Astrid Lancaster

**Astrid Lancaster** is a former pirate from [Northern Helm|the Northern Helm].
 Though she sailed under the black flag for most of her adulthood, she
has given up most of her pirate ways to search for her father.

## Background

Astrid was born in
Krossavik, The Northern Helm to Magnus and Ingrid Lancaster. Both her
parents were adventurers at heart, but Ingrid was forced to watch Astrid
 as she grew up, allowing Magnus to travel aboard his ship and explore.
He left shortly after the news of Ingrid's pregnancy and has since not
returned.

Magnus was presumed
dead after a few years because of his absence. When Astrid was old
enough, she asked about her father. Her mother would comply and tell the
 child of her father's past exploits and filled her with fantasies of
what he was possibly doing. These were not the only stories Astrid was
told: she was taught the stories of the Children of a New and was raised
 to follow them.

Astrid's childhood
was liberal when compared to most. She was raised outside where she
spent time near the waters, learning to sail in the northern lands.She
made friends with the local merchants, one in particular, was the local
smithy who trained her in exchange for help around in his ship.
Eventually, she learned how to sail and showed intent on finding her
father. In time, she fell in love with the ocean and the wind.

When she turned
eighteen, she officially began her search for her father. She had saved
enough coin from working with the blacksmith throughout her life to
purchase a small ship. She traveled the known world for a year in search
 for her father.

She joined a small
band of pirates who attacked other floating vessels and pillaged towns.
They were mercenaries, led by a female Captain who took Astrid in as her
 steward. When the Captain was killed, Astrid took command of the ship.
They sailed for five long years under a pseudonym. During that time, she
 led her crew on many small crusades where they stole treasure and
infamy under her fake name.

When she was
twenty-four, Astrid finally returned home to her mother. Upon arrival,
she learned that her mother remarried and had two new children. She
didn't bother to visit, learning the news, but left her mother a large
sum of money anonymously before purchasing a new boat and sailing off to
 continue her search, alone.

## Personality and Traits

Astrid is a very adventurous and unladylike
woman. Quite barbaric if you had to describe her. If there’s something
new she’s more than ecstatic to try it- sometimes she doesn’t show it
but more often than not you can find her doing something dangerous or
dumb. To strangers at first she seems blunt and ruthless. Though she is
those things, Once you get to know her she can be friendly. After
spending a long time among pirates she developed a somewhat crude and
offbeat sense of humor. Most of the time you can find her making jokes
and chuckling at the wrong moments. She is also a very avid follower of
 the gods.. She worships Silandria, the Goddess of the sea, water and
travel, the most..

## Physical Description

Astrid has long blonde hair and light blue
eyes. She wears braids and pulls her hair back in different ways to keep
 it out of her face. Due to her training she does have a somewhat
muscular body- it’s more toned than muscle because she doesn’t lift
weights or keep at it. Her voice is smooth and she has a slight northern
 Nordic accent.

## Skills and Abilities

She is a pretty good leader having had
experience being in charge of savage pirates. In battle she is a fierce
and brutal fighter. Though she isn’t very strong, her strategy and
quickness keep her from getting killed. She has some skill in navigating
 and sketching maps and also has training in making swords because she
worked for a bladesmith.

## Possessions

The clothes on her back, personally handcrafted sword, viking shield, some rations, water & maps.