Syndicate Esper

Zak Kerkreb is one of the Watchers. He is the apprentice to Syndicate Tsunami. Syndicate Esper's successor was named Syndicate Stormspike.

## General Information

### Personality

Seeks order and structure through exploitation of systems. Seeks to also create those very systems.

### Appearance

His signature weapon is the Echo of Eternal Cycles

## History

After relocating to a new area with his family (Opiago), he breaks into a higher-class residence, looking to get loot to pawn off as income. It appears the residence was owned by an Appar Operis gang family - the Opiago North Spades. The godfather, Ol' Quinn, took a liking to Zak and gave him an ultimatum, either have his family murdered and hunted down, or leave a pawn of the family, working to pay off his debt.

> *"Extortion isn't my mother tongue. But I am quite good at learning"* - Young Zak to Ol' Quinn.
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He was tasked with finding and ending some leaks and unauthorized skimming of bank notes. He was accused of robbing the bank.

> *"I'm only authorized to let you rob me to the extent permitted by my employers" -* Bank Teller
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> *"Damn. Can I speak to your manager?" -* Zak
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The manager enters.

> *"One is theft, and the other? Commerce. But when a man loses his money, he may have some trouble telling the two apart. The walls have eyes. You might even be able to see them if you squint." -* Zak, extorting a corrupt bank enforcer.
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Eventually, Zak pays off his debt through his services. Ol' Quinn has a new request for him - teach the next heir of the family. He agrees, understanding the potential power this allows him.

> "*You're not going to be some character out of some teenager's novel. You're not going to be a harmless prankster who steals from the rich to give to the poor"* - Zak to the child after he suggests how "cool and badass" he will be after Zak trains him.
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### Watchers

Recruited into an apprenticeship by S. Tsunami.

#### Training

During one of the operations in his training, S. Tsunami and Esper came across an enslaved god. Notably, S. Tsunami commanded Esper to slay the goddess, who was driven insane. Signs of her insanity were seeping into her domain, dying the skies around an inky black.

Upon her death, Sky Goddess Eaethiyeer faded, her once blue sword emanate the blue its master was known for, clearing the skies once more. What’s left is a cold blade, hungering for the peaceful blue skies it once held within.

#### Azimirov

Syndicate Esper secretly founds Azimirov. S. Esper collected some of the greatest politicians, espionage agents, and wealthiest bankers to create an underground society to infiltrate and control over various cities and territories. A lot of the initial operatives were from the gang family. Their goal was power, order, and structure, all values shared by S. Esper.

> "*The reason I don't find you to be an adequate business partner is because you talk too much - especially about the deal at hand. If you kept quiet and talked to me later, I would have felt more obligated to give you the deal. I hope you understand. You made my deal-making a little more difficult, so you end up paying the price by losing your own opportunity to achieve your goals."* - Syndicate Esper, confronting a prospecting Azimirov associate recruit who was the cause of a failed deal.
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His influence over Azimirov (after establishing the organization) wasn't controlling, it was much like Paracosm's relationship with the Watchers. However, S. Esper had access to some of the deepest coffers, could sway governing policies.

### Bloodlust's Capture

Watcher Bloodlust, after his rampage in Veiburnim, was captured and put into prison. S. Esper sent S. Stormspike, Watcher Keres, and Watcher Desert Locust to break him out, and as field training for the apprentices.

After seeing the resolution of W. Bloodlust's relationship, S. Esper made an amendment to the Watcher Code.