Miek’Kaellen “Mike” Clear-Sky, Half Celestial Kalashtar Holy Monk, Harmonious Knight, Darksong Knight, and Argent Fist - Sketch (Patreon)

A unique and misunderstood half-celestial hero I drew on commission recently!

Character: Miek’Kaellen “Mike” Clear-Sky, Half Celestial Kalashtar Holy Monk, Harmonious Knight, Darksong Knight, and Argent Fist

Miek’Kaellan, also known as “Mike and Dewley”, is an agent of Path of Shadows among the Kalashtar people. He is often called to gather intelligence on the Inspired and their Quori, defend Kalashtar temples, and escort other Kalashtar agents on missions. He specializes in fighting technique called the dance of shadows, which emphasizes defending himself and close allies while offering occasional counter attacks. Armed with a floating tower shield and an adamantine long staff, he can also trap casters within his reach to counter spells and collapse an enemy’s magical defenses.

Miek suffers from a condition that leaves him paralyzed, locked into his own mind and unable to move. When symptoms first began to show as a child, he received a ritual that embedded several Quori shards into his body. His part of Kaellan, the Duulora rage Quori that is tied to him and his family, possesses Meik’s physical body through the shards while Meik communicates via their Kalashtar bond from within Kaellan’s incorporeal form. The shards allow him to abstain from food and drink, look out from the shards embedded on the back of his hands, modify his physical or mental abilities, and call upon his ectoplasmic armor.

To any observers, “Mike” looks like a walking humanoid tower, lit from inside from Meik’s glowing celestial body, with a head of heatless flame and a shadow of a spartan helm as an iris. Bits of ectoplasm in the shape of eyes float in rings around his body, meant to obscure the ethereal form of Kaellan’s Duulora form. His stance is aggressive and eager, ready to pounce and attack with his dance. A psychic scream that sounds like a chorus of death whistles occasionally emits from his helm of telepathy, conjuring feelings and images of souls trapped within a burning tower. His form is the manifestation of a living nightmare.

Despite the appearance, if Meik notices others recoiling from fear or covering their ears to block out the screams, a sweet helpful voice reaches out with an apology in place of the screams. “Sorry about that guy. Truth be told, I’m kinda a pacifist…”. Before fleeing Dal Quor and the Dreaming Dark, Kaellan was a nightmare who used fear and anger to wake those with sleep paralysis. The screams and nightmarish visage, though horrifying, is only Kaellan trying to help in his own strange way. Mike’s dance of shadows, though it seems like he’s attacking the party in a rabid frenzy, is meant to increase awareness and move others out of the way of incoming attacks. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get a lot of reasons, specifics, or explanations from “Mike”, as learning more about Dal Quor and the Quori may create dreams or nightmares that draw their attention. But the truth is that Meik’Kaellan is a kind pacifistic soul who only wants to help others and protect them from harm.

What do you think? :)