Kelan Gaines

Beneath the lavish trappings and refined demeanor of Kelan Gaines lies a man of calculated precision and power. He navigates the corridors of influence, always listening, always observing.

Mothrook Goathelm may seem like a simple exploration company, but in truth, it is a cog in Grandmaster Rathe’s vast network of spies, smugglers, and informants—an extension of his will, an instrument of control.

And Kelan Gaines? He is its sharpened edge.

At the table of the Conclave Arcana, he is nothing more than a lackey—albeit an affluent and well-spoken one. A representative of yet another exploration company hired by Archmagess Portia Nyr. Or so they believe.

But in reality, Kelan is a powerful necromancer. And his amulet? Identical to Rathe's, given only to the grandmaster's most trusted. But instead of a heliostone, Kelan's contains the flesh of an ancient wyrm. Through study and devotion, he has mastered not only death, but dragon magic as well.

So he listens as Portia unveils her plan: to scour the seven territories for the secret of Praetoria and claim it for her own dark ambitions.

“And what, exactly, is this secret?” a representative from Gobson Wagontech asks. But Portia only sneers and ignores him.

Kelan remains silent, nodding at all the right moments, lifting his brow in practiced approval. But inside, his thoughts churn. When the meeting is over, he will send word to Grandmaster Rathe, who most certainly will not sit idle and let the conclave claim the secret—whatever it might be—for their own.

No, Kelan knows the grandmaster will inform the Riftwatchers. And they, in turn, will call upon Praetoria’s splinters.

And what then? City-states, kingdoms, empires—they're too busy rebuilding after the rebellion. Few, if any, will spare more than a handful of warriors. But if not them, who?

As Portia assigns her mages their surveyors, underlings, and mercenary escorts, Kelan thinks he knows exactly who can stop them.

He nods. He lifts his brow. And he waits for the coming storm.