The Eye of a Viking

new

« Prev
1
Next »

Raven
Noble

Word

Posts: 2,761

The Eye of a Viking May 19, 2020 9:53:04 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Raven on May 19, 2020 9:53:04 GMT -5

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/89/3e/90/893e90c5bc16e6c274b3000f9a03cfb0.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/02/89/0d/02890dc73d50b8db40a38580b8b15e0c.jpg

Name: Sidara Myrdda

Just over 10 years ago - Sidara had been taken from a neighboring Clan which fell in war. The Clans of Vikings fought often, for claim over the stake of land and power. Sometimes - even just for fun. The fight was for life, and the life was for the fight. The opportunity for Vahalla was the dream to reach for. She was just a young woman when she was taken as spoils of war. Though she was a viking - she was employed as a servant. She tended to the Lord's family for several years before the Seer had taken keen to her.

The Seer approached the Lord and did not ask, or even demand, she simply appointed the young woman to herself. Over the following 6 years Sidara assisted in feeding, cleaning and tending to the Seer. Over that time - they both became rather close. In many ways the old Seer had become a mother to Sidara.

In the Viking culture - if the Clan was lucky enough to even have a Seer... the Lord was the bread and the Seer is the butter. Or in another analogy - the Seer holds everything together. Every ritual, every battle - the Seer is apart of. If it be the one to bleed the stag, or to rip the spine out of their enemy, it is by the hand of the Seer. Before each battle - the Seer foretells and worships to the Gods, who gifted her the sight. With one eye of humanity, and another of the Giants - the Seer can see into the past, and also the future.

***

The Clan was nearing winter, the brisk breeze was sweeping through the village.. The moon was absent, a new moon - the sky as dark as can be. Sidara was carrying a bucket of water into the decorated Hut of the Seer. It had bones and feathers dangling about, clinking in the wind. As she entered the hut, pushing past a thick silk blanket that acted as the door. In the center of the round room was a embering fire pit, round and lifted off the ground. She glanced upward - tracing the gentle smoke upward that escaped through a lifted roof that had a vent, designed for the smoke to leave.

Around the pit was several leather skins to sit on. There was a door that lead to the bedroom, but that was the Seer's home. Simple, yet very decorated. It was the most different home in the entire village, but in truth this had been the home of the Seer for decades. She came to an old woman who lay on a bed of leathers before the pit. "Seer" she muttered and knelt down. She had a name - the Seer was Freyja, but when the Seer becomes whole - their name fades and their title becomes their being. She dipped the cloth in the water and pat it over her sweating head.

"I have...walked this earth for too long" the Seer reached up and grasped Sidara's hand. Her wrinkled face relaxed and she smiled weakly. She was sick ... Seer's never suffered illness, only in the end, when their thread of life came to an end. "It is time..." she slowly sat up and grasped Sidara's hand. "It is time to honor the tradition... You were chosen... many years ago" she ran her shriveled finger over Sidara's knuckles. "The clans were fated to take you in, and you to fall before me. As I had dreamed it years ago - the greatest Seer to walk the lands, you my lovely Sidara" she reached upwards and cupped her cheek.

Sidara's gaze looked into the old woman, her brows pulled together and she shook her head. "You cannot go" she spoke in a broken whisper.

"I have been here beyond my time, over 140 years" she coughed weakly and then chuckled. "Part of life is knowing when it is over" she sucked in a breath. "Do not fret... I will be with you always, it is the gift of the Seer..." she slowly laid back down.

"How... how do I ease your suffering?" Sidara questioned softly as she knelt over the woman.

"My eye becomes yours..." the Seer spoke firmly. "You must take it from my living body, and place it into your own..." she looked to Sidara. She had one blue eye, and one marbled white eye - that had a kind of glow to it. "This is how it is done, my dearest. As I have done before you to my successor... It is not easy... but for me to live on within you, you must take the Seer's eye for you own. As I have willed it to you, it will infuse you with the gifts..."

Sidara took in a breath and let it go shakily. "When?" she questioned softly.

"Now" The seer spoke. The embering fire slowly shifted to a white flame, it was midnight. The Seer had planned this moment, the stars were aligned.

"Now?" Sidara questioned shakily. The Seer suddenly reached forward and placed a knife in her hand.

"Now" she spoke again.

Sidara bit her lower lip and moved so that both of her knee's sat before the resting head of the woman. She had white hair which was woven beautifully in several braids. There was tattoo's about her face - the markings of a Viking. She sucked in a breath as she held the knife and then she nodded to herself. She slowly moved the blade so it went around the White glowing eye of the Seer. She did not flinch or move - she accepted this. Sidara carved the eye out until she held the round orb in her hand. She looked down to the Seer - who's single eye opened and looked to her. No words were spoken, but Sidara could feel it.

Sidara sat upward and took the knife to her own eye. Blood began to pour down her cheek, dripping off her chin as she grit her teeth, carving her own eye from her head. She let out a muffled cry as she wrenched it from her head. Her vision was gone, her orbital filling with blood. She hunched over in pain briefly. The old woman reached for her hand - giving her strength. Sidara sucked in a sob and sat upward once more, fighting herself. She moved the Glowing eye to the hole - and it slipped into her socket easily, as if it was meant to sit there. She closed her eyes and she felt a sudden rush of power. The pain subsided and she gasped.

Sidara held her hands out and she shut her eyes once more. Suddenly she saw a similiar scene - an old woman laying before her, But she was different. The seer - 120 years ago. She had just carved the eye out of the previous. Suddenly the vision flashed - counting over 12 times this had happened in the past. The sudden vision was a rush, along with the power that came with it. Sidara suddenly shot backwards as she gasped - her brain was buzzling wildly, her body flowing with power. Though, it was controlled - as if she had this gift her entire life. Something was natural about it...

Sidara glanced down to the old Seer. She had this urge - a thought in the back of her head. She knew what she had to do. This had happened so many times before... She leaned down and snaked her hands under the old fragile woman and lifted her with ease. She carried the woman, pushing past the thick silk of the hut - that was now her own. She carried the woman to the center of the room. Suddenly as she made it to the round circle - where the bonfire would often sit, but not tonight. The stars beamed brightly, and suddenly from all around the village, from the mountains and forests - every wolf howled in unison. Creating a chorus of them.

People emerged from their homes to check the commotion. Slowly they all gathered around the center, their eyes looking to Sidara. Blood was caked on her face from her eye - that glowed brightly. The sign of the Seer. She was a well built woman, with blond long hair that was braided. Though her face was clear - no markings tattood or drawn on, as she was not officially of the Clan.

Sidara stood quietly and then she looked up to the sky. From the chest of the seer - a single orb of glowing light float upward, leaving the woman - her soul lifting away. She glanced forward to the Lord - who stood across from her. She slowly approached him and offered the now lifeless body to the Lord. A great ceremony would occur now, as tradition. For the life of one Seer, and the beginning of another...

Blindside Tex
The Queen

To be forgotten is worse than death

Posts: 3,025

The Eye of a Viking May 19, 2020 12:57:05 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Blindside Tex on May 19, 2020 12:57:05 GMT -5

Runa Helvig

Varin – father
Thora – mother
Asmund – brother
Rollo – uncle
Siv – aunt

On the night of the full harvest moon, the night of the ritualistic offering to Fenrir...a child was born into the clan of Helvig. The Jarl Varin’s wife Thora bore was beautiful baby girl with the eyes of a wolf beneath that harvest moon. Her name would come to be Runa, it meant strength. As the child was born quite early beneath the harvest moon of Fenrir. The seer claimed this as a sign that Runa would grow to be a great warrior. Before the entire clan on that fateful night Varin stood beneath the massive elk offering that they had brought to give to Fenrir. He held Runa in his arms the child cooed and held herself to him against the cool breath of the coming winter. Varin sliced into the elk and allowed the blood of the creature to cascade over his newly born daughter. The village cheered their Jarl on as he introduced her to the world as Runa.

**

The young Runa grew to be one of the strongest shield maidens that the clan had seen. She fought without mercy. She knew her blade like that of the back of her hand, her shield was yet another piece of her body. As soon as she could lift a stick her mother Thora had begun training with her and Varin stepped in to make his daughter stronger. She sparred with her brother Asmund and soon enough as she grew she could outfight even the strongest brutes that the clan had to offer.

Thora led the shield maidens into battle...as the Jarl’s wife, but their true leader became Runa as she aged into a young woman. Runa grew into one of the beautiful women of the clan that many vikings prayed to Odin to take her hand in marriage. The time would come soon that her father would pick a suitor for her as he had chosen a wife for Asmund a few years prior.

On the night that the Seer passed her power to the next in line, Runa sat upon a boulder just outside of town. She gazed up to the full moon that cast over the village that was nestled within the protection of the mountain face, just at the edge of the lake that led to the sea. Runa wore her hair in braids, her striking silvery green eyes seemed to glow in the night as she looked over the landscape. She wore a braided leather string around her head that held the pendant of a wolf upon her forehead. It was the mark of Fenrir, an item that had stayed with her since her birth. Her strength showed her to truly be born beneath the Harvest moon of Fenrir. She had delicate markings upon her face that accented her well black lines that hooked like that naked limb of a tree etched along her cheek bones. She wore a well crafted leather chest piece with the thick coat of a wolf’s pelt beneath. She had a sword upon her hip, a dagger upon her thigh, and a second smaller blade upon the calf of her boot. It had served her well in battle if she got into a pinch.

Runa turned her gaze as the leaves of fall rustled behind her and a beautiful white wolf stepped forward. This was Freki, the wolf had been by her side since she was a child, before she could even walk the wolf had appeared within the village. The coat was as beautiful as it was thick, the eyes of the wolf matched her own eyes perfectly. She gave a gentle smile as she reached out and pet the wolf, she brushed a bit of blood from his pelt. “Good hunt, eh?” She asked with a chuckle. Freki tilted his head slightly as he looked toward the village then, the howls burst into the air with Freki to join in as well.

Runa drew her own brows together as she looked to the wolf. “Come.” She spoke as she leaped down from the boulder. Somehow she knew that something had happened, she could feel the magic of the transition that hung in the air. Runa was quick as she rushed toward the village with Freki close behind her. She leaped over fallen limbs and other various objects until she found herself in the center of town. She stood behind many of the clan members as they watched in awe. This woman, a woman that was taken from another clan as spoils...was their next seer. The gods had spoken.

Varin was the first to step forward he had a humble smile upon his lips. “Sidara.” He spoke. His eyes moved and looked to those that watched him anxiously. “Odin has blessed us to continue to have a seer. It was fated that we took her in the spoils when she was young. Her before us stands our new seer!” He grasped her shoulders. “Tell me. What future does our clan hold?” He asked, his grip was firm yet gentle.

Fraki howled once again before he pushed through the crowd. The wolf took a seat next to Varin as he gazed up to the new seer. Runa had followed behind her wolf. She stood with the wolf seated upon her feet. Her silvery eyes gazed to the woman whom she barely knew. Even in the time that Sidara had spent as a servant to her family, she had been too busy in her teachings to truly even know the girl’s name. “We must celebrate the life of our seer that has entered Valhalla, before we ask of our new seer to guide us.” She placed her hand on her father’s shoulder. “We must not anger the gods by jumping ahead.” She gave a soft smile. Her eyes looked back to Sidara. “We must welcome our new seer.”

Varin looked to his daughter with a warm smile about his lips. “Of course.” His hands had fallen from Sidara’s shoulders. “We will begin the week long festival celebration tomorrow, Seer. Anything you like.” He turned his gaze to the others. “Make preparations.” He stepped away then.

Runa gazed to Sidara a long moment before her wolf stood and turned to walk off, she did so at the same exact moment…

The next morning the clan gathered at the docks before dawn. They would send off their seer in true viking fashion. Varin spoke a great speech about the seer and how she had helped the clan through many tough times and how with her words of wisdom and her sight they had survived many wars. He stepped forward and handed the bow to Sidara as the men shoved the boat into the water. “It is your honor to take.” He spoke as he stepped away from her. Runa held forward an arrow that had been light aflame. After this, the clan would feast in celebration of the life of the seer.

Last Edit: May 19, 2020 12:58:51 GMT -5 by Blindside Tex

Raven
Noble

Word

Posts: 2,761

The Eye of a Viking May 19, 2020 15:28:57 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Raven on May 19, 2020 15:28:57 GMT -5

Sidara bowed her head to the Jarl, who placed his hands upon her shoulders. Her pearly white eye gazed into his hues and she sucked in a breath.
Suddenly the world froze. Standing around her were 12 other figures, they were like frosty shadows of their former selves. She knew right away these were the previous Seers, some how all magically tied to the eye. Approaching from Freyja, who smiled and looked to Varin. "Your new power comes with a great duty, and responsibility. You shall see the truth, but you must provide hope and guidance... Do not forget that" she smiled then and they all suddenly vanished. Time continued once more.

What future does our clan hold?
Suddenly she saw a battlefield - blood caked into the mud as it rained roughly. Varin held two axes and sliced away at men, twisting so hard that his blood covered braids swung in a twirl as he plunged his axe into the chest of another man. He slaughtered - until finally his eyes peered upon a blade that pierced his gut -

Sidara took a sudden breath - "Greatness, of course" she smiled weakly and then her eyes glanced to Runa, who had eased her father. Her expression softened... she had always had a kind of admiration for Runa, having grown up with her - but from a distance. She envied the live of the Jarl's daughter, and to be as skilled, talented, and admired by all. She leaned her head back as she glanced around in that moment. Everyone was cheering. It wasn't for Runa, it was for her. She smiled then - perhaps she would be admired at least...

As everyone began to breakaway she watched as they toted Freyja away, carrying her towards the docks to prepare for her journey... Sidara turned then and made her way back to her hut, pushing past the curtains as she stepped inside... The flame in the middle was still burning white, and as she sat down before it - it died down to a red coal.

There was silence. The room was empty. How strange it was without Freyja. She sat before the fire for a long moment. She felt frozen - voices ran through her head. She saw glimpses of memories that were not her own, all just half a second long, rammed together. She focused to try and break this streamline of thoughts. Suddenly it was quiet. She leaned her head back and shut her eyes...

She had fallen asleep before the coals, when she woke - the coals were dead and ashes were left. The breeze snuck into her hut, the bones and dangling items clinking happily. She slowly stood and found herself preparing for the event. She washed her face and adjuster her braids... She stepped over to a wardrobe and opened it... She pulled on leathers, and then looked to the Seer's outfit. One was made - exactly her size. Freyja had prepared for this...

She placed the skull atop her head, the draped furry cloak that had bones weaved into the material, the belts that hung about her waist. Her hands reached forward to a staff - made of a skull, which had etchings in the bone... dangling feathers hung from the base of the skull... She lifted it - suddenly memories flashed before her. 12 visions of a hand just like her own lifting it. She stumbled slightly and shook her head. How long would it be - until these memories faded? It seemed she was following in her ancestors footsteps, though.

All of this had been passed down from each, some of over hundreds of years old. She wondered where the skull had come from -

A stag was laid down upon a stone. A woman stood before it - in unique but familair attire - the skull upon her head. She held a knife and cut open the stag, its guts spilled out onto a rune that was carved into the stone. The women spoke in a different tongue, ancient norse langauge. The first seer - and the first sacrifice...

Sidara hummed slightly. The very first sacrfice of the clan sat in her hands. What history, what power... She lifted it and found herself stepped outside of her hut, following the masses to the docks.

She listened to the kind words, the legend that was Freyja. She wasn't sure if she coud ever fill her shoes... She took the bow then and held it in her hand. She couldn't shoot a bow - she had no idea--- Suddenly her arms moved. As if on their own. Muscle memory played the part. She drew the arrow back and let it go - it flew through the air flawlessly and landed on the boat, lighting the seer aflame.

She stumbled slightly as this guidance that controlled her left her, as if she couldn't even move while it commanded her. She looked to Runa with confused eyes - and handed the bow back. As people celebrated - Sidara turned and slipped through the crowd, leaving the docks and stepping to the hall. She walked over to a pitcher and poured a mug of water - drinking it down swiftly...

Blindside Tex
The Queen

To be forgotten is worse than death

Posts: 3,025

The Eye of a Viking May 19, 2020 21:43:30 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Blindside Tex on May 19, 2020 21:43:30 GMT -5

Runa had noticed the sudden breath from the new seer the night before. Though, she chose not to speak of it. She saw something in the woman’s eyes as she’d told her father that she saw greatness. She gave a soft smile, “Don’t forget to smile, they’re cheering for you.” She’d noted before she stepped away behind her wolf Fraki.

**

The next morning as the ceremony began with the send off of their great seer that had protected their clan for years. As Runa handed the bow forward to her new seer she seemed to study her. “Just breathe.” She spoke her hand grazed upon her shoulder as she stepped over to her father. Her mother and brother stood as well. She watched as Sidara seemed to stumble, though a focus seemed to come over the woman as she loosed the arrow and it hit its target perfectly. Runa listened as a round of ‘For Freyja’ filled the air. She drew her brows together as the bow was placed back into her hands. Runa’s eyes followed after the new seer as she escaped through the celebration.

“Runa.” Varin spoke as he called her over. “Come child.” He wrapped an arm around her and led her over within the group. Runa glanced over her shoulder to the retreating Sidara, her brows tucked together still. Something was off. She could feel it. That was a touch that she had that frightened some of the clan, she could sense things, much like an animal could. Fraki let out a whine as he moved to sit upon the edge of the dock. The wolf looked out over the bay to the burning raft that the past seer lay upon.

**

“Hiding yourself away so soon?” A hearty voice came from behind Sidara. A man stepped from the back of the main hall, the hallway that led to the Lord’s family quarters. The man had deep black hair that was braided back perfectly and he had a well kept beard. This was Rollo, Varin’s brother. He gave a smile as he lifted a pitcher and poured himself a glass of ale. “I always knew that Freyja would choose you, Sidara.” He took a long drink from his ale as he glanced to her. “Are you alright, child?” Rollo questioned. When Sidara had served the Lord’s family she had been a servant to Rollo. He’d grown quite fond of her and when the seer took Sidara for her own servant he happily handed her over. “It must be a lot to take in. Hm?” He looked to her lovely marbled eye. “But you are gifted by the gods, Sidara. Hm?” He poured a mug of ale and held it forward. “I knew, from the moment we brought you from Jarl Esil’s clan that you had much more to offer than even our own Jarl could see.” He stepped forward and pulled her into a gentle embrace. People were beginning to filter in now. “If you need to talk, we can speak after the celebration, hm?” He stepped back from her and walked over to a beautiful blonde viking woman and kissed her on her cheek, this was Sig his wife. Even Sig was fond of Sidara, she gave a smile before her attention was stolen by someone else whom spoke to her.

“Seer.” A young boy with deep brown hair that was kept short and a fine beard stepped forward. Asmund, Varin’s eldest and only son. He stepped to Sidara and offered a smile. “I look forward to ruling as Jarl with you as Seer of Helvig clan one day.” He spoke and lifted his mug toward her a grin upon his lips. Asmund wasn’t one to speak much, he’d always seemed to stay within the shadows. He wasn’t a glorious warrior like his father...and his sister outshined him upon the battlefield just as she’d knocked him down as a child. He did his best but he wasn’t nearly as strong as his sister. Though what he lacked in his skill to fight he shined in politics. He was very close with Freyja. He made offerings to the gods. He led rituals at the seer’s side. This gave him a sense of nobility, as if he was above others. He felt closer to the gods than much of the clan, even his own family.

Varin walked into the room and he demanded the attention of everyone as the breakfast feast was set upon the table. “Good morning.” He spoke with a commanding voice. “We have sent our beloved Freyja to Valhalla with the help of our new seer Sidara.” He spoke and the room burst into a round of cheers for the woman. “Greatness shall follow for our clan, it was spoken by the seer herself.” He smiled to Sidara. “We shall feast in the name of Freyja! Then we shall hunt for an offering to the gods. Winter is fast approaching. We must be certain that the gods have an offering so that they may accept Sidara as a seer among them.” The room filled with cheers again. “Feast!” He shouted as he took his seat and began to load his plate.

Runa sat across from Sidara, normally Freyja sat across from her. She gave a soft smile as she gathered a few items to eat. She drank her ale and tossed some bacon to Freki whom crunched happily upon the meat. “Runa, you will lead Sidara in the hunt. She must bring down the offering so that Odin may accept her.” Thora spoke as she looked to her daughter. “It is tradition.”

“Why shouldn’t I lead her to the prey?” Asmund questioned, a bit of a smug look on his face.

Thora lifted her mug to her lips. “You shall prepare the ritual, Asmund. It must be perfect. Your sister will lead our new seer into the hunt.”

Asmund gave a smirk, this was a response that he wanted. Preparing the ritual was rather important. Once again he felt as if he was a god himself. “Of course mother, I will be sure that every line of the mural is perfect.”

Runa lifted her silvery eyes to her brother, though she did not speak, it was a glare full if frustration. She couldn’t speak up against him as he was her elder brother, he was next to take over if her father fell in battle. She took a bite of her oats and then a swig of her ale her eyes fell away from her brother. Once everything had settled and the plates were cleaned Runa stood. “Sidara and I shall enter the northern forest. It will be her hunt before the gods. We will return with an offering worthy of Odin himself.” Her eyes moved about the table. “Rollo, I wish for you to accompany us along with...Bjorn, Otta, and Ujr.” She gave a soft smile. “That should be plenty of men to carry back Sidara’s kill.” She then turned her gaze to Sidara. “The hunt begins now.” She spoke as she turned and stepped from the room with Fraki upon her heels.

Rollo chuckled as he glanced around the room, the attention that Runa commanded. The power that she held just with her voice and her eyes. It was an incredible talent that Asmund simply did not hold. “Come child.” He spoke and nodded to Sidara as he stood and left the table the others followed him closely.

Runa led the group up into the northern forests after they had gathered their weapons. She was always armed with her sword and daggers. She turned to Sidara after nearly an hour of the hike. Her silvery eyes looked over the girl and then she looked to the men. “Wait here. We must complete the hunt without you.” She then nodded to Sidara and led her forward. She was quiet for a long moment. “You saw something, when my father asked you of the future of our clan...” She spoke as she paused, they were away from the men. Her piercing gaze locked on Sidara. “It wasn’t glory...” She let out a soft breath. “What was it?” She questioned softly. “Will our clan fall?” She asked with a bit of worry in her voice.

Though her thoughts were broken as a roar came from the skies. “Get down!” Runa rushed forward and her arms wrapped around Sidara. She could feel the heat just as they hit the ground and rolled down the embankment. Runa groaned as her back smacked against a boulder. Within the sky a dragon with threatening amber eyes and black scales flew toward them. Runa staggered to her feet. “Run!” She cried. Freki snarled as the dragon landed before them within the valley. The dragon roared. Runa took in a shaken breath as she rushed forward toward the beast. Her movements were swift, much quicker than that of a normal human. She leaped into action and her sword sliced down the chest of the beast. The dragon roared and flames burst from its jaws. “For Odin!” Runa cried as she jabbed her sword into the dragon. Though with a swipe of the claw from the great beast Runa was thrown to her back as the dragon took to the skies. Her sword still stuck in its shoulder. Runa took in quick breaths as she staggered to her feet, a deep gash upon her arm and side.

She grit her teeth. “Damn dragons...what does Odin have his sights on? What god have we angered?” She whimpered slightly pain clear in her eyes. Runa leaned against the boulder and closed her eyes a moment. “The hunt...must go on...” She lifted her gaze to Sidara. “We must find a sacrifice for Odin...and we must pray that he send these beasts away...” She winced slightly. Over the past few months the Helvig clan had more than one run in with dragons...it was seen as a bad omen...some blamed Runa for the attacks because she was born on the Harvest Moon of Fenrir...

Quick Reply

Shoutbox

Say something! P.S. Refresh the box to see new shouts!

Raven: Rerum is all about what makes us human. Our community is a sanctuary for all that is us. A home for you to express yourself via solo writing, or partnered roleplaying, a place to bring something new into the world. Jun 1, 2019 2:06:47 GMT -5

Raven: I loves it. Jun 1, 2019 2:06:58 GMT -5

Raven: Welcome Evenstar!