Visna Namdalen

[Visna Namdalen]

Name: Visna Namdalen
Age & Sex: 17 & Female
Date of Birth: 92 Vhalar 703
Race: Mixed [Human x Sev'ryn]
Height: 5'3" (1.6m)
Weight: ~110lbs (50kg)
Origin: Melrath
Current Residence: Melrath
Marks: None
Factions Joined: Aesir
Branch: Druid
Rank: Monk
Languages Spoken:
Fluent: Common [Melrathi]
Broken: Tree Talk

Standing at 5'3", Visna is every bit a slight woman. Her build is slim and wiry, all limbs and little curves which often leaves many to peg her as younger than she truly is. Her big, dark, doll-like eyes only add to this, her even tan and long, thick and wild dark hair doing nothing to curb this child-like air.

It's not clear if the larger-than-life exterior she has curated is to fight this youthful limbo she is stuck in, but there is no mistaking - let alone forgetting - Visna once you meet her. That smooth skin has been inked extensively from fingertips to shoulders and toes to hips with colours and patterns chosen and blended together to represent the Anaks and Induks of Melrath. She also sports a number of piercings both along her ears and nose of which she often adorns with bold, large bronze jewellery.

Her Aesir Embla is located on the back of her left hand, the regular tattoo encircling it done in a manner to further highlight the important marking. Her personal Embla is severe and striking in its minimalism: Done in black paint, it consists of three sharp, thick lines running through each eye from brow to cheek and three thin, clean lines from bottom lip to chin. Any true Melrathi - or those familiar enough with regional styles - would be able to tell where she hails from and what her background might be just from the look of it.

Despite the intensity of her personal and physical styling, she prefers to keep her wardrobe more simple and classic. Practicality is key and it is rare that she would be seen in anything too ostentatiously on trend or grand, preferring flat boots, leggings and robes, long tunics or dresses with skirts that can be tied up and out of the way. Her accessories are plain but she uses them liberally to secure layers of fabric and necessary items to her person. Above all, she knows she is a representative of her family's name and that she should carry herself in a respectable manner to some degree.

[Visna Namdalen]

Independent, idiosyncratic and a little bit icy, Visna often seems elsewhere and lost in her head. She is a creature comfortable with her own company, preferring it over that of others. Although not against seeking others out, this is most often done as a means to an end and for selfish gain.

Intractable and insufferable at times, Visna craves knowledge and understanding and has little time for those who don't take the time to figure out their surroundings or the situations they are involved in. Life, for her, is an exciting and infinite puzzle worth putting together - or pulling apart.

Even though she is a Druid and a member of Melrathi nobility, Visna struggles with personal connections. She is distant, cold and prone to pushing people away once a more meaningful connection begins to form. Her sole focus is on advancing herself and her knowledge, on understanding the web of life that surrounds her in all forms. As a student of the mountains, she understands that patience is paramount in her endeavours, but even this can be ground to dust - and she has little time for anything that might keep her from this end.

Ironically, Visna is also a Melrathi traditionalist and much of her understanding of the way things work and her approach to life is heavily influenced by the old ways. She is not closed minded but she is stubborn and her mind is as slow to move as the mountain on which she grew up on. Dark, difficult and dutiful to her beliefs, she is not one to easily admit she is wrong.

MBTI: ISTP [Virtuoso]
Enneagram: 5w4 [the Philosopher]
Archetypes: The Magician [Primary]; The Seeker [Secondary]

Visna has always been small.

Born early, too early, there was a very real fear she wouldn’t survive her first night. Her parents, Mathios and Tóra, were the only ones to have hope. Fierce, protective and unwilling to lose their second child, they called extra high ranking Aesir to their cold northern patch of Melrath, putting Lore Masters, Shamans and Druids to work to keep their baby girl alive.

Born underdeveloped, all worked tirelessly to keep the tiny child alive. The Aesir in the Namdalen’s employ urged the couple to spend the Cold Cycle in the southern portion of Melrath, fearing the babe’s weak lungs and fragile disposition would not handle the wrath of the north. Visna’s parents refused: she was born in the mountainous north, the realm of Grandfather Ymir, and, if she were to die, she would die under the mountain’s care.

You see, for although she was always very small, Visna’s life was always full of spirits.

In those early trials, Mathios would bundle tiny Visna up in thick, heavy furs and take her out to the wilds. He would sit and commune with the spirits of the air, sky and mountains. He would ask them for their help, for their strength, for their protection. Not for himself, but for his weak child. He would speak his intent to the fires he built, the water in the streams near their ancestral home, the plants and animals that populated the area.

Tóra, too, would join them at times and make offerings. Other times it would just be the two parents. Occasionally, Tóra would be the one to make the trek with her tiny daughter, performing gentle rituals and singing songs to try and appease whatever spirit she might have angered to cause her newborn to be so poorly.

They had the Shamans in their employ perform rites and sacraments, rituals and meetings. Lore Masters who had researched such births and knew of the spirits of the area assisted. Druids offered incense, herbs and other necessary items. Spirits were on everyone’s tongue and soon became Visna’s constant companions.

And then there was the medicine.

Visna’s earliest memories were of the smell of cloves and lavender, incense of juniper, steams of mullein or peppermint. Of her chest coated in thick, strong smelling salves. Of Teas, tonics and tinctures. She could not escape healing herbs if she tried.. And she found she did not want to.

Instead, she inquired into each and every leaf in her tea, every note from the oils that were rubbed on her frail body. Some of the Druids caring for her were more forthcoming than others. Of those, some saw her as a precocious child and gave her simple answers: “This one will help you breathe. This one will soothe your tummy. And this one will help you get your rest.” Others saw the young girl’s inquisitiveness and spotted potential and would offer more complex answers: “Liquorice calms the stomach and soothes the throat. Garlic broth can be drunk like soup for colds. Chamomile tea soothes the mind and body.”

Visna drank any bit of information up like it was a medicinal draught. And, like the many Aesir that remained her caretakers well beyond her formative years, this fascination never waned.

It followed her once she was able to venture out with her father. She pointed to different trees and plants and, once told of their names, her keen eyes would spot them again as they venture along different routes and tracks. Her father taught her the basics of survival, of how to find water and shelter. Of the importance of being able to build a fire. Of the spirits of the land and how best to address them. He instilled a desire in her to gain the respect of the local Anaks and, once he noticed her interest in the medicinal apothecary growing around her, of how to identify and forage for common wild herbs.

These moments away from others were a luxury for them both. Comfortable silences and the wondrous awe of the place in which they called home filled their days.

Moments spent indoors with her mother were different. Loud and colourful, Tóra painted her daughter’s world with tales of history, or rituals and the importance of the various branches that made up Melrath. She taught her of the great houses and their histories, too, but, most importantly, she regalled her daughter on the ways of the original inhabitants of Melrath, those who predated the name and the refugees from Ne’haer. She imparted knowledge from those of the woods and forest, cementing Visna’s beliefs in the old ways.

Brought up on a strong sense of community and an understanding of the spirit world, it came as no surprise when the young Namdalen chose the path of the Aesir. Her mother thought her delicate disposition, inquisitive nature and love of knowledge would lead her down the path of Lore Master. Her father knew her adventurous spirit and interest in the spiritual realm and felt she would certainly choose the path of the Shaman. But it was the less glamorous - and arguably more physical - path of the Druid that the girl chose.

Regrettably based in Raelia at the Aesir Headquarters, she sticks to the gardens and quiet, aromatic cellars where she plies her skills and dirties her hands, her eyes and heart set on advancement and Fensalir.

[Visna Namdalen]

Skill	Total	Knowledges	Proficiency
Detection	20 / 250	4	Novice
Discipline	5 / 250	2	Novice
Field Craft [RB]	25 / 250	3	Novice
Medicine [FT]	25 / 100	11	Novice
Meditation	5 / 250	2	Novice
Navigation	5 / 250	0	Novice
Science	15 / 250	2	Novice
Investigation	15 / 250	3	Novice
Socialisation	5 / 250	1	Novice
Tactics	0 / 250	1	Unskilled

[Visna Namdalen]

Detection (4)

1. Detection: The scent of herbal remedies [PB]
2. Detection: Sensing signs of distress
3. Detection: Outlander armor is unlike Ydalir or Ragnari armor
4. Detection: Sensing a serious wound healing without conventional medical intervention

Discipline (2)

1. Discipline: Staying present
2. Discipline: Obeying a command despite being wholly against it

Fieldcraft (3)

1. Fieldcraft: Starting a fire [SP]
2. Fieldcraft: Finding water [SP]
3. Fieldcraft: Identifying plants in the wild that are likely to be useful in formulating cures [PB]

Investigation (3)

1. Investigation: Asking Questions
2. Investigation: Organising ones thoughts and making a plan of action
3. Investigation: Rephrasing questions to get more information

Medicine (11)

1. Medicine: Importance of cleaning a wound [SP]
2. Medicine: Conducting an initial physical examination [SP]
3. Medicine: Wild cures for common ailments [PB]
4. Medicine: The uses of herbal tinctures [PB]
5. Medicine: Common remedies for sickly children [PB]
6. Medicine: Making bandages out of linen cloth
7. Medicine: Importance of bedside manner
8. Medicine: Basic treatment for shock
9. Medicine: Knowing when you need help when treating someone
10. Medicine: Clean hands before tending to casualties
11. Medicine: Putting pressure on a wound to stop it bleeding

Meditation (2)

1. Meditation: Important when using Spiritmeld [SP]
2. Meditation: Practicing during calm moments

Science (2)

1. Science: Tools of the trade: Mortar and Pestle are used to grind ingredients [PB]
2. Science: Process of elimination

Socialisation (1)

1. Socialisation: Gentle encouragement and persuasion

Tactics (1)

1. Tactics: Saving an Outlander to get information out of them

Non-Skill

1. Customs & Festivals: Melrath [HI]
2. History: Melrath [HI]
3. Laws: Melrath [HI]
4. Location: Fensalir [HI]
5. Location: Raelia [HI]
6. Location: Vorkund [HI]
7. Spirits: Anak [HI]
8. Spirits: Diri [HI]
9. Spirits: Induk [HI]
10. Known Induks of Melrath [HI]

[Visna Namdalen]

Thread/Skill	Adjustment	Total
Racial Bonus	+25	25
Field Craft	-25	0
Starting Package	+50	50
Medicine	-20	30
Science	-10	20
Detection	-5	15
Discipline	-5	10
Meditation	-5	5
Navigation	-5	0
Detection (CS Approval - PB)	+5	0
Medicine (CS Approval - PB)	+5	0
Science (CS Approval - PB)	+5	0
Shook	+10	10
Shook II	+10	20
Socialisation	-5	15
Investigation	-15	0
Abrupt Introduction	+10	10
Detection	-10	0

[Visna Namdalen]

Visna is every bit a Melrathi in her beliefs and, instead of worshipping Immortals like others throughout Idalos do, practices Animism. She believes all things have spirits - whether living or otherwise - and are sacred and worthy of adoration and protection.

The known Induks of Melrath hold a special place in her worship. Ymir, the Grandfather, holds sentimental value due to how heavily featured he was in her formative years but it's Myrkvior, the Dark Mother, whom she venerates above all.

As she is a traditional Melrathi, Visna pays no mind to and cares little for the Immortals of Idalos. As such, she has garnered no Marks or Curses of note.

Visna acquired an ability unique to the Aesir upon her initiation called Spiritmeld:

❝When near any Anak and even an Induk, the Aesir is able to mentally sense the emotions of spirits. This is a form of empathy allowing them to discern the emotions of nearby spirits to try and deduce if they have been offended in any way. This ability is passive and is always active however it is possible via meditation near the spirit that the Aesir can begin to discern why they are feeling those emotions. (It can take anywhere from ten bits to a full break of meditation to deduce what sort of reasoning is behind a spirit’s emotions. The more powerful the spirit, the longer this process takes).

Additionally it is possible to use this ability to lead the Aesir toward nearby Spirits by feeling for their intense emotions. This ability is not exact and will only indicate a general direction. One must be within a mile of the spirit in question in order to sense their emotions. The further away, the weaker the emotional signal shall be.

Each branch of the Aesir uses this ability in different ways. Druids might use Spiritmeld to seek out certain spirits of plants in order to find herbal remedies. Lore Masters might seek out spirits related to specific environments they are researching in order to hone in on the target of their interest.❞

[Visna Namdalen]

Branch: Druid
Current Rank: Monk

Thread	Adjustment	Total
[Raelia] Shook	6	6
[Raelia] Shook II	4	10

[Visna Namdalen]

Starting Package: Nobility Pack

Wardrobe

Four sets of average quality clothing: [SP]

• Aesir Vestments: A long hooded robe bearing Aesir markings, matching sash and leggings, rope belt, and leather slippers
• Semiformal Attire: Slate blue, long cotton kaftan with simple decorative trim, thin leather girdle, dark blue sash, fur mantle and low leather boots
• Hot Cycle Clothing: Blue linen peplos with basic brown trim detail and fastens, thin and thick leather girdles, light wool shawl and leather shoes
• Cold Cycle Clothing: Undyed linen underdress, dark wool kaftan with fur trim, woollen leggings, thick leather girdle, matching fur cloak and hat, and tall leather boots

One good quality garment: [SP]

• Elegant formal attire: Midnight blue chiffon kaftan with subtle floral designs in silver thread, leather girdle and matching soft leather slippers

Accessories

Two sets of average quality jewellery: [SP]

• Bronze and glass bead necklace
• Amber bead necklace
• Bronze gauge earrings
• Bronze septum rings
• Bronze ring with a large yellow Cat's Eye Apatite oval-cut stone
• Bronze ring with a large blue Chrysoberyl oval-cut stone

Armament

Masterwork leather armor [SP]
A set of five average quality daggers [SP]
Average quality short bow [SP]
Quiver of arrows [SP]

Grooming

Basic cosmetics [SP]
Toiletries [SP]

Tools

Average quality medical kit [SP]
Average quality gardening kit [SP]
Average quality survival kit [SP]

Miscellaneous

Journal [SP]
Writing utensils [SP]
Candles [SP]
Average map of Myrkvior Forest [SP]

Special

Heirloom:
Namdalen Antler Pendant: A long, double strand necklace on a thick leather strap with bronze, painted wood, glass and blue Melrathi Mountain stone beads. On the shorter layer is a simple bronze pendant with white shell inlay that holds an eye painted on it. The long layer displays the double tine of a stag antler capped in bronze.

Housing Option: Nobility Pack Option #2

Visna, herself, does not own any property - nor does she have any true 'permanent' place of residence. As a Druid and member of the Aesir, she makes regular use of the accommodations afforded to those of her Faction. Most commonly, she stays within Yggdrasil Citadel, the Aesir Headquarters, when in Raelia or the Aesir Waystation in Fensalir.

She does, however, have full access to the Namdalen's ancestral home and travels to stay there whenever life brings her to Vokund or the Northern Reaches of the Melrathi Mountains call to her. When there, she resides within her own 130 sqft room that comes complete with furnishings and a fireplace. It is located in the section of the holdings that her branch of the Namdalen's reside in and have full access to.

In addition to her room and her immediate family's residence, she also has access to:

• Family owned locations (dining room, ball room, library, office, training grounds, barracks, graveyard, catacombs, dungeon cells, kitchen area, crafting workshops)
• Local gardens, and natural areas owned by the family
• Access to mounts kept in the family stables and a family carriage
• Access to family weaponry to borrow

[Visna Namdalen]

Current Wealth Tier: Tier 5
Current Wealth Skill: Medicine
Profession: Aesir Druid

Thread/Item	Adjustment	Total WP
Starting Package	Tier 5 (66 WP)	66
Ymiden 721	+1 WP	67

[Visna Namdalen]

Thread/Event	Renown	Total
Nobility [CS Approval - PB]	40	40
Shook	5	45
Abrupt Introduction	5	50