Syldor Vessar

 is an elven man, ambassador of Syngorn, and the emotionally distant father of Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia. As an NPC, Syldor is played by Matthew Mercer.

Appearance
Syldor has long, black or dark brown hair, a pale complexion, and a stern look.

Personality
Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia described their father as emotionally neglectful and contemptuous of their human heritage. He reluctantly took the twins in because he couldn't stand the idea of any part of him - even tainted with human blood as they were - to be so close to peasantry. However, he exhibited a very protective and affectionate side for his pureblood daughter, Velora.

Although Syldor maintained an aloof and formal manner around Vox Machina and his two eldest children, treating them as an inconvenience and something of an embarrassment, he felt affection for the twins and expressed that in their meeting in Syngorn to the extent his cool nature would allow. He had a sense of humor as well, breaking into laughter when Velora began repeating naughty words she had heard from the party, to her mother's consternation.

Background
Some time ago, Syldor encountered a human woman and sired two half-elf children with her: Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia. When the twins were ten years old, Syldor had them brought to Syngorn to live with him. However, Syldor was distant and cold towards his children, which - combined with the similar attitude of the other elves in the city - led to the twins running away one autumn night.

Several years later, Vex and Vax encountered their father in Emon while doing some odd jobs with the rest of their party, now known as Vox Machina. Syldor was in the capital on business as an ambassador of Syngorn, and it was at that point they learned he had married an elven woman named Devana and had a young daughter, Velora. However, Syldor's contact within the Tal'Dorei Council had gone missing, and he hired the party to find him so that he could get back to work.

Vox Machina met with Syldor in hopes of to gaining access to the rest of Syngorn as part of their request for aid against the Chroma Conclave and in their venture for Fenthras. He remained cold and somewhat disdainful towards his older children and Vox Machina, although he granted them a meeting with Syngorn' High Warden, Tyrelda. Their presence was a difficulty and an embarrassment to his family.

When the twins finally expressed their pent-up anger, he softened and apologized for their upbringing. He told them there was still a part of him that cared for them both and was genuinely happy that they lived, succeeded, and proved that they could achieve what the rest of "these fools in this city said you were incapable of." He admitted his prejudice, but said that he fought it every day. He told them that Velora loved to "play stealthy Vax and Vex", and it made him smile. They were an inspiration to those outside the city, which was more than he'd ever done. He urged them not to care about his opinion, just to avenge their mother's death, to show their little sister that they could rise up and destroy whatever came in their way. He promised to send word to Whitestone when the city was ready to return to the Prime Material Plane to attack Thordak in Emon.

Following Vax'ildan's death, Syldor and Vex'ahlia made an effort to have a closer relationship than before. Syldor would go on to do what he could with his political clout to try to make the future generations of elves in Syngorn more open and accepting of the other races of Exandria than he had been.

Mentions

 * Campaign One: Vox Machina