Ermos

Ermos is an archmage and member of the Circle of Eight.

Appearance
Ermos is a medium-sized man of unknown origin whose face is shrouded by an illusory green haze at all times. This illusion cannot be dispelled unless he retires from his position in the Circle of Eight.

Personality
While the Champions Valoris know little of Ermos as a person, he seems to be quite helpful, performing his own research on Ashara's magic without being asked.

Background
Ermos is a powerful mage who rose through the ranks of Atemcester's wizards to become a member of the Circle of Eight. Upon ascending to the Circle, Ermos consented to remain anonymous and have his face hidden with illusion magic as long as he served as an archmage. His true name is unknown. Initially, he was known by his title and favored school of magic. However, this was deemed cumbersome by many and, upon the discovery of a tablet in ruins from the late Vrinian Empire, the archmagi decided to adopt the names of ancient wizards for their seats. He selected the name Ermos for his seat. Before the Champions Valoris arrived in Atemcester, the Circle held a vote on whether or not to entrust the Bands of the Archmagi to them, pending the results of a test of ability administered by the Crest's current guardian, Esbat. The vote was marginally in favor of allowing the adventurers to take the Abyssal Crest. It is unknown how Ermos voted on the proposal, although he seemed quite confident that the adventurers would succeed in Esbat's trial.

Atemcester Arc
Ermos was present for the party's initial meeting with the Circle of Eight. Before the start of the trial, Ermos assured the adventurers that they were fully capable of overcoming it. Upon their return from Esbat's temple, Ermos was the one who explained the rationale for the Circle's adoption of Vrinian names. Upon learning of Ashara's Vrinian origin and the nature of her prosthetic arm, Ermos asked if the arm had adapted to her body or if she had managed to form a symbiotic relationship with it. It is unknown whether or not he was disappointed to learn that she had not. Ermos also seems to have been intrigued by Ashara's questions on the source of her magic, since he researched some hypotheses between meetings. He determined that Ashara's stasis pod may have connected her to a psychic wind, and found scholarly materials on the topic from a researcher in Seaton named Xavien Zel'drost. Ermos was the one who contacted Ashara the next day to let her know that the Circle was ready to meet with her. At the meeting, he told her about his research and Xavien, although he warned her that Xavien's writings were 30 years old now and the researcher themself may have passed in the interim.

Goals
Ermos's wider goals are unknown to the Champions Valoris. However, he presumably wants the Bands of the Archmagi to be protected against agents of the Burning Knight.

Abilities
Ermos is an extremely powerful wizard, and one of the contemporary masters of his craft. His preferred school of magic is unknown to the Champions Valoris, although he is confirmed to know the spell Sending.

Quotes

 * Name: "Quote."

Trivia

 * Ermos's interest in the transmutative properties of Ashara's warforged arm may indicate that he is the Archmage of Transmutation, a recently appointed member of the Circle. However, this has not been confirmed within the campaign.