![[DALL·E 2025-02-22 15.47.50 - A striking elven woman with long golden-blonde hair that seems to glow in candlelight, deep sapphire eyes filled with both mischief and wisdom. She we.webp]] ### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Veyna Duskbane (formerly Veyna Nightshade) - **Race/Species:** Elf - **Class/Profession:** Bard & Collector of Rare Tomes - **Alignment/Morality:** Chaotic Good - **Age:** 340 years old - **Gender & Pronouns:** Female (She/Her) - **Appearance:** Veyna has a presence that can command a room, with long golden-blonde hair that seems to glow in candlelight and deep sapphire eyes that hold both mischief and wisdom. Her features are fine and expressive, making every smile or raised eyebrow feel intentional. She wears elegant, traveling robes embroidered with arcane symbols, a mix of elven craftsmanship and human practicality. A silver pendant, a gift from **[[Renvar Duskbane]]**, rests at her throat, a silent reminder of the struggles she endured for love. --- ### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Veyna is a whirlwind of charm, wit, and boundless curiosity. She thrives on adventure and storytelling, seeing the world as a stage for grand tales—some yet to be written. Despite the pain her family caused her, she refuses to let bitterness consume her, choosing instead to embrace the joys of life. While warm and encouraging to those she loves, she possesses a sharp tongue and an unwavering resolve when faced with injustice or arrogance. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Master of Words** – A gifted storyteller and diplomat, capable of swaying minds with song or speech. - **Skilled Musician** – Plays multiple instruments, though her enchanted harp is her favorite. - **Occult & Arcane Lore** – Specializes in ancient texts, lost knowledge, and the magic hidden within forgotten stories. - **Natural Leader** – Can rally people with sheer presence, inspiring action through words rather than force. - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Outspoken & Defiant** – Will not bow to tradition or authority without question, making her a frequent source of frustration for more rigid minds. - **Wounded by Betrayal** – While she puts on a brave face, the pain of her exile from the Nightshade family still lingers. - **Impulse-Driven** – Easily swept up in adventure, sometimes ignoring the consequences. - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks with a lyrical, almost musical cadence, making even casual conversation feel enchanting. - Often punctuates her words with flourishes of her hands, emphasizing her point like a performer on stage. - Has a habit of humming softly when deep in thought. - When angered, her voice becomes dangerously quiet rather than loud. --- ### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** As a child, Veyna was the bright flame of the **[[House Nightshade]]**, bringing warmth and joy into a lineage often defined by cold intellect and formality. She was adored by many—until she broke their most sacred unspoken rule: marrying outside of elven bloodlines. When she fell in love with **[[Renvar Duskbane]]**, a human magewright with no noble lineage, the Nightshade elders saw it as a disgrace. They believed she was "tainting" their bloodline and bringing shame to their name. Despite their protests, Veyna refused to abandon the man she loved, even when her family cast her out. The loss was devastating—once celebrated among her kin, she became an outcast, with only her father **[[Valtherion Nightshade]]** showing her quiet, if reluctant, support. For decades, she lived apart from the Nightshades, building a life with Renvar and raising their children, **[[Lysander Nightshade]]** and **[[Mirielle Nightshade]]**. She continued her passion for collecting and studying ancient tomes, often traveling between Brevoy and the River Kingdoms, always moving forward despite the deep wound of her exile. Eventually, it was **[[Liriel Nightshade]]** who reached out to bring her back into the family. Liriel, always more open-minded than the other Nightshades, never agreed with Veyna’s exile and had long argued against it. When she saw the family slowly shifting, she took action—meeting with Veyna personally and advocating for her return. Though hesitant at first, Veyna accepted Liriel’s offer, though not for the family’s sake—she returned for Liriel, for the next generation of Nightshades, and to prove that she would not be erased from their history. While the elders begrudgingly allowed her back, the divide still lingers, though with Liriel’s influence, the walls are beginning to crumble. - **Current Motivations:** - Ensuring that Rivermarch becomes a place where history, art, and magic are preserved. - Protecting **[[Renvar Duskbane]]** from the scheming of noble houses that look down on him. - Watching over her children, despite their strained relationships. - Rebuilding trust with her estranged family, though she will never again allow them to dictate her life. - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[Renvar Duskbane]] (Husband)** – Her unwavering rock; she loves him fiercely and would choose him over the Nightshades a hundred times over. - **[[Lysander Nightshade]] (Son)** – Loves him but disapproves of his lack of responsibility. Still, she always leaves the door open for his return. - **[[Mirielle Nightshade]] (Daughter)** – Admires her intellect but fears she is walking a dangerous path. - **[[Borion Nightshade]] (Nephew)** – Sees him as a bridge between old and new Nightshade traditions. She hopes he will not let the elders control him. - **[[Elandra Nightshade]] (Mother)** – A complicated relationship; she is unsure if her mother ever truly saw her exile coming or if she allowed it to happen. - **[[Liriel Nightshade]] (Sister-in-Law)** – The one who fought to bring her back into the family, a gesture Veyna respects deeply. While she still holds anger toward the Nightshades, Liriel proved that not all of them had abandoned her. - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **The Nightshade Family (Estranged, but Returning)** – While she is technically welcome again, the wounds of exile remain fresh. - **The Traveling Scriptorium** – A group of scholars and bards dedicated to recovering and preserving lost texts. - **Rivermarch’s Cultural Development** – Wishes to establish a library or bardic college within Rivermarch. - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **The Duskbane Harp** – A magical instrument that enhances storytelling and can subtly influence emotions. - **Veyna’s Ever-Written Journal** – A self-writing book that records the most important moments of her life. - **The Wand of Silver Tongues** – A gift from Renvar, enchanted to aid in persuasion and diplomacy. --- ### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - **Defying Tradition** – Refuses to let outdated rules dictate her life. - **The Pain of Exile & Reconciliation** – Struggles between embracing her past and moving forward. - **The Power of Stories** – Believes history is shaped not by scholars, but by the ones who tell its tales. - **Player/GM Notes:** - Can serve as a powerful political ally or cultural force within Rivermarch. - Her story represents the tension between elven aristocracy and the changing world. - If pushed too far, she may fully sever ties with the Nightshades—but if given true respect, she could become a key figure in reshaping their future.