{{ :honeyview_zerith3.png?nolink&350|}} ====== Zerith ====== A [[human|Human]] witch with a simple [[zerith_s_staff|wooden staff]]. Her brow is marked with the Eye of the [[starlit_door|Starlit Door]] in black ash. She has the ability to change people into animals and has considerable skill in potion-making. >//“Slayer of [[taron|King Taron]] and traitor to the crown,” she says, smiling. “Welcome to [[falandore|Falandore]]. There is something I would like to show you."// - Ghost-Eaters of the Forgotten Forest (RPA-ADV7) She is investigating the [[ghost-eater|Ghost-Eaters]] that plague the town of [[falandore|Falandore]], white, bulbous monstrosities that appear to feed on the spirits of the departed. It is later purported that she is much older than she appears and has cursed the [[annabelle_duntum|daughter]] of the [[duntum_family|Duntum family]]. >//"From Princess to Swine: A Prophecy Undone. I think that will be a wonderful title for your volume of the Duntum family history."// - Zerith - Silver Threads of Fate (LC1) She is sometimes referred to as “Zerith the Endless”, as she is rumored to have lived for over 300 years. (RPA-ADV7) She murdered her elder, [[eklar|Eklar]], while investigating the [[scrying_pool|Scrying Pool]] and the secrets of [[gulpax|Gulpax]]. (GS-Epilogue) |**Race:** | [[human|Human]] | |**Affliation/Loyalty:**| [[starlit_door|Starlit Door]]| |**Tool of Choice:**|[[zerith_s_staff|Zerith's Staff]]| |**Romantic Interest:**|[[Mindle|Mindle]]| ---- {{ ::zerith_pool_3_2_.png?400|}} ===== Personality ===== [[Duntum family|Dorothea Duntum]] describes Zerith in her journal; >//There are many witches who have set up shop in [[falandore|Falandore]], but there are few who bring with them the notoriety and talent of Zerith the Endless, so named because she is rumored to have lived for over three hundred years.//\\ >//When I first met her I was impressed by her bluntness and simplicity. Her potions shop was clean and sparse with only a few choice items displayed for sale.//\\ >//She has moved here, in her own words, to be near the spirits. I am content to remain ignorant of the details of her obsession with the dead.// >//The witch, Zerith, is known to harbor grudges. Three of her healing potions have had no effect on poor, sickly Annabelle, and so my husband has refused to pay her.//\\ >//I ran into the witch in the marketplace, and she assured me that [[annabelle_duntum|Annabelle]] would soon “no longer be sick,” and would be “completely transformed.” Then she laughed and asked me which I would prefer, a sick daughter or a healthy pig!//\\ >//I rushed home to [[annabelle_duntum|Annabelle’s side]]. She is fine, apart from the fever.// - Lady Dorothea [[duntum_family|Duntum]] - Ghost-Eaters of the Forgotten Forest (RPA-ADV7) Zerith herself displays signs of distaste for those in rule, further cementing her reasons for joining the [[starlit_door|Starlit Door]]; >//"That’s how it always is with those in power: they seek to squash or control anything they don’t understand.”// - Ghost-Eaters of the Forgotten Forest (RPA-ADV7) >//With a handful of their best pieces combined, we could control every soul in Ulos, living and dead."// - Zerith - Silver Threads of Fate (LC1) Like other members of the [[starlit_door|Starlit Door]], Zerith sought answers to all of existence; >//Zerith was dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, and she aimed to unlock the deepest secrets of the planar verse.// - Gate of Brizoor Waal (RPA-ADVF) >//Though she would never admit it to [[eklar|Eklar]], she has already read every book on necromancy in the [[starlit_door|Starlit Door's]] archives.// - The Scrying Pool (GS-Epilogue) Always in pursuit of her own goals, Zerith even betrayed her superior to further ascend the ranks of the [[starlit_door|Starlit Door]] and her magics; >//Her mind turns to a time in her past when she let her mentor slip into an icy pit so that she could steal an artifact: a golden skull on a thin chain.// - Silver Threads of Fate (LC1) ---- ===== The Duntum Family ===== >//Today, we visited three shops in [[falandore|Falandore]] to find a new music box for [[annabelle_duntum|Annabelle]]. She prefers the old one, given to her by Zerith. I fear it is enchanted. A simple charm spell would be enough to make the music irresistible.// >//Zerith’s motives are not yet clear, but I suspect this “gift” is something more than simple generosity.// - Lady Dorothea [[duntum_family|Duntum]] - Ghost-Eaters of the Forgotten Forest (RPA-ADV7) A vision by the [[illuminating_stone|Illuminating Stone]] shows a meeting between Zerith and [[gimlix|Gimlix]] that somehow [[annabelle_duntum|Annabelle Duntum]] would jeopardize the mission of the [[starlit_door|Starlit Door]]; >//Briefly, you see a vision of [[gimlix|Gimlix]], the [[gnome|Gnome]], handing the music box to Zerith, the witch. Is it necessary?” she asks.// >//[[gimlix|Gimlix]] nods. “The prophecy is clear. The girl is a threat to our plans.”// - Ghost-Eaters of the Forgotten Forest (RPA-ADV7) ---- ===== Literary Reference===== [[halynd_s_guide_to_magic_myths_and_misconceptions|Halynd's Guide to Magic, Myths and Misconceptions]] contains a lengthy section on Zerith and many of the folktales surrounding her. ---- ===== References ===== ==== Ghost-Eaters of the Forgotten Forest (RPA-ADV7) ==== Zerith is first met welcoming you to [[falandore|Falandore]], and seems to know how to abate the Ghost-Eater threat; >//When Zerith slams her [[zerith_s_staff|wooden staff]] into the ground, you are blinded by a dazzling light. By the time your vision has returned, you find your soul has been restored to your body. The Ghost-Eater has retreated into the woods.// >//Zerith raises her hand, radiating with blinding light, and the creature flees back into the woods in search of easier prey.// - Ghost-Eaters of the Forgotten Forest (RPA-ADV7) In the [[heart_of_the_forest|Heart of the Forgotten Forest]] she reveals the reasons for her studies on the [[ghost-eater|Ghost-Eaters]]; >//“I find it curious that the dead, separated from their flesh, sometimes remain here in [[ulos|Ulos]] rather than traveling to [[moti|Moti, Plane of Death]]. How do they remain? Why do they remain? And what about this particular forest makes this phenomenon so common here? I’ve been researching these questions for many years.// >//And now, suddenly, a rift to [[moti|Moti]] opens right here? Death’s own servants have come to collect these wayward spirits. What can it mean?"// - Zerith, Ghost-Eaters of the Forgotten Forest (RPA-ADV7) Zerith is interested in learning all things death, including [[fiend_imp|Fiends]]; >//Zerith fishes an orb out of her pouch. Inside it, a fiend bangs on the glass and screams curses in Gashto, the Demon tongue.// >//“I’d pay handsomely to be able to study any others like it. Of course, you paid a steeper price — your soul in Ulrir’s pocket.”// - Ghost-Eaters of the Forgotten Forest (RPA-ADV7) Shining the [[illuminating_stone|Illuminating Stone]] on her reveals that she is a necromancer; >//When its light shines on Zerith you see, for a moment, the woman in her skeletal form. She wears the tattered black cloak of a necromancer.// - Ghost-Eaters of the Forgotten Forest (RPA-ADV7) ==== Gate at Brizoor Waal (RPA-ADVF) ==== Zerith fights against [[taron|King Taron]], atop a megapede, and [[urka|Urka]] in [[nebblis|Nebblis, Plane of Flame]]: * If you side with the [[starlit_door|Starlit Door]], you will fight alongside her: * If you defeat the opposition and are favored by the Human, she will greet you victoriously. You claim the site, and find a red rune. * If you fall to the opposition, you stumble through a rift back to [[elsifor_s_tent|Elsifor's Tent]] at [[brizoor_waal|Brizoor Waal]] in defeat. ==== The Scrying Pool (GS-Epilogue)==== [[eklar|Eklar]] and Zerith scale down the ice wall of the [[arcazion_pit|Arcazion Pit]] to investigate the [[scrying_pool|Scrying Pool]]. >//“An unknown number of agents from an ancient cult of heroes played a pivotal role in the events that took place here, Little is known of their nature, and so we must refer to them simply as ‘the Instigators.’ Let us see if we can divine the true scope of their contribution to history while we look for clues to the secret of Gulpax’s power.”// - Eklar - The Scrying Pool (GS-Epilogue) The two are able to study and record the events of the great [[battle_of_the_arcazion_pit|battle]] as the pool reveals a series of images to them. The final image reveals [[gulpax|Gulpax]] hiding an artifact below the pool in a a secret chamber. It is a necklace with a golden skull. It radiates with magical energy. As the elder, [[eklar|Eklar]] takes possesion of the necklace and places it in a [[durgolium|durgolium]] sack. Zerith, having heard a voice in her head, turns and murders [[eklar|Eklar]] for the necklace. >//Zerith pulls out a knife and peers down at Eklar. “Throw me the artifact,” she demands. When he refuses, she begins cutting the [[rope|rope]].// >//“Wait!” he shouts. Eklar tosses the sack up to her. Zerith leans forward to catch it, nearly falling into the pit. Eklar uses that moment to scale the last few feet of the wall and charge toward her with his staff, but Zerith quickly plunges her knife into his chest.// - The Scrying Pool (GS-Epilogue) Placing the necklace over her head, her body radiates with dark, magical energy. >//A voice again whispers in her ear. “Hurry,” it says, “This is only the beginning. There is much to be done.”// - The Scrying Pool (GS-Epilogue) ==== Silver Threads of Fate (LC1) ==== You find Zerith frozen in time thanks to [[taron|King Taron's]] meddling with the [[planes|planarverse]] and opening rifts across the city of [[sabek|Sabek]]. She is standing in the [[underwater_caverns|Underwater Caverns]] of the [[forgotten_forest|Forgotten Forest.]] If you have the [[annabelle_duntum|pig]] in your possession, you may attempt to free her from her current state. Once freed, Zerith makes it clear she will not work with anyone in your party if they are loyal to Nalos. Her motives may not be the most nobel. * You may invite her to join your party and force others to leave. * You may keep your current party and turn her away. It is revealed that Zerith and the royal gardener [[mindle|Mindle]] shared a romantic history together, hundreds of years ago; >//The resulting flash of blue flame and the acrid scent of burnt powder remind her of fireworks at midsummer festivals centuries ago, when she watched the colorful flashes fill the night sky with a young witch from the [[starlit_door|Starlit Door]].// - Silver Threads of Fate (LC1) >//Zerith gazes at the [[elf|Elven]] gardener with fondness. “[[mindle|Mindle]] is her name. I knew her well,” she says. “Please do what you can to break her free.” It is clear that these two have long been in each other’s thoughts. You can see the bond of silver thread that links them, heart to heart and mind to mind.// - Silver Threads of Fate (LC1) ---- ===== Backstory Appearances ===== ==== Lost in Time ==== A dozen spirits come out of the [[forgotten_forest|Forgotten Forest]] and surround you. * Zerith asks if you want her to banish the spirits * Let the spirits join with you to give them a second chance at life.