Darinius

Archon Darinius was the first Archon of the Tevinter Imperium.

Rule
In -1207 Ancient Darinius, then a High King of Neromenian, took control of the Tevinter throne, uniting two kingdoms.

In -1200 he personally traveled to the dwarves and there forged an alliance with Endrin Stonehammer, ruler of the dwarven empire, providing Tevinter with a steady supply of lyrium. The embassy in Minrathous, said to be constructed by Darinius himself as a guest home for the dwarven king, is still in use and is considered one of the wonders of the world.

In -1195 he united Tevinter and Qarinus, forming the Tevinter Imperium. He declared himself the first Archon. The priests of the Old Gods were the most powerful mages in the Tevinter who convened in Minrathous and held dominion over all magic in the land. Darinius, who was a somniari himself, established the Magisterium from the priesthood and named First Priest of Dumat Thalsian an honorary Archon. The court of the Magisters became the royal court, and "magister" became the only title of nobility recognized in Tevinter.

Darinius died in -1180.

Hooded ferryman
Prior to seizing power, Darinius had a dream that he crossed a mighty river in a small ferry piloted by a man whose face was always in shadow. Upon reaching the other side Darinius looked back and saw that the ferryman was himself.

When he took the throne, Darinius chose, as the seal of the Archon, an image of a hooded ferryman. Every Archon since has worn such a ring on the third finger of his right hand. A new ring is cast in gold for each Archon with his name around the image relief. By tradition, upon his death, the ring is ceremonially crushed in front of the assembled magisters, so that no one may use the power of the Archon until a new one is crowned.

Imperium rings
As a symbol of the pact between the Tevinter and the dwarves, Endrin gave Darinius a pair of rings – one that shone like the evening star, and one as luminous as the dawn. So long as the rings were united, Darinius need fear nothing, for the friendship of the dwarves is a mighty sword and shield.

The Archon wore the rings of Dawn and Dusk for 20 years, never removing them, and when he died, they were cut from his fingers by magisters squabbling over his vacant throne, then separated, and finally lost.