Bila Ruh

### Demeanour

Bila Ruh is a recent arrival to the Nmroideth Expanse, or so it seems. He is a very strong willed and confident humanoid who gives off an aura of power. His skin is slightly grey, like the colour has drained away a little and one side of his face looks scorched as if by an intense flame.

### Election

He has announced that he will be running for mayor of Sherr. Whilst he is an unknown to many, his strength of character and competence is comforting and indeed inspiring to some voters. His platform stems from the core idea of raising a militia to defend Sherr so the people do not have to fear attacks from the Acolytes. In fact he is pushing for raising an army to go forth and attack the enemies of Sherr in their own bases of operations - believing that is the only way to secure lasting safety for the town. A well armed milita of the people is - he states - safe from corruption, as the people are held accountable to themselves, unlike a hired army.

### Tower of Stone

At the head of the stairs above the portal to Sherr stands a strange stone tower. A monolith that looks like it has 'dripped' upwards out of the very ground itself, as if gravity were to pull it to the sky with only four stalks from the earth grasping on to it. The stone gets more white as you reach the top and earthen candles cast an eerie glow from its windows. There is no ladder or door, instead, when one stands underneath it, gravity seems to switch directions for a moment allowing the brave entrance to this mystical tower.

### OOC

Bila Ruh means (in Arabic) Soulless - which is the case.

Bila Ruh was a Draconkin from Arcadia who was a mage of great potential who wanted to extend his power greatly. Over time he was held back by his fellows but became enticed by the Greater Dragons, eventually betraying his own kind for a promise of power. When the attack happened he regretted his decision and tried to protect his family when they attacked. He managed to save his sister, but his parents didn't survive. He was scorched by a Greater Dragon and cursed by his mother, losing his soul in the process. He spent time in their service in Arcadia before being given his new assignment.

Bila Ruh was sent to the Nmroideth Expanse to lead the acolytes in their assault and pave the way for the Greater Dragons' arrival. He had a strong hatred for his masters, but decided to use this position to exptend his own power and garner hench-acolytes that would do his bidding. At first he didn't interact with the locals directly, focusing on his own mystical studies, mostly focussing on repairing or replacing his soul. He dabbled in ressurection, evidence of which was discovered by the Heroes of the Expanse at the trade caravan raid. He kept his identity hidden, fearing one in particular. Another, a gnome, however did interest him.

He wrote down the results of his failed resurrection attempts and a curse on a scroll and 'left' it for her to find, preying on her anxiety and curiosity. Julanar reminded him of a pleasant time in his youth, a time he wished he could return to... perhaps he could replace his missing soul with hers. The scroll did raise Heart from the dead (sort of), but also damaged the bond of her soul to her body. Later, at the Attunement Ceremony, she stepped in and the curse took effect, rending her soul away for Bila Ruh to consume. He had absorbed Julanar's soul, but from time to time, her soul overpowered him and she tried to give hints to her friend Spirit that she was inside.

He sent his first hench-acolyte, the Herald to 'announce' his arrival with destruction, giving her his own, powerful wand. The wand was made from a holy tree in Arcadia, and Bila Ruh had absorbed the magical energies released by the destruction of his people into that very wand making it incredibly powerful. The Herald succeeded in her task, as Bila Ruh intended, re-awakening the Heroes fear of the acolytes without identifying him directly. The next phase of his plan started, and he walked into Sherr, this time in the open, and running for Mayor.

Now we're up to the present.

My plans were for him to run for mayor pushing a program of uniting the free peoples through strength. He was going to start a sort of political militia, arguing that the only way for the people to survive the acolyte onslaught was through arming themselves to fight. While Bila Ruh is head of the acolytes in the Expanse, he has no love for the Greater Dragons (actually a cold hatred), and no regard for the mindless acolytes that serve him. A loyal army of angry humans and gnomes that see him as the only real defence against the acolytes is what he wants, as a result Spirit is an opponent. He was going to try to figure out how to take control of the automatons (in an event) and fail and flee. As he was about to be caught by the heroes and the automatons he was going to destroy the control tower allowing him to escape again. While many of the heroes would be a nuisance to him, only one would be a real threat; Wings - his sister.

Beyond that was largely open-ended, Julanar would keep trying to act out and get people to notice her as well as sabotaging Bila Ruh at key points. She would be key to overcoming him. Wings would too (I had a little monologue prepared), having lost his soul, he no longer 'felt' anything, but knew he should with her. Finally his wand would be important. Julanar wouldn't like, come back alive, but there would be a chance for a final conversation with her soul before it departed to the afterlife.