There are two versions of Léoþwise, that those who do not know her well may find completely contradictory. And, as she travels now lonely through Rohan, few know where the truth lies between scop and woman. 

Léoþwise the woman is not a particularly impressive figure. Her neck is bent forwards slightly, her arms are strong, though her physique, while still somewhat slender, does show evidence that until recently she was too fond of the comforts of mead and table. Her face is lined and weathered, though her eyes are piercing and clear still. She is clearly used to receiving respect and honour, something which makes her seem rather entitled when she relies on the hospitality of strangers.

The tales she spins and the songs she sings are largely of her own composition, though they draw heavily on the lore and melodies of the Riddermark. 

Léoþwise is not boastful in conversation. Yet, her songs paint a different image, of a shieldmaiden riding free over the plains, of a fierce warrior, the tender love between Léoþwise and another Rider, Cynred, who was slain in battle. And more recent songs tell of a woman avenging with might of arms the destroyers of her town and family. 

The truth lies somewhere between the harsh-tongued and somewhat bitter old woman, and the epic heroine of her own songs. In fairness to Léoþwise, her songs are designed to hold up the honour of her house, the days of vanished glory, and show herself on as one worthy character among many. Yet, while most the events occurred as depicted in her songs, she is loose with the accuracy of details. 

Léoþwise was born in the town of Shepstead, a small town, that 100 years before had been well known for the quality of wool produced, and whose economy still revolved around sheep. She was the daughter of Caedstan, the minor Thane of the small town.

She was a sharp learner, and took well to learning from the local scop, the lore and songs of the Riddermark. In her youth she rode often with the hunters, gaining a reputation as a shieldmaiden. Some say she engaged in conflicts with the Dunlendings, for Shepstead lay not far from the borders, and loved a rider that fell in one of those skirmishes, Cynred, yet no other records of such skirmishes exist outside of the oral lore of Shepstead. And though songs hint at the tender love of Cynred and Leothwise, those who remember them in their youth remember no especial warmth on either side. 

Yet, regardless of the reason, whether the growing grey in her hair, a broken heart, or merely her own inclination, when the aged scop who had served her father died of illness, not long after her own father, she stepped into the position of bard of Shepstead, working as an advisor to her brother. 

Her brother died too, at an early age, leaving his young, and very popular son to take the position as Thane. Under him, Shepstead began to regain its reputation for fine textiles and wool. He married a wealthy and beautiful woman from a much larger town, thus further increasing the position of his town.  

Yet, their town was among the first burned when first the orcs began to stir. Though some of the townsfolk survived, scattering to other towns with the desire to eventually rebuild their own town, Léoþwise vowed vengeance on the surviving orcs, and followed them.