Xenix Apolex

Xenix Apolex was a elven master Arcanists and former High Mage of the Golden Kingdom. As High mage to king Hawlistus of Jeloon, Apolex had many duties but also had nearly as much authority as the King himself. Apolex often used his authority to influence the research of other mages and even to steel their discoveries. In this way Apolex was able to continue increasing his power even when he was at an impasse in his own study. It is thought Apolex was approaching godhood before the Great Rending. 

Early Life

In his early life Xenix had been named Illet Souldon, and was a magical prodigy. His skills with Conjuration were more advanced than even his instructors. He was taken from his family as a boy and trained directly by the Guild of Acanists. They saw in him the potential to change the world. His training included no social interaction with other children and as a result he developed into a very socially stunted adult. All his loyalty was toward the Guild of Arcanists.

The Thordac Dilema

Illet's loyalty remained with the Guild of Arcanists until one particular event. He was engaging in business for the guild within a far off kingdom when his group was accosted by a Beholder, named Thordac. As he attempted to battle the Beholder his colleagues all fled leaving him to die. Abandoned and facing a creature whose very gaze made mages impotent, Illet prepared himself for death. But in his moment of hopelessness a group of adventurers arrived led by a young human paladin of Ehlonna in gleaming plate mail, named Devron Hawlistus. Thordac was a strong and intelligent foe and fled before the party and Illet could kill it. However, before it fled, it made a psychic bond with Illet which allowed it to enter Illet's mind anytime from anywhere. Illet could not let this stand and insisted the party accompany him to kill the creature once and for all. After barely escaping with their lives Hawlistus and his companions were not interested at first in a second encounter with the creature; but even with Illet's Awkward social disposition he was able to convince the others to aid in the hunt. It took months to track Thordac down, all the while the creature plagued Illet's thoughts. Throughout the journey Illet was uncomforted by these people since they were not mages and he did not know how to interact with them. Thordac prayed on this discomfort and other paranoias in Illet's mind regarding the Guild of Arcanists abandoning him. Over time Illet gained confidence in his new party though despite the ramblings of Thordac, his opinion of the Guild of Arcanists however was becoming irrevocably damaged. When they did finally confront Thordac again, it was a terrifying battle. The creature had proped itself up as leader of an underground kingdom of Druger Dwarves giving it a powerful army to support it. This was not enough to stop Illet and Hawlistus and the party. When the Party had Thordac beaten and were prepared to deliver the final blow Illet commanded the Beholder to remove itself from his mind, The beholder seemed confused at first and then laughed saying, "I do not have the power to remove madness." Hawlistus sliced the creature in half which should have broken any psychic connection; seemingly, though, it remained. Illet still could hear the voice of the creature despite it being dead, but he never shared this information with anyone fearing he was mad. The party accompanied Illet back to the Guild of arcanists all the while trying to convince him to remain with them. When The party arrived at The Guild of Arcanists Illet discovered he had been reported dead and despite his former companions returning they had not issued any forces to aid him or determine his true fate, the voice of Thordac laughed. Spiteful of this betrayal, Illet decided that he'd remain dead in the eyes of the Guild of Arcanists, he changed his name to Xenix Apolex and joined Hawlistus' band of adventurers.

Adventuring Years and Beyond

Over the years Apolex's power grew as he engaged in more and more daring adventures. They saved many nations from threats internal and external. They even saved the entirety of A'Uvium on one occasion from the incursion of a Lich attempting to achieve godhood. Hawlistus had a minor noble title and used his land to build an estate on which he, Apolex, and the rest of their party all lived. Other adventureres came in and out of their party but Hawlistus and Apolex always remained having developed an unbreakable friendship and dedication to one another. Slowly over time others came to the land adjacent to Hawlistus' estate to take up residence. A small hamlet developed into a village which turned into a town which grew into city which finally blossomed into a grand metropolis. Hawlistsus suddenly found himself in a position of leadership over a vast array of people from all around the world. Hawlistus took to this responsibility well. He appointed Apolex as his High Mage and his other adventuring party fellows to other positions of authority and power in his new kingdom. Apolex loved this new kingdom of Jeloon and begun to make ambassadorial trips to outlining towns and villages and smaller kingdoms, those kingdoms were invited to join with Jeloon into one Golden Kingdom. However if a leader refused; Apolex, led by the voice of Thordac, would not accept no for an answer and would employ magic to convince them to join either by subtle methods of manipulation or by more direct means of enacting a coup. In this way, Jeloon expanded into the most powerful and diverse nation in all of Al'Uvium, and became known as The Golden Kingdom.

Relationship with the Guild of Arcanists

As the years passed Illet Souldon was forgotten and only Xenix Apolex remained. Because of this and owing to his power it wasn't more than a generation of time that passed before a new leadership within the guild of Arcanists came seeking a renowned mage in a very powerful nation. Apolex was invited to join the Guild with full membership and was eventually appointed to its Masters' Council, no one ever knowing his past association. He joined knowing the guild was a powerful tool he could use and manipulate, but fueled by the voice of Thordac, he still hated them all. He would often use his position of authority to claim to be helping a young mage with their research but instead would steal their most secret spells and techniques. He was very subtle, never seeking renown, just accumulating expertise and power. In this way he grew to become one of the most powerful mages in history. It is even thought he was approaching godhood. All his power wasn't taken from others, he was still a prodigious arcanists himself and He wasn't idle. He continued to develop his own spells and techniques as well. He developed a technique, before unheard of, that allowed a single object to be enchanted with multiple spells at once. This object known as The Apolex Ambiguity, achieved this by being able to alter its shape. With each shape being able to hold a different spell. He was said to have captured a pocket of the etherial plane that he had the ability to manipulate endlessly and in lieu of a physical mages tower of his own used as his base of operations.

Beyond Hawlistus

Hawlistus was not immortal and no matter how much magic Apolex used his friend did eventually die, at the age of 154. He had ruled the golden kingdom for almost 100 years during which time Al'Uvium enjoyed an enduring peace. Apolex mourned his friend, even the voice of Thordac mourned. Hawlistus had a very large family by this point and chose his eldest great grand daughter to rule. She had been groomed for the position as had her father and his father and his mother before them, but they had all passed beyond before the king himself. Apolex took up his role as High Mage for Darlaia Hawlista I in the same way he had for her great grand father. He toyed with the idea of ascension to godhood but decided he needed to remain with his beloved kingdom.

Personal Relations

Darlaia, Unbeknownst to him, had always had a deep attraction to Apolex and when she became queen she began to act upon it very aggressively. She knew that Apolex had slept in her great grand fathers chambers on occasion and she asked that the same favor be granted his new queen. On the first occasion of this happening she seduced Apolex and a long romance followed. In many ways she was more mature than Apolex despite her being more than one hundred years younger. She dominated the relationship and when she wanted to bear his child, Apolex did not refuse. However, the pregnancy did frighten him for the future of The Golden Kingdom. Darlaia would be expected to wed another noble and produce a proper heir, his child would be a barrier to this succession, or would lead to one of Darlaia's younger siblings taking the throne. The couple argued about the mater endlessly until finally Darlaia relented and allowed Apolex to end her pregnancy. She was devastated and heartbroken which caused a rift in their relationship. The couple split in favor of the queen finding a proper suitor. Apolex could not stay within the kingdom during the courting. Eventually Darlaia fell in love with a young elven princess and breaking all convention of traditional monarchy was married to her. Apolex would not attend the wedding. When he did finally come to her she was spiteful, exclaiming that she was queen and that no one would tell her how to live her life. She would change the laws so that blood wasn't a guaranteed path to the crown. She swore that her and her new wife would find a child or make a child that would be a leader as strong as she wished she had been before giving up their child. Apolex smirked and explained to her she hadn't given up their child, he had only paused its development within her. He was unable to bring himself to end the proof of their love. She had thought the process to remove the child had left her barren at least temporarily, she was thrilled by the news. Within the year the child was born. Apolex was called upon two more times to produce progeny with each of the queens, but no love affair developed. With a third person now in the mix Apolex and Darlaia were never able to reform that same closeness they had. After Darlaia, Apolex never loved anyone again.

The Golden Kingdom

Queen Darlaia did indeed make heredity less of a necessity to pass down a title. In this way people of various bloodlines and races were able to achieve noble titles via adoption or bequeathment. Many rulers followed Hawlista I and from that point Apolex saw all of them as his family. For the next several hundred years Jeloon prospered, always helped by a magical force and the guiding radiance of the god of its founder Ehlonna. Though Apolex wasn't a religious man he could see the finger of divinity upon the land. Crops sprouted faster and grew healthier in Jeloon than most anywhere else, People were more inclined to cooperation in Jeloon than most other places, and a general welcoming spirit permeatted the land. When conflict was necessary was where Apolex made the greatest contribution. He used his magic to lead troops to coordination and prevented grievous injuries from resulting in death. If a battle was pitched enough he, himself, would call down the forces of magic upon a foe. However, it was rarely needed. Most other nations wanted to join The Golden Kingdom more than they wanted to conquer it, and based on the charters of the kingdom they were allowed to.

The Sacred Lands of Fellowship

By Apolex's 600th year Jeloon had expanded in from the wilds of Initia on the east to the vast kingdom Qual’ta’Pedor on the west. Qual’ta’Pedor had been a wonderful trading partner and ally, so Apolex approached the leadership about a potential merger of their kingdoms as he had done hundreds of times before. The leaders of Qual’ta’Pedor, though were uninterested and had great magical protectors that prevented any manipulation by Apolex. The voice of Throdac screamed that they needed to go to war but Apolex remained calm. The two nations remained allies for many years until a subtle shift in their leadership. Suddenly ambassadors from Qual’ta’Pedor were coming to The Golden Kingdom encouraging Jeloon to merge with them. As ambassador, Apolex would not allow that andrefused their repeated overtures. Qual’ta’Pedor changed their name to The Sacred Lands of Fellowship and began absorbing all the kingdoms on their other borders much as Jeloon had years earlier. They became almost as powerful and large as the Golden Kingdom. Apolex, despite the raving of Thordac, was unworried, another nation following their example he thought would be good for the world. It turned out they weren't following an example as much as trying to surpass a template. Apolex began to hear reports of small military operations striking towns on the border of the two nations. One such offensive reached the small city of Zad where Apolex was living, his own home was looted and many of his possessions were taken including the Apolex Ambiguity. Apolex went to the king and asked to send a counter offensive. King Devron V now more than 20 generations removed from the original Devron was unworried. Devron V had trained as a cleric and was devout in his faith and belief in Ehlonna's protection. He instructed Apolex to begin repairs and raise tariffs on The Sacred Lands of Fellowship to pay for it. Apolex saw a bad end coming but could not go against the will of his king, despite the voice of Thordac demanding action. Apolex was able to convince the king to allow him to mobilize defenses at the border to help repel an future incursions and protect the border towns. Once the defenses were set battles became very one sided. Apolex, at Thordac's encouragement, had spent years pushing inventors and builders to work together to devise new methods of war and they had made great strides in 600 years. The golden Kingdom had better weaponry than anyone in all of Al'Uvium. With no avenue to conquer the Jeloon militarily the Sacred Lands moved to more magical pursuits. However the devotion and belief of the people of Jeloon toward Ehlonna made her protection too strong to pierce. This remained true until a dark ritual was cast which sacrificed more than 7000 children (see the great rending). The ritual was intended to remove Ehlonna's protection but the Sacred Lands of Fellowship had been tricked and manipulated the whole time by Anti-Diests intent on finally killing a god. Apolex felt the magic building but was unable to stop it. As he rushed to his balcony he saw Ehlonna herself ripped through the divine gate, a process that left massive wounds on her body, and plummet to the ground. He used his magic to try to slow her fall but it was like a flea trying to move a boulder. Just before she hit he was able to shift himself to the astral plane where he watched as his beloved Golden Kingdom was destroyed by an explosion unlike any the world had ever seen. He saw the land shake and change, he saw plants turn to wither to black goo, he saw people turn to ash. The whole face of the land changed and Jeloon became a blackened wasteland. Once the force waves stopped he came out of the astral sea and saw that where the capital had been was a massive crater and within the crater was a hole into absolute darkness that was growing larger. As he watched in horror hundreds of demonic creatures began to pour out of the hole and scatter across the land. He had been an adventurer he knew what saving the world was and he made the conscious decision to hold that rift closed. He floated into the air and used all his concentration and power to keep that rift to the Abyss closed.

Discovery

The former kingdom of Jeloon has been a no man's land ever since the Great Rending. Their has only been one surveyor who has ever returned. Numel Klebler a gnomish cartographer went into the wastes and was able to plot it even though the trip left his whole party dead and him quite mad. He did bring back maps of the area. He also reported seeing a sorcerer, he identified as Apolex, in a state of constant casting above a large crater at the center of the devastation. His notes renamed The Golden Kingdom as the Wasted Planes of Apolex and that name has been used ever since, even though no one else has ever been able to confirm that Apolex is indeed still there.