Berkana (prime)
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[[Category: Dark Elf player characters]]
Berkana LeJardine Faendryl is a dark elven sorceress and devout follower of Eorgina. She resides mainly at House Brigatta in Wehnimer's Landing, where she serves as Matriarch. She also maintains a small tower in Ravenswood and a studio at Villa Brigatta on Teras Isle. She has a fondness for chocolate and bad men. During a two-year turn as shira'qa to Talinvor Vorrith, she learned how to master her psaltery, compose songs and prose, dance to delight the eyes, tantalize the senses, and perform with aerial silks. Sometimes, you can catch her entertaining at the tavern of the Black Iron Chalice.
Superficially seemingly pleasant, Berkana does carry a quiet reputation for having a sharp tongue and being intolerant of fools. Despite her general indifference, she does often travel to the Rift and Sanctum of Scales to take pity on the dead and animate them. Roses and the hue of nightshade are often two themes that identity much of her wardrobe, which she frequently changes.
History
Born in Eorgaen 4623, Berkana escaped from indentured servitude with an Eorgina caravan, a band of gypsies that had kidnapped her when she was five-years-old. She took up residence in Wehnimer's Landing in 5096, and has been a member of House Brigatta since. She has never been married, and has had a scant handful of long-term relationships, including her two years as shira'qa (pet). She often shied away from centrist politics and shunned some of the zealots, like Chaston Griffin, and other nefarious denizens, save for a moment in 5117 she was a link to the mind of a girl, one of three Ithzir-touched children, the most infamous of whom was named Rodnay. The memory of that incident still lives within her, surfacing at times in restless dreams.
Berkana was high priestess of a cult called the Circle of the Grey Moon, loyal to Eorgina, around 5100. During that tenure, she discovered the writings of High Priestess Moriane saVere, and inspired by them, created three rites she continues to perform, most notably, the annual Rite of Dedication. One day, after a particular egregious acolyte once again disrupted a rite with demands to be elevated, Berkana gathered up her ceremonial items, handed them off to a promising initiate, inducted her as a high priestess, and wandered off for a period of seclusion and worship. During an invasion of vathor in Ta'Illistim, she watched dispassionately as the city burned while she sipped wine, a small smile playing upon her lips, knowing that her Queen would delight in this turn of events.
Relationships
There are few men that have kept Berkana interested. She was in the company of Cosgrave Temaraire for about two-and-a-half years, which ended in 5106. There was a very brief fling of a few weeks with Picler Ralduvian before his untimely disappearance in 5112. She engaged in some mild flirtations since that time, until she met Faendryl Aurach Moonshadew in 5114. Their two-year relationship ended in the spring of 5116, and she left his home in Ta'Illistim to return to the Landing, where she met Talinvor Vorrith, a Dhe'nar. After several weeks of trying to tempt him, she asked to become his shira'qa, and spent another two years by his side until he released her in Fashanos 5118. There is only one man who has ever captured her heart, and he's been in and out of her life since late 5097. Beyond that, casual encounters are exceedingly rare, as delight without some lasting affection is unrewarding and unsatisfying.
Appearance
As of the 16th day of Lumnea in the year 5119: She has very long, luminous frost white hair pulled up into a slick ponytail and spilling from a topknot to cascade down her back. She has a high-cheekboned oval face and delicate upswept pointed ears. She has a curvaceous figure, sultry kohl-lashed silver-limned venom green eyes, and flawless ivory skin. She has full, sensuous lips tinted a pale rose hue and micaceous abyss black patina brushed onto her perfectly manicured fingernails.
She is wearing a long shadow black leather jacket with a carved obsidian wild rose clasp, a flowing sheer black rose-patterned lace chemise cinched with cinereous silk below the deeply cut neckline, a thin black leather thighband, a pair of thigh-high black lace rose-patterned stockings, and a pair of tall night black snakeskin boots with twisted vaalin heels.