02 Vortex Infiltrator Zahn Zwei, or simply Zahn, was a member of the Chimera party. A teenager recruited and experimented on by Lunar Skion Labs, he was converted into one of their Vortex soldiers until he lost his memories and escaped Lunar control.
Biography
Early Life
Whoever Zahn originally was, he was a young man in the Edeni Expanse who wanted to make something of himself, and got involved into the ongoing fight of the locals against Lunar occupation. Ending up nearly dead on a battlefield, he was taken in by one of the Lunar scientists, Doctor Svarka Stali of House Iron.
Dr. Stali was a half-elf of Terrosi descent, and was a key figure in House Iron's 'Vortex Program'. The program was a recent addition to the many different scientific endeavors of Skion Labs - Biologically conditioned super soldiers. Whether frontline soldiers, assassins, or elite guards- These 'Vortexes' were not mind controlled, but conditioned using various methods to follow orders blindly. Some Vortexes are simply highly trained normal people, while some Vortexes are engineered to be superior.
As part of the research of the Vortex Program, Dr. Stali saved his life, engineering him a suit of armor to keep him alive and restore his limbs. He wiped his memories, giving him the new name of Zahn Zwei, aka "The Second Cog". He secretly implanted in the conditioning that activates the Vortexes, and then activated him.
He served as a Vortex for four years, doing countless infiltration missions for the Lunar Collective. However, one fateful day, he was sent to steal Zaenokr from a man named Fek. He and his partner Viktoria Vier were almost killed in the fight, and much of Zahn was destroyed. Dr. Stali repaired him, but felt guilty about his state. He then wiped his memory, intending to free him.
Zahn was led to believe that he was a Lunar Soldier of Terrosi descent, and had worked in the army of House Vanadium until he got hurt and was repaired by Dr. Stali. He continued to work with the Lunar Army for a few months, but then left to work as an independent bounty hunter in Eqos, not realizing that he was secretly a Lunar asset, waiting to be activated when the time comes.
"You were an enlisted soldier from the Edeni. I thought you were bright. In a local insurgent battle, you went down. Left for dead. I brought you back, but my superiors forced me to make you into one of my vortexes. My act of intended kindness made you one of their unstoppable monsters. You were 15 when I brought you in, I believe. They wiped your memories, however. You served as a vortex for four years.
Then one day... You were on a mission. I believe you were posted alongside Viktoria, on a mission in Cinoh. It was a mission from House Gold, you both were sent to infiltrate and acquire a relic, some ancient red axe. Zaenokr? Only... There were complications. Viktoria explained that it was hazy from her side, but the axe's owner was formidable- and the two of you almost lost your lives in the process. Viktoria made it out slightly better off than you, and dragged your broken body back home. I fixed the both of you up, but... I don't know, I felt guilty. Most of the other vortexes were already lunar loyalists before I modified them, far as I'm aware- But you, you didn't sign up for this life. It was forced on you. So I fixed you up, but I deactivated the vortex modules, wiped your memory once more, and well, teleported you to where I found you- The Edeni. I fed them a story that you broke out of confinement and went rogue, and that you could be anywhere in the world. I don't think they bought it, since I've had way higher security in Skion since.
But of course, so much money spent on you... They want their investment back."
- Dr. Stali revealing the truth to Zahn.
Tale of the Sunless Dunes
Check the main campaign page for the detailed plot summary.
V and Zahn were bounty hunters directed to Ammba from Kasaaq in search of their target, a mysterious 'Vin', leader of the 'Nemesis'. As they eached the outskirts of Ammba, chaotic events unfolded involving a disguised druid and a flood of goats. Everyone's paths aligned in their investigation of an animal trafficker's hideout in the Fairy Caves. After a tense battle against a chimera, they uncovered coded records and evidence linking the smuggling operation to the Nemesis. Inspector Raktii told them alongside Lucine, Caeles, Milis, and Vasirr to stick together in the Stitched Scales, unofficially making them a party. They learned more about each other, including Caeles' murderous history and radicalization. The party tackled new challenges, such as a bard cursed by a ghostly lover. And a sculptor turning his models to stone as a medusa. The party received information and help from a local gangster named Namkeen Bhai.
They ended up investigating the animal traffickers against Raktii's will, and were thrust into clashes with Volnik Feydey's gang. The gang’s violence escalated, culminating in Milis being abducted. Aided by Raktii, the party mounted a daring rescue. They ended up battling Volnik, who was revealed to be a worshiper of Nosos and the Herald of Corruption. In his warehouse, the group discovered a wyrmling Moonstone Dragon that they named Celeste. The party was summoned to meet the Ranaji, and were named heroes of Ammba. They were given the name Chimera, since that was the first monster they killed together showcasing their diversity. The group decided to head to Kasaaq for the Artisan’s Festival, owing some favors to Namkeen Bhai as well as the smith Jaro who helped Zahn upgrade his arms alongside helping Vasirr.
Reaching Wa’sadak, the party found themselves amidst a political rivalry between two princes, Simbon Kawar and Kirina Mathii. After saving some trapped miners, they ended up taking Simbon's side. Upon reaching the city of Renara, they went to Viera’s apartment above Zoshi-ka-Dhaba. In the underground Nanun's Pub, they met with the crime lord Nanun who told them of noble Babrich Aylarov's connection to the Nemesis. At the royal ball, they met notable figures, including the Vokiros as well as the Lunar Delegation. They tried to poison and interrogate Babrich, but chaos erupted when Babrich summoned an angel of knowledge, who announced the creation of the Calamity Covenant and declared war against the Kasaaqi Dynasty. With some help, the party beat the angel. They then captured and interrogated Babrich before killing him, and were then recruited by Tarajkumar Zavii for a secret diplomatic/assassination mission into the Vyzum Wastes.
The Artisan's Fair provided a brief respite for them. Saying farewell to Milis, the party boarded an airship towards Dibayad meeting Rakash Zaaba IV. At Dibayad, Zahn met a fellow artificer named Viranii. She didn't reveal much about herself other than her dislike of Lunars. Heading into the Vyzum Wastes, the train was ambushed by the Dreadscourge Gang. Viranii had betrayed the Sena, and was with them the whole time. During the fight, Lucine accidentally blew up the locomotive with a fireball and Viera ended up killing Viranii, but then revived her upon Zahn's request. They made a deal with the Dreadscorge Gang and gained their help in Newhope. While heading to Newhope, the party ended up slaying the blue dragon Qoraankul.
"You wanna sell that arm...?"
- A random shopkeeper to Zahn as they entered Newhope.
The party then encounters Dieterich Drei, a powerful construct, and Moghroth, a legendary bounty hunter. The battle with them revealed Dieterich's near-invulnerability, and despite their efforts, the party struggles to deal any meaningful damage, simply escaping. They assumed Dieterich relates to Zahn’s mysterious past. At Newhope, they ended up targeted by Dieterich and Moghroth again, once more escaping to a church. They ended up setting a trap for Dieterich and Moghroth in a junkyard, but it didn't work. Dieterich did reveal to Zahn that he had come to take him back to Lunaria. Finally, they set a trap for Dieterich within a forge where they melted his invulnerable armor and finally killed him. The party left Newhope on a train bound for Erumaltu, but they got targeted by Covenant soldiers and had to jump out of the moving train. Suffering from bad dreams and nightmares, they got ambushed by Moghroth again. Exhausted, the party pushes forward towards Nevermore, a grim town plagued by a nightmare epidemic. They reunited with Milis there and learned that the curse is tied to a mother who killed her own tiefling child, which has caused a plague of nightmares to haunt the town. Janore, a cleric of Sigmus, explained that the only way to end the curse was to enter the Dreamplane and confront the nightmare's source. They ended the threat, but when they tried to return, Celeste inadvertently activated the crystal and made them end up in the Feywild.
The group was led by Celeste to the Shadow-Wild, where they confronted an adult Moonstone Dragon being corrupted by a Dark Huntsman. They freed the dragon, but were then ambushed by many Dark Huntsmen and saved by Daraza, a Panshera Blackreyne Hunter posted in the Feywild. He took them to a town called Thither, ruled by a story-telling spider named Yarnspinner, who offered them stories in exchange for a tale of their own. They were rewarded by Celeste's older sister, Briiinov. A gang of Goblins who considered steel weapons to be able to kill gods tried to recruit Zahn in their quest to kill the gods, almost venerating him like a god himself due to his steel arms. Later in the Shadow-Wild, Vasirr found Aklim, wounded from a fight with Gammus. Caeles had a sudden vision in which Sol demanded that he kill her, and he unknowingly stabbed Lucine in the heart as he did so. Lucine transformed into Sol, absorbing Aklim's divinity. In the chaos that followed, Viera, now consumed by rage and blaming Caeles for Lucine's death, went berserk. The party struggled to calm her down, and Aklim intervened, offering a chance to bring Lucine back. Eventually, Viera was knocked unconscious and Caeles lashed out at Sol's betrayal, the group deciding to flee the forest back to Thither. Aklim revealed that her master, Deltus, was at Summermeet and could provide aid.
They then met Viridiano, a changeling artist who wished to follow them and document their journey through his paintings. Despite initial concerns, the party accepted him. They met the god Deltus in Summermeet, who sent them to the first layer of the hells, Acheren. From there, the party found their way to Azydos where Viera met her goddess Theratis. Theratis tested the party members and especially Viera, offering them insights into their pasts and their futures. She agreed to help them, suggesting a way to save Lucine by using Viera's new Vismancy abilities to extract Lucine’s soul from the dreamplane, with the aid of Caeles' connection to Sol. Meanwhile, the other half of the party including Zahn convinced Quanus, a god of creation, to craft a new body for Lucine.
"You were reborn as well, in a more figurative way. Your history, I do not know, but your future is in your hands, no one else's."
- Theratis to Zahn.
Viera invaded Caeles' dreamplane with Sol and freed Lucine, reviving her. Theratis, satisfied with their progress, reminded them that their duty is not over and that they must now focus on bringing Moghroth to justice. The party plane shifted back to the Material Plane, ending up in the town of Forevermore. Many months seem to have passed in Abmarah due to the Feywild's time dilation. They met Moghroth there, and with Viera now armed with soul trapping spells, they had a final showdown outside the tavern as it struck high noon. Zahn and Viera shot Moghroth together, and Viera, using her powers granted by Theratis, captured and crushed Moghroth's soul, ending him for good. With Moghroth gone, the party celebrated before turning their focus to rescuing Rakash from the Lunar prison.
However, before they could leave Forevermore, they encountered a group of cultists led by Surya Naur Glawar, a father figure to Lucine and Caeles. The party was ambushed, and a fight ensued in which they were overwhelmed by Glawar's power, who revealed himself as an ancient red dragon. In the ensuing chaos, the town was set ablaze, and the party was forced to flee to safety on a boat provided by the tavern keeper. Arriving in Angelroost, the party met Dr. Stali and Nacht Null. Dr. Stali was the one who 'created' Zahn and the other Lunar Vortexes, and finally revealed the truth of Zahn's history to him as a Vortex, and why he set him free without memories. He showed the party a powerful ancient arcane reactor beneath the fortress, a source of immense energy. Stali sought Zahn's help to turn the reactor into a battery while unlocking Zahn's hidden modules. However, the party soon realized that this reactor, potentially a weapon of mass destruction, was being used recklessly by the Lunars. In a stealthy operation, the party managed to free Rakash. He asked their help in saving his daughter from the city of Jamre.
In the Temple City of Oxrock, they received information from a death shaman about Viera's condition.. Upon enteringJ amre covertly, they reunited with Scirios and begin strategizing how to infiltrate the inner wall of Jamre, where Rakash's daughter as well as Sciocis were located. They received a substantial reward of 9,000 platinum coins from Rakash’s ally, Tarot, a kasaaqi spy within Jamre. Viera and Zahn met with Tarot at a club, where he revealed that Nemesis' assassins are after them. Tarot also marked them with the Zaaba sigil and disclosed that the Covenant general they were sent to assassinate was 'Vin' all along. After many trials, the party ended up convincing Adeaa Vanem to help them, escaping the city with Chikuu Zaaba and Siceois by teleporting to Wesamala.
They then traveled through Alphanim, meeting Kenzo and dealing with a vampire threat while also curing Viera of her acribus disease. Following that, the party ended up traveling back to Kasaaq and eventually teleporting to Lunaria. Alongside Can and Kenzo, the party managed to retake Night's End and liberate the Blackreyne Brotherhood from Zmeya's control. Viera became the new Archhuntress of the brotherhood. Zahn was at one point taken back under Vortex control and had his latent powers unlocked. The party defeated him without killing him, and then Dr. Stali reverted him to normal. The party then tried to stop Sol from doing whatever she was planning at Kazarin Peak. While Sol ascended to true divinity and became a void goddess of Truth, the party ended up fighting Surya Glawar as the BBEG. Finally taking him down, the party went their own ways.
After the Campaign
Zahn made a deal with Dr. Stali to help him study and reverse-engineer the arcane reactor, and in exchange Stali truly deprogrammed him from the Vortex mind control. Zahn worked with Stali under the table for many years to make sure the Lunars don't misuse the reactor's powers, and even if they do, he has an idea of how to deal with it. He also joined the Department of Dungeons as an official member, rising in their ranks quickly. Zahn also started working an assistant protege later on.
In 3E498 during The Light of Lunaria, across the world in the Goldheim Rainforest, Zahn, Viera Blackreyne, and Dravin Bahubaahu trudged through the forest to get to the temple of the Great Hunt. There was a distress sending to Viera by one of the priests, and now no one including Vasirr was responding. The three ran into many Dark Hunters, and then the god Gammus commanded in their minds to leave. Viera refused, and the three engaged the Dark Hunt, disappearing for a few years into the timepaused demiplane of Gammus' Hunting Grounds. There, they met Vasirr and Kai Li, who had unrefined Azbaan on her. Zahn refined the Azbaan into three bullets, two of which got used up in their fight against the god Gammus. The first one missed due to his shaky aim, but the second bullet grazed Gammus' cheek and destroyed his mask, which was then followed up by Dravin and Viera ending the god.
Timeline
3E445 - 'Zahn' is born somewhere in the Edeni Expanse, but all details of his original identity have been lost.
3E461 - He is picked up as a dying teenager from a battlefield by Dr. Svarka Stali, who fixes him up and converts him into a Lunar Vortex named Zahn Zwei.
3E465 - Zahn Zwei wakes up without any memories, having been repaired by Doctor Svarka Stali after a failed mission to capture Zaenokr from Fek. He works for the Lunar House Vanadiyin army for a few months before leaving to become a bounty hunter.
3E467 - Zahn gets a bounty on a changeling named Vin rumored to be in Ammba, and sets out with Viera to capture him, starting off the events of Tale of the Sunless Dunes.
3E468 - After the party returns from the Feywild, they realize a year has passed on the material plane, leading to the final chapter of the campaign.
3E498 - Zahn fights the Dark Hunt in the Goldheim Rainforest, and disappears for a few years alongside Viera, Dravin, and Vasirr. With the help of Kai-Li, he forges Azbaan bullets that help kill the god Gammus for good.
3E500 - They reappear in Abmarah with 2 years having passed, and they fight against the Dark hunt.
Gallery
Zahn during Chapters 1 & 2 of TotSD (Credit: Vijay)
Pixel Art Evolution (Credit: Daibik)
Zahn's Modified Rifle (Credit: Vijay)
Zahn during Chapters 3 & 4 of TotSD (Credit: Vijay)
Zahn & Vasirr (Credit: Sam)
