[hider=Gyda Hyordis]
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[color=0054a6]Gyda “The Serpent’s Horn” Hjordis
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[color=0054a6]Age:[/color] 33

[color=0054a6]Race:[/color] Sea Elf

[color=0054a6]Appearance:[/color]
Gyda is 6'6” tall with a broader build for an Elf as a result of her Sea Elf heritage along with toned muscles from the hard labour that comes from her life at sea. She has shoulder length blonde hair with a ponytail made of a cluster of moderately longer hair. Her face, arms, torso, and legs are all covered in enchanted blue tattoos that each speak of her accomplishments and adventures she has undergone. She also has a long lightning scar along her left arm.

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Equipment:[/color]
- Light cloth with some leather armour scattered about to allow for easy movement
- A series of pouches attached to her belt
- A waterskin containing some very strong alcohol
- An axe
- A wooden gokstad shield
- An ornate necklace made of parts of the horn of a giant sea serpent
- A warhorn made out of the horn of a giant sea serpent

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Personality:[/color]
Gyda is a proud and confident warrior who treats all her decisions as an extension of her people’s will. Not one to hold her tongue when she disagrees with something, she stands up for herself and will resort to violence if her standing as a champion of her people is brought to question. She tries to avoid being overly aggressive and maintain a cooler exterior but often loses herself in the heat of battle. She likes to wait until celebrations in a tavern or around a campfire before showing her more fun loving side.

[color=0054a6]History:[/color]
Gyda is a part of a clan of Sea Elves, a sub race of Elves that pride themselves on their hardy nature and their prowess as sailors. From an early age she has been on hunting trips with the older members of her clan, tending to the sails, pumping bilge, repairing damage to the hull, cleaning, aiding in the firing and reeling of harpoons, cooking, and even participating in boarding parties against hostile ships. Already a veteran seafarer at a young age she holds herself with great pride and has already begun teaching the younger members of her clan in the same ways that she herself was.

Once she had turned eighteen she embarked on a solo voyage as per a coming of age trial. Those sent away are not to return until they have performed some kind of feat, be it reach a faraway shore and return, or hunt a beast. The seas are vast and dangerous and many Sea Elves have been lost attempting this trial, but more recent generations have been more successful as the average Sea Elf is becoming better trained and with more experience.

Gyda set out to prove herself to be the greatest of her generation, wanting to return with a trophy that no Sea Elf had ever or will ever equal. She sailed for days further and further out into the open sea, where all it takes is for a great creature to merely swim by and cause a wave that can topple any ship. Once satisfied she was above deep enough ocean she set to preparing. She stood at the front of her ship and focused, beginning to trace incantations with her hands. The nearby water swelled and pulsed, moving about. The movements became more precise as she emulated what would appear to any passing monsters as an injured whale. As time passed, a storm began to approach on the horizon, soon to reach her.

Even as freezing cold sheets of water pummeled her, she continued her incantations. After what felt like years, a beast of immense size answered her call, bursting through where it expected to find easy prey. A horned serpent reared its head, its body stretching deep into the ocean and out of view. Lightning cracked into the water nearby as if to signal its arrival. The ship lurched from the waves generated, water crashing over the deck. But Gyda didn’t falter, already moving to action as she lifted up a nearby harpoon. She charged out, leaping off of the railing of her boat. Her water magic caused a huge burst of water underneath her, propelling her upwards and closer towards the beast. The abundance of water not only in the ocean but in the air around her allowed her to close the distance rapidly.

She took aim and fired her harpoon in mid air, striking the beast in the head and lodging between its scales. The rope connected the the harpoon, which would usually draw the target to it, instead yanked her up. Her body ungracefully slammed into the side of the serpent’s head, but there was no time to waste. She clawed her way upwards and wrapped her arms around one of its horns, trying to get a footing and draw her axe. She raised her arm and rammed her blade into the side of the horn, chipping it. The impact caused the serpent to jerk its head and become fully aware of its attacker. Gripping onto the horn with all her might, Gyda slammed her axe into it repeatedly, digging further and further inside. She knew she only had moments before the beast plunged underwater.

Then, the unanticipated happened. A bolt of lightning pounded down from the heavens straight into the horn that Gyda was working on. A great heat and painful shock resonated through her body. Her arms uncontrollably tensed around the horn, the only reason she didn’t plunge into the depths below. The serpent, stunned by the blow, slammed into the water. With a lightning scar now splayed across one of her arms, she groaned in pain and regained her balance, returning to her grisly work. The serpent began to sink, soon pulling Gyda completely underwater. One of her enchanted tattoos placed on her throat began to glow as magic flowed through it, allowing her to hold her breath far longer than normal.

Soon she couldn’t see the surface, but had managed to chop far enough to place her feet properly and snap the horn off. With a sickening crunch the giant bone came loose. She could finally propel herself away. But as her feet lifted off of the serpent’s head, it stirred. She could feel her heart stop and immediately set to casting an incantation. The water around her rippled and shot her straight upwards just as she saw a glimpse of the beast’s serpentine eye glare at her. Her ungraceful ascent had her crash out of the surface and fly dangerously through the air. Her luck would apparently continue as she arced directly towards her ship. Her luck ended there as she smashed straight into the mast of her ship and then plummeted down onto her deck, breaking bones and knocking her unconscious.

She has no idea how long it was until she regained consciousness, but when she did the sky above her was clear and the water calm. In agony she lifted herself from the floor and looked to see the beginnings of a giant pair of fang marks dug into the deck. Though they appeared to be incomplete, dragged back as though something had pulled them away. To this day she still doesn’t know what had ultimately saved her from the serpent, though she has the feeling that whatever it was did it out of hunger and not compassion.

Doing her best to care for her wounds she returned to her clan triumphant. She immediately was treated by the healers and was incapacitated for a few months. But once she had regained her strength she was able to properly celebrate her accomplishment, as risky and luck filled as it was. Even after that event, her life went on as normal aside from an increased amount of respect from her peers and whispers that she has a great chance of becoming a war-chief.

Years later she finds herself reflecting on her experience with the serpent and can’t help but find herself dissatisfied with how little actual skill there was on her behalf. The only satisfaction she could think of for the longest time was to attempt to kill another sea serpent, but she knows now that it’s a death sentence alone. But words of a place where warriors can prove themselves in combat for rewards have reached her. Now older and wiser, she embarks on a journey to truly prove that she is the champion of her people and deserves the respect that she is given.

[color=0054a6]Guild Ranking:[/color] Bronze

[color=0054a6]Misc:[/color]
Gyda's magic: Gyda uses the element of water to aid her in combat. She is currently able to generate water and propel it at high speeds to knock her foes off their feet as well as give herself the ability to walk on relatively calm water. Though she is able to magically create water, her spells are significantly more powerful if she uses already existing water around her, making her especially deadly when near or immersed in bodies of water.

Gyda’s [color=ed1c24]warhorn[/color]: Using words of power, Gyda is able to enchant her warhorn with various spells which affect either her companions or enemies. These range from increased strength and speed to instilling fear.

[color=0054a6]Goals:[/color]
Gyda wants to prove herself as a great warrior above all else. She wants to perform multiple feats of strength and skill. She wants to someday slay a giant sea serpent.
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