| Languages | Common, Infernal |
|---|---|
| Affiliations | Illuminant Order |
| Aliases | Zen, Matt, Balto |
| Place of Birth | Sneerwell |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | M |
| Height | 6'1 |
| Weight | 190 |
| Eye Color | Green |
| age: 46 | {{{value1}}} |
Amund Zen is a paladin of the Illuminant Order, a collection of knights sworn to eliminate fiendish pacts, devil worship, and communion with beings from the far realm for purposes of power. The order and Zen, by extension, believe that power achieved dishonestly corrupts and its spread cannot be controlled. It is not enough to punish those who seek out power, they must be brought to heel and all those who would lionize them must be made to understand the folly of cutting corners.
Physical Appearance[edit | edit source]
A tall figure with sun-damaged skin that makes him look much older than a man in his mid-thirties. His battle-strained face is lit by deep green eyes that complement his well-kept dirty blonde beard and maintained bald head.
His armor is a heavy set of silvery brass with periwinkle accents, though most of the armor is chipped and the colors have been made dull by the elements. On his back, a matching shield, and at his side a well-worn scabbard sheathes the knight’s longsword. A red tabard decorates the suit and displays a symbol of three interlocked sunbursts.
Personality[edit | edit source]
Stern and boisterous, Zen carries himself as a serious soldier against malignant forces. He loves to poke fun and is a noted elitist. He admires anyone who has made something of their life from nothing and those who persevere despite adversity. Paradoxically, he ridicules strict adherence to religious oaths and those who place the impetus for change on faith alone just as much as he disdains nihilists. His time in combat has forged a trench-friend mindset as he is quick to befriend those with whom he has shared a battle.
History[edit | edit source]
Amund Zen was born in Sneerwell in 780 PR. His father was a member of the town garrison and his mother was a Pelorian social services provider. Zen felt a connection to magic at a young age and spent countless of hours in the woods on the outskirts of town trying to understand the link between magic and the natural world. His parents were fearful that his early connection to magic would cause trouble with their connection to worship, so they sent him away to a chancellery to study the divine magics connection to the material world.
All of his studies were interrupted during The Sundown when Zen's father was killed in one of the many skirmishes. His mother begged him not to enlist, but the young Zen joined up as a foot soldier against the forces of Tiamat. His meager exploits in combat earned the attention of a brilliant tactician named Bertrande. She offered Zen a role as her personal squire at the end of the war in her order: The Knights of the Merciful Sun.
The Merciful Sun believes that the life-giving sun is the best cure for all of Quelmar's ills. They believe Justice and Freedom are brought about through charity, modesty, perseverance, and self-sacrifice. They teach that the truly strong don't need to prove their power. The Merciful Sun is wrathful against forces of evil and is especially opposed to the undead. However, Bertrande urged her followers to remember that excessive attention to things evil can blind one to the truly important things: compassion and goodness. These are what must be emphasized above all. When he swore the oath, he was given the name Amund Zen.
As a knight's squire Zen learned the trade. Protecting those in need, helping out when able, defeating those with malintent. However, he soon became disillusioned with the order's enforcement of justice when he became a knight himself. After his adherence to their code led to a massacre on a small farm outside of town, he rejected his oath and turned to drink. After years of gambling, drinking, and debauchery, he was approached by a member of the Illuminant Order, an offshoot of paladins dedicated to a similar goal of eviscerating evil and those who sought to abuse power or use power from nefarious sources to undercut the honest. Yet, this order did not strictly adhere to their tenets and encouraged a more aggressive stance against the ills of the realm. They preached that it is not enough to defeat an enemy; true progress against evil must strike fear into those who would lionize a tyrant. Only through might and the intolerance of ill-gotten power can the world be made safe.
Languages[edit | edit source]
Common, Infernal
Powers and Abilities[edit | edit source]
A true tank of a knight, Zen is known to charge into battle with shield and sword. His tactic is to force the enemy leader to focus their attacks on him as he tries to disable their ability to retreat and strike fear into their allies.
