Overview
Splin is Kaelion's giant cuddly frog from Erenmyr and later a starlit astragon. She bonds with Kaelion in the Xalmyrran swamps, carries him by responding to his thoughts, and becomes his companion, mount, rescuer, and protector across Xalmyrra, Thalassai, Xolterra, Kaldaryn, Ishtanur, and the Cyndarel front.
Appearance and Traits
As a giant frog, Splin is enormous, smooth-skinned, emerald or golden-green, and gold-speckled, with wide golden eyes and a long tongue strong enough to snatch fish, bugs, and people. As an astragon, she has massive wings, starlit or blue scales, trails of stardust, and roars that still carry the cadence of her old croaks.
Splin is affectionate, intelligent, protective, and independent. She understands speech and intent, answers with croaks, roars, body language, and telepathic impressions, chooses destinations, senses urgency, and rescues allies. She is gentle with allies and steps in quickly when Kaelion or trusted people are threatened.
Abilities
Splin crosses long distances by tremendous leaps in frog form and carries Aelius, Vianna, and Simon at once in astragon form. Her bond with Kaelion lets her follow a thought or destination, sense urgency, answer questions, and find endangered allies.
Splin is a resonance mage. Her croaks can produce waves of resonance magic, and she uses resonant sound to pull Zayren out of the storm trance west of Xalmyrra. In astragon form she flies, raises starfield barriers, shields soldiers and skyships, and releases sonic shockwaves in battle.
History
Thalena first knows Splin during her hidden years in Erenmyr. The Erenmyr frogs are remnants from the Malverand era and protectors of the world; Thalena names Splin, trains with her, receives telepathic instruction from the frogs, and teaches them in return.
Kaelion meets Splin after being separated from Eira's group. The name comes to him with certainty, Splin accepts it, and their bond forms immediately. She protects him from a thrown tree, carries him to Lirathen and Valcirae, and follows him through the gate route that reunites him with Eira, Cassian, and Lythariel.
Splin travels with Kaelion through Thalassai and Xolterra, then evolves into an astragon and reunites with him near Chronasis. She later carries Tazarin to Irrathis, transports Brynor, Aurion, and Mirael toward Maraveth, then shields soldiers and ferries wounded people with Garrik's forces near Kaldaryn, Ishtanur, and Cyndarel.
During the Attack on Kaldaryn, Splin brings Isrynn and Astheron away from Garrik's front to protect Kaelion and Drendyll's skyship. She and Astheron shield the escape until enemy fire badly injures her, forcing her back into frog form. Eira, Astrid, and Garrik keep her alive, and Garrik later heals her enough for Kaelion to ride her again.
Around the Attack on Ishtanur and the Battle for Cyndarel, Splin carries Aelius, Vianna, Simon, and Kren, protects troops with barriers and sonic shockwaves near Ishtanur, and joins Spin in warning the allied army to retreat. When the storm forces Kaldaryn underground, she rescues Garrik, retrieves Virel and Astheron, and returns toward the city ahead of the next threat.
Relationships
Kaelion is Splin's bonded rider and closest companion. Thalena names and trains her before Kaelion meets her. Splin belongs with Glin, Spin, and Gin among Erenmyr's frogs; the young male frog who bonds with Brynor is Splin and Glin's son.