Skaravojen

Source: Patreon December 2022 Questions Thread

Let's take a look at Skaravojen. After the near-assassination of a Keeper in 321 YK, High Cardinal Syketel worked with House Vadalis to create a guardian for the Keeper, and they produced Skaravojen: a creature that seems to have some traits of dragon and basilisk (scales, six-legged); who possesses human-level intelligence; fast healing and seeming immortality; absolutely immunity to enchantment; the ability to detect evil and to DISCERN LOCATION—an eighth level spell effect—at will... and, they're absolutely loyal to the Keeper and both Cardinals and Keeper TRUST that loyalty despite Skaravojen's terrifying appearance. 

So, first of all we have the fact that there's no way that Vadalis could produce a creature with these capabilities through standard magebreeding. Sentience, fast healing, and enchantment immunity alone would be huge if Vadalis could produce any of them on demand, not to mention being able to Discern Location. It's said that "the secrets of its origin are kept safe by House Vadalis" which I'm sure is true; the biggest secret being "We didn't actually create it" or, if they did, they only created the vessel with was then filled by a divine force. 

So in my campaign, High Cardinal Syketel began working with House Vadalis to create a guardian after the near-assassination of Keeper Ghelios. But Skaravojen wasn't actually produced until after the death of Keeper Ghelios and the appointment of the next Keeper. While celebrated as a marvel of House Vadalis, Skaravojen is actually a miracle of the Flame, negotiated by Ghelios, Syketel, and Samyr Kes. What's the secret that allows the Cardinals and Keeper to have such faith in their guardian? The fact that SKARAVOJEN CHANNELS THE SOULS OF THE DEAD KEEPERS. A principle of the Flame is that the souls of the faithful strengthen the Flame after passing through Dolurrh. Well, not the souls of the Keepers; they are channeled directly into Skaravojen, enhancing its celestial power. This ties to its longevity; Skaravojen has actually grown STRONGER over the centuries, because each Keeper adds to its strength. The souls of the Keepers are a passive gestalt within Skaravojen and don't retain any sort of individual consciousness or identity. The Cardinals and the Keeper know this; Jaela knows she'll be bonded with Skaravojen after death. But because they feel most people wouldn't understand, it's a closely held secret. 

And that's how you have such a remarkable creature supposedly produced by Vadalis, but they can't produce another. All of the things that make Skaravojen remarkable—sentience, supernatural abilities, longevity—are tied to the power of the Silver Flame and the spirits of the Keepers bound within it; "Vadalis Magebreeding" is just the cover story. 

Following an assassination attempt on Keeper Ghelios in 321 YK, the church commissioned House Vadalis to create a special guardian for the Keeper of the Flame. The result of that commission was the dragonhound Skaravojen.

Skaravojen is a gentle, obedient creature most of the time, but when it perceives a threat to the Keeper it attacks viciously. It is single-minded in its duty to protect the Keeper of the Flame at any cost, so will fight until either itself or the threat to the Keeper is destroyed.

Although it can show affection, Skaravojen never forgets its duty, which is first and foremost to protect the Keeper of the Flame. When a Keeper of the Flame is replaced, Skaravojen immediately attaches itself to the new Keeper. If the Keeper dies while under its protection, Skaravojen hunts down those who took its charge from it, not stopping until it has avenged their death.

Keeper Jaela adores Skaravojen, who never leaves her side. She treats it like a big dog, even playing games of fetch with it in the hallways of Flamekeep. Most of the Speakers who operate within the Cathedral give Skaravojen a wide berth. Even if it’s supposedly tamed, it has a very intimidating appearance. Nobody wants to give it cause to perceive them as a threat.

Skaravojen is the only creature of its kind, and the secrets of its creation are known only to House Vadalis, the Keeper of the Flame, and Samyr Kes. House Vadalis has never produced another dragonhound, and indeed, they couldn’t even if they wanted to. Skaravojen wasn’t produced until after the death of Keeper Ghelios, whose soul was used as the basis for the creature. Skaravojen is unique because it channels the souls of dead keepers.

Followers of the Church of the Silver Flame believe that their souls join with and strengthen the Flame when they die. Skaravojen was built on this principle, and the soul of every keeper that has died since its creation has joined with it. Not only has Skaravojen survived for over 600 years, but it has also actually grown more powerful with each passing Keeper. Much like the couatl sacrificed their individuality to form the Silver Flame, Skaravojen retains none of the constituent individual personalities.

The Keepers of the Flame know this is their fate, and Jaela is aware that she will also join with Skaravojen when she passes.