Zullin Plak's page

In the rigid society of Osirion was born a boy who would defy this expectation. His parents of middling means were pleased to learn after a scant few years, their child was sound of body and quick of mind. They mustered all the influence they could to get him into the priesthood. Truth be told, they weren't picky about which diety, though Thoth was what they were happy to finally coordinate; his acolytes were highly-sought for their skill with writing - stable, safe work. In a superficial way now yet important later, Zullin also preferred this decision, for the valuable items in the temple drew his attention.

For years, he worked as a low-ranking clergyman, still an adolescent by his half-elf blood. His mother, Mylah, had aged substantially during this time, and her bones didn't allow her to work as well as she had in her youth, and she'd had a trying one; as a Yerbiran nomad, she came to Sothis as a shattered woman, much of her family captures by Susurex. Mylah eked-out a living as a tailor, but it wasn't until she'd met her husband-to-be, the trader Ekio, that she felt at home in the capitol. Unfortunately, many of the people still saw her as an old desert nomad despite her skill as a tailor (albeit waning). Zullin felt a great deal of guilt at how much work his parents had done for him; his father almost lost several business partners in his attempts to leverage influence in securing the clergy position for his son. This position was about to evaporate though.

Though the direction of learning at the temple were somewhat aligned to his talents, Zullin was a touch precocious. He pushed boundaries, bent rules, and questioned authority on an ever-increasing basis. This led him to exceptional talents in magic which made his own talents manifest in unique ways. His elders were impressed, though frustrated, though one day he crossed the line; Necromancy was a topic forbidden to those of his rank, and he'd altered a spell which should simply have altered the rigidity of flesh to one which caused it to decay. A formal hearing before the elder priests had been arranged for him, so Zullin, ever the innovator, hastily wrote a note to his family and paid a messenger to take it, then disappeared under the moonlight. After all, he reasoned, he couldn't be removed without a face-to-face meeting unless the high priest himself ordered it, and surely he wouldn't bother himself with a mere acolyte!

Unknowing of the outcome of that decision, he set-out West from the city into the arid land. Overconfident, he expected the journey with his scant supplies would be one of enjoyment and respite. Instead, it was nearly fatal. Steeping too close to the river nearly saw him devoured by a crocodile. Large scorpions almost slew him when he was careless one evening. Some weeks out, he didn't know what to do; his original plan was to trek to Eto, but he must have gotten lost. His supplies had depleted, and he was almost sure he'd meet his end in the desert. It was just then fortune smiled upon him. A half-orc wanderer encountered him from the South. The young man, Drokmor, had failed to show he could carry his own weight to his band of nomads, so he had been cast-out. He didn't make an expert hunter, though he was substantially better than Zullin in the wilds. Together, they agreed they wouldn't make for Eto, for it was too close to Drokmor's family, but rather head for Shiman-Sekh. Drokmor was, fortunately, well-provisioned for the journey. Though it was difficult, the near-death experiences dwindled.

As the two talked, they discovered they had a great deal in common. Both were half-breeds, and Drokmor was given to the pursuit of learning as well - something his family didn't value. Zullin taught him what he could on the journey of civilization and magic. After many more weeks, they finally reached the small city of Shiman-Sekh. The temple to Sarenrae reminded Zullin not all faiths were the same, and he had some homesickness before recalling they hardship he'd been through for what he saw as religion's fault for exile imposed on him (by himself notwithstanding). The pair secured passage on a trade route through Thuvia to Rahadoum.

The new land was refreshing, though they were both poor. Zullin worked as a scribe while Drokmor toiled as a cook. After some time, the pair pooled their resources for Zullin to open a business providing unorthodox magical solutions to minor problems at a barebones rate. In time, the revenue permitted an expansion into trading of merchandise and allowed Drokmir to put his skills as an apprentice to use there. As the talent became more noteworthy to the common people though, so too did it catch the eye of the military looking to send able-bodied citizens to be useful in the coming conflict...