THE EMPYREAN WIKI

ADVERTISEMENT

THE EMPYREAN WIKI

Xaden Riorson

BIOGRAPHY

ALIASES Duke of Tyrrendor (Royal title)

Wingleader (Formerly)
Love of my life (by Violet)
Love (by Violet)
Shadow Wielder (by Tairn)
Lieutenant
Dark One (by Tairn)
Separatists Kid (by Mira Sorrengail)
Riorson (by Dain Aetos)
Duke of Aretia (Former royal title)
Heir Apparent (by Felix Gerault and
General Melgren)

AGE March 31st 611 AU (Last day of

March)

22 (in Fourth Wing)

23 (in Fourth Wing, Iron Flame and
Onyx Storm)

24 (in Onyx Storm)

SPECIES Human (Formerly)

Venin (Presently)

SIGNET Shadows Wielding

Reading Intentions (Inntinnsic)

LOCATION Riorson House, Aretia,

Tyrrendor Province, Navarre
Basgiath War College (Formerly)

QUADRANT Riders Quadrant

STATUS Alive

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

GENDER Male

EYE COLOR Gold-decked Onyx

Amber-decked Onyx (when venin)

HAIR COLOR Black

RELATIONSHIPS

DRAGON Sgaeyl

FAMILY Fen Riorson † (Father)

Talia Riorson (Mother)
Faris (Stepfather)
Bodhi Durran (Cousin)
Simeon (Half-brother)
Gaius (Half-brother)
Unnamed Grandfather †
Unnamed Aunt †
Liam Mairi † (Foster brother)
Lilith Sorrengail † (Mother-in-law)
Asher Sorrengail † (Father-in-law)
Mira Sorrengail (Sister-in-law)
Brennan Sorrengail (Brother-in-
law)

BLOODLINE(S) Riorson (Paternal)

ROMANTIC INTEREST(S) Violet Sorrengail (Wife)

Catriona Cordella (Ex-betrothed)

ALLEGIANCES Tyrrish Rebellion

The Revolution
Tyrrendor

SERIES INFORMATION

APPEARS IN Fourth Wing

Iron Flame
Onyx Storm

LESS

Spoiler Alert!
This is a high-tra+c page containing major spoilers for
Onyx Storm.
If you haven't read it yet and want to avoid spoilers,
proceed with caution!

“
I don’t deserve you. But I’m going to keep you all the
same.

XADEN RIORSON

Xaden Riorson is the Duke of Tyrrendor and a lieutenant

rider (former third-year rider and wingleader of the Fourth
Wing). He is bonded to the dragon Sgaeyl.

ADVERTISEMENT

Biography

Early Life

Born in March, 611 AU, to the heir of Tyrrendor Fen

Riorson, and Talia Riorson. Xaden grew up in Riorson
House located above Aretia, the capital of Tyrrendor. His
mother left them when he was ten, having fulPlled the
requirements of her marriage contract with his father. His
family carries the royal lineage of ruling the province of
Tyrrendor, thus technically making Xaden the heir to the
Tyrrish throne if the province had succeeded from
Navarre during the Tyrrish Rebellion. To further
strengthen this royal claim prior to the beginning of the
rebellion, Fen Riorson secured an alliance with Viscount
Tecarus, by using Xaden's royalty in a betrothal contract
to Catriona Cordella, third in line for the Poromish throne.

On July 1, 627 AU, 16 year old Xaden was forced to

witness the "Calldyr Executions" of the rebellion's
leadership alongside the other 107 separatist children by
General Melgren's dragon Codagh. When Codagh's
dragonPre burned the 107 children's parents, his Pre
activated the rune-stones each child held in their hand.
These complex rune-tempered stones, created by
Colonel Mairi, were meant to protect the children in the
event that the Rebellion failed and their parents were
killed. With their activation during the executions, the
runes created rebellion relics along whichever arm the
child was using to hold the stone in addition to protecting
the children from General Melgren's signet.

Xaden, as the oldest of the separatist children, later

struck a deal with General Lilith Sorrengail in which he
took personal responsibility for the 107 children and in
doing so received 107 lashes across his back, an archaic
Tyrrish custom. In return, he and the children would be
allowed to Pght for their lives in the Riders Quadrant
instead of being executed.

In the aftermath of the Rebellion, Xaden was sent to

Trivainne, along with Liam Mairi, to be fostered by Duke
Lindell. While being fostered, Xaden taught Liam how to
Pght in order to prepare them for Basgiath.

In July 631 AU, after his twentieth birthday, Xaden was

conscripted and entered the Riders Quadrant alongside
his best friend Garrick Tavis. The two began to meet in
secret along with other unnamed "marked ones" to
ensure their survival within the quadrant. During their
Threshing Xaden defended his best friend from King
Tauri's second son Alic, inevitably killing Alic. During this
Threshing, Xaden bonded with Sgaeyl. It was after
Threshing that Xaden and Garrick decided to begin
smuggling weaponry out of Basgiath in an ecort to
protect diers they had partnered with against venin. They
also began working to rebuild Aretia and Riorson House.

Fourth Wing

Xaden was present as Wingleader of Fourth Wing when

Violet Sorrengail arrived to cross the Paprapet. When
assignments were being given out, Xaden uses his
position to move her squad, Second Squad, Flame
Section, to his Wing. This placed her under his chain of
command.

A few weeks into the year, Xaden brought a group of Prst-

year "marked ones" out to the woods near the river, to
check in with them. He assigned Imogen Cardulo and
Garrick Tavis to train the Prst-years before waving them
oc, and then spoke to Violet who had been hiding in a
tree above them during their meeting. They agree that
he'd owe her if she kept their secret.

A few weeks later in the sparring gym, Xaden forces

Violet to spar against him using the opportunity to test
her Pghting abilities while ensuring that she still kept their
meeting secret. He gradually disarmed her and also
ocered her insights into how best to use her small stature
as an advantage. He also tells her that she can't continue
to rely on poisoning her opponents and that she needs to
get stronger instead.

Xaden gives Violet advice about how to pass the chimney

obstacle on the Gauntlet. Then he helps her again during
Threshing, when Violet rushes to defend a gold
feathertail, her future dragon, Andarna. As per the Codex,
Xaden was barred from interfering, but he found a
loophole by having his dragon Sgaeyl call her mate Tairn
to come help Violet defend Andarna. When Tairn bonds
with Violet, it ties Violet's life to Xaden's through their
dragon’s bond.

When Xaden discovers Violet has trouble staying on her

dragon, he crafts a rider's saddle for Tairn so Violet would
be safe dying and Pghting seated (and tied) to Tairn's
back.[1]

At the end of the year, for the Pnal War Games, Xaden
chooses Violet to join his riot which was made up
exclusively of marked ones. Dain Aetos's father, Colonel
Aetos, assigns Xaden’s riot to Athebyne which is outside
of the wards.

Upon arriving at Athebyne, they discover the outpost has

been abandoned. There are new orders saying that the
group can either stay and help protect Resson from venin
and wyvern, or they can relocate to another outpost. The
group decides to Pght and Liam and Soleil die in the
battle. Violet gets poisoned and Xaden brings her to
Aretia in a panic. It’s there that it's revealed that her
brother Brennan is still alive as he mends her and Violet
recovers in a coma for three days.

Iron Flame

After being missing for six days while they stayed in

Aretia with the Revolution, Xaden, Violet, and the
surviving members of the war games riot return to
Basgiath. They arrive just as Xaden is about to be
announced as the Prst cadet on the death roll by Captain
Fitzgibbons. Colonel Aetos is convinced that Xaden is
lying about the gryphon attack, but Violet’s mother,
General Lilith Sorrengail, dismisses Aetos after
questioning her daughter about their absence.

It's during this formation that Xaden graduates from

Basgiath and is assigned to the eastern wing at Samara's
outpost—known for being the front line of the war against
Poromiel. He and Violet begin to exchange letters as they
spend weeks apart because Violet is forced to remain
behind for her second year at Basgiath.

When Major Varrish kidnaps and imprisons Violet for 4

days after the Archive Heist, Xaden sacriPces the secrecy
of the revolution by dropping wyvern carcasses along the
Navarrian border before dying to Basgiath to rescue her.
It's during this rescue that he, Violet, and Dain convince
half the riders quadrant, along with a few scribes, to side
with the revolution by exposing the truth about the war
and the existence of Venin. Xaden, as the heir of Aretia
and therefore Tyrrendor, is part of the council (nicknamed
The Assembly) that rules the Revolution. After a meeting
with Viscount Tecarus, the assembly agrees to accept
the surviving gryphon diers from Clicsbane Flight
Academy when Zolya is taken over by venin.

After getting word that General Melgren wants to meet,

he goes and speaks to him to Pnd out that Navarre needs
assistance or they will all be slaughtered. Xaden refuses
until the last second, alongside agreement from the
Assembly to only guard the wardstone chamber inside
Basgiath. He leads the battle against the wyvern and
venin, eventually ending up alone with the Sage
experiencing burnout until he turns venin in an attempt
to stay alive and save Violet, who is also experiencing
burnout during the battle.

Onyx Storm

Since becoming a venin initiate, Xaden is watched at all

times by Violet, Garrick, Bodhi, or Imogen. Sgaeyl refuses
to speak to him. After the Second Aretian Accord is
signed, Xaden gains the title of Duke of Tyrrendor and has
a seat on the Senarium.

ADVERTISEMENT

Physical Description

Appearance

Xaden Riorson by Leah Croft

Xaden is muscular and tall, with a massive chest, wide

shoulders and heavily muscled arms.[2] He has
windblown black hair and dark brows. He has warm-
toned, tawny-brown skin with dark stubble along his
jawline and eyes resembling gold-decked onyx. When
Violet Prst meets him she describes him as, "more than
four inches over six foot tall."[3] His features are harsh and
utterly perfect, as if an artist spent their lifetime carving
and sculpting them, with a year alone spent on his
mouth.

Relics and Scars

A diagonal scar bisects his left eyebrow and ends at the

top corner of his cheek. He received this scar from Sgaeyl
during his Threshing.

Xaden in formal wear by illustratinghan

A dark shimmering rebellion relic curved in swirls and dips

starts at his left wrist, winding up his neck. His back is
covered in a dragon relic of Sgaeyl, that sweeps from his
waist over both of his shoulders, as well as 107 silver
scars on top of the dragon relic, which came from
claiming responsibility for the 107 separatist children. He
gains another scar over his heart when he takes
responsibility for Violet, between the events of Fourth
Wing and the start of Iron Flame.

Out>ts

He is always seen in black leather clothes, especially his

dight jacket, as is uniform for a Rider. None of his
uniforms have patches aside from his year, wing, or rank.
[4] His summer uniform is a short-sleeved top under his
usual dight jacket. [5]

He smells of mint and leather, and something that

borders between citrus and doral. [6]

AdChoices Sponsored

Personality

Riders seem to move around him, giving him wide berth

as though he's a shark. He walks with lethal grace.[7]
Xaden is authoritative and concise, making quick
judgement calls with the help of his signets. Due to his
upbringing he is emotionally distant with most people,
with very few exceptions.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Lesser Magic

Every bonded rider whose dragon is channeling through

them is capable of performing lesser magic. This type of
magic includes being able to: lock and unlock doors
without touching them, move with preternatural speed,
manipulate mage lights, use runes, and power ink pens.
[4]

Imbuing

A process of leaving a riders power in stasis within an

object,[8] not a skill that many riders have as it only
comes naturally to a handful of signets.[9]

Signet

Shadow Summoning

Due to his bond with Sgaeyl, Xaden developed the signet

of being able to summon and wield shadows. He often
uses his shadows to conceal himself, or solidiPes them to
use against opponents by choking or hold them in place.

Intention Reading (Inntinnsic)

“
I know everything that goes on here." Darkness swirls
around us. "Shadows, remember? They hear
everything, see everything, conceal everything.

XADEN TO VIOLET SORRENGAIL, FOURTH WING,

CHAPTER 10

Because Xaden's grandfather used to be Sgaeyl's rider,

Xaden had a greater chance of manifesting two signets.
His particular form of inntinnsic ability allows him to see
other people's true intentions by reading their mind.

Abilities

Combat Skills

He's noted as being the best Pghter in the Riders

Quadrant by his fellow marked ones as well as Professor
Emetterio. Xaden's Pghting style is described as dirty and
fucking ruthless, during the secret meeting beneath the
tree.[10] He's fast enough to catch one of Violet's dying
daggers without using lesser magic.[2]

“
Xaden's one of the best Fghters we have. Watch and
learn.

PROFESSOR EMETTERIO, FOURTH WING, CHAPTER 9

Weapons Expert

Xaden is an expert with several kinds of weapons and apt

in learning new kinds. His weapon of choice is a pair of
double swords strapped to his back.

Languages

Common Language
Tyrrish
Sign Language[11]

ADVERTISEMENT

Relationships

Sgaeyl

She mentions to Xaden that she chose him as her rider

because of his ruthlessness during Threshing, where he
killed another cadet for bullying Garrick, but he believes
it's because he reminds her of his grandfather. She
convinces Xaden to keep his second signet a secret,
rightfully afraid that the knowledge would get him
executed, and she maintained the secret from her mate
Tairn until the events of Iron Flame. Sgaeyl seems very
fond of Xaden, and was openly distressed when he chose
to channel from the source during the Battle of Basgiath.

Tairn

TBA

Violet Sorrengail

**For more insight on their relationship please check out

the Riorgail page.**

“
You know why you're still alive? Because you're the
scale I currently judge myself against every night.
Every day I let you live, I get to convince myself that
there's still a part of me that's a decent person. So if
you want to quit, then please, spare me the temptation
and fucking quit. But if you want to do something, then
do it.

XADEN TO VIOLET, FOURTH WING, CHAPTER 10

Violet and Xaden by illustratinghan

Xaden and Violet share a complicated history, starting

with their families' involvement in the Tyrrish Rebellion.
Xaden's father, Fen Riorson was the head of the rebellion
and accused of killing Violet's older brother Brennan
Sorrengail, thus leading Violet's mother General Lilith
Sorrengail to hunt Fen down, capture, and execute him.
Lilith Sorrengail was later also responsible for placing the
107 scars on Xaden's back when he took responsibility for
the 107 separatist children by claiming through an
archaic tyrrish custom.

Due to this shared history, Violet was convinced upon

entering the Riders Quadrant that Xaden was out to kill
her in retribution. However, when she fails to report his
secret meetings, Xaden begins to take an interest in her,
which culminated in a moment during Threshing when
Xaden and Sgaeyl intervened on Violet's behalf to protect
her from Jack, Oren, and Tynan, who were out to kill
Andarna for being an unrideable dragon. Because Violet
showed courage standing up against the three attackers
on Andarna's behalf, Tairn chooses her as his rider, thus
tying Violet's life to Xaden's as their dragons are a mated
pair. This means that should one of them, or their
dragons, sucer a fatal injury, it could result in a chain of
events that leads the other rider's death. Therefore Xaden
could no longer kill Violet without threatening his own
life.

Dain Aetos

“
No one asked you to think "squad leader".

XADEN TO DAIN AETOS, FOURTH WING, CHAPTER 9

Throughout Fourth Wing Xaden instigates moments with

Dain, highlighting Dain's favoritism and coddling behavior
towards Violet while also berating him by using his rule-
following behavior to a fault. However, in Iron Flame,
Xaden accepts Dain into the rebellion when he searched
Dain's mind and found nothing that would endanger
Violet or the rebellion.

Liam Mairi

Both children of rebellion o+cers, the two grew up

together in foster care with Duke Lindell in Trivainne.
Xaden and Liam grew a close friendship, with Xaden
trusts him to be the one who watches out for Violet.

Bodhi Durran

The two are cousins on Xaden's father's side, with Xaden

being a year older than Bodhi. They closely resemble one
another, though Xaden has sharper features. Xaden says
that after Liam, Bodhi is the closest thing he has to a
brother.

Catriona Cordella

Catriona and Xaden both come from aristocratic families.

Prior to the rebellion, his father formed a political alliance
through their arranged betrothal that wound enact when
she turned twenty. Xaden spent time with her in Cordyn
and the two were romantically involved before he
realized, after nine months of engagement, that they
weren't compatible. Cat later admits to Violet during their
sparring match that she cared less for Xaden but was
upset at losing the crown that came with their political
marriage.

Brennan Sorrengail

While they are both part of the Assembly which is

currently heading the Second Rebellion, Brennan and
Xaden appear to share a complicated relationship
wherein Xaden maintained the secret of Brennan's
existence after his alleged death until Violet discovered
the truth after the Battle of Resson. Brennan holds a
reluctant respect towards Xaden, going as far as to side
with him and his decisions in front of the Assembly
although he seems to believe that Xaden's presence
endangers Violet's life as she repeatedly needs mending
after the two of them are together. When Xaden
confronts Brennan about accompanying Violet to Cordyn.
Brennan retorts with the fact that he outranks him within
the rebellion.

Fen Riorson

It's clear that Xaden loved his father. During the rebellion
he would always wait on the rooftop of Riorson House for
his father to return home. His father also taught him
certain mannerisms like holding a door open for a
women. He would also tell Xaden that venin would come
for him if he didn't eat his vegetables. Xaden would
eventually go on to continue doing what his father did
with the Revolution, believing in his cause and what he
stood for.

ADVERTISEMENT

Quotes

"Fascinating. You look all frail and breakable, but

you're really a violent little thing, aren't you?"
"Hope is a Fckle, dangerous thing. It steals your focus
and aims it toward the possibilities instead of
keeping it where it belongs—on the probabilities."[6]
“Five-foot-nothing pain in my ass."[12]
“Every day I let you live, I get to convince myself that
there’s still a part of me that’s a decent person.” -
Xaden [6]
"Violence, remember it's only the body that's fragile.
You are unbreakable."
” For all that he says he isn’t soft, isn’t kind, he’s also
the only man I know whose back is covered in
promises made for other people. ” —Violet’s thoughts
about Xaden, Iron Flame
“Blades aren’t the only way to disarm an opponent.
Tell me, Violence, are you disarmed?”
"I love you. I’m in love with you. I have been since the
night the snow fell in your hair and you kissed me for
the Frst time. I’m grateful my life is tied to yours
because it means I won’t have to face a day without
you in it. My heart only beats as long as yours does,
and when you die, I’ll meet Malek at your side. It’s a
damned good thing that you love me, too, because
you’re stuck with me in this life and every other that
[13]
could possibly follow." —Xaden
"There's nowhere in existence you could go that I
wouldn't Fnd you, Violence."
”I choose you. I choose whatever risk this brings. I
see every part of you, Xaden: The good. The bad. The
unforgivable. That’s what you promised, and that’s
what I want—all of you. I can handle myself, even
against you if I have to.” - Violet to Xaden [14]
“Maybe this is who he could have been if his dad
hadn’t led a whole rebellion and fucked him over by
getting executed and having him thrown into the
quadrant and making him responsible for all the
marked ones at the age of what? Seventeen?” —
Ridoc in response to Drake asking about Xaden’s
demeanor since Violet. [15]
“You’re capable of hurting me in ways I’m not sure
you’ve even begun to fathom, Violet. I might be
skilled enough to land a death blow, but you alone
have the power to fucking destroy me.” —Xaden to
Violet
”The best leaders are the ones who never want the
job. This is your mission because Andarna chose you.
Tairn chose you.” —Xaden to Violet
”What they never tell us in the quadrant is that rank is
well and good, but you and I both know that the
moment we dy onto the battlePeld, it isn’t the
humans giving the commands. I hate to break it to
you, but you were selected by a general among
dragons. You can choose to step into leadership, or
he can drag you. Either way, you’re going to end up in
[16]
the front.” —Xaden to Violet
“Calm. Cool. Collected.” —Xaden to himself and some
close by overhear.[17]

ADVERTISEMENT

Gallery

See more here.

by AliciaMB Art
by TinyHoomanArt

by Cosmikla

by Kiley Freshwater

Celinelavenart

Xaden Riorson by Skisaey

by snowarox

by indigowildcard

0jem0

whett_paint

Xaden by Leah Croft

Xaden by eburnsillustrations

Xaden by Bookomatica

Xaden by illustratinghan

Xaden by miramirage.art

Xaden by en_ana_29

ADVERTISEMENT

Trivia

Rebecca conPrmed on her TikTok Account that Xaden

is POC.[18]
Xaden's skin tone is "tawny" with multiple
interpretations. An example has been signed and
approved by Rebecca Yarros.[19]

His position as wingleader makes him a member of

senior leadership at Basgiath War College.
When deciding on her characters' names, Rebecca
Yarros made a list of "what [she] thought hot guys'
names would be" before Pnally settling on "Xaden"
because she loved the "X" and thought that "he's a
bad boy in this bad boy name."[20]
Xadens favorite food is chocolate cake.
He also has a blanket his mother made for him.
He smells like mint, leather, and something that
borders between citrus and doral.[6]
Xaden rode horses when he was younger, said: “I
think I rode before I walked. It’s probably one of the
things I missed most once I crossed the parapet,
actually. Horses go where you ask them to for the
most part. Sgaeyl… She doesn’t really give a shit
where I want to go. I’m just along for the ride.” -
Xaden [15]

Citations

t. ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 28

v. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fourth Wing, Chapter 9 (Violets POV)
w. ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 1
x. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fourth Wing, Chapter 4
y. ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 18
z. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Fourth Wing, Chapter 10
{. ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 3
|. ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 12
}. ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 53
t•. ↑ Fourth Wing, Chapter 7
tt. ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 18
tv. ↑ Xaden POV, chapter 9 and 16
tw. ↑ Iron Flame, Chapter 36
tx. ↑ Onyx Storm, Chapter 48
ty. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Onyx Storm, Chapter 23
tz. ↑ Onyx Storm, Chapter 39
t{. ↑ Onyx Storm, Chapter 19
t|. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccayarros
t}. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cue5toArCiO/
v•. ↑ @emmaPnnerty_. "never realised the reasons
behind her characters names but i love her
#rebeccayarrosfourthwing #fourthwing
#rebeccayarros." TikTok, 4 July 2023,
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT889Hcby/

ADVERTISEMENT

MORE INFORMATION

Comments

Categories

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless

otherwise noted.

Heavenly Dessert Bliss

D Spot Dessert Cafe Red Deer

EXPLORE PROPERTIES

Fandom Fanatical

Muthead

FOLLOW US

OVERVIEW

What is Fandom? Privacy Policy

About Digital Services Act

Careers Global Sitemap

Press Local Sitemap

Contact Cookies Settings

Terms of Use

COMMUNITY

Community Central Help

Support

ADVERTISE

Media Kit

Contact

FANDOM APPS

Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat.

The Empyrean Wiki is a FANDOM Books Community.

VIEW FULL SITE