Callum Zidane

Callum Noctis Zidane is a human Path of the Monstrosity barbarian and Echo Knight fighter, and one of the main protagonists of Campaign 3. He is played by Joey.
He is the firstborn son of Mane Vikas Zidane, and currently works as a monster hunter working for the Broken Horns who is cursed with an affliction rooted in his heart called Ego. While the affliction often manifests as a shapeshifting monster that perpetually hunts him down, Callum has figured out how to channel his emotions into a monstrous form of his own, dubbed Ego-Callum.
Due to the lifelong hostility between Callum and Ego, Callum's goal is to find a way to rid himself of his affliction and defeat Ego for good. After reconciling with his family and understanding his father's role in his past, he elects to help "unshackle" him from Zhonghou.
During the events of Campaign 3, Callum met Echo, Walker, and later Cori, who would become his traveling companions. He would later be given a pair of magic chakrams called Amiotīra, made amends with his estranged family, and began to heal from his traumatic past. After killing Zhonghou, Callum left Xi'Shu alongside Walker and the Zidanes in search for a cure to his affliction, becoming a world-renowned hero in the process. 
== Description ==
=== Appearance ===
==== As a human ====
Callum has dark skin, brown eyes, and long black dreadlocks that run down the left side of his head that run down to his shoulders. He started the campaign with clean-shaven, though that has since progressed to a light stubble. Callum's palms have burn scars from the acid of an insectoid crawler. He stands at 6 feet, 1 inch tall, and is described as being exceptionally well-built. He typically carries himself with an air of confidence, and maintains an upright posture.
Under his clothing, a large black tumorous growth slightly protrudes from his chest, specifically where his heart is located. The growth, while it remains still, does have red lines that run across it, From this growth, black tendrils spread all across his upper body, reaching as high as his collarbone, and as low as his stomach. Two of the tendrils spread down his left arm, ending at his forearm near the wrist.
When Callum is subjected to intense physical stress, his skin will turn black in the area being strained. This is a temporary effect that subsides once that part of his body relaxes. It is unknown if there is any physical change to his skin outside of this change in appearance.
Callum's typical attire is completely black, wearing a black garb with a large overcoat. He wears gloves, boots that run up to the bottom of his knee, and a necklace holding a broken piece of a black antler. His right ear has several silver piercings that vary in shape and size. He also possesses the Mandiblade, a grey gauntlet with a chitinous exterior. This gauntlet covers his right forearm, and a small switch near his wrist functions as the gauntlet's safety. When activated, a curved, insect-like mandible protrudes from the forearm, the tip resting right above Callum's knuckles. 
After being downed by Zindra, Callum develops heterochromia iridium, with his left eye turning a deep purple. When Callum pushes his strength to its limits, this eye begins to rapidly change colors, not unlike what occurs in his Ego form. 
During the party at House Okori, Callum's outfit maintained its black color scheme, but was put in tighter-fitting noble robes embroidered with a golden lining, a black undershirt, and a black headwrap with his locs running down the left side of his face. He was also given black eyeliner. 
==== As Ego-Callum ====
As Callum activates his rage, his skin initially blackens and his irises turn red, as he gradually breaks down into hysterics. If he triggers the form by biting into his arm, any blood that gets on the ground has noticeable splotches of black within it. However, from there, the rest of the transformation is rather otherworldly in nature, as his body "glitches out" and contorts into a larger shape.
In his monstrous form, Callum stands at around 12 feet tall. His body becomes more jagged in shape, especially around his arms, which have grown significantly larger than the rest of his body. His hands, while remaining similar in shape, have sharpened fingers that more closely resemble claws. His growth and tendrils are visible, now glowing red, partially illuminating his ribs and veins in the process. Callum is also able to control this appearance, to some degree, as he is able to give his arm more of a blade-like shape at will. 
Callum's head is the most drastic change from the rest of his body, changing in shape to something more along the lines of a deer, with two large antlers, around 4 feet tall, protruding at the top. Callum's eyes, of which there remain two, are fully widened and glow red. Callum's mouth becomes a jagged red line, the ends of his mouth curling up into a smile. When Callum's mouth is open, it glows red, illuminating two rows of metallic teeth and a lizard-like tongue. Callum may also periodically drool black ooze. 
Uniquely, the red parts of Ego-Callum rapidly change colors whenever Callum successfully "overtakes" Ego. This is first seen when the party is forced to fight an empowered Ego-Callum in a dead zone as a sign of Callum regaining control of his body, and becomes a recurring characteristic whenever Callum succeeds on a Constitution saving throw to rage. 
When transforming back into a human, Callum's body "glitches" once again, returning to his human appearance in a matter of seconds. It is believed that his clothing and gear are merged into his form, as they remain consistent with their appearance prior to the transformation.
===Personality===
Callum is kind, confident, and rather easygoing. He's quick to greet a stranger with a smile, wears his heart on his sleeve, and has a generally positive outlook on the world. While he does have a tendency to tease his friends, he has no qualms throwing his life on the line to ensure their safety and deeply cares for those around him. He is very empathetic and will go to great lengths to help others in their time of need, even towards those who may not align with him. Much like his father, Callum is remarkably tenacious. He remains firm in his goals, and even when overwhelmed by Ego's corruption, he is able to resist its influence and even break through it to weaken Ego's abilities simply through sheer force of will. 
Due to the influence Ego has on his day-to-day life, his father having a Demonic patron, and the strict living conditions of the Bastion, Callum heavily prioritizes individual freedom and autonomy in anything he does. If a situation involves someone being held hostage, Callum is quick to put his own goals to the side in order to help free them. He was also very quick to forgive Echo for deceiving him and stealing his antler necklace, doing so under the condition that he could help her live a life free from the influence of Vanity. He later gets to fulfill, mercy killing Echo to have her reincarnated into a body of her own. If one of his peers intends to handle something themselves, he has no qualms staying hands-off and letting them do so, though he is likely to keep an eye on them from a distance. It's assumed Callum is able to forgive Vikas for his mistreatment because of this philosophy (as Vikas was beholden to the whims of Zhonghou and tried to fight against it to some extent), and his trust in Lin'Xi and Makiri appears to be rooted in this due to their roles in helping him escape the Bastion initially. However, if Callum needs to punish someone, he often does so by taking away their autonomy - notably Director Zindra, who he forces to their side as an act of revenge for her mistreatment of him. 
On top of personal freedom, Callum's morality is heavily rooted in self-improvement. He frequently lifts, speaks about his emotions, and finds enjoyment in experiencing new things despite not being intelligent enough to process them fully. He later admitted to Ryfon that he does not believe that anyone can truly be "good," only better than they were. This philosophy makes Callum tolerant, and even forgiving, towards almost everyone he interacts with, on the provision that he believes they are capable of atoning or improving. While he spares Zindra out of necessity due to her condition, he forces her to ally with them rather than imprison her likely due to this point. 
He particularly seems to adore animals, if not nature in general, as seen with his mild interest in botany and when he saved the tanukis from a crumbling tower. He was also the one responsible for rescuing Doffle, and has expressed interest in stripping naked and going into the forest to "re-attune himself with the wild." Animals appear to bring him some degree of comfort, as he keeps a crocheted turtle on his person at all times and was able to be snapped out of a violent rampage by Echo using her familiars to soothe him. 
Despite Callum's relationship with Vikas having been strained over his involvement in the Bastion, he appears to hold a great deal of love and admiration for his family, frequently citing their advice or sharing random anecdotes about them. His values, and to some extent his methodology, appear to be heavily influenced by his whole family. Fleeing from the Bastion is implied to have been an act of self-isolation after an incident resulted in severe injuries for Arona and Kauri, and he later makes amends with his family and comes to terms with what occurred. Zindra later points out that Callum's strength and ability to overcome Ego is partially rooted in this support system. 
Although Callum has a keen instinct, he is incredibly sensitive to a point of near-constant emotional volatility. His fear often manifests as self-isolating anxiety, his anger turns him cold and violent, his sadness can render him nonverbal, and his happiness makes him an adrenaline junkie at best and can border on mania at worst - especially as Ego-Callum, as he laughs off attacks that typically hurt him. Callum does seem to have some coping mechanisms and hobbies to help regulate his feelings, such as using his turtle plush as a stress ball and lifting. As such, he is generally able to maintain a level-headed demeanor, and can carry that over into his monstrous form in most instances. 
Callum is dimwitted, but is capable of thinking logically at entirely random points. While he is undoubtedly ranked dead last in terms of book smarts compared to his companions, frequently misspelling and mispronouncing words, he is also able to piece together how to utilize Zari’s abilities and formulate an elaborate plan about enlisting the aid of the Broken Horns to aid against Zhonghou. He is also generally capable of reading people, especially Manes, due to the sheer number of them he’s interacted with in his youth. 
A number of Callum's behaviors are later revealed to be traumatic responses rooted in the numerous number of procedures, treatments, and medicines he was subjected to. This includes (but is not limited to) distrust or discomfort around alchemists, potions, and electricity - with exposure to them putting him at risk of going on a violent rampage. Based on the flashbacks shown in Ego's demiplane, it is assumed that Ego is also consciously or subconsciously aware of the same events, even in Callum's human form, which suggests that Ego-Callum's violent streak stems from that. 
Above all else, however, Callum fears that the people around him simply take interest in him because of Ego or his Mane heritage, and feels weak for having to use Ego's abilities at all. These insecurities cause him to be fairly distant and guarded towards almost everyone. He made no mention of his father for a sizable chunk of the campaign, and despite Gaelin and Callum having been friends for an extended period of time, Gaelin was entirely unaware of Callum's affliction until the events of Campaign 3. This wariness also applies to the people he travels with, particularly Echo, who he became especially distant towards after his necklace went missing. 
Callum's unparalleled physical might makes him the physically strongest member of the party, and serves as the party's tank and bruiser.
==Story==
===Pre-Campaign Backstory===
====Background====
Callum was born with Ego and has described as childhood as "complicated," but it is currently unknown when Ego first manifested itself. Callum is said to have been born somewhere in Turtle Clan, and quickly moved to the Bastion, where he remained going into his adulthood alongside his mother Arona and brother Kauri. He largely spent his time at the Bastion undergoing various treatments and procedures under the Manes' oversight in order to understand how Ego works and how it can be destroyed. 
On top of his father, Cheng Lin'Xi and Asukai Makiri often spent an extensive amount of time at the Bastion, working with Callum to a point where the two were considered extended family to the Zidanes. Hiro Mishido and Kishor Dharvim were also present during a number of procedures, and it's believed that most, if not all of the Manes are aware of Ego to some extent and in contact with one another over it. However, at this time, it is unknown which ones have been present at the Bastion and which ones have not. 
Callum's treatment appears to have been conducted unethically, frequently subjecting him to painful tests with very little regard for his well-being. While the full extent of these procedures remain unknown, one noted tactic used was shocking him with upwards of 600V of electricity. This has been a controversial topic among those tasked with overseeing Callum, with some like Vikas and Lin'Xi being concerned about his well-being while others like Zhonghou and Kishor appear to be more interested in harnessing or destroying Ego at all costs. During one such procedure, Callum, in a particularly powerful Ego form, was able to successfully kill Hiro and destroy his weapon, before being subdued by the combined efforts of Kishor, Vikas, and Lin'Xi. Another procedure resulted in the loss of Arona's arm, and presumably Kauri's throat getting slashed by extension. It is unclear if this occurrence was the result of Ego-Callum or Ego. 
Some time later, Callum later escaped the Bastion with the assistance of Lin'Xi. While Vikas appears to be unaware of this, Makiri is implied to have been aware of Callum's escape and was supportive of it. Around eight years prior to the events of the campaign, he joined the ranks of the Broken Horns, defeating an insectoid crawler by tearing off its mandibles and decapitating it to create the Mandiblade from its remains. He later befriended Gaelin, helping him join the Broken Horns' ranks as well. 
===Campaign===
====Light in the Dark ====
Callum arrived at the tower leading into the tomb alongside Gaelin and Marfer, hoping to hunt down a monster of unknown origin. He managed to successfully spot Echo and Yarra, and despite his friendly greeting, opted to slip past the three as they squabbled about Gaelin's lack of directional prowess. He eventually went inside, meeting Walker in the process, and the group elected to stick together as they went into the cave. Down in the cave, Callum found a group of flowers that, thanks to Echo's forewarning, he identified to be his target: a Snapdragon. The group successfully defeated the creature, with Callum finishing it off and harvesting its heart. The group fled the now-collapsing tower, with Callum rescuing the tanuki spirits as they ran outside.
Later, as the group rested, the Snapdragon heart began to get corrupted by Ego, who manifested itself in front of the group as the Ego-Snapdragon. Despite their advantage in numbers, it was an uphill battle, with Callum getting downed and nearly dying before being stabilized by Walker, who noticed the tumor in Callum's heart as they did so. The group was rescued by Astryd Ansirah, who healed Callum and prepared to banish the monster. Callum, feeling re-invigorated, decided to help Ansirah subdue the creature by transforming into Ego-Callum, much to the horror of those around him. After banishing Ego, the group fled to Ansirah's home, where Callum explained his conflicting connection with the monster.
The following morning, Callum convinces the party to go back and defeat Ego, noting that keeping the creature alive will have long-term consequences, revealing that he has killed Ego somewhere around 20 times in the past. He asks Ansirah to join them, and offers to go to the Illuminators' territory to contact her old friend Vish in return for doing so. Echo only agrees to join if Callum lets her take some of Ego's antler, but Callum is hesitant, causing a tense exchange as they find out that Callum has complicated feelings regarding alchemy. The group departs, and manages to find Ego before it finds them, defeating it with relative ease thanks to the presence of Ansirah, whose smites annihilated the creature to such a degree that Echo could not harvest any of its remains, much to Callum's relief, offering a quiet fist-bump to Ansirah while still in his Ego form.
Parting ways with the paladin, they reached the Refracted Reformitorium (or the Prism), and pretended to be a polyamorous Scripted artist alongside his companions. Inside the Prism, Callum broke character to interact with a homunculus named Doffle, befriending the creature rather easily. Down in the prison cells, Callum met Zari. Despite her blindness, she was able to sense Ego within him, and when asked why Ego wasn't there alongside him, he unsuccessfully tried to dodge the topic of death by telling her that he "took 'em to a farm," though he would eventually admit that he's killed Ego more than once, and that it always returns. He was later convinced by Echo to free the prisoners, despite his discomfort by Zari's presence. Callum came up with the idea of using Zari's memory-eating abilities to let the guards forget the group was ever there, using that to springboard into a prison breakout by shoving the guards into Walker's Entangle, notably demonstrating to the others that Callum's strength appears to be significantly more potent than he was letting on. 
However, deciding to free everyone upstairs, the group elects for a more aggressive approach. Callum, triggering his Ego form (and accidentally biting into his arm wrong in the process), rushes upstairs to free Doffle, and letting Zari ride on his shoulder as the two fight off the Prism's warden and the guards. After successfully defeating them, obtaining a Horn of Silent Alarm as well as a book written by Ryfon Sarren, and freeing the remaining prisoners, Callum decides to take Doffle under his care as the group begins their trek back to Ansirah's temple.
==== Sins of Vanity ====
Callum eventually returned to the temple with Zari on his shoulders. Being left to their own devices, Callum uses the opportunity to read the book he obtained in his room, before placing it away from plain sight and electing to spend some time lifting and playing with Doffle. Later in the evening, he would spend time at the hot spring with his companions. There, he revealed that he is constantly in pain, despite his rather upbeat demeanor, and got into a brief spat with Echo over the idea of being perfect, as Callum says he's content being imperfect and doubts Echo's perfection by identifying that she appears to have a very toxic self-image. She would later go to bed, Callum not knowing that she would go into his room and apply a tranquilizing poison to different parts of his room. Walker suggested that they didn't believe Callum was truly in control of his Ego form, even with Callum's insistence that he had been "conditioned" to control it. Thinking on the druid's words, he elects to go outside and test his level of control. He activated his Ego form, and tried to gently pluck a pear from a nearby tree, failing to do so as he crushes it with his giant claws. He would go back inside, retiring to bed in a soured mood.
Upon walking into his room (the door remaining cracked open), his Ego-enhanced sense of smell managed to pick up on a strange scent. Gaelin, who had went to bed earlier and managed to accidentally get poisoned, was out cold in bed, while Zari accidentally let slip that she was on a "mission" that involved Gaelin to some degree. Callum, recalling something in his past, is able to deduce the scent to be a poison coated under his bedsheets and on the door handle. He throws them under the bed, and sits on his bed to keep watch for as long as he could, though he'd eventually start to nod off. Echo, disguised as Marfer, was able to grab Callum's necklace while his eyes were closed, though Callum would quickly see "Marfer" run off and realize his antler necklace is missing. While he gives a good chase, "Marfer" disappears, prompting Callum to wake the others up and lock down the temple, saying that someone poisoned Gaelin, tried to poison him, and stole his necklace. 
On his way to Echo's room he'd hear a shriek from outside, prompting him and Walker to sprint towards the source. There, he saw Echo holding an Ego-corrupted Karma. He took a step back in horror, as he realized what was going to happen. He tests a theory, by breaking off a part of Ego-Karma's antler to see if the creature reacted differently. Upon realizing there was no change in behavior, he tells Echo that there's nothing they can do. After Karma is mercy killed by Echo, he attempts to offer her a hug, though this isn't reciprocated by the warforged, before finding examining Echo's now-broken mirror looking for clues as to how Karma got corrupted. When he and Walker realized that Echo promptly forgot Karma's existence, he turned to Walker and mouthed the words, "What the fuck?" He handed Echo the mirror, and believed Echo's alibi.
Back at the temple, Callum and Gaelin moved rooms for the night, the former asking Ansirah to put Ego-Karma's antler somewhere safe for the time being and getting a glimpse into her vault. After everyone else retired for the night, Walker would go to Callum's room, where they would explain their suspicions to Callum, connecting the dots with her previous interest in obtaining Ego's materials. Callum adds to their theory, saying that Marfer was abnormally tall and knows Echo has illusory magic. More importantly, he reveals that he knows that his antler necklace was broken, because Callum himself was nowhere near in proximity to them, and he's seen others break a piece of the antler and get corrupted before. He further reveals that any remnants of Ego are incredibly dangerous to handle. The two agree to keep a close eye on her.
==== Trials & Truths ====
The following morning, during breakfast, Callum is shocked to find out that Echo did make a move towards Gaelin. He also revealed that he has a younger brother. While they discussed plans on where to shop, Callum revealed that he didn't want to return to Kochuza, out of concern that "you-know-who" is now aware of Ego's existence, and agreeing to head to the Dragon Clan town of Udecisi. Callum and Gaelin also had a brief talk, the latter being worried about being kicked out of the Broken Horns, to which Callum affirmed that he's welcome to stay with them, saying they'll remain friends no matter what. Upon arriving at town, he reveals that he has more gold in his possession than his peers combined, much to the surprise of Echo. He buys a ruby imbued with fire, and Echo agrees to cover the costs for a gem imbued with lightning for him as well.
At the Finer Miner, Callum meets a few of the Broken Horns, including Ashutosh, who is in the middle of a story about how he split a crocodilian monster apart by its jaws. Here, Callum revealed that he encountered a massive insectoid crawler and ripped its acidic mandibles off its head, using them to bisect the creature. He kept one of those mandibles and fashioned it into the Mandiblade, and reveals the burn scars on his hands to prove it. Ashutosh, out of respect for Callum, pays for his next round. After the three traveling companions share other parts of their pasts, they meet Kishor Dharvim, Mane of the Dragon Clan. Callum and Kishor shake each other's hands in a very gruff, hyper-masculine manner, and agrees to investigate the Temple of the Chroma Claw on his behalf. At the temple, the party clears through its enemies and trials, and sitting in the final room, they encounter Kishor, who reveals that he has been at the temple for years. He is able to vaguely recognize Callum and Echo, though their interaction is cut short by the reveal of the impostor Kishor: Rueska Sand. 
After Kishor convinces Rueska to wait outside, Callum eventually speaks to the Mane, revealing his partially-corrupted arm to him to indicate his identity. Kishor, as well as Callum and the rest of the party, sit down for tea, where Callum reveals that he is technically of noble descent as the son of Vikas Zidane, the current Mane of the Turtle Clan. He also reveals that the demon Vikas made a pact with is named Joy, and that it has some kind of link to Ego that he is trying to uncover. He uses their meeting to convince Kishor to help him and his father find a cure for Ego in return for helping him deal with Rueska, which the Dragon Mane begrudgingly agrees to, providing them with a middleman in his disciple Cirro. He also manages to get Echo to reveal that she is the "echo of Vanity," later noting that the two are more alike than either realized. Callum would later help defuse the situation between Kishor and Rueska by helping explain the concept of demons and the Great Fluxx to the latter. Before they part ways the following morning, Callum makes two requests to Kishor if he ever comes across Vikas. The first is to not tell Vikas his son's whereabouts. However, as his second request, if Vikas is able to deduce that he and Kishor made contact, Callum asks him to relay a message to his father: "I'm doing fine." 
==== Kindling ====
When the party returns to Ansirah's sanctum, they take some time to prepare for a trip to Kuzubiro to help liberate it from the Long Talon pirates. Callum spends time lifting, and talks briefly about his relationship with his dad, noting that the two aren't currently on the best terms. However, he does advocate for going to Kuzubiro first, seeing it as an opportunity to reconnect with an old friend. They decide to take Zari along with them, who gravitates towards Callum during the duration of their travel. On the way to Kuzubiro, he manages to sense tremors underground and prevent a group of ankhegs from ambushing Echo and Walker. However, as he attempts to finish one of the creatures with Vitae Furtum while in his Ego-empowered state, the creature is corrupted, becoming Ego-Ankheg and gaining the ability to split into two. Upon defeating Ego once again, Echo and Walker reprimand Callum, causing him to lash out, continuing to insist that he has no conscious ability to corrupt things because Ego isn't him.
As they get to Kuzubiro and elect to liberate it of its pirates, the group takes a long rest, much to Callum's annoyance and concern towards the lives of the individuals inside. That night, Callum's "old friend" is revealed to be Lin'Xi, Mane of the Unicorn Clan, who blesses the party with her protection and explains to Walker that she is indebted to him. The following morning, he (as Ego-Callum) and Walker infiltrate the town, meeting the imprisoned Illuminator cleric Cori some time after his rage subsided and electing to free and re-arm her alongside the other prisoners. After successfully doing so, the party goes to the Starfall Theater, where they are forced by the Marionette to perform in one of their plays. During this altercation, Callum transforms into Ego-Callum, and an attempt at electrifying his blade arm with his lightning gem to attack one of the puppets causes Ego-Callum to shriek in pain and go berserk, violently destroying one of the puppets as well as destroying part of the theater while periodically being electrocuted, nearly hurting Echo in the process. After the play concludes, Callum reverts to a human in an unusually rattled state, being rendered nonverbal and physically recoiling at Echo's remark, "Bad things happen to bad people." When Zari read Callum's thoughts hoping to support him, she stepped back in shock and horror, while Echo offered a hug in a rare act of kindness from the warforged. Callum would break his silence by asking the Marionette if they could see into the future, and then asked one simple question: "Does it stop hurting?" When the Marionette couldn't answer his question, he returned to his despondent mood. 
Echo pulls Callum aside, revealing that she was withholding information about the Broken Horns and that she was responsible for stealing his necklace, offering a new one as an apology. Echo laments that she doesn't know who she is without Vanity, to which Callum replies that she'd still be herself. He also notes that he isn't sure what he'd be without Ego, but still remains firm in his quest to remove the monster from him. He accepted her apology and the necklace (which he described as "gaudy"), but only under the provision that she makes decisions for herself rather than simply following Vanity's orders, noting that it's "quite freeing" to do so, additionally offering to help her gain that freedom. She agrees, though Callum warns her to not try and mess with whatever remnants of Ego may spring from him due to the sheer destructive potential they hold. 
Callum later fights Nuku alongside the rest of his companions. During this combat, Ego-Callum develops fins which allow him to burrow underground, which he uses to damage and knock Nuku prone alongside some of the other pirates backing her up. However, his assault is briefly cut short, as his body spasms and prompts him to start vomiting ooze, once again shrieking in pain like he did at the theater. He maintains this aggression for the entire fight, even as Nuku transformed into a fire elemental with fire shield active. After Nuku's defeat and departure, Callum reverts to his human form in a physically weakened state, again vomiting (with ooze still in the contents) and tightly grasping his chest. He rejects his allies' advances towards healing him, simply asking to rest, as well as confirming that using his Ego form causes him to be in intense pain. He also asks Cori if she knows anything about Ego, which she denies, prompting him to gently explain his feud with the creature and the "rules" of fighting it: if she sees something that looks like him but isn't him, tell Callum immediately. Back at Cori's home, takes a cold shower and lies down near Zari to rest, having been physically strained during the confrontation. He spends a part of the night feeling his lightning gem. In the morning, after trying Echo's "cookie," he heads to Seze's bakery with Zari on his shoulders and the rest of his allies alongside him, enjoying a loaf of cinnamon bread and a loaf of cinnamon apple bread. 
==== The Winter Solstice ====
On their way out of Unicorn Clan territory, Callum gets another opportunity to speak with Lin'Xi, who thanks the party for their help. The two briefly catch up, with Lin'Xi reaffirming her commitment to him and warning the party that the other Manes may not be as reasonable, even (or especially) with Callum's presence. After arriving at House Asakura and realizing they're in Crane Clan territory, Callum inquires about Hiro's whereabouts during the party, to which Lady Asakura all but confirms the Mane's appearance, much to Callum's dismay. He later spends time playing with Lady Asakura's kids.
At the party, Callum messily eats a number of sweets, and goes to bet on mink races upstairs with Cori. He later wins 85 gold after betting on white (with Cori's assistance), insisting that "white puts up a fight," and loudly cheers in excitement. However, this excitement attracts the attention of Hiro, who intercepts Callum and attempts to question him. He's able to escape thanks to the combined efforts of Cori and Echo distracting the Mane, and anxiously runs to the bathroom to do unspeakable things to that toilet.
Callum later returns to the party under the alias "Duke Malluc," an act that his mom apparently taught him to fit in with nobles. Alongside Echo, the party goes downstairs to investigate House Okori's technology, and gets ambushed by two clockwork serpents and a harpoon turret. When Callum rages (believing himself to be safe from the scrutiny of people upstairs), he attempts to destroy the automatons with a beam of electric energy. However, this sets off Ego-Callum, causing them to become violent and irrational once more. After the others get into the other room and meet Rovan, Callum finishes off the remaining automatons and follows them in, reverting back to his human form. Callum begins destroying some of his lab equipment and, after hearing about Rovan's scientific background, reveals his Mandiblade, coldly and silently implying that he intends to kill Rovan. Echo harshly orders Callum to stand down, wanting to keep Rovan alive. He relents, though not before saying, "There will probably come a point where you see what I see, and when you do, you owe me an apology." He stands down, though he remains distant from his peers. He is later turned invisible by Echo as Hiro comes downstairs, prompting him to run upstairs and slip away from the party. Echo eavesdrops on Hiro speaking with Rovan, and is able to deduce that Hiro is looking for Callum. 
While in hiding waiting for Lady Asakura, he bonds with Echo's familiars alongside Cori, warning her that Hiro may attempt to divulge false information while she pledges to help him find a cure for his condition and offering a potential option to explore in Nullifying Nightshade and exploring different ways to take it such as a "lip balm or lipstick." While Callum is skeptical of the plant being the answer to his problems, he warmly accepts Cori's help with a hug. When the two are spotted by a guard, Callum briefly puts his Duke Malluc persona back on, adding a PhD to it and calling himself a licensed therapist while supposedly helping Cori through an animated panic attack. He manages to convince the guard to go away by suggesting he go on a self-imposed exile into the woods to figure out what he wants with his adulthood. After finding Lady Asakura's body, he stands alongside Lord Asakura as his bodyguard, letting him briefly use his turtle to calm himself down after seeing an apparition, Kairos Kinslor. 
Echo goes downstairs to Hiro in order to search for clues. However, Hiro will not provide his assistance unless Echo helps him find Callum, dubbing him "E." She later returns to him and relays that information, which Callum immediately rejects, and is relieved when Echo reveals that she figured as much and didn't want to coerce him into it. When the killer finally reveals himself by assassinating Lord Asakura, Callum becomes hysterical and transforms into Ego-Callum to pursue him into the woods, much to the horror of the party. However, Echo is able to mount his back, and seeing the creature appear to have tears in its eyes, manages to calm him down by playing to his love of animals. Callum reverts back to his human form, revealing that he has been crying as well. 
While the others manage to resurrect the victim, a despondent Callum sees him standing back up and hallucinates, watching in horror as Lord Asakura's appearance flickered between large black scars and having his right arm dismembered. However, he is convinced to rejoin the party by Cori, who reiterates her commitment to help him, though his jolly personality has been entirely stripped away for the remainder of the night, frequently repeating that he just wants to go home. He later flees the mansion alongside the rest of his companions, driving the carriage for a part of the trip. As he drives away, he is spotted by Hiro's familiar, Shishi, who watches him intently. 
Callum is tempted to pluck flowers that he believes are Nullifying Nightshade, but later snaps out of the illusion when he learns that the flowers he was picturing were just red roses, and helps Cori restrain Walker. In his drained state, Echo tells him to get in the carriage and rest. Back in town, after being paid, he speaks with Rovan about his relationship with Hiro, to which the Okori reveals that the Mane told him of Callum and his condition, believing that it could be used to give Rovan the ability to walk again. Callum, however, notes that it will not cure him, and that Hiro acts entirely in his own interests, warning that all Hiro actually wants is to kidnap Callum for his own devices. 
==== Banishment ====
Back at Ansirah's sanctum, Callum speaks to Cirro about the events at House Okori. The genasi reveals that Kishor has made contact with Vikas, much to Callum's chagrin. With his father knowing he's still alive, Callum concludes that it's a matter of when they cross paths, not if. With that in mind, he has Cirro relay to Kishor (and presumably by extension, Vikas) that Hiro has spotted him. Cori also talks with Astryd about information on Nullifying Nightshade in order to cure Callum, to which Astryd voices her skepticism of the plant's effectiveness and suggests that Callum cannot be cured of Ego. 
While eating dinner with everyone, Callum talks briefly about his brother and makes a passing remark about how Ryfon "caused the Fluxx," prompting Ansirah to leave abruptly. While the party questions the veracity of those claims, Callum maintains his position by revealing that his father has been killed by Ryfon previously. 
With the topic shifting to his dad, Echo pulls Callum aside to question him about some information she gathered about Vikas. She first asks him about the name "Zhonghou," which causes Callum to tense up and warn Echo to never say that name again for her own safety. She then reveals that Callum nor Kauri are not mentioned in any texts surrounding Vikas, which he nonchalantly confirms. However, he does mention that, to his knowledge, both he and Kauri are Vikas's biological children. Echo then asks about "Koawa," which, while he does not say anything, causes him to react warmly and tenderly. With that information in mind, Echo decides to ask why Callum does not wish to speak to Vikas. Echo is able to deduce that there is "pain and sorrow" in his eyes as he processes the question, and he reveals that he ran away from his father.
Echo explains that she intends to go back to the Dollhouse in Turtle Clan territory to help rescue Yarra from the clutches of Vanity, but expresses concern for doing so considering the potential presence of Vikas. He agrees to help, on account of his prior commitment to helping Echo truly free herself from her patron, though he insists they do so quickly. He then warns her to not try anything with Vikas, warning that he is very dangerous if he finds someone a threat. Before returning to Walker and Cori, the two briefly discuss the idea of potentially fostering Zari after they're done adventuring together, which Callum isn't immediately opposed to.
Reconvening with Echo and Walker, Callum explains to the party that Vikas knows he's alive, and that encountering him is now effectively inevitable. When Walker reveals the origin of their book, Callum realizes that it originates from Tudogeni, and warns Walker to never show the book to Vikas. However, this warning would not be necessary, as the following morning, Callum would help protect Astryd as she destroyed the book, revealing that the book was Tudogeni's phylactery and that he was mid-regeneration, resulting in the death of the Wolf Mane. However, he is forced out of her sanctum alongside the rest of the party as a result of this.
He, alongside the rest of the party and their companions, make a trip to the Turtle Clan to visit Echo's Dollhouse, with Callum repeatedly voicing his worries about running into Vikas. While sleeping overnight in Unicorn Clan territory, he is returned to Lin'Xi's dream plane, where he asks her to try and redirect Vikas towards Kochuza for a little while. Lin'Xi agrees, but warns him that she might not be successful in doing so, citing his father's stubborn nature. 
==== Your Heart Still Beats ====
At the Dollhouse, Callum attempts to befriend Echo's turtles, and overhears Echo agreeing to help Jassillo Hawkblade investigate a disrupted trade route near Kochuza, which may have involved Vikas. Callum agrees to help in order to free Echo's captive servant, but only on the provision that they do not enter Kochuza, and that Echo hides him from Vikas if he's encountered.
He comes across several old letters from Mogami Kiovi asking Echo for the locations of Callum and Gaelin, and later privately shows these letters to his friend, who expresses excitement at the idea that the two have become heroes in the Broken Horns. Callum, however, gets a bad feeling about doing Jassillo's task, pointing out that the last job that Callum had a bad feeling about resulted in Gaelin getting petrified by a basilisk. He asks him to prepare for a worst-case scenario, which Gaelin agrees to.
While traveling towards Kochuza, they run into a decayed area within Unicorn Clan territory that Callum immediately recognizes as one of Ego's "dead zones," pointing it out to the party and suspecting that it may have been caused by the remnants of a previous altercation with Ego before the events of the campaign. While he does advocate for clearing out the corruption, he admits that he does not know how to fully get rid of a dead zone. After Cori provokes a group of Ego-corrupted Broken Horns members to their location, they attempt to fight them off and flee, though Callum eventually forces the party to rejoin the fray after Gaelin confirms that Mogami is nearby, joining the fray and reuniting with Marfer. 
The group manages to stave off the corrupted Broken Horns as well as a second wave of "Egodiles.' However, they flee with a third wave of "Treegos" at the behest of Mogami, who wants to retreat and build a larger team to clear it out. On their way to Kochuza, Callum finds out from Mogami that she was hired directly by Vikas, and begins anxiously singing to himself in an attempt to keep himself calm about his inevitable confrontation with his father. 
In Kochuza, Callum takes the horns he harvested, alongside Echo's strange metal ingots, and takes them to a weaponsmith to forge a new weapon. Shortly after waking up the following morning, Callum is given a pair of chakrams called Amiotīra. However, while he's in the middle of admiring them, he is interrupted by the return of Vikas, who spots Callum and immediately goes over to greet him. While Vikas is overjoyed to a point of tears and greets him with a warm hug, Callum greets him rather coldly and only reluctantly returns the hug. When Vikas tells Callum that they need to return to the Bastion to say hello to Arona and Kauri, Callum briefly rejects doing so, citing the immediate threat of Ego south of Kochuza. However, he relents when he realizes that Vikas wasn't going to take no for an answer. He speaks to the rest of his companions (including Gaelin), informing them of the change of plans before introducing him to them. He tells Vikas that he will agree to return on the condition that his friends can join him, which his father agrees to. 
Upon arriving at the Bastion, Callum freezes outside, which prompts Cori and Echo to help him inside. The two of them, as well as Walker, reaffirm to Callum that they have no intention to let any harm come to him and promise to give him some backup if things go awry. Callum lets Vikas give the other four a tour while he goes upstairs to say hi to Arona and Kauri. He speaks to his mother first, who is overjoyed to see Callum alive and well. When he sees that Arona's arm has been replaced with a prosthetic, he begins to tear up. However, Arona reassures Callum that she's fine, has been for a while, and that she's just happy to have him back. She goes downstairs to start putting together breakfast, asking him to wake up Lin'Xi after he finishes speaking with his brother. When Callum greets Kauri, he quickly points out Kauri's deeper voice and growth spurt (making him taller than Callum), which the latter awkwardly confirms. While Kauri remains rather distant, expressing annoyance over Callum leaving without any notice, the elder brother sees the scars on Kauri's neck and cries into his shoulder, apologizing profusely. Kauri, like Arona, reaffirms that he's doing fine, adding that he's grown up. After talking with Kauri, Callum quickly stops by to wake up Lin'Xi, who expresses confusion over his appearance. Callum explains the "misinput" but voices his appreciation for her assistance nonetheless. He says that he doesn't want to be back here, and that he especially doesn't "want to go back there." Lin'Xi reassures him that she wants to help Callum by any means necessary. 
Back downstairs, he reunites with Makiri, and introduces the party to his family, particularly trying to pair up Kauri and Gaelin. While the party, the Zidanes, and the Manes eat together, Callum confirms to Vikas that they are well aware of Ego's existence, and that the five of them have been managing well against it. After eating, Vikas elects that the party and the three Manes go clear out the dead zone together, which Callum agrees to. As they get ready to leave, Vikas directs Callum to Makiri by saying they had something for him. Callum, assuming Makiri had a "shiny," gets roped into a conversation with Makiri. As the two catch up, Callum reveals that he feels like he's been a bad brother to Kauri, which Makiri denies, supporting his initial decision to leave and saying that Kauri will understand eventually. Makiri reveals that they, alongside Vikas and Lin'Xi, have been avoiding the Bastion's right wing by any means necessary, and expresses concern over Hiro's awareness of Callum. They give him a silver mood ring that's too small for his finger, which he later gives to Cori. 
Returning to the Dead Zone, Callum figures out how to use Amiotīra, fighting alongside the Manes and the rest of the party in clearing out the Treegos, identifying Echo's wooden mask on one of the Treegos, and retrieving it for her after bisecting the monster. However, touching the mask causes Ego to awaken, and Callum finds himself unable to give up the mask, despite the combined efforts of Cori and Echo trying to stop it. This causes Callum to unwittingly rage, though upon transforming into Ego-Callum, he begins to transform even further as Ego begins to take full control of him. This sends the rest of the party to a white space demiplane, where they see different events from the eyes of Callum/Ego, before coming back to their senses in the white space, where an empowered Ego-Callum is seen flying in the air, preparing to attack the party. 
While they fight Ego and attempt to get Callum to come back to his senses, Callum is able to briefly disable the creature's abilities from within his own body and briefly stave off its control, something that becomes more apparent after Cori is able to cast calm emotions on it. Callum expends his point of inspiration to roll a natural 20 on a strength contest to regain partial control of his body, causing the party to witness another flashback of Arona telling Callum that his heart remains his own, serving as a testament for both his strength and his character. This gives Callum the strength to begin fighting back, causing the parts of Ego that glow red to start rapidly changing colors, and using the creature's power to aid the party instead. He briefly flickers into his human self, points at his heart, and tells them to "hit it very hard." 
As the party finally gains the upper hand against Ego, Walker is able to polymorph into a giant ape and successfully subdue the monster. When Ego reverts back into Callum, the party briefly sees Callum's echo manifest for the first time, though it fades away to reveal Callum's unconscious body moments later. As he comes back to his senses, he points out that he does not remember anything from the moment he grabbed Echo's mask, and remains in a loopy state for the remainder of the day. 
Upon returning back to the Bastion, Cori speaks to Callum in private and fills in the gaps for him, handing him the document containing Procedure 32.1.1 for him to read. He reveals that in addition to his abuse, he was frequently drugged with various medicinal concoctions that did nothing to improve his condition - arguably worsening it through side effects, suggesting that's where his disdain for poison comes from. The number of treatments and procedures he was subjected to was so extensive that, according to Callum, they all blur together outside of the pervasive feeling of hopelessness, which is why he can't adequately recall them. He also confirms that he did kill Hiro, but does not recall doing so and simply went off the word of Vikas, as well as confirming his procedures were conducted in the Bastion's right wing. 
The following morning, Callum sees his echo staring at him from the end of the hallway after walking out his bedroom, and decides to speak with Kauri in private, noting that his brother still seems rather cold and distant from him. When Kauri is initially hesitant to do so, Callum puts on his Dr. Duke Malluc persona to give him "a therapy." Kauri reveals that he was hurt over Callum leaving the Bastion without him after promising they would do so together, leaving him feeling abandoned. Callum apologizes for this, explaining that his window to leave was so small that he did not have time to say goodbye, and that he didn't go a day without thinking of him. Callum tells Kauri that he intends to leave once again. And while he cannot go back in time to fix his mistake, but he can try to fix things now, and does so by inviting him to join the party. Kauri agrees, and the two repair their relationship. 
Callum, alongside the rest of the party, speaks to Vikas. Callum tries to convince him, though Vikas reveals the information willingly because he wants to be honest and help his son, which causes Callum's opinion of Vikas to shift. He reveals that the Bastion is owned by Zhonghou, and the Director is considered Zhonghou's right hand. Vikas, and presumably the other Manes by extension, were coerced into helping with Callum's procedures. Callum then asks Vikas about Noctis, his grandfather and the Turtle Mane before Vikas, to which Vikas implies that Zhonghou was involved in erasing his legacy and that Vikas resents him and the other Manes for it. 
Afterwards, Callum, Kauri, and the rest of the party depart the Bastion. While he does voice his desire to not return to the right wing, Callum does tell the two that he'll come visit more often, indicating that he is parting ways with his parents on good terms. 
==== Arc VI ====
Callum, alongside the rest of the party, stops at Pizza Tree in Kuzubiro to eat a meathead pizza with Kauri, which he unusually rolls up and attempts to deepthroat. Afterwards, he tells the party that he had never seen Vikas look scared until the moment Zhonghou was mentioned, believing him to be responsible for making Vikas compliant in Callum's mistreatment (and by extension, the one responsible for Callum's mistreatment), and wants to find more information about the Lion Mane in order to potentially stop him. He is able to piece together that Zhonghou is extremely old, dating back to the foundation of Xi'Shu.
When Echo is caught by Mānea, Callum and the rest of the party get chased. Callum is able to successfully punch two pirates into a wall, killing both instantly, and sees his echo once again. After ensuring that Echo is safe, the party flees the scene. As the party camps out for the night, Callum takes watch, excitedly doing jogs across the campsite and later lying prone like a soldier. When Cori wakes up after being marked by Zhonghou, Callum brings up an "exceedingly stupid" idea: returning to Ansirah's sanctum to speak with her about Cori's curse and potentially contacting Ryfon, while he reaches out to their allies at the Bastion, with the intention of explaining everything plainly to both sides and swaying them to band together. He points out that Hiro is likely to side with Zhonghou, and Callum has heard that Ryfon despises Hiro more than any other Mane, believing that to be their ticket to negotiate a truce. Because Echo and Cori can be directly tracked while Callum and Walker cannot, the latter two stay behind alongside Kauri in Kochuza to gather their allies in the area. Callum attempts to assuage Cori's paranoia by telling her to not forget that her heart is still her own, hugging her and Echo before parting ways.
Callum details his plan with Walker and Kauri. First, the three of them will gain the support of Vikas, Arona, Lin'Xi, and Makiri. From there, they will contact Mogami to gain her and the Broken Horns as allies, explain the stakes to her (and Callum's connection to Ego), and use the presences of Arona and the Manes to prevent her from trying to turn against Callum. The three agree to the plan and head back to the Bastion. On their way, Callum asks Walker what their "deepest darkest feeling" is, which Walker responds by revealing that they've killed innocent people. When Walker inquires about Callum's feeling, he says he'll think about it. 
Upon returning to the Bastion, they find out that all of their allies have been put to sleep, including Lin'Xi. Callum, upon seeing two strange guards and the door to the Right Wing slightly ajar, concludes that the cause of their slumber is there. Callum concludes that he "can't run anymore," and decides to charge at the guards, clearing them out and entering the Right Wing. The group quickly gets to work clearing out the guards, revealed to be reanimated soldiers, and find themselves in the test chamber where Callum's procedures were conducted. 
The source of the undead soldiers, as well as the unconscious Manes outside, is revealed to be Director Zindra, who stands in the chamber's observation room attempting to conduct another procedure. Callum, however, goads her into coming out and fighting them directly. She obliges, and transforms into a monster not unlike Ego-Callum, prompting Callum to do do the same. However, the wounds that Callum sustained from the previous encounters prompted him to go down, nearly dying before being rescued by the combined efforts of Walker, Hikiki, and Kauri. Upon coming back to his senses, it's revealed that Callum has developed heterochromia iridium as a result of Zindra's downing blow, with his left eye being a deep purple that periodically flashes multiple colors. With the strength he has remaining, he defeats Zindra by repeatedly cutting them with Amiotīra, but pauses before going for the finishing blow. 
While Walker is confused, Callum has caught on and investigates Zindra's heart to see if she is marked with Ego. While her heart is intact, Zindra takes off her mask to reveal a mark around her eye instead. Callum then stands down, first reprimanding Zindra for trying to kill him in the first place, knowing fully well the consequences of doing so. He then asks if she's in the same position as him, which she confirms. She reveals that she is the daughter of Lin'Xi and has the same condition as Callum, though hers appears to take characteristics of Slumber rather than Joy. She explains that she resents her negligent mother for being immortal while she constantly flirts with death due to her condition. Callum notes that he does not know how old his dad is, but has not questioned it because he's gradually understood his dad to care deeply for his family and doesn't see it as something that matters to him. 
Zindra then explains that she saw Callum as an opportunity for them both to understand more about their condition, genuinely believing that they could uncover a cure, and allied with Zhonghou out of disdain for her mother as well as access to Xi'Shu's most brilliant scientific minds. However, Callum notes that she did so at no expense to herself and at every expense to him. When she begins to argue that she wanted to try every solution and concoction that Xi'Shu could offer, he cuts in to float the possibility that perhaps a cure for their afflictions may be located somewhere outside of Xi'Shu. This causes Zindra to stand down completely, and the three decide to take her hostage. 
Callum gathers Arona and the Manes, and sits them all down to explain what's been going on. He forces Zindra to reveal herself to Lin'Xi, and the group pries for information about Zhonghou, only for Zindra to reveal that she does not know Zhonghou's actual motives regarding the use of Ego, just that they disagreed on their motives. Callum then fills the group in on their actions during the campaign, and reveals that they intend to ally with Ryfon. While the Manes object to this, Callum explains that he does not see an alternative and believes they can appeal to him by working off the assumption that Hiro will take Zhonghou's side, or by getting him to stand down and retire his quest entirely. He acknowledges the stupidity of the plan, but finds a degree of amusement in it. The Manes relent, and agree to speak to Mogami on their behalf in order to ensure that she does not attempt to attack Callum. 
While Walker speaks with Makiri to send a message to Cori, Echo, and Gaelin, Callum pulls Vikas into the living room to speak in private, and asks him if Zhonghou is aware of what his phylactery is: his tree. Vikas confirms it, but expresses no concern at the thought of his phylactery possibly being destroyed because it was always going to die eventually. Callum expresses worry about his father's safety, to which Vikas reassures him that he knows the risk and is okay with it because he wants to ensure that nothing bad will happen to his son. Callum promises the same to his father, and the two hug. 
Before leaving the Bastion, Callum and Walker stay the night. Callum roams the Right Wing, stopping in every room, and remembering how it used to be. His shadowy echo is wailing into the corpses of Zindra's undead thralls. Callum looks down upon the experimentation chamber from the observation deck, a perspective on the room he's never seen before. He walks down into the experimentation chamber to the old chair they used to bind him to. He swipes the dust off and lays in it, thinking, how much smaller it feels now. He thinks about all his new friends, his companions, Vikas, Lin'Xi, Kauri, and Arona, and how all of them have supported him in different ways. He gets up from the chair, and upon noticing that he doesn't feel powerless and scared sitting in it, he walks over to his echo. He tries to touch the echo and gets shocked by a jolt of electricity. However, Callum seems unfazed by it, propping the echo up from its rampage and says, "This place can't hurt you anymore. You're stronger than it now." He tearfully hugs the echo (getting shocked again), and the echo reciprocates the hug, disappearing after doing so. With the newfound perspective, Callum speaks to Zindra the following morning, and forces her to come with and help them defeat Zhonghou in order to atone for previously taking away Callum's autonomy by experimenting on him. She relents and agrees to help. 
The following day, Callum reunites with Echo (alongside a newly-revived Karma) Cori, and Gaelin, who returned with a group of their own. Callum is overjoyed at the sight of them, but particularly Karma, who quickly wraps herself around him. He also meets Ryfon and Diza, explaining the situation regarding his background and condition to the former. Seeing Ryfon remain obstinate in his goals despite the efforts of his companions, Callum decides to pull Ryfon to the side in order to convince him to make peace with Vikas, Makiri, and Lin'Xi. Away from the others, Callum voices his disdain for the Manes (particularly Hiro, who is revealed to have repeatedly dissected Callum in the past), pointing out that they are almost all complicit in the experiments conducted at the Bastion. However, Callum also voices his disdain for Ryfon, believing his quest of killing all of the Manes to be short-sighted and harmful to those around them - namely their families. While Ryfon protests by saying that Manes typically don't have families, Callum quickly rebuts his argument by pointing out that Vikas does, and witnessing his father die and come back from the dead is scarring the rest of his family. While he understands the hostility towards Manes like Hiro, he believes that Manes like Lin'Xi, Makiri, and his father are worth sparing because they show regret towards their misdeeds and are trying to atone for them by helping Callum, and thus ultimately have selfless motives in spite of their flaws. Because of this, Callum argues that Ryfon's inability to see that means that the high elf isn't a good person, but adds that he doesn't believe anyone around them is truly good - including Callum himself. However, this does not deter him from putting his faith in those around him because, as Callum puts it, "I'm not sure we can be good people, I think all we can be is better." Ryfon does not press further, and although he does not agree to the terms, he decides to think on Callum's words. 
Back at the Dollhouse, Callum decides to train with Arona in the front yard. The fight starts with Arona deftly disarming Amiotīra from his hands with her battleaxe. Callum then gets the upper hand on her and gives her a small cut. Callum then summons his shadow and tries to surprise Arona with it but she summons her winter storm rage and causes Callum to slip, catching him just before he hits the ground. During breakfast the following morning, Callum finds out about Echo and Rovan's engagement, and immediately asks if she and Rovan slept together, to which Arona scolds him for bad table manners. After eating, he is asked by Echo to give her away during their wedding, which he agrees to. 
When Kagami and Kairos make themselves known, Callum helps defeat them, significantly damaging the former by hacking off her arm and killing the latter by dealing 114 damage in a single turn as Ego-Callum. He and Emiko lead the party towards Vanity to save a kidnapped Rovan, and eventually confront her. While Ego-Callum is able to keep pace with the Demon, the rest of his peers begin to falter. Vanity manages to stun Ego-Callum by exploiting his insecurities, saying, "You don't even know what you are." This gives her enough of a window to successfully rip Echo's heart out and begin to flee, but Ego-Callum, shocked and enraged by her words, comes back to his senses and chases after her while the rest of the party retreats, leaving an immobilized Rovan behind. He is able to wrestle for control of the heart, tossing it back to his echo, while Vanity cuts her losses and escapes. Ego-Callum grabs Rovan and escapes. 
Echo is revived as the party returns to the Dollhouse but lives in agonizing pain from her wounds, causing Callum to sit next to her and let her squeeze his hand like a stress ball. She tells Callum that she would like to die and be reincarnated so she could feel truly alive. While Callum initially protests, saying that her pain is the proof that she's alive, Echo insists on it, believing the reincarnated body would allow her to be truly free from Vanity. He relents, and decides to "give Echo away" like she originally asked, taking out her heart and mercy killing her. When Emiko is brought back to life, Callum is overwhelmed with emotion and goes outside to think. Seeing Zindra outside, the two discuss their conditions, with the aasimar noting that he's fared much better than her in managing their condition, believing that his family has given him a support system to fall back on that she did not have. Callum then speaks to Cori, who followed Callum outside, and confides that he fears that the people around him simply take interest in him because of Ego or his Mane heritage, and feels weak for having to use Ego's abilities at all. However, she points out that Callum is extraordinarily strong, and that she sees that strength come to him in the form of his ability to overcome Ego, not borrow from it. This causes Callum to tearfully hug Cori, with his purple eye flashing colors as he does so. 
=== Post-Campaign ===
====Epilogue====
During Emiko's wedding, Callum quietly reveals to his family and companions that he intends to leave Xi'Shu in order to search for a cure elsewhere, after accidentally coming to the realization when he first spoke with Zindra after her defeat, and invites them to join him on his quest. Although he expects to be turned down, all three of the Zidanes are quick to accept his offer. Walker decides to take up Callum's invitation, Cori declines in order to help rebuild Xi'Shu, and Emiko declines on the basis of wanting to settle down. When speaking to Emiko, Callum adds that he knew she'd likely say no, and reveals that he intends to let her adopt Zari over himself, citing his inability to live a normal life and wanting to grant Zari that chance. Callum promises to visit, and additionally encourages her to stay in contact. Emiko promises to make message the first spell Zari formally learns, so she can freely contact "her Uncle Callum." 
After Callum departs with his family and Walker, he crosses paths with an aasimar paladin affiliated with the Order of the Owls named Kenta, who was sent to destroy him. However, he quickly stands down and falls in love with Callum. The two would quickly get married, and would continue to travel alongside the Zidanes, occasionally returning to Xi'Shu to visit Emiko and Zari. While it is unknown how long the group travels, their heroic exploits together solidify them as some of the most beloved heroes on the planet. Callum particularly becomes famous for his ability to overcome his affliction, and manages to rally an entire planet behind him in his quest to destroy Ego permanently.
Kenta and Callum would eventually settle down in a small home together in the mountains, raising a daughter named Katarine. They were ultimately unsuccessful in finding a cure, as Callum would later die of natural causes in 99 PF, at the age of 104. While around sixty adventurers, including Cori and Ryfon, stood outside his home ready to combat whatever would occur with Callum's death, the group is left waiting as nothing happens. When Cori and Ryfon go back into the house to confirm Callum's status, they find his body entirely still, with his growth shriveled up to a dull gray and a smile on Callum's face. This event was considered so extraordinary that it later became a holiday, as a celebration of Callum's heroic endeavors and the world being "liberated" from Ego.
He is last seen reuniting with his family in the afterlife (including Vikas, who severed his pact and became mortal), guided by Michi and his Ego growth nowhere to be seen. When Vikas points this out and asks how Callum is managing, Callum notes that he's "feeling better."
==Relationships==
===Arona===
Callum and Arona have a close, loving bond. While there is some degree of awkwardness in their initial conversation, Arona does not seem fazed by it, being more concerned about him having been treated appropriately by Vikas. Callum, in return, gives her another hug and expresses his love for her. The two are close enough that they seem to enjoy teasing each other, with Callum goading Arona into raging while they trained together at the Dollhouse, and simply laughed and admitted defeat upon being beaten by her. Callum seems to acknowledge Arona's authority far more than his dad's, indicating a degree of earned respect for his mother. 
===Cori===
Callum likes Cori, especially after her choice to leave the Illuminators. Her healing magic has caused him to trust her rather quickly, and already seems to hold a great deal of love and respect towards her. The two have quickly become friends, with Cori frequently checking up on Callum and offering a lead in his quest by revealing the existence of Nullifying Nightshade. Callum reciprocates this, checking in on her after being marked by Zhonghou, affirming that she's still in control of herself before the two briefly parted ways, and quickly inquiring about Cori's condition upon reuniting. 
===Echo===
Main article: Relationship between Callum and Echo
Echo and Callum have a back-and-forth relationship that frequently teeters between friendship and hostility. Their perceptions of one another change with each session, especially Callum towards Echo. Both characters appear to push out their best and worst qualities in one another. Echo's manipulative and poison-based methodology and attempts to harvest Ego for herself, as well as Callum's cold threats to someone that Echo believed was crucial to her past, nearly culminated in the two fighting each other. However, Echo is often the one to calm down Callum's more volatile fits and appears to respect his boundaries, while Callum, both directly and indirectly, tends to bring out Echo's moral side and later serves as the catalyst for her freedom from Vanity by by "giving her away" (mercy killing) in order to let Cori cast reincarnate on her. 
While the two frequently butt heads and criticize the naivete of the other, they do seem to care for each other in their own ways enough to put themselves in harm way for each other. Callum even acknowledges that the two are “kindred spirits," while Echo has noted in a moment of vulnerability that she considers him her favorite of the group. When Echo later becomes engaged to Rovan, she asks Callum to walk her down the aisle, noting that she doesn't have a "positive male role model" in her life outside of him. Callum happily accepts this without hesitation. 
===Ego===
Callum is directly linked to Ego, and that the two have fought for his entire life. He despises Ego, and when the monster is present, his immediate priority will shift to defeating it by any means necessary. Callum appears to keep track of Ego's behaviors, and constantly tries to stay a step ahead of the creature's ambushes. However, despite the close link between the two, Callum dislikes when someone calls him Ego or pairs the two together, finding it "degrading."
===Gaelin===
Callum is close friends with Gaelin and speaks fondly of him due to the similarities between him and Kauri. Callum did help Gaelin become initiated into the Broken Horns, and despite the former's teasing, does care about Gaelin's well-being and acknowledges him as a reliable friend. Gaelin also appears to be remarkably forgiving about Callum’s monstrous side, holding no grudge towards him after he was briefly killed by Ego.
===Hiro===
Callum has openly voiced his negative opinion of Hiro, calling him "insufferable" and considering him an annoyance to a point where he has admitted to rooting for Ryfon in their clashes. However, behind those insults, Callum appears to be scared of being anywhere near the Crane Mane and avoids interacting with him at all costs. This is later revealed to be due to a previous altercation with Hiro and Ego that resulted in the former’s death. 
===Kauri===
Considering Callum befriends and generally spends his time with Gaelin, it's assumed that Callum frequently thought of Kauri during their travels. When the two reunite at the Bastion, it quickly becomes apparent that the two are presently on very awkward terms, much like the rest of his family, though Kauri remains largely distant during their conversation. Callum has noted this, and told Makiri that he felt like a bad brother, though the latter believes Kauri does not resent him. 
Callum and Kauri later make amends, with the former trusting his brother’s competence enough to immediately offer him to join the party without any knowledge of what Kauri’s abilities consist of. While they travel together, Callum appears to try and take on a mentor role for Kauri, complimenting his fighting style and attempting to put him in more opportunities that grant him "experience." 
===Kishor===
Like almost all of the Manes, Kishor was involved in the experiments conducted on Callum at the Bastion, though it is believed that his involvement was very limited. Callum’s demeanor seems to indicate that the two are on relatively friendly terms, though Callum acknowledges his trust in Kishor is due to his father’s liking of him. Callum was successfully able to recruit Kishor to his side in his quest to find a cure for his condition, and maintains contact with him through Cirro. However, with the reveal of Kishor’s affiliation with Hiro, it is unclear how Callum’s perception of the Dragon Clan Mane has changed. 
===Lin'Xi===
Lin’Xi is directly responsible for overseeing several of Callum’s treatments, although unlike some of her peers, her motive was simply to heal Callum. She has since shown regret about her role in Callum’s treatment to a point where she considers herself indebted to him, and was directly responsible for helping him escape the Bastion without Vikas noticing presumably as an act of atonement. Because of this, Callum and Lin'Xi appear to be very friendly with one another. 
Later, when the two reunite at the Bastion, Callum affirms his appreciation for Lin'Xi, while she reassures him that she remains committed to helping him above all else. While Callum is presumably critical of Lin'Xi's treatment of her daughter, this does not seem to noticeably alter his opinion of her. 
===Makiri===
Makiri’s primary role at the Bastion, as confirmed during a conversation with Echo, was to serve as Callum’s therapist, and presumably monitor his behaviors to tailor subsequent procedures. Like Lin’Xi, it is assumed that Makiri regrets the role they played. 
Callum appears to be very close to Makiri, having no qualms talking to them about what's on his mind. It is assumed that, regardless of what role they played in Callum’s mistreatment, he forgives them for it. Makiri later reveals that they also supported Callum’s escape from the Bastion, although it unclear if they were directly involved in helping him escape. 
===Vikas===
While Callum and Vikas had an awkward, conflicted relationship, the two have since made amends and have vowed to protect each other at all costs. Callum idolizes his father, though not blindly so, as he remains critical of several things his father believes and does. Despite Vikas’s role in Callum’s mistreatment, he was also its most vocal critic, and primarily focused his efforts on training his son and harnessing Ego’s abilities rather than partaking on procedures. 
Vikas explicitly wishes to ensure his family’s safety and well-being over anything else, particularly Callum. This goes as far as being willing to divulge information about Zhonghou despite being under a NDA. Having seen that for himself, and understanding that Vikas was ultimately beholden to Zindra and Zhonghou, Callum has forgiven Vikas. 
===Walker===
Callum holds a favorable opinion of Walker, caring enough about their safety to put himself between the warden of the Prism and a severely wounded Walker despite being wounded himself. Callum also appears to be empathetic to Walker’s plight, finding parallels in their fear of Mānea and his own fear of Vikas. Like with Echo's familiar, Callum seems to be particularly fond of Hikiki. Callum's appreciation for Walker grew significantly when the party was forced to split, and found his confidence to confront the Bastion's right wing in part due to their presence. Callum appears to like Walker enough to ask them about their "deepest darkest secret," and the latter seems to trust him enough to share it with him. 
Walker ends up being the prime catalyst for Callum to reconcile with his past, as Walker ended up pulling out a personified version of Callum's trauma in an attempt to save him after having his body overtaken by Ego. This, in turn, briefly (and literally) removes Callum's pain from his body, which allows him to re-contextualize it and begin the process of healing from it. After the events of Campaign 3, Walker and Callum presumably remain close, as the two travel together outside of Xi'Shu.
===Zari===
While Callum appears to be somewhat unnerved by Zari's abilities, this doesn't deter him from being fairly protective of her. The two quickly developed a sibling-esque bond, and Callum seems completely unbothered by letting her ride on his shoulders, both as a human and in his Ego form, as well as playing along with her "training session" by pretending to be beaten up by her, though he is occasionally prone to forgetting that Zari is blind. Callum voiced an interest in potentially adopting Zari after the events of Campaign 3, but allowed Emiko to do so instead, wanting to grant her a sense of normalcy that he cannot have.
== Character Information==
===Proficiencies===
*Skills: Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, Survival
*Tools: None
=== Notable items ===
* Antler necklace (stolen and destroyed by Echo)
* Mandiblade (mechanically identical to a dagger)
* Enchanted Ruby Gemstone (fire)
* Enchanted Citrine Gemstone (lightning)
* Turtle plushie
* Echo's fake antler necklace
=== Abilities ===
Callum's abilities are largely reliant upon his monstrous rage, which grants him the ability to transform into a hulking monster known as Ego-Callum. Unlike most barbarians, Callum's rage doesn't seem to amplify his anger, but rather his joy, with Ego-Callum being in a constant state of euphoria and laughter. He is also not wholly reliant on his emotions to trigger the form, as he can force it by biting into his left arm. However, this form appears to take a physical, mental, and emotional toll on Callum, as raging requires him to make a Constitution saving throw and can occasionally require a Wisdom saving throw in addition to that. 
Even in Callum's human form, his strength and durability are noticeably superhuman, having the capacity to easily withstand Echo's poisons, being able to effortlessly pick up and carry an armored guard with one arm, and pushing someone into a wall from 10-15 feet away. 
Callum later gains an echo after being pulled out of his body by Walker, as part of his Echo Knight subclass. This echo is autonomous, and is later revealed to be Callum's pain and trauma personified. While Callum was unable to control the echo for a period of time, he has since reconciled with the echo and has gained its abilities. 
====Class Abilities====
*Rage
*Unarmored Defense
*Reckless Attack
*Danger Sense
*Primal Path: Path of the Monstrosity
**Monstrous Transformation
**Vitae Furtum
**Monstrous Armaments
***Earthen Dweller
***Elemental Blast
***Ironhide
*Feat: Sentinel
*Fighting Style: Great Weapon Master
*Second Wind
*Action Surge
*Fighter: Echo Knight
**Manifest Echo
**Unleash Incarnation
*Feat: Legacy of the Stalwart Heart
== Quotes ==
* "G'day!" 
* "Nah, mate. This one's mine." (before raging for the first time)
* "Y'know, you can't be too careful these days. Sometimes the person is the monster."
* "Oh, yeah. I, uh, took 'em to a farm?" (trying to avoid telling Zari that he killed Ego)
* "Mate, it's not gonna happen." (to Gaelin, on multiple occasions)
* "We're like three pods in a pea!"
* "Four!" (after Walker counts "1, 2, 3..." during a team huddle)
* "Does it stop hurting?"
* "Oh, yeah. My brother has ADDHDDD." 
* "You're my sister, my dear." (talking to Echo while using his Duke Malluc persona)
* "Do you want a therapy?" (as Dr. Duke Malluc)
* "In the flesh, and blood, and flesh, and blood, and flesh..."
* "Dad said you had a shiny for me." (to Makiri)
* "That's still your heart. Don't forget that." (to Cori, referring to Zhonghou's mark on her heart)
* “This place can’t hurt you anymore. You’re stronger than it now.”
* “I’m not sure we can be good people, I think all we can be is better.” (to Ryfon)
==Trivia==
*Callum is loosely based on Robert Irwin, while Vikas is based on Steve Irwin.
*He frequently whistles the Bluey theme song, despite the show not existing in canon.
*Up until the events of the Chroma Claw arc, he had never eaten chocolate before.
*He apparently enjoys crocheting, and made a tiny turtle plush sometime before the events of the campaign that he keeps in his possession.
*Callum is the first, and only, instance of a player character doubling as a boss battle. In addition, he (as Ego) is the only boss across all three campaigns to be controlled by a player rather than the dungeon master.
*Callum has the highest recorded damage dealt in a single turn, dealing a total of 114 damage to Kairos in one turn. 
Category:Player Characters
Category:Alive