AELWYN STAR-GAZER
AerielsGrand Astronomer of the Celestial Spire
"The stars do not lie. It is our interpretation that falters.""
Identity
- Residence
- The Obsidian Observatory, Caelum
- Civilization
- Aeriels
Appearance
• Physical: Towering even by Aeriel standards with plumage that has shifted from youthful azure to dignified silver-white. His eyes, once the bright gold of a young hawk, have dulled to a soft amber that seems to hold the light of distant stars. His wing feathers are meticulously preened and adorned with tiny crystal fragments that catch moonlight. • Clothing: Wears the traditional deep indigo robes of the Grand Astronomer, embroidered with silver constellations that shift and rearrange themselves to match the current night sky. A circlet of cloud-crystal rests upon his brow, marking his rank among the Star-Speakers. • Distinguishing Marks: Three parallel scars across his left cheek from a lightning strike during a prophetic trance fifty years ago. His talons are stained permanently silver from handling star-metal instruments.
Relationships
- Family - His mate Sylvara died 89 years ago; he has never taken another. His daughter Seraphina serves as a diplomat to the ground-dwelling races, a choice he quietly supports though it worries him.
- Allies - The Council of Clouds respects his counsel even when they fear it. Young astronomer Kaelith sees him as a mentor.
- Rivals - Archmage Virelian of the Stormcallers believes prophecy is an unreliable crutch that makes Aeriels passive.
Personality
- Traits: Methodical, patient to the point of maddening, quietly compassionate, burdened by knowledge
- Mannerisms: Hums ancient celestial harmonies when deep in thought, clicks his beak three times before speaking any prophecy, compulsively arranges objects in patterns matching star formations
- Voice: A soft, resonant baritone that seems to echo slightly, as if speaking from a great distance. He never raises his voice, which makes his rare moments of urgency all the more striking.
Backstory
Aelwyn has served as Grand Astronomer for nearly two centuries, longer than any before him. As a young scholar, he foresaw the Great Sky Quake that nearly shattered the eastern archipelago, but his warnings were dismissed until too late. The guilt of that failure drives his relentless pursuit of accuracy in all predictions. He has watched generations of Aeriels rise and fall while he remains, anchored to his duty by the weight of what he knows.
Daily Life
His days begin three hours before dawn when he climbs to the highest platform of the Obsidian Observatory to greet the first light. He spends twelve hours recording celestial movements, consulting with junior astronomers, and updating the Great Star-Charts. Evenings are devoted to meditation and the interpretation of prophetic visions that come unbidden during sleep.
Secret
Aelwyn has foreseen his own death in precise detail - it will occur during the Convergence of Seven Moons, seventeen years from now. He has told no one, not even written it in his private journals, terrified that knowledge of the future might somehow alter it and unleash catastrophe.
Story Hooks
- 1 Aelwyn has detected a disturbance in the celestial patterns that suggests a falling star will strike a major ground settlement. He needs trustworthy agents to travel below and evacuate the area without revealing the source of the warning.
- 2 His prophetic visions have begun showing him fragments of a future where the Aeriels descend from the sky to rule the world below - a future he desperately wants to prevent but cannot see how to avoid.
Narrative Value
Aelwyn serves as a quest-giver for prophecy-related adventures and a source of cryptic guidance. He can provide warnings of future dangers but always in riddles that require interpretation. His moral struggle with predetermined fate versus free will offers rich roleplay opportunities. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════