Khantos Evergreen

**Khantos** is a Triton battle-smith artificer and an original member of the Primal Seven. He met the group upon his arrest in Posttown. He is apart of the Evergreen family of artificers and is a follower of Atlas.

## Description

### Appearance

Khantos is a pale blue-skinned, emerald-eyed man standing at 5 foot 6 inches tall. He's of average build, however quite toned from his years of tinkering and forge work. He has a mess of green and blues that make his shoulder length hair that he wears down and, when he's tinkering, he ties it into a terrible man-bun. He's naturally adorned with many scars on his hands and arms. His right hand is part elemental, as Atlas restored it with earthly magic after part of his skin was burnt off by solvent.

He brandishes a great spear known as *Cloudbreaker* that replaced his previous weapon of choice: a handmade axe adorned with the Evergreen name. Around his neck he adorns a golden necklace, hanging from it is a globe of the world inscribed with a phrase unknown to the party. His usual attire is an aquamarine capped chest-plate over a rugged linen shirt and grieves, along with leather trousers and thick boots.

He now has an black outline, almost like ashen burn marks left by fire, around his heart on his chest from the disintegrate he suffered.

### Personality

Khantos is a creative, intelligent person who's mind is both his greatest asset and biggest weakness. His quick wits allow him to be adaptive in combat but at the cost of his often straightforward judgements and responses to those close to him. His lawfulness comes from his own code that relies on endurance, as his god embodies, and he will do what he needs to survive and achieve his goals — whether these goals serve Atlas appears unknown for now.

## Biography

### Background

Khantos Evergreen was born 89 years ago to two triton parents in the small village of Shorevale. The Evergreen's lived in a large lodge nestled roughly 30 minutes away in the forests west of Shorevale. The lodge was called *'Endurance Lodge'* and has been inhabited by Evergreen's for hundreds of years. Here, Khantos was raised to learn artificery and arcane history under the tutelage of primarily his mother.

When he was a young adult, he met Ayleth and soon after they began their romantic relationship. Somewhere in the year 552, Khantos left Shorevale under the order from his parents — an action he regrets to this day as he abandoned Ayleth and with her he abandoned the life he wanted. A year later he constructed his steel defender which he named after Ayleth as he believed he would never get to see her again. It acted as a reminder of the good she represented in his life.

In the following three years before meeting the party, Khantos travelled in the northern part of the continent and eventually ended up in Posttown, in which he sought to find materials that may help lead him to his parents who he has heard nothing from since he left Shorevale.

## Relationships

### Ayleth (Steel Defender)

Ayleth was Khantos' doggo and most trusted companion. It was referenced in a moment between the two that she was created three years ago as he placed a third golden plate on her back and wished her a happy birthday on the 15th Akamentes *(in Sx19)*. She had the ability to transform her lower half into a fin much like a hippocampus. She was officially dismantled on the 8th Oine with Khantos saving a piece of her core panel to keep as a gentle reminder of what she represented. Khantos attributed the reason of her dismantling to the painful memory of the values she once represented. Whether she will return remains to be seen.

### Oto

Khantos' relationship with Oto started very well with Oto aiding him in stealing a part in Posttown and them being arrested together. This relationship only grew as Khantos became fond of Oto's chaotic nature and him being a warforged definitely peaked his interest quickly. After the altercation in which Oto leaned into his worse side to see what would happen and attacked Khantos their relationship worsened from Khantos' end. The relationship did slowly recover but Khantos continued to keep him at a distance out of fear. Although Khantos was scared at times, he knew his friend well enough to understand when he wasn't okay after the Iris message he received.

Oto's death left Khantos with many thoughts — some good, some bad — but altogether Oto was an incredibly meaningful and important person in Khantos' life.

### Leoven

Khantos' relationship with Leoven has been a turbulent journey. He, from the start, was suspicious of her presence and authoritative stance which developed when he found out she was a soldier. This worsened dramatically as she and Oto attempted to steal Khantos' necklace utilising Khantos' own creation, the Cloak of Elvenkind, against him. The trust hit rock bottom at this moment and, until Leoven apologised and made an oath to protect him three days later, it did not change. After the oath, he maintained a distance both physically and in trust as he tested how truthful this oath was. They have had many disagreements, however, as they have progressed whilst solving the case of King Eugammon's murder, they appear to have gotten closer after mutually agreeing to kill Quintus and this trust deepened after Leoven told him about the contract.

The events of Dexicos and the 12 has shifted Khantos' side of their relationship. He doesn't necessarily see wrong in whwat he did in assisting the 12 and is not actively seeking her forgiveness for his actions. This could be a way of ensuring a consistent space between them, purposley alienating Leoven from trusted people for reasons unknown or maybe just arrogance, but either way the rift may never be healed or may be in the future. There is a new found hesitation whenever he looks at her, whether that hesitation is pity, sadness, happiness, ambition or fear... well not even Khantos knows at the moment. One thing he does know is that regardless of her status of champion, influence within dexicos and the vallotis and the rift between them Khantos feels a sense of control over her.

### Adrasteia

Khantos' relationship with Adrasteia has been turbulent. He respects her desire to help but often finds it to be misplaced. Her incessant desire to 'help' with his hand, which has now been fixed with the help of Atlas, never fails to annoy him. In addition, her asking to identify her ring which subsequently clawed into his chest did not instil confidence in her. Also her turning into a Loup Garou due to the ring only made him more mad. However, there was a distinct turn when he brought her and Cyaro with him to Shorevale. Her openness and comfort — although often the bane of Khantos' existence — was what he needed in those moments which fostered a better trust that continues to develop.

After the events of Dexicos Khantos continues to have pity for her situation and believes she has been punished by the gods too often and unjustly, a stance that pushes him more toward his titan oriented approach.

### Cyaro

Cyaro Melithaear, few people have managed to be endearing to Khantos Evergreen but Cyaro quickly became a close and loyal friend. Their intuitive nature and complex simplicity in the hardest of times is especially appreciated to Khantos and he very much holds a protective nature toward them. Usually very steadfast in his stern boundaries and tough exterior, Khantos often lets them down around Cyaro for reasons he isn't completely sure of. He is consistently happy to help Cyaro in the information they desire and the help they need to make sure their friend is in the best place they can be.

Throughout their time in Dexicos their interest in his engineering and academics only strengthened their friendship to Khantos. The introduction and naming of N.O.R was an especially nice moment for him as he rarely lets people name creations of his. Their friendship grew ever-larger with the admission of the 'bad things' he has done in his past that has caused his soul to be condemned to Tartarus, an admission no other has ever heard. Whether this knowledge Cyaro holds will be a threat to his faith remains to be seen but it is something Khantos watches very carefully. Regardless, Cyaro Melithaear to Khantos can easily be described as Loyal, Trustworthy and a true friend

### Ghost

Khantos has warmed up to Ghost over the events of dexicos having spent a lot of time with him inside the faen, researching and having common ground through arcane runes. Although Khantos doesnt always appreciate the intellectual challenge or better abilities he respects Ghosts contributions to the group. The particular conversation in which he called Khantos out for what he did resonated with him, whether good or badly recieved it was good on Ghost for doing it. His newly revealed vampiric abilities are quite interesting to Khantos but he largely does not mind, nor see's it as any offense to the natural world.

### Ayleth (Tiefling)

The love of his life. The life he lost. The person he will never see again.

### Atlas

Khantos' relationship with Atlas has developed dramatically through the campaign. Khantos rarely reached out or spoke to Atlas and only tried to in dire circumstances such as asking for help when protecting Carban and Leoven with the wall of water. This bond grew when he went into the sea to identify the necklace and attempt to communicate to Atlas. It was here he discovered his parents gift to him 'was a set on the lock of Atlas' domain' and with that his religious vigour was reignited knowing he held an object key to the Evergreen's goal. Atlas told him to come to his plane and free him. He spoke to Atlas again after Leoven utilised 'betrayer god' magic to cure him of his madness. It was here he destroyed the unholy magic and revealed Quintus did not seek the same goal Khantos did.

The most recent interaction came in the form of a dream after Khantos was badly injured in Quintus' tower. He dreamed of Atlas' prison where he was told his parents were foolish and aided Quintus believing it would help Atlas. In addition to making Khantos swear on the River Styx to not stray off the divine path. Here his fate and their relationship showed it's true course. Atlas once again aided Khantos after he lost his hand by restoring it through his godly magic. Atlas' Uncle, Oceanus, threatened to turn his monsters on Khantos should he not continue to help Atlas. During his battle against the rival party's paladin, Khantos received the blessing of Atlas that won him the fight.

It was Atlas who told Khantos to go to Dexicos, purposely leading him toward the discovery of the 12 and the path to Hyperion. Atlas did not largely way in on the decision to stop Hyperion but suggested certain faults and issues that would arise should he come back leaving the decision mainly to Khantos himself. Atlas helped Khantos by recharging his staff and giving him important information helping in the final fight with Hyperion. Currently Khantos doesn't have lots of doubts regarding Atlas as he continues to help and guide him when he asks and when is needed. The events of Dexicos has raised some questions within his faith and Khantos continues to evaluate and assess whether his goals are those of Atlas also.

### Parents

Little is known about Khantos' relationship with his parents however most recently he vowed to Atlas they were dead to him due to their betrayal in helping Quintus believing it would help the Evergreen mission. It was revealed that Khantos' father has become an upper-ranking member of Quintus' myth enders and his mother is on the run.

His latest interaction with his estranged father came in the oizos mountains after he secured the second necklace. His father threw him an invitation allowing him and any guests to teleport into the plane known as the Owl's Nest. An act that has Khantos confused on whether his father gave this to him as a way to get to quintus or as a way to lure him and the group to death.