Witherus the Lost

Witherus "the Lost" Voidius Silvertongue (Withervoid) is a sage and mystic 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 Stabber Silvertongue (Stabbr8), warlord of Mushroomica. Stabber 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, occasionally a bit of a goofball, 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 Lost 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 builder of middling skill. But then he was chosen by Wikhi to be the Prophet. 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 believed he was brought to the present day because the modern people had forgotten something important. Something that could make or break the Prophecy. So, he records what he remembers from the old days, awaits more visions from Wik, and every day tries to lock away Voidius, whom he sees as a manifestation of his worst flaws.

Joining the Silvertongues
After some time spent wandering mainland Zhon, trying to figure out his new place in this modern world, Witherus at last settled in a mage’s tower on Amethyst Island after asking his old friend Stabber if he could move to Mushroomica.

This tower had been built in oriental Zhonish style by the Sovereign Scribe Nethy to research and mine the amethyst crystals found in caves deep beneath it. The amethysts were said in ancient texts to have mystical properties. But the project was abandoned as Nethy pursued other ventures.

Witherus was included in the innermost circles of Mushroomican governance. He acts as a scribe, prophet, and builder, but also as Stabber’s closest friend, advising him in times of trouble. As time went on, Witherus was adopted into his extended family, the Silvertongue Clan.

He devotes his energies to assist his friend in building up Mushroomica, calling up his old life skills. From time to time the sage retires to his quiet tower for times of meditation, art, writing, and arcane research.

Written Works
Sometimes in the comfort of his tower, other times amidst the wilderness, Witherus has written a multitude of texts in different genres.

Most notably, holy books of prophecy, proverbs, and mythology according to the Scribist faith, and the Book of Lost Beasts, a bestiary of creatures and spirits that have long since passed out of history into legend.

As the chief scribe to Stabber, he also writes most contracts and treaties, and oversees historical records in Mushroomica. He tries to keep all of these texts organized in a library, but fails.