Davina Estheim - of golden hearts, roses and stars

[Aoi]

In the beginning....


... when Davina was not even born, there was a young moonelf. Her name was Dae'wyn, meaning "white singer", and she was a bard. Like many moonelves she sent  her prayers to Angharradh, but among the One and the Three she loved Hanali, the winsome rose the most. The elven godess of romantic love and beauty and arts, delighting elven spirits and bringing lovers together. She was wandering the world like many of her kin do. From Tethyr she came to Calimshan and here her art was welcome. She heard many stories of this land and they fascinated her.

Once upon of time there were even elves and dwarves here in the south. But also there were dragons, the djinns and the ifrits. Those creatures must have been powerful in her eyes, enslaved the humans and the halfings, that lived here, too. They even drove away the dragons and one of them djinns named Calim dominated the land for a time. But then came the ifreti, one of them was powerful enough to take up with him. They battled and battled... but the free folks did not sit back to watch. They fought them, too. Even a dragon came back to their help. All the mages and elves used enormous magic to have a chance. They banished them both into the desert, which is now called the Calim desert. If a sand storm araises, the people believe, they were still fighting.

Today there is still the influence above the land. Magic is quiet natural and an art like many others. But they still avoid spells of conjuration. Slavery exists still and is not forbidden. Harems and concubines are usual, because marriages are often of political nature. On of those who could afford this, was a rich merchant in Calimport named Ahmet Khalid. One of his concubines was Dae'wyn, who didn't care about this affair. Elven women rarely become pregnant, but she happend to be it. All because children are rare to some elves, she gave birth to a girl about  year later. She showed her to her father. But all this man had to say was:

"This is not my child!"

He never accepted the bastard. In fact he payed much more attention to her three half brothers, he had with his wife. The girl never got to know them. Her mother was awed, but said:

"My little mossrose, from me you will know nothing but love and joy."

So it was, her mother raised her by herself  in the ways of elven life and the Seldarin. She gave her a name that should remind her though, where she came from. Davina was one of those ancient southern names, a female form of David, meaning "The beloved". A familiy name she didn't have. To the house of her mother she didn't belong. The name of her father she never wanted, soon becoming aloof to him, she called him just "her maker". That he did, he made her, but never gave her more.

She admired the arts of her mother, was early drawn to them as so young children rarely are. So it was no wonder, she wanted to learn what her mother could do. She learned to sing and dance and even the belly dances and veil dances. She later could play the harp and pipes, also the yarting. But she followed Hanali as her one and only hope to find true love in the world. She found also the love of arts and many beautyful things more.
One day when she was 14, Kethae gave her daughter a necklace. The meaning she didn't know, but Davina wanted to find it out. There were two stars layed in eachother. As mother and daughter travelled on, they came to Tethyr, where they travelled along with a group of jugglers, dancers and actors and musicians. Among them was Corlian Estheim, whose wife Anadia was already dead. He was an old bard and took the girl to his heart. For that time, he was more a father to her as her "maker" ever was. Her mother happily let her spend as much time with him as she wanted. So it came that the old man died, and Davina took his familiy name, calling herself from now on Davina Estheim.

One day they said their farewells and went along the Dragon Coast. There was this weird cold town called Prokur, where the now 18 year old half-elf should take a first glimpse of fate....

[Aoi]

A first sign and a new journey

The city Prokur was full f thieves and corrupt people. But there were also a few mages and other scholars. Davina only had to search for the right ones among them. The best way to do that, was to sing about what she searched for to draw ears and attention. She did this near the homes and libraries where she saw those people disappear in. One day she sat below a tree with her yarting. It was a unusual ballad of "The dragon in the gras". It told a little funny story about a young beautyful maiden who begged a dragon for help. But when he agreed, he groped into a trap. In the end, the dragon was lying in the gras with a blade in his back.
Someone heard it, saw her and after all came closer. Not really slim or tall, his robes looked elegant but a bit wide. His hair had this lambent fiery red.  Looking up she realized the face of a young human boy! Later she found out he was only 15 years old, the son of a much occupied mage. He seemed curious -not only about her story, but interested in her, too. He asked many questions about what instrument she played there, where she came from and what brought her there. He was friendly, helpful, and charming in his way with the little tricks and flowers. She was not impressed because she saw magic in the good old natural ways of Calimshan. But he delighted her - and she still likes flowers. She was still young for a half-elf, not knowing why she told him all of this.

But they met again and he took her to her father's library with her mysterious necklace. It was full of cupboards and cabinets and shelves, that were filled with books. She would have to search an eternity, she tought. But Soran directly knew where they had to go. There was a big and well filled shelf with scrolls. They contained knowledge about many deities, even exotic and old and foreign deities. Deities, that were worshiped by fairies and unicorns and other beings. Then they found some about dragon deities.

One of those stars on her pendant had five rays. They saw the symbol of Bahamut in it. The all father and patron of good dragons. It was said, even some evil dragons and half-dragons respected him for strength and power. But he upposes every evil and protected those in need from evil dragons. Davina was touched by that facts and now...really impressed. As a bard, she collected stories and history, and this one she loved.

The other star had seven rays and one of them was longer than the others. To them, it was Tamara. A godess of life, light and mercy, often worshiped by healers. But it was said, she never tolerated any forms of undeath, espacially those who try to create undead dragons could not expect mercy from her priests. It was heart warming for Davina to know that even dragons can show mercy, so she also found joy in that.

Soran happend to be intersted in magic and dragons like Davina. Both had those weird dreams, of seeing or even beeing a dragon. A secret untill now, that they shared. Of course, he was a soon-to-be wizard. Even if his father didn't take much time to support him to learn or teach him by himself, he had his ambitions. He studied many books and practised a lot. In time they did this together, all because Davina was bound to feelings with her spells like sorcerers, too. She soon discovered, that Soran also didn't have to study though he read so much. The way they could cast their spells, they had in common. Anyway, the flowers and poems they exchanged became even more. One thing came to that later, an first love they found and made their first experiences with eachother. Like many young couples, they started to believe, that the first love would last forever. He had her walking on clouds, she had found a related soul. But this place, this town was not the last for them.

Soon they found out, to find more other knowledge and stories about dragons...and the meannig of them within this, they wouldn't find there. They read and listened around about other places or even countries where dragons are well known. One day Soran found one place that had much to say about dragons. It was Cormyr and they decided, to travel there together. They didn't know how to put it as young as they had been, though both had thoughts like:
"I'm taking you with me, because i love you."
But that wasn't all. Together they had more eyes and ears, also different ways to learn more. They wanted to know, what their dreams are about and if their suspictions were right. Not fearing different worlds and people, they took the way, looking around in the places on their way. But their goal came nearer, the nightsky was clear. The stars reflecting on a lake, where they had built their last camp in the wild. The next morning, they went on....and reached a small village called  Greatgaunt. Here they were finally.

[Aoi]

What you can see

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A small young woman of barely five feet crosses your way, quiet a beauty though. Her appearance has its own charm, something that draws looks an may be not quick to forget. The way she moves an does everything she does, is too graceful to be only human. A closer look shows small and light pointed ears as a first sign of also elven inheritance. Her body is delicate with some soft curves, but not fragile.

Her expressive eyes have a golden brown. The face they adorn, has high cheek bones and a soft shimmer like brass. Her lips are full and sensual, sometimes smiling friendly and warmly inviting.

Her silky blond hair reminds of the calim deserts sand with a light golden glow. It falls down her back in soft waves. The upper wisps are often tied back.

Weapons are rarely to see with her. But this young half-elf seems nearly never to go out without an instrument such as s harp, flute or even a yarting. She also wears a necklace. Its pendant is a heart-shaped crystal with a tiny rose enclosed. Another necklace is changed or worm together with it. It shows two stars layed within eachother, one havnig five and one seven rays of which one is longer.
Her melodic voice speaks in a velvet soft and faint calishite accent, but when she sings it is all gone. It can be also loud and strong if it needs to be.

 

What is easy to know

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If one sees Davina, one thing is easy to know about her personality and habits. She likes to talk. Either she comes along, talks the someone about anything she thinks of for the moment or she sits anywhere, waiting if someone comes by, getting into a talk with her goes quick. Already known might be, she is obviously interested in dragons. But she also nearly absorbs other stories of the people and what happens around her like a sponge. To some people it may seem habitual curious, but she also notices someone does not want her to listen.
A fine sense of humor, she has though. There are things that make her smile or laugh easily also things she cannot laugh about. She may be too kind-herated to not feel empathy with the one such bad jokes are about.

What is behind this, one can hear if she performs, so that she really cares for the well-fare and fate of others. Her concern is giving joy and keeping their morals up. If she can't go on adventures or do something herself, at least she wants to inspire  others tho keep on fighting all the dangers and monsters around. She lives for her arts, music and poetry as well. What she hears, she sometimes writes a song of it - if it seems worth to her. This can be the great heroes deeds or the small things. It depends on what the hero or villian does.

What is more difficult to read

Grown up in Calimshan, Davina can put a polite and subservient demeanour to the day. But she does not so strongly believe in ranks and titles like her countrymen. It is more an elven attribute in her, to judge others by their behavior and deeds. If she doesn't like somebody or something, she could diplomaticly say one thing, but perhaps can mean the other. It takes time to really know her or have a good knowledge of human nature to hear out and unterstand her quiet undertones. What is the motive of this, depends on the situation. Possibly she doesn't want to hurt or insult someone. Or it can have other reasons.

One thing is for sure. To like her, may be easy. But to really know her, it takes time and a certain insight. And she clearly is her own person.

[Aoi]

A diary of dreams...

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Davina sits in her room in the Regal Griffons Inn. She holds a book in her delicate hands, looking at it and grins about herself. The covre is held in earthy colors, their orders remind a sandstorm in her homeland. In the eye of the storm, there is dragon seeded on the leather, also sitting. The half-elf opens it, thakes feathe and inkwell to her side. She needs to think a moment. Then she writes the lines in a round female and artistic font. It may nearly look like the letters were painted, and clearly to read.

First entry

I have never been a mage or scholar. But for the first time in my life, i decided nto keep a diary. I will write down my experiences, what i learn here, my songs and stories and peoms. My hopes and dreams willl be in here, too. Most of all the dreams, i will try to remember them and write them on as soon as i wake up from one of them. I imagine, this book will become quiet a chaos in time, but i don't care. I will find what i need.

Great Gaunt

Now we are here, Soran and me. Cormyr seems wide and better to discover slowly, so that there is time to learn about the events, dangers and the people. The first place is a village called Great Gaunt. There is a temple of silvanus, a kind of village watch, some stores and shops and small farms also are here. The center seems to be the tavern namend Th Regal Griffon Inn, because people meet inside or in outside it most of the time. There is a stage and a table, where sometimes people sit and talk.

It is a good place to find informations and meet people. The first days and evenings were interesting with so many people, i don't remember all of their names. But a few stayed in my mind and i guess they will for a time.

There was a paladin of Tyr, Davice Shieldheart (side notice: funny name-relationship). He escorted us to a village called Shallybrook, were halflings live, they are threatend by giants. He seems to expect me to write a song of him - challenge accepted. Then outside the towns and villages, there are goblins, orc, giants and many other dangers around. But the most people of cormyr itself seem to be kind, having their hearts in the right place. The most spoke freely when we asked about dragons and their offsprings. Only one was talking badly, Slate. A name i will not forget easily, because he calls himself  a dragonslayer. He said that dragons were all monsters and must be destroyed. I should be careful, he could come after me one day if my suspections prove to be right. I won't show him how he shocked me with his words, but gladly many people seem to not listen to him. But he made one good point: Dragonbloods are like a catapilar. That reminds me of this small fat beeings that spin themselves in cocoons. What is after that, depends on the point of view, if you see what comes out as a monster or a beautyful butterfly. Maybe i'll remind him of his own words one day if i will be strong enough.
A woman named Zaere and a halfling named Bree gave us the most helpful answers. They told us some names, so i will try too look for them and meet them.

[Aoi]

Second entry

Where do i begin? Things happen so quick, i well put them all together.

Davice asked me for the song. I told him, there were some informations still missing. Indeed, what i knew about him was too few to me to wite a song. He told me about his tasks, his duties, his deeds and fights against the orcs amd the white dragon, who was in league with the giants. I took all these things so i could finish the song after all. Now i'm waitig to see him again so so that he can hear it first.
At the same time, i met a woman. Kathie was her name. She told me, she met a brass dragon a while ago. He was searching for his lover who was a bard. I if would loose my love, it would be a terrible heartbreak and desire...ane sorrow, that something happend to him. Maybe i will write a song about that, too. I will imagine, i was this dragon and how i would feel.

A man named Otis explained me things about some herbs and what they do. He showed me, how to make salves of some oft them. He also told me another name. I could ask Moonyava, because she would know many things about helaing and herbs. I will see if i get to meet this woman. To know more about healing could be always helpful.

Bree told me  the name Arician, who i also met. This man cannot be overlooked with all the blue on him. He had to laugh, and said, i had the name of his wife. That was random, i thought. But Bree said, he was the one with the most knowledge about dragons. He calls himself a dragon sage and now i know where i can find him. He also worships Mystra, which i think, is a good sign.

It cannot be bad if i follow up these things, to see where it brings us. I cannot just sit back and wait for things to come to me. Others can't know what i am searching for. I will have to go out and atlk by myself.

[Aoi]

Third entry

What a night! First it was light all of Great Gaunt was sleeping and noone was outside. Then a lot of people came out of the blue and it was a bit confusing first. Anywhere in the crowd i heard my name and among them sat Arician. They had fought a purple wyrm, a very dangerous and agressive creature. I stayed to listen, because i rarely saw him. Just i few moments later i heard a voice:

"Blue, darling. We have to talk.", the woman with the raven black hair said.
"You need a new dress, mh?", Arician suspected.

But it was not about a dress if they were talking alone, i guess. They seemed to talk about me as well, because when i was already going, thinkig i would interrupt them all, they kept me back. They went to the camp fire with me and the woman, his wife now talked to me. We were talking for hours. The things that revealed, could not be random anymore:
Her name was Davina, like me.
Davina was born Calimport, like me.
She is a bard, like me.
She has the blood of the same dragon kin, i dream of.
She showed me scales on her arm. They had the color of brass.

There were other women. Both were born in my home, too. Kira and Aleena seem to be a couple, and why not. They were also kind and friendly and helpful. From Aleena i got a welcome gift, some fier oil. I hoped to see them more in the next time.

The other Davina said, she and Blue would help me when i told them about Slate and how i want to control what i could be. So it seems it all is a kind of prove, that i have the blood of a brass dragon or even a golden. That was clear after we talked about why i want to know and learn more about dragons and dragon bloods, how they become what they are. I will take this offer and offered them my help, first because i don't want to get others get hurt because of me. And second i want to learn how to help others like me, if they are threatened by these self called dragon hunters as long as they did nothing wrong.

Then we found out more. Davina gave me sweets from her grandmother's bakery. It turned out, she is also my NaNa. My maker was a brother of her father, her uncle.  He turned away from his family and chose another family name. That made us cousins! I must tell Soran i found part of my familiy here. I'm excited what he will say. But no matter what, i'm so happy i found them all, i will try to stay in touch and get to know them better.

[Aoi]

Fourth entry

Here i will brief all that Otis and Moonyava and others told me about herbs and medics.

Blood Staunch

• light healing effect
  
• heals wounds
  
• makes a light healing salve
  

Wound Seal

• moderate healing effect
  
• heals wounds
• makes a moderate healing salve

Sphagnum Moss

• strong healing effect
• heals wounds
• makes a strong healing salve

False Unicorn

• heals diseases

Wormwood

• heals poison

Chickory

• makes quicker

Ginseng

• uncertain effect
  
• different effects
  
• can be absolutely random

Sunflower

• no known effects

Memoria Blossom

• makes a poison
  

Poison Ivy

• uneatalbe, causes cramps and pain

Mandrake Petals

 

• toxic from petal to root

Nastrium Flowers

• eatable
  

Belladonna Leaves

• careful treatment advised
  
• strong toxical effects known
• seems to make a deadly poison

Side note: Promised to Moonyava:

• never to use toxical things
  
• destroy them, so others can't use them
  
• to tell her, if i learn something new
  

[Aoi]

Fifth entry

The dreams

The dreams i have, are often of harmless nature. They rarely let me do dangerous things and never let me put other beings in danger. Since i meditate he dreams have become also clearer. I see myself with wings and frills and scales- and they have some green color where the join the body. At the outer edges, there are reddish tints, not a true fiery red but a fireopal red, almost orange. The most parts of the scales and wings though have a warm burnished color - like brass. I clearly see a brass dragon, that is clearly me in those dreams.

A dream of flying

I had wings, wide and they seemed like leather. I was spreading my wings, then i flew up high and even higher. I saw the birds and other winged beings when i flew by. I even cold fly throgh the clouds and so high, my breath got heavy. When i woke up, i could not remember the faeling of flying. Maybe that is because i have  never really flown. I should take opportunities to fly, just to learn how it feels. Maybe it brings me answers and closer to my heritage if i know it.

A dream of graving

I was on the ground. I was in the calim desert. I was big and strong and still skilled in certain things. I could feel and smell the sand and if someone approached i wasn't certain if friend or enemy. I graved mayself into the sand. Whoever i saw, they did not see me. They went by like i wasn't there. I could choose who should see me and who not. I came out of the sand when i wanted and.... i did not eat or even harm them. Sometimes i just watched, somtines i even talked to them. I even felt like i had given them a gift, the gift of my company. But all i wanted was knowledge, who they were, what they did and where they went. I never had the desire to hunt them or eat one of them. In fact i was rarely hungry and didn't need much.

The first dreams felt strange and i didn't understand what happens there. But the harder i try what my cousin Davina said, the more i accept what is slumbering inside me, the more it feels like a part of me. The more i feel aware of this, the more i feel safe. The more i know what i can become, the more i will be no longer afraid, because i will learn what i can do with what my blood. I have another clarity of purpose.

[Aoi]

Sixth entry

Shieldmeet is here and has started. But before it, i have seen things the last days that are harder to take than many others. A shock was, Davina said carelessly to Mystogan, he sould kill her. Just because of his rage so he would fell better? No, i doubted, that anyone normal would feel better if you kill a friend, because of what reasons ever! Salina said, she could not allow that herself. So it gave me enough courage to make my stand and stand between Davina and Mystogan. Salina asked him for enemies he would want to kill:
"Give us a Name!"

What i heard, was another surprise:

"Davice"

When i asked why him,  in my eyes he had not really an answer. Somehow i could convince both long enough, not to get anyone killed untill Blue came. He fought Mystogan in his red dragon shape. At the end noone was killed and the fight was enough to calm the rage.
Davina and me had a talk after that. She did not want me to stand between others and get possibly killed. I shall let others fight and not do that. I said, that depends on who wants such an unnecassary death. We talked about other ways to calm someone in rage. I agreed, that i still have to learn how things are going and working here. I explained to her, to learn that, she has to give me time. As i now sit here and think about it, i see it depends on the how, not the what. I can't promise anyone i could stand and watch a friend or familiy die for nothing. No matter how you twist and turn it. No matter if the guilty ones are not executed or if friends are killed instead. There are always others that love them, others that suffer, too.

But this puts i me into a dilemma. On one hand, i feel sorry for Mystogan. At this time, i believe him that he doesn't want to be the bad man anymore others think he is. The triadic orders members who supposedly judge him though he did not do anything can't completely be so blind. I will talk to them to help on both sides. I did not see Mystogan doing things necromancers do yet.
I happened to like Davice on the other hand and did also not experience him as a blind zealot. I believe in his sense of justice as a paladin of Tyr and hope for mercy from a good man. If i have the chance to speak to him alone, i will carefully ask him as well. We always need to hear both sides, so i have to hear his side of the story as well.

At least i saw him at the tourneys and met his mate Glenda. She seems to be sweet and kind. So i decided to just to let both hear the song, because the tourney fights took much longer than it was planed. Some might hate Davice, some do love him. But i still see the good in him, so here is the text. The way he always spelled his name was funny. I couldn't help but let every verse start with one of the letters:

D-A-V-I-C-E

Daylight is breaking, a story I will tell,
about a man, on him Tyr's light fell.
Riding high horse, wearing silver and blue,
be asured, whover you are, he sees you.

A far way to shallybrook his was going.
with two people without really knowing.
To this lands they were foreign and new,
he was helpful and kind, this is true.

Various things of him you might think,
but this hope and faith will not sink.
He fights wild orc tribes, doesn't hesitate,
whatever will happen or be the fate.

In darkness still he carries his light,
leagued giants and dragons to fight.
Not the good dragons, he will harm,
but against evil, for sure he will arm.

Charity and justice is his way of life,
with necromancers there is strife.
Willing to asure afterlife's peace,
telling you this with his own ease.

Elaborate i told you enough now,
guess who made such holy vow.
Only thegood things i have seen,
from his deeds that have been.

Glorification my goal was not,
but these small things are a lot.
Have i brought him to your notice?
his name is D-A-V-I-C-E.

I hope with all of my heart, i can give some other people also a message in the next days of shieldmeet. Death is not always a solution, certainly not if the ways and reasons of a death are carelessly spoken without thinking of others. You can kill people, but you cannot kill their goals, the hopes an dreams. They will live on in others and will be always reborn anyway. Love and understanding and forgiveness are sometimes more a solution to calm both sides. Songs and stories are one of the best ways to give such messages.