Selwyn Valcairn
Selwyn Valcairn, the youngest son of House Valcairn, is a magical prodigy. He is a dedicated student of traditional magic at Oathwatch Academy, one who bears the burden of his house's disgrace with quiet dignity. His professors praise his diligence in classical magical studies, particularly his talent for illusion magic and minor enchantments.
He was only nine when The Gilded Rebellion failed, old enough to remember the respect his family once commanded but too young to understand the nuanced reasons behind their choices. What he witnessed instead was humiliation, the confiscation of family treasures, and the mocking whispers of former peers. In spite of this, he seems to be adjusting well, even if his gaze sometimes holds a smoldering resentment it is difficult to hide.
Selwyn has great affection for his family, particularly his mother, whose sacrifices to maintain their remaining holdings have not gone unnoticed. He occasionally has nightmares but refuses to discuss them with others.
Selwyn's True Nature
Selwyn Valcairn, the youngest son of House Valcairn at 18 years old, presents a carefully crafted facade to the world. To his family and the Eldorian nobility, he appears as a dedicated student of traditional magic at Oathwatch Academy, one who bears the burden of his house's disgrace with quiet dignity. His professors praise his diligence in classical magical studies, particularly his talent for illusion magic and minor enchantments. This public persona, however, conceals a dangerous truth: Selwyn has secretly pledged himself to The Black Thorn, a clandestine organization dedicated to bringing back Yth'Zarith through any means necessary.
Unlike his father, whose rebellion was motivated by principled concern based on his divinations, or his sister, whose obsessions are purely academic, Selwyn's path is driven by a burning resentment of his family's fall from grace. He was only nine when the Gilded Rebellion failed, old enough to remember the respect his family once commanded but too young to understand the nuanced reasons behind their choices. What he witnessed instead was humiliation, the confiscation of family treasures, and the mocking whispers of former peers.
Early Recruitment
Selwyn's induction into The Black Thorn began during his first year at Oathwatch Academy, where a seemingly sympathetic professor recognized his anger and resentment, carefully nurturing these feelings while introducing him to others who shared his sense of injustice. Through subtle manipulation, these mentors shaped his understanding of Eldoria's history and his family's place in it.
Clandestine Training
While maintaining excellent academic standing in his official studies, Selwyn receives secret instruction in darker magical arts during clandestine midnight meetings in forgotten corners of the academy. He has shown particular aptitude for magic that manipulates emotions and clouds judgment—skills that make him valuable to The Black Thorn's efforts to recruit others to their cause.
Current Activities
Selwyn now serves as a recruiter himself, identifying fellow students with grievances against the crown and carefully assessing their potential for radicalization. He maintains a network of informants throughout Oathwatch Academy and has begun extending his influence into the court of Aurendell through carefully cultivated friendships with the children of current court officials.
Hidden Ambitions
While The Black Thorn believes Selwyn serves their agenda, he harbors personal ambitions that go beyond their goals. He envisions himself not merely restoring House Valcairn to its former glory but elevating it to unprecedented power, with himself as the architect of a new magical order in Eldoria. These private ambitions remain his most closely guarded secret.
Despite his secret allegiances, Selwyn maintains genuine affection for his family, particularly his mother, whose sacrifices to maintain their remaining holdings have not gone unnoticed. He justifies his dark path as necessary for their collective salvation, believing that conventional means of redemption are closed to them. This emotional conflict occasionally manifests in nightmares where he sees his family members suffering the consequences of his choices, dreams he dismisses upon waking as weakness he cannot afford.
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