Eristides Ambrose Thaddeus Dorothy Isidore Zarak
Lord Eristides Ambrose Thaddeus Dorothy Isidore Zarak (a.k.a. Eris)
Hailing from the only significant noble tiefling family in Beowood, Eris grew up privileged, if not looked down upon by his peers, and wanting for few things. This gave him the opportunity to focus almost entirely on his field of interest from a young age.
Somewhat oblivious, due to his sheltered life, his family noticed early on that Eris was often caught up in his own thoughts. He perceived the world in his own way and this way was sometimes disconnected from the world around him. Though fiercely intelligent, he struggled to fit into the noble society and his family often worried about him and how he might fare in the political game in the future. However, whenever he would latch on to a subject, it would be all he could focus on for long periods of time. Giving up on pursuits of a noble social life, Eris chose to create his own path and find his own place in the world.
Though she would not deign to attend weddings or birth ceremonies, Eris' grandmother took great pleasure in attending the funerals of people she knew, and she knew many people. Fond of Eris' unique ways (secretly enjoying the great distress he could leave nobles in from offending their sensibilities, and his witty observances of the world around him) she would often bring him along to funerals with her. Eris loved it. It instilled an early fascination with death and burial traditions that has so far kept his interest since. It has become his life and he has known little else since.
He worked at his subject for years and eventually became recognized and respected in his field. Wanting him to be happy, but also wanting to distance him from the politics of nobility, his family pulled some strings and got him apprenticed to a professor with a similar specialization at Beowood Academy. Eris eventually worked himself into becoming a researcher at the university where he has been working since.
Mental characteristics
Gender Identity
Eris identifies as male.
Sexuality
Eris does not pay much attention to sexuality and relationships. However, he can feel sexual and romantic attraction, its just rare that he can pull himself away from his work long enough to do so. He held a rather complex relationship with his colleague Amonthep. Though never formally together, he is the closest thing Eris has to a friend and confident. They have had sexual relations in the past and Amonthep has pushed for more with little success.
He is demisexual.
Education
Eris studied under a variety of personal tutors for many years until he was accepted to the Beowood Academy. There he studied under Professor Fluffburn along with his peer, and semi-friend, Amonthep.
Employment
Eris works for the Beowood Academy as a cultural anthropologist, doing field research and publishing his findings based on his research. His one and only assistant is Amonthep.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Eris graduated in his year within the top 10 students. He's seen as a genius in his field and is well respected for his knowledge, despite being disliked for his general personality.
Eris has spent years writing a book, compiling detailed accounts, and analysis, of how different cultures across Faerun treat death and how they practice burial traditions. In it he examines many different cultures, including Drow, Triton, and even Aarakocra. Last year, Eris finally finished his book, after a series of short research expeditions across Faerun. It is in the process of being published currently.
The completion of this book has inspired Eris to pursue a new branch of his research.
Failures & Embarrassments
Eris is generally seen incompetent by his family for his lack of political knowledge.
He is generally disliked by his peers at the Academy and is considered the stupidest genius at the Academy due to his social and cultural incompetence.
Mental Trauma
Eris has Mysophobia due to his work with dead bodies and watching the disease that tends to spread around corpses. This has also developed into a strong physical and mental dislike of being touched and touching things with uncovered skin.
Eris also has ongoing trauma from his childhood. An outcast in his family, Eris has never felt like he was good for anything in their eyes. When his grandmother started taking him to funerals, and seemed supportive when he showed interest in the traditions they saw, he latched onto this interest and hasn't let go since.
A positive development on the surface, this has had hidden consequences. Eris has built his entire sense of self around his research. Without it, he would no longer even know who he is so he guards the book he wrote, and the one he is currently working on, with everything in him.
Morality & Philosophy
Eris has no strong sense of morality. He has no desire to actively harm people, but also does not go out of his way to help others he has no personal attachment to. In fact, because of his own discomfort with social situations, Eris will often tell people what he thinks they want to hear rather than anything he plans on following through on, just to end the interaction as quickly as possible.
The only strong moral sense that Eris has is towards the dead. Eris shows more respect and worry towards the dead and their rest than the living. He abhors those who disturb graves and the dead who are at rest, and if he finds dead who have not been put to rest, he will attempt to do so himself. The undead are vile to him and should be destroyed. The only exception are undead who seemed to have retained their souls. Eris still dislikes them, but does not hold the same hatred as he does other undead.
Taboos
Eris feels extreme dislike for the undead, disrespect for the dead, germs, people touching him, and any attempt to separate him from his research.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Eris dreams to compile the most in-depth anthropological account of death and burial culture and traditions across Faerun. He has begun to study obscure an taboo traditions recently.
He hopes this will one day earn him the respect of his family.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Extremely good at studying and researching, extremely inept at social and cultural knowledge and interactions.
Likes & Dislikes
Likes: His research. His companions. Sofya. Being clean. Funerals. Talking about his research. His family's approval. His grandmother.
Dislikes: His father. The undead. Most people. Distractions from his research. Threats to his research. Barovia.
Virtues & Personality perks
Intelligent and a quick study with books. Determined in his goals. Despite his cowardice, he is more likely to act in opposition to his fear than run away. Greatly respects the dead and their rest. When he does become attached to people, he quickly becomes ride or die.
Vices & Personality flaws
Forgets names and faces easily. Doesn't care much for things beyond his research. Easily scared and prone to outbursts of violence if he feels he has been put under threat. Kind of a coward. Just bad with people in general though he's been trying harder recently. Does not have much sympathy for those he does not know. Socially awkward and something of an inferiority complex.
Personality Quirks
Eris covers as much of his skin as possible at all times. He barely ever takes off his gloves and does not like to let people touch him or see his face.
Hygiene
Eris tries his best to stay as clean as possible due to his fear of germs and disease.
Social
Contacts & Relations
He has a very large family and has a few contacts at the Academy as well.
Family Ties
Strong ties to his Grandmother and his older sister and mother dote on him. Semi-close to his younger brother and his other family members. Strongly dislikes his father.
Religious Views
Eris cares little for the Gods and is not particularly attached to any of them. The only exception is that he has a strong respect for Gods of the Dead, though he does not worship any in particular.
Social Aptitude
Extremely socially inept.
Mannerisms
His tail tends to swish erratically behind him when he is uncertain or nervous. It curls around his waist if he is scared.
Eris fiddles with his gloves as well if he is embarrassed or uncomfortable.
When he is very happy, his tail wags.
Hobbies & Pets
Beyond his research, Eris has few interests.
He does not have any interest in animals.
Speech
He tends to phrase things stupidly or in a rude manner. He often does not realize he is coming off strange or too strong. He often trips over his words as his brain is moving faster than his mouth.
Wealth & Financial state
Eris' family is very wealthy and often provides everything he needs to him. He has very few personal funds that he keeps on his person but a small fortune amassed in a bank back in Neverwinter that he made from his position at the university. He is barely aware of it.
A tiefling scholar, Eris studies death in various cultures as well as the burial rituals and practices in those cultures. Though smart, he does not have much common sense and he is still learning how to interact in the world.
Current Location
Barovia
Alignment
True Neutral
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Lord Eristides Ambrose Thaddeus Dorothy Isidore Zarak
Researcher Eristides Ambrose Thaddeus Dorothy Isidore Zarak
Birthplace
Beowood
Children
Current Residence
The Beowood Academy
Gender
Male
Eyes
Gold
Hair
Black
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Blue
Height
5' 3"
Weight
120 lbs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"I just want to leave!"
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