While I know that alignments are not always definitively black or white, most characters can have their actions and personalities generalized into one of the nine classifications.

However, I'm having a bit of an issue trying to figure out where a character with a Old Norse-esque background would fall on the morality scale. On the one hand, he's fiercely loyal to his family, liege, and culture; on the other, he partakes in armed raids against other nations and people for gold, food, and other such things.

To the character and his kind, this kind of warmongering might seem necessary and even noble - doing it in the name of family and glory - but this is hardly the case for the people he raids and kills.

It could be easy enough just to say, "Don't use alignments - it's how you play the character that matters," but I've always enjoyed setting boundaries for my characters in these terms.

In a questionable situation such as this, how do you determine one way or the other? Do you even limit yourself with the boundaries of the classic alignments? Any stories, anecdotes, or advice?