Zanther Mason

**Ser Zanther Mason** is a landed knight in service of House Kallistratos as one of the Thane's honor guard. Zanther is a member of House Mason, but became a career soldier instead of a businessman like much of his family.

Zanther played a major role in *The Crimson Mountains* campaign, first as Nilos' sword teacher and Darius Straton's rival. Later, he became an officer in the Crimson Mountain Company and fought for House Kallistratos in the Battle of Stoneshade.

He had an affair with Darius' wife, Alis Alexius. After the Battle for Stoneshade, they mutually divorced and Zanther took Alis as his wife.

As of 553 ACR & *The Final Will* campaign, Zanther has taken on the role of Imperator (master of military) in Nilos' court. Earning his respect serving in the Crimson Mountain Company, Zanther was Nilos' best choice after Widmund Reinhold left to take his father's place as the Baron of Hastreau. His wife Alis is currently pregnant with their first child.

## Activities in *The Crimson Mountains*

### Episode 1

Ser Mason was introduced as Nilos' sword instructor, replacing the predisposed Ser Darius Straton. Mason was very hostile and brutish toward Nilos, who he saw as being raised and trained to be soft. Mason showed no mercy for the Thane's son, and he taught him that violence was the only true power, a claim which Nilos resisted.

Later, Zanther was a part of Nilos' guard when he and Inquisitor Caius underwent an investigation in the foreign quarter. There they met Hilde, and explored her makeshift temple/hospital set up for the quarter's inhabitants. Zanther discovered a cache of hidden weapons in the temple, and claimed that Hilde was clearly lying about her intentions. Later, after the hospital was raided for alchemical supplies, some threw rocks at Nilos and company, triggering Ser Mason to kill one of the protesters, an unarmed Yurican man.

### Episode 2

In Episode 2, Ser Mason was reintroduced to his longtime rival Ser Darius Straton, a fellow member of the Thane's honor guard. The two met again at Nilos' sword training, where Zanther intervened to bemoan the tired, veteran soldier and the coddled child, saying they both lacked value in this harsh world.

Zanther's actions in the foreign quarter were up for debate by the council, who decided Zanther was not at fault for killing an unarmed Yurican man "in self defense". However, this killing led to an escalation as the people of the foreign quarter rose up in protest at the killing and the raiding of Hilde's hospital. At the protest, things got violent when a crazed Yurican used alchemy to assassinate Thane Kain Kallistratos II. Orders were passed down to Kain's son, Nilos, who- finally agreeing with Ser Mason- ordered the guard to kill the protesters and disperse the crowd, which he did with great pleasure.

### Episode 3

Zanther showed up at Thane Kain's funeral, where he and Darius Straton were pallbearers. There he talked shit to Ser Straton, where it was implied he was banging Darius' wife, Alis Alexius.

## Memorable Quotes

* "The only thing that matters is violence." - to Nilos during sword training, session 1.
* "The age of sword and axe are upon us!" - to Nilos during sword training, session 1.