For several decades during the Viking age, parts of England were occupied by the Norsemen. Under their influence, one of the larger cities evolved into a flourishing center of trade and craftsmanship. The Vikings called the city and its surrounding kingdom `Jorvik`, which is today known as the city of York. In Jorvik, players assume the roles of Viking jarls, earning prestige by trading goods, holding huge feasts, funding pillages, commissioning craftsmen, and hiring soldiers to defend the city against recurring invasions.