Zephon

[Zephon]

Basic Information:
Name: Zephon
Full Name: Zephon, from the tents of Asawi, of the sons of Jaben
Race: Benshira
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Birthday: 28th day of Winter, 491 AV

Physical Description:
Zephon is with his 6.4 ft considered quite tall among his people, but otherwise his appearance marks him as a true Benshira. He has a dark tanned skin, ice-blue eyes and black hair with a small hint of redness. His face is triangularly shaped and he has full lips with an easy smile. The right incisor in his lower jaw is missing and his nose is slightly crooked. He’s fit and slightly muscular, weighing 174 lbs. He keeps his hair the length of around 2 inches and wears a trimmed beard. Despite his young age, his arm and chest hair is dark and thick.

History:
Zephon was born into a Tent of nomads as the third son of Asawi and Esira. He has two older brothers, Revid and Abeolam, and a younger sister called Sarahi, about whom it is said (mostly by their mother of course) that she will become the most beautiful woman in the world. Although nomadic life in the desert can be quite harsh, Zephon’s childhood was a joyous one: tending and guarding the herd of goats and desert cows with his father and brothers, exploring the hidden mysteries of the Eyktol desert, and celebrating the god Yahal with his extended family. Most of all, he enjoyed to sing. He and his brothers, one playing the lyre, the other the drums, would perform almost every night. Both family and visitors used to say that his voice truly was a gift of Yahal. Upon reaching adulthood, his voice changed and went from ‘gifted’ to ‘nice’. This didn’t stop Zephon from singing his heart out and praising his god. When he was 15, his father Asawi became the patriarch of the Tent.

Shortly after that, things began to change. A newborn goat unexpectedly died in the first week after its birth. Although its eyes had a strange shade of purple, nobody could determine how it had died. It was set aside as one of those things in life and people moved on. Unfortunately, this was only the beginning. A month later, another goat died with no discernible causes, apart from the same shade of purple in its eyes. And three months later yet another. And then another. And another. Then one of the desert cows died by what had become known as the ‘Purple Death’. Things went from bad to worse when a visitor to the Tent died of the same disease, quickly followed by an old widow. As years went by, both animals and people within Zephon’s Tent fell victim to the Purple Death and nobody could figure out why or how. The other people of the desert started to avoid the Tent and Zephon learned what it was like living as outcasts. He sang less frequent and more sober with each death, until he would finally sing no more.

Then one day, the Purple Death had claimed its next victim: an infant baby girl. This was the final straw for Zephon’s oldest brother Revid, who said: “Father. Mother. I can no longer stand aside while this Purple Death, whether disease or curse, keeps killing our people and herd. Yahal, who is great and good, has not answered our prayers, as if he has turned his eyes away from us in shame. I will go into the world to find a cure and will not return before I do.” While their father Asawi stood in silent pride and their mother Esira cried tears, Revid came over to his youngest brother and said: “Zephon, I give you my lute and hope you’ll keep it safe. Upon my return, I will teach you how to play it and together we will praise Yahal in song and music.” The lute wasn’t particularly impressive, but it became Zephon’s most prized possession, even though he didn’t know how to play it.

A year went by and more people and animals had died, but his brother had not returned. It was then that Abeolam, Zephon’s other brother, said: “Father. Mother. Revid has not returned, but this Purple Death, whether disease or curse, keeps killing our people and herd. Yahal, who is great and good, has not answered our prayers, as if he has turned his eyes away from us in shame. I will go into the world to find and cure and will not return before I do.” While their father Asawi stood in silent pride and their mother Esira cried tears, Abeolam came over to his younger brother and said: “Zephon, I ask you to do the thing our older brother asked me to do upon his departure. Look after our sister and make sure she is safe. Upon my return, we will praise Yahal in song and music.” Zephon took those words to heart and was never far away from his sister after that.

Almost a year went by and more people people and animals had died, but both his brothers had not returned. Zephon began preparing himself for his own journey to find a cure, but three days before he would announce his departure something happened that made him change his plans. On that faithful day, his sister Sarahi came running towards him. She was crying and shaking. Zephon felt his gut turning and feared the Purple Death had claimed one of his parents. It was actually worse.

“She’s killing them! Mother is killing them! By Yahal, she is the Purple Death!” For a moment Zephon couldn’t comprehend what his sister way saying. A new fear got hold of him. If what his sister was saying was true… He looked Sarahi in the eyes and knew she wasn’t lying. He asked her to show him and together they ran over to a small tent made of goat hair. Zephon tore of the flap of the tent and dashed inside. Their he saw his mother, softly chanting and holding a small vial of purple liquid. The exact color of the Purple Death. His mother was just about to put a few drops of the liquid on the eyes of a newborn child. Zephon let out an anguished cry of horror and sorrow.

Zephon can’t really recall what happened after that. How a Benshira, and especially his mother, could commit such heinous crimes for so long was beyond his mind to comprehend. He vaguely remembers other people crying and shouting, but that might have been his own voice as well. He vaguely remembers his sister holding his hand, but he might have been the one who had grabbed it. He vaguely remembers his father storming in and asking why, but it might have been himself who had asked the question. The only thing he fully remembers is his mother’s answer: “Sarahi! Sarahi is so beautiful! She’s a gift from Yahal and I had to protect her. People would have taken her away from me. I had to keep people away from us. Sarahi! I did it all for Sarahi!”

That night, his father took his mother into the desert. Sarahi asked Zephon if it was her fault. He answered her: “No, my sweet sister. Whatever mother did, remember that it never was and never will be your fault.” And he knew that it was the truth. For the first time in years, Zephon began to sing. It was a soft and sweet song, honoring Yahal and asking for guidance in a new path ahead. Sarahi and the rest of the Tent began singing as well. If anybody else had been around, he or she would say that it was one of the truest songs he or she had ever heard.

Father returned three days later. Alone.

Zephon said to his father: “Father. My brothers, Revid and Abeolam, are still looking for a cure for the Purple Death. Since its neither disease nor curse, they will never complete their quest. I will go into the world to find them and return them to you. Yahal, who is great and good, will guide my path.” His father cried silent tears and said: “Son, go into the world and find your brothers. But also remember that I want you to live your own dream. Go into the world and let Yahal guide you to a new destiny.” With that, Zephon gathered some belongings, including the lute that his brother had given him two years earlier, and took one of the camels. His final words were for his sister: “Sarahi, it’s up to you now to look after our father. Do this until one of our brothers return to you and then let Yahal guide you on your own path.”

Zephon climbed onto the camel and began his journey with singing a song full of determination.

[Zephon]

Personality, Merits & Flaws:
Zephon is charming, kind-hearted and laughs easily. Unfortunately, recent developments in his life (see history) have subdued this part of his personality. However, it is an important part of him and will resurface in unguarded moments. Like most Benshira, he can be rather stubborn and his faith and trust in his god Yahal is unbreakable; some would say even fanatical. He’s adventurous and energetic, but also naïve and too trusting. He tends to see the good in people, now even more than ever. Although a lot happened in his life, in some way it was also quite sheltered. Because of this, Zephon lacks some knowledge and common sense about the rest of the world.

Interests & Goals:
Zephon enjoys the arts, especially singing. It is something he recently took up again and it fills his heart with joy. He’s also interested in the histories and folklore of other people and cultures and would want to learn more about it. He also enjoys being around (domesticated) animals.

His main goal in life is to become a renowned bard. His current goal is to find his brothers, who have left his Tent a while ago in order to find a cure for something, although no cure can be found for it (see history).

Starting Package:

Equipment:
- 1 Ankle length tunic with short sleeves (goat hair), tied at the waist with a cord
- Simple undergarments
- 1 Long light cloak (goat hair) with yellow-blue striping
- 1 Head covering with circlet
- 1 Pair of leather sandals
- 1 Waterskin
- 1 Backpack
- 1 Set of toiletries (comb, brush, razor, soap)
- Balanced rations (1 week worth)
- 1 Eating knife
- 1 Set of Flint & Steel
- 1 Slingshot (Hebrean)
- 10 small stones (worth nothing, picked up from the ground)
- 1 Pouch belt

- 1 Large tent of goat hair (+ additional equipment to set it up)
- 1 Large tarp
- 100 ft of rope
- 1 Lantern
- 2 Torches
- 1 Bedroll
- 1 Blanket
- 1 Simple camel saddle

Heirloom:
- Revid’s Lute (old; hardly worth anything)

Money (a bit crude for now, will work on lay-out later):
- 100 gold rimmed mizas
- 99 gold miza, 4 silver miza (1 Slingshot (Hebrean))
- 99 gold miza, 3 zilver misa (1 Slingshot bullets (10))
- 98 gold miza, 3 zilver miza (1 Pouch belt)


Animals:
- 1 Camel (named Bezidi)

Housing:
- None

Languages:
Fluent: Shiber
Basic: Common
Poor: -

Lore:
True Desert Nomad – Knows about the life, culture and folklore of nomadic Benshiras.
Believer in Yahal – Knows about the god Yahal and his teachings

Skills:
Singing: 25 (10 initial skill points + 15 racial points)
Wilderness Survival: 10 (10 initial skill points)
Slingshot: 15 (15 initial skill points)
Animal Husbandry: 10 (15 initial skill points)
Spelunking: 5 (5 initial skill points)

[Zephon]

A third post for new information (empty now for obvious reasons)