From the journal of http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/subrosa_florens/Skyrim/Skyrim092.jpg

Well Ma, you always told me to write things down in a journal, just like you do. I know you always wanted me to be an alchemist, like you. When Shor's bones thaw in Sovengarde! But here I am anyway, writing in this empty book I bought from the trader. I wonder if you are still back in Dawnstar, picking snowberries off the mountainsides? And nagging Pa to wash up before dinner. As if a blacksmith can ever get clean. If you did not like soot, why did you tie Mara's knot with him?

Anyway, why am I writing this Ma? So much has happened, in the last few days. So many impossible things. Maybe I just want to convince myself it is all true, and I did not just dream it all. It still seems like a nightmare, dragons, the Empire trying to kill me, it is like Nirn has turned upside down.

It all started, when? I have no idea what day it was. I was finally returning home, after so many days in the Imperial army. So many years of fighting those Cyrod's wars, and for what? So that damned Emperor of theirs could betray us, betray Talos? What did we spill out blood for?

Ah, but that is just the tip of the horker. While crossing the mountains, I walked into something. I do not know what. There was a line of wagons carrying men. I thought it was a caravan at first, so I went to greet them. I was hoping they might have some mead or ale to trade. I have been living on melted snow and rabbits for days. The next thing I knew there was an arrow in my leg, then the pommel of an Imperial sword made a home against my head.

When I awoke, well, I was in the caravan. Only it was not a caravan at all, but a train of prisoners. The Jarl of Windhelm himself sat beside me! I remember him from the war. He fought with the rest of us Nords who had taken up the axe and sword to defend the Empire from the cursed elves. Now this is how the Empire treats us in return? This is our reward for faithful service? First they take our gods from us, then our lives?

For we were bound for the headsman's axe, in the Imperial castle at Helgen. They could care less that my name was not on their filthy list, or that I was a veteran of the Great War. All they wanted was Nordic heads on the field.

They would have had them too, if not the for the dragon. Yes, I wrote that, the dragon. I saw him as they laid my own head on the block. It was black as ebony, and turned the sky the same color with but a word. Thunder and fire rained down as it spoke, and men died all around. Nothing could harm it, not steel nor spell, and it took its time knocking over the castle as if it were one of those houses of cards Da would make at the dinner table.

The rest was confusing. More confusing then any battle. I was able to escape along with a Stormcloak named Ralof. He had sat across from me in the wagon. I like him Ma. He is not all full of bluster like most Nord men, who try to hide their fears and doubts behind false bravado. He has nothing to prove to anyone. He is just himself. A good Nord man who fought his way through the Imperials with me, as we made our escape from man and dragon. I wonder if he has tied Mara's knot? He spoke of a girl he knew in Helgen named Vilod. But only the ravens live in Helgen now...

The rest seems to trivial. We made tracks from there fast. If any of the Imperials escaped, we had to put miles between us and them. As well as from the rest likely to come when they saw the smoke. It filled the sky like a harbinger of doom. We made our way to a village where his sister lives, and hid with her for the night.

Ralof told me about the rebellion, about how Ulfric challenged the High King in the old way and slew him in personal combat. That the Empire wanted him dead, because he will not bow down to the elves, and betray our good Talos. I cannot believe so much has happened since I was away. Ralof says I should go to Windhelm with him, and join the fight. I think I should.

But it has been so long, and so much has happened, I wonder if I am home at all. I think I will be coming to see you soon instead Ma. First at least. You warned me about going away to fight for the Empire, but I would not listen. Now I see what a mistake it was. You were always so much smarter then Da and me. Like he always says, I got your looks, but his thick head. Maybe you will know what I should do.

-Hrafn, somewhere in southern Skyrim.

Well to resemble the vikings, you couldn't really be a woman, but barring that setback:

Blonde hair, blue eyes. Muscular and have braided hair and war-paint.

Use of axes and bucklers (Shields like the Shield of Ysgramor, though a little less metallic), light armor with studs of iron or scales.

Join the Cloaks (as the Vikings would never bow to a ruler) and worship Talos.

Bigoted towards other races (not be an outright ass to them, but definitely express your superiority over them if prompted)

Drunken brawls

Maybe something like a Norse Berserker would fit the Nord?

http://library.thinkquest.org/C003446/a.php?b=16

http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/vikings/berserker.htm

Yeah, I know a Viking-woman wouldn't really battle, but I would still like my character to be a woman, and make her one of very few women that were allowed to go with the men and make a name for herself
I also don't think I'd use a shield very often, as my preferred weapon is two-handed (greatsword or axe).

Viking era women (and the women of many other Pagan cultures) were not all Suzy homemakers. Some women did fight alongside men in battle. Most commonly they were called Shield Maidens, and they did everything the men did. You can find them in both historical accounts, and the eddas. As Saxo Grammaticus wrote: "They put toughness before allure, aimed at conflicts instead of kisses, tasted blood, not lips, sought the clash of arms rather than the arm's embrace, fitted to weapons hands which should have been weaving, desired not the couch but the kill, and those they could have appeased with looks they attack with lances"

The Nord way of honour does not forbid persuation or magic. Honour is more about how you face your friends and foes, not how you kill them eventually.

Don't bribe guards, don't let anybody insult you, you family or your ancestors. If someone wants a duel, there is no place for talking. If you are facing more than one enemy, magic is fine. After all, you gave your word to someone for most quests, and a true Nord would never let his friends down.

Consider for example Irileth of Whiterun, she's more Nord than any of the Black-Briars. Beeing a true Nord means standing up for your values and your honour, not that you have to fight with nothing else than broad swords.

Surely you have to support the Stormcloaks. Not beacause you hate elves, the empire or some Jarl. These are politics, it's about Talos. Abandoning Talos is abandoning the true way of the Nords.

Basically, check all dialog options of Kodlak White-Mane. He's the truest Nord out there. And always ask yourself: WWYD?

True, true. Wise words
So it's actually more about identity than anything else, not what means you might use to act on them?
I liked that part about being true to your word, that's partly what I meant by being honest and good.

Anyways, I was thinking I'd like either heavy or light armor, not a mix (preferably light, so I can carry more).