#augustine melgren

"I’m the only one who can give you access to your son."

"I have another."

We know that there is another traitor hidden in our midst.

"Initiates, asims—we're all traceable to one another, but the great hall could fill with Sages and Mavens and I'd never know. Neither would you. Makes you wonder who's been channeling here for years, doesn't it? Who's been trading information for power?"

Rebecca has made a point of telling us that there could be a very powerful Venin and we would all be completely unaware.

"She's their answer to my mother."

"She was the answer to me," Theophanie hisses.

But this biggest point is the fact that Aaric is a precog… seeing as that’s a pretty rare power, what are the odds that magic demands no balance there? Allows two to exist on one side?

That suddenly another one appears for no reason, right now (when we know signets are based on need and frequently filling gaps)… among a group of first years that already has proof of this very action with Lynx becoming a shadow wielder, as Xaden becomes Venin.

"I don't understand. You're our generation's shadow wielder."

"Not anymore. Magic knows. He's the balance."

Gotta love Mira’s balls in this one. But Melgren’s response is the reason this quote is here. Can’t say he’s not self aware…

-25 days!

He's such a tragic character. Imagine you're twenty and came to college to have fun and sleep around and maybe kill some people and then suddenly you have the ability to see the aftermath of every fight. Not only is that traumatic in itself, but also you're so important to the army now that you'll never be able to leave. Never retire, never even take a holiday. Imagine making friends, or dating, when at any moment you could see visions of your loved ones dying.

Imagine you're twenty and you're told you are the solution to a centuries long war.

"Good afternoon, general Sorrengail, general Melgren." The title managed to sound disrespectful in Xaden Riorson's mouth even as his military posture was perfect.

"Good afternoon, Cadet Riorson." Lilith Sorrengail narrowed her eyes as she nodded at Xaden. She expected he was was used to it by now. No matter the setting, she was simultaneously ready to put an arrow in his chest and pleased he'd turned out to be just the example she'd wanted to make of him.

Augustine Melgren frowned outright, but waited until the rising squad leader had moved on to his station for Threshing before turning to Lilith.

"What... was that?"

Okay this theory about Imogen and Melgren is wild! Omg but i kinda love it.

The only things that bothers me is that Melgren HAS to be a venin for the line of thinking to work and I am not really convinced on that.

*Edited on 12/15/2023 to add Aaric and Devera.*

*Edited on 12/22/2023 to add assorted details*

*Edited on 01/03/2024 to update Aaric’s name and alias (I know his actual middle name is Aaric, but the name/middle name/last name format ruined the ✨aesthetic✨ since no one else has a known middle name)*

*Edited on 02/10/2024 because I realized on my reread that Jack pushing energy on Violet likely isn’t actually a manifestation of his signet, as much as it is him using Venin powers*

*Edited on 09/18/2024 since Xaden gave us new information on Emery*

*Edited on 01/19/2025 to add Cianna*

*Edited on 01/20/2025 to add Nyra*

*Editing to add new OS information*

Made this because I know I’ll forget many details by time book 3 comes out, and I figured I’d share it for those interested. It’s a combination of information from my own read throughs, and from The Empyrean Wiki.

Please let me know if you see any mistakes, or if you have more to add.

I decided against doing Flyers for the time being, as what information we have is rather limited.

⚠️Warning: contains Iron Flame spoilers⚠️

⚠️Warning: contains Onyx Storm spoilers⚠️

Rider Data Masterlist

Violet

Surname: Sorrengail

Signet: Lightning wielding/Dream walking

Dragon’s name: Tairn/Andarna

Dragon’s description:

- Black Morningstartail (M)

- Golden Feathertail (former); Irid Scorpiontail (current) (F)

Xaden

Surname: Riorson

Signet: Shadow wielding/Reading intentions

Dragon’s name: Sgaeyl

Dragon’s description: Blue Daggertail (F)

Rhiannon

Surname: Matthias

Signet: Retrieving

Dragon’s name: Feirge

Dragon’s description: Green Daggertail (F)

Ridoc

Surname: Gamlyn

Signet: Ice wielding

Dragon’s name: Aotrom

Dragon’s description: Brown Swordtail (M)

Sawyer

Surname: Henrick

Signet: Metallurgist

Dragon’s name: Sliseag

Dragon’s description: Red Swordtail (M)

Liam

Surname: Mairi

Signet: Farsight/Ice wielding

Dragon’s name: Deigh

Dragon’s description: Red Daggertail (M)

Sloane

Surname: Mairi

Signet: Siphon

Dragon’s name: Thoirt

Dragon’s description: Red Daggertail

Garrick

Surname: Tavis

Signet: Air manipulation/Distance wielding

Dragon’s name: Chradh

Dragon’s description: Brown Scorpiontail (M)

Bodhi

Surname: Durran

Signet: Countering signets

Dragon’s name: Cuir

Dragon’s description: Green (unknown tail type)

Imogen

Surname: Cardulo

Signet: Memory erasing

Dragon’s name: Glane

Dragon’s description: Orange Daggertail (F)

Quinn

Surname: Hollis

Signet: Astral Projection

Dragon’s name: Cruth

Dragon’s description: Green Scorpiontail (F)

Dain

Surname: Aetos

Signet: Retrocognition

Dragon’s name: Cath

Dragon’s description: Red Swordtail (M)

Jack

Surname: Barlowe

Signet: Pain projection (Signet or Venin ability?)

Dragon’s name: Baide

Dragon’s description: Orange Scorpiontail (F)

Aaric

Full name: Camlaen “Cam” Tauri, Aaric Greycastle (alias)

Signet: Unknown

Dragon’s name: Molvic

Dragon’s description: Blue Clubtail

Mira

Surname: Sorrengail

Signet: Extending wards

Dragon’s name: Teine

Dragon’s description: Green Clubtail (M)

Brennan

Surname: Sorrengail, Aisreigh (alias)

Signet: Mending

Dragon’s name: Marbh

Dragon’s description: Orange Daggertail (M)

Lilith

Surname: Sorrengail/Daxton

Signet: Storm wielder

Dragon’s name: Aimsir

Dragon’s description: Brown (unknown tail type)

Augustine

Surname: Melgren

Signet: Battle foresight

Dragon’s name: Codagh

Dragon’s description: Black Swordtail (M)

(Unknown)

Surname: Devera

Signet: Unknown

Dragon’s name: Unknown

Dragon’s description: Red Clubtail

(Unknown)

Surname: Kaori

Signet: Illusionist

Dragon’s name: Smachd

Dragon’s description: Unknown

(Unknown)

Surname: Carr

Signet: Fire wielder

Dragon’s name: Breugan

Dragon’s description: Orange Daggertail (M)

Burton

Surname: Varrish

Signet: Weakness reading

Dragon’s name: Solas

Dragon’s description: Orange Daggertail (M)

Naolin

Surname: Unknown

Signet: Siphon

Dragon’s name: Tairn

Dragon’s description: Black Morningstartail (M)

Heaton

Surname: Unknown

Signet: Breathing underwater

Dragon’s name: Unknown

Dragon’s description: Unknown

Emery

Surname: Barnes

Signet: Air manipulation

Dragon’s name: Unknown

Dragon’s description: Brown Clubtail

Cianna

Surname: Unknown

Signet: Air manipulation

Dragon’s name: Gaothal

Dragon’s description: Unknown

Nyra

Surname: Voldaren

Signet: Unknown

Dragon’s name: Malla

Dragon’s description: Red Scorpiontail

Ulices

Surname: Ferris

Signet: Unknown

Dragon: Fann

Dragon’s description: Green Swordtail (F)

Felix

Surname: Gerault

Signet: Unknown

Dragon: Nuirlach

Dragon’s description: Red Swordtail

Aura

Surname: Beinhaven

Signet: Fire wielder

Dragon: Dagolh

Dragon’s description: Red Clubtail

Lyron

Surname: Panchek

Signet:

Dragon:

Dragon’s description:

Lynx

Surname:

Signet: Shadow wielding

Dragon:

Dragon description:

Baylor

Surname:

Signet: (far-sight?)

Dragon: Veirt

The Marked Ones don’t have a second signet. Melgren does.

This is what Xaden says about Colonel Mairi’s protection rune: “It was designed to counter the signet of the rider whose dragon would kill them.”

We know they can “hide” themselves from Melgren’s ability to see the outcome of a battle, but what if their prowess for fighting (inherent agility, quick reflexes, strength or even their tactical skills) is also in response to another signet of Melgren’s?

I can’t wrap my head around the possibility that the Marked Ones would have gotten a second signet from the Rebellion relic, because that would imply Xaden has three signets. Him having that much power and not losing his mind would discredit the entire Empyrean magic system. It seems much more plausible to me that they would have gained these skills - and not a signet - in response to a potential second signet of Melgren’s.