Oryoon Archost

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Deathgrowl
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Oryoon Archost

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NameOryoon Archost
OriginWaterdeep
RaceHuman
SexMale
Date of birth7th of Uktar 1325 DR, Year of the Great Harvesters
AlignmentLawful Good
ProfessionPriest: Lord of Mystery of the Balduran temple of Mystra. Formerly: Teacher.
Patron DeityMystra
ClassesCleric, Monk, Harper Priest, Hierophant
LanguagesChondathan, Common, Draconic, Celestial, Elven
Weapon of choiceMagic, but if forced to mundane means, he will bring out his quarterstaff.

Background

Oryoon was born into a moderately wealthy Waterdhavian family, and had a fairly ordinary life growing up. His father, Teton Archost, was a legal councel within the city, and his mother, Ryena, an author and painter. Oryoon's sister, Solina, younger than him by 3 years, moved to Neverwinter when she came of age to serve in the church of Tyr there, having received the call of a paladin.

When Oryoon was approaching his 20th year, he began working as a teacher for some local children, teaching them basic reading, writing and maths. Through his work he met a young sorceress, Mireene, and fell in love with her, eventually becoming engaged to be married. At this point, Oryoon received a warning through letter, given to him by a half-elven woman who had just passed him by without a word, to not trust the woman he had fallen in love with. The letter carried the mark of the Harpers - Oryoon recognised it but thought such business was far beyond the life of a common teacher. He couldn't believe that his fiancee was anything that the Harpers would be concerned about, and so dismissed it.

Mireene had developed a good relationship with Oryoon's parents and spent time helping Ryena. One day, however, Oryoon had come home to his parents, hearing noises from the outside. He rushed in, only to find them in a magical stasis, his father holding his old sword, and Mireene standing opposite them, weaving hands to trace arcane runes in the air as she incanted a spell clearly directed at Oryoon. Before the spell could manifest, however, orbs of magical energy rushed past Oryoon to strike at Mireene, interrupting her spell. The magic had come from the woman who had given Oryoon the letter, a harper mage, evidently.

A short spell battle ensued, where Mireene spent all of her most destructive magic in an attempt to both fend off the harper mage and kill Oryoon and his family. The half-elven harper was the more compentent mage, however, and in the end managed to pacify Mireene. Oryoon, having been tossed into a wall by some exploding spell, awoke as the dust settled, and the city guard had arrived to take Mireene away. He looked up to see the face of the half elven mage, and in the background he could see his parents talking with the city guard, freed from their magical stasis.

The half elf kept the conversation short, however, never giving her name. She explained she was a harper and an arcane devotee of Mystra. She had been keeping an eye on Mireene, suspecting her to be a sharran agent, and then caught her meeting with other known sharrans. Oryoon's father had been responsible for bringing many sharran agents to justice and so had become a target. Oryoon had only ever been a means to get close to Teton for Mireene - if that was even her real name.

That night - or rather the morning after, as Oryoon finally fell asleep to sheer emotional exhaustion - Mystra came to him in a dream, calling him to serve her as a priest. He realised then, that Mystra had guided the harper against her enemy, and so saved his life, and the lives of his parents. There was no doubt in his mind, and he accepted the call. When he awoke from his sleep, short though it was, he felt strangely refreshed. He was still distraught over his lost love, but determined with his new purpose. And so he strode at once to the temple of Mystra in Waterdeep to begin his training.


Personality

Oryoon is a calm and gentle man for the most part, trying to be warm and welcoming to those he meets. He tries to be a voice of compassion and wisdom, beyond just being a priest. Of course his position as a Lord of Mystery will always guide his words, even to those not of magical inclination.

He has no real ambitions beyond those of his goddess and is therefore largely uninterested in politics besides what will affect his temple. He has a great dislike for Amn, for this reason, as he considers Amn's laws on magic blasphemous. At the same time, he isn't morally uninterested, though he considers politics to be an impracitcal and usually too compromising method to solve moral issues. He will avoid going against laws for the sake of morality, but he will make his position clear if confronted. In moral questions he may in fact lose some of his usual warmth, taking on a far more serious expression.

Of hobbies, he has few, but he is quite interested in theology beyond that of his own faith, spending much time reading about the other gods and their teachings, churches and practices. This has lead to at least one article of general theology.

When it comes to matters of the Weave and his duty as a guide to magic, he is well versed, but not confrontational. He maintains that many will have misconceptions about magic and he is happy to simply state the facts as he knows them, but will not press the matter when objections arise. That is unless someone is being purposefully misleading about magic towards others.


Training

When Oryoon joined the church of Mystra, he was first introduced to a monk-wizard by the name of Fuzorn Beldonn, who served as a mentor-figure throughout his training as a priest. The monk immediately recognised the emotional distress the young initiate was in and insisted to the priests that he was first to be trained to find inner peace and discipline. To overcome the emotional turmoil. And so Oryoon was for the first few months trained as a monk, shown the way to use a quarterstaff as monks wield it and to calm himself, allowing his insight to make rational defensive motions. This wasn't combat training, even though it took that form - it was indeed training of the mind.

And then began his priestly training, and he excelled at it. Magical understanding came easy to him, and he was given his Starflight ceremony earlier than the average priest. He had found a deep love for magic, indeed, and while he gained favour with Mystra as his experience as a priest developed, it was also clear he had an aptitude for the magic granted to him.


Thoughts on deities

Oryoon has thoughts on several deities, but some are more prominent in his mind for his interactions with their followers, or just how the particular gods are important to him for other reasons.

Mystra
Mystra is of course Oryoon's patron deity, and he loves her like one would love a mother. He struggles, however, sometimes to give proper answers to those who question why Mystra allows evil magic such as the animation of the dead. In Oryoon's mind, Mystra allows it out of some sense of duty to magic itself, even if the goddess herself doesn't necessarily approve of the effects of the magic, the enrichment of the greater mysteries is important. He also believes firmly that all use of such magic comes from a corrupt arrogance and lust for power, something that is sinful to a Mystran, for the Lady of Mysteries commands humility in the practice of the Gift of Magic.
Azuth
Azuth teaches discipline, caution and calm in the practice of magic. Oryoon also appreciates the Lord of Spells' insistence on sharing knowledge and spells and always making sure to make copies for the temple library, a value Oryoon definitely aspires to.
Tyr
Tyr, and by extension of the Triad, Ilmater and Torm, are important to Oryoon's sense of justice and morality. Having a sister who is a paladin of Tyr and a father Oryoon looks up too, whose lifelong work has been in service of justice, means Tyr has shaped his view on the world quite a bit.
The Seldarine
Oryoon deeply reveres the gods of the elves, and in particular Corellon Larethian as a god of magic. Of late, however, he has taken a deeper interest in Hanali Celanil, after having met the sun elven sorceress Aravae. In general, Oryoon believes humanity could - and should - learn much from the elves, both in regards to religion and society.
Deneir
The Lord of All Glyphs is important to Oryoon for similar reasons to Azuth. Deneir's insistence on recording everything for later use, and ensuring that nothing is forgotten. And as a religious scholar, Oryoon values Deneir for his dedication to literacy and scholarly pursuits in general.
Milil
He doesn't talk about the Lord of Song often, but Oryoon finds Milil's teachings useful as a former teacher and also as a guide to magic. For bardic magic is that of song and Milil has much wisdom to add to that of Mystra in that regard.
Oghma
"Knowledge is power and must be used with care" is a line from Oghma's teachings that deeply resonates with the Mystran priest, echoing in a way the Mystran and Azuthan teachings of conserving magic, restraining one's power as one grows with it.
Selûne
As a close ally of Mystra, Selûne is an important god to Oryoon. Especially where it comes to their shared enemy Shar.
Sune
Sune's importance in Oryoon's life has only recently, and as a bit of surprise to him, for similar reasons to his growing interest in Hanali Celanil.
Shar
Oryoon hates the Lady of Loss with a passion. He doesn't speak of her often to anyone, but the mere mention of her will sour his mood. Both because Shar is the worst enemy of Mystra, but also for what the Dark Goddess' agents attempted to inflict upon his family, and for the false love he had to overcome.
Bane
After Shar, Bane is seen by Oryoon as one of the greatest dangers to society. Where Tyr offers justice tempered by Ilmater's mercy and enforced by Torm's righteous fury, Bane is a god of merciless injustice and terror. The spread of this faith can only lead to widespread misery and benefit only the egotistical and power-hungry who ends up for whatever reason on top. And there they sit only until someone worse overthrows them to take their place. This is anathema to the humility Mystra and Azuth insists upon.

Thoughts on organisations and groups

While not politically interested, Oryoon still has a strong moral interest.

Avowed of Candlekeep
After becoming a priest of Mystra, one of the greatest inspiration Oryon has is the First Reader Tethtoril of Candlekeep, who is famous as a deeply favoured priest of Mystra. Oryoon aspires to be the same kind of priest as Tethtoril. Beyond that, Candlekeep is of course the greatest library in the world, and therefore contains much magical knowledge, preserving it and ensuring that it is never forgotten, fulfilling Mystra's command to enrich the Weave and Azuth's command to make copies of all spells.

Oryoon has had largely good interactions with the avowed of Candlekeep, though he is concerned with some of the rumours he has heard of Candlekeep's more recent history, as well as the apparent moral apathy of some of its members.

The Harpers
After the Harpers rescued him and his family, Oryoon feels almost indepted to the Harpers. But more than that, he shares their view of old Myth Drannor at its peak as the pinnacle of civilisation, and he of course follows his church's general stance. And though he considers himself unqualified to ever be one himself, lacking the subtlety they require, he will support them and offer them safe haven in the church of Mystra should they need it.
Doron Amar
Besides the former councilor Laeria Amarillis, and aiding her briefly with the creation of her spell Laeria's Starbolt, Oryoon hasn't had many encounters with the elves of the Woods of Sharp Teeth. However, what he has heard about their history, makes him positively minded towards them, especially with their ties to Evereska.
En Dharasha Everae
Oryoon has had no interactions with any elves of En Dharasha Everae that he is aware of. Being elves, however, he is likely to at least view them favourably.
Radiant Heart
The Radiant Heart is a confusing organisation to Oryoon, for he had originally learned of them as a paladin order (with some clerics of paladin gods, particularly the Triad), but he has observed that it has grown to include other kinds of professions. They still appear to him to be for the most part following the paladin code of conduct, so he considers them moral allies. He is concerned however that others outside the Order has expressed difficulties in approaching the Order. Personally, Oryoon has had no such issues so far, but his experiences are limited and he reserves judgment on the concerns for now.
Order of the Silver Rose
Last Oryoon visited Baldur's Gate and its surrounding areas, in 1355, the Order of the Silver Rose was a goodly organisation much akin to a paladin order, though with some more liberal values. Upon his return in 1357, he has been sad to note that he has thus far only encountered one of their numbers, and only at one point. He regards the order's stated values as close to his own.
Kraak Helzak
Oryoon has had little contact with any dwarves yet, and he doesn't know whether any of them are citizens of the dwarven kingdom. He does however tend to view dwarves favourably for their loyalty and sense of order.
Green Enclave
Oryoon has had no interactions with the druids as of yet. He tends towards favourable views in regards to druids, so long as they respect the magic they wield.
Zhentarim
Oryoon is deeply troubled by the slow expansion of the Zhentarim into the west. He sees the organisation as an extension of the church of Bane, given that religion's prevalence in the organisation as well as its generally tyrannical and terrorising methods. His lack of interest in politics, however, makes him disinterested in trying to halt their progress through diplomacy. Instead, he will remain supportive of the Harpers, and of course the larger Lord's Alliance, in their opposition to the tyannical organisation.
Red Wizards of Thay
Oryoon has a certain amount of respect for the scholarship and spellcraft of the Red Wizards, but it is severely diminished by their tendency for their arrogance, lust for power and lack of respect for the Lady who is the Weave. He also, of course, has moral issues with the nation of Thay, not just the Red Wizards. So far, though, he has had only one real interaction with the enclave in Baldur's Gate and left that meeting feeling annoyed. He had shared some intelligence with the Red Wizards and had hoped to learn what it meant, but the Khazark had simply refused to explain.
House Darius
Because of his disinterest in politics, Oryoon has few thoughts on the noble houses of the city, including House Darius, and has had even fewer interactions with them than he has thoughts of them. He understands, however, that several in House Darius at least somewhat shares his moral stances, though he is concerned that a political entity such as that will simply be held back by their attempts at diplomacy over action.
House Blackrose / Order of Blackrose
The organisation based out of their little castle south of Soubar is something of a confusing entity for Oryoon. They were once a merchant house, he has heard, but now has formed into an order of some kind. But it doesn't really matter what they call themselves in Oryoon's mind, for Soubar itself is a place of outlaws and everything he has heard of Blackrose - House or Order - is that they are villains. It concerns him greatly that many of the benevolent and righteous organisations of the Sword Coast and Western Hearthlands are cooperating with such evils, when they should rather stand against them. "The enemy of my enemy may still very likely be my enemy too," Oryoon might reason about such matters.
House Divine
Oryoon has heard of House Divine's existence. He has no interest what so ever in fashion.
House of Spades
All Oryoon has heard about the House of Spades is that they are some kind of group of planetouched humans. This, he finds odd, given how some planetouched humans don't get well along with others. But whatever floats their boat, Oryoon isn't concerned, as they don't seem morally objectionable at the moment.
Laitae Lafreth, became Chosen of Mystra, former Great Reader of Candlekeep
Nëa the Little Shadow
Obahzk Elf-Skinner, Blackguard of Gruumsh and orcish war drummer

Free music:
http://soundcloud.com/progressionmusic/sets/luna
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Deathgrowl
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Re: Oryoon Archost

Unread post by Deathgrowl »

Added stuff. Thoughts on organisations. People usually add thoughts on other people, but I figured this would be more persistent and still perhaps interesting.
Laitae Lafreth, became Chosen of Mystra, former Great Reader of Candlekeep
Nëa the Little Shadow
Obahzk Elf-Skinner, Blackguard of Gruumsh and orcish war drummer

Free music:
http://soundcloud.com/progressionmusic/sets/luna
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