Rhianos

The banners of the Regent of the Eternal Sea invariably depict sea creatures -
both mundane and fanciful.

Eternal of Summer

Sobriquets

Rhianos has been called both King Rhianos and Queen Rhianos, but the most common sobriquet appears to be Regent of the Eternal Sea. Rhianos is believed to have relatively close ties with magicians in Asavea and the Sarcophan Delves.

As befits a changeable and dynamic eternal, Rhianos collects names and sobriquets. They are also known as Foamfollower, Bottlenose, Lord (or Lady) Gullscry, Hornsounder, and Wind-at-the-Back, all names that present a positive, supportive aspect. In some parts of the world they are seen as having a more sinister aspect. For example, in parts of the Sumaah Republic they are known by a title that translates roughly to Homebreaker, referencing the call to adventure which often causes folk to abandon their family in pursuit of glory and excitement. In parts of Varushka, they are called Pathtwister, the one who ensures that travellers encounter dangers and challenges. A few old texts go further, and name the eternal Deathpiper claiming that their siren call of adventure lures the foolish and unwise into disaster.

Rhianos appears to have more names than there are stars in the sky. Other sobriquets include Furole, Quicksilver, Glimmerbreeze, Corposant, Dancing Merlin, Azure Songbird, Bright Zephyr, Booming Avalanche, Endless Voyage, Diving Falcon, Treasure Giver, Golden Shatterspray, Lightning Fish, Leaping Salmon, Roaring Wavefather, Mother of the Wildest, Waverider, Tiger's Eye, Pathtwister, Foamfollower, Shimmergold, Stormchaser, Sail Runner, Second Strike, Coruscating Oarfish, Seadragon, Windweaver, Spume Sailor, Tide Dancer, Ocean Caller, Leaf-on-the-Breeze, the Auspicious Mariner, the Laird of the Golden Tides, the Sailor on the Sunlit Sea, the Lord of the Argent Rime, the King of the Nine Tides, the Lady of the Far Horizon, the Master of the Far Shore, and the Lord of the Rolling Waves. There is a belief that their heralds like to make up new names for their eternal lord on the fly: their heralds deny this and claim that Rhianos simply likes names, especially ones with a dramatic cadence and a nautical or adventurous theme.

Appearance

Unknown within the Empire. Foreign magicians characterise them as being somewhat fluid in appearance - "changeable as the sea itself". While it is unlikely they are a shapeshifter in the way (for example) the eternals of Night are shapeshifters, it seems that Rhianos slips between masculine and feminine forms with ease, and adopts elements of many different marine creatures as they do so. Depictions in Asavea often include the lower body of a fish, dolphin, or serpent; vivid emerald green or sapphire blue hair and beard; multiple arms; additional octopus-like arms; webbed fingers; and the alien all-black eyes of a sea mammal. Regardless of outward appearance, Rhianos is described as being filled with a bottomless supply of joie de vivre and lust for life and adventure - as well as an endless capacity for wonder at new and exciting things, people, and vistas.

Heralds of Rhianos are often encountered as blue-skinned creatures with sharp ears and golden markings, though other - stranger - creatures have been reported.

Ships taking part in Rhianos' race were able to uncover the layout of four continents of the known world

Concerns

Rhianos appears to be interested in the sea as a place that is full of, or leads to, adventure and opportunities to face and overcome great danger. Unlike many Summer eternals, Rhianos appears to perceive wealth as something that has value - especially if it is gained through heroism or daring - or under conditions of extreme danger. Yet they are not an Autumn eternal - Sarcophan traders have commented that the boons of Rhianos are tricky because they expect that once wealth has been gained it will be "spent" (or indeed "squandered") on fine living, and to create more opportunities for adventure in the future. One Sarcophan ship's mage described the eternal thus "They are always moving, always moving. For Rhianos to stand still is the utmost torment. There is always a new thing to see, there is always a horizon stretching ahead of them. Regret, duty, introspection - these are less than ballast to Rhianos. Anything that weighs them down is discarded in a moment, forgotten before it has entirely sunk out of sight."

Boons

It is likely that Rhianos possesses boons related to water, and to both real and fanciful qualities of the sea. Both Sarcophan and Asavean mariners have claimed that Rhianos offers a common boon that ensures any sea voyage will be "eventful but lucrative". This sounds very similar to the enchantment Rhianos offered during Winter Solstice 380YE. The "lure of adventure" presented challenges and treasures to sea captains engaged in privateering and trade during the Winter Solstice 380YE.

According to some scholars, Rhianos also provides martial boons to those they favour, but these boons are always distinctly personal in nature. There appears to be no large-scale enchantment that enhances the ability to engage in warfare for example. More than other eternals of Summer, Rhianos seems to favour the individual over the group, the champion over the soldier.