Years of malnutrition left Domovoi too gaunt for his height and he has yet to prove inclined to gain weight, though at least he is no longer verging on skeletal. He is narrow of face, with a long nose, prominent cheekbones, and slightly angled eyes which are a deep jade green. His cobalt blue hair is cut short in a scruffy bottlebrush sort of style and his skin is fair, faintly tanned but marred with port-wine stains. These birthmarks are scattered liberally all over his body, including parts of his face and neck, and together with his bony frame render him unattractive or even ugly to most people of Liune.

Since his adoption into Havre Manor, his clothes are always of fine cut and style, but in the simplified versions that are appropriate for a servant. Since Lady Havre's favorite color is blue, that is the color that adorns him, alternately trimmed with silver or white. (Is it possible that his naturally blue hair is part of what she chose him for? It's not out of the question.)

Having spent most of his life on the streets, where he both had to depend on the kindness of strangers and defend himself from the cruelty of those same people in equal parts, Domovoi is adaptable above all things. He knows when to smile and bow his head submissively, he knows when to set his jaw and puff his chest in challenge, and he knows when to run away as fast as his long legs can carry him.

When he is not switching caps to fit a situation he's been thrown into, Domovoi is quiet and easygoing. Even though he knows how to pick and win fights, he doesn't enjoy doing so, and would go by a "live and let live" policy if everything were up to him. He cannot say he truly enjoys his life of servitude, but it's still a vast improvement over his previous beggar's life. If the option were available to him, he'd want to be an animal doctor. He can explore this in some part through the dragons and other guardian beasts of the Manor, but it's not the same as having it be his full-time duty.

Domovoi grew up a beggar on the streets of Liune, as oh so many of the impoverished do on his world. With a combination of both skill and good luck, he made it to young adulthood, where it was by chance more than anything that he caught the eye of his predecessor, a servant by the name of Estevaia. It was a quirk of the Lady Havres that while most of her servants were enchanted golems called paliriel, she enjoyed taking in one or two of the poor to supplement her magical staff.

As it turned out, Estevaia was unwittingly choosing her own replacement. She had grown too comfortable in her position, completing her chores only to take advantage of the results as if the Manor were her own. Once Domovoi had been trained enough to take over Estevaia's duties, Lady Havres killed her.

That is to say, Lady Havres consumed her. Lady Havres had long ago become Havres Manor, an archlich in an extravagantly tended phlactery. She devoured Estevaia completely and left nothing behind.

Domovoi had been dutiful before and remains so even now. Lady Havres has never expressed displeasure in him and he honestly has no fear of suffering a similar fate, for his life of servitude is still far better than the one he lived as a beggar. When the day comes for him to bring in a new servant in turn, he trusts that it will be because he has gotten too old for the work, and no worse than that.

It is on a mild winter day, some years after his bonding of Dovri'Nisi, that Domovoi encounters an awe-struck young boy in the marketplace of Mare's Crossing. The child's name is Rathi, and he has never seen a dragon before. It's actually Dovri that speaks to the boy first, shyly engaging Rathi's open admiration, but Domovoi engages him as well. Domovoi is reminded of the young children he would team up with as "little siblings" in his days of begging and poverty.

Searching isn't quite in Dovri's blood or in any of his duties, but he tells Rathi that they can take him elsewhere into the Nexus to bond as well, should he wish it. The boy is enthusiastic but says he has to think about it. They tell him he can come to Havres Manor and ask for them, whenever he decides.

Winter is more heavily upon the town when Rathi at last returns to the city -- not just alone, but with a small entourage. A man named Jerek and his two bodhi, Grig and N'serric. Grig is the most enthusiastic about saying so and calls it their 'quest', but all three agree to an extent: they are here to see that Rathi is safely escorted to his dragon-bonding and mean to accompany him through the entire process.

As it turns out, another Flurry is imminent in the Nexus once again. It is decided that that is where Rathi should be taken.

"Go with them," Lady Havres murmurs to her servant, in a room far from the guest suites where the odd party has been tucked in the meanwhile. "There is a touch of something very familiar upon the boy. Let him get his dragon, but then bring him back here. He and I have something in common, I believe."

And so, when Rathi and his party are delivered to Nidus Ryslen for the Flurry, Domovoi and Dovri'Nisi remain as well. They apply as potential sponsors, as there are an astounding number of eggs that will need both bonds and caretakers. It gives their presence some cover, though the idea gives them some genuine delight as well.

Being in the presence of a Flurry once again... even for the two of them, it's something like coming home.