Overview
Isandriel later uses the name Isaac. He is a former Guardian of Malverand, the wielder of Tal'Massar, and the long-term hidden leader of the Order of Thalion Zenith after Thalion Zenith. Barachiel created him with Tal'Massar as a failsafe against gods and guardians, and his ability to unmake essence lets him threaten gods, guardians, shard wielders, and ancient Malverand survivors directly.
Isandriel eventually meets Thalion and the other members of the Order from Varnhallow in Rimvold. From there onward, he fights alongside them in his mission to end the guardians once and for all. As Isaac, he travels with Helena, trains Simon, Virel, and Vianna, protects Vianna through the Brighthaven Civil War, recruits Garrik and Astrid, and gives Garrik a second-generation god core for the campaign against Eremion. Isaac disappears with Thalena after the Varnhallow exit battle, leaving Garrik as the Order's current leader.
Appearance and Demeanor
Isandriel has gray hair and gray eyes, though he changes his appearance over time. As Isaac, he often wears plain gray robes; as Isandriel, he wears guardian robes and the formal dress of ancient Malverand. His calm smile and controlled manner often leave observers unsure of his intent.
He is patient, secretive, pragmatic, and detached enough to let plans unfold over decades. He can be compassionate as a healer and teacher, and ruthless once he decides that a person or force must be removed. His oldest bonds with Tal'Massar, Thalion, Thalena, and the Order keep his isolation from becoming complete.
Magic and Abilities
Isandriel's primary power is unmaking: balance magic channeled through Tal'Massar that dissolves spells, matter, bodies, essence bonds, and divine power. He uses it through touch and precise gestures, erasing attacks before they land, disintegrating enemies, and severing beings from divine or shard-based power.
His divine magic is also exceptional. In ancient Malverand he heals severe wounds, regrows limbs, and raises durable shields, and those skills remain part of his work as Isaac. He understands Malverand hearts, god cores, shards, and related artifacts deeply enough to handle second-generation god cores and prepare later wielders. He also knows some temporal magic from Belanor, though he relies on unmaking and divine restoration far more than temporal work.
Dense essence, distance, the source, Jorhan, and shard-protected beings force Isandriel to rely on proximity, preparation, or Tal'Massar's full power for direct unmaking.
History
Barachiel creates Isandriel as Malverand's hidden failsafe against dangerous guardians. Michael and Raphael raise him, and he grows into a guardian whose healing and restoration magic make him a hopeful public guardian before his reputation darkens. As a guardian, he oversees southern Malverand, including Durakarn and Brighthaven.
After Barachiel's disappearance, Malverand fractures into rival guardian powers. As the empire decays and Jorhan takes Xalmyrra, Isandriel carries out Barachiel's hidden purpose for him: ending dangerous guardians. He fights beside Thalion, Helena, Aelius, Zayren, Sylvia, and Benedict. The devastation around Jazarel gives him the Unmaker name.
After Thalion's Order defeats the surviving guardians, Isandriel leaves his former guardian name behind in public and lives as Isaac. He and Helena travel Valrindor, healing and teaching, and become blurred together in the legend of the Wanderer of Valrindor. Isaac also trains Simon, Virel, and Vianna, recruits Garrik and Astrid, hides dangerous knowledge, and leaves missions in place for future allies.
In Brighthaven, Isaac teaches unusual magic at Radiance Prime Magic School, protects Vianna, and works against Alistair when Alistair uses Brighthaven's fear of Pyrathalor to gain political control. Isaac gets Vianna's family out of Brighthaven, fights the Brighthaven Civil War, and later returns with Vianna, Pyrathalor, Kazimir, and Morozkayan allies to overthrow Alistair.
Isaac recruits Garrik and Astrid into the Order after recognizing the danger of Eremion's return through Blackcrag. He gives Garrik a second-generation iridescent god core and charges him with gathering an army, bringing peace to Valrindor, and preparing to defeat Eremion. Garrik later becomes the Order's current leader while Isaac is missing.
During Varnhallow's collapse, Isaac organizes the mission from hiding, using it to move specific people through the temporal barrier. After the battle at Varnhallow's exit, Isaac disappears alongside Thalena, and allies continue to expect his return.
Relationships
- Family and Origin: Barachiel creates Isandriel, while Michael and Raphael raise him. Lucilla is Isandriel's daughter through Nerissa, and Garrik is his grandson through Lucilla and Nero.
- Allies: His closest allies include Tal'Massar, Thalion Zenith, Thalena, Aelius, Zayren, Benedict, Sylvia, Garrik, Simon, Virel, Vianna, Lysander, Kren, Jin, Aurelia, Drashir, Vashir, and members of the Order.
- Enemies and Rivals: His enemies include Raphael, Eremion, Eliona, Azarion, Gabriel, Alistair, Jorhan, and hostile Malverand remnants trying to preserve or revive guardian rule.
- Other Relationships: Thamrielle travels with Isandriel during Malverand's decline and the war over the source. Nerissa keeps his secret regarding Lucilla. Nahm knows Isaac's Haverloch history and his bond with Tal'Massar.