Post by PhatDorf on Aug 4, 2023 18:41:41 GMT -5
Annika Surma
(Formerly Ursine)
Barbarian of the Frozenfar Glacier
(Formerly Ursine)
Barbarian of the Frozenfar Glacier
((Current placeholder portrait!))
Survivor, Soulbearer, Twin.
Vital statistics:
Height: 6'6", a towering woman.
Race: Human, Reghedman (Illuskan).
Eyes: Sky blue.
Skin: Pale, scarred, and tattooed.
Hair: Short platinum blonde hair is braided back tightly across her scalp.
Build: Powerfully built, muscular, and tough.
Voice: Low in pitch, Unshaking.
Origin: Frozenfar, The North.
Birthdate: Alturuak 16, 1361 DR.
Description:
A very tall, and powerfully built woman with pale skin, blue eyes, and braided pale blonde hair.
Aside from a litany of scars covering parts of her exposed flesh, she is missing her left ring finger, and she has various deep blue tattoos etched into skin, depicting stark runes and knots.
Lashed to her belt, between pelts and fur, is a humanoid skull, partially blackened by fire.
Possessions, oddities, and things of note:
Lagertha's Skull:
Belted securely at Annika's belt is a jawless human skull, partially burned and marked darkly by fire.
For whatever eccentric reason, Annika seems to mutter down towards the skull often, in her native tongue.
Tattoos: In a faintly glistening blue; stark and bold tribal knots, Old Illuskan sigils, and the depictions of fur and fang coat Annika's flesh, binding her arms and across her back with inlaid tribal works.
Rage: In combat Annika may erupt into a berserk fury, lashing out with extra brutality and enduring blows with unusual vigor. During this rage her tattoos emit a flickering glow of some temperamental magic within, chilling the air around her.
Icepick: A jagged metal tool, turned weapon. Annika seems to most often make use of an icepick in combat, alongside a towering, durable shield.
The mark of the Skullcrag Smithy, Krick, can be noted printed into the weapon.
Stories and tales
((Warning: Spoilers))
--- Frozenfar, 1376 DR ---
Knucklehead Trout
In the early hours before dawn a bellowing voice calls out over the tundra, and warm coverings are pulled from an isolated tent in the snow.
"Daughters! Come! Your father teaches you to fish this day, come come!"
The teen twin sisters, not identical, but remarkably close: both of blue eyes, pale skin, and platinum blonde hair rose blearily to the call of their father.
"Lagertha, Annika, there's no time to lose. The fish are sluggish in this hour, we must be faster than them!"
A pair of packs are tossed into the tent, at the children. Heavy fur cloaks, nets, and fishing rods for a moment tangling the young twins up.
"When you eat, you take the spirit of the creature in you, you take their strength and their vigor. The greatest souls give us their knowledge, and guide us, living on within us. So catch a big fish today!"
As the sun crested the horizon, half an hour later three figures sat bundled in heavy fur winter wear, upon a frozen lake. Two holes had been sawn into the ice, and besides the girl's father, a large reddish knucklehead trout was resting in still a net. Following their father's instruction, Lagertha had managed to set up the rod, and carefully monitored even the slightest movements. Annika held onto the fishing rod, her gloves hands loosely gripping, as the three family members hunched in the quiet, looking to the sunrise.
"Annika, look! Bring it in, you got something!" Lagertha called with quiet excitement, her voice cracking for a moment.
Blinking herself back into the present, the larger of the twins grappled with the fishing rod, and began a grueling tug of war with the powerful fish on the end of the line.
Annika's jaw clenched, as her grip began to slip slightly - and within a blink Lagertha leapt in to assist, while their father stood by monitoring the pair in their battle.
Her footing uncertain in the rush to aid, Lagertha slipped - and tumbled forwards, pulled by the stubborn fish. Annika released the rod, leaping toward her sister, as they plunged into the freezing waters together.
Cold stabbing pain that numbed the body, and mind in unison washed over the girls, as their heavy fur cloaks and winter wear began dragging them down, despite their efforts to swim up.
Annika managed to shrug away her cloak, and rise slightly, but Lagertha was a touch too slow, and too weak to resist the drag down, and continued to sink.
A look of fearful realisation flashed in the eyes of the smaller girl, looking towards her sister above.
A hand grasped at Annika's back, her father was fishing her out. She fought him off - slipping away and diving deeper.
Lungs burning, the twins barely managed to untangle from the last cloak, and struggled towards the surface, every movement a struggle as the icy water neared its claim over them.
Strong arms grabbed the girls, as they fell together into the dark embrace of unconsciousness.
...
Voices stirred Annika back to the world of the living ...
"..Nearly died trying to save the weak one.."
Annika opened her eyes, blurry and unfocused, and she looked across the healers tent, fixing her gaze upon a pale figure bundled in furs besides a fire. She started across at her sister for a long moment, until she saw her chest rise and fall.
She was alive.
Annika sunk back into the darkness, willing the dark to come again, this time with a smile.
--- Frozenfar, 1378 DR ---
The Reghed Glacier
"Child, the glacier has no mercy. We too must show none to survive it's cold." The gravely voice of her elder, speaking in Old Illuskan, rumbled into Annika's ear.
The teen girl, no more than seventeen winters darted her eyes to the right, upon her sibling, Lagertha.
The smaller of the twin sisters, Lagertha stood alone looking up at the starry night sky.
"Annika, the bear is strong within you, but your sister will slow you down. The tribe needs only the strongest."
Annika remained mute a few moments longer, her blue eyes stating resolutely across the icy fields stretched before them, and towards distant Reghed Glacier to the East, before she replied in a steady, even voice.
"I am strong enough for us both, elder. We will both return."
The response came as a wary growl, and Annika was shoved forward roughly.
"Then go. Return a woman, or die a child. The Frostmaiden will judge you."
...
"The stars guide the way, sister. We're making good progress."
Lagertha spoke in a soft whisper.
"I don't like traveling in the dark." Annika's response came, with an air of unusual gruffness.
There came a moment of quiet, as the pair exchanged a glance. Unspoken words and thoughts passed between them, and they kept trudging. The only sound for several minutes was their heavy breath, and the crunching of ice and snow underfoot.
"They hope I die out here, you know." Another soft whisper came, between breaths.
"They will need to do more than hope. You are too smart to die out here, Lagertha. I may be strong, but you are wise, and you are cunning."
"We could go our own way. The tribe has no love for me. Even father curses my being. He thinks I'll hold you back."
"They are blind, then. But we will show them."
No response came from Lagertha, aside a heavy sigh.
The twins kept trudging the frozen land, following the stars, and taking shelter from the harsh weather when able.
"There's a land far south, where a queen of steel rules, and her best friend, a great magic-woman guides and advises her. That could be us, with our tribe." Lagertha's voice cracked a moment, as she whispered excitedly to Annika whilst she set up a lean-to.
"You say the strangest things. Where did you hear this? You know that the townsfolk speak lies as easily as they breathe." Annika responded, distractedly, grunting as she set a beam in place.
She continues, stepping up besides Lagertha, wrapping an arm around her.
"Besides, I am no queen, and you are no witch-woman. The people south are weak and soft, turning to dark powers for strength. We earn our strength ourselves!"
Lagertha frowned, but returned the hug to Annika.
"You are born with strength, sister. You feed it, and get stronger still.
I was born with cunning, and told to starve it. To be strong instead. I think there's a better way... A way I help the tribe, and you."
The larger sister frowned with quiet consideration, turning to the mouth of their cave shelter.
"We will talk no more of this. You are my sister, and I love you, but there's nothing I can't beat without these dark powers you talk about."
Lagertha pulled her cloak about her tightly, and took her to her bedroll.
"Sister, we are meant for more than this, and our blood stirs with a power the tribe would have us deny."
Annika didn't respond, frowning out across the frozen land.
