Deskest

Deskest is a half-blooded nomad, fisherman, merchant, librarian, oracle and lord of the Second High Kingdom of Daelyria, serving as the Lord of Islerion and the Archon of the Crownlands.

Biology
Deskest is the son of Miksa Silverhand, a silver blooded man who gained celestial abilities as an 'Angel of Vhagar' after a near death experience. This has resulted in a unique half-blooded biology.

As a half angel, something Deskest calls a 'Vhagarian Nephilite', he has a small number of supernatural elements in his biology. While no where near the amount of abilities as his celestial father, his unique ancestry has granted him one certain gift. That of immortality.

Deskest has lived for decades, and will live for decades more, will never age and will always recover from his wounds given enough time. However, each time his heart stops beating and his silver blood begins its revival process, he wakes up in his bed without his past life's memories. While the recovery of his old possessions can spark recollection, a portion of his memories will always remain forgotten.

Beginnings
Old Man Desk was a nomad for most of his life. He travelled from town to city across Rathnir, searching out the best sights and landmarks across the lands. When he grew old, he came across Duskopion, a city in the then-called nation of Daelyria.

This was a new experience for him, as unlike the other lands he'd travelled to there were people here. He was greeted at its gates by Dusk Synderys and asked if he had come seeking a home. While it hadn't been his plan he accepted the offer and settled down in the city, becoming a fisherman by trade and setting up a market to sell his wares. He lived out the rest of his days in this way, fishing peacefully on the river next to his home.

The Merchant of Duskopion
It is for this reason that Deskest's childhood remains a mystery to him. His earliest recollection is that of fishing near "Old Man Desk's Fishing Hut", a figure he believed was his father for some time. From this he began a life of a merchant, first by selling his fished goods at the old fish shop, then by expanding into the melon, bread and cookie markets.

While trading in the city he came across Icyduck, a citizen also involved in the market, and they became friends over their shared goals of conquering the food sector. It was after Deskest defended him in a murder trial that he was introduced to Icyduck's father Miksa Silverhand. While neither recognized each other, Miksa became interested in his achievements as a merchant and suggested he visit Miksa's ocean city of Islerion, as he was at the time organizing a national caravan merchant project. It was during this visit that Deskest found that he recognized the area, his birthplace triggering long buried memories. Miksa finally came to the same realization, and there was much celebrating as the heir of the Silverhands and Islerion's throne had been found.

Revolution
During the Halond revolution Deskest was devastated by his father's betrayal. He publicly denounced his actions and worked with Miksa's father, Dusk, on stopping the rebellion. When peace was finally declared after weeks of tension, Miksa fled his city with its gold and valuables, leaving the Silverhand family in a crisis and Deskest on Islerion's throne. He quickly contacted his citizens, attempting to catalogue what had been lost and scraping together enough money to help his city survive the coming days. However, with Miksa gone the Silverhand family shattered, and Islerion's citizens fled to safer areas, leaving the city to fall into ruin.

Islerion's Collapse
Deskest then spent the rest of his days in despair, wandering through the ruins and attempting to piece back together or recover some way of knowing how to return the former "richest city in Daelyria" back to its former glory.

Until one day, in a drunken stupor, he made the mistake of taunting a nearby group of bandits while wandering the surrounding wilderness. After being chased back into the safety of Islerion's walls, he locked himself in the top of Islerion Castle's tower and, mortally wounded, launched into a mad rant, calling the Silverhands cursed and all but dead, and Islerion a lost cause. Falling into hysterics, he climbed on top of the tower and detonated TNT he had stolen prior, blowing himself up along with the tower's tip. The bandits shortly left thereafter, realising the city had lost any valuables long ago.

The Ocean Hermit
After recovering from this death, Deskest began life as a hermit, living peacefully in 'Silver Hut' and paying no attention to his abandoned city and ruined family. Thanks to his new habit of keeping journals, he began this life well aware of his nature and the events of his past, and used this to live comfortably off the profits his old Duskopion food shops provided.

Ascension to Spymaster
In this way he lived throughout multiple periods of Daelyrian, Arcovelian and Aestyrian history, until he witnessed first hand the atrocities committed during the Dixieland Massacre. The violence and disorder provoked him to write his first book: 'A Witness Account of the Dixieland Massacre', describing the events of the attack, and being his first foray into historiography. This, along with the upcoming national elections, ended his time as an ocean hermit and he threw himself back into the international scene.

He very quickly won his election into the high council as Master of Whisperers, using his previous experience in spywork from the revolution to win votes. After ascending to power, he worked with Dusk's already existing spy network to various ends and accomplishments, most of which will remain under wraps due to their sensitive nature.

During this period, Deskest was also given leadership of a squad in the newly-reformed military. While he remained uninterested in military rank or status, he eventually grew to care for his squadmates and organized various training sessions as well as new training methods tailored to his squad's focus on archery.

The End of the Whisperer
As the time of Aestyria came to a close, with the establishment of VAK (later renamed Mithra), Deskest lost his official position as Master of Whisperers as the governments of three nations combined. He remained in contact with the new Master of Whisperers and continued operating in enemy territories as a spy, a task that took up much of his time and required a complete rework of his daily life to maintain his cover. These assignments away from his city and his work in literature slowly took its toll on him, but his tasks were deemed as too essential for his complete ejection from spywork. This, along with the disbandment of the Aestyrian military and therefore his squad, resulted in a disconnect from the new nation's order and he realised that when he finally returned to the nation it would look very different to how it was when he first arrived.

This culminated in the choice to sabotage his current assignment, leaking his identity to the nation's authorities and arranging his imprisonment and eventual execution. In this way, the tasks accomplished in the field can remain safely in secret, and he was now free to pursue his plans in his city.

Ocean Hermit Part 2
After remerging from this most recent death, Deskest returned to his hermit lifestyle. But this time with purpose, spending his days gathering and studying his journals and blueprints, as well as adding his own.

Throughout these texts, an idea was clearly inscribed. That of a city of scholars and librarians in the sky, their interests and work unaffected and unbiased by any of the politics and turmoil that constantly engulfed these kingdoms. From his hermit home in Islerion's ruins he planned its grand revival, and constructed the grand Islerion tower at the newly named Silver Isle.

During the process of its construction, Deskest came across lazulite, a purified form of lapis lazuli that heightened its innate magical power and gave it many new properties. Most notably, it possesses the ability to float, and reduces the mass of other objects in close proximity. This became the primary method for raising the sky islands that make up Upper Islerion.

Mithra's Fall
Meanwhile, Mithra was slowly approaching a violent end point due to the Mithran Thone Crisis, resulting in multiple new kings in the span of a few days, an event that lead to tensions both within the government and on the world stage exploding into conflict. Alamayn's leadership took this opportunity to declare their independence, splitting the country literally in half.

This, along with the worsening tensions with Bardonia over various border and land disputes, had a severe impact on their global reputation, as many previous crimes and complications with players and rulers long gone were once again brought to new light. Mithra, fresh from their exit from the weakened Zamots Union, slowly found themselves alone against the world, as allies quietly closed communications and declared their neutrality.

Not even the return of Miksa, complete with reparations for his old crimes, and his ascension as the newest king could save the country's decline. A decisive battle was fought against Alamayn, where Mithran attackers smashed against an impenetrable defense, and, with its soldiers weak and retreating, a raid was launched on the city of Frostarch. The land was ransacked by rebel forces, completely overrunning the unprepared citizens and completely robbing its valuables all in front of its founder and leader: Alpha Kaerfels, a man Deskest had huge respect for after his efforts to reshape the flawed military. This incident was the final blow to Mithra, and in the face of global war and a crumbling country, Mithra surrendered to Bardonian vassalization.

Formation of House Hystrix
As his last act in the nation of Mithra, Deskest took the opportunity to begin his plan by forming a new noble house: House Hystrix, the last noble house of Mithra, and the last breath of the old Daelyrian ruling systems. And as Bardonian officials arrived and the military was dissolved, Deskest joined in the farewells to the old times for good.

At this moment, he stated what would come to be called 'The Mithran Christmas Prophecy": "By next Christmas Mithra will be restored to its former glory. I watched bardonia explode once before, I will remain to watch it happen again. And when it does, we will rise from its ashes and return to our homes."

With this, Deskest decided he would no longer separate his history by deaths, as thanks to his journals he could now begin each life with the recollections of his past, preventing alternate identities from forming. He descended into his chambers in Islerion, where he cemented this decision by formally resetting his memories himself by his own blade in what he believed would be his final death.

Bardonian Occupation
The collapse of Mithra led to many changes throughout the country. A temporary government made up of mostly Bardonians from the state of Kyydrosil was put in place while they assisted in rebuilding Mithra's government systems. All Mithran members of the aristocracy were stripped of their titles and ranks, with princes, high lords and kings being counted amongst the common citizens. It was a full reset of the continent, and  many old citizens felt like they had lost too much to continue. However, Deskest believed in the prophecy, and simply waited for the inevitable.

And less than a month after Mithra's collapse, Bardonia followed suit, shattering into many states and a military order. However, there were already too many changes put in place for Mithrans to go back to their previous country, and instead a new nation was formed of both Mithrans and Kyydrosilians: The Helmian Federation.

The Federation
Deskest was initially hesitant to welcome the new rule, but after a mix of citizens from both sides took roles in the government, and a ruling council was implemented to replace the monarchy, he came to respect its rule. This was helped by an impromptu tournament, where he and a group of Kyydrosilians were locked in a series of death traps and left to survive until one remained, an event known later as the 'Crab Games'. Although the nature of this game was deadly, the experience became a moment of bonding between Deskest and the others, leading to a sense of comradery with his new countrymen.

However, this relative peace was not long lasting. Rebels led by followers of the Domus from the old days of the Halond Revolution returned, furious with the country's fate and the ex-Bardonian citizens. Half of the Helmian states split from the loyalists, and with battle lines drawn the rebellion was quickly underway.

Daelyria Day
Deskest spent this time fortifying cities and preparing for the inevitable, until members of the old Daelyrian aristocracy declared a celebratory festival for Daelyria Day, the anniversary of the old nation's founding. While the war brewed on the outside, the citizens of old gathered to bury the old founder King Unburnt, the first casualty of what became the Thone Crisis.

After the burial a church service was held, and in the halls of the Draconist church in Frostarch, Deskest was given the title of Preadaryn. His future sight, revealed in his prophecy, was determined to be a draconist gift by the gods, and he was gifted a Preadaryn Key, an artefact signifying his authority in the faith.

Following this, the group moved to Shamrock Inn, where there was drink and song and celebration. However, this was simply a calm before the ultimate storm. Every person in the room knew that if the rebels won, the few freedoms given to them by the Federation may be stripped forever, given to people who's crimes and hubris had led to the world's turn against Mithra.

The Battle of Illerya
As the war began to break out, any hope that, like the previous revolution, peace would be declared before any violence were dashed. Tensions that had existed for lifetimes and had outlived nations were finally boiling over and would not be stopped this time. In Illerya a giant defensive wall was constructed, and the city was fully evacuated and fortified. This would be the site of the decisive battle, and Deskest arrived to assist the defense, his first battle since the Dixieland Massacre.

As battle began, the walls were quickly breached, and while the defenders held their positions to the last man, a gap in the defenses opened by an explosive charge led to the walls being overrun from behind. Reinforcements were met with sabotage and were unable to arrive to assist as the armoury was detonated by a traitor, and the defenders realized they were vastly outnumbered, with a retreat declared. As the walls fell, Deskest fought with his comrades until they were each overrun, finally being stabbed and left to fall to his death, pushed to the very edge of the walls. The battle was lost, and Illerya fell.

End of the Federation
The battle was a colossal blow to morale, despite a simultaneous and successful raid on the rebel city of Meteora, there was little hope for the loyalists. The next day, Maekar Blackfyre, son of the old king, declared the state of the Crownlands would join the rebellion in exchange for the safety of his city. Following this, the remnants of the ruling council put forth their surrender, being abandoned by most of their states. The Domus rebels swept in and quickly took control of the nation, swords ready to spill Kyydrosilian blood.

But they were nowhere to be found, having fled to neighbouring countries when the surrender was declared. The offer was given to the remainder of the loyalists, to join them in exile, but they remained. They would had lived under the rule of the enemy before, and the few that remained knew the rule of tyrants never last.

Corrupted Resurrection
Deskest's revival from this particular death was more turbulent than most. After awakening in the ruins of Illerya, Deskest slowly found his way back to Islerion's construction site, but without his journals to help his new life, he found a different source of guidance. His abilities of precognition came with voices in his mind, and in the ruins of Illerya he listened to them and let them in for help.

He then took shelter in the under-construction Sacrarium, documenting the information the voices would tell him and delving deeper and deeper into his future sight, replacing his old texts with new, dark journals of abyssal words and forbidden knowledge.

The Dominate of Helmia
Meanwhile, under Domus rule, the kingdom was experiencing the biggest loss of older citizens, the takeover by what many considered to be old enemies was too much to handle for some. However for most, the Domus were seen as somewhat familiar, as these new rulers were called old friends at one time. When an old enemy from ancient times returned, Lightfish, his past crimes pardoned by the new rule, the reaction was not that of fear and anger, but of a welcome surprisingly warm.

Deskest joined this welcome and the reunion was overall pleasant, despite the words said and conflicts born between the two sides, they greeted each other as old friends, tensions melting away at the excitement of an old Daelyria finally united once more.

The Domus Schism
Unfortunately, those that live by the sword are fated to die by the sword. After a mere month of Domus rule, internal fighting and a schism in the faith led to the new ruling party abandoning the nation in the night. Helmians woke one day to the sound of an empty capital and an empty throne, King Murad Demus having died from intense defecation in the night. The Domus rulers had vanished, taking all trace of what may have started their fatal infighting with them.

In its place, the old ruling families and what remained of the Helmian citizens gathered together, and Maekar Blackfyre stepped forward to assume kingship. No one stepped forward to argue, they all knew what his ascension would mean. The Kingdom of Daelyria had returned.

Daelyria's Return
The return of Daelyria was greeted with jubilation by some, and by grudging acceptance by others. The old ways were returning, for the better or worse. Deskest was in attendance at the coronation, and participated in the second Wyrmpit tournament, a national championship returning after being held in indefinite hiatus since the fall of Mithra.

The Oracle's Quest
During this time however, Deskest's mind was slowly becoming more and more fractured, documented by his time as the draconist Oracle. His predictions, while at first benevolent and informative, gradually degraded into a mess of visions of hellish futures and insanity. This event was known as the Oracle Quest, and many readers of Deskest's old prophecies joined a nation-wide hunt to uncover the mysteries surrounding the Oracle and these new prophecies.

The quest eventually revealed the true state of Deskest's mind: Years ago he had come into contact with a fractured portal within a walled-off "containment zone" and used it to escape a group of attacking bandits. Through the portal he encountered a realm of entities beyond anything he had seen or heard of, and in this moment one of these entities unknowingly entered his mind. This otherworldly connection was the source of his voices and visions, but was now attempting to fully assimilate his mind.

Deskest noticed that he was already losing control, his body being possessed in his sleep for unknown actions, and left messages in an attempt to guide others to the truth. Unfortunately, this separate, malicious entity now calling itself the Oracle, took steps to disrupt the quest and stopped Deskest's messages from getting through, leading to the readers being unable to stop its plans in the end.

The Sacrifice of the Deskest Collective
As the Oracle began to use Deskest's body to open a permanent portal to its home dimension, Deskest activated his last trump card: He regained control of his body just long enough to run to his chambers and recover several key items: Old Man Desk's fishing rod, Lord Silverhand's ceremonial trident, the Master of Whisperers' spyglass, Desk's first successfully purified lazulite piece and Deskest Hystrix's first journal.

These key items were a failsafe, kept securely stored in the event that Deskest would need an older memory back. Touching them all simultaneously and instantly triggered the recollection of every memory across his centuries of life, reviving his old selves. This immediately overloaded his mind as the amount of beings possessing his body more than tripled.

Each Deskest had a moment to greet each other and say their goodbyes, before wiping out the otherworldly threat together, almost as one. The portal collapsed in on itself, incomplete, and Deskest's lifeless body collapsed to the ground. Islerion was empty once more.