Dawna, psychologically

Dawna came about later.  I initially developed her for a roleplaying scenario in World of Warcraft.  I was looking for an orphan raised in an abbey, that went on to become a paladin, and be very regimented and "regular army" about it.  During that time in my life, I was all about "settling down"  The turmoil from the house burning and rebuilding was over, we had just moved into this house, and Irv and I had settled into a great routine.  Family life was swell, and I'd just gotten serious about spending lots of time online with Luiz.  For a long time, (the first Arachne days) I was spending time with lots of different people, being all "guild leader" and outgoing.  During the Arachne days, WoW was a necessary social outlet.  With Dawna, when I rolled her, things were shifting.

I created her on an as yet unplayed server. She was to be my "vacation char", to get away from people, and the high school like setting of an MMO.  Turned out, Luiz insisted on playing on my vacation server with me, and it became something permanent.  The two of us on our new paladins spent hours in game together, bonding. We roleplayed as a married military couple, regular army.  Leo was Luiz's not-hero.  Leo was a Good Guy, and tried hard to serve and protect. Dawna was much the same.  She wasn't some swasbuckling wildwoman, she was pure and good, and just tried to do the right thing.  Dawna represents a more settled side of me, I think.  She reflects the serenity of my life, then and still now.  It's satisfying to play someone who is just good.  Good, a bit stubborn, and not here to make friends, or impress.  She's pure, or even a little prude.  Champion for women everywhere, as well as the weak, and those unable to defend themselves, a true paladin, and truly chivalrous in the best sense of the word.  In her current D&D incarnation, she's practically virginal, and leans towards relationships with other women.  She's not a mother, but she's extremely nurturing and maternal.  I took Damona's penchant for diplomacy and amplified it tenfold.  She's a shining beacon of feminine grace and unwavering strength, although stiff and often uncompromising.  If "hooker with a heart of gold" was my Damona trope, then military woman is Dawna's.  

She's become iconic, because every knight, holy warrior, proud barbarian, every red  haired, green eyed strong axe wielding character I play in games is Dawna, in some incarnation.  Dawna is even a Jedi.  Fem Shep in Mass Effect was Dawna.  

When I think about it on these terms, it feels like Damona is my lunar wild, nightime character.  Amoral and impulsive.  Dawna is my solar, warm daytime character. Steady, intense, and a little harsh. 

When Luiz was talking about "iconic characters" I had to mention that none of my characters were ever made to be iconic.  They all started very small in level and idea.  Dawna was created as a part of a storyline. Damona was created spontaneously.  I don't think you can deliberately make an icon. They just have to sort of sprout up.