Vyvian Damon

**Vyvian Damon** is Elloren Gardner's wealthy paternal aunt. She is a member of the Mage Council and a supporter of Marcus Vogel. Vyvian Damon, though a Level 1 Mage, is influential in the Mage Council due to her status as the Black Witch's daughter.

## Physical Description

Vyvian is considered to be the "absolute epitome of what a Gardnerian woman is supposed to look like." She has waist-length black hair, deep green eyes, and swirling black wandfasting lines marking her slender and graceful hands. She is very elegant and looks like "a fine painting." Her voice is smooth and even her laugh is graceful. Her eyes are "sharp as ice." She wears a stunning, black, formfitting tunic that hangs over a long, dark skirt with silk embroidery of delicate, curling vines. Her face is a perfect oval with full lips. She doesn't resemble her brothers much, except for their shared aristocratic features.

## Personality

Vyvian initially seems nice, but her cruelty and bigotry become more and more apparent, especially as her position of power becomes threatened by her niece and nephews' straying of Gardnerian laws and traditions. Vyvian has a black-and-white morality. Someone is either with her faction of Gardnerians, or they are against them. She is willing to kill anyone she views as against her and her beliefs, even her own family. She is creative at manipulating others. Vyvian loves fashion and is always well-dressed. Fashion is the one area where Vyvian values craftsmanship above ideology. She sends Elloren outfits that are stunning but very daring to the Gardenarian dress code.

## Biography

### Early History

Vyvian was born Vyvian Gardner to Carnissa Gardner. Her brothers are Edwin and Vale Gardner. As a child, her mother was usually off conquering lands for Gardneria, so Vyvian was raised by one of her mother's Urisk servants, a woman named Oralyrr. Her nursemaid was cruel and abusive towards Vyvian. There were several instances when Vale had to threaten Oralyrr to spare Vyvian from the rod. The trauma of her childhood is believed to be the source of her hatred of other races.

She was wandfasted to a Gardnerian man whose first name is never mentioned, but whose surname is Damon. Vyvian lives in Valgard. She is the only woman to ever sit on the Mage Council. Until coming to Halfix to discuss Elloren's future with Edwin, she hardly ever visited them. She always travels with an armed entourage.

### Wandfasted

Vyvian meets Tessla after she is rescued by Vale and Fain. Upon learning she is a Lower River Gardnerian, and thus poor, she rejects her as unworthy of being with her brother Vale.

Her fastmate was killed by Urisk soldiers just before the end of the Realm War. She is in deep mourning for her beloved fastmate.

### The Black Witch

Vyvian comes to Halfix to discuss Elloren's future with Edwin. She wants to get Elloren wandfasted to Lukas Grey and then apprentice her with the Mage Council. When Edwin refused to allow Elloren to be wandfasted, Vyvian tells him that she will not pay Elloren's university fees until she is wandfasted.

### The Iron Flower

When Elloren sends word to Vyvian requesting a dress for the Yule Dance, Vyvian sends her the most daring dress, covered with embroidered Iron Flowers. Soon, Vyvian learns of Rafe's 'wolfing around' with Diana, the Lupine alpha's daughter. She visits Trystan, Elloren, and Rafe, telling Rafe to cut off contact with the 'savage' and for Elloren to stop seeing the Lupines as well. She praises Trystan for being a good Gardnerian, and gifts him a wand.

### The Shadow Wand

The Vu Trin stage another attempt on Elloren's life at the Sealing breakfast. The Vu Trin blow up the Grey estate, killing Vyvian who was in attendance. Elloren and Lukas had already begun their escape so they were not there.

## Powers & Abilities

Vyvian is a powerful Mage, which is rare for female Gardnerians. Her weakest affinity is earth.

## Relationships

### Edwin Gardner & Vale Gardner

Vyvian, Edwin, and Vale are siblings. Vyvian is domineering, and Edwin is visibly nervous around her. Vyvian was unsympathetic toward the deaths of her brothers. She loathed Vale's fastmate, believing that Tessla wanted to run off with a Kelt. She refused to believe that Tessla and Vale genuinely loved each other. She called her trash even after her death.

### Elloren Gardner

Elloren is desperate for Vyvian's approval and attention at first. She had been hungry for a mother figure her whole life and wanted female guidance. Vyvian treats Elloren terribly, particularly after Elloren finds out just how cruel her aunt really is.

## Memorable Quotes

* "You don't have to know anything, dear. I've taken you under my wing. And that's the best place to be. Simply sit back, enjoy it and follow my lead." Vyvian to Elloren

## References

1. ↑ *The Black Witch*: page 26
2. ↑ *The Black Witch*