Daughter of Gold

[Satyrdays 222]

 

Spoiler

 

A link to her spotify playlist (if it works):

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6k3IE1JXZcRDKAWWjFV6nx?si=dfa1de9db5e64fbc

 

 

Born the 52th year of the Second Age.

 

Danika was born from a love affair between Gildroc Goldhand and Dagura Ireheart.

Her mother abandoned her soon after her birth to live as a free spirit, her father raised her by himself.

She didn't even know anything about her mother until she was much older, often hearing the joke that she came from her father's beard.

 

One of the few girls in Urguan, Danika didn't have friends. She had uncles, many uncles.

Torsun Goldhand, a distant cousin. Sigrun Ireheart, her father's friend.

Alaric Grimgold, a more distant cousin. Rylanor Goldhand, the clan father in her youth.

 

 

Lonely. 

 

Danika was so lonely within the slumbering mountain. 

Her friends would be her books, and, oh, she had many 'friends'.

Hours and hours of reading, totalling to years worth of wasted time.

 

Alone. Daydreaming.

 

She would make stories in her head when she ran out of books to read. 

Princes and princesses solving the tricks of dastardly beings, saving their loved ones, reunited and happy in the end.

A prince finding a princess, happily ever after.

 

Happily ever after.

 

Danika dreamed of a happy ending all her life. A prince to sweep her off her feet.

She never knew the comfort of having friends, but, gods, did she wants to know the comfort of family.

 

She wished she could write her own books. And she did. She wrote a singular book, over seventy pages.

It was never published.

 

--=+=--

 

The first loss.

 

A memory now hazy to her due to her young age at the time.

All she remembers is seeing her father leave their home one last time, the usual goodbye, the usual kiss to the top of the head.

The next, she's being told by Torsun and Sigrun that her father is dead.

 

She was told he shaved his head in shame and killed himself.

He never said goodbye.

 

What was she supposed to do?

Gildroc was all she had.

 

She became the ward of Sigrun Ireheart.

One day, on one of the many days she went to visit his grave...

A ghost puppeteered his corpse in front of her eyes, jeering at her.

Mocking her.

She dreams of his rotting body moving jerkily often.

 

The Second loss.

 

Her entire clan was ashamed. 

Labelled traitors.

 

Torsun left. Ran off to the humans.

Banished.

Rylanor was killed.

Executed.

 

There was no one left to lead.

 

Clan mother, the youngest in history.

 

She didn't have a choice. Either she takes up the mantle or her clan falls apart.

Whispering in her ear was her 'uncle' Alaric Grimgold.

In the other ear, the banished Torsun Goldhand.

 

Only a little girl, used as a puppet.

She couldn't make her own decisions.

She couldn't possibly try.

 

She gave up, of course a little girl would; returned to the protection of her adoptive father.

It was then she learned of her mother. Of the fact she was abandoned.

 

Inevitably, Danika returned to a world of make believe.

 

Alone. Daydreaming.

 

--=+=--

 

It was years before Danika returned to Urguan, leaving her home, what had become her entire world.

On her first few days back, she saw old faces, familiar faces.

Yet, she didn't see her 'uncle' Torsun. She assumed him banished once more.

 

Fate, it seemed.

 

It was the 173rd year of the Second Age.

She happened to meet a Grandaxe girl and the two spoke of books.

The two of them approached the first dwarf they saw, asking where the library was.

Thurgrim Silverbraid.

 

He led them to the library.

Though Danika was standoffish and cold, he made an effort to talk to her.

He was different from the dwarves she had known before she hid away.

 

Charming.

 

Immediately, Danika set to making him the prince of all those stories she used to read.

Her cold persona shifted to something open and friendly, something she hadn't been in decades.

She was the one to ask 'do you want to talk over a drink?'

 

At that very same dinner, or drink, together, Thurgrim learned she was a Goldhand.

Immediately, he made her aware of something she had missed.

 

--=+=--

 

A massacre.

 

Her entire family. Murdered.

Everyone.

Gone.

and...

Torsun did it.

 

.

..

...

 

There was nothing she could have done.

 

The last of her clan, a young dwarf named Grimni, took up the mantle of clan father.

It was just the two of them left.

Them, and Torsun. Out there. Somewhere. Hunting.

 

Danika tries to focus on the task at hand, not the loss of her clan.

She supports Grimni as best as she can.

 

When he comes to her with a plan for revenge, she can't possibly convince him to do otherwise.

 

Revenge.

 

He planned to trap Torsun in a pit of all places, lured by the artefacts of their clan.

It worked, somehow.

Torsun, now a husk of a man, made of metal, fell into the pit, yet he seemed unharmed.

Through the gabs in the walls Grimni spoke to him.

Through the gaps in the walls Danika spoke to him.

 

He barely spared her a glance, dismissing her.

She only chuckled, too weary to try and get a explanation out of him.

Nor closure.

 

It was a rough night.

Wrought with night terrors, memories, traumatic scenes from her childhood.

 

--=+=--

 

Moving on.

 

Thurgrim was there for her.

They had their first date in the Halfling Shire, overlooking a lake and wheat fields.

The sun shone down on them, making his red hair almost appear golden.

She hadn't smiled so much in decades.

They just talked and talked.

Just like she dreamed.

 

A happy ending.

 

They had been together for seven years before he proposed.

It was the 180th year of the Second Age. Danika returned from travelling to find out her partner had become the new Grand King.

She never thought she could be a Queen. Never. Shocked would be an understatement.

Of course, Danika was upset at Thurgrim for not telling her.

Yet, he distracted her.

By bending the knee and asking her to be his wife.

 

Danika had always dreamed of being a wife to a charming prince.

Reality instead brought her a charming Grand King.

They were the first married within the new temple of the Grand Kingdom.

As King and Queen.

 

The ceremony was sloppily done, to be truthful.

Danika had to give her entire ancestry as the officiator had mixed her up with another in the books.

But it didn't matter. Because, no matter what, it be a statement of her love to her husband.

 

Grand Queen of Urguan.

 

The few years Thurgrim was Grand King, it felt like there were constant problems.

It didn't last long, like most Grand Kings seem to do.

 

When Thurgrim chose to step down, he was interceded and deposed only moments before he could post his own announcement.

A grave insult, a slap to the face for the work he had done.

Danika didn't love her underground home anymore, especially not with her first child on the way.

She didn't want them to be as lonely as she was in her youth.

These combined with the return of her 'uncle' Torsun Goldhand, somehow pardoned by the new Grand King and allowed to roam freely, formed the hard decision to finally leave their home.

 

They decided to go to Númendil soon after Danika had her first two children.

Twins, Zoriya and Devana, two baby girls. Red haired and hazel eyes.

In Númendil her daughters were able to socialise and make friends their own age, like Danika never could.

 

Zoriya was a sociable handful while Devana was placid and quiet.

Danika loved her daughters deeply, though she had trouble showing it.

She's always had trouble with things like that.

 

When her youngest daughter came, this fault hadn't been fixed.

Morana, strawberry blonde and green eyes. Adventurous, wildly so.

Another bigger handful than their eldest.

Thurgrim was left most of the work while Danika retreated, once more, into a world of fantasy.

 

Not alone. Daydreaming.

 

--=+=--

 

Danika died on the 12th of Grand Harvest 196 Second Age, aged 144.

A loving wife. A mother of four.

 

She had woken up like usual, walked down to find her husband and youngest daughter outside their home.

An old friend of Thurgrim's was at the door. They exchanged a brief conversation before Thurgrim pulled her away to talk.

An update on the situation in Urguan, affecting his clan.

In truth, Danika was more focused on things affecting herself.

She cut him short with reassuring words, holding his cheeks as she always would.

"Ye'll be fine."

"I love ye."

A quick kiss and she went to speak to Morana.

 

Danika could admit that she hasn't been the most active mother.

It was never something she really pictured herself as, so she didn't acclimate to the role easily.

Realising this, Danika wanted to spend time with her youngest daughter.

Get to know her. Bond.

 

While they walked along the road out of Númendil together, stopping at times to talk...

A figure approached.

 

A demon.

 

"I need more souls... Lets see how the average dwarf measured up."

It hissed sinisterly, brandishing a spear, pointed in their direction.

 

Without a second thought, Danika withdrew the sword her husband had given her and stepped before her daughter.

"Average?! I am above average at least!"

She yelled to the demon, making a joke in the face of grave danger.

"Go. Run. Find yer father."

She whispered to Morana, watching the girl run away.

 

As soon as she turned back around, she was dead.

There was no way in hell that Danika could ever win that fight.

 

In other words,

her death was inevitable.

 

--=+=--

 

Her body, rendered without a head, was brought back to Númendil.

Straight to Thurgrim, the love of her life.

Shocked into silence, all he could ask was for her to be moved to the clinic.

There, she was draped in a pure white cloth, her hand left in the open.

Once full of the warmth of life, Thurgrim holds her cold hand.

It takes everything in him not to break down.

 

Her daughter, Morana, had witnessed her death.

She was brought to the clinic and saw her mother's covered body.

Only once Danika's corpse was moved elsewhere did she run to her father.

Clinging to Thurgrim's leg, he's forced to focus on comforting his youngest child as opposed to his grief.

 

He takes her hand in his and spoke softly to her,

"Ah'm here. Ah'm late- But ah'm here... Ah kept moi promise tae you."

"Ah jus' wish it wasn' at th' cost of breakin' another."

Running a thumb over her knuckles, remembering the warmth of their last interaction.

"Ie love ye too, Dani."

His voice threatens to break.

"Ah'll never forget you. Or yeh gettin' angry with me... Or any of those times weh spent together."

 

They return home.

Thurgrim cleans off the diamond necklance he made for her all those years ago, taken from her corpse.

And he gives it to Morana. Something to keep her mother close always.

And he takes the wedding ring he made. Something to keep his wife close always.

 

And that is the end of Danika Goldhand Ireheart Silverbraid.

 

Spoiler

This was so sad...

I've played Danika for over 2 years now, 144 weeks total, since she was 5. It's been a journey watching my character grow, make connections, make her own family, and, even if it was a stupid ass death, it was so heartbreaking/heartwarming to watch the aftereffects.

It's always nice to know that you character has affected other character's stories in some way.

Thank you all who interacted with her and made her story more interesting.

 

[Tav 4336]

Spoiler

 KILLED BY AN INFERI AHHH U MADDD 😝😝

 

[Satyrdays 222]

guys i dont know how to get rid of page breaks so pretend youre reading a book idk..... mreow :3c

[confusedjester 811]

Morana stood by the aviary, staring down at a blank sheet of paper. She stared off, confused, almost. Lost. She didnt know what to write, or if she could even send it. She affixed her empty gaze onto her mother's diamond, which rested on her chest. Guilt panged her brow. Hundreds of thoughts had been coursing through her brain, but one, horrifying sound of her mother's head being crushed, pulverized underfoot, remained stagnant in her mind. Her eyes were dry. She had no tears left to spare. Was it all her fault? Had Morana just wanted to stay in Numendil, would her mother still be here?

[RianNeverfield 149]

Aerrund read the letter of Danika's passing in silence, he could feel rage building, something he thought he controlled so well for many years. No words were said as he locked his doors, took up his blade and set out to the white city. He had many thoughts running through his head, but this was not the time, he just wanted to be there for his family.

[CharlestheDwarf 184]

The Silverbraid home remained dark, silent, and dimly lit. Gone were the days that passed in mirthful warmth, evenings spent around the dining table sharing stories and lessons, hushed talks in times of need and support. Instead, what replaced it was the coldness of a broken home. A family that had its heart violently ripped from its chest, and stamped upon the ground.

Thurgrim lay across the large bed in his room, swollen and darkened eyes boring holes against the ceiling. Rain had drizzled outside, and all the dwed could feel in that moment was how empty everything felt. The meaningfulness of every motion, every glance, every desire within his heart had been snuffed out as readily as that of a candle having burnt too low. It was as though the very want to exist had become troublesome to consider... 

 

And yet, there was little else for him to do besides carry on. For his clan. His daughters.
The most recent promise that had been made to his wife.
 

He reached out across the opposite side of the bed, grasping for something within the darkness that all but a vain hope told him would not be there. All that was found was an empty mess of curled sheets, and an agonizingly familiar scent that he knew would only fade with time.

 

Nothing he ever felt until this point in his life could compare to this new reality of his.
This truly was...

Suffering
 

[Scatmanpro 275]

Bromdor would read the paper carefully, some parts a second time. In between paragraphs he paused. "Nae wayeh.... Nae wayeh yer fook," he'd mumble every now and again. When he was finished reading, he put the missive aside and closed his eyes. For a while he sat there, motionless, thinking about everything. About the Goldhands most importantly, and about his own family aswell. 

"Yer shuuld hab been dead w'en yer wer attacked en t'ae squareh," he mumbled, eyes still closed. "Yer shuuld hab been dead w'en yer killed yer ferst Gold'and..." Bromdor slowly opened his eyes. He looked to the veins of crystal far above his head, glimmering like stars in the dim light. "Oi didnae nae yer..." He would pause for a while. "But yer wereh ah Gold'and," he'd continue. "Torsun, t'at maniac, 'as been roamin' freeh fer wayeh tuh lon' alreadeh, 'eh 'as killed tuh maneh ah foineh dwed." he shook his head as he uttered those last words, before shooting a prayer to the Brathmordakin up above and strolling aimlessly off to a place unknown to even himself.

 

Spoiler

Oocly: this has to be one of the pest PK posts I have ever seen, really good job! Really immersive, if everyone on LotC rp'ed like this this would be a better world 😭

 

Edited September 1, 2024 by Scatmanpro

[D3F4LT 1026]

Somewhere in the world, an exiled dwarf by the name of Nagorain would shed a tear upon hearing the news of Danika, her death severed his last connection with this world, for he no longer had friends. She was the last friend he had to perish, yet their was a sense of comfort for her defiance to protect her child, which ensured her spot in Kaz'a'Dentrumm where she would enter the halls of the ancestors. To that he toasted his ale and drunk himself silly surrounded by no one else but rams.

 

"TUMUN-ZAHAR DANIKA!" 

[The Tough Guy 4319]

Sigrun 'Undeadslayer' Stonehammer would retreat to his home, clad in the robes of the High Preceptor he wept. 

His daughter, albeit not directly had died and he hadn't been there to protect her. In recent years had the Hero of Dungrimm turned more wise - calmer and collected. The younger years of violence behind him.

After a scream of pure anguish was heard in The Grand Kingdom did Sigrun leave his home - no longer clad in robes, but in the full-armour in which he had fought so many battles clutching the courage-infused head of a demon he had previously slain in his left hand.

In his right was a gladius wrought out of pure carbarum, holy white flames cascading the blade furiously, full of Ire.

"Korth kavok khrum mer karaz thas vengryn - olkodran kavok mer neeft."

 

Spoiler

For people that know dwarven:

"They will all be enduring my vengeance - nothing will be left."

 

[Lesha 126]

The Anbella's Hand Rogneda Starbreaker read this letter. "Oh nae! She was such e sweet woomah, Ah wonder w'at will 'appen tae her children and her husband? Oh Anbella bless t'em fer e long life and save th' children frem e similar fate!"  She said a short prayer and continued to prepare the medicine. "W'at awaits us all a'ead?" she muttered at work.

[ThatFunkyBunch 2818]

A fiend stares blankly into the pockets of spaces. Perhaps in another life, Ke'makia Qua'req would have sympathized with the blight of the woman. Mindless slaughter in its wake. Though Ke'makias fate was one etched in stone, yet not so tangible-

 

For what had been a mother, and her daughter was another collection to the strength of Kiel Vuakudah; this creature without empathy. Chasing a vision it carries bound to the arm of dying traces. Days when mortals spoke, nature did listen. 

 

In the tongues of men, they call this creature Demon. In the drabble of the gods, where language overlapses and collapses, they call these creature the Inferi. The Demon Amongst Men. 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2024 by ThatFunkyBunch

[Wulfric 472]

i avenged this

[Starlight 46]

Somewhere deep within the mountains, a lonely dwed sat.

Hands in her lap and head held low as the tears slowly fell over her cheeks.

Blonde messy braids falling over her shoulders, as she reminisced about the birth of her daughter.

 

It had not been long since she had returned to society and Urguan as a whole, learning of her Daughter's life; and passing in the same hour. Her heart silently tore apart. Being unable to have given her the life she had wished, but secretly prayed for. Dagura had been sick, scared of harming her Children. Going away was her thought of safety, leaving her precious gem in the hands of the one she thought capable. Only now learning, that not only her precious Daughter had lived a life full, Grand Queen and Mother of her own- but that Gildroc had passed aswell. 

 

She could only pray that whenever her life would end, she would rejoin her precious kin and could only wish for their forgiveness.

''Oh. . . Danika, fate has done you unkindly. I had wished so much better for you. I apologise my child'' Dagura Ireheart softly whispered to the winds. ''I pray you can forgive me when we meet again.''