Zhenyen the Foreign Spirit of the Planes, Flame of the Scarab

Role

Chapter 17

In the dark recesses of a forgotten
mine the shadows gathered.
A skeletal form beckoned. Offering
promises only the Father of darkness
himself could make.

To take up the Mantle of the Flame of
the Father and reopen the Temple.

----------------------------------

For long Zhenyen has sought a deeper
understanding into the minds of the
Gods, to see through their lies and
what their squabbles are truly about.

Seeking to understand the Cycle of
life, and the passage of souls. What is
so unique about this world that not
only traps Zhenyen here, but the mere
existence of the veil and the vast
differences in magic and how it is
wielded.

Neltoulda taught Zhenyen of the threads
of life, and how each man is tied
together. As time has passed Zhenyen
has noticed a common fiber, this fiber
leads back to the core of man. His
desires, his will.

Over the course of his research into
the Cult of the Scarab he discovered
they too understand this fiber. Giving
praise to the Father of Devils, the
father of the Pure. His writings say it
is his gift to man. To see to their
own desires, and through the lies the
gods of the light have spread through
the land.

In an instant he understood what made
this world so different from his own in
one way. The gods of light have
sheltered the weak and given others
justification to spare them. The

Ccul'gra sense great power in this
Thera and that its inhabitants are not
only too weak to sieze it, but too weak
to defend it as well.

It is clear now that he must lay down
the gifts of the Ccul'gra, and complete
the final acts to seal the well and
secure the lock.

He will take up a purpose he had
overlooked. The cleansing of the
Profane is necessary if secrets of
Thera are to be unlocked without
comprise.

Perhaps even destroying the last
remnants of the Scions knowledge.
Intending to prevent any other
misguided scholars from rediscovering
the ancient lies of the Ccul'gra.

Role

Chapter 6

Zhenyen has chosen to follow the teachings of Neltouda and to become one of
her crew.

What does this mean?
| Zhenyen has found peace in being on Thera, no longer does he strive
simply to escape this backwater plane, but to instead has vowed to explore
this plane, examine the inhabitants within, and all of their wonderful
secrets.

| As a result of this Zhenyen has given his artificers hammer to the
Captain. Both for safe keeping, and as a form of release. That was the last
thing holding him to his world of origination. Without it he feels a great
burden has been lifted.

| For the Scions. Zhenyen intended to use them to teach him how to
survive and escape to the outer planes again so that he might return home.
Now he does not know if that holds as much value to him as it once did.
| So instead he has turned his sights to understanding the planes
themselves. Their intricacies and folds will reveal their secrets to him. He
would hope to reveal how the threads of life connect us, and the planes
themselves.

| Should he survive long enough to say with some certainty how the planes
are shaped, and how the strings interconnect. Perhaps then he will stride
into the outer planes and see what secrets and treasures lay undiscovered
there.

Role

Chapter 7

Other details about Zhenyen.
Vzon
He -really- doesn't like Vzon. He has begun to suspect that the little
creature is a cruel doppelganger created by the Dark-elves of Thera to either
discredit Zhenyen or destroy his reputation.

Without hesitation, Zhenyen will move to destroy this creature.

Fiondra
At first Zhenyen also cared very little for this dark-elf, though as time has
passed he has found his outright hatred of her has turned into something more
like grudging admiration.

Heralds
He takes a great deal of interest in the Heralds of Inn, finding their tales
and explorations most intriguing. Though he doesn't understand why they do
not find some sort of agreement between those parties that are interested in
the secrets, and those who would have them.

Empire
We haven't had much luck in learning too much about the Empire. Too Zhenyen
it seems much like the Grand Council. Grasping at which they do not
understand, and cannot control.

He was recently tasked by Neltouda to link the tenants of her teachings with
his own life.

Storms
Music
Spirit

Though he has given it little thought until recently. He finds this an
intriguing question, as in his opinion is some way or another all things are
linked. Just how, and why.

Role

Chapter 8

A few journal entries of note.

| .. I take great pleasure in finding that Vzon and Fiondra have found
the rigors of the Chasm too great for themselves. It was a great pain to
consider myself an associate to those two members of a poor imitation of a
Ybenin-Tra. (What his race knows themselves as)
| Now only Ragloghlin remains, though not as offensive as the other two,
he must be shaped. Between his somewhat passive nature, and lack of self
confidence it is apparent I must nurture this one.

***Skipping several boring other notes about how to go about building
Ragloghlin and filling the void left by Therans dark-elves improper schooling
and training. You find another interesting entry.***

| .I spoke with the Captain again recently, and something is
becoming increasingly apparent. This humanoid seems to know many, many
secrets of Thera, yet takes interest in a lesser being such as myself and my
discovery of these seemingly insignificant but usually fascinating secrets.

| I propose that the Captain does not intend to have me teach her the
unknowns for I suspect there are few to her, but that she seeks to teach
her mates, deckhands and stowaways as she calls us to become self
sufficient, it is not simply enough that they make these mundane discoveries.
It is their interactions with each other, this interplay between mortals and
the world around them is something she seeks to spur.

| She had me attempt to define the sort of music I create, at first I
thought she was referring to the sounds of battle, and death for
obviously she could not refer to the idle turning of creased and musty pages.

| Instead I suspect she refers to all manner of my goings on in Thera.
My interactions with those
who would oppose my goals, those who would aid them, and yet those
uninvolved. Expanding both myself and everything I touch in Thera.

| Though I put my thoughts to words I have not yet discussed this with
the Captain. I believe on could describe my music as the fierce and seemingly
catastrophic storm. To the untrained eye only chaos follows in my wake. In
reality I shift the balance at which I touch, breaking the ingrained so that
new things may flourish. The seemingly mindless and chaotic destruction are
actually the results of a carefully thought and planned path, only apparent
to those who see more than simple raw power of the storm.

Role

Chapter 9

The shape of the planes, a work by Zhenyen.

Based on my studies and information gathered outside this world I have
attempted to refine existing information so that further studies can be
fruitfully made into our extra-planar studies.

shall note that the assumptions that all the planes themselves are upon a
fixed axis is incorrect, their path might be set into a predictable dance
but the various planes do not sit upon Thera's cardinal directions.

The prime plane envision this plane much like a globe. With various
planar bodies such as Thera, or my own home world floating about in this
strange darkness.

The inner planes This plane seems to not be separated pockets but a
integrated fabric that as a whole makes up the prime plane, the inner planes
appear to be folded into our very space.

The outer planes The shape of this plane is a little more curious it
seems to envelop the prime plane almost a sphere within a sphere. I have not
yet been able to discover exactly how these planes coexist. Though evidence
suggest that the location of the Shadow and other planes is fixed though
not in relation to Thera but the prime plane itself.

Hypothesis I propose that it may be possible to find a specific date on
the Theran Calendar when our powers will be their strongest (And we are
physically closest to the Shadow plane), allowing for rituals not normally
obtainable without as great of a sacrifice on our part.

Role

Chapter 10

.. the planes of the spirit..
| Unlike the other planes I have studied this plane seems to spread
through all of the upper and lower planes. Interweaving and interacting with
each in its own nebulous way.

| It is said that these planes consist of little but wandering souls
and other life forms that feed or live within their energies.

What I have discovered.

Creatures
Psychic Vampires - It is a curiosity to me as to what these creatures feed
upon, certainly they are known to Thera by conjurers who have unwittingly
invited them into this plane. What are these creatures doing with the rest of
their time?

Lost Souls - Souls of the damned? Souls cursed by the gods? Are these the
souls that come from the prime plane? Or are these the fragments of what
powers the denizens of the inner and outer planes?
More research will be required - including attempting to call upon these
creatures for observation.

Role

Chapter 11

Other information and speculations

| A human named Haphellna has told of a goddess known as Amaranthe -
this shapeshifter postulates that Amaranthe is going into the plane of the
spirit and acquiring the souls of those she favors and returning them to
Thera. She then goes on to claim that the Ccul'Gra are calling for her to
bring the cycle to its end and go beyond "The altar of the Moon" (Perhaps
this is what the Captain refers to?)

Analyzation:
| Amaranthe - A goddess of the cycle, it is in her interest to see the
cycle continued. Though I do not understand why should would wish to pluck
the souls from the ether and return them. Perhaps she either lies and does
not actually hold true to nature but is creating it by forcing these souls to
return here instead of traveling across the prime plane (potentially why not
only was my world less populous, but also why there are so few if any
documented events of extra-planar travelers like myself)

| The souls returning - What motivation is there? Do these souls
somehow impart something to Thera? Perhaps to Amaranthe herself... this may
be a large key in the puzzle.

| The Ccul'Gra calling for an end of the cycle What would
Amaranthes cycle have to do with the Ccul'Gra? That would be the second
indication of the Ccul'Gra's true desire perhaps?

| The Altar of the Moon - Haphellna stated that she had heard the call
of the Raven (Apparently a creature said to travel into the spirital plane
and guides them to their next destination in the cycle) whom she equates with
the Ccul'Gra, and that no mortal has gone beyond that Altar. Why would the
spirits be traveling to then what is assumed to be the planes of the Shadow?

| Neltouda spoke of traveling to the moon, initially I was uncertain
what she referred to, had she traveled to the moon in this boat? Transported
herself there magically? No.. infact she traveled to the moon the same as any
mortal, with the failing of her mortal shell.
| Her own writings mention that she was returned by the spirit of
nature itself (Amaranthe?) and Neltouda has mentioned that the one known as
Zurcon played some part in this return.

It is clear to me that these things all tie together but how?

Role

Chapter 12

| Studies continue into the planar alignment. It has been stated that
the heavens follow a fixed path which is what I will discover. I imagine this
will take many years of study unless I make strides in the degree of
acceleration and map the paths of the other constellations and their own
interactions with shadow planes. Further more this evidence will support my
supposition that we can not only predict the shadow planes next location, but
that the prime and shadow are not fully integrated with each other with the
planes of the shadow following the outer reaches of the prime planes.

What this means for our efforts, I can only speculate.

It is time I found out what it is the Chancellor and Advisor think they do.

Role

Chapter 13

| ..that makes the fourth Herald by my documentation. I am not terribly
pleased with the results of that last nightgaunt. It seems primitive of me to
sacrifice someone who cares for one of the most precious if aging resources
of Theran knowledge.
| I am reminded he is a bartender and therefor of less importance.
Still, I shall have to make some effort to kill them less often.

| in Vzon and Fiondra's falling I thought I would finally find peace
from the idiocy of my Theran relatives. Raglohlin is tolerable if sometimes
painfully dense, yet this newest one is another story. I have yet to find her
presence intolerable though I actively take effort to remove myself from
her companionship.

Role

Chapter 14

The current state of Scion.
| Zhenyen is both pleased and displeased. As he feels the progress he was
making has slowed to a halt. Though he is pleased to see his scions and their
work flourishing.

The direction of Scion.
| He would see a new Advisor appointed though he is uncertain as to who
he would even select in the pretext of not one to control. But one worthy of
giving him advice.

| He intends to learn more of the Ccul'gra and perhaps learn to enhance
the Pex'nta that now aids him by crossing into the border of the shadows.
Perhaps even granting new powers to potential warriors who would join their
goals in the shadows.

The direction of Zhenyen.
| His goal has formed further. Now somewhat satisfied with his
explorations of Thera itself. He seeks to look into the extra-planar crevices
of this fascinating world. To see the depths of the inferno, to peer into the
depths of the shadow plane. To see either in its native plane would be a
great stride in the end goal of his work.

| Though he suspects his flesh will crumble before his works are
complete, Zhenyen hopes to find the magic to survive the travel beyond the
altar of darkness. To extract the secrets of the shadow and extend himself
into a form of unbound but intact non-living force. His underlying efforts
within the chasm will continue to steer in this personal direction. Knowing
full well the Ccul'gra themselves cannot be trusted to keep the full breadth
of their bargain.

| The name Avello fascinates Zhenyen, though he seeks a conjurer more
inline with his infernal tastes. No names have ever been discovered, though
it seems impossible to him that no such conjurer has existed.

| In his goal to move beyond the altar of the moon and survive. Zhenyen
hopes to ultimately learn more about Amaranthe herself. Though her servants
he unsurprisingly finds rather unforthcoming.
He is unsure if even she would speak to him. Perhaps he should seek out the
old Crone that is said to lurk at her Altar.

Role

Chapter 15

| Fortress:Zhenyen has seen the rise and fall of too many now he suspects
to bother keeping track. Though he is pleased to see the fall of Oshui. He is
unhappy that he did not get to kill him one final time. He does rather miss
speaking with Andira. Though sometimes he doubts she returns the feeling
these days.

| Battle: Arratok's movement into the heavens does surprise him in
someways, in others he somehow expected it. It will mean the decline of the
village for now. Perhaps though this will allow further chance for the so
called spy to gain a foothold.

| Empire: Kralnidor's efforts somewhat disturb Zhenyen. As he patiently
waits for the Emperor to make his move. He continues to attempt to manipulate
the goings on of the council as best as he can. Hopefully disposing of the
Shadow Lord in time.

| Nexus: they have more or less learned that to fool with Zhenyens plans
without his invitation is to invite death. Which is the way Zhenyen likes it.

| The Troupe: Zhenyen continues to bully the scholars with unspoken
threats, though he has not followed through on one in a long time.

| The Outlanders: Zhenyen despises insects, and hates Nyst. However
clever the creature may be, he is a nuisance in Zhenyen's eyes. - To which
point he occasionally wonders what it would take to teach the Pex'nta to see
into those hidden in the leaves.

| Orcs: Zhenyen previously thought little of orcs. Though with time he's
come to find them quite useful. If not completely untrustworthy. It is
unlikely he would turn his back on the current chieftain Yegtheg. However
useful he may appear.

Role

Chapter 16

Scribbled on a scrap of paper trapped
in an extradimensional pocket you find
a few curious notes in a handwriting
that could only belong to the sorcerer
Zhenyen.

- Ortus keeps talking about a
sacrifice, a necromancer and a ritual.

- .. also mentions that the Portal will
control absolute egress into Thera.
What does this mean for the Scions?

- We are missing the last lock, perhaps
we will construct it. Ortus refers to
the last necromancer as a applicable
option in our endevour. Groakus may not
survive, but we must complete the lock.

- The Imp indicates it has no interest
in our direct goings on, only that they
have interesting results. Typical,
though reassuring knowing he is not
directly meddling in our affairs, at
least not openly.

- So I have been offered an opportunity
to prove worthy of the title of the
Flame of the Father. Long have I
considered the opportunities the Temple
might provide.

- ...an offer I have accepted. This
will convene perfectly with the
completion of my research. The Ccul'Gra
will no longer have access to our
plane, and I will spread destruction to
the Profane, who are unable to accept
the truth.

-I expect some of the Scholars to scorn
me. Though they never understood our
true purpose anyway. Ignorant of the
dangers the Ccul'gra represented and
the lies they proffered in exchange for
fractions of their power.

-In light of reading the Fathers words
in detail, it has become clearer now as
to why the Empire bothers me so.
Submitting to the will of others,
forestalling their own. They too I
understand must be purified.

Immortal Comments

Role

Chapter 5

Where is Zheynen from?

| In a distant plane there is a land largely left unknown to the gods,
shielded from prying eyes by its relative closeness to the magical plane. A
race not unlike dark-elves inhabits the world, who see themselves as the only
intelligent race. Though its not impossible that other intelligent races had
occurred there, they have just done a excellent job of removing any
trace of them.

| A world built upon artificers dreams, they have built and continue to
build wonders to rival even the greatest of godly minds. So close to
unfettered and raw power, they find many magical devices that are by many
means the tools of gods themselves. Planeshifting is normal, spells of great
defensive power are woven into nearly everything used and worn.

| They have only recently really begun to explore the worlds around
them, planeshifting is still a great journey into the unknown. But the
endless hunger for knew and potent knowledge drives them from their world and
out into the planes.
What is he like?

| He is a humorless creature, rare to smile, rarer to laugh at
something normal, though occasionally he will find humor in things that are
either unfunny or just awkward.. His race, not unlike the dark-elves of
Thera, are naturally cruel and malicious, Zheynen is no exception. He is
constantly calculating the uses of those he comes across, trying to decide if
it is worth leveraging his position and knowledge to gain their trust and
aid.

| Vicious when cornered, or forced into a situation. He holds
allegiance to few, but could prove a reliable ally in the right
circumstances.

| His speech is sometimes difficult to follow, both due to his wander
thoughts and due to his sometimes limited grasp for Theran centric words or
expressions.

What are some of his goals.

| Well it is obvious to him that his power here is quite limited, even
though he suspects those he will be able to conjure from the outer planes
will hold more power than he here. It is clear that if he can find a way to
penetrate the veil he could rebuild certain artifacts and likely take over
this world with minimal effort.

| For now he strives to explore Thera, and understand what the veil
ties to and understand its denizen and their respective places. Though it is
becoming clearer now that only a small subset of individuals seem to have the
care to know, and the power to use the knowledge he seeks.

| He strives to understand this phenomena of Immortals, as they are not
known creatures in his world. He suspects that they may hold the keys to how
to break or circumvent the Veil for a time. They may too hold interesting
knowledge that the mortals of Thera may lack.

Role

Chapter 4

| Zheynen spent weeks in the library, surviving on the remnants of his
magical food and water emergency supplies, he absorbed as much as he could
find on the local goings on. Learning about the varied forms of technology
and magic that he found discernibly documented. He quickly came to one
conclusion, if he wanted to learn more he would have to learn how to survive
in this dangerous world.

| Noting a large number of works seem to come from either two schools
as they call them, those of great prestige in the guild known as necromancy
and those of the guild of conjuration. He found the guild of conjuration most
exciting, it was this worlds early dabblings into what his kind know as
Advanced Planar Travel Theory and Dynamics.

| Exciting he carefully sold off each of his remaining artifacts,
either expending their remaining charges or verifying that nothing remained
of their intended properties.

| He quickly found that though he understood the languages he'd been
initially exposed to his earpiece quickly became useless, seeming unable to
draw more magic from the world. Despite Zheynan now knowing magic did in fact
exist in the world he needed the money to join the guild of conjuration. So
he sold both his adaptive pieces, learning the written and spoken languages
was an easy task. The same applied to the monocle that allowed him to so
quickly absorb the libraries works, he found the more he used it the harder
it became to make out text.

| The one piece he did keep however, did not work either. A simple
crystalline hammer, its length no more than a inch and a half and its
thickness barely half an inch at the head. Hung on a simple silver chain it
seemed to dangle with great weight upon his neck. When held it is supposed to
return to its normal size at the correct phrase, but Zheynan had already
found that magic too was weak to trigger the transformation. Though he could
not bare to depart with what could potentially prove to be a irreplaceable
tool.

Role

Chapter 3

| A storm brewed off in the distance over the broiling sands. Zheynen
knew nothing of the world he was in. Though surely the thunderstorm meant
there was water, and possibly life somewhere.

| This freak occurrence likely saved his life. As rare is it to see a
thunderstorm in the desert, rarer still that it sit so perfectly on the edge
of the desert. Leading Zheynen to safety rather than allowing him to
endlessly wander the desert till his supplies dwindled.

|When he first passed into the gates of Hamsah, he was stunned by the
primitiveness of everything. In turn he found himself faced with curious and
sometimes downright hostile stares. As he gawked his way through the city he
bumped into a small gnome who was attempting to peddle textiles in the middle
of the busy market street.

| Zheynen gawked at the little man for a moment, before fumbling with a
small loop that he placed upon his ear. At first, the gnomes confused face
only seemed to garble each word further, but with a second to focus he found
the creatures words a understandable if not jumbled.

| With the aid of at least one still working device Zheynan managed to
haggle his way into some clothing by trading a few shiny, if not now
completely worthless artifacts.

| Rid of his outlandish garb he set out through the city before finding
himself in the library of Hamsah Mutaaz. Fortune was smiling upon him admist
the poor luck he'd had so far, both of the translational pieces created for
just such emergencies were effectively doing their jobs. Even if nothing else
worked he would be able to adapt.

Role

Chapter 2

Written in a strange dialect unseen on Thera before, reads as follows,

| This is Zheynen, if you are reading this. It is because you have
received the ships distress beacon. I have scoured the lengths of the ship
and appear to be the only survivor. The main drive is largely damaged, but I
have taken the time to dismantle key components to insure that no locals can
replicate it if discovered.

| I have left the safety of the ship as at least four weeks have passed
since we have crashed here. It is clear that to survive I must leave the
wreckage behind and take advantage of the coming storm.

A single mark is at the bottom, clearly some sort of signature.
A tilted trident of sorts, with a curling and pointed end.

Role

Chapter 1

| A shudder rumbled through Zheynen's bunk jolting him awake. They had
been in planeshift for many hours yet, traversing the planes to a unknown
destination. Perhaps they had finally found somewhere hospitable to explore
he thought, scrambling from his bunk. Landing on the deck he momentarily
found his balance before finding his feet swept out from beneath him in a
awkward swaying motion. Struggling to regain his balance he barely had time
to grasp his safety charm before everything went dark a moment then exploded
in a flurry of color and sound.
| Awakening to the taste of stale air and body sweat Zheynen felt a
deal of fear. Knowing the full risks of his travels, the world he was in
could very well be completely unsurvivable. Breaking the orbs magic may very
well lead to his final and painful breaths. Concentrating a moment he took a
quick few breaths, and released the orbs magical field.
| Though he noted briefly that the orb immediately blinked out, turning
to a dead marble gray. He was immediately assaulted by the acrid smell of
smoke and a wave of intense heat. He needed to leave, not wonder why the
protective orb failed.
| Gathering a few artifacts he felt might aid his survival, he grabbed
a hold of his scepter of transportation, finding not that he was transported
granting only the faint tingle of its power slipping from his grasp as it was
called upon.
| This is no time to panic he thought, grabbing the sheet from his bed
he wrapped his head and began to crawl into the main passage from his bunk
room. Fortune seemed to have smiled upon him, not only was his bunk room very
near a large gaping hole and a jutting rock, but it seemed from his short
journey that only he had prepared himself for the impact in time.
| Free from the burning heat and cloying smoke Zheynan stumbled into
the sun and landed face first into the hot, dry and constantly churning Sands
of Sorrow.

Immortal Comments

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