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Dina Goodwind, Favored of Yondalla


With short gold hair and large blue eyes Dina's appearance brings to mind clear skies and golden fields.


Although Dina is small, she has a powerful presence. Her positivity is vivacious and infectious. All who meet her are gladded by the encounter, their hearts a little lighter for having met the cheerful halfling.

Dina has many fine talents. For example she is one of those rare individuals who can whistle so melodically that birds will sing in response. She has even won awards for her whistling; to this day her medleys are a harvest festival favorite. She also loves baking, particularly cookies and other sweets. But the greatest of her talents are those as a tinker and artificer. The most famous of her inventions are the Kithran Windships, often called "Goodwinds," which facilitate travel across the Empire.


History:
Born to poor halfling tinkers Dina was often playing games with the other children of her village. Her curiosity abounded, and when Dina set off on an adventure the other children knew they were in for a wild ride.

Her curiosity naturally extended to her parents' crafting. Her younger brother Wileon was expected to take over the family business, but even from a young age Dina exhibited a gift for building contraptions.

Once as youth she saw the Kithran Dragons fly through the skies over her village. She stared in awe as the dragons made their way across the skies. The sight excited and delighted Dina, who wanted nothing so much in that moment than to take to the skies herself.

For the next few months she worked feverishly on something to enable her to fly. Wileon protested, but Dina's parents were naturally indulgent curious to see what their oldest child would craft.

What she created was novel, but rudimentary compared to the wonders she would create in the years to come: a set of wing and a tail, crafted of fabric and light frame. She took her forged wings to the hill overlooking the village. She felt the wind on her face, smiled, and then gave it a running start. The crash that followed this leap of faith confined Dina to a bed for months while she recovered.


Halflings are considered "Men" under the laws and holy texts of the Kithran Empire, and as such they enjoy the same freedoms and privileges. These legal protections have helped the Halflings to thrive within the Empire. However, while halflings make up a significant minority of the Empire's citizens, in historical practice they found it difficult to traverse the Empire. Unless a particular halfling happened to be tall enough to sit a horse, or was wealthy enough to own a pony or a wagon, travel was difficult for halflings. The dangers of the road such as wild animals, dangerous rivers, and brigands all pose an additional risks to halfling travelers. So when Dina fresh off her recovery told her parents she wanted to travel to the capitol to study engineering her parents were concerned.

Despite her parents concern, Dina's passion for flight burned hot. She would fly like the dragons, or she would not, but nothing would keep her from trying. So, relenting her parents helped her to prepare a pack, a bedroll, enough biscuits and snacks to make it to Lionscrossing. From there it would be simple enough to secure transportation to the capitol.

The other children were eager to see Dina off, and they bade her a tearful farewell. Hugs and promises were exchanged. Even Wileon eventually got around to saying goodbye. They hugged and at last Dina cried, the realization that she was really leaving suddenly dawning on her.