Pieron Floshem

== History ==
Pieron Floshem known as "The Underlord of Monarch" and "Black Hunter" is a legendary vetrager of the Monarch Institute known across the Yetor Empire and all of Evis. He was famed across the Yetor Empire known for his skill in completing vertrags with such skill that he would often complete vertrags so impossible, that he is often rumored to be a demi-god. He later found fame on Lobran during the "War of the Horses", where he led the Yetor Empire's reinforcements sent to the Dominon of Peace. He returned from the war as a hero and was awarded the Empire's highest honour from Emperor Gregory Crewe in c.1065.
== Early Life ==
During his training as a vetrager, Pieron exhibited unusual talent for battle and strategy. Accordingly, Pieron was held in high regard by all his teachers and while studying accompanied Gorvreal Mckinnon on various vertrags, allowing him to shine and develop his skills to their highest ability.
=== Arrival at Monarch ===
Despite his title, Pieron is not the underlord of Monarch. He was given this nickname as he is the ideal lord to take over from Gorvreal. Pieron does not speak of his time before Monarch.
== Personality ==
Since his return from Lobran, Pieron has become apathetic and cynical. Despite his newly cold nature, below this he still shows signs of a previously fiercely loyal friend, and a man of good humour and as someone not indifferent to suffering.
Pieron has many good friends all over the Yetor Empire. He is very protective of and loyal to his friends and companions, and is willing to go to great lengths for those who matter to him. He can be kind-hearted and caring to the people he loves.
Pieron frequently shows remorse and has revelations in his life. Other times he had complete emotional breakdowns, even giving up being a vetrager in general and dropping his morals at one point.
=== Reputation ===
Pieron is known by vetragers to be extremely good at his job; some would say too good. When vertrags are being given out, if Pieron shows interest, most vetragers will openly refuse to compete with him.
Pieron works well with other vetragers, but in the Monarch Institute, vetragers have complained that competing against him for any contracts is a worthless effort. It is better to ask if he needs help, rather than compete against him.
=== Return from Lobran ===
Some vetragers have reported that he has kept his involvement in contracts secret. The vetragers don't know that Pieron is involved until they begin work, only to have found the task has been completed, or nearly done. This has led to conflicts in the past, but Pieron has always used this to push vetragers further and past their limits and best themselves. 
Since Pieron's return from Lobran, the usual charismatic vetrager has been uncharacteristically cold. No longer does he take the time to speak with vetragers. He completes contracts and returns to the headquarters in Eglaport until he ventures out for another contract.
== Lorna and Pieron: A Profound Connection ==
Lorna and Pieron's relationship is a tale of deep connection and evolving emotions set against the backdrop of celestial intrigue and mortal imperatives. Pieron, a celestial being, and Lorna, a skilled ship captain with a mysterious past, found their fates intertwined in ways neither anticipated.
=== Meeting: ===
Their paths crossed when Pieron, initially appearing apathetic and distant, became part of an adventure with Lorna. Their initial interactions were characterized by mutual respect and curiosity. Lorna, having witnessed Pieron's divine powers and otherworldly abilities, grew intrigued by his nature, while Pieron found himself drawn to her strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit.
=== Journey Together: ===
Throughout their journey, the duo faced numerous challenges, from uncovering mysteries to facing off against formidable foes. They supported each other, with Lorna often acting as Pieron's tether to the mortal realm and providing him insights into human emotions and complexities. Meanwhile, Pieron protected and guided Lorna, revealing to her his true celestial form and the depth of his divine mission.
=== Deepening Connection: ===
While Pieron's celestial nature prevents him from experiencing love in the same way mortals do, his connection with Lorna evolved into something profound. It transcended the boundaries of mortal understanding, becoming a bond that even celestial beings would find hard to grasp. Lorna's feelings, on the other hand, are a mix of awe, respect, and a deep emotional attachment, grounded in their shared experiences and the vulnerabilities they've shown each other.
=== Trivia: ===
* Pieron once revealed his true celestial form to Lorna, a moment that solidified the depth of trust between them.
* Lorna's ship, the Tidal Whisper, has become symbolic of their journey together, representing both adventure and sanctuary.
== Pieron's Chronicles ==
In the vast and enigmatic world of Evis, Pieron, has traversed the realms for over a decade. His story begins with a divine mission assigned by Celestian, the God of Stars and Wanderers, who sent Pieron to the Lobran continent in the Dominion of Peace. His task: to confront four malevolent demons, emissaries of an ancient deity named Granas. But fate, it seems, had different plans.
The four demons were agents of Granas, an Old God with sinister intentions. Despite his best efforts, Pieron arrived too late to confront the demons. They had been vanquished by unknown forces before he could intervene. Stranded on the mortal plane with no way to return to his celestial home, Pieron found himself adrift, a solitary figure in a world steeped in mystery. He is very apathetic and is yearning and in search of meaning on this plane, or death to return.
=== Years of Wandering ===
For five long years, Pieron wandered across Evis, seeking purpose and a way to fulfill his divine duty. However, despair and apathy clouded his path. To find meaning, he travelled the world, ending up on the Rusix continent in the Yetor Empire where he was drawn to the Monarch Insutution that specialises in fulfilling contracts, namely monster hunting and other jobs too hard for mortals. He is the institutions most prominent and best contractor to the point where he essentially picks his contracts. Pieron embarked on various contracts, often confronting supernatural threats and embarking on perilous quests. Yet, his soul remained restless, and the sense of emptiness persisted. In his relentless pursuit of meaning, he veered towards ever more extreme challenges, almost as if he sought the thrill of danger as a way to feel alive.
=== The Journey to the Crystal ===
Upon reaching the crystal's location, Pieron conducted a thorough analysis of the artifact. He used his abilities, including True Sight and Detect Evil and Good, to understand the nature and potential dangers of the crystal. While exploring the caves, Pieron encountered a powerful demon lurking in the depths. He engaged in a fierce battle with the demon, using his combat skills and magical abilities to confront the evil entity. After defeating the demon, Pieron discovered a group of cultists who were performing dark rituals in the underground chambers. He took decisive action to apprehend the cultists and prevent their rituals from continuing.
Pieron delved deeper into the mysteries of the cult and their activities. He uncovered a ritual involving dark stones and took it upon himself to disrupt and destroy their malevolent power.
=== Celestial Brotherhood ===
Pieron was guided by a mysterious hooded figure to a tower. This individual, who remained anonymous, instructed Pieron to seek the Spire of Valeria, a place of immense power and mystery. With two companions, Lorna and Eldrin, Pieron set forth on this quest, wary of the challenges ahead.
While exploring, Pieron used his True Sight to pierce the veil of the mundane and discovered an ethereal sentinel. This celestial entity was a guardian of the Spire and revealed itself as a protector of its secrets. Pieron communicated with this sentinel, gaining insight into the nature of the Spire and the celestial realms.
As Pieron continued deeper into the tower, he confronted Elowen. Their initial interaction was fraught with tension, each measuring the other, both in terms of their intentions and their powers. Pieron challenged Elowen in Elvish and then in Celestial, probing for more knowledge and answers. As their conversation evolved, the deeper connection between them became evident.
Pieron, through divine awareness and other innate abilities, discerned the true nature of Elowen. To Pieron's shock, Elowen transformed, revealing his divine, celestial form. This moment of clarity and understanding was mirrored as Pieron, too, transformed into his celestial form, showing Elowen his true self. This act established a bond between the two – a bond of brotherhood, of shared origin, and of shared purpose.
As celestial beings, Elowen and Pieron delved into a profound conversation about purpose, destiny, and the balance of power. Elowen confessed his longing to control the Spire and reshape the world, ending all wars and suffering. Pieron, however, argued for balance, emphasizing that an excess of good can lead to chaos, just as an excess of evil can. The two eventually agreed to seek a harmonious way forward, with Pieron deciding to continue his journey in the mortal realm, finding new purpose.
Returning to Lorna and Eldrin, Pieron shared his experiences, keeping certain elements hidden but conveying the essence of his revelation. As the group left the Spire, Pieron felt an overwhelming sense of clarity and purpose, knowing that his journey was far from over.
=== The Shadowed One ===
==== Urgent Call to Monarch ====
Pieron and his trusted companion Lorna are urgently beckoned to Monarch by Gorvreal, a fatherly figure and wise elder. Here, they learn of "the Luminous Hand", a malevolent cult hailing from the distant colony of Nalos. These cultists, driven by a hunger for power, worship and serve the enigmatic entity known as the Shadowed One.
==== Celestia's Revelation ====
In a profound vision from Celestia, Pieron is made aware of the ancient origins of the Shadowed One—a remnant from the primordial days. This entity harbors an ambition to plunge the universe back into its initial state of chaos. The key to thwarting this looming menace, as Celestia advises, lies in maintaining balance.
==== Dark Machinations in Nalos ====
In Valeria, the duo witnesses the formidable might of gray orcs, an army of magical constructs masterminded by the Shadowed One using the corrupted essence of forests and individuals. These orcs are but the forefront of an insidious assault, with Valeria being the first target in the Shadowed One's grand scheme to seize control of the Microz realm.
Lorna remains in Valeria to fortify its defenses, while Pieron, guided by the mysterious orb from Nalos, embarks on quests that take him from underwater caverns to distant deserts. His journey culminates in the acquisition of a potent artifact—a fusion of the orb and a unique crystal, pulsating with immense power.
==== The Battle of Nemoros ====
Acting on another divine message, Pieron heads to Nemoros. This land, tainted by dark magic, offers a crucial revelation. Here, Pieron confronts the Shadowed One who is revealed to possess power-hungry mortals as vessels, with Azural being the latest victim. 
In the heart of the mysterious Shadowed Plains, an atmosphere of foreboding weighed heavily. Pieron, an embodiment of celestial grace, stood defiantly against the nightmarish figure of the Shadowed One. The horizon seemed to blur, with swirling dark clouds painting a canvas of anticipation. The very essence of the world held its breath.
From the onset, the Shadowed One, with eyes like smoldering coals, unleashed tendrils of inky blackness, aiming to drain the very life from Pieron. However, the celestial warrior, shining with an ethereal glow, retaliated in spectacular fashion. Stellarbane, his revered blade, ignited with an otherworldly fire. As it danced and twirled, a searing column of divine flame reached out, roaring and consuming, seeking to purify the malevolent essence of his foe.
Amidst the dance of battle, Pieron crafted a masterstroke, summoning forth a vertical curtain of swirling, ethereal blades. The very air hummed with their power, making the plains a cacophony of magical resonance. The Shadowed One, now enmeshed, writhed and roared as each blade tore into him, rending shadows and dark energy alike.
Yet, the Shadowed One was a force of ancient malevolence. With agile swiftness, he lunged, claws gleaming with an unholy luminescence, striving to pierce the celestial's radiant armor. Every strike, every maneuver was a testament to eons of battle experience.
Pieron, drawing upon his celestial lineage and unparalleled wisdom, invoked the power of truesight. He peered deep, beyond the surface, into the very soul of his adversary. There, a startling revelation emerged: a void, a chasm of despair, hinting at a possession, a being overtaken by something far darker.
With renewed vigor, Pieron's onslaught was relentless. Stellarbane sang in the air, each of its radiant strikes echoing with celestial hymns. With a particular flourish, Pieron managed to force the Shadowed One back into the tempest of magical blades. Each slash from Stellarbane was a symphony, sending cascades of radiant energy, weakening the corrupted entity further.
In a moment of profound revelation, Pieron unveiled a truth to the Shadowed One, speaking of an orb of immense power. The implications were clear: Pieron's strength was so vast, he did not even need the orb to prevail.
In the climactic finale, Pieron channeled raw, divine fury, casting a spell of such potency that it tore the malevolent spirit from its host. Before him, the formidable Shadowed One was no more. In its place stood Azural, a figure once lost to the depths of darkness, now returned to the realm of light.
The celestial victor, with grace and majesty, approached the redeemed soul. The battle's end marked not only a victory but also the redemption of a being who had strayed too far from the light. Bound by ropes, yet freed from darkness, Azural's path was now forever changed, guided by the unwavering hand of Pieron.
==== Aftermath and Reflection ====
Returning to Valeria, Pieron is met with heart-wrenching scenes of destruction, a testament to the gray orcs' siege and the Shadowed One's malevolent intentions. Determined to keep Azural—and the potential threat he poses—under watchful eyes, Pieron entrusts him to Monarch's Institute.
Seeking solitude, Pieron reflects on his journey, shifting into his celestial form. The quest has been arduous, and the challenges ahead remain numerous. But with balance, determination, and allies like Lorna and Gorvreal, Pieron is resolute in his mission to protect the Microz realm from the ever-present shadow of chaos.