Overview
Anshar is a long-lived fire and cosmic mage, a son of Ozaith, Zain's older brother, and a former member of Ulzathir's council. He leaves Ulzathir with Thea after Zain kills Alistair Koss and takes Ozaith's throne. He avoids bloodshed by flying to Thalassai, where he negotiates with its government. In Thalassai, he advises Cassian, trains mages, assists Chronasis, and works in the field.
Abilities and Knowledge
Anshar is a strong fire and cosmic mage. He raises cosmic barriers quickly enough to protect groups from sudden high-level clashes and expands them into large defensive walls. His extreme heat destabilizes Varnhallow's temporal barriers, and he fights beside Zhang against Eliona after Varnhallow collapses.
Anshar also knows Ulzathir, eastern Valrindor, Ozaith's history, and the surrounding nations in detail. He produces maps that update Thalassai's understanding of eastern Valrindor, assists Chronasis, trains Cassian, and later guides Jin and Aelius as they recover their magic.
History
After Ozaith's death, Anshar feels his divine bond to his father wane, informs the council, and warns Zain that the council is already scheming. He and Thea enter the council chamber behind Zain as Alistair sits on Ozaith's throne; Zain kills Alistair, takes the throne, and uses Ozaith's name to make himself Ulzathir's leader.
Anshar and Thea secretly leave Ulzathir on an aethership under cover of diplomacy. In Thalassai, Anshar briefs Cassian and Thalena on Zain's takeover, Alistair's place in the Thalassai Invasion, Ulzathir's internal politics, Maia's status as Ozaryn, and the danger around Varnhallow. Cassian offers sanctuary for Anshar's close family if Ulzathir falls further out of control, and Anshar agrees to advise Thalassai.
After a timerift attack tears through Stella Aeterna, Anshar joins the Varnhallow investigation with Deylin, Virel, Felix, Vianna, Maia, Lysander, and Zhang. Inside the unstable temporal space, he uses extreme heat against temporal barriers, protects the group, searches for Thea, and escapes as Varnhallow collapses. Thea chooses to remain with Thalion in the past, while Anshar returns to the present with the Varnhallow outcome for Haverloch and Thalassai.
After Varnhallow collapses, Cassian welcomes Anshar into Stella Aeterna. Anshar assists in Chronasis during the response to Zain's false Ozaith mark and regularly advises Cassian and Thalassai after Zain and Thalena disappear. During the Thalassai takeover of Solvarria, Anshar openly sides with Thalassai and leads Hadrian's strike force as it takes Solvarria by surprise and advances toward Sol.
Relationships
- Family: Son of Ozaith, older brother of Zain, and brother of Thea. He has a wife, children, and grandchildren in Khaladun when he discusses his family with Aldar.
- Allies: Cassian, Thalena, Aldar, Hadrian, Deylin, Ilyra, Jin, Aelius, Virel, Zhang, Lysander, Felix, and Thalassai.
- Opposition: Zain's regime becomes his main political enemy after Anshar sides with Thalassai. He also fights Eliona during the Varnhallow aftermath.