From Ask and Embla

Name: Viveka Aslaug

Age: fairly old, considrering life expectancy. She’s 18 by a julian calender, and was born during a transit of venus. (probably around 910)

Clan History: Viveka’s clan is large and widespread throughout Scandinavia, being an old one that failed to split. (Just pointing out something; Norse clans weren’t tied to land, but just to people). It is a warrior’s clan, keeping little structure, duties and contact, except the basic function of a clan- to avenge each other’s deaths and create a network of safe houses. However, Viveka’s great (maternal) grandmother was taken by Odin to become one of his Vallkyrie, Geirskögul* (sometimes known as Skögul), meaning she is an honoured branch of the clan. Her direct family are well respected, especially as swordsmen and, unusually, horsemen. Norse horses are generally small and weak (so not fit for use as war-horses, explaining their use of foot) however, her paternal Grandfather carried back a herd of very fit southern horses, many of whom died in the bitter cold of the journey. The few that survived have gone on to breed strongly, but they are rare. Only important warriors and chiefs can afford them or are gifted them. Consequently, her father is a well respected and comfortable retired warrior, a master of swordsmanship and equestrian. Of her brothers, of which she has six, two have already ascended to Asgard (Bjarte, Andor), one is earning a strong reputation (her closest, Tomas), One is an arrogant hunter with no heart (Arvid), One is a horse-healer and smith (he’s really young, just hit puberty…Fridtjof) and one is still curious about the world (the baby of the family, Eileifer). It is safe to say that a warrior dynasty is generally recognised.

Appearance: Viveka’s skin is fair and translucent, white to the point that it almost glows in the winter. It is unmarked and unblemished, with no scars. Her face is oval, almost heart shaped, with a delicate and defined jawline and a straight nose. Her face is soft, and not angular, although she has the high cheekbones of the northern races. Her lips are full, and pale, And her violet eyes burn out from her face, framed by long blonde lashes and thin, finely arched golden eyebrows. Her hair is also white blonde, waved and long, with a thin braid to the right that drops to chin level. She wears a band of gold around her head, and a bronze horse pendant dangles from the end of her braid. Her hairline is fairly high, her cheeks fairly full, chin rounded into her light jaw. She is small, lithe, and short.

Viveka wears traditional layers of fine wool and linen tunics in natural colours. Over her tunic-smock-dresses, a violet table-woven belt, she wears leather straps hanging from various colourful brooches on it, in order to hold small implements such as scissors or knives. She also wears: knitted dark stockings, soft and short leather boots, a violet cloak with a separate hood and, as is traditional, her neck is festooned with chains of glass and semi-precious stones.

Personality: Once fiery and tempestuous, her life is spent in wait for a destiny that is too vague to follow and she despairs to even think of it occurring. Some part of her wants to seek out Odin and the gods just to get it over with, but something restrains her. Her spirit is being broken, and she’s turned more to sarcasm than anything else.

History: When she was born venus was in transit and the sun shone clear, and the druid, examining the signs from various rituals declared that Viveka was “meant for a deity”. However, he could not answer the most important question; whether this meant that Odin would claim her as a Shield maiden/Vallkyrie as her ancestor, and she would become a deity, or whether she was destined to be betrothed to a god. This second possibility effectively means that she cannot travel for fear that she should meet the wrong one who could decide to claim her on a whim, and that she cannot be betrothed until someone finds out, as no man is foolhardy enough to claim the potential beloved of a god. She assists the druid now with healing potions, although is not allowed to take part in any ceremonies, and due to her acquired knowledge of herbs is a good cook. Tomas trains her in swordsmanship and she is an offensive, risk taking and quick fighter, but needs improvement on her own defense. She lacks the physical strength required for hunting with spears, but can string and shoot an arrow, if she has whittled it herself. She is cleanly, argumentative and becoming more and more bitter as she is tired of being the constant sister. Her horsemanship is inherited from her faher and she is gifted, although it is Fridtjof who has an almost psychic connection with them.