There are many wonders to be found under the strong sun and shifting sands of Osirion. Many wonders…and many dangers. This is where Zavar spent his youth, wandering the deserts in search of something wondrous. Granted, as a very young boy even a stray coin or a broken tablet was all he ever happened across, but it whet his appetite. It was a small hunger that would grow into a need to seek out that which did not wish to be found.
He always had a talent for magic. After all, it was in his blood. But while his predecessors relied on sheer force of personality to drive their arcane crafts, Zavar took more of an interest in the intellectual side of the magical coin. His mind fed the fire that fueled his inborn gifts. These gifts proved invaluable to his pursuit of secrets and lore.
As a teen he delved into the darker side of archaeology. Some would call in tomb raiding, others might call it grave robbing. But Zavar, who always had a way of convincing himself he could do no wrong, simply thought of it as liberating the dead of the items that had burdened them in life and that they no longer had a use for in death. Besides, if he was clever enough to avoid the brutal traps that the tomb architects had kindly left for him (and slightly more than half the time he was) didn't he deserves the rewards as well? Of course he did. It was during this time in his life that he learned that some of the more "unsavory" characters he encountered turned out to be great underworld contacts that, for the right price, had a wealth of valuable information within their reach. He would put this knowledge to use on many an occasion.
When not chasing after lost artifacts and forbidden lore Zavar continued to study. Most of the time, he was honing his magical abilities, but he also enjoyed literature, art, language and philosophy.
When a simple misunderstanding led to him being asked, kindly, to take a holiday from his native lands, he struck out toward the north. He had read many a tome containing amazing tales of exotic races, wild creatures and, of course, hidden troves of ancient lore and valuable treasures and was anxious to see them for himself.
It was on his travels that he met the Professor, whose knowledge and willingness to share that knowledge without a price, garnered Zavar's respect (if not his understanding). When he heard of the Professor's passing, he made the decision to strike out towards Ustalav. Though he wanted to pay his respects, something in this dark and mystery shrouded land called out to him to come.
Along the way, he found himself wondering... Would curiosity do to him what it did to the cat? Nah, he thought... That cat probably had it coming.
