Dazhis Athmaza

**Dazhis Athmaza** was a dachenmaza of the Athmaz'are and Second Nohecharis to Maia Drazhar. He betrayed Maia in an attempted coup, and committed revethvoran.

## Appearance

When Maia first saw Dazhis, he was "about the same age as Beshelar and Cala" and appeared "shabby and unworldly", although his "robe was of a newer, brighter blue, and his hair held a braid better than Cala's."

Before Dazhis' revethvoran, his hair was cropped, and he wore "a black and shapeless garment that would be his shroud" in place of his maza's robe, "to which he was no longer entitled".

## Personality

Dazhis was publicly supportive of Maia and Cala, but ultimately betrayed Maia in support of an attempted coup, in exchange for the promise of becoming Idra Drazhar's First Nohecharei, and eventually replacing Sehalis Athmaza as Adremaza. There was something else he was seemingly also promised, but it was never explained. He seemed to be unhappy with his family, and had friends, but none who would witness a revethvoran.

## Life

Dazhis was the third of eight children of a schoolmaster in eastern Thu-Athamar, and was seemingly not a happy child. “He did not visit his parents after he was accepted as a novice to the Athmaz’are, and . . . did not correspond with them."

The second day that Maia took up residence at the Untheileneise Court, Sehalis sent Dazhis as Maia's Second Nohecharis, and Dazhis was partnered with Telimezh. Dazhis was anxious that Cala "not forget to go to sleep." Almost immediately, Dazhis was on duty for Maia's first meeting with Csoru Drazharan, and did not approve of Csoru's lack of proper respect for Maia. After Maia and Csevet Aisava dealt with more of Maia's mail, Maia (along with Dazhis) went on a tour of the Alcethmeret to meet his servants.

When Maia wished to visit his mother's tomb, Telimezh was chosen as earnest spokesman on behalf of himself, Csevet, and Dazhis, to protest, and explain that they did not disapprove of Maia's sentiments, but that Maia should not be seen to wander the halls of the Court while uncrowned and in full mourning. Csevet called in Maia's edocharei to consult, and they overruled Csevet, Telimezh, and Dazhis, supporting Maia's plans. Dazhis accompanied Maia on the visit.

Dazhis witnessed Maia answering questions from Lord Chancellor Uleris Chavar as part of Maia's coronation. After Maia's vigil, Dazhis gave his oath to Maia (along with Cala, Deret Beshelar, and Telimezh) as one of Maia's nohecharei. “They were . . . bound to him until their deaths, and past, for they would be buried with him”.

When Maia received another letter from Setheris Nelar asking what Maia's plans for Setheris were, Maia asked for a moment alone with Csevet. Dazhis and Telimezh were on duty, and refused to leave the room. When Maia challenged them, demanding a reason, Telimezh seemingly replied that they were bound by oath and sworn to silence about anything they witnessed. When Maia persisted, Dazhis said, “If you were to die in our dereliction, know that we would kill ourselves at the feet of your corpse. Do you wish that?” Maia was still annoyed, but accepted this, dismissed Isheian, and then spoke to the three of them (but mostly Csevet), saying of Setheris, "We love him not." The three men were puzzled. Maia explained that he hated Setheris, and did not wish to see him or keep receiving letters from him, nor to see "him unhappy or ill-used. Merely *away*." Dazhis appeared shocked.

When Maia first met with Thara Celehar, Thara's near-insolence made Dazhis and Telimezh bristle. When Thara said that he needed to see the bodies of Varenechibel IV, Nemolis Drazhar, Nazhira Drazhar, and Ciris Drazhar so that he could Witness for them as part of his investigation, and Maia promised to accompany him, Dazhis and Telimezh objected, and Maia said, “We pity you that so much of your post lies in trying to prevent us from doing what we must.” This made them confused, but they subsided in their protests.

Dazhis was on duty when Maia attended his first party with Nurevis Chavar.

Dazhis accompanied Maia to visit Aro Danivaran. Dazhis seemed to disapprove of Maia asking if there was anything he could do to make Aro more comfortable, or make Thiriän Danivin's job of caring for her easier.

When Maia continued to keep up a friendly relationship with Nedaö, and spoke to her often, clearly entranced by her, Dazhis disapproved.

Dazhis was on duty when Nedaö secured Maia's company for an unplanned audience with Avro Halezho and Mer Halezh on the matter of a potential bridge over the Istandaärtha, and Dazhis and Telimezh accompanied Maia. Dazhis and Telimezh were shocked by it all, but didn't do anything else to interfere.

Sheveän Drazharan and Uleris talked Dazhis into their employ, promising him that he would become Adremaza after the death of Sehalis, and that he would be Idra's First Nohecharis, and used him to knock out Telimezh, and thus allow Sheveän's armsmen to kidnap Maia to Idra's apartments, in an attempt to get Maia to abdicate. This broke an oath Dazhis had in regard to Telimezh, as well as Maia. Maia bought time for the Untheileneise Guard to arrive and break down to the door to where Sheveän and Uleris were keeping Maia to rescue him.

Dazhis was imprisoned in the Mazan'theileian, to keep him from working maz against Maia. He lost the right to wear his mazei robes.

Telimezh was on duty with Dazhis' replacement, Kiru Athmaza, when Maia went to the Mazan'theileian for Dazhis' revethvoran. Dazhis spoke to Maia while crying, and apologized to him. When Dazhis explained what he'd been promised in exchange for helping the coup, he ended with, "And they would not... his government would not..." to which Maia replied that he understood (though this was never explained). Dazhis then asked if Maia would stay for the ritual, and Dazhis said that he had no one else. Maia agreed to stay.

Afterward, Maia and Kiru stepped outside so that Dazis could speak to Telimezh in private. After that meeting, “Telimezh came out with one of the canons. Telimezh’s face was bone-white and grim, and he did not meet Maia’s eyes.” One of the canons invited Maia and Telimezh to spend some time in prayer in the Ulimeire of the Mazan'theileian prior to the revethvoran. Maia agreed, and Telimezh also accepted. They later attended Dazhis' revethvoran, where Dazhis killed himself.

## Skills

As a dachenmaza, Dazhis was one of a small group of powerful maza able to qualify to be nohecharei for the emperor.

## Relationships

#### Cala Athmaza

Dazhis and Cala seemed to be close: Dazhis worried about Cala taking care of himself. Though this did not extend to Dazhis thinking about what would happen after Dazhis betrayed Maia (Cala's revethvoran). Cala grieved when Dazhis was assigned to commit revethvoran.

#### Csevet Aisava

Telimezh seemed to work well with Csevet, and was often picked as a spokesperson for himself, Csevet, and Dazhis when they needed to speak to Maia.

#### Deret Beshelar

Deret was furious at Dazhis for everything related to the coup, and thought Deret deserved to commit revethvoran. If Dazhis' actions had resulted in Maia's death, Deret would have committed revethvoran as well.

#### Maia Drazhar

Dazhis was publicly protective of Maia, and became angry when people showed him disrespect. Maia felt more comfortable around Dazhis for a time than around even Cala. Maia was angry at him for hisb betrayal, but prayed that his anger would die with Dazhis, and that Maia would not hate him. Maia did not wish him to die.

#### Sehalis Athmaza

Sehalis was seemingly upset by Dazhis' betrayal and revethvoran, and frustrated that Dazhis didn't reach out to his family. Although Dazhis agreed to the coup to replace Sehalis as Adremaza at Sehalis' death, it's possible that Sehalis was meant to die sooner than he would otherwise, and that Dazhis knew this, and went ahead with the plan anyway. Sehalis was the last person Dazhis spoke to.

#### Telimezh

Dazhis and Telimezh seemed to work well together, up until Dazhis used a cantrip on Telimezh to knock him out to allow Maia to be kidnapped in an attempted coup. Telimezh was shaken to his core for not detecting Dazhis' treachery sooner, and nearly resigned from his post. At Dazhis' revethvoran, Telimezh was shaken by whatever Dazhis told him.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Addison, Katherine. “6. The Widow Empress.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Addison, Katherine. “24. The Revethvoran of Dazhis Athmaza.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Addison, Katherine. “7. The Tomb of the Empress Chenelo.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Addison, Katherine. “8. The Coronation of Edrehasivar VII.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Addison, Katherine. “9. The Report of the Witnesses for the Wisdom of Choharo.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Addison, Katherine. “10. The Witness for the Dead.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
7. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “14. Min Nedaö Vechin.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
8. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “16. News from Barizhan.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
9. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “18. Varenechibel's Legacies.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
10. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “20. The Proposal of the Clocksmiths of Zhaö.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Addison, Katherine. “23. The Opposition of the Court.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
12. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “21. Mer Celehar Goes North.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.
13. ↑ Addison, Katherine. “25. Matters of the Aftermath.” *The Goblin Emperor*, English 1st ed., Tim Doherty Associates, New York, NY, 2014.