Vikings are a common character occupation found in fiction, belonging to villains that are or resemble the Norse barbarians and pirates from the Dark Ages. They are often depicted as extremely violent, bloodthirsty, and brutish, as well as engaging in the stereotypical bad actions of Vikings (such as killing village's inhabitants, raiding, raping, and so forth). However, some Viking villains may also possess a sense of honor or valor to counterbalance their negative qualities. Some may also worship or invoke the actual Norse Gods, such as Odin or Thor.