Embla

## Application Sheet

Embla was a light brown-furred she-wolf born and raised in Old Fellfang; she was the half-sister to another Fellfangir named Ludko. She served as one of the pack's Rhapsode Sages, and became mates with Enzo. They had a single pup together: Petrah. However, she and Petrah mysteriously vanished from Fellfang - and the Domain - when Petrah was a juvenile, and neither have been seen since. She was designed by Tazihound and Quailmix, and created and RP'd by data-bull.

## Personality

* ***Nurturing, Diplomatic, and Refined.*** While not a flowery maiden in the slightest, Embla is a kind soul. She isn't against violence as she understands logically why it must exist, however she is not one for wanton destruction. Though some, especially those of Old Fellfang, might think her weak it is evident to those who know her that she simply chooses not to fight. She is reasonably kind to others, perhaps even more than is required of her. Her motherly instinct is strong; in fact the she-wolf has been known to harbor abandoned or injured baby animals. Even if Aster didn't raise her to be polite, Embla has high standards in terms of decorum. She is proper, adhering, not only to the rules set by the pack, but the unspoken cultural laws as well. This makes her slightly antiquated, but in her mind the proper ways to act were determined by their ancestors at the height of the pack's power, when the spirits were the strongest. To the end of refinement, she prefers not to face issues head on. Instead she takes a round-about route, leading those who oppose her to a conclusion she deems appropriate. If asked to do something she is against, she would reply ambiguously; the same applies to disagreements. This makes it difficult for other wolves to get a fix on her positions when she hasn't made them abundantly clear.
* ***Just and Charismatic.*** Her strong dedication and moral fiber make her an attractive force among her packmates. While they don't always agree, it's hard to deny that when she conveys them her views are compelling. She isn't extremely social overall, but skuld wolves and even strangers are often swayed by her words and presence, simply from the combination of her confidence and soothing aura.
* ***Overbearing, Unrelenting, and Rigid.*** Her mindset rests in the concrete shape that events to come will take. It doesn't apply in most situations, however in regards to morality and balance in nature, Embla is strongly polarizing. Nothing enrages her more than blatant disrespect or dismissal of justice or the spirits, as these aspects together compose the backbone of what she believes in. She is unyielding when challenged unless logic determines it unwise. Even then she will attempt to convince the opposing party of her opinion. When it comes to the spirits, Embla will not budge. She believes in them implicitly, having seen them during important crossroads in her own life.
* ***Passive.*** For the most part, she prefer to go with the flow. Partially due to her strong confidence in the will of the spirits, and also because she believes in fate and predetermined futures. If she can't change what the future holds, then why try?
* ***Superstitious.*** Though she will not force her faith down other wolves' throats, she is ever devoted in her adherence to their worship.

## Pre-Group History

Embla's father remains a mystery to her, even now. Her mother on the other hand was once a fiery and passionate wolf. The product of one of her many lost loves, Aster's fruitful womb bore more pups in its peak than most wolves would in a lifetime.

As part of Old Fellfang, Embla was raised as all young wolves were; they were taught to fight, and though she couldn't find the love for it that others her age seemed to embrace, the pup found other lures to ignite her interest. Exposed to the traditional pack beliefs in spirits, she embraced them wholeheartedly without encouragement from Aster. She became fond of telling stories to her peers and even to the adults after successful raids; singing praises of their adventures despite not knowing their true connotations. Well-liked by everyone, she remained relatively unaware of the darkness that surrounded the pack.

It was at this point in her life where Embla's interest in spirits and the otherworldly became more pronounced. Rather than training alongside others her age, she preferred to learn from the Witch-Doctors and listen to the tales of the Rhapsodes. She started to bump heads with her mother as Embla was more invested in stories than combat. Getting into the habit of sneaking away after they fought, the juvenile distanced herself from Aster in an attempt to follow her beliefs.

Growing into her own, the young she-wolf was soon caught in the cross-hairs of the Jarl, Story. Her mother's abundant womb was no secret, and the alpha wanted to spread his genes to continue the bloodline of Arn. Though she wanted to resist, the pressure that his courtship placed on her was too much to bear, so she accepted him. It wasn't long before they tried for pups. And then again. And again. Each time resulted in a miscarriage. Every pregnancy Embla hoped against hope that they would survive, but fate it seemed would not allow it.

Outside of the den tensions were running high. Story's rule was much less absolute than Ode's. The wolf's encroaching madness was evident. Despite having no power over him, and the skuld knowing this perfectly well, she still blames herself in part for his tyrannical rule as she was unable to prevent it. She believes that her inability to bear him heirs contributed to his mental deterioration. Disappointment after disappointment wore Story's patience thin, and their relationship was finally dissolved. Left without a mate or proper training in any task, it was doubtful she could find another male who would take her. They all wanted children, and that was something she couldn't provide.

With the years of her youth stolen from her, Embla returned to her faith; rather she immersed herself in it to drown out the pain. Becoming convinced that the deaths of her children was her fault, she resigned herself to the fact that she would never bear pups. It had to be against the future the spirits had planned for her. There was a reason why they all had to perish, and she was going to dedicate her entire life to appeasing whatever forces would prevent her from having a family of her own; those who would prevent her from being happy. Vowing to live the remainder of her life as a chaste wolf, she took up the task of Rhapsode and returned to the storytelling she'd once loved so much.

## Group History

Embla was highly attuned to the spiritual world, and often consulted with her packmates when she felt a disturbance coming from them. For instance, when Baely was rendered heartsick by Keme's departure from Fellfang, to live in Vale with Loki, she went to comfort him, and suggest that Baely be open to spiritual guidance. Another time, she offered her help when Lady Athena of Aryn came to Fellfang, hoping for the witch-doctors to help heal her sick son, Raphael. Embla, being a Rhapsode, was not familiar with healing herbs, but she was eager to help collect a specific herbal tuber. This was where she met Enzo, a member of Vale, abroad on a mission for his brother King Renier. He helped Embla to find the tubers Raphael needed.

While in Aryn, aiding Lady Athena with Raphael, Embla sought out the pack's Grand Vicar, Teia. There were a great many pups in the pack - eight total, four from Athena and four from Charaka. With her issues with infertility, Embla sought answers as to why Aryn had such bountiful pups. Teia couldn't name a specific reason, but she suggested, as a treatment for Embla's infertility, doses of clover. Clover was plentiful in Fellfang, but Embla had never considered using it, as it was as common as grass. She took Teia's advice gratefully.

After returning to Fellfang, Embla found herself seeking Enzo's company, though he was a difficult wolf to find, with the distance between their packs and the harshness of Renier's rule. In his absence, she dedicated herself to taking care of what she believed to be a sign from the spirits - an egg. The egg hatched into a bird, which Embla named Saga. Saga's time with Embla was very brief, for she only raised the chick up from an egg until it could survive on its own.

Then, the Forlorn Peak erupted. The pack of Fellfang were cast from their territory, sent to the northeast, and Embla found herself thinking more and more about Enzo. How would she find him again? The distance between her pack and Vale now was even greater. She tried to forget about him, and consulted with Baely about what "love" felt like. Baely gave her an excellent answer, suggesting that love was altruistic, and it hurt because you gave small pieces of yourself to the person you loved. Embla liked his answer, and suggested that they talk more often.

Embla continued to serve her pack faithfully in their new home in the north. She happened to be the wolf Enzo ran into when he traveled that way, away from Vale, which he'd fled. She offered to bring him back to the pack, where they could be together, and though he was hesitant, he agreed. Embla and Enzo soon found that their love for one another had not been dimmed by their time apart. In the pack with her, they grew ever closer.

And then, she received the best news imaginable.

Embla was pregnant.

Enzo showered her in affection, and their unborn children as well. They consulted with Fable, admitting that Embla was expecting pups prior to the pair officially becoming mates. Fable blessed the union, checking in with Enzo to ensure that he only had Embla's best interests at heart. After all, speaking technically, Embla was his ex-sister-in-law - the former mate of his brother, Story. He took her care and safety very seriously, particularly after all she had suffered under Story's Jarlship. Enzo assured Fable that he loved Embla, and Fable was satisfied with the union.

When Embla delivered their only child, a tiny, precious daughter, Enzo was there. Embla was exhausted, but overjoyed to finally bring a little life into the world.

As their daughter - Petrah, they named her - grew a bit older, the two doted on her. Then one day, Enzo took Petrah on a hunt - not a serious one, he only meant to show his daughter what he did for the pack. They got separated. He ran back to find Embla, and the pair desperately sought for their daughter. Fortunately, a loner named Shiloh managed to find Petrah and reunite her with her parents.

Their perfect life together couldn't last, however, for Fable brought a trickster into their midst: a black fox, the spirit Valda (or, so he believed). Embla was hesitant to accept the fox, voicing her opinion that the stories of Fellfang suggested Valda was neither good nor evil - she was just a spirit who acted as fate dictated. Still, she was wary about the fox.

As Fable's rule was changed under Valda's influence, Enzo became even more fiercely protective of his tiny family. Embla grew more withdrawn.

And one day, she and Petrah vanished.

Enzo searched desperately for them, trying to keep out of Fable's (and more importantly, Valda's) line of sight. He was driven near-mad with grief and a desire to find his family. He saw enemies around every corner, but finally opened up to Calida, when she approached him about the disappearance.

Enzo had returned to the den he shared with Embla and Petrah to find it "ruined and ransacked." He searched all over the territory but couldn't find his beloved mate or daughter. He would search for Embla even outside of Fellfang, leaving for many months and crossing the Domain to find her.

But Embla was gone.

And she was never seen again.

## Trivia

* Despite her mother's fertility, Embla had very low fertility, and only ever bore one pup successfully - Enzo's tiny daughter, Petrah.
* Only one of Embla's siblings via her mother remained in Fellfang when Fable came to rule: Ludko. The two grew to be closer now than they had been in their youth - she hadn't even *known* they were related until after Fable became Jarl.
* When Alarion lost his memory and wound up in Fellfang, he took the name "Embla" for a time, because it was what he remembered, and assumed to be his name. In reality, it was *not* his own name, but the name a dear friend, Enzo, had imprinted upon his memories: the name of Enzo's missing mate, Embla.

## Quotes

* "In the past, there have been stories of Valda, reaching out to the Skuld. As the Jarl said, she does neither good nor evil; simply put, her actions are like fate taking its course." (concerning the arrival of the fox, *Imbalance*)

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
* data-bull's deviantART Gallery