Veyne

Veyne is a mysterious man of unknown race that has appeared around Crossing, Riverhaven and Langenfirth in 389AV. He claims that he was imprisoned by the Dragon Priests and had some kind of disfigurement inflicted upon him by them, which causes him to despise them and seek their undoing, possibly by using their own methods against them. This disfigurement, or one of them at least, seems to be his right arm; it is skeletal and entirely fleshless, yet seems to function like a normal limb, which would indicate some kind of necromancy.

Veyne began approaching people with no apparent link between them and requesting their loyalty and obedience. In return for this, he has offered a variety of things that are seemingly tailored to whomever he is speaking to, including power, knowledge or "answers," the ability to defend loved ones from enemies, the ability to seek vengeance, or the ability to cleanse the world of all that is "vile." Those that accepted his terms and agree to serve him "to the fires of death and beyond" (or beyond the grave, or similar terms) were given a ring:

a polished black stone ring engraved with a worn crest

A tangle of cryptic lettering has been carved into the black stone ring, surrounding the faint image of a screaming skull silhouetted against a pyre writhing flames.

Paladin Guild researcher Oane examined one of these rings and stated that the crest was similar or identical to crests that some Dragon Priests bear. One person reported getting messaging to the effect of a bitter chill racing through their veins as the ring seemed to tremble in their hand as if it was calling them. Therengia also came into possession of a ring.

People that have accepted rings so far include but are not limited to:

• Thoumas
• Lukka
• Darkgaze
• Bluewither
• Vahlissa
• Stolas
• Dejoneira
• Creast
• Skilair
• Manze
• Eladian
• Shellwind
• Snelkant
• Cenedora
• Bedan
• Netherlich
• Ungara
• Sebastienne

Some of these people were given additional rings to issue to others under unknown terms. Creast is the first and only known ringbearer to willingly attempt to give his ring back and renounce Veyne; upon doing so, Veyne threatened him with a sacrificial dagger and removing a scale from his chest. Creast was then dismissed and died a short time later near Langenfirth due to multiple poisons and severe fleshrot. Manze was also murdered by Bluewither for publicly denying his acceptance.