Xazzeru

## **History**

Xazzeru, like many of his kind was once a simple minded animal, having lived for a large portion of his life in the wild, hunting, raising a family and simply trying to survive everyday life. He lived in the northern reaches of the Wild lands on the edges of the forests with his mate and child. Years spent in the forest, they lived a relatively happy life, mostly safe due to their constant migration and ability to hunt stealthily at night. With a second child on the way, he thought it best to store up more food than normal so his normal hunting trips took him further away from their temporary home. Hunting small game was no big task, he was very efficient and not a very picky eater, he would gather anything from rabbits, rats, to even other smaller birds. Having spent a good amount of time in the forest, he had never actually gone as deep as he had that day, so he wasn't aware of the other dangers that lurked there, he had his first encounter with the Fey. Xazzeru was not aware of the gravity of his actions, but having killed the pet of a fey creature was a grave mistake. After the deed was done, he was startled by the sound of a screaming woman, turning his head towards the disturbance he see's a horribly blindingly beautiful woman screaming at the top of her lungs, eyes wet with tears and giving off a very hostile vibe. Xazzeru tried to escape as fast as he possibly could, but found his body completely unable to move. Wings stiff and legs and heavy as stone, he stands there paralyzed, staring at the woman as she approaches closer. Lowering herself down to look him in the eyes, she calms herself and smiles. Nothing had ever been more terrifying than that instant moment of calm, his heart beating faster than it ever had with fear. The paralyzed bird simply kept his eyes open, waiting for his end as she leaned in, and kissed him on the cheek. His expression went dull as he expected to be killed instantly, but instead he had this incredible pain in his head, if he could scream in pain he would have but as he sat there unable to move, the woman pulled herself away, relaxing herself and watching him, as if waiting for something. Seconds past and Xazzeru's confusion grew, "What had she done?" he thought. He spent the last moments he thought he'd be alive thinking of his mate and child, hoping they would be okay without him. The woman stared into his eyes, moments later she spoke after a snap of her fingers, "How are you feeling?".

Still in Recoil from the pain in his head, his body seems to loosen up, whatever she had done to him was fading, able to move his head and beak now he looks to her. The confusion worsens are he realizes that he had just understood her speech, almost naturally but still feeling unnatural at the same time, he responds "I have done nothing to you, why do you attack?" The words feel strange but smooth all the same, as if he had been speaking it all his life. With a tilt of her head she points to the corpse of her dead pet rabbit, explaining that it was her companion and they had been together for decades. A new kind of feeling wells up in his heart, Xazzeru had never meant to hurt anyone, he was just trying to feed his family, but why was he so empathetic to this woman. Guilt came over him as he apologized, he offered to help pay her back anyway he could, he was quite good at gathering food, his first offer was to bring her a suitable replacement. Upon hearing this the woman agrees with him, a replacement is what she needs, and she already has one in mind. The conversation went back and forth for a bit, Xazzeru asking questions for what to bring her, in the end she bluntly responds with she wants Xazzeru himself. His heart sank at this, he had his family to take care of and that was hard enough already. He humbly declines, deeply apologizing that he could not abandon his mate and child. A few moments of silence and the woman laughs heartily, she offers to take care of Xazzeru and his family, saying that it would be beneficial to both of them. That kind of opportunity was golden in his eyes, and swiftly he agrees to her terms.

Hours pass as Xazzeru goes to collect his kin to bring to the woman in the forest, when he arrives, she sits there waiting for his return, and when all of them arrive she greets them happily. His heart was at ease, no more constant migration and having to hunt for food every day to just to survive, in that moment he was thankful for that rabbits life to grant him such happiness. After his inner celebration had reached its peak, he took a deep breath and looked back at the woman, who stared at him with an intense gaze, her form seemed to flicker for just an instant, with the only change being her standing pose, even if only slightly. Looking around he notices his mate and child gone. Confusion first overtook him as he looked around in worry, and then anger as he looked back at the woman, who simply stared at him and grinned. She explains how decades of friendship cannot simply be replaced, and that he would learn to feel the same as she did. After much protest, explaining they have another clutch on the way and already raising one chick, he begs for her to release them. Her smile only widens as he begs, as she finally breaks out into laughter. Overcome with despair and anger he pleads with her one more time, the owl now cursed with feeling and emotion far beyond his own comprehension, his granted sentience serving as a prison. As her laughter grew louder her form started to fade into a mist, Xazzeru wasn't fast enough to reach her in time as the sound of her voice faded into the wind. He was left there, wife and children taken from him under the promise of safety, he doesn't even know what became of them, they simply vanished before his eyes. Days of waiting, hoping for her return so that he could reclaim his family turned into a sharp feeling in his chest he couldn't describe, it made his eyes water and his body weak every time he thought about them.

Years past by as Xazzeru waited for the woman's return, but she never came. In this time he had met many fey creatures but none would dare speak of her after he described her, though most regarded him as one of their own, some were still hostile. Most creatures deep into the forest were more aware of stealthy approaches,and likely had tricks of their own in place. He had adapted to fighting more upfront, using whatever methods available to gain an advantage, however only in self defense. Despite his anguish years ago, he had learned of morality and good and evil, he began to understand that not all creatures are as evil as that woman, using magic to her own benefit and simply taking what she wants as she pleases. He vowed to never use magic himself, lest he be corrupted like that woman. Her curse of sentience being a catalyst for his anger towards evil, instead of suffering as she wanted, he could help those in need and go against her will. Though his heart is still heavy with loss, he presses on, hoping that one day he can find and face that woman in the forest again to reclaim what is his.

## Personality

Xazzeru is mostly aloof in conversation, while his sentience had granted him some intelligence, it wasn't much. Hes perceptive and likes to be useful and enjoys helping others, usually acting in a happy-go-lucky way, he enjoys being positive and making the best of a bad situation.

#### Fears

Magic used for evil, relationships, losing those close to him

## Aspirations

Xazzeru wants to be a beacon of good, someone that people can look up, he understands that not everyone in the world can be helped, but that won't stop him from trying.