Kiros Rahnel Printable version

Kiros Rahnel

Biographical information

Birthplace Annuakat Born Died Age 45 Home Sexuality Pronouns

Physical description

Race Human Sub-Race Gender Male Height 196cm(6"5) Mass 83kg(183lbs) Hair color Black and greying Eye color Blue Skin color Tan

Political information

Affiliation(s) Occupation Healer Clan(s) Caste Domain Masters Apprentices Alias(es)

Out-of-character information

Writer Kiros Rahnel Created on Sept 4, 2020 Avatar Guilherme Batista

Going by the name of Kiros Rahnel (formerly Namrut) after his unfortunate exile from Amol-Kalit, he is a man who has found himself in the service of the lesser lunar deity Itra. Truth be told, and though he would never make mention of it; he despises Her. She gives him plenty of reason to, and has been the source of mounting stress and erosion of faith over the past decade and a half under Her stewardship. Seemingly, he has no choice.

Cordial and polite, he is apt to meet new people. Though his exterior may seem at first aloof, his disposition grows warmer towards those that have earned his trust.

Appearance

Imposing and tall for a human, Kiros has scruffy black caesar-cut hair, beset with frequent stray strands of white. Thick, black eyebrows sit atop a pair of steely blue eyes, and his chiselled chin behind a clean-shaven face strewn with occasional lines of aging. His skin is a well tanned complexion from the unrelenting sun of Amol-Kalit

His robes are largely white, laden with yellow trim around the edge of his mantle, and along the thin red scapular descending from it. Aside from those adornments, they appear fairly simple. He may cast divine magic without them; but at significantly added cost and difficulty. Wearing anything other than linen as clothing increases these drawbacks even further. While he'd prefer something more practical for weaving his magic, Itra won't bless anything else.

He will often be wearing his robes while travelling or adventuring; but will often elect for a white tunic and a pair of trousers when he foresees little need for his magic. He will generally prefer to dress like this in a secure city, or when he feels his robes would cause him to appear too conspicuous.

Skills and Abilities

Divine Magic
Kiros casts divine magic, pledging his faith to Itra, a lesser deity among the 'hundreds' of the Annunaki pantheon. In turn, he has gained the powers accorded to Her within the aspect of blessings.

Incantations will always act in a concrete way, conforming to a closed style of magic with very little means of variance. His means of channelling energy is rather inefficient, leading him to become mentally exhausted and require a break should too many spells be cast within too short a time; or if too much magic is used without rest. As Her only priest, he is bestowed a greater degree of spellcasting power than usual, but Itra is lackadaisical in what magic She bothers to write. She tends to hand Kiros slipshod or inefficient spells without care, mitigating any benefit his increased power might bring. Particularly grievous injuries may prevent his use of magic for a longer duration, affecting his more complex spells to a greater degree than his simpler incantations.

Spells also typically require a state of 'concentration' to cast; this is considered automatic so long as he has neither taken action nor been hit before casting.

There is a further scale to spell complexity; blessings require the most time and concentration, while 'Insight' and 'Immute' require the least and resolve quickly.

Resilient Will
Originally out of need to safeguard Her own secrecy, Itra has woven a protective blessing that has granted Kiros immunity to memory alteration and mind control/reading. After Andekhah managed to breach this divinely woven enchantment during an arcane catastrophe, Itra has rewoven and reinforced it.

Bypassing this is notably difficult, and She will consider it an intrusion should it occur.

Staff Fighting
Kiros is well versed in the use of the quarterstaff, as well as holding rudimentary talent in unarmed battle; skills taught to him along with the other conscripts during his former years. He prefers to wield his staff by the end where possible, exploiting his great reach. While not a master, he does possess a solid and practised grasp of the fundamentals and wields it as a highly effective bludgeoning instrument; with his large frame, he is capable of hitting hard with it.

'Heirahit' is the name of his chosen staff and magical focus, constructed from ash wood. It bears a disk of bronze and brass at the top decorated with Itra's holy symbol; the other end is capped with steel. It’s the symbol itself that's the magical focus; the wooden part of the staff is merely handle.

After bringing Itra and Her wrath upon Vergeßo-Avellini during the events of Titanfall, She has granted Heirahit an enchantment that enables detection of the arcane.

It is a large and heavy staff: the base is 3.8cm in thickness, with the entire staff measuring 2.3 metres from end to end (1.5' by 7"6). Weighs roughly 2kg(4.4lbs)

Speaking

Trained to spread the holy word of the Six, Kiros has always held talent as an orator and speaker, and this skill has only grown stronger out of his continued reliance upon it. His mastery over the Common tongue is at a scholarly level, and Kiros can concoct both persuasive argument and motivating speech without preparation. Whether his audience is moved by his words or not is naturally situational, though his confident tone is bound to help in any attempt.

Despite his self-loathing for his crimes, he is far from above the use of deception or falsehood in order to reach his objectives, be they personal or mandated by Itra. Kiros is capable of confidently speaking of matters he himself holds no weight in He is also generally clever enough to mind whatever web of lies have been deemed necessary to his continued well being, with concealment of his status as fugitive chief among them.

Magical Items
Beyond Heirahit, Kiros is also in possession of the Helm of the Departed and may utilize the benefits bestowed by it, namely concealment from those who are undead, and discovery of the cause of death for those who have been slain.

Personality

Courteous and well-mannered, Kiros carries himself well in conversation and presentation, and the etiquette of his noble upbringing is readily apparent through his manner of speaking. Despite his noticeable accent, he holds a stronger command of the language than many native speakers. Kiros tends to speak through elevated speech, having learned fluency through studies in Kaliti temples.

Though compassionate, Kiros is hesitant to trust; his guarded nature has at times been mistaken for a standoffish attitude. This cautious nature has been tempered though sixteen years of secrecy at the behest of Itra and under threat of damnation. His former need to conceal his connection to Her has made him quick of tongue and adept at lying, and over the years he has prepared false answers for those who make uncomfortable inquiry.

An education by the Lector-Priests of Amol-Kalit has left him with much to be desired on his unwilling adventures. Despite this, a sharp wit and a quick mind often serves him well, carrying him through difficulties whether with the known, or unknown. He has shown repeated ability to concoct complex plans at a moment's notice. Frustration and anger do little to hinder this. If anything, he is even sharper of mind when placed under pressure or threat of death.

Beneath the guarded exterior he puts forth however, exists a soul more weathered and worn than he would ever express. Itra, once regarded as a beacon of hope for his own salvation, has taken a heavy toll on the priest’s psyche. Unlike many other deities, Itra holds frequent and direct communication with Kiros, exposing him to Her abhorrent personality and incomprehensible direction. Her chaotic attitude and repeated abuse have contributed to his doubt in his own abilities and worthiness; consequences of a lack of proper divine leadership that has left him without a stick with which to measure himself.

He gives little hint of these issues to others, and has found some personal solace in utilizing his divine magic for the provision of safety and healing to others. In the past, he’d often declare himself to be a follower of Naspar to justify his distance from the temples. With Itra having announced Her existence upon the conclusion of Titanfall however, She is no longer a secret to Arethil. Awareness of this has left Kiros a touch paranoid, even though he’s determined that knowledge of Her to be far less widespread than his initial concern. Her guidance, or rather lack thereof, has primed him to react with pessimism should plans go awry or if progress on a task stalls. While prone to frustration, Kiros remains a determined individual and will press on regardless of circumstance – always out of a sense of self preservation and camaraderie than actual divine devotion.

Damnation is his greatest fear, and The Pit of The Three a hell he would be horrified to face. His agreement to serve Itra and decision to remain was borne from this fear. Despite his griping, he'd endure most any hardship to be delivered from such terrifying and eternal punishment.

And Itra knows this.

Theological Views

Annunaki
The most sacred of the deities to exist as far as he is concerned. All whom pledged allegiance to Annuk hold the highest esteem in his mind, and he considers those spared in the First and Second Ordening to be vetted properly as a holy force.

Respect for their power however, does not imply that he necessarily views the deity behind it with reverence. Seeds of doubt are ever present as his own deity serves a constant counterexample to the notion of automatic divine gracefulness.

The Six
Regarded as the holiest of the holy, Kiros believes his past sins render him unworthy to worship them, and for the past sixteen years he has lived a life absent of their grace. Still holding them in great reverence, Kiros longs for the day where he might shake off his shame and openly call himself one of their followers with honesty. If, or when that day will come is unknown to him, nor does he hold clue of how he might redeem himself.

In the absence of holy guidance or teachings, he has found the need to ascribe his own principles to his daily life. Whether or not his developed scruples still hold to those of the Six remains to be seen; his mission of divine redemption has become a consuming task that disallows consideration of such existential questions. Until he can mend his woes, his own sacred restoration remains his highest priority.

Due to his identity as exiled heretic however, Kiros will be extremely cautious of those that follow them.

The Three
He holds the three with contempt, viewing them as evil deities of malcontent and malice. Kiros will display open hostility towards their followers.

The Hundreds
All others in the Annunaki pantheon hold his respect; perhaps not for the deity but the power behind them. Even Itra is considered holy without question; and She is by far the worst of the lot. While his views towards those who follow other deities may have once been condescending, the path he's followed in life under Itra has left him empathetic to those who follow others besides the Six. It's of further comfort that they tend to be separate from the main Annunaki priesthood; of which Kiros is considered condemned criminal.

Celestialism
As far as he is concerned, Celestial deities don't even truly exist; maintaining that all of their good works are either fictitious legend, or a mis-attribution of holy works performed by the Six. He believes that the religion of Celestialism is worship wasted on the concept of gods.

Celestialists themselves are considered a mixed bag; though he has had some poor experiences, it can't be denied that the good outweigh them, and Kiros is far too polite to give his candid views on the religion to its followers – unless he is having an outburst, and no Celestialist he respects remains within earshot.

Other gods
He will acknowledge the presence of other deities as godly, though he will not consider them holy in the same manner as he does the Annunaki; with the notable exception of Seneschal, a deceased deity regarded in high esteem. He does maintain respect for them, especially in the presence of their followers. It is perhaps empathy for those who walk another path.

Monotheism
As a polytheist, Kiros is not fond of monotheistic religions that deny existence of other gods. Those who are open and blunt about such beliefs are likely to spark vitriolic argument.

Biography and Lore

Kiros grew up in a town on the Baal-Duru River on the outskirts of Annuakat. Chosen to be a priest at a young age, this training would come with a catch: Annuakat required a constant tribute in the form of conscripts, prizing mages such as him. Service under the Annuakati was arduous, but he would see the completion of his term. Upon his trek home an encounter with a small party of bandits caused him to take a detour in attempt to escape. Kiros found himself pursued through a canyon and cavern, eventually leading him to stumble across the ruins of a temple hidden further within. Stone doors sealed shut and his granted him safety from his pursuit; it was here he’d have his first encounter with Itra.

She demanded to know what had brought him forth, and he replied that he was seeking his own safety. She then asked whether he came to worship; still a devout follower of the Six and witless as to how to respond to a goddess, Kiros hesitated, greatly. Tempted as he was to claim worship for his own well being and to prevent being smote down, he did not dare spurn the Six. His reply that he would not worship entertained Itra, and She offered to anoint him as priest; a favour he refused at the time. He still a follower of the Six at this point – and She dared not make enemy of them by crossing their priest. It would be some time however before She would allow his departure, and Kiros took a map with him when he departed for home.

He had initially hoped that the completion and survival of his service would yield a position of comfort. Yet, upon discovery of his notes and his map to the ruined temple by higher ranked priests an argument broke out. This argument became increasingly hostile until it resulted in violent confrontation, and the deaths of the higher priests on his hands.

His actions had made him heretic, and an exile from his own homeland. Now wanted for murder by the kingdom and treason by the priesthood, Kiros fled from the town and returned to the temple. He sought aid from Itra, and this time he accepted Her offer of priesthood. His soul had been saved, or so he believed – he would later learn that many of his assumptions regarding the terms becoming Her follower to be incorrect. Rather than The Pit or the Astral Valley; his soul would be destroyed. There were many further miserable lessons he would learn about his new indolent deity in the years to come.

Travels took him further and further west through Amol-Kalit, until he left the territory entirely. He settled into Elbion as a merchant; selling healing and magical services in the city for a period of years. The great disaster upon the city claimed his shop and living quarters, spurring him to roam again. The event further seemed to spark some curiosity in Itra, leading Her to deploy Kiros on holy quests for the first time in years upon discovering more of the world through his resumed travels.

Approximately one year after the catastrophe at Elbion, Kiros found himself deployed on one such quest to investigate an ongoing instability in the nature of magic. Itra sent him to find seek Eolydiir's Crook under the guidance of another deity, Seneschal, who ultimately sacrificed Herself to aid the party. Enraged at Seneschal's death, Itra condemned the one responsible for the event to eternal torture. She announced Her existence in doing so, and bequeathed a gift to Xzaar Vixneel after.

These events have given Her some notoriety, and awareness of Her appears to be public knowledge; though only those listening to the portal stones could have heard Her firsthand. While his own role in the events has been mentioned, identifying details have not been consistent. Still, this sudden and unwanted fame has been the cause of further worry since he learned of it. Kiros fears it likely that he could be identified, given the right effort.

References

The Battle of the Kinniger Dutchy: Outriders - Sent on a holy quest to investigate mention of Her name, Kiros encounters The War-Father, whom Itra carries unknown connection to.
In The Shadows of Giants - Sent on another holy quest by Itra, Kiros arrives to aid Seneschal; oblivious to the ongoing arcane catastrophe, and The Crook's role in it.
Titanfall - Revelations - With Seneschal deceased, Itra takes it upon Herself to deal with The Crook's thief, announcing his punishment through the portal stones.
Ambush at Farreach Woods - Kiros discovers Itra's announcement by way of several with knowledge of her. Though Kiros opts to aid Farreach, reasoning that they know Itra; Itra Herself does not. He and Visha Sofka mistake one another for allies, and after she obtains power bestowed by The Pilgrim, Kiros beseeches Itra for aid and is smote for his request. Nothing else is remembered, though he heard tale of the following assault on Alliria that followed some time after.
To Kiros - Kiros writes a response to Visha, a pyromancer he had mistaken for ally. Mistaking the mail bringer for one seeking aid, Kiros receives his first hint that Itra is not as widely known as he feared.
Valor - Fighting alongside the dwarven Marines, Kiros acts to protect the life of a young dwarf named Sardrun. Despite saving the boy, Itra becomes incensed by his unintentional proximity to the War-Father's paladin. She forces Kiros to remain for the defence of the fort, despite the certain defeat and risk of demise it carried.
To Return to Malakath - Growing uncertainty over Itra's actions in Malakath leads Kiros to return to return to Ravaryn and investigate for himself. Despite his efforts to remain undetected by Her, She catches on to his actions and delivers an answer to him and those with him.
On Hallow Ground - Chosen by unknown forces into a unknown land alongside others, his past literally returns to haunt him in the form of his re-animated victims. Agitated by both their presence and Itra's, Kiros scambles for the helm out of desperation and suceeds in obtaining it, granting him his deeply desired escape from the situation, along with the Helm of the Departed itself.