Damon ir'Ardantego

**Damon ir'Ardantego** is a dragon slayer with a devil-may-care attitude.

## **Description**

### **Appearance**

Damon is an impressively tall man with white hair and an impenetrable smiling countenance. He has golden eyes, and tan skin, standing out with his enormous sword and red dragon skin coat. He wears a notable red ruby pendant which assists in identifying magic.

### Personality

Easygoing and a smooth talker, it seems difficult to ruffle Damon's feathers. He's simultaneously upfront and avoidant of the truth, and carries on as if he's untouchable. Though there are moments where this visage cracks and a more lonely and tired man shines through.

## **Biography**

### **Background**

The ir'Ardantego's were an old, magically inclined noble family in central Cyre, and one of the sponsors for Cannith Academy dealings. Damon's exact connection to his family tree is unknown. Damon also had connections to the House Cannith academy.

Damon was in Xen’drik on a research expedition when the Mourning hit Cyre. He lost his twin brother back home in Metrol, but somehow knows his brother is still alive somewhere within the Mourning's mist. He also knows there is a Mournland-warped dragon standing between him and rescuing his brother. He returned to Cyre once after the Mourning, but didn't get far, thus he begins his quest across Khorvaire, studying the Draconic Prophecy as well as other myths and legends, and looking to make connections with influential and powerful people. All for the sake of saving his brother.

During his most recent visit to Regalport he stopped in at Mallachee's and purchased the song bird Willow left there because "he thought it was funny." Though it is later revealed that the songbird actually reminds Damon of home, and he is quite attached to it in a sentimental way.

### **Metanoia Blues**

#### Chapter 5: The Wreck of Good Fortune

After much intentional but fruitless searching, En, Willow, and Luca would simply stumble upon Damon signing up for the fighting tournament at the Belly of the Beast. According to him he's looking for people to accompany him on his travels across Khorvaire and figured the tournament would be a good way to meet interesting company. He would set his sights on the trio from that moment forward.

When Willow asks for him to return the song bird, he decides to make a game of it instead of letting the exchange be easy. He later tells Luca and Willow that the bird has some manner of sentimental value to him, reminding him of home in some way. Finally with what seems to be a heavy heart, he lets Willow take the bird back for a day to change the song it sings. However Willow instead uses it as a bargaining chip to bribe Damon into throwing his fight with Luca in the finals at the Belly of the Beast. A gesture that proves ultimately pointless as Damon had already planned to let Luca win. Regardless Willow returns the bird to him with a few upgrades, and the song intact.

After some tense conversations with En and Willow, Damon refuses the offer to join the Odds and Ends on a mission, though he promises to wait for the trio to return so they may yet discuss future business ventures.

#### Chapter 6: Three of a Kind

Staying true to his word, Damon meets En, Willow, and Luca at the Nesting Quail to catch up after the harpy hunting job. En proposes Damon join them at the Grand Auction Hall as a "test run" of their teamwork, asking for his assistance in solving a murder mystery. Damon agrees, suggesting he might also have business of his own at the auction. With that, he officially hires the trio for a temporary gig.

Willow later confronts Damon regarding his knowledge of their past. Damon admits that what he's searching for is back in Cyre, the lost home he and Willow share. Despite Damon touching Willow's raw nerves in his desperate attempts to get Willow on his side, he's invited to Willow's for tea and further discussion.

Demon comes clean to Willow about his history with Old Lady Jenkins, and his present goals. He's determined to rescue his brother from the Mournland, and to do that he must slay a Mournland-warped dragon. To this end, he is seeking out adventurers such as Willow, Luca, and En.

#### Chapter 7: Death of the Artist

Attending the "A New Khorvaire" art auction, Damon ropes Luca, En, and Willow into an obtuse series of trades. He trades Willow's songbird for a moon pendant, and the pendant for an enchanted fishing lure, which he hands off to En to trade for a flute, which Willow trades for a toy, which Damon trades for a smooth quartz pebble from a lake near the Mournland. He claims this pebble will help later.

Prompted by En, Damon approaches Edmund Beckett under the guise of a casual chat about collecting art. Immediately recognized by Beckett, Damon finds himself on the receiving end of a few prodding remarks, but holds his own.

When a sudden onslaught of zombies interrupts the evening's events, Damon jumps to action. Beating zombies down with his bare fists, he opens one of the auction room exits and secures safe passage for many of the terrified guests. As the fight grows dire, Willow tosses him their rapier, allowing him to cut down zombies with ease and assist in bringing the battle to a close.

After debriefing with En, Willow, and Luca, Damon is approached by detective Brina d'Medani. She briefly seeks his expertise regarding Xen'drik artifacts that were stolen from the auction house storeroom during the undead attack. He identifies these items as being used in ancient Aerenese funeral rituals.

As the investigation continues, Damon is approached multiple times by Willow, the shifter armed with a myriad of strange questions and theories to which Damon entertains. Eventually Willow comes to Damon with a note written in encrypted Aerenese, hoping for him to translate. Damon decides he's answered enough of Willow's inquiries for free and asks that Willow officially agree to join his mission as fair trade for his continued services, citing that Willow has already claimed they 'can't not help him.' Willow leaves without agreeing. That night, Damon shares drinks with En, the two discussing his mission.

When Damon calls the trio together to discuss their future plans as a team, Willow responds with an emotional outpouring that reveals why they struggle to return to the mainland, let alone Cyre, before storming out of the room. Relieved by the honesty, Damon agrees to let the trio remain at the Gold Dragon under his dime for another week with the promise that they will discuss their future contract work later. In the meantime Luca suggests he find them a monster hunting job to do, so that they might test their ability to work together on the battlefield.

Following the outburst, Willow makes many attempts to open comfortable communications with Damon, but Damon struggles immensely to read Willow. He frequently misinterprets their signals and chooses to eject himself from conversations instead of risk upsetting them again. After many false starts, something clicks, and Damon offers Willow a series of 'conditions' that Willow must abide by if they want his help. This works.

Made privy to Willow's brazen gamble surrounding Warfred, Damon finds himself assisting Willow with shopping and research that might better prepare them for their dangerous games. This culminates in Luca going missing, and Willow asking Damon to assist in the search for him. As it becomes clear Luca has been kidnapped by Warfred, Damon peels away from search efforts to alert the local guard while Willow and En make moves to rescue Luca.

## **Relationships**

### ***En***

Damon views En as a 'dance partner' when it comes to sly conversation. His amulet and knowledge allows him to see more about En than En is comfortable with, but he attempts to remain respectful despite his insights, keeping En's secrets and not prying on their private matters.

### ***Luca Karrnson***

The two fought in the finals at the Belly of the Beast tournament, Damon throwing the fight to Luca. Damon seems to regard Luca with a degree of respect, giving him advice, calling him 'the better man,' and seeming fond of him. Luca is the one who he's spoken to the most regarding his past and his plans for the future, and he often asks Luca to be a middle man for making nice with En and Willow.

### ***Willow Jenkins***

Damon is searching for a special arcane tinkerer and according to Damon, Willow fits the bill. Their relationship is tense, the songbird acting as a point of friction initially. This tension continues via their ties to Cyre, including a mutual friend in Lady Jenkins. Slowly this eases, developing into something resembling trust. The two frequently struggle to understand one another, but as time goes on Willow begins to warm to Damon's presence. And asks him a lot of questions.

## **Character Information**

### **Notable Items**

* Dragon skin coat
* Adamant greatsword
* Ruby pendant
* Quartz pebble