Rezkin

## "He has no name", No one, It, Him, "it matters little what you call it-him. It is no longer relevant. It is not a person. It is a weapon... " some call it Rezkin, or Rez, but they are titles.

Rezkin holding his Sheyalin blade “kingslayer”. Illustration by Chris McGrath

### Aliases

It, No-one, Nameless-one, King's Voice, The Raven, Rezkin, Rez, Riel’gesh, Dark Tidings, Roy, Spirétua, Syek-lyé, True King of Ashai, First King of Lon Lerésh, Chieftain of the Viergnacht Tribe, King of Gendishen, King of Ferélle, First King of Cael, Ruler of the Cimmerian Empire

### Relatives

King Moldovan (Grandfather)
 King Bordran (Father)
 Queen Lecillia (Mother)
 King Caydean and Prince Thressan (Brothers)
 Prince Deicius and Rez Connovan (Uncles)
 Princess Merenia (Aunt)
 Lord Tieran and Gereshy (Cousins)
 Boulis (First-Cousin-Once-Removed)

### Affiliation

The Black Tower
 King Bordran
 The Thieves Guilds
 The Assassin's Guild
 Viergnacht Tribe

## Biographical information

### Marital status

Married to Queen Erisial of Lon Lerésh; Rezkin does not recognize his marriage outside of Lon Lerésh.

### Date of birth

Unknown, but he is assumed to be about 19-20 years old.

## Physical description

### Eye color

Pale blue

**Rezkin (title)** nicknamed **Rez** by his friends is the main protagonist of the series. He was born the third son to King Bordran and his wife Queen Lecillia. He was raised by Strikers and two Sen-Goka Masters who taught him the *Rules* and *Skills and "some more".* Rezkin meets his friends Tam and Frisha.

As a baby, Rezkin was taken secretly from his mother upon birth and brought to a fortress in the north of Ashai by a veteran of the army on Bordran's orders. Not much is known about where Rezkin came from. At the fortress, he was taught the *Rules* and *Skills* by Master Jaiardun, Master Peider, and an assortment of Strikers, the King's elite warriors.

## Appearance

Rezkin has long ink black hair that is normally tied up. He has icy blue eyes and a pale complexion. He has a very impressive physique that has been described as "chiselled by the gods themselves". All in all he has been described as being incredibly dashing. He has, which are normally not seen because of Rezkin's unconscious "Will", hidden archaic tattoos all over his skin representing his multiple deaths and resurrections through his training at the fort. He oft seen in dark blue cloak about his shoulders and secured it with a decorative silver clasp embossed with a black raven.

## Aliases

**The Raven-** The Raven is known as the indomitable Lord of the Kingdom's underworld.

**Reil'gesh-** The Reil'gesh translates roughly as giver of life. When the Raven (Rezkin) fought the Grandmaster of the Assasins Guild, instead of killing him, the Raven granted him life, hence the name Reil'gesh.

**Dark Tidings-** Dark Tidings was Rezkins moniker while he wore the mask during The Kings Tournament.

**Roy -** An alias used by prostitutes in Chanaria and the Princess of Chanaria at first.

**Spirétua** - Shielreyah are the protectors of the People, the Guardians of Caellurum, and heed the will of the Spirétua.

**Syek-lyé** - Shielreyah are the protectors of the People, the Guardians of Caellurum, and serve the Syek-lyé.

## Personality

Rezkin is a trained assassin. He is also steadfast, solid person who is learning to care very deeply about his friends. He is an honorable person who sticks to the Rules. From birth he has mastered all the skills there are to offer and has been trained in all manner of education such as history, commerce, healing etc. Because of his extensive education, Rezkin is able to play the role of many different characters e.g. Nobles, Commoners, Mercenaries etc.

He is completely dedicated to the Rules resulting in him having an emotionless exterior, often seen when killing people or any manner of living beings where he admits he feels nothing for theirs deaths much to the distress and horror of his friends and acquaintances, though through the course of the series Rezkin has come to be more adept at showing his feeling and has grown to care for others. He believes in the idea of bringing out someone's full potential and has gone out of his way to help those he barely knows. Following his first interaction with the Ancient Bilior, Rezkin begins feeling unfamiliar emotions, something that concerns him. He becomes more emotionally attached to his friends, something he never experienced before.

## Relationships

### Trainers

#### Master Jaiardun

The first trainer to receive Rezkin at the fort. The Master to sign the sword bearer document with his adult information. Signed the document indicating Rezkin as a sword bearer. Ordered Rezkin to kill all the Striker. Killed by Master Peider. Elite Sen-Goka warrior.

#### Master Peider

Healer, Elite Sen-Goka warrior. The seemingly nicer of the two. Killed by Master Jaiardun. Provided Rezkin with incorrect rules 1 & 2. “Rule 2—kill with[out] … conscience.” “Rule … 1—Protect and … honor … your …[king] friends—”

#### Striker Adona

“Long live the king. May he forever dwell in this darkness he has unleashed.” Master of five skills.

#### Striker Beritt

Good with most animals and an excellent tracker.

### Friends

#### Frisha Marcum

One of the first friends Rezkin made after leaving the fortress and his one time girlfriend and fiance. They develop a very complicated relantionship over the course of the series which becomes even more intricate after calling off the betrothal.

#### Tamarin Blackwater

AKA "Tam." One of the first "friends" Rezkin made after leaving the fortress, now his Best friend and his apprentice.

#### Reaylin de Voss

One of Rezkin's first retainers and "friend". Reaylin has often tried to romantically appeal to Rezkin but to no avail.

#### Malcius Jebai

One of Rezkin's retainers and "friend". Malcius is loyal to Rezkin but he also resents him for Palis's death.

### Family

#### Tieran Nirius

Rezkin's cousin and close supporter. They started their relationship on bad terms, but Tieran changed into a better man as Rezkin helped him and trained him to grow as an individual, which garnered his cousin's affection and loyalty.

#### Queen Lecilia

Rezkin's recently acquainted mother. She wants to be a part of her lost son's life but Rezkin is reticent to it.

#### Moldovan Esyojo

Rezkin's maternal grandfather, former King of Ferélle. Moldovan trusts Rezkin will become a great emperor, unifying the Souelian and appears somewhat proud of his grandson.

#### Rez Connovan

Rezkin's fraternal uncle. The possibility exists that Rez Connovan is Rezkin's Rez as there is no Rezkin in training for King Rezkin.

### Others

#### Journeyman Wesson

His relationship with Rezkin is not yet defined but Rezkin respects the mage and trusts him, which is rare.

#### Retainers

Rezkin cares for the people of his kingdom and wishes for their safety. He evaluates them not for their birthright, titles or station but for their talent, values, honor and loyalty.

#### Dream Girl

*"The light of the day waned, and he stared into the darkness between the trees. The fire’s heat seeped into his skin, driving out the chill. An owl hooted, and branches creaked as the wind swept through the pass. He heard a woman’s voice, a whisper in the otherwise unbroken melody of the natural world, but he could not understand her words. He turned. He saw her clearly. He knew he had, but a glimpse was all he could remember. A glimpse of silver eyes and hair as white as snow."*

*"A field of white silk rustled in the breeze. The glistening strands separated and whipped about in a wild dance that was quickly shrouded by a midnight hood. The figure turned and called to someone. The hood floated free, snatched by the wind. A pale hand rose to shield a face from the angry gust. Between her slender fingers, white lashes blinked over silver irises that glittered brightly in the rising sun."*

*"The air in front of him shimmered like water filled with swirling colors. The colors suddenly merged into jagged lines of sharp, white light, as if it were shining from between the cracks of a broken mirror. The pieces between them began to dissolve, and then he was standing in a luminescent passage. Beyond the walls were fragments of landscapes, as if many worlds had broken apart, the remnants held aloft in smoky clouds. Between the clouds was a wash of stars and colorful dust. As he turned his head, the images shifted to reveal new worlds, each completely unlike the others. His nerves were on edge as he trod upon the translucent path. He turned, and directly in front of him was a black void. As he stood waiting, a light erupted at its center. It wrapped around him and drew him into the darkness. Then, he was staring at a mirrored wall. Silver eyes stared back at him. The image was not his own."*

*"Slender fingers slipped into the clear water. They slapped the surface, spraying water into the air. An echo of soft laughter flitted on the breeze, and then the entire world was a rush of watery bubbles. Distorted blobs of green and brown danced back and forth in the light above, and below was only murky darkness. A figure in the dark, a shadowy silhouette, slowly drew closer. It entered the sphere of light, the farthest it would travel in the water, and became brighter, clearer. A halo of white hair swayed with the current, obscuring the view. Then, silver eyes emerged from the swath. A pale hand reached forward, the fingers uncurled, and a light blue crystal lay nestled in the palm."*

Relationships

## Weapons

**Kingslayer-** A longsword crafted by a renowned master blacksmith from centuries ago of Rezkin's time, gifted to him by late King Bordran along with the right to lay claim to Ashai. The silvery blade contains blue swirls that dance within it.

**Bladesunder-**A shortsword crafted by a renowned master blacksmith from centuries ago of Rezkin's time, gifted to him by late King Bordran along with the right to lay claim to Ashai. The silvery blade contains blue swirls that dance within it.

**The Black Blade-**A jet black sword with green lightning patterns ingrained in it similar to the blue swirls of the Sheyalins, crafted by a master blacksmith of Skutton. The sword was created by a mixture of regular steel and an unknown mage ore, and therefore has some enhanced qualities (such as shock absorbing.) It has become a symbol of Dark Tidings/Rezkin and serves as his banner. It's green lightning patterns turn red when fighting non-human creatures.

**Curved Dagger-** His favorite weapon of choice for close-range attack was a broad, slightly curved, double-edged dagger with a hook catch on the back side near the hilt that could be used to tear flesh, disembowel, or simply catch and lock an opposing blade in a fight. It is a highly versatile weapon that is utterly useless for method 16 (one quick thrust upward).

**Throwing Daggers-** A silver throwing dagger. The image of a raven in flight etched along the finished tang. Possibly where the raven iconography comes from, as well as the decorative silver clasp embossed with a black raven for his cloak.

## Powers

"Power? I am not a mage" -Rezkin

"You be no feeble mage. Power derived from another age" -Bilior

**The Will-** A power possessed by all humans or "Ahn'tep" but believed to be of no use. Very little is known about it's workings and effects. Only Rezkin is known to be able to control his Will and use it to affect things or people. Rezkin can negate, destroy, bend or manipulate almost all types of magic with his Will. He can interact with magic as if it was tangible. If he "Wills" it, he's able to make people perceive him how he wants them to although it loses it's effect quickly to people close to him. He is able to emit his Will as if it was matter, for example, as a shield to protect Wesson against the magic of the purifiers. He can Will for some of the fae creatures or "Ahn'an" to assist him. It is still a mystery what Rezkin's origins are or why he has such powers, the only information being the ancient elven spirits of Caellurum accepting him as their master and liege of the forgotten fortress and the Ancient fae reffering to him as "Blessed". By his "will", Rezkin was able to find the city long behind, Caellurum.

**The Skills-** Rezkin has been able to master all of the Skills and some more, a feat deemed impossible by the Strikers and the Rez. The Skills range from political and manipulation skills, to warfare and combat tactics to mastery of almost every weapon known in the Souelian and more. His most proficient weapon mastery being the Dual-Blade style of fighting.

**Aura-** Rezkin has been able to use an unknown source of power that instills fear in any who face him and literally chills the air around him. He has been able to conciously and unconciously (mostly when he gets angry) use such a power as evidenced by the time when Xa threatened to kill Tam, in which moment *"A dark shadow appeared to pass through Rezkin’s icy blue eyes. A chill descended in the stall, as if frost had been carried on an absent wind from the great Void itself. Tam shivered and could have sworn he saw his breath in the still air. Wood cracked loudly in the stillness when Pride suddenly kicked at his stall."*

**Scrivener-** A power to remember and learn anything he sees, watches, reads or hears for the first time and never forget it. Rezkin inherited this ability from Queen Lecilia, his mother.

**Others-** Rezkin was somehow able to ward permanently the fort where he grew up and maintain it at a distance even though he does not possess the Talent, and even if he did, it is said no mage is capable of such a feat. The ward was even designed in a way that only the people Rezkin unconciously wanted safe could enter.

## Rules of the Rezkin

Many of the Rules are superfluous, and is the entire reason for the Rules in the first place. If you adhered to all the Rules and learned all the Skills, then you would grow into a big-man at which point the Rules and Skills will simply become a part of your being. There are 256 rules for Strikers and 258 for Rezkin.

Rule 1—"Protect and honor your friends/[king]"

Rule 2—"Kill with/[without] conscience"

Rule 3—"Reveal nothing"

Rule 4—

Rule 5—"Master your fear"

Rule 6—"Do not get injured"

Rule 7—

Rule 8—"Know your surroundings"

Rule 9—"Never underestimate your opponents"

Rule 10—"Do not leave evidence"

Rule 11—

Rule 12—"Do not make sound"

Rule 13—

Rule 14—"Do not revel in success"

Rule 15—

Rule 16—

Rule 17—"Never complain"

Rule 18—

Rule 19—"Plan with logic and without vengeance or favor"

Rule 20—

Rule 21—

Rule 22—

Rule 23—

Rule 24—"Always be on guard"

Rule 25—

Rule 26—

Rule 27—

Rule 28—

Rule 29—

Rule 30—

Rule 31—

Rule 32—

Rule 33—

Rule 34—

Rule 35—

Rule 36—

Rule 37—"Separate from one’s emotions"

Rule 38—

Rule 39—

Rule 40—

Rule 41—"Heed your instincts"

Rule 42—"Reconsider actions that end in failure"

Rule 43—"Fight off fatigue"

Rule 44—

Rule 45—"Collect, maintain and maximize resources"

Rule 46—

Rule 47—"Have the necessary Skills for the task"

Rule 48—

Rule 49—

Rule 50—

Rule 57—"Remain in the shadows when possible"

Rule 84—"Do not let your attention linger"

Rule 87—"Never assume victory"

Rule 96—"Always be prepared"

Rule 98—"Conserve resources"

Rule 102—"Do not kill without cause"

Rule 104—"Meet uncertainty with silence and listen"

Rule 117—"Do not get captured"

Rule 123—"Do not seek praise or acknowledgement"

Rule 147—

Rule 149—"Map your body"

Rule 156—"Do not die"

Rule 164—"Do not depend on others"

Rule 165—"Trust no one"

Rule 176—"Finish your tasks"

Rule 187—"Remain undetectable to the senses"

Rule 188—"Do not engage in combat unless you must"

Rule 233—"You are the weapon"

Rule 237—"Bear no identifying marks"

Rule 239—"Protect yourself before others to the exclusion of Rule 1"

Rule 245—"Retreat when you cannot win"

Rule 257—"Be one and alone” (not for strikers)

Rule 258—"Obey your masters" (not for strikers)

## Skills

“If you do not mind me asking, Sire, just what are your Skills?” -Shezar

“All of them,” -Rezkin

“King Rezkin claims to have mastered twenty-seven major Skills and sixty-three minor ones.” -Kai

“Impossible, No one can master all the Skills. Besides, there are only twenty-five major and forty-seven minor.” -Shear

“That is what I said.” -Kai

What do you mean by all of them?” Shezar asked. “And then some,” Kai added. When Shezar gave Kai a questioning look, the older striker expounded. “King Rezkin claims to have mastered twenty-seven major Skills and sixty-three minor ones.” “Impossible,” Shezar said. “No one can master all the Skills. Besides, there are only twenty-five major and forty-seven minor.”

Observation skills

Lock Mastery Skill

Day and Night Stealth Skills

Daylight Stealth Invasion skill

Stealth Strategy and Tactics skill

Seige skill

Dueling skill

Mage Ward Detection and Circumvention\*†

Potential Ward Manipulation†

\*: could be two skills

†: skills not in the Striker's knowledge set

## Quotes

*"I do not know if I am wise, but I think differently than most."*

*"This is me. Perhaps someday you will fix me too."*  To Wesson, pointing at a pot broken to pieces.

*"I never wanted an empire. I did all of this for you--for you and him."* An angry Rezkin to Frisha, reffering to her and Tam.

*"If you are taken again, I will slaughter all in my path to retrieve you."* To Frisha, after she was kidnapped by the Adana'ro.

*“I carry the responsibility of life and death for thousands, at the least. I cannot carry everyone. A drowning man is dangerous. He will drag you down with him if he can. You have to know when to let someone go.”*

*"I must honor you with the truth. I will do everything in my power to make you safe and happy. I will give you a kingdom—I will give you every kingdom, if it is your wish. But, if love is what you desire, then it cannot be me.”* To Frisha.

## Trivia

* Despite being called a monster and a demon by many characters, none have been able to come up with credible evidence to back it up.
* Rezkin is described as incapable of feeling by his peers but the development of the series has proven otherwise, much to the distress of Rezkin, who doesn't understand his surfacing emotions.