Elyreal is a compassionate yet meticulous Owlin cleric serving as the Warden of the infirmary in The Archives of Empyrean, the central stronghold of the Talons of the Timeless Tome. Known for her unparalleled knowledge of radiant healing and her mastery of ancient clerical techniques, she is a pillar of care and wisdom within the order.
Once a celebrated healer and scholar of the Mytharil Empire, Elyreal’s life took a fateful turn during the First Continuum Crisis. Cursed by the Archmage Valekith (now Valekith) during his betrayal, she narrowly survived thanks to the intervention of her mentor, Orion, who pulled her through a collapsing rift. Though her form was forever altered into that of an Unknown, her resolve to preserve and protect the radiant arts of her people grew stronger.
Elyreal now dedicates her life to aiding the seekers, wardens, and inquisitors of the Talons who risk everything to safeguard knowledge. Her deep reverence for the twin gods Helios and Deimos—symbols of the eternal cycle of life and death—guides her work and strengthens her connection to the divine.
Appearance
Elyreal’s feathers are a striking mix of white, grey, and black speckles, giving her an appearance reminiscent of moonlight dappling through shadows. She is always dressed in a grey healer’s robe, its fabric embroidered with glowing arcane sigils that hum faintly with divine energy. Around her neck hangs a rift stopwatch, an artifact she uses both as a focus for her clerical magic and as a tool to monitor temporal anomalies in her patients’ conditions.
Her presence is warm and inviting, and she carries herself with the careful grace of someone who knows the value of every movement, every breath. The scent of herbal poultices and faint ozone lingers in her wake, a reminder of her dual expertise in medicine and magic.
Personality
Elyreal is a kind and nurturing soul, with a passion for sharing knowledge and a tendency to over-explain when speaking about her craft. Her inquisitive nature drives her to continually learn and refine her skills, though it can sometimes lead her to lose track of time when engrossed in her work. Despite her boundless patience with her patients, she is a staunch disciplinarian when it comes to the preservation of the infirmary and its sacred practices.
While her demeanor is generally warm, those who seek to cut corners or treat the cycle of life and death with irreverence will quickly see the stern side of Elyreal, whose resolve is as strong as her compassion.
Role in the Talons of the Timeless Tome
Elyreal holds the rank of Warden, a title earned through her unwavering dedication to preserving life and her contributions to the order’s mission of safeguarding knowledge. She oversees the Archives Infirmary, where she tirelessly tends to the wounded and weary who return from the field. Her work extends beyond mere healing; she actively documents and preserves the radiant healing techniques of the Mythar people, ensuring that their methods are not lost to time.
Her dual mastery of medicine and magic is complemented by her profound knowledge of the twin gods, Helios and Deimos, whose cycle of life and death she views as integral to her work. Elyreal often leads prayers and meditations in the infirmary, weaving divine teachings into her healing rituals to provide both physical and spiritual solace to her patients.
The Curse and Her Survival
Elyreal’s transformation into an Owlin is both a physical reminder of her trauma and a testament to her resilience. During Valekith’s betrayal, she was caught in a surge of Rift Energy, her once angelic form fractured and reshaped by the chaotic Rift Magic. Orion’s intervention saved her life, pulling her through a collapsing rift just as the energies would have consumed her entirely.
While many would see the curse as a burden, Elyreal views her Owlin form as a symbol of survival. She believes it is her duty to honor the life she was given by preserving and protecting the lives of others.
Reverence for Helios and Deimos
Elyreal’s faith in the twin gods, Helios (the Sun) and Deimos (the Moon), shapes every aspect of her work. To her, the cycle of life and death is not merely a concept but a sacred truth that must be understood and respected. Helios represents the radiant energy she channels in her healing, while Deimos embodies the inevitability of death, which she seeks to honor rather than fear.
Her prayers to Helios often call for vitality and renewal, while her invocations to Deimos are somber, granting peace to those who pass. Elyreal believes that to heal the living, one must also respect the dead—a philosophy that has earned her the reverence of her peers.
Legacy and Contributions
Elyreal’s contributions to the Talons extend far beyond the infirmary. She has chronicled volumes of techniques, rituals, and remedies derived from the radiant healing arts of the Mytharil Empire. These tomes are among the most valuable within the Archives of Empyrean, serving as vital resources for future generations.
She has also been instrumental in training new clerics and medics, ensuring that the Talons’ field operatives have access to life-saving knowledge. Her influence within the order is so profound that many seekers and inquisitors attribute their survival to her teachings and interventions.