Magist Zahven Thruel
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Name: Zahven Thruel
Honorific(s): Magist
Origin: Innarlith, Lake of Steam
Birthdate: 20 Tarsakh, 1303 (50)
Race: Human
Eyes: Dark Green
Hair: Brown/Black/Gray
Facial Hair Style: Full Beard
Sex: Male
Deity: Azuth
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Class: Archmage
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: ~165 lbs.
Background
Born in the city of Innarlith on the Lake of Steam, Zahven was taken in by an uncle as a very young child, later having been told his family died during a 'minor plague'. This uncle, Danuk, was a scribe of ill repute and a wizard of little talent.
His youth was a quiet one; filled with forced work consisting of copying books, maps, and whatever else needed by Danuk. Zahven often was worked alone for long hours, working well into the night. Beaten when errors were made, Zahven soon came to be fond of precise detail. Eventually learning to appreciate the opportunity, Zahven studied while he worked. He began committing the texts to memory, learning many languages, and gleaning what little his uncle could teach of the arcane.
The city of Innarlith is a place where one can buy almost anything, including young men meant for war. By the time Zahven had reached sixteen Danuk had fallen on hard times. Unable to pay his debts after a failed forgery, he sold Zahven to the Rampant Lions, a local band of mercenaries, without second thought. It was the last they saw of one another.
What could have ended poorly ended up a boon for young Zahven. After poor showings in melee training and the realization of his meager arcane training, he was taken in by the company's Magus, Saheem Z'laad, a powerful conjurer.
Zahven's mastery of magic grew quickly. Developing into a powerful mage in his own right, focused on summoning allies to the field of battle, communication across the planes, and controlling opponents through force of will, Zahven excelled in his role and followed the company into battle among the Border Kingdoms, the Vilhon Reach, and other nearby regions.
When the company was disbanded in 1335, Zahven followed his Master Saheem to his home in Memnon of Calimshan. There he continued his studies focused on the outer planes and their inhabitants. Very little has been shared about this time of his life.
In 1350 Zahven made his way to the coast, for reasons unshared. Here he connected with Jarresh Stillwater, a reknowned mercenary and winner of several local tournaments. First hiring Jarresh as a personal guard, they soon came under the employ of The Silver Shield mercenary company.
After a season of fighting they left the company, some say with ill will toward it's leadership, and settled in Baldur's Gate. The time spent was productive, both among the founders of the Order of Lions, their gold donated freely. Shortly after construction of Pathfinder Hall, Zahven ventured South once again.
Having fairly recently returned to the Sword Coast, Zahven's reasons and goals for coming back remain a bit elusive, most often intimated as involving trade or the seeking of knowledge, though never specific.
Appearance
Zahven is tall and lean, his face gaunt, with the erect posture of a soldier and the hard, sunken gaze of one having seen battle. His aquiline nose is shifted slightly to his right, with a small scar across the bridge and brow. He shaves his head bald but grows a full beard, which is a very dark brown nearing black showing the white and gray of his age.
He is dressed in a light chain tunic trimmed in black, perhaps of elven make and much more decorative than utilitarian, belted with a wide, black, rune-covered belt of many varying-sized pouches of spell components. He is nearly always seen with a large black fur cape. A silvery metal band about his head, he wears boots fit for marching and combat. His staff, nearly always in his hand, is topped with a crystal of some sort that appears to glow with magic.
Physical Health
Thin, but not frail, Zahven is deceptively strong for his frame. He bears the signs of age: wrinkles, gray hair, and sagging skin, but he maintains his health and vitality.
Personality
Zahven is orderly, meticulous, and thorough in all tasks, a remnant of his time with his Uncle. His stone-set face and hard eyes give him the appearance of someone that demands respect and can see through many lies (high sense motive skill).
Despite this outward sense of aloof seriousness and harsh judgment, Zahven can be quite talkative when his guard is down or he finds the topic of interest or importance. His initial abrasiveness and distance may be more due to his background and military habit than his underlying personality, as Zahven can be extremely diplomatic on the rare occasion that the situation demands it.
Zahven's childhood, as well as his intense training in both conjuration and enchantment, have helped form who he has become. As easy as he finds it able to command the minds and break the physical resistances of his enemies, he takes comfort in controlling himself and his emotions. He takes very little pity on those that can't control themselves with equal ease.
Due to his extensive interaction with summoned, called, and conjured creatures, as well as his life along the Lake of Steam and in Calimshan, Zahven is more open-minded about races and creatures than perhaps as is normal for the Sword Coast. He still holds several prejudices, both positive and negative, but is willing to attempt an understanding with most intelligent beings.
Religion
Primarily a worshipper of Azuth, he offers prayers and sacrifice to Mystra, Denier, Oghma, Helm, and Tempus. Truth be told, Zahven finds it difficult to deeply connect with the gods, and religion does not play a major part in his life.
Honorific(s): Magist
Origin: Innarlith, Lake of Steam
Birthdate: 20 Tarsakh, 1303 (50)
Race: Human
Eyes: Dark Green
Hair: Brown/Black/Gray
Facial Hair Style: Full Beard
Sex: Male
Deity: Azuth
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Class: Archmage
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: ~165 lbs.
Background
Born in the city of Innarlith on the Lake of Steam, Zahven was taken in by an uncle as a very young child, later having been told his family died during a 'minor plague'. This uncle, Danuk, was a scribe of ill repute and a wizard of little talent.
His youth was a quiet one; filled with forced work consisting of copying books, maps, and whatever else needed by Danuk. Zahven often was worked alone for long hours, working well into the night. Beaten when errors were made, Zahven soon came to be fond of precise detail. Eventually learning to appreciate the opportunity, Zahven studied while he worked. He began committing the texts to memory, learning many languages, and gleaning what little his uncle could teach of the arcane.
The city of Innarlith is a place where one can buy almost anything, including young men meant for war. By the time Zahven had reached sixteen Danuk had fallen on hard times. Unable to pay his debts after a failed forgery, he sold Zahven to the Rampant Lions, a local band of mercenaries, without second thought. It was the last they saw of one another.
What could have ended poorly ended up a boon for young Zahven. After poor showings in melee training and the realization of his meager arcane training, he was taken in by the company's Magus, Saheem Z'laad, a powerful conjurer.
Zahven's mastery of magic grew quickly. Developing into a powerful mage in his own right, focused on summoning allies to the field of battle, communication across the planes, and controlling opponents through force of will, Zahven excelled in his role and followed the company into battle among the Border Kingdoms, the Vilhon Reach, and other nearby regions.
When the company was disbanded in 1335, Zahven followed his Master Saheem to his home in Memnon of Calimshan. There he continued his studies focused on the outer planes and their inhabitants. Very little has been shared about this time of his life.
In 1350 Zahven made his way to the coast, for reasons unshared. Here he connected with Jarresh Stillwater, a reknowned mercenary and winner of several local tournaments. First hiring Jarresh as a personal guard, they soon came under the employ of The Silver Shield mercenary company.
After a season of fighting they left the company, some say with ill will toward it's leadership, and settled in Baldur's Gate. The time spent was productive, both among the founders of the Order of Lions, their gold donated freely. Shortly after construction of Pathfinder Hall, Zahven ventured South once again.
Having fairly recently returned to the Sword Coast, Zahven's reasons and goals for coming back remain a bit elusive, most often intimated as involving trade or the seeking of knowledge, though never specific.
Appearance
Zahven is tall and lean, his face gaunt, with the erect posture of a soldier and the hard, sunken gaze of one having seen battle. His aquiline nose is shifted slightly to his right, with a small scar across the bridge and brow. He shaves his head bald but grows a full beard, which is a very dark brown nearing black showing the white and gray of his age.
He is dressed in a light chain tunic trimmed in black, perhaps of elven make and much more decorative than utilitarian, belted with a wide, black, rune-covered belt of many varying-sized pouches of spell components. He is nearly always seen with a large black fur cape. A silvery metal band about his head, he wears boots fit for marching and combat. His staff, nearly always in his hand, is topped with a crystal of some sort that appears to glow with magic.
Physical Health
Thin, but not frail, Zahven is deceptively strong for his frame. He bears the signs of age: wrinkles, gray hair, and sagging skin, but he maintains his health and vitality.
Personality
Zahven is orderly, meticulous, and thorough in all tasks, a remnant of his time with his Uncle. His stone-set face and hard eyes give him the appearance of someone that demands respect and can see through many lies (high sense motive skill).
Despite this outward sense of aloof seriousness and harsh judgment, Zahven can be quite talkative when his guard is down or he finds the topic of interest or importance. His initial abrasiveness and distance may be more due to his background and military habit than his underlying personality, as Zahven can be extremely diplomatic on the rare occasion that the situation demands it.
Zahven's childhood, as well as his intense training in both conjuration and enchantment, have helped form who he has become. As easy as he finds it able to command the minds and break the physical resistances of his enemies, he takes comfort in controlling himself and his emotions. He takes very little pity on those that can't control themselves with equal ease.
Due to his extensive interaction with summoned, called, and conjured creatures, as well as his life along the Lake of Steam and in Calimshan, Zahven is more open-minded about races and creatures than perhaps as is normal for the Sword Coast. He still holds several prejudices, both positive and negative, but is willing to attempt an understanding with most intelligent beings.
Religion
Primarily a worshipper of Azuth, he offers prayers and sacrifice to Mystra, Denier, Oghma, Helm, and Tempus. Truth be told, Zahven finds it difficult to deeply connect with the gods, and religion does not play a major part in his life.
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