Dahlia

Dahlia
Affiliation	Black Raven
Occupation	Leader Lady's maid (formerly)
Species	Fae
Gender	Female

"The way I see it, a faerishyn who picks the groundlings over us belongs to the ground." ― Dahlia to Vignette

Dahlia is the faerie leader of the Black Raven.

History

Before joining the Black Raven and becoming it's leader, Dahlia was a maid, but she wanted more for herself and refused to allow the humans to ground her.

Biography

From the Dark

Serving as a maid

At some point in time, Dahlia served as one of two fae maids to a man known as Proctor Ziffren Garrick. Garrick was known to be a staunch racist against anything that wasn't human, often stoking the fires of human sentiment, yet ironically indulging in sexual interactions with female fae. It was said that he had quite an interest with Dahlia, but at some point Dahlia began to resist him. As such, Dahlia helped arrange three bombing attempts on Garrick's life. On the first attempt, at the bathhouse, the bomb failed to kill him, prompting him to angrily grab the coat off of Dahlia and then proceed to make an impassioned speech about the dangers of allowing non-humans into their territory. The second attempt was carried out at the Tetterby Hotel, which also failed, as Garrick chose not to indulge himself at that specific room in the establishment on that date.

Inspector Rycroft Philostrate conducted an investigation of the bombings, which eventually led him to discover that Garrick was the target. Upon asking after Dahlia's whereabouts at Garrick's house, a fae man suddenly shouted from above that Dahlia would never be seen again except in Philostrate's nightmares. Philostrate then gave chase, forcing him to break and jump into several establishments. Upon apprehending the fae, the fae directed him to the Parliament, which exploded a few moments later, finally killing Garrick.

In the end, the bombings were blamed on a pact sympathizer, leaving even the fae man or Dahlia's involvement out of the public knowledge. Even as this occurred, Dahlia began to meet with other members of her group.

Season one

Leading the Black Raven

Dahlia interrogates Wren, a fellow member who was taken into custody. Dahlia and Bolero strap her wings down with a corset to keep her from flying away and begin questioning her. They had her coated and cuffed. So Dahlia wonders how she managed to give them the slip. Before proceeding, Hamlyn introduces Vignette Stonemoss to Dahlia, who knows all about Vignette’s past; getting their countrymen out of Anoun. Dahlia remarks that much like Vignette, being a lady’s maid wasn’t for her. In fact, it’s one of her old wing corsets that she has tied tight around the supposed informant. Dahlia claims that they’re forced to wear these corsets because the "leggers" are envious. They can’t fly and so they wish to cripple those who can.

Back on Wren, Dahlia asks again what happened when she was taken in. When Wren refuses to answer, Dahlia flips her over the balcony, sending her plummeting to her doom. Dahlia explains that the police have been looking for a foothold into her organization. So, when one of hers spends a night in police custody and she won’t say anything about it, Dahlia has no choice but to get rid of her. The way she sees it is a faerishyn who picks the groundlings over them belongs to the ground. Vignette assures them that she’ll only work for her own kind, however, she’ll have to prove herself. Dahlia orders her to take the flag hanging in the rotunda of the constabulary and bring it back to her.

Finding the cricket

Dahlia and Bolero inform the group that a shipment of lixer from the jungles of Mag Mor were confiscated by the constabulary, meaning they have a cricket amongst them. Dahlia offers the cricket two choices. Show her they wish to be made clean. Step forward here and now, and she promises no harm will come to them. However, if they hide and force her to hunt them down, then she will see to it that they are torn from the sky and fed to the eels.

Bolero brings Vignette to Dahlia. He holds Vignette by her wings off a cliff. They saw her talking to Inspector Rycroft Philostrate. Vignette insists that they used to be involved during the war, and he wasn’t a cop back then. However, to Dahlia that makes Vignette a liability. Vignette insists that she’s an asset and that she can find out who the cricket is.

Vignette reports back to Dahlia and Bolero with Hamlyn’s name. Only thing left to do is kill Hamlyn, which Dahlia wants Vignette to do. And bring back his wing as proof. Vignette later returns to Dahlia and Bolero with Hamlyn’s wings. Dahlia promotes Vignette. It’s now her job to run the lots with Hamlyn gone. She’s been given the Finistere route.

Season two

Resistance activities

Kaine tells Vignette that Dahlia is angry with her for going behind her back when she raided a supply train for medicine. The other Black Raven are willing to honour Vignette with the deagh nos, the Raven's brand, for the supply raid. During the ceremony Dahlia turns up unexpectedly and personally brands Vignette, warning her that she will die if she ever goes behind Dahlia's back again.

Vignette tells Dahlia about her plan to disrupt Chancellor Breakspear's dinner and show him the horrors of Carnival Row. Dahlia agrees to the plan but demands that she be the one to lead the operation instead of Vignette. Meanwhile, Tourmaline Larou has a vision of Dahlia and Bolero being attacked by the sparus.

Dahlia, Bolero, Kaine and Oona crash Jonah's dinner, interrupting Philo's attempt to reveal that he is Jonah's illegitimate brother. Dahlia berates Jonah for segregating the Fae in the Row and reveals Oona's terminal infection. Oona is shot by Sergeant Dombey and Dahlia and the others flee.

Dahlia and Bolero manage to flee, but are killed and beheaded by the sparus off-screen. The inhabitants of Carnival Row are appalled to see the heads of Dahlia and Bolero nailed to a wall.

Philo and Berwick enlist Tourmaline's help to investigate the murders. They eventually find Dahlia and Bolero's headless corpses on the roof of the church where they were killed.

Appearances

Season one

• Aisling
• The Joining of Unlike Things

Season two

• Fight or Flight
• New Dawn
• The Martyr's Hand (posthumously)