Photarch Yanessa Halovar is the current leader of the Candescent Creed, matriarch and head of House Halovar, and the grandmother of Wicander Halovar. As an NPC, she is played by Brennan Lee Mulligan.

Description

The Photarch is an elderly matriarch who dresses with complex robes in public, befitting her position within the Candescent Creed.^[5] In private she doesn't use her regalia, choosing instead a simple white gown.^[6]

Biography

Background

Campaign Four: Overture

At the execution of Thjazi Fang, the Photarch addressed the gathered crowd and spoke of the Light's forgiveness. Her grandson Wicander Halovar believed that she was responding to his suggestion that Thjazi's sentence be commuted to life in order to gain popularity with the common folk. Speaking privately to Wicander, she brought up the theater that had been recently gifted to Halandil Fang, Thjazi's brother, which Wicander believed was a good way to carry their message to the masses and could present the Candescent Creed in a good light. The Photarch approved of this, telling Wicander he was doing very well, but, "He has to die," and the execution proceeded.^[7]

The next day, Yanessa interrupted a meeting between Wicander and Teor Pridesire in which Wick was ready to hire him to add to his security detail, telling Wick to get rid of him since he had been a member of the traitorous Falconer's Rebellion and therefore could not be trusted. She told him that the House's closest ally, House Tachonis, was up to something and their own house must therefore be wary. Thjazi had to die because Tachonis wanted him dead. She realized now she had made a mistake allowing Wick to only see the light, and told him that when his father returned home that evening, she would tell him the truth.^[8]

When Wicander was taken into the depths of the Villa Aurora that night, passing through wards and doors bearing ancient glyphs in Celestial, or ancient Obridimian, he met his grandmother now dressed in a simple white gown. Yanessa assured him that she truly loved him, but that some things he had been told were not true. She then showed him a massive, 40-foot tall glyph-carved stone container, the Prismatic Retort. When Godard opened it, Wick saw the container was an iron maiden that held captive a screaming, feral, 30-foot tall angel, its featherless wings outspread and pinioned, and its glowing blood being harvested as the Photarch said, "Wicky, I'd like you to meet your grandfather." ^[9]

The Photarch assured Wicander multiple times that she loved him, and understood this was "unusual." She told him that the Filament was the bodily fluid of the celestial, which had been drunk and used as ink in tattoos on many people's bodies including Wicander's. Seventy years ago after the death of the gods, she realized that people needed something to believe in place of the destroyed deities, and used that knowledge to create the Candescent Creed and to help save House Halovar. When Aetheon, the captive celestial and former servant of Tansul the sun god, now gone feral after the death of his god, fell into her hands, she used his blood, the Filament, as a material component in a Wish spell that resulted in the birth of Wick's father, Godard Halovar.^[10] Yanessa realized that they could not identify the Light held sacred by her created religion as being Tansul, even though that's what it was.^[11] She wrote the sacred texts that became the basis of the religion^[12] and believed that the rules contained there were good rules, although they served also as a tool and the family was free to break them for their own advantage.^[13]

Yanessa told Wick that his proposed marriage to Ebecca D'Antonio for family business purposes must move forward, although he did not know her well, as an alchemical compound produced on their land will allow the family to dilute the Filament and increase their profit.^[14] Wick, stunned, agreed to everything his grandmother said, and Tyranny eventually suggested a warm bath to relax. Before they left, Wick asked what his grandmother meant when she told him to get rid of Teor Pridesire, and she responded that it was already done.^[15] Later, he learned the Halovars had an arrangement with the Mercanaud family to make problems go away.^[16]

A few days later, Halandi Fang had been invited to a meeting with the Photarch at Villa Aurora,^[17] allegedly because of his closeness to Wicander.^[18] According to the maid Romina Rountree, Yanessa had been very stressed because of her grandson's disappearance, visiting the Einfasen Estate and arguing with them about it (with a surprising level of honesty, as she expressed her frustration openly),^[19] and about how concerning it was that House Royce had left the city the same night.^[20]

The night of the gala at the Lyceum to celebrate Hal's upcoming play, Yanessa attended with eight people as her entourage, being announced by Sir Filoneus. She was greeted by Halandil and they exchanged cordial words, during which they both stated they didn't know where Wicander was. The Photarch, however, tried to make it seen as if her grandson was probably just busy, blaming a missing pigeon as the reason they hadn't heard from him. After showing some surprise about Wick having attended Thjazi's funeral and confirming Hal hadn't seen Teor Pridesire, Yanessa invited Halandil to the Villa Aurora the following day, to talk about his play. The Photarch then had a brief chat with Bolaire, who tried to offer her a mask of Tansul to wear in the masquerade; however, she declared she saw it as blasphemy, and although she appreciated it when the curator offered her a Creed-themed mask, she didn't wear it, leaving it instead with a servant. After a bit, Yanessa was approached by King Augustus of Timmony, who asked about the presence of preachers of the Creed in his kingdom, as well as the activities of the Lord of Gormalay. After declaring she didn't know much about it beyond their charities treating bellows fever, she agreed to speak with him in private. The two of them went to a private room where Gus declared he didn't believe Yanessa didn't know about the sedition movement in Timmony. She reminded him that each lux could interpret the scriptures in their own way, and wondered if the true problem in the kingdom wasn't the Council of Alcalds.^[21]

Gus' goblet had been poisoned and when he drank, he was incapacitated. The doors to the room magically locked and Filoneus started calling for his mother very loudly as he beat on them. Several black-cloaked armored assassin knights rushed in and the Photarch seemed not to know what was happening. When one of them carefully fired a black crossbow bolt directly into the Photarch's chest, she dropped to the floor, seemingly dead. Her assisting lux panicked and prepared to heal her, but was killed. Yanessa remained inert on the floor as the battle raged around her, and when the door finally opened and Filoneus saw her, he started lamenting and shielded her body from the axe of one of the assassins, whom he killed despite other people shouting they needed someone to interrogate. As people began rushing in, the Photarch of the Candescent Creed rose again surrounded by light, as if she had just been miraculously resurrected.^[22] Yanessa spoke solemnly about how such dark acts couldn't endure, and used magic to heal King Valian, after which she commanded her son to find those who had attacked them; the Photarch then focused on the tragic death of her lux, Andrea Tivoli, saying she had returned to the Light, and asked Filoneus to move her to another room. There, after she praised the woman's life, Yanessa openly declared that the reason such horrible acts had taken place was that the Grey Tower was week and had allowed criminality to prosper in the city; then as a member of the Chamber of Lords-Advisory, she expressed her lack of confidence in the Revolutionary Council.

The next day, her luxes were already talking about the Photarch's resurrection and questioning worrisome activities in the city.^[23] When Halandil Fang visited the Villa Aurora as Yanessa had requested, he did so accompanied by Thaisha Lloy and Kattigan Vale, and she received them in her throne room. After some polite exchanges and an insightful moment in which Yanessa offered comfort to Kattigan for the pain she sensed in him, the Photarch revealed to Hal that she didn't know where her grandson actually was, theorizing that Teor Pridesire, driven by grief and madness, might have kidnapped him seeing him as a symbol of a more peaceful future. When Kattigan asked if the Halovars would be mad at Wick for leaving, Yanessa wondered if the ranger had been with him, although she got distracted when Thaisha mentioned she and Enmity had met days before in Riesingürtle, while Tachonis heirs met with the Einfasens (which Yanessa found extremely intertesting). After that, the Photarch finally focused on the true reason of the meeting, which was asking Hal to had some changes to his play so that aspects of the Candescent Creed were present in the narrative; that led to a brief negotiation, with the old woman insisting she would rather have the premiere delayed if it meant the changes could be introduced, while Hal tried to keep his original plans. They ended up deciding that Lady Iris would be present for a reading of the new text before the actual premiere happened the day it was expected. As the three guests were leaving, Yanessa kept her eyes on Kattigan, sending her thoughts to him and letting him know she would be waiting for him if he wanted to talk.^[24]

After Wicander successfully convinced the others that he could return safely to the Villa Aurora as their eyes and ears there, he and Tyranny went there the morning of the scheduled premiere of KoTher'ai. As they approached they noticed the Photarch's "resurrection" had generated huge crowds entering the Candescent Creed's Cathedral of Light. The two were escorted to Wick's room, where Yanessa quickly arrived and asked him where he'd been.

Wick tearfully told her that when he learned about the angel in the basement, he thought she was evil and the Creed was a lie. He saved Teor because he thought that was right, but he turned out to be terrible, killing people and joining with a bloodthirsty fairy and a drunk. Both he and Tyranny almost died. At his lowest moment, he searched for a sign and heard word that Yanessa had been resurrected from death. He knew he had sinned, and would accept any punishment she gave, but he sought the spark once more. Tyranny added that he had discovered his strength and competence as the Scion, with new powers and abilities (such as his wings). The Photarch was impressed by the wings, and accepted this, holding him tightly as he sobbed in her arms. She was expecting him to come to her with lies, and was ready to slit his throat if he said something she knew to be untrue. But now, Wicander is to become the face of the Creed, and by running away after her revelations to him he has actually shown strength which he will need. He will never run away again because she will never let him out of her sight again. She also congratulated Tyranny, who had just saved both herself and her sisters, as Aspirants. She told them that Wicander would accompany her to the meeting of the Sundered Houses that night.^[25]

Relationships

• Lady Amariya Cormoray called the Photarch an old friend.^[18]

Character information

Notable items

Abilities

Yanessa can send her thoughts to other people without them being able to reply.^[26] She also has undetermined healing abilities.^[27]

• Spellcasting
  • Thaumaturgy^[28]

Appearances and mentions

• Campaign Four
  • "The Fall of Thjazi Fang" (4x01) (first appearance)
  • "Broken Wing" (4x02) (first identified as Yanessa Halovar)
  • "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03)
  • "Knives and Thorns" (4x06), mentioned only, unnamed
  • "The Giant's Belt" (4x12), mentioned only, unnamed
  • "Hand & Wheel" (4x19), mentioned only
  • "King of Cards" (4x21), mentioned only
  • "Buried Truths" (4x23), mentioned only
  • "Good Tidings" (4x24)
  • "Targeted" (4x25)
  • "Council of Heroes" (4x26)
  • "Complicated Questions" (4x27)
  • "Chasing Shadows" (4x28)
  • "Opening Night" (4x29)

Quotations

• "There are no bygones. There are never bygones. Everything is another drumbeat of a drum that's been ringing since the dawn of time."^[29]
• "I thought it would be of great benefit to our house that our Scion should walk only in the Light, but there's nothing solid that doesn't cast a shadow."^[30]
• "If you can't be an empire, you take your licks, you pick yourself up, you dust yourself off, and you start a church or a merchant company, something."^[31]
• "You do not get your powers from your devotion to poetry. You get them because of the blood that runs in your veins. It's our family first always, Wicander."^[32]
• "It is the lucky ones who get to believe the story, and it is an honor and a burden to be the ones who tell it."^[33]

Trivia

• Brennan Lee Mulligan said he created Yanessa's character to honor what he loves about Sam Riegel as a performer: someone funny but with an unexpected and "fucked up" depth.^[34]
• When Yanessa described how Godard was conceived she didn't mention Sir Filoneus Halovar as being connected to Aetheon. He has been confirmed to be her son,^[35][36] and Godard's brother,^[37] although his father (potentially if the Photarch had an actual relationship with a mortal) is still unknown.
• Her title of "Scion" is meant to be inherited, with Wicander being the next in line for that position.^[38]
• Taliesin Jaffe has revealed that during Yanessa's fake assassination, if there had been a bit more chaos (and had her agony been real), Bolaire was actually prepared to kill her in a subtle way, as he whispered to her that she should have been nice and put on the mask he gave her.^[39] In fact, he made a small attempt when he used Phantasmal Force to trick an assassin into attacking her (forcing Filoneus Halovar to shield her with his own body).^[40] Taliesin went into further detail, explaining that Bolaire loathes Yanessa and has fantasies about how to torture and kill her because she's a symbol of everything he hates. He would also like a scenario in which she survives, but is fully discredited.^[41]

References

1. ↑ See "The Fall of Thjazi Fang" (4x01) at 0:13:25.
2. ↑ See "The Fall of Thjazi Fang" (4x01) at 0:13:25.
3. ↑ See "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03) at 0:24:47.  Yanessa was a "young girl" during the Shapers' War 70 years ago.
4. ↑ See "Knives and Thorns" (4x06) at 0:51:10.
5. ↑ See "The Fall of Thjazi Fang" (4x01) at 1:32:44.
6. ↑ See "The Fall of Thjazi Fang" (4x01) at 4:26:27.
7. ↑ See "The Fall of Thjazi Fang" (4x01).
8. ↑ See "Broken Wing" (4x02).
9. ↑ See "Broken Wing" (4x02).
10. ↑ See "Broken Wing" (4x02) from 0:21:27 through 0:27:08.
11. ↑ See "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03) at 0:29:21.
12. ↑ See "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03) at 0:30:43.
13. ↑ See "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03) at 0:33:23.
14. ↑ See "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03) at 0:36:05.
15. ↑ See "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03) from 0:37:22 through 0:38:32.
16. ↑ See "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03) at 0:12:01.
17. ↑ See "Hand & Wheel" (4x19) at 1:29:48.
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} See "Buried Truths" (4x23) at 3:02:49.
19. ↑ See "King of Cards" (4x21) at 1:17:23.
20. ↑ See "King of Cards" (4x21) at 1:08:23.
21. ↑ See "Good Tidings" (4x24).
22. ↑ See "Targeted" (4x25).
23. ↑ See "Council of Heroes" (4x26).
24. ↑ See "Complicated Questions" (4x27).
25. ↑ See "Chasing Shadows" (4x28) from 4:13:32 through 4:25:31.
26. ↑ See "Complicated Questions" (4x27) at 3:02:42.
27. ↑ See "Chasing Shadows" (4x28) at 4:13:51.
28. ↑ See "The Fall of Thjazi Fang" (4x01) at 1:32:37.  Yanessa uses the cantrip to amplify and dulcify her voice as she addresses the masses.
29. ↑ See "Broken Wing" (4x02) at 2:15:32.
30. ↑ See "Broken Wing" (4x02) at 2:18:02.
31. ↑ See "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03) at 0:30:15.
32. ↑ See "The Snipping of Shears" (4x03) at 0:40:15.
33. ↑ See "Opening Night" (4x29).^{[citation needed]}
34. ↑ CR Cooldown C4 E003 at 21:01 (subscription required) (Transcript).
35. ↑ See "Broken Wing" (4x02) at 2:14:22.  Filoneus is the uncle of Godard's son, Wick.
36. ↑ See "Targeted" (4x25) at 0:39:38.
37. ↑ CR Cooldown C4 E008 at 0:58 (subscription required) (Transcript).
38. ↑ See "Knives and Thorns" (4x06) at 0:52:31.
39. ↑ CR Cooldown C4 E025 at 3:03 (subscription required) (Transcript).
40. ↑ See "Targeted" (4x25) at 3:06:55.
41. ↑ See "Tale Gate Episode 3: Discussing Up To C4E25" (TGx03) at 1:02:18.

Art:

1. ↑ Fan art of Photarch Yanessa, by Ed Palhares (source). Used with permission.
2. ↑ Fan art of Wicander and his grandmother, by Laura Mackenzie@KiwiDrawer (source). Used with permission.
3. ↑ Fan art of the Photarch's "resurrection", by ImSoDon (source). Used with permission.
4. ↑ Fan art of Wick's confession, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.

v • d • e Campaign Four Arc 1 People Parties Schemers • Seekers • Soldiers Player characters Azune Nayar • Bolaire Lathalia • Halandil Fang • Sir Julien Davinos • Kattigan Vale • Murray Mag'Nesson • Occtis Tachonis • Teor Pridesire • Thaisha Lloy • Thimble • Tyranny • Vaelus • Wicander Halovar Allies Aranessa Royce • Ellipides Tallbarrel • Loza Blade • Olgud Akarat • Talcydimir Pridesire Antagonists Casimir Gavendale • Chamber of Lords-Advisory • Ethrand Tachonis • Godard Halovar • Primus Tachonis • Yanessa Halovar Other Raimond Davinos • Shapers (Azgra • Rauwyn • Sylandri • Tansul) • Thjazi Fang Places Aramán • Kahad (Dol-Makjar • Dol-Rungja) • Maharlian Falls • Mournvale • Pasitar • The Pit • Tenebral Reaches (Underworld) • Timmony (Gormalay • Pinebrough) • Tír Cruthú (Faerie) • The Wastes Familiars/Companions Hala • Pincushion • Wulferic Creatures Angel (Aetheon • Olbalad) • Ghoul • Shadow • War hound Items Liar's Blade • Pariah Blades • Stone of Nightsong Factions Candescent Creed • Crow Keepers • Old Path • Penteveral • Revolutionary Council (Revolutionary Guard) • Sisters of Sylandri • Sundered Houses (House Halovar • House Royce • House Tachonis) • Torn Banner Events Falconer's Rebellion • Shapers' War • War of Axe and Vine