Zharen

Zharen
Status	Active
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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

Stats & Skills
Misc
Circle	200
Stats
Strength		Agility		Intelligence		Wisdom
Stamina		Reflex		Discipline		Charisma
Armor
Shield Usage		Light Armor		Chain Armor		Brigandine
Plate Armor		Defending
Weapon
Parry Ability		Small Edged		Large Edged		Twohanded Edged
Small Blunt		Large Blunt		Twohanded Blunt		Slings
Bows		Crossbows		Staves		Polearms
Light Thrown		Heavy Thrown		Brawling		Offhand Weapon
Melee Mastery		Missile Mastery
Magic
Primary Magic		Attunement		Arcana		Targeted Magic
Augmentation		Debilitation		Utility		Warding
Sorcery
Survival
Evasion		Athletics		Perception		Stealth
Locksmithing		Thievery		First Aid		Outdoorsmanship
Skinning
Lore
Forging		Engineering		Outfitting		Alchemy
Enchanting		Scholarship		Mechanical Lore		Appraisal
Performance		Engineering