Raven

The character of Raven - crucial yet less dominant character in Dante's story, at least not until much later on. She is almost a hint for the later part of the story.
She is pagan-type character, a child of nature and full of humour and good spirits. However, there is a vengeful side to her which is revealed when she is abandoned by the father of her unborn child.*

She has smooth weather-tanned skin and deep brown eyes, has a strong and slender frame. And long straight black hair that shimmers like raven feathers - hence her nickname. It is not her actual name but one she uses as she travels far and wide along with a performing troupe. She is a dancer and a fortune teller (although she believes that most predictions of the future are folly and just for show). She was the child of a travelling woman also, and her mother died when she was only young so she had to learn quickly how to use her skills. She is resourceful and multi-skilled, a seamstress and also a keen hunter and worked hard to escape poverty. But found herself a stable lifestyle due to her beauty and youth as a performer.

She meets Dante a few years after he had left home - after Leon's death as he is travelling around to escape from the valley. He came across her when looking for work, offering his services as a handy man. Dante is turned away mostly due to his slight stature and sickly appearance even though he insists he is strong and a hard worker. Raven notices him as he struggles to find work, strikes up a conversation with him and then, after looking at him deeply in the eyes, asks why he is so far from home. Dante feels instant trust for her for unknown reasons, maybe he feels she too has a life she is leaving behind. (persecution as a child due to accusations of her mother as a witch). They connect instantly due to the magical qualities shared and the intense understanding.
The two seem to talk easily and she offers him a warm meal and somewhere to stay. Dante gratefully accepts - the two stay up all night talking about the world, Dante feels a sense of comfort that he hasn't felt for a while. He remains with her for ??? and she asks him to join the troupe, he could be a stagehand. But Dante refuses, he says he is looking for something and does not feel it is here. Raven says that Dante will always be seeking if he lives in fear. Why do you think you can escape this life? It glues itself to you, you need to accept it and transform. Feels Dante is a lost cause and will not be persuaded to stay.

Raven is unashamed and vibrant, confident and intuitive. But also fiery and a fierce defender. Indigo child.
Very much the opposite of Dante. She senses the pain and deep fear in him. But also the need to create destruction in his wake.

Eventually the two part ways and Raven wishes Dante luck. Kisses him on the cheek before they both depart.

The two meet many years later, long after Damien and after Dante loses Rosella.
Raven brings about Dante's salvation in the most unlikely way.


Raven loves Dante. She loved him from their first meeting. But it is not reciprocated. 
Dante's true love was Rosella, and nothing could be compared to her after her death. 


AKA Diana
Raven - lively, wild-spirited, fiery, expressive, loyal, wise, uninhibited, intuitive, confident, fierce.
Appearance - smooth weather-tanned skin, a strong and slender frame, deep hazel brown eyes with flecks in them (glow almost like animal eyes at night), long straight black hair that shimmers raven's feathers, oval face with sculpted facial features and dark expressive eyebrows.

TIMELINE:
- Born to a gypsy lady (quite elderly) who brought Raven up on her own. Her mother named her after herself but nicknamed her Raven. She had always described Raven as her miracle child.
- Raven was introduced to the travelling life from the very start - enjoyed the nomadic lifestyle.
- Raven and her mother travelled frequently with a troupe of performers/craftsmen so they could get work in the towns around the valley. Her mother realised Raven had magic in her from a young age, and gifted her with her grandmother's scarf as a token of her family legacy and also protection (Raven's great grandmother was a mage). Every child for the past seven generations had been a girl - and gifted.
- Raven's mother was shunned by many people due to rumours of her practicing witchcraft. She had always taught Raven to be unashamed of her powers but wary of misunderstanding and fear.
- When Raven was about 10 years old (?) her mother fell ill and Raven had to take care of her. Her mother knew that she was going to die so asked an old friend in the troupe to take Raven on.
- Raven had shown talent as a dancer from very early on and, even though she was young, she was already a popular stagehand. She also was skilled as a seamstress and very resourceful.
- When the time came for Raven to say goodbye to her mother she grieved terribly and for a long time - isolating herself in nature for days at a time. But this pain was eased by the fact that she always felt a connection with her mother wherever she went - in the very natural world around her. This was also where she developed her connections strongly with creatures.
- [As Raven grew so did her talents - both as a performer and a white witch. She even became the main attraction as she was attractive and a theatrical dancer. Raven frequently wrote plays and stories for the performers and made a name for herself.]
- At the age of 12 she met Dante and his presence created new feelings within her. She felt a deep-seated love blossom for him, one she had not felt since her mother's death. She also felt an affinity with him as they both possessed magical insights. But Dante was greatly haunted by his "gifts."
- Raven teaches Dante about nature and the shows him magical places - her secret pool, green glades and caves. She attempts to show Dante the beauty of the nature in the valley but his view is completely tainted by the horrors of the Town.

Raven's downfall

Raven performs with the travelling troupe for a long time into her adulthood. The expressiveness of the work and the opportunity to travel everywhere appeals to her.
On one travel to a particular town (name) near the north peak of the valley, their performances are well-received and they decide to stay for a few days.

Scene: Raven is drinking in a tavern, she enjoys the company of others - but she sits away from everyone, observing. She has perched herself on a low beam arch in the corner, her legs are stretched out and her boots are touching the opposite beam. A fellow performer remarks on Raven's odd position and she smiles merrily. There are many men in the tavern jostling as Raven watches. A lot of them make comments towards young women present, some not completely polite - Raven grimaces and then chuckles. She is so engrossed in observing that she doesn't notice someone approach - she only is aware of their presence when she feels a tap on the boot of her dangling leg.
She starts and pulls her leg back. Just below her a young man stands - he has dark brown hair and light green eyes and stands particularly tall. She also quickly notices that he has a light pink scar over his lip and up his left cheek. Composing herself defensively, Raven asks calmly, Yes?
You dropped this. He responds with a wide smile. He holds out a small scarf and Raven recognises it immediately. She reaches for it swiftly and wraps it around her neck, then recovering says, Sorry, it is just very special to me... Thank you, she gives a small smile back.
You dropped it by the door, I knew it was yours as I saw you wearing it during your performance. 
How foolish of me, I must have not been paying attention. Raven shakes her head, then asks, Did you enjoy the show?
Yes very much! I have never seen anything like it around here. And we rarely have any entertainment as it is.
Well we have all been doing this a long time. Raven says sitting up slightly, a humorous smile on her lips. We like to offer a bit of theatrics to each town we visit. 
I love the stories you acted.  

We create the stories as we go. 
Really? What gives you ideas?
Oh everything. Just travelling around, meeting people and learning. 
It is wonderful that you get the chance to create something so different, so unique. Raven nodded, a little overwhelmed by this man's interest. Well I am glad you enjoyed it. 
Can I get you a drink? 
Raven hesitated, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly - so subtly that it was barely noticeable. Raven had always been careful; she was a happy participant in social situations but never really partial to placid gestures of others. However she felt warmed by the strangers kind words and attractive demeanour enough to accept the offer.

After spending a while to get to know each other, Raven becomes romantically involved with the young man. They have an exciting and deep romance - Raven learns of the man's difficult past (soldier) and his hardships and in turn she opens up to him. He  is energetic, fiery and masculine as well as being quick humour (but also anger) - has a great intuition but isn't an indigo child like Raven. Raven makes the decision to stay with him in the town while the troupe move on.
Despite Raven's usual skill of reading people, she is fooled by this man as his strength of character fades and his devotion is tested. Raven is fiercely independent so does not notice his shortcomings at first.
A few months pass and Raven finds herself pregnant and her partner panics and rejects her. He does not wish to have a family - he cares about Raven but this is not what he wants from life; he has ambition and goals he wants to achieve. He confesses this to Raven after weeks of being distant. Raven is left distraught but also livid.
After a argument he leaves Raven, telling her that he never meant to hurt her but he didn't ask for this. Alone, Raven collapses in tears. She scalds herself for being fooled and laments over the struggle of raising a child by herself. She tries to regain contact with her own troupe but they don't want her anymore - she is burdened with child and, despite their long history, they blame her for her own troubles.  They turn their back on her.
Raven is now lost and feels as if her heart will break but it does not - instead she feels a burning sense of fury, an indignation at being abandoned so cruelly. Then in her anger she curses the father of her child - the source of her pain. She finds a strand of his hair and formulates a spell. She carves his initials into a red candle and calls upon the goddess Hecate(?) and places a dark hex on him and ties a knot. Cord magic. 
Much later she regrets this, having calmed down but the spell has been bound. She decides to leave the town and find work as a seamstress. Later discovers that her ex-partner was killed in a sudden horrible incident.*  Raven is terrified and devastated - realising the gravity of her curse and the guilt for the death of her ex lover.. Now half-way through her pregnancy she is very afraid - she knows that there will be a forfeit for her deadly curse.


Raven's story re-joins with Dante's when she her pregnancy is nearly full-term.
- After Rosella's death, Dante left the town completely. He took a boat and sailed out onto huge misty the lake on the edge of the town only wishing for death, - he then experiences some communication with Rosella's ghost and finds the will to continue to the other side.
- The other side is mainly baron and free from most inhabitants. Dante travels aimlessly and reaches a few farming communities.
- Here he meets Raven again, she is in the town collecting provisions. They are both overwhelmed by seeing each other again and embrace.
- Dante thinks to himself that Raven has changed so much, and is also sure that he has too.

- Raven then takes Dante to where she lives. She is living off the land in her own tent that she used when she travelled with the troupe. It is warm and comfortable with a stove in it and a chimney that goes through the top. Her home is strewn with garments and materials and she explains to Dante that she is a seamstress now.
- Dante notices Raven's pregnancy bump when she changes and she tells Dante of her troubles. Dante is upset for her and finds himself confesses some of his tale until he breaks down.
- Raven feels Dante's pain just as he does hers. They both feel lost completely.
- Then they find comfort with each other - Dante feels closer spiritually to Raven than anyone else he has met - eventually they find themselves kissing.
- Their shared touch is so shocking and electrically overwhelming that the two end up sleeping together. Raven loved Dante even though she knew Dante didn't love her. In the moment she didn't care, she just wanted him. She felt a connection with Dante in her soul. 
- After the experience, Dante reels from it. He feels so empty and broken hearted and now ashamed. He collapses into grief-stricken sobbing and Raven holds him against her naked body and soothes him until they both fall asleep. 


- Much later Dante tells Raven that he didn't tell her the whole story, and that he caused the death of his true love  (due to the curse). Raven tells him that he doesn't know what that means and it is her who killed her lover with her own will. 
- Dante confesses that he is being punished for his sins; for his father, his wicked mind, Damien and betraying Rosella. Raven doesn't believe in that and tells him that if it were true then he has already been punished.
- Dante laments over Rosella's death as a punishment to him and Raven says it isn't. She says that it is the tragic end to a sad life but not a fault of anyone's. He also tells her of his murdering of the tyrant Damien - Raven accepts it and tells him that her love for him will never change. 

- Goes into labour. Dante is the only one present and helps guide Raven through it. Raven is frightened and tells Dante that her time is coming and ask him to stay with her. Dante doesn't understand but agrees. 
- Raven gives birth to a girl and Dante is enchanted at this new life. Raven smiles at Dante as he cradles the child and plants a kiss on her head. 
- He looks over at Raven but her face is completely white. Dante is afraid and asks her what is wrong. Raven does not respond but Dante sees the blankets beneath her are now drenched in blood. 
- Dante panics and desperately tries to help but Raven shakes her head. She says there is nothing to do and it is her time - she knew it would come. 
- Dante bursts into tears and says they he will save her, he cannot lose anyone else. Raven looks at Dante and tells him that she always knew he was the one, the one who would bring love and life. Raven takes Dante's hand and places on the baby's head, and whispers that her life is in her daughter now and she is a new beginning - and that she will be with Dante and love him as much as she does. 
- Dante continues to cry and says it cannot be this way, begs her not to leave him. Raven smiles and tells Dante to name her daughter after her, her real name - her mother and grandmother's name - Dianna. Dante nods with tears pouring freely. Raven beckons Dante close - whispers to him that there never was a curse on him. 
-  He wraps his arms around Raven, placing her daughter on her chest. 
- They lie there for what feels like hours until Raven slips away.



(Dante adopts Dianna as his own, and eventually returns to the town where Rosella died after having a compelling dream. 
Diana is about (4 years old?) and accompanies Dante everywhere, he takes her to Rosella's grave and explains to her who this woman was. *Finds Rosella's letters that explain everything*

 While leaving flowers on her grave Dante notices the gravedigger nearby and decided to speak with him. Dante learns that he too knew Rosella and that her death was tragic as was many others who perished in the fire. He also commented that it was a shame that she left her only child motherless. Dante freezes. He questions the man in disbelief and he confirms that Rosella had a daughter merely months before the accident. Dante goes to the notary to question this and finds personal affects and letters were left on behalf of Rosella. Dante claims to be her husband and the notary allows him the access to the documents, seeing as some were addressed to him personally. Sitting Dianna on his knee, he reads the letters. Tears flow freely when he reads how she forgave him for what had happened, at one point he falls to his knees in fresh grief but also relief. He also finds that she had bore a child and she confesses it was Dante's. He finds the birth certificate and then the documentation showing her admittance to the local orphanage after Rosella's death.

Dante quickly takes Diana and heads there. Upon entering an unnerving familiarity overwhelms him. He starts to feel like Leon, here to claim his lost child. Dante speaks to the women in charge and explains that the child of Rosella Winters may be his. Some of the woman look displeased with this notion but he produces the documents to prove his intentions and they become willing to find the child for him. While he waits, Diana looks around - taking in her surrounding and petting the indoor cat. 
When the women arrive and present the girl to Dante he feels stricken. He cannot move, only stare at the child. He trembles all over - for she is the image of Rosella. The only difference is those unmistakeable ice-blue eyes that match his own. She is the most beautiful child he has ever seen.
Dante falls to his knees, tears now shining in his eyes. It is you, Dante whispers through tears, I knew it, you are unmistakably hers. The girl looks no older than six but she is very small and pale. She eyes Dante carefully, brow slightly furrowed. Dante softly reaches and takes the child's hand. I am your Father, child. I have come to take you away from here. The girl's eyes lock with Dante's and there seems a flicker of deep understanding between them. The women around are silent, one of them looks tearful at the emotional reunion. Dante wipes his tears with his free hand, asking What is your name? 
Briar-Rose. She replies quietly. Fresh tears pour down Dante's face as he smiles, That is beautiful name. Then Dante turns to look at Diana who is standing nearby. He reaches his hand out to her. Come to me my dear, Diana puts her small hand in Dante's. He brings her towards him. This is your sister Briar-Rose. Diane looks at her, as Briar-Rose shies away slightly. Diane looks back at Dante and smiles widely,  Sister? Dante nods. One to always love and show the way. 
Diana turns to Briar-Rose, My name is Diana. Then she lightly hugs the child.

If Dianna is too young then Dante simply shows Briar-Rose her new sister and the child seems to open up.

Dianna is a boisterous and merry child, full of wonder. She is a fearless child but also very clever. She is very connected to animals and even eventually she teaches Dante how to ride a horse.
She has the same hair as her mother but is paler and has dark blue eyes. She is also tall for her age and slender as her mother. Despite Dante's love for his love child with Rosella, Diana does not feel jealous. Briar-Rose has been traumatised by what happened and Diana takes her under her wing and vows to take care of her.
)