This comprehensive guide for the Empyrean series is a helpful resource after you finish the 3 released books and need refreshers.
Includes info from Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm, so this guide is spoiler in nature.
If you want to hear our complete beat-by-beat coverage of Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm please check out our podcast.
You can listen to Fantasy Fangirls coverage on your favorite podcast platform, including Youtube and Spotify.
Characters
Riders
Violet Sorrengail
Second-year. Lightning wielder and dream walker. Quest squad. Married to Xaden Riorson. Bonded to Tairn and Andarna.
Xaden Riorson
Second lieutenant. Shadow wielder and inntinnsic. Eldest marked one, Duke of Tyrrendor. Quest Squad. Turned venin and is now missing. Bonded to Sgaeyl.
Dain Aetos
Wingleader, third year. Memory reader. Violet’s childhood best friend. Quest Squad. Bonded to Cath.
Rhiannon Matthias
Squad leader, second year. Summoner. Violet’s best friend. Bonded to Fierge.
Bodhi Durran
Section leader, third year. Counters other signets. Xaden’s cousin and marked one. Bonded to Cuir.
Garrick Tavis
Second lieutenant. Wind wielder and distance walker. Xaden’s best friend, marked one. Quest Squad. Bonded to Chradh.
Imogen Cardulo
Third year. Memory eraser and rock/earth wielder. Marked one. Bonded to Glane.
Ridoc Gamlyn
Second year. Ice wielder. Quest Squad. Bonded to Aotrom.
Sawyer Henrick
Second year. Metal wielder. Lost his leg in the Basgiath battle. In a relationship with Jesinia. Bonded to Sliseag.
Sloane Mairi
First year. Siphon. Liam’s younger sister and marked one. Bonded to Thoirt.
Aaric Greycastle (Prince Camlaen Tauri)
First year. Youngest son of King Tauri. Precognition. Quest Squad. Bonded to Molvic.
Mira Sorrengail
First lieutenant. Violet’s older sister. Ward weaver. Quest Squad. Bonded to Teine.
Brennan Sorrengail
Lieutenant Colonel. Violet’s older brother. Mender. Assembly of Aretia member. Former alias was Aisereigh. Bonded to Marbh.
General Aetos
Commanding General of Basgaith. Dain’s father and (former) aide to General Sorrengail. Signet and dragon unknown.
General Augustine Melgren
General of all the Navarre military. Battle outcome foresight. Bonded to Codagh, eldest of the black dragon den.
Lyron Pancheck (possibly ✝)
Colonel. Commandant of Basgaith. Worked with the venin. Bonded to a Green Clubtail (✝).
Poromiel Fliers
Catriona “Cat” Cordella
Second year. 2nd in line to the Poromish throne. Gift of heightening emotions. Xaden’s ex-betrothed. Quest Squad. Bonded to the gryphon, Kiralair.
Syrena Cordella
Catriona’s older sister. 1st in line to the Poromish throne. Xaden’s former accomplice. Gift and gryphon unknown.
Drake Cordella
Captain of the Nightwing Drift. Quest Squad. Bonded to the gryphon, Sovadunn. Caretaker of Broccoli.
Maren Zina
Second year. Quest Squad. Bonded to the gryphon, Dajalair.
Trager (✝)
Second year. Quest Squad. Bonded to the gryphon, Silaraine (✝).
Scribes
Jesinia Neilwart
Second year. Deaf. Violet’s friend. In relationship with Sawyer. Kicked off the Scribe Adept path. Researcher for Quest Squad.
Colonel Markham
Head of the scribes. Violet’s old mentor.
Asher Sorrengail [Daxton] (✝)
Lt. Colonel. Married to Lilith Sorrengail. Father to Brennan, Mira, and Violet. Legacy Scribe.
Known Venin
Jack Barlowe
Former rider, second-year. Known venin, in Navarre’s custody. Slayed his dragon Baide. Venin “son” to Berwyn.
Berwyn
Sage. General. Venin “father” to Jack, Xaden, and the “brother.” Wields blue flames. Possibly a dream walker?
Theophanie (✝)
Maven. Former High Priestess of Dunne. Storm Wielder. Wants to be Violet’s mentor.
Continent Royalty
Navarre
- King Tauri the Wise
- Halden Tauri – 1st in line. Infantry. Violet’s cheating ex. Former Quest Squad.
- Alic Tauri (✝) – Halden’s twin brother. Killed by Xaden during their Threshing.
- Camlaen Aaric Tauri – 2nd in line (see above details)
Poromiel
- King Tecarus
- Former Viscount. Resides in Cordyn in Krovla. Gift is seeing what people desire most.
- Syrena Cordella – 1st in line (see above details)
- Catriona “Cat” Cordella – 2nd in line (see above details)
- Former Viscount. Resides in Cordyn in Krovla. Gift is seeing what people desire most.
- Queen Maraya (✝) – Former Queen and distant cousin to Tecarus.
Others
The Assembly of Aretia
- Xaden Riorson – (See above)
- Brennan Sorrengail – (See above)
- Felix Gerault – Violet’s signet instructor.
- Kylynn – Nicknamed “Battle Ax.”
- Suri – Co-commander of the Aretian army.
- Ulices Ferris – Co-commander of the Aretian army. Nicknamed “Hawk Nose.”
- Trissa – Runes professor.
Senarium
- Xaden Riorson, Duke of Tyrrendor
- Earl Lewellen is his proxy
- However, Tyrrendor has gone against the Senarium’s orders.
- Ilene, Duchess of Morraine
- Duke of Calldyr
- Duchess of Elsum
- Duke of Luceras
- Head of Deaconshire
Creatures
Dragons
Dragons are characterized by their four legs, two wings, and breathe fire.
There are different colors (den/breed) and tails within dragonkind, with various combinations possible.
- The seven dragon colors are Black, Blue, Green, Brown, Orange, Red, and Irids.
- The weapon tails, which are a matter of choice and need, are: Morningstartail, Daggertail, Swordtail, Scorpiontail, and Clubtail.
Hatchling/juvenile dragons have paws instead of razor sharp claws, are golden in color, and have a feathertail. They get their color and tail after the Dreamless Sleep.
Once a dragon bonds a rider, they channel their magic into them through a relic. If a rider dies, the dragon can survive and bond again, but if a dragon dies, the rider will die, too.
Tairneanach “Tairn”
- Black Morningstartail
- Bonded Violet Sorrengail
Andarnaurram “Andarna”
- Irid Scorpiontail
- Bonded Violet Sorrengail
Sgaeyl
- Blue Daggertail
- Bonded Xaden Riorson
Other Known Dragons
- Codagh: Black Swordtail. Elder of the black dragon den. Bonded General Melgren.
- Cath: Red Swordtail. Bonded Dain.
- Chradh: Brown Scorpiontail. Sensitive to runes. Bonded to Garrick.
- Cuir: Green Swordtail. Bonded Bodhi.
- Glane: Orange Daggertail. Bonded Imogen.
- Leothan: Andarna’s ancestor. Irid Feathertail.
- Marbh: Orange Daggertail. Bonded Brennan.
- Teine: Green Clubtail. Bonded Mira.
- Aotrom: Brown Swordtail. Bonded Ridoc.
- Sliseag: Red Swordtail. Bonded Sawyer.
- Feirge: Green Daggertail. Bonded Rhiannon.
- Molvic: Blue Clubtail. Bonded Aaric.
- Thoirt: Red Daggertail. Bonded Sloane Mairi.
Irids – The Seventh Breed
Irid, short for iridescent, is the name of the seventh breed of dragons.
They do not reside on the Continent. Hundreds of them live on an isle unoccupied by humans.
Characteristics
Irids can shift their scale color to blend into their surroundings or change their resting color.
Irids choose NOT to pick a tail, like other dragons on the Continent do. Irids stay feathertails because they are pacifist and peaceful.
Magic
Irids don’t just have magic, they ARE magic.
According to Andarna, magic feels different when she changes colors, but we don’t yet understand how this affects her abilities, like roasting an asim venin.
Irids can communicate directly into a human’s mind, instigated by a slide whistle sound. This can also trigger a venin’s eyes to shine red.
Bonds
Because Irids ARE magic, they can bend, shape and even break bonds as they seem fit.
Only an Irid can become the second bonded dragon to a rider, as humans should only be able to bond one dragon.
If that rider has an active second bond like Violet, once the irid breaks the bond, the rider can continue living because the other dragon will sustain their life.
Andarna
- Left in Navarre as the irids’ criterion. Hatched 650 years later.
- Second bonded dragon to Violet.
- Unlike other irids, is a Scorpiontail.
Leothan
- Distant relative of Andarna’s
- They have the same spiral patterns on their horns.
Wyverns
Wyverns are similar to dragons, but distinctly have two legs instead of four. They’re of varying gray colorations with manes of razor-sharp feathers down their necks and poison-barbed tails.
Wyvern breeds are identified by the color of their fire: blue, green (increased speed), and cherry red.
Unlike dragons, wyverns are created by Venin and take a long time to generate. They have polished chunks of onyx with a complex rune inside their body; this stone is assumably used by Venin to activate and control them.
Wyvern are dependent on their creator, so killing a Venin instantly kills all the wyvern the Venin created.
Gryphons
Gryphons are half-eagle, half-lion creatures. They’re approx. seven-feet tall with dark, beady eyes and two-foot long razor-sharp beaks.
Gryphons don’t handle altitude well, with the exception of those in the Summit Wing drifts.
Gryphons don’t have the endurance for long flights without breaks and fly at a slower average speed than dragons.
Gryphons channel powers to their bonded flier, who they form strong life-long bonds with and die when their bonded human dies.
Venin
Venin (aka Dark Wielders) are humans that have pulled from the source by sucking the life out of the ground. They channel magic without a dragon or gryphon and by doing so, corrupt their souls.
Venin ranks:
- Initiate – Red rings around their eyes which come and go.
- Asim – Eyes vary in degrees of red, veins expand when riled.
- Sage – Responsible for initiates, eyes permanently red and veins perpetually distend toward temples.
- Maven – Faster speed and experts in signet wielding.
Weaknesses
Venin can be killed by lightning or alloy.
Only Venin initiates bleed. After becoming an asim, alloy must be used to kill a venin.
If cut off from magic they can’t pull from the source.
Examples:
- Suspended in the air
- Everything around them is already drained
Venin Bonds
Venin can feel/sense other venin and can hide their true nature, this is easier the higher rank a venin is.
Higher level venin seek out initiates and Asim’s to add into their ‘family’ and train them.
Venin Magic
Powers
Venin feel a strong pull towards magical sources, mainly the wild magic outside the wards. But they can pull from the source, turn venin, and use magic within the wards but at limited power.
Their known abilities include draining life from people, increased speed, immunity to dragon-fire, increased signet abilities, and can pick up on fighting techniques rapidly.
Higher level venin also have the ability to increase their speed significantly, this is NOT the same as distance wielding.
Known Powers:
- Pain projection
- Blue fire wielding
- Forceful movement (without touching)
- Disintegrate metal
- Fight style adaptation
- Resistant to dragon fire (with exceptions)
Venin Signets
Signets have only been seen in higher level Venin. It’s unclear how/if venin manifest signets or if they manifested before turning venin.
Venin signets can’t be counter by a rider with a signet countering signet (assumed from what we see with Theophanie).
Known Venin signets:
- Storm wielder
- Fire wielder
- Shadow wielder
- Ice wielder
- Wind wielder
- Distance walker?
- Dream walker?
World
*map credit to u/JustMarri on reddit
The Continent
The Continent is home to three distinct regions:
- Navarre – Largest kingdom, protected by wards, and home to dragons.
- Poromiel – Rival kingdom, home to gryphons, unprotected from Venin.
- The Barrens – Ruined drained region, where Venin are invading from.
Navarre and Poromiel have been at war for 400 years, until now as they must unite against the Venin.
The Continent was historically referred to as Amaralys by Navarrian records and Amelekis by Poromish records. Calling it “the Continent” was the only thing the two kingdoms could agree on.
Navarre
Navarre has 6 provinces united under a common language and culture: Luceras, Calldyr, Morraine (Basgiath War College), Elsum, Deaconshire, and Tyrrendor.
Navarre’s current monarch is King Tauri. Navarrian provinces are overseen by Dukes and Duchesses.
Under the Royal Family sits the Senarium, a group of 6 nobles, each representing one of Navarre’s six provinces. They govern the kingdom and handle important political decisions, including treaty negotiations and defensive agreements.
Navarre erased Venin from history 400 years ago and have propagandized Poromiel as the enemy while staying isolated behind their wards.
Navarre’s mountainous regions offer plenty of ore, hardy timber from the eastern provinces, and limitless deer and elk.
Poromiel
The three provinces are: Cygnisen (north), Braevick (central, location of Cliffsbane Flight Academy), and Krovla (south).
Unlike Navarre, Poromish provinces maintain individual cultures and languages. They are unable to create wards to protect from the Venin, so they rely on attacking Navarre outposts to get alloy weapons.
Poromiel’s current monarch is King Tecarus of Cordyn. Poromish provinces are overseen by Viscounts and Viscountesses. The Cordella sisters are next in line for the throne.
Poromiel mainly consists of plains and marshlands. It’s known for exceptional textiles, fields of grain, and crystalline gems capable of amplifying minor magics.
Barrens
The Barrens is a dry, desert-covered peninsula that lies east of Poromiel. This land was abandoned by all dragonkind after General Daramor ruined the land during the Great War 600+ years ago. Venin have been biding their time in this barren wasteland, drained all the magic from the land, and are now moving east to Poromiel.
The Isles – Isle Kingdoms
The Isle Kingdoms are made up of 5 large and 13 smaller islands that surround the Continent in every direction. Up until a few years ago, the Isles still traded with Poromiel. The Isles haven’t traded with Navarre since Navarre isolated itself centuries ago (according to public record). The Isle Kingdoms also don’t accept Navarrians as visitors, even though they were allies during the Great War.
To see more about each isle check out our Mini Archives: Onyx Storm Ep 6: Isles & Trials
Deverelli
- Where is it? – Across the Arctile Ocean off the coast of Krovla. Deverelli is the southernmost isle kingdom. The closest main isle is Unnbriel.
- Ruler – King Courtlyn IV (Ruler of Deverelli, Master of the Trade, Keeper of the Troths, Justice of the Tribunal, and Heir of the Antiquities)
- Magic – None
- Gods -Does not worship gods. What others call gods, they view as science.
- Notable facts – It is the most neutral of the isles and ideal for trade. The isle says it’s dedicated to peace and most citizens are unarmed.
- Asher Sorrengail left his research here with Narelle Anselm, for Violet to retrieve.
Unnbriel
- Ruler – Queen Marlis
- Magic – None
- Gods – Worship Dunne, the goddess of war and strength.
- Notable fact(s) – Wants malleable dragons. Those dedicated to Dunne have silver hair.
- Trial – Requires one to prove their worthiness before speaking with their queen. If one wins the fight, they get an audience with the queen.
Hedotis
- Where is it? – 13 hour flight for gryphons from Unnbriel.
- Ruler – Ruled by The Triumvirate – Faris, Nairi, Roslyn
- Magic – Less than none.
- Gods – Worship Hedeon, the god of wisdom
- Notable fact(s) – No army because it is a community built on knowledge and peace. Razed the original structures to rebuild a “perfect” layout. Generally have a fear of water.
- Trial – To formally meet with the Triumvirate, one must undergo a trial to prove your wisdom and worthiness.
Zehyllna
- Ruler – Queen [name unknown]
- Magic – Has a small current of magic. Not enough to channel or properly shield, but just enough to feel the bonds.
- Gods – Worship Zihnal, the god of luck.
- Notable fact(s) – To live amongst the Zihlni, you must prepare to accept luck as your guide and chaos as your standard. They have always revered dragonkind and gryphons.
- Trial – The trial sees what gifts Zihnal has chosen for someone. If someone is willing to play and accept whatever gift the god of luck presents them with without complaint, then they will be granted entrance to the city, where the queen waits.
Loysam
Mostly unknown. They worship Loial, goddess of love.
Magic
Bonded Relic
Relics form when a dragon uses its magic to mark their newly bonded rider’s skin (generally in the shape of the dragon who gifts it). Relics are given to a rider at Threshing and are a conduit for magic that will eventually manifest into a signet.
Rebellion Relic
Rebellion relics appeared on Marked Ones when their families were executed 6 years ago. The relics counter the signet of the rider whose dragon killed the blood relative, so General Melgren cannot use his premonition signet if 3+ Marked Ones are present. The relics have swirls with a dark shimmering appearance.
**This is not the same as a second signet
Signets
Signets are the unique power a rider has from bonding with a dragon. After a dragon channels power into its rider, the power manifests into an ability that reflects the human at their core. If a bonded rider doesn’t manifest a signet within approx. 6 months, the magic will consume them.
Second Signets
Second Signets are rare, or so Leadership says. There are two ways to get a second signet: bond an irid (not likely) or bond a dragon who previously bonded in the direct familial line of their current rider. Some dragons seek out marked ones who are direct descendents of their previous rider so they can be more powerful in the fight against the venin, but their second signets are hidden from leadership.
**No one has three signets – Rebecca has confirmed there has to be limitations on power, and someone like Xaden cannot have three signets because he only has one dragon.
Flier Gifts
Gryphon fliers do not wield signets, but excel in lesser-magic gifts (specifically mindwork), which they channel from their gryphons. Examples of gifts include: telling when someone is lying or heightening emotions. Gifts now work within the wards after the rune preventing it was nullified.
Lesser Magic
All riders can wield lesser magic once their dragon channels power into them (including before their signet manifests). Lesser magic includes but is not limited to: locking and unlocking doors, increased speed, using a pen, making something move, mind and sound shielding, and turning mage lights on/off.
Runes
Runes are strands of magic pulled from a rider or gryphon’s power, woven into geometric patterns for specific uses, then placed into an object through a process called tempering. Runes are an important aspect in Tyrrish culture. Runes can include: unlocking, heating, sun protection, and sound amplification.
Runes can be nullified if the material they are tempered into is altered.
Some runes can work beyond the Continent where there is no magic, depending on the material they are tempered into.
Alloy
Alloy is a combination of multiple metals (talladium, other ores, and dragon egg shells) that can be imbued with magic. It is the only known thing that can kill Venin, they can also kill dragons, and they are used to boost the wards. Alloy is crafted into weapons like dagger hilts.
Divine Entities
While everyone knows of all the gods and goddesses, certain ones are more prevalent and worshipped in different regions, depending on the needs and culture of that area.
The Gods
Amari – Queen of the Gods
Malek – God of Death
- “We commend their souls to Malek” is said out of respect for the deceased
Dunne – Goddess of Strength and War
Zihnal – God of Luck
Hedeon – God of Wisdom
Loial – Goddess of Love
Dedication
Dedicating oneself to temple work and becoming high priest or priestess is the closest anyone who is not bonded to a dragon can get to touching the power of the gods.
Dedications can only be completed on people whose futures are certain and only two deities have lifetime dedication commitments: Dunne and Loial.
Only those touched by the gods can wield the god’s wrath.
In the 200’s, Navarre outlawed the practice of dedicating children to their favored deity and it was banned even earlier in Poromiel. The decision to serve the gods for life must be made after the age of majority and of one’s free will. Parents used to dedicate their infants to a particular deity’s service because they thought the touch of the god would help that child.
When dedicated to Dunne, specifically, one’s hair changes from their natural color to silver (Unnbriel) or dyed white (Aretia).
If a priestess starts the process of the dedication, but then it is revealed that the child’s future is uncertain and still has dangerous paths to choose from, the rest of the dedication is refused. An incomplete dedication still means that person is touched by the god and can still be accepted and earn mentorship from the god’s attendants. Hair that fades into silver-tips regardless of length is a sign of an incomplete dedication.
Historical Events
The Great War
War against the venin 600+ years ago, when General Daramor ruined the Barrens, invaded the rest of the Continent, and nearly destroyed it with his army.
- The First Six became the first successfully bonded dragon riders to survive. Their dragons formed the first Empyrean, bonding with humans to weave the wards.
- In response to the Great War and the abandonment of the Barrens, dragons claimed the western lands and gryphons the central ones.
- This period was the last time a shadow and lightning wielder fought side by side and Amelekis was renamed the Continent.
Second Krovlan Uprising
In the 400s, Deverelli brokered a deal with Krovla and an unnamed isle that the isle would provide the army for the second Krovlan uprising, and Krovla would give them dragons.
- They sought out feathertails, presumably because these dragon eggs/hatchlings were thought to be malleable.
- Krovla’s failure to hold up their end of the bargain and the army’s subsequent withdrawal led to the Midnight Massacre on December 13, 433 AU.
Tyrrish Rebellion
Led by Fen Riorson, the Tyrrish Rebellion was Tyrrendor’s claim for independence from Navarre in an effort to join the fight against the venin.
- The rebellion was unsuccessful, and ended with the Battle of Aretia (5 years before Fourth Wing) and Aretia burned to the ground.
- After the battle was over, all rebellion leaders were executed by General Melgren’s dragon, Codagh.
Current Events
The war is in full swing between the Venin and the rest of the Continent. Both known wardstones are fully functional. However, Tyrrendor has gone against Navarre’s orders and opened its borders for Poromish civilians, so Halden Tauri threatens to send an army into Tyrrendor while Tyrrendor withholds Talladium, a valuable resource to make alloy.
With the exception of Leothan helping Andarna and breathing on the Aretian wardstone, the Irids refuse to help the Continent defeat the Venin.
The Venin have infiltrated the Navarrian ranks, but the full extent is unknown. They have lost Theophanie, but gained a mystery “brother.” Xaden has leveled up as a Venin.
Most of the isles still refuse to help fight the Venin unless they get dragons, specifically eggs. This is the same stance held during the Second Krovlan Uprising when they wanted dragons in exchange for an army.
4 riders and their dragons have been murdered, as well as 3 elders. 6 dragon eggs are missing from the Aretian hatching grounds. 4 riders are now missing, including Xaden and Garrick, and it is believed Xaden is responsible for this attack.
Xaden and Violet are married, though Violet had her memories wiped from the 12 hours that included their marriage and assumably more.
Need More?
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