person
Benu
Summary
Benu is one of Attabre’s sphinx children and the higher sphinx or minion associated with the elves. He served as the elves’ protector and helped construct the Grand Towers, but his teaching in art and poetry contributed to their later obsession, and he was implicated in teaching them how to remove emotions. He eventually abandoned his post and later returned after penance, suggesting an attempt to atone for the damage connected to the elves’ lost emotions, though the form and result of that penance are unknown. Benu also served as a Dunnensend ally, is Bynx’s brother alongside Trixus and Garadule, and later reunited with them while supporting the effort to bring down the Dome / Barrier.
Known Details
- After Lortesh was killed, Benu was present with mother and father when Dunnensend pledged support in wars to come.
- The Day 29 report previously transcribed as “Luth hiding with the vulturemen” should read “Light”; the figure was identified as Benu.
- Benu stayed in Dunnensend and planned to build a temple in the city.
- Benu could message Cardenald and ask her to meet at the Dunnensend shrine.
- Benu could create a hero’s feast before the army moved.
- Day 42 found an out-of-place picture of Benu / Garadule / a goat-headed sphinx dedicated to the Warriors of the Lion from the Dunemin; hidden behind it were two large orange-and-blue-feathered relics.
- A book in Ashkelon described Benu, Garadule, and Trixus as the last three of Attabre’s children who walk on earth.
- Day 58’s Attabre tower book identified Benu as the sphinx or higher minion for the elves, alongside Anadreste for dragons, Trixus for tabaxi, Garadule for the Dunnen humans, and Kokirem for dwarves.
- Trixus, Benu, and Garadule are Bynx’s brothers.
- Benu was protector of the elves and helped construct the great tower, but did little protection and instead trained them in art and poetry until they became obsessed with it.
- The book says Benu saw errors in its ways, left for an unknown reason, and hid.
- On Day 43, Benu appeared at Ashkelon when summoned by vulture-men contact, stood between the party and Trixus / Garadule, fought Garadule, and later disappeared when Attabre answered the shrine.
- Day 46 clarified that when Benu banished Garadule, Garadule did not arrive where expected.
- The Ennui conversation notes say the elves’ protector who taught them how to remove emotions was Benu.
- Day 58 says Benu had returned after penance. In context, this may have been his atonement for the elven emotion-removal legacy, but the record does not specify what the penance involved or whether it restored anything to the elves.
- On Day 56, Benu was found behind a Barrier with Trixus, Garadule, and Bynx in a Grand Towers control-room side area. Benu said plans had been thwarted after speaking to dad, while Garadule was clearer and would repay misdeeds by helping the party.
- Day 56 discussion connected Benu’s history to wizards seeking godhood and immortality, a generator that made them more powerful, and an outside method of removing emotions.
Timeline
day-29: Benu helps secure Dunnensend support and remains to build a temple.day-30: Benu can contact Cardenald and provide hero’s feast support.day-42: Ashkelon sources connect Benu to Garadule, Trixus, Attabre, the elves, the great tower, and hidden feather relics.day-43: Benu appears in Ashkelon, fights Garadule, and is implicated in elven emotion-removal techniques.day-56: Benu is reunited with Trixus, Garadule, and Bynx behind a Grand Towers Barrier and discusses wizard godhood, the generator, and emotion removal.
Related Entries
Open Questions
- What office, faith, or authority does Benu hold in Dunnensend?
- What did Benu’s penance involve, and did it atone for or repair the elven emotion-removal legacy?
- How much responsibility does Benu bear for elven soul-part or emotion removal?
- What did Benu’s father tell him, and how did it thwart prior plans?
- Who first gave the wizards the ability to remove emotions?