Whitney Writes…

Birth Sign: The Atronach

Where was she born? In the high peaks of the Druadac Mountains, in the Reach of Skyrim.

Where does she currently live? Southwest of Markarth, Skyrim, in the Druadac Mountains.

Does she hold a special place in society? She is the only natural born daughter of a Briar-Heart in the history of the Reachmen. And not just any Briar-Heart, he is the most powerful Briar-Heart in Reachmen history.

Does she suffer from any illnesses? No illnesses; Visenya does black out if she drains herself of all her magick too quickly. This is rare, however, as she has a vast pool to summon from.

Does she have any side effects of past illness?  No.

Does she have any scars or old injuries that plague her?  No.

Who are her close friends? Her childhood friends are her cousins, being closest with Asha.

What does she do for a living? Her roll within her tribe, currently, is caretaker for all of her brothers’ little daughters. She could contribute substantially more, but on some level, whether they are aware of it or not, her family fears her abilities.

What kind of education did she receive, and from whom? Visenya largely learned from the elbows of her father and grandmother. By and large, how to never lose control of her immense magical abilities.

Family

Who are her family? Her family is referred to as the Druadac Clan, being they live in the Druadac Mountains.

What is the social standing of her family? Her family is the largest clan of Reachmen/Forsworn in Skyrim, and they have the most powerful Briar-Heart known to history. Her father’s name strikes fear in the Jarl of Markarth, as well as all across The Reach.

Does she have any famous ancestors? Madanach, King of the Forsworn, is her paternal grandfather.

Does she have any famous close family members? Her father, Treebeard, is the most powerful Briar-Heart in Forsworn/Reachmen history.

Grandparents: Madanach, Chief of Clan Druadac, is her paternal grandfather – though she has never met him, as he imprisoned within Markarth; Vynara, the Hagraven of Clan Druadac, is her paternal grandmother; Odin, Chief of the Jerall Clan, is her maternal grandfather; and Ygritte is her maternal grandmother.

Parents: Vanos – though he is beginning to be known by his Briar-Heart name, Treebeard, by the time Visenya is born – is her father; Ysa, of the Jerall Mountain tribe of Reachmen, is her mother.

What is her relationship like with her parents? Her mother dies after giving birth to her. Her father adores his only daughter. He struggles at times with how Visenya begins to resemble her mother as she grows up, but his greatest struggle is the power that Visenya possess. Her father does not know what to make of it, as she can do things only Briar-Hearts are supposed to be able to do, making him, at times, feel threatened by her.

What kind of parents does she have? Are/were there any specific traditions or rules that are held dear to her heart? Her father, Treebeard, taught her many things; many of them about her powers, but they transferred into real lessons.  Do not harm defenseless bystanders or the innocent.  Never lose control.  Love those around you as if you will never see them again.  Respect the land.  Protect your own..

Siblings: Four older brothers: Orin, ten years older; Ronan, nine years older, Cadin, eight years older; and Madan, seven years older. Odessa, Ardan, Shavon, and Eowyn are their wives, respectively.

What is her relationship like with her siblings? Her brothers are, largely, fiercely protective of her. Orin being the fiercest of her protectors when she is small. Ronan is relatively distant from her, not cruel, he just does not know what to do with her. Cadin is the brother she is closest with; he taught her to hunt, to fish, fire building, and how to survive in the wilderness on her own. Madan and Visenya have a very hot and cold relationship, with Madan being the only one openly lashing out at Visenya over the death of their mother. Visenya gets along well with all of her brothers’ wives, except Orin’s wife, Odessa.  Ardan is like her husband, keeping herself at a distance from Visenya, but never being unkind.  Shavon is closest with Visenya, more than likely because they are the same age.  And Eowyn always comforts Visenya after one of Madan’s lashing outs.

Nieces/Nephews: Ynara and Oakin, by Orin and Odessa; Conan, Thanos, and Arwyn, by Ronan and Ardan; Nymeria by Cadin and Shavon; and Elyf and Elsa by Madan and Eowyn.

Favorite niece/nephew?  She quickly became the care-taker of her little nieces, being the youngest of her siblings.  Visenya would have as many as four or five little girls with her at a time.  Her favorites are Elyf and Elsa, identical twin girls belonging to Madan and Eowyn.

Aunts/Uncles:  An aunt, Dyra, and uncle, Cadin, on her father’s side, as well as Cadin’s wife, Nyra. An uncle, Yale, and three aunts, Yseult, Yakira, and Yesenia, on her mother’s side.

Favorite Aunt or Uncle:  All of her aunts and uncle on her mother’s side died long before Visenya was born, when her grandfather was expanding his territory. Visenya has learned some healing magic from her aunt, Dyra, but she could always feel her aunt’s fear about her. Her aunt, Nyra, who was married to her father’s younger brother, is Visenya’s favorite. She is like a second mother to her, never treating her as a powerful being, just a girl. Her uncle, Cadin, died only a few months after Visenya’s birth.

Cousins: She has four cousins, all on her father’s side, children of Cadin and Nyra; Isla, Yara, Asha, and Ason. Vinsin, Aragon, Anson, and Padme are their spouses, respectively.

Favorite Cousin? Asha.

Did the Oblivion Crisis have any impact on her family? No.

Did the Great War have any impact on her family? Yes; her grandfather and many other members of her tribe were imprisoned within the Mines of Markarth, or killed.

Personality

Five words to describe her: Loyal, Protective, Independent, Brave, & Warm

What does she hate most: Selfishness and disloyalty

What does she fear most: Frightening her family with her powers and abilities, specifically her little nieces that are largely in her charge. And being named a monster by those she loves most.

What does she love most: Family

What is the one thing she wants most of all? And what is she willing to do, or sacrifice, to obtain it? To keep her family safe in their mountains from the blind persecution of the Nords. She is willing to kill and sacrifice her own freedom in order to achieve it.

What is something that will instantly irritate her or send her into a rage?  Her greatest irritation is family disloyalty.

What is something that can quickly cure that rage?  Nothing, she has to burn herself out.

Any notable quirks, ticks, or habits?  She tends to twirl the long, auburn strands of her hair around her fingers while thinking. Visenya hates that she does this and gets extremely flustered when she realizes she is doing it.

What is the most difficult thing she has ever had to do ? Letting herself be caught and taken to the Nordic capital of Solitude. Visenya knew after displaying her powers to protect her cousin and nieces that the Nords would never let them be knowing there was something of such power hidden in the Druadach Mountains.

What is the best moment of her life thus far?  When she accurately summoned rain during a drought and saved her family when she was seven.

What is the worst moment of her life thus far?  In her mind, her birth.

Is she an honest woman?  As long as the truth does not harm her family, yes.

Is she an honorable woman?  Yes.

Is she a brave woman?  Yes, beyond measure.

Religion

What pantheon does she worship? She does not worship any of the traditional pantheons, being she is a daughter of the Forsworn. Her family prays to the benevolent Mother Nirn. They praise the sky when it gives them rain. The dirt for growing healthy crops. They view Spriggans as a type of earth-bound deity on Nirn.

Who are her patron deities? Mother Nirn.

What role, if any, have they played in her life or upbringing? She believes that if you treat it well, Nirn will always provide for her children and look after them.

What are her views on other Aedra or Daedra? She knows nothing of them until she arrives in Solitude. Then she mocks them, not understanding. She calls them “made up” because you can not see them, touch them, or hear them.

Does she view any places as sacred?  There is a grove of Juniper trees near their tribe’s settlement that they believe is Holy Ground.

How do they view other pantheons’ deities and sacred places?  She does not know of them growing up.  Once she does learn of them, she does not understand them.

Social

How does she feel about the government? She does not understand how one singular person can know what is best for so many different families. Having been raised in her family clan, where her grandmother served as their matriarch, and the only people Visenya has ever known are her own family members, the act of a single-bodied-ruling-entity over thousands does not make sense to her.

How does she feel about people in charge? Such as the Emperor, the High Queen, Jarls, the Thalmor? Visenya fears most forms of traditional government, believing that any and all of them had direct relation to her grandfather being imprisoned. She also fears that they could return at any time and taker herself, or other members of her family.

How do current events, such as the murder of the reigning High King, the return of dragons, and so on, affect her and her family?  It did not affect her as it was happening.  It began to affect her family when soldiers began sweeping all of Skyrim, looking for the accused murderer, Ulfric Stormcloak. 

Does she respect rules and laws and the order of things?  Once she understands them she does better.

How does she feel about those of another race? She is amazed by anyone that looks different; being sheltered in the mountains all her life, where it be Mer, Orc, or a beastial race, she is amazed by the variety.

Is she independent or more group oriented? She is independent in her thoughts and actions, but she will always keep the betterment and safety of the group – primarily, her family – in mind.

Does she take orders well? Why or why not. No, she does not. It relates back to difficult times with her father, when he would banish her while he collected himself.

Can she put aside her own ideals and desired for the better interest of others? As long as those “others” are her family, yes, Visenya often sacrifices her own happiness to ensure her family is safe and secure.

How does she feel about others in general? Does she view them as out to get her, or honestly trying to help, or does she feel they are out to get her? From the experiences surrounding her grandfather, Visenya is raised to believe that outsiders – those not from her clan, or people – are a danger to her and her family. She believes all outsiders have a negative and hostile opinion of the Reachmen, the Forsworn specifically.

Is she a helpful person, or is she selfish, only caring about herself and her own gain?  Visenya is not in the least bit selfish. She will give and give until she is bled dry.

Do they view animals as better companions than people?  Or are they merely servants/food/things?  Animals are to be well treated, especially if they provide nourishment, and they are always thanked for their sacrifice.

If she is a hunter, does she honor the animal she slays?  Yes, it is the way of the Forsworn to honor their kills.  They do not let any part of them go to waste.

What does she think of each of the other race?  Could she ever cooperate with them?  Once she realizes they exist, Visenya does not see any difference other than their outward appearance.  She does not judge them by their race, however; because she knows all too well about judgment passed without knowledge.

What person or group does she pledge her allegiance to?  Her family is her only loyalty. 

Talents/Education

Did she receive any special schooling anywhere?  No, her education came strictly from her father and grandmother.

Did or does she have any mentors or favorite teachers?  This remains to be seen.

Does she have any magical talents? If yes: when did she first show signs, how did she discover it, and what did others think of it? Visenya has immense magical abilities. So immense, in fact, that it is believed that not even she knows all that she is capable of. It is believed that because she was conceived after her father underwent the transformation to become a Briar-Heart, that she has pure magical essence flowing through her veins instead of blood. She showed signs of magical abilities immediately following her birth. Her first cries caused a landside of rocks. She would shoot off random elementals when crying for food as an infant. At first, her father was proud, but he very quickly realized how dangerous she could become if she could not control it, so he worked with his own mother, the clan’s Hagraven, to begin to teach Visenya how to control her magic when she was scarcely a toddler. For the most part, however, her family are accepting of her powers. Though, there are times where she strikes fear into them – unintentionally – and they wonder if they should banish her.

What school of magic, if any, does she hold the strongest inclination towards? She uses them all, and then some, with extreme ease.

Does she hold a desire for knowledge? Not in the traditional sense. Many would be consumed with the desire to know the limits of their power, were they in her position, but Visenya is not. She is content to know that she can do what she needs to do, when she needs to do it and that Mother Nirn will always provide.

How does she feel about books? Does she have a favorite? Growing up in the secluded mountains, Visenya and her clan did not have access to many books. Her clan possessed very few: her grandmother’s grimoire, her father had a few from his own father’s collection, and a handful of others that they would trade with the Khajiits for. Books were always treated with reverence within Visenya’s clan. Her grandmother’s grimoire is Visenya’s favorite, though she is not often allowed to look upon it.

What subject, skill, or topic does her expertise lie in? Magic.

Is she a good rider? Who taught her? She has never ridden before.

Violence/Fighting/Combat

Is combat an art, a necessity, or a skill? A necessity. It should be avoided when possible. Despite what many believe about Reachmen, they are a peaceful people, living by a simple code of Do no harm unto others. And Visenya abides by this. Even, at times, when it would be ill-advised to do so.

Can it be taught or is one simply born with it? It can be taught, as can most anything, but they will never truly master it.

What are her views on killing: is it every acceptable or always avoidable? As she grows up, Visenya learns that to keep her family safe from the Nords, the Nords sometimes have to die if they wander too closely.

Has she ever had to kill before? If so, did she know who it was? How/why did it happen? She has killed only a handful of times. They were simply random folks upon the road. Some had feared they would be bandits and attacked first, others simply wandered too close to her family’s safe haven.

Is she easily angered? If so, is she easily calmed? Visneya is not easy to anger, she has an pool of patience almost as infinite as her magic. The things that make her angry, however, are threats to her family, and being made to feel like a monster, or abomination, due to her immense power. Or being made to feel inferior, simply because she is female. On the rare occasion she does get angry, it is not easy to calm her and usually she must calm herself. The only ones able to calm her are her two aunts, and her cousin, Asha.

Is she vindictive? If it had anything to do with putting her family in danger, yes, Visenya will remember it for the rest of her days.

Can she control her passions or is she self-indulgent? Visenya almost never allows herself to cave to her own desires.

What weapons is she familiar with? Who taught her how to use them? She almost exclusively uses her magic, which was “taught” to her by her father and grandmother. Her eldest brother, Orin, insisted on teaching her how to use a dagger, should anyone ever get close enough to her.

What role does honor play in combat? It is crucial in hunting, which she does not really consider combat. And with humans, it depends on the human and if they are honorable. Visenya always tries to be, but she will match kind with kind.

Does she have any creeds, standards, or codes that lives by?  If so, who taught them to her? Always be aware of your surroundings. Her father taught her, and he did not always mean it in a manner of watching out for danger to her. He taught Visenya to always be aware of who she could be dangerous to, if she were to lose control of herself.

Does she honor those she has killed, if she has killed? The few times Visenya has had to kill, they stay with her. She does not allow herself to forget them, believing it is her punishment to carry them with her, and remember them, for the rest of her days for having killed them.

Will she use force to take what she wants? If it is safety, then yes. Otherwise, no.

If she wants something someone else has, what will she do to get it and how will she do it? This concept has no meaning to Visenya.

Is torture acceptable? No.

Is mind-control and possession acceptable? No.

Is pillaging acceptable? Only if you have a greater need than the current owner.

Is stealing acceptable? Again, only if you have a greater need than the current owner.

Is poisoning acceptable? Unless applied to a blade, no.

If an opponent were to yield, would she accept it? If yes, even one from a dishonorable opponent? In just a normal, argument-based fight, yes. But if she is fighting for the safety of her family, it is likely no yield will be accepted.

Would she kill an innocent? If not, would she do so if a higher power were to command her to do so? No, she would never kill a child. At least, that is what she thinks would be the case.

What environment is she most comfortable fighting in? In the open, so she can see all around her.

Has she had any training or experience in fighting Daedra, the undead, werewolves, vampires, or anything else of that nature? No, she has not been exposed to much besides the wilderness, rogue Nord patrols, and the Khajiit caravans.

Does she have a most hated foe? Nords. They do not always fight against her people fairly.

Story Based

What other Point-Of-View Characters does she interact with, both directly and indirectly? Directly: Asha Druadac, Elisif Fair-Crown, Lilija Free-Winter. Indirectly: Nilsine Stormcloak, Lydia Stormcloak.

Are they related to any other Point-Of-View Characters? Her cousin is Asha Druadac.

What chapters are from their point-of-view? The Prologue (sort of), Chapter One

What other chapters do they appear in? Chapter Four: Asha