Character Information
PLAYER INFO
Your name: Fishbone
Your journal: lambomambo
Contact info: Aceonist (AIM), firefistfreckleface (Gmail)
CHARACTER INFO
Character name: Zaknafein Do’Urden (fullname: Zaknafein Daermon N’a’shezbaernon)
Fandom: Forgotten Realms
Point in canon taken from: The end of “Homeland,” just before he’s to be sacrificed to Lolth
Appearance: Zaknafein, or Zak for short, is of the Drow (dark elf) race, thus having the typical midnight-black skin, pointed ears, and white hair. Zak’s long, colorless hair is pulled back away from his handsome face, so thick that half of it composes a voluminous ponytail at the top of his head while still leaving a full layer hanging straight down over his shoulders and back, ending beyond his shoulder blades. His eyes are an intense red in color, and capable of seeing only in the infrared spectrum. At each earlobe, a large silver hoop hangs decoratively.
Zak’s expression tends to be one of unreadable neutrality, especially if he is in a situation which requires his undivided attention (though he’ll pretend to not pay attention at times); more often than not, though, he allows his emotions to shine through his tough façade. Whether it be a smirk cleverly hidden behind a hand or the flash of white teeth in a wide, jovial smile, Zak is certainly not afraid of expressing himself openly if there is no threat in doing so.
As the finest warrior the Drow ever had in Menzoberranzan, Zak has a body of solid muscle, hardened by four hundred years of training and fighting. He’s tall for a male of his race, but still not exceptionally tall by human standards. Zak was considered bigger and more powerful than most female Drow in his world, an unusual occurrence, one which made the matriarchal society struggle to deal with the troublesome male.
Under normal circumstances, Zak would be wearing a full set of dark and magical Drow clothing, including flexible armor, gauntlets, boots, and an enchanted cloak. Unfortunately, he will not have any of this unless provided by the House, since he is arriving from a place where he has naught but his pants and his boots on his person.
Notably: Though Zak is four centuries old, he does not appear it. Dark elves age much differently from humans, like the other elves of lore. Thus, while being about at the halfway point of his lifespan, Zak still looks deceivingly young, like perhaps a human in his late twenties or early thirties would. The grimmer his expression, the more the lines on his face make themselves known.
Personality: A wild, untamable soul resides within this dark elf. For all of the four hundred years he spent among the wickedness of his people, Zak somehow maintained his own personal code of honor and did not succumb entirely to their literal darkness. He despises killing and longs for peace, though he seems to have given up hope that anyone would ever think differently, as he himself does.
Zak is an enigma, somewhat difficult to understand. He’s more than capable of displaying an infrangible façade, and following through with the stern looks by means of an iron fist or the tip of a dagger. Though Zak is truly a compassionate soul, he does not allow others to push him around or behave in a manner he considers idiotic or unacceptable. He’s strong, both in body and in will, and it shows in his very appearance. The Weapons Master is more than able to take care of business, whatever that may be, but, really, he’d rather just be allowed to live and let live.
A mischievous streak survived within him throughout the years, keeping the family members of the troublesome Weapons Master on their toes (and often at their wits’ end). His impish side seems to know no restraint at times when he is feeling particularly jovial; he’ll publicly slide a joke at Lolth’s expense just as sure as he’d blame his own son for disrupting an important meeting when it was he himself making sarcastic remarks.
But for all of the laughs and broad smiles the dark elf is glad to express, Zaknafein nevertheless possesses an undeniable poetic side, tinted with accumulated sorrow, guilt, and impuissance. He is compassionate, unlike most Drow, and would rather bring protection in place of harm to those who are in need. It haunts him that he cannot act by the willing of his heart, and habitually leaves him feeling trapped and in despair, lamenting the horrid state of the Drow. Many times, Zak hates himself for not openly resisting their ways. His intelligent and tortured mind will often lead his thoughts down gloomy paths, resulting in soliloquy, either mental or aloud for all to hear, as he reflects on the errs of his life and the hopelessness of his future.
When it comes to meeting other people, Zak wouldn’t think twice about the deceitful lies spouted by the Drow about other races. Instead, he’d be glad to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone who wished to speak with him. He may keep his gruff expression on at first, but if respect is earned beyond the short-reaching trust he first grants, Zak would have absolutely no problem with opening up to another being that, for once, does not live to harm others. In fact, he would welcome the chance to get to know people such as this.
History: For four hundred years, Zak persisted against all odds in the underground world of Menzoberranzan. He lived among people who were more likely to slay their own brothers than the members of another noble house, people who fell over themselves to worship a dark, malicious goddess that he openly despised. Normally, such ire directed at the spider goddess Lolth would result in great suffering or death; however, Zak’s skills with weapons made him a fearsome warrior and an even greater ally; heresy be damned, Zaknafein was still given the respect he deserved.
But for all of his will to stand against the loathsome beliefs of the Drow, Zak alone seemed to think differently, to hope for solutions to problems that did not require bloodshed. Living by his own code of honor, he was sickened that the Drow only seemed to exist to fight and betray; unfortunately, he was never able to gain the courage to leave the dark elf city, not when fending for oneself in the treacherous caverns of the Under Dark meant certain death. So he stayed, with the merited title of Weapons Master, his talents allowing him to become a living legend among his people. Though he doesn’t like to kill other Drow, he eventually found some comfort in the thought that he was doing them a favor, blind fools that they were, by uniting them with the horrible goddess they so loved to worship. Not without struggle, this is how his heart survived.
Around the time Zak is four centuries old, his life is forever changed as his son, Drizzt, joins the world of the dark elves. Right away, the elder Drow realizes that there is more different about Drizzt than his purple eyes: his own compassionate nature was passed down to his son. Having discovered this, Zak is torn between his determination to protect Drizzt’s innocence and shield him from the black horrors of life in Menzoberranzan and to simply reveal their society for what it really is. The two train together for years, during which time Zaknafein and Drizzt grow close, into the best of friends, while Zak teaches the talented youth everything he can about weaponry and combating. They end up fighting with one another for real before Drizzt leaves for the academy, going their separate ways on very bad terms.
With Drizzt away, Zak laments that his son’s kindness will likely be quashed into nonexistence by the teachings of the Drow; Zak is so heartbroken by the thought of losing Drizzt in this way that he’d rather slay his son than see him transform into just another callous soul. When Drizzt returns some years later, they meet one another with painful loathing and suspicion. It’s during their next fight (which was to be to the death) that their hearts are bared and they come to terms with one another, realizing that they had allowed themselves to be misled in their assumptions by rumors. Reunited, their plan is to stand together through whatever hells their people may throw at them.
Unfortunately, it is about this time that Malice, the head of House Do’Urden, discovers that Drizzt has displeased the spider goddess Lolth. In order to save his son’s life, Zak offers himself to be sacrificed in Drizzt’s stead. It is from this point that I will be taking Zaknafein.
Your name: Fishbone
Your journal: lambomambo
Contact info: Aceonist (AIM), firefistfreckleface (Gmail)
CHARACTER INFO
Character name: Zaknafein Do’Urden (fullname: Zaknafein Daermon N’a’shezbaernon)
Fandom: Forgotten Realms
Point in canon taken from: The end of “Homeland,” just before he’s to be sacrificed to Lolth
Appearance: Zaknafein, or Zak for short, is of the Drow (dark elf) race, thus having the typical midnight-black skin, pointed ears, and white hair. Zak’s long, colorless hair is pulled back away from his handsome face, so thick that half of it composes a voluminous ponytail at the top of his head while still leaving a full layer hanging straight down over his shoulders and back, ending beyond his shoulder blades. His eyes are an intense red in color, and capable of seeing only in the infrared spectrum. At each earlobe, a large silver hoop hangs decoratively.
Zak’s expression tends to be one of unreadable neutrality, especially if he is in a situation which requires his undivided attention (though he’ll pretend to not pay attention at times); more often than not, though, he allows his emotions to shine through his tough façade. Whether it be a smirk cleverly hidden behind a hand or the flash of white teeth in a wide, jovial smile, Zak is certainly not afraid of expressing himself openly if there is no threat in doing so.
As the finest warrior the Drow ever had in Menzoberranzan, Zak has a body of solid muscle, hardened by four hundred years of training and fighting. He’s tall for a male of his race, but still not exceptionally tall by human standards. Zak was considered bigger and more powerful than most female Drow in his world, an unusual occurrence, one which made the matriarchal society struggle to deal with the troublesome male.
Under normal circumstances, Zak would be wearing a full set of dark and magical Drow clothing, including flexible armor, gauntlets, boots, and an enchanted cloak. Unfortunately, he will not have any of this unless provided by the House, since he is arriving from a place where he has naught but his pants and his boots on his person.
Notably: Though Zak is four centuries old, he does not appear it. Dark elves age much differently from humans, like the other elves of lore. Thus, while being about at the halfway point of his lifespan, Zak still looks deceivingly young, like perhaps a human in his late twenties or early thirties would. The grimmer his expression, the more the lines on his face make themselves known.
Personality: A wild, untamable soul resides within this dark elf. For all of the four hundred years he spent among the wickedness of his people, Zak somehow maintained his own personal code of honor and did not succumb entirely to their literal darkness. He despises killing and longs for peace, though he seems to have given up hope that anyone would ever think differently, as he himself does.
Zak is an enigma, somewhat difficult to understand. He’s more than capable of displaying an infrangible façade, and following through with the stern looks by means of an iron fist or the tip of a dagger. Though Zak is truly a compassionate soul, he does not allow others to push him around or behave in a manner he considers idiotic or unacceptable. He’s strong, both in body and in will, and it shows in his very appearance. The Weapons Master is more than able to take care of business, whatever that may be, but, really, he’d rather just be allowed to live and let live.
A mischievous streak survived within him throughout the years, keeping the family members of the troublesome Weapons Master on their toes (and often at their wits’ end). His impish side seems to know no restraint at times when he is feeling particularly jovial; he’ll publicly slide a joke at Lolth’s expense just as sure as he’d blame his own son for disrupting an important meeting when it was he himself making sarcastic remarks.
But for all of the laughs and broad smiles the dark elf is glad to express, Zaknafein nevertheless possesses an undeniable poetic side, tinted with accumulated sorrow, guilt, and impuissance. He is compassionate, unlike most Drow, and would rather bring protection in place of harm to those who are in need. It haunts him that he cannot act by the willing of his heart, and habitually leaves him feeling trapped and in despair, lamenting the horrid state of the Drow. Many times, Zak hates himself for not openly resisting their ways. His intelligent and tortured mind will often lead his thoughts down gloomy paths, resulting in soliloquy, either mental or aloud for all to hear, as he reflects on the errs of his life and the hopelessness of his future.
When it comes to meeting other people, Zak wouldn’t think twice about the deceitful lies spouted by the Drow about other races. Instead, he’d be glad to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone who wished to speak with him. He may keep his gruff expression on at first, but if respect is earned beyond the short-reaching trust he first grants, Zak would have absolutely no problem with opening up to another being that, for once, does not live to harm others. In fact, he would welcome the chance to get to know people such as this.
History: For four hundred years, Zak persisted against all odds in the underground world of Menzoberranzan. He lived among people who were more likely to slay their own brothers than the members of another noble house, people who fell over themselves to worship a dark, malicious goddess that he openly despised. Normally, such ire directed at the spider goddess Lolth would result in great suffering or death; however, Zak’s skills with weapons made him a fearsome warrior and an even greater ally; heresy be damned, Zaknafein was still given the respect he deserved.
But for all of his will to stand against the loathsome beliefs of the Drow, Zak alone seemed to think differently, to hope for solutions to problems that did not require bloodshed. Living by his own code of honor, he was sickened that the Drow only seemed to exist to fight and betray; unfortunately, he was never able to gain the courage to leave the dark elf city, not when fending for oneself in the treacherous caverns of the Under Dark meant certain death. So he stayed, with the merited title of Weapons Master, his talents allowing him to become a living legend among his people. Though he doesn’t like to kill other Drow, he eventually found some comfort in the thought that he was doing them a favor, blind fools that they were, by uniting them with the horrible goddess they so loved to worship. Not without struggle, this is how his heart survived.
Around the time Zak is four centuries old, his life is forever changed as his son, Drizzt, joins the world of the dark elves. Right away, the elder Drow realizes that there is more different about Drizzt than his purple eyes: his own compassionate nature was passed down to his son. Having discovered this, Zak is torn between his determination to protect Drizzt’s innocence and shield him from the black horrors of life in Menzoberranzan and to simply reveal their society for what it really is. The two train together for years, during which time Zaknafein and Drizzt grow close, into the best of friends, while Zak teaches the talented youth everything he can about weaponry and combating. They end up fighting with one another for real before Drizzt leaves for the academy, going their separate ways on very bad terms.
With Drizzt away, Zak laments that his son’s kindness will likely be quashed into nonexistence by the teachings of the Drow; Zak is so heartbroken by the thought of losing Drizzt in this way that he’d rather slay his son than see him transform into just another callous soul. When Drizzt returns some years later, they meet one another with painful loathing and suspicion. It’s during their next fight (which was to be to the death) that their hearts are bared and they come to terms with one another, realizing that they had allowed themselves to be misled in their assumptions by rumors. Reunited, their plan is to stand together through whatever hells their people may throw at them.
Unfortunately, it is about this time that Malice, the head of House Do’Urden, discovers that Drizzt has displeased the spider goddess Lolth. In order to save his son’s life, Zak offers himself to be sacrificed in Drizzt’s stead. It is from this point that I will be taking Zaknafein.