Greetings,
Xermillion Glass, once again.
This week we will be talking about Rowan Black, a former Iron Sentinel from the Iron Kingdoms.
Rowan will tell you much and more, but most of what he tells are things that one could or should know about without being told. He tells that he is from the Iron Kingdoms, but no specifications. He tells that he was once an Iron Sentinel, but neither where he served nor how he lost his name.
Luckily, his pride in his house allows me to postulate about who he really is. Though, this could all just be conjecture, and he could be some unnamed Rowan who stole a shield, or the name itself, for that matter.
The blazing bonfire that Rowan wears on his shield belongs to house Stoir. Stoir is an ancient house, it dates its founding back before the Singing Star separated Xerenia from mainland Goldwrath. As such, I have extensive records for house Stoir.
There are, by my count, forty different Rowans in my records. The vast majority of them are dead, some of them for a thousand years. There are four Rowans in living memory from house Stoir: one which is dead, two are under ten, and one should be in his early thirties. It's safe for me to guess that our Rowan Black is none other than Rowan Stoir, the 2nd - though he is more akin to the 38th, but the name seemed to have fallen out of use some time last century.
Black, however, is the name given to one who has lost his honor. His titles, holdings, and even his name are taken away and replaced with Black. How Rowan lost his honor, I cannot say. Very few situations call for a loss of honor of that scale among the Iron Kingdoms. I somehow doubt that Rowan deserted or fled from some battle, but I have known better men to break and run when they are overwhelmed.
In any case, Rowan is likely in exile, his family having lost everything they ever knew. Where they are, I also cannot say - I have tried to breach the subject once or twice with Rowan and each time he simply walks away. He doesn't seem to be angry, only forlorn.
That is, of course, assuming he actually was Rowan Stoir, the 2nd, heir to Blazehold and all the surrounding territories.
Main
As a former Iron Sentinel, Rowan's primary method of dispatching foes is through the use of his spear. Rowan employs a bit of fire mana to cause a micro explosion in the air, harming all those nearby and emboldening himself in the process.
From the shroomery, he can learn to: increase the scale of the explosion, increase the harm caused by a direct strike with the spear, or decrease the time it takes him to prepare a second stab.
Secondary
Rowan's fire proficiency is displayed as well in combat, as he is want to conjure pillars of flame which take the shape of his spear. They hover briefly before flying forward in an arc to burn those they touch.
From the monkey, it is possible for him to learn to: cause the flaming spear to fly immediately, fire an inaccurate salvo of spears at once, or create an explosion at the point of impact, harming all nearby.
Dodge
Rowan's primary form of defense, also owed to his Iron Sentinel training, is his large, oak shield. He is capable of holding his shield afront, turning a single strike and stunning all those nearby.
From the shroomer, he can learn to: heal himself when turning the blow, keep his shield up as long as he wants, regardless of how many blows he turns, or increase the amount of time that foes are stunned for.
Ultimate
Rowan has also learned to control his fire mana in a relatively unique form. He will launch himself forward, slamming into the ground, igniting a large area. While within this area, Rowan will be lifted into the air, as if by an updraft.
He can also learn to: vastly increase the area of the fire field, push enemies upwards as well, or change the nature entirely, creating a concentrated explosion at he landing point, no longer igniting the area.
And there we have Rowan Stoir, the 2nd, if that is who he is, in fact is. It may be better to say, and there we have Rowan Black, but I am confident in my analysis.
Next week, we will be talking of our little librarian, Mirei. She doesn't explain much verbally, but she keeps her records very tidy, and she was so kind as to allow me to peruse them for this article.
Until next time,
Xermillion Glass