Zakisn Matruit
Description
A specter looms into view by the name of Zakisn Matruit. Shades of darkness define the drow’s form. The monochrome of his material garb and silvery-white mane is contrasted only by the scarlet gleam of his right eye. His left is forever closed by a small vertical scar and concealing patch. The onyx lightlessness of his skin comports with the blackness of his leathery armor and cloak. The tall dark elf bears munitions expected of his kind, and yet his expression betrays none of the expected cruelty and malice typically associated with his vile and hated race. Instead, there lies grim composure and even resignation in his even expression. While the left eye shows how he has suffered, only Zakisn’s right eye betrays the resilience of his spirit.
History
In Adiniren-Zeryl almost 140 years ago, Zakisn Matruit was born into a house of importance, for it served loyally under the matriarch of the city. Zakisn was expected to embrace a life of servitude before the matrons, and early on demonstrated aptitude for the arcane arts that would make him a most valuable asset. However, Zakisn always felt disquiet. He always felt something was unjust about drow society – not merely by their claims of strength and nobility, but by the lack of authenticity in either. It was not the inequality of the matriarchy that disturbed him, nor the cruelty and deceit required to survive in the Lower Kingdom. It was ultimately a sense of incuriosity, driven by a lust only for power and knowledge that serviced ambition and survival, that bothered the wise young dark elf. He was wise enough to keep such doubts to himself, however. His research was what eventually gave him away. Zakisn began to delve into forbidden lore, forbidden not for its profaneness but its sacrilege before the Church of Sivarnatta. He discovered another god: Myrkule, an ancient elven paragon who turned from the light but never embraced the diabolism of the Abyss. He stood alone with true strength and unmatched wit, and Zakisn desired to emulate this divine power. He made plans to leave drow society but was uncovered before he made a clean getaway. An assassin was dispatched and put a poisoned crossbow bolt in Zakisn’s eye. That should have been the end of the rebel, but Myrkule appeared in his unconscious and dying mind and breathed life back into the drow. Zakisn awakened and slipped away, now a quiet disciple of the god, and seeking a way to bridge the gap with his surface kin. For no dark elf could survive on his own for long.
Personality
Zakisn is outwardly quiet, grim, and understandably suspicious. He is also very erudite and aware. His newfound piety is his key to survival and transcendence of the limitations that drow society long imposed on his life. But one should not confuse his devotion and intelligence with compassion and generosity. While he is not wicked, neither is he virtuous. He seeks to exemplify the paragon of self-reliance. But in that sense, he is heroic – or perhaps antiheroic.
Goals
Zakisn will only pursue his priesthood. Indeed, he has severed all ties with his arcane talent as part of the price for his salvation through Myrkule. He will master the cleric class (20th-level+) before taking up any other related class (probably hierophant).
Character Sheet