#sunsinger

(art by kolvictim on DeviantArt)

To deities of battle both righteous and wicked, hymns and war songs are often the same thing. Such is often true of  Sarenrae, goddess of the sun, righteous wrath, and mercy given to the redeemable.

It would only make sense then that there would be those who channel her light into their allies as they go into battle.

These sunsingers certainly blur the line of arcane and divine magic, but their blessings are undeniable, while also providing their own combat skill as well

Many serve in militaries, or did so at some point, but they can still provide their magic to allies in an adventuring capacity as well, helping their allies delve deep and bring the light of their goddess to whatever dwells there.

Of course, any deity of light and combat might be an appropriate stand-in if Sarenrae does not exist in your setting.

With a song in praise to the Dawnflower, these warrior poets can become surrounded by a divine beam of sunlight that draws the eye, potentially leaving others in awe of the divine sight.

Additionally, these mystics can also invoke her power to radiate positive energy like a cleric, but imbued with Sarenrae’s sunlight. In addition to the normal healing or undead-slaying benefits, foes are marked by clinging light to make them impossible to hide. Meanwhile, the undead have an especially hard time resisting the power of this channeled energy.

This is a simple archetype, but one that provides some interesting utility. Being able to channel energy, even a few times, can be a big boon for healing allies or smiting the undead, and having their own version of fascination can be useful as well. Just remember that you’ll have to use spells to get any healing beyond that, and I would definitely recommend a lot of good buffing spells, and maybe the fire music feat for some flavorful fire damage.

With their devotion to Sarenrae, it becomes a bit of a question to ask why it is that these devoted skalds did not choose to become clerics. Perhaps they lacked with wisdom to truly pursue that path, or perhaps the faith has need of those whose elocution is top-notch. Or perhaps they needed someone more exuberant than even most paladins. Only you, the player, can make that decision.

Though officially the conflict has ended, the Sultanate of the True Sun has many factions eager to continue the war across the sea against their neighbors. What they don’t understand, however, is that the temple of the sun goddess only supported the conflict while it was deemed necessary, and without their aid, the nobles will find their support drying up.

Despite originating underground, many dwarves worship the light as the bringer of beauty and banisher of the evil in the dark. Thus, when they go to war against those that dwell below, sunsingers are often at the forefront with light-bringing magic and courageous songs on their lips.

If it means getting a shot at catching her, he would venture to the edges of the world.

Long has Talon Du Couteau lived in his older sister’s shadow. In ability, he had always felt inferior, the scar on her cheek being his permanent reminder of that fact. Though it must mean a great deal regarding her failure, to Talon its existence on a living, breathing woman is proof that he couldn’t see his goal to the end. He knows the looks he gets, from his fellow house members and headmaster. He knows they see her above him. He knows she must stare down mockingly, full of hot air and confidence as she so blatantly reveals her weaknesses to him. Weaknesses he can’t exploit, not without direct orders. So he waits, eternally in the darkness behind her (the darkness she chooses not to walk in), for the day she slips up and gives him his splendid opportunity. In this literal sense, he is the blade’s shadow. He obsessively stalks her, hoping to be granted the second chance at cutting her down.

With impunity, he would. He just needs to be told to.

In that sense, is Talon any better than a dog? Is he now a tamed mutt, willingly binding himself to the orders of a superior? What of the freedom to hunt and kill whoever he desired while scraping by Noxus’ underbelly? Is he truly a man if he would follow his sister all the way to Demacia--his country’s enemy? None of those questions must matter now, for the undeniable fact that he’s done all of this takes the stage. 

Indeed, now Talon has managed to slink through the shadows to a foreign country, journeying the long journey seemingly undetected. He hides in a brush behind a hill some distance away from the kingdom’s main gate, clinging to the slope of its surface so that his cloak may blend his figure in with the night. Katarina is long gone now, having snuck and headed for the south docks. He couldn’t have simply trailed behind the whole time, obviously, so the veiled approach proves troublesome. He’s stuck at Demacia’s border. If he peeks over his hill, he can catch a glimpse of the road leading out of the country. Good. He now serves as an independent checkpoint, having knowledge of who goes in, and who goes out. 

He won’t be going in (he’s no fool) and will simply have to wait for her to come out.

Talon likes to think to himself, about many things. When you spend so much time wreathed in umber, holding your breath in the void, your mind tends to wander. Right now, he questions why she’s done this. But that’s an easy answer, isn’t it? He’s known of her little romance for a good while now, as following her around in his spare time would inevitably reveal. It’s sickening. With how poorly she and her man hide things, it’s practically a public affair. She’s here to see the Crownguard captain. And what a waste that is. She risks her neck each time she steps foot in Demacia, and feeds a vulnerability each time she interacts with him. Scarred fingers quietly reach into a pocket, and produce an iron knife. Katarina, he calls it, the blade he’d used to mar the left side of her face. In a practiced motion, he spins it around his fingers, wondering if it should even be called that anymore. She’s careless, not worthy of a blade dedicated to her name. He sighs, resolving that if she doesn’t appear by daybreak, she’ll have been caught. Tomorrow, Katarina might be tossed into a ditch and forgotten about.

Time passes, and little happens. Demacia proves to be asleep when not even a merchant’s cart passes by Talon’s location. His eyes begin to flutter, wondering if they could snag a moment’s rest, before something catches his eye. Or rather, someone. Golden locks shine like a nightlight as they hang from a hood, eliciting silent motion from the assassin. He peers closer, inspecting his prey. It’s a lone woman, odd. She walks at a quickened pace, telling the experienced Talon that she has practice with sneaking out. He moves ever so slightly out of hiding to get a better look at her, and though he has to squint to make out any features, he recognizes her immediately. 

Luxanna Crownguard, enemy of the state--daughter of the man responsible for Cyrus’ Folly. His country wants her--and anyone with her name--dead. But Talon might have a use for her. What would Garen do if he saw her dead on the street? Would he call things off with his Noxian lover, leading her to eventually conclude that her little brother was responsible for Lux’s death? He could make it look like it was Katarina--that she went in for a quick kill on her way out. This is all technically what Talon wants, but an enraged Katarina is a dangerous Katarina. She beat him last time for a reason. Perhaps, if he takes her as a hostage, he can get into a more favorable fight. She can be convinced to duel him, where distraught and stress could be used against her. In an assassin’s world, any opportunity gained by any means is considered fair game.

Yes, that would work.

Swiftly, he darts out from his bush. There’s a gutter to her left that he can push her into, so that if any border patrol blink, they’d miss the abduction. Talon moves with the speed and elegance of a sharp wind, blowing past Lux in a flurry to grab her lithe body. The assassin’s cloak swirls around his left to blot out any vision of the scene, and the moment his hands make contact with her, she’s being pushed into the ditch. They both fall, out of sight, with Talon on top of her. The fall might have hurt, so his hand presses hard against her mouth. If she chooses to scream now, she would taste blood-stained leather and the force of a scheming younger brother. That is to say, a lot of inferiority complex. To shut her up for the rest of the night, though, he pushes Katarina to her throat, its razor edge just barely making contact with her skin and nicking some blood. 

“Keep quiet,” he hisses, voice hoarse and rough, “if you value your life. You’re being used as a hostage. Once I’m done with you, you can go.” He speaks matter-of-factly and with a serious sounding tone, but has no real intention of letting her go. Lux is just another witness, after all. She would be brought along to watch the fight between the Du Couteaus, and after its conclusion, killed before she makes it back home.

“Now keep yourself hidden. If anyone sees you, they’ll have to see you die.”

MIRI VANE / / MIRIAM BARAT  - SUNSINGER -

So if I kill off my guardian during the Red War I should really do a nice portrait for her right 

ACCESS: RESTRICTED

DECRYPTION KEY: 53754e7349f$IKO-006

REP #: 201-CITY-PRA

AGENT(S): TAR-115

SUBJ: Status of the Sunsinger Order

The Praxic Order has observed several fascinating trends in the Warlocks throughout the past few years.

Since the Red War, there has been a significant downward trend in the number of Guardians who have the ability to harness the full capabilities of the Sunsinger art.

Even Warlocks that were previously capable of utilizing the complete skillset of the Sunsingers have lost the ability to do so. Even with the rise in the Dawnblade technique, there is no known cause for this bizarre phenomenon. 

In collaboration with the Gensym Scribes, the Praxic order has begun extensive testing for the cause. 

We believe there to be several potential causes and have laid out the hypotheses here.

Guardians have lost some of their paracausality. This hypothesis is a dire scenario but should be considered if the future proves this to be true. We've based this theory off of the fact that the Sunsinger's ability to overcome even darkness zones for resurrection proved more than once to break through many predestined encounters. A loss in the paracausal abilities could explain this.

The Traveler has weakened in overall power. As the Sunsinger technique was so commonly used by the most pervasive and powerful warlocks in the field, the loss in their ability could pertain to a general loss of strength by the Traveler. With the recent restoration of the Traveler, this theory has been highly contested among scholars.

Due to the Light's fluid nature, the Sunsinger art is slowly becoming an impossible shape for a Warlock's Light. Our final theory is the most mundane and potentially the most likely. The Light has never been fully understood, and many of our powers' strength has changed over time. This may be just another case of the same occurrence on a larger scale.

Drew my OC Warlock Sunsinger!