Embark on an epic journey in 'Raiders of the North Sea,' a game that transports you directly to the heart of the Viking Age! Here, you're not just a warrior, but an aspiring leader seeking to impress the Chieftain. How? By raiding unsuspecting settlements, of course! To do so, you'll need to assemble a formidable crew, stock up on provisions, and venture north in search of gold, iron, and livestock. Glory awaits you in battle, and even an encounter with the Valkyries can earn valuable points. So, call your warriors, because raiding season is open!

The main objective is to accumulate victory points (VPs), which you primarily gain by plundering settlements, collecting treasures, and making offerings to the Chieftain. How you utilize your plunder is crucial for success. Each turn, you perform a 'place worker' action and then a 'pick up worker' action. Broadly, these actions fall into two categories: 'Work' and 'Raid'.

In the 'Work' phase, you prepare for your incursions. In the village at the bottom of the game board, there are eight buildings offering various actions. You place a worker in an available building (where no other worker is present) and then pick up a different worker from another building. This is essential for assembling your crew and gathering supplies before any attack.

Once you're ready, the 'Raid' phase begins. To raid a settlement – whether a harbor, outpost, monastery, or fortress – you need to meet three requirements: having a large enough crew, adequate provisions (plus gold for monasteries and fortresses), and a worker of the correct color. Raiding offers various ways to score, including military strength, plunder, and Valkyries, which introduce the grey and white workers into the game. The game ends when only one fortress raid remains, all Valkyries have been removed, or all offerings have been made. Then, it's time to tally scores and see who impressed the Chieftain the most!