Pic for Inspiration.
At six foot and a somewhat stocky build, Ragna is taller than most in any given tavern and has no trouble moving through rough crowds. She wears simple and practical workers clothes like most of the others in the tavern. Her red hair is pulled into a thick braid that hangs to her waist and a dense patch of freckles runs across the bridge of her nose, underscoring grey eyes.
She tends to be bold and brash, though she tries to embody Apsu's tenets of kindness and protecting the innocent. She is rowdy, quick to offer or accept a challenge, but she was also gifted with a silver tongue, quelling fights before they can start with either her own calm or angry words. She cannot abide a bully. She's a hard worker... sometimes, but she likes to party and rarely rises early.
Ragnhild Iona Eklund was born in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings in 4700 AR to Ragnar Eklund, a warrior; and Alvilda Eklund, a smith. Ragnar took part in White Estrid's raid that broke through the Chelaxian blockade at the Arch of Aroden and landed in Absalom. While in port he was approached by a wealthy Isgeri merchant looking to hire mercenaries to help her transport her goods back to her home in Breachill. Isger was still in turmoil from the Goblinblood wars and ulfen bodyguards were commanding a high price. He decided to stay in Breachill after arriving, impressed by the inhabitants perseverance in the hostile land and the endless work that could be found for a warrior like himself, and sent for his wife and daughter.
Ragnhild Iona Eklund, known as Ragna Bearfriend to some, was born amidst the rugged landscapes of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, shaped by the tales of her father's exploits and the clang of her mother's hammer, but it was a single moment of both peril and wonder that defined her early years. Once summoned by the patriarch, Alvida took her daughter from the Saga Lands by ship. A great storm bore down upon the ship in transit, and the then six-year-old Ragna snuck away from her mother and out of the passenger cabins to the upper decks to watch the storm, fascinated by the natural show of power. Fate had other plans for the girl.
A monstrous wave crashed over the side of the ship and Ragna was thrown overboard into the tumultuous sea. Instead of panicking, an odd calm washed over her as she sank into the inky deep. The roaring of the wind, the crashing of the waves, the peals of thunder were all silenced beneath the waves. The motion of the water around her felt comforting, not terrible as the waves had when they were tossing the wooden ship helplessly about. Looking up, she could see the ship above framed by flashes of lightning. Then she noticed flashes of light below her, in the depths. As she cast her gaze downward, she beheld a terrible sight: two gargantuan, serpentine lightning dragons did battle with each other in the unfathomable depths countless leagues below her. Their combat churned the seas as they hurled bolts of lightning at each other, razor sharp talons raking over impenetrable scales. Perhaps it was the row of the dragons that whipped up the storm. Transfixed, she floated in the void, staring at the serpent's war as the air in her lungs dwindled. After an unknown amount of time, she felt large paws tipped with sharp claws close upon her. An Ulfen druid, possibly one who had served under her father at some point, saw the girl fall overboard. She transformed into a colossal sea otter and dove in, rescuing the girl. Another twist of fate. No one on the ship - least of all her mother - believed her story about the dragons, of course, but the incident sparked a lifelong obsession with the power of nature and the mysteries hidden within its depths.
Ragnhild's parents worshiped the god Gorum above the other gods, as do most Ulfen people, and Ragna was raised to venerate the god of battle, but she never forgot the sea dragons. Once she could read adequately, she devoured any information anyone in town had on dragons. She often suspected Voz Lirayne had the knowledge she sought at the Reliant Book Company, but the cost of those old tombs far exceeded a child's budget. Still, she did her best to live the tenets of Apsu, mightiest of all dragons. At least, the tenets she thought He preached. She has access to precious few worshippers or holy text on the King of Dragons.
Though they no longer dwelled in the Land of the Linnorm Kings, Ragnhild was still taught in the ways of her people, combat being amongst the most important subjects. Her parents taught her to fight in formation, with a large round shield and spear, protecting both herself and the people on either side of her: an impenetrable shield wall. Through these lessons and other tribulations of childhood, a spark of divine magic was found within the girl, and Ragnhild grew tall and strong, even for an Ulfen woman.
Besides a slight dragon obsession, Ragna had an unremarkable childhood. Her parents plied their trades around town and Ragna grew. She learned metalworking from her mother and the ulfen peoples weapon-and-shield-based martial arts from her father, but she followed neither of her parents into a profession. Instead, she used her impressive strength to go to work for Narine Howerdell at the lumber mill. In her free time she can often be found in the city archives, researching various topics of personal interest, or carousing the alehouses, looking for good-natured companions. The work was physically gratifying and paid well enough but it was boring and didn't pay so much that she could freely pursue her other interests. Lately, she's been growing restless. The call for Heroes promises to slake her wanderlust and supply her with the coin she needs to do the things she wants.
