Keyi Aw

Former Grand Master of the Darklight Guardians   Keyi Aw was, in his day, the most powerful Owlin on Althena. As Grand Master of the Darklight Guardians, he wielded religious influence on the island.   Unfortunately for him, power did what it always does. It convinced him he could handle things no sane bird should touch. In Keyi’s case, this meant meddling with a Ring of power from Etuna's Vault, an artifact whose only consistent property is the knack for granting wishes in the most catastrophically literal way possible. With the power of the ring, Keyi amassed more influence on the island, until he became the de facto ruler. He kept the ring a secret, pretending to be chosen by Etuna that allowed him his powers. The Ring had already altered weather patterns and crop cycles. Keyi believed he could control it. Keyi was wrong.   Enter Hootalin Ua, a chief chemist and council insider. After losing her parents to an incident caused by Keyi Aw, she was persuaded by Etuna to take revenge. Using her skills, she managed to poison Keyi Aw, and take his ring—as she learned from Etuna was the source of his powers.   Keyi didn't die, but his reign of “miracles” ended. The poisoning left Keyi weakened and permanently ill, costing him his grip on political power—though he still commanded the loyalty of the Guardians from the shadows.   Years later, fate (and Etuna) brought Hootalin back to his chambers, this time with a party in tow. Keyi, ensconced beneath an invulnerability dome, took the opportunity to taunt the former chemist—because, after all, verbal sparring is the dying man’s privilege. Unfortunately for him, Hootalin’s arcane talents had improved. She stripped away the dome’s protections, leaving Keyi exposed. Pen Ding's blade did the rest, ending the Master in a single decisive stroke.