NOTANECRO: Remove a private roleplay spoiler from the biography

2026-10-22T03:37:02Z

Remove a private roleplay spoiler from the biography

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:37, 21 October 2026
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	=== Alchemical investigations: player-authored fiction ===		=== Alchemical investigations: player-authored fiction ===

	The ''Vial Plot'' narratives portray Zharen watching an alchemical solution strike [[Ciriasa]], a vessel of Maelshyve, before withdrawing to study his recipes and accounts of [[Lyras]]. He considers whether the liquid might be adapted against undead creatures and liches, and seeks allies willing to strike against the Kneelers. His letters conceal requests for specimens and collaborators beneath the language of an island holiday~~. He calls the network he hopes to gather '''The Knives'''~~.<ref name="vials" />		The ''Vial Plot'' narratives portray Zharen watching an alchemical solution strike [[Ciriasa]], a vessel of Maelshyve, before withdrawing to study his recipes and accounts of [[Lyras]]. He considers whether the liquid might be adapted against undead creatures and liches, and seeks allies willing to strike against the Kneelers. His letters conceal requests for specimens and collaborators beneath the language of an island holiday.<ref name="vials" />

	These scenes establish his intentions within the player's fiction. They do not establish a successful theft~~, a completed organization,~~ or the proposed weapon's effectiveness against Jeihrem.		These scenes establish his intentions within the player's fiction. They do not establish a successful theft or the proposed weapon's effectiveness against Jeihrem.

	=== Scouting Basalt Isle, 433 AV ===		=== Scouting Basalt Isle, 433 AV ===

NOTANECRO: Remove the Quotes section at the character owner’s request

2026-10-22T03:33:10Z

Remove the Quotes section at the character owner’s request

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:33, 21 October 2026
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	</gallery>		</gallery>

	== Quotes ==

	=== Recorded event dialogue ===

	* "We need to debrief. I need to know the weaknesses." — following the Basalt Isle scouting expedition, February 7, 2020.<ref name="scouting" />
	* "How can we assist with completing this weapon of yours?" — to Zauldin, February 25, 2021.<ref name="planning" />
	* "A bulwark of order...this weapon." — July 24, 2021.<ref name="july" />

	=== Player-authored fiction ===

	* "Failure still provides data."
	* "Since when does a Necro Lord need approval from anyone?"
	* "The Knives can be very sharp if you forget about them."<ref name="vials" />

	== Player notes ==		== Player notes ==

NOTANECRO: Keep the full artwork gallery within the article width

2026-10-22T03:31:09Z

Keep the full artwork gallery within the article width

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:31, 21 October 2026
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	=== Artwork ===		=== Artwork ===

	<gallery widths="~~480~~" heights="~~320~~">		<gallery widths="360" heights="240">
	File:Zharen-portrait.webp\|Interpretive character plate, following the player's all-white-fur direction. Click to view the full-size artwork.		File:Zharen-portrait.webp\|Interpretive character plate, following the player's all-white-fur direction. Click to view the full-size artwork.
	</gallery>		</gallery>

NOTANECRO: Expand beliefs and sourced campaign dialogue, distinguish player fiction, separate spoiler lore and improve portrait presentation

2026-10-22T03:29:48Z

Expand beliefs and sourced campaign dialogue, distinguish player fiction, separate spoiler lore and improve portrait presentation

Show changes

NOTANECRO: Add existing owner-directed Zharen portrait to the character infobox

2026-10-21T21:01:53Z

Add existing owner-directed Zharen portrait to the character infobox

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:01, 21 October 2026
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	{{PC		{{PC
	\|name=Zharen		\|name=Zharen
			\|Image File=Zharen-portrait.webp
	\|status=a		\|status=a
	\|race=Prydaen		\|race=Prydaen

NOTANECRO: Create owner character biography, philosophy, appearance and sourced Basalt Isle campaign history

2026-10-21T20:59:01Z

Create owner character biography, philosophy, appearance and sourced Basalt Isle campaign history

New page

{{PC
|name=Zharen
|status=a
|race=Prydaen
|gender=Male
|guild=Necromancer
|instance=Prime
}}

'''Wheel Breaker Zharen, Blood Warrior of Elanthia''' is a Prydaen Necromancer and Philosopher pursuing Transcendence and the freedom of mortals to choose an existence beyond the authority of the Immortals. His opposition to demonic servitude brought him into an uneasy alliance with House Moglin and the adventurers campaigning against the Lich [[Jeihrem]]. He served as a scout and recruitment contact, directed elementalists during the naval fighting, and wielded the axe that [[Navesi]] credited with cutting the transformed [[Sivroch]] in half during the assault on [[Basalt Isle]].<ref name="naval">[[The First Land Herald/438-07-06]], Navesi Daerthon, published June 27, 2021.</ref><ref name="raid">[[The First Land Herald/439-07-14]], Navesi Daerthon, published October 7, 2021.</ref>

== The Wheel Breaker ==

For the Prydaen, the Wheel offers a return. A soul rests in Tenemlor's keeping before being born again, its consciousness enduring while most memories of its former life are hushed. To take up necromancy is to jeopardize that inheritance. The Claw of Tenemlor Elder speaks of Prydaen who embraced necromancy to fight Lyras and condemns the cost: they cut themselves off from the Wheel.<ref>[[On Death and the Soul (book)/Contents]], "Other Afterlife Systems."</ref><ref>[[Elder]], dialogue concerning necromancy and the Wheel.</ref>

Zharen's chosen title gives that rupture a name. He seeks the freedom to preserve his knowledge, memories and will, and to decide what he becomes. He wants that choice to belong to everyone. To him, the promise of another life leaves a fundamental question unanswered: who has the right to decide the fate of a mortal soul?

His Great Work seeks a path beyond the shackles of the Immortals, open to those who choose it. He would make allegiance a choice, with a viable future for those who refuse to kneel. His contempt for the Kneelers follows the same conviction: surrendering to a demon gives another master the authority he seeks to escape.

''Wheel Breaker'' is documented as a custom title bestowed by [[Zipsy]] during [[Hollow Eve Festival 432]], in 2019. Zharen is recorded wearing it by the scouting expedition of February 2020.<ref>[[Title:Wheel Breaker]].</ref><ref name="scouting">[[Dantia/Logs/20200207 Log]], February 7, 2020.</ref>

== History ==

=== Alchemical investigations ===

Watching an alchemical solution strike [[Ciriasa]], a vessel of [[Maelshyve]], Zharen withdraws to study his recipes and accounts of [[Lyras]]. He considers whether the liquid might be adapted against undead creatures and liches, and seeks allies willing to strike against the Kneelers. His letters conceal requests for specimens and collaborators beneath the language of an island holiday. He calls the network he hopes to gather '''The Knives'''.<ref>Player-authored ''Vial Plot'' narratives, parts 1 and 2.</ref>

=== Scouting Basalt Isle, 433 AV ===

Zharen took part in the February 7, 2020 meeting with [[Rekon]], [[Khoheke]] and the disfigured scholar later known as [[Zauldin]], followed by the reconnaissance of Basalt Isle. He warned the party about Sivroch and the Profane, urged them to keep moving, and examined the island's seawall and approaches.

After the retreat, he pressed the survivors for a useful account of the island's weaknesses. He proposed a smaller scouting force, an unseen ship landing and aerial observation by a Warrior Mage's familiar, then volunteered to return to investigate the manor and departed through a Moongate.<ref name="scouting" />

=== Gathering support, 437 AV ===

At the February 25, 2021 naval discussion, Zharen pledged his assistance against Jeihrem and questioned Zauldin about the developing holy weapon. He also proposed buying off or recruiting the pirates to relieve House Moglin's divided front. Zauldin identified Saragos and Zharen as contacts who had been involved from the beginning; the subsequent ''First Land Herald'' recruitment notice named Zharen among those prospective volunteers could approach.<ref>[[Dantia/Logs/20210225 Log]], February 25, 2021.</ref><ref>[[The First Land Herald/437-05-02]], "House Moglin recruiting for strike on Lich."</ref>

=== Naval battle and preparations, 438-439 AV ===

The ''First Land Herald'' records Zharen fighting on House Moglin's side in the First Naval Battle of Basalt Isle, directing elementalists during the engagement against the pirate fleet and its allies.<ref name="naval" />

At the July 24, 2021 planning meeting, he reported troubling changes in his spell research and suspected that Jeihrem's planar corruption might be affecting others. Zauldin did not confirm the explanation, but encouraged him to broaden his investigations.<ref>[[Dantia/Logs/20210724 Log]], July 24, 2021.</ref>

He also attended Miskton's August 14 visions meeting, questioning apparent planar disturbances, the Traders' supernatural bargain and the possibility of memories being imposed upon a blank mind.<ref>[[Miskton/Logs/20210814 Visions]], August 14, 2021.</ref>

=== The assault on Basalt Isle, 439 AV ===

Zharen joined the assault of October 2, 2021. After Sivroch emerged from her cocoon as a many-eyed, tentacled monstrosity, he fought among the soldiers confronting her. Navesi credits his Necromantic axe with the final blow that cut her in half. Sivroch rose again and escaped into the sky.<ref name="raid" />

The assault ultimately forced Jeihrem to retreat after the firing of the [[Sanyu Aes]], but cost Zauldin his life. Cadhan's account also records Zharen present as the battle turned toward the exposed lich.<ref name="raid" /><ref>[[Current Events/Logs/436-06-37-Basalt Isle Raid: Ending at Sanyu Aes]], October 2, 2021; event metadata records 439 AV.</ref>

== The pursuit of Transcendence ==

Zharen pursues Transcendence in the hope of establishing a path to freedom that others can choose for themselves. His own continued existence would be the beginning of that work: an opportunity to understand the path and make it available beyond himself. He has yet to achieve Transcendence or establish that such freedom is attainable.

He also hopes to restore [[Osven]], whose sacrifice empowered the [[Philosopher's Knot]] against Maelshyve and left what remained of him trapped within it.<ref>[[Philosopher's Knot]], "Osven's Fate."</ref>

== Appearance ==

The following appearance was recorded on October 19, 2026:

Zharen has a round face, cat-slitted amber eyes and a classical nose. His black mane is short and wavy, and is worn pulled up in a topknot. He has ghostly white fur with a black belly, a thick tail and an athletic build. He is average height for a Prydaen and appears to be a wind-catcher.

He has a tattoo of a nimbus of light encircling a lidless eye on his forehead.

His displayed attire includes a travel-worn nightmare black longcoat with arcane symbols sewn into the collar, a sturdy iron-studded black leather spellbook case, a butcher's bag marred with stains and viscera, and oxblood leather boots with tiny black riftstones along the soles.

== Quotes ==

* "Failure still provides data."
* "Since when does a Necro Lord need approval from anyone?"
* "The Knives can be very sharp if you forget about them."
* "We need to debrief. I need to know the weaknesses."<ref name="scouting" />

== Player notes ==

The appearance section preserves the dated in-game description. Character artwork may instead depict all-white fur, following the player's preferred visual interpretation.

The alchemical investigations and associated quotations draw on the player's original ''Vial Plot'' narratives, parts 1 and 2. The Basalt Isle campaign is documented in the linked contemporary logs and ''First Land Herald'' reports.

== References ==

<references />

{{PCSkills
|Circle=200
}}

Zharen - Revision history

NOTANECRO: Remove a private roleplay spoiler from the biography

NOTANECRO: Remove the Quotes section at the character owner’s request

NOTANECRO: Keep the full artwork gallery within the article width

NOTANECRO: Expand beliefs and sourced campaign dialogue, distinguish player fiction, separate spoiler lore and improve portrait presentation

NOTANECRO: Add existing owner-directed Zharen portrait to the character infobox

NOTANECRO: Create owner character biography, philosophy, appearance and sourced Basalt Isle campaign history