Thexan

Voronov

Thexan Voronov is the son of Prince Eli Voronov, and half-brother of Arcaan.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Thexan and his half-brother Arcaan were the children of the ruling nobility, a prince named Eli Voronov. Prince Eli's wife had an affair with one of the estate's half-orc slaves. When Arcaan was born, Eli immediately had the child taken away by the house staff. According to the prince and the rest of the house staff, the child's mother died due to complications during childbirth. But the child was allowed to survive. However, well into his teens, Arcaan was never allowed to set foot beyond the estate's walls.
Thexan loved his brother despite their obvious differences. They both shared a love of knowledge. Arcaan and Thexan were educated and aspired for greatness. Thexan was an inventor and artificer, using arcane training to infuse items with magical powers. Arcaan was also trained in the arcane arts but never fully pursued them until he discovered the ability to blend martial and arcane talents.
Looking to gain an edge over the surrounding regions of the River Kingdoms and wishing to shore up the defenses of his city-state, Price Eli sent Thexan to study with Kaitos Blackmoor, a man making waves in the arcane community with his Runetech.
Thexan studied under Blackmoor's guidance for many years, making several developments of his own. When Blackmoor left on a personal matter, Thexan continued his research back home. He consulted his father's library, searching for ancient runes that he could use to elevate his machinations. Prince Eli was fascinated with what Thexan had done and rewarded his eldest son by presenting him with pages Eli had inscribed from a powerful book of forbidden knowledge, the Tome of the Black Heart. Those pages contained plans for a pair of gauntlets written in infernal, inspiring Thexan to continue with the creation. He forged the spellhammer gauntlets. Arcaan was anxious to try them. Thexan was curious as well, so Arcaan put them on. He could channel his arcane power into the gauntlets, performing various effects.
However, Arcaan was unable to take them off. Thexan tried to find a way to break the curse that kept the gauntlets on his brother, even going so far as to contact drow allies steeped in ancient magic. One did claim to be able to help, but Arcaan would have to come with them. Thexan knew his brother would never leave alone, so he had Arcaan captured and taken away.
The absence of Arcaan only made Thexan's guilt worse. His father was thrilled with the development, not knowing (or caring) the true circumstances behind his bastard son's abduction. But Thexan threw himself into his research, developing many items his father could use to protect the city-state. So engrossed in his research, Thexan failed to notice his father gradually slipping more and more into madness. By the time he saw parts of the city-state cleared and the construction of a giant obelisk, Thexan feared it was too late to reason with his father. Eli assured him that it wasn't the corruption from his demonic hands. He had been spoken to and would ascend to his rightful place among the gods.
Thexan's response? He simply went back to his laboratory and continued his work.

Education

Thexan received education from private tutors, some even from as far away as the Arcanamirium in Absalom. His exposure to runetech from Kaitos Blackmoor opened up a new avenue of research for him, one that he pours every waking hour into.

Mental Trauma

Thexan has feared his father since he was a small child. He's convinced his father killed his mother, and when Eli went off on a personal quest, Thexan felt relief. Eli returned with a powerful magical book, and his hands were replaced by those belonging to a powerful demon lord. Eli's confidence and power grew, as did his savagery. He had his brother kidnapped and placed in slavery for two reasons. One, he hoped Arcaan would be freed of the cursed gauntlets that he wore. Two, Thexan knew Eli would no longer want Arcaan dead. Fear and guilt drive Thexan's research. It is an escape for him. The more his apparently immortal father devolves into decadence and debauchery, and the more things become chaotic around him, the more he retreats into his research.