Orion, the enigmatic Rift-Maester, is a figure shrouded in equal parts legend and tragedy. Once a celebrated mage and arcane historian of the Mytharil Empire, Orion was renowned for his groundbreaking work in charting the Riftways—arcane pathways connecting the realms. His mastery of dimensional Rift Magic and insatiable curiosity earned him a place as one of the greatest minds of his age. However, his story is irrevocably tied to the betrayal of Archmage Valekith (now Valekith), his former mentor, and the devastating Continuum Crisis that shattered the empire he called home.
Cursed to his current Unknown form as a result of Valekith’s treachery, Orion now serves as the Rift-Maester (aka the Riftkeeper) of the Talons of the Timeless Tome, an order dedicated to preserving the fragments of knowledge salvaged from their fallen civilization. His burden is a solemn one, fueled by guilt and a sense of responsibility for the catastrophic events that led to Mytharil’s downfall.
Early Life and Rise in Mytharil
Orion was born among the Mythar, an ancient and advanced civilization whose floating islands stood as symbols of arcane and scholarly excellence. Gifted with an unmatched aptitude for magic, Orion quickly rose through the ranks of Mytharil’s esteemed arcane scholars, becoming one of its most prolific historians. His passion lay in mapping the riftways, discovering and documenting the unstable corridors between planes that could facilitate travel or unleash unimaginable chaos.
As a disciple of the legendary Archmage Valekith, Orion was privy to knowledge that few dared to seek. He shared in his master’s ambition to unlock the ultimate truths of existence, but their paths diverged when Valekith’s hunger for power turned to hubris.
The Betrayal of Valekith and the Continuum Crisis
When Valekith fractured Unknown, the keystone of Mytharil’s stability, Orion was among the first to understand the magnitude of the threat. The catastrophic rifts tore through the empire’s floating islands, pulling entire cities into the void. Despite his efforts to stop his former mentor, Orion was powerless to prevent the chaos from consuming his homeland.
In the crisis’s final moments, Orion manipulated a rift to save a fragment of Mythar’s people, guiding them to the safety of the Unknown. This act, while heroic, came at a great personal cost. The arcane backlash from the rift he controlled cursed him into his current Owlin form, a constant reminder of his failure to thwart Valekith’s treachery.
Founding the Talons of the Timeless Tome
In the aftermath of Mytharil’s destruction, Orion resolved to preserve what little remained of his people’s knowledge. He gathered survivors and formed the Talons of the Timeless Tome, an order devoted to the preservation of history and the protection of reality’s fragile balance. Under his guidance, they constructed Unknown, a monumental library nestled within the Tani Mountains, where scholars and archivists tirelessly document the remnants of lost civilizations.
The Talons also took on a more active role: scouring the plains in search of artifacts, tomes, and any trace of Valekith or the secrets he left behind. Orion’s pursuit of his former mentor is as much about redemption as it is about duty.
Role as Rift-Maester
Orion’s role as Rift-Maester is a sacred one, ensuring that the riftways remain stable and that their chaotic energies are not misused. His arcane monocle, a relic of the Mytharil Empire, allows him to peer through the fabric of reality, charting riftways and detecting disruptions. He is known to spend days in solemn meditation, communing with the currents of magic that flow through the planes.
Though burdened by his failures, Orion carries himself with quiet dignity, offering guidance to those who seek the truth while holding himself accountable for the past. His vigilance is unwavering, and his knowledge of the planes is unparalleled, making him an invaluable ally and a formidable adversary.
Legacy and Philosophy
Orion is a figure of contradictions: a seeker of knowledge who has learned the dangers of its pursuit, a leader bound by his own guilt, and a savior haunted by the lives he could not save. To the Talons, he is a revered figure, both a father and a guardian. To his enemies, he is an eternal thorn in their ambitions, always one step ahead in protecting the riftways and preserving the fragile balance of the cosmos.
His teachings often reflect his duality:
- “The riftways are not highways to power, but veins of the cosmos. Tear them apart, and the body of existence bleeds.”
- “Knowledge is a double-edged blade. Wield it recklessly, and it will cut deeper than you can imagine.”
Prophecies and Beliefs
Many believe that Orion’s connection to the riftways ties him to a greater cosmic prophecy. Some whisper that he is destined to stand against Valekith one final time, should the revenant’s fractured halves ever seek to reunite. Orion himself speaks cryptically of this possibility:
- “The day Malekith and Valekith join hands again will be the day the stars dim. Should that time come, it will not be just my burden—it will be the world’s reckoning.”
Notable Artifacts
- The Arcane Monocle of Mytharil: Allows Orion to see through riftways and detect planar anomalies.
- The Riftkeeper’s Codex: A tome containing his original charts of the riftways, constantly updated with his findings.
- The Talonstone Staff: A staff imbued with rift energy, capable of stabilizing or closing rifts in moments of crisis.