Bjorn Bork Balderson

What you were doesn't really matter. You've recently died in a shameful, dishonorable way, and though your life may have carried stories of hundreds or thousands of battles before, Helheim cares little, calling for anyone who failed to find a way to die on the field of war. Whether it was a knife to the back or a drop of poison, or something simple (and peaceful) as growing old and dying unmatched. Helheim cares little, and calls for those who failed to die from battle.

At least, that's what you thought before. Instead of awakening to spiraling towers of bone and an endless waste, you found yourself standing in a grassy, lush field. Much different than what you'd expect. Were you still in Midgard?


Lore Bits: Some extra lore you may want to know. Not necessary. Typically includes unique changes to the setting. https://pastebin.com/9dZ3yxa6

Deities: Devout worshipper of Njord

Name: Bjorn Bork Balderson

Age: 70

Magic: Touch-Ice, and Touch-Rage

Runes rely on a system of stringing together different symbols for a spell; you may string together up to 3 symbols to create a unique spell or effect. However, the effect is random, and may end up working against the user.

You begin with +1 Rune for every point in 'runes' for exceptional skills.

https://pastebin.com/EMW6Dwkj List of runes.

Race: Varangian
Varangians gain a +2 bonus to survival checks, such as tracking and resisting natural cold.

Equipment: Thick hide armor, along with two fairly decent sized axes

Background:
In life Bjorn was a warrior, a berserker, and in his old age, he was a scholar. His father, Balder, raised him believing that bloodlust and battle was the only way to live. His father wouldn't even accept him as a heir, until Bjorn slew a bear with his bare hands, despite the fact that he was Balder's only son. On Bjorn's sixteenth summer, he slew his bear. He waited up in the trees above the river where bears would wait for salmon, and jumped on the bears back, holding on for dear life as attempted to rip the bears throat out, clawing at it with untrimmed nails in preparation for this moment. It took a bloody hour before he slew the bear, tired, worn out, and has a rather large scar on his back from where the bear slammed and rubbed him against a tree.

Once his father died, he took his ship and began ransacking Europe like a good viking should. He then made the ship into his image, decorating it after a beast of terrible power: a kraken. Due to his ship being easily recognized, Bjorn quickly became Bjorn the Kraken. Under him, his men gained wealth and he was feared, but unfortunately, being a viking was a hard life, and certainly showed into his old age. One day, on the shores of Europe in the night, his ship was burned down and his crew slaughtered, and Bjorn's throat was slit, making him mute. Bjorn miraculously survived with immediate medical attention after he fled like a coward. It's Bjorn's one regret, for he could have gone to Valhalla had he fought whilst bleeding like a stuck pig.

Unbeknownst to Bjorn, it was his first mate that betrayed him and the location of his ship. His first mate, Skaldr, wanted a simpler life, as he had been knocked upside the head by some stupid git of a priest, and for some reason became a dirty christian. In any event, the scummy shite is probably in Niflheim for betrayal, but otherwise Bjorn doesn't know.

He kept fighting vigorously until he was around 60, working as a mercenary. Unfortunately, his hearing failed him. He worked as a lookout for another 5 years before going to live the rest of his life as a hermit, studying the forest and the runes of the gods. In his last few years, his children sought him out, and dubbed him mad before slaughtering him in his sleep. They put his weapons in his hands, but he did not die in the glory of battle...


Exceptional Skills: Skills/abilities that are noted. Similarly to Erilen, you have 9 points to spend. You may have up to III points in one skill.

III Runes
III Duel-Wielding
III Fortitude