As winter is coming in and the weather is getting colder, Eriks men ask each other "Why are we still on this quest? And what of our ship, the Golden Dragon?" Erik heard his men grumbling but he said nothing, until one of his men Thangbrand stood and asked "why should we put up with this any longer?" A few of the men agreed with Thangbrand.
Erik, sensing trouble in his ranks decides to save arguement, a few tests to prove who is worthy of leadership should be had. First a test of swordsmanship. Erik grasps his sword, Blueblade, and walks to a tree, swings his sword high above his head and smote the tree, a mighty blow that left it cleft in two.
Thangbrand went over to a boulder and swung his sword high and wild above his head and brought it down with a crashing blow, that sent sparks and chips of iron from his sword flying in all directions. The boulder quivered and split in two. Everyone chucked their heads and agreed Thangbrand was the mightier swordsman.