The main idea was for my character to have a sigma to overcome. First though was uncle/brother who joined the darkside i.e. joined voldemort or the equivalent. Since the setting outside the university is generic and undefined, I have decided to simplify it and bring the stigma inside.
My character is a female half-human, half-drow elf. Everybody knows that drows are slavers, worshippers of the spider-demon
Lolth and ruled by females with an iron fist.
Her grandmother is the drow queen,
Zylarra Nyrazzrin, in a section of the Underdark
The queen has 3 daughters—first one,
Velrith, the crow princess. The second,
Xilrae, the high priestess of Lolth, and the third daughter
Aerynn, was the rebel. This third daughter had a child with a human male adventure
Caldan Marrick
Velrith and Xilrae recently staged a cue against Queen Zylarra, but their attempt failed. They were subsequently exiled, and the third daughter is now the crown princess. This is a very unhealthy environment for a halfbreed to be in, so her father Caldan, pulled some strings and now she arrived at Misthaven before the start of the semester
The sun was shining brightly over the sprawling green fields of Misthaven, a place unlike anything Kiraen Nyrazzrin had ever known. The vast expanse of blue sky seemed to stretch forever, a stark contrast to the eternal twilight of the Underdark. Everything here was vivid—the colors, the scents, the sounds—almost overwhelming to someone who had spent much of her life in the shadows.
Kira adjusted her dark sunglasses, the only barrier between her sensitive eyes and the sun’s unyielding brilliance. She found herself wandering near the edge of the academy’s sprawling gardens, where a weathered older man tended to a bed of luminous golden flowers. He wore a wide-brimmed hat, a vest full of gardening tools, and a perpetual expression of calm wisdom. This was
Boothby, the groundskeeper of Misthaven and a fixture of the academy for decades.
Boothby noticed her hesitant approach and offered a kind smile.
Ah, you must be the new arrival. Miss Nyrazzrin, isn’t it? His voice was warm and gravelly, like the earth he so lovingly tended.
Kira nodded, her lips forming a faint smile in return.
Just Kira, she corrected gently, her voice soft but tinged with uncertainty.
And yes, that’s me.
Welcome to Misthaven, Kira! Boothby said, setting down his trowel and brushing dirt from his hands.
How are you settling in?
She hesitated, then sat down on a nearby stone bench.
It’s… different, she admitted, her fingers playing with the edge of her tunic.
It’s so bright here. And open. It feels like I’m exposed. But it's also beautiful.
Boothby nodded thoughtfully, his wise eyes studying her.
It can be a lot to take in, especially if you’re used to something else entirely. But Misthaven’s a good place to find your footing. What brought you here, if you don’t mind my asking?
Kira glanced at the flowers he’d been tending, their golden hues reminding her of something distant and untouchable.
I didn’t have much of a choice, she said quietly.
My aunts tried to overthrow my grandmother, the queen. They failed, of course, but… the aftermath wasn’t good for someone like me. A halfbreed. Now my mother is the crown princess and everyone wants to gain favor or influence.
My father thought it would be safer if I came here. He graduated here as a bard years ago.
Boothby’s expression softened, and he nodded for her to continue.
It’s not like I’m not grateful, Kira added quickly, her voice growing firmer.
I know this is an amazing opportunity. Misthaven is one of the best places to study magic, and I… I want to be better. I want to prove that I’m more than just a reminder of my family’s failures. But it’s hard. Everything feels so new, and I feel so… small.
Her voice faltered for a moment, and she lowered her gaze.
And then there’s the other thing, she admitted, almost in a whisper.
When people look at me, they don’t see me. They see a drow. They see evil, slavers, demon worshipers, and tyrants who rule with iron fists. I’m afraid my fellow students will never see past that.
Boothby sat beside her on the bench, the scent of earth and flowers surrounding him.
Change is always hard, Kira. It shakes up who we think we are and forces us to see what we’re capable of. But you’re here, and that’s the first step. The light may feel harsh now, but you’ll find your way to stand in it.
Kira looked at him, her brow furrowing.
How can you be so sure?
He chuckled softly, his weathered face crinkling with the motion.
Because I’ve seen it time and again. Students come here from all sorts of places, carrying all sorts of burdens. The magic of this place isn’t just in the spells and books, Kira. It’s in the growth it nurtures. And something tells me you’re going to grow just fine.
She stared at the golden flowers again, their petals swaying gently in the breeze.
I hope you’re right, she murmured.
Boothby rose, patting her shoulder lightly.
Give yourself time, Kira. You’ve got a spark about you, and I suspect you’ll find it’s brighter than you think.
As he returned to his gardening, Kira sat quietly, her mind turning over his words. The sunlight still felt too bright, the world too vast, but for the first time, she felt a flicker of something new. Hope.
Last edited January 5, 2025 9:56 am
