Azaris al Zakam's page

Azaris' efreeti ancestry is clearly visible in his appearance. Standing just over 6 ft tall, he moves with the grace of a flickering flame and has skin the color of dark polished brass. Red and orange hair flows freely down to his shoulders, covering a pair of slender horns that curl along his brow. His eyes are bright yellow and smolder like embers, easily fascinating most who stare into them.

He wears open sandals, loose white baggy pants and an crimson vest which shows off his sculpted muscles rippling beneath his clothing.

Azaris is temperamental, energetic and often restless. His personality is shaped both by his genie-kin ancestry and his lifelong enslavement. Accustomed to being used a tool or plaything by others, he rarely trusts others. He has no illusions about justice and selflessness, having witnessed countless acts of cruelty, betrayal and debauchery motivated by hedonism, hunger for power or simple carelessness.

His years of servitude has taught him to keep his hot-tempered nature in tight reins. He knows that cooperation and diplomacy are necessary to achieve common goals and that open defiance and spite usually triggers reactions of pain, punishment and hostility. So, while his natural empathy may be modest, he has a high social intelligence and knows how to use his natural charm and charisma to his advantage.

While Azaris has great experience keeping his temper and natural impatience in check, he sometimes fails. Like the fire that is part of his bloodline, he is fascinating and magnetic company, but those who get too close to him tend to get burned, both literally and emotionally. He is also prone to rash decisions, especially when he unleashes his magic.

Azaris has been a slave for as long as he could remember, which is over 70 years at this point. Never knowing his true family, he has been bought and sold more times than he can recall, and used for both pleasure, entertainment and violence. Even as a child, his genie-kin nature made him a valuable and attractive servant, especially after his sorcery manifested in puberty, but his impulsive and head-strong nature frequently made his owners tire of him before long.

The rulers of Katapesh were the latest in his long series of owners. After the liberation of Kelmarane, he was part of a mercenary mission dispatched by the Pactmasters' representatives to assist Almah in securing the caravan route to Kelmarane. While other heroes ventured to the House of the Beast to confront the Carrion King, Azaris and his band fought both gnolls and human raiders in the Uwaga Highlands and the passes of the Brazen Peaks.

Their mission came to an end when the group ambushed the hideout of a raider pack. It soon became clear that they had underestimated the strength of their enemies and one by one, Azaris allies were slain. In an enraged act of defiance, Azaris unleashed every last bit of his fire-magic, burning enemy after enemy with wild abandon until he stood bleeding among a pile of charred remains.

At that moment, an enormous efreet appeared before him, addressed him by name and congratulated him on his accomplishment. The genie claimed to be kin to Azaris, and that he had proven himself worthy to join his brethren in the City of Brass. The efreet promised Azaris that he would have his heart's desire granted, if he would agree to become an agent in the service of the Dominion of Flame.

Having never truly belonged to a clan or family before, Azaris was truly tempted. However, he knew that efreet were devious and that their promises could not be trusted. In all likelihood, he would be exchanging one enslavement for another, and his wish would be twisted and corrupted. No, he would be master of own fate for once. Prepared to die for the insult, he held his head high and refused.

Rather than strike him down, the efreet seemed amused by this act of defiance. It told Azaris that powerful magic was at work in the Brazen Peaks, and there were rumors of ancient secrets uncovered around the ruins of Kelamrane - secrets of great interest to the factions inhabiting the plane of fire.

Should he come across such secrets, he would soon have another chance to accept and join his genie kin. With that, the efreet departed as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving Azaris to make his way back to Kelmarane, bewildered and intrigued.

After reporting to Garavel and Almah (leaving out the details of his efreeti encounter), Azaris was surprised to be commended for his resourcefulness and granted his freedom as reward for vanquishing the raiders. Now, for the first time in his life, he is free to plot his own course. While pondering his new options, news travelled through Kelmarane that the group of heroes who had gone to confront the Carrion King had suddenly returned.

Otherworldly influences: Azaris has no idea whether his efreeti encounter was the result of a long-term plan or merely a random coincidence, but it is clear that he has attracted the attention of the fire genies. He is determined to explore this opportunity, but equally determined to do so on his own terms.

Old scores: During his time as a slave in Katapesh, Azaris' rash nature has earned him a fair share of enemies. Whether it's the spouses of seduced lovers, cruel slave masters or challengers sent packing to nurse painful burns, there will be several who would welcome the chance to get even.

The mysterious efreet: Azaris knows little about the efreet he encountered, but it was obvious that the efreet had observed him at least long enough to learn his name.

Canvolloss Cian: While serving as a slave in Zandrek's Pesh Palace, Azaris became acquainted with this elven scholar and cleric of Nethys. Canvolloss almost lost life and limb due to an unfortunate addiction to pesh, but Azaris formed a rare connection with the elf and managed to intervene when Canvolloss got tangled up with the wrong crowd.

Vass Griah: On several occasions, this brutal half-ogre slavemaster has been responsible for disciplining Azaris. Despite his best efforts, Vass never succeeded in breaking the willful ifrit, and he would relish another attempt.