Sylas Ironclad

**Sylas Ironclad**
***3.Sep.299 SC**-**20.Jun.326 SC***

**Place of birth:**Wraithmoor

Sylas Ironclad was once a respected smith of the quaint village of Wraithmoor, who performed a Ritual of Malicious Desires to exact revenge on his rival Edwin Bardenwale. However, Mephiston, in his sinister manner, transformed Sylas into the first lunarfiend, a fearsome monster, forever chaining him to the moon's whims and the beast within.

## Biography

### Childhood

Born on the **3st of September 299 SC**, Sylas was born in Wraithmoor, a village that would become the stage for his tumultuous fate. Growing up alongside his sister Marjorie, the two were a perfect example of sibling rivalry. Their frequent quarrels and disagreements were the talk of the village, yet beneath the surface, their bond was one of deep care and concern.

In his early years, Sylas formed a close friendship with Edwin Bardenwale. The two boys often ventured on little adventures around the village, sharing dreams and secrets as young friends often do. However, their bond was severed when Edwin, in a reckless act, set the village mill on fire. Panicking and fearful of the consequences, Edwin pointed the blame at Sylas, a deceit that sowed the seeds of enmity between them. The village was split on who to believe, but this incident forever changed the dynamics between the two young men.

Among the few bright spots of Sylas's childhood was his deep bond with his grandmother, Priscilla Ironclad. Known to be a wise woman with knowledge of the arcane and skilled in the old ways and versed in ancient rituals. She would often share tales of magic and mysteries with a young, captivated Sylas, instilling in him a fascination with the power that lay beyond the ordinary.

### Youth

During his youth, Sylas delved deeply into the craft he had inherited from his father, honing his skills as a smith. Wraithmoor villagers would often comment on the young man's incredible talent, noting that the weapons and tools he crafted were not only durable but also had an artistry to them. This earned him a respectable reputation and the trust of many in the village.

As the years passed, Marjorie blossomed into a young woman, catching the attention of many suitors. Among them was Edwin Bardenwale. His previous betrayal still fresh in Sylas's memory, the sight of Edwin courting his sister was anathema to him. Edwin, seemingly having moved past their childhood strife, began to make advances towards Marjorie, who, to Sylas's dismay, appeared somewhat receptive.

Despite the village seeing a matured and respectful Edwin, Sylas could not put aside their past. He saw through the facade and perceived Edwin's intentions as manipulative. Protective of his sister and still harboring resentment, Sylas stepped in, attempting to dissuade Marjorie and confronting Edwin on numerous occasions. This reignited the rivalry between the two men, with Edwin's desire to win Marjorie's affection clashing with Sylas's determination to protect her from what he believed was a looming threat. The tension between the two was palpable, and it became clear that their shared history would once again come to a head.

### Wrongfuly accused

Edwin's frustration with Sylas grew each passing day. While he genuinely believed he cared for Marjorie, his pride couldn't bear the constant interference from her protective brother. But there was another issue plaguing Edwin's mind: Wraithmoor's financial state. The village, under the weight of significant debts, found itself under the thumb of the cunning moneylender, Octavian Garretgreen. Octavian's high-interest rates and merciless collection methods had caused great strife in Wraithmoor, pushing the village to the brink of poverty. Edwin saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

Late one night on **16th of May 326 SC**, Edwin covertly approached Octavian under the guise of settling the village's debts. Instead, in a secluded spot away from prying eyes, he coldly took the life of the unsuspecting moneylender. With meticulous precision, he arranged the scene to implicate Sylas. Using tools from Sylas's smithy, which he had stolen earlier, Edwin made it appear as if Octavian had been attacked by the young blacksmith during a dispute.

The next morning, Wraithmoor awoke to the shocking news of Octavian's murder. Edwin feigned surprise and pointed out the evidence that seemingly linked Sylas to the crime. The village, although hesitant to believe that Sylas could commit such an act, couldn't ignore the compelling "evidence" presented to them.

Sylas was arrested and imprisoned, the weight of a crime he didn't commit bearing down on him. He felt anger, despair, and a burning desire to clear his name and save his village from the likes of Edwin Bardenwale.

While Sylas languished behind bars, wrongfully accused and helpless, the village dynamics shifted. Taking advantage of the situation and Sylas's absence, Edwin quickly moved to consolidate his position. Within a short span, he managed to woo Marjorie, and the two were wed on **2st of June 326 SC**. The village was taken aback by the swift turn of events, but few dared to oppose the influential village elder. Sylas, from his prison cell, could only hear whispers of the union, deepening his sense of betrayal and desperation.

### Ritual of Malicious Desires

One moonlit night on **14th of June 326 SC**, Sylas, using a makeshift pick he fashioned from a discarded piece of metal, managed to unlock his cell and slip past the drowsy guards. Once free, he knew he couldn't face Edwin directly without concrete evidence of his innocence, and even then, Edwin's newfound influence might prove too substantial.

Haunted by anger and thoughts of revenge, Sylas remembered the tales his grandmother Priscilla used to tell him about old magic and powerful rituals. Maybe, just maybe, he could find something in her collection of arcane texts that could help him balance the scales.

On a moonless evening of **19th of June 326 SC** Sylas moved stealthily to the outskirts of Wraithmoor, to the old, abandoned house of Priscilla Ironclad. Time had not been kind to it. Dust and cobwebs covered most surfaces, but the library remained mostly intact. By candlelight, Sylas delved into the ancient tomes, searching for something that could aid him.

After hours of searching, he stumbled upon a book with an eerie black cover adorned with crimson symbols. The "Inscrutable Codex" was inscribed on its cover. As he read through, Sylas realized that this might be the very tool he needed. The ritual promised power in exchange for a sacrifice, and Sylas was more than willing to pay any price to exact his revenge.

With the inky darkness of a moonless night enveloping Wraithmoor, Sylas prepared to invoke the Ritual of Malicious Desires. The atmosphere in Priscilla's home was thick with tension, every creak of the wooden floorboards echoing loudly in the stillness. He carefully arranged the necessary components as outlined in the book.

Positioning himself in the center of the room, Sylas began to draw a complex pattern on the ground using a mixture of ash and salt. He then placed several candles in strategic points around the pattern, their flames casting eerie shadows upon the walls.

Breathing deeply, he began to chant the ancient incantations described in the tome, his voice steadily rising in volume and fervor. The room's temperature dropped noticeably, and an oppressive, unseen energy seemed to press down upon him.

As the final verses left his lips, Sylas threw a lit torch into a corner of the house. Flames quickly began to consume Priscilla's cherished abode, the bright blaze contrasting starkly with the surrounding darkness. The crackling of the fire melded with Sylas's continued chants, creating a haunting symphony.

The fire's heat and the energy of the ritual combined, creating a vortex of swirling dark energy around him. Sylas felt a force pulling at his very soul, and as he succumbed to it, he sensed a presence - the foreboding essence of Mephiston, observing and evaluating.

As the vortex of dark energy continued to whirl around him, the oppressive presence of Mephiston grew stronger. Slowly, a large shadowy figure began to take shape before Sylas, its form barely discernible amidst the thick smoke and flames. Two piercing eyes, like burning coals, stared directly at him.

In a voice as cold as the grave, Mephiston intoned, "Speak your wish, mortal."

Gathering his courage, Sylas replied with conviction, "Grant me the force to reshape my fate and to punish the deceitful fiend Edwin Bardenwale!"

Mephiston's laughter, deep and sinister, echoed throughout the room. A surge of energy coursed through Sylas, filling him with both exhilaration and dread. As the power took hold, he could feel his body changing, his senses sharpening, and a newfound hunger awakening within him.

With a final, mocking grin, Mephiston declared, "I grant you the force you seek. But know this: vengeance often carries a price far greater than one anticipates. As for your new form, it suits your burning desire for revenge."

And with that, the shadowy figure dissipated, leaving Sylas alone amidst the flames, now transformed into the first lunarfiend of Tormentia. His craving for revenge against Edwin, now coupled with a relentless thirst for blood, would set him on a path of destruction.

The abrupt shift from a moonless sky to the brilliance of a full moon sent a surge of uncontrollable energy through Sylas. His body convulsed in agony as the transformation took over. Bones snapped and reformed, his face elongated into a snout, and coarse fur sprouted all over his body. His fingers ended in sharp claws, and his once human eyes now glowed a menacing red. As the transformation completed, a guttural growl escaped his newly formed maw, echoing through the night.

Overwhelmed with rage and the monstrous urges of his new form, Sylas tore through Wraithmoor, attacking anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path. The once peaceful village was filled with the terrified screams of its inhabitants, their homes set ablaze in the chaos. The news of a monstrous beast rampaging through the village spread like wildfire, but no one could stand against the might of the lunarfiend.

As he neared Edwin's residence, he could see the candlelight flickering from the windows, casting an eerie glow. Without hesitation, he lunged at the closest wall, his powerful arms and claws tearing through the wooden structure as if it were paper. The wall splintered and cracked, giving way to the beast's fury.

Inside, the room was thrown into chaos. Furniture was overturned, and shards of wood from the broken wall littered the floor. Edwin and Marjorie, hearing the commotion, had come rushing into the living area. They froze in horror at the sight before them: a gigantic, beastly figure, with glowing eyes, sharp teeth, and claws dripping with anticipation.

Edwin, ever the protector, placed himself between the beast and Marjorie. But Sylas, with his heightened senses, could smell the familiar scent of his sister and the treacherous Edwin. The memories, although hazy, fueled his anger even further.

Without warning, Sylas lunged at Edwin, his claws sinking deep into his torso. Edwin screamed in pain and terror, trying to push the beast away, but the strength of the lunarfiend was unparalleled. With one swift motion, Sylas ripped Edwin apart, silencing him forever.

Marjorie, her face pale with fear, backed away slowly, tears streaming down her face. She tried to speak, her voice quivering, "Sylas? Is that... you?" But the beast in Sylas saw no sister, no past connection—only prey. With a swift move, he pounced on her, ending her life in an instant.

The room, once filled with the sounds of struggle and screams, fell eerily silent, save for the heavy breathing of the monstrous Sylas, standing amidst the destruction and bloodshed he had wrought. With his revenge now complete he fled the village into the forest.

As the first light of dawn filtered through the trees, Sylas awoke amidst the dense underbrush of the forest. His naked body was covered in scratches and dirt, and the taste of iron lingered in his mouth. Disoriented and weak, fragmented memories of the previous night's events began to creep into his consciousness. The ferocious beast he had become, the terror he had inflicted, the faces of the people he had once known and loved—now victims of his uncontrollable rage.

Feeling a weight of despair, Sylas mustered the strength to stand and began to limp back to Wraithmoor, hoping to find some semblance of understanding or perhaps redemption. As he approached the village outskirts, word of the monstrous creature from the night before had already spread among the villagers. Recognizing Sylas as the source of the carnage, an enraged mob quickly formed. They saw not the remorseful man who had lost control but the monster who had brought death and devastation to their community.

Before Sylas could utter a word in his defense, the villagers, fueled by fear and anger, attacked him. Without the power of the lunarfiend to protect him, Sylas was quickly overwhelmed. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was the sky above, clouded with grief and regret.

However, unbeknownst to the villagers, Sylas's legacy as the lunarfiend had only just begun. Among the survivors of his rampage were a few who had been bitten during the attack. On the following full moon, the curse that had transformed Sylas took hold of them as well. One by one, they transformed into ravenous beasts, spreading the curse of the lunarfiend throughout Wraithmoor and beyond. The village's attempt to rid themselves of the threat had inadvertently ensured its perpetuation.

## Appearance

Sylas was a broad-shouldered man of average height. Years of labor at the forge had given him a muscular and robust physique. His skin, bronzed from the heat of the flames, was marked with occasional burn scars and smudges of soot, especially on his hands and forearms. His face was rugged, with a square jaw and a pronounced nose. Deep-set hazel eyes, often serious or contemplative, were set beneath thick brows. His hair was blond, usually kept short and often messy from long hours of work. A rough stubble frequently adorned his chin, as finding time to shave was not always a priority for him. Typically, Sylas was seen in simple smith's attire – leather apron over a worn tunic, and pants that bore the marks of molten metal splatters.

## Personality

Sylas was known for his fiery and impulsive nature. Quick to react, he often acted before fully thinking things through, leading to a trail of decisions he sometimes regretted later. Despite his impetuousness, he was loyal to those he cared about, especially his family. However, this loyalty had a darker side, as he could hold grudges for a long time. Once someone wronged him or his loved ones, Sylas found it difficult to let go of the resentment, brooding over the slight and often seeking retribution. His stubbornness made it challenging for him to change his perspective once his mind was made up. This trait, combined with his impulsiveness, often led him into challenging situations. Despite his flaws, Sylas had a passionate spirit, pouring his heart and soul into his craft and the relationships he valued.