Witherus the Lost

Witherus "the Lost" Voidius (Withervoid) is a sage and prophet first appearing in Eldham on April 9th, 2022.

Origins
After wandering through harsh wilds, Witherus appeared on the icy shores beyond Uzhon, capital of the Scribe Dynasty of Zhon, amidst a great and terrible blizzard. He was found by the Sovereign Scribe Nethy and Novix (n7xe), who nursed the ragged man back from the brink of death.

He was a reedy fellow that seemed around 40. He looked to be of Old Rhine descent, based on his clothing and the sword he carried. He held a mysterious, thick tome in a tight grip, and as Novix tried to study it, Witherus awoke. Panicking, distraught, to where Nethy had to subdue him before he could be calmed down and questioned.

He claimed to hail from a past age, and had no memory of how he had apparently traveled through time. His spellbook was unintelligible, even to Nethy, who had been giving the Masked Lord's blessing of Knowledge. When asked to read it himself, neither Novix nor Nethy understood him. The pair concluded the matter needed further study, and freed the man from their custody.

Over the coming weeks, Witherus explored modern Zhon and aided the locals in various building projects. He became good friends with Misha Silvertongue (Stabbr8), warlord of Mushroomica. Misha helped him befriend Nethy and Novix beyond their first impressions, introduced him to other public figures in Zhon, and got him his first house.

Split Personality
Witherus' strange origins are only another facet of his mysterious reputation. It seems the man developed a sort of split personality sometime in the past.

When first introduced to the Zhonish, he was a wise and reputable figure, honest to a fault, extremely learnt in the lore of the Muzahadeer, calling himself Witherus. But as time passed, it became clear he had another side. Voidius, a chaotic, unstable madman, quick to anger and boredom, a witty speaker, but crass and ignorant to diplomacy. Collectively, they are known as Withervoid. It seems the two fight over the body, in a stalemate that has lasted longer than their memory.

According to Witherus, these two sides were the result of the splitting of Wikhi, one of the Forgotten Lords. God of wisdom, imagination, and language, Wikhi fought so hard against the demon Muzahadal that his sanity shattered into two. Now Wik and Wok, Wikhi's Jekyll and Hyde personalities respectively.

Withervoid used to be a humble Rhinish carpenter of middling skill. But then he was chosen by Wikhi for the Prophecy of the Fated Eight. Wikhi gave him great knowledge and magic power, but caused him to split into Witherus and Voidius, in reflection of Wik and Wok. It is said the two personalities must be reintegrated into Wikhi, if ever the Prophecy is to come true, and Muzahadal defeated for good.

Goals
Withervoid occasionally receives prophetic visions from Wik or Wok, depending on whether Witherus or Voidius is dominant at the time. These visions have helped shape Withervoid’s veiw of the world and his place in it.

Witherus believes he was brought to the present day because the modern Zhonish had forgotten something important. Something that could make or break the Prophecy. So, he records what he remembers from the old days. A sage of proverbs and monster lore, he awaits more prophetic visions from Wik, and every day tries to lock away Voidius, whom he sees as a manifestation of his worst flaws.