Alexio

Alexio
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Akroan Skyguard.jpg}}|250px]]
Details
Race	Human
Birthplace	Meletis, Theros
Lifetime	Mending Era
Colors
Sources

Alexio was a skyguard from Meletis on the plane of Theros, who gave his life to protect the Oracle of Ephara, Iris.

Description

Alexio had a scar on his shoulder from an old, deep cut, and nearly intangible, ethereal wings of light, a gift of the gods. He had an aquiline nose, square jaw, full lips, protruding brow, and short curly hair.

History

Alexio had been summoned to the council of the Twelve, the leaders of Meletis, who had discovered that agents of Purphoros had been sent to kidnap Iris, the Oracle of Ephara. Head Speaker Perisophia told Alexio that he would escort Iris in secret to the garrison at Soli, where she would be safe. Alexio let the blind Iris touch him so she could see him in her way, and it was an intimate experience, although she quickly became curt with him afterward.

The next day, they rode out of the city and headed into the forest on the way to Soli. They chatted amicably enough, and Alexio went on a scouting mission to see if the agents of Purphoros were following them from the city. As he swooped over the trees, he noticed something ahead - highwaymen who were waiting in ambush. And Iris had put her horse in a trot, heading straight for them.

Just as the horse stumbled on a trip wire, Alexio swooped down and swiped Iris from her saddle. The two men charged, but he killed them both in quick succession. Although they had been dressed as highwaymen, Alexio noticed their weapons were Purphoran. He and Iris had been discovered by the people hunting her, and time was of the essence. Unfortunately, the trip wire had made Iris's horse lame, and Alexio had to put it down.

Iris refused to be carried aloft by Alexio, so they continued on foot. The next night, Alexio tracked down a loyal pegasus, who could bear Iris aloft. When he brought it to her, Iris thought it was the most wonderful gift, and this time, she didn't mind him holding her waist as he hoisted her onto the mount. Thus able to take aloft together, they soared through the air, reveling in the sense of freedom that only flight could provide.

However, a storm soon rolled in, bringing with it heavy rains. They had to land in a cave to seek shelter, where Alexio built a fire for them. They drank wine together, drinking wine and huddling in the blankets together. He had fallen in love with her but was surprised to see that she appeared to feel the same for him, despite her earlier coolness. The two spent the night entwined, and she fell asleep in his arms, a smile on her face.

In the early hours, Alexio heard a sound. He put his hand across Iris's mouth, waking her. He told her to be quiet, as there were enemies nearby, encroaching on the cave. When Alexio and Iris tried to leave the cave, an arrow struck the rock next to them. Alexio tried the second exit and found that a graverobber spider had strung a large web across the other exit, trapping them inside. As Alexio cleared the webs, an arrow struck him from the other opening. Knowing he would not be able to fly, he put Iris on the pegasus and bid her to fly as fast as she could. She despaired, but he was firm, and sent the pegasus off into the air, carrying her with it. He faced off against several bandits inside the cave, knowing Iris would not be taken by them that day, and that was worth dying for.

Story appearances

Title	Author	Publishing date	Set	Setting (plane)	Featuring
The Oracle of Ephara	Jeremiah Isgur	2014-03-19	Born of the Gods	Theros	Iris, Ephara, Perisophia, Purphoros, Alexio

In-game references

Represented in:

• Akroan Skyguard