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ZenToYa

ZenToYa is the Champion of Zemi Dreigiau and one of the Founders of the city of Nefol. He’s the father of SoYa and TsuYa, and older brother of SaRaYa.

Origins

Zento was born to a merchant family within the Ya clan, and spent his earliest years traveling with the merchant wagons. At a very young age, his family was lost to the Winter, leaving only himself and his younger sister, SaRa alive. The two children were taken in and raised by the Arweinydd, Zemi Dreigiau, who recognized Zento’s innate potential as both a magic user and warrior.

Zento was trained in the fighting styles of the Spiral by Zemi’s Dragon Servant, KudakoRe. Once Zento was of age, he was sent out into the world with the quest to meet other clans and learn of their cultures.

During this exploration (detailed in the story of Nefol), he met the Rai Clan and their Warleader, JinRai. The clan took him in and Jin became a mentor to Zento in the ways of clan culture and life – something Zento had little experience with having been separated from clan living most of his youth.

Jin eventually became Zento’s closest battle brother, while NaDoTu, the eccentric scientist from the southern Tu clan, rounded out the friend group. Together, the three founded Nefol and brought the clans of the Inner Realms together under one banner, united against foes such as the warriors of the Spiral and the Ghost Clan.

Before the founding of Nefol, Zento fell in love with a girl named YuKai. She was the daughter of the Warleader of the warrior Kai clan, and Zento’s scrappy demeanor didn’t earn his approval. The two still met in secret and forged a relationship that eventually led to their Bonding and the birth of their two sons. Sadly, YuKai passed away when their children were very young.

Disposition

Under the influence of Zemi Dreigiau, Zento grew to be a young man with bold determination, spirit, and a more than touch of ego. He eventually became one of the most powerful Earthians of the Inner Realms, a fact he was always very aware of. Despite this, his humble beginnings and empathy for others (due to his mind mage abilities), along with the support of Jin and NaDo, kept him grounded and forthright as a leader.

Charismatic and well-loved by the Nefolian people, Zento stood as a figurehead of the unity that Zemi sought for the fragmented clans. Those who knew him more personally recognized him as someone deeply passionate about his beliefs and duty, though a bit of a troublemaker and jokester.

Dreigiau

While founding Nefol and developing the clan bonds was successful in the beginning, the Arweinydd Zerom became envious of the civilization that Zemi was helping to build. Zerom reached out to the enemy of Nefol, the Ghost Clan, and helped empower their scattered ranks, sending them to infiltrate the leadership of Nefol in secret.

This contributed to the defeat of JinRai, the eventual Awakening of Zento, and Zento’s exile to the city of Ceiswyr. Afraid that his presence would cause danger for his two sons, Zento remained apart from them while keeping in contact with SaRa and NaDo for many years.

Eventually, they met again during the Dreigiau storyline, but only when things had gotten so dangerous in Nefol that Zento’s family was no longer safe in the city. However, by the time he was reunited with his sons, TsuYa was already struggling against the darkness of Zerom that threatened to take him.

Throughout the story of Dreigiau, Zento struggled to walk the line between what Zemi asked of him and his dedication to his family. Harboring a deep grief for having been apart from his sons during their most formative years, he swore to never let his duty to his Patron overshadow his duty to family. But this was not an easy path to follow.

Zento eventually challenged the Dark Sygnus, Luccious, during the battle against Zerom. There, he gave his life as a diversion in attempt to allow his people to escape.

Skills and Abilities

• He was the first to define the skills of mind magery within the primitive clans. With no one to teach him how to use this ability, it was he who established a loose concept of how to train other mind mages. This was a power deeply feared by a group of people who were already loathe to trust magic. Only those closest to Zento knew he possessed this power.
• He is also a wielder of many spheres of magic - destructive, elemental, and healing in nature. He’s most partial to lightning and energy magics, however.
• Trained in the art of battle from a Spiral warrior from a young age, then influenced by the fighting style of the Rai Clan, Zento melded his knowledge of both techniques into a unique blend all his own.
• Being the champion of Zemi Dreigiau, he has a special connection with the Arweinydd and can summon him even from a great distance.
• Zento was the first person to ever Awaken and explore the possibilities of an Awakened mindset.

Interesting Facts

• Zento was the first character written about in the Dreigiau. The Book 1 Introduction is from his point of view, and he introduces the entire series.
• He was never intended to be a reoccurring character in Dreigiau. He was only meant to be worldbuilding, backstory, and character development for SoYa. However, the author fell in love with the plucky fellow, and he ended up one of the main characters instead. Isn’t that how it always works?
• He created DuLlafn, the black scythe that his son, TsuYaTai, now uses as his main weapon. This was, in fact, Zento’s first weapon, crafted when he was very young and impressed by using such a hefty blade. He later decided on using something a bit less unwieldy in size, however.
• In the original Wayrift roleplay chats, Zento was brought to Wayrift in his younger form, and then later aged up. Though this will not happen in the current iteration of Wayrift, it was a practice in character development through which the author learned that Zento enjoys (Dragon) DDR and bad B-movies (specifically, the Space Dragon series, which is a reference to Aiden’s dragon form, Artaxerxes (AX).

Items of Interest

• Bhinod—A three-point weapon devised by Zento and perfected through his craftsmanship over the years. It is a short spear with a spike on one end and a scythe blade on the other. The scythe is detachable and connected to the spear haft by means of a thick steel chain that can easily reel the blade in and out for long distance attacks.
• Arfogaeth– Legendary sprit armor created stored in a pure white stone which can be fitted into an amulet around Zento’s neck.

Music Themes

Young Zento theme:
I’m Still Here by John Rzeznik

Zento/YuKai theme:
Diamonds and Rust performed by Blackmore’s Night

Concept Art

AU Young Zento in Wayrift Gallery

(Sorry folks, this is not going to happen!)

Art Gallery

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