Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Name: Sigrid Grímsdóttir
Aliases: Sig, Siggy, The Fair, Wolf Queen, Völva, Mnua, Mansbane
Race: Ruathen Human
Age: 23
Date of Birth: 10th of Elient 1335 by Dalereckoning.
Languages: Ruathen (Illuskan), Animal, Jotun, Draconic
Dialect: Holgerstead Enunciation
Profession: Seid Practitioner, Tracker, Huntress, Raider, Völva
Height: 5'6" (170 cm)
Weight: 143 lbs (65 kg)
Build: Muscular
Hair color: Golden Blonde
Eye color: Ice Blue
Skintone: Pale
Description: A whirlwind of contrast, like the winter jasmine in bloom amidst the frigid winds of the arctic tundra. This young woman of pale complexion and medium height, has a natural fairness to an otherwise rugged appearance. Golden-blonde hair with characteristic accents of platinum crowns her head, arranged in multi braided or smooth ponytails, with tousled errant locks brushing against her face. Intricate markings and tattoos are visible upon her cheeks and arms, seemingly of a strange and old culture, some may deem barbaric or primitive. But has an obvious deeply spiritual or religious significance. Bright and piercing icy-blue eyes survey her surroundings with a meticulous attention and awareness.

Sigrid's brooch, which reads: Sigrid Daughter of Grímr Grímnisson

Personality Profile: Calculative and scheming, Sigrid like many of her kinsmen knows the harsh reality of the world, that strength and power governs those who have it not. But where rational thought or intelligence is loosely defined, it certainly is a rare commodity on the islands settled by Northlanders and those who posses it often find their strength immeasurable by their peers as they are outwitted and bested by more than physical prowess. Sigrid can be as meticulous as she is brutal, a finicky balance of wits and strength and with the fearlessness that defines her people, she is at times impetuous and rash, though at other times calm and contemplative. Ever-changing and unpredictable like the ocean.
General Health: Good and with no physical evidence of her heritage, lending itself to the assumption she is either a formidable and agile fighter, or perhaps spared the war scarred lives of her kin to some extend. Mentally she seems to in a state of bitterness and is prone to throes of rage.
Deity: The Father of All Battles, the King of War, the Triumphant First Axe, Champion of the Mother, Tempos the Foehammer.
Initial Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Habits/Hobbies: Idly fidgets with a white gold ring on her finger, carves and paints runes on various objects, surfaces or creatures. Deep woods meditation and gathering of various flora.
Weapon of Choice: Various axes, battleaxes, handaxes and throwing axes all.

Background: Sigrid is born the daughter of Grímr Grímnisson, a Thane to the Holgerstead Earldom and a fabled warrior among their people. Alongside her older brother by two years, Brynjar Grímsson, Sigrid grew up in her grandfathers homestead and was taught by her mother from an early age about the flora and fauna on their island home, their ancient traditions and the history of her fathers line.

Intended to follow in her mothers footsteps and not that of her father and their long line of warrior traditions, Sigrid rebelled in her teenage years, insisting she was like the shield maidens of old, a warrior born and not a seeres doomed to wander the cold pinewoods and hearken to the northern winds as her mother. Something that Sigrún would not accept, but her father had a tender heart for his daughter and relinquished to dissuade her, rather he would train her like he had his son and take her aboard his Drakkar when he deemed her ready. This was not the agreement that Sigrún and Grímr had made upon their union, wreathed in prophecies and foresight, yet blinded and drunk on desire and love. Grímr had agreed that the daughter that would come of their marriage would be destined to follow in the Völva's footsteps and any son she might bear, would be for the Thane to mold as warriors and heirs to his family's bloodied legacy.

Proving herself in countless battles upon the sea, when she was finally brought on raids. Sigrid would boast to have killed over two hundred men at sea, most of which are Nelanther pirates or Ffolk of the Moonshae Isles. As her fathers daughter and with less temptation in her heart for the allure of gold and the promises it comes with, Sigrid was in turn put in charge of all their plunder and with her nimble fingers she developed a keen affinity for lockpicking, securing more un-dented or chipped plunder. This prospect garnered favor among her fathers men and for the five years she sailed upon his Dreki, Sigrid became an essential part of his crew, yet further alienating the Thane from his wife and their quarrels over their daughters fate seemed a reoccurring topic in Grímnir's Hall.

At the age of twenty and facing the prospect of political marriage, as is the custom on their island home. Sigrid found herself barred from sailing with her brother and father, instead confined to the island life of her mother while her father would sail to Gundarlun, where her uncle reside. Upon his return her hand would be given in marriage to a warrior of some re-known, Sven Leifsson, a man close and loyal to her brother and battle proven member of her fathers crew.

Of the eighty four warriors that set out on the voyage, two lived to recollect the events of the journey. Harsh northern winds often make Ruathen sailors take the eastern route around Gundarlun, where the currents are strong and lend itself to a smoother approach to the islands ports, with out tearing of sails or strain on the rowing crew.

The two survivors were Álfur Álfgeirsson & Níls Njálsson, who by mysterious and inexplicable means had survived not only the unnatural storm that swallowed their ship, but the Ild Jotun of Tuern that had emerged from the mist, on their large and numerous boats. The tales they recollected were differing and only the evidence that floated ashore the coming days, spoke true to some of their statements.

The Thane Grímr had died and with it, most his crew, his son and the ship which had been a scourge upon the southern seas for generations. His axe was recovered along with his cloven shield and four days after the incident, he washed ashore battered and broken, marked by the vicious spells of the Fire Giants and covered in gashing wounds inflicted by their man sized swords. His two surviving companions had both recollected how fiercely all of the crew had fought and no less the Thane, but it was for naught, the enemy had the advantage of numbers and surprise. And for the failure to die alongside their Thane, both men were executed for cowardice and failure to uphold the oaths to their lord upon which they had been given their sacred armbands.

Grímr's funeral pyre aboard a smaller Skeid, was beheld only by a handful of people, among them Sigrid's uncle who then sailed to Ruathym to deliver the dire news. For not only was his brother dead, but his nephew and by right the Hall of Grímnir now belonged to Grímar, if Sigrún would not take a new husbond. But Grímar had loved his brother always and his children too, and had married a prominent woman on Gundarlun, ensuring his own sons future and status. Selflessly and most uncommon among their people, Grímar forfeited his right and insisted instead, that Sigrid should find a man worthy of her fathers name. That once such a man presented himself, he must avenge Grímr and prove his right to carry on their ancient line, presenting the head of a Fire Giant Thane from Tuern, to Grímar and Sigrún, only then would they condone the marriage and till such a time, Grímnirs Hall would be haunted by the silent steps of Sigrún and occasionally the visiting Grímar.

Sigrid's uncle left twenty of his men with their homestead, to ensure no violent advances from jealous neighbors. And though scarcely able to cover the many normal activities of Grímr's dead crew, such as farming, fishing and foraging, it served to dissuade other warlords and the Earl of Holgerstead condoned for a time this prophetic demand of Sigrún, for whom would dare the wrath of the seers and those who speak to the gods. But had Sigrid not married before the age of twenty five, their lands would be forfeit and reclaimed by the Earl to distribute to a new Thane instead.

But Sigrún would not allow Sigrid to pursue this endeavor, rather believed that by prophecy and the promise of what was to be gained, worthy men would present themselves and confined her daughter to their home and the surrounding pinewood. Thus under cover of night and by the paid help of two strangers from Ostland, that had been giving lodging and shelter for a few days. Sigrid was ferried out of the Holgerstead bay and north, to the mist wreathed ports on the northern side of Ruathym, where she found a ship to take her once more from her island home.

The following year Sigrid searched on the Purple Rocks, Gundarlun and Mintarn, for fabled heroes and men worthy of her hand, but ever did she come up empty handed, till at last she conceded perhaps a man of such worth would not be found on the Nothlanders islands, but on the mainland instead.

Quest ! - Accompany Sigrid the Fair to Tuern and avenge her father by slaying a Thane of the sea raiding Ild Jotuns, deliver both to Sigrún the Völva and any man who accomplishes this feat shall have Sigrid's hand in marriage.
Goals: Finding her destiny, as is strongly believed by her family, it is ceased not given. Thus it can be molded too and no man or woman knows their true destiny, till it finds them.
Killing Wulfrik the deceiver and his honorless crew of ragtag mercenaries and outcasts - making true on their threats of violence.
Discovering the truth of her magical abilities and her bond to the old gods.
Erecting a rune-stone in memory of her father and brother.
Cementing her legend as the greatest fighter to emerge from Ruathym to the mainland, after Uthgardt himself - Having never been defeated in an even fight.

Of Völva's and Seid magic: Among the people of Ruathym, ancient tradition and practice of customs long lost on the mainland, is still day to day business for many whom follow the old ways. Though the island homes of the Northlanders are dominated by strength and warriors are held in the highest honor, those whom hear the gods and can relay their messages have a deeply integrated role in society. Among such clerics, druids and shamans, are those who specialize in wand crafting and visions, prophesying the future and the omens that herald a bountiful season of raiding, farming or fishing. These men and women are often called Völva's or seers, witches and warlocks with a divine association to the gods of the islanders, though a few practice what is called Seid, magic not derived from the gods alone but even the frowned upon arcane spells. Most often these men and women exercise their arts through rune carving, or as it is known in the native Ruathen Riste Runer, a technique much similar to the dwarven arts of Runecasting. Inherent magical properties are imbued in to the runes with the meticulous efforts of the Völva's unique and ancient understanding. These traditions are passed on orally and most often to children of the Völva's, leading to the belief they have magical blood stemming from a time when mortals walked along side the gods and some were blessed with children of these otherworldly entities.

Of Wolves and Prophecy: Sigrid is often accompanied by a white arctic wolf she calls Freki, this fully grown wolf or a pristine white fur, is smaller in size than its winter wolf cousins on the northern mainland. Though this wolf is her companion often, he is a wild and unpredictable beast who is as greedy as he is ferocious and the bond between the two seems a strange and far more spiritual than affectionate.

At the age of sixteen Sigrid visited the mountain ridges of Ruathym and there amidst snow clad peaks and hurricane winds, she sat quietly, letting the Queen of Frost and Rime absorb her warmth, as an offering to the insatiable Ice Dawn. Enveloped in heavy falling snow and with visibility hindered by the harsh native weather, the wolf prowled quietly and approached the fair maiden in her trance like state and with eyes shut. The low snarl and the sensation of a warm breath from its snout, called the daughter of Sigrún back to the present and upon opening her eyes, she was gazing in to that of the arctic wolf.

Reassured by visions she seldom speaks of, Sigrid stated to the wolf in her soft and whispered voice, almost drowned out by the frigid winds of the Ruathym mountains:
"So you have have come white one, herald of my youth and growth, greedy and untamed as you are, mirrored souls transcending our boundaries of understanding. I have beheld your death in my dreams and though the truth is veiled, we shall both shed our furs eventually and the ravenous one shall follow, darkness encroaches and the trials of my life shall only begin, as yours end."

What this all means Sigrid is reluctant to speak of and perhaps her comprehension is up for interpretation, but when asked she often says Freki is the first of the two and the black one shall mark the second cycle and the autumn of her heart and mind.