Reilora

Reilora
WizKids concept art of four types of Reilora, by Tyler Walpole.
Biological Information
Type	Humanoid
Subraces	Thought Eater Hex Mind Juggernaut Shrike
Abilities	Can tether themselves to Ruidusborn and appear in their dreams Telekinetic Shove
Physical Characteristics
Lifespan	Less than four centuries
Distinctions	Crimson Some are solid flesh, others are pure energy
Sociocultural Information
Also known as	Reiloran Moon folk Ruidian
Planes	Material Plane
Locations	Ruidus
Notable members	Sivaana (Hex Mind) Zhesh (Shrike) Gaz Tomo (Juggernaut) Rashinna

Reilora (pronounced /ˌraɪˈlɔrə/) or reilorans are crimson entities who inhabit the red moon Ruidus, born in the image of Predathos.

Description

Official art of a crimson shade, by Bree Williams.

The reilora originally appeared in different forms, some appearing to be solid flesh while others were purely energy, but always pure crimson. Some were made of semi-transparent wisps of red energy, in the shape of a not-fully-present humanoid with an elongated head stretching backward. They had long arms and long fingers tipped in claws, broad shoulders, and long necks. No features were visible, just two pale glows where the eyes would be. The reilora seen by Fearne Calloway while Scrying on Ira Wendagoth was non-ethereal, a muscular humanoid with deep red, oddly-textured skin.

Fan art of Reilora concepts, by aFallenWolf.

When Imogen Temult summoned a reilora to show to Keyleth, the creature was more defined than had been seen previously. It had a tall, thin humanoid body covered in deep red skin that revealed striations around major muscles, long arms darker in color, and silvery veins. It wore a sleeveless robe and was adorned with multiple rings and chains. The back of its head was elongated into three points curling upward: one on each side and a large central one, all wrapped in more chains. The face was now visible and pointed in front, resembling a shark with dark eyes that flashed purple, nose slits, and a small mouth with pointed teeth. It appeared to float on a mist of energy.

Allura Vysoren stated that the reilorans guarding the site of the Malleus Key following the Apogee Solstice were able to defend it through their innate capability to diminish some divine magics such as that utilised by the surrounding forces of Vasselheim. The reilora present in the Red Center included shrikes, juggernauts, and thought eaters.

Some reilora exhibited some level of sexual dimorphism, with a specific Hex Mind summoned by Imogen being identified as female by her bone structure and her divided crest.

Beyond the usual signs of aging (such as wrinkles), the age of a reilora could be determined by its crest (which is shorter in young people) and the skin hue (which becomes greyish in old people, losing the intensity of the reds and purples).

The basic traits of the Reiloran anatomy seem to look like the original appearance of Predathos.

Abilities

Although most reilora appear to be telepathic to one degree or another, not all are. All reilora born within the city of Kreviris are required to be brought immediately to the Arx Creonum (a citadel within the Prime Pillar of the city) to be marked by the insertion of an organic implantation in the back of their heads, which allows their minds to be inhabited at any time by a member of the Weave Mind; this piece of psychic bioengineering can be removed, however.

Reilora have an innate ability that suppresses certain forms of divine magic (such as healing) nearby called Dampen Divinity, which they can opt to use as a reaction against a creature being healed, reducing the amount of healing by half.

Types of reilora

After the Battle of the Red Center, Leeta stated that there were at least three identified variants: those who were hulking in appearance, those who moved very quickly, and those who seemed to be "between realms".

Reiloran Hex Mind

Sivaana, the hex mind reilora summoned by Imogen in Whitestone Castle, wore jewelry on its elongated head and long robes. It participated in the battle against the ghosts.

• Mind Spike: On a failed Wisdom save, the target takes 3d8 psychic damage and half that on a success.
• Telekinetic Shove: As a bonus action, if a creature fails a Strength save, it is pushed or pulled 5 feet.

Reiloran Juggernaut

Main article: Reiloran Juggernaut

Juggernauts are the tallest and most massive of the reilora. They rely on strength and massive hit points in battle.

Reiloran Shrike

Main article: Reiloran Shrike

Shrikes are thin and lithe, attacking quickly with the spike-like blades that extend from their gauntlets, thrown chains ending in foot-long hooked blades, or psychically controlled glass swords.

Reiloran Thought Eater

Main article: Reiloran Thought Eater

Thought Eaters are ethereal, floating beings whose abilities are based almost exclusively in telekinesis and telepathy. Reiloran Thought Eaters may be an Imperium subset of Reiloran Mystics.

History

According to Ruidian mythology, reilorans, like the bormodos, were carved from the rock of the moon and shaped by The One Who Sleeps, Predathos. Originally, all reilora were of one form, but when the Weave Mind came into power, during an age of prosperity in which they subjugated the other Ruidian races, they began altering their physicality over generations through genetic engineering, and developed the juggernauts "as well as the many other deviations of the standard reiloran physicality", prioritizing and enhancing specific skills in each case and allowing other skills to be lost. The Weave Mind's psychic powers helped them interact with their environment and control other creatures, and eventually they created a political faction, the Imperium, as well as a city, Kreviris, at some point before 343 PD. They expanded, taking control over other regions and settlements, and their government kept the population connected with Predathos through dreams.

At some point, some reilorans started to interact with Exandrians born during the flares of the red moon. The Exaltant Ruidusborn in the Omen Archive project were the first to speak of them as a collection of crimson entities they met within their shared dreams of a red storm on the surface of Ruidus. The reilora were first believed to be purely dream creatures, although some appeared to be solid flesh while others were purely energy. They spoke without words and in riddles, with images and emotions, and asked for "alliance or subversion". According to Kadija Sumal, some of the creatures seemed to be friendly. She described them as intelligent and alien, and always crimson as the landscape around them. "Some enticed with promise, others intimidated or demanded the dreamer. Others still brought empathy and comfort." The dreamer was unable to control which entity they communicated with, however, with the more aggressive beings seeming to progressively take over.

The members of the Grim Verity involved in the project theorized that the occasional flares of the red moon Ruidus were a way for the reilora to connect or tether themselves with Ruidusborn Exandrians. Liliana Temult was one of the very connected who could communicate with the reilora. The researchers pulled back from further study of these creatures, since they were unsure of the reilora's motives or morality.

Fan art of Imogen summoning a reilora, by Elaine Tipping.

Imogen Temult's spell Summon Crimson Shade summoned a reilora to do her bidding, although Imogen apparently did not realize at first that was what the creature was. During later summonings, she specified she was calling a Thought Eater reilora and a "Hex Mind" reilora, later calling the same kind to open a locked room in Whitestone Castle.

During the Battle of the Red Center at the beginning of the Apogee Solstice, the Air Ashari saw reilora (later said to be aligned with the "Imperium") appear in order to protect members of the Ruby Vanguard. The ones witnessing this event (such as Leeta) confirmed that the creatures bled when wounded. When Fearne Calloway Scryed on Ira Wendagoth some days later, she found him on Ruidus, conversing telepathically with a non-ethereal reilora.

Imogen summoned a reilora to show Keyleth and questioned it, asking where it was from and how many there were, but it was evasive, saying that it wanted only to serve her until her binding was done. When she asked its name, she received a vision of a pale grey flower bearing a cut sapphire within its center, jingling like a bell in the wind. Imogen asked if it was happy about the recent events, and saw images of a verdant land filled with joy as it said, "We know your dreams." It said that Predathos was "The Progenitor", the heart of their world, and it stirs.

Days later two Reilora, accompanied by two members of the Ruby Vanguard and a Simulacrum created by Ludinus himself, were sent to Igthuldus to deal with Bells Hells. The adventurers, however, managed to defeat them, with the weakest Reilora being shoved inside the pool of magma by Imogen's Telekinesis, and the juggernaut being killed by Orym and left in the partially melted rock as well. That night, after the adventurers traveled to Whitestone, Imogen explored the castle and summoned Sivaana (a Hex Mind) to help her open a door. The Ruidian stayed with their summoner and her friends, taking the chance to inspect their surroundings until the sorcerer lost concentration, at which point her spell ended and Sivaana disappeared.

When the alliance against the Ruby Vanguard organized a fake attack against the Red Center in order to create a distraction for Bells Hells to get closer, multiple Reilora warriors (mostly juggernauts) reacted defending the excavation site. When Bells Hells infiltrated the excavation site, they discovered that some of the members of the Vanguard that were still there to defend it were unsettled by the presence of their Ruidian allies. They fought and killed multiple Ruidian guards. A Thought Eater mentally threatened Imogen and expressed their interest in tasting her mind, but she responded by promising she would kill all their people.

When Bells Hells arrived on the red moon they managed to avoid the reilora chasing them. They traveled until they found a farming village in which some reilora, dressed as if they were aligned with the Imperium, apparently had some privileged position over another different sentient species, the bormodos. There, thanks to Elder Barthie, they were able to learn more about the reiloran society, as well as a group that opposed the Imperium, but before they could meet one of the members they fought (and defeated) Willmaster Edmuda and her local forces. Later, when this reilora was interrogated, she revealed that her people aspired to free Predathos because if they did so and it devoured the gods, there wouldn't be active opposition if reilora traveled to Exandria; according to Edmuda, some in the Imperium wanted to look for a place to carve as theirs, and only then establish communication with the local Exandrian. When the adventurers arrived to Kreviris they met some reilora destined to Tyran A, apparently eager to be relocated. Later, the group had a good experience interacting with the children of the Clutch, a humble neighborhood, but when they kept going and encountered reiloran warriors willing to attack them with their avadons, they killed them.

On Exandria, multiple Reilora were present around the Malleus Key to defend it when the army of the Exandrian Accord attacked. At least one powerful, ancient, ghostly Reilora was psychically connected to one of the magic dispelling towers. When Lady Vex'ahlia de Rolo attacked the device, the Reilora telepathically warned her not to interfere, but when she destroyed it both the image of the Ruidian and their voice disappeared.

Gallery

Fan art of the Bell Flower reilora, by Natasha Harris.

Fan art of Willmaster Edmuda with Laudna, by Laura Mackenzie@KiwiDrawer.

Fan art of Gaz Tomo with myceits, by Lilith Wu.

Fan art of Zhesh with Laudna, by Lilith Wu.

Trivia

• Although these beings were initially presented as "reilora", at some point someone used the term "reiloran" instead, which has become more popular than the original name.
• Telepathic Reilorans can express their individual names by transmitting ideas and mental images that define them. However, they can also express their name in a more traditional way, as in the case of Sivaana.
  • While they are capable of verbal speech, there appears to be a certain hierarchical relation between the use of telepathy and social status, with the most humble Reilora either being non-telepathic or having no problem combining telepathy with speech, while those of higher rank view the use of their mouths to speak as something unworthy of them, doing it only if they are forced to. Zhesh, for instance, states that she speaks aloud because she lives among people with different gifts, and it was best they all live at the same level.
• After the Malleus Key was activated, Imogen Temult visited it in her dreams and saw red-skinned beings around it that could have been reilora.
• Although their blood has a dark purple or purple-and-crimson color and smells noticeably different from that of Exandrian humanoids, it still has some iron.
• They need to breathe, and can die from suffocation.
• The rations carried by two Reiloran soldiers were bread-like beads and some kind of jerky.
• A popular saying among them roughly translates as, "To step where uninvited calls immediate malice".
• A combination of bone and glass is often used for their weapons and buildings.
• While she and her friends were going to the Bloody Bridge, Imogen Summoned a female Hex Mind that stayed with them for a bit (to make them look like they belonged there). At one point Imogen asked her if the reilora in the excavation site were friends or foes of hers, and after confirming those were aligned with the Vanguard (and thus with the "Imperium"), she answered "no", which didn't clarify her relationship with them.
• While this has not yet been officially defined, the use of certain terms in concept art and Campaign Three hints that there are four "subraces" of reilora that sometimes have different names within the Kreviris Imperium, whether through promotion or otherwise: Thought Eaters are called Mystics, Hex Minds are called Criteri, Juggernauts are called Hulks, and Shrikes are called Blade Barons.
• Although reilora seem to be humanoids, the version of them called by the Summon Crimson Shade spell (a reskinned Summon Aberration) are presumably aberrations.^[presumed]

References

Art: