Eskil Ryndarien

## Realmseer Eskil Ryndarien

Official art of Eskil Ryndarien, by Olivia Samson from *Vox Machina Origins Series II*.

## Character Information

### Age

* 70s (in 810 PD)
* 90s, appears younger (in 836 PD)

### Connections

* Jekt Wince (manservant)
* Arcana Pansophical (former member)

## Appearances

### First seen

* "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) (stream)
* *Vox Machina Origins Series II* #3 (print)

### Last seen

* "Thar Amphala" (1x101) (stream)
* *Vox Machina Origins Series III* #5 (print)

### Stream

* Campaign One (5 episodes)
* Specials (1 episode)

### Comics

* *Vox Machina Origins Series II*
* *Vox Machina Origins Series III*

### Other work

Pre-stream

**Realmseer Eskil Ryndarien** is one of the most powerful arcane practitioners in Tal'Dorei. As an NPC, he is played by Matthew Mercer.

## **Description**

### **Appearance**

Eskil is an older human man with round spectacles and a fringe of white hair around his balding top.

### **Personality**

Eskil is grumpy, self-important, and unpersonable. Vex once called him a "crotchety old fuck." He usually does as he's asked in the end, but complains often and considers most tasks beneath him.

## **Biography**

### **Background**

Eskil once worked within the circle of mages known as the Arcana Pansophical, serving as a Maker, but retired due to frustrations with the political aspects. Until the Chroma Conclave attacked, Eskil lived in Westruun atop his ominous Greystone Tower, attended by his manservant Jekt Wince.

### **Vox Machina Origins**

Vox Machina was hired by Drez Vina to infiltrate this tower and steal one of his artifacts, but, upon meeting Eskil, they decided to abandon their mission and instead seek his aid in restoring Grog Strongjaw from his necromantic infection. Eskil agreed, and upon the party's return with the necessary materials, he extracted the proto-phylactery from within Grog's torso.

The crystal egg containing Skysunder that was delivered to the Winter's Crest Festival (which subsequently detonated and froze the town) was supposedly gifted under Eskil's name. When Westruun recovered from its frozen state, Eskil was arrested and put on trial for his alleged connection with the attack. Vox Machina came to his aid, however, and proved his innocence. In return, Eskil aided the party in scrying the source of the crystal egg, which pointed to the Clasp from within Emon. Eskil then gifted the party with an unspecified artifact and sent them on their way.

### **Campaign One: Vox Machina**

**"Dangerous Dealings" (1x42)**

After the Chroma Conclave attacked Tal'Dorei, Vox Machina encountered Eskil again, this time in Whitestone. The Realmseer was researching the Ziggurat beneath Castle Whitestone, attempting to determine what the Briarwoods had created with their ritual. He shared what he learned with Percival de Rolo before finding out about the Chroma Conclave attacks. After a request to research the Ziggurat for weaponry, Eskil mentioned that he has to return to Westruun. When informed of Westruun's status, he seemed almost inconvenienced by the destruction of Westruun rather than horrified.

When Vox Machina returned to Westruun, it was unclear whether Eskil's Greystone Tower survived.

**"The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83)**

At the request of Shaun Gilmore, Eskil teleported Vex'ahlia to Kymal so that she could search for Scanlan's daughter, Kaylie.

**"Loose Ends" (1x84)**

In Kymal, Eskil misinterpreted a comment from Vex as an attempt at flirtation, and firmly stated his disinterest. He rented pointedly separate rooms at an inn for himself and Vex. The next day, he teleported her back to Whitestone, where Vex teased him by implying they had spent a wild night together.

**"Thar Amphala" (1x101)**

“
Right, so you brought me all the way out here, and now I can't do my work? That's great. No, that's par for the course. It's basically most of my life.
”

–
Eskil Ryndarien, "Thar Amphala" (1x101)
[!h]

Vex retrieved Eskil from the ziggurat beneath Whitestone for fear that cultists might be coming through it. The next morning, Keyleth sought council with him concerning the Shadowfell.

Eskil shared as much as he knew about the place. He also examined one of the necklaces that had been taken from a Remnants cultist. At Keyleth's request, but not without some persuasion, Eskil sent a message to her father, Korrin, that she would be away in the Shadowfell for some time. Keyleth then left him to his breakfast.

### **After Campaign One**

As of 836 PD, Eskil continues to live in Westruun. At some point prior to 836 PD he discovered a means of magical rejuvenation, and is now "renowned as a handsome and aloof man about town."

## **Character information**

Eskil is able to cast *Teleport*, indicating he is at least a 13th-level spellcaster. At the time he is asked, he can only cast the spell once that day, indicating he either used high-level spell slots on something else that day, or he is no higher than 14th level.

## **Appearances and mentions**

* Pre-stream
* Specials
	+ "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) (first appearance)
* Campaign One
	+ "Dangerous Dealings" (1x42)
	+ "Duskmeadow" (1x57)
	+ "The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83)
	+ "Loose Ends" (1x84)
	+ "A Bard's Lament" (1x85), mentioned only
	+ "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97), mentioned only
	+ "Thar Amphala" (1x101)
* *Vox Machina Origins Series II*
	+ Issue 3
	+ Issue 4
	+ Issue 6
* *Vox Machina Origins Series III*
	+ Issue 3
	+ Issue 4
	+ Issue 5

## **Trivia**

* Eskil Ryndarien was inspired by Matthew Mercer's EverQuest character, whose surname was "Ryndarien".

## **References**

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Some of the information on this page was imported from Matthew Mercer's *Vox Machina Wiki* article, "Realmseer Eskil Ryndarien".
2. ↑ The two spells he's seen casting, *Sending* and *Teleport* are available to only bards and wizards. Eskil doesn't present himself as a bard in the typical sense, so he is most likely a wizard. This is supported by his title of Realmseer, suggesting his subclass may be the School of Divination.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 48.
4. ↑ Eskil can use 7th-level spells, meaning he is at least level 13.
5. ↑ See "Dangerous Dealings" (1x42) at 0:56:43.
6. ↑ See "Thar Amphala" (1x101) at 1:33:23.
7. ↑ See "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) from 1:54 through 2:45.
8. ↑ See "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) at 3:26.
9. ↑ See "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) at 4:34.
10. ↑ See "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) from 5:39 through 6:11.
11. ↑ See "Dangerous Dealings" (1x42) from 56:59 through 1:02:14.
12. ↑ See "The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83) at 4:06:35.
13. ↑ See "Thar Amphala" (1x101) from 2:03:05 through 2:03:20.  Eskil casts *Sending*.
14. ↑ See "The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83) at 4:06:35.
15. ↑  Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) on Twitter: "My EQ char's surname was Ryndarien...who is now an old Realmseer in Westruun. ;)" (2017-08-16) — in reply to @DashTheBlond: "Have you put any of your old characters into the world as NPCs? :) Did we meet them yet if so? :D" (backup link)

**Art:**

1. ↑ Official art of Eskil Ryndarien, by Olivia Samson from *Vox Machina Origins Series II*. Used with permission.
2. ↑ Fan art of Eskil Ryndarien, by Kileigh Gallagher (source). Used with permission.