Michael was a guardian of Malverand who governed Maraveth and led the empire after Barachiel disappeared. He created the temporal anomaly of Varnhallow with Sigvariel and ruled it as Eltaru-Ninsath. He died ending the anomaly so its army could leave to fight the other guardians.
Appearance
Michael's hair turned silver as he spent his essence developing the temporal shard. By his final years in Varnhallow, he had white hair. As Eltaru, he wore a golden mask and cosmic blue robes edged with gold, with a blue crystal containing Horol’Khai around his neck.
Personality
Michael tried to settle disputes between the guardians without new wars and remained concerned about the people under their rule. After the empire fractured, he accepted that the guardians had failed and worked to remove them. He also sacrificed other lives to carry out that plan.
Magic
Michael wielded ice and lightning magic. Isandriel taught him temporal magic, and Michael soon surpassed his teacher. He controlled large temporal bubbles and could blink through space.
History
Leading Malverand
After Barachiel disappeared through a gate and the spiral shard split, Michael led Malverand from the Ascendant Consulate in Maraveth. Raphael served as his enforcer. They guarded the artifacts beneath the consulate and sought a new wielder for the spiral shards, without success. Michael also governed Shaoying after Eliona's death.
Isandriel taught him the temporal magic he had learned from Belanor. Michael developed a temporal shard from an existing hourglass artifact, using his own essence and that of hundreds of temporal mages. He altered it to ensure Sigvariel would be its wielder. Sigvariel claimed the shard and named its god Horol’Khai.
The guardians increasingly fought and abandoned their duties. Raphael turned against Michael and sought to force the provinces back under Malverand. Michael and Sigvariel instead prepared an army for Isandriel to use against the other guardians, with the further aim of confronting Abraxas and Jorhan.
Varnhallow
In 2082 AX, Michael explained Barachiel's instruction to Isandriel: the guardians must be ended if they failed Malverand, and Isandriel had been created for that task. Michael and Sigvariel took their strongest advisors and attendants east and sealed themselves in a temporal anomaly, leaving Isandriel in Astralem to await their army. Within Varnhallow, they rebuilt and trained mages while Michael ruled as Eltaru.
When Thalion arrived, Michael gave him The Legacy of Thalion Zenith and arranged to end Varnhallow during the final tournament. Thalion wore Michael's mask to draw the competitors' planned attack while Michael prepared the temporal spell under an illusion. Michael then drained the cores, the surrounding world and the crystal necklace. The drain spread to citizens, aging and killing them. His own body cracked as he overloaded his essence to break the bubble. Thalion and the army escaped in the skyships, including the cosmic blue vessel Michael left him.
Relationships
- Raphael: His fellow guardian and enforcer. They governed Maraveth together, but their partnership broke when Raphael pursued the restoration of Malverand against Michael's wishes.
- Barachiel: Michael led the empire after his disappearance and kept his instruction to hold the guardians accountable if it failed.
- Isandriel: His teacher in temporal magic and the guardian chosen to end the others. Michael kept the task from him until the empire's collapse made him seek his help.
- Sigvariel and Horol’Khai: His partners in creating Varnhallow. Michael chose Sigvariel as the temporal shard's wielder, and they agreed that the guardians should no longer rule the world.
- Thalion: Michael prepared him to lead the army out of Varnhallow and continue the mission against Malverand. He gave him the book and a skyship for that purpose.
Michael was a guardian of Malverand who governed Maraveth and led the empire after Barachiel disappeared. He created the temporal anomaly of Varnhallow with Sigvariel and ruled it as Eltaru-Ninsath. He died ending the anomaly so its army could leave to fight the other guardians.
Appearance
Michael's hair turned silver as he spent his essence developing the temporal shard. By his final years in Varnhallow, he had white hair and deep wrinkles. As Eltaru, he wore a golden mask and cosmic blue robes edged with gold, with a blue crystal containing Horol’Khai around his neck.
Personality
Michael tried to settle disputes between the guardians without new wars and remained concerned about the people under their rule. He volunteered for dangerous experiments rather than leave the risk to others. After the empire fractured, he accepted that the guardians had failed and worked to remove them. He also sacrificed other lives to carry out that plan.
Magic
Michael wielded ice and lightning magic, forming ice platforms and shields and using lightning to travel quickly. His artificial shard greatly increased his power, and he learned divine magic alongside Raphael.
Isandriel taught him temporal magic, which became his strongest school. He mastered blinking and large temporal bubbles. Temporal magic also restored clarity to memories that had faded over the centuries. Michael, Sigvariel and Horol’Khai shared the work of maintaining Varnhallow's bubble. He taught Eira temporal magic, including the construction of large bubbles.
History
Maraveth and the guardians
Michael froze food for the Maraveth slaughterhouse and served on the city council with his friend Raphael. Raphael brought Barachiel and Arcanis to the city. Michael supported their plans for the empire and tested Arcanis's first essence devices.
He volunteered to try the first Malverand heart, accepting the risk of death. He channeled essence into the crystal and pressed it against his chest, where it forced its way into his body. The wound healed, but the heart drained his strength until he learned to manage it. Barachiel appointed him guardian of Maraveth. Arcanis later gave him an artificial shard. Michael proposed a secure vault beneath the Maraveth Ascendant Consulate to store the artifacts under the guardians' control.
When Barachiel activated the spiral shard at Morozkaya, Michael tried to protect the gathered mages with ice and used lightning to carry Raphael out of danger. He condemned the loss of millions of lives caused by the activation. Michael and Thamrielle were sent to Rahmavir after it requested aid against the Plains of Eternity. Michael entered the plains to negotiate with Abraxas, without reaching an agreement.
Barachiel entrusted Michael with the instruction that the guardians must be ended if they failed Malverand. Michael and Raphael raised Isandriel, whom Barachiel had created to carry out that task. Michael kept the purpose from Raphael. He also assumed responsibility for Shaoying after Isandriel killed Eliona.
Leading Malverand
Michael tested a gate to Vireen and returned safely. Barachiel later disappeared through a gate, and the spiral shard split. The guardians agreed that Michael should lead Malverand, though he refused the emperor's title. He and Raphael managed the empire and guarded the artifacts beneath the Ascendant Consulate. They offered the throne to anyone capable of wielding a spiral shard, but the attempts failed.
Isandriel taught Michael the temporal magic he had learned from Belanor. Michael used an hourglass artifact made by Arcanis to develop a temporal shard. He traveled across Malverand, paying temporal mages to give it their essence; most were consumed by it. He contributed his own essence and altered the artifact so Sigvariel would be its wielder. Sigvariel claimed it and named its god Horol’Khai.
As the guardians fought and abandoned their duties, Michael lost the power to hold the empire together. Raphael turned against him and sought to force the provinces back under Malverand. Michael and Sigvariel instead prepared an army for Isandriel to use against the other guardians, with the further aim of confronting Abraxas and Jorhan.
Varnhallow
In 2082 AX, Michael explained Barachiel's instruction to Isandriel. He and Sigvariel took their strongest advisors and attendants east and sealed themselves in a temporal anomaly, leaving Isandriel in Astralem to await their army. Within Varnhallow, they rebuilt and trained mages while Michael ruled as Eltaru.
Eira brought him The Legacy of Thalion Zenith and recruited him into the Order of Thalion Zenith. Michael instructed Benedict to inform Thalion of his mission and ensure that Malverand's history was erased. He appointed Eira and Kaelion to govern Halcyra, and Jin Leiyun to govern Lysaraine, training them in administration.
When Thalion arrived, Michael gave him the book and arranged to end Varnhallow during the final tournament. Thalion wore Michael's mask to draw the competitors' planned attack while Michael prepared the temporal spell under an illusion. Michael then drained the cores, the surrounding world and the crystal necklace. The drain spread to citizens, aging and killing them. His own body cracked as he overloaded his essence to break the bubble. Thalion and the army escaped in the skyships, including the cosmic blue vessel Michael left him.
Relationships
- Raphael: His friend and fellow guardian. They governed Maraveth and raised Isandriel together. Their partnership broke when Raphael pursued the restoration of Malverand against Michael's wishes.
- Barachiel and Arcanis: Michael supported their work and trusted Arcanis enough to risk his life testing the heart and gates. Barachiel chose him to hold the guardians accountable if the empire failed.
- Isandriel: Michael helped raise and teach him, then learned temporal magic from him. He concealed Isandriel's intended task until the empire's collapse made him seek his help against the other guardians.
- Sigvariel and Horol’Khai: His partners in creating and maintaining Varnhallow. Michael chose Sigvariel as the temporal shard's wielder because he trusted him. Their agreement that the guardians should no longer rule led to the army plan.
- Eira and Thalion: Eira recruited Michael and became his pupil in temporal magic and government. Michael prepared Thalion to lead the army out of Varnhallow and continue the mission against Malverand.
- Family: Michael had a wife and daughter, but his duties in Maraveth left little time for them. His memories of them faded over his long life.
Michael was a guardian of Malverand who governed Maraveth and led the empire after Barachiel disappeared. He created the temporal anomaly of Varnhallow with Sigvariel and ruled it as Eltaru-Ninsath. He died ending the anomaly so its army could leave to fight the other guardians.
Appearance
Michael's hair turned silver as he spent his essence developing the temporal shard. By his final years in Varnhallow, he had white hair and deep wrinkles. As Eltaru, he wore a golden mask and cosmic blue robes edged with gold, with a blue crystal containing Horol’Khai around his neck.
Personality
Michael tried to settle disputes between the guardians without new wars and remained concerned about the people under their rule. He volunteered for dangerous experiments rather than leave the risk to others. After the empire fractured, he accepted that the guardians had failed and worked to remove them. He also sacrificed other lives to carry out that plan.
Magic
Michael wielded ice and lightning magic, forming ice platforms and shields and using lightning to travel quickly. Lothar had given him exceptional ice magic as a child. His artificial shard greatly increased his power, and he learned divine magic alongside Raphael.
Isandriel taught him temporal magic, which became his strongest school. He mastered blinking and large temporal bubbles. Temporal magic also restored clarity to memories that had faded over the centuries. Michael, Sigvariel and Horol’Khai shared the work of maintaining Varnhallow's bubble. He taught Eira temporal magic, including the construction of large bubbles.
History
Maraveth and the guardians
Michael froze food for the Maraveth slaughterhouse and served on the city council with his friend Raphael. Raphael brought Barachiel and Arcanis to the city. Michael supported their plans for the empire and tested Arcanis's first essence devices.
He volunteered to try the first Malverand heart, accepting the risk of death. He channeled essence into the crystal and pressed it against his chest, where it forced its way into his body. The wound healed, but the heart drained his strength until he learned to manage it. Barachiel appointed him guardian of Maraveth. Arcanis later gave him an artificial shard. Michael proposed a secure vault beneath the Maraveth Ascendant Consulate to store the artifacts under the guardians' control.
When Barachiel activated the spiral shard at Morozkaya, Michael tried to protect the gathered mages with ice and used lightning to carry Raphael out of danger. He condemned the loss of millions of lives caused by the activation. Michael and Thamrielle were sent to Rahmavir after it requested aid against the Plains of Eternity. Michael entered the plains to negotiate with Abraxas, without reaching an agreement.
Barachiel entrusted Michael with the instruction that the guardians must be ended if they failed Malverand. Michael and Raphael raised Isandriel, whom Barachiel had created to carry out that task. Michael kept the purpose from Raphael. He also assumed responsibility for Shaoying after Isandriel killed Eliona.
Leading Malverand
Michael tested a gate to Vireen and returned safely. Barachiel later disappeared through a gate, and the spiral shard split. The guardians agreed that Michael should lead Malverand, though he refused the emperor's title. He and Raphael managed the empire and guarded the artifacts beneath the Ascendant Consulate. They offered the throne to anyone capable of wielding a spiral shard, but the attempts failed.
Isandriel taught Michael the temporal magic he had learned from Belanor. Michael used an hourglass artifact made by Arcanis to develop a temporal shard. He traveled across Malverand, paying temporal mages to give it their essence; most were consumed by it. He contributed his own essence and altered the artifact so Sigvariel would be its wielder. Sigvariel claimed it and named its god Horol’Khai.
As the guardians fought and abandoned their duties, Michael lost the power to hold the empire together. Raphael turned against him and sought to force the provinces back under Malverand. Michael and Sigvariel instead prepared an army for Isandriel to use against the other guardians, with the further aim of confronting Abraxas and Jorhan.
Varnhallow
In 2082 AX, Michael explained Barachiel's instruction to Isandriel. He and Sigvariel took their strongest advisors and attendants east and sealed themselves in a temporal anomaly, leaving Isandriel in Astralem to await their army. Within Varnhallow, they rebuilt and trained mages while Michael ruled as Eltaru.
Eira brought him The Legacy of Thalion Zenith and recruited him into the Order of Thalion Zenith. Michael instructed Benedict to inform Thalion of his mission and ensure that Malverand's history was erased. He appointed Eira and Kaelion to govern Halcyra, and Jin Leiyun to govern Lysaraine, training them in administration.
When Thalion arrived, Michael gave him the book and arranged to end Varnhallow during the final tournament. Thalion wore Michael's mask to draw the competitors' planned attack while Michael prepared the temporal spell under an illusion. Michael then drained the cores, the surrounding world and the crystal necklace. The drain spread to citizens, aging and killing them. His own body cracked as he overloaded his essence to break the bubble. Thalion and the army escaped in the skyships, including the cosmic blue vessel Michael left him.
Relationships
- Raphael: His childhood friend and fellow guardian. They governed Maraveth and raised Isandriel together. Michael urged him to care more about people. Their partnership broke when Raphael pursued the restoration of Malverand against Michael's wishes, though Raphael continued to regard him as his only true friend.
- Barachiel and Arcanis: Michael supported their work and trusted Arcanis enough to risk his life testing the heart and gates. Barachiel chose him to hold the guardians accountable if the empire failed.
- Isandriel: Michael helped raise and teach him, then learned temporal magic from him. He concealed Isandriel's intended task until the empire's collapse made him seek his help against the other guardians.
- Sigvariel and Horol’Khai: His partners in creating and maintaining Varnhallow. Michael chose Sigvariel as the temporal shard's wielder because he trusted him. Their agreement that the guardians should no longer rule led to the army plan.
- Eira and Thalion: Eira recruited Michael and became his pupil in temporal magic and government. Michael prepared Thalion to lead the army out of Varnhallow and continue the mission against Malverand.
- Family: Michael had a wife and daughter, but his duties in Maraveth left little time for them. His memories of them faded over his long life.