Editing ZAL'KAZZIR (section)

===Family===
* ''' Aisha '''- Zal'kazzir's wife of 12 years. Died at the end the Arc of Shareel, in the 100th year of the Shadow. She was pretty, in the harried mother kind of way. Average height, long dark hair. An accomplished horsewoman and the third daughter of House Sezsen, Aisha and Zal'kazzir fell in love in the court at Sharuun, and their wedding was even attended by the sussar himself. They turned out to be a rotten match, however, and they fought almost constantly, though both are aristocratic enough to maintain the marriage for political reasons. Aisha was murdered by the Legate Krell in retaliation for Eranon and Shadaar's murder of Krell's men. She was beaten, brutalized and finally hanged from a balcony as a warning. 
* ''' Zahir ''' - Zal'Kazzir's son, Died, aged 11, along with his mother at the end of Shareel, in the 100th year of the Shadow. He was a bright, precocious boy, with a knack for mischeif and an impish grin. Good-hearted but bull-headed. He was run through with a lance while hopelessly defending his mother with an old sword, and then hanged.
* ''' Zia ''' - Zal'kazzir's daughter, currently aged 11, a clever, thoughtful, quiet, insightful girl who loves to smile. Loves flowers and poetry. She is literate is courtier, and reads voraciously. She is Zal'kazzir's 'little light'. Her current status is unknown, as she was kidnapped by the Legate Krell, only to be traded to the white worm for unknown purpose. She is believed to be north of the pelluria, either in Highwall or the Arteries. There is suspicion she may be involved in part of the prophecy detailed in Scrolls of Aradil, but this is unproven.
* ''' Zoltan ''' - Zal'Kazzir's Father. Old, but well-respected as wise and learned. Once worked as the exchequer for Sharuun. Cares for the family while Zal'kazzir is away, but has a poor relationship with Aisha, who he sees as a shrew. Zoltan is currently travelling in the Baden's Bluff area along with Zalma.
* ''' Zalma ''' - Zal'Kazzir's Younger Sister. They were very close growing up, and have an unusual relationship as adults; despite their conflicting views, the often share meals and discuss philosophy, politics and magic. She is one of the very few people who have long known of Zal'Kazzir's gift. She uses her position to protect the family, and Zal uses his influence to further her career.

====Family Background====
::  Zoltan Ghulvenne, Sharu of Sharuun, long time Master of Coin (read minister of finance or exchequer) to Sussar Farah Shanduz, married the Lady Tannah Cirvai in the year of the shadow 63. They were deeply in love, and had a perfect sarcosan marriage; both passionate and politically astute. Their first child, a daughter named Zara, was born in YS 64, followed by son Zal'Kazzir in YS 66, daughter Zalma in YS 67 and, finally a last son, called Zaki, in YS 70.  
::  In YS 74, when Zal'Kazzir was eight, his mother was murdered by a trumped-up dornish legate fresh from highwall called Olaf black-blade for the 'crime' of educating her children, despite the fact that it was common practice among the nobility, and happened with the tacit concent of both the Sussar and the Grand Legate. Black-blade killed Tannah brutally and then cursed her corpse to rise as fell. He then commanded the Tannah-thing to fall upon Zara; she was unable to resist his control, and wailed and cried as she ripped her firstborn daughter apart.
::  During all of this horror, Zal'Kazzir and Zalma were hiding, watching and listening to the proceeding with unabashed horror. Trauma victims often react to intolerable events by becoming broken and constantly fearful; the Ghulvenne children, however, took the other course, and decided to become stronger than the trauma. Zal and Zalma decided that they would never let people hurt them or their loved ones again, and they would take all the steps they could to ensure their power. Zal would go into politics and business, to protect the family with his words and purse. Zalma correctly asserted that no amount of clout or coin could stave off madmen like olaf, and she took a riskier course; she entered the priesthood so that she could gain the magical and social power to complement Zal'kazzir's political and financial strength. Together, the two children formed a private Cabal that exists to this day. They trust no one, they never speak of their plans, and they cling to each other for support. Each sucess, each new title or rank is another layer of defense, another course of stones in the wall of their mutual protection.
::  Zal'Kazzir and Zalma are very close. Zal'kazzir would place Zalma ahead of anyone else if she was in danger, and I think she would do the same. Both Zal and Zalma share similar temperments and personalities, though Zalma is somewhat more cautious and is a better long-term planner while Zal is better under pressure. Both relish their conversations as opportunites to drop the multilayered facades of manipulation and lies under which they must live, and actually be themselves.
::  Zalma is a member of the Obsidian Order, the Keepers of the Coriths. She followed this path because it promosed the greatest power.
::  She is currently tasked to setting and creating new pale mirrors; a task she requested, as it allows her greater freedom of movement and high status.
::  As Sharuun and Cambrial are the hearts of the Devout, Zalma aligned herself with the Devout to further her rise. She has no particualr ties to any patrons or Grand Legates; she values her independance too much to be that closely tied with a single power-broker.
::  She is known in the Church to be ambitious and somewhat paranoid, but has curtailed her ambition in the last years as she quite enjoys her current position. She has spent her years building a large network of low-ranking legates, especially amongst the Keepers of Obsidian. Many villiage legates owe her favors or are in fear of her wrath, and she uses them as spies and informers. She has cultivated Witchtaker contacts over the years as well, and has used them to great effect to both shield the occasional targeted friend, and more often to target her enemies and to ensure the loyalty of villiage legates.
::  Zalma's faith is pragmatic; she believes in Izrador, and she fears him, and she dutifully completes even the most distasteful missions and tasks to gain influence and to avoid punishment, but she is certainly not 'faithful' in any sense. She likes her position and her power, but she is proud and noble, and she will never forgive the deaths of her mother and sister, nor the theft of her innocence and her childhood. She never goes out of her way to support the Shadow, but she will only risk opposing it if she has no other choice or very much to gain by doing so. Basically, she's a lot like Oscar Schindler, but less altruistic.