Eklyre Temere

> *"You are one of a kind. I am yet to know what to make of you." -- Madam Eva*
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**Duke Cawran Eklyre Temere the Black** is a kenku wild magic sorceror that came to Barovia as a tiefling in his quest to obtain the Staff of Frost. The treasure hunter succeeded in his quest, finding it in the Amber Temple. His goal is to obtain resistances to all types of damage in the hopes to be able to control his innate magical power.

He was an essential part of the adventurer force which destroyed Count Strahd von Zarovich in the Battle of Ravenloft. Following this victory Cawran installed himself in Castle Ravenloft and declared himself the new lord of Barovia.

He was a tiefling all his life until he was killed during the Battle of Ravenloft, but he was reincarnated by the Dark Power Dahlver-Nar as a kenku and continued the fight.

He has a two-headed pet hellhound, Bruce and Cruce, that follows him obediently and was formerly a magma mephit before also being reincarnated by Dahlver-Nar, as well as four other magma mephit minions.

## History

### Early life

Eklyre stated that he has always struggled to contain his natural magical abilities, and recounted an embarrassing episode from his adolescence when he accidentally turned his first girlfriend into a snake with their first kiss.

Eklyre made reference to having participated in "the War", and stated that after it had finished he was forced to travel as a result of his race - most peoples were not welcoming to a devil's spawn. It was on his travels that he met Stefan, a Vistani traveller.

### The Staff of Frost

Eklyre came to hear of a mage that sought magical treasure called Jakarion who was said to be in possession of the Staff of Frost. Eklyre managed to track down Jakarion's apprentice, Vilnius, who is said to be in Barovia. Eklyre paid Stefan to help him get into the valley to follow up the lead.

On his first morning in Barovia the Vistani camp he had been brought to was attacked by an armoured tiger. Whilst assisting in bringing the tiger down alongside fellow outsiders Hallgrimm Mikkenson and Narid Ashplantt, Eklyre cast an ice bolt which skimmed the tiger's whiskers and struck the ground, sprouting a tree. He then cast a wish to give himself, Hallgrimm, and Narid resistance to necrotic attacks (which did not work). As the three of them set out on their way to see Madam Eva they were attacked by a group of giant spiders. During the battle Eklyre accidentally opened a portal to the Nine Hells.

Over the course of the next few days Eklyre along with his new allies, would defeat Volenta, one of Strahd von Zarovich's vampiric brides, a coven of nighthags, and a tribe of werewolves lead by the legendary Kiril Stoyanovich. The three of them, along with Archwizard Khazan, would then scale Mount Gakis and reach the Amber Temple. It was here that Eklyre obtained the coveted Staff of Frost. Before leaving the temple he communed with several of the Dark Powers, and accepted a gift of reincarnation in exchange for his teeth and another two gifts from Dark Powers. Subsequently he would be punished for this perceived slight with the boon of charisma being reversed.

Eklyre was a vital part of the team that defeated Baba Lysaga and her animated hut in the swamps of Berez, using both polymorph and counterspell at pivotal moments in the battle, and having the wherewithal to put himself in harm's way to enter the rampaging hut and wrench away the magical gem which was giving it sentience.

The party then travelled to Yester Hill and underground encountered a wendigo which they defeated, before being drawn to the wedding of Strahd and Ireena Kolyana. Whilst there he managed to relocate the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind as well as the Staff of Khazan, and was vital in limiting the damage caused by Narid's interference in the wedding vows.

### A New Lord

It was Eklyre that teleported the party of adventurers into Castle Ravenloft for the final showdown with Count Strahd von Zarovich and it was during the Battle of Ravenloft that he was killed by Strahd's forces. However, due to a gift accepted from Seriach, the Dark Power, he was reincarnated in the form of a kenku and resumed the battle, giving pivotal assistance to ensure victory for the adventurers and the destruction of von Zarovich.

## Appearance

Cawran resembles a large black bird without wings.

In his past form as the tiefling Eklyre, he had devilish features including horns, and had blue skin which he noted was rare for his kind. He had no teeth as a result of a death struck with a Dark Power, Dahlver-Nar, He of Many Teeth.

## Personality

Cawran has been somewhat muted so far since emerging in his new form, and when he has spoken he has regurgitated rhymed lines previously spoken by others.

Eklyre was fairly personable and focused on his goal of obtaining resistances to all types of damage, which he believed would help control his surges of wild magic.

## Abilities

Eklyre has proven himself to be capable of powerful spells, and oftentimes the spells he casts escape his control.

### Resistances

* Fire - formerly due to being a tiefling, now from the Helm of Brilliance
* Poison - from the Cape of Poison Resistance
* Cold - from the Staff of Frost