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 Tell me again all the crimes I've committed... ..and I'll tell you the price of victory. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BACKGROUND
Born the eldest of three, on the isle-state of Selโenial, Eridanus was gifted from an extremely young age. Not that his younger brothers, Elyrithas and Erethrinel were any less gifted in their own rights, it just happened to be that Eridanus was the only Sungazer heir that advanced in magic. This easily made him the apple of his parents' eyes, as they were natural-born nobility, and any advantage within the courts they had, they would take. Having a first-born heir so naturally gifted, was certainly a bartering bonus for their social status. It was likely due to this, that Eridanus was raised in a strict household, and not allowed much else outside of his studies. While Eridanus was made to scribe and read ancient Rim'falen texts, as well as channel his innate magical abilities, his brothers were allowed to follow their own passions. Soon, Elyrithas became a well-known ranger, who left home to join with other ancient protectors of sacred lands. While Erethrinel, had discovered his ability to control the power of the Lasting Light, and joined the Rim'falen knighthood in tandem.
With both of his brothers gone, following their own aspirations - at the age of 150 - Eridanus was made to go off to one of the human capitals, Dalanar. He was expected to train beneath the best of the human mages, known as the Tower of Xemorn, and resided within the Dawnborne district of the city, a place where previous Rim'falen mages who worked closely with the Tower, had occupied.
He even met his first wife within those city walls. Yet, their marriage was short-lived, as she soon died while giving birth to their only son. Unfortunately, due to his training, child-rearing was not something he could spend much time on... so the boy was sent back home, to be cared for by his parents.
Eridanus spent the next 800 years of his life training under various mages, both human and Rim'falen alike, until the demonic invasion of Dalanar by Prince Arsath. While the Tower of Xemorn were prepared to fight the undead, and had created magical auras that would harm any undead that entered the city, they also evacuated most of the city's inhabitants. Despite this, Arsath was not deterred and was able to force his way in, kill the mages maintaining the auras, and claim the "Book of the Last Guardian"-- a powerful spellbook owned by the last appointed Xemornian protector.
While the undead prepared to summon a powerful arch-demon into the world using the book, surviving mages of the Tower of Xemorn had teleported in an army. As the Tower began their attack, Arsath ordered his undead legion to defend the summoning at all costs; and despite their best efforts, the Tower failed in stopping them. Successfully summoned, the arch-demon completely destroyed Dalanar, claiming its annihilation heralded the demon's first strike against the mortal world.
After the fall of Dalanar, surviving mages - including vessels of the Tower - picked up what few pieces they could salvage of the city. The arduous task of rebuilding the magic capital of Vathea would begin. Yet, rather than help his brethren in magic, Eridanus decided to return to his homeland, in Sel'enial. The undead legions were not finished, which meant Sel'enial needed all the protection it could get.
It would be another 50 years before Eridanus would see those armies once more, and while he had pledged his loyalties to the Rim'falen state, he busied himself by passing on his knowledge to future generations. He took to Dawnstone, and for a moment, found peace in teaching children the wonders of magic. For a time, all seemed well in the world.
Peace would not last, and the day when those armies invaded Selโenial, was the last day of Eridanus' dreams for a future. Despite the vast knowledge and training he had spent his life accumulating, it was not enough to stop Arsath's armies from taking hundreds of thousands of Rim'falen lives. Eridanus scorched wave after wave of undead forces, yet still they marched upon the city. By the end of the day, his parents, his students, his youngest brother, and many of his friends had been slaughtered. The life he had lived up until that point, was shattered.
Few Rim'falen remained, and from the ashes of their city, they began to reforge their state once more. Eridanus began anew, like the phoenix of his family's crest, he was reborn once more. No longer the kindhearted, and bright-eyed elf he was before, Eridanus was appointed the title "Archmage" for his efforts in battle. As their city was rebuilt, the ruling government beneath the Regent-lord, the Magistrate, took on more and more of the state's responsibilities.
From apprentice to some of the greatest mages in history, to teacher of fresh young minds - few would have guessed that Eridanus would settle into a desk job. Though with Sel'enial needing to be rebuilt, he (happily) took on the responsibility of handling the licensing of businesses within the state. It was taxing work, nothing fun in the slightest, but even great magical kingdoms needed desk jockeys.
Eridanus would have this job to thank, for landing him his second wife.
Through calculation and some deep digging, he easily found a way to exploit her business' malpractice, and wiggle his way into her life. How romantic. Yet, they were both dastardly perfect for one another, and wedding bells quickly followed, as well as a daughter.
While Eridanus had not expected a marriage of love, and another child in his life, he found himself quite happy despite all the turmoil the world had thrown at him. He'd even reconnected with his first son, who had joined the Sel'enial knighthood prior to Prince Arsath's attack, and managed to survive.
Yes, everything was looking up! But this time, Eridanus would do anything to keep it that way.
PERSONALITY
Perhaps due to him being born a patrician, Eridanus' personality had been fabricated from a young age through vigorous etiquette and scholarly teachings. To be successful in high society meant being able to hold yourself with poise and grace-- while also being able to carve alliances, or cut down foes, with a simple sentence.
Through this meticulous parental molding, Eridanus has maintained a cool, level-headed, and calculated demeanor throughout his adulthood. He rarely, if ever, acts on emotion or gut instinct. He is a man of vision, and is extremely driven when he finds something he wants, or fights for a cause he believes in. It is because of this that he was gifted the title of Archmage during the Fall of Dawnstone; and in the many battles since, Eridanus has always held the position of commander.
While he wouldn't outright call himself cruel, he very much views the people around him as mere pawns. Whether it is to further his own goals, protect himself, or his family, Eridanus would easily discard anyone he does not deem worthy of living beyond their "purpose."
He is extremely charismatic, due to his training for high society. Yet, there is a reason Eridanus has maintained, and even surpassed his family's initial status with Sel'enial nobility. Eridanus has no qualms doing whatever it takes to advance where he wishes. Whether it's through bribery or blackmail, Eridanus knows the power words can hold over a person, and will readily use a person's weaknesses against them.
Eridanus' pride for his status, accomplishments, and magical ability drips from his every word and mannerism. A vain light casts over him, for his appearances both in a literal, and social sense are of the utmost value to him. He prizes his appearance so much, that he even uses a glamour to maintain a pristine facade. His features are aged like a fine wine, rather than the soured milk that a life of mana-dependence would incur. Additionally, as a Rim'fael, Eridanus views himself as better, and above the other races of Vathea; and while he is not aggressively racist, he has no issues voicing his opinions if the subject were to come up.
He keeps his cards to himself. Eridanus seems to always be scheming, which is most likely due to the fact that he never shows interest in anything or anyone beyond whatever may be necessary to garner what favor he is currently trying to incur. His interest in others is limited to what they can do for him, and unless it is deemed a benefit, Eridanus will not waste time nor energy on that person. It is not unheard of in Sel'enial, that the Sungazers were mostly shrouded in mystery due to their patriarch's unfriendly and distant temperament.
If it weren't for the recent addition of Eridanus' wife, he most likely would continued to be seen as a heartless social "conqueror."
In recent years, while his demeanor has not changed much with his counterparts and other members of Sel'enial noble society, it is obvious that Eridanus is a loyal and attentive patriarch. Eridanus' methods have not changed, yet some of his motives have. As a loving father and husband, he only wants the best for his family, and he will get it, at whatever means necessary.
Whether it be by blackmail, or other unsavory means, if it meant ensuring a good future for his children and a happy, comfortable life for his wife; Eridanus would not stop until he attained every bit of the "picture-perfect" life he could get.
There is little he fears anymore, though he wishes to never feel the pain of losing his family again. Now that he has regained a semblance of traditional happiness through having a wife and a young child he loves; if anything were to happen to them, there is no telling what Eridanus would do.
ABILITIES
A once powerful Archmage, Eridanus is well versed in all aspects of the arcane. While he favored pyro and cryomancy over other schools, he was known to be skilled in conjuration, hemomancy, spacial, and even minor temporal schools of magic. A scholar first, Eridanus has developed studies where he combined multiple schools of magic into one. Most notably by combining hemomancy and lesser forms of necromancy to be able to breath temporary life into undead creatures through method of rudimentary vampirism.
While Eridanus has a distinct hatred for demons, he does possess knowledge of demonology, and has studied the pacts that warlocks make with their vile pets.
Eridanus Art (by me!)
Eridanus at his home, the Sungazer Estate
Eridanus, Rosefica, and her blackguard best friend Traejan
Painting for Eridanus and Rosefica Sungazer
Eridanus and Lady Riverglint share a bath
Old artwork of the Sungazer brothers
[Eridanus, front; Elyrithas, upper left; Erethrin'el, upper right]
Sunreaver Eridanus
First drawing of Eridanus