Snotlout clan Jorgenson

**Snotlout Spiteloutsson** is a dragon rider of Berk, and member of the Varangian Guard.

## Biography

### Background

Snotlout is the cousin of Hiccup Haddock through his mother, sister to Stoick the Vast, which gave him a tenuous chance at becoming chief. Growing up, he expected and felt entitled to this due to Hiccup's ostracism from the rest of the Hooligans and general failure at being a viking. After Hiccup became the Hero of Berk, Snotlout's chances of becoming chief dropped sharply. He rode the Monstrous Nightmare Hookfang to the battle against the Green Death and fought there, though he needed to be rescued at one point by Ruffnut and Tuffnut.

### Book I

Snotlout leads a raiding party to steal livestock from a highland village, but is chastised for it by Hiccup and Stoick, and forbidden from raiding nearby villages. Soon after, he leads a raid on Brycgstow, an English burh, taking home gold and glory. Snotlout accompanies Hiccup and the other young dragon riders to Nidaros, where he meets thanes who have served in the Varangian Guard, and is inspired to do the same. He strikes out on his own, not returning to Berk with the other riders. He travels east with the merchant Vidkunn Guthhersson and several other prospective Varangians, including Gunnar Bræsisson, Gudmund Hallvarsson, and Kormak Brandrsson.

### Book II

Snotlout joins the other Varangians in the looting of the palace upon the emperor's death, but soon finds that the new emperor is trouble. Emperor Michael V demands he give him Hookfang, and Harald Sigurdsson is only able to dissuade him by promising that the first tamed wild dragon will be the emperor's. Afterwards, Harald pulls Snotlout aside and orders him to learn Greek and become a Christian. Snotlout is baptized and officially takes the name **Sigurd Trondsson**, which he had already been going by.

When the Roman army returns with captured dragons, Sigurd trains them and trains other Varangians and the emperor in how to bond with and ride them. He foils an attempted rebellion by Georgios Maniakes, who attempts to recruit him to his side, and returns to find Constantinople in chaos, with Emperor Michael murdering hundreds of people with dragonfire. Sigurd throws in his lot with the Empresses Theodora and Zoe, and leads their forces to victory over Michael.

### Book III

For his services in rescuing the empresses, Theodora promotes Sigurd to *Tourmarches*, and assigns him to train more dragon riders for the Imperial Army. When the Grand Tour arrives in Constantinople, a furious Hiccup banishes Snotlout from Berk for giving dragons to the Romans.

When he sees that even his cousin *Dogsbreath* is married and has had sex, and hears that Hiccup has *two* wives, Sigurd goes on a drunken bender in a brothel. Gudmund finds him and brings him home, but not before Kormak catches them and blackmails Sigurd.

Sigurd begins courting Sophia, a Greek noblewoman, and they are wed in December 1042. The two of them begin a four-way relationship with Gunnar and Heidrun.

## Relationships

### Hookfang

Hookfang is Snotlout's dragon and best friend. He doesn't always understand why his rider does what he does, but he will defend him to the death.

### Hiccup clan Haddock

Snotlout is Hiccup's cousin through his mother, sister to Stoick the Vast, which gave him a tenuous chance at becoming chief. Growing up, he expected and felt entitled to this due to Hiccup's ostracism from the rest of the Hooligans and general failure at being a viking. After Hiccup became the Hero of Berk, Snotlout's chances of becoming chief dropped sharply. Snotlout's desire to use dragons to carry on raiding like vikings previously did brings him into conflict with Hiccup, and he starts resenting him more and more. In Nidaros, after learning about the Varangian Guard, Snotlout parts ways with the rest of the Hooligans and leaves for Constantinople. Hiccup asks him to write a letter to his father Spitelout first, and gives him some money to help him on his journey.

When they reunite more than a year later, Hiccup is incensed that Snotlout taught the Romans how to tame dragons, and exiles him from Berk.

### Spitelout Clodgallsson

Spitelout pushed his son to act more like a "proper viking", even after it was clear that the tribe's favor had shifted to Hiccup and his new ideas, ending any chance Snotlout had of becoming chief. Snotlout blames his father for him leaving for the Roman Empire.

### Gudmund Hallvarsson

Gudmund is one of Sigurd's closest friends and allies, and has long harbored a secret crush on him. In the privacy of Sigurd's estate in Kappadokia, Gudmund kisses him and reveals that "he" is actually Heidrun, a woman disguised as a man to join the guard.

### Gunnar Bræsisson

Gunnar is Sigurd's other closest friend and ally in Constantinople, and is also attracted to him. He shows his affection in Kappadokia as well.

### Sophia Makris

Sophia Makris is a maiden of the Imperial Court who begins courting Sigurd after he becomes the Empress's Champion. He becomes much more attracted to her after she smashes a chair over the head of an assassin trying to kill him.

### Harald Sigurdsson

At first, Snotlout is attracted to Harald, though he may not consciously realize it. He agrees to tame dragons for the Romans primarily because he wants to impress Harald. Later, he learns of Harald's virulent homophobia, and loses respect for the man.

### Kormak Brandrsson

Snotlout and Kormak both join Vidkunn's caravan from Uppsala to Constantinople, to join the Varangian Guard. In a battle along the way, Kormak's twin brother Ondott is killed, and he blames Snotlout for it. Kormak continues holding this grudge after they both join the guard, and later blackmails Snotlout into giving him a dragon.

### Demetrius Pachis

Demetrius is a eunuch who serves as Sigurd's *koubikoularious* (aide and servant). He freely admits that he volunteered to serve Sigurd in hopes of rising up the ranks himself.

### Dogsbreath Rolfsson

Dogsbreath is Snotlout's cousin, who often gave him (bad) advice regarding women. After Dogsbreath and Inga are exiled, they flee to Constantinople, where Snotlout negotiates for Dogsbreath to join the Roman military with his dragon Redsnout. Dogsbreath and Inga live in Sigurd's manor in Constantinople.

## Personality and Traits

Snotlout is egotistical, entitled, and fond of fighting. He views women, particularly Astrid, as a prize to be won rather than people.

After he joins the Varangian Guard, and especially after he is forced to use dragons in warfare against a city, he starts being more conscientious.

Like all Hooligans, he detests slavery, and immediately frees the slaves he is given with Maniakes' former estates. Later, he visits the slave market in Constantinople and buys all the slaves, freeing them and offering them employment in his household.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 69: A Gift From The Heavens
2. ↑ Chapter 3: Idle Hands...
3. ↑ Chapter 7: A-Viking
4. ↑ Chapter 18: Leavetakings
5. ↑ Chapter 33: ...In The Avalanche
6. ↑ Chapter 34: Masses In Motion
7. ↑ Chapter 100: The Turning Of Years