Danilo Thann
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Danilo Thann is a fictional character set in the Forgotten Realms fantasy setting. Danilo was created by author Elaine Cunningham in the Song and Swords series of novels. He is often portrayed as an inept dandy, bard and nobleman that blunders into the most inopportune situations. However, in reality, he is a skilled magician and a crafty adversary, trained by none other than Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun himself.
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[edit] Appearance
Danilo is a young (below thirty winters, during the events of Elfsong) Waterdhavian nobleman, and aspiring bard. He stands a few inches taller than Arilyn Moonblade, which means he is probably at least 5'10 tall. He has wavy shoulder-length pale blond hair. However, even among the nobles, Danilo's choice of clothing is considered "extravagantly ridiculous." He commonly wears clothes that suit his theme as a dandy and dilletante - from suits of "walking grape" to the "Ruathym Adventurer garb." Whatever he wears, he can consistently be found wearing the height of fashion among the nobles of Waterdeep.
[edit] Personality
Danilo, when faced by the public, acts like a complete fool. There are moments of intelligence within his mask as a dandy, but very few notice the truth of the matter. Danilo, despite his canny intelligence and skill in subterfuge - is actually quite reckless, a fact brought to because of his alternate "dandy" ego (this is evidenced through his naughty pranks and reckless magical experiments). There are times when Danilo completely forgets his true self and fully reverts into the comfortable guise of the fool. However, when faced with the truly important, Danilo becomes a serious and calculating genius, and a very dangerous adversary.
[edit] Talents and Abilities
In 3.5 Edition Dungeons & Dragons game terms, Danilo is rated as a 3rd-level aristocrat/9th-level wizard/1st-level spellsinger. Danilo is a very skilled magician, one whom Khelben had considered his probable heir and his apprentice with the most potential. His skill with magic is such that he mastered the art of Spellsong in just a few days, he was able to charm a magically-resistant dragon to slumber, and his illusionary pranks that get his uncle Khelben each time. His magical skills include prismatic displays of light, fireballs, spells of invisibility, scrying and various charm spells.
Aside from his magic, Danilo is also well versed with subterfuge, disguise, and manipulation. Although less of a pragmatist than his Uncle Khelben, Danilo is still skilled in manipulating the political and social threads in any given situation. His degree of expertise is as such that when he engaged the crimelord Elaith Craulnober in a verbal sparring match - it ended as a draw. His skill may arguably be even better than a drow's - since he once tricked the drow princess, Liriel Baenre (crafty even among her people) into revealing more than she wished to.
[edit] History
Danilo Thann was always considered the "young dandy" in the house of Thann - as such, even his mother and father never takes him seriously. Despite this reputation, Danilo has been trained by several bardic tutors around the world, one for each bardic tradition. He has also been secretly trained by his uncle, Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun.
To the public, Danilo is a novice mage who never seemed to have progressed past some parlor tricks to amuse the nobility - and well-known for many unintentional magical mishaps. The truth of the matter, however, is he is an extremely capable wizard - enough to make Khelben consider him as his most promising apprentice. He maintains the facade as a court dandy as a means to let others underestimate his abilities - thus he hears more information, and becomes a greater agent/informant for the Harpers.
During the events of the Harper Assassin in the novel, Elfshadow, Danilo met the half-elven adventurer Arilyn Moonblade - inflicted by the unfortunate label of "assassin". Initially accepting the mission due to Arilyn's unsurpassed beauty - he soon grew more attached and involved in the events. The relationship that started as kidnapper (Arilyn) and captive (Danilo) soon fostered into true friendship, and later on, true love. It is also in this event that Danilo first met the rogue elf, and future enemy and friend, Elaith Craulnober.
Danilo was initially gifted the shared use of Arilyn's moonblade, but in the events following Silver Shadows - it was taken back by Arilyn, after realizing the gift would also curse Danilo to eternal servitude to the sword.
During the events of Elfsong, Danilo was forced to ally himself with his hated enemy, Elaith Craulnober - in order to answer a deadly riddle by the ancient green dragon, Grimnoshadrano. It is also here, that Danilo met and befriended Morgalla the Mirthful - one of those rare female dwarven bards, and Wyn Ashgrove, a powerful gold elven spellsinger who taught Danilo the sacred art of the Spellsong. The ragtag group, calling themselves Music and Mayhem, was from the very beginning a group with divided loyalties - split between Elaith's quest to reactivate his Moonblade, and Danilo's quest to save Waterdeep. However, in the very end, Elaith and Danilo worked together to finally defeat the deadly enchantment and saved Waterdeep from ruin.
[edit] Relationships
Danilo is foremost married to Arilyn Moonblade, a half-elven granddaughter of Queen Amlaruil of Evermeet. They have adventured together and Danilo has pushed and manipulated Arilyn considerably to reconcile with her elven family and come to terms with her roots.
Danilo's father, Lord Thann, is largely impotent in the family business dealings, and prefers to live quietly off the proceeds that the Lady Cassandra Thann makes. The Lady is a formidable person in any respect, and disapproves of Danilo's various exploits to some degree. She has elven blood, but has never mentioned it, as there is some animosity towards elves in the Waterdhavian nobility. Danilo has five brothers, as well as a deceased half-sister, Lilly Thann.
Danilo has been named an elf-friend by the rogue Elaith Craulnober, and befriended the rogue drow Liriel Baenre.
