Irogan Zoumados

Irogan Zoumados was a Irenish philosopher, painter, poet, author and magic user (Born December 4 in Akrona, Died October 38 in Kibisoar.). He is a deeply controversial figure within Ireni society due to his strong anti-church views, and esoteric philosophy. He would go on to be a large influence for many esotericist and disestablishmentarianist ideas. His works influenced a brand of esotericism called *Zoumadosism*, professed by later figures such as Tikoiaz Firadiasi and Ionius Ihoz.

## Life

Irogan was born in the city of Akrona in the year 4 to wealthy parents. Very little is known about his childhood besides the fact that his mother passed away in 11, which seemingly had deeply affected him, with several of his letters having mentioned the death of his mother. Later in his life he would enroll in the Zernada Ardentium of the Cardinality, where he would study magic, it is here he would study magic, and develop his ideas about it and the church. In several letters he expressed frustrations about the church's controlling approach to magic, to which he insisted "magic is a wonderful thing, and should not be locked away in a fancy university at the wish of that foreign cardinal". In 35 he was expelled from the university following an experiment that caused major injuries to one of his colleagues, having followed several previous failed experiments, and reluctance to compensate the property damages. For much of his life he painted a lot, and had a deep love for art, claiming art to be a form of magic, yet he never published any of his paintings, and remained very secretive about them, yet many of the known ones often depict surreal and dark paintings of strange figures. Following his expulsion, he would take to writing, in which he would write several books, poems and letters about his ideas. One of his first poems following his expulsion was the one titled "Irogan Zoumados", which he would frequently loudly recite in the streets of Zernada. Another notable publication of his was the book titled "A Feast for the Burdened", a novel that was a critique of the church. He became well known following several of his other works. In 38 he was executed following an incident where he entered a church in Kibisoar and recited a poem called "Sweet Death, O' Dark One". He died unmarried, remaining a virgin. Following his execution, a book was found in his house titled "The Black Library", which was confiscated, and remains a piece of lost work.

## Philosophy

He was strongly opposed to the church due to its opposition to magic, which he was strongly in favour of. According to the church, magic drives the cycle that causes the world to loop. He believed that the cycle should run its course, and claimed the church should not tamper with such things. He also had other strange religious beliefs, such as the Black Sun, that would supposedly end the wheel. He also writes a lot in his letters that "fear is the greatest emotion one can have", which reflects the theme of many of his works. In addition he also expressed a strong dislike of women, with many of his letters often describing them as manipulative, dishonest or nagging. Many women who had interacted with him have described his behaviour as odd, with him often trying to avoid eye contact and keeping a distance, or occasionally giving very ugly looks. He has never elaborated.

## Works

One of his most famous poems is the 35 DA poem titled named "Irogan Zoumados", showing a similar style and themes to his other poems.

*"In realms enshrouded, where shadows creep, a prophecy whispers, foreboding and deep.*

*The Black Sun looms, a harbinger of dread, unveiling the path to oblivion's spread.*

*Through the ether's dance, a dire symphony, the world's demise unfolds with wicked glee.*

*In cataclysmic embrace, all life shall quail, as the Black Sun's wrath heralds the final veil."*

**Poems:**

* *Irogan Zoumados*, 35
* *I See*, 35
* *A Day to Die On*, 36
* *Tirina Zoumados*, 36
* *The Eye that Devours*, 36
* *The Fear that Grows*, 36
* *Warning*, 36
* *Who Are We?*, 37
* *The Great Void that is to Consume Me, 37*
* *They Draw Near*, 37
* *In Realms Enshrouded*, 37
* *The Black Sun Looms*, 37
* *Through the Ether's Dance*, 37
* *In Cataclysmic Embrace*, 38
* *Sweet Death, O' Dark One*, 38

**Books:**

* *On Fire Magic; a Report*, 29
* *The Harbingers, 32*
* *The Men Void of Thoughts*, 35
* *Fifty Tenets of the Black Sun*, 36
* *A Feast for the Burdened*, 37
* The Black Library, 38 (lost work)