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Ivan von Musel

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Ivan von Musel was a member of the von Musel family and a cousin of the famous Lady Melanie de Rolo, who created the Third House of Whitestone in his honor.[7]

Biography[]

Ivan was born as a member of the von Musel family, presumably in Wildemount. At some point of his life became a cleric of Erathis, developing divine magical abilities.[8]

As part of his religious formation Ivan spent a year studying in the city-state of Whitestone, ruled by then by his cousin Melanie, after her husband died soon after the 730s PD.[7][9] The dowager Lady de Rolo had been trying to expand Whitestone after a third of it ended up destroyed in the Great Whitestone Fire, occupying land in the Parchwood Timberlands. However, the process had been extremely troublesome, since many accidents took place in the construction, wild animals attacked people, and some talked about visions and phantoms appearing (even claiming to have witnessed the late Lord Wolfe de Rolo himself); only a holy site dedicated to the Dawnfather was respected, with the temple for it being completed without much trouble.[10]

Lady Melanie decided to consulted Ivan about it, and the cleric told her that she must have offended the Lawbearer by expanding Whitestone without showing her due respect as the goddess of civilization. After communicating that conclusion, Ivan spent several days meditating, until he woke up to find that a strange fog had covered the forest outside the city. He left Whitestone and went into the woods, and the next morning, when the fog cleared, he was found wounded but alive, atop the carcass of a huge grey dire wolf which Erathis had sent as a challenge for her follower. Ivan would later explain how, in a vision, the Lawbearer had allowed the city to keep expanding, but only until it reached the spot where he had bested the beast.[11]

Lady Melanie created the Third House of Whitestone as a thank you,[7] and gave Ivan the title of Grand Master of the Grey Hunt, as an incentive for him to stay in the city. In that position, Ivan got the responsibility of managing the city's relationship with the world beyond its walls.[12]

Legacy[]

The function that Lady Melanie bestowed upon her cousin endured even after her removal from power (due to suspected witchcraft and raising of the undead),[13] and the Grey Hunt and its leader continued serving Whitestone. Nowadays the current Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt (and Baroness of the Third House of Whitestone for a time) is Lady Vex'ahlia de Rolo, the wife of Percival de Rolo III.[14][15]

Ivan's bravery dealing with the conflict with the Lawbearer created a precendent for similar problems many years later: for any slight against the goddess of civilization, a citizen of Whitestone must answer the call and go to the Parchwood, where they will be tested. The outcome of said test determines Erathis' current disposition.[16]

Appearances and mentions[]

Trivia[]

  • His name is the Slavic derivation of John, which in turn is the English version of Yehochanan, which means "God is gracious/merciful" in Hebrew.
    • His name shares an etymological origin with that of Johanna von Musel, who could be his descendant.
  • Many clerics of Erathis favor the Knowledge or Order domain.[17]
  • At some point the de Rolos reclaimed the Third House of Whitestone for themselves.[18]
  • Around 802 PD Regae Anders was the Grand Purveyor of the Grey Hunt,[19] although he wasn't very loved.[20]
  • While talking about Whitestone history and its potential for the future, Taliesin Jaffe expressed a great interest in Ivan's story and his connection with Melanie and her late husband.[21]

References[]

  1. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  2. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  3. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  4. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  5. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  6. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 See The Legend of Vox Machina Episodes 10-12 Q&A at 47:49.
  8. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  9. ↑ This assumes 80 years ago from Campaign One, set in the 810s PD.
  10. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  11. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  12. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  13. ↑ See "Family Matters" (1x96) at 0:41:48.
  14. ↑ See "Elysium" (1x104) at 2:45:45.
  15. ↑ See "Heredity and Hats" (1x60) at 54:40.  See also at 1:01:10
  16. ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II, p. 92.
  17. ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 29.
  18. ↑ See "Heredity and Hats" (1x60) at 54:40.  See also at 1:01:10
  19. ↑ See "Jugs and Rods" (1x94) from 2:39:25 through 2:39:52.
  20. ↑ See "Jugs and Rods" (1x94) from 2:39:24 through 2:39:52.
  21. ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: Anxiety Game Gauntlet" (4SDx18) at 1:20:32.

Art:

  1. ↑ Fan art of Ivan von Musel, by Micaerys. Work contributed to the Critical Role Wiki by the artist.
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