Delshara Dharlen, Queen of Seria and High Priestess of Light
Delshara Dharlen was an only child, the daughter of two wandering clerics. Their names were Shanadra and Branleth Dharlen, poor like all preachers, but enlightened, and not minding the cold nights on the road if it meant they gave comfort to the weak, shelter and food for the poor, and hope to the disenchanted. They were steadfast and firm in their beliefs in the goddess Selanna Remois, the Mistress of Fortune and Light. Giving and forgiving, they nevertheless never grew disheartened with the empty, or even sometimes hostile, stares from whomever they sought to convert. The young Delshara saw the hostility, and out of concern for her parents, trained instead as a paladin of Selanna. She knew her parents would never concern themselves with such mundane matters as safety, as long as they saved innocents from walking the dark paths. And so she trained diligently, finding that she had talent for both swinging a sword and speaking gently to those even of views far darker than her own.
During the year that Delshara was seventeen, her parents travelled again, far beyond their regular tour of believers and unbelievers alike. Coming upon a house of (what they believed to be) gentlefolk, though of dark views, they set out on their usual speech of tolerance and forgiveness in Selanna. Unfortunately, their hosts did not take well to such talk. Shanadra and Branleth's gentle admonitions angered them, for the bandits (such as they were) disliked the secret guilt their lifestyle had fostered in them. And so, they drew their daggers, and killed them.
The news slowly wended its way to Delshara, who was living with a neighbor while her parents were away. Still in the middle of preliminary training, she herself grew angry at the senseless deaths. It was only with convincing from the selfsame neighbors that made Delshara stay, instead of hunting down the bandit gang. "You would not be serving Selanna well, would you, if you had revenged their death... They would not have wanted that." And after hours of haranguing, the tired Delshara had to agree. They would not have wanted that. And so, because she had not a relative in the world, she moved away from the village she had called home for seventeen years. On the road, alone, she decided to make the long journey to the main city of M'dhoria. She had no ties, no links.. It mattered little where to go now. Sword in belt, and dressed in the poorest leathers, she walked, alone, to Seria. Where anything could happen...
She found good rooms in the city and sought the favor of her parents' goddess, Selanna. Goddess, please make me worthy of your grace.. she prayed, day after day, for she was a truly pious person. For days, she sat in front of the shrine, until Selanna, clothed in shimmering white, came to her in a vision. She heard the young girl's story and smiled, granting her her mark, that of Selanna herself, emblazoned in white light upon her forehead. It was a very proud moment in the girl's life, for it meant that her goddess held her in her favor, and loved her truly.
Gradually, the lonely girl found ways to occupy herself: by training with other folk like herself, and by making friends when she could. Being alone, she realized that knowing people could possibly be her salvation, in times of need. Among those she counted as friends were Alera Telaar, whose interest in Saint Brenton caused a resurgence of the Order of Knights that was named after him, and Drayco Silverwind, a roguish wood elf whose childlike manner touched the young girl deeply. Though she at first felt she could love him, in time, she found that she could not return it with the same depth that he professed. This turned out to be the only romantic attachment that she would ever form in her life. Hedrias and Chrisin Shu were also among those she counted as allies in battle. As she grew in rank and power within the paladins' guild, she never forgot the teachings of her parents, and healed all those who came with wounds, regardless of whether they asked for her aid or not. She was also part of a group that sought to save a defenceless healer, Amethyst De Arr, from being sacrificed to Sativa. It was this gentleness that earned her the attention of the gods, who were also interested in appointing a guardian for the city. Delshara, who had been entitled Protector of Fortune and Light, was renamed Duchess of Seria. The girl was astonished by this rank, as she always remained humble and true to those roots, but nevertheless strove to acquit herself, despite the demands of a womanhood that she never really came to terms with. Her awkwardness persisted, though she presented a calm and brave front, even during the invasion of Baal's demons into the city. The internal turmoil persisted even when she was exalted to Queen of Seria and High Priestess of Light. As her rule grew into being after centuries of monarch-less rule, this was quite the historical event. Dargon, Selanna's successor to the faith of the light, had bestowed this additional sign of favor. Already under considerable stress, the girl simply gritted her teeth, and continued on with the tasks that had been placed upon her frail shoulders.
To hide her uncertainties, the new Queen went into a flurry of changes. Her manner of dress became quite rich and ornate, lapped as she now was with fame, exchanging hard armor for velvets, silks and jewels. Construction for a new Palace went underway just to the north of the city. As head of the Guard, she also took it upon herself to appoint new Guards and to enact new laws. It was under her rule that the law about selling permits came into effect, banning anyone without a purchased permit to sell their wares within the city limits. She also sponsored an anthem contest, to encourage patriotism amongst her citizens. Because of her new rank, as Queen, Priestess and now Legend of M'dhoria, she found herself demanding the respect she felt she was due. This caused a controversy: after all, a relative stranger had been proclaimed Queen, and the people were not used to having to bow, or to nod, when she entered a room. The Queen herself withstood the storm with her usual outward calm, though her heart was grieved: she felt that her people should not hate her, for what kind of ruler would she be if she caused hatred? But the dislike did fester, and that underlying impression remained engraved in the minds of some for a long, long time. There were those that did still like her despite her rank, but for the first time in the girl's life, she had to deal with open dislike, and she did not relish it in the least. At least she had expert help: Dracolus, she had appointed Captain of the Guard, and Hedrias, who she had named Lord High Protector of Seria, were on hand to keep her sane during these trying times. She had little leisure, but she was still able to speak often to her newly returned friend Alera, who had disappeared, then reappeared with severe amnesia. Regaining Alera's memory became a major focus of her spare moments, but this she did not count as a burden.
Then the storm over the statue flamed into being, and Delshara found herself even more pressured than ever. A sword belonging to the statue in the central square of Seria was consistently stolen, sometimes under her own eyes, or those of the Guards. And every time, no trace of the thief could ever be found. It would have taken quite a skilled rogue to spirit away a heavy sword, especially from the clasp of a statue more than ten feet high. But, regardless, the thefts continued. Sometimes the sword would reappear, and relief would be restored, but it would be as quickly stolen again. The Queen had absolutely no idea of how to catch the thief, or thieves, as they were never spotted. She suspected that it was meant only as an annoyance, perhaps a gesture of defiance at her, but indeed, it was working. This persisted for some time, the Guards growing more agitated at why, indeed, the Queen did not seem to take positive action. Perhaps by issuing death orders against suspected rogues? But Delshara could not find it within herself to accuse those against whom she really did not have an ounce of proof.
It soon became moot, however. Whilst walking down South Street, unattended by her bodyguard Dracolus, she was suddenly accosted, and hit from behind with a cosh. The force of the blow caused her to collapse in the street, unconscious. Rushed to the healers, she had little chance; events had caused her to fall behind on her regular training, and her resistance was further weakened by recent events. She died within a week, the impact having caused massive head injuries. Curiously, she had left instructions for no funeral, only a simple burial in the sands near the Naiadian Sea. She had wanted only solitude in death, in contrast to the hectic pace of her life as Protector, Duchess, Queen, Priestess and Legend, and she indeed found again the peace she had known as a girl.
After her untimely and sudden death, her bodyguard Dracolus was named King of Seria, and finished the palace that Delshara had never been able to see, or live in. Her assailants were never found, though it was first thought that it was not an assassination attempt; merely, that it was a disgruntled citizen's displeasure, gone horribly awry. Theories abounded on this for some time. An incident which did not fit this conclusion was the death of a young enchantress-bard, Alisande Ce'Drona, who claimed to have witnessed the attack on the Queen. She was found in the northeastern corner of Seria, raped and beaten. A note was found, pinned to her lifeless corpse, reading, "This is what happens to tattletales." No further investigation was ever conducted, though neither Delshara's nor Alisande's murderers were ever heard of again.
Last Modified: December 26, 2000