Dame Gwion Triarta
“I will alter. By Sylvia, by my sword, and by the Lady’s blood within my veins, I swear this. Let both my goddesses strike me down if I should fail.” – from the journal of Gwion Triarta
Dame Gwion Triarta, Knight of the Realm (hereafter, Gwion) is a member of the Grove’s Founder’s Circle, representing Good.
Biography
Gwion hails from Verden, a woodland queendom beyond the portals. It is a land ever at war, as the women fight both to keep invaders from the mountains at their backs, and to spread their forests across the lands they claim as birthright – everywhere the mighty Vhira flows. Men are barred from combat and leadership due to the sins of their forefathers, who the women say were responsible for the loss of the woodlands they now fight to restore.
Third-born daughter of the venerated High Queen Arta, Gwion realised early she was a disappointment. Where her elder sisters took their mother’s strength and skill, Gwion took too much after her father. A sentimental man who spent most of his time in studies, the two were close – enough that sharp tongues whispered “Gwion Artason”, the first son ever born to the line of the Lady. After an illness near the hearth-time took her father, it was Gwion who took on the task of removing his effects from the central library. It was then that she discovered the existence of portals. Tucked within her father’s notes was the journal of Afaon, a man most notable in her people’s memory for being shut into isolation, “for his safety”, by his wife.
Age: “Old Enough”
Birthday: Dwr, in the first melt
Race: Human, mostly
Faction: The Grove
Path: Warrior, Healer Subclass
Homeworld: Verden
Residence: Aspen's Rest, Nova Regnus
Afaon claimed to have travelled to other worlds by means of portals, the which he had steadfastly searched for until he found one to take him back. He warned of terrible threats should the denizens of these worlds discover theirs, of terrible beasts and fearsome mages, wielding power no one ought to have a right to. He wrote of demons, and darkness, and the spreading of corruption. His writings grew less coherent as time went on, hinting at notes hidden elsewhere in the library as his wife’s suspicion of his sanity grew. Parts of the journal devolved into half-coded ramblings, but from what she could glean Gwion threw herself into finding the rest of his writings with a fervour.
Despite her people’s scorn that a woman’s place was on the battlefield, not chasing daydreams like a man, Gwion searched night and day for notes on the last efforts of Afaon’s free life: a way to close their world off from the portals. Knowing that she could never stand as strong as her sisters in battle, Gwion was desperate to protect her lands from a threat only she would take seriously.
Unfortunately, her efforts backfired: in her efforts to seal Verden off from portals forever, she inadvertently opened one and fell through. It closed behind her, leaving her in the strange new world of Osterra. A member of Grimfrost found her and gave her shelter, leading her to pledge her loyalties for a time to the northmen. In her time with them, fighting for gold against those she had previously worked with and stealing from folk she respected, she chafed and longed for the nobler traditions of her people. Thus were planted the seeds of The Grove…
Personality
Gwion tends towards gravity when serious matters are at stake: the fate of the realm, demon incursions, what her beloved kindred have been up to in her absence. Several years into her journey, many Osterran customs and concepts are still foreign to her, and this may also lead to her frequent preference for listening over talking: her people did not have things like money, calendars, or gender equality, and the serious look she is often seen wearing is only covering for the fact that she has no idea what the other person is talking about.
Her time in The Grove, and with the people of Osterra, has taught her at least a little bit how to lighten up. She is working to unlearn the prejudices of her homeworld, though she steadfastly refuses any attempts to explain the concepts of money – that is her brother Trez's sphere, and she happily directs all such inquiries his way. In the evenings, after a day’s adventures, she may be found more at ease, making merry by the fire with friends and kindred or dancing with her sister Oonagh Cardot. This is a fine time to approach her to ask for favours, but not to obtain serious answers – particularly not if she has been drinking with Chairman Ironrock.
Although her many insecurities can leave her more impatient and quick to anger than she’d like, Gwion overall is a simple woman with simple tastes. She likes trees, peach wine, and the songs of anyone’s people. She respects those who work for the good of others, who listen to others’ voices, and who try hard, even if they fail. She has great disdain for those who choose power or riches over the common good, infighting in the face of larger threats, and those without sufficiently earned respect telling her or others what to do. Also, birds.
She does not trust birds.
Appearance
On the battlefield, she can generally be seen in bright green leather scale covering her torso and upper legs, with red leather bracers on her upper arms. (Yes, she could get proper upper arm protection – but though too large for her, these bracers were once her eldest sister’s, and therefore a protection all their own.) After a recent trip through the portals teaching her what a “Christmas tree” is, she now resents the frequent commentary that her armour makes her resemble one. Gwion often appears to battle with the spiral symbol of the Green Goddess on her forehead, and occasionally more elaborate battle makeup inspired by the artistry of her sister Jay Cindersky.
On the field and off, she is frequently seen in a green surcote emblazoned with a golden tree of life, given to her by the spirit of Sylvia when she took her oath of knighthood. She has frequently been heard telling Oonagh that should she ever not return to life in the EverWar, she wishes to be buried in said surcote. The hems are exquisite.
Whatever else changes in her appearance, she is sure to have three things: her Grove pendant, the silver whistle through which she channels her healing, and a small yellow flower gifted to her by the Lady Althea shortly after arriving in Osterra.
