Dax the Doubter
MystaransProphecy Skeptic and Rationalist Philosopher
"A prophecy that cannot be tested is not knowledge. It is merely a claim dressed in mystery.""
Identity
- Residence
- The Academy of Questioning Minds
- Civilization
- Mystarans
Appearance
• Physical: Dax is average in every way—deliberately so, as he believes standing out encourages irrational thinking. He keeps himself neat and unremarkable, with practical clothing and sensible hair. • Clothing: He wears the gray robes of the Academy, unadorned and functional. He carries no jewelry or decorative items, believing them distractions from clear thinking. • Distinguishing Marks: His eyes are sharp and analytical, constantly assessing and evaluating. He has ink stains on his fingers from constant writing.
Relationships
- Family - Estranged from his seer family who consider him an embarrassment
- Allies - Other skeptics and rationalists; scholars who value evidence over tradition
- Rivals - Traditional seers who see him as a threat; religious leaders who rely on prophecy authority
Personality
- Traits: Intellectual, genuinely committed to truth, socially awkward, surprisingly passionate about his beliefs
- Mannerisms: Asks probing questions, takes notes constantly, becomes animated when discussing logic, avoids eye contact during emotional conversations
- Voice: Precise and measured, with a tendency to sound like he's delivering a lecture
Backstory
Dax was raised in a family of powerful seers but never developed the gift himself. Instead of accepting this as a deficiency, he began questioning whether prophecy was truly reliable. His research led him to found the Academy of Questioning Minds, dedicated to studying prophecy through scientific methods. He's become the most prominent skeptic in Mystara, arguing that many prophecies are self-fulfilling or misinterpreted.
Daily Life
He teaches classes on critical thinking, conducts research on prophecy accuracy rates, and writes treatises on rationalist philosophy. He debates seers publicly and maintains a network of correspondents who share data on prophecy outcomes. His evenings are spent reviewing case studies and refining his theories.
Secret
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Story Hooks
- 1 Dax has collected evidence of a prophecy conspiracy and needs help exposing it before it causes harm
- 2 His research has accidentally attracted the attention of something that doesn't want its prophecies questioned