Name: Ida
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Origin: German, Suebian from the Semnone tribe in Schleswig-Holstein region.
Religion: Prays to the Nordic gods but mostly to the god, Wodan (Odin) and the goddess, Nerthus.
Appearance: Ida stands at 5 feet, 7 inches with a medium-large build. Her bone structure is composed of broad shoulders, broad hips and long legs. Her arms and legs have a muscular build that is above average compared to most working-class women, but just small enough to keep her from being mistaken for a man when up close. She has light brown hair that reaches just above her shoulder blades. However, she keeps the outer layer of hair combed to her right and fashioned into a hanging Suebian knot near her temple. She has an oval-shaped face with a fair-medium complexion, square jaw-line, rounded nose, and light-brown almond shaped eyes. Her face does not betray her youth, yet her eyes show that she has taken her first step on the path to wisdom and experience. She wears a vivid blue, sleeveless tunic and brown pants. Her pants are cinched at her ankles by leather strings and the tucked into her worn, brown leather shoes. A tan, leather belt is cinched round her waist and holds a dagger on her right hip and a leather pouch to the left of the dagger.
Personality: Ida is neither naive nor experienced. Although she still has some things to learn about being a free woman out in the world, she can usually get a good feel for other people and their intentions. She is sensitive about her lack of knowledge and certain basic skills (reading being one of them), and can be quick to anger should she feel she is being verbally attacked. She wants to learn many skills as she travels the world, but in doing so she knows she must interact with people; a fact which she swallows reluctantly. Ida tends to keep people at an arm's length at first, but should she find someone she can truly trust, she can be a dear friend to them.
History: Ida was born into slavery and brought up to be a sacrifice to the goddess, Nerthus. Her days were often spent tending to livestock and the priests of her tribe (i.e.: washing their clothes, preparing and serving their meals, etc.). Life, to her, seemed unfair and very unpleasant as she watched the other children grow into proud warriors, hunters, weavers, wives and what not. But as she grew up, she was constantly told that her servitude on earth will be rewarded by an ever-lasting service to the goddess, Nerthus.
When Ida was 16, it was her turn to attend to Nerthus in the annual feast. At the end of the festival, Nerthus, the priest, and two slaves go to the goddess' island, where the slaves wash Nerhtus and her chariot before they are thrown into the lake to drown. Although only the priest is supposed to see Nerthus, when Ida was bathing the goddess, she saw a vision of her. Nerthus showed Ida a shadowy part of the lake that turned out to be an underwater tunnel that led to an air pocket. When it was time for Ida and the other slave to be sacrificed, Ida tried to lead the other slave to the tunnel, but the slave had accepted her fate and joined Nerthus with a watery breath.
Ida remained on Nerhtu's island, teaching herself a few necessary skills to survive while also finding the time to learn about herself and her desires. After a year, a familiar boat returned to the island with the priest and two slaves. Ida sneaked aboard the boat and rode it back to the mainland. From then on, Ida put half of her hair in the "free-man's" Suebian knot and is traveling the world for knowledge, culture, wealth, adventure and anything else she was denied before. Maybe she will even find a place that she can call home.
Skills: Whittling- While on the island, Ida taught herself how to whittle little people that she would later burn as sacrifices to the gods. She also whittles animal figures for the same purpose. But on the road, she sometimes offers them for trade.
Fishing- Fearful of upsetting Nerthus, Ida chose not to hunt the animals on the island, but instead fished her meals from the sea. She normally spears them in shallow water with sharp sticks but can also catch them by hand if she is quick enough.
Equipment: Ida keeps a 6 inch dagger and leather pouch on her belt. The pouch sometimes has coins or sometimes little trinkets that she treasures such as pretty beads that may have fallen off of someone's clothing. She has a brown, wolf pelt that she wears on her shoulders and back in cold weather and it reaches down to the middle of her back. She has a small, leather satchel that she keeps her small, whittling knife in and a small water skin.
Miscellaneous: Although she has yet to have a relationship, Ida is realizing that she has a very strong attraction towards women.