Zihark. Two thirds inquisitive child, one third selfless philanthropist, began his life as a strider in service of Kalethai, Alynna's sister. She didn't want a meat shield like Alynna, no. She just wanted a yes-man and a pack mule to carry all her clothes. Someone that wouldn't disobey orders. Zihark just wanted to be useful.
Gransys was a neverending parade of eye-opening experiences for him. Wolves hated fire. A hobgoblin is much stronger than a common goblin. He loved learning these interesting tidbits, and would often share his knowledge with those that travelled with him, to the extent that most people would quickly become weary of his constant chatter.
He didn't mind being Kalethai's servant, for lack of a better word. She wasn't a cruel master, although those on the outside looking in would have reason to believe she was. Zihark never got much of a say in his duties, and kept it to himself when he realized strider wasn't the job he was meant for. He'd watched his childhood friend, Castor, learn the basics of magic and thought it looked much more interesting that shooting silly arrows at things. Castor encouraged Zi to talk it over with Kalethai.
When he finally mustered up the courage to broach the subject to her, she said no. She told him that if he wanted to change vocations, he could become a fighter if he wished. Thinking it was better than no change at all, he agreed, and picked up a sword and shield. Kalethai told him he looked more "authentic" as a fighter, whatever the hell she meant by that was lost on him. He didn't feel authentic. In fact, he felt even further away from where he knew he belonged.
He didn't like the fighter vocation. For one thing, it forced him to be up close and personal with his targets. While the other pawns didn't have much trouble decimating the goblin population (or at least they hid their feelings well), Zihark felt horrible. These poor goblins were just sitting around their little campfire, minding their own business. What right did he and Kalethai have to just go in there and kill them all? It took several sessions in a knowledge chair to open his eyes to the fact that goblins were in fact the instigators most of the time - and did he not notice the human skulls they wore like trophies?
On a nighttime journey back to Gran Soren, the group was ambushed by undead. It was Zihark's first encounter with them. As the rest of the party cut down zombie after zombie, Zihark stood still, in total shock at what was happening. These were people. Just like his master, or they were, at one time. He couldn't raise a weapon to them. He watched, frozen, as one approached him, its arms open in what appeared to be desperation...
The undead soldier begged Zihark to help him, he didn't want to live like this anymore. Immortality was not the blast he'd anticipated, it was an empty existence. They were forced to live outside, shunned by the living. They had nothing and no one.
That moment would never be wiped away by a knowledge chair session. The undead weren't evil. They were just like him. Immortal, shunned by humanity, merely existing as a tool for something else - in their cases it was probably some master necromancer somewhere and not a woman with a shopping addiction, but they did have a lot in common in other areas.
This was when Zihark began to find his purpose. He tried to start up a foundation for the betterment of undead, but found that he wasn't going to get much help. A few of his pawn friends threw a few coins in his direction, but it was more out of concern for him than the undead. Kalethai grew concerned with Zihark's mental health - she obviously didn't share his views on undead - and offered him an opportunity to become a mage. Zihark knew she was only doing this to make him forget about his cause, but he took her offer.
Magic came naturally to Zihark. Kalethai, after much deliberation, allowed him to remain in magical vocations, his talent was undeniable. Like she always said, if the bliaut fits, wear it. And wear it he did.
He never forgot about the undead, though, and tried to come up with ways to make their lives easier. Or, he hoped, some way to break the spell cursing them and restore them to life. That was a toughie for an apprentice mage, so he focused on smaller goals. How would one make a zombie's life more enjoyable? All they do is eat and stand around waiting to eat. Maybe make them some nicer footwear?
He was still thinking about this when his master was called to investigate odd goings-on in the catacombs. Zihark didn't like it in there. It was bad enough that the undead were roaming the countryside, but here they were trapped underground, with rats and spiders. They had even less than those on the surface.
Knowing there was nothing he could do about it - at least not yet, Zihark tried to put their plight out of his mind, distracting himself by whistling an upbeat tune taught to him by Briana, a song called Into Free. As he and Kalethai were looking for the keys to the cult's chamber, he noticed a small group of undead watching him. They seemed intrigued, almost mesmerized by the sound he was making. They asked what it was, and wanted to hear more. Did it have lyrics? Ooh, could he sing for them?
Zihark, while not much of a singer in his early days, found that all his practicing with magical chants improved his singing voice. He sang a few songs for the gathered undead, but then Kalethai asked that he come with her to deal with Salvation. The undead pleaded for him to return afterward, but the "we'll see" they got from Kalethai didn't seem promising.
Zihark knew that was probably going to be the end of it, unless he could convince his master that there was something in it for her too. There was only one thing that she wanted that he knew of - money.
That was it. What use had the undead for money? The ancient coins they were buried with were certainly worth more than face value now, and he could put their money to use for them, something they couldn't do on their own. Kalethai would have to get a cut, but surely she wouldn't turn down money that she didn't have to lift a finger for.
Alynna footed the bill for Zihark's first concert in the Catacombs. She thought Zi's empathy for the undead was adorable and admirable, and she wouldn't let his dreams be crushed by her insensitive sister. Shinon thought it was a waste of money, and just about blew up once he realized Alynna gave Zihark some of his old clothes to wear on stage. But that's a story for another time.
The concert made thousands of gold in donations. It was made clear that most of the money donated would go toward helping the undead, a promise that Zihark made good on. Since he could do nothing to help with their condition, he could only help with making their lives more comfortable and enjoyable.
He began doing regular free concerts (donations welcome) in the Catacombs. The sheer amount of coins rolling in from these could keep him afloat for years. He began releasing recordings of his concerts, the proceeds from those going towards high-end coffins and burial suits/dresses for his fans. For some reason, his music never really caught on with the living, aside from a few pawns.
These days, Zihark is still looking for ways to help out his life-challenged buddies...
...but he's taken a sabbatical to focus on his sorcery, which he'd neglected in recent weeks. He received training from Castor on proper stance and posture, from Thomas on how to focus his power to break crates and vases, and from Seel on how to mentally sculpt gicels into amazing shapes.
His cousin Shinon refuses to acknowledge his successes and still treats him like a child. Zihark knows it's jealousy and loves to push Shinon's buttons, even if that means lowering himself to Shinon's level of immaturity.
He doesn't know the other pawns that well - he spent most of his time with zombies, and has forgotten how to interact with the living, especially strangers. For this reason, he tends to keep to those he already knows - Shinon and the sorcerers. If another pawn was to share a common interest, like Briana with Into Free, Zihark could have endless discussions on that subject, but little else. It takes a little while for Zi to come out of his shell, and it helps if the other pawn is a massive extrovert.
He and Kalethai have more or less come to an agreement over his duties. He now has a say in his vocation and his gear, but Kalethai has the final word on spells and skills. He also still has to carry her wardrobe, because she hasn't the strength, and she never knows when she'll need her big winter cape or her summery pareo. Important stuff.
I want to know more about Zi. Specifically, when and how did his musical career take off 
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) Welcome! 
Grants weal AND more gold. Booya! 
Ulee had a mad thing for Woolie. Great write up for Seel. *thumbsup*
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