Ezra Hume

Ezra with his Elven portable piano.

*"I would do whatever fate tells me to do. "-* Ezra to Vaeltet when asked if he will attack the Doubters if they try to save Taimez.

**Ezra Hume** is a half-Elf, half-Elpian man born in Andria. He has had many occupations related to various arts, masonry of houses, military tradition and studying of the arcane. He was an idealist, determined to build the world into a better place, hence he aligned himself with the Elves and Taimez Vetaa against the New Millennial Empire becoming an elven spy, thus meeting with the other members of the Wayward Mercenaries and joining them. He was later found to be working towards stopping Saego's plan by infiltrating the Friends of the West.

## Appearance

Ezra has a relatively short stature as a result of his father's human genes, but also slim body with dark blonde hair, clear pale skin and hazel eyes. His hair, although long at the start, is later cut in a soldier-like manner. He seems to have not developed a full-grown beard, regardless of his age, and has a parted pencil moustache and a slight goatee. His attire is always elegant, wearing well-kept cotton waistcoats, shirts and trousers in an urban environment. He has a big leather bag for his possessions and usually carries on his back his magically-powered, portable piano.

Before he gained his Lorica - Aaron - his battle attire consisted of a breastplate, a sheath for his two swords and holster for his two pistols. After acquiring it though, he no longer needed a breastplate as the magical armor was able to completely surround his body in a crystal-like material. The Lorica has two big horns coming from its shoulders, that can extend and latch on to distant areas, serving as a grappling hook. Thus he only carries his magically enhanced rapier along with an ancient Unity subcaliber automatic pistol in his bag.

## Personality

Ever since birth Ezra was a person that believed in the inherent beauty of the world and that any man should always strive to better it, helping other people, regardless of their alignment or background. He was usually driven by the principle that good creates good. He had extremely high expectations of himself, was incredibly self-judgemental and was unable to deal with failure even when presented with problems out of his reach experiencing guilt and regret. Ezra lacked a good role-model, but to the contrary was often surrounded by cruelty and negligence. That determined him to be his own role model, regardless of his surroundings. That led him to stubbornly follow his own code regardless what it may lead to. He developed an extremely polar and brutishly rational view of the world leading him to change factions multiple times, when witnessing that some of them don't hold the same values as him. Thus his good nature didn't stop him from breaking his word on multiple occasions, and often led him to come in clash with the people he called allies over moral matters. In order to somehow vent and ease this burden Ezra had a journal with him where he could express his deepest feelings while travelling. When he was young he chose to become an actor as a form of escapism, unable to cope with reality, preffering the realm of art instead , where everything takes place in another world and where things are somehow different.

Throughout his journey with Yuliko and the Grey Ghost Ezra showed great care for them by supporting and helping them in their problems and endeavours. He assured himself that they will make good decisions and attempted to believe in their moral compass. Their main differences were whether it is alright to kill other people and commit crimes like thievery even when necessary. Unfortunately his haughtiness and high expections from them led him to feel alone and prevented him from inititally bonding with the Grey Ghost unable to accept who he really is, always attempting changes in his and Yuliko's personality. Ezra himself was strictly opposed to killing and imposed violence towards his foes, whenever absolutely necessary. He used magic, that only enhanced his or his allies power, but never attempted to learn one that directly harms people, seeing it as dishonorable and unknightly in manner.

Believing in the elven wisdom and stable culture he had the conviction The Earth-Domain of Kadarys should win the war against the Nyarlish Empire and impose a hegemony over the humanoid world. For him the elven morals seemed much purer in nature, able to stop humanity from the continuous fighting it was engulfed in, stopping violence altogether. Sadly, he was unsatisifed the way the elven government decided to use him, as a spy, and also developed a suspicion that their intentions were not as pure as they seemed. This led him to betray them. After his career failure in the Domain and the events up until his enlisting in the Elpian army he reached the conclusion that he cannot help everyone and every side in a conflict cannot be perfect .So he instead focused himself only to protect the people he loved and started to bond with them more, even moving towards more consideration and brotherhood with his former comrade Grey Ghost or other people like Jorga. After his capture by The Friends of the West the Wayward Mercenaries as a group was disbanded as Ezra believed his comrade Grey Ghost is dead and which subsequently led him to join the Friends of the West.

## Powers and Abilities

### Dancer on the battlefield

With no prior experience of how to handle weapons Ezra had to learn how to fight throughout the story from absolute zero. Due to his physique his weapon of choice was a rapier. His previous experiences as an acrobat and dancer helped him in properly controlling the sword, where his flexibility and speed helped in dealing precise blows. Thus he quickly advanced in fencing. The experience he slowly gained against all kinds of enemies contributed to him understanding the battlefield and gave him the ability to adapt. Ezra tries to use his skills in a manner that wouldn't kill his enemies as he is against violence or let alone murder. This mindset gives an edge to some of his opponents and is possible to endanger his allies.

### Elven magical heredity

Due to Ezra's quite novice swordsmanship, he uses magic to aid him in battle and turn the odds in his favour. His Elven genes have him naturally predisposed to develop magical capabilities. Ezra studied to acquire complex spells from almost all types of magical types-empowering him, healing him, creating illusions; charming foes and using transdormations or limitations to the enemy. Due to his lack of interest in spells that directly harm people, he doesn't learn them. Regardless of the fact he studied the arcane for only 4 years, he learnd to cast highly advanced spells which many old wizards could never dream to execute. He mainly uses them in battle like calling for warrior spirits to aid him while executing his blows or giving himself the possibly of swftly striking many enemies through teleportation. Along with this he developed a way to channel these inner magical powers by giving himself luck in his activities despite what fate has determined as an outcome. He mainly uses it in swordfighting like making people miss when they have surely hit, enhance his mobility, give harm to enemies adjacent to the one he strikes despite the fact the blade didn't pass through them or weakening enemy's concentration on the fight, pushing him back.

### Aaron

Ezra is in a possesion of a Lorica Lucida-the most powerful type of Lorica armor, which due to it's sentient thought, he named Aaron. The armor when deactivated is compressed to a small amulet Ezra carries on his neck and when activated extends and covers the entire body other than his face. Aaron's expresses his thoughts only in Ezra's head. Its character is stern and gloomy, not very talkative and known to only experience pleasure when Ezra fights and sheds blood while wearing it. Its abilities are entirely focused for the offensive granting little protection, but great speed and mobility to it's owner. It's useful to him as it makes ordinary armor useless to wear, activating immediately when needed. The armor also has the ability to use the two horns coming out of its shoulders to attach to distant places and pull Ezra in the direction, but also pierce enemies and pull them towards him. Its most powerful ability is the considerable echancement of Ezra's speed when fighting. making him swing his sword or aim his gun much faster, so that he can land twice the attacks he normally can. Every time he uses the latter ability much of his spiritual energy gets drained and he needs rest. If overused it may lead to death.

## History

### Before the events of the story

Ezra Aaron Hume was born in Andria, one of the major cities of the Elpian state, to a stonemason father (Aaron) and unknown to him Elven mother of Earth-Domain descent, later uncovered by him to be the Shroud Priestess of the Temple of Kadarys, Saego Vetaa. Ezra lived his youth in relative wealth, due to his father's relatively well paid profession- a stonemason. During his years in school he often entered fights with classmates who were bullying elves, based on their race, or other kids. Even though he was aware of his small stature, he wasn't afraid to take part. Most of the results were him coming home bruised. Whenever his father, saw him bruised, he beated Ezra more as to show him that his actions were pointless, only bringing him more pain and not the desired results. His father tried to teach Ezra that people couldn't be saved no matter how much Ezra is trying and that their world is ruled by the maxim "Every man can save only himself".

As Ezra grew he developed a keen interest in music, literature and dancing. His father in response introduced him to stonemasonry, forcing Ezra to devote his time to the trait, rather than the arts, even though Ezra disliked the business, he obliged his fathers will and put his artistic interests behind him. Ezra was deeply unhappy by this turn of events, but he still used all his spare time to read, learn new tunes or movements in secret. By the time he was 20 Ezra had learned a lot in stonemasonry and often was helping his father on construction sites. As time went by Ezra noticed his father's disconnect from his work, often drinking, coming late, putting other materials. One particular site was the restoration of an old home owned by an elven family in Andria. Ezra was able to observe that his father made a mistake when installing one of the ceiling grids in their home. When Ezra told his father, he laughed and claimed he doesn't make mistakes. He assured Ezra to not doubt his own father. One month later however the house's ceiling collapsed killing the family. The incident was written off by the people of Andria as a result of the elves' old home and most Elpians were not concerned with the loss of elven lives. Ezra told his father to tell the people the truth, that he was responsible for the incident, because of the faulty grid, and that it's only moral to admit your mistake. His father refused. After long contemplation Ezra spread the rumor of what had truly happened, making his father lose his reputation. After what he had done, guilt kicked in and Ezra escaped from home. He joined a troupe of actors and circus players devoting his life to what he truly loves, moving back and forth between the Empire and the Earth-Domain. He was suspected by many of conducting espionage for the elves in the Empire, In the year of 1225, he started practising sword fighting and his colleague actors noticed he had also developed advanced magical capabilities while travelling with them. After one of his numerous travels to the Earth-Domain he returned with a magical piano, with which he amassed great fame among the human audiences of the Empire. He used his relative fame to write a book reflecting on his numerous journeys and a manual on magical instruments like his'. Ezra also wrote some propaganda pamphlets in the time frame before and after the start of the war between The Empire and The Domain advocating for it, but conducted in a lawful manner. He also wrote a collection of poems. In June 1226, he fled to the elves in Tannavet, where he offered them his services and his loyalty in an exchange for elven citizenship and a position in their army. Before his defection, he already had met Taimez Vetaa, the high priestess of the order of Seiraba, while performing one of his plays, where he grabbed her attention and had the chance to talk to her beforehand about his future alignment to the Domain in around 1225. His first mission was using him as a spy to counter Imperial agents who were tasked with stealing an information crystal from Tannavet. He took the job with great discomfort, due to its sly nature, but decided to do it nevertheless due to his resolve to help the Domain.

## Relationship with other characters

### Grey Ghost

Ezra met John Doe as an enemy who had to be eliminated in order for his mission, given by Taimez Vetaa, to be succesfully executed. Ezra's lack of resolve to kill, combined with his positive outlook towards people and the favourable circumstances of them being led to partner up determined Ezra's decision to give the Grey Ghost a chance. Thus he helped him to get into Tannavet and even vouched for him and Yuliko in front of Taimez, effectively failing his first mission. Despite Ezra's efforts of trusting John and the chance for them to bond in many joint battles, his ruthlesness and shadiness made Ezra doubtful of his intentions. In the shock of George Jeffrey's death, the witnessing of eldritch horrors beyond his imagination and John's refusal to trust Ezra on a number of issues he thought of importance, he decided to go his own way along with Yuliko who he wanted to effectively help, without the Grey Ghost's bad influence.

As they met again in Mearor, Ezra was able to see that John had grown as a person. After witnessing him actively fighting one of his old friends, that was corrupted by evil, and doing other good deeds Ezra started to trust him more and eventually bonded with him. Thus he was deeply upset when he found out that Angelberth supposedly killed him and thereafter when he died for real.

### Yuliko

Like with The Grey Ghost, he had a rocky start with her. She was a mercenary prone to do very brutal things with no remorse, due to her upbringing. He immediately saw it as his duty to guide her in a way that would give her a sense of hapinness and purpose. After their departure for Andria and them spending months together investigating and working for the elpian military, he became attached to her in a way that he never felt before. His emotions for her started as a fathers instinct trying to protect her to an expression of deep love and care. Ezra was very disappointed when he found out she followed him in Maeror and wanted to send her back to Elpia or anywhere safe as soon as possible.

When he found out about her death he was absolutely broken. Because of his guilt for leaving her alone and being the cause of her death, as she died trying to find him, Yuliko's death was the turning point that led him to completely lose his will to live and to no longer view himself as a human being.

### Zaree

After meeting her as an enemy, like his other friends, he won her respect by begging his comrades to spare her life after she was beaten in combat. In return for this favour, he asked of her to take care of an imperial soldier they held hostage and keep Ezra in touch of her actions by sending him telepathic messages every other day. Their communication continued for more than two months, during which he started appreciating the messages and looked forward to them. When he was captured by the Friends of the West, he sent her a plea for help, so she can kill Angelberth and potentially protect Yuliko from dying in the field of battle. When Adaleth gave him the news that both Yuliko and Grey Ghost died, he was briefly angry at Zaree for not protecting them as he expected, but quickly realized his anger is irrational and the fault is his.

### Kaus

Ezra viewed him as somewhat of a father figure and in the start of his journey against Saego Vetaa, Kaus was the only person he could talk with since he was previously affiliated with the Domain - like himself.

### Jorga

Ezra met Jorga in Sen-Jari by accident as he was given the hospitality of his parents. Due to his Elven heritage he decided to hide his personality by an alias - an imperial soldier named Tanlys. As he saw the boy full of energy and curiosity of what war is like, he quickly took action by trying to disgust Jorga of himself and make him more inclined to hate war and what it does to people, by acting rude towards him and his family. After Jorga's parents were killed, the boy wanted to join the group and help them in order to take revenge for his loss, but Ezra abruptly insulted him and told him to scram after his request in an effort to save his life. After they met each other once more Ezra, although critical of him and his guardian Vellyt for letting him fight, saw his potential and capabilities and decided that Jorga deserves the freedom to decide his future, even if it means death. Ezra did his best to keep him alive often putting his life on the line in the process.

### Adaleth

During Ezra's mission in Maeror, he met Adaleth by coincidence. She looked a bit distrustful after travelling together with a member of the Friends of the West and by telling him her absurd story. During the trip Ezra tried to trust her, because he saw her as similar to him. When she betrayed him and Grey Ghost, he was very disappointed of his own stupidity for doing so, putting guilt on himself for the deaths in the village they visited that went through a Consumption Event, thinking Adaleth caused it.

When he joined the Doubters he had the chance to clear things out with Adaleth. She also showed willingness to listen to his problems and deep emotional issues, always being understanding and ready to help, which restored his lost trust in her.

### Seimora

When Ezra was appointed by Taimez to guard the information crystal in Tannavet and his subsequent failure of eliminating the Grey Ghost and Yuliko, bringing them in the city instead, he was approached by Seimora as his superior and publically humiliated by him for failing the mission. Although they started on a bad note Ezra respected Seimora for his devotion and loyalty to Taimez .

### Taimez Vetaa

In their first encounter as an actor and audience Ezra had Taimez impressed by his talents and spirit. He found her enigmatic enough to follow her goal in order to fulfill his own one. Due to his suspicion that her intentions were not pure he made the decision to steal the information crystal from her and find out her plans. He thought of her as an enemy, until joining Saego's forces. He worked undercover with the Other Taimez who was nearly identical in behaviour and ideas to the real one, finding her a worthy ally. After discovering the information that Saego Vetaa is his mother, he saw Taimez in a completely new light. As she was the only person alive he had any connection with and due to his previous affection to the Other Taimez, he developed deep caring for her. After being psychologically broken during the battle in Ulthar, Taimez became his only reason to be alive.