Bishop Rannyl Grimsunder
Dwarf Bishop of the Zenethian Faith
Bishop Rannyl Grimsunder is a dwarven bishop and religious scholar of Clan Grimsunder who appears in Azimuth Campaign Two. He is the head of the Zenethian faith in Endor, the First Mountain, and is the leader of the city's Temple to Zenethia. He is an NPC played by M.B.
As the Endorian Bishop, Rannyl heads the function of the Temple to Zenethia and smaller Zenethian shrines in the city. He also confers with other priests in Endor on matters of religious significance. He is a religious scholar who has worked on a number of religious and historical texts.
Description
Appearance
Rannyl is a very old dwarf over three hundred years old. He is somewhat short and bent from his age, and his frame has lost much of the strength and vigor from his youth. His hair has gone very gray, though his receding hairline and full beard are well kept. His beard fully frames his face and is kept in five separate plaits, each of which is tied with a green gemstone band. On his big nose sits a pair of silver-rimmed thick glasses that he often squints through to see. He wears the clothes of his order, consisting of platinum white robes with added emerald vestments that hang over the shoulders and frame a metal, decorated collar. He carries a long, golden staff that curls around a large fist-sized, radiant-cut opal that shines with a strong internal light. Rannyl is a potent divine spellcaster, and is seemingly able to cast with great ease and minimal movements.Personality
Rannyl is soft spoken and has an eldery, wispy voice. Though he is warm and present, his body is slow and presents a lack of mobility due to his advanced age. Despite his knowledge and expertise, he occasionally may lose the thread of a conversation in his old age. He is a strongly caring individual. He carries a strong belief in the abilities of those under him. Often he will try to provide wisdom from his experience and age to those who will listen, and he will leverage the resources of the church to aid those in need. He speaks highly of those in the faith alongside him, as was seen with his praise of others, including Gertrude Oathenhammer, Durak Hamarhart, and Godsguard Ankhan. Rannyl's faith is unshakeable, and he genuinely follows the tennants of the Zenethian faith. He respects the weight of his position in the order and was seen striving to act accordingly. This presents itself when he issues decrees or performs official duties, even when there are only close friends in the room to witness, as was seen by Gertrude when she was released to leave to Tarteria. Rannyl is well-studied and is a knowledgeable religious and historical scholar. He has worked on a number of religious and historical texts. His experience with such texts and documents allowed him to comment on the contents of The Decayed Tomes, believing that some of the statements were likely hyperbolic.Biography
Background
Rannyl was born at some point before 5A 052 to Clan Grimsunder, one of the major dwarven clans in the city of Endor, the First Mountain. Rannyl entered the Zenethian faith at a young age. During his time in the faith, he became close friends with Gertrude Oathenhammer starting after she joined the faith around 5A 072. By 5A 110, Rannyl was set to preside over the wedding of Gertrude and her lover, Bori, however this never came to pass due to Bori's death. At some point after Luyos was left on the steps of the Temple to Zenethia in Ocana 5A 143, Rannyl met the young dragonborn and helped him as he grew. It was through Rannyl that Luyos was able to first leave the city and discover his love of the wilderness. At some point, Rannyl became the Bishop of the Zenethian Faith in Endor, and he took over as leader of the Temple there. At some point, Argilla, son of Kla, studied at the Temple to Zenethia in Endor where he met Bishop Rannyl. At some point after 2 Avedar 5A 351, Rannyl corresponded with High Matriarch Inkathu of the Queendom of Keeleon. Rannyl learned about the blocking of the light of Chedae, The Heaven's Light, in Tarteria, and learned about the recent posting of Godsguard Ankhan in the city of Porgorag. At some point before 9 Madaet 5A 352, Gertrude brought the flyer for the Santeem Republic aid caravan to Rannyl and requested to leave to Tarteria. Rannyl directed the faith's diviners to foresee if this could be related to Gertrude's visions.Campaign Two
Session 0.1 - The Provideniye
At some point before 9 Madaet 5A 352, Durak Hamarhart sent word to Rannyl and requested to meet him urgently in his office to discuss a matter of importance. On 9 Madaet 5A 352, Gertrude was summoned by Rannyl to his office. They discussed her request to travel to the Queendom of Keeleon. Rannyl believed that the time for why she was chosen by Chedae was now upon them. Rannyl believed Gertrude was meant to rekindle her light in Tarteria. In a formal manner, Rannyl granted Gertrude's request and released her to follow this path. He recited the tennants of Chedae to her and urged her to go and meet her fate. Then, more softly, he assured Gertrude that if she had not yet returned, he would "attend the ceremony for Lachlann" in her stead. He provided a sealed message for Godsguard Ankhan in Porgorag and asked Gertrude to deliver it. Rannyl and Gertrude embraced, and Gertrude sensed that Rannyl knew they may not meet again. Gertrude assured him that even if that would become the case, they would meet each other once more in the afterlife. Rannyl directed her to the portside gates, and she departed.Session 3 - Guildhalls and Churches
In the evening of 1 Adroth 5A 352, Gertrude introduced herself to Godsguard Ankhan and delivered the sealed message from Rannyl. Ankhan read the scroll and returned it to Gertrude.Session 28 - An Interrupted Meal
On 13 Adroth 5A 352, Gertrude contacted Rannyl with a Sending spell. She asked him to search for information he could find related to the Eight-Pronged Residuum Ring, as it could be related to world-ending plans from a group of genasi. Rannyl said her words were dire. He promised to search the Temple to Zenethia records and, if needed, the archives at the Temple to Morounin.Session 32 - To Paint a Phoenix
On 14 Adroth 5A 352, Rannyl searched the scriptures in the Temple of Zenethia. He contacted Gertrude by Sending spell and relayed information about a genasi seeking residuum in the wake of the Great War and his battle with Champion Rita in the Iron Range. Gertrude asked Rannyl about the genasi and the Prophets of Regression. She mentioned Red Lake and the beginning of darkness. Rannyl replied, “Scriptures say that that prophet that fought Rita pressed her hard in battle. The scriptures here say he’s immortal, I’m sure that’s hyperbole. Rita buried him in the rock the same way that the Champions eventually buried Esturk .” On 15 Adroth 5A 352, Rannyl searched The Decayed Tomes, which provided some cryptic information about the Severance, the Severance Siphons, and the Severance Keys, which he relayed to Gertrude. Gertrude thanked him and asked him to continue searching, knowing that ancient lore was very hard to find. She asked him to further research the siphons and keys, especially in regards to the Great Beasts and elemental founts. She also mentioned an unknown artist of unsigned paintings of the Great Beasts. The bishop replied, “Confirmed, Gertrude, I’ll try. Quote; ‘Great Beasts forged to quell the elements shall now be the guardians of the Severance’.” With the information that Rannyl was relaying, Gertrude could tell he seemed confused, as if this was all new information to him as well.Session 37 - Petals, Paintings, Pasts
In the very early morning of 17 Adroth 5A 352, Romsca asked Gertrude to ask Bishop Rannyl to watch over Romsca’s sister, Yeempa. Demitri suggested Rannyl try to stay safe as well. Gertrude said she would contact him as soon as she recovered her magic.Session 38 - The Prophets of Regression
In the morning of 17 Adroth 5A 352, Gertrude warned Rannyl about the Prophets of Regression and to guard the Flower of the King. Rannyl replied he would “put our best paladin on it.”Session 45 - The North Shore of Red Lake
In the late night of 23 Adroth 5A 352, Gertrude reached out to Rannyl after feeling nearly the last of Chedae's light leave her. She said, “Old friend, Chedae’s light is almost extinguished. I’m weighed down with despair. My life’s endeavor can’t be in vain. I can’t be too late. Help.” She received a reply from Rannyl in a slow and somber voice, “I wish I could be there… I know Bori wishes the same. Even if Chedae’s light is out of reach, it is still there, like a distant star…”Relationships
Gertrude Oathenhammer
Rannyl is one of Gertrude Oathenhammer's oldest friends, having been involved with her during much of her time with the faith. It was stated they spent many hours discussing matters of the faith together over the decades. Rannyl was familiar enough with Gertrude and her family to offer to attend the ceremony of her nephew, Lachlann, in her stead should she not return to Endor in time for it. Rannyl was also the minister set to preside over the wedding ceremony for Gertrude and her late fiancé, Bori. Uncharacteristically for Rannyl, he hugged Gertrude before she departed from his office. Rannyl thought very highly of Gertrude, which was seen in his letter to Godsguard Ankhan.Luyos
Rannyl was a guiding and caring person to Luyos as the young dragonborn grew up in the temple's orphanage. It was through Rannyl that Luyos was first able to leave the city and discover a love for the wilderness.Character Information
Quests
On 9 Madaet 5A 352, Rannyl released Gertrude Oathenhammer from her position in Endor, the First Mountain, which freed her to head to Tarteria in pursuit of a means to return the light of Chedae, The Heaven's Light. Rannyl charged her with this task and urged her to follow the tennants of the faith as she travelled.Notable Items
- Office of the Bishop: As the head of the Zenethian faith in Endor, Rannyl has access to the office of the bishop in the Temple to Zenethia.
- Woven Zenethian symbol: Hanging on the door to his office is a hand-woven outline of the Zenethian symbol. This was from a matron of Clan Grimsunder who had a personal relationship with the bishop.
Quotations
- "Your visions brought you to this faith, and now I feel the time has come. She has called you, for what purpose we cannot truly know until it is finally your time. But you must answer her." - 2.0.1
- "Better to work with the river than against it, where we can." - 2.3, in letter given to Godsguard Ankhan
- "Best of luck. Stay safe. Light guide you." - 2.28
- "Even if Chedae’s light is out of reach, it is still there, like a distant star." - 2.45
Character Type
Non-Player Character Actor
M.B.
Non-Player Character Actor
M.B.
Current Status
Alive
Current Location
Species
Age
Over 300
Date of Birth
Before 5A 052
Family
Children
Gender
Male