Dearest was the raven familiar of Emhira. As a companion, she is controlled by her summoner, Laura Bailey, with assistance and communication from the Dungeon Master, Brennan Lee Mulligan.
Description
Dearest looks like a common raven, although magically connected to its summoner. It seems to share her disdain for the first god of death.
Biography
Background
When Emhira, the mortal incarnation of the Matron of Death, manifested her powers as a warlock, she ended up summoning a familiar, Dearest, that took the form of a raven, an animal with which she felt a special connection.
"Downfall: Part One" (3x99)
In Hawk's Hill, before going to the ship that would take her to Aeor, Emhira sent Dearest to fly around looking for trouble and food; while the raven was doing so, she was noticed by Asha (the mortal incarnation of Melora), who immediately recognized it as the familiar of Emhira.
Later, when they were already in Aeor, visiting an old temple, Emhira stopped to examine the damaged effigies, noticing that one of them was completely blank, so she made Dearest peck that one.
"Downfall: Part Two" (3x100)
Before the avatars left the Chamber of Seasons Trist (the mortal incarnation of the Everlight) found a religious book that showed them a vision of a woman praying for a sick child. When Emhira saw that she used Dearest to scout the Opus Ward, locating the Exceleter hospital, where they boy was staying.
Later, during one of their missions, Emhira learned through the Telepathic Bond that some of the avatars were in a fight, so she sent Dearest to the battlefield, using her to cast Arcane Gate to get there faster.
"Downfall: Part Three" (3x101)
As the Stormlord was hitting Aeor with a terrible tempest Emhira used Dearest to scout, noticing the magnitude of the storm, and also the fact that, even though the raven had difficulty to fly there was always a gust keeping it conveniently within the limits of the city; however, as soon as the warlock was within reach, Dearest flew down to take refuge under her clothes (annoying Slitch). As the avatars prepared for their mission to destroy the Factorum Malleus, splitting into two teams, Emhira cast Mislead, sending her illusory self with Dearest with one team while she, invisible, followed the other; through that spell and her familiar she was able to communicate with Umleta (Lolth's avatar) when she addressed her, pretending she was actually there. However, when a battle started in the chamber of the weapon, the Mislead spell ended, leaving Dearest alone with the other team in the room with the scroll bank.
The raven familiar stayed with the aforementioned team presumably until Trist left to help in the fight. Then, since Umleta and Arcadia (who was actually Asmodeus in disguise) were alone with the archmage Cassida Previn, Dearest was likely destroyed or dispelled so that Emhira wouldn't know what was happening with the mortal wizard.
Relationships
Character information
Abilities
Being a familiar, Dearest appears or disappears at Emhira's whim as an action. It and the warlock share a mental connection through which the latter can issue commands, cast spells through Dearest or even transfer her senses to the raven, rendering her own body blind and deaf during that time.
Given that Emhira is a warlock of the Raven Queen, Dearest might also be a Sentinel Raven, which would allow the warlock to merge with the bird using the Soul of the Raven ability.
Appearances and mentions
- Campaign Three: Bells Hells
- "Downfall: Part One" (3x99) (first appearance)
- "Downfall: Part Two" (3x100)
- "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101)
Quotations
Trivia
- Her name is somewhat similar to that of Mother, the raven familiar of Prism Grimpoppy, as it is a way to address a beloved figure, rather than a traditional name.
References
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Emhira and Dearest, by MidnightCrows (source). Used with permission.
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