Z

Species: fa'e
Gender: male
Age: physically ~20 y.o.
DOB: unknown
Birthplace: unknown
Occupation: (auto mechanic)
Languages: English

Personality
Zev is known for being a man of few words. He has always preferred to play the part of the listener. He's kind but principled, with a strong sense of right and wrong.

As a child, Zev was extremely shy. He tended to take a passive role in social situations, preferring observation to interaction, cautious and patient almost to the point of paralysis. He family valued intelligence more than any other trait, and being of average intelligence, Zev felt inadequate at home. While his family loved him, Zev never felt a part of the same world as them. They enjoyed books and music and philosophy and science, things he had no passion for. Instead, the sort of things that appealed to Zev, like outdoor sports and hard work, were things his family constantly belittled. Zev grew up feeling self-conscious and lacking confidence, especially when it came to speaking up.

Zev developed a strong resentment for being controlled. The school lessons that were thrust upon him, the intellectual world he was expected to participate in -- Zev hated it, but he followed his family's rules. The resentment grew through his childhood. As a young teen he started to resist his family's wishes for his education and was punished, grounded many times and given even more schoolwork. Zev's relationship with the members of his family deteriorated, with the exception of his sister Careli. Because of the way he was controlled throughout his childhood and forced to study, Zev cannot stand seeing anyone being controlled. He believes it is better to remain ignorant by choice than have knowledge or truth forced onto someone. To him, free choice is the most important human right, and is sacred above any mortal laws.

While he holds to his beliefs very strongly, Zev is not arrogant, and will freely admit there are things outside his knowledge and experience. He has never been known to brag about anything or show off in any regard. He is not overtly proud of his achievements. He does take a quiet pride in who he is and the decisions he has made. His experiences have taught him confidence; he knows he can weather most any storm. As a teen, he was scared of taking wrong or incorrect action, but as a youth Zev has come to understand that things have a way of balancing out and he's much more proactive in his life.

Perhaps due to his origins in the grey fields, Zev is something of a pacifist. He has no fear of battle or confrontation, but he would sooner walk away from a fight than participate. It is extremely hard to rouse his ire or temper. He cares little for what others think or say about him and is not phased by insults and jibes. He can be a difficult adversary when provoked, since he only bothers to put up a fight when he knows it's right. Minor infractions and altercations simply roll off his thick skin.

Zev is without question a gentle individual. He has never acted with the purpose of hurting another. He may have a history in the realm of the dead, but he is not himself a killer, and it is his highest hope to free the ghosts of his former realm from their shackles.

Physical Characteristics
Height: 5' 9"
Weight/Build: athletic
Hair: golden with grey tips, worn in a French braid with a bow, sometimes with white, green, or blue ribbons braided in
Eyes: usually green; they sometimes change color depending on his emotions:

Dark green - calm, neutral (normally this)
Purple - angry
Red - sick, out of sorts, confused
Light Blue - startled, surprised
Dark Blue - happy
Yellow - sad, worried
Grey - tired, unconscious

Skin: medium and covered in various scars and colored markings-
Face: Zev has several markings visible on his face. Originally they were black, but as he has grown they have gained color. He has green stripes crossing his face and a smaller red stripe that curves underneath his chin. He has a long scar that runs down the left side of his face from his forehead to his chin, crossing over his left eye.
Attire:

Youth: Old, worn double-breasted black coat, light grey scarf tucked in the collar. Crystal Shard pendant affixed to lapel. Metal spikes jutting out right arm.
Teen: Sheepskin-lined fighter pilot jacket, goggles worn up on head or over eyes or around neck. Crystal Shard pendant attached to his jacket pocket. For shirts and pants, anything sleek and stylish. He always covers his legs -- he's very sensitive to cold. Sometimes he wears a soft greyish scarf as well.
Child: Vietnam-era army jacket with various patches, grey scarf. Crystal Shard pendant worn around his neck.

Other Details: Zev has retractable spikes on his right arm. His left forearm and hand are covered in burn scars. (He never really displays his left arm.)

YOUTH
 

TEEN
 

CHILD

BABY/TODDLER

Collective History:
 

Individual History
 

Post-Extraction
 

Zevulon is based on the Fields of Asphodel and Purgatory concept: a neverending battlefield where the souls of soldiers and war victims are trapped. How Zev personifies this isn't precisely known: in a way he seems to be a natural extension of the place, a sort of guardian or ruler, or perhaps he was merely a fallen soldier doomed to repeat his battles until his soul turned to dust. Only when Zev learns more about himself will he learn his true connection to this place.

Asphodel is sort of grey flower; the Fields of Asphodel are described as the homes of underworld shades in Greek mythology. Supposedly most souls go there; the Odyssey mentions that heroes wander the Fields of Asphodel being pestered by lesser souls. After passing through this region, souls can potentially move on to the Elysian Fields or Tartarus or any other number of destinations. see also

Purgatory is a similar Christian (specifically Roman Catholic) belief, the destination of mortal souls where they are tormented for earthly sins before being allowed into Heaven. It first appeared in Christian theology circa the 16th century.

Zev's ghastly realm cannot be conclusively tied to either the Fields of Asphodel or Purgatory or any other similar places from varying mythologies: it embodies various concepts equally well and might be considered to be the progenitor of Purgatory and the Fields of Asphodel, the original place upon which they are based.