Den Thelyss

Den Thelyss is one of the three ruling Dens of the Kryn Dynasty. Like all Dens, it is a family that an individual may enter upon consecution and is "returned" to in a new life after anamnesis. Most of the Den lives in the Lucid Bastion in Rosohna, and it appears to hold a supervisory role over the Marble Tomes Conservatory. It is led by Deirta Thelyss, and its youngest souls are her sons Essek Thelyss and Verin Thelyss.

Essek and Verin are the only members of Den Thelyss to appear on stream so far. Verin is also described in a "Figure of Interest" entry in the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount and appears in Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep.

Description

Den Thelyss is one of the twelve noble Dens of the Kryn Dynasty and one of its three ruling Dens. As a Den, it is considered a family; individuals may enter into the family upon consecution, and reborn individuals are "returned" to the Den after anamnesis, the process by which a consecuted soul remembers a past life. Essek Thelyss says of consecution, Den Thelyss, and his personal lack of religious faith in the Luxon: "There is an expectation of advancement within the faith to be consecuted. I really do not care for the specific theology behind it, but I was lucky enough and privileged enough to be born within a den to where it was not questioned[.]" Like the other two ruling Dens, it is led by an Umavi, a revered "perfect soul"; the Umavi of Den Thelyss is Deirta Thelyss.

When a new member is welcomed into Den Thelyss, the Den holds an elaborate feast, one staple of which is a stew with herbed dumplings, root vegetables, and the rarest meat the Den's hunters can find, preferably that of the frost worm.

By tradition, each Den manages an aspect of local industry in Rosohna, but it is unstated what Den Thelyss customarily controls. However, it appears to hold a supervisory role over the Marble Tomes Conservatory, as Professor Tuss Waccoh stated any apprentice or intern she takes must be approved by the Den; moreover, the current Umavi, Deirta, seems to have an interest in history. Most of Den Thelyss lives in the Lucid Bastion in Rosohna, though Essek lived elsewhere in the Firmaments and the Den owns other property there as well. Members of Den Thelyss are well-recognized in the city, and traveling with one draws attention.

History

In 833 PD, Essek began working with the Cerberus Assembly in the neighboring Dwendalian Empire. Feeling the Dynasty had misread the Luxon beacons, were not using them to their full potential, and were misusing them to extend their lives, alongside Essek's mistrust of anyone else who may do the research first, he ultimately turned two beacons over to the Assembly in secret. This would eventually culminate in the War of Ash and Light.

Shortly before 835 PD, Verin Thelyss was appointed to govern Bazzoxan, where he maintained martial law due to the constant threat of invasion from the Abyss. At some point before 836 PD, Essek's father disappeared in the labyrinth below Bazzoxan after a dispute with Essek, who stated his father went unprepared as a result of Essek angering him. However, Essek claimed to be unbothered by the situation. Essek's father was apparently presumed dead, but there is possibility he may return and a Luxon beacon is within range of Bazzoxan.

Campaign Two: The Mighty Nein

Essek was present at court when the Mighty Nein arrived in Rosohna and Lythir VaSuun revealed they attacked Dynasty soldiers. After the Nein presented one of the stolen beacons, the Bright Queen Leylas Kryn absolved them of Lythir's accusations in the eyes of the three ruling Dens and assigned Essek to be their steward. Shortly after, in recognition of the beacon's return and the favor performed for Professor Waccoh, the Nein received a home in the Firmaments as a gift from Den Thelyss.

In " Stone to Clay " (2x91), when asked what Den Thelyss thought of halting the attack on Rexxentrum, Essek stated that the Den wants "very much" to see the Dynasty recognized and respected by the rest of Exandria. However, he lamented that the Dwendalian Empire's poor opinion of the Dynasty impedes that.

Shortly after the war ended, rumors circulated that there was an Empire collaborator within the Dynasty, leading to tension between the Dens. The list of suspects correctly included Essek. Seeking distance from Rosohna politics to protect himself, and to buffer himself from possible Assembly assassins, he asked to be sent "far away" and received an assignment managing the Vurmas outpost on Foren. While there, he ventured into Aeor with the Nein to defeat Lucien and the Somnovem, as recounted in " Aeor " (2x132) to " Long May He Reign " (2x140). Though he was uncertain of his future in the Dynasty, Essek returned to managing the outpost and was still there in 837 PD to embark on a research expedition into Aeor with Caleb Widogast. Shortly after, Essek, feeling too scrutinized by the Dynasty, vanished from the outpost to build a life abroad.

Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep

In this adventure, which is by default set concurrent with Campaign Two, Ayo Jabe's adventuring party and a rival party encounter Verin when they travel to Bazzoxan as they seek to learn more about the Jewel of Three Prayers. Verin is aware of agents of the Cobalt Soul, the Allegiance of Allsight, and the Consortium of the Vermilion Dream investigating the Betrayers' Rise at the time.

Campaign Three: Bells Hells

In 843 PD, Caleb persuaded Essek to help Bells Hells collect information on Ludinus Da'leth. Essek, using illusion and the alias Seth Domade, brought them to Astrid Becke, who told them about a potential weak point on Ludinus and about his years-long investigation of the main Aeor crash site. Later, Essek was able to offer some insight into the dunamantic nature of Ashton Greymoore's powers.

Essek accompanied Bells Hells to the Aeor crash site, where they added Braius Doomseed to their number. Together they found and destroyed Dominox and encountered Ludinus, who showed them a recording of the actions of the gods on the day they brought Aeor crashing down from the sky. As Ludinus left, he provoked Delilah Briarwood to the surface to take control of Laudna. After Delilah was suppressed, Essek took the party to his and Caleb's home to work on using the soul anchor that had bound Dominox to trap Delilah in a way that would allow Laudna to control her.

The next day, Essek teleported Bells Hells to Vasselheim but had to leave them when he recognized elements of Kryn leadership at the Platinum Sanctuary.

Four days later, Essek—again disguised as Seth Domade—approached Vox Machina and asked about the Mighty Nein and Bells Hells. He introduced Vox Machina to Verin. Later, Verin and some other Kryn soldiers were with Vox Machina aboard the Key Breaker, and thanks to their combined efforts during its crash landing they reached the ground relatively safely and joined the battle.

Known members

• Deirta Thelyss, Umavi and leader of the Den
  • Unnamed male drow, whom Essek felt "wasn't a great man" and had few ambitions and whom Matthew Mercer described as "very deeply steeped" in Dynasty culture
    • Essek Thelyss, near youngest in the Den
    • Verin Thelyss, youngest in the Den