Brynor

Brynor is a level nine earth mage, a member of the Xalmyrran Council, and a former general of Keldara. Known as the Avatar of the Earth, he has won five tournaments of champions. He lives in Irrathis with his wife, Mirael, and their two children.

Appearance

Brynor is a large, broad man with thick arms, muscular shoulders, and a beard.

Personality

Brynor takes pride in his strength and tournament victories. He enjoys challenging other mages and boasts of surpassing his former teacher.

He keeps his agreements even when they interfere with his plans.

Magic

Brynor coats his fists with stone, raises columns and spikes, and travels with powerful seismic leaps. He combines earth magic with air and fire to move quickly and carries other people with him. He can raise large formations for shelter or reshape the ground to rebuild a village.

History

Keldara and the council

Khoradyn taught Brynor and became his close friend. Brynor rose to become a Keldaran general and later joined the council. He won five tournaments, including a final against Draven Skyforge. He regularly takes assignments outside Irrathis, where Mirael often accompanies him as a healer.

After a mage exploded in Zeydrith, Aldar sent Brynor and Mirael to Soltheris to investigate and prevent a war. Brynor traced the remaining essence to the Artisan Guild and inspected the villages threatened by the darkness.

He accepted Aurion's challenge to a duel. If Brynor won, Aurion would share his technology; if he lost, Brynor and Mirael would help defend Soltheris and seek assistance from Keldara. Aurion placed small shields beneath Brynor's feet to trip him and pinned him against the arena barrier. Brynor conceded and stayed to fulfill their agreement, declining the next tournament.

The orrery disaster

Near Dravemir, spiral flowers restored Brynor's memories of Eira's earlier mission. He and Mirael remembered different people being sent. Silas confirmed that Eira had been chosen, and Brynor also recalled Kaelion and Lirien's mission.

Brynor attended Aurion's demonstration of an orrery outside Zeydrith. Aurion used its essence to form an enormous starfield barrier. Before Brynor could take his turn, the approaching darkness rushed toward the device's beam. Thalvian removed the power cores, but the orrery continued drawing essence.

Brynor smashed the machine and then its protected central core. The essence released from it joined the storm rather than dispersing. He tried to drain the gathering power, but it replenished faster than he could draw. He raised a mountain to protect against the approaching shockwave. After the cataclysm, he returned to Mirael and their children in Irrathis and warned Aldar and Xarion about what had happened.

Khoradyn and the expedition

At Aldar's request, Brynor investigated Khoradyn's disappearance and the twenty years his teacher could not remember. He encountered a powerful mage concealed in shadow in Erenmyr; the mage fled after their fight. Kaelion then took him to Lirathen on Splin, and Brynor continued to Varentis to question Khoradyn about his missing years and Isrynn.

At the meeting of Xalmyrra's leaders, Brynor was selected to lead an expedition into the Land of Darkness. The group intends to investigate the territory beyond the temple.

Relationships

• Mirael and their children: Mirael is his wife and a council healer. They work together on assignments and the defense of Soltheris. Their children live in Irrathis, where Brynor returns after the cataclysm.
• Khoradyn: His teacher and close friend. They enjoy testing their strength against each other. Brynor remains grateful for his teaching even while claiming to have surpassed him.
• Aurion: A friend and rival. Brynor questions the danger of Aurion's experiments but kept his word after losing their duel and helped Soltheris. He took part in the orrery demonstration and tried to stop the resulting disaster.
• Aldar: His colleague and council head. Aldar entrusts him with investigations and expeditions, including the inquiry into Khoradyn's missing years.

Brynor is a level nine earth mage, a member of the Xalmyrran Council, and a former general of Keldara. Known as the Avatar of the Earth and the Living Mountain, he has won five tournaments of champions. He lives in Irrathis with his wife, Mirael, and their two children.

Appearance

Brynor is a large, broad man with thick arms, muscular shoulders, graying hair, and a beard. He has not aged during the years Khoradyn has known him.

Personality

Brynor takes pride in his strength and tournament victories. He enjoys challenging other mages and expects his reputation to reassure companions on dangerous expeditions. He prefers field work and duels to government gatherings and smalltalk.

He keeps his agreements even when they interfere with his plans. He loves Mirael and their children.

Magic

Brynor coats his fists with stone, raises columns and spikes, and moves with powerful seismic leaps. He combines these movements with air and fire to travel quickly, carrying other people with him. He also reshapes the ground for construction and shelter. With Khoradyn, he raised and directed a great wave of lava at the temple in the Land of Darkness.

While helping Renneth activate the gate beneath the council hall, he instinctively formed a temporal shield against Renneth's heat, despite not knowing how he had learned that spell.

History

Keldara and the council

Brynor remembers nothing of his childhood. His memories begin outside Varentis, where Khoradyn found him and became his teacher and friend. He learned unusually quickly, as though he already knew what Khoradyn was teaching.

He became a Keldaran general and later joined the council. He won five tournaments of champions, including a final against Jin Leiyun, then known as Draven Skyforge. His strength and lack of aging remained unexplained.

After a mage exploded in Zeydrith, Aldar sent Brynor and Mirael to Soltheris to investigate and prevent a war. Brynor traced the remaining essence to the Artisan Guild. He accepted Aurion's challenge to a duel: victory would win shared technology, while defeat would oblige him and Mirael to help defend Soltheris. Aurion tripped him with shields beneath his feet and pinned him against the arena barrier. Brynor conceded and kept their agreement, declining the next tournament.

The orrery disaster

Spiral flowers restored his memories of Eira's earlier mission. He and Mirael remembered different people being sent. Silas confirmed that Eira had been chosen, and Brynor also recalled Kaelion and Lirien's mission.

During a demonstration of Aurion's orrery outside Zeydrith, its beam attracted the approaching darkness. Thalvian removed the power cores, but the device continued drawing essence. Brynor smashed the machine and its protected central core. The released essence joined the gathering storm. He tried to drain it, but it replenished too quickly, and he raised a mountain to shield against the shockwave. After the cataclysm, he returned to his family in Irrathis and warned the council.

He also investigated Khoradyn's disappearance and missing twenty years for Aldar. He encountered a powerful mage concealed in shadow in Erenmyr; the mage fled after their fight. Kaelion took him to Lirathen on Splin, and Brynor continued to Varentis to question his teacher about the missing years and Isrynn.

The Land of Darkness

Brynor led Mirael, Khoradyn, Kaelric, Astheron, and Orin into the Land of Darkness. He and Khoradyn marked the route with earth formations, while Mirael maintained the darkness repeller. He assigned the group their work and planned to investigate beyond the temple.

When Khoradyn opened the temple door, Lirien fell out. Brynor caught her and let the healers stabilize her. He sent Astheron to take her directly to Aldar, instructing him not to let Aurion interfere.

During the expedition Brynor met Eira in a green valley. She told him about her travels, the wider world, and the gods, and he told her Lirien was safe. His companions found him unconscious near the temple. On waking, he learned that their provisions had run low and ordered them to return.

Before leaving, Brynor and Khoradyn used the orreries to send a wave of lava at the temple. The attack passed through it without damage. Brynor brought the group back to Dravemir, where Daryas confirmed they had been absent for two weeks. The group had thought only about two days had passed.

The mirror and gate

Brynor reported Eira's news to the council. Aldar tested him with a mirror that showed Brynor's reflection but not Aurion standing behind him. Brynor then explained that he had no memories before meeting Khoradyn. Mirael confirmed that he had never aged during their life together.

He joined Renneth in supplying essence to the gate beneath the council hall, using Thalvian's equipment and an orrery. The eleven symbols lit, opening a connection to the void. Both sensed Cassian briefly beyond it. Renneth had become unusually fearful and refused to tell Brynor what he knew.

When Maelis returned mortally wounded with news that the darkness had attacked Velundra, Brynor learned that Soltheris was also threatened. Mirael was there. Aldar let him leave, and Brynor used earth, air, and fire to race toward her.

Relationships

• Mirael and their children: Mirael is his wife and a council healer. She accompanies him on expeditions and accepts his unexplained past because he has been good to her. Their children live in Irrathis.
• Khoradyn: His teacher and close friend, who found him outside Varentis. Brynor remains grateful for his teaching while claiming to have surpassed him. They share the work of moving the expedition's orreries and testing their power against the temple.
• Aurion: A friend and rival. Brynor challenges his boasting and questions the danger of Aurion's experiments. He kept his word after losing their duel. Before the darkness expedition, he apologized for his earlier accusations about the cataclysm.
• Aldar: His colleague and council head. Aldar entrusts him with investigations and expeditions and tested his reflection after his return from the darkness.
• Eira: An explorer whose earlier mission Brynor remembers after seeing spiral flowers. Their meeting in the green valley allowed them to exchange news, including Lirien's rescue.

Brynor, formerly known as Belanor, is a level nine earth mage of Xalmyrra, a member of the Xalmyrran Council, and a former general of Keldara. He lived among the atraxi before they came to Xalmyrra and reported to Jorhan through its repeating cycles. He ended his pact with Xelthys after Jorhan's arrival and has returned to Atraxis Prime.

Appearance

Brynor is a large, broad man with thick arms, muscular shoulders, graying hair, and a short beard. He does not age like the people around him.

Personality

Brynor takes pride in his strength and tournament victories. He readily challenges other mages and boasts of surpassing his former teacher. He prefers field work and duels to government gatherings and smalltalk.

Life with Mirael and their children gave Brynor the peace he wanted after millennia of reporting to Jorhan. He blamed himself for the deaths in the War of Scars.

Magic

Known as the Avatar of the Earth and the Living Mountain, Brynor coats his fists with stone, raises columns and spikes, and travels with seismic leaps. He combines earth magic with air and fire to cross long distances. His strength also serves construction and rescue, including rebuilding villages and moving people away from battles.

Belanor learned spells by watching Xalmyrran mages. Amos and Jareth built gate activators around his spell when he lacked the essence to open gates himself. Brynor uses temporal magic to blink and form protective shields. His pact with Xelthys supplied healing and guidance; much of his strength remained his own, and ending the pact did not remove it.

History

Atraxis and Xalmyrra

Belanor arrived on Atraxis Prime Alpha through a gate without knowing where he came from. He lived among the atraxi and escaped the destruction of their world aboard the last departing ship. When its crew connected a gate, he volunteered to enter first and emerged in the Aethrendar Sea. The survivors reached Xalmyrra, where he learned the language and studied local magic.

He worked with Aldred's council in Irrathis, witnessed Aldred take the spiral beneath the council hall, and kept its location secret. Amos and Jareth used his spell in their work connecting gates. Pure atraxi began to sicken, and their essence overuse spread corruption. Aldred ordered them to leave to stop that overuse. Belanor secured time to prepare their voyage to Xolterra.

On the island, Belanor excavated a buried chamber. Jorhan took the spiral fragment inside it, causing an upheaval that killed more atraxi. Belanor was unaffected by the deadly wave. Jorhan then demanded control of Xalmyrra and fought Aldred.

Belanor made a pact with Xelthys, who enabled him to heal and guided the evacuation. He helped take people away from the fighting and returned to find Aldred dead. He tried to claim Aldred's spiral, but Xelthys stopped him so Jorhan could use its power to restore the ruined land.

The cycles

Jorhan began repeating Xalmyrra's history in cycles, enclosing it behind storms and darkness. Belanor visited the region and reported to him. He opposed the captivity but continued assuring Jorhan that the inhabitants were content, following Xelthys's instructions while she waited for someone who could defeat him.

Belanor eventually told Kaldramir about the cycles, the storms, and the outside world. Kaldramir's attempt to conquer Xalmyrra became the War of Scars. Belanor blamed himself for the deaths and wanted to face Jorhan, but Xelthys kept him reporting. Arcanis ended the fighting after arriving on an astragon.

Belanor asked Xelthys to let him live peacefully for a few decades. She guided him through a cave north of Varentis, where he crossed the veil without shielding his mind. He lost his memories and returned south. Khoradyn found him outside Varentis, named him Brynor, and became his teacher and friend. Brynor learned quickly, married Mirael, and had two children.

Xelthys later restored his memories and sent him back to Jorhan. In another cycle, he returned to Xalmyrra and found that the War of Scars had happened again despite his silence to Kaldramir. He crossed the veil once more, forgot his past, and met Khoradyn again under the name Brynor.

Council mage

Brynor became a Keldaran general and later joined the council. He won five tournaments of champions, including a final against Jin Leiyun, then known as Draven Skyforge. His lack of aging and unusual strength remained unexplained to his colleagues and family.

After a mage exploded in Zeydrith, Aldar sent Brynor and Mirael to Soltheris to investigate and prevent a war. He accepted Aurion's challenge to a duel: victory would win shared technology, while defeat would oblige him and Mirael to help defend Soltheris. Aurion tripped him with shields under his feet and pinned him against the arena barrier. Brynor conceded and kept their agreement, missing the next tournament.

Spiral flowers restored his memories of Eira's earlier mission. During a demonstration of Aurion's orrery outside Zeydrith, its beam attracted the approaching darkness. Brynor broke the device and its core, but the released essence joined the gathering storm. He tried to drain it and raised a mountain to shield against the shockwave. After the cataclysm, he returned to his family and warned the council.

The Land of Darkness

Brynor led an expedition into the Land of Darkness, using earth formations to mark the route. When Khoradyn opened the temple door, Brynor caught the weakened Lirien and sent Astheron to take her directly to Aldar.

During the expedition he met Eira in a green valley, while his companions found him unconscious near the temple. They exchanged news, and he told her Lirien was safe. On waking, he found their supplies running low. He and Khoradyn attacked the temple with lava, but it passed through without damage. He brought the group back to Dravemir, where Daryas confirmed that two weeks had passed.

He reported Eira's news to the council. Aldar tested him with a mirror that showed Brynor's reflection but not Aurion standing behind him. Brynor then disclosed that his memories began with Khoradyn outside Varentis. He helped Renneth power the gate beneath the council hall and sensed Cassian in the void.

Jorhan's arrival

As Soltheris prepared to face Jorhan, Brynor forced its troops to begin evacuating with a monolith and shockwave. Mirael left with the healers. He fought beside Aurion at the gate outside Dravemir and threw an enormous rock at Jorhan. He later destroyed the Aethrendar Gate to block Jorhan's escape.

Brynor ended his pact with Xelthys. He traveled through the gate beneath Lythenmere Lake to Atraxis Prime, intending to kill the atraxi. He found the city already destroyed. The dying Thirun told him that Jareth had accompanied the attackers and asked Brynor to end his suffering. Brynor killed him with an air blade.

When Jorhan and Eshmir returned weakened, Brynor spared them. He could not kill the man whose restoration of Xalmyrra had made Mirael and the others' lives possible. He remained with them, intending to wait for Jorhan's death.

Relationships

• Mirael and their children: Mirael is his wife and a council healer. Their home in Irrathis gave him the peaceful life he wanted after millennia of reports to Jorhan. She accompanies him on expeditions and accepts his unexplained past because he has been good to her.
• Khoradyn: His teacher and close friend, who found him after his memory loss and gave him the name Brynor. Brynor remains grateful for his teaching while claiming to have surpassed him.
• Aurion: A friend and rival. Brynor challenges his boasting and questions the danger of Aurion's experiments. He kept his word after losing their duel and later fought beside him against Jorhan.
• Aldar: His colleague and council head. Aldar trusts him with investigations and expeditions and tested his reflection after his return from the darkness.
• Xelthys: His former pact partner, whose true name is Hrzai. She guided him through the cycles and restored his memories when he needed to report. She also let him forget them to live with his family. Brynor ended their pact before traveling to Atraxis Prime.
• Jorhan: His old friend and the ruler whose cycles imprisoned Xalmyrra. Belanor kept him trusting false reports for millennia. Brynor went after him but ultimately spared him because of the world he had restored.

Brynor, formerly known as Belanor, is a level nine earth mage of Xalmyrra, a member of the Xalmyrran Council, and a former general of Keldara. He lived among the atraxi before they came to Xalmyrra and reported to Jorhan through its repeating cycles. He ended his pact with Xelthys after Jorhan's arrival and accompanied him while Jorhan cleared the darkness from Durakarn.

Appearance

Brynor is a large, broad man with thick arms, muscular shoulders, graying hair, and a short beard. He does not age like the people around him.

Personality

Brynor takes pride in his strength and tournament victories. He readily challenges other mages and boasts of surpassing his former teacher. He prefers field work and duels to government gatherings and smalltalk.

Life with Mirael and their children gave Brynor the peace he wanted after millennia of reporting to Jorhan. He blamed himself for the deaths in the War of Scars.

Magic

Known as the Avatar of the Earth and the Living Mountain, Brynor coats his fists with stone, raises columns and spikes, and travels with seismic leaps. He combines earth magic with air and fire to cross long distances. His strength also serves construction and rescue, including rebuilding villages and moving people away from battles.

Belanor learned spells by watching Xalmyrran mages. Amos and Jareth built gate activators around his spell when he lacked the essence to open gates himself. Brynor uses temporal magic to blink and form protective shields. As Belanor, he taught Isandriel temporal magic over several days. His pact with Xelthys supplied healing and guidance; much of his strength remained his own, and ending the pact did not remove it.

History

Atraxis and Xalmyrra

Belanor arrived on Atraxis Prime Alpha through a gate without knowing where he came from. He lived among the atraxi and escaped the destruction of their world aboard the last departing ship. When its crew connected a gate, he volunteered to enter first and emerged in the Aethrendar Sea. The survivors reached Xalmyrra, where he learned the language and studied local magic.

He worked with Aldred's council in Irrathis, witnessed Aldred take the spiral beneath the council hall, and kept its location secret. Amos and Jareth used his spell in their work connecting gates. Pure atraxi began to sicken, and their essence overuse spread corruption. Aldred ordered them to leave to stop that overuse. Belanor secured time to prepare their voyage to Xolterra.

On the island, Belanor excavated a buried chamber. Jorhan took the spiral fragment inside it, causing an upheaval that killed more atraxi. Belanor was unaffected by the deadly wave. Jorhan then demanded control of Xalmyrra and fought Aldred.

Belanor made a pact with Xelthys, who enabled him to heal and guided the evacuation. He helped take people away from the fighting and returned to find Aldred dead. He tried to claim Aldred's spiral, but Xelthys stopped him so Jorhan could use its power to restore the ruined land.

The cycles

Jorhan began repeating Xalmyrra's history in cycles, enclosing it behind storms and darkness. Belanor visited the region and reported to him. He opposed the captivity but continued assuring Jorhan that the inhabitants were content, following Xelthys's instructions while she waited for someone who could defeat him.

Belanor eventually told Kaldramir about the cycles, the storms, and the outside world. Kaldramir's attempt to conquer Xalmyrra became the War of Scars. Belanor blamed himself for the deaths and wanted to face Jorhan, but Xelthys kept him reporting. Arcanis ended the fighting after arriving on an astragon.

Belanor asked Xelthys to let him live peacefully for a few decades. She guided him through a cave north of Varentis, where he crossed the veil without shielding his mind. He lost his memories and returned south. Khoradyn found him outside Varentis, named him Brynor, and became his teacher and friend. Brynor learned quickly, married Mirael, and had two children.

Xelthys later restored his memories and sent him back to Jorhan. In another cycle, he returned to Xalmyrra and found that the War of Scars had happened again despite his silence to Kaldramir. He crossed the veil once more, forgot his past, and met Khoradyn again under the name Brynor.

Council mage

Brynor became a Keldaran general and later joined the council. He won five tournaments of champions, including a final against Jin Leiyun, then known as Draven Skyforge. His lack of aging and unusual strength remained unexplained to his colleagues and family.

After a mage exploded in Zeydrith, Aldar sent Brynor and Mirael to Soltheris to investigate and prevent a war. He accepted Aurion's challenge to a duel: victory would win shared technology, while defeat would oblige him and Mirael to help defend Soltheris. Aurion tripped him with shields under his feet and pinned him against the arena barrier. Brynor conceded and kept their agreement, missing the next tournament.

Spiral flowers restored his memories of Eira's earlier mission. During a demonstration of Aurion's orrery outside Zeydrith, its beam attracted the approaching darkness. Brynor broke the device and its core, but the released essence joined the gathering storm. He tried to drain it and raised a mountain to shield against the shockwave. After the cataclysm, he returned to his family and warned the council.

The Land of Darkness

Brynor led an expedition into the Land of Darkness, using earth formations to mark the route. When Khoradyn opened the temple door, Brynor caught the weakened Lirien and sent Astheron to take her directly to Aldar.

During the expedition he met Eira in a green valley, while his companions found him unconscious near the temple. They exchanged news, and he told her Lirien was safe. On waking, he found their supplies running low. He and Khoradyn attacked the temple with lava, but it passed through without damage. He brought the group back to Dravemir, where Daryas confirmed that two weeks had passed.

He reported Eira's news to the council. Aldar tested him with a mirror that showed Brynor's reflection but not Aurion standing behind him. Brynor then disclosed that his memories began with Khoradyn outside Varentis. He helped Renneth power the gate beneath the council hall and sensed Cassian in the void.

Jorhan's arrival

As Soltheris prepared to face Jorhan, Brynor forced its troops to begin evacuating with a monolith and shockwave. Mirael left with the healers. He fought beside Aurion at the gate outside Dravemir and threw an enormous rock at Jorhan. He later destroyed the Aethrendar Gate to block Jorhan's escape.

Brynor ended his pact with Xelthys. He traveled through the gate beneath Lythenmere Lake to Atraxis Prime, intending to kill the atraxi. He found the city already destroyed. The dying Thirun told him that Jareth had accompanied the attackers and asked Brynor to end his suffering. Brynor killed him with an air blade.

When Jorhan and Eshmir returned weakened, Brynor spared them. He could not kill the man whose restoration of Xalmyrra had made Mirael and the others' lives possible. Brynor accompanied Jorhan into Durakarn, where Jorhan used his remaining power to absorb the darkness. Brynor stayed for years before Aurion and Lirien found him. He supported restoring contact between the reclaimed lands and Irrathis.

When Jorhan cleared the last expanse of darkness, Brynor stopped Aurion from interfering. Jorhan and Eshmir died together. Brynor tried to stop Aurion taking the remaining fragment, but arrived too late.

Relationships

• Mirael and their children: Mirael is his wife and a council healer. Their home in Irrathis gave him the peaceful life he wanted after millennia of reports to Jorhan. She accompanies him on expeditions and accepts his unexplained past because he has been good to her.
• Khoradyn: His teacher and close friend, who found him after his memory loss and gave him the name Brynor. Brynor remains grateful for his teaching while claiming to have surpassed him.
• Aurion: A friend and rival. Brynor challenges his boasting and questions the danger of Aurion's experiments. He kept his word after losing their duel and later fought beside him against Jorhan.
• Aldar: His colleague and council head. Aldar trusts him with investigations and expeditions and tested his reflection after his return from the darkness.
• Xelthys: His former pact partner, whose true name is Hrzai. She guided him through the cycles and restored his memories when he needed to report. She also let him forget them to live with his family. Brynor ended their pact before traveling to Atraxis Prime.
• Jorhan: His old friend and the ruler whose cycles imprisoned Xalmyrra. Belanor kept him trusting false reports for millennia. Brynor went after him but ultimately spared him because of the world he had restored.

Brynor, formerly known as Belanor, is a level nine earth mage of Xalmyrra and Aldar's successor as head of the Xalmyrran Council. Eira revived him from an atraxi body with Barachiel's Malverand heart. He lived among the atraxi before they came to Xalmyrra, then reported to Jorhan through its repeating cycles.

Appearance

Brynor is a large, broad man with thick arms, muscular shoulders, graying hair, and a short beard. His restored body combines human and atraxi features. He does not age like the people around him.

Personality

Brynor takes pride in his strength and tournament victories. He readily challenges other mages and boasts of surpassing his former teacher. He prefers field work and duels to government gatherings and smalltalk.

Life with Mirael and their children gave Brynor the peace he wanted after millennia of reporting to Jorhan. He blamed himself for the deaths in the War of Scars.

Magic

Known as the Avatar of the Earth and the Living Mountain, Brynor coats his fists with stone, raises columns and spikes, and travels with seismic leaps. He combines earth magic with air and fire to cross long distances. His strength also serves construction and rescue, including rebuilding villages and moving people away from battles.

He learns new spells quickly by observing other mages. Eira infused her own essence into his Malverand heart when she revived him. Amos and Jareth built gate activators around his spell when he lacked the essence to open gates himself. He can sense other gates while navigating the void, though he initially used ropes to keep his way back. Brynor uses temporal magic to blink and form protective shields. As Belanor, he taught Isandriel temporal magic over several days. His pact with Xelthys supplied healing and guidance; much of his strength remained his own, and ending the pact did not remove it.

History

Eira and Vireen

Two atraxi reached Vireen through its damaged gate. Dhalvor killed them with a cosmic beam after mistaking the traces of Barachiel's magic on them for evidence that they had killed the emperor. Eira repaired their bodies and took them aboard the colony's skyship. She placed Barachiel's crystalline heart in the larger atraxi and Arcanis's in the other.

During her return toward Valrindor, she used a temporal spell learned from Thalena to restart their hearts. They had been dead too long to retain their memories. Her healing and the heart altered the larger man's body, leaving him partly human. Eira knew him as Belanor from their later life in Xalmyrra. She carried him into the void and threw him toward a distant gate.

Atraxis and Xalmyrra

Belanor arrived on Atraxis Prime Alpha through a gate without knowing where he came from. He lived among the atraxi and escaped the destruction of their world aboard the last departing ship. When its crew connected a gate, he volunteered to enter first and emerged in the Aethrendar Sea. The survivors reached Xalmyrra, where he learned the language and studied local magic.

He worked with Aldred's council in Irrathis, witnessed Aldred take the spiral beneath the council hall, and kept its location secret. Amos and Jareth used his spell in their work connecting gates. Pure atraxi began to sicken, and their essence overuse spread corruption. Aldred ordered them to leave to stop that overuse. Belanor secured time to prepare their voyage to Xolterra.

On the island, Belanor excavated a buried chamber. Jorhan took the spiral fragment inside it, causing an upheaval that killed more atraxi. Belanor was unaffected by the deadly wave. Jorhan then demanded control of Xalmyrra and fought Aldred.

Belanor made a pact with Xelthys, who enabled him to heal and guided the evacuation. He helped take people away from the fighting and returned to find Aldred dead. He tried to claim Aldred's spiral, but Xelthys stopped him so Jorhan could use its power to restore the ruined land.

The cycles

Jorhan began repeating Xalmyrra's history in cycles, enclosing it behind storms and darkness. Belanor visited the region and reported to him. He opposed the captivity but continued assuring Jorhan that the inhabitants were content, following Xelthys's instructions while she waited for someone who could defeat him.

Belanor eventually told Kaldramir about the cycles, the storms, and the outside world. Kaldramir's attempt to conquer Xalmyrra became the War of Scars. Belanor blamed himself for the deaths and wanted to face Jorhan, but Xelthys kept him reporting. Arcanis ended the fighting after arriving on an astragon.

Belanor asked Xelthys to let him live peacefully for a few decades. She guided him through a cave north of Varentis, where he crossed the veil without shielding his mind. He lost his memories and returned south. Khoradyn found him outside Varentis, named him Brynor, and became his teacher and friend. Brynor learned quickly, married Mirael, and had two children.

Xelthys later restored his memories and sent him back to Jorhan. In another cycle, he returned to Xalmyrra and found that the War of Scars had happened again despite his silence to Kaldramir. He crossed the veil once more, forgot his past, and met Khoradyn again under the name Brynor.

Council mage

Brynor became a Keldaran general and later joined the council. He won five tournaments of champions, including a final against Jin Leiyun, then known as Draven Skyforge. His lack of aging and unusual strength remained unexplained to his colleagues and family.

After a mage exploded in Zeydrith, Aldar sent Brynor and Mirael to Soltheris to investigate and prevent a war. He accepted Aurion's challenge to a duel: victory would win shared technology, while defeat would oblige him and Mirael to help defend Soltheris. Aurion tripped him with shields under his feet and pinned him against the arena barrier. Brynor conceded and kept their agreement, missing the next tournament.

Spiral flowers restored his memories of Eira's earlier mission. During a demonstration of Aurion's orrery outside Zeydrith, its beam attracted the approaching darkness. Brynor broke the device and its core, but the released essence joined the gathering storm. He tried to drain it and raised a mountain to shield against the shockwave. After the cataclysm, he returned to his family and warned the council.

The Land of Darkness

Brynor led an expedition into the Land of Darkness, using earth formations to mark the route. When Khoradyn opened the temple door, Brynor caught the weakened Lirien and sent Astheron to take her directly to Aldar.

During the expedition he met Eira in a green valley, while his companions found him unconscious near the temple. They exchanged news, and he told her Lirien was safe. On waking, he found their supplies running low. He and Khoradyn attacked the temple with lava, but it passed through without damage. He brought the group back to Dravemir, where Daryas confirmed that two weeks had passed.

He reported Eira's news to the council. Aldar tested him with a mirror that showed Brynor's reflection but not Aurion standing behind him. Brynor then disclosed that his memories began with Khoradyn outside Varentis. He helped Renneth power the gate beneath the council hall and sensed Cassian in the void.

Jorhan's arrival

As Soltheris prepared to face Jorhan, Brynor forced its troops to begin evacuating with a monolith and shockwave. Mirael left with the healers. He fought beside Aurion at the gate outside Dravemir and threw an enormous rock at Jorhan. He later destroyed the Aethrendar Gate to block Jorhan's escape.

Brynor ended his pact with Xelthys. He traveled through the gate beneath Lythenmere Lake to Atraxis Prime, intending to kill the atraxi. He found the city already destroyed. The dying Thirun told him that Jareth had accompanied the attackers and asked Brynor to end his suffering. Brynor killed him with an air blade.

When Jorhan and Eshmir returned weakened, Brynor spared them. He could not kill the man whose restoration of Xalmyrra had made Mirael and the others' lives possible. Brynor accompanied Jorhan into Durakarn, where Jorhan used his remaining power to absorb the darkness. Brynor stayed for years before Aurion and Lirien found him. He supported restoring contact between the reclaimed lands and Irrathis.

When Jorhan cleared the last expanse of darkness, Brynor stopped Aurion from interfering. Jorhan and Eshmir died together. Brynor tried to stop Aurion taking the remaining fragment, but arrived too late.

Return and council head

Brynor returned to Irrathis with Aurion and Lirien after three years away. His children, Braylen and Nereyne, had grown during his absence, and he apologized to Mirael. Tazarin brought him a young giant cuddly frog, a son of Splin and Glin, which jumped into his arms and bonded with him. He has not named it.

On the journey home, Brynor sensed a vast being approaching through the void beyond Xolterra. He warned the council and had the gate closed. After Aldar proposed him as council head, Xalmyrra's leaders signed the appointment. Brynor organized a tournament to train Aurion with his fragment and give the council an independent source of funds. He assigned work according to each member's abilities and worked to establish a communication network with Thalassai windweavers and essence cores from Thalcoris to monitor and respond to corruption.

He understood Glin's message through his bond with his frog and sent help to Maraveth. Splin carried him, Mirael, and Aurion there, where he reunited with Khoradyn and joined Garrik's forces. Brynor protected his companions with temporal magic when Aurion released an uncontrolled blast against Blackcrag's defenses. He disliked killing other people but helped Garrik's advance.

Garrik, Zhang, and Lysander told him about the Order of Thalion Zenith and the members stranded in the past. Brynor sensed people beneath Maraveth's black tower and offered to excavate the Malverand vault.

Relationships

• Mirael and their children: Mirael is his wife and a council healer. Their home in Irrathis gave him the peaceful life he wanted after millennia of reports to Jorhan. She works with him on expeditions and raised Braylen and Nereyne during his years away. Both children attend the Irrathis Magic School.
• Khoradyn: His teacher and close friend, who found him after his memory loss and gave him the name Brynor. Brynor remains grateful for his teaching while claiming to have surpassed him.
• Aurion: A friend and rival. Brynor challenges his boasting and questions the danger of Aurion's experiments. He kept his word after losing their duel and later fought beside him against Jorhan.
• Aldar: His colleague and predecessor as council head. Aldar trusted him with investigations and expeditions, then arranged his appointment so he could lead the council while Aldar returned to work outside Irrathis.
• Xelthys: His former pact partner, whose true name is Hrzai. She guided him through the cycles and restored his memories when he needed to report. She also let him forget them to live with his family. Brynor ended their pact before traveling to Atraxis Prime.
• Jorhan: His old friend and the ruler whose cycles imprisoned Xalmyrra. Belanor kept him trusting false reports for millennia. Brynor went after him but ultimately spared him because of the world he had restored.
• Eira: She revived the atraxi body that became Belanor and supplied his heart with her own essence. In Xalmyrra he supported her mission, and their meeting in the green valley allowed them to exchange news.
• His frog: An unnamed son of Splin and Glin. Their bond lets Brynor understand messages from the frogs.

Brynor, formerly known as Belanor, is an earth mage of Xalmyrra and Aldar's successor as head of the Xalmyrran Council. Eira revived him from an atraxi body with Barachiel's Malverand heart. He lost his body while containing Kalyx's explosion beneath the northern coast of Erenmyr. His heart has since been recovered and has begun responding to Jareth's work to revive him.

Appearance

Before the explosion, Brynor was a large, broad man with thick arms, muscular shoulders, graying hair, and a short beard. His restored body combined human and atraxi features. He did not age like the people around him.

Personality

Brynor took pride in his strength and tournament victories. He readily challenged other mages, boasted of surpassing his former teacher, and expected his reputation to reassure companions on dangerous expeditions. He preferred field work and duels to government gatherings and smalltalk.

His marriage and children gave him the peaceful life he wanted after millennia of reporting to Jorhan. He remained willing to fight for Xalmyrra but disliked killing other people.

Magic

Brynor reached level nine and became known as the Avatar of the Earth and the Living Mountain. He coated his fists with stone, raised columns and spikes, and moved with powerful seismic leaps. He combined these movements with air and fire to cross long distances. His earth magic also served construction and rescue: he rebuilt damaged villages, excavated buried structures, and hardened the sides of tunnels to keep them from collapsing.

He learned new spells quickly by observing other mages. His heart carries Eira's essence, which she infused into it when she revived him. The atraxi developed their gate activators from that magic. Amos and Jareth built devices around his spell when he lacked the essence to open gates himself. He could sense other gates while navigating the void, though he initially used ropes to keep his way back.

Brynor used temporal magic to blink himself and others and to form protective shields. As Belanor, he taught temporal magic to Isandriel. His pact with Hrzai supplied healing and guidance; much of his strength remained his own, and ending the pact did not remove it.

History

Eira and Atraxis

Two atraxi reached Vireen through its damaged gate. Dhalvor killed them with a cosmic beam after mistaking the traces of Barachiel's magic on them for evidence that they had killed the emperor. Eira repaired their bodies and took them aboard the colony's skyship. She placed Barachiel's crystalline heart in the larger atraxi and Arcanis's in the other.

During her return toward Valrindor, Eira used a temporal spell learned from Thalena to restart their hearts. The atraxi had been dead too long to retain their memories. Her healing and the heart altered the larger man's body, leaving him partly human. Eira knew him as Belanor from their later life in Xalmyrra. She carried him into the void and threw him toward a distant gate. She sent the other man, who became Jareth, after him.

Belanor arrived on Atraxis Prime Alpha without knowing where he came from. He lived among the atraxi and survived the destruction of their world aboard the last departing ship. When its crew connected a gate, he volunteered to enter first and emerged in the Aethrendar Sea. The survivors reached Xalmyrra, where Belanor learned the language and studied local magic.

Aldred and Jorhan

Belanor worked with Aldred's council in Irrathis. He saw Aldred take the spiral beneath the council hall and kept its location secret. Amos and Jareth used his magic in their work on gates, connecting the atraxi settlement with other places.

Pure atraxi sickened in Xalmyrra, and their essence overuse spread corruption. Aldred ordered them to leave to stop that overuse. Belanor secured time for them to prepare their voyage to Xolterra. There he excavated a buried chamber, and Jorhan took its spiral fragment. The resulting upheaval killed more atraxi, while Belanor remained unaffected.

Jorhan demanded control of Xalmyrra and fought Aldred. Belanor made a pact with Xelthys, who enabled him to heal and helped direct the evacuation. He took people away from the fighting and later returned to find Aldred dead. Belanor tried to take Aldred's spiral, but Xelthys stopped him so Jorhan could use its power to restore the ruined land.

When Jorhan began repeating Xalmyrra's history in cycles, Belanor reported to him from the enclosed region. He opposed Jorhan's control but continued assuring him that the inhabitants were content while Xelthys waited for someone who could defeat him. Jorhan trusted these reports and treated Belanor as an old friend.

Belanor eventually told Kaldramir about the cycles, the storms, and the outside world. Kaldramir's attempt to conquer Xalmyrra became the War of Scars. Belanor blamed himself for the deaths and wanted to confront Jorhan, but Xelthys kept him reporting. Arcanis ended the fighting after arriving on an astragon.

Life as Brynor

Belanor asked Xelthys to let him live peacefully for a few decades. She guided him through a cave north of Varentis, where he crossed the veil without shielding his mind. He lost his memories and returned south. Khoradyn found him outside Varentis, named him Brynor, and became his teacher and friend. Brynor learned quickly despite knowing nothing of his earlier life. He married Mirael and had two children.

Xelthys later restored his memories and sent him back to report to Jorhan. In another cycle, he returned to Xalmyrra and found that the War of Scars had happened again despite his silence to Kaldramir. He crossed the veil once more, forgot his past, and met Khoradyn again under the name Brynor.

He became a general of Keldara and then a council mage. He won five tournaments of champions, including a final against Draven Skyforge. His strength and lack of aging remained unexplained to his family and colleagues.

Aurion and the darkness

After a mage exploded in Zeydrith, Aldar sent Brynor and Mirael to Soltheris to investigate and prevent a war. Brynor followed the remaining essence to the Artisan Guild. He later accepted Aurion's challenge to a duel. If Brynor won, Aurion would share his technology; if he lost, he and Mirael would help defend Soltheris. Aurion tripped him with small shields beneath his feet and pinned him against the arena barrier. Brynor conceded and stayed to fulfill their agreement.

Spiral flowers restored his memories of Eira's earlier mission. During a demonstration of Aurion's orrery outside Zeydrith, its beam attracted the approaching darkness. Brynor broke the device and its core, but the released essence joined the gathering storm. He tried to drain the storm and then raised a mountain to shield against its shockwave. After the cataclysm, he returned to Mirael and their children in Irrathis and warned the council about the device.

He subsequently led an expedition into the Land of Darkness. The group marked its route with earth formations and used a darkness repeller for protection. When Khoradyn opened the temple door, Brynor caught the weakened Lirien and sent Astheron to take her back to Aldar.

During the expedition he met Eira in a green valley, while his companions found him unconscious near the temple. She told him about the wider world and her travels, and he told her Lirien was safe. On waking, he found that their supplies had run low. He and Khoradyn tried to destroy the temple with lava, but the attack passed through it. He brought the group back to Dravemir, where Daryas confirmed that two weeks had passed. Brynor reported Eira's news to the council.

Aldar tested him with a mirror that showed Brynor's reflection but not Aurion standing behind him. Brynor then disclosed that his memories began with meeting Khoradyn outside Varentis. He helped Renneth power the gate beneath the council hall and sensed Cassian in the void.

Ending the cycles

When Jorhan arrived through the gate outside Dravemir, Brynor helped force the Soltheris troops to retreat and fought beside Aurion. He destroyed the Aethrendar Gate to block Jorhan's escape. He then ended his pact with Xelthys and traveled through the gate beneath Lythenmere Lake to Atraxis Prime.

He intended to kill the atraxi there but found that the city had already been destroyed. The dying Thirun told him Jareth had accompanied the attackers and asked Brynor to end his suffering. Brynor killed him with an air blade. When Jorhan and Eshmir returned, Brynor spared them: Mirael and the people he loved would not have existed without Jorhan restoring Xalmyrra.

Brynor accompanied Jorhan into Durakarn, where Jorhan used his remaining power to absorb the darkness. He stayed for years before Aurion and Lirien found him. When Jorhan cleared the last expanse, Brynor stopped Aurion from interfering. Jorhan and Eshmir died together. Brynor tried to stop Aurion taking the remaining fragment but arrived too late.

Council head

Brynor returned to Irrathis after three years away. His children, Braylen and Nereyne, had grown during his absence, and he apologized to Mirael. Tazarin brought him a young giant cuddly frog, a son of Splin and Glin, which jumped into his arms and bonded with him. He did not name it.

On the journey home, Brynor sensed a vast being approaching through the void beyond Xolterra. He warned the council and had the gate closed.

Aldar proposed him as the next council head, and Xalmyrra's leaders signed the appointment. Brynor organized a tournament both to train Aurion with his fragment and to give the council an independent source of funds. He assigned work according to each member's abilities and worked to establish a communication network with Thalassai windweavers and essence cores from Thalcoris to monitor and respond to corruption.

He sent help to Maraveth after receiving Glin's message and traveled there with Mirael and Aurion on Splin. He reunited with Khoradyn and joined Garrik's forces. Garrik, Zhang, and Lysander told him about the Order of Thalion Zenith and the members stranded in the past. Brynor sensed people beneath Maraveth's black tower and offered to excavate the Malverand vault.

Opening the vault

Brynor excavated beneath the tower with Lysander accompanying him. Brynor cleared smoke with air and hardened the tunnel walls. The vault's dense door opened when he touched it. Inside, Eira was preparing to wake the mages held in stasis. Brynor blinked Abraxas to the floor so Eira and Lysander could revive him. Eira recognized Brynor as Belanor, carrying the magic with which she had given him life.

He helped restore Jin's hand: Brynor blinked Jin out of stasis and severed his arm, Ozaith moved the divine hand containing Tianlei into place, Lysander reattached it, and Eira restarted Jin's heart. Brynor carried Aelius and Ivan out to Garrik's medical settlement.

He later joined Garrik at the siege of Omberion. When Garrik detected the essence bomb in an approaching skyship, Brynor blinked away with Mirael before Aurion and Garrik contained its explosion. Back in Irrathis, he supported Xarion and Kaelion's plan for a Valrindor Council and contacted Garrik about it.

Defense of Erenmyr

Brynor prepared defenses in northern Keldara and Erenmyr after warnings of an approaching force. In Stormbrook he met the restored Seralyth and brought her to Mirael. At Erenmyr's northern shore, he refused Nero's demand that Xalmyrra surrender and fought against the invading fleet. His temporal shield protected his ears while Orin used resonance magic against the ships.

During the fighting, Brynor took Seralyth close to Kalyx so her tendrils could restrain him. Tazarin enclosed the lightning mage in a cosmic cocoon, but the accumulating essence threatened to explode. Lucilla offered to contain it despite being exhausted. Brynor refused to risk her life and took Kalyx deep underground himself, where he reinforced the surrounding earth to muffle the blast. He asked his companions to look for him afterward, trusting the Malverand heart to survive.

His body was lost in the explosion. Nero accepted responsibility for the invasion and searched for Brynor's heart. He returned it with Maric's, and Thalena took them to Jareth. Jareth placed Brynor's heart in an apparatus supplied by essence cores. The heart has begun responding as the work to revive him continues.

Relationships

• Mirael, Braylen, and Nereyne: Mirael is his wife and a council healer. They worked together on expeditions and the defense of Xalmyrra. Brynor values their home in Irrathis, though his long absences leave Mirael raising the children without him. Braylen and Nereyne attend the Irrathis Magic School.
• Khoradyn: His teacher and close friend, who gave him the name Brynor. They enjoyed testing their strength against each other. Brynor remained grateful for Khoradyn's teaching even while claiming to have surpassed him.
• Aurion: A friend and rival. Brynor challenged Aurion's boasting and objected to the danger of Aurion's experiments. He kept his word after losing their duel and continued fighting beside him despite their disagreements.
• Aldar: His colleague and predecessor as council head. Aldar trusted him with investigations and expeditions, then arranged his appointment so he could lead the council while Aldar returned to work outside Irrathis.
• Eira and Hrzai: Eira revived the body that became Belanor and supplied his heart with her magic. Hrzai guided him as Xelthys through the cycles, restored his memories when she needed him to report, and let him forget them to live with his family. Brynor ended that pact when he went after Jorhan.
• His frog: An unnamed son of Splin and Glin. Their bond let Brynor understand the frogs' messages. He thought of it alongside Mirael and the children when he carried Kalyx underground.