[hider=Vala Lynstad][center][img]https://cdn.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/609/758/large/rembrandt-van-leeuwen-fb3.jpg?1428440625[/img][/center]
[b]Appearance:[/b]
At 5’9” and a smaller build, Vala looks like a typical Northern with blue eyes, blonde hair, which is usually kept up in a braid, and fairly pale skin. For the most part, her skin is rather free of marks and scars but there are a few exceptions. Right shoulder has a small scar from an arrow and a scar right around her right hip where a sword pierced through her entirely. 

[b]Name:[/b] Vala Lynstad
[b]Age:[/b] 25
[b]Gender:[/b] Female
[b]Sexual Orientation:[/b] Heterosexual 
[b]Occupation:[/b] Master-at-Arms for the [i]Sae Hrafn[/i]
[b]Weaponry:[/b]
Vala primarily uses a standard long sword with a rounded-shield for protection. As a backup, she has a knife. For variety, she is pretty accurate with a short axe, both as a primary weapon and a projectile. 

[b]Apparel:[/b]
Vala dresses rather plainly and conservatively in commoner clothing. For times of battle, she adorns herself in hardened leather armor. 
[b]Equipment:[/b]
Waterskin, scraps of cloth usually for the purpose of cleaning her weapons, 
[b]Skills:[/b]
Vala comes from a Northern Longship and has established her sea legs and can handle rough waters. She lead men into the defense of said Longship and can help direct forces in battle. Her primary skill is her ability in combat, both with weapons and without. 

[b]Magical abilities:[/b] None

[b]Personality:[/b]
On first impression, Vala is a bit cold with strangers and first-time acquaintances. She isn’t outright rude, however, and she believes that everyone deserves a chance. Displays of serious determination or willpower go a long way in her eyes. Her humor is a bit dry or a bit harsh at another’s expense because that was a common go-to for her crew members. Despite being a bit rough around the edges, Vala does have some softness at her core. She is extremely loyal, to the point of blind trust, when it comes to blood brothers and sisters (anyone who fights alongside her after a while). She also secretly enjoys being courted by people, especially if she is being fought over. But she’ll never say that. 

[b]Backstory:[/b]
Vala hails from Northern Coasts of Ecen, specifically a lonely island just off the coast called Marstal, and if you are living in Marstal, you probably either fish or sail for the navy. The sea always plays a big part of those who live on that tiny island and for Vala, she grew up just like any kid, craving the adventure that the older generations tell tales of. Of course when you finally get there, life at sea is a bit crueler and less dreamy than the tales. 

It wasn’t too typical for women to join up with fishing crews, as there was no guarantee that your shipmates would have pure intentions, and in order to join the military ships, where things like that would never happen, you had to have at least a year of experience on the sea. So Vala sighed onto her Uncle’s ship where she was protected as her Uncle’s attendant.

After her year was up, she signed into the navy. Starting as a simple oarsmen, she eventually rose to the rank Master-At-Arms at the age of 21. Four years she went from ship to ship, not really settling down anywhere permanently. Then the [i]Sounding[/i] happened… Even though a part of her didn’t want to, she was being mandated to by her superiors. So she departed for the capital, missing the sea but also enjoying the break as she hoped the [i]Sounding[/i] was good news and not bad.

[b]Other[/b][/hider]