Skadi

Name: Skadi
Goddess of: Winter, Mountains, Skiing, Hunting
Aliases: Öndurdís
Race: Jotunn and Aesir
Gender: Female
Alignment: True Neutral
Age: Ancient, but appears to be in her early thirties
Sexuality: Straight
Halls: Thrymheim(on the edge of Jotunheim and Asgard)
Magical Items: Skiis

Skadi has always been a force of nature. Tempestuous even as a child.

She was born to Þjazi and his wife in his great hall, Thrymheim, on the edge of Jotunheim and Asgard. Her mother died in childbirth, and Skadi was raised by her father and a wetnurse. She took after her father, and the two would often go snowshoeing, skiing, and hunting in the mountains that surrounded their home. Skadi was, effectively, the son he never had.

While Skadi was out for weeks on a hunting trip with her retainers, her father came up with the brilliant plan to kidnap the fair Idunn and make her his wife… for she had the golden apples of immortality which would raise their standing with the Jotunn. When Skadi returned home, her father was gone. She was only told of what he had done, how a falcon came and stole Idunn away, and how he went in pursuit of the falcon.

For weeks Skadi sat in Thrymheim’s high seat, taking over her father’s duties. Then finally she decided he must be dead, for why would he have not returned? Skadi buckled up her skis and went down the mountain in the direction the falcon and her father were seen to have travel.

She came upon several small farming villages, and kept her distance, for none of those could have presented her great father a threat. And then she came upon a big city. Storming into the large hall there, she demanded to know what happened to her father. The Aesir admitted to killing him for kidnapping Idunn.

“I seek vengence! I seek Holmgang!” she demanded.

But being that no one god killed her father outright, there could be no duel with his murderer. And so the Aesir proposed that instead she get a husband instead, so that she and her people become protected as part of their tribe. Skadi scowled, and thought about it long and hard. Her eyes settled upon Baldr, who was so handsome and beautiful and she thought perhaps being married to him wouldn’t be so bad. Finally she agreed, adding,”But the falcon who lured my father to his demise must make me laugh.”

The Gods agreed that Loki must make her laugh, and stipulated that she must choose her husband based on his feet. Again Skadi scowled, but figured the most beautiful man in the room surely must have the most beautiful feet in the room, so how hard would it be to pick Baldr out by his feet? So she agreed.

All of the unmarried men stood behind a cloth with their bare feet showing. Skadi walked up and down the line, examining each pair of feet until she found the cleanest, softest, whitest feet. She stopped and pointed to them. The cloth was dropped and to her horror those beautiful feet belonged to the god Njord.

And oath was an oath, however.

And so the Aesir wasted no time in arranging and performing the wedding. At the wedding feast Loki told all kinds of jokes to try to get her to laugh, but none could even spark a smile from the fierce Jotunn. If he could not make her laugh, then the marriage would be null and void. Loki performed skits and acted a fool, and nothing would make Skadi laugh… that was, until Loki tied a rope around the horns of one of Thor’s goats and the other end around his manhood. When Thor slapped his goats rear sending the goat running out the door it tugged on Loki and made him whelp and scream like a little girl. Skadi could not help but to laugh at that.

Skadi was not happy with the new arrangement, and made it known. The first nine nights in Njord’s hall by the sea she complained about everything. The gulls made wretched sounds and would not stop squawking, she couldn’t get any sleep because of it. The ocean was loud. The smell of the saltwater was disgusting. She couldn’t get the salt stains out of her clothing…

Ever the one for peace, Njord then agreed to go to Thrymheim to live with Skadi. But the god couldn’t stand how cold it was, the howling of the wolves bothered him, and he missed the sea. So the two agreed they were not a right fit for one another and agreed to split up, and that Skadi would still be considered part of the Aesir and would not seek retribution against them.

It was several years later that, while out hunting, Skadi met Ullr, the son of Sif, who was also out hunting in her mountains. The two became fast friends, hunting together frequently. Skadi wondered why he had not been one of the men behind the curtain, was he married already? She found out he was not, but that when that happened he was out hunting. If only she had been able to choose him!!

Extravert or Introvert: Extravert
Optimist or Pessimist: Neither
General Traits: Logical, Analytical, Confident, Loyal, Responsible, Hard-Working, Anxious, Efficient, Energetic, Strong-willed, Strategic, Charasmatic, Inspiring, Stubborn, Dominant, Intolerant, Impatient, Arrogant, Poor handling of emotions, Cold, Ruthless
Mannerisms: Confident and upright posture, Direct and intense eye contact, Purposeful and decisive gestures, Assertive body language, Facial expressions reflecting determination, Quick and purposeful walking pace, Commanding presence
Habits: Gets frustrated and impatient fast, Is usually working on something practical(like making arrows), has resting bitch face almost always, doesn’t like to do women’s work
Pet Peeves: Laziness, Passive-aggressive behavior, Being controlled, Superficial interactions
Ruled by Heart or Mind: Both
Motivated by: Having inner security and support, A drive for efficiency, success, and the ability to take ownership
Life Motto: If I fail it is only because I have too much pride and ambition.

Parents: Þjazi(father)
Siblings: None
Spouse: Njord(ex-husband)
Other Lovers: UllrChildren: None
Pets: A pack of wolves

Odin, Loki, Freyr, Freyja, Frigg, Tyr, Heimdall, Thor, Zisa, Vidar, Bragi, Saga, Idunn, Hel, Eir, Hermodr, Fulla, Sif, Sigyn, Gerdr, Hnoss, Gersemi, Baldr, Hodr, Nanna, Magni, Modi, Thrud, Jord, Ran, Nott, Sol, Mani

Heathen, Norse

Story by Asa, heavily inspired by Norse Mythology
Background by Asa
Image AI art by Pinterest

Part 1

Part 2