Essek Thelyss

 is a drow mage and a senior figure in the Kryn Dynasty. As an NPC, is played by Matthew Mercer.

Appearance
Essek is a very handsome male drow who holds his head high. He has very short white hair. He wears an elaborate mantle and deep purple and black robes that almost entirely obscure his body.

Essek moves in a unique way, described as gliding or drifting. His cloak falls to the floor, obscuring his feet. Although in the Mighty Nein's initial meeting with him, they hear and see his footfalls as he moves, later Jester peeks below his cloak and sees his feet aren't touching the ground. When he comes to the Xhorhaus, the party scatters ball bearings on the floor, which separate out around his form like there is some invisible force that is pushing them outward and generating a strange force that keeps them at bay. At Mythburrow, he leaves two grooves in the snow behind him as he moves, from his toes. At Matthew Mercer's Stockholm Comic Con panel, he clarified that Essek can walk; he simply chooses not to.

Personality
Essek is quite charming and hardworking, however he is elusive. He isn't fond of interacting with strangers much, or giving away information unless he respects the individual, or needs them for something. He is arrogant in his abilities.

Background
Essek is a member of Den Thelyss, one of the three main important Dens of Rosohna. He is consecuted, but has not gone beyond his first life yet,, and is part way into his second century. He considers that Den Thelyss was very kind to accept one as comparatively young as himself. He holds an apparently high position in the Xhorhasian government, going by the title "Shadowhand", but it is unclear the specifics of his job.

Essek was in attendance when The Mighty Nein received an audience with the Bright Queen, and returned the Beacon to the Kryn Dynasty. When Nott inquired about her husband Yeza's whereabouts, it was Essek as Shadowhand who confirmed that Yeza was in fact in their custody. Before the Bright Queen dismissed the Mighty Nein, Essek was assigned to be their steward while they were potential allies to the Dynasty. Afterwards, Essek took the Nein through the Shadowshire to the Dungeon of Penance where Nott and Yeza reunited. Though coy at first, he did agree to release Yeza after a small interrogation and then continued to show the group around Rosohna, to the Dim's Inn and their new lodgings.

Essek returned to the Nein to show them to their new home, courtesy of Den Thelyss. It is raining, but the raindrops do not touch him, instead falling around him while he remains dry.

Essek dropped by the Xhorhaus and remarked on how the Mighty Nein are settling into their new home. Beau invited him in for drinks, but he declined. After some polite conversation, Caleb asks after ways to learn dunamancy. Essek asked him to demonstrate his magical prowess, and Caleb cast Cat's Ire. Essek then decided to begin teaching him the basics of Dunamancy, offering to let him transcribe two spells from his spellbook.

Essek vouched for the party in their meeting with the Bright Queen sharing information about the upcoming attack on the Ashguard Garrison and the meeting at the Overcrow Apothecary.

Essek was present for the Mighty Nein's audience with the Bright Queen following their return from Bazzoxan and said he could transport the group to the Flotket Alps. When Caleb sought him out afterwards, Essek agreed to do what he could to see that the captured Scourger's execution was not accelerated.

When the Mighty Nein are ready to leave for the Flotket Alps, they send to Essek to come to the Xhorhaus, where they introduce Dairon as their house sitter. After one unsuccessful attempt, Essek successfully transports them all to the Greying Wildlands.

The Mighty Nein sends to Essek asking him to Teleport the party to Mythburrow and he agrees. When they return to Rosohna, he also helps Caleb by using Dispel Magic on the stolen book page, unlocking its contents, and tells Caleb he has been able to delay the execution of the Scourger for two weeks. Reani finds him very attractive and is overawed and shy around him. Essek then successfully Teleports all of them to Mythburrow.

When Essek moves away, Jester sees that instead of footprints, he leaves two grooves in the snow from his toes dragging through the snow.

Essek escorts the party to the Dungeon of Penance to interrogate the captive Scourger, and when she attacks Caleb, Essek uses magic to lift her still-living body off the ground and magically crush her central torso inward, killing her instantly and mangling the body. Essek later teaches Caleb two new dunamancy spells, Immovable Object and Resonant Echo.

Essek transports the party to the Lotusden Greenwood, but there is confusion over their intended target and they then ask him to teleport them further south in an attempt to intercept or get ahead of Obann. He is extremely reluctant. When Caleb places his hand on his forearm and apologizes, he pulls away. However, Essek agrees and teleports the party deeper into the forest. When Beau asks if he's mad at them, he says he is just ready to leave, reiterates that he has not forgotten that the party now owes him a number of favors, and tells them to be careful and safe. He exits by casting a spell that sends him flying up through the canopy.

The party returns to Rosohna and meets with a weary-looking Essek, who tells them of the captured Adeen Tasathar, and that Adeen has been being interrogated for two days. Essek agrees to taking a disguised Fjord into the prison to see if he can learn anything further. When the party tells Essek they think Adeen was mind-controlled, Essek goes to check if he has a mark on his neck similar to Yasha's. He is insight-checked on his return by Nott, who later tells Caleb that Essek seemed "funky".

Notable Items

 * Spellbook:

Abilities
Essek is a self-proclaimed "prodigy" of dunamancy, and a graviturgist, a person who specifically focuses in dunamancy's study of gravity. His spellbook is apparently kept in a pocket dimension, and apparates into a hand when needed. Essek has demonstrated that he knows the spell Teleport and can cast it twice in one day, making him at least a level 15 wizard.

Cantrips

 * Wristpocket

1st-level

 * Gift of Alacrity

2nd-level

 * Fortune's Favor

3rd-level

 * Dispel Magic

5th-level

 * Teleportation Circle
 * Telekinesis

7th-level

 * Teleport

Unknown Level

 * Immovable Object
 * Resonant Echo

Quotations

 * "[The Luxon] is the basis of how we've been able to free ourselves from the binds of the lineage the Betrayer Gods left for us and to carve our own fates, choose our own paths and sidestep these destinies placed upon us nonchalantly by gods that use us as playthings." (Essek explaining the significance of the Luxon to Dunamis power)
 * "Time is one of my specialities." (When asked why he isn't affected by the dunamantic time distortion in the Dungeon of Penance)