Valhana
The War Poet
The War Poet, a grand inspiration for the Woodland elves.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Valhana was of slim build, but well muscled from her life spent among the hunters path. She could ascend a tree as swift as a bear, with the stealth of a squirrel.
Body Features
Valhana had a large scar on her left arm from when she fell from a horse and the arm broke badly enough to puncture the skin.
Facial Features
Valhana had soft features, not as angular or sharp as many of her kin. her face was round without the common trait of high angled cheekbones.
Identifying Characteristics
Valhana eventually dyed a streak of her hair red, in remembrance of the fallen hunters she walked with.
Physical quirks
Valhana reportedly snorted when laughing too hard.
Apparel & Accessories
Valhana wore the simple garb of an Elven Huntress for many centuries until she was gifted a Mithral Shirt by her Dwarven friend Einnar.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Valhana was born to the nomad tribes of the Elves, into the house of Ulagwyn who were primarily hunters, gathers, and scouts. Valhana is thought to be more a myth than an actual person these days, the Sya'Nau libraries were destroyed making it impossible to verify the stories. Regardless, Valhana's tale is one shared quite frequently among the Wood Elves. Valhana, or the War Poet as she would later come to be known, was born amidst the many skirmishes between Dwarf and Elf following the end of the wars between Dragon and Giant. Valhana was often scouting the edge of the forest and even beyond the treeline to keep watchful eyes upon the Dwarves who greedily sought to destroy their woodland realm for their fires. Valhana was often seen riding Pegasus when the great beasts allowed her to, the feeling of flying above all the troubles of the world was a gift Valhana enjoyed as often as permitted. She was a free spirit above all else, while Valhana took the defense of the forests as seriously as any other Elf, she did not commit to the role with such vigor that it robbed her of her joy of life. Elves rarely traveled in large groups when patrolling the forests, those who walked the path with Valhana often spoke of the elves curiously joyful personality while they hunted Dwarven intruders. Its unclear if Valhana was taught by friends in the Groves or if she simply had a talent for it, but she had a love of writing poems and sonnets about the world around her. While this wasn't against Elven traditions, it was uncommon for one born of one house to dabble in the arts of another. This caused tensions between the Elders and Valhana, though the War Poet never disrespected the council of Elders. Valhana eventually was given her own hunting lodge to serve as an outpost to keep closer eyes upon the treeline, not a punishment but certainly a means of controlling the young elves curious hobby. This didn't stop Valhana's writings from reaching Mythnara, but it seemed to be the last time the Elders attempted to cull this break from tradition. Unknown to the Elders however, Valhana began to approach the Dwarves without the intent to kill, slowly earning their trust over centuries until they accepted her and the few hunters she had brought to their fire. Its here that the first bonds of friendship were forged between Elf and Dwarf, which eventually brought and end to the constant skirmishes between the two peoples, thought this wouldn't end hostilities entirely for generations to come. Valhana served her people faithfully, and aided in the starting the first negotiations to end conflict between the Dwarves and Elven people shortly before her return to Umeran.
Sexuality
Valhana never married, thought its rumored she had taken both men and women as lovers and even a dwarf if the most outlandish of tales is to be believed.
Education
Valhana would have most likely been trained by her family and house in the ways of the forest, hunting foraging and walking unseen among the undergrowth and canopy.
Employment
Valhana served as a way-finder among the Ulagywn for her life, training new Elves and protecting the treeline from Dwarves and any source of corruption.
Valhana also became a popular poet in her time.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Valhana served her house and her people faithfully until her return to Umeran, while also publishing a number of small works in the field of poetry. Valhana was one of the stepping stones that led to peace between Dwarves and Elves following her return to Umeran.
Failures & Embarrassments
Valhana didn't look upon her failures and embarrassments, simply as lessons to be learnt from. when kicked from a Pegasus she refused to stay down in the mud.
Intellectual Characteristics
Valhana watched and observed before fully speaking her mind, to those she did not know well it seemed as if she was quiet and introverted though this was far from the case. Once Valhana knew what she wanted to say she spoke it loudly and quite often, one of the reasons she eventually became such a close friend to the Dwarves was her somewhat abrasive nature.
Morality & Philosophy
Valhana didn't view killing in the same light as her kin, she didn't find it an ugly necessity rather a simple fact of nature. The panther wasn't evil for killing the fawn, just as the Dwarves weren't evil for wanting timber for their fires.
Taboos
"Never kill with hate in your heart, then its just murder. We're hunters here, when you kill you should smile."
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Valhana served her people, in the role her House was given by Umeran himself as was their tradition, and never had grand or lofty ideals for the world around her.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Valhana could write beautifully constructed poems and sonnets, given enough time. She had difficulty producing her poems with any kind of speed.
Alignment
Chaotic Good
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Life
1994
2789
795 years old
Circumstances of Death
Returned to the Soul Tree Umeran
Children
Eyes
Hazel
Hair
Shaved, save for a single tightly wound warriors braid of black hair.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Copper
Height
170 cm
Weight
59 kg
Quotes & Catchphrases
"They fall like snow when struck by an arrow, its a beautiful thing. Sure it stinks once you're up close, but from a distance its soft and gentle and that reads better." Valhana when asked about a poem called Snow in Summer.
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