Mavka

### Family

Mother: Atara Valkalyn, Father: Silas Denzel, Brother: Faen Valkalyn, Sister: Tasa Valkalyn, Cousin: Gossamer Lunala

### Connections

The Amber Order, The Ruby Ring, The Aerister Sages

## Names and Titles

### List of Names and Titles

* Mavka Valkalyn (Full name)
* Mavka (Chosen name)
* Valkalyn (Family name)
* Shanta (Childhood name)

### Nomenclature

"**Mavka**" can mean either "creature of the forest" or "death" in Slavic. In Tolkein's Elvish Quenya language, it may be loosely translated as "reason to love".

"Valk" in Dutch means "falcon", a reference to Mavka's maternal line of falconers. "Alyn" in Old German means "precious one"; the last name **Valkalyn** may mean "precious falcon". Alternatively, it may be a reference to the Valkyrie, known as "choosers of the slain" in Norse. In one dialect of Tolkein's Quenya Elvish, Valkalyn could be translated to mean "light-bringer", "gift of the light gods", "those who bring light to the edge", or other similar variations.

As a whole, the name Mavka Valkalyn could mean "Death, chooser of the slain", "Creature of the wild, precious falcon", "Reason to love, bringer of light", or any combination of similar variations.

Isalduians choose their own name when they come of age. Mavka decided to keep her family name, as she is the firstborn child of her parents; family lineage is thought to be particularly important for firstborn children. She retired her childhood name, **Shanta** ("tree"), when she came of age, and decided upon the name Mavka after spending a couple years meditating in the **Deepwoods**.

## Physical Characteristics

### Ancestry

As a **Wood Elf**, Mavka stands rather tall and lanky, almost awkwardly so. She has shades of green in her skin that are most visible in shadow or contours. Her eyes are a dark hazel, and her curly hair is a very dark brown. She takes after her mother, who is also a **Wood Elf**, though traces of her **High Elf** father can be seen in her facial features.

### Appearance

While Mavka never took very good care of her hair, she was disappointed when most of it was burnt off; many **Isalduans** pride themselves on their long, well-maintained hair. She was able to keep two long locks that frame her face, which she now keeps braided; she cut off the burnt locks of hair, leaving the rest of her hair about neck-length and just as wild as ever.

She prefers to wear dark greens, golds, ambers, dark browns, and occasionally royal purple. Mavka tends to wear sturdy, functional, layered clothing, with lots of pockets and places to put trinkets like flowers, rocks, and plant cuttings. Often there will be dirt under her fingernails and on her clothing, and bits of twigs and leaves in her hair.

Distinguishing features may include Mavka’s height, as she is rather tall for an elf, and a necklace made of amber and leather that she always wears under her clothing. Currently she has no distinguishing piercings, but she bears a tattoo of the Emblem of the **Amber Order** just below her left collarbone. In addition, though almost always covered by long robes and sturdy boots, Mavka has a prosthetic leg made of enchanted redwood.

## Abilities

### Proficiencies

#### Skills

Mavka has proficiency in the skills Arcana, History, Medicine, Nature, and Perception. She learned a lot about Arcana and History as an apprentice to the **Aerister Sages**, the keepers of Isaldul's vast library. She learned about Medicine with her apprenticeship to the **Faenyathal healers**. Perception and Nature were skills taught to her both by her family, the **Valkalyns**, and the **Wuthani foragers**.

#### Armor and Weapons

After finding evidence of Ara's herd slaughtered in the woods, Mavka took an unofficial apprenticeship with the **Akhrua warriors** to be able to better defend the forest she so loved. They taught her how to use light armor, medium armor, and shields, in addition to a plethora of weapons. Mavka is not particularly skilled in martial combat, preferring to fight with magic.

#### Tools

During her apprenticeship with the **Wyness musicians**, Karaa taught Mavka how to play the flute. It's the only musical skill she's maintained throughout the years. Mavka also learned how to use an herbalism kit during her apprenticeships with the **Wuthani foragers** and **Faenyathal healers**.

#### Languages

Mavka learned Elvish, Common, and Halfling in primary school when she was a little girl. Later, during her apprenticeship with the **Aerister Sages**, she learned how to speak, read, and write Sylvan. She gained the ability to speak, read, and write druidic when she completed her initiation ritual to join the **Circle of the Forest**, but then lost it when she was exiled.

### Druidic Magic

#### The Trial

Mavka joined Isaldul's **Circle of the Forest**, a group of druids sworn to protecting the forests of Isaldul and all its inhabitants, once she had finished her apprenticeships. In order to be initiated into this Circle, she had to survive on her own in the **Deepwoods** for five years. She was not allowed to bring anything but the clothes on her back; no tools, no food, no water, nothing. This process is supposed to weed out those who are unable to live in harmony with the wildest part of nature, and those who are not willing to lay down their lives for the forest; once you have begun the trial, you must either complete it or perish in the woods.

Most of Mavka's time was spent foraging, crafting, and meditating. At one point, she found a species of bioluminescent moss, which she crafted into a glowing white ink and gifted to **Karaa** for her white-ink tattoos when she returned from the forest. Other than the moss, the only things she brought back were the very tattered clothes on her back, her staff, and newfound druidic abilities.

#### The Mirgilden

During the aforementioned trial, Mavka began creating her staff, **Mirgilden**. At the beginning of the trial, she found a large amethyst shard lying in a creek-bed, which gave her an idea. She spent the next five years tending to a carefully-selected young redwood tree. Using makeshift tools, she embedded the amethyst shard into the top of the tree trunk as she would with a bud graft, but left the face of the amethyst exposed. The tree naturally sealed around the wound as it grew, framing the amethyst in its bark.

This young sapling symbolized Mavka's connection with both nature and magic; at the end of her five years, it became physically magical, acting as a spellcasting focus for her budding druidic powers. Mavka used the spell **Druidcraft** to carefully separate the staff from its roots, and to keep it alive. The staff, though made of living wood, needs no roots for nourishment to stay alive, and instead gets the energy it needs from the magic that Mavka imbued in it in a mutualistic relationship. This energy is just enough to keep it alive, but not to grow. Were she to die, so would the staff, unless it was replanted, in which case it could resume growing as a normal tree.

#### The Initiation

Once her trial was complete, Mavka made her way to the **Standing Stones**, where she had been told the rest of the Circle would be waiting to finish her initiation. She proved her worthiness and success by showing the Circle the staff she had spent her years carefully crafting. Under the light of a full moon on the Autumn Equinox, she was initiated into the **Circle of the Forest**, swearing to lay down her life in defense of Isaldul's forests from any threat they might face.

After her oath, Mavka laid on the stone altar in the center of the Standing Stones; the rest of the Circle gathered around her and began a ritual to help unlock and solidify the connection that she had built with nature magic over the course of her five-year trial. This ritual was based on the belief that in order to protect the forest, you must understand it; to understand it, you must feel what it feels. Mavka was put into a meditative trance, where the three **Elder Druids** influenced her dreams. Lines of bright green light connected their druidic focuses to her head, hands, and heart as she dreamt. When she had experienced the three dreams, she awoke more connected to the forest than ever.

#### The Burning

In Mavka's first day as an adventurer, she accidentally burned down the **Davelwyn Woods**, an ancient, sacred forest which harbored the ancestors of the elves. This was sensed by the Elders and other druids of Isaldul. Mavka figured that they would know, and was hesitant to return to Isaldul for this reason. However, after Mavka's Doppelganger infiltrated Isaldul, she felt it was necessary to return home and try to stop her. Upon arriving to Isaldul, she was stopped at Auril's Pass and told to meet the elders at the Standing Stones.

She arranged for the other party members to stay at her family's home in **Salyava'trea**, while Karaa accompanied her on the journey. When they arrived at the **Standing Stones**, Mavka gave her flower crown and her other possessions to Karaa, then entered the circle while the stones floated and spun around her, nothing but the clothes on her back and the staff she worked so hard to create.

As the Elders entered the circle, the stones began to spin faster; the skies darkened into a swirling mass of purple clouds, and a whirlwind spun the stones even faster. The platform began to levitate, glowing with turquoise light, as the Elders approached her, staves in hand. After discussing the Davelwyn Woods and the Doppelganger, they asked for Mavka to turn over her staff: she gave it to them. When she said she would accept whatever punishment they saw fit to give her, the Elders told Mavka that she would be facing the judgement of **Tyr**, not theirs. They left the platform, leaving her alone in the midst of the whirlwind of stones and violet clouds as a crowd looked on.

Mavka was overcome with sudden fatigue; the dread and guilt that had lingered in the pit of her stomach weighed her down. She felt herself being lifted into the air by it. There was a flash of green lightning that struck her midair, and nothing remained in her place but a small flame, suspended between the spinning stones. Those watching didn't know what had just happened; the party thought she had just been killed.

Mavka had been transported to the Davelwyn Woods. She felt the burning of the graves and the trees and everything in the forest; she became fuel and ash and flame. The pain was excruciating. She felt the forest crying out around her. Through the chaos, she heard a voice, presumably Tyr's: "Are you willing to change?" Barely able to speak through the pain, the best Mavka could do was scream "*Yes!*" In her mind. The pain suddenly stopped growing; it began to ease slightly.

She opened her eyes to find herself in a pit of ash. She was covered in it, made of it, part of it. Skeletonized trees loomed above her, backlit by a sky made of fire. When she sat up to examine her surroundings, she saw that one of her legs was missing from the top of the thigh and below. Panic rising in her throat, she looked around wildly. It was just her and the dead trees and a sky on fire.

"Is anyone there?" She screamed. In response, she heard Tyr's voice in her head again: "Not yet. Not anymore. This is your chance."

With another flash of green lightning, Mavka reappeared in the circle of the Standing Stones, completely covered in ash. The Elders looked surprised that she had returned alive. One of them returned her staff as she struggled to stand on the platform. She was able to hold it together for a couple seconds, but was once again overcome with a burning pain. She collapsed, and various medics rushed to lift her onto a gurney. As they began treating her, she passed out. She didn't wake up for another two days.

#### The Ashes

When she did wake up, she had been given a prosthetic limb of enchanted redwood. Besides the pain in her leg, she felt a deeper level of pain, like part of her was missing. She could no longer feel a connection with the forest; she just felt ash.

Later, when she was back home and everyone was asleep, she attempted to cast Druidcraft to make a flower, but the it just turned to ash in her hands. In addition, she no longer had the ability to understand the Druidic language. She is still able to wildshape, but her wildshape form misses the same leg that she is missing.

## Personality and Beliefs

### Ethics and Morality

As a **druid**, Mavka respects the natural world and will attempt to care for and protect it as best she can. Her complete failure to do so in the **Davelwyn Woods**, when she accidentally destroyed the entire forest, has made her less sure of herself. She planned on returning to the **Ancient Graveyard** where **Navis Pubella** dwelt in an attempt to help heal the forest, but after returning to Isaldul and experiencing Tyr's judgement, she would like to never return there again.

Like most druids, Mavka believes that aberrations, necromancy, and the undead defy the natural cycles of life and death, and should be stopped. However, since nobody particularly close to her has died, this belief of hers remains mostly unchallenged, and she hasn't put much thought into it.

Mavka was raised in a place with no formalized concept of leadership; everyone had equal say in the goings on of where they lived and any matters that pertained to them. She doesn’t really understand why anyone would choose any other style of governance, and assumes they’d all be rife with corruption, such as the townsguard in **Modale** or the law enforcement of **Onotara**. Her interactions with **Queen** **Sophya** have given her a better picture of how the rest of the world works, but overall she may still be prone to have a problem with authority, especially if that authority is blatantly abusing its power.

### Religion

The Valkalyn family have worshipped the goddess **Chauntea**, the goddess of agriculture, for countless generations. She is their family's primary deity, but not necessarily the only one. As farmers, craftsman, and druids, through the generations the Valkalyns have taken many goddesses and gods as their patrons. These may include **Auril** (goddess of winter), **Eldath** (goddess of peace), **Lathander** (god of birth and renewal), **Mielikki** (goddess of forests), **Mystra** (goddess of magic), **Oghma** (god of knowledge), **Silvanus** (god of wild nature), **Talos** (god of storms), and **Belenus** (god of sunlight and warmth).

Mavka puts her faith in the forces of nature and the predictable cycles that nature has perfected. Part of her faith means ensuring that those cycles are balanced, both in the world around her and in herself. She doesn't exclude gods from her worship, but she does favor the goddesses **Chauntea**, **Mielikki**, **Lathander**, and **Eldath**, who are aforementioned, in addition to **Milil** (goddess of music and poetry). Mavka does not worship them regularly, but she thinks they represent important aspects of maintaining a natural balance.

After her encounter with **Tyr**, Mavka has a healthy respect for (fear of?) the goddess. She believes Tyr could easily have left her to burn alive for all eternity (time is an illusion), and is grateful that she was given a second chance. As such, she has decided to incorporate Tyr into her personal pantheon.

### Fun Facts

* Never learned how to read maps. She thinks you should be able to get all the information you need from observing nature. This would be understandable if she was a good tracker, but she isn't.
* Can't swim. She figures if she ever needs to, she can just wild-shape or cast a spell, so why bother learning?
* Every time Karaa dies, she gets a little more unhinged.

## Relationships

### The Amber Order

#### Gossamer Lunala

Gossamer was the first member of the party that Mavka met. She first noticed the ranger stalking her through the streets of Modale, after Mavka had tripped over a bucket and found a letter inviting an unspecified recipient to a "Dinner of Adventurers", hosted at the Gray Manor. Initially, due to her own naivety, Mavka assumed Gossamer was harmless; in an attempt to make a new friend in a strange city, Mavka invited Gossamer to come with her.

Later, worried by the sinister side of Gossamer's past, Mavka became paranoid that Gossamer's unique skill set could put her or her Valkalyn family in danger. After visiting the Volk Clan and learning more, Mavka apologized for badgering Gossamer about her past when she should have left it alone. Mavka still worries about it sometimes, but she's saved Gossamer's life and Gossamer has saved her life so many times she's lost track; she figures that if Gossamer was going to kill her, she's had plenty of opportunity. Maybe her first impression was right after all.

When the Amber Order was in Isaldul, Mavka's father, Silas, revealed that the Denzel family were related to the Lunala family, making Mavka and Gossamer cousins.

#### Caeli

Mavka respects Caeli and her connection to the Force. Mavka doesn't know much about the Jedi way of life, but having grown up appreciating the forces of nature, she can see the virtues of such a practice. While Mavka doesn't strictly worship a particular pantheon or practice, she is open to other methods of spirituality, and would like to discuss the Force with her if given the opportunity.

She is getting used to Caeli's impulsivity, especially after having lived a relatively slow-paced, relaxed life with other elves. At first, when Caeli showed this impulsivity at the Gray Manor, incurring Medusina Gray's wrath, this made Mavka worried for Caeli's safety. However, after witnessing Caeli in combat many times, Mavka knows that the air genasi can take care of herself.

#### Helio

Mavka greatly values Helio's moral compass; in her eyes, he has been the most steadfast member of the group. Even though he lied about his identity, which briefly shook her, she still has an innate trust in Helio. Frankly, she's embarrassed that she didn't realize he was lying about his identity sooner.

She is worried about the state of his mental health after his encounter with Tannivh. Though she still wants to trust him, she is also wary of him. Even though she was able to dispel the magic that kept the ring on him, she is unsure of his loyalties and whether or not he is aware of them.

#### Travis

if caeli got to adopt a dog why cant i </3

### Family

#### Atara Valkalyn

Mavka's family are the **Valkalyns**, whose name has been passed down from mother to child for generations. They are traditionally farmers and gardeners who use falconry as an effective method of control over small pests. Mavka's mother, **Atara** (“crown”, 442 years), is a gardener who tends the permaculture farms that her family has kept for generations, and that Mavka was set to inherit. Their farm is called **Salyava’trea** (“Sweetberry Grove”) in Elvish but is also known as **Appledore** in common. These are the gardens that the Isaluanna’s bees forage from to produce their exquisite honey. This means the Valkalyns work closely with the Isaluanna, and the two families have been close for generations. The Valkalyns also assist other families in growing food, lumber, fabric fibers, and magical and medicinal supplies.

#### Silas Denzel

Mavka's father, **Silas Denzel** ("of the forest" and “from the high stronghold”) became an honorary member of the Elori woodworking family through his skill. Silas was an adventurer for most of his life before finding Isaldul. When he was young, his entire village was wiped out by unknown assailants; after that, he searched for signs of remaining family and tried to track down the perpetrators for years, but found nothing. He eventually came across his niece, **Aurora Denzel**, who had no memory of what had happened that day nor what had happened since. Determined to find a safe home for her, he adopted her and brought her with him on his travels, and eventually they found Isaldul. There, Silas met and became enchanted with Atara, and decided to settle down. Mavka was raised on tales of her fathers adventures, but he never talked about the parents, siblings, or other family he lost. She doesn’t even know their names.

#### Siblings

Mavka is the firstborn in her family. She has two younger siblings: her sister **Tasa** ("running water") and her brother **Faen** ("life"), who are not yet old enough to have chosen their adult names and are currently apprentices. Tasa mostly takes after their father in appearance, having long blonde hair, golden eyes, and only faint hints of green beneath her skin. She began her concurrent apprenticeships to the Isaluanna beekeepers and the Wyness musicians a few years ago; she loves every second of it, and is constantly surrounded by flowers and honey and music. Mavka started teaching Tasa a little bit about druidcraft before she left, and Tasa has kept up the practice since then.

Meanwhile, their brother Faen is about an even split between both parents. He has light brown hair, light green eyes with gold flecks, and has more undertones of green than Tasa. He is dutifully apprenticed to the Faenyathal healers, and is training as a medic. In his spare time Faen likes hunting with the Thraenfal. His previous apprenticeships include the Wyness musicians, the Elori woodworkers, and the Kelythael equestrians. Faen acquired his warsteed around the same time that Mavka found Ara, and together the siblings trained their mounts. Since he hasn’t had much of a chance to actually fight, Faen takes his buckskin stallion **Quarlani** (“spirit”) on hunting trips.

Though they’re all spaced about twenty years apart, Mavka had a good relationship with her younger siblings. Faen is studious and hard-working, and he looked up to Mavka a lot, especially when they were younger. She helped him find his path as a healer. Tasa, too, loved her older siblings, but found her own path quite easily as the most confident and self-driven of the three of them.

#### Extended Family

As for extended family, while Silas’ only known living relative is his niece Aurora, Atara’s family is still around. Her mother is **Iona Valkalyn**, a retired gardener, and her father is **Eivor Aerister**, a wise scholar, both of whom spend their days in Vandorythe’s extensive library. Atara’s sister, **Sylmare**, has two sons named **Gaelin** and **Aeson**, who are both married and have two small children each. Gaelin is married to **Thessalia Elori**, and their childrens’ names are **Bryn** and **Eryn**. Aeson is married to **Lyra Wyness**, and their childrens’ names are **Alanis** and **Elaith**. They all live in the main farmhouse in Appledore and help out with the gardens and greenhouses.

### Childhood Friends

Mavka found herself a group of friends for life when she was very young, not even fully grown. **Aurora Denzel**, Mavka's cousin, is far older than she was, but they were close nonetheless; Aurora is like an older sister to her. **Niava** (“joy”) **Wuthani** and Mavka met in primary school, and bonded over their interest in nature. **Karaa** ("loved") **Wyness** joined them later, after she was adopted by the Wyness family.

This group would often aid each-other in their educational pursuits, whether that meant spending days in the vast library of Est’Faelas doing research, delving into the dangerous **Deepwoods** for a botanical sample, traveling miles to a lecture or performance, etc. They also took the time to have fun, often visiting Springvale for a relaxing getaway, camping by the **Moonstone Pond** or **Emerald Lake**, having picnics, celebrating various holidays and festivals, etc.

#### Niava Wuthani

**Niava Wuthani** is a sage, zoologist, and fellow druid, from the foraging family. She’s a wood-elf with very dark brown skin, and fairly long and tightly-curled black hair, who prefers to dress in dark blues and golds. Niava left Isaldul before Mavka did, seeking information relevant to her studies about the animal kingdom. Niava is the most extroverted, friendly, and spontaneous of the group.

#### Aurora Denzel

Then there is **Aurora Denzel**, Mavka’s older cousin. Aurora stays in Isaldul, where she feels safe, and helps out wherever help is needed to keep herself occupied. She has a scar over her damaged left eye, and another on the bridge of her nose, neither of which she remembers getting. Though Silas doesn’t like to recount his family history, often finding it too painful, he did once mention that Aurora’s parents were his brother, a high elf, and his sister-in-law, who was a dark elf, resulting in Aurora’s lavender eyes and darker skin tone. Aurora is older and more cautious than the others, and takes the place of the mom-friend of the group.

#### Karaa Wyness

Lastly is **Karaa** (“loved”) **Wyness**, a dark elf who was found alone and orphaned as a child, adopted by the Wyness bards and musicians. She thrived under their care and has become a talented musician and artist. Karaa has dark, almost-black skin, that is a color somewhere between gray and blue and violet. She has long white hair and piercing turquoise-blue eyes. She has white-ink tattoos on her arms and face that glow in the dark, which she designed herself, although Mavka provided the glow-in-the-dark ink after an otherwise unfruitful excursion into the **Deepwoods**. Karaa also has a faint scar over the right side of her mouth, which the Wyness family found her with. She has developed into a carefree and go-with-the-flow kind of person, just happy to be included. Mavka and Karaa were in a relationship and lived together for a few years before Mavka left.

As they already had a decades-long friendship, their relationship was built on mutual respect, affection, and camaraderie. They encouraged each other to pursue their respective careers and helped each other along the way. Karaa encouraged Mavka to go with the flow and take opportunities as they arose, without worrying too much about plans. Inversely, Mavka helped Karaa streamline her goals and gain an idea of what she’d like to accomplish in the future. They were at ease when they were together, comfortable with silence just as much as laughter. When Mavka decided to take a “gap year” and see what the world had to offer, Karaa graciously supported her. Not knowing how long Mavka would be gone, the two decided it would be best to put a hold on their relationship until she got back. Before returning to Isaldul for the first time since Mavka left, they got back together.

## Education

### Primary School

Isalduians spend their first twenty five years in primary schools, learning basic skills, various languages, and occasionally rudimentary magic. This is where Mavka learned to speak, read, and write Elvish, Halfling, and Common. She also learned other basic skills, like math, Isalduian history, biology, and some other sciences, but learned no magic at this age.

### Apprenticeships

Mavka took several apprenticeships during her adolescence. These include the following: the Kulaafi Bakers, the Wyness Musicians, the Faenyathal Healers, the Wuthani Foragers, the Isaluanna Beekeepers, the Aerister Sages, and the Valkalyn Farmers.

During her apprenticeship with the Aerister Sages, Mavka became fluent in Sylvan. During this apprenticeship, at the encouragement of her grandparents, **Iona Valkalyn** and **Eivor Aerister**, she decided to undergo initiation to become a druid. This process was outlined earlier.

## Timeline

Mavka was born in mid-autumn, during Isaldul's three-day **Harvest Festival**. Her birth to the Valkalyn family at this time was seen as a good omen, a precursor to her success as the heir of the Valkalyn farmers and foresters.

She began attending primary school at age five and stopped at age twenty, as is customary of most Isalduian children. This is where she met **Niava Wuthani**. The two became fast friends, getting into mischief whenever they could and bonding over their love of nature. Mavka was interested the **Wuthani's** knowledge of plants and foraging, while Niava was obsessed with the **Valkalyn's** falconry.

When Mavka was around the age of thirteen, her cousin **Aurora Denzel** began serving as a mentor at the same school; she came as the mentor to **Karaa Wyness**, a new student struggling to adapt to a different life. When Aurora introduced them, Mavka and Niava were happy to take Karaa under their wing, and they became lifelong friends.

By around age twenty the trio were all fully grown, though they had another eighty years until they would be considered adults. This is when they began their apprenticeships and started exploring career options. With their newfound freedom, they were able to explore Isaldul, research any subject their hearts desired, and learn any skill you could want. Aurora began joining their escapades at this point.