Eivor Varinsdottir

Eivor was born in 847, dubbed a "plague year" to Rosta and Varin, two minor nobles from Norway. After being turned away from the homes of various fellow Norsefolk, Rosta's brother Ímar allowed the couple to stay at his residence, where Rosta gave birth to Eivor not long after. Eivor's birth was witnessed by her cousin, Ímar's son Bárid, whom she grew up with, until Ímar's family migrated to Dublin in Ireland some years later. Eivor's family went on to settle in Heillboer, a small settlement in northern Rygjafylke, within the territory controlled by Styrbjorn Sigvaldisson's clan. Eivor's family came to bond with Styrbjorn's, with Eivor befriending and growing up alongside Styrbjorn's son Sigurd. In 856, Eivor attended a feast organized by her father to honor Styrbjorn and pledge allegiance to the jarl. Eivor presented Styrbjorn a gifted arm ring at her parents' behest, but halfway through the celebration, the settlement was raided by Kjotve of the Wolf Clan. Eivor watched as her father put down his axe at Kjotve's insistence that his family and clan would be spared if he gave his life willingly, leading to both his and Rosta's deaths. Kjotve immediately broke said promise and ordered his men to kill the rest of the village. Eivor, however, was rescued by Sigurd, who managed to clear the immediate village area on horseback before being separated from Eivor after a tumble caused by one of Kjotve's raiders. Lastly, Styrbjorn bent the knee, giving his lands and titles to Harald to guarantee peace for his clan, angering both of his children. Sigurd argued with his father for denying his birthright to become jarl before storming off as Harald expressed his interest in Eivor and asked if she would join him. She declined by saying that her destiny was bound to Sigurd. After three weeks at sea, in January of 873, Eivor and her clan arrived in the southern part of Britain. Eivor and Sigurd's longship went on ahead of the other to clear the way leading into the land.