**Ysolde Wyrmblood – Daughter of [[Grundwulf]], Fireborn of the North** --- ## Overview **Ysolde Wyrmblood** is the rising star of the **[[Cuthwulf]] Clan**, daughter of **[[Grundwulf]] the Warfather** and younger sister to **[[Bjorn]] Mountainseeker**. At only **18 summers**, she has already become a **folk hero** across the barbarian lands of [[North Angoria|North Angoria]]. Charismatic, visionary, and fiercely independent, Ysolde has led countless raids and campaigns against the [[Askaria|Askaria Empire]] and their southern collaborators, gaining her both admiration and fear. Where her brother seeks diplomacy and her father demands isolationist strength, Ysolde is the **firebrand of war-forged unity**. She believes the tribes must rise—together—against slavery, tyranny, and weakness. Her name is now sung in taverns and carved into stones at war camps across the Bone Desert. --- ## Appearance Ysolde is tall and commanding, standing just under 6 feet with a frame honed from battle. Her **sun-kissed skin** bears the marks of many rites and skirmishes, and her long, **blonde hair** is often bound in braids tipped with iron beads. Her **piercing hazel eyes** burn with conviction, and across her back is tattooed a serpent coiled around a war spear—a symbol of her belief in strength tempered by wisdom. She is renowned for her **extraordinary beauty**, often described as awe-inspiring even among the hardened clans. Her regal bearing and fierce charisma stir devotion and desire in equal measure. Her only consistent garb is a wolf-hide cloak and tribal jewelry. She, like many of her people, wears little—often topless or bare-chested—with hardened skin gifted by [[Angoria]] herself, a divine blessing showing pride in one’s heritage, not shame. Her natural beauty is seen not as temptation, but as a manifestation of her strength and divine favor. --- ## Personality - **Charismatic and Fierce**: Ysolde speaks with fire and clarity, inspiring warriors with every word. - **Visionary Leader**: Sees a future where the clans stand united—not under empire, but in shared freedom. - **Guarded with Outsiders**: Views foreigners as potential threats but listens carefully before passing judgment. - **Emotionally Controlled**: Never acts from rage—her wrath is measured, her mercy rare. - **Respectful of Ancestors**: She upholds tradition, but only if it does not hinder survival. --- ## Lore and History Born during a lightning storm and said to have howled before her first cry, Ysolde was marked from infancy. As a child, she trained with shieldmaidens and battled boys twice her age. At 14, she challenged and defeated a raiding [[Askaria]] captain, earning her name _Wyrmblood_ after slaying his scaled war-beast with her father’s discarded axe. By 16, she had led her own warband and liberated dozens of captives from [[Askaria]] slave camps. At 17, she crossed into Free Kingdom lands and defeated a knight in single combat—then demanded an audience with [[Queen Cyrill]]’s envoys. Her message: “We will not bow, but we will fight beside you—if you bleed with us.” Now, at 18, she commands nearly a quarter of the [[Cuthwulf]]’s younger warriors, pulling loyalty away from the old council. Some whisper she may someday wear the **wolf crown**—not through inheritance, but by sheer force of legend. --- ## Beliefs - **[[Angoria]] is the flame of just war**—her rites are to be honored through action. - **Slavery is the ultimate weakness**—to chain another is to fear their strength. - **Nudity is divine truth**—a warrior bares their body as they bare their soul. - **Unity must be earned in blood and trust**—not gifts and treaties. --- ## Fame and Influence - **Songs** of her battles are sung as far south as Easterstar and whispered even in [[Askaria]]. - **Carvings and murals** of her have begun appearing in barbarian shrines. - Known by many names: “The Fireborn,” “She-Who-Burns-Bonds,” “The Wolf’s Flame.” - Feared by [[Askaria]] commanders and admired by Free Kingdom rebels. - [[Askaria]] has now placed a secret bounty on her capture, seeking to **break and enslave her** as punishment for her rising legend. Her combination of beauty, ruthlessness, and vision terrifies them. - Despite her fame as a liberator, **she has been known to attack adventurers** who cross her lands without honor or purpose. To her, the cause comes before all else—even mercy. --- ## Views on Her Father Ysolde holds a complicated view of her father, [[Grundwulf]]. While she respects his strength and the legacy he built for the [[Cuthwulf]] Clan, she also believes his worldview is a relic of a time that cannot return. She does not openly challenge him, but neither does she follow him blindly. Their relationship is tense—a cold respect filled with unspoken disagreement. She seeks not to tear down his rule, but to rise above it through merit and vision. Regarding the **humiliation of Princess [[Araminta]]**, Ysolde was not part of the raid that captured the young royal. Though she did not object publicly, she quietly disapproved of the act—not for the sake of diplomacy, but because it accomplished nothing but enmity and further division. In her private war councils, she has referred to the act as “needless theater that made the empire’s chains stronger, not weaker.” Ysolde has never apologized, nor has she condemned her father, but her path diverged after that event. It is widely believed among her warband that this incident solidified her belief that strength must serve a purpose—not ego. --- ## Views on [[Queen Cyrill]] Ysolde holds **[[Queen Cyrill]] of Brensistria** in high regard, though she is not easily swayed by southern monarchs. She views Cyrill as a rare example of power guided by wisdom, and though they have never met directly, Ysolde has expressed admiration for the queen's willingness to stand against slavery and empire. In her war councils, Ysolde has referred to Cyrill as "the southern flame that burns with purpose"—a kindred spirit in the fight against tyranny. However, Ysolde is careful to note that her respect does not equate to obedience. She has refused offers of southern aid that come with too many conditions and will only ally with those who recognize the sovereignty and strength of the tribes. If Cyrill and Ysolde ever met in person, it could become a historic moment for the future of [[North Angoria|North Angoria]]—either a powerful alliance or a clash of uncompromising wills. --- ## Views on [[Mavros]] and [[Ariana]] Ysolde holds **[[Mavros]] and [[Ariana]]**, the leaders of the **[[Tribe of the Mother]]**, in a complex mixture of admiration and competitive distance. While she respects their strength, cultural pride, and spiritual grounding in [[Perserphina]]’s teachings, she sees their **more diplomatic and inclusive approach** as both admirable and potentially naive. Ysolde recognizes [[Mavros]] as a symbol of stability and endurance, a leader whose physical power and noble bearing commands attention. She holds particular respect for [[Ariana]], seeing in her a mirror of what she herself could become—a female leader both revered and feared. Yet, Ysolde has no illusions about their differences. While [[Ariana]] uses grace, healing, and divine wisdom to guide her people, Ysolde is forged of fire and fury, believing the time for soft wisdom is closing. Despite differing philosophies, Ysolde would speak with either of them before she would most foreign rulers. If the tribes are ever to be united, she believes **[[Mavros]] and [[Ariana]]** must be convinced not only by logic, but by strength. She may one day challenge [[Mavros]]—not to conquer, but to prove herself worthy of guiding a new future. --- ## Views on Princess [[Araminta]] Ysolde views **Queen [[Araminta]] of Easterstar** with cautious empathy. While she disapproved of her father's cruel treatment of the young princess, she did not speak against it publicly. In truth, Ysolde sees in [[Araminta]] a reflection of her own burdens—youth thrust into power, tested by fire. Though their experiences differ, both were shaped by violence, responsibility, and the need to command others long before they were ready. Yet Ysolde does not view [[Araminta]] as an equal in strength. She believes the Queen’s softness and reliance on diplomacy could endanger the Free Kingdoms, should they fail to stand firmly against tyranny. Still, she holds a grudging respect for the girl’s endurance. In a moment of rare vulnerability, Ysolde once told her warband: “She lived through what should have broken her. That makes her kin to the fire.” Whether they will be allies, rivals, or distant symbols for two very different peoples remains to be seen—but Ysolde watches [[Araminta]]’s growth with a quiet, calculating eye. --- ## Stat Block **Ysolde Wyrmblood, Fireborn of the North** _Medium humanoid (human), chaotic good_ **Armor Class** 18 (Unarmored Defense, hardened skin of [[Angoria]]) **Hit Points** 264 (24d12 + 96) **Speed** 40 ft **STR** 22 (+6) **DEX** 18 (+4) **CON** 18 (+4) **INT** 12 (+1) **WIS** 15 (+2) **CHA** 20 (+5) **Saving Throws** STR +11, CON +9, CHA +10 **Skills** Athletics +11, Intimidation +10, Insight +7, Persuasion +10, Survival +7 **Damage Resistances** bludgeoning, piercing, slashing (nonmagical) **Damage Immunities** fire (blessing of [[Angoria]]) **Condition Immunities** charmed, frightened (while raging) **Languages** Common, Giant, Infernal **Challenge** 18 (20,000 XP) --- ### Features **[[Angoria]]’s Accuracy.** Ysolde adds +2 to attack rolls with melee weapons due to divine precision bestowed by [[Angoria]]. Her strikes are guided by inner flame, allowing her to cut through even heavily armored foes. **Rage (5/Day).** Bonus action to enter a rage for 1 minute. +3 melee damage, resistance to nonmagical damage, advantage on STR checks/saves. **Divine Fury ([[Angoria]]’s Gift).** While raging, Ysolde’s first attack each round deals an additional 2d6 fire damage. **Feral Leader.** Allies within 30 feet gain advantage on saves against being frightened or charmed while Ysolde is raging. **Legendary Beauty.** Once per day, Ysolde can cause all hostile creatures within 60 feet to make a DC 18 WIS save or become disoriented by awe (disadvantage on attack rolls for 1 minute). **Multiattack.** Ysolde makes three melee attacks. **Divine Warblade.** Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 25 (3d10 + 6) slashing + 14 (4d6) fire damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. **Unyielding Presence (Recharge 5–6).** As an action, Ysolde radiates a divine aura. Allies within 30 feet gain 15 temporary hit points. Enemies must succeed on a DC 18 CHA save or be unable to willingly move closer to her until the end of their next turn. **Legendary Actions (3/Day).** Ysolde can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. - **Strike**: Make one Divine Warblade attack. - **Blazing Rally**: Choose one ally within 30 ft. They can immediately move up to half their speed and make one melee attack. - **Flame of Defiance (Costs 2 Actions):** Ysolde lets out a defiant roar infused with divine fire. All allies within 30 feet gain resistance to all damage until the start of Ysolde’s next turn, and one ally of her choice may immediately end one condition affecting them. --- ## Role in Campaigns Ysolde can serve as: - A **commander NPC** for northern raids and battlefield encounters - A **charismatic rival** to peace-seeking leaders - A **possible ally** who demands strength and vision from the party - A **symbolic figure** in a broader rebellion