Skade

Skade.

Skade is a gargoyle originally from a clan in Norway.

History

Skade hatched in 1018. [1]

By the winter of 1108, Skade, alongside two other Norwegian gargoyles, Magni and Modi, met with Demona and Angelika upon a hill in Galicia. Skade, pointing to Sigurd Magnusson at the bottom of the hill, identified him as the “last of the Viking Kings.” Demona told her that she did not like humans, Vikings, or kings and wondered why anyone would expect her to serve Sigurd. Magni told her that she would not be serving him, but merely joining in their expedition, and Skade brought up something that Angelika had disclosed – that Angelika and Demona had spent the last five years working with El Cid. Demona countered that El Cid had kept his promises, and that they had made certain never to trust him. Skade suggested a similar arrangement with Sigurd, and Demona scoffed at his age. Again, Skade explained that in his nineteen years Sigurd had been the Earl of Orkney (after he and his father overthrew Paul and Erlend Thorfinnson), had been King of Norway for half a decade, and was in command of five thousand men in sixty ships. Demona was pleased that the kin of Macbeth and Canmore had been deposed, and Skade assured her that, with them gone, she would not have to worry about them ever again. Angelika asked Demona for her thoughts on joining the expedition, but Demona still thought it was a bad idea, since there was nothing to stop the humans from destroying them in their sleep. Magni wondered what they had done during their time with El Cid, and Angelika explained that they had hidden in the hills before dawn each day. Demona, annoyed at the explanation, insisted that there was nowhere to hide on a ship. Magni told her that they did not have to hide. The five gargoyles boarded Sigurd's Flagship, and the Norse gargoyles showed Demona and Angelika the Box, the solid iron room that would protect them from the seafaring humans during the day.

Skade recovers the Eye of Odin's jewel.

Thus, Demona agreed that she and Angelika would join Sigurd's crew, and in the spring of 1109 the five gargoyles set forth upon his ship. They made battle in Lisbon, sailed through the gates of Gibraltar, and entered the Mediterranean Sea, where before long they carried torches to smoke out their enemies at the island of Formentera. In the days that followed, the humans of Sigurd's crew assessed their loot while the gargoyles slept in the Box. Following a battle against Saracens in 1109, Skade arrived on Sigurd’s ship and reported to him that they had seized eight ships and a large amount of treasure. Sigurd celebrated the victory with the five gargoyles. Angelika, Demona, and Skade stood nearby and regarded each other. Skade pointed out that Demona had hair in her eyes and reached out to stroke Demona's red hair (much to Angelika's surprise).

In the summer of 1110, Sigurd’s forces arrived at Jerusalem and, by October that year, the gargoyles found themselves engaged in battle once more off the coast of Sidon. Skade and Demona relished the unrestrained attacks on their human foes. During this battle, Sigurd was struck by a blow that shattered the Eye of Odin in its casing, stunning him. Fortunately, Demona leapt in and dispatched the mace-wielder before he could deliver a fatal blow to the king.

By December, Sigurd and his human and gargoyle warriors secured a victory in Sidon. The siege was over, with their enemies surrendering the fortress and city. Skade told King Sigurd that she had found the jewel from his “lucky charm,” noting that while the original setting was destroyed, one of their captives from Egypt was a talented smith who could reset the stone. Sigurd, sitting upon a makeshift throne surrounded by the spoils of war, was thankful but indifferent with Skade's plan. Demona watched these proceedings unhappily.

Skade and Demona in 1111.

By January of 1111, the gargoyles took in the sights as they sailed into the harbor at Constantinople. Skade explained to the other gargoyles that the city was known as the "Queen of Cities", as well as Miklagard, Byzantium, Megalopolis, and Rumyyat Al-Kubra. Modi told the others that Sigurd was to be greeted by the Byzantine Emperor himself. Once the boat had docked, Skade handed over the Eye of Odin, now set in the design made by the Egyptian smith. She asked if Sigurd approved, and he said it was fine in an unconfident manner. Later at the Great Palace, when Sigurd met Emperor Alexios Komnenos, the five gargoyles were in attendance. It was here that Skade witnessed Sigurd gift the Eye of Odin to the Byzantine Emperor.

Late that March, the gargoyles were still enjoying their nights in Constantinople. Upon a tower, Skade explained to Demona that Sigurd had sold his fleet to the Emperor and planned to return to Norway over land. Most of Sigurd’s men, however, planned to stay in Constantinople in service to the Emperor. Demona asked Skade what her plans were, and the Norse gargoyle admitted that she missed her mountains and planned to join Sigurd on the trek home. Stroking Demona’s red hair, Skade asked if Demona would join her or remain in the city. Demona told her she would do neither, explaining that it was clear to her that Sigurd "has lost his luck and his nerve... and I don’t care to stay in any one place for too long." She and Angelika would set their own course. As the two gargoyles continued to stroke each other's hair, Demona wished Skade well and told her that she had valued their... friendship.

Not long after, the five gargoyles went their separate ways. Magni and Modi remained to stand guard at Constantinople as part of the Varangian Guard, Demona and Angelika glided out over the water to new lands and adventures, and Skade joined King Sigurd as he headed home to Norway on horseback, . ("Fortune Favors the Brave...")

Characteristics

Skade has white skin or fur, black hair, and two large horns. She also has an exceptionally long tail that is studded with plates along its length.

Appearances

• "Fortune Favors the Brave..." (First Appearance)

Real World Background

The gargoyle Skade was named after a figure in Norse mythology – Skadi, the daughter of the jotun (or giant) Thiassi. She married the god Njord, but their marriage fell apart because of their different tastes for homes; Skadi preferred to live in the mountains, and Njord by the sea. They tried a compromise solution of living first by the sea for nine days and nights, then the mountains, but neither one enjoyed the other's home; Njord complained about the howling of the wolves while they were in the mountains, while Skadi equally disliked the clamor of the sea-birds on the coast. Afterwards, Skadi returned to the mountains to live there permanently.