Ingrid Stormdottir

Ingrid Stormdottir is an Icelandic centaur who grew up on a farm surrounded by open countryside, mountains, and enough room to run without anybody asking whether she really needed to do that indoors. Athletic and energetic, Ingrid fits the heroic centaur silhouette rather well, which has occasionally caused people to assume she must be interested in combat, ancient traditions, or galloping dramatically into battle. Ingrid would much rather go hiking and look at wildflowers.

Friendly, optimistic, and relentlessly enthusiastic, Ingrid approaches most activities on the assumption that they'll probably be fun and any complications can be dealt with when they occur. This makes her excellent company and a somewhat questionable person to put in charge of logistics. She's perfectly capable outdoors, but possesses an unfortunate tendency to become interested in whatever is over the next ridge, which has occasionally resulted in discovering that the trail she thought she was following ceased to be a trail some time ago.

That's how she met Sigrun Skadi, a frost giant working as a maintenance technician at a geothermal power plant. Ingrid wandered out of the Icelandic wilderness onto a service road near the facility after becoming spectacularly lost on a hike. Sigrun found a cheerful centaur with muddy legs, an empty water bottle, and only a very approximate understanding of her current location. She drove Ingrid back toward civilization, lectured her about route planning, and somehow acquired a best friend in the process.

Yrsa Fjellheim joined them later after meeting Ingrid through university environmental work. Yrsa's patient, academic temperament immediately clicked with Sigrun's methodical practicality, while Ingrid discovered that having two friends who believe maps should be consulted before departure did surprisingly little to diminish her enthusiasm for unplanned detours. The three have been close ever since.

Ingrid is usually the one suggesting trips, activities, restaurants, festivals, hikes, and plans beginning with the phrase “I found this place.” Yrsa wants details. Sigrun wants to know whether Ingrid has checked the opening hours. Ingrid considers both questions evidence that everyone is interested.

She's usually right.