Veyne

You see Lord Veyne of the Xala'shar, an Elven Necromancer.
Twisted flesh reminiscent of a melted candle hangs from the bony protrusions that form the right side of his face. Smooth skin pale as alabaster highlights the delicate features of the other half of his mangled visage, boasting a single ice-blue eye. His waist-length platinum hair is worn straight and loose, though clumps are missing on the mangled side.
He appears to be in his Prime for an Elven, though the blight of necromancy makes it difficult to discern.

On his right shoulder rests what was once a magnificent white-tailed eagle. The only hint of its true form lies in the small patches where ragged feathers cling to its greyish skeleton, revealing its undead nature. Only its predatory eyes remain unmarred, cunning and ever vigilant.

He is holding a wickedly curved sacrificial dagger with a black bone hilt in his right skeletal hand.
He is in good shape.

He is wearing a flayed skin pouch carefully sewn together with waxy-black thread, a patchwork hooded cloak formed from mismatched pieces of skin sewn together with waxy-black thread, some articulated black bone armor carved with a tangle of cryptic sigils, a heavily scratched leather sheath embossed with a faded crest, an ancient flayed skin tome tightly bound in a snarl of black iron chains, a tarnished silver ring hung from a braided leather cord, a worn falconry gauntlet and a pair of rugged dark leather boots covered in rusty streaks.

Background

Veyne was first seen 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.

It may be difficult to identify everyone who has accepted one of Veyne's rings, because some choose not to wear them openly. According to Lukka, one of Veyne's followers, most ringbearers "find it sufficient to carry it and not bear the brunt of wearing it." People that have accepted rings so far include but are not limited to:

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

Some of these people were given additional rings to issue to others under unknown terms. Creast is the first 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.

Shellwind returned her ring to Veyne. She says that she only requested a ring to "to save her marriage with Darkgaze." When the marriage failed, she returned the ring. Shellwind claims that she has not turned her back on Veyne, although there are rumors that she has openly denounced him, and she is no longer banished from Therengia. Shellwind claims to have been sniped by Sebastienne while in Therengia. Sebastienne denies any involvement in the killing, accusing Shellwind of arranging her own assassination.

Manze also wore a ring but returned it for unknown reasons. He was also murdered by Bluewither for publicly denying his acceptance.

Dejoneira returned her ring for unknown reasons and is now allowed in Therengia.