|Loyal| |Impulsive| |Resilient| |Blunt| |Free-Spirited| |Stubborn|
When it comes to protecting the Abbey, Zaris has a strict no nonsense type disposition. He understands the necessity of following orders and playing things careful and safe in order to protect the well being of all the goodbeasts that call it their home. There isn’t time for hesitation when lives are on the line or vermin at the door. Though this does make him somewhat impulsive and he will jump to conclusions or leap into a fray without thinking much of himself. He is incredibly loyal to those who he cares for, or have done something for him-he doesn't like the idea of having debts to anyone-and will put their wellbeing above his own in times of need.
However, when he's off the proverbial clock he is more than willing to let loose a little bit and have some fun. He likes to keep things light and avoid serious topics of conversation, unless strictly necessary. Like most other otters he has the similar kind of free-spirited energy and enthusiasm that drives them to enjoy life to the fullest. He does have some difficulty keeping things to himself, or keeping a secret, and will usually say whatever comes to mind without thinking much of it. So, unless someone is there to stop him from spilling secrets it's best just to not tell him things that the whole Abbey shouldn't know.
Part of the reason Zaris is so willing to leap into the fray is sheer stubbornness and, what he considers, serious physical resilience. This has lead to a number of scars, but he always thinks of it as "better himself than someone else." When he gets his mind set on something it's very difficult to change it without good reason. He sees himself as a protector and will blame himself if someone gets hurt when he could have done something to prevent it.
- Protection: Protect those who cannot protect themselves and prevent something bad from happening, again.
- Find purpose and his tribe: With the loss of his tribe it has been difficult for Zaris to find his way in the world. Working at the Abbey has given him something to do, but he feels like there's more that he could be doing. He also wants to find the remnants of his tribe to see if his father is still alive.
- Prove himself: He feels partially responsible for the death of many of the members of his tribe at the hands of a vermin hoard and wants to prove to himself, and the members of his tribe if they remain, that he is deserving of his name and blade.
- Vengeance: Find the stoat that killed his mother.
Zaris was born to a tribe of river otters in the north of Mossflower Woods along the stream that runs down towards Redwall Abbey. The tribe wasn't massive in comparison to some in history, but still had a fair number of members. Enough to be well enough protected from most anything that would threaten them. His father, the Skipper of their tribe, was incredibly pleased to have a son and immediately began to dote on him far more than anyone else would have expected of the somewhat stern leader of their tribe. His mother was just as competent of a warrior in their tribe as his father and couldn't wait until her son would be able to begin to learn how to fight and the intricacies of the tribe.
Once he got old enough Zaris began to learn how to fight from both of his parents using the swords that his tribe was known for as well as slings. He took fairly quickly to the practice, but found difficulty in the fact that he never wanted to potentially hurt anyone, and his father was always somewhat exasperated by his unwillingness to really get into it. Despite being told stories from when he was very young about the vermin that will attack them without thought he still struggled with it.
This hesitancy changed rather quickly when a band of vermin from the North Hills traipsed into Mossflower with the intention of attacking the goodbeasts within, and likely trying to make their way to Redwall Abbey. The vermin ambushed their streamside home during the night and in the ensuing fight many of the members of his tribe were killed, including his mother who pushed him out of the way of a stoat's blade. He retrieved his mother's blade, as well as his own and joined in the fight with the rest of his tribe. He held his own for some time but the vermin were too numerous. He doesn't remember the rest of the battle as he was knocked unconscious.
When he awoke he was within the vermin's camp with a couple of the other younger members of his tribe. He wasn't sure of the further intentions of the vermin but he knew that they wouldn't be good. It took them some time, and no small amount of struggle against the vermin, but he and the others were able to break free of their bindings, take down their guards, and retrieve their weapons before the rest of the camp was alerted. It was an even more difficult fight, since there were so few of them, but they were able to fight their way out of the camp. He got separated from the other two during their flight through Mossflower Woods, but was able to make it back to the stream before he lost consciousness.
It was thanks to the goodbeasts at the Abbey that he didn't die in the stream and ever since he decided to stay at the Abbey and help them in order to pay off the debt he felt he had to them for saving his life.
Zaris serves the Abbey as a protector of sorts, though he wants to find the remnants of his tribe he feels an obligation to those who saved him. Until he feels he's paid his debt he wants to stay and help in whatever way he can. He would also admit a fondness for many of the beasts that are there.
His particular role is that of an Assistant Gatekeeper. He doesn't actually man the gate, but serves as a watchman to make sure that those who are unwelcome aren't permitted entry (and that sneaky dubbins don't get out). It's a job he takes very seriously, maybe a little too seriously at times, but his heart is in the right place.
- Joined swords-A pair of curved silver blades with a leather wrapped handles. One was given to him by his father when he first began to learn how to fight and the other from his mother.
- Sling-A classic sling that is used by many of the otter tribes for throwing rocks
- Hip Pouch-A small pouch that he keeps his sling stones along with other odds and ends that he has found during his time in Mossflower Woods.
Several of the scars that he has are actually from his father as he refused to fight back for quite some time when he was being trained. He'll never admit this since many of the others are from his time imprisoned by the vermin band that attacked his tribe and protecting others.
Brother Rigby: Generally companionable once the mouse stopped asking probing questions. He's a nice distraction from the boredom that sometimes comes with watching the gate during a peaceful time.
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