Cussta, often nicknamed Golden One, was a valkyrie especially known for her role as avatar of Dain.

Characteristics

As an avatar of Dain, the valkyrie had golden flowing hair and eyes described either as piercing points of white light, fiery blazes of anger. She usually wore golden plate armor and wielded a double-sword staff. She was always accompanied by two white doves, who were her "eyes and soul".

Her manner was often judged as terse.

She was known for her awesome ability to channel and precisely apply it; she was said to fight with infinite willpower and perfect precision to overcome far more potent enemies.

Biography

Cussta was forged by the King's own hand from a sun elf in 22 OW. Like the others of her Order, she served as a front-line soldier during the Orc Wars, though she did not achieve legendary recognition like some of her peers. She did have an exceptionally close relationship with Dain, and often fought by his side when he went to battle.

When the Order was abolished in 64 OW, Cussta disappeared without a trace and was assumed dead. It is believed Cussta suffered much less from being Severed than the others, and went in exile as self-imposed penitence - she suffered from the knowledge that her use of her fiery powers had harmed the King. During these interplanar travels, she notably acquired two white doves, which thereafter were her eternal companions. What exactly these creatures were, is unclear.

As early as 142 OW, Cussta realized that the Flamelink had returned, even if it was very weak. By then, she had fully embraced her Severed form: she wore golden armor and had a faint hint of golden wings shimmering on her back, which turned into radiant gold when she used her full powers. She drew from the Flamelink in times of need, but generally drew very little and in a very careful way. Dain often felt the warming presence of a Valkyrie somewhere near him, but never precisely enough to know her location. For the better part of a century, Cussta was the silent guardian of Dain, protecting him from potential dangers while never giving him a sign she even existed.

In 202 OW, Dain Fireforge was traveling the Elemental Plane of Fire with a minimal escort when he was ambushed by cunning and powerful assassins. Their monster destroyed the escort, and even the overwhelming force of Dain's magic could not vanquish it. When it seemed like wall was lost, Cussta appeared "alike a bolt of light", hitting the monster from several sides in rapid succession and vanquishing it.

With Dain

Reunited with Dain, Cussta decided to become his bodyguard, staying out of sight and mind but always close by when needed. She had change since becoming Severed, grimly pursuing her task with few lost words. She also received a new set of golden plate, forged and enchanted by great dwarven artisans, including Dain himself. The gem filigree embedded in the armor helped Cussta channel the Flamelink with incredible precision and swiftness.

Eygurd, a despairing Severed Valkyrie languishing in the Shadowfell, was saved by Cussta's own hand in 213 OW (though she acted according to Dain's wishes, and would have preferred to kill Eygurd). The redeemed Eygurd joined by Cussta's side as guardian of Dain. In 219, Cussta again saved a Valkyrie, this time from the eternal battlefield of Acheron, where Hildr was bound to eternal warfare by the goblinoid gods.

When Dain died, Cussta proved of unlimited faith and built the stronghold of King's Hall for his return. Her unending faith convinced Eygurd not to abandon everything and face death. After Dain ascended to godhood, Cussta's trio became the guardians of His holy realm, the King's Hall; in fact, the two white doves who always circled the stronghold became its hallmark. She bravely repulsed several attempts by enemies, including the Queens and the other Moradfilki, to discover the King's Hall. When Eygurd betrayed Dain and tried to kill him, she personally slayed the Valkyrie and went on a two-year mission in penitence for failing to protect him.

The Golden One and her two doves became as known an avatar of Dain as Eir the Severed.