Syldor Vessar

Syldor Vessar is an elven man, ambassador of Syngorn, and the emotionally distant father of Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia.

As an NPC in Critical Role, Syldor is played by Matthew Mercer. In The Legend of Vox Machina, Syldor is voiced by Troy Baker.

Appearance
Syldor is an elven man with long, black or dark brown hair, a pale complexion, and a stern look.

When he visited Byroden for the first time after the twins were born, Syldor was described as "well-dressed", wearing "fancy robes" and sparkling, heavy bracelets. He didn't seem to carry any weapons or supplies with him. Months later, when the twins arrived at his home in Syngorn, Syldor wore finer clothing: brown robes, with gold embroidery, a high neckline, and cut sleeves showing off gold silk.

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
Around 786 PD, Syldor had a short-term relationship with a human woman from Byroden named Elaina. Unknown to him until years later, their relationship resulted in the birth of half-elven twins: Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia.

Kith & Kin
Syldor was not aware of the existence of the twins until around 795 PD. One day, Syldor rode into Byroden just before sunset, on a female blue roan horse. He was spotted by Feena, who passed the message along to the other local children until it reached nine-year-olds Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia. The children then gathered at Byroden's Bliss to spy on him. Syldor sat alone in the inn, uncomfortable with the humble surroundings, waiting for Elaina to arrive. His expression momentarily softened when he saw her, and he bowed to her. Wenric, the innkeeper, closed the shutters to prevent the children from spying further, but they immediately began speculating that he was the twin's father. Duncan noted that Syldor seemed to have "more gold and gems than the whole town put together."

Around 796 PD, Syldor requested High Warden Tyrelda's permission to bring his half-elven children to live in Syngorn. About six months after his visit to Byroden, Syldor sent his own horses and three members of the Verdant Guard, among them Tharyn, to Byroden, with a letter to Elaina and instructions to escort the ten-year-old twins to Syngorn. The letter mentioned that the children would want for nothing in his care. The guards left the twins at the door to Syldor's home, where Syldor and his servant Alin were waiting. He send Alin to care for their horses and belongings, and brought the children to his office. He told them he intended to improve their education and that they were thankfully "young enough that all hope is not lost." He informed them of a strict set of rules: a private tutor would arrive the next morning and they would study with them until they were ready to go to school; they would not be allowed to leave the house without permission; they would not be allowed to wear the clothes they brought with them; they were forbidden from bothering him during his work. He told them they were welcome, but they didn't feel like they were.

A year and a half later, Syldor had hired Iova to teach the twins archery, and Tharendril to teach them to use blades. Tharendril only accepted because he owed Syldor a favour. The twins were also studying with history, language, and mathematics tutors. One day, while Vex'ahlia and Iova were practicing archery and Vax'ildan and Tharendril were practicing with blades, Syldor arrived with High Warden Tyrelda, who wished to observe the twins' progress. She noted that they had barely been seen outside of Syldor's home in the time they had lived in Syngorn (they had, in fact, only left twice, with Syldor). Syldor told her it was because he wanted to make sure they could keep up with their peers; Vax'ildan said it was because his father was ashamed of them. The High Warden asked Vex'ahlia to demonstrate her archery and Syldor did not give her the chance to explain that she was tired; she performed poorly, and Syldor sneered at her. The High Warden ordered Syldor to send them to school, amused by their spirit and believing it might be a good challenge for them.

By around 800 PD, the twins were attending school and able to roam the city independently, and Syldor was giving them an allowance. He kept the half-elves away from the Elvendawn celebrations.

By about a year later, Syldor had suggested to their teachers that the twins be split up in the classroom. One day, Vax'ildan was caught breaking into the master of history's office at the school. Syldor was furious, and summoned both children to his office. He was aware that Vax'ildan had been sneaking out at night, and had overlooked it, but he saw this as the last straw. The Verdant Lord had sent him a letter informing him of Vax'ildan's pickpocketing in the market, and he knew Vax had spent that money on an expensive gift for his sister: a hazelwood longbow. Syldor then turned his anger on Vex'ahlia for covering up her brother's disobedience. He told them they were "undesired children." Vax'ildan asked his father to return Vex'ahlia's bow, but Syldor instead snapped it, and sent them to their room.

The following year, Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia left their father's home secretly, late on an autumn night. They stayed for some time after the incident with the bow, but the final straw was another fight over a piece of jewelry. They expected their father would "make a fuss for appearance's sake," but would be relieved that they were gone.

Campaign 1: Vox Machina
Several years later in 810 PD, Vex and Vax encountered their father in Emon while searching for the one who hired the Clasp to deliver Skysunder's egg to Westruun the previous Winter's Crest. 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.

After campaign 1
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.

He, Devana, and Velora attended Vex'ahlia's wedding to Percival de Rolo in Shamal in 813 PD and were present at the rehearsal dinner. Like nearly every guest, he was drugged through the wine by Sylas Briarwood and fell unconscious but was otherwise unharmed.

Mentions

 * Campaign 1


 * One-shots


 * The Legend of Vox Machina

Quotations

 * "I truly believed that with the right guidance, you might become something more than what you were destined to be [...] You might have been able to reacher higher than the low life that you were destined for. It appears that all good intentions aside, I was a fool."