Character Name: Zahir "The Red Jackal" Kadmizari
Race/Species: Human - Ra'Sheek
Gender: Male
Age: 31
Role: TBD
Skills/Traits:
- Rashamat-kachar -The Formless Step
Mikhail, Divine God of the Fist, watches over Zahir with ardent pride. Baptized in the Pit Arenas of Arad Luin at the age of 9, he has since harnessed the fight craft with only mind and body as his primary weapons. The Crucible of Combat has exposed him to a world of seasoned fighters and weapon wielders, offering a wealth of experience from many different styles and techniques. Rashamat-kachar is a select practice from a fraternity of practitioners, bound only by their imagination and their devotion to Mikhail. There are no masters, no scrolls, or set edicts and principles. The path is guided by ones own experience toward enlightenment, adjudicated by the trade of knowledge with other Rashamat-kachar. - Shulatgoram - The Willful Soul
Zahir's overall constitution has been refined through questionable methods of rigorous training. A well-conditioned Pit Fighter demands the disciplinarian lifestyle between spartan and cultist. While Rashamat-kachar are not demon worshiping fanatics, their tireless tribute to achieve optimal perfection in the face of Mikhail is often seen as the same thing. Shulatgoram is a Crucible of Mind and Body, an arduous process that breaks down the physical shell, as well as the psychological barriers of ones limits. The Willful Soul approaches the Rashamat-kachar with the firm belief that they've achieved the pinnacle of their strength, only to find that they've only skimmed the surface of their potential once the trials commence. The end result is an athletically durable vassal, able to sustain life needing very little. Much like the path to enlightenment, a Rashamat-kachar's Shulatgoram is ongoing. Many have died trying to reach ultimate congruence due to losing awareness of their own limitations. - Ujat-Torga - The Shadow's Coin
In a quest to achieve ultimate nirvana, many Rashamat-kachar abstain from the pleasures of flesh and wealth. Zahir is not one of them. He walks the path of Ujat-Torga since a boy, common for many of his ilk due to a harsh upbringing in Arad Luin. The skill of thieves and stealthy dungeoneering was honed by his mentor, Iron Jadepyre, Dwarven Captain of a Carrack vessel and small rogue's guild. Pick-pocketing, lock-picking, and treasure hunting offers many thrills for Zahir. He refuses to stop -- even if his Shulatgoram demands it. - Luzat-Fahir - Liquid Magic
Zahir dabbles in low-tier alchemy. He learned this skill from a fellow Rashamat-kachar seeking to reach the next pillar of achievement in his Shulatgoram. By combining herbs with enchanted chemicals and powders, Zahir can make formulas that temporarily increase strength, awareness, and stamina. He can also concoct mind-altering psychotropic drugs to heighten meditations, or epinephrine enhancers to increase combat effectiveness.
-Enriched Fervor: A potion designed to ramp up adrenaline and heighten environmental and combat awareness.
-The Effortless Will: A potion with phytochemicals taken from enchanted plants to work as special vasodilators to aid stamina and endurance.
-The Natural Shield: The most dangerous brew of his collection. The desired reward temporarily grants increased muscle density, making Zahir become a durable meat shield. Fatal blows and weak points can still be targeted with success but will require much more force to inflict damage. That is not to say no damage is dealt during the ingestion period. After the Natural Shield wears off, the pain receptors reactivate in a sudden rush that can force his body into shock.
-Vital Hymn: Constant ingestion of any of the three potions above can cause the mind and body to break down. A special blend of magical herbs with recuperative properties have amplified affects when Zahir is put in a meditative state. - Cuerdasm - The Rigging of Ropes, Wires, and Chains
Rigging sails to mast and yardarm was acquired during his days aboard Captain Jadepyre's Carrack. His overall constitution as a fit Rashamat-kachar made him a durable deckhand. Thunderstorms and gale winds did little to thwart his efforts. Maintaining buoyancy in rough waters during intense manual labor enhanced his balance as a fighter, making him a formidable threat in almost any environment. Knowledge of the ropes, wires, and chains that keep the sails of a ship together has also made him proficient in boarding enemy vessels. - Golo-varj-in - The Sand Shark
With ships come large expanses of water, and swimming was a perfect way for Zahir to maintain his Shulatgoram. As a sand dweller from Arad Luin, he was intimidated by the vastness of the ocean, but over time learned how to glide through water with relative ease. He also enjoys deep sea diving, and performs meditations underwater for however long his lungs will permit.
Weapons:
- Jadepyre's Tooth: A gift from Captain Jadepyre, which was really a hand-me-down the moment the Dwarf obtained a better weapon. Zahir rarely unsheaths the ornate short sword for combat. He prefers to use it as a cutting tool, skinning raw hides, or for shaving his head.
- Wraps of Kadesa: Strips of enchanted cloth blessed by an Elvish Combat Priest. They are imbued with scripts of healing wards that help preserve the body from blunt force trauma.
- Vials of Alchemy: While most potions are used for self-enhancement, there are flammable oils, poisons, and hallucinogenic powders he can inflict onto his enemies as well.
Physical Description: Zahir is a prime Ra'Sheek specimen of Arad Luin. He towers over most at 6'4", but does not have the bulkiness of an Iona savage, or even the musculature of a Khalahar man. His bronze-skinned sheen is accentuated by a wiry frame, toned by the strict physical regiment of his Shulatgoram. Zahir prefers the simplicity of a shaved head, bringing his hawk-like facial features and dark brown eyes to the forefront. He wears sandals, armguards, and a scarlet loin-cloth held together by an ornamented, leather girdle. Attached is the Jadepyre Tooth sheathed at his side. The backside of the girdle has stitched pouches and compartments, each containing alchemy vials and other small accessories. Larger items are kept in a separate purse, slung on his shoulder and tied securely around the torso. Zahir compensates for his modest attire with gold jewelry. Earrings, necklace, and armbands make the Ra'Sheek Rashamat-kachar look like a mountain hermit that stumbled upon an exotic treasure chest, which really isn't too far off from the truth.
Armor: The only piece of armor Zahir wears are armguards. He considers regular garments as a needless hindrance, and anything heavier than that will feel unnatural or restricting.
Equipment/Other:
- Ornamented Girdle - A championship belt awarded to him for besting one of Khalahar's elite fighters, re-purposed for utility.
- Eshan's Guard - These armguards belonged to the only Pit Fighter Zahir could never beat in the arena. When Eshan retired, he gave them to Zahir as a token of appreciation for all of the great duels they had together.
- Healing kit - A pouch stitched onto his girdle dedicated to splints, salves, and bandages.
- Alchemy Supplies - Premade vials of alchemy are kept separated from the limited materials Zahir keeps on his person. Most ingredients can be found while adventuring, and he rarely takes more than what's required to craft his potions.
Mental Description/Personality: The pride of a brash Champion has been tamed by age and experience. His temperament as a disciplined Rashamat-kachar is softened by the jollies as a seaward plunderer. Yet there's a silent intensity about him, an aura that suggests danger if prodded too carelessly. The virtue of patience is ever present in Zahir, and the open-ended ways of his practice has lead him to become culturally tolerant to other races, religions, and creeds. However, the young Ra'Sheek rat of Arad Luin is known to bare his fangs every now and then. Though Eshan's guards serve as reminders of humility, he secretly views them with shame for never besting his rival. This has stunted his confidence in some respects, especially when dealing with difficult challenges, causing him to lash out if ever backed to a corner.
Goals/Aspirations: Zahir sees himself growing old with a loving wife and many children. The land will know of his noble house as a Champion's hall from Arad Luin, and the sea will know of his merchant enterprise under the Emerald Merit name. He will impart his wisdom as Rashamat-kachar to those willing to learn, and will train their Shulatgoram to the ultimate pinnacle. Zahir does not know if he can ever fully reach that state himself, but will continue to attempt its greatness until his dying days.
Though before such graceful endings are inked dry, he must avenge his fallen crew, steal back his Carrack, and conquer the ghost of Eshan by defeating his prized pupil...
While the latter is a personal goal Zahir wishes to achieve on his own, the former can only be accomplished with a competent crew. The assassins that claimed his mentors and ship are untraceable, and Zahir hopes the Sea Reaver can steer him in the right direction. Whether they partake on his vendetta or not is entirely up to the crew. Either way, swift vengeance awaits his wrongdoers.
Background/History: Zahir was loved by his parents. They could not provide for him in the same way the high castes could, so when hunger overcame their better judgement, he was sold for two bags of rice and one wheel of half-spoiled goat's cheese. He is not bitter about this fact. Their souls demanded sustenance, therefore, they traded the only thing of value in order to survive. Such is the way of life. The merchant that bought him was an abusive drunk, but Zahir was not bitter of that fact either. The man was clearly troubled by his own demons, but the one good thing he did was call the boy by his true name. Zahir Kadmizari. In common tongue it means
Truth Finder, and just like that, the Kadmizari legacy was able to carry on in a world full of grandiose myth and wonder.
Ownership changed quite frequently as Zahir was used to pay off gambling debts. If he was not bartered, he was pitted against other slave children in underground scrappers. Sometimes they would pit him against animals too. Many of his merchant owners made him pickpocket their customers, or loot rival vendors. Coming home empty-handed was never an option, lest he was prepared to face whatever cruel repercussions that awaited him. It was a rough life, but a life nonetheless, and Zahir never lost hope for better days. It took a foreign rogue merchant to see Zahir for something more than a slaver's muse.
Captain Iron Jadepyre, a Dwarven entrepreneur of the sea, claimed the boy in a one-sided card game.
This was Hayasham's first true blessing. Iron Jadepyre was a Dwarven outcast, whose clan name was not recognized by his own people. He sailed the oceans under The Emerald Merit Co. banner with a small crew of six. They were his teachers, family even, all who taught him the worldly ways beyond the sands of Arad Luin. It was here where he befriended fellow Ra'Sheek,
Abdas Mojar, the youngest member of the crew, and Jadepyre's best pit fighter. He learned everything he could from Abdas, trained as he did, rigged the sails as he would. When night came, they all drank with merry fervor, filling the young boy's head with tales, myths, and legends.
Zahir vaguely remembers his calling to become a Rashamat-kachar. He was approached at a port town not far from Arad Luin by a beggar in red.
"Truth Finders are the ardent souls of Hayasham. You will seek and seek, but never find what you are looking for. I give you purpose. Shulatgoram. With this, no matter where you look, you will always find treasure." The beggar said.His finger pressed against Zahir's forehead, igniting an ethos from within. This was Hayasham's second blessing. Zahir told the crew what transpired, and Abdas Mojar bowed as low as he could. Abdas was trained by a Rashamat-kachar himself. They were fighters of a different breed, with styles and techniques weaved from worldly champions of the past. The Shulatgoram was a Crucible of the Mind and Body, a trial that could only be awakened by a selected few. While Abdas learned a great deal, his potential was limited, his Shulatgoram unworthy. His Rashamat-kachar master had done the same gesture the beggar did to Zahir, but nothing unlocked within Abdas. It was soon decided that Abdas could not become a Rashamat-kachar, but he vowed to light the way for those who could. Zahir Kadmizari would be his first and only pupil.
The Emerald Merit Company shaped Zahir into a fine young man. He was one of them now, and they loved him like a brother. On land, he was fast becoming a terror in the unsanctioned Pit Fighting arenas. He bested great adversaries as The Red Jackal, dispatching foe after foe with unparalleled skill, save one man: Eshan "Son of Arad" Ojari. Zahir lost one out of their three bouts, and the last two matches ended in a controversial draw. The Ra'Sheek sailor demanded for a fourth fight. Zahir trained like never before, adopting the use of alchemy learned from a fellow Rashatmat-kachar to take his Shulatgoram to the limit.
However, the bout never came. Eshan had an affair with a noblewoman, costing his arm and forcing him into retirement. As a token of appreciation for the tough battles they fought, Eshan gave him his fighting armguards. It struck a nerve in Zahir. Now, he will never avenge his loss against the man that got the better of him. Zahir set his sights on Eshan's pupil named, Bektor. He was heralded by many as a fighting prodigy, but Bektor was still far too young. Zahir would have to wait until Bektor became a champion, but how long would that take, and could he even achieve such glory? Such harsh truths made Zahir want to step away from prizefighting, so he retired soon after Eshan did. For the next couple of years, he braved the open sea with The Emerald Merit crew, focusing on becoming a better Rashamat-kachar.
Times as a commercially independent sea merchant were becoming grim. So much so that the crew resorted to pirating and looting, more than ever before. Captain Jadepyre always fancied himself an earnest Dwarf, but in order to keep his operation running, desperate times called for desperate measures. To achieve some sort of moral high ground, he justified his piracy by looting only the shadiest of merchants and swashbucklers.
Unfortunately, fate would have them plunder the wrong ship, one tied to a very powerful nobleman. The night they were boarded by assassins is still fresh in his mind. The crew was drugged somehow, and the assassins lined them up on deck and began slitting their throats. Zahir knew each of them ever since he was a young powder monkey, scrubbing a ship that was his only true home, now soaked in the blood of his adopted family. Captain Jadepyre was the first to go. His stoic face gazed boldly at his crew, and it never faltered, even after the knife cut through him. His sword teacher,
Onru, the gallant Boatswain from Praelior, was next, followed by
Lockswift, the Banian Elf that navigated the stars like an oracle.
By the time
Strativa of The Kaels and
Yuzan of Vretonnia were killed, Abdas could wait no more. He gathered all the strength he could muster, using all of his willpower to combat his drug induced state, and threw Zahir overboard.
This was Hayasham's third blessing. Abdas fought with a Shulatgoram of a Rashamat-kachar, an honor he was denied long ago. The assassins eventually dispatched of Abdas, but by the time they looked overboard, Zahir was nowhere to be found. By the grace of Mikhail, who worked through Abdas Mojar as a Divine Fist, and the guidance of Hayasham's daughter, Sarika, Zahir was carried through dark waters. A fisherman found him afloat along the northern shores of Seacliffe. He took Zahir in and nursed him back to full health. In this moment he was allowed a small respite. He used this time to help the fisherman with his daily catches, and find balance with his Shulatgoram.
Try as he might, the psychological blocks of his trauma could not be avoided any longer. His heart demanded vengeance, and the ocean called for his name. No, not for Zahir Kadmizari, but for The Red Jackal. It wasn't long until he answered its call, submerging himself back into the realm of piracy. The murderers of his crew will be found and dealt with, he will retrieve his former Captain's ship, and he will bring honor back to The Emerald Merit Company once more. For now, Zahir must start anew. The path to finding the assassins is a slippery slope, one he intends to tread carefully as he joins Blackwell's crew aboard the Sea Reaver.
Relationships: TBD
Theme Song
