High Keeper Prysma

The largest of the Arbiter’s vaults in Aravia is protected by High Keeper Prysma. He has performed this duty since the end of the First Great War, upon being gifted a spear and shield of pure light by the Arbiter, weapons she herself crafted. Though Prysma has many servants, none know his identity. Many have hoped to be appointed by him as a successor, but none ever have. Prysma always endures. It is said by some of his warriors that should the light of his divine weapons ever fade, he will die, his vault will be stormed by Demonspawn, and Aravia itself will be destroyed for good. Little do they know how right they are in one regard. The Arbiter’s gifts have preserved Prysma for far longer than an ordinary Elf’s lifespan. There is more to Prysma’s gifts and capabilities than a unique spear and shield. He is a preternatural luminancer. Without such skills, he could never unleash the full incredible potential of his crystalline wargear: to him, light itself is a weapon to be unleashed on the forces of Darkness and any other threats to his vault. Prysma can brighten his spear and shield to such a degree their light sizzles a foe’s retinas to ash or sets cloth and wool aflame. In the chaos this causes, he and his allies dance around their blinded and distracted foes with ease, driving blades into exposed flesh or weak points in armor. In contrast, he can snuff out enemies’ torches at will, bathing them in sudden darkness. By constantly restoring or putting out light he can disorientate and frustrate his foes, even make them vomit. Prysma has driven any a would-be interloper with these powers, without them ever knowing what was truly happening. Prysma’s skills are far more nuanced still. He can bend luminescence to his whim for any purpose. With a gesture of his hand or spear, he can make it appear to a foe he is standing elsewhere, or that there are two or more of him or his comrades. Perhaps his most potent ability is to ‘lightmark’ a target. This method of tracking is something only powerful mages could even begin to detect. Prysma imprints a symbol of invisible and all but otherwise undetectable light on a foe which he, or permitted servants, can follow from miles away. In this way, should Prysma be operating far from his vault, he can give the guardians in situ an early warning of attack. Furthermore, should an enemy pierce the vault’s wards and escape — something that has yet to happen — they would not travel far with their ill-gotten prize. Prysma needs every ounce of his power to protect his vault, the Cavern of Mirrored Stone, named for the walls of obsidian and polished granite in its most important sanctums. Within, thanks to the Arbiter’s magic, the tunnels and corridors and halls have immensely more room than the physical space they occupy should be able to. In this way the Cavern is home to hundreds of Vault Keepers and their guards and servants, as well as thousands of Shards, relics, and tomes. Its location in Aravia is secret even to the highest echelons of the royal family and their inner circles, close enough to the capital for protection but far enough away to avoid detection. There is no single entrance but many, and each is so cleverly disguised by magic as well as physical design that one could stand around them searching for hours, completely oblivious. The world has no idea what Prysma and the Cavern protect. Each of its Shards contains the soul of a great Telerian hero, mostly Elves. Should Prysma command it, Athefin Goldblade, a legendary commander of the Royal Whitemanes could ride to war once again. Ellisar Silvertongue, the finest orator ever produced by Elvenkind, could regale court and tavern alike with sublimely told tales of glory and, in the process, reaffirm Aravian pride for generations. Another example is Nylathria of the Waves, a hydromancer of such potence she once single-handedly diverted a typhoon that would have destroyed much of Aravia’s north-west coast into frozen outlying islands of the Winterlands. Prysma’s talents and centuries of dedication inspire impeccable loyalty from the Vault Keepers and others who serve him. He is also renowned among his peers, those responsible for vaults around Teleria. The Dwarf Uvrilda Slowspeak, Keeper of the Cyan Mountain, never fails to give an otherwise rare, sagely nod when Prysma’s name arises in conversation or news. Even the Fae Monoka Ungal, Keeper of the Burrow Mycelia which she has kept secret and safe in the heart of the Stormwind Wastes, describes him as ‘nigh on peerless’. Should Prysma ever need a successor, it is a great reputation indeed they will need to uphold.