Tianlei is the storm god of Thundermarch and the god bound to Jin Leiyun. With Xelthys and Zal'therak, he coordinates an alliance against the darkness and sends Jin to protect Eira. His strength depends on the belief of Thundermarch's people.
Personality
Tianlei values decisive action and expects his wielders to protect their people. He regretted choosing Ren Wuye, whose fear and hesitation made him ineffective, and welcomed Jin's willingness to act. He opposes indiscriminate slaughter.
He distrusts Thalena, yet accepts Jin's decision to stay with her. His commanding manner also leaves room for care: he honors Han's sacrifice and admits mistakes, including his choice of Ren and his failure to anticipate Rhalyn's loss of memory.
Magic
Tianlei commands powerful lightning magic and other elements to a lesser degree. His essence greatly strengthens a wielder's storms and lightning. Belief in him supplies the essence he needs to remain active; losing his followers weakened him until he could no longer speak to Jin.
He communicates through people who share his essence and can perceive through that connection. He resides in the God Realm, where he can confer with other gods and relay warnings across distant lands.
History
Tianlei arose from Thundermarch's belief in a storm god. His worship began with the people's wish for rain over their fields.
Ren Wuye wielded Tianlei before Jin. Tianlei never spoke directly with Ren, and his choice became a source of regret. After Jin killed Ren, Tianlei offered him a pact. He prevented Jin from immediately attacking Feng and sent him to protect Eira in Xalmyrra. Alongside Xelthys and Zal'therak, Tianlei sought to oppose the darkness and Xol'Zahir. He protected Jin from losing his memories at the border, but had not expected Rhalyn to suffer that loss.
After Brynor defeated Jin, Tianlei directed him to Thalassai to learn from its archons. He remained suspicious of Thalena, but accepted Jin's decision to stay with her. He told her about the alliance's plans while Jin spent years in Thalassai. Tianlei later urged Jin to return to Eira.
Tianlei weakened as Thundermarch's people lost faith during its invasion. His voice disappeared, forcing Jin to fight without his support. Jin's return and the defense of Raindawn restored belief. Tianlei spoke to Han during his fatal overload, honored his sacrifice and announced that he had recovered enough essence to return. He then sent Jin after the shapers to protect Eira.
Tianlei feared that Thalena's capture of Pyrathalor threatened the gods. He continued working with the alliance, exchanging information through the God Realm while Jin fought to defend Rimvold.
Relationships
- Jin Leiyun: His chosen wielder. Tianlei welcomed his decisive nature and entrusted him with protecting Eira. Jin's restoration of Thundermarch's faith saved him from fading.
- Thalena: Tianlei distrusted her ambitions and feared her power over gods. He accepted Jin's decision to stay with her and disclosed the alliance's plans to her, while continuing to pursue his own aims.
- Xelthys and Zal'therak: His partners in the alliance against the darkness. He exchanged information and coordinated their wielders' work while pursuing the alliance's plans.
Tianlei is the storm god of Thundermarch and the god bound to Jin Leiyun. With Xelthys and Zal'therak, he coordinates an alliance against the darkness. His distrust of Thalena coexists with private cooperation with her.
Appearance
Tianlei descends as a towering figure of stormclouds and lightning, with bolts forming his eyes. He can reduce his presence to a small cloud figure when concealing his power.
Personality
Tianlei values decisive action and expects his wielders to protect their people. He regretted choosing Ren Wuye, whose fear and hesitation made him ineffective, and welcomed Jin's willingness to act. He opposes indiscriminate slaughter.
His commanding manner softens with people he cares for. He comforts Jin after defeat and warns him against exhausting himself through training, valuing recovery as well as strength.
Magic
Tianlei commands powerful lightning magic and other elements to a lesser degree. His essence greatly strengthens a wielder's storms and lightning. Belief in him supplies the essence he needs to remain active; losing his followers weakened him until he could no longer speak to Jin.
He communicates through people who share his essence and can perceive through that connection. He uses the God Realm to confer with other gods and relay warnings across distant lands. Descending lets him act directly, as he did when he struck Thalena with lightning. He is not immune to every temporal effect: Horol'Khai's curse could freeze him along with the humans.
History
Thundermarch and Jin
Tianlei arose from Thundermarch's belief in a storm god. His worship began with the people's wish for rain over their fields.
Ren Wuye wielded Tianlei before Jin. Tianlei never spoke directly with Ren, and his choice became a source of regret. After Jin killed Ren, Tianlei offered him a pact. He prevented Jin from immediately attacking Feng and sent him to protect Eira in Xalmyrra. Alongside Xelthys and Zal'therak, Tianlei sought to oppose the darkness and Xol'Zahir. He protected Jin from losing his memories at the border, but had not expected Rhalyn to suffer that loss.
After Brynor defeated Jin, Tianlei directed him to Thalassai to learn from its archons. He remained suspicious of Thalena, but accepted Jin's decision to stay with her. He spoke to her about the alliance's plans, and she helped arrange Jin's departure by deliberately losing their duel.
Tianlei weakened as Thundermarch's people lost faith during its invasion. His voice disappeared, forcing Jin to fight without his support. Jin's return and the defense of Raindawn restored belief. Tianlei spoke to Han during his fatal overload, honored his sacrifice and announced that he had recovered enough essence to return. He then sent Jin after the shapers to protect Eira.
Thalassai and Thalena
Tianlei feared that Thalena's capture of Pyrathalor threatened the gods. Suspecting Thalassai's involvement with the cycles, he withheld warning of an approaching attack and asked Silas to protect Thalia. Thalena asked him to attack her if she won the battle, drawing Ozaith down near its end. Tianlei agreed despite not understanding her full purpose.
He descended during the fighting and struck her with lightning. Thalena endured the assault, and he withdrew after Ozaith and Hrzai arrived. Tianlei and Zal'therak also joined Thalena's alliance against Jorhan and the darkness.
Relationships
- Jin Leiyun: His chosen wielder and close companion. Tianlei encouraged his decisive nature and comforted him after losses. Jin's restoration of Thundermarch's faith saved him from fading, and Tianlei cautions him against exhausting himself in training.
- Thalena: Tianlei distrusted her ambitions and feared her power over gods, yet cooperated with her through private agreements. He accepted Jin's decision to stay with her while pursuing his own plans.
- Thalia: Jin and Thalena's daughter, whom Tianlei sought to protect during the attack on Thalassai.
- Xelthys and Zal'therak: His partners in the alliance against the darkness. He exchanged information and coordinated their wielders' work while pursuing the alliance's plans.
Tianlei is the storm god of Thundermarch. Formerly bound to Jin Leiyun, he now accompanies Thalion in the ancient world through a temporary pact. He helps Thalion protect the human Helena and shares the burden of the Order of Thalion Zenith.
Appearance
Tianlei descends as a towering figure of stormclouds and lightning, with bolts forming his eyes. He can reduce his presence to a small cloud figure when concealing his power.
Personality
Tianlei values decisive action and expects his wielders to protect their people. He regretted choosing Ren Wuye, whose fear and hesitation made him ineffective, and welcomed Jin's willingness to act. He opposes indiscriminate slaughter, but supports harsh measures when he considers them necessary to preserve the world.
His commanding manner softens with people he cares for. He comforts Jin after defeat and warns him against exhausting himself through training. With Thalion, he shares jokes, calms him after failures and urges him to retain his humanity despite the Order's task.
Magic
Tianlei commands powerful lightning magic and other elements to a lesser degree. His essence greatly strengthens a wielder's storms and lightning. Belief in him supplies the essence he needs to remain active; losing his followers weakened him until he could no longer speak to Jin.
He communicates through people who share his essence and can perceive through that connection. Through the God Realm, he conferred with other gods and relayed warnings across distant lands. Descending lets him act directly, as he did when he struck Thalena with lightning.
Horol'Khai's curse could freeze him along with the humans.
History
Thundermarch and Jin
Tianlei was born from belief in a storm god after rain returned to Thundermarch during a drought.
Ren Wuye wielded Tianlei before Jin. Tianlei never spoke directly with Ren, and his choice became a source of regret. After Jin killed Ren, Tianlei offered him a pact. He prevented Jin from immediately attacking Feng and sent him to protect Eira in Xalmyrra. Alongside Xelthys and Zal'therak, Tianlei sought to oppose the darkness and Xol'Zahir. He protected Jin from losing his memories at the border, but had not expected Rhalyn to suffer that loss.
After Brynor defeated Jin, Tianlei directed him to Thalassai to learn from its archons. He remained suspicious of Thalena, but accepted Jin's decision to stay with her. He spoke to her about the alliance's plans, and she helped arrange Jin's departure by deliberately losing their duel.
Tianlei weakened as Thundermarch's people lost faith during its invasion. His voice disappeared, forcing Jin to fight without his support. Jin's return and the defense of Raindawn restored belief. Tianlei spoke to Han during his fatal overload, honored his sacrifice and announced that he had recovered enough essence to return. He then sent Jin after the shapers to protect Eira.
Thalassai and Thalena
Tianlei feared that Thalena's capture of Pyrathalor threatened the gods. Suspecting Thalassai's involvement with the cycles, he withheld warning of an approaching attack and asked Silas to protect Thalia. Thalena asked him to attack her if she won the battle, drawing Ozaith down near its end. Tianlei agreed despite not understanding her full purpose.
He descended during the fighting and struck her with lightning. Thalena endured the assault, and he withdrew after Ozaith and Hrzai arrived. Tianlei and Zal'therak also joined Thalena's alliance against Jorhan and the darkness.
The guardian wars
Jin's severed hand carried Tianlei into Varnhallow, where he formed a temporary pact with Xarion. He taught him Malverine and helped him wield lightning. Without his followers, Tianlei could not return to the God Realm; their prolonged confinement threatened to exhaust him. Xarion took the name Thalion in Varnhallow. Eltaru's escape spell eventually brought the travelers into the ancient world.
Tianlei helped Thalion protect Helena and fight the guardians of Malverand. During the repeated battles at Jazarel, he calmed Thalion after failures and supported his resolve to rescue her. He shared the burden of the Order, including the destruction and concealment of Malverand's history to preserve the future they knew, while urging Thalion to retain his humanity.
Thalion brought him to Thundermarch during a drought and summoned rain with Sephara. Tianlei initially feared this was a farewell to his homeland. Thalion explained that he was cultivating the belief through which the god would eventually be born.
Relationships
- Jin Leiyun: His chosen wielder and close companion. Tianlei encouraged his decisive nature and comforted him after losses. Jin's restoration of Thundermarch's faith saved him from fading; Tianlei misses him while bound to Thalion.
- Thalion: His temporary wielder and a human he regards with particular affection. They share the Order's difficult task and protect Helena together. Thalion helps establish the belief behind his birth.
- Thalena: Tianlei distrusted her ambitions and feared her power over gods, yet cooperated with her through private agreements. Traveling with Thalion, he helps care for her human childhood.
- Thalia: Jin and Thalena's daughter, whom Tianlei sought to protect during the attack on Thalassai.
- Xelthys and Zal'therak: His partners in the alliance against the darkness. He exchanged information and coordinated their wielders' work while pursuing the alliance's plans.
Tianlei is the storm god of Thundermarch and the god bound to Jin Leiyun. During the guardian wars, he also formed a temporary pact with Thalion. Drained by those wars, he is preserved in stasis at Maraveth while the surviving travelers seek to return to their own time.
Appearance
Tianlei descends as a towering figure of stormclouds and lightning, with bolts forming his eyes. He can reduce his presence to a small cloud figure when concealing his power.
Personality
Tianlei values decisive action and expects his wielders to protect their people. He regretted choosing Ren Wuye, whose fear and hesitation made him ineffective, and welcomed Jin's willingness to act. He opposes indiscriminate slaughter, but supports harsh measures when he considers them necessary to preserve the world.
His commanding manner softens with people he cares for. He jokes with Thalion, comforts Jin after defeat and warns him against exhausting himself through training. He takes pride in Jin's growth and shares his affection openly.
Magic
Tianlei commands powerful lightning magic and other elements to a lesser degree. His essence greatly strengthens a wielder's storms and lightning. Belief in him supplies the essence he needs to remain active; losing his followers weakened him until he could no longer speak to Jin.
He communicates through people who share his essence and can perceive through that connection. Through the God Realm, he conferred with other gods and relayed warnings across distant lands. Descending lets him act directly, as he did when he struck Thalena with lightning.
Horol'Khai's curse could freeze him along with the humans. The guardian wars left him too heavily drained to speak, requiring stasis to preserve him.
History
Thundermarch and Jin
Tianlei was born from belief in a storm god after rain returned to Thundermarch during a drought. Thalion cultivated that belief during his journey into the past, using Tianlei's own power to bring rain before the god's birth. Sephara and Jin later secretly summoned storms to sustain the same belief.
Ren Wuye wielded Tianlei before Jin. Tianlei never spoke directly with Ren, and his choice became a source of regret. After Jin killed Ren, Tianlei offered him a pact. He prevented Jin from immediately attacking Feng and sent him to protect Eira in Xalmyrra. Alongside Xelthys and Zal'therak, Tianlei sought to oppose the darkness and Xol'Zahir. He protected Jin from losing his memories at the border, but had not expected Rhalyn to suffer that loss.
After Brynor defeated Jin, Tianlei directed him to Thalassai to learn from its archons. He remained suspicious of Thalena, but accepted Jin's decision to stay with her. He spoke to her about the alliance's plans, and she helped arrange Jin's departure by deliberately losing their duel. Thalena later gave birth to Thalia, secretly fusing Tianlei's essence into her as a gift for his earlier care of her human childhood.
Tianlei weakened as Thundermarch's people lost faith during its invasion. His voice disappeared, forcing Jin to fight without his support. Jin's return and the defense of Raindawn restored belief. Tianlei spoke to Han during his fatal overload, honored his sacrifice and announced that he had recovered enough essence to return. He then sent Jin after the shapers to protect Eira.
Thalassai and Thalena
Tianlei feared that Thalena's capture of Pyrathalor threatened the gods. Suspecting Thalassai's involvement with the cycles, he withheld warning of an approaching attack and asked Silas to protect Thalia. Thalena asked him to attack her if she won the battle, drawing Ozaith down near its end. Tianlei agreed despite not understanding her full purpose.
He descended during the fighting and struck her with lightning. Thalena endured the assault, and he withdrew after Ozaith and Hrzai arrived. Tianlei and Zal'therak also joined Thalena's alliance against Jorhan and the darkness.
The guardian wars
Jin's severed hand carried Tianlei into Varnhallow, where he formed a temporary pact with Xarion. He taught him Malverine and helped him wield lightning. Without his followers, Tianlei could not return to the God Realm; their prolonged confinement threatened to exhaust him. Xarion took the name Thalion in Varnhallow. Eltaru's escape spell eventually brought the travelers into the ancient world.
Tianlei helped Thalion protect the young human Helena and fight the guardians of Malverand. During the repeated battles at Jazarel, he calmed Thalion after failures and supported his resolve to rescue her. He shared the burden of the Order of Thalion Zenith, including the destruction and concealment of Malverand's history to preserve the future they knew, while urging Thalion to retain his humanity.
In 2103 AX, Thalion brought him to Thundermarch and summoned rain with Sephara. Tianlei initially feared this was a farewell to his homeland; Thalion explained that he was cultivating the belief through which the god would be born around 2200 AX. Their journey also brought them to Stormbrook and Zhenyu Leiyun, an ancestor of Jin's family.
When Jin rejoined the Order, Thalion agreed to end the temporary pact. Tianlei returned to Jin through their handshake. He later lent Jin his remaining strength against Raphael, urging him to fight without holding back and praising his growth as he prepared to attack.
Preservation
The guardian wars left Tianlei silent and heavily drained. The surviving travelers spent years in Stormbrook while seeking a way to preserve their gods. At Maraveth, Gren severed the hands containing Tianlei, Xoh'Tenol and Hrzai, and Thalion healed their wielders. Eira suspended the gods and travelers in stasis inside a sealed vault, using essence cores to sustain them.
Relationships
- Jin Leiyun: His chosen wielder and close companion. Tianlei encouraged his decisive nature, comforted him after losses and took pride in his growth. Jin's restoration of Thundermarch's faith saved him from fading. Thalion later returned Tianlei to him deliberately.
- Thalion: His temporary wielder and a human he regarded with particular affection. They shared the Order's difficult task and protected Helena together. Thalion helped establish the belief behind his birth.
- Thalena: Tianlei distrusted her ambitions and feared her power over gods, yet cooperated with her through private agreements. As the older god traveling with Thalion, he had helped care for her human childhood. She repaid that care by placing his essence in Thalia.
- Thalia: Tianlei's essence is part of her, though Thalena initially concealed this from both him and Jin. He sought to protect her during the attack on Thalassai.
- Xelthys and Zal'therak: His partners in the alliance against the darkness. He exchanged information and coordinated their wielders' work while pursuing the alliance's plans.
Tianlei is the former storm god of Thundermarch, now living as a human after losing his connection to the God Realm. He was the god bound to Jin Leiyun and, during the guardian wars, to Thalion. He travels with Jin and Thalia, whose body contains his essence.
Appearance
As a god, Tianlei descended as a towering figure of stormclouds and lightning, with bolts forming his eyes. He could reduce his presence to a small cloud figure when concealing his power. His human form resembles Jin, with static black hair and storm blue eyes, but he is half a head taller and has a much larger build.
Personality
Tianlei values decisive action and expects his wielders to protect their people. He regretted choosing Ren Wuye, whose fear and hesitation made him ineffective, and welcomed Jin's willingness to act. He opposes indiscriminate slaughter, but supports harsh measures when he considers them necessary to preserve the world.
His commanding manner softens with people he cares for. He jokes with Thalion, comforts Jin after defeat and warns him against exhausting himself through training. He takes pride in Jin's growth and shares his affection openly. Becoming human leaves him dependent on Jin and Thalia while he learns ordinary habits, including eating and dressing.
Magic
As a god, Tianlei commanded powerful lightning magic and other elements to a lesser degree. His essence greatly strengthened a wielder's storms and lightning. Belief in him supplied the essence he needed to remain active; losing his followers weakened him until he could no longer speak to Jin.
He communicated through people who shared his essence and could perceive through that connection. He used the God Realm to confer with other gods and relay warnings across distant lands. Descending let him act directly: he struck Thalena with lightning and later made his storm body solid to absorb the first impact of Qadir's detonation, protecting Jin and Cassian.
His power had limits. A vast hurricane exceeded what he and Jin could control. Horol'Khai's curse could freeze him along with the humans. His human form retains lightning magic even after Cassian permanently severs his God Realm connection and destroys his shard.
History
Thundermarch and Jin
Tianlei was born from belief in a storm god after rain returned to Thundermarch during a drought. Thalion cultivated that belief during his journey into the past, using Tianlei's own power to bring rain before the god's birth. Sephara and Jin later secretly summoned storms to sustain the same belief.
Ren Wuye wielded Tianlei before Jin. Tianlei never spoke directly with Ren, and his choice became a source of regret. After Jin killed Ren, Tianlei offered him a pact. He prevented Jin from immediately attacking Feng and sent him to protect Eira in Xalmyrra. Alongside Xelthys and Zal'therak, Tianlei sought to oppose the darkness and Xol'Zahir. He protected Jin from losing his memories at the border, but had not expected Rhalyn to suffer that loss.
After Brynor defeated Jin, Tianlei directed him to Thalassai to learn from its archons. He remained suspicious of Thalena, but accepted Jin's decision to stay with her. He spoke to her about the alliance's plans, and she helped arrange Jin's departure by deliberately losing their duel. Thalena later gave birth to Thalia, secretly fusing Tianlei's essence into her as a gift for his earlier care of her human childhood.
Tianlei weakened as Thundermarch's people lost faith during its invasion. His voice disappeared, forcing Jin to fight without his support. Jin's return and the defense of Raindawn restored belief. Tianlei spoke to Han during his fatal overload, honored his sacrifice and announced that he had recovered enough essence to return. He then sent Jin after the shapers to protect Eira.
Thalassai and Thalena
Tianlei feared that Thalena's capture of Pyrathalor threatened the gods. Suspecting Thalassai's involvement with the cycles, he withheld warning of an approaching attack and asked Silas to protect Thalia. Thalena asked him to attack her if she won the battle, drawing Ozaith down near its end. Tianlei agreed despite not understanding her full purpose.
He descended during the fighting and struck her with lightning. Thalena endured the assault, and he withdrew after Ozaith and Hrzai arrived. Tianlei and Zal'therak also joined Thalena's alliance against Jorhan and the darkness.
The guardian wars
Jin's severed hand carried Tianlei into Varnhallow, where he formed a temporary pact with Xarion. He taught him Malverine and helped him wield lightning. Without his followers, Tianlei could not return to the God Realm; their prolonged confinement threatened to exhaust him. Xarion took the name Thalion in Varnhallow. Eltaru's escape spell eventually brought the travelers into the ancient world.
Tianlei helped Thalion protect the young human Helena and fight the guardians of Malverand. During the repeated battles at Jazarel, he calmed Thalion after failures and supported his resolve to rescue her. He shared the burden of the Order of Thalion Zenith, including the destruction and concealment of Malverand's history to preserve the future they knew, while urging Thalion to retain his humanity.
In 2103 AX, Thalion brought him to Thundermarch and summoned rain with Sephara. Tianlei initially feared this was a farewell to his homeland; Thalion explained that he was cultivating the belief through which the god would be born around 2200 AX. Their journey also brought them to Stormbrook and Zhenyu Leiyun, an ancestor of Jin's family.
When Jin rejoined the Order, Thalion agreed to end the temporary pact. Tianlei returned to Jin through their handshake. He later lent Jin his remaining strength against Raphael, urging him to fight without holding back and praising his growth as he prepared to attack.
Preservation and return
The guardian wars left Tianlei silent and heavily drained. The surviving travelers spent years in Stormbrook while seeking a way to preserve their gods. At Maraveth, Gren severed the hands containing Tianlei, Xoh'Tenol and Hrzai, and Thalion healed their wielders. Eira suspended the gods and travelers in stasis inside a sealed vault, using essence cores to sustain them.
When the group returned, Eira stopped the stasis. Brynor severed Jin's hand, Ozaith positioned Tianlei's preserved hand and Lysander reattached it. Eira restarted Jin's heart, allowing Tianlei to return to the God Realm. He gradually resumed speaking and helped coordinate the war against Gabriel and his followers.
Tianlei worked with Cassian to test severing the gods' connections to the God Realm. He supported doing so after their enemies were defeated, though Cassian's ability also frightened him. During the fighting in Pyrenis, he warned Jin and Cassian about Qadir's impending explosion and descended to help shield them.
Human life
Alistair forced the surviving gods to take human shapes. Hrzai helped Tianlei form his new body, and Cassian permanently severed their God Realm connections. Cassian later dissolved the shards, ending Tianlei's pact with Jin.
Jin cared for him as he adjusted, while Thalia taught him to dress and eat. He joined them on a voyage to find the first elementalist, promising to look after her. In Thundermarch, he demonstrated that he still possessed lightning, and Feng assured him that the people would continue honoring him. They eventually returned to Chronasis with Loria, the first elementalist.
Thalena's account
In Thalena's Shores of Eternity, she counted Tianlei, Jin and Thalia among those who would never return after the destruction at Melandor.
Relationships
- Jin Leiyun: His chosen wielder and close companion. Tianlei encouraged his decisive nature, comforted him after losses and took pride in his growth. Jin's restoration of Thundermarch's faith saved him from fading; after his transformation, Jin cared for him as a human.
- Thalion: His temporary wielder and a human he regarded with particular affection. They shared the Order's difficult task and protected Helena together. Thalion deliberately returned him to Jin and helped establish the belief behind his birth.
- Thalena: Tianlei distrusted her ambitions and feared her power over gods, yet cooperated with her through private agreements. As the older god traveling with Thalion, he had helped care for her human childhood. She repaid that care by placing his essence in Thalia.
- Thalia: Tianlei's essence is part of her, though Thalena initially concealed this from both him and Jin. He promised to protect her on their voyage; after he became human, she helps him learn ordinary life.
- Xelthys and Zal'therak: His partners in the alliance against the darkness. He exchanged information and coordinated their wielders' work while pursuing the alliance's plans.