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[thralls]

Hey all! So this is a permissions/opt out post for Athelstan. He's a character who has endured quite a bit of trauma and many of his actions during season 2 are super spoilery! If you don't want to be spoiled on Athelstan's future in Vikings, I'd recommend that you shoot me a message and close out of this post immediately!








Still with me? Good.

So, first and foremost, Athelstan's entire character arc deals with major religious conflict, torn between Christianity and the Norse gods. At this point in his development, he claims to worship Odin and has become an Apostate- however, things are never quite that simple. If you'd like to opt out of religious discussion entirely, please let me know!

Furthermore, this conflict provides quite a bit of religious symbolism, and most of it isn't pretty. Athelstan has experienced bloody hallucinations which are religious in nature, often dealing with stigmata, weeping statues, and religious imagery of Christian nature in general. Don't want me to mention his hallucinations or put symbolism/imagery in my prose? Let me know!

On the final note in the religious vein, Athelstan has been crucified by the church as an apostate. It's a big, bloody scene, and resulted in a lot of trauma for him, as well as physical stigmata scars on his hands and feet. As a note, his canon point is before this happens in Asgard. I do plan on canon updating him at some point down the line though, so this can be applicable for the future. Once again, if you're at all uncomfortable with this subject matter, drop a comment here or ping me! c:

Getting away from all of that! Athelstan also carries around a bit of PTSD from... well, just about everything that has happened to him. Once leading a peaceful life as a monk, his monastery was raided and every monk, save for him, was brutally murdered. He was then brought into slavery, where he debatably developed a Stockholm-esque relationship with his captors, eventually becoming a member of their society. Along the way, he's witnessed (and almost been a part of) multiple human sacrifices.

Finally, upon returning to England to raid with the other vikings, they pillage a large church. This lead to him mercy killing a bishop and accidentally killing monk, leading to a pretty significant guilt complex that manifests itself into the religious hallucinations I mentioned earlier. He probably won't mention this unless he has to, but just so you know!


If you'd like to opt out of any or all of this, or cherry pick it, or anything like that, please feel free to message and talk to me! I don't mind at all. :) I can be reached:
-In this post! Comments are screened
-In a message to this account!
-Via aim at lysdexicmun
-Via plurk at raelet

Thank you!