Overview
Cassian Ironvale is a divine and resonance mage from Teryndal who later rules Chronasis as Thalassai's archon of time. In Xalmyrra, he is celebrated as the Hero of the People and the Hammer of Justice, a level nine divine mage known for healing the injured, protecting villages, and serving beside Xarion Morvayne. After killing Meliora and destroying Xoh'Metztli's essence, he frees the Tenari from the moon goddess's control and becomes known as a godslayer.
In Thalassai, Cassian becomes Thalena Xenith's lover, the godslayer she trains for gate work and defense against divine enemies such as the false Ozaith, and eventually her successor as archon of time. After Cassian, Thalena's allies, and Thalassai defeat the false Ozaith, the Thalassai archons, imperators, chronarcs, and regional leaders nominate him to rule Chronasis.
Appearance and Personality
Cassian's hair changes from dark brown to gold as his divine magic matures, and his eyes become teal. A golden aura often surrounds him when he uses his magic, and he wears Chronasis's navy-and-silver archon robes after settling in Thalassai. During his rule in Chronasis, he begins growing a beard.
Cassian is compassionate, protective, intuitive, and uneasy with violence even when he accepts the need to fight. He saves enemies as well as allies when he can, and killing Meliora leaves him shaken even though it frees the Tenari. He can also lead under pressure, delegate work, command meetings, and act decisively when Thalassai looks to him for direction.
Magic and Abilities
Cassian's divine magic gives him powerful healing, golden shields, physical enchantments, and battlefield endurance. He becomes famous in Teryndal for healing the wounded and defending people from threats, then uses the same magic to protect allies during Thalassai's defense against the false Ozaith, Zain, and Gabriel.
His resonance magic works through sound, vibration, and force. He uses claps and shockwaves in combat, pushes pressure away from allies, and can shape resonance into lighter effects such as musical bubbles. His essence senses let him read signatures, follow traces, notice hidden changes in people, and detect disturbances around gates and living essence.
Cassian also uses balance magic. He destroys Xoh'Metztli's weakened essence after killing Meliora, and crushes the false Ozaith after Hrzai creates an opening.
History
Cassian is raised in Teryndal by Dorian and Rowenna, attends school with Eira, and earns Eira's hated nickname for him, Lil Cas. Dorian and Rowenna push him to leave school and use his rare gifts as a traveling healer and defender. As he travels through Teryndal, his power rises quickly: he receives level seven at seventeen, reaches level eight by twenty, and becomes the youngest mage in Teryndal's history to receive level nine recognition. After surviving a battle in Velundra, he joins Xarion Morvayne and becomes Xarion's closest ally.
Cassian follows Eira's trail through the gate network with Kaelion, Arinella, and Splin. In Thalcoris, he investigates Aurivallis, frees Arinella from the moon goddess's intrusion, and kills Meliora to destroy Xoh'Metztli's escaping essence. The act breaks the control over the Tenari, changes his relationship with Tazarin, and establishes the godslayer title that follows him into Thalassai.
In Chronasis, Cassian trains under Thalena, channels essence into the gate beneath Stella Aeterna for Cyrena's tests, and enters Thalena's household with Arinella. After Cassian, Thalena's allies, and Thalassai defeat the false Ozaith and Thalena withdraws from open rule, Thalassai formally elevates him to archon of time.
Dorian and Rowenna raised Cassian but are not his biological parents. Hrzai is his mother, and Orin is his father. Hrzai's parentage gives him his divine gift, godslaying, and gate affinity, while Orin's nature accounts for his unusual senses.
Cassian is a pure essence being whose body copies a human body. His body has human-like systems, exceptional endurance, and a slower heartbeat. His limits around having children come from Orin, who began as a wisp-copy. Hrzai mirrored Orin's being when she conceived Cassian, because gods take the shape of those they reproduce with.
Relationships
- Dorian and Rowenna: Cassian's adoptive parents in Teryndal.
- Hrzai and Orin: Cassian's biological parents. Hrzai gives him the opening against the false Ozaith, and Orin's nature accounts for Cassian's senses and intellect.
- Thalena: Cassian's lover, mentor, political predecessor, and the architect of the Chronasis archonship he inherits.
- Arinella: Cassian frees Arinella from Xoh'Metztli's control. She becomes his partner, healer, and a chronarc under his rule.
- Xarion: Cassian's closest Teryndalan friend and long-time political partner.
- Eira: Cassian's childhood friend from Teryndal; her disappearance sends him after her through the gate network.
- Thalassai leadership: Aelius, Nethira, Astryx, Hadrian, Calythos, Zephyra, Naryon, Tazarin, Jareth, Cyrena, and Jin serve Cassian's Chronasis rule, carry out his orders, or build Chronasis projects during his rule.