looking for, the Golden Shrine, said to be
where god is closest to man.  In this frozen wasteland,
they encounter a group of fierce nomads who call themselves
the Rulers.  They ride mammoths, and believe they're above
everyone else.  What worries Hamnet and others, is that
they might have a reason to believe this.  However, Eyvind
Torfinn manages to talk their way out of being killed, and
they are set free.  However, one of the Rulers' sorcerers
wasn't fooled, and tried to track them.  The group makes
its way back through the gap, and it's winter by now.  The
snow and wind is terrible.  However, Count Hamnet is
happier than he has been in a long time.  He and Liv had
fallen in love.  Hamnet convinced her to ride south back to
the empire with him.  Along the way, the group attempts to
convince  the other Bizogot tribes that the rulers are a
threat, but they refuse to acknowledge it.  Even Emperor
Sigvat II wouldn't acknowledge this threat.  Frustrated,
Count Hamnet rides back north with Trasamund, Liv, Ulric,
and Audun to do his best to stop the Rulers.  On the way, a
messenger arrives from the emperor, ordering him to return
to Nidaros, the capital.  He tells the courier he refuses,
and left it at that.  The group arrives in the Three Tusk
Clan's grazing land to find out that the Rulers had already
arrived, and had killed most of the nomads.  However, they
joined up with a herd of musk-ox and tricked the Rulers.  
Many of the remaining Bizogots died, but the Rulers were
forced to retreat.  Now, the group plans on riding south to
convince the other tribes to join them now that they have
physical proof