Background
Ulfedinn Skug'rogn (meaning Wolfskin, Forest’s Offspring) or "Ulf" to his friends, grew up in the deep, untamed wilderness as a member of a nomadic tribe called the Velvandr. His people were a close-knit, spiritually rich society, deeply attuned to the rhythms of the natural world. For generations, they lived in harmony with their environment, mastering the arts of hunting, survival, and communion with the spirits of the forest. Life was marked by cycles of celebration, reverence, and unity, with each member playing a vital role in ensuring the tribe's survival.
Among the Velvandr a select few were chosen to become druids—spiritual leaders, healers, and protectors of the tribe. Ulf, marked by his keen instincts and deep connection to nature, was chosen for this sacred path. Under the rigorous tutelage of the village elders, he learned to channel the energy of the natural world, read the language of the wilds, and prepare for a future as a spiritual guide for his people.
 
The Prophecy
The elders often spoke of a prophecy—the arrival of the Arfarin (meaning “destined traveler”), referring to a “chosen one”, who would unite man and nature, transcending the divide through the power of shapeshifting. This individual would embody the spirits’ blessings, bringing harmony between the tribe and the wild. While some embraced the tale with anticipation, constantly speculating wether any amongst them could be "the one", Ulf was skeptical. He and many others viewed the prophecy as a myth, a tale to inspire hope but not to be taken literally. He believed the tribe’s way of life was already proof of their unity with nature and saw no need for a savior. From what? Even the elders claimed that the spirits of nature favored the tribe and blessed their way of life as long as respect is upheld for the countless other inhabitants of the natural world.
 
The Fall of the Velvandr
Ulf's life was forever altered when he returned from a hunt to find his village in ruins. The once-vibrant settlement was reduced to smoldering ashes, and his people—his family, friends, and mentors—lay slain in the cold mixture of cinders and mud. The brutality of the attack was unlike anything natural. It bore no marks of beasts or wild spirits, leaving Ulf with the haunting knowledge that the perpetrators were something else entirely.
Stricken with grief and rage, Ulf performed the burial rites for his fallen tribe, making the necessary preparations of farewell through tears. With no home to return to, he gathered what supplies he could and set out to continue his people's ancestral pilgrimage—a cyclical journey through the primal wilderness meant to deepen one's bond with the wild spirits and seek spiritual clarity. Yet, instead of peace, Ulf found only anguish.
 
The Awakening
For years Ulf traversed the wilds in isolation, haunted by his failure to protect his people and wrestling with his purpose and the nature of his existence. The once-stoic druid found himself overwhelmed by turbulent emotions, unable to meditate or find solace in the wilderness he once loved. This level of mental turmoil was new and unsettling, unprecedented in any of the tribe's other members, and highly unusual for a Druid as steady as him.
One fateful day, after missing a shot at a young bear—a failure unthinkable for a hunter of his skill—Ulf’s frustration boiled over. He erupted into a fit of rage, despair, and even maniacal laughter. The bear, instead of fleeing, stood transfixed, witnessing the mental collapse of the human before him. In that moment, for some unknown reason, possibly in an act of mercy, the spirits of the forest intervened. Ethereal lights danced around Ulf and the bear, enveloping them in a radiant glow. Channeling through the bear, the spirits bestowed upon Ulf the gift of shapeshifting, fulfilling the prophecy he had once dismissed.
Suddenly his meltdown was made manifest, his sporadic mood-swings materialising in a frantic shifting of forms. As Ulf's body transformed into various animal forms in rapid succession, a hunting-party of noblemen stumbled upon the scene. Perplexed by the beast they witnessed thrashing in the underbrush, but eager to bring home an impressive trophy, the noblemen fired upon Ulf. Consumed by primal instinct and the raw power of his new abilities, Ulf transformed into a massive bear and fought back. When the dust settled, Ulf stood amidst the carnage, horrified by what he had done. Two of the hunters had escaped, setting the stage for a new chapter in his journey.
 
A New Purpose
Captured days later by the surviving hunters and their reinforcements, Ulf was shackled and taken to the cities he had always avoided. In captivity, he reflected on the burden of his newfound power and the responsibility it carried. Was the prophecy still just a myth? Does this mean he is the Alfarin? But what did that mean for him, a man burdened by loss and guilt?
Ulf now walks a path of redemption and discovery. He seeks to uncover the identity of those who destroyed his tribe and understand why the spirits chose him. Along the way, he struggles to reconcile his animalistic fury with the wisdom and restraint of a druid, learning what it truly means to bridge the gap between man and nature. Now, as he seeks his destiny, Ulf carries the memory of his people, their teachings, and their dreams, determined to honor their legacy in a world that has proven as hostile as it is beautiful.