Character Sketches - Darian


This girl is my main campaign character. Darian is a half-elven fighter/thief/mage. She is mischievous and raw. Her only saving grace is a beautiful physical appearance. With jade-green eyes and brown hair, Darian is a slender temptress. And at some level, she knows this, playing on mens' weaknesses. She is not evil (her alignment is CN) but loves to cause trouble and tease.

This is a profile of Darian. It shows a half-elven ear, which Darian always tries to hide. She is rather self-conscious about her elven origins because she was raised in a human town (the village of Halica is small and has mainly humans and dwarves).

The above is a sketch of Darian in Sorin's lab. Sorin was appointed as the Hawkwind Ducal Sorcerer. He is one wise, powerful dude. The perfect "father figure" for Darian. This is a scene just after Calidor "dropped" Darian. When this happened, she cried a lot, and later came into Sorin's lab to weep for real. Sorin tries to ignore Darian and her antics, but often he helps her with wise (often cryptic) sayings.

This is a fighter's stance that shows her with her longsword "Balisarda". It's not an intelligent weapon, but it is +3, so we named it. Lately Darian has been focussing on fighting, and has neglected her spell-casting so much that she has lost the ability to cast 4th level spells. She rarely carries her spellbook and some characters often feel she is overconfidently putting the party at risk.

Darian's Name Analysis

What follows is an analysis of the name Darian, and a discussion (between me and a friend) of how accurate it is, compared to my actual character. The name analysis came from this link. I have placed the analysis in quotations and italics.

"Your name of Darian makes you easy-going and refined,"

I don't think so.. she is NOT easy-going. Refined? Hah!

Very much so. Darian is as high-strung as they come. I think she would LIKE to be refined, but doesn't make any attempt to do so.

"but detracts from your physical vitality."

Nope. She's pretty energetic.

"You desire all the finer things in life--lovely clothes, home, furniture, and environment."

Okay, this is true. Like, say, a castle?

Yep. Darian has "greener pastures syndrome," whatever she has is not good enough. She is rich, but not as rich as Rand. She has a castle, but it's not big enough by her standards. It's not that she doesn't have a lot, it's that she doesn't think she has enough to satisfy her. She never will: every time she has something, she has to have something bigger and better.

"However, procrastination is your worst enemy,"

Maybe. Definitely at the beginning of this last adventure.

A recurring problem, IME. Darian has a certain tendency to dawdle, especially when there is time pressure. It has a lot to do with being so easily sidetracked.

"and you find yourself lacking the ambition to make your dreams a reality."

Yeah, this sounds pretty close.

Yes again. She wants everything NOW. When she finds out there isn't instant gratification, she drops things quickly.

"People are inclined to take advantage of your sympathetic, tractable nature."

Um, sympathetic? I wouldn't have described her that way. I don't even know what tractable means, but it sounds wrong, too.

Tractable means easily led or controlled. Darian is not a follower, but can be duped. Look at her reaction to Garrick: he flatters her, and she's putty in his hands.

"You naturally attract people with problems who seek your understanding and advice."

Actually, she REPELS people with problems, and ATTRACTS people that are doing just fine, and screws things up!

"You can give good advice although it is unlikely that you would follow it yourself."

Probably true. Except for the 'giving good advice' part.

"You would be most successful in situations where you can use your skills in diplomacy in handling people,"

This advice is downright dangerous!

"...but where you are not under pressure or required to carry responsibility and make decisions."

This part sounds so true.. like something Calidor would say.

"It is difficult for you to be individual and make your own decisions, for you lack self-confidence."

Is it a confidence problem? It's so hard to get into her head.

It is hard. Is she overcompensating? She seems overconfident a lot of the time, but tends to panic when things go against her.

"Your desire for sweet, rich foods could cause overweight, circulatory problems, or weakness in the kidneys."

Yeah, I can see her indulging herself.

Hee hee. True, I always sort of saw her as a bottomless pit. She's got such a high metabolism that she rarely gains weight. I cannot see her restraining herself from indulging in anything.

Panther - jiriss@yahoo.com
Last Update: December 28, 1998