Essek Thelyss

Essek Thelyss
Official art of Essek Thelyss, by Ari.
Type	NPC
Actor	Matthew Mercer
Character Information
Pronouns	he/him
Titles	Shadowhand
Also known as	Hot Boi Lord Dezran Thain (Disguise) Archivist Seth Domade (Disguise)
Creature type	Humanoid
Race	Elf (Drow)
Class	Wizard (Dunamancy)
Age	Just over 120 (in 836 PD) 127 or 128 (in 843 PD)
Alignment	Neutral evil (originally) Neutral or Good alignment (currently)
Languages	Common, Undercommon, Zemnian (learning), Elvish[presumed]
Place	Rosohna, Xhorhas
Family	Den Thelyss Deirta Thelyss (mother) Verin Thelyss (brother)
Connections	Kryn Dynasty Cerberus Assembly (former conspirators) Caleb Widogast (dunamancy student, boyfriend, life-long friend) Uraya Hythenos (friend) Mighty Nein (member) Exandrian Accord (allies)
Profession	Shadowhand to Leylas Kryn (formerly)
Status
Status	Alive
Stats
Level	20 (by 843 PD)
HP	>73
AC	≥13
DC	19
Str
Dex	16
Con
Int	22 or 23
Wis	18 to 21
Cha
Appearances
First seen	"In Love and War" (2x57)
Last seen	"Cages" (3x103)
Stream	Campaign Two (37 episodes) Campaign Three (7 episodes) Specials (1 episode)

“

Ludinus: I'm surprised to see such affection from such a previously cold individual.
Essek: Well, I am surprised myself. Maybe you should try friends sometime.

”

– 

Essek explaining himself to the Martinet.

[!h]

Essek Thelyss is a drow wizard and a senior figure in the Kryn Dynasty. As an NPC, Essek Thelyss is played by Matthew Mercer.

Description

Appearance

Official art of Essek Thelyss, by Ari.

Essek is a very handsome male drow who holds his head high. He has very short white hair on the sides that come up to a half curved coif to one side. His eyes are violet-blue. He wears an elaborate mantle and deep purple and black robes that almost entirely obscure his body. Under the mantle, he wears comfortable, sleek, well-trimmed Xhorhasian-styled clothing.

Essek moves in a unique way, described as gliding or drifting. His cloak falls to the floor, obscuring his feet. Although in the Mighty Nein's initial meeting with him, they heard and saw his footfalls as he moved, later Jester peeked below his cloak and saw his feet weren't touching the ground. Once, when he came to the Xhorhaus, the party scattered ball bearings on the floor, which separated out around his form like there was some invisible force pushing them outward and generating a strange force keeping them at bay. At Mythburrow, he left two grooves in the snow behind him as he moved, from his toes. At Matthew Mercer's Stockholm Comic Con panel, he clarified that Essek can walk; he simply chooses not to. Later, the party learned that Essek floats because when he was young, he used it as a means of impressing people and now it has become expected of him.

During the battle with Cree in the tunnels beneath Cognouza, Essek acquired a red eye on his right shoulder blade. He acquired four more eyes during the final battle with Lucien, one of which was on his throat. Upon Lucien's death, all five eyes on his body disappeared.

In 843 PD, given his elven longevity, Essek had barely changed, although his hair was longer, reaching his shoulders.

In disguise

Fan art of Essek as "Seth Domade", by pancakesprince.

When in disguise as Dezran Thain, Essek takes on the illusion of a young, pale-skinned elf with short dirty blonde hair coming to a point at the front. His illusory robes are silver and teal.

When in disguise as Seth Domade, Essek takes on the illusion of a human man in his forties, with shaggy blond-gray hair, a chinstrap beard, and green eyes. He wears big travel clothes, and occasionally puts on glasses.

Personality

Prior to meeting the Mighty Nein, Essek did not get along well with anyone other than his brother and people who were helping him with his interests. He had difficulty trusting people and felt that relationships were an excessive risk.

Essek is quite charming and hardworking; however, he is elusive. He isn't fond of interacting with strangers or giving away information unless he respects the individual or needs them for something. He is arrogant in his abilities. Although he may be concerned about the Mighty Nein, as a person with his training, station, general persona, and how he likes to present himself, he would never openly show that concern.

Essek has expressed frustration with the Dynasty's religious beliefs concerning the Luxon beacons and The Luxon. He feels they are based on myth, interpretation, and assumption, and distract from the effort to pursue the power contained in the beacons. His beliefs cut him off from others of the Dynasty; he does not trust anyone and feels like he doesn't belong. Therefore, he spends much of his time alone.

Biography

Background

Fan art of Shadowhand Essek and Taskhand Verin of Den Thelyss, by @JustHustina.

Essek is a member of Den Thelyss, one of the three main Dens of Rosohna. He told the Mighty Nein he is consecuted, but has not gone beyond his first life yet and is part way into his second century. He in fact refused to be consecuted, though this has not been revealed in-game. He considers that Den Thelyss was very kind to accept one as comparatively young as himself. He holds the title of Shadowhand, granted to spies, mages, or investigators who "focus on the dark mysteries of Exandria" and are specialists in "the dangerous unknown" in fields such as subterfuge or arcana.

Essek has claimed that he believes the worst thing he's ever done is anger his father to the point where he went unprepared into the depths of Bazzoxan and didn’t return. He believed that his father wasn’t a great man and had little aspirations. His mother, however, is the Umavi of Den Thelyss.

Essek has studied dunamancy for most of his life, starting around his thirties.

Campaign Two: The Mighty Nein

Arc 3: The Bright Queen's Favor

Fan art of Essek Thelyss, by @porzio art.

"In Love and War" (2x57)

Essek was in attendance when The Mighty Nein received an audience with the Bright Queen, and returned the beacon to the Kryn Dynasty. When Nott inquired about her husband Yeza's whereabouts, it was Essek as Shadowhand who confirmed that Yeza was in fact in their custody. Before the Bright Queen dismissed the Mighty Nein, Essek was assigned to be their steward while they were potential allies to the Dynasty. Afterwards, Essek took the Nein through the Shadowshire to the Dungeon of Penance where Nott and Yeza reunited. Though coy at first, he did agree to release Yeza after a small interrogation and then continued to show the group around Rosohna, to the Dim's Inn and their new lodgings.

"Agreements" (2x61)

Essek returned to the Nein to show them to their new home, courtesy of Den Thelyss. It was raining, but the raindrops did not touch him, instead falling around him while he remained dry.

Fan art of Essek Thelyss, by Veronica Anrathi (Disarmonia).

"Domestic Respite" (2x62)

Essek dropped by the Xhorhaus and remarked on how the Mighty Nein were settling into their new home. Beau invited him in for drinks, but he declined. After some polite conversation, Caleb asked after ways to learn dunamancy. Essek asked him to demonstrate his magical prowess, and Caleb cast Cat's Ire. Essek then decided to begin teaching him the basics of dunamancy, offering to let him transcribe two spells from his spellbook, Gift of Alacrity and Fortune's Favor.

"Intervention" (2x63)

Essek vouched for the party in their meeting with the Bright Queen sharing information about the upcoming attack on the Ashguard Garrison and the meeting at the Overcrow Apothecary.

Arc 4: Swords and Angels

"Causatum" (2x70)

Essek was present for the Mighty Nein's audience with the Bright Queen following their return from Bazzoxan and said he could transport the group to the Flotket Alps. When Caleb sought him out afterwards, Essek agreed to do what he could to see that the captured Scourger's execution was not accelerated.

"Family Gathering" (2x71)

When the Mighty Nein were ready to leave for the Flotket Alps, they sent to Essek to come to the Xhorhaus, where they introduced Dairon as their house sitter. After a brief mishap, Essek successfully transported them all to the Greying Wildlands.

"Manifold Morals" (2x74)

The Mighty Nein Sent to Essek asking him to Teleport the party to Mythburrow and he agreed. When they returned to Rosohna, he also helped Caleb by using Dispel Magic on the stolen book page, unlocking its contents, and told Caleb he had been able to delay the execution of the Scourger for two weeks. Reani found him very attractive and was overawed and shy around him. Essek then successfully Teleported all of them to Mythburrow.

"Rime and Reason" (2x75)

When Essek moved away, Jester saw that instead of footprints, he left two grooves in the snow from his toes dragging.

"A Tangled Web" (2x77)

Fan art of Essek Thelyss, by Vicious Mongrel.

Essek escorted the party to the Dungeon of Penance to interrogate the captive Scourger, and when she attacked Caleb, Essek used magic to lift her still-living body off the ground and magically crush her central torso inward, killing her instantly and mangling the body. Essek later taught Caleb two new dunamancy spells, Immovable Object and Resonant Echo.

"Through the Trees" (2x79)

Essek transported the party to the Lotusden Greenwood, but there was confusion over their intended target and they then asked him to teleport them further south in an attempt to intercept or get ahead of Obann. He was extremely reluctant. When Caleb placed his hand on his forearm and apologized, he pulled away. However, Essek agreed and teleported the party deeper into the forest. When Beau asked if he was mad at them, he said he was just ready to leave, reiterated that he had not forgotten that the party now owed him a number of favors, and told them to be careful and safe. He exited by casting a spell that sent him flying up through the canopy.

"The Folding Halls" (2x80)

Essek met with the Mighty Nein to discuss the break in that occurred the night before and his work being done researching the Angel of Irons cult.

"Bathhouses and Bastions" (2x90)

Fan art of Essek Thelyss, by Elliott.

The party returned to Rosohna and met with a weary-looking Essek, who told them of the captured Adeen Tasithar, and that Adeen had been being interrogated for two days. Essek agreed to taking a disguised Fjord into the prison to see if he could learn anything further. When the party told Essek they thought Adeen was mind-controlled, Essek went to check if he had a mark on his neck similar to Yasha's. He was insight-checked on his return by Nott, who later told Caleb that Essek seemed "funky".

Sam Riegel later revealed that, on that insight check, Matthew Mercer had whispered that Essek was being weird and was lying about something about the prisoner, and that he was "completely not himself."

"Stone to Clay" (2x91)

Essek accepted the Mighty Nein's invitation to dinner at the Xhorhaus. He was the most open and honest with them he had yet been, removing his floor-length mantle for the first time and explaining to them that he began levitating when he was young in an effort to impress people. He told them a little about his family and asked them about their own goals, sharing his frustration with the religious interpretation the Dynasty puts on the Luxon beacons. Caleb gave him the vial of dunamantic power the party recovered in the cellar of the Brenatto Apothecary in Felderwin. Essek offered to help Caleb with his research into Halas's notes on transforming bodies permanently, and the next day, the party went to Essek's home where he, Caleb, and Nott were successful in creating the Transmogrification spell. The spell ultimately failed because of the lingering curse on Nott.

Arc 5: Family Ties

"With Great Power..." (2x94)

Essek Teleported the party to the Whitedawn Lagoon. After Jester saw him flinching at the bright sunlight, she created a parasol for him using her magic paints. Essek was very grateful and touched by this gesture, and he brought the parasol back to Rosohna with him.

Fan art of Essek, by Eleonora Nascimbeni.

"The Fancy and the Fooled" (2x97)

In Nicodranas, Caleb discovered Essek secretly meeting aboard a ship of the Cerberus Assembly. The Mighty Nein soon confronted Essek, and he confessed that he stole the Luxon beacons from the Dynasty and for research purposes gave the beacons to certain members of the Cerberus Assembly (Ludinus Da'leth and Trent Ikithon, with Vess DeRogna commanding the research), setting off the war. Essek claimed that, when the Mighty Nein returned one of those beacons, he tried to stay close to them to lead them away from the truth, but he grew to care for them. Now that the Assembly had a freshly unearthed beacon, the conspirators were content to return the remaining stolen beacon to the Dynasty and continue studying the new one, sharing their research with him via correspondence. Essek claimed he and his co-conspirators were trying to ensure that "outside interests" did not disrupt the attempt to return the beacon and end the war.

"Dark Waters" (2x98)

The discussion between Essek and the Mighty Nein continued on their ship. Essek confirmed that the plot concerning the beacons had been going on for three years, and urged the party to reveal as little as possible, particularly to Da'leth. He was released by the Nein to resume his disguise as Lord Thain.

"High Seas, High Stakes" (2x99) In his illusory form as Lord Thain, Essek joined the Mighty Nein on the deck of the Balleater in order to observe negotiations between the Dynasty and the Empire.

Arc 6: Weird Magic

"The Tortoise and The Dare" (2x117)

On the island of Foren on Eiselcross, Jester used Sending to contact Essek about their dilemma with the Tombtakers, and it turned out Essek was fortuitously already near Foren, at the mobile Vurmas outpost.

Fan art of Essek in Eiselcross, by saturdaysky.

"A Walk to Warmer Welcomes" (2x124)

The party stayed in touch and met up with Essek at a Kryn Dynasty outpost at the ruins of Aeor. They shared almost everything they knew about Lucien, the Tombtakers, and the Cognouza. They withheld information about the eyes on Caleb's shoulder and Beau's hand. Essek told them he feared his life was in danger from the Cerberus Assembly since he was no longer of use to them and knew too much. He seemed ashamed and could not meet the party's eyes, particularly Caleb's. He suggested a possible link to Aeor for the Luxon beacons and the possibility of using a beacon to manipulate time to "undo mistakes". He urged them to seek more information and help from knowledgeable allies.

"Into the Eye" (2x131)

The Mighty Nein reconvened with Essek. They suggested an alliance with Trent Ikithon, and Caleb and Beau revealed their eye tattoos. Essek was worried that Trent would take the powers of Cognouza for himself, and feared that his own involvement would make the alliance messy. He offered to follow the Mighty Nein and Trent from a distance to give more indirect aid. After a discussion, the Nein decided to ally with Essek rather than Trent. Essek was moved by the Nein's trust, and joined them as they continued their journey.

"Aeor" (2x132)

Essek accompanied the party to the entrance to Aeor, where he gave Dagen a Sending Stone with which to warn the Mighty Nein of the Tombtakers' approach. Essek nervously joined the battle against the frost giant zombies, and later used Ray of Frost to repel the Brown Mold in the Aeorian ruin and carve a path for the party.

"Hunter and Hunted" (2x133)

Essek continued to assist the Mighty Nein, setting one of the Intuit Charges used to trap the Tombtakers. He was invited into the Nein-Sided Tower, where he and Caleb discussed their goals and mistakes. While the party rested, Essek’s rangers alerted him via Sending Stone of the Tombtakers' approach. At Fjord's prompting, Essek ordered the rangers to engage the enemy.

"The Streets of the Forgotten" (2x134)

Essek accompanied the party further into Aeor in pursuit of the Tombtakers. He was wary of Charlie, and warned against trusting anything within Aeor.

"The Genesis Ward" (2x135)

Essek kept watch while Caleb raided the records room in the Genesis Ward, and told him that he was worried about the increasing eye markings on him and Beau. He urged Caleb not to become distracted from their goal.

Later on, the Mighty Nein came across the Rejuvenation Chamber, within which Essek and Caleb sensed dunamis energy. Essek inspected the purple gem on the cylinder marked "Terminal RE 02" and called Caleb over, pointing out that within it appeared elements of space and drifting possibilities, like a smaller, weaker Luxon beacon. Essek then used magic to destroy the damaged cylinder, releasing the diamond-shaped dark purple gem, which he gave to Caleb.

As the party fled downward through the crater, Caleb "showboated" as he Flew past Essek, prompting the latter to also cast Fly and showboat along with him.

Essek in Crit Recap Animated

"Hell or High Water" (2x136)

Essek was fascinated by the Temporal Dock discovered on floor B-9. He found the possibility of changing time and correcting mistakes alluring, though dangerous, and suggested that he and Caleb return later for further study. He successfully escaped the fight with the leviathan guarding the Immensus Gate, traversing the portal to the Astral Sea along with his friends.

"Welcome to Cognouza" (2x137)

As the Mighty Nein explored Cognouza, Essek joined Veth's investigation of one of the buildings. He incinerated a screaming Cognouza resident before it could become a threat.

"Where There Is a Will..." (2x138)

During the battle with the transformed Cree, the fractal patterns flashing across her body made a red eye appear on Essek’s right shoulder blade. When the Mighty Nein were concerned about having no time to rest before facing Lucien, Essek suggested using dunamancy and the crystal from the Rejuvenation device to create a skip in time, granting the group the benefits of a long rest. With Caleb’s help, Essek completed the spell, destroying the crystal and reinvigorating the party.

"Rebirth" (2x139)

As the Mighty Nein prepared for their final confrontation with Lucien, Essek thanked them for trusting him. He was Charmed by Gaudius during the battle, but Caleb freed him with Dispel Magic before he could be forced to harm the party.

"Long May He Reign" (2x140)

Despite being struck by Luctus and wracked with grief for his crimes, Essek continued to fight for his friends and survived the battle with Lucien. He was distressed when the initial attempt to resurrect Mollymauk failed, saying that it was unfair after the Nein had come so far. After Molly was successfully resurrected, Essek returned to the Material Plane with the rest of the Nein.

"Fond Farewells" (2x141)

“

Thank you, Mighty Nein. I could never return the favor... for what you've done for me.

”

– 

Essek saying farewell to the Mighty Nein

[!h]

Essek stayed with the Mighty Nein as they rested in the Blooming Grove. He turned down Jester's offer to paint new clothes for him, though he accepted a new parasol and rose-printed gardening gloves. Though frightened by Trent Ikithon’s arrival and resistance to damage, Essek helped to subdue him. He then spent some time helping in the Clays’ garden. With Trent captured, Essek was free to return to Vurmas Outpost to take care of his responsibilities there, since the Scourgers would no longer hunt him. He decided to travel back by way of Uthodurn and perhaps visit Reani. Essek bid the Mighty Nein a grateful, emotional farewell.

Epilogue

Fan art of Essek and Caleb in Aeor, by Elaine Tipping.

Months later, Essek and Caleb returned to Aeor together. After travelling to the Genesis Ward, they both decided against using the T-Dock to change their pasts. Essek eventually had to leave Eiselcross after the Dynasty began to suspect him, but found ways to make a new life using illusions and multiple false personas. He and Caleb shared a romantic relationship for some time (which started at some point during 837 PD), and a lifelong friendship. Essek stayed in close contact with all of the Mighty Nein. Before 843 PD Essek visited Aeor two more times, and at least once Caleb was with him and took care of the drow when the wild magic of the region temporarily transformed him into a salmon. As of 843 PD, the Dynasty wasn't actively hunting Essek but he was under heavy investigation. For this reason he had established a new persona, the sorcerer Seth Domade, an archivist of the Cobalt Soul who worked with some members of the library and with Beauregard Lionett on a few things. This gradually built an alternative persona that could do things in the world safely.

Campaign Three

Fan art of Essek, by ElesirArt.

"Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94)

In 843 PD, when Bells Hells returned from their scouting mission on Ruidus, they reported to senior commanders of the Exandrian Accord, who assigned them a new mission: to go to Eiselcross and obtain information on the activities of Ludinus Da'leth there. Since the adventurers didn't have a lot of experience in that area, Keyleth of the Air Ashari contacted Caleb, who in turn contacted Essek, since he was available and the human was not. The drow, disguised as Seth Domane, Teleported to the Hellcatch Valley, meeting with Bells Hells, and promising to help them. Once he knew the nature of their mission, he shared with them recent news about the Cerberus Assembly in the Empire, and explained that if they wanted more information they could try to find one of the archmages to interrogate her. After some more conversation (during which the "archivist" showed interest when Imogen Temult mentioned her mother was able to cast Time Stop), they Teleported to Zadash.

Essek and the group headed to a local book store, the Chastity's Nook, and although they had to avoid some guards using Invisibility, they found the place. There, the wizard asked to see an employee, Erma, and when they found her, he gave Bells Hells a signal to restrain her. After a brief but intense struggle and the casting of multiple spells, Essek decided to cast Antimagic Field, preventing anyone from using magic and dispelling both his and Erma's disguises. He presented himself with his real name, as an ally of the Exandrian Accord and an enemy of Ludinus, and then revealed the other wizard's identity as Astrid Becke, Archmage of Civil Influence of the Cerberus Assembly.

"Gathering of Needs" (3x95)

Essek kept his spell on as a safety measure during the interrogation with Astrid, and when his group was satisfied with the information shared about Ludinus and the Assembly, the drow dropped the Antimagic Field, regaining his disguise as Seth. When they left, the wizard let Bells Hells shop on their own, giving them some recommendations and saying that they would meet at the Pentamarket later; Indeed, when the adventurers finished their shopping they found "Seth" waiting for them with street food.

Essek brought the group to The Lodge of the Eclipse, a keep nearby, to spend the night there, and took care of the rooms (using his magic to make sure the owner didn't overcharge them). When a burlesque show started, Essek stayed only because his new companions asked, but stayed in the back of the room, accompanied by Imogen (with whom he talked about the importance of enjoying joyful moments instead of focusing on the suffering), and Ashton; the latter showed the dunamancer the strange crystal in their head, and when they returned to their room Essek examined it very carefully, determining it was dunamantic in origin, and declaring the genasi was an organic source of dunamis, advicing him not to trust anyone with that knowledge. That led him to a conversation about dunamancy, the Luxon, and his regretful collaboration with the Cerberus Assembly, which indirectly led to Ashton gaining his powers; Imogen joked about how that made the drow a father figure for the barbarian, but neither of them seemed to agree. After the adventurers told him that they had seen a Luxon beacon in the Malleus Key at the Red Center, Essek theorized that if he could convince some dunamancers willing to work with him (something difficult, since at the moment he wasn't very liked back in Xhorhas), they could use their combined powers to disrupt the magical relic and the entire device. Shortly after that, Essek went to his own room to hopefully speak with his partner before going to bed, and he left Bells Hells very impressed when he did so by floating.

"Shadows New and Old" (3x96)

The following day Essek woke up early and briefly talked to Chetney outside his room, telling him he intended to bring them to the Kryn outpost he had led years before, and warned the adventurer about the strange magic surrounding Eiselcross and interfering with transportation. The old gnome went to the rest of the group and told them about that, complaining about the drow's attitude, and getting startled when Essek revealed to be just outside the room, listening. The wizard shared some of his own experience with the ruins and their magic and mentioned spells that located objects and creatures would be useful, after which he cast Teleport to bring them to their destination: the first attempt failed and they did not even leave Zadash; the second took them to what Essek recognized as the outskirts of Lyrengorn (in Tal'Dorei); the third took them to the Fortress of the Dead Jarl, and although it was close to their destination, when they saw the frost giant zombies they judged it too dangerous to stay; the fourth, using Essek's last resource, took them to the top of a mountain, and he had to allow Imogen to read his thoughts so she would use her staff and cast Teleport, bringing them to an unknown pine forest near a lake and a city the wizard didn't know about. Resigned, Essek cast Leomund's Tiny Hut and took a four-hour nap to regain energy (briefly interrupted at first when Fearne, who was examining his feet, asked him if he wanted a massage); after waking up and eating some boar bacon, the drow made the sixth attempt to Teleport, taking them to a mountain slope down which they began to slide, and his final attempt (cast almost instantly) finally made them appear in the valley Essek was familiar with.

Fan art of Essek ignored by Bells Hells, by Rann.

The dunamancer guided the adventurers through a cavern that allowed them to access the ruins. On their way there he recognized the remains of the Tombtakers, showing amusement, but then started warning his own group about the dangers of the area, including the brown mold. As they explored Aeor, Bells Hells shared with him an anecdote about similar structures found under the surface of Ruidus (something he showed a great interest in, wanting to talk more about it after their mission), and he in turn, when Imogen asked about wild magic, told them how he had been turned into a fish while exploring those same caverns. Despite Essek's warnings, Bells Hells were very curious and interacted with one of the magical domes with Aeorian citizens inside (him and Ashton theorized the nature of such spellcraft), and after they left (because they had noticed something watching them in the distance) Imogen took a silver chain from a magically slowed undead. The wizard expressed his frustration, and when the adventurers started making excuses he gave up and said that if things got bad he had his own ways of leaving the area; however, shortly after Essek regained some good humor, and when Fearne teased him for interacting with the terrain (moving debris away with magic), he told her that like them, he wasn't physically touching anything. They reached the Genesis Ward successfully, and the wizard answered some of his companions' questions, admitting he didn't know where the Occultus Thalamus was, and confirming to Chetney that he couldn't be found through magic (thanks to his amulet). When they were examining a Ruby Vanguard tent, in which one of the members had gone mad and murdered his companions before killing himself in a ritual, Essek examined the carvings in the killer's chest, but wasn't able to determine the meaning. Shortly after, when a huge monster approached, the group hid, and Essek turned Invisible.

"Ancient Sins" (3x97)

Essek tried to help Bells Hells during combat by casting Gravity Fissure, but he accidentally hit Fearne and Ashton with it too. After the battle, he apologized, and although Fearne was slightly irritated due to the incident, Ashton shared the wizard's excitement about the interaction between their respective dunamantic powers, agreeing to do some researching together in the future. Later, while the group was resting in the ruins of a tower, Essek showed them how the monsters of Aeor interacted with the terrain and among each other, pointing out a strange silver strand-like goo that according to him was probably a non-Aeorian creature transformed by the magic of the ruins. When they reached a pothole the drow helped with his Fly spell so that the entire group could descend safely, and explained that according to a book he and his partner had found on their last trip to Aeor, something connected to the Thalamus might be between the eighth and ninth floor; when Orym showed interest in Essek's relationship, he shared that his partner's name was Bren and that he was a powerful spellcaster and occasional teacher.

As they explored, Essek was very perceptive, noticing the many footprints to tell Ashton that around fifty people had walked those tunnels recently, and explaining the functions and former purpose of specific devices and rooms in the ruins. When they found a chamber filled with corpses, old and new, the wizard lent his brass bracelet to Imogen so that she could Speak with one of the corpses, belonging to a member of the Ruby Vanguard who explained that "Dominox" had caused their death. Although Essek didn't know who that creature was, the adventurers were able to determine that it was a fiend, and the wizard was very shocked when Fearne summoned Teven Klask, a devil, to talk about the subject. Nervous and uncomfortable, Essek summarized the relevant information about their current location to Teven, but beyond that he tried not to attract the attention of the champion.

"The Nox Engine" (3x98)

Essek continued exploring the ruins with Bells Hells and Teven, and when they found a wounded minotaur, Braius Doomseed, and helped him, the dunamancer saw necessary to confirm if they would consider that new person a friend. Shortly after, Essek directed the group's attention to the room where the Nox Engine was located, and before they even entered, Dominox detected them and began talking to them under the illusory appearance of a little girl. As they were going in, it was noted that they should explore the chamber's high ceiling, but Essek argued that although he was able to float, that was very simple magic, and he didn't want to waste a spell actually flying; when Dorian, after hearing this, used his winged boots to do it himself, the drow declared that he respect him for showing off.

When they started fighting the grand demon Essek kept his distance, attacking with a Lightning Bolt, although Dominox wasn't as harmed as he wanted; shortly after, when Ludinus unexpectedly joined the battle, Essek greeted him awkwardly, and decided to focus on the demon, casting Gravity Fissure. After Dominox was killed Ludinus told them that he wanted to talk, and Bells Hells followed him; the dunamancer did so too, although quietly reminding them that he had the ability to take them all out of there, if needed. The archmage guided them to the Occultus Thalamus, where he showed them an orb containing the recorded history of Aeor and its destruction.

"Reconciliation" (3x102)

After watching the fall of Aeor Ludinus and the adventurers argued about their very different conclusions about the gods. Essek stayed silent for their entire conversation, but when Ludinus provoked Delilah Briarwood (Laudna's warlock patron) and used the distraction to run away, the drow asked the group what was the plan. Delilah manifested in spectral form connected to the warlock, and a battle started; Essek, after confirming that the adventurers' priority was to neutralize the enemy (and keep Laudna alive) rather than leaving the ruins, cast Hold Monster against the necromancer, but it didn't work. When the latter noticed Chetney he panicked and asked Essek for help, who cast Haste on him and was immediately transformed into a floating goat because of the wild magic in the area; however, he regain his drow body after one of Delilah's necrotic attacks. After confirming once more that they wanted to stop Delilah, he cast Reality Break, but his target resisted his magic.

After the battle the group talked for a bit, and when Essek got confirmation that Delilah, even defeated, was still alive and connected to her warlock, the drow accepted their idea of using the soul anchor to help, believing he could modify the device for that purpose. He cast Teleportation Circle (hurrying Braius, who was taking too long) and brought the adventuring party to the house he shared with Caleb in Rexxentrum. While slightly ashamed because he hadn't had time to clean up, he made them feel welcome, offering them cookies and tea, and talking to Laudna about her issues; he approved that she was able to admit her problem, and explained to her that if he was successful, the soul anchor would allow the warlock to access the power of her patron without the current issues. Essek got comfortable by changing and putting on one of Caleb's scarfs (which still smelled like him), and talked for a bit with Bells Hells about his partner and Beauregard, when they recognized them in the portraits in the wall. When the wizard asked them who would be willing to help with the process of modifying the soul anchor, other than Laudna herself, Fearne, Imogen, and Chetney showed interest, and the latter sparked Essek's interest, since the magic he used was hemocraft. Shortly after Braius annoyed him questioning his arcane capabilities, and although the wizard didn't express anger outloud, he pranked the paladin by casting Immovable Object on his armor, locking it (with him inside) in space.

"Cages" (3x103)

After Essek explained Laudna the risks of the ritual and organized the other adventurers to help however they could, they prepared to start; he offered the warlock anesthesia, but she refused, showing how malleable her anatomy was (opening her own chest to summon her Hound of Ill Omen) and leaving the drow surprised and slightly frightened. They performed the ritual led by Essek, and although it took a long time and Delilah showed a lot of resistance, thanks to their efforts and the correct modification of the soul anchor (which Essek himself praised) the warlock patron was successfully sealed, and the gem itself was left inside Laudna's ribcage. After the adventurers asked for it the wizard allowed them to celebrate in the house itself, providing wine and conversation, and having fun (except for a moment in which Braius mentioned that his friend Beauregard called him a war criminal in a gift card); he also partook in the debate about deities and its role in Exandria, sharing how non-religious people fought demons in Xhorhas, and theorizing that if the Luxon existed, their divinity was different than that of the main pantheon, thus unattractive for Predathos. When the adventurers played a game involving Ashton's Pipe of Remembrance Essek tried to excuse himself, but Chetney convinced him to stay, and he admitted that it had been a while since his home was that lively; although the drow wasn't very pleased watching the gruesome memories of Braius emanating from the pipe, he showed interest in the minotaur's Xhorhasian origins. When Braius explained that he had come to the Empire being very young Essek decided not to insist, although he revealed that he came from the Kryn Dynasty too, revealing the name of his den, which the paladin recognized. They spoke for a bit longer and Braius painted a portrait of all of them, although when he asked Essek if he wanted to put it with the others in his house, he told the group to keep it (he also hid with a curtain a portrait showing Jester, after learning the minotaur had a personal vendetta against her).

The following day he Identified an Amulet of Cursed Life for Laudna, examined Ashton's head for a little bit longer (further explaining dunamancy to them, promising to do more work together after their mission, and giving them a black marble to use as focus whenever that power became overwhelming), and after taking the appearance of Seth again (confusing Braius), he and the group Teleported back to the camp in the Hellcatch Valley. They found it completely destroyed after an attack, and after Imogen confirmed that Keyleth was alive and in Vasselheim, Essek (after a Vanguard mage failed to Counterspell him) brought them outside the walls of the Dawn City. He accompanied them inside (very curious about the place), and while they were looking for the Platinum Sanctuary Imogen thanked him for all his help; the drow told her that it had not been pure altruism, since he was also trying to redeem himself with his actions, but he still thanked them for being "bastions of goodness", despite their personal complications. When they reached their destination Essek noticed the symbol of the Kryn Dynasty, and realizing that representatives of his country were nearby, said goodbye to Bells Hells and told them they would see each other again, reminding them they had the means to contact him. Before leaving he also told Dorian to be careful, since he was a heartbreaker (which the other adventurers interpreted as flirting).

Relationships

Caleb Widogast

Main article: Relationship between Caleb and Essek

Fan art of Caleb and Essek, by shalizeh7.

Caleb and Essek are lifelong friends, and are romantic partners after the end of the campaign. Their friendship began after the Mighty Nein were assigned to Essek’s stewardship, and Essek agreed to tutor a curious Caleb in dunamancy. A connection soon sparked between them thanks to their shared passion for magic.

Their relationship became complicated after the revelation that Essek had given the beacons to the Cerberus Assembly. However, Caleb saw deep similarities between their mistakes, and encouraged Essek to make amends for his crimes. When they reunited at Vurmas Outpost, Essek showed new regret for his actions, and couldn’t make eye contact with Caleb at all.

The two wizards rebuilt their bond during their time in Aeor, discussing their past sins and working together. Some months after Lucien and Trent were defeated, they returned to the Temporal Dock in Aeor. Essek said he didn’t want to change a thing about his past, since his mistakes had led him to be here with Caleb. Caleb destroyed the T-Dock, and the two later began a romantic relationship. By 843 PD they were still together, and Caleb had been teaching Essek some Zemnian. Moreover, Essek seemed comfortable calling his partner by his birth name, "Bren", in front of others. During this period of their lives the two of them shared a home in Rexxentrum and were apparently very passionate lovers, since all the rooms in the house counted as "sex rooms".

Eventually the two wizards separated due to the differences in elven and human aging, but they remained close friends for the rest of Caleb’s life.

Jester Lavorre

Main article: Relationship between Jester and Essek

Fan art of Jester greeting Essek, by heidzdraws.

Jester and Essek are friends. Soon after meeting Essek, Jester told him he seemed like "a really cool guy" and that she hoped they could be friends. When Essek presented the party with the Xhorhaus, Jester thanked him with an awkwardly long hug.

Jester regularly cast Sending to Essek during the party’s travels, asking for information and assistance. Essek accepted the Uthodurnian cupcake Jester gave him on one visit to Rosohna. He was, however, uninterested in her offer to teach him her own magic, and rejected her request to suspend her a chair in the air.

Jester was "really happy" to have Essek visit for dinner. He was interested in her goals, though he rejected her offers to worship the Traveler or attend her volcano party at Traveler Con, and called her desire to find where she fit in "very noble". Essek was touched and grateful when Jester created a parasol with her magic paint to shield him from the sun after he teleported the party to the Whitedawn Lagoon.

While disguised as Dezran Thain, Essek didn't respond to her offers to attend her mother's performances, flustered when Jester spoke to him and made awkward attempts to avoid her and lie to her. She later held his hand while he confessed to his crimes, though he recoiled from the touch. Later, he refused her requests to deliver fresh pastries or diamonds.

After learning of Essek's presence in Eiselcross, Jester continued to Send him updates on the Mighty Nein's progress, sometimes adding friendly compliments to her messages. She ran to hug Essek immediately on reuniting with him at Vurmas Outpost. Essek was startled and stiff when she hugged him, but told her it was good to see her again. Jester suggested that the party take Essek with them after defeating the Tombtakers and alter his appearance with Transmogrification to protect him from assassins. She was open about still trusting Essek. When Essek joined the party to travel through Aeor, Jester tried to make him feel welcome and included.

When Essek parted ways with his friends after the defeats of Lucien and Trent, Jester promised to cast Sending to him every day. Essek said he would probably welcome her messages.

Verin Thelyss

Fan art of Verin with Essek, by Giulia Valentini (kurocyou).

Verin is Essek’s younger brother. He was the only familial bond Essek had prior to meeting the Mighty Nein, since he alone understood and got along with Essek in a family that Essek was otherwise at odds with. Essek named him as one of the potential allies he would trust to assist with fighting Lucien.

Uraya Hythenos

Starguide Uraya is a goblin friend of Essek's, and, asking around Rosohna, would be one of the few he trusted in his nation. He recommended their help for the Nein's preparations to fight Lucien.

Ashton Greymoore

Ashton and Essek feel mutual appreciation for each other that is based around the former's natural source of dunamancy. The wizard is fascinating by an unique being connected to his subject of study, and the barbarian is pleased by the attention and being found fascinating, as well as by the chance of getting information about his powers.

Character information

Notable items

• Mantle of chitinous armor
• Spellbook
• Two parasols
• Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location
• Warming orb
• Sending stones
• Brass bracelet with a finger bone that allows the wearer to cast Speak with Dead twice per day, a creepy gift from a friend
• A bottle of a mulch-like substance which produces strong localized anesthesia, made by Yeza Brenatto or Veth Brenatto

Home

Essek lived in a gated community within the Firmaments District of Rosohna. His home consisted of three short towers of different heights connected by walkways. At the top of one tower is a weather-vane type mechanism that tracks the shifting ley lines. It is built of grey brick with a slight iridescence to the bricks at the base. Inside the first two-storied tower was a foyer with translucent floating stairs, dusty furniture along the walls, and a door presumably leading to a small kitchen. The air in the foyer smells strangely earthy and herbal with an undertone of electrical fire. Upstairs were some bookcases with a variety of books, a window looking out into the neighborhood, and glass cases holding a couple books and a rod. The adjacent three-story tower is the tallest, and connected by a walkway which leads to an alchemy lab on the middle floor. On the top floor is an arcane lab with runic circle template grooves in the stone flooring.

Abilities

Essek is a self-proclaimed "prodigy" of dunamancy who displays an unprecedented talent for the manipulation of dunamis energy and a graviturgist, a person who specifically focuses in dunamancy's study of gravity, but also specializes in time magic and studying the ability to control one's future. His spellbook is apparently kept in a pocket dimension, and apparates into a hand when needed. Essek's demonstrated abilities and limitations make him a 15th- or 16th-level wizard, and has abilities consistent with both the Graviturgy Magic and Chronurgy Magic subclasses.

Miscellaneous abilities

• Essek can magically levitate a few inches above the ground at will. This doesn't impede his ability to move across the ground, as the spell Levitate would, but is seen to repel ball bearings when he passes over them. It is also noted to not work over bodies of water. It is described as a "hovering cantrip" by Essek himself.
• Essek falls slowly, similar to the effects of Feather Fall.
• Essek can deflect rain around his form.

Elf abilities

Official art of Essek mini in winter gear, by Eldritch Foundry and Ian Phillips.

• Darkvision
• Keen Senses
• Fey Ancestry
• Trance
• Subrace: Drow
  • Superior Darkvision
  • Sunlight Sensitivity
  • Drow Magic
    • Dancing Lights cantrip
    • Faerie Fire spell
    • Darkness spell

Feats

• War Caster

Wizard abilities

• Arcane Recovery
• Ritual Casting
• Spellcasting (Intelligence-based ability)

Essek has a mix of features from the Graviturgy and Chronurgy traditions of dunamancy.

Graviturgy abilities

• Adjust Density

Chronurgy abilities

• Arcane Abeyance

Wizard spells

Fan art of Essek casting Magic Missile, by Kiyoko.

Fan art of Essek casting Haste, by Giulia Valentini (kurocyou).

Spell level	Spell	Notes
0 (cantrip)	Hovering	Essek created this graviturgic effect himself, and it became somewhat his signature spell, to the point where people expected him to be always using it
0 (cantrip)	Fire Bolt
0 (cantrip)	Mage Hand[presumed]
0 (cantrip)	Minor Illusion
0 (cantrip)	Prestidigitation
0 (cantrip)	Ray of Frost
1st	Detect Magic
1st	Disguise Self
1st	Gift of Alacrity
1st	Identify
1st	Magic Missile
1st	Magnify Gravity
2nd	Detect Thoughts
2nd	Fortune's Favor
2nd	Hold Person
2nd	Immovable Object
2nd	Misty Step
2nd	See Invisibility
2nd	Suggestion
2nd	Wristpocket[presumed]
3rd	Dispel Magic
3rd	Fly
3rd	Haste
3rd	Leomund's Tiny Hut	The dome's amber color is probably a reference to Caleb's usual version of the spell
3rd	Lightning Bolt	When he casts the spell, the electricity is dark and purple
3rd	Sending
4th	Confusion
4th	Gravity Sinkhole
4th	Leomund's Secret Chest
4th	Private Sanctum[presumed]
4th	Resonant Echo
5th	Hold Monster
5th	Scrying
5th	Seeming
5th	Telekinesis[presumed]
5th	Teleportation Circle
6th	Gravity Fissure
7th	Teleport
7th	Tether Essence
8th	Antimagic Field
8th	Reality Break

From the Eyes of Nine

During the Nein's fight with a mutated Cree, Essek was exposed to the "Pattern" of the Somnovem. Over time, he ended up with unnatural boons bestowed by the red eyes. These abilities disappeared with the eyes after Lucien's final defeat.

• First eye: Mild telepathy with others bearing eyes (120 feet) - unused
• Second eye: Darkvision - unused
• Third eye: Ability to see through illusions - unused
• Fourth eye: Ability to see into the ethereal plane - unused
• Fifth eye: Ability to scry into the "eye" of another - unused

Appearances and mentions

• Campaign Two
  • "In Love and War" (2x57) (first appearance)
  • "Agreements" (2x61)
  • "Domestic Respite" (2x62)
  • "Intervention" (2x63)
  • "Chases and Trees" (2x65), via Sending
  • "Beneath Bazzoxan" (2x66), mentioned only
  • "Causatum" (2x70)
  • "Family Gathering" (2x71)
  • "Clay and Dust" (2x72)
  • "Uthodurn" (2x73), via Sending
  • "Manifold Morals" (2x74)
  • "Rime and Reason" (2x75)
  • "A Tangled Web" (2x77)
  • "Between the Lines" (2x78), via Sending
  • "Through the Trees" (2x79)
  • "The Folding Halls" (2x80)
  • "Unwanted Reunions" (2x88), mentioned only
  • "Bathhouses and Bastions" (2x90)
  • "Stone to Clay" (2x91)
  • "Home is Where the Heart Is" (2x92)
  • "With Great Power..." (2x94)
  • "The Fancy and the Fooled" (2x97), disguised
  • "Dark Waters" (2x98)
  • "High Seas, High Stakes" (2x99)
  • "The Tortoise and The Dare" (2x117), via Sending
  • "Solace Between the Secrets" (2x118), via Sending
  • "Ice and Fire" (2x121), mentioned only
  • "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" (2x122), via Sending
  • "Fair-weather Faith" (2x123), mentioned only
  • "A Walk to Warmer Welcomes" (2x124)
  • "Cat and Mouse" (2x128), mentioned only
  • "Into the Eye" (2x131)
  • "Aeor" (2x132)
  • "Hunter and Hunted" (2x133)
  • "The Streets of the Forgotten" (2x134)
  • "The Genesis Ward" (2x135)
  • "Hell or High Water" (2x136)
  • "Welcome to Cognouza" (2x137)
  • "Where There Is a Will..." (2x138)
  • "Rebirth" (2x139)
  • "Long May He Reign" (2x140)
  • "Fond Farewells" (2x141)
• Campaign Three
  • "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94)
  • "Gathering of Needs" (3x95)
  • "Shadows New and Old" (3x96)
  • "Ancient Sins" (3x97)
  • "The Nox Engine" (3x98)
  • "Reconciliation" (3x102)
  • "Cages" (3x103)
• Specials
  • "The Mighty Nein Reunited Part 2" (Sx74)
  • "The Mighty Nein Reunion: Echoes of the Solstice" (Sx79), mentioned only

Quotations

Essek's Munchkin card

• "The Luxon is the basis of how we've been able to free ourselves from the binds of the lineage the Betrayer Gods left for us and to carve our own fates, choose our own paths and sidestep these destinies placed upon us nonchalantly by gods that use us as playthings." (Essek explaining the significance of the Luxon to Dunamis power)
• "Time is one of my specialties." (When asked why he isn't affected by the dunamantic time distortion in the Dungeon of Penance)
• "I think religion is a....I would say a crutch to some spaces. I mean the Dynasty is so focused on this Luxon, this religion, and the possibility of what it means, but it's distracting them from what other good things they could do with the time and focus, maybe."
• "The Dynasty-- I've lived here my entire life, and while there are benefits and there are other places that are much more challenging to live in, I find it frustrating at times. I find that the obsession with this Luxon entity belies what the truth may be, that these artifacts, I theorize, have nothing to do with a divine being but are just perhaps artifacts designed in the Age of Arcanum that have been misread. In which case, it is being misused or at least only the surface has been scratched of what's possible. So. My interests leave me not trusting anyone, not feeling like I, in some ways, belong. And as such, I spend a lot of my time in solitude."
• "Maybe you should try friends sometime." (explaining himself to the Martinet)
• "I've never really been trusted and so I did not trust. And I never let anyone close. I have been clouded in my judgment many times for a lot of my life. When I- when you gave me trust, it gave me a perspective that was so agonizingly striking. So easy to see that I refused to acknowledge it at first, even. I would be lying if I said that our paths crossing hasn't shaken me to the core. And I'm appreciative." (explaining how the Mighty Nein have changed him)
• "I spent my entire life studying the intent to not let things like this happen to chance." (Essek's response to the unsuccessful ressurection of Mollymauk.)
• Essek: What have you done? This world was so much easier when it was black and white.
  Beau: But it's so much more beautiful in all the shades of colors.
  Essek: Thank you, Mighty Nein. I could never return the favor... for what you've done for me.
• "I have spent my life in the pursuit of the ability to control one's future, and that path has led me to making many mistakes. And my shift begin to wander the possibility of fixing one's past, and since we found this, I've thought of it often. A possibility of retracing one's lifeline. Adjusting things. But such pursuits are selfish. For the more you understand time, understand you cannot see the ramifications of changing such things. Were I have found this before I found you, perhaps I may have done some incredible, terrible things with it. But I accept my regrets, my faults now, and I'm here today with this knowledge, in this moment with you, because of those mistakes. And as much as they hurt me, I don't want to change a thing." (spoken to Caleb in the T-Dock chamber in Aeor)

Trivia

Essek's depiction in the animated opening

• Essek's favorite foods are simple soups and stews.
• Essek created the spell Resonant Echo.
• Essek has been confirmed to be both attracted to men and either demiromantic, demisexual, or both by Matt Mercer on Twitter.
• Essek appeared on a card in the Critical Role release of the Munchkin tabletop game, although his surname was misspelled "Theyless". The misspelling has been corrected in more recent editions.
• Essek has the highest intelligence score out of all the members of the Mighty Nein (including Caleb).
• The ninth floor of Widogast's Nascent Nein-Sided Tower is inspired by his dunamancy lessons with Caleb.
• During the events of "The Mighty Nein Reunion: Echoes of the Solstice" (Sx79) Trent Ikithon threatened to reveal to the Bright Queen that Essek had been working with the Cerberus Assembly during the war, but it is unclear if Leylas was still unaware of this information at the time, as Trent had spent the last seven years locked up and isolated and perhaps didn't know how informed the drow ruler was.
• During a charity fundraiser after the Campaign, Matthew Mercer was asked to relate an anecdote from Essek's childhood. His response, in character as Essek, was: "Well, in certain childhoods, it can grow a bit... challenging having a brother. Especially one who is a bit rambunctious and does not necessarily appreciate your studious studies. So, when you go to read to yourself silently in the morning, before-- not playing with the children that avoid you in various open play spaces, and you find that your study book has been filled with jam, it's a bit frustrating. And when you find out, or assume, that it is your brother Verin who did so, and you go and tell him, 'Please, do not put jam into my books,' and he turns to you and says, 'Well, that wasn't me. That would be ridiculous. What do you think? That's so funny nyah nah nah.' I still hate him. I still-- I don't really hate him. He's sweet, and a bit misguided. But nevertheless, I think back to that, and to this day, I realize that that was where I began my appreciation for jam. Not that I like the flavor, but because it reminds me of my brother. We've been apart for some time, so when I have the opportunity, I will thank him for it."
  • In a different moment of the same video, Matt spoke a bit as Essek describing his accent and personality, and stating that after the events in Campaign Two he's thinking about his past and possibly picking up knitting.
• For Matt, Essek and Allura Vysoren would be the closest to the PCs he would make for him to play on a longer period of time and also because they became overtime Matt's self-insert in the campaigns when they show up.
• Essek is the fourth member of the Mighty Nein to appear in Campaign Three, following Beauregard Lionett, Caleb Widogast and Jester Lavorre.
• As of 843 PD, Essek is still on the run from the Kryn Dynasty. since they are investigating him, using illusions and fake identities to hide, the most recent being Archivist Seth Domade, a sorcerer, created with Beau's help.
  • It is possible that the reason why he pretends to be a sorcerer is that the members of that class can present unusual abilities due to their innate source of magic, and under that assumption his dunamancy wouldn't look that suspicious.

Screenshot of Essek crying so that Baldur can be resurrected, by Destripando la Historia.

• Essek Thelyss made a cameo in Destripando la Historia ("Gutting the Story" in Spanish), a very popular series of videos created by Pascu and Rodri and their team in which they tell the origins of different tales and legends through animations and parody songs. In their video about Baldur, the Norse god, Essek was among those who cried so that Baldur could be resurrected.
  • This cameo mirrors in a way his reaction in Campaign Two when Caleb was trying to resurrect Mollymauk Tealeaf.

Art gallery

For more images, see Category:Images of Essek Thelyss.

Essek Thelyss, by Minttu Hynninen.

Fan art of Essek Thelyss, by Rammaru.

Fan art of Essek with one of the miniature rejuvenation beacons, by saturdaysky.

Fan art of Essek, by Giulia Valentini (kurocyou).

Fan art of Essek, by Cristina Anaya.

References

Art: