From Ask and Embla

That's kind of what I meant initially (as fortification, like the one they found in North America); the same thing (large area of villages grouped for safety) with defences around the outskirts to define it. We're talking fair distances here, even compared to a modern town, because...they didn't have the transport we do.

(I kindof get it sounded like a castle, like those mounds they think are camelot.)

Withy explained it better and made it less defensive. It could be for the benefits of a spring or sacred grove or shared Druid. I agree that there's not enough scope for interaction without some sort of settlement or shared area.

And, to clarify, Viveka can travel, but its a very big risk for her and she must be clandestine, and it's doubtful she'd head for the main (and possibly only) temple and centre of worship, which would be the highest risk of all. Except possibly to ask Frey for help, what with him already being married to the beautiful Giantess. (With the risk of minor deities showing up.)

So that's still a possibility (Uppsala). As a starting point, the wanderers could be brought to the settlement as a pit stop on the pilgramage, as Uppsala wouldn't have been the safest place with all the Human Sacrifice going on (Although, to be fair the gods there preffered darker skins and we don't have any) and everyone, including tricksters and less savoury characters etc. gathering, so the smarter ones would rest in the various villages of the settlement before leaving the day before festivities/sacred ceremonies (save for a few, naturally, to defend against the savageness of the early european christians/romans/gauls/whatever)