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<blockquote data-quote="Queenie" data-source="post: 6980140" data-attributes="member: 8058"><p><strong><em><u><span style="color: #DDA0DD">Astrid MacTier</span></u></em></strong></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH]79425[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/3uw3t26y28hgmx0/Astrid%20%26%20Ruby%20Character%20Sheet.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">Astrid's Character Sheet</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/na18o6vk7y42zwc/Astrid%20%26%20Ruby%20Abilities%20Tricks%20and%20Gear.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">Astrid's Abilities and Gear</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/pzdbrjv07vdqqy9/Astrid%20%26%20Ruby%20Full%20Spellbook.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">Astrid's Spellbook</a></p><p></p><p></p><p>Astrid MacTier was born to Jarl Alec and Saria; a powerful family rumored to have the blood of the mighty Silver Dragon running through their lineage. From that frosty blood, though, flowed a warm home life, with Astrid being taught of her history and her god from her father and of the Demiurge message of peace, acceptance, and compassion from her mother. Sadly, such a source of love in her life was lost when Saria passed in childbirth, leaving behind the youngest MacTier, Sylvia. A light had gone out in their longhouse, and though Alec tried hard to replace it himself, it was clear to see that the family knew that something was simply lacking in their life without their loving mother and wife.</p><p></p><p>For her part, Astrid took her mother's lessons to heart and attempted to be the same light as Saria. Yet, despite her gentleness, she longed to see more of the world, learn more of its stories and people. While Jarl MacTier allowed Astrid her pursuits as she wished, he was also rather insistent that she remain home where she would be safe, protected. In between dedicating herself to the charity and lessons of The Demiurge Church, Astrid balanced raising her younger sister and her lectures, becoming a bright and accomplished individual. </p><p></p><p>Still, that roguish temperament sent her absconding off into the woods to play, turning fallen sticks into magical swords to replicate her heroic father’s great deeds and tall trees into fell giants for her to triumph over. She would use her sweet voice to sing to the woodland creatures and was continually on the lookout for hidden fairies and tiny dragons of her own to play with.</p><p></p><p>She always felt safe in those woods; she felt as if something was guarding over her. When she was young she would think of it as her mother but as she grew it was almost as if that feeling had a spirit of its own; she couldn’t explain it to anyone and she didn’t try. She just knew it was something good, something special, watching over her, guiding her, shielding her from harm. It kept her warm and safe in those woods</p><p></p><p>It was in the flush of youth that Astrid first met Eben, the son of a local merchant who lived at the edge of their little village. His mother, Maren, was as kind-hearted as Astrid remembered her mother being, and a sailing captain to boot. The Jarl's daughter longed for the life of the ostracized Karl woman, that longing becoming a desperate need upon first hearing Eben sing at a gathering in her father's Mead Hall. The boy told a story of a far off land, of ships and magic and adventure; Astrid was hooked.</p><p></p><p>The very next day, she stole aboard Maren's ship, hiding herself within the cargo until she was discovered by Eben. From this strange meeting, the pair struck up a fast and close friendship. When Astrid ventured into the forests, Eben went with her. When the boy was called a bastard by the local children, it was Astrid who consoled him, just as her mother would have wanted. He treated her as not a Jarl, but as a friend: something she did not receive from anyone else in the village due to her status. As the young girl grew, young feelings of fondness quickly bloomed into love for the boy poet.</p><p></p><p>While Alec MacTier began to receive many offers for his daughter's hand, Alec himself had not married for political position but for how he felt about Saria. In that regards, he never forced Astrid to accept any suitor that arrived in their halls, leading to the young Jarl being just polite enough to have them leave so that she could spend more time with Eben. They began a hidden relationship, away from the prying eyes of courts and commoners, but the boy eventually grew and became more aware that such a relationship was a danger to them both. Though Astrid begged him not to, one year after Maren passed away from illness, Eben took to sea, promising to reclaim his misbegotten name that he might return and marry her properly.</p><p></p><p>They continued this illicit affair, Eben returning from his voyages to spend time with her only to abandon her again. Astrid waved off more and more suitors as the years went by, holding out for the day Eben and her would become a family in the eyes of the Church. The Church had other ideas, it seemed, constantly adding more pressure onto Alec and his daughter for a suitable husband to be chosen. Though it made Astrid uncomfortable, she still held out until the day she realized she was pregnant.</p><p>In her mind, this was the best outcome possible: With child, she could convince Eben to finally stay, approach her father about the relationship, and finally stop waiting for the life she had come to desire. However, when next she saw Eben, the sailor was insistent that he leave and never return. Despite her pleas, he did not let her get a word in: their fight was brief, but in the end the boy she loved went back to his ship and never returned to their little village, promising that he was protecting her even as he broke her heart.</p><p></p><p>Disheartened, embarrassed, terrified, and in great pain, Astrid fled to the only place she could think to go for guidance: The Church. The priest took her in as she broke down and confessed to her pregnancy, confessed to her affair, confessed to every harm she could think of. The officiates consoled and cared for her, pledging their assistance if she would stay there for a time while they prepared the necessary arrangements. Feeling as she had nowhere else to turn to, Astrid agreed.</p><p></p><p>Instead of safety, however, Astrid found herself awakening from a drugged slumber in the midst of the forests she once ventured through as a child. The officiates were no longer caring and kind, but instead weaving strange and dark magics upon Astrid's body even as the priest that she had trusted all her life explained that Astrid had been needed for this day for some time: that Alec MacTier's grandchild would be the key to awakening a great power and while the circumstances were not ideal, they were serviceable. It was the priest that had approached Eben and informed him that their relationship had been discovered, with Eben up for execution and Astrid to be disowned if he did not flee immediately. It was the priest who had covered up their young escapades, all in the hopes of this night.</p><p></p><p>The officiates were never truly members of The Demiurge Church at all: they served some far darker power, drawing upon its disturbing energies to hasten Astrid's pregnancy six months and induce labor, nearly killing the poor girl in the process. Once Astrid's daughter was painfully delivered, the black ritual was interrupted by an Other: a creature of the light, of life and the forest. This otherworldly being had watched the young Jarl grow as she traipsed through the forests and returned to these trees later in life with her secret lover, the very place the baby was conceived. Having felt a connection to Astrid, this Other appeared now to defend and protect her and her child. </p><p>The Other called to her father Alec, who somehow was drawn to the forest clearing where he arrived just in time to find the grisly scene of his daughter, bloodied, barely alive and tied to an alter surrounded by evil cultists who were about to sacrifice a newborn baby. </p><p></p><p>Alec began fiercely fighting the robed cultists; some fought, some ran, and in the end he captured a couple for questioning. While this happened Astrid witnessed a light, it looked strangely like her mother, who cradled and comforted her baby. It came towards her and showed her the child, who bared a small birthmark in the shape of a star. Astrid smiled at that, and reached out for the baby when suddenly the light vanished, the child with it. She screamed and cried, weakly pulling against her bonds until she passed out. Her child was gone.</p><p></p><p>Astrid would later find the Patron granted her a portion of her power, enhancing the dragon blood inside her with pacts of Life and Light to protect herself and others until such time as the child could be retrieved.</p><p></p><p>Alec carried Astrid home, returning her to her bed for a long recovery. Later she would confess all to her father of what happened. </p><p></p><p>Not long afterward, while Alec was accompanying Astrid to her favorite spot in the forest to rest (and she hoped as always to find her child there), a small light colored wolf pup came to her. It acted more like a puppy than a wolf, and Alec agreed it seemed safe enough to keep. They brought it home and oddly it never had to be trained. It also never, ever left Astrid's side and was quite protective of her. She knew in her heart it was a gift from her Patron and she'd need that wolf, Ruby, if she wanted to continue to cast her spells and magics.</p><p></p><p>Both Astrid and Alec took it upon themselves to root out the cultists within their home and village that still remained, always finding some way to pin villainy upon them that they would be exiled or executed for their crimes. While Astrid remained compassionate to those around her and even used her new gifts to work a few miracles of her own, the daughter of Alec pursued the cult that stole her life without mercy.</p><p></p><p>Years more passed, with the pressure for Astrid to marry growing greater with each passing week. Eventually, it came to a head: the healer knew she could not be a grown woman living in her father's house, and had sadly given up hope of ever finding her Eben again. Likewise, she needed allies: spies to suss out the Cult, and warriors to help capture them. Agents to help her sole agenda of finding her child. So it was that when Einar Volundson asked for her hand the fifth time, Astrid finally relented and gave it.</p><p>She set sail away from her ancestral home to finally be wed and join her new husband, completely unawares that this man, too, had his own designs for Astrid, for Einar Volundson was a man hungry for power.</p><p></p><p>Power that The Cult could provide.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Queenie, post: 6980140, member: 8058"] [B][I][U][COLOR="#DDA0DD"]Astrid MacTier[/COLOR][/U][/I][/B][SIZE=4][/SIZE] [ATTACH=CONFIG]79425._xfImport[/ATTACH] [URL="https://www.dropbox.com/s/3uw3t26y28hgmx0/Astrid%20%26%20Ruby%20Character%20Sheet.pdf?dl=0"]Astrid's Character Sheet[/URL] [URL="https://www.dropbox.com/s/na18o6vk7y42zwc/Astrid%20%26%20Ruby%20Abilities%20Tricks%20and%20Gear.pdf?dl=0"]Astrid's Abilities and Gear[/URL] [URL="https://www.dropbox.com/s/pzdbrjv07vdqqy9/Astrid%20%26%20Ruby%20Full%20Spellbook.pdf?dl=0"]Astrid's Spellbook[/URL][SIZE=4][/SIZE][SIZE=7][/SIZE] Astrid MacTier was born to Jarl Alec and Saria; a powerful family rumored to have the blood of the mighty Silver Dragon running through their lineage. From that frosty blood, though, flowed a warm home life, with Astrid being taught of her history and her god from her father and of the Demiurge message of peace, acceptance, and compassion from her mother. Sadly, such a source of love in her life was lost when Saria passed in childbirth, leaving behind the youngest MacTier, Sylvia. A light had gone out in their longhouse, and though Alec tried hard to replace it himself, it was clear to see that the family knew that something was simply lacking in their life without their loving mother and wife. For her part, Astrid took her mother's lessons to heart and attempted to be the same light as Saria. Yet, despite her gentleness, she longed to see more of the world, learn more of its stories and people. While Jarl MacTier allowed Astrid her pursuits as she wished, he was also rather insistent that she remain home where she would be safe, protected. In between dedicating herself to the charity and lessons of The Demiurge Church, Astrid balanced raising her younger sister and her lectures, becoming a bright and accomplished individual. Still, that roguish temperament sent her absconding off into the woods to play, turning fallen sticks into magical swords to replicate her heroic father’s great deeds and tall trees into fell giants for her to triumph over. She would use her sweet voice to sing to the woodland creatures and was continually on the lookout for hidden fairies and tiny dragons of her own to play with. She always felt safe in those woods; she felt as if something was guarding over her. When she was young she would think of it as her mother but as she grew it was almost as if that feeling had a spirit of its own; she couldn’t explain it to anyone and she didn’t try. She just knew it was something good, something special, watching over her, guiding her, shielding her from harm. It kept her warm and safe in those woods It was in the flush of youth that Astrid first met Eben, the son of a local merchant who lived at the edge of their little village. His mother, Maren, was as kind-hearted as Astrid remembered her mother being, and a sailing captain to boot. The Jarl's daughter longed for the life of the ostracized Karl woman, that longing becoming a desperate need upon first hearing Eben sing at a gathering in her father's Mead Hall. The boy told a story of a far off land, of ships and magic and adventure; Astrid was hooked. The very next day, she stole aboard Maren's ship, hiding herself within the cargo until she was discovered by Eben. From this strange meeting, the pair struck up a fast and close friendship. When Astrid ventured into the forests, Eben went with her. When the boy was called a bastard by the local children, it was Astrid who consoled him, just as her mother would have wanted. He treated her as not a Jarl, but as a friend: something she did not receive from anyone else in the village due to her status. As the young girl grew, young feelings of fondness quickly bloomed into love for the boy poet. While Alec MacTier began to receive many offers for his daughter's hand, Alec himself had not married for political position but for how he felt about Saria. In that regards, he never forced Astrid to accept any suitor that arrived in their halls, leading to the young Jarl being just polite enough to have them leave so that she could spend more time with Eben. They began a hidden relationship, away from the prying eyes of courts and commoners, but the boy eventually grew and became more aware that such a relationship was a danger to them both. Though Astrid begged him not to, one year after Maren passed away from illness, Eben took to sea, promising to reclaim his misbegotten name that he might return and marry her properly. They continued this illicit affair, Eben returning from his voyages to spend time with her only to abandon her again. Astrid waved off more and more suitors as the years went by, holding out for the day Eben and her would become a family in the eyes of the Church. The Church had other ideas, it seemed, constantly adding more pressure onto Alec and his daughter for a suitable husband to be chosen. Though it made Astrid uncomfortable, she still held out until the day she realized she was pregnant. In her mind, this was the best outcome possible: With child, she could convince Eben to finally stay, approach her father about the relationship, and finally stop waiting for the life she had come to desire. However, when next she saw Eben, the sailor was insistent that he leave and never return. Despite her pleas, he did not let her get a word in: their fight was brief, but in the end the boy she loved went back to his ship and never returned to their little village, promising that he was protecting her even as he broke her heart. Disheartened, embarrassed, terrified, and in great pain, Astrid fled to the only place she could think to go for guidance: The Church. The priest took her in as she broke down and confessed to her pregnancy, confessed to her affair, confessed to every harm she could think of. The officiates consoled and cared for her, pledging their assistance if she would stay there for a time while they prepared the necessary arrangements. Feeling as she had nowhere else to turn to, Astrid agreed. Instead of safety, however, Astrid found herself awakening from a drugged slumber in the midst of the forests she once ventured through as a child. The officiates were no longer caring and kind, but instead weaving strange and dark magics upon Astrid's body even as the priest that she had trusted all her life explained that Astrid had been needed for this day for some time: that Alec MacTier's grandchild would be the key to awakening a great power and while the circumstances were not ideal, they were serviceable. It was the priest that had approached Eben and informed him that their relationship had been discovered, with Eben up for execution and Astrid to be disowned if he did not flee immediately. It was the priest who had covered up their young escapades, all in the hopes of this night. The officiates were never truly members of The Demiurge Church at all: they served some far darker power, drawing upon its disturbing energies to hasten Astrid's pregnancy six months and induce labor, nearly killing the poor girl in the process. Once Astrid's daughter was painfully delivered, the black ritual was interrupted by an Other: a creature of the light, of life and the forest. This otherworldly being had watched the young Jarl grow as she traipsed through the forests and returned to these trees later in life with her secret lover, the very place the baby was conceived. Having felt a connection to Astrid, this Other appeared now to defend and protect her and her child. The Other called to her father Alec, who somehow was drawn to the forest clearing where he arrived just in time to find the grisly scene of his daughter, bloodied, barely alive and tied to an alter surrounded by evil cultists who were about to sacrifice a newborn baby. Alec began fiercely fighting the robed cultists; some fought, some ran, and in the end he captured a couple for questioning. While this happened Astrid witnessed a light, it looked strangely like her mother, who cradled and comforted her baby. It came towards her and showed her the child, who bared a small birthmark in the shape of a star. Astrid smiled at that, and reached out for the baby when suddenly the light vanished, the child with it. She screamed and cried, weakly pulling against her bonds until she passed out. Her child was gone. Astrid would later find the Patron granted her a portion of her power, enhancing the dragon blood inside her with pacts of Life and Light to protect herself and others until such time as the child could be retrieved. Alec carried Astrid home, returning her to her bed for a long recovery. Later she would confess all to her father of what happened. Not long afterward, while Alec was accompanying Astrid to her favorite spot in the forest to rest (and she hoped as always to find her child there), a small light colored wolf pup came to her. It acted more like a puppy than a wolf, and Alec agreed it seemed safe enough to keep. They brought it home and oddly it never had to be trained. It also never, ever left Astrid's side and was quite protective of her. She knew in her heart it was a gift from her Patron and she'd need that wolf, Ruby, if she wanted to continue to cast her spells and magics. Both Astrid and Alec took it upon themselves to root out the cultists within their home and village that still remained, always finding some way to pin villainy upon them that they would be exiled or executed for their crimes. While Astrid remained compassionate to those around her and even used her new gifts to work a few miracles of her own, the daughter of Alec pursued the cult that stole her life without mercy. Years more passed, with the pressure for Astrid to marry growing greater with each passing week. Eventually, it came to a head: the healer knew she could not be a grown woman living in her father's house, and had sadly given up hope of ever finding her Eben again. Likewise, she needed allies: spies to suss out the Cult, and warriors to help capture them. Agents to help her sole agenda of finding her child. So it was that when Einar Volundson asked for her hand the fifth time, Astrid finally relented and gave it. She set sail away from her ancestral home to finally be wed and join her new husband, completely unawares that this man, too, had his own designs for Astrid, for Einar Volundson was a man hungry for power. Power that The Cult could provide. [/QUOTE]
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