Biography
Equipement:
Epic work: No plans.
Haste Item:
EB device: Fishbone Earring
Working on:
Zantoes Roleplaying Bio:
Misfit Child -
Sixth born of nine children into a minor noble house it was apparent from the moment of his birth that his mother sensed he was different and that she hated him. It was shortly after the 5th daughter was born, 9th child, his father was found dead. The night of his father's death Zantoes overheard the servants talking amongst themselves saying they thought his mother was responsible for his father's death. Sleep came reluctantly and when it finally found Zantoes it was a fitful sleep filled with troubled dreams. When he awoke all the servants were gone, never to be seen again and mother was busy preparing to purchased new ones. Nothing was said about the matter after that night and Zantoes dared not ask.
Lost Youth -
After his father's death his mother became bolder in her ambition to raise in the social ranks. Political rivals would at times meet a sudden end and it was not uncommon for a group of children to be playing in the area at the time. Whenever things did go wrong, no matter the circumstances, it was Zantoes who took the beating. His siblings did nothing to discourage their mother so long it wasn't them taking their mother's wrath.
Maybe it was his mother's beating, maybe it was the death of his father or maybe his mother's instincts were right and he was different but rebellion was brewing in his heart. When his mother received word that a rival House was sending out a trading caravan Zantoes was sent to his mother's secret allies, Sarnaks, to ambush it. Scouting ahead for the Sarnaks Zantoes discovered that the caravan was no mere rival House but one that his uncle belonged to. A warning shout from Zantoes spoiled any advantage the Sarnaks enjoyed and a mighty battle ensued. A Sarnak knight knocked the defenseless Zantoes to the ground and drove his head into the mud with his foot leaving him for dead.
Transition -
Three mercenaries watch with interest as a young Dark Elf at first seemed to be helping the Sarnaks with their ambush and then at the last second ruined it. In the confusion of battle the young Dark Elf was forgotten and his crumpled body left outside the battlefield. When both sides had retreated the mercenaries descended down to the battlefield and found the young Dark Elf clinging to life.
Zantoes awoke days later in a retired adventure's, now farmers, farm house in the Qeynos area. During his recovery he began to appreciate the simple life style of the human couple and their son. For two years he stayed, becoming fluent in common and learning much about the outside world. From passing mercenaries news trickled in about his family. It seems that not only did Zantoes ruin the caravan ambush but his actions also brought to light his mother's treachery. It did not take long for the other Houses to rise up to destroy his House killing his mother, siblings and servants. The news of the fall of his House brought little reaction from Zantoes but the news that there was a price on his head did.
Mercenary Beginnings -
Fearing not for his own life but for the human couple and son that showed the only kindness he ever had known, he decided it was time to leave. Neriak, a Dark Elf city near the surface, sounded like a good place to head for. On the way to Neriak Zantoes stopped by Freeport with only open arms and good intentions. It seems it was not the best of plans as at first the Freeport guards chased him away and then when he tried to sneak in the back way to plead his case to what he thought was the honorable Paladin guild, he barely escaped with his life. Honorable they might be but open minded they were not.
Arriving in Neriak still bitter about his Freeport visit he found himself recruited into the Shadow Knight's guild. They felt the hatred boiling under the surface and knew he would be a good servant to Innoruuk. Little did SK guild know but the hatred they felt from him was for his own family, for those who drove him from the simple life as a farmer and the closed minded fools in Freeport.
It was out of Neriak Zantoes began to hone his skills. Not trusting strangers anymore he honed his skills to rely on no one. Only one person broke through his barrier of distrust to become a friend. For 17 seasons it was that way until they parted ways. Zantoes boarded a boat for Overthere and his trusted Necromancer friend retired to raise a family.
New Family -
During his 28th season Zantoes ran into another Dark Elf Shadow Knight in Overthere. From him he heard tales of a guild that accepted everyone and everyone got along, even Shadow Knights and Paladins. For 23 seasons he raided with this guild, making friends and spilling blood of enemies. The human couple's son joined him there, now a young man and a Bard who loved to drink and tell limericks. But not all in the guild could be trusted as some still clung to the old ways and prejudices. When a close friend in the guild informed him of a plot to collect the reward on his head by some members of the guild Zantoes decided it was time to move on.
When the attack came Zantoes survived without much trouble but the couple's son, who Zantoes considered a brother, was dead. He didn't have much of a chance not having the battle experience Zantoes had plus he was pretty drunk.
Somewhat despondent, Zantoes wandered doing not much of anything from his 51st season until his 53rd season. A trusted friend, Mendie, talked him into joining another guild but the guild did not last long as it was weakened by inner turmoil and collapsed not long after they joined. He watched as Mendie and the others struggled to keep the guild going but his heart was not into helping.
Home At Last -
Sensing world weary Zantoes seemed to near the end of his rope Mendie talked Zantoes into following her to Seofon. After each raid she would report to Zantoes how it went and how exciting it was. Gradually she saw the burning fire returned to his eyes and his return to adventure. She even started hearing him start telling limericks as if in some sort of tribute to his lost brother.
Smiling, Mendie retired back to Felewithe to help her parents with coming events in Norrath knowing Zantoes is back on his path of destiny and that her Shaman friend Wohkor is looking out after him.
