NPC - Solveig Sylvi-sister
Solveig is a young warrior and younger sister to Sylvo of Fruzti who is an experienced warrior and war-leader. Unbeknowest to Sylvi or to any of the crew of the longship Styrkarsarjar but for two other sword-sisters onboard, Solveig is a member of the Valkyr, a secret cult of Votan worshippers who practice Votan's form of Sedr magic. Sylvi does not suspect and would frown on her sisters membership in the cult.
The other two Valkyr are Yeva and Helka, both about the same age as Solveig. All three are good friends and joined the Valkyr together when they were first inducted into the warrior's hall of their tribe of Fruzti.
Solveig is slightly headstrong and desires to prove herself in battle, especially if her sister is around. She and her two Valkyr companions have volunteered to be part of the group that will take the captured pig-orc boats to the beach and search for fresh water and provisions.
Deity - Votan - Father God of the Fruzti
The youngest of the three brother Gods, Votan, Veli, and Ve, it is Votan who is worshipped by the Fruzti, though the rest of the pantheon such as Fray the Oerth Mother, Veylund the smith, Tor the storm lord, Tyr One-Handed, are worshipped by all the Volke or the 'Suel barbarians' as outsiders label them.
While Votan is a warrior as are his brothers, it is he who learned the Sedr magic from Fray and sacrficed himself and his eye for knowledge, thereby gaining the runes and altering the Sedr to his own liking. The runes he has taught to his followers, the skalds, and they use it to the benefit of the Fruzti and themselves. Dark sorcerers also use the runes but seek power only for themselves. They become enemies of the skalds and of Votan.
A cult of warrior maidens has grown over the years that venerates Votan and it is said on their deaths the serve him still, choosing the worthy dead of the Fruzti to fight for Votan. This cult is secret as the Sedr magic among the Volke is meant for women and Votan's alteration of the Sedr is not approved. Most skalds are men while the cult of the Valkyr is made entirely of women. While both skalds and Valkyr serve Votan they do not mix and the Valkyr do not reveal their membership to outsiders.
Skalds exist only among the Fruzti as both Veli and Ve have a clergy rather than skald. A skald works magic mainly through knowing the appropriate runes. They can cast priestly, druidic, and magical spells and are learned in illusion as well as direct forms of magic. They are story-tellers and few know or use musical instruments, though some of them tell their stories in a kind of poetic-song speech. Among the Fruzti they are the givers of names to children, and judges, especially to the frequent duels that are fought. A hall-lord or chieftain will normally have a guest skald, but they all wander and make no permenant abode. A skald is always welcome among any dwelling, great or small, of the Fruzti and even among the Schnai and Cuski though only as guests and story-tellers rather than judges or name-givers.
