Donovan Brisingr

P-Brayn

**Donovan Brisingr** is a Human Paladin and follower of Pelor who was a member of D.W.A., as well as a main character of the first campaign.

## Description

### Appearance

Donovan is a heavy armored warrior. He stands at 6'2" and has well kept hair. He was almost always seen wielding a two handed sword during his time with D.W.A. Much like the other melee fighters in the party, he is a big, athletic, freak of nature.

Though wounded horrifically at various points in his adventures, his healing properties have kept his body mostly clean of any terrible scars or lingering wounds.

### Personality

Donovan started his adventure as the only holy person in the group, and attempted to preach his ideals and morals to some more chaotic party members. He is quick to upset, which brought amusement to many people he met on his journey. He is confrontational, and quick to point out when he disagrees with another character. He was also known to be a little awkward, as seen with his interaction with Elandorr's wife.

While often used as a target for jokes from the rest of the party, Donovan was quick with a joke or quip of his own.

Donovan has at times questioned his own morals/alignment but managed to stay fairly true to his good nature and devotion to Pelor.

## Biography

### Background

Not much is known about Donovan before he joined D.W.A. He found himself at the doorstep of the Temple of Pelor in Durnhold when he was taken in by Brother Yetki and trained to be a Paladin.

### Campaign 1

#### Part 1:

Donovan was in a tavern in Westwend, participating in a drinking contest, when the town was split in half from the ground. He grouped up with the other adventurers in the tavern to fight off the Duergar attack. Afterwards, he agreed to go to Lantagos to warn them of the attack.

His early engagements with D.W.A. were dominated by negative confrontations with the outgoing and chaotic Creamus. In Lantagos, Donovan stood up against Bart the Brave for his poor treatment of prisoners, specifically, Creamus.

During the Siege of Lantagos, Donovan joined the defences and was nearly killed by a Stone Golem.

#### Part 2:

After the battle, Donovan, Delver, James and their new companion, Henry, set out to Donovan's hometown of Durnhold, to warn them of this invasion. Donovan was consulted by Delver about his shield of the Raven Queen, which concerned Donovan at the time.

After meeting with Admiral Stonesail, the party ventured into the Underdark with their guide, Talice. Donovan fought a Duergar caster in single combat as part of a fight against the young dragon that they had encountered. Despite Donovan's questioning of their plan, the party managed to free Aldrem and fly out of Markkud, unscathed.

Learning of the threat of Rythis, the party knew they had to continue to stop this threat to humanity.

The party returned to Lantagos, where they were captured by Windomir Creamus. Windomir took great pleasure in torturing the party, specifically Donovan. He attempted to force his hand to kill either a couple, or their child. When Donovan refused to take an innocent life, Windomir killed them himself. It was in the prison where they would meet Markus Greycastle, a baker who had been possessed by a demon. Donovan was extremely uncomfortable with the demon's presence, as it had taken a notice of him and used him as a target of its focus.

After escaping, the party deals with another dragon in Remsdale. While in the forest, they were attacked by several Vine creatures, one of which managed to get a vine down Donovan's throat into his stomach. He brushed it off as merely a disturbing event to happen during an encounter. They continue on to the Elvish city of Gallehil, where they meet Elandorr Revara. He teleports the party back to Durnhold, where they are able to set up a meeting between the two cities. Afterwards, the party sets out on the seas to head to Fleeport, in an attempt to stop the pirate attacks on the coast, at least while Rythis is attacking.

After a series of crazy encounters in Fleeport, and a successful bid to stop the raids against Durnhold, the party decided to head to Burnsley.

#### Part 3:

While in Burnsley, Donovan met up with Brother Yetki at the Temple of Pelor. After meeting with his fellow followers of Paladins, the demon's focus on Donovan finally came to a head, as Markus cast blight on Donovan in the middle of a busy street in broad daylight. At first it seemed like an attack against Donovan, but he ended up vomiting out a vine monster that had been growing in his stomach since the encounter in the Lucent Mire.

Donovan, now free of the vine monster growing inside him, joined the rest of the party in returning to Durnhold. There, they met with Stonesail and Elandorr, deciding that they would head into Lantagos to kill Windomir. They were joined by Verne, a Paladin from Sleburgh, after Donovan antagonized him, accidentally bringing him into the party.

During their travels, Verne fell in love with Donovan, and made many romantic pushes towards him. Donovan rejected him for the majority of the journey, until they were left alone before the assault on Windomir's throne room. Donovan shared a kiss with Verne, accepting that if he felt anything, he would follow those feelings. He claimed that it changed nothing, and Verne agreed to back off with his courtship.

The party killed Windomir and fled Lantagos as Rythis soared above them. Along this trip, Verne believed that Donovan was giving him mixed signals, and was untrue about his feelings towards him. This caused them to get into an argument at the Lucent Retreat, which resulted in Verne storming off and leaving the party.

Donovan later took part in the defences at the Battle of Durnhold. After their success, the party continued on in search of the wounded Rythis, to finish him once and for all.

D.W.A. found him at the Ruins of Cerulle and killed him, saving the world from his invasion. During the celebration at Durnhold, Donovan was reunited with Verne, who both apologized for his previous behavior, and expressed his thanks to Donovan for helping him grow as a person.

## Relationships

### Verne

Verne and Donovan had a strenuous relationship from the start. Donovan started off antagonizing Verne, and indirectly led him to join D.W.A. on their quest to defeat Windomir. During their travels, Verne became convinced that Donovan was playing "hard to get" and began questioning if he was attracted to him. In Verne's own, confused way, he began to attempt a relationship with Donovan, which resulted in many rejections.

The two of them shared a moment alone before their final fight with Windomir, where Verne convinced Donovan to kiss him to see if he felt the same way. Afterwards, when Donovan claimed that nothing changed for him, Verne agreed to back off with his advances.

Once the party was in the Lucent Retreat, hiding out from Rythis' potential retaliation, the two got into a heated argument over their perceived "relationship". Verne believed he was being given mixed signals, and Donovan insulted him, resulting in Verne's prompt exit from the party.

At the final celebration in Durnhold, Verne returned and wished Donovan well. He apologized for his behavior and thanked Donovan for helping him realize who he truly is.

### Dundin Rarchibald Creamus

Donovan and Creamus never got along while they were travelling companions. They would argue constantly, derailing the group's focus. It came to a head when Donovan struck Creamus and was shot in the foot with an arrow as was promised. Once Creamus was arrested and mistreated by the guards, Donovan disregarded his personal feelings to stand up for what he thought was an abuse of justice.

When Creamus returned, saving the party from Rythis and turning the tide of the war, he and Donovan didn't have any problems with one another. Possibly due to their own personal growth in the time spent apart.

## Character Details

### Role

Donovan was a utility member of D.W.A. He filled any combat role required of him. He was able to dish out damage, help the party with healing, and other support spells, and would occasionally draw focus of the enemy as a tank to take focus of off Delver.

## Trivia

* Donovan appeared in every single session, a feat only shared with Delver Fudgeson.
* As a Paladin with healing spells, Donovan was the only member of D.W.A. capable of filling all three combat roles.
* The last name Brisingr is taken from the series Eragon.
* Donovan made more death saving throws than anyone else in the the party, as he was knocked unconscious the most, but never killed.