Astrid Lykke | Lutra

Name:Astrid Lykke
Face Claim: Natalie Dormer
Age: 22
Birth Season: Autumn
Physical Description: Astrid isn't a large woman physically, standing at only 5'1" but what she lacks in size she makes up for in a big personality. She has long wavy, dirty blonde hair that she normally keeps shaved on one side. On the side that she tends to keep shaved she has an intricate green tattoo that travels down her shoulder and over her arm. Her eyes, while sightless, are a vibrant bright blue that can appear lighter or darker depending on the lighting.

Family:
____ Lykke | Mother | Alive (OPEN)
____ Lykke | Father | Alive (OPEN)
____ Lykke | Older Brother | Alive (OPEN)
____ Lykke | Younger Sister | Alive (OPEN)
____ Lykke | Younger Brother | Alive
____ Lykke | Younger Brother | Alive
____ Lykke | Younger Sister | Alive
____ Lykke | Uncle | Alive (OPEN)
____ Lykke | Aunt | Alive (OPEN)
Various cousins
Roan Varangr | Mentor | Alive

Rank: Commoner
Occupation: Shaman Apprentice
Home: Lutra
Combat Experience: Growing up Astrid's family were often afraid their daughter wouldn't ever be able to fight. Or defend herself. However, this didn't stop her from practicing. Astrid would often pick up a training sword or bow and arrows to spar with her friends and siblings. For the first few years she did in fact struggle but as she learned to rely on her other senses she became very proficient. While she'll still never join her brother on a raid she is very good at one on one combat or even two on one. By listening to the changes in wind, in breath, feeling the vibrations of the ground under her feet, the movements of her opponents. She's even become incredibly skilled in archery by listening for the sounds of her target and the things around them. 
Education: Like many Lutrian's Astrid never received any kind of formal education. She did learn to cook and sew by her mother. She also learned how to tell the difference between plants, fruits, roots, and vegetables by they way they smelled, felt, and tasted. She learned to read runes by feeling their carvings. Astrid can draw and understand runes but doesn't know how to write anything else and can't read (for obvious reasons). She speaks Lutrian fluently but nothing else.  
Magic: Being blind from birth meant that Astrid had to figure out ways to get around. While she learned to use her other senses as well she also developed a very special bond with animals around her. Particularly the ravens. Three eyes are better than two after all right? Especially when ones two eyes don't work to begin with. It took years of work. Of practice, training, and help but eventually Astrid was able to connect enough with her companion that she can see through their eyes. The images always come out a little strained, only able to see the colors and heights that her companion can. All the visual input can also cause her migraines and make her motion sick so she never does it for very long. But she does still keep a daily practice.

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Personality:
Astrid is a fire cracker of a woman. To the outside eye she comes off as calm, collected, unsuspecting. She doesn't seek out interaction with strangers. When not with her mentor she can generally be found sewing, scavenging, or simply sitting and listening. Astrid will always make it clear that just because she is blind does not mean she's helpless. She's stubbornly independent, sometimes to a fault. She grew up in a large family so loudness and chaos don't seem to phase her. While Astrid won't seek out interactions with strangers that doesn't mean she's afraid of conversation. She's often more than happy to talk with someone who wants to be social. So long as they don't bother her while she's working.

With her friends and loved ones she's playful and mischievous. She has a childlike sense of wonder about her. Always wanting to learn more, study more, discover more. She enjoys spending time with her friends, her mentor, and her family but she also loves being on her own. Astrid is known for having a quick temper to her. She's not afraid to step into a situation to protect someone else and certainly not afraid to stand up for herself. Though she's normally quiet that doesn't mean she doesn't know how to use her voice. She can be brash, commanding, sarcastic, and snarky. Often seen as sarcastic and always has some sort of witty comeback. Once she's properly warmed up to someone she shows her affection both with gifts and physical affection. Though be careful as her "gifts" can come in the form of a loving prank or teasing.

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History:
Astrid grew up as the second oldest child in a very large household. She was born completely blind which her parents didn't discover until she was roughly a year old. They had suspicions when she didn't seem to really look at anyone. When someone would get her attention she would try to turn in their direction but her eyes never seemed to focus in. Her parents were deeply concerned for their daughter. Being born completely blind they weren't sure she was going to be able to care for herself, defend herself, take care of herself. But Astrid was always a tenacious little thing.

Astrid loved exploring things on her own. What should have been a dark and scary world was fascinating to her. Especially the animals around them. She discovered if she sat still and quiet enough with some food that they would eventually wander up to her. She also learned to sew and cook with her mother. She refused to sit idly by while her siblings got to go off and fight. Astrid insisted on joining them even if it meant coming home with more bumps and bruises than when she left. She was always back out the next day.

It became very clear that Astrid refused to let her disability hinder her from soaking up as much knowledge as she could. She loved going out into the woods with her mother to gather herbs and plants. She even enjoyed going on small hunts with her father. Astrid spent much of her time practicing things on her own. Be it her magic to connect with a companion or learning to connect with her body so she could focus on her other senses. When she was thirteen she met Roan and became very close with him. Astrid was never going to be a mighty raider or a hunter, that was clear, but she didn't want to be. She wanted to learn and help and heal.

With his help she learned more about connecting with her animal companion until she was able to see and hear through them. For the first time in her life Astrid was able to actually see the world. The people around her. Her parents and siblings. Her friends and her mentor. When she was sixteen she officially became Roan's apprentice to be the next Shaman for their people.

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OOC INFO
Census Code: Astrid Lykke | Female | 22 | Autumn | Commoner | Shaman Apprentice | Natalie Dormer
Other Characters: Lotte Wolfram Eira Olsen Eirik Aland Persephone von Lockheed October Lockheed