Torvi Ylvakrí

"ᚺᚨᚱᛏ ᛖᚱ í ᚺᛖᛁᛗᛁ ∙ ᛋᚨᛗᛏ ᛖᛏᛏᛁ í ᛋᚨᛚ ᛗᛁᚾᚾᛁ ∙ ᛏᚹᚨᛖ ᛖᚷ ᚨᚠ ᛗᛖᚱ ᛗᛁᚾᚾᚨ ᛟᚷ ᚱᛖᛁᛞᛁ ᚱíᛏᚱᚨ ᛗᚨᚾᚾᚨ"

Torvi was born in a small village in rural Norway. As a child, she began to show signs of being attuned to the supernatural, whereupon she was taken in by a coven of witches and taught to hone her talents. After a decade of training, and several more years of operating as a mystic for a local village, the jarl exiled her, deciding that he couldn't risk her paganism influencing his people.

She opted to move to England, to ply her trade in a quiet village and perhaps even find some of the old Norse settlers. Though she didn’t encounter any other pagans, she exhibited enough kindness, wisdom and pathos to be tolerated – if not accepted – by the peasantry. She became friends with one particular local, another so-called witch a day's travel away naminged Arianne, and the two enjoyed a correspondence and occasional meeting to discuss spirituality, healing and the world around them.

This new peaceful life of hers was disrupted by Christendom once more when Robert Giscard's men came storming into the area, looking to make an example of Arianne, who interacted more frequently with the locals than Torvi and whose naming had therefore come to his attention. Torvi received a premonition of Arianne’s impending capture, but was too far away at the time to provide enough warning for her to evade capture.

After hearing later that Arianne had somehow escaped after her imprisonment awaiting trial at Normanston, Torvi reckoned that Giscard's men would begin to seek out other witches for trial to save face. She feared that it wouldn't take long for them to discover her – secluded though she may be, a Nordic pagan of her description is hardly inconspicuous. Therefore, she fled and sought out the counsel of the witch known as Granny. Needing a hidden location inhabited by less judgemental people who were no friends of Giscard’s, she advised Torvi seek a covenant of magi she knew, residing within Sherwood Forest…

Description
Born: 1165 Height: 5'4" Weight: 112lbs Build: Skinny Notable Features: Vivid blue eyes, very pronounced canines.

Characteristics
Strength -2 Stamina +1 Dexterity +1 Quickness +0 Perception +3 Intelligence +2 Presence +1 Communication +1

Virtues

 * Clear Thinker
 * Dowsing
 * Folk WitchFree
 * Herbalism
 * Intuition
 * Premonitions
 * Second SightFree
 * Strong Faerie Blood (Padfoot)M
 * Well-Trained Folk Witch
 * Well-Travelled

Flaws

 * Compassionate
 * Foreign Upbringing
 * PaganM
 * Primitive Equipment
 * Primitive TraditionM
 * Visions

Personality Traits

 * Brave +1
 * Compassionate +3
 * Patient +2
 * Serene +2

Key Abilities

 * Folk Ken
 * Herbalism
 * Dowsing
 * Premonitions
 * Second Sight

Languages
Artes Liberales 2: Latin, Futhark
 * Old Norse 5
 * English 2
 * Old English 1

Abilities

 * Language: Old Norse (Storytelling) 5
 * Dowsing (In Woodland) 4
 * Folk Ken (Hidden Motives) 4
 * Herbalism (Physician) 4
 * Premonitions (Supernatural Dangers) 4
 * Second Sight (Regiones) 4
 * Awareness (Incongruity) 3
 * Chirurgy (First Aid) 3
 * Music (Singing) 33
 * Survival (Woodland) 3
 * Animal Handling (Canines) 2
 * Athletics (Woodland) 2
 * Artes Liberales (Rituals) 2
 * Concentration (Performing Rituals) 2
 * Faerie Lore (Faerie Forests) 2
 * Intrigue (Rumours) 2
 * Language: English (Medical Vocabulary) 2
 * Magic Lore (Paganism) 25
 * Organisation Lore: Seithkonur (Norway) 2
 * Profession: Apothecary (Herbs) 2
 * Area Lore: Germany (Politics) 1
 * Area Lore: Norway (Personalities) 1
 * Area Lore: Notts (Geography) 1
 * Brawl (Punches) 1
 * Charm (Conveying Benevolence) 1
 * Etiquette (Peasants) 1
 * Hunt (Tracking) 1
 * Guile (Conveying Innocence) 1
 * Language: Old English (Rituals) 1
 * Stealth (Hiding) 1
 * Swim (Diving) 1

Typical Gear
Leathers, dagger, dowsing rods, mortar and pestle, ritual headdress and garb, ligatures, herbs, various bone runes, fetishes and tchotchkes

Opinions of Others
Mages Arianwen – Has plans in plans. Thinks well of herself, though she cares some for nature and healing. Cirice – As a child, but there are much years within. The only other right-believer I have meetinged, and I enjoyed our talkings in the underneath. Essel – Friend-like, but she has iron in her. Seems a good friend and bad foe. Evelyn – Treated well as she is nice-faced, so she does not see the true nature of the world. Companions Lady Tessora of Artois – She is much good, but she looks to the sky too much to see the land beneath. Tancred – He seeks to do bloody doings for “peace”, for a God too distant to care. That divine light blinds him. I must be watching him much. Will Scarlet – Has much flaws; all from the animal within, too close to the fore. I did not liking his lookings when I went to swimming. Grogs Bryne Vaughn – Courage and folly are much alike. Though to make dead the beast at the long lake shows skill. Falko – He was wary of me, but seeking to hide his thinkings talks of him better than most English I have met. Osanna – She did not talking much, but her doings are as good as many others. She is a true skjaldmær. Richard – I am thankful for him calming harsh talkings against me before they became harsh doings. Others Arianne – Little have welcomed me but her – she helped my English in letters and visitings. I was happy hearing she lives. Grandmother – Powerful witch to respect. She hides it, but within her is much goodness. Judges not for thinkings, but doings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiufRA2LveQ&t=460s

Spring 1184 – Summer 1188: Life in Norway
After doing my training and being a full member of my coven, I was sent out to a village a walking day away. It was a happy and peece peace-full life, where I was kindly welcomed. The peoples came to me not just for alements ailments and seeings, but also gi guidance.

Though they were some times wary of closeness with me, there was no fearings. I had no need to prove my self; I was respekted respected and my thinkings were listened. Though I had little frend friends outside of fellow Vǫlva who were often afar, I did have some. Though such times were little, I much enjoyed the times where we would sing, dance and play musics without ritual purpose. All things must end, however, and for me that ending happened soonly.

The Jarl, who I had little talkings with, came to my abode. I thinked it a mark of my trust within the village that he visited with no wari warriors. He talked me that he had no wishing of me within his land, lest I affect the Christians there. He seemed sorry, and I beleeve believe he was made to give such a decision for fear of others wanting worse for me.

With that I was made exile. I could see that Christian zeel zeal would make me into a nomadic, as it spred spread north and the old ways are shunned. I choosed to instead journey to England, where Christianity had calmed; Pagans perhaps may be seen as less of an imi imminent threat, and I hoped to find some of the Norse settlers of yore.

'“Have you ever noticed you feeling kindly to peoples, just from you knowing them? That is because we all are kin. We must remembering this.”'

Summer 1188 – Spring 1191: Settling in England
I journeyed through Þýskaland Germany and then came to Snotingaham Nottingham. Though I found no such settlers still following the old ways, I did find another Vǫlva, which the Enska English call a Witch. Her naming was Arianne, and she showed much kindness to me. We have beginning giving ritings writings in English, and she has much patience for my flawed writings, which has helped my learnings grat greatly. This is why my writings are in English. Arianne talked me that it helps, and I saw her wisdom.

We talked of healing, magic, and the hapenings happenings around us. At times we would also tell of our cultures and practices. Some times, she would come to me in her journeying. She did so much more than I, as she was not clearly other than the peoples. It was good, even if my talking was slow.

As I sat meditating during the falling of the leafs, I saw her being taken and chained by warriors. I was days of walking apart, and could not arrive to her before it happened. As there was no other doing I could make, I looked for help. Before I could find any, I heard telling of her freeing. I knew the warriors that captured her – warriors of Guy – would seek other Vǫlva witchs witches. It would be soon for them to heer hear of me, and so I hid. I knew Arianne talked of another witch hoos hose whose naming was Grandmother, whose thinkings I searched.

It was not difficult to find her, and after explaining, she agreed I should hid. As the snows would soon be falling, she kindly allowed me to stay with her until the thoring thawing. Her doing is much kinder than her talking, and I am grea grateful. It is better that way than the other.

After the growing of the plants, she talked me to find a majical magical place in the Forest of Sherwood. The peoples there were foes of Guy and his fellows, and less likely to shun my Paganism than others. They would maybe allow me to live there for my galdr magic.

I roamed for moons until I heard tellings of strange hapen happenings at the village of the long lake, where a basilisk was talked to have lived. I thinked that such strangeness may be where the magical peoples would be, and so I journeyed there.

'” Miðgarðr The world is a harsher place than I knowed before. Though the Christians in Norway were not kind, they were not very harsh; they still knowed the old ways. The Christians in England have forgotten, and in their forgettings have became fear full, which has become hating.”'

Autumn 1191: Encountering People of Sagehollow
Misfortunately, the villagers would not talk with me, and I unwisely remaned remained, unwanting to leave without finding more knowings. In my second sun, the peoples tried to drive me away. It was during such harshness that a group of other folk arrived and a man within them convinced the peoples to leave me. With that done, a child stepped forward and talked with me, thow though we both had our sheel shields raised so little was said.

The group talked that they were surc searching the strange happenings, and wished to journey to an island upon the long lake, where a new serpent people thinked may now live. Men had gone thair there some time ago and not returned. Thinking that such strange folk as to be led by a child could be the magical peoples, I offur offered to join them as thank you for there their help with the harsh peoples.

I also talked of my friend Arianne, and my wish to find the magical peoples of the forest of Sherwood as talked to me by Grandmother, though they did not seem liking to talk of that. I did not pursue them, thinking I would maybe need to show myself to be trust worthy.

They found a boat to bear us to the iland island, owned by a commander of the red beard. The child then warmed my hopes when she performed a qwi quiet incantation to rouse the wind for us. I choosed not to talk of that, as I knew magicks are not liked by many and the commander of the red beard was with us.

Upon the island, the tall warrior wisely looked for the shining rocks to shine his shield to war the serpent. Keen to show my useful doings, I donned my ritual garb and began a seeking. I gave him several, which he took. He was unee uneased with me, and then choosed to stay a way from me. I did not worry much, as I have became used to such doings. So ir early in his knowing of me, it was better than many have been.

As the peoples readied to face the serpent, I remained upon the boat and looked. It left the  caiv  cave within the island, and the warriors raised their shields. It was made blinded and struck them aside. The child began an incantation again, raising  statchu  statues of past victims and throwing them with great magicks at it. It feeled such blows keenly, and then the bow man sent an arrow into its eye, and with such an attack it was made dead. In its death it thrashed,  deel  dealing a great blow to the warriors, injuring all but the woman harshly.

Once it stilled, I moved to help. The healing of the bow man was a simple doing – his major wounds were his fingers which had broken in his landing, and I crafted a support for them to remain yunified unified until they healed true. The warrior (I thinked their leader) had a fractured rib, but in trying to push it into a better place for mending, I fully broked it.

I cursed at my error, and unlistening his shouting, I made sure the rib had not rent any organs and bound his body. I fear I did not make myself well in their eyes.

We then went to the cave, and found a water. The skjaldmӕr leaved her armours and  wepons  weapons and dived in. The child turned into a water cat and followed! I have never looked such a thing. After some times, I choosed to follow them, and leaved all my things. The warrior whose rib I  broked  broke looked much at my body when I did. Did he not knowed that keeping clothings in cold waters would risk the cold death? I did not do it for his looking.

The water had a passing that leaded to another cave. In there was the skjaldmӕr and the child-water-cat with a small fire, and a round them were many egg casings, from the serpent. They could not looked in the darkness, so I looked into the passing beyond and leaded to a crossings. I had a feelings about the passing to the right, and in there were statch statues. The child returned to a child.

Some had carved Futhark runes, and I was glad to help the child by turning them to English. Others, the child said, were ancestors of hers. There were many tellings in the walls, of the story of V and the child’s ancestor. Some of it I knowed, or could make supposings. There was also a door that asked a trickery-question, which we  ansered  answered rightly.

There was the broked parts of a great sword and a  coldron  cauldron, and the skjaldmӕr took to taking them in the water passage to the others. As she did, we arrived at two  tooms  tombs, with many more tellings on the walls. Much of it was English lore and I knew only some, but I helped with the Norse things.

As we looked at the tellings, we talked of things. I asked if she was of the magic peoples of Sherwood, and she talked that she was, and would bring me there to looked at and talked to the others there.

After learninged learning all we could from the tellings, we journeyed to another passing. This leaded to another cave, where many unbroked egg casings were. There were two peoples who must have been stoned by the serpent while sexing. The skjaldmӕr looked to fire them, but I said the serpents were to protect the tomb. The child agreed, and she instead broked the roof to stop the cave passing coming to the tombs.

The other passing led to another water, which we supposed leaded to outside. The child and the skjaldmӕr swimminged there, and I journeyed the passing I came from. The rib-broked warrior talked of drying me, but I did so myself before I put on my clothings. I may be a way from my land, but I am no fool and I did not liked his thinkings. Some Vǫlva I knowed of in Norway would sunder a man's finger for jesting of placing a hand on her.

We returned to the commander of the red beard and then to the village of the long lake. The talk man who had talked the villagers from harming me talked to them that the island was still harmful, and they promised to be away from it.

We then journeyed to her coven of Sherwood, naminged Sagehollow. On the journeys, we talked some. Her naming was Syrise Sirise Cirice, and I talked her my naming. She gave me warnings of the man Tankred Tancred, who had warred with much Pagans.

The other peoples at Sagehollow lookinged much at me, and I choosed to be a far from Tancred. Thow Though their there was much strangeness there also - the metalled cats most. After a small time, a woman arrived and some of the coven peoples had a talking. They then talked me to goin join, and I did.

They talked of my thinkings of the gods, and talked that there was a powerful witch magical woman who wood be harshly thinking of me if I did not make some doings to show my goodness. The woman who arrived, whose naming was Essel, talked me to make writings of runes and my past living to give to the woman. I talked that I would. Another woman, with the naming of Evelyn, talked me to make more writings of runes for her to learning, and I enjoyed my then talking with the viking Erik in my first talking - it had been much time sinse since my last talking with it.

The tall woman with the shining godly ring made lookings at me worried, but I saw a kindness in her. I did not thinked of maybe harshness from her as I did Tancred, though I thinked she will not to be liking more closeness from me.

The peoples then well welcomed me to joining Sagehollow fully, and they gived me a seating at future talking times, for my knowings of the gods and the rituals and my seeing of peoples and things. I think it will be time before I thinked it a true housing, but it is much good to be sayf safe feeling. My tenting is close to the nature and there are much trees. I am liking.