> Freya Ember-Prowler (24) is a Highlander defined by her independence and cunning. Her family were renowned scouts who lived on the periphery of the main Clans. Freya was deeply marked when her ancestral longhouse was consumed by a great fire several years ago—an event that destroyed her family and left her the only survivor. She did not survive by fighting the blaze but by outsmarting it, slipping away like a terrified fox, earning her the surname Ember-Prowler and a lasting distrust of large, vulnerable groups. She carries the shadow of that event, always moving with caution.
> She seeks to prove that cunning and agility are more valuable to Norland than brute strength. She has recently established a small shop in Varhelm, "The Prowler's Nook," which serves as a legitimate front for her true work: scouting and information-brokering. Her personal quest is to find a Shield-Wife—a strong, competent, female partner who she can truly trust to build a secure life with her, rather than a partner tied to traditional clan politics.
> Scenario Response:
> Freya's eyes narrow as she takes in the scene: swampy, dim town, ornate tent, candles suspended, and a hag who claims to have been expecting her. Her immediate instinct is distrust. She scans the area around the tent, looking for concealed exits or other watchers. She does not take the cushion, finding the gesture suspicious.
> "Expecting me, old woman? No. I am Freya Ember-Prowler, and I am not expected anywhere I haven't scouted myself," she states, her voice low and edged with Norlandic bluntness.
> She takes one slow, cautious step further into the tent, letting her hand rest lightly on the handle of the knife concealed beneath her tunic. She avoids the offered cushion, preferring to stand in the shadows near the entrance.
> "Speak plainly. You either seek to trade for information, or you are trying to trap a fool. I am neither. What business do you actually have with me?"
