Lore:People Z

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Governor Zantonius (fl. 1E 2720 - 1E 2729)

Zantonius was the founder of Southpoint and its first Imperial Governor during the late First Era. He oversaw the construction of the Cathedral of the Golden Path.

Zaraphus (fl. before 3E 389)

Zaraphus was a Demi-Lich who possessed a special diamond that had several magical properties including the ability to show the owner the location of the Crystal Tower. It is unknown how Zaraphus obtained this gem but he was relieved of it when he was defeated in fair combat by the Mages Guild Loremaster Corim Ashlen.

Mane Zebiden-jo (fl. ~2E 182)

Zebiden-jo (or Zibbiden-jo) was the Mane of the Khajiiti people during the early Second Era, before the unification of the Sixteen Kingdoms. Little is known about Zebiden-jo's life. It is known, however, that he faced one of his parent's spirit and Argonian soul reavers during his trials to become the Mane circa 2E 182. The trials reflected the challenges faced before their ascension.

He died at some point before the unification of Elsweyr and formation of the Elsweyr Confederacy in 2E 309. His remains are preserved in the Tomb of the Manes in Rimmen Necropolis, a huge tomb complex located southwest of the Rimmen itself. He was buried together with other prominent Manes: Jinninji-ri and Tullar-dra. His spirit's rest was briefly interrupted in 2E 582 when The Vestige escorted the remains of the ancient Khajiiti ruler Jora-ri to the burial chamber in the Tomb of the Manes.

Zinfara (fl. Middle Merethic Era)

Zinfara was a legendary figure from the oral traditions of the Nedic Duraki tribe, dating back to the middle Merethic Era. They were credited as the first person to be taught by Shezarr how to harness the power of nirncrux.

Grandee Zizzeen (fl. ~2E 566)

Grandee Zizzeen was a prince of Antiphyllos during the Interregnum. Zizzeen was often called a meritorious man of "most august memory", and the poet Behrouz said that his rectitude was so high that when he accidentally entered a womens' bath house, he "forthwith put out both his eyes, lest he commit an indecency". He was related to Fahara'jad and his mother Grandeya Fanesh, who both were Forebears, whereas Zizzeen was a member of the Crowns. When Hammerfell's High King Ramzi the Distrait died during a time when the province was being ravaged by the Knahaten Flu, Zizzeen attempted to usurp the throne and was supported by the Crowns, but later lost to Fahara'jad.

Zoreh the Tenacious (fl. before 2E 582)

Zoreh the Tenacious was a Redguard hero best remembered for saving the city of Bergama. Long ago, a sickness spread through the city and incapacitated much of the population. A warlord named Emeesh Poison-Tongue learned of this sickness, and sent a band of marauders to rob the weakened city of its wealth. Although she too was afflicted by the sickness, Zoreh stood guard alone. She knew that the marauder's numbers were too great for her alone, so she devised a plan to trick them into thinking the illness had passed and that the city's defenders were ready. She ran across Bergama and lit every signal fire, lighting up the city.

This heroic act rallied the city's sick defenders. They took the field, and although Emeesh's marauders panicked and attempted to flee, they were all killed. Ultimately, Zoreh died later that night from the illness, but her memory lived on. Every year, at the New Life Festival, the citizens of Bergama honor her sacrifice with a race to light up several signal fires throughout the city.

Zurin Arctus (?b - 3E 417?)

Zurin Arctus (also known as the Underking, or by his Breton name Arnand the Fox) was a human spellcaster active during the late Second Era, who served as the Imperial Battlemage of Tamriel under Emperor Tiber Septim. He was instrumental in the activation of Numidium, a colossal construct of Dwemer origin, used by the Emperor in his conquest of Tamriel, by channeling his own "heart"—his life force—into a massive soul gem called Mantella. Arctus would later come to regret this act and ultimately destroyed the automaton, but he was killed in the process before he could reclaim his heart. He later returned as an undead being known as the Underking, though The Arcturian Heresy instead attributes the title to Ysmir Kingmaker. In children's tales, the Underking is portrayed as a fearsome old bugbear who is believed to be the most powerful mage to ever live. In Cyrodiil, Zurin was also occasionally associated with the mage-god Magnus.

History

"Each Event is preceded by Prophecy. But without the Hero, there is no Event."
—Zurin Arctus, the Underking

In Where Were You When the Dragon Broke?, Mannimarco, the King of Worms, claims that Zurin Arctus existed during the Middle Dawn of the First Era under the moniker of Arnand the Fox.

Numidium

Zurin Arctus was a battlemage and master tactician who served General Talos in the forces of King Cuhlecain during the Tiber War. He is said to have crowned the general as Emperor Tiber Septim after the assassination of Cuhlecain and was instrumental in their victory at the Battle of Five Bridges. Grand Vizier Zurin Arctus became the first to hold the title of Imperial Battlemage under Tiber Septim, and was one of the Emperor's trusted advisors; it was popularly rumored that Arctus had helped broker the Armistice with Morrowind, in which the Empire received Numidium.

The Totem of Tiber Septim

Numidium was a colossal Dwemer automaton, designed to be powered by the Heart of Lorkhan. This was not available, but Arctus was able to devise an alternative power source, the Mantella—a gigantic gem infused with the battlemage's own "heart" (life force). Arctus also crafted the Totem of Tiber Septim, a magical artifact that allowed a bearer of royal lineage to control the golem. At the close of the Second Era, Tiber Septim used Numidium to conquer all of Tamriel.

With the conquest of Tamriel complete, Tiber Septim began using Numidium to crush neutral royal families within the Empire, aiming to enthrone Imperial loyalists in their place. Zurin Arctus was horrified at this abuse of power, and attempted to put a stop to it by reclaiming his heart. However, both Arctus and Numidium were destroyed in the attempt. The Mantella was blown into Aetherius, his heart still trapped within it. Without his heart, the battlemage couldn't truly die. He was left in a semi-slumber in a subterranean vault waiting for an opportunity to reclaim his heart. In this undead incarnation, Zurin Arctus became known as the Underking, and from time to time sent out his forces to search for the Mantella.

Artifacts

Dragonbone Mail

Dragonbone Mail

The Dragonbone Mail, or the Dragonbone Cuirass, is thought to be one of the greatest artifacts any collector or hero could own. While many fine pieces of armor have been constructed with real dragon bone, the Dragonbone Mail was enchanted by the first Imperial Battlemage of Tiber Septim, Zurin Arctus, in the early years of the Third Era. It's described as a truly exquisite piece of work, and many have sought to possess it.

The properties of the cuirass allow the wearer to resist fire, and to damage an enemy with a blast of fire. Little is known about the involvement of Zurin Arctus with the enchantment of the cuirass, but an old tale speaks of a debt that he owed to a traveling warrior. Like the warrior, the Dragonbone Mail never stays put for long.

Mantella

Mantella

The Mantella was a massive green gem, a "Crux of Transcendence" that contained the "heart", or life force, of the entity known to Tamriel as the Underking. Twice, the Mantella was used to power the gigantic brass golem, Numidium—first by Tiber Septim when he conquered Tamriel, and again during the events of the Warp in the West.

The Mantella was lost after Tiber Septim's conquests. For most of the Third Era, the Mantella was hidden on a plane of Aetherius known as the Mantellan Crux. It was later located by Nulfaga the sorceress and recovered by an agent of the Blades, which led directly to the Miracle of Peace.

See Also

• For more information about the Underking in the late Third Era, see his Lore Page.
• An alternate version of events is given in The Arcturian Heresy. This account claims that the Underking was really High King Wulfharth of Skyrim, a powerful undead being from the First Era. He was tricked by Tiber Septim and Zurin Arctus, and it was his heart that was trapped within the Mantella. Zurin Arctus was killed in the process, and to prevent political unrest the Emperor claimed that his Battlemage tried to assassinate him.

Books

• The Art of War Magic by Zurin Arctus, with Commentary By Other Learned Masters — Mastering the art of winning
• On Morrowind by Erramanwe of Sunhold — A historical synopsis of the Imperial conquest of Morrowind
• Response to Bero's Speech by Malviser, Battlemage — Commentaries of "Bero's Speech to the Battlemages" book

Notes

• ^	Arctus is formally referred to as "Cyrodilic Grand Vizier Zurin Arctus"; it is unclear whether this refers to his race being Cyrodilic, that he is the Grand Vizier of Cyrodiil, or both. Under his alias of "Arnand the Fox", Zurin is referred to as a Breton folk hero.

• Loremaster Lawrence Schick of The Elder Scrolls Online pitched the idea that: "Abnur Tharn will, by virtue of two centuries' close contact with the Amulet of Kings, become mystically warped into that mad creature known to later history as Zurin Arctus." However, the idea was ultimately unable to be implemented in the final draft of the game.

Gallery

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  The Underking

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  Underking pictured in the book in the end of Daggerfall

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  The Underking on the Daggerfall UK box art

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  Underking appeared on the Box Cover of Daggerfall

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  Underking promotional art for Daggerfall's 27th Anniversary

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  Daggerfall anniversary artwork featuring the Underking (Left)

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  Early concept art

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  Concept art of the Underking from Daggerfall

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  Old concept sketch of the Underking on daggerfall CES cover

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  Underking figurine

References

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.

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Zuuk (fl. 1E 2920 - 2E 1st century)

Lord Zuuk, also known as the Lord Founder, was a Kothringi originating from the Black Marsh active at the end of the First Era and beginning of the Second Era. He was a loyal servant, knight and confidant of Empress Tavia. He founded the Kothringi settlement Zuuk in the region of Shadowfen.

Magnifico Z'za (fl. Second Era)

Magnifico Z'za, also known as the Silent Magnifico, was a noble of Hammerfell who lived during the Interregnum. Following the death of his daughter Haruzeh at the Running of the Dunerippers, the distraught Z'za retired to his house in Sentinel and never spoke again. He spent the last of his days playing a long series of hammergammon with his trained monkey that was named "Lizard". He had a folding hammergammon board of precious wood inlays, complete with ivory pieces and jade multiplier die. At some point after his death, his home was later put up for sale and tagged under his name, as houses formerly owned or occupied by celebrities are believed to generate more interest and therefore sell for higher prices.