Kyrian

The steadfast kyrian (sometimes pluralized as kyrians)Aiding Bastion (Necrolord)Aiding Bastion (Venthyr)A Call to Bastion (Necrolord) of Bastion are one of the Covenants in the Shadowlands. They are a race of angelic beings that serve as soul guidesBlizzCon 2019 World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Deep Dive Panel whose discipline and duty compels them to safeguard souls from the mortal realm as they pass into the Shadowlands.Blizzard Press Center They are messengers, couriers, and some of the purest souls in the realm of death. They are the forebears of the Val'kyr, the spirit healers, and more.
==Background==
Those who have lived a life of service are drawn to Bastion to assumed the highest duty of all — carrying the souls to the Shadowlands. Amongst Bastion's gleaming spires and sweeping vistas await challenges to test the mettle of the steadfast kyrians.worldofwarcraft.com - Shadowlands
The souls sent to Bastion by the Arbiter are ones that have been deemed noble enough and who felt a calling to some form of service in life. The noble kyrian shepherd the souls of the dead to Oribos so that they can be judged by the impassive Arbiter before being sent to their final destinations.
===Kyrian Aspirants===
The origins of our Aspirants are diverse. but they are united in singular purpose here in Bastion: to prove worthy and Ascend so other souls may be carried by their wings.The Art of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, pg. 40
Fresh souls who arrive in Bastion are given new physical forms, for which they become wingless Kyrian Aspirants. They spend eons of training, meditating, and reflecting on themselves through combat and other means to shed their burdens. Anima-fueled automatons called Centurions are responsible for drilling Aspirants in meditative combat, but originally all kyrians trained fighting against the fauna of Bastion.Where There's a Quill...Straight to the Point As kyrian shed the burdens of their past lives, physical manifestations of their tormented thoughts are expelled from their bodies. The kyrian must strike these manifestations down in order to cleanse themselves and reach ascendance.
Within the Aspirant's Crucible, Aspirants go through a final rite in the Chamber of First Reflection that lets others know they are ready to begin the Five Rites.The Chamber of First Reflection This initial rite is called the First Cleansing.The First Cleansing
Aspirants venture through five temples and learn their virtues: Purity, Courage, Humility, Wisdom, and Loyalty (now Devotion) in that order.Mercia's Legacy: Chapter One This journey known as the Five Rites may encompass eons. When aspirants are ready, they will ascend.Journey Toward Ascension: The Five Rites Kyrestia awaits aspirants at the end of this long road, for it is she who grants aspirants the gift of flight and charges kyrian with their most sacred task.The Archon Aspirants shed their memories at the Temple of Purity,No Peace In Death the justification for this being that they must ferry souls without judgment.The Enemy You Know The memories of other worlds and all kyrians are kept within the Eonian Archives, another name for the Temple of Wisdom,A Fate Most NobleThe Wards of Bastion where the former are processed upon arrival into Bastion but the memories of kyrians are collected in the Mnemonic Locus, to be observed within the Walk of Recollection.Purity's PrerogativeLysonia's Truth The memories of the Archon, Paragons, and Hands are seemingly only viewed in the Vault of the Archon.A Paragon's Reflection The Temple of Humility is a center of instruction on the duties of kyrians.Fighting WordsScrounging for ScrollsRemedial Lessons The final step for an aspirant to ascend is to travel to the living world and ferry their first soul.Trial of Ascension The opening of these portals is done at the Court of Elation's Exaltion Rise, through a ritual that requires lighting four censers of Discipline, Service, Spirit, and Faith.To Cross the Veil
===Ascended===
It is our Ascended [sic] arms that carry the dead from their mortal forms. Our mission is one to service -- carrying souls to Oribos and placing them before the Arbiter.The Art of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, pg. 60
The Aspirants who surpass their trials join a higher calling beside Kyrestia the Firstborne, first among the kyrian, earning their wings and joining the ranks of the Ascended. At this point, they become ready for an eternity of service as a spirit healer, or one of a couple of other paths. Ascension is done through the Crest of Ascension, originally created with the assistance of the Night FaeMeet the Queen and a Vessel of Ardenweald, which contains the powers of the Grove of Awakening within an animaconePicking Up PelagosThe Blue Seed through the self-sacrifice of a fae.I Dreamed A Dream The new Crest of Ascension was made by MikanikosBuilding the Base using a new vessel,A New Age but also the heart of Margrave Gharmal that contains the power of fleshcrafting of the House of ConstructsTake HeartCrest of Greatness and The Seal of Contrition, a venthyr artifact created by Mindscorched Alwin that purged sins from souls quickly but didn't produce much anima.Assistance from SinfallSins of the Past New Ascended will now contain not only their traditional power of all five templesA Touch of HumilityOur Realm Reclaimed and the vessel of Ardenweald, but also strength from Maldraxxus and purity from Revendreth. These wings are not impervious however, and other beings such as necromancers from Maldraxxus can use their magic to corrode their wings.Aerial Absolution
====Watchers====
Spirit Healers are true kyrian called Watchers whose role is to eternally evaluate souls. If the Watchers deem the soul ready, they will call forth a kyrian Bearer to come and bring their soul to the Shadowlands. If they aren't ready, the Watchers return them to life.A deep dive into Bastion, the Shadowlands realm of selflessness and greater purpose
The Watchers linger at the edge of the Veil and greet mortal souls into the Shadowlands, and are able to weigh that soul by peering into its existence and judge whether it is their time. This burdens the Watcher with that soul's memories, and thus see and know things that weigh heavy in their mind; this role is only for the strong of heart who can endure with the Purpose in mind at all times.Roles In Bastion: The Watcher The Kyrian will know souls, and their deeds, with a gaze of compassion.Bear Witness: The Watcher's Code If the soul is tethered by a sufficiently powerful force, the Watcher nudges the soul back into the mortal plane or the soul is given over to the force that claims it;World of Warcraft: Grimoire of the Shadowlands and Beyond, pg. 20 this includes returning lich souls to their phylactery, allowing souls to be taken by the Lich King or Val'kyr, and more.Limbo (quest) It is the Watcher's gaze that determines when a mortal's existence is fated to end.World of Warcraft: Grimoire of the Shadowlands and Beyond, pg. 77
The Watchers belong to the Temple of Purity.Before the Dawn
====Bearers====
The Bearers perform the vital task of bearing souls across the Veil to Oribos. They see countless worlds beyond the Shadowlands and encounter beings of all shapes and sizes that will be carried to Oribos to serve the Purpose.Roles In Bastion: The Bearer The Bearers belong to the Temple of Courage.
====Collectors====
Collectors are the Ascended who alongside the Stewards maintain the realm and contribute to all of Bastion's great works. They are responsible for the collection and ordering of anima in Bastion. There are many Collectors, but no two are the same. A Collector may take the form of a Forgelite, led by the steward Forgelite Prime Mikanikos, or perhaps a scholar. They craft armor, furnishings, carve statues, build fantastic works of architecture, and write our many stories and songs. They weave masterful works from anima itself. They are great craftsmen and musicians. A Collector will, over the course of their eternity, dedicate themselves to honing their skill and perfecting the arts of their choice.Roles In Bastion: The Collector Only they know how to utilize the Anima Condenser, the key of the centurions. Collectors are based in the Terrace of the Collectors and the Eternal Forge. The Collectors belong to the Temple of Wisdom.
====Paragons and Hands====
Each of the five temples is presided over by a Paragon. These ancient beings demonstrate the ultimate expression of their respective virtue and are responsible for the care and training of all aspirants that enter their domain. Each is bolstered by their chosen Hand, selected for their excellence in service to their temple.The Paragons
Paragons can choose to personally train aspirants if they wish. However, such hands-on work is considered beneath their station and at best, a highly unusual action.Afterlives: Bastion
===Forsworn===
Determination is the key to inspiring others to follow. Faithless are those who quit the field when the way ahead becomes darkest.The Art of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, pg. 53
Rarely, an Aspirant will fail to complete a rite of passage and darken into one of the Forsworn, who wander the plains of Bastion to lament and can spread doubt like a disease if left unchecked. Aspirants who fall into doubt, are unwilling to part with their memories, or fail to meet the Archon's standards otherwise and cannot achieve ascension change and have their skin and hair darken from bright azure blue to darker purple. Normally, the Aspirant is able to return to their purified state, but if they cannot, they are exiled from Bastion and the Arbiter judges them again.World of Warcraft: Grimoire of the Shadowlands and Beyond, pg. 80
Many of the ascended who once served Bastion have become Forsworn and have wholly turned against all that the kyrian stand for.An Inspired Moral Inventory
While kyrian aspirants had to wait patiently during the anima drought for their overdue ascension, the Forsworn have been unafraid to grant their faithful wings.Kin-Tara
===Mawsworn===
Even the most sinful souls, who had failed to find redemption in Revendreth and are cast into the Maw for eternity, or were sent there directly by the Arbiter, are transformed into Maw-corrupted kyrian after pledging their allegiance to the Jailer or been forcibly corrupted by the Maw and Helya, thus joining the ranks of the Mawsworn.By and Down the RiverA Step Too FarKyrian No MoreHer Will, Inflicted
==History==
Eons ago Agthia, Paragon of Courage led the kyrian to save all of Bastion and the Shadowlands from the Void's attempted invasion of the Shadowlands.In Agthia's Memory Similarly, eons ago the first Paragon of Humility Mercia fell after an invasion of devourers so great that they were forced to retreat to Elysian Hold, and Mercia sacrificed herself.Mercia's Legacy: Chapter OneMercia's Legacy: Chapter Seven
When Odyn gazed into the Shadowlands, he was inspired by the kyrian to create the Val'kyr.
===Recent upheaval===
With the Arbiter was put into a slumber, souls begin to plunge into the Maw and an upheaval begins to doom the Shadowlands. Scores of aspiring kyrian find themselves unable to continue their journey to ascension. Their numbers are now dwindling, and their duty to ferry souls to eternity is in jeopardy.
After Bolvar's defeat by Sylvanas and the shattering of the veil between the Shadowlands and Azeroth, Mawsworn kyrian entered Azeroth and took king Anduin and other leaders of Azeroth to the Maw.Shadowlands: Dark Abduction The Scourge and the Cult of the Damned are emboldened and are made new minions of The Jailer by a message brought by Herald Dalora.Only Shadows Remain Mawsworn Soulbearers raise undead bosses in Icecrown.
A schism is torn in the ranks of the kyrian by The Jailer's schemes. Devos fell into rebellion after being overwhelmed by doubt from Uther's troubling past, she listened to the Jailer's words and is aided in her rebellion by the darkest powers of the Shadowlands. She has the goal of the destruction of the Archon and for the Forsworn to forge a new path for Bastion.Devos, Paragon of DoubtSpires of Ascension#Script
The Mawsworn hold Forsworn captive inside Perdition Hold in the Maw, transforming them against their will. Normal kyrian are drowned in Gorgoa: River of Souls by Helya until they break and join the Mawsworn's ranks.Drowned and Torn Asunder
==Notable==
====Aspirants====
*
===Ascended===
*
*
*
*
====Paragons and Hands====
Temple 	Current Paragon	Current Hands
Temple of Purity 	 	
Temple of Humility 	 	
Temple of Courage 	 	</br>
Eonian Archives (Temple of Wisdom) 	 	</br>
Temple of Devotion (formerly the Temple of Loyalty)	 	
*
====Watchers====
*
*
*
====Former====
*
*
*
*
===Forsworn and Mawsworn===
*
*
*
==Notes and trivia==
*The power of Bastion can summon echoes of kyrian who have perished. These memories wander the roads and at times, can take on some purpose they served in their eternity in Bastion--crafting goods, guarding sacred grounds, etc. Forgelite Selene's lyre can dispel the memories with its ancient melody.A Somber Melody
*It was previously implied that the spirit healers were Val'kyr who split from the Valarjar after Odyn and his forces were imprisoned within the Halls of Valor by Helya, and decided to disappear into the Shadowlands. The few Val'kyr who still had nobility in their souls dedicated themselves to watching over the physical world, and from within the Shadowlands, they would occasionally guide the dead back to the realm of the living.
*Holy Priests can temporarily become Spirit Healers (and therefore Kyrian) with the Spirit of Redemption ability.
*Kyrian use the female vrykul animation rig.
*Kyrian themes borrow from various parts of Europe and West Asia, in particular Greek, Sumerian, Norse, and Abrahamic mythos and cultures. 
**For themes specific to Bastion generally, see Bastion#Notes and trivia.
**For themes specific to the Archon, see Kyrestia the Firstborne#Notes and trivia
**The name "kyrian" was inspired from val'kyr (inspired from the real-life ), and is lorewise derived from Kyrestia, the first kyrian.
**The appearance of the kyrians is inspired from real world s, as well as Greek depictions of certain beings such as .
**Relatedly, kyrian characters have names usually derived from Greek deities, such as Apolon and Artemede referencing and .
***The Forsworn and Mawsworn kyrian are specifically often named after the children of (goddess of night) and (god of darkness) in Greek mythology, such as Klotos, Lakesis, and Astronos (reference to the Greek ), or Moros (referring to ) and others.
==Gallery==
Pelagos.jpg|Pelagos
Kleia.png|Kleia
Uther the Lightbringer 9.1.jpg|Uther the Lightbringer
Vesiphone.png|Vesiphone
Trainer Ikaros.png|A male kyrian Aspirant.
Klystere.png|A female kyrian Aspirant.
Pelodis.png|A male kyrian Ascended.
Nemea.png|A female kyrian Ascended.
Spirit Healer.jpg|A Spirit Healer in the Veil.
Koiter.jpg|Spirit Healer Koiter on Azeroth.
Dark Vault-Seeker.png|A Forsworn
Mawsworn Myrmidon.png|A Mawsworn Kyrian
BlizzCon 2019 - Bastion.jpg|Bastion with statues of Ascended kyrian.
Beyond the Veil Ascended Kyrian.png|In the Beyond the Veil cinematic.
Beyond the Veil Ascended Kyrian 2.png
Kyrian sigil.png|The kyrian sigil.
;Art
Kyrian armor concept.jpg
Heavy kyrian concept.png
Mawsworn kyrian concept.jpg|Mawsworn kyrian.
Kyrian Spirit Killer.jpg|"Spirit Killer".
Mawsworn kyrian concept 2.jpg
Mawsworn kyrian concept 3.jpg
Archon concept art.jpg
Forsworn Grimoire.png
Grimoire - Kyrian.jpeg
;Hearthstone
Ascended Uther HS.jpg|
Kyrian Tyrande HS.png|
Pelagos HS.jpg|
Spirit Healer HS.jpg|
Boon of the Ascended HS.jpg|
Call to the Stand HS.jpg|
Perjury HS.jpg|
==See also==
*Val'kyr
*Valkyra
*Spirit Healer
*Guardian of Ancient Kings
==References==
 
Category:Bastion
es:Kyrian