Wythir the Crowned

In the distant past, a kingdom of the Lost Isles rose to particular prominence under the rulership of a noble Human family by the name of Marone. The sire of the Marones had made a pact with Siroth, becoming a Demonspawn, and passed his link with the Shadow God down through the generations. The Marones were all-powerful within the island realm, and their rule was considered by most of their subjects to be harsh but fair. When King Marone bore a daughter, the island rejoiced, for in doing so he had secured the line of succession. He named the Demon-touched infant Wythir, and swore she would one day inherit the crown. This did not sit well with the king’s brother, Trenchard, who had long coveted the throne for himself. As was tradition, the king and queen eventually passed into Anathraad, leaving Wythir, who had just come of age, to rule. It was at this point that Trenchard made his move. He usurped Wythir on the day of her coronation and had her confined to the dungeons. Now, instead of a crown, she wore chains. Trenchard sought to assert his dominance over the island, but found he could not do so while Wythir lived. Many remained loyal to her, and so, Trenchard decided that simply imprisoning the princess was not enough. Taking up a dagger, he descended into the dungeons to finish the job. What he did not know was that, while she was confined, Wythir had reached out to Siroth. She claimed that Trenchard was not truly loyal to Anathraad, and pleaded for the chance to stop his usurpation. In exchange, she swore eternal allegiance to the Shadow God. Unwittingly, when Trenchard plunged his dagger into Wythir’s breast, he was conducting the sacrifice in a ceremony that would see him destroyed. As the seemingly fatal blow was struck, dark power coursed through Wythir. She broke the first of her bonds, then Trenchard’s neck. On that day, Siroth’s Demonspawn swept through the island, killing any loyal to Trenchard, and Wythir’s dark coronation was complete. Her head was crowned by a multitude of magnificent, wicked horns and the glowing blue spirit-light of Trenchard, which she was allowed to keep imprisoned for eternity. The knife that Trenchard sought to slay her with remained impaled within her chest, perhaps as a reminder of how close she came to oblivion, or as an eternal token of her renewed pact with the Shadow God. Wythir the Crowned ruled her island home for a long time, but eventually passed through to Anathraad, where she asserted herself as one of Siroth’s most favored followers. Maintaining a guise of perpetual youth, she cast herself in the role of Princess of Anathraad, and has even at times claimed to be Siroth’s future heir and inheritor. The Shadow God seems amused by this play, for he dotes on Wythir like a daughter and indulges her far more than almost any other Demonspawn, bar perhaps Cruetraxa, with whom she has a deep, bitter, though often well-concealed rivalry. Countless high-stationed Demonspawn look upon Wythir with envy, and whisper of how to topple her. While Wythir, like all Demonspawn, intends to have a part in ruling all of Teleria when Siroth’s dark plans are fully realized, it is said she particularly covets the Lost Isles. Her old kingdom fell long ago, but there are still some among the islanders who have distant memories of their Demonic overlords and claim that one day they will return. Wythir fully intends that to be the case. When she does enter Teleria, Wythir’s presence is a great inspiration for the many Demonspawn who buy into the favor she holds with Siroth. They fight hard for the crowned princess, believing that she will bestow boons and blessings on those who catch her eye. For her own part, Wythir rarely has to raise a finger, but when she does, her power is displayed in full, for only a fool would think a chosen child of Anathraad would be lacking in strength. In particular, she has the ability to inflict the pain of the dagger in her chest upon those who displease her with a mere gesture, cutting into their very souls. Perhaps one day she will remove the physical blade, but it is unlikely to be before she sits once more upon her island throne.