[Duvessa]

Full Name: Duvessa El'Lar
Nicknames: "Duv" and Duvie". Former assassin name: "The Unseen". Hates nicknames.

Biographical:

Level: 80
Class: Wizard
RP Power: Dangerously powerful.

Race: Ayr'Dal
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: October 31, 3160
Age: 500+
Hair: Naturally silver, usually dyed
Skin: Pale white
Eyes: Ice blue
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 125 lbs

Place of Residence: South Freeport or The Raven Mythic
Place of Birth: Kelethin

Relatives: Amalla (cousin), Zeverai (sister), Dawid Albinus (non-blood relation)
Enemies: Alex Amakaze, Julian Amakaze
Allies: Erithe, Pyxie, Mahamari, Alarice, Ruani, and many others.

Occupation: Wizard & Inkeeper.
Crafting: Sage.

Apperance: Appears as either a dyed-haired half-elf, or a red haired dark elf, depending on mood and circumstance. She has multiple piercings on each ear, along with one on her nose, and five piercings below the neckline. Scars on her wrists and ankles are covered by tattoos of vines and thorns, with blood dripping from the thorn points. She also has a deeply scared neck, baring many fang marks. Some tattoo appears on her chest, though that is obviously not seen by most. She appears to be young in defiance of her reported age. Wears armor or spellcaster's robes with equal ease.

Fashion of Choice: When not on active duty, she enjoys a variety of fashions, from formal and slinky, to mundane. Usually eschews typical leather robes in favor of leather fashions. When completely relaxing, neither on duty, or trying to impress, she can be found in cotton pants and knit sweaters.
Armor of Choice: Freeport Militia Plate
Weapons of Choice: Dragon's Marrow

Special Abilities: Has a keen sense of smell, quick reflexes, extremely intuitive, long lived. Believes her extra years of life are finite, and that one day she will simply come to a stop abruptly.

Personality:

Alignment: Neutral Evil
Motivations: Achievement, Hedonism, Power
Disposition: Generally even-tempered and calm.
Outlook: Bold, unscrupulous, spontaneous, generally agreeable and gregarious.

Religion/Philosophy: Formerly a follower of Saryn, Terris Thule, and Innoruuk, Duvessa currently eschews all forms of godly worship though, as many wizards do, she has a "working relationship" with Solusek Ro, and regards the god fondly.

Sexuality: Openly bisexual, tending towards lesbian, promiscuous, deviant, kinky, flirtatious and experimental.

Positive Personality Traits: Fiercely defensive of those she cares for.
Negative Personality Traits: Easily depressed, often moody when alone. Unable to dream. Insufferably terrible to anyone or anything in her way, as loving as she is to friends, she is the opposite with anyone else.
Misc. Quirks: Her name means, "Dark Beauty" in the old Combine tongue. When the broken pieces of the shattered Luclin are far apart, she has intense migraines, and usually heads off to be alone. In the absence of the best luxury items (drink, food, clothing, cigars) she would rather do without than suffer something of lesser value. Her inn is named after the Blood Ravens of Terris Thule.

Affiliations:

Guild: Bloodthorn
Guild Rank: Orthodox
Faction: The Lyrech
Faction: Obsidian Order
Faction: Freeport Militia, Sentinel.
Faction: Academy of Arcane Sciences, Teacher.
Faction: Ordo Draconis et Atri Adamantis

Interests:

Likes: Lust, cigars, women, drink, hunting, blood, people, friends.
Dislikes: Being alone, racial arrogance, powerlessness.

Favorite Foods: Steak, Smoked Alligator, Wassabi Roasted Peas
Favorite Drinks: Whsikey, Brandy, Bloodwine, Root Beer
Favorite Colors: Black, Green, Blue, Orange

Hobbies: Singing, dancing, piano, writing in her journal.

Details:

Played by What Famous Person: Kattee Sakhoff

Theme Songs: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished - Wicked, No One Knows Who I Am - Jekyll and Hyde

History: There is no easy way to sum up the history of an elf who has lived the fast-paced lifestyle a human for five hundred years. Certain facts do come through, though, as highlights of her life.As a young child in the treetops of Kelethin, she never fit in. Often a dour, moody, stuttering child. She resisted the advances of boys her age, once to the point of pushing one off a railing and nearly killing him. Only her cousin Amalla was able to soothe her during those years.

Sometime in her early teens, she was captured and sent to Neriak as a slave. There she served the clerics of Innoruuk for several years, eventually converting to their religion, and earning her freedom.Taking up with a Teir'Dal wizard named Vailia N'Rai, she became both apprentice and servant to the woman, serving her faithfully. Vailia, however, defected to "the light" and left Duvessa behind, abandoning her. This was a pivotal event in Duvessa's life, causing her to leave a life of submission and become a power in her own right, as time progressed.

This was also a period in her life when she claims many magical experiments were performed on her. Right or wrong, Duvessa believes herself to be the first Feir'Dal endowed with the ability to use wizardly magic. Centuries later, the experiments wrought on her have given her the appearance of an Ayr'Dal, and she no longer tries to correct people about her true race. When pressed on the matter, she will say she considers herself something of a chimera as result of the magical changes she was subjected to.

Through Vailia, she found service with the Ancienne Noblesse, an order headed by a Shadow Knight vampire named Nauria D'Lurien. Additionally, she seems to have had a dual alliance with another organization, though she now keeps that a secret. Her service to the Noblesse allowed her a rise in power, and skill. For perhaps a century total, she remained with the Noblesse, until the order ended in some terrible event which she will not speak off. The following four centuries of her life with spent in various enterprises, sometimes with, and sometimes without, members of either of her two old orders.

Sometime after the Rallosian Wars she moved to Freeport. During The Shattering, while attempting to return to Freeport from some distance away, Duvessa teleported at the exact moment of Luclin's shattering. The unpleasant coincidence left her with permanent migraine headaches that come and go, and as with many other wizards, nearly stripped her of her power.

After years spent rebuilding her power, Duvessa opened the Raven Mythic, and began to gather new allies, and new business contacts. She drifted though a number of guilds until finally joining Bloodthorn, rising through the ranks until she became an officer.

As Wizard & Inkeeper:

As with anyone so long lived, Duvessa has had a lot of experience, and wears many hats. First and foremost, she is the owner of The Raven Mythic, an inn and tavern. In business terms, she is an opportunist, and believes commerce is commerce. She expects that as the world opens up more and more, people will have to stop imposing their provincial views on free traders. Her main source of profit comes less from the drinks and rooms she sells, and more from the deals made behind closed doors, with larger trading houses. Her inn is also a stop for the post deliveries of the Norrathian Express. She is, however, a wizard, of not inconsiderable power. The Raven could be thought of much like her wizard's "tower" a place of power from which she operates. After the Shattering, Duvessa has found herself tapped to perform many roles, often all at once. Though she maintains relations with Qeynos, she does most of her work on the Freeport side.

As Sage:

Much of her free time is occupied with a long-term project for the Academy of Arcane Sciences, trying to puzzle out matters of teleportation, and re-establish instantaneous transport between the places of the world. This is a task she shares with many wizards, mostly working individually on the collective project, meeting in secret to occasionally share findings.Much to her annoyance, she is occasionally tapped to teach at the Academy, either a full course, or as a substitute. She is not the teacher most students want to have, as her lessons are often about teleportation, and highly theoretical. She claims, and not without justification, to have worked directly with the legendary Al'Kabor, though she refuses to openly provide details.In her long life, she has taken up many hobbies, including dance, music, and literature. She has published a number of plays and musicals, along with several books on the history of the Combine, Luclin, and Mayong Mistmoore. Often, she has historical information that can not be found anywhere else, though she has also been responsible on more than one occasion for deliberately hiding some facts.

I've known Duvessa off and on for some time now. At one point or another she was closer to each of my wives than I was. More devious and cunning than more give her credit for, and less lesbian than she sells herself as.

She's feisty, and a bit too intemperate for my tastes, personnaly. But as a friend, I like her. Her inn... fantastic. Sew few else could have labored to creat a place with such an amazing blend of people and personalities.

But my wives tell stories, and I know that under the surface she is far more than she lets on, far darker than she lets anyone see. She keeps her true self hidden, because she wants, she needs, more friends than she would have if her real nature were to stand up to public scrutiny.

Being as she has my respect, all these things I will keep to myself. Plus, I adore a woman who likes a good cigar.

It's odd, but the first thing I think of when I hear the name Duvessa is "fear". She terrifies me, and I'm naut even sure why. I respect her, I fear her temper, and I try to stay out of troube around her as much as possible.

She treats Laenne well though, and I am glad for that.

I have nothing but respect for Duvessa.That's all that needs to be said. Any analysis on my part would most certainly obscure the pure image I have of her. If a thing such as admiration existed in my mind, she would be perhaps one of the select few who receive it.It seems as though everyone's heart skips a beat when she enters a room, there is a mystique that surrounds her. Actually it would be a blatant lie if I said that respect was all I felt for her....But enough ass kissing.

Szerath exhales a thick column of smoke into the air around himself, bathing in the dark fumes.

~Stepping up to the growing pile of parchments, Dami adds his own.~

I cannot say I know Lady Duvessa well. I wish I could because she seems to be an interesting and passionate individual. To hear her speak in the amplitheater on religion showed me an intelligence rivaled by very few. Many repeat what their clerics brainwashed them to believe, she chose to think for herself. She is an excellent hostess, ensuring the inn stays in one piece on lively nights, and providing quiet conversation on less active ones. From throwing thieves out, to disciplining wayward gnomes I'm not sure what she cannot do. Above all, I respect this person.

I can say many things about Duvessa. She is my love, my poison...and if she is the only person I can save from herself in my lifetime, I will consider my duty to Marr done.

Texts speak of vile deeds she has done, lives snuffed, things of that sort. I believe, however, that time has dulled whatever evil used to possess her. It still exists, but I find her to be a better person than she lets on. My hope is that through my love, I can bring out the good I see within her.

Hmm, Duvessa. One of the very few I can put a name to, but that will change if I'm to spend any time at all in the Raven. And I plan to. It's a good enough place... she's done a fine job with it, in this strange new age where you can't always determine someone's standing by the length and color of their ears.

She reminds me of Mria, though I don't know why. Perhaps I just see the Frosty Goblet whenever I enter the Mythic, who knows... maybe it takes a certain breed of personality to weave a neutral inn out of chaos. To calm discussions when they border on riot. She certainly seems to have a following of people, whatever the reasons.

Hidden secrets, problems.. it's easy to tell at least that much. But everyone has those. I am perfectly content to leave the woman to her contrived appearance, as she has yet to notice that I buy no alcohol at all, and kick me out for being a waste of chair space. Perhaps I shall ask Danyxa if there's anything worth knowing about her.

Duvessa.

I don't know her nearly as well as some of those in the Raven. She seems to have one group of friends whom she's known for a long time, like Deira, Latharos, and Rayvenwing, to name a few. I've never met these folks more than in passing, though, so I can't really say that I know them.

My impressions may not be spot-on, but Duvessa strikes me as being very emphaticly her own person. She carries herself with an unmistakable self-assuredness, she's the sort of person who walks into a room and conversation stops, for just a moment.

On the other hand... every once in a while I seem to notice a glimpse of something else.. there's a lonelieness about her, a sort of well-hidden vulnerability, maybe. Or maybe it's just my imagination, but it seems like there is a dichotomy there that is just fascinating to me. She seems to have very few people she considers to be true, lasting friends.

I can't even explain why, but for some reason it's important to me that she think well of me, if she even notices me at all. One time, when trying to intervene in something I thought was wrong in the inn (And something against the rules of the place, too, I know better than to cross those) I threatened a fellow with the golem she keeps stored up on the second floor, saying I would use the rules against violence to get us both in trouble. Well, things resolved on their own, with no help from me, and when the fellow I had threatened told her about it... well, when she looked at me, I felt like a spoiled child who'd been throwing a tantrum. It wasn't a good feeling. I'd like her to think better of me than that.

[Fhuszt]

(On behalf of Maelshyve)Duvessa, ah yes. She is business from the faint light of morning, to the fall of light at eve. A ally, and a capable Wizard no doubt. However, there is more to this Wizard, a women. Quite so, for whatever reason she holds such high defenses, is all too intrigueing. Business is her nature, although I believe all too well she deals in finer "arts".

Duvessa's Song is...complex. I have stopped trying to follow its many twists and turns and now simply accept it for its beauty. I have heard rumor of a long and harsh past, and I know she is much older than she appears to be. I often wonder if what we, the patrons, see is her true form. It almost seems to shimmer at times, as if threatening to reveal the true Duvessa underneith.

I wonder if I shall ever reach beyond the surface of the pool that is Duvessa. Somehow, I do not think she is as evil as she thinks she is, or perhaps wishes she is.


'Tis the last rose of the summer, left blooming all alone. All her lovely companions are faded now and gone. No flower of her kindred, no rose bud is nigh; To reflect back her blushes or to trade sigh for sigh. I'll not leave thee, thou alone one, to pine on the stem. Since the lovely are all sleeping, go sleep now with them. Thus kindly I scatter thy leaves o'er the bed, Where thy maids of the garden lie scentless and dead. So soon may I follow, when friendships decay. And from love's shining circle, the gems drop away. When true hearts lie withered, and fond ones are gone, Oh, who would inhabit this bleak world alone?

~"The Last Rose of Summer", Trad.

Duvessa...I love her and I hate her. I don't know what to make of our relationship. She treats me kindly, we've had some moments of intense closeness and understanding, and yet she doesn't seem quite content with me as who I am and is angered when I don't understand why she wants from me what I can't give.

Time will tell if she will continue to care for me as she does, or if her friendship curdles into a rage. And to be honest, I'm afraid of what will become of me if that hapens.

Words cannot express the closeness I feel with this woman. She is my shelter, my sanity, and my last true link to the past and Nauria. You could be her companion for a several lifetimes and still not know the full scope of her story.

Duvessa, the one who always wants me to be myself, when she seems so incapable of showing her true self to others. Which is the true Duvessa and which is the mask? Will we ever really know her? Granted she has tried to seduce me on occasion, but I get the impression that she cares about me, though I still do not know why. I do hope some day to see the real her, and gods grant me the strength to not hurt her when she does.

Thusfar, I've been quite impressed with Duvessa.

Over the years, I've developed an affinity for sensing magical energy to an extreme level - despite my lack of training with the arcane side of these arts, I am generally able to sort out patterns of a being within magical energies and residues.

Duvessa exudes a power that few every witness, and that few seem to care to admit to. In that way she reminds me deeply of my mysterious mentor - sometimes I wonder if the two could not go toe to toe for eternity, destroying the world about them with their prowess.

I was blessed to witness this woman in action when we were poking around the Bloodskull Valley. It had been some time since any of the Order had been near Freeport, and over time the tactics of the Orcs had changed, causing us to be slightly thrown off by their tricks. Duvessa was able to discover the pattern to their tactics quickly, and amazed quite a few of us with her abilities to flush them out of their focus.

Recently I've come to discover that she is as old of a soul as I first suspected, and it has made me even more curious about her. I look forward to any time we find to discuss the world - and the past...

Mixed feelin's about this lass for me...

Firstly... I respect 'er. Runnin' th' Raven can nay be an easy task, but she does it well. People from all over th' world 'ave come together an' can enjoy a friendly drink. True, there be arugments, but what do ye expect with Qeynosian's and Freeportian's in th' same room at th' same time. We dinnae hafta mix, but arguments can still happen. Thankfully, th' presence o'wards has helped with this, an' I nay think anyone wants Orbilus after them.

But, I dinnae like th' fact she seems to 'ave more than one lover at a time. They nay be casual either... seem ta be regular ones. But, tha's jes me morals showin' through it would seem.

Aside from tha', I 'ave great respect for this woman, an' I hope she continues to run the establishment where I 'ave fallen asleep on th' tables with an ale in me hand more than once.

The luscious owner of the Mythic is something of an enigma. One the one hand, shes managed to create one of the few places in the Shattered Lands that can claim true neutrality, bringing people of all races under one roof, in one room, and not having the whole place burned to the ground instantly.

And yet, a short while ago, I had the opportunity to see another side of her, a side that I doubt too many of the Inns patrons know about. I must admit that my curiosity, which only seems to get worse with age, got the better of me. After the fact, I am somewhat regretful that I pushed her as hard as I did. I am not know for. thinking compassionately, I suppose. Although at first it seemed her grasp of control was loose, she did in the end manage to keep herself under control, even with my persistence.

All things change with age, and although I do not know what her past is, her eyes show that she is no exception. She was something different once, perhaps something more fearsome than what she is now, hints of which I have seen when we have hunted together. That makes me think perhaps that the road I am on is not headed in the completely wrong direction. And I take some comfort in that.

Duvessa is...powerful. There's no other word for it. Xas, she frightens me a bit, but yet I enjoy the nights when she is at the Raven the most. She thought I was a courtesan when we first met--I remember being terrified that she would throw me from the Inn, but she did not, and accepted it when I told her she was wrong. In my past experience, no other woman until then would have allowed me to speak, let alone accepted my explanation. She can also put one at ease if she wants to, whether or naut they wish to be, and have them spilling their secrets before they know what they are doing. I know, because she did it to me. I told her things I had sworn once I would never admit, sure that I would die from the shame if others knew. And she did naut judge me. For that, she has earned my respect.. and to an extent, my loyalty.

I have, for the most part, played no part in Lady Duvessa's doings. While normally I would lay the blame for this on the fact that she is Ayr'Dal, in this instance, I can do no such thing. It is true that I have seen what you may call compassion in her, it is always for those she considers companions, and beyond those brief instances, she has a cold, calculating presense to her. All that enter the Raven seem to respect herand obey her will, whether they respect the Raven's edicts on their own or not.

I doubt wwe will ever interact on any greater level: there is too much that seperates us, on too many levels. However, something tells me that if we ever DO truly confront each other, neither of us will go away the worse for wear, and may in fact go away the better for it.

~draws a very serious looking Duvessa with Ferir laying his head in her lap, asleep~ One night, Miss Duvessa saw how sad I was that Danikar had been away for a long time, and was so nice to me, telling me that he would be back and that I needed to be stronger for him. She let me sit with her and even let me fall asleep against her, she's very comfy, I can see why many like to be close to her. ~he giggles as he thinks~ She can be very serious and tough though, but I like her nice side so much more.

I can't help but respect Duvessa's wealth and power. That these things are quicker ways to Lucan's heart than loyal service is understandable, and I can imagine she might see the inside of the citadel before I will at any rate.

For every year she has lived--and there are hundreds--I imagine she has an individual sadness to contemplate upon. It shows. During my time as her roommate I managed to read, clandestinely, much of her surviving writings. Some of them were quite well protected, but if there is anything I am good at it is accessing protected documents.

Not that I would do that now, even from curiosity--If there is anyone I trust aside from Lucan it is her.

Mmmm, Miss Duvessa El'lar...

Beauty, power, intelligence, grace...so rare to find a woman that posseses all three. She uses each to her advantage, as needed, and I believe she can hide them all were it necessary.

So far I have enjoyed my time spent with her far more than I have with any other being, and await each wonderful experience we share. I hope that as time passes, we have many more interesting moments together and perhaps some day her mysteries will all be revealed to me.

On the business side of our relationship, she has graced me with permission to scratch ink and drill flesh within her establishment, and I hope the vast patronage she has acquired as the owner of the inn will enjoy my work as much as I do.

Words cannot give thanks for the life she is offering me, as it is far more than I could find within the walls of Qeynos or Freeport.

Astald pulls out his pen and journal, scribing briefly

I am told that one Arme'Duvessa is the owner of this fine establishment. I have yet to meet her, though i hope to do so before i depart. One must always pay their proper respect and show thanks to those whom share their home with others.

Many people tell me I should have more fear of Duvessa and her power, but I do not. She is an exceptional lady of the inn and it is this reason that I have chosen the Raven Mythic as my new stage and home away from punches.

I try to bring her gifts because I am thankful for the Inn she has built (together with friends I do not yet know). But I find the best way to thank her is in my happy song and my utter enjoyment of my time there.

She is certainly mysterious, and I would like to get to know her much better...but alas, most feel the jester has no depth.

Poised, confident, with that tantillizing touch of enigma that draws others to her like iron to a lodestone. She is a woman to stay on the "good" side of, as I imagine she would make as persistant an enemy as myself. I admit a certain fascination with her, and the urge to explore her mind and thoughts more...but in a more mundane way than my usual blunt approach. Perhaps I shall invite her over for dinner and conversation some year.

The refined owner of the Mythic. What is there to say about this powerful woman that has not been said already? Very little apparently, save that she rescued my mind when it was badly injured. I am still unsure whether to thank her or curse her for that...

I could never be like her. It's too hard trying to seperate who I really am from what I want to be seen as. I don't have as many friends, but I wonder if she really knows who she is anymore. Maybe this is how she is.

Eh. She has a nice place, minus a few people I hate there, and I still stop there to deliver the post. It's mostly a good deal. I have to stay at arms length from her, she knows why.