Aren Bennis

Captain Aren Bennis was a captain of the Obsidian Empire's Army of Westreach and is the main protagonist in the Blade of the Avatar novella.

In the novella, Aren is credited with several campaign victories under the command of General Milos Karpasic, notably the conquest of Midras. While Aren serves the Obsidian cause, he does not appear to have any strong beliefs one way or another and seems to care more about being a loyal servant to an ideal rather than what that ideal might stand for. He does have connections to the Obsidian Cabal, notably Evard Dirae, whom he is able to contact with his homunculus, Monk.

During the course of the story, Aren discovers an Avatar Blade in a tomb beneath a temple in Midras and draws it despite the the objections and warnings of curses from his companion Syenna. He decides to keep it for himself, and quickly comes to value the weapon above all his other possessions.

Later, while searching for the mythical Paths of the Dead in the Hellfire Rift, Syenna and Aren's guard escort turn on and capture him in an effort to secure the Avatar Blade, and bear them both south to Etceter.

Once secured in Etceter, Aren is brought into the presence of the Council of Might giving him an excellent opportunity to identify the coalition working against the Obsidian Empire. He is also allowed to carry the Avatar Blade into the council chamber, enabling him to defend himself when attacked by Ambassador Miles Shepherd. He defeats the ambassador but does not kill him due to the insight the Avatar Blade grants him on Miles.

When returned to the Etceter stockade, Aren is found by Monk and wastes no time giving the homunculus a message about the Obsidians' enemies and that he himself is to be taken to Opalis.

In Opalis, Aren meets with the Titans who rule the city, who reveal two important truths: the blade he carries is the legendary Eye of the Scales, and that the Westreach Army is coming to attack the city. Knowing that he is a man of honor and truth, they ask him to protect the city's greatest treasure: the knowledge accumulated over centuries, which Aren knows General Karpasic will destroy if he takes the city.