The True Eternal Champion
by Reynold Hawkclyff
A speculative unauthorised biography on the Eternal Champion
In recent years it has become commonplace to hear stories of The Eternal Champion, his adventures locating The Staff of Chaos and his climactic battle with Jagar Tharn. Tales of this legendary hero are even known household favourites among parents and children. However, not many know about the real person behind the title. Through my research on the subject, I repeatedly came to the name Theodyn Mistyhollow, and further investigations regarding this wood elf seemed to make him an unmistakeable match for The Eternal Champion. Continuing my studies based on interviews and reports from those familiar with and those fortunate enough to have had chance encounters with Theodyn, I aimed to create the most coherent source on the hero to date, and tell the true story of The Eternal Champion’s nature.
My personal journey of discovery begun in Theodyn’s hometown of Moonmont in Valenwood. There I got the opportunity to interview several willing participants on the Champion’s days of youth, uncovering many surprising quirks in his character. My first interviewee, Mondlir Larkwind, had known Theodyn since childhood.
“Like the best of us, he always seemed at one with the wilderness. But more than that, he often wandered off by himself, trying to spot uncharted territory with a sense of importance. I’d often lose track of him, wherever he was, but he only ever seemed lost himself in town. It’s a strange thought, isn’t it – he could find himself out of an unfamiliar woodland in minutes, but you’d ask him to fetch you something from the same old gear store and he’d take his time as though he’d never been on that route before!” Considering Mondlir was one of his closer friends, I asked him about Theodyn’s social life. “He didn’t have a lot of friends, really. He often just stuck to himself and did his own thing. I guess you could consider him a loner, although the way I see it, he was just in his own world most of the time.”
Most of the citizens of Moonmont who remember Theodyn are aware of his more illicit activities. “He always was a curious fellow” notes Cyldra Oakwood,
“If he wasn’t climbing trees or jumping across rooftops he was…breaking into things he probably shouldn’t.” As she continued recalling this to me, she shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
“I think he used to do it to test himself. To see if he could more than anything…” My next interviewee had harsher words to say on the matter of his burglaries.
“By Y’ffre’s pact, there’s a name I was hoping to never hear again! A menace and a miscreant, that’s what he was!” the short little elf’s face reddened as he thought back, apparently still infuriated by the moment.
“One night, he burst into my house reeking of gin – near frightened the life out of me! His speech was slurred and barely comprehensible, but the gist was there. Apparently he was “proving a point” about how our security system was ineffective. Needless to say, the wife and I invested in new locks after the incident was over and done. Not on his advice, mind, we just wanted to see the last of him!”
I consulted Tarim Budleaf, an old hand town guard, on the soon-to-be Champion’s crimes.
“Oh yes, he did get caught on more than one occasion. But by the law he couldn’t really be considered a serious criminal. A petty thief, perhaps, but hardly a dangerous threat to the people of Moonmont! I mean, he never actually stole anything…” He furrowed his brow thoughtfully as he hastily amended “…or at least, we never caught him stealing anything…” Regardless of the guards’ dismissal of Theodyn’s acts, his unusual abilities in lock picking did draw notable attention to himself, as my next source, a former Thieves Guild member who has asked not to be named, testifies.
“The guild was very interested in him and got in contact. More than once, I reckon. To tell you the truth, I think he was a little interested. He was on friendly terms with us, certainly. Course, these were in the good old days of the guild, when it was nice and clean. Before things changed. It was like Tharn’s rule had a strange effect on them, I swear! Practises went a little…south. From a dignified, respected guild to, well, little above the likes of The Wharf Rats! I didn’t want anything to do with them!” The man appeared ill at ease, before clearing his throat and continuing,
“Theodyn? He declined our offers. They said he was looking for work within the empire. Maybe he just wanted a clean record.”
Theodyn left his home in Moonmont to start a new life in The Imperial City after having been offered employment there. Local tavern cook Aranor Greenthorn had this to say. “Rumour has it that he left to work at the Imperial Palace. We were all quite proud for him really, but my uncle’s maid claims that it was just a low end job. Cleaning duties and all that.” Unfortunately, due to the events that transpired in the palace during Jagar Tharn’s takeover, it is incredibly hard to source information of The Champion’s years working there. I was, however, able to find one correspondent from The Imperial City who was willing to part with me her story of an encounter prior to Tharn’s rule. A skilled warrior, Mildra Cassullus used to offer training in sword combat. Theodyn had taken her up for only one lesson, and although she never heard from him again, it was an unforgettable experience.
“His sheer strength was abnormal” she wrote to me, “within one session he was not only able to get a confident grip on handling a sword, but was able to strike such a powerful blow that it split one of the training targets in two! He offered to pay extra for the damage. I’m not sure he realised he was anything special.”
Although it is difficult to separate true facts from storytelling and conjecture when it comes to the Champion’s journey to reassemble the Staff of Chaos, I have been able to gather and review multiple sources from these years, many of which specifically refer to Theodyn. His unusual behaviour and character is a recurring trend throughout these accounts. Fa'kir Kimnin, witness to his travels in Corinth, made particular note of his vagueness in both intentions and in action.
“The elf struck me as a little strange. Always asking questions, never giving answers. Why he was here, he would not say. Needy for information though, and often work. In hindsight, he was probably covering his tracks. A wise move to make with “the emperor” as your enemy.” A relation to Korina Adwatch of the Glenview dynasty recalled a story which brings Theodyn’s quirks into larger questioning. “Korina told me of the odd wood elf in leather who was assigned to escort her for urgent business. On the way she says he seemed distracted, as though he had reason to get the job out of the way with haste. When questioned, he repeatedly skirted around the subject but insisted that he was on an important quest that he must not delay. Despite this, he repeatedly slowed himself down by walking in circles, stumbling into bodies of water and bumping into lampposts. After Korina insistently questioned his behaviour, he let slip that he was headed for the Temple of the Madgod. I’m sure you’ll agree that after this, there was little doubt about his lack of sanity!”
It was with much difficulty I was able to get in contact with Igmar Ulredson, a Nightblade once notorious in Winterhold for his repeated felonies. He too regarded the elf as unusual in temperament. “He approached me with a stupid grin on his face, shouting “Stop right there, criminal scum!” Then, while he was escorting me, I caught him watery eyed and muttering to himself under his breath. “They’re all dead, aren’t they?” or something like that.” Regardless, Ulredson was quick to point out Theodyn’s incredible strength.
“It wasn’t his attitude that was my concern, it was his sword! Near downright killed me trying to beat me to submission, I’d’ve been mad not to surrender!
Despite his side goals in upholding the law and assisting nobles (of which there are records of the Champion spending a whole year working for the Kingdom of Daggerfall), we must not forget his shadier side. There are several sources that claim that during his travels, Theodyn was in possession of the Skeleton’s Key, a legendary artefact revered by thieves, or at the very least that he actively sought and paid good money for information on its whereabouts. Whether or not the key was actually ever in his possession is disputed however, as it is agreed that there were no witnesses to him ever utilising it and no reports of the key having been used in criminal activities in these years. This does not rule out the possibility that he was simply never caught.
The final contact I was able to interview had a brief encounter with Theodyn late into his quest in an inn in Vvardenfell.
“It’s over! She left me! It was all in vein!” shouted Derevar Velan, mimicking his memory of the inebriated Champion. He claimed that after several drinks, Theodyn noisily stood up and confidently staggered out of the barroom declaring that he would “do it for the empire and to avenge his friends”. Derevar commented that at the time he was easy to dismiss as nothing more than an average drunkard and an “annoying outlander”. It is interesting to note that this account conflicts with Mondlir’s description of his social habits. He described Theodyn to me as a sober man so strict on alcohol discipline that he’d even refuse more than one free glass of white wine at a New Life festival.
It is not really surprising that there are so many conflicting variants of what actually went down in The Imperial Palace at the end, and the famous battle between The Eternal Champion and Jagar Tharn. The following is a take based on my own findings from what I believe to be more reputable sources. There was, in fact, a mithril key that was detrimental to Tharn’s defeat and is often left out of retellings. The key opened a magically sealed gate that blocked access to the Jewel of Fire which, as you probably know, was sustaining Tharn’s life and preventing the staff from being active. Depending on what you read or where you ask, there are two different versions on how the Champion obtained the key. In one version, it was Theodyn’s remarkable strength that knocked it out of Tharn’s possession in an intense battle. In the other, he spotted the key behind a locked door, and rather than directly fighting Tharn, he used his lock picking techniques to get to it. There is also evidence that the Champion didn’t work alone, and that the sorceress Ria Silmane was somehow involved in aiding him in his quest. Given clear reports of her death in 3E 368, these could be confused retellings and misinformation based on facts concerning Queen Barenziah.
Not much is known about what happened to The Eternal Champion after receiving his title. It is believed that he now works closely with The Emperor, although due to the secrecy sworn by The Blades; his exact role is unknown, adding yet another mystery on this already mystifying character. It is my hope that my writings will shed some light on his true nature and have some influence on future retellings of the story. It is for you to take away a reading on the Champion who has been presented here on these pages. Was he a violent, reckless criminal? A madman? Or perhaps simply a well-meaning dunce in the right place and at the right time.