Zaz Stonesoul

Dwarven Prince trying to ensure he never has to take the throne.

## History

### Early Life

Garadik Stonesoul wed Odror, and tried to conceive for decades. But they failed. And failed. Their kingdom began to question whether an heir would ever be born.

Eventually, that failure changed into a princeling growing—though rumours abound that it was not a natural conception. Garadik knew that his Son was growing to become Zaz Veforgjarrik—the Last Protector. The kingdom prepared over the long pregnancy, ensuring that the progeny would be afforded the best tutors, the best trainers, the best chance to live up to his name—throwing back the Underdark so that there would be no more protection needed.

And he was born beautiful. Dark ruddy hair, stubble upon his chin, eyes that seemed to devour everything in his eyeline. The perfect heir to the rapidly aging king and insightful Queen. They named the boy Veforgjaerrik – Protector in the common tongue. A minute later, to the surprise of Garadik, to Odror, to their midwives, divinators... to everyone... another son was born. This one they named Zaz—Last.

Veforgjaerrik grew into the expectations that were placed upon him, and quickly exceeded them. He deftly navigated the politics of the Clans, bringing more and more of the previously rebellious lineages to heel. He learned voraciously, studying everything that had ever been written on his enemy, interviewing the eldest survivors and anyone he met who had experience. He glad handed with heroes and humans, already planning to expand the empire post-Underdark. And one day, a mere 12 months ago, he outfitted himself in the family’s most powerful artifacts—gleaming armour, humming weapons, and lead an excursion deep into the Underdark to strike the final blow against an enemy he had nigh single handedly turned from an inexorable tide to a manageable pest.

He hasn’t been seen since.

Zaz grew into the expectations placed upon him—which weren’t much. Stay out of the way, don’t distract your brother, and don’t embarrass the family so badly it’s a distraction. He was close with Veforgjaerrik, supporting him and trying to keep up enough that he would be a useful advisor, but he fell behind after a century of their studies. He tried to keep his arms strong so that he could keep helping his brother in combat training, but he failed at this too. He thought maybe he’d become a smith, crafting the arms and armour that Veforgjaerrik would bear to battle. He tutored under Ornn Deathshaper--the only living creature who can shape blackwood. Valrai Zardos -- a pale yellow tiefling--was under tutelage when Zaz was there. A decade into Zaz’s training Ornn threatened to throw himself in the forge if he had to spend another minute tutoring ‘the most thick headed creature under the mountain’.

### Wandering

At the age of 150, Zaz realized that he had started to noticeably slow Veforjaerrik down. He spoke with his Father and his Mother—they had a fine relationship, they clearly cared for Zaz but knew that Veforgjaerrik was the Important one. Zaz wasn’t much for Noble cleverness, but Odror recognized what he did have—a simple charm. They told him to go—leave the capital and just... enjoy his life. He took with him an advisor, Vjud Gorthena, and tried to answer the question of whether a life lived for pleasure could be a life well lived.

Zaz drank at every bar. He took every bet. He gave gifts to the industrious and even adjudicated some conflicts. He followed every whim and refused to exert himself for things that did not spark joy.  Over the next 50 years, he came to realize the value of being wealthy and without ambition. Veforgjaerrik would be a wonderful King, and Zaz would enjoy being a Prince until he died—ideally with a few wives, a husband or two, and having not been sober for a full decade. He pursued a few idle fancies of learning, but books weren’t for him. He did adore listening to the stories of his people. He became known for spending weeks and weeks in a town learning about the minutiae of some people’s lives—doubtlessly unimportant in the grand scheme, but so important to those individuals. He wrote to his brother and was overjoyed whenever he heard about how the kingdom was changing and what good would be done.

Zaz came home to see his brother to the Underdark. He spent some time visiting his parents—his father was aging, but doing so gracefully, clearly ready to pass so that his son could inherit. As time passed and no word came from Veforgjaerrik, certainty faded to optimism. Then to concern. Finally to suspicion.

### The Disappearance

Veforgjaerrik had not returned. This was the worst thing that could happen to the Kingdom. Well, the second worst thing. The worst would be Zaz becoming King. Half of his family were openly revolted at the idea of him as leader, be it because of his intelligence, his capacity, or his history. The other half accused him of killing Veforgjaerrik—casting a spell, crafting a poison. Some of his more distant relatives began to assume that the rumours they had heard about a simple son of the King were planted to hide the true evil genius of Zaz.

Garadik began doing everything he could to extend his life, taking potions, reaching out to Torkal, and performing all kinds of folk wisdom rituals. Zaz saw this and was glad that his father was trying to keep healthy. Someone wrote to Talon and requested that Zaz be given a spot—he would either die and another heir could be found, or he would be honed to the point of efficacy. Or he would get good enough to find his brother.

So Zaz, along with Vjud, Oshga, and Zrex, made way to the North. Odror was clear that he was to do something he had not had to do for many, many years—try his best. People were counting on him.

## Starshine Guild

Zaz joined the starshine guild in secret, hoping that nobody would realize who he was. Keep his head down, work hard, learn a lot. This lasted about one day.

Zaz had the owner of the Crone's Milk arrested after discovering unauthorized tunneling. He came an inch from death the first time he found himself in a fight. He lost a member of his party, found another, and nearly recruited a bandit to the cause. He's been aided by what appears to be Veforgjaerrik in combat, even when he hasn't taken any of the more mind bending mushrooms for hours.