To be a Star, You Have to Burn Bright and Fly High. Fortunately, No One Knows How to Bring the Heat Quite Like Kieran Neverwinter!

A Top Player From the Beginning

Kieran was born in Vacuo alongside his twin brother, Kari. Their father was a legendary hunter, who was known for his flashy and brash style in combat. Their mother was one of his many admirers, who never missed an opportunity to gush about the brothers’ father and his greatness.

The Neverwinters lived nomadically, like many within Vacuo. Kieran would travel with his father as he found work around the kingdom, whether that be as a hunter or a performer. His father would go on tour with his team, performing all around Vacuo.

As he grew older, Kieran wanted nothing more than to be more like his father. Fortunately for him, he shared not only his father’s features, but his athleticism, and talent for the guitar. He trained for years and became the golden boy of his family, overshadowing his many cousins and, unwittingly, his brother.

When he was old enough to begin the last stages of training, Kieran decided to study abroad. He had already seen all of Vacuo going on tour with his father and wanted to see the world at large. As such, he applied to Beacon and traveled to Vale.

Hot, But Not So Bright.

Kieran has a fiery and hyperconfident attitude, as expected of a rockstar. He has no trouble making conversation, whether it be about music, hunting, or girls.

His talent for hunting isn’t matched by his work ethic, however. Although he excelled when he was younger, Kieran quickly found himself academically outpaced in Beacon. He makes good enough grades to pass, and he excels in physical subjects, but scholarly pursuits evade him.

Underneath a Loud Persona Lies a Deadly Assassin

Kieran fights using his electric guitar, which makes strong enough vibrations to crush foes and propel himself. He can strum his chords with dust-lined picks to add elemental effects, such as gusts of wind or spouts of fire. In a pinch, Kieran is more than strong enough to fight up close, whacking opponents with his guitar and pummeling them with his fists.

His semblance, Slow Burn, allows him to sacrifice his aura to set an opponent on fire. It feeds on the aura of others and is nearly impossible to put out. Combined with his weapon, Kieran can coat his opponents in flame and escape, keeping them at bay with his musical vibrations while they burn to a crisp.

Growing Older, Kieran Faces the Consequences of Stardom

Kieran’s extraordinary talent led him to be rocketed above his peers. Unbeknownst to him, it would create an emotional distance between him and his loved ones. Fame was a large part of his life, as performing on stage with his father brought him a fanbase of his own. One-on-one training with his father and the pressure of stardom left him little time for his brother, who was often excluded from his escapades.

Alongside that, political differences between his and his childhood friend Yolanda’s families caused a rift in their relationships. The Kreiss family pushed for an organized, central Vaccuan government, while the Neverwinters sought to maintain a nomadic, hunter-centric lifestyle. These attitudes led the families to forbid them from seeing each other, and the distance made by this decision was sorely felt when the two met again at Beacon. Once good friends, the two are now bitter rivals.

Can Kieran repair these relationships, while maintaining his status as the prime example of a Neverwinter? Only time will tell.