Vylona Gilranor
Trained in the Temple of Twilight Dreams since her early childhood, Vylona Gilranor knew very little beyond the quiet discipline and contemplations of an acolyte of the Temple - until her dreams began to warn of impending danger. Since that time thirty years ago, she has traveled Cartyrion to seek out Half-Elves open to the messages and will of the Two Dreamers. She finds them, trains them extensively in unarmed combat and defense, and sends them into the world.
Her last instruction to her students is for them to make their way to the Temple, though she does not tell them where it is. For the Two have told her this is how it must be done. Her students will fight the darkness as they find their own way. And when the time comes, and the might of the Temple is needed, it will be ready - despite the complacency of the Grandmaster.
Her last instruction to her students is for them to make their way to the Temple, though she does not tell them where it is. For the Two have told her this is how it must be done. Her students will fight the darkness as they find their own way. And when the time comes, and the might of the Temple is needed, it will be ready - despite the complacency of the Grandmaster.
Yes, Master Aliatru... the Grandmaster is wise, but the Grandmaster is complacent. He has lived in the peace and quiet of the Temple for too long. The world is changing... the Imprisoned Ones are getting stronger... and we hide here perfecting forms and stances while discussing the nuanced meaning of color in a dream. The Two have made it clear to me... somebody must be out in the world preparing it for the troubles ahead.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
At first glance, Vylona appears to be a slender, and perhaps even frail young woman, but a more careful examination reveals this to not be the case. Her usual flowing sleeves and loose-fitting robes hide a well-muscled and well-toned body. Watching her move reveals agility and strength. And a deeper look into her eyes reveals a wisdom that only comes from years of experience.
Facial Features
Vylona presents two distinctive facial features typical of almost all Half-elves. Her ears are the long, swept-back, pointed ears suggestive of an Elf, though they are not as long as a full Elf's ears would be. Her eyes are large and almond-shaped; again not as severe as a full Elf's eyes relative to those of a Human. The ice-blue color of those eyes is a hue never seen among Humans.
Special abilities
Vylona's martial training makes her a formidable melee combatant, and her clerical training at the temple has given her the ability to call upon the Alevar goddess Aurelana or the Humanar god Somnion for divine energies to cast spells.
Apparel & Accessories
Vylona is typically dressed in loose-fitting robes made of light, silky material. Loose sleeves end about halfway down the forearm. A Simple white cord of bleached braided cotton forms a belt from which a few small cloth pouches hang. When on the road, a larger, flat leather pouch is also hung from the belt, and a thin but sturdy straight staff of smooth ash is in her hand.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Vylona was born to two Half-Elven parents. It has been said that her rare half-elven heritage of having grandparents that represented both male and female of both "pure" races made her particularly susceptible to the favor of the Two Dreamers. When this favor began to manifest at a very young age, her parents decided that the gods had something important in mind for their daughter.
She was brought to the Temple of Twilight Dreams at the age of 5 to began her life and training as an Acolyte. By the age of 15 - five years faster than most her age - she achieved recognition as an Adept and began training the youngest of new acolytes. A the age of 20, she completed the devotions and training needed to achieve recognition as a Priestess. But she remained at the Temple, sheltered from the world.
At the age of 30, her dreams - those regular communes with Aurelana and Somnion - began to change. Visions of pockets of darkness growing all across Cartyrion haunted her nights. Visions of flame and fire destroying the old Forests of the Elves and the great Cities of Humans tormented her. But when one night, she dreamt of the Temple itself devastated and in ruins, she brought her dreams to the Grandmaster of the Temple. He too was having similar dreams; that Vylona was also being spoken to in this way by the Two suggested that she was important to them. To recognize this, she was titled as a Dreamspeaker - the youngest ever to achieve this position in the Temple's ten thousand year history.
The dreams continued. Vylona, the Grandmaster, and the other temple Masters spoke of them often. But the others either did not know what to do, or had determined that since the Two were showing them these disasters and not explicitly suggesting a defense, these things were inevitable, and pointless to fight.
Vylona did not agree. She pleaded with the Grandmaster to take some action. But no action was forthcoming. Finally, Somnion appeared to her directly in a dream, and spoke three simple words. These words would drive Vylona from that point to the present day.
The words were "Raise an army."
She left the Temple the next day, and for the past 30 years or so, she has traveled first through the Old Kingdoms, and more recently through the Frontier Lands in search of Half-Elven students susceptible to the messages of the Two Dreamers and willing to learn the ways of the Temple. She trains three or four at a time; when they are ready, she sends them out to fight the rising darkness and moves on. Her goal is not an army of great numbers, but rather a well-prepared elite, striking wherever it is needed.
As a Dreamspeaker, it is her right to elevate an Acolyte to Adept status, and as her students prove themselves worthy, she has been doing so. But as these are the first Adepts in the ten thousand year history of the temple to have been raised to this status outside the Temple walls, it is unclear what reception they will receive when they begin showing up there as Vylona directed them to do.
She was brought to the Temple of Twilight Dreams at the age of 5 to began her life and training as an Acolyte. By the age of 15 - five years faster than most her age - she achieved recognition as an Adept and began training the youngest of new acolytes. A the age of 20, she completed the devotions and training needed to achieve recognition as a Priestess. But she remained at the Temple, sheltered from the world.
At the age of 30, her dreams - those regular communes with Aurelana and Somnion - began to change. Visions of pockets of darkness growing all across Cartyrion haunted her nights. Visions of flame and fire destroying the old Forests of the Elves and the great Cities of Humans tormented her. But when one night, she dreamt of the Temple itself devastated and in ruins, she brought her dreams to the Grandmaster of the Temple. He too was having similar dreams; that Vylona was also being spoken to in this way by the Two suggested that she was important to them. To recognize this, she was titled as a Dreamspeaker - the youngest ever to achieve this position in the Temple's ten thousand year history.
The dreams continued. Vylona, the Grandmaster, and the other temple Masters spoke of them often. But the others either did not know what to do, or had determined that since the Two were showing them these disasters and not explicitly suggesting a defense, these things were inevitable, and pointless to fight.
Vylona did not agree. She pleaded with the Grandmaster to take some action. But no action was forthcoming. Finally, Somnion appeared to her directly in a dream, and spoke three simple words. These words would drive Vylona from that point to the present day.
The words were "Raise an army."
She left the Temple the next day, and for the past 30 years or so, she has traveled first through the Old Kingdoms, and more recently through the Frontier Lands in search of Half-Elven students susceptible to the messages of the Two Dreamers and willing to learn the ways of the Temple. She trains three or four at a time; when they are ready, she sends them out to fight the rising darkness and moves on. Her goal is not an army of great numbers, but rather a well-prepared elite, striking wherever it is needed.
As a Dreamspeaker, it is her right to elevate an Acolyte to Adept status, and as her students prove themselves worthy, she has been doing so. But as these are the first Adepts in the ten thousand year history of the temple to have been raised to this status outside the Temple walls, it is unclear what reception they will receive when they begin showing up there as Vylona directed them to do.
Education
Vylona's earliest training, beginning at the age of 5, were in formalized martial arts associated with unarmed combat and defense. She has mastered many skills in these areas, learning various stances and forms that took inspiration from nature and the elements. She was extremely dedicated to her studies, and achieved the title of Adept years ahead of others that entered the Temple with her.
As an Adept, she continued her martial training, but also began to train new Acolytes. At the same time, her studies shifted more to the religious. Since entering the Temple, she had been taught about the Alevar and Humanar, but now her studies focused specifically on Aurelana and Somnion and the devotional techniques most effective in ensuring that she would be open to the messages of the Two delivered while she slept. Again, her enthusiasm, dedication, and drive manifest; she was made a Priestess at the age of 20. As a Priestess, she was not not only a formidable opponent in physical combat with or without weapons, but she was also able to seek the divine blessings of the Two in the form of Spellcasting.
As an Adept, she continued her martial training, but also began to train new Acolytes. At the same time, her studies shifted more to the religious. Since entering the Temple, she had been taught about the Alevar and Humanar, but now her studies focused specifically on Aurelana and Somnion and the devotional techniques most effective in ensuring that she would be open to the messages of the Two delivered while she slept. Again, her enthusiasm, dedication, and drive manifest; she was made a Priestess at the age of 20. As a Priestess, she was not not only a formidable opponent in physical combat with or without weapons, but she was also able to seek the divine blessings of the Two in the form of Spellcasting.
Vylona Gilranor
If you do not sleep, you cannot dream. If you do not dream, you cannot learn. If you do not learn, you cannot achieve.
Ethnicity
Age
61
Date of Birth
26th day of the Time of Elidia's River
Children
Gender
Female
Eyes
Slightly almond-shaped (as an elf), ice-blue pupils
Hair
Long, sleek, silvery white
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale white, blemishless
Height
5'10" (1.78m)
Weight
125lbs (56.7kg)
Aligned Organization
Remember... if you have learned to defend yourself without the benefit of iron plate, and if you have learned to deal with your foes without the benefit of blade or bow, then you are always ready for battle - and you will never be taken by surprise.
Vylona is such a compelling character. I really enjoyed reading this!