Zenu's page

Zenuvian always felt most comfortable near water, though his uncle refused to take him to anything larger than the lake nearby to where they lived. Born when Captain Alusiel Silverwater of the good ship Sting of Sovyrian had a one night stand with an Ulfen sailor, the infant Zenu swiftly found himself handed over to his elven uncle, Alsaran, when Alusiel next made port. Alsaran himself had been bidden by way of a magical messenger to make his way to Absalom to meet his sister. She had told him that she had a surprise for him. This was not unusual for Alsaran, as his older sister often found some elven relic or another and demanded he take some of his valuable time (and favors) to teleport to the port nearest to her location so as to take it back to Kyonin. This time, however, he was less than amused when his nephew was unceremoniously dumped into his arms with a wink and a smile that said "take care of him for me!"

However, fortunately for Zenu, Alsaran had a greater sense of responsibility than his sister did, and somewhat grudgingly allowed the young half-elf the chance to grow up among the elves of Kyonin. As Zenu grew up, he found himself attracted to water, swimming with a natural skill that was beyond his age, especially to his elven kindred. His mind was filled with dreams of the oceans, and from an early age, Zenu asked his uncle to take him to greater bodies of water. Alsaran refused, firmly believing that it was the ocean that had led his sister to her... unusual ways, and desiring no further part in her chaotic way of life.

However, Zenu often found other ways of disobedience to express his displeasure - wandering off and swimming in the lake for hours on end, ignoring his chores entirely. Alsaran, at a loss, often begged one of his friends, Syonia, a priestess of Calistria and a mother of two now-adult half-elves to look after him. Privately, the elf knew this was unwise, because Syonia was a great friend of Alusiel, and had similar attitudes on life, but he just couldn't handle the energetic young man's delight in the water. Syonia, aside from encouraging Zenu to grow and change at his own pace, taught the young half-elf much about Calistria's worship and how best to manipulate those around him. At seventeen, he first demonstrated his magical abilities, which prompted Alsaran into giving him a crash course on the basics of magic as the elves saw them. Though the older elf hoped to show the sorcerer the superiority of wizardry, all he really managed to teach him was the basics of magical items and how they functioned.

When Zenu was twenty one years of age, he left Kyonin behind (at Syonia's urging to follow his dreams), whereupon his uncle essentially threw up his hands and foreswore responsibility for the half-elf. Often having heard his mother called a pirate (by his uncle) and knowing that pirates usually lurked in the Shackles, Zenu made his way across Kyonin and Druma to Almas in Andoran, where he booked passage to Azir in Rahadoun, then on to Jula, the closest place that the captain was willing to take him.

He made his trek from the Sodden Lands to the "capital," such as it was, of the Shackles, Port Peril, fleeing from a variety of interesting looking creatures and talking his way out of trouble far more often than anyone had a right to expect, though there were some close calls, one of which gave him a small scar along his jaw. Finally making it to Port Peril, Zenu asked around about the Sting of Sovyrian, hoping that someone had heard of his mother. Of course, when the captain named Ghoulbeard of the Ghoul's Grasp claimed he had once sailed aboard said ship, Zonu was suspicious, especially of the names "Ghoulbeard" and "Ghoul's Grasp." However, he really wanted the information, so he went to the meeting area, hoping for a good tale, if nothing else. What he didn't expect was to be drugged and dragged aboard the ship.

Though he was at first disgusted by both Ghoulbeard and his bosun, an actual ghoul, Zenu gradually became used to the work. The captain was hard, but fair, though the punishments seemed dreadful. But he was a member of a crew, at sea! None of the other business mattered to him, since for the first time in his life, he could relax and set sail, have no worries but the sea beneath him (though he would rather have liked to have women to seduce, he repressed the Calistrian urge beneath his innocent joy at being on the ocean). Things were looking up, because, Hell, maybe he would even run into his mother at some point! That is, until the Chelish marine ship opened fire on Ghoul's Grasp. In what was his first engagement at sea, Zenu distinguished himself fairly well, ensuring that himself and a few others were protected, as well as doing a number on the enemy crew with his bow, but ultimately, the crew of the Ghoul's Grasp were outmatched, and the ship itself was utterly reduced to slowly burning remnants of its former glory. Zenu survived, but now is forced to wonder... Now what?

Zenu is generally a checkered sort of person, as befits a worshipper of Calistria. Flirtatious and confident, he submits to no one but those he likes, and even then it's more of a partnership. He loves being in the ocean, feeling its power flooding him. It is a drug like nothing else, and he is firmly hooked. Zenu hates rules that make no sense to him, being fairly unwilling to obey simply "because." He realizes this makes him unsuited for the life of a sailor, but is determined to become a great captain - so no one would make rules about how he lives his life. For the time being, though, he is patient enough to wait for a chance.

Zenu is balanced between utter selfishness and utter selflessness. For example, he sees no problem with fighting (and even killing) merchants and marines for their ships and goods, but would object if innocents were harmed in the process. He's no murderer, just a pirate. He is as willing to entertain a verbal sparring match as a quick, violent skirmish, especially when goods come into play. He does not deal in slaves, nor would he approve of those who do.

Important: All this is is one massive hook for Crusty. It may or may not be true, as he decides
The Sting is a masterfully crafted caravel built in a style unique to the rare elven ocean-going boats. For nearly a century now, its Captain, Alusiel has sailed the seas of Golarion, from the Steaming Sea to the Inner Sea, to the Shackles, always seeking something. Some tales tell that she seeks a lost relic of the elves, something connected inherently to the plane after which she has named her ship. Others claim she looks for treasure, or a lost companion. Still others claim that it does not matter what she seeks, only that she does.

The Sting itself also has many tales woven about it. All agree that there is some sort of enchantment surrounding it, but all have a different story to tell as to what that magic is. Some claim that even the most potent cannon could not pierce its hull, others that it doesn't matter, the ship would outrun the cannonball anyways. Arguments are started as to whether it can surround itself in a mist that only those aboard can see through, or whether it actually is merely a mage onboard summoning the phenomenon, or even whether the phenomenon actually exists. Some claim that only the captain operates the entire vessel, with magic doing the rest of the work for her, while others argue that the crew is merely invisible while they are in port. Tales are told of how Alusiel only accepts elves or fey as crew-members, while others claim they have seen her commanding a band filled with such motley companions as dwarves, half-orcs, and even the occasional goblin. None can say for sure. Indeed, the only thing that can be said to be sure about the Sting of Sovyrian is that it indeed exists, and that Alusiel Silverwater has captained it for as long as most sailors can recall.