Wings of Fury 2

Name: Darcia Fauvelle

Species: Sea Elf

Song: First Song, with a lifelong focus on the Signature Tempratis

Age: An even 150 years

Origin: Farloch, Taagan, Alma
Like every settlement within the Nedakean Islands, Farloch is embroiled in the constant flow of life that comes with being in such a location. Farloch is a small town settled on the coast of one of the many, many smaller islands within the Kingdom of Taagan. They are big on diving as a method of fishing, offering an interesting permanence that not a lot of places in the area have. A number of crustaceans and mollusks dot the deeper slopes of Farloch's waters, valuable for both their taste and their tendency to unearth tiny, polished gemstones from within their tiny tunnel homes.

Home: Tarudan, Valmair, Alma
As a major member of the king's court, Darcia has most graciously(?) been granted a room within the royal residence itself. To say that a place within the ruler's home of one of the most notable trading ports on the Kaldan Peninsula is lavish would be an understatement, though perhaps not completely Darcia's cup of tea. When not found in the courts and meeting rooms themselves, Darcia is typically within her personal quarters or the local greenhouses, tending to the greenery she fills her life with.

Appearance: Darcia is tall, standing at an even 6 feet, with a lean build that suggests that she had more muscle in her past. Her hair is a golden blonde, and long enough to curl over one of her shoulders in a poofy ponytail. Her eyes are a sharp green, and her skin a medium tan. As signs of her heritage, Darcia's ears are long and end in sharp points, just like her jawline. Her body is covered in scars small and large, seemingly from blades. Though not particularly numerous, most of her scars are on her arms/hands and torso. In addition, though normally hidden by her clothing, Darcia has a long, winding tattoo, going from her right bicep, diagonally down her back, and ends at her left hip. It consists mainly of water and plant like motifs, though it's evident in places that Darcia got some places touched up to cover up previous tattoos.

Darcia's style is flowy and light, consisting usually of poofy, breathy clothing due to her usual proximity to the sea. She prefers blouses that are light and elegant, and high water trousers to go alongside heavy duty boots. No matter her dress, Darcia has a well-worn black leather belt, which has been specially fitted to host a sword holster, into which her cutlass rests in.

Personality: Darcia is, primarily, a person who has very much mellowed out over the years. She is calm and cool, frequently the voice of reason and the 'straight man' in whatever situation she finds herself in. Darcia is set in her path, though she's more than willing to lend an ear or a helping hand should the need arise. Her experience with the First Song leads her to patience and a desire for understanding. She likes to hold off on making decisions until she feels she's aware enough of the situation to make an educated choice.

However, just because she's grown older does not mean that she's outgrown all of the traits of her younger self. Despite being less impulsive, Darcia is still stubborn and bullheaded, occasionally bordering obstinate. Though she likes to listen and help, she's also easy to annoy, and does not frequently mince words. In addition, her tendency for patience and understanding of the First Song often leads to something that seems like indecisiveness. In reality, it is something more akin to a mix of fatalism and informational overload. The future is winding and confusing, and being able to see it means that not only does she have to parse what she's being given, but also must be burdened with the knowledge that prophecies do not like being changed.

Still, she's always able to push past her own displeasure to focus on the present. Darcia wants to forge the best future she can, and she operates under the philosophy that the future begins in the present.

Biography:

SpoilerShow

Darcia Fauvelle was born in Farloch to Kairiya and Mason Fauvelle, her mom elvish and her father human. Being an only child, Darcia was the one meant to help her family continue on with their tradition. That tradition, of course, was being yet another in a line of Farloch divers. She was taught how to use all of the equipment and all the proper techniques required to be an excellent diver. And she hated every second of it. In her free time (usually involving sneaking out at night), Darcia would patrol the shallows of Farloch, dreaming of the day she would see more of the world than Farloch.

Things (somehow) went further south when Darcia's parents realized that she was attuned to the First Song to the extent that she was. They pushed her to be a diver, pushed her to study, pushed her to practice her Song, pushed her to stay in Farloch. 19 year old Darcia didn't want to study. She didn't want to dive. She didn't want to use a stupid Song or catch stupid crabs or read stupid books all fucking day. And then one day, the impulse of a child kicked in and Darcia ran away.

To be honest, there wasn't a plan. Darcia gathered what she thought were good supplies, took her shitty little boat, and cast off.

Turns out that having no plan is a bad plan. Darcia's life didn't get any easier away from home, far from it. And yet, Darcia found that she was in her element. She learned to fight, she learned to steal, she learned to sail a boat and drive a bargain. And so she did, spending her days out on the seas and in taverns and inns and under bridges and in alleyways. A strange life that befitted a pirate. Because what else was somebody like Darcia supposed to do to get by, if not be a pirate?

Darcia spent decades out on the sea, living a life without rules or morals. She killed and plundered and stole, because that was life, and that's what she did. She passed between groups and crews, sometimes skirting the line of legality and sometimes being a step away from irredeemable. Though never outright confirmed, somebody similar in description to Darcia was occasionally seen on the Maelstrom, a notorious pirate ship that was sailed by a crew belonging to the terrifying 'Fourth's Reaper'. If you asked Darcia, she'd say that she never set foot on that ship, nor did she ever form any lasting attachment to one Ivalla Kurroh.

And then, when Darcia was in her 70s, she found herself back in Farloch. She was between jobs, and a ship was stopping by the port there, and she had to disembark anyways. As fate would have it, her mother was stopping by the port that too. And Darcia, hardened pirate, swindler, and all around scoundrel, was dragged home by her mom.

Darcia was told her father had died a couple years ago.

He was human, and Darcia realized far too late that of course he would die before her. Now that she was home again, her mother demanded she stay, and pick up where she'd left off: doing what she was supposed to. Darcia was, naturally, enraged, and as more of an adult than she was last time they'd spoke, was able to better respond. How dare her mother hold her father's death over her head as a means to try and get her to stay home and do the very thing she ran away from. How dare she try and use something like this to force her to do something. The pair had an argument that lasted well through the night.

However... it wasn't like Darcia went back to piracy. In some capacity... her mother had shown her something important. Everything Darcia had done was short sighted. She looked only to the present, and what did she have to show for it? A history of violence and immorality, and a loss that could never be taken back. Was that really how she wanted to live her life? This realization happened over the next few weeks, as Darcia relented only a little bit, and allowed herself to stay at home for a bit to properly mourn. And it was there, back at home after so long, that Darcia was reminded of the pull of the First Song.

She worked something out with her mom. Staying home and diving was out of the question. Darcia would not dare give up who she was. But she gave in somewhat to her mother's obstinate demands. She would lay low for a while, let her reputation die down, and then take all of her money, everything she'd earned over the decades she'd been gone, and use it to apply herself. Darcia stayed home and studied for a while, seeking first to understand what exactly it was that she wanted to be capable of.

Eventually, Darcia was on her way to the Kingdom of Valmair. If there was one thing she and her mother could agree on, it was that they both disliked Chunadie, for reasons. There seemed to be worse places in the world than Valmair to work towards her goal.

Once in Valmair, Darcia made her way across the country, looking to find the best place to learn and understand the First Song. She spent years simply learning and practicing, and her travels eventually led her to the capital city: Tarudan. It was there that she found Sir Darius' University, a place of learning that seemed to finally have what she was looking for. And so, for the next few decades, Darcia spent her days in Tarudan, simply honing her connection to the First Song via practical study and practice. Her time there led her to meeting Professor Othellas, who she encountered one day in the university's gardens where she'd been working on some of the trees there.

Othellas and Darcia became friends, Othellas' empathetic personality an easy match to Darcia's now mellowed, yet still headstrong nature. The pair would meet and talk, both about their exploits in study and Song, and also about nothing in particular, because that's what friends do sometimes. And Othellas asked if she was looking for a job. When asked further, Othellas stated that he did some private teaching for a prestigious family, and that he'd heard that its head was looking for somebody with just her skill set.

Darcia said yes, but probably should have asked for more details first. She wasn't expecting to meet King Arturas III that soon. Or at all, really.

But whatever his reasons, Arturas seemed to like Darcia and what she had to offer, and Darcia felt awkward saying no to a king after she'd already accepted the invitation. Plus... Othellas was right. This job really was a good fit for her. So she became a member of Arturas' advisory court, and that seemed to be that. It was a bit... too cushy for her at times, but Arturas seemed to have a genuine need and appreciation for her skills, and she felt like this was an opportunity that she would be foolish to give up, even if she wanted to. And that's where Darcia found herself, advising the king of Valmair, just like that. Wild.

Important Skills: Due to her connection to the first Song, Darcia is a studied and practiced botanist and physicist. Her focuses in both areas of study lean towards trees (fruit ones in particular) and hydrodynamics respectively. She is also an experienced sailor, and an active practitioner of the Tempratis Signature of the First Song.

In addition, for her job as an advisor, Darcia is learned in most of the major languages of Alma. She also has combat training in ranged weapons and smaller blades, primarily for self defense, though Darcia is not the biggest fan of finding herself in combat anymore.

Important People:

SpoilerShow

King Arturas III Galetir - The current monarch of the Kingdom of Valmair. He's ambitious, with grand, morally dubious plans. Darcia has maintained frequent contact with him due to her position as one of his direct advisors. While she doesn't necessarily agree with his methods, Darcia still maintains that it's better that she's at his side helping him steer than sticking herself in his path, so to speak. Her skill with the first song, experience with the sciences and practical aspects of sailing, and knowledge of botany make her quite the attractive advisor for him indeed.

Vandre Bardunn - Another notable advisor to King Arturas. He's a human, and a user of the Second Song. Notable in the fact that he doesn't particularly get along with Darcia. They frequently butt heads during meetings, and he almost seems to get a kick out of fucking around. Strangely enough, the one point that the two of them seem to agree on is that King Arturas probably shouldn't be hacking down the Forest of Alkune.

King Arturas' entourage - Due to her position, Darcia is frequently around members of Arturas' court, as well as his other workers and servants. She's not a stranger, though trying to remember everybody's names can get a touch confusing at times.

Professor Othellas Reynos - An Urkandian teacher at one of Tarudan's more prestigious universities. He's learned in the Third Song, and uses Mentale to assist in his teaching. Though he's never actually taught her, Othellas and Darcia have a good rapport, and he's the one that got Darcia her in with King Arturas. When she's available and in town, he and Darcia like to do brunch.

Kairiya Fauvelle - Darcia's mother, attuned to the Third Song with a lean into Attiser. She's an elf on the older end of things, clocking in at a respectable 214 years. To put things simply, Darcia's relationship with her mother is rocky. Darcia damaged their relationship when she ran away, and the time and distance only served to widen the gap. Even in the present, Darcia has a difficult time talking to her mother, which only became harder after her father passed. They occasionally exchange correspondence in the form of letters, but those have always been sparse at best.

Pau Fauvelle - Darcia's adopted younger brother, with no Song attunement. He's a human that Kairiya had taken in around 15 years ago. Now 22, he helps his adoptive mother with everything housework related. Darcia and Pau are not particularly close, primarily due to their mother and her relationship with Darcia. Darcia occasionally gets letters from him, though it's rare that they are from Pau only. He doesn't seem to understand the rift between Darcia and Kairiya.

Ivalla "Fourth's Reaper" Kurroh - Elven captain of the dreaded pirate ship known as 'The Maelstrom', which primarily plagues Taagan and Oakenhull. She's not attuned to a Song, but is known and feared as somebody who has trained specifically to fight Fourth Song users. Apparently she has some history with Darcia, but Darcia isn't particularly keen on talking about it. Rumors do state that Ivalla lost a member of her crew in her younger years, and still takes issue with it for some reason.

Inventory:
Battle Worn Cutlass - A well worn cutlass, more typical of pirates than of members of the court. It has a fancy, ornate handle, threaded with silvers and a scratched gemstone, though that doesn't detract from its ability as a weapon. Darcia doesn't typically like talking about where it came from, though it's always on her person.

Miniature Tree - A very small tree, set into a simple clay pot. It is something that Darcia has personally cultivated, and it grows mini lemons. She uses it to center herself, as well as a focus for her divination, should she need it.

Pruning Kit - A collection of small tools, meant to help Darcia maintain her little potted divination tree. Just as important as the tree itself.

Journal - A small, leather bound journal with a golden clasp. Darcia uses it to keep notes of things she finds important, as well as notable topics of discussion (particularly useful with Arturas). She has a feeling she'll be getting some use out of it.

Typical Adventuring Shit - Darcia knows this song and dance. Alongside her other, notable pieces of inventory, this is just a pack full of essentials. Clothing, simple cooking gear, sleeping bag, firestarters, tools for maintaining her gear. Shit like that.