Dairon

 is an elf monk working for the Archive of the Cobalt Soul, a library in Zadash. Their monk archetype is the Way of the Cobalt Soul, published in Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting. As an NPC, Dairon is played by Matthew Mercer.

Appearance
When Dairon first appeared, they were hooded and wearing baggy grey pants. All Beauregard could see of them was a thin, muscular figure, neither particularly masculine nor feminine, and dark skin. Dairon later lowered their hood to reveal elvish features and a bald head.

Personality
Dairon is very direct and blunt. They maintain focus despite distractions. They are committed to the Cobalt Soul and willing to die to accomplish a mission.

Background
Dairon has shared little of their background, but mentioned that they had been hurt by people in power. They told Beau that in the past, they had been emotionally driven and vengeful, with unfounded prejudices, but that spending time within the Kryn Dynasty had made them realize how little difference there was between people trying to survive and be happy on both sides.

After Archivist Zeenoth's failure to find Beauregard and return her to the Archive of the Cobalt Soul in Zadash, Expositor Dairon pursued and found the wayward monk in Trostenwald. As the archivist and the initiate exchanged words, Dairon's attention was drawn to Beau's accusation that Zeenoth was bribed into having her taken in unjustly. This deeply unsettling statement, along with Beau's resistance to returning to the archive, prompted the Expositor to relieving Zeenoth of his responsibilities to oversee Beau's training. After earning Beauregard's respect by easily outclassing her in unarmed combat, Dairon taught Beauregard to use the third-level "Extract Aspects" ability from the Way of the Cobalt Soul archetype for the monk class. Dairon also expressed that Beau had great potential, and that her path is her own to walk as she refines her skills.

Beauregard trained with Dairon at the Cobalt Soul in Zadash.

Jester Lavorre, at Beauregard's behest, cast Sending to find out Dairon's status. Dairon claimed they were recovering from injuries in Bladegarden.

Dairon saw the Mighty Nein enter the Four Corners tavern while disguised as a drow. They stared at Beau, but rebuffed Beau and Fjord's attempts to talk to her. When Beau entered the fighting pit with Jester, Dairon entered as well. After Jester and the ogre went down, Dairon narrowly won over Beau. Dairon claimed the money, jade, and diamond from the fight, but indicated to Beau that she wanted to speak. Once Beau, Jester, and Frumpkin followed them into a shack outside of the bar, Dairon dropped their disguise and gave Jester back the diamond. They revealed that they had lied in an attempt to keep Beau in the Dwendalian Empire and asked if the group could share notes.

Beau introduced Dairon to the rest of the Mighty Nein. They told Dairon they were looking for someone who was kidnapped because he was studying Dunamancy with the Cerberus Assembly. Dairon told them that they are in Asarius investigating a possible connection between the Assembly and the Kryn Dynasty. They suspect the Assembly is aiding the Kryn. Upon their return to the Empire, they hope to use what they find to destroy the Cerberus Assembly. Beau warned Dairon that Lady Olios knows a spy is operating out of the Four Corners. Dairon said they will be leaving Asarius soon for Ghor Dranas. They became suspicious when Caduceus and Jester talked about sending them messages and meeting up in Ghor Dranas even after they told them they were going to work alone. Beau asked the group to give her and Dairon some time to talk alone.

Beau angrily asked why Dairon kept writing her off. Dairon responded that they were not writing Beau off, she was writing the others off. They warned Beau not to get too close to the Mighty Nein, but Dairon trusted Beau's judgement. If Beau believed they were trustworthy, Dairon believed they were. Dairon might be open to meeting again in Ghor Dranas, but they would not go with them or help them get there.

Later that night, Beau and Dairon met again for training. After a brief sparring match, they taught Beau the Way of the Cobalt Soul ability Preternatural Counter. Beau gave Dairon a copy of Avantika's cipher so the two of them could write coded messages to each other using it. Dairon left Beau with the parting instructions "Listen", "Be Patient", and "Stay Alive".

In the middle of the night, Dairon appeared on the balcony in front of Jester, asking to see Beaureguard right away. There was much to discuss.

Dairon was escorted by Beau to her bedroom to have their conversation. Dairon told Beau that there was a secondary beacon being held in the Empire and there was a possibility of traitors in the Cerberus Assembly. Dairon asked to meet one of the Mighty Nein's contacts in Rosohna to get more acquainted with the area and potentially gather more information. Dairon was introduced to Essek the next morning. To keep a low profile, the Mighty Nein decide to have Dairon be their housekeeper as a cover.

The Mighty Nein teleported from Uthodurn to Rosohna to request Essek's assistance in getting them to a white dragon's lair. Beau introduced Reani to Dairon. Dairon said she hated the housekeeping cover but was still able to keep up with some detective work. When hearing that the group was going after a dragon, Dairon told Beau to run if things go bad. Beau said she could not abandon the Mighty Nein. Dairon responded that Beau needed to make her friends run with her and repeated the advice from Asarius to survive.

Darion informed the group of a military push towards Urzin. Beau gives Dairon her symbol of the Bright Queen.

After returning to the Xhorhaus, Dairon returned the medallion of the Bright Queen to Beauregard, though this has since been retconned. They both spent some time training together in the middle of the night.

While visiting the Cobalt Soul in Zadash, Dairon officially promoted Beauregard to Expositor and gave her new vestiges.

Prior to the Mighty Nein's return to Rexxentrum, Dairon was mentioned to have investigated and apprehended Zeenoth under suspicion of corruption and accepting bribes, all because of Beau's whistleblowing when they first met. Beau later thanked Dairon for this act with a few hugs, as it helped the younger Expositor in her past distrust of the Soul and those within.

Beauregard Lionett
Dairon sees Beau as an apt pupil and believes her rebellious nature is a boon. They are impressed by how quickly Beau has grown since their first meeting. However, they think Beau is rash and needs to learn patience. Dairon has said they believe Beau has great potential and is concerned for Beau's well-being, citing their own past as an example.

Dairon's high opinion of Beau caught the attention of Yudala Fon, the High Curator of the Rexxentrum Archive, who in turn informed the younger Expositor in person.

Notable Items

 * Alter Self ring
 * Cipher for Avantika's code
 * Greater Healing Potion (stolen by Nott)
 * Symbol of the Bright Queen (given by Beauregard)

Monk Abilities

 * Deflect Missiles
 * Evasion
 * Extra Attack
 * Ki
 * Flurry of Blows
 * Patient Defense
 * Ki-Empowered Strikes
 * Martial Arts (1d8)
 * Monastic Tradition: Way of the Cobalt Soul
 * Extort Truth
 * Extract Aspects
 * Mind of Mercury
 * Mystical Erudition
 * Preternatural Counter
 * Purity of Body
 * Slow Fall
 * Stillness of Mind
 * Stunning Strike
 * Tongue of the Sun and Moon
 * Unarmored Defense
 * Unarmored Movement

Quotations

 * Dairon: We wade in the filth of society, we weed out the corrupt, we pursue the secrets and evils of the world and expose them to the light, we twist the arm of the unjust until they spill their mysteries, we are the spies, we are the hunters, we are the watchmen to those who rule, we are not kind, we are forthright, we are truth.
 * Dairon: Do what you must. Travel the world. Use what I've taught you, learn about injustice. Those you don’t trust, follow them, bend them. Make them tell the truth and admit their guilt. Find wherever corruption is, root it out and let the system do its job. And if the system isn’t doing its job, destroy the system. (parting instructions to Beauregard)
 * Dairon: No one has to see what you're doing if it's good, as long as it's doing good. Do you think anyone cares about the things I've done? I've done many things, not many I'm proud of, but they have served the goodness of others. They have enabled many people who could not defend themselves in the Empire to survive and improve. I do not do this for accolades. I do this because I serve a purpose of a better world for those who cannot defend themselves. Can you serve that purpose? Beau: I can try. Dairon: Then do not wait for them to see what you do that is good. Just know that you've done good, and hope you live long enough to see the impact it has.
 * Dairon: (to Beau, about Zeenoth) When you told me what had happened, it deeply bothered me. I've been hurt before by people in power. So, I did what I always wished somebody did for me.
 * Dairon: If my apology isn't enough, let this be a reminder that even those above you have their faults, and have much to learn.

Trivia

 * Dairon uses both she/her and they/them pronouns.