Zoe Egrn

 

History

Fourth Age

Born in early spring at the outskirts of the town of Halvanger in Cesmye, it soon became clear to his parents that he had greater interest in his mother’s arts than in his father’s. Despite his preference being drawing buildings, engines, and items rather than keeping count and tallying up things. They decided to place him at the local Mermerant barons' household. As their mixed marriage had somewhat ruined both their own heritage circles, they went for a more secure path of Zoe being properly paid and even a possibility for steady advancement through the Mermerant circles.

But as years grew on him, it became obvious that his real strength did not lie in simple tallying and ordering. Maybe it came from figuring out the complexity of buildings and engines he had drawn earlier. But his real force lay in discovering patterns either attempted to be hidden or unknowingly existing by observing behaviours and reading documents.

As he began realising that flows of goods were being skimmed and certain individuals, from peasants to noblemen, didn’t report correctly. He somehow also realised that these individuals would most likely not take exposure lightly, even if it was their competitors, as that would reveal his awareness. So he began twisting documents in such a way that discoveries were never traced back to him. Knowing it was only a matter of time before someone connected the dots, he let more pass than he revealed and merely awaited the right moment to strike.

Growth of skills aligned with years passing, and at his coming of age in 1157, he was properly apprenticed as a scribe, directly under the castlemaster. As he advanced, his access to documents and reports increased. By 1161, he became a journeyman; by 1164, he was promoted to chief; and by 1168, he attained the status of master, granting him access to most documents and a comprehensive understanding of the events occurring in Cesmye.

In 1169, Zoe discovered a discrepancy in the grain taxes of a minor lord. On paper, the numbers were perfect. However, Zoe noticed a pattern in the ink usage—the scribe was using a specific, expensive gall ink that only reacted to a certain temperature.

Zoe realised that there wasn’t just a physical world but a world of intent hidden behind every action. He didn’t just find a thief; he “saw” the invisible structure of the crime before he even found the proof. In that moment, as Zoe realised that reality itself is just a “document” that can be edited by a powerful enough mind, the membranes of his husks thickened, his cyan aura turned bright cyan, and he transformed from a recorder of history into one who formats it.

Securing himself a place at the Cesmyrian Mermerants court in 1170, he finally began to reveal all the secrets. Of course, it not only brought justice to outright criminals but also those skimming just to make a living. And the mermerant cause benefitted greatly from his knowledge about trade agreements and dealings of many a local noble and merchant of several races. He kept it all in his “Ledger of the Ghost-Weight”.

When the 1st Alliance stirred in 1170 and their agents passed by, he was part of the local mermerant group receiving them. Unknown to his superiors, he became one of the 1st alliances’ travelling agents in 1171, as he saw in the realm a far grander scheme than a new Mermerant empire.

Using script studies of ancient glyphs as an excuse, he travelled to Inosio to analyse whether the realm could gain a foothold on Utari as well. There he met Strelagin, and as soon as they met, he liked the other scholarly mastermind. They exchanged quite a lot of theories, and both grew in shared skills. And as Strelagin was well versed in ancient Utari languages, Zoe, when he was ready to leave the foothold secured, was packed with scrolls, notes, and books in 1172, pulled forth and presented a couple of freshly crafted discs of Utari gold, with a complex pattern of tiny buttons, discs, and squares. Relagin grinned and gave a handshake to underline what it implied. Returning home, Zoe studied and grew in knowledge and influence.

Returning from a trip to Mt. Vula in 1208, he passed by the city of Tartu. There he attended another meeting regarding the 1st alliance’s significant plan, which involved the creation of the realm. There in Gramshir's Villa, among the personal guards of several kings, he noticed a colossal guard. Certain he had briefly seen him at the docks in Inosio, he asked about it, and Sang Marsol not only confirmed. But elaborated in colourful terms how he had seen and eyed the pale, skinny ‘mildmarsher’ back then. Sharing grins, they returned their attention to the meeting agenda.

In 1214 on his way home from Mealis, he met Sang again in Molpolda. As Zoe was to mount his new-bought horse, he noticed the tall guard, seemingly in a barter, throw arms up and moan loudly. Pulling the horse, he walked over and saw Sang and some sort of rogue assassin barter for the same pair of beautiful, curved, slim sabres. Eventually Sang backed out, and the agile Ortagui secured the pair, to some exceptionally thankful prayers from the vendor, who finally got rid of these Rimzir ‘toys’.

Those words snapped like a whip in Zoe’s ears, and he offered both mugs and a meal to celebrate a well-fought trade duel. Sang recognised him and gave a giant hug, and the Ortagui introduced himself as Homed el Rial, expressing anticipated joy in discussing his victory further. Zoe, who had recognised the swords’ patterns, matching those he had seen on Black Oaks cape, pried the best he could into the blades’ history, and the vendor who had sold them told their story the best he could.

During the setting sun’s long shadows, the vendor left them, but the trio talked long into the moon's glow. Finally, as they all had no real rush that spring, they decided to go visit Ye Olde Zephyrs. As the summer feast was to unfold, they arrived at Zapris's pride, and Black Oak’s eyes almost popped out, as those blades had been his father’s first curved blade craftings.

In 1232, he was on a trip to the Junnatu Caves, but his actions there are unknown to us, leaving us to wonder what significant events or discoveries may have occurred during that time. We have heard, unconfirmed though, that in the deep silences of the Junnatu Caves, Zoe discovered the “Zero Pattern”—a place where no logic applies. This terrifying encounter with chaos hardened his resolve to preserve the Realm’s order. It was here he came to believe that without a “scribe” to format reality, the world's seals would dissolve and the astral sea would once more embrace everything.

His work for the realm, mostly with Kanziganthir and Hebra Hargi, a bright vault engineer with a perception similar to Zoe’s, on the law of the realm 1249 onwards, elevated him up through the ranks ofGrimsborg’s administration. Because once Zoe sees a pattern, the outcome is already decided. He earned him the title “Architect of Inevitability”.

Much to the annoyance of the purebred Indigenous and Wanderer scholars, emissaries, and liaisons, it all paid off in 1252, as he landed the position of treasury master. Access to the treasury made the court give him another title, “The Cyan Auditor,”, a play on his aura and his ruthless history of “decimating” corrupt officials. Many were, though, troubled by his elevations and judgements. His memory and abilities to connect lore and the work for the realm elevated him to the rank of scribe lord in 1256, and when he became overlord scribe in 1269, the new high king of 1266, Methil Maiur, offered him a seat in the council of colours.

It became a brief participation, though, as the political mess growing after the crowning of Methil slowly grew, and corrupt officials saw their chances to manoeuvre under the new soft ‘paladin’ ruler. The 1274 crowning coup of Kjertil ‘Nail’ Ninch, which came as a complete surprise for everyone, even Zoe, changed the Grimsborg administration into a dangerous place for the well-known ‘ruthless decimator’. Perceiving the ‘Nail’ for what he was, a lackey of The Torch, Zoe left the court – some say it was rather hastily. With two friends, Hebra Hargi and Iaspa Roullo, the trio disappeared with 3 waggons filled with a secret, heavy load.

It’s said that Niellu Muhuaela, who was beheaded a while after, was present when they loaded the waggons and drove off. In the court circles Zoe became one of the ‘Weavers of the Three Waggons’: a title implying he is one of the few that knows where the “golden flowers of the realm” are hidden.

After the escape of the ‘Nail’s’ corrupt and violence-spinning court, the waggons weren’t just full of coins; they were also loaded with his copy of the ‘Imperial Cypher’, ‘The Ledger of the Ghost-Weight’, deeds, blackmail, and ancient maps. Zoe established the Shadow Exchange—a network of information where the “currency” was secrets.

He was not seen again until 1278, when he, atop a large waggon, drove alongside Methil to meet Black Oak once again. Some say the waggon was loaded with Liber Floris, one quarter of the saved valuables from Methil’s reign as high king.

As Zoe didn’t just take gold in those three waggons in 1274. But also the “Imperial Cypher”—the fundamental structural law of the previous administration. His legend is that of the Keeper of the True State. While kings like Kjertil ‘Nail’ Ninch rule by the sword, Zoe act by the ‘value’. He is the man who can bankrupt an army without drawing a blade, simply by knowing which bridge to tax or which supply line is a strategic disaster.

Since the victory at the Battle of Weeping Plains, in 1281, he has spent time analysing the new pattern. The Great Invasion had introduced many new variables into his understanding of worldly patterns. Invaders, contender gods, The Favoured Eight, Allele Diploid, Magic Shard understanding, and much else clouds his visions. And not until he sees a clear pattern will he act again. That is, if he meets an invader or traitor of the realm, he still ends them as he best can.

“The Legend of the Master Fragment now lingers in his mind.”

~Skjald Vinotis

 

Organisation

Even though the realm crumbled, Zoe is still running the Shadow Exchange, but now seemingly as “The Empty Ledger Order” with Hebra and Iaspa. They don’t have a headquarters; they have a “distributed pattern” of safehouses and dead-drops across the isles. Keeping him sort of a hub of the wheel, as every spy and merchant in the world eventually has their “patterns” pried by him. Some has also hinted that he has a major role in the Oktogon.

“Eyeing patterns, realising their underlying outcomes, and mitigating the effects are what drive him.”

~Skjald Sejrik

 

Special

Because Zoe perceives the “structural law” of things, his attacks ignore some of the targets’ armour or mental resistance. He doesn’t “hit,” but he “applies a correction” to their pattern’s weakness.

“Many a mentalist foe has thought their shields proper, just to find their actions anticipated and bypassed.”

~Skjald Valgrif