#watcher ridanu

(Canon-typical xenophobia and minor spoilers for an Act 1 side quest ahead)

(with a side of Edér)

They start sharing rooms (but not beds) at inns after Brackenbury Sanitarium

Both have occasional nightmares, neither wants to wake other party members, but they don't want to wake up alone from a nightmare either

At that point, they're the only two Awakened party members, so they feel kinda protective of each other

They also need a safe space where they can talk out loud to each other about their issues and experiences, without worrying about other party members overhearing

Ridanu uses Iselmyr's appearances as an indication that Aloth needs a safe space right at that moment

doesn't want Aloth to feel ashamed or embarrassed if Iselmyr comes out, but knows her appearances often mean Aloth is upset or frightened

it is now canon that Edér's "can I talk to Iselmyr more often" banter triggers immediately after the party finishes Two Faced. It's also canon that Ridanu responds by "trying to knock/shake the whiteleaf out of Edér's skull".

I’ll do a Warden one eventually, but here’s my Watcher Ridanu infodump!

1. Age, Birthday, Star Sign       

Ridanu is 55 at the start of PoE 1.  His birthday is 1 Majestu.  Star sign would probably be Gemini according to the Western zodiac, although in personality he’s definitely closer to Libra, being open-minded, fair, and easygoing with an ability to see both sides of most situations and a tendency not to pass judgment until he’s fully investigated a situation.

3. Orientation and Relationship status (single, taken (by who?), crush (on who?))   

Ridanu is bi and probably also demi.  He’s currently single, but has a serious crush on Aloth.  He’s nowhere near ready to admit it though.  (but he will be once we get to Deadfire) 18. Have any special keepsakes?   

Ridanu has two whalebone carvings, one of a hound’s head that he wears on his wrist that was a gift from his father, and one of a songbird that was a gift from his mother.  (His father is a follower of Galawain, his mother a midwife.)  He also wears a bone bracelet carved in the symbol of Rikulhu, two snakes devouring each other.  He doesn’t consider himself a follower of any one god in particular, but Galawain, Hylea/Amira, and Berath/Rikulhu are the three he most favors.

27. What’s their family like? Who’s in it? What’s their relationship with them?   

Ridanu’s father is Aedyran, his mother from Vailia.  (How two wood elves from such different countries ended up in the Deadfire is something neither of them have ever explained to him, despite multiple attempts on his part to get a straight answer from either.  His only conclusion is that they must have fled their homelands, although recently he’s begun to suspect that his mother at least was a slave, given that wood elves are uncommon in either Old Vailia or the Republics.)  In spite of this, and his own desire to wander, he has remained close to them, sending letters home whenever he can.   

Since arriving in the Dyrwood, he has more or less adopted every companion except Durance as a surrogate sibling, surrogate parent, mentor, or mentee (or some combination of those roles.)  It would be fair to say of Ridanu that he collects outcast kith like Edér does pets - usually inadvertently, but with a tendency to refuse to abandon them once he’s met them.  (He’s the same way about outcast animals, actually, which is one reason he and Edér get along so well.)  He is currently trying to legally adopt Saeda Valtas, and frequently visits her to check on her welfare - he saw her father’s will leaving everything to the Knights if no one in the Valtas family survived, and besides, he doesn’t think a barracks is really a suitable place for a child.  He could not bring himself to kidnap Vela, but views her as his foster daughter of sorts and makes sure to check on her whenever he’s in Twin Elms. 

49. What are some themes tied to your character’s story?