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Jora is a younger Norn, beset by tragedy. Like most of her generation, she has been seeking to establish her name and reputation. Only the hunters of the greatest prey are considered worthy among her people, and as such, she and her brother Svanir trekked through the icy uplands and valleys seeking the most challenging prey.

On one of their hunts, Jora and her brother encountered a great, dark power, and were transformed by it. She lost her Nornish ability to shapeshift into bear form, while her brother suffered a darker fate. Now without a family or homestead, she hunts across the Norn lands of the Far Shiverpeaks seeking redemption of her name and forgiveness by the Bear Spirit. To achieve her goals, she will undergo any ritual, achieve any quest, and seek any treasure needed. She will even accept the help of humans.

"By the claws of the bear spirit, I vow to regain my honor. Sorry, did you say something?"

Who are the Norn?

"The Norn are a powerful and proud people. We make our homes in these icy climes, and hunt the creatures of the mountains. We live for today and rely only on ourselves, for who knows what tomorrow will bring, or when friend will become foe. When you meet a Norn, be prepared for battle. Most will wish to test your mettle before speaking to you as an equal. Not I, though. I am hunting bigger prey."

Did those Norn just turn into bears?

"You mean Olaf and Sif? They are highly regarded among the Norn for their prowess, and favored by the bear spirit. Bear has granted them the power to take her favored form, the better to hunt and survive here! Someday, I shall regain that favor as well."

"To the north of Boreal Station, a huge structure reaches toward the sky. You cannot miss it. It has been there since before the Norn first came to these mountains. We always avoided it. Humans, though, are less wise; a group of them, the Ebon Vanguard, have made it their home. If you seek other humans, you should go there."

During Curse of the Nornbear

"What do you want? Are you staring at me? You want some of this? Do you?"

Epilogue

"Thanks to you, I can become the bear once more. For that I am forever grateful. We will hunt together again."

"Good. Bad. I'm the girl with the big weapon." paraphrases Army of Darkness' "Good...bad...I'm the guy with the gun."

"I see the hall of spirits, where the brave live forever!" is a reference to the last lines of the Viking's Prayer in the movie The 13th Warrior. The original quote is"Lo, there do I see ... in the halls of Valhala, where the brave may live, forever...".

"Die, Cur!" is a common epithet.

"... I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not" is from Kurt Cobain, from the band, Nirvana.

"Hail to the future! An axe age, a sword age…" is from the Poetic Edda poem Völuspá in Norse mythology.