Dairon is an elf monk working for the Archive of the Cobalt Soul, a library in Zadash. Her monk archetype is the Way of the Cobalt Soul, published in Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting. As an NPC, Dairon is played by Matthew Mercer.
Description
Appearance
Fan art of Dairon, by Nguyen Minh Hieu.[art 2]
When Dairon first appeared, they were hooded and wearing baggy grey pants. All Beauregard could see of them was a thin, muscular figure, neither particularly masculine nor feminine, and dark skin.[11] Dairon later lowered their hood to reveal elvish features and a bald head.[12]
Personality
Dairon is very direct and blunt. They maintain focus despite distractions.[13] They are committed to the Cobalt Soul and willing to die to accomplish a mission.
Biography
Background
"Disparate Pieces" (2x04)
After Archivist Xenoth's failure to find Beauregard and return her to the Archive of the Cobalt Soul in Zadash, Expositor Dairon pursued and found the wayward monk in Trostenwald. After earning Beauregard's respect by easily outclassing her in unarmed combat, Dairon taught Beauregard to use the third-level "Extract Aspects" ability from the Way of the Cobalt Soul archetype for the monk class.[14]
"A Favor in Kind" (2x16)
Beauregard trained with Dairon at the Cobalt Soul in Zadash.[15]
"Homeward Bound" (2x48)
Jester Lavorre, at Beauregard's behest, cast Sending to find out Dairon's status. Dairon claimed they were recovering from injuries in Bladegarden.[16]
"Cornered" (2x53)
Dairon saw the Mighty Nein enter the Four Corners tavern while they were disguised as a drow. They stared at Beau, but rebuffed Beau and Fjord's attempts to talk to them. When Beau entered the fighting pit with Jester, Dairon entered as well. After Jester and the ogre went down, Dairon narrowly won over Beau. Dairon claimed the money, jade, and diamond from the fight, but indicated to Beau that they wanted to speak. Once Beau, Jester, and Frumpkin followed them into a shack outside of the bar, Dairon dropped their disguise and gave Jester back the diamond. They revealed that they had lied in an attempt to keep Beau in the Dwendalian Empire and asked if the group could share notes.
"Well Beneath" (2x54)
Beau introduced Dairon to the rest of the Mighty Nein. They told them they were looking for someone who was kidnapped because he was studying Dunamancy with the Cerberus Assembly. Dairon told them that they are in Asarius investigating a possible connection between the Assembly and the Kryn Dynasty. They suspect the Assembly is aiding the Kryn. Upon their return to the Empire, they hope to use what they find to destroy the Cerberus Assembly. Beau warned Dairon that Lady Olios knows a spy is operating out of the Four Corners. Dairon said they will be leaving Asarius soon for Ghor Dranas. They became suspicious when Caduceus and Jester talk about sending them messages and meeting up in Ghor Dranas even after they told them they are going to work alone. Beau asked the group to give her and Dairon some time to talk alone.[17]
Beau angrily asked why Dairon keeps writing her off. Dairon responded that they are not writing Beau off, they are writing the others off. They warned Beau not to get too close to the Mighty Nein, but Dairon trusts Beau's judgement. If Beau believes they are trustworthy, Dairon believes they are. They may be open to meeting again in Ghor Dranas, but they will not go with them or help them get there.[19]
Later that night, Beau and Dairon met again for training. After a brief sparring match, they taught Beau the Way of the Cobalt Soul ability Preternatural Counter. Beau gave Dairon a copy of Avantika's cipher so the two of them could write coded messages to each other using it. Dairon left Beau with the parting instructions "Listen", "Be Patient", and "Stay Alive".[20]
"Family Gathering" (2x71)
"Manifold Morals" (2x74)
The Mighty Nein teleported from Uthodurn to Rosohna to request Essek's assistance in getting them to a white dragon's lair. Beau introduced Reani to Dairon. Dairon said they hated the housekeeping cover but was still able to keep up with some detective work. When hearing that the group was going after a dragon, Dairon told Beau to run if things go bad. Beau said she could not abandon the Mighty Nein. Dairon responded that Beau needed to make her friends run with her and repeated the advice from Asarius to survive.[21]
Relationships
Beauregard
Dairon sees Beau as an apt pupil and believes her rebellious nature is a boon. They are impressed by how quickly Beau has grown since their first meeting. However, they think Beau is rash and needs to learn patience.[22] Dairon has said they believe Beau has great potential and is concerned for Beau's well-being.[23]
Character Information
Notable Items
Abilities
Monk Abilities
- Deflect Missiles
- Evasion
- Extra Attack[26]
- Ki
- Ki-Empowered Strikes
- Martial Arts (1d8)
- Monastic Tradition: Way of the Cobalt Soul
- Extort Truth
- Extract Aspects
- Mind of Mercury
- Mystical Erudition
- Preternatural Counter[29]
- Purity of Body
- Slow Fall
- Stillness of Mind
- Stunning Strike[30]
- Tongue of the Sun and Moon
- Unarmored Defense
- Unarmored Movement[31]
Quotations
- "We wade in the filth of society, we weed out the corrupt, we pursue the secrets and evils of the world and expose them to the light, we twist the arm of the unjust until they spill their mysteries, we are the spies, we are the hunters, we are the watchmen to those who rule, we are not kind, we are forthright, we are truth."[32]
- "Do what you must. Travel the world. Use what I've taught you, learn about injustice. Those you don’t trust, follow them, bend them. Make them tell the truth and admit their guilt. Find wherever corruption is, root it out and let the system do its job. And if the system isn’t doing its job, destroy the system." (parting instructions to Beauregard)[33]
- Dairon: "No one has to see what you're doing if it's good, as long as it's doing good. Do you think anyone cares about the things I've done? I've done many things, not many I'm proud of, but they have served the goodness of others. They have enabled many people who could not defend themselves in the Empire to survive and improve. I do not do this for accolades. I do this because I serve a purpose of a better world for those who cannot defend themselves. Can you serve that purpose?"
Beau: "I can try."
Dairon: "Then do not wait for them to see what you do that is good. Just know that you've done good, and hope you live long enough to see the impact it has."[34]
Trivia
- Dairon uses both she/her and they/them pronouns.[35]
References
- ↑ See "Family Gathering" (2x71) at 1:01:57. Dairon mentions that they are in their second century.
- ↑ See 9x04 at 2:31:05. Expositor Dairon said she would return to Zadash, where the Archive of the Cobalt Soul is located.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53) at 3:08:44. Dairon's attack modifier is +9. Since her DEX modifier is +4, her proficiency bonus is +5, putting her level between 13 and 16. Given her lack of proficiency in Constitution saving throws, she is level 13.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53) at 3:19:46. Dairon sustained 94 hit points of damage during her fight at the Four Corners and remained conscious with 2 hit points remaining.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53). 18 is Dairon's minimum AC assuming she has no magic items, given the math (10 plus Dairon's DEX modifier of +4 and her WIS modifier of +4). However, a 19 to hit from Beau met or exceeded Dairon's AC.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53). Dairon's proficiency bonus is +5 and her WIS modifier is +4, putting her DC at 17.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53). Dairon rolled three critical hits, which would involve doubling the dice (even result) and then adding Dairon's Dex modifier. Each critical hit resulted in an even amount of damage, meaning Dairon's Dex modifier would have to be even as well, in this case a +4.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53) at 3:05:35. Dairon has a +2 Constitution saving throw, and monks do not have proficiency in those until level 14.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53) at 2:50:05. Dairon has a +4 Wisdom saving throw, and monks do not have proficiency in those until level 14.
- ↑ See 9x04 from 2:31:49 through 2:32:12.
- ↑ See 9x04 from 1:22:10 through 1:23:55.
- ↑ See 9x04 from 1:57:25 through 1:58:10.
- ↑ See "Well Beneath" (2x54) at 27:34.
- ↑ See 9x04 at 2:29:48.
- ↑ See "A Favor in Kind" (2x16) at 3:36:33.
- ↑ See "Homeward Bound" (2x48) at 3:08:39.
- ↑ See "Well Beneath" (2x54) from 26:34 through 37:49.
- ↑ See "Well Beneath" (2x54) at 41:34.
- ↑ See "Well Beneath" (2x54) from 37:49 through 45:11.
- ↑ See "Well Beneath" (2x54) from 1:49:02 through 2:01:53.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) from 4:02:30 through 4:05:03.
- ↑ See "Well Beneath" (2x54) at 40:42.
- ↑ See "Well Beneath" (2x54) at 38:40.
- ↑ See "Well Beneath" (2x54) at 44:41.
- ↑ See "Well Beneath" (2x54) at 2:00:22.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53) at 2:46:27. Dairon uses 2 attacks on her turn
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53) at 2:47:30. Dairon uses Flurry of Blows
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53) at 3:16:33. Dairon uses Patient Defense.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53) at 2:44:21. Dairon uses Preternatural Counter to attack as a reaction.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53) at 2:44:40. Dairon uses Stunning Strike.
- ↑ See "Cornered" (2x53) at 3:16:40. Dairon runs along a wall, consistent with the improved version of Unarmored Movement.
- ↑ See 9x04 from 2:18:48 through 2:19:04.
- ↑ See 9x04 from 2:31:49 through 2:32:12.
- ↑ See "Well Beneath" (2x54) at 41:34.
- ↑ See Matt's tweet about Dairon's pronouns.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Dairon, by Jinjidraws (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Dairon, by Nguyen Minh Hieu (source). Used with permission.