Zain is a son of Ozaith and the new ruler of Ulzathir. He commanded Ulzathir's fleet during the invasion of Thalassai, returning to Ishtanûr with about half his ships and many friends dead.
Appearance and Magic
Zain has cosmic-blue hair and wears black robes threaded with shimmering silver cosmic trails. He uses aether magic for flight and cosmic magic for powerful beams.
History
Returning to the Council Citadel, Zain found Alistair Koss sitting on Ozaith's throne. Alistair described the war's deaths as expected, provoking Zain to behead him with a cosmic beam. Zain briefly became trapped in darkness before the chamber returned and red sparks crossed Alistair's severed head.
Zain then took the throne, falsely announcing that Ozaith was alive and had chosen him to lead Ulzathir.
Relationships
Zain is a son of Ozaith and ruler of Ulzathir, governing from Ishtanûr. He took the throne after commanding Ulzathir's forces in the invasion of Thalassai.
Appearance and Magic
Zain has cosmic-blue hair and wears black robes threaded with shimmering silver cosmic trails. He uses aether magic for flight and cosmic magic for powerful beams.
History
Although Zain was considered stronger than Maia, Ozaith chose her as his wielder, with Alistair Koss influencing the selection. Zain instead commanded Ulzathir's fleet during the invasion of Thalassai. He returned with about half his ships and many friends dead, questioning the supposed victory and the decisions that had led to it.
Back in Ishtanûr, he found Alistair sitting on Ozaith's throne. When Alistair described the deaths in the war as expected, Zain beheaded him with a cosmic beam. For a moment, Zain became trapped in darkness before the chamber returned and red sparks crossed Alistair's severed head. Zain took the throne himself, falsely announcing that Ozaith was alive and had chosen him to lead Ulzathir.
His takeover prompted Anshar and Thea to leave. Anshar sought to prevent a civil war with his brother and opened negotiations with Thalassai. Maia considered Zain ambitious, but hoped he might improve life in Ulzathir.
Relationships
Zain is a son of Ozaith and ruler of Ulzathir, governing from Ishtanûr. After commanding Ulzathir's forces in the invasion of Thalassai, he seized his father's throne and became the wielder of Khauren.
Appearance and Personality
Zain has cosmic-blue hair and wears black robes threaded with shimmering silver cosmic trails. Ambitious and proud, he wants Ulzathir to grow stronger through technology as well as magic. He also cares about his people's prosperity, distributing treasury wealth and trying to limit civilian deaths during his conquests.
Magic
He uses aether and cosmic magic for flight, barriers and beams. His pact with Khauren gave him fire magic, which he displays in sweeping blue flames.
History
Although Zain was considered stronger than Maia, Ozaith chose her as his wielder, with Alistair Koss influencing the selection. Zain instead commanded Ulzathir's fleet during the invasion of Thalassai, returning with about half his ships and many friends dead.
Back in Ishtanûr, he found Alistair sitting on Ozaith's throne. When Alistair described the deaths in the war as expected, Zain beheaded him with a cosmic beam. For a moment, Zain became trapped in darkness before the chamber returned and red sparks crossed Alistair's severed head. Zain took the throne himself, falsely announcing that Ozaith was alive and had chosen him to lead Ulzathir.
Zain rebuilt the army and encouraged Ishqari's research into engines and other technology, rejecting Ozaith's reliance on magic and artifacts. With Solvarrian separatists and Archibald providing a base in Lumenbury, he invaded Solvarria. Its capital's shields held for months until Ulzathir attacked Redcliffe to cut its essence supply. When the nation fell, Zain installed Archibald as ruler and returned home.
At an Ozaith temple, an unfamiliar god offered him strength in exchange for followers. Zain accepted, received a flame shard and concealed the god's identity. He publicly presented his new powers as proof that Ozaith had returned; the god subsequently named himself Khauren. Shortly afterward, Raphael arrived with a proposal for Ulzathir.
Relationships
- Anshar and Thea: His siblings left Ulzathir, with Anshar seeking to avoid a civil war with his brother. Zain later wished for his older brother's guidance.
- Khezriya and Ishqari: They support his rule, overseeing military affairs and research.
- Khauren: Zain believes that the god's dependence on followers gives him authority over their pact.
Zain was a son of Ozaith and ruler of Ulzathir, governing from Ishtanûr. After commanding Ulzathir's forces in the invasion of Thalassai, he seized his father's throne and became the wielder of Khauren. He died during the battle for Ishtanûr, when Khauren took his body and Cassian destroyed it.
Appearance
Zain had cosmic-blue hair and wore black robes threaded with shimmering silver cosmic trails. His eyes burned like embers when he formed his pact with Khauren.
Personality
Ambitious and proud, Zain wanted Ulzathir to become stronger through technology as well as magic. He resented being passed over for Maia and blamed Alistair Koss for the disastrous invasion. He also cared about his people's prosperity, distributed treasury wealth and initially tried to limit civilian deaths during his conquests. As his position deteriorated, his determination to retain power outweighed those restraints.
Magic
Zain used aether and cosmic magic, manipulating gravity for flight, restraint and powerful attacks. He could pin several strong mages beneath a gravity wave, project cosmic barriers and beams, and call down meteors. His aether magic also let him hold his shattered body together long enough to escape after a defeat.
His pact with Khauren gave him fire magic, which he combined with his existing schools in sweeping blue flames and bombardments. The god's power came with a dangerous condition: when Zain exhausted his essence, Khauren could take control of his body. The red lines and destructive origin magic unleashed during these possessions belonged to Khauren.
History
The Thalassai invasion and takeover
Although Zain was considered stronger than Maia, Ozaith chose her as his wielder, with Alistair influencing the selection. Zain instead commanded Ulzathir's fleet during the invasion of Thalassai. He returned with about half his ships and many friends dead, questioning the supposed victory and the decisions that had led to it.
Back in Ishtanûr, he found Alistair sitting on Ozaith's throne. When Alistair described the deaths in the war as expected, Zain beheaded him with a cosmic beam. For a moment, Zain became trapped in darkness before the chamber returned and red sparks crossed Alistair's severed head. Zain then took the throne himself, falsely announcing that Ozaith was alive and had chosen him to lead Ulzathir. Anshar and Thea left, with Anshar seeking to avoid a civil war with his brother.
Solvarria and Khauren
Zain rebuilt the army and encouraged Ishqari's research into engines and other technology, rejecting Ozaith's reliance on magic and artifacts. Solvarrian separatists offered him an opportunity to expand. With Archibald providing a base in Lumenbury, he invaded Solvarria, initially ordering his troops to avoid excessive violence and damage to the land.
The capital's shields held for months. Ulzathir attacked Redcliffe to cut Sol's essence supply, while its researchers adopted Solvarrian technology. When the nation fell, Zain installed Archibald as ruler and returned home.
At an Ozaith temple, an unfamiliar god offered him strength in exchange for followers. Zain accepted, received a flame shard and concealed the god's identity. He publicly presented his new powers as proof that Ozaith had returned; the god subsequently named himself Khauren.
Alliance and defeat at Rimvold
Raphael offered Malverand technology in return for an attack on Rimvold, and Gabriel began working with Ishqari. Zain accepted the bargain despite Khauren's warnings about their power. He also persuaded Zhulkar, an old friend and sparring partner, to help prepare the army.
After occupying Rimvold, Zain remained there at Gabriel's insistence to await the Order. He sent Zhulkar and Khezriya back to defend Ishtanûr. When the opposing army arrived, Zayren, Remus and Lythariel overwhelmed him. With his essence exhausted and his body crushed, Khauren took control, injured his attackers and escaped. Khezriya spent days restoring Zain afterward.
Return to Thalassai and death
During his absence, Thalassai's forces had taken Solvarria. Zain led a counterattack on Thalassai to draw them home and let Archibald recover the occupied nation. Abraxas defeated him above the sea, forcing him to flee with broken bones. Meanwhile, Qadir detonated Gabriel's crystal in Pyrenis, devastating the city and prompting Hadrian and Anshar to retreat from Solvarria.
When the allied armies advanced on Ishtanûr, Zain confronted them with fire and cosmic attacks. Zayren formed a singularity, but Zain removed gravity around the fighters on both sides, pulling them toward it and forcing Zayren to release the spell. The resulting explosion injured Zain and destroyed much of eastern Ishtanûr.
Zain fled west, still hoping to reach his allies. He pinned Cassian and the pursuing mages under another gravity wave, but a beam maimed him, severing his left hand and leg. Unable to resist, he felt Khauren invade his mind; his last memory was of Ozaith choosing Maia over him. Alistair, disguised as Aldar, fought the possessing god. Cassian then severed Khauren's connections to the God Realm, seized the shard palm and unmade him, completely erasing Zain's body.
Relationships
- Ozaith and Maia: Zain regarded his father more favorably than Thea did, but believed he should have been chosen as wielder. Being passed over remained a defining grievance.
- Anshar: His older brother left to prevent a struggle for the throne. Zain later wished for his guidance, then saw his service to Thalassai as betrayal and ultimately intended to kill him.
- Khezriya and Ishqari: His sisters supported his rule, overseeing military affairs and research. Khezriya restored him after his defeats, while Ishqari worked with Gabriel.
- Zhulkar: His brother, friend and former dueling partner. Zain valued his strength and trusted him to protect the capital.
- Khauren: Zain initially believed the god's dependence on followers would keep him subordinate. Instead, the pact exposed him to possession and cost him control of his body.