A medium closeup of a Viking chieftain rising from slick dark mud, his golden helmet adorned with imposing winged sides. Clad in battle-worn armor embellished with menacing skull motifs, his face is streaked with fierce war paint. His disheveled blonde beard drips with water, framed by an enraged expression and a jagged scar. Clutched in his hand is an intricately crafted Viking axe. The scene is illuminated by cinematic lighting, with shafts of moody volumetric light cutting through the air, enhancing the glistening, wet texture of the mud and his formidable presence.