Arvandus

Arvandus is the court wizard of Creoda and advisor to Aldric the Bold, the king of Creoda. He is a True Mage, one of only two publicly known on the island of Ynys. He first appeared in Creoda shortly after Aldric's birth and convinced the king's parents to let him serve as the young prince's tutor. Under his care, Aldric enjoyed an adventurous childhood throughout the Ynys Archipelago and has grown into a capable and well-prepared ruler. Aldric's ambition to become High King of Ynys comes from Arvandus, who continues to advise him with that goal in mind.

Out of Nowhere

The first record anyone has of Arvandus dates to 3960, when he presented himself at the court of King Edmund of Estwald shortly after the birth of the king's son Aldric. He immediately revealed himself to be a True Mage, a risky move given that many in Ynys still associate True Magic with the oppressive Clarati sorcerers who ruled the island centuries earlier. Even so, Arvandus was persuasive and won the trust of the king and queen, who appointed him as the prince's tutor.

Despite diligent searching, none of the information-gathering organizations have identified any earlier origin for him. The Lorekeepers of Foxbridge are the most forthright about this; they speak as though he appeared out of nowhere, which would be possible in the city of Lifworðig except that he is clearly not one of the Numina. Theories about his origins run wide. Some believe he is another guise of the elusive wizard called Red and therefore an agent of the Velhot of Väinädin. Others hold that he is one of the Clarati who somehow survived the Age of Warlocks, usually pointing to Niten, whose final fate remains unknown. Still others link him to the Burj Alhikma or claim he is a Fae lord or a transformed agent of the Kunifā Mūtān. These ideas are pure speculation without supporting evidence. The simplest theory may be the most convincing: that Arvandus is a being from another world with no history in the Great Ring at all. That would at least account for the absence of any trace of him.

King-Maker

Whatever his origin, his intentions appear clear: Arvandus wants to unite Ynys under a single crown, and he has chosen Aldric as the one to wear it. He has ensured that Aldric is prepared for the task and willing to pursue it, and he now directs Creoda's diplomatic corps with that aim in mind. His presence has also influenced military affairs. No one knows what powers he might bring to a battlefield, but they are assumed to be formidable, and more than one analyst believes that his presence alone has delayed a Dumnonian invasion of Creoda from the southwest. He also shows a deep interest in the small gods of Lifworðig. He all but invented the pastime of godspotting and has become a familiar companion of the King of Play. Whether this interest serves his larger designs for Ynys or is simply a pastime remains uncertain.

Many in Ynys distrust Arvandus, either because of his mysterious arrival or because he is a True Mage by nature, yet few who have met him genuinely dislike him. He is large and hearty, barrel-chested and bearded, and carries himself with remarkable vigor. He laughs easily, loves long walks through the wilds, and always joins the king on his hunts. His charm has softened many wary diplomats, who often find themselves drinking and laughing with him and only later wonder if they said too much while in their cups. Still, all agree on his integrity and reliability. He may not disclose all he knows, but no one has ever caught him in a lie.