Ruidusborn

Depiction of Ruidus, by CoupleOfKooks from Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep.

The Ruidusborn are those born under a flare of the red moon Ruidus.

Ruidus is normally so dim in the sky as to be difficult to see, but at unpredicable times it grows bright, without warning. The interval is erratic: at times there can be decades between a flare, and at times only months or even days. Folklore and tradition hold that the flaring moon is an omen of disasters to come.

When children are born under the light of the flaring moon, they are referred to as Ruidusborn, and the birth is considered significant although it may be for either honor or great sorrow. There had been instances of infants born prematurely under the flaring light. Throughout recorded Exandrian history, there have been thousands of recorded Ruidusborn, although due to the potential stigma, the actual number is probably higher. Although the common people regard it as a negative, scholars believe it indicates that a person is fated to be important.

In the decade preceding 843 PD, the number of Ruidusborn increased exponentially, and in five years the Grim Verity and the Omen Archive had catalogued almost 200. They had also observed a recent influx of about a dozen Ruidusborn arriving in Yios, compelled to find any information they could about where they came from and their dreams of the red moon. Part of the reason for this increase in the number of Ruidusborn children was that Ludinus Da'leth's inner circle were purposefully trying to create Ruidusborn that could become powerful enough to become a possible vessel for a potentially released Predathos.

When the Malleus Key at the Tishtan excavation site was activated at the height of the Apogee Solstice, a red mist began to pour from the bodies of the many Ruidusborn present, and they were pulled upright. Afterwards, Imogen Temult, an Exultant, realized that it felt for a moment like she was connected to something that had been missing her entire life, like a missing final puzzle piece being slotted smoothly into place. Through this connection, eventually Imogen was able to magically empower herself through other Ruidusborn (such as her friend Fearne) and vice versa.

During the battle that followed many Reilora came from Ruidus to help the Ruby Vanguard. It was revealed by Tofor Brotoras that at some point several Ruidusborn had been working with an international alliance against the Ruby Vanguard, but eventually all of them forgot their duties and joined the opposing forces, giving in to the overwhelming draw of the red moon on their minds.

Ludinus Da'leth's plans required a powerful Ruidusborn to be the Vessel, according to Liliana, and he had plenty of candidates, according to Otohan.

The Omen Archive

The Omen Archive was a project created within the Aydinlan Seminary of Yios which was an attempt to track down and study all known Ruidusborn, both living and historical. Part of this study was concerned with the accelerating rate of Ruidusborn births in recent times, with recurring themes in dreams they seemed to share, and with the increasing number of flares of Ruidus.

The Omen Archive project was heavily connected with the Grim Verity. Otohan Thull was the last Exaltant studied by the Archive. She became unhappy with the limited information she received when the researchers grew uncomfortable about her motives. It was at that point that Grim Verity scattered and went into hiding as their offsite researchers began to disappear.

The archive itself had been taken by those working with Otohan and the Cerberus Assembly not long before Bells Hells arrived in Yios, but Kadija Sumal had removed several important pages from it and hidden them. While Imogen and Fearne were in her office, Ludinus Da'leth arrived, cast a spell on her that robbed her of her mind, and took the pages which he identified as critical to the success of the project to release Predathos.

Exaltant

Fan art of an Exaltant during a flare of the red moon, by @lolthies.

Occasionally there are rare Ruidusborn that exemplify a stronger connection, able to "read the ruddy moon," and the "true final evolution of what the Ruidusborn were intended to eventually be." These individuals begin to exhibit certain characteristics and capabilities, and the strongest and most powerful of those being studied by the Omen Archive were known by them as "Exaltant". Liliana Temult was the first identified and most powerful of these, and Otohan Thull was the last one studied. The Omen Archive had identified at least twelve Exaltant as of mid-843 PD. These Exaltants are born as such, although they often need something (like a triggering event) to unlock their true potential; some of them might go through one single event to unlock their potential, while others might experience multiple moments in which they show a glimpse of their power. According to Petrov Godo, the Weave Mind (the religious ruling council of Kreviris) are able to turn Exaltants into fully realized versions of themselves, able to control their abilities. Ludinus Da'leth was very interested in awakening more of them through turmoil and training.

The Exaltant and near-Exaltant Ruidusborn were the first to mention the Reilora. Many of them had shared dreams of a red storm, and of crimson entities within those dreams who could tether themselves to Exandrians during a flare of the red moon Ruidus. A few, including Liliana, could communicate with the Reilora.

According to Liliana, all Ruidusborn, and particularly the Exaltants, acted as seeds for Predathos and derived their power from the godkiller. In her words, "It's been building a bridge and we're the mooring." When Imogen and her friends visited Ruidus and communed with Predathos, she felt a tether connecting the different Ruidusborn, each of them "shining" with different intensities; she saw around two dozen Exaltants as powerful as her mother or herself, and realized that the Exaltants were the culmination of thousands of years of Predathos developing them to serve his ends. The Ruidusborn are able to break the final boundary holding the god eater, having something within themselves that the gods can't stop. Predathos needs a vessel in the form of an Exaltant to carry it through the barriers of its prison and into Exandria.

The white power-emitting form that Liliana Temult, Otohan Thull, and Imogen Temult displayed in moments of desperation is called "Exaltant Fury", and has new strengths, powers, and abilities.

Known Ruidusborn

Those thought to be Ruidusborn include:

• Alyxian
• Fearne Calloway
• Warren Drassig
• Petrov Godo (Exaltant)
• The Raven Queen
• Imogen Temult (Exaltant)
• Liliana Temult (Exaltant)
• Otohan Thull (Exaltant)
• A green dragonborn Exaltant with cataracts in one eye
• At least four Exaltant considered as potential vessels for Predathos

Ludinus Da'leth dodged the question of whether he was Ruidusborn, saying only that he has his connections with the moon and has had conversations with it. Fearne believed he was not Ruidusborn but was jealous of those who were, and she was proved correct several days later when she and her friends discovered Ludinus' notes in the ruins of Molaesmyr. They learned that centuries ago the archmage had been very interested in Ruidus and the treatment the gods gave it, wishing he had been born under the red moon's influence.

Trivia

• While watching The Legend of Vox Machina, Season Two, Matthew Mercer said that, while Zahra Hydris wasn't necessarily a Ruidusborn, despite the coloration of her powers, the nature of her magic does represent the duality and connection between Ruidus and Catha (which, in a way, is similar to the Moon domain from which some clerics get their powers).
• In Zephrah they knew about the dark superstitions connected to the red moon and those born under its light, so when it was flaring, they used traditional techniques to ensure that a birth would last long enough to prevent the child from being considered a Ruidusborn (thus preventing them from growing up in an environment that might treat them cruelly because of it).
• When the Ruidusborn Imogen and Fearne were near the activated Malleus Key and its Bloody Bridge and Imogen cast a spell, a red mist drifted off from both of them.
• Although Ruidians celebrate the birth of a child during a flare, there is no special connotation about them because of it.
• When Bells Hells were present during a flare while on the red moon, the Ruidusborn among them (like the native Ruidians) felt a sense of euphoria and belonging. Imogen, an Exaltant, found herself and the small rocks around her levitating as the flare subsided. All Ruidusborn received 15 temporary hit points after the flare subsided.

References

Art: