Leander

Creation and Role

Leander was one of the five original angels forged by Xelene and Randia to lead the fight against Celian Maleficium and her demonic empire. If Maccius was the heart of order and Nilsa its sword, Leander was its watchful eye and steady hand - an ever-vigilant force of patience, precision, and resolve.

Created from the stillness before the dawn, Leander embodied hope in silence. He was not a being of speeches or grand gestures, but of decisive action and unwavering observation. Among the angels, he was the most difficult to read - and, some say, the most difficult to corrupt.

Role in the Wars

First War (19990 – 19984 BCE)

Leander served as the eyes of the celestial campaign, his arrows piercing not only flesh but magical wards, illusions, and the shadows themselves. He led countless scouting and precision strike operations, often eliminating demon commanders from leagues away before a battle had even begun.

He was also instrumental in shielding mortal refugees, striking down pursuers and guiding thousands to safety through forest paths and broken canyons.

Though devastated by Astrea’s death, Leander never faltered. He mourned in stillness, and his next hundred arrows struck truer than any before.

Second War (19924 – 19893 BCE)

Leander’s tactical brilliance shone during this war. He orchestrated ambushes, feints, and long-range sieges, disrupting demonic strongholds and supply lines. The Burning of Gorrak-Thul, a major turning point in the early Second War, was made possible only by Leander’s long-distance shots destroying a volatile chaos crystal and collapsing a demon hatchery.

Despite Nilsa’s slow descent, Leander remained close to her, acting as a silent anchor. Some believe he suspected her inner turmoil but hoped she would find her way back on her own.

Third War (19885 – 19876 BCE)

Leander fought with grim resolve during the final campaign. He rarely spoke. His arrows struck with unerring accuracy, his presence a quiet reassurance to the mortal armies that still followed the angels.

When Nilsa betrayed the host, Leander attempted to protect Maccius - but was gravely wounded by her corrupted blades. He survived the initial assault, but vanished in the chaos of retreat. Some claim he fled, too wounded to return. Others whisper that he followed Nilsa into the shadows, not to kill her - but to try and redeem her.

Abilities and Combat Style

Leander wielded Auroralight, a radiant longbow that channeled the first light of the gods. His arrows could:

• pierce magical barriers
• silence illusions
• reveal invisible creatures or enchantments
• and, when focused, strike with the light of dawn, dealing searing radiant damage that burned through corruption

Leander’s strength was not brute force, but perfect timing. He could hold an arrow drawn for hours if needed, waiting for the precise heartbeat between fate and decision.

Legacy and Symbolism

Leander is often seen as the angel of restraint, wisdom, and clarity. While he did not fall like Nilsa or die a martyr like Astrea, his disappearance left behind an ache that never healed.

Some believe Leander wanders the borders of Ebbavion still - watching, waiting for the moment when he must draw his bow again. Others say he hides within the ruins of Viremalas, guarding something - perhaps Maccius’s remains, or the child of Nilsa and Sylix.

Among modern archer orders and diviners, Leander is invoked as a patron of patience, foresight, and sacrifice. His followers claim that in the quiet before catastrophe, if you listen closely, you can hear the hum of a bowstring being drawn.

“One arrow. One truth. One light.” – Inscription on a ruined statue believed to depict Leander, found near Vasier