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Sorrowlord Athion Zathuda is a powerful fey in the service of Sammanar. As an NPC, Zathuda is played by Matthew Mercer.

Description[]

Appearance[]

Zathuda is seven feet tall, with very pale skin, elongated ears, and black brows extending into the edges of his thick wavy long black hair. His eyes are dark grey, with big black pupils. He has magical tattoo markings framing his face, and wore dark armor with a hollow in it. The shoulders of the armor were wider than those of the ordinary guards present and clearly denoted someone of higher status.[7] The Fatestitcher described him as "incredibly darkly handsome."[8] His eyes and cheekbones were similar to those of his daughter.[9]

When Bells Hells saw him again in Ruidus, the Sorrowlord was still wearing his dark armor, and he had some unkempt facial hair.[10] When he was defeated by the adventurers in the Shrine of Gilded Gifts he lost part of his right leg due to Laudna's Disintegrate spell.[11]

After his body was used in Morrigan's Loom, he became a pale tapestry that showed his face, but with empty eye sockets, framed by some of his hair.[12] In this form he was able to speak, and the more he does the more personality and volume his face gains, even moving slightly in the tapestry itself.[13]

Sorrowlord by Tyler Walpole

Concept art of Zathuda's miniature, by Tyler Walpole.[art 2]

Personality[]

Sorrowlord Zathuda was a brutal warlord that loved poetry, and he often found it in violence. He loved to be the apex hunter and to break his prey. He was dangerous, selfish and manipulative, and Morrigan specifically described him as "a strange one" when talking about him. Birdie Calloway said he was both beautiful and terrifying. He promised her much and delighted in her darker impulses, waxing poetic about taking the moon from the Moonweaver herself.[14]

According to Ira Wendagoth Athion, like the rest of his ilk, is self-absorbed, pompous, and too wishy-washy.[15]

When speaking to his daughter, he was extremely proud of his own blood, and belittled others in a classist manner, viewing his allies and Fearne's friends as "lowborn sheep."[16] He himself also admitted that impatience was one of his weak points.[17]

Biography[]

Background[]

Athion Zathuda

Fan art of a disappointed Sorrowlord Zathuda, by Micaerys.[art 3]

Athion Zathuda was a powerful Unseelie noble, known among other things for his weapon Dusk Hunger, the Blade of the Black Flame.[18] He lived in an environment that lacked empathy, so he ended up not feeling a connection with most of those who surrounded him, being filled by ambition but barely understanding love.[19] At some point during his life he took a satyr lover, Birdie, to whom he made dark promises, keeping her infatuated and with him for a long time. Before or around this time, he came into contact with Ludinus Da'leth and his plans to eliminate the gods, becoming part of an inner circle that aimed to create powerful Ruidusborn.[20] Because of this, when Birdie got pregnant Athion made sure that the birth happened in Exandria, during a flare of Ruidus, making the child Ruidusborn, but not an Exaltant as the father had expected. After that, the Sorrowlord's attention moved elsewhere, as his lover's usefulness faded. She, however, had fallen in love with a prisoner of the Unseelie, Oleander, and decided to free him and run away with him and her daughter.[21] After that Athion tried to find Birdie and their daughter on several occasions, and when he knew the child was in Ligament Manor he sent agents, none of them powerful enough to deal with the Fatestitcher.[22]

Athion stayed as the person the members of the Ruby Vanguard talked to and who supervised the process of building the Malleus Key in the Feywild, becoming an enemy of the Nightmare King for being part of removing him from the project and depriving him of credit.[23] He ended up despising Ludinus as well, since the archmage belittled him for his seemingly failed contribution to create a powerful Ruidusborn for their cause;[24] however, he also used the archmage's contempt in his favor, building a reputation over the years so that Ludinus would underestimate his intelligence and how dangerous he really was.[25]

Campaign Three[]

"Hidden Truths" (3x26)[]

The voice of Zathuda contacted Dusk, asking for a report on her progress on locating the Moontide Crown and dealing with the Calloways. He was very interested when his spy mentioned the couple had a daughter, Fearne, but Dusk told him that the druid was in the Material Plane and had led her right to the Calloways. He responded that Dusk's dalliance in the mortal realm slowed her with distraction and weakness, and that "Sammanar grows impatient. You will not fail me, lest I find better use for you in one of the Yore Mirrors." Dusk responded that he would have the crown soon, and they would end the Calloway line.[26]

"The Fey Key" (3x47)[]

When Bells Hells sought out the Malleus Key within the Fey Realm, Zathuda was present at the Shiver Keep where it was built. Otohan Thull was also briefly there and Zathuda informed her that Sammanar was at the end of their patience. He wanted Otohan to remind Ludinus Da'leth of their arrangement and that he could be quickly removed from it, and was scathing of Otohan's perceived lack of respect for him. Otohan told him that when the Moonweaver was gone, he would be more forgiving, and used a magical scroll to transport herself away. Zathuda summoned Gloamglut, mounted it, and flew off.[27]

Zathuda and Gloamglut by Lap Pun Cheung

Fan art of Zathuda riding Gloamglut, by Lap Pun Cheung.[art 4]

Later, after the loud destruction of the Malleus Key, Zathuda and his draconic mount returned to the keep, immediately attacking Bells Hells.[28]

"An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48)[]

Gloamglut and Zathuda vs Morri by Sam Rusk

Fan art of Morri facing Gloamglut, by Sam Rusk.[art 5]

Zathuda pursued the adventurers on Gloamglut's back, burning different sections of the Sablecast woodlands while Unseelie guards searched on land for the intruders. Their hunt was interrupted by Morrigan the Fatestitcher, who, alerted by Imogen, came in the form of a gigantic dark bird to face the Sorrowlord, until Gloamglut struck her down with his dark fire. However, the hag managed to return to her home, leaving Zathuda with the expectation that she "made amends" for her actions.[29] The Sorrowlord and his mount managed to reach Terrosh's portal just after Bells Hells passed through it, irritating the guardian, as the newcomers had not been invited there.[30]

While it wasn't revealed then, after that encounter Athion suspected that one of the adventurers he had chased through the Sablecast Grounds was his long lost daughter.[31]

"To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79)[]

Birdie revealed to Fearne for the first time her background, her relationship with Zathuda, and Fearne's true parentage as the biological daughter of the Sorrowlord, born as part of the Unseelie fey's attempt of producing a powerful Ruidusborn Exaltant.

"Divisive Portents" (3x89)[]

After Bells Hells became allies of the Volition they learned that the Sorrowlord was in Ruidus too, overseeing an excavation around the Prime Pillar of Vaterra Kreviris; his mission has had interference by the Volition with the help of Ira Wendagoth and a demolition team, of which he was the only survivor.

"Mission Improbable" (3x90)[]

Fearne, Ashton and FCG joined Ira on his mission, and they were brought to the excavation, finding Athion in the barracks, arguing with Sunder King Ozo Cruth. After that meeting the Sorrowlord, in a very bad mood, didn't even acknowledge the new people present, and left to continue supervising work on the excavation.

"True Heroism" (3x91)[]

Athion survived the detonation caused by Ira Wendagoth and his team in the tunnels, and managed to escape; after finding his mount, they took flight and started looking for the culprits. Shortly after Gloamglut noticed the three adventurers that had worked with the Nightmare King, no longer disguised with illusions, trying to hide in an alley, so it landed right above them, informing the Sorrowlord. He, realizing his daughter was among them, started speaking loudly while his fey dragon tried to reach them through the buildings, telling Fearne that he remembered her, noticing the similarities with Birdie, and the mixed feelings he had about the Ruidusborn faun. Although the adventurers listened to all of it, they went underground and escaped before the Unseelie captain and his mount could reach them.

"Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94)[]

Cockatiel Fearne by Elaine Tipping

Fan art of Fearne as a cockatiel, by Elaine Tipping.[art 6]

The Sorrowlord returned to Exandria with Gloamglut, and that night, when his daughter was sleeping in one of the encampments surrounding the Red Center, he sent a sugar glider to get her attention and lead her to him in the desert. The Unseelie captain praised his daughter for defeating Otohan, and showed interest about the elemental fire burning inside of her; he wanted her to join him, and to become stronger to be the vessel for the God Eater. Fearne didn't trust him, and corrected him when he tried to call her "Fearne Zathuda"; after she explained she preferred to stay with her chosen family rather than going with him, Athion tested her with a yore mirror, summoning shadowy versions of her daughter.

The Sorrowlord observed invisibly how Fearne, with some assistance from Orym, defeated her dark foes. After that he turned visible again on top of Gloamglut, clapping, and admitted he had misinterpreted his daughter's motivations, wondering outloud if he should focus on her protectiveness rather than her sense of self-preservation. He explained he didn't care about the plans of the Ruby Vanguard or the Unseelie Court as long as his lineage obtained the importance he thought they deserved, and for that he needed Fearne to become the devourer of gods. After telling her to embrace her destiny, promising he would be watching, Sorrowlord Zathuda and his mount flew away, scaring the people in the encampment nearby.

Before and during "Cages" (3x103)[]

At some point after Bells Hells abandoned the encampment of the Exandrian Accord the Ruby Vanguard attacked it, successfully destroying it. Gloamglut and presumably its rider were involved, and the dragon was flying above the ruins during the brief visit Bells Hells made there after their mission, before Teleporting away again.

"Collecting Legends" (3x105) and "Unseelie Interrupted" (3x106)[]

Liliana Temult informed her daughter, Imogen, that one of Ludinus' simulacra and Sorrowlord Zathuda planned to meet at the Shrine of Gilded Gifts in the Amethyst Gulch Sierras with members of the Unseelie Court to reassert their alliance.

Athion and Gloamglut (presumably accompanied by Ludinus) arrived to the ruins of Pravenier and around two hours later they began the meeting with the Unseelie in the old temple of the Arch Heart. There, the Sorrowlord stayed mostly silent while Ludinus complained to the other fey about their lack of active collaboration, and although he got a confirmation of their loyalty and gave them new instructions, the archmage then snapped at Athion, complaining about his attitude and how useless he had been. Shortly after the statue of the temple was suddenly Animated and much of the stone in the building was Transmuted into mud. Gloamglut, along with its rider, reacted quickly to destroy the statue as chaos ensued, without a clear enemy to face.

"Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107)[]

When the battle started and Fearne became visible, addressing her father and asking to leave that place, declaring that Ludinus was betraying them, the Sorrowlord prevented Gloamglut from shooting fire at her, hitting the roof instead. When he noticed Imogen and Laudna there he teleported to attack them, telling them he didn't want them to influence Fearne; he, however, lost some confidence when Ira Wendagoth appeared there as well, scaring him. After being attacked by Laudna's Blight and the Nightmare King's claws, Athion noticed that Ludinus was gone, and that his mount was too far away (Imogen had Misty Stepped to the saddle to move the dragon away); thus, he suggested to use that chance to speak openly, and moved inside before Laudna could grab him. While Fearne explained to the Unseelie the experiments Ludinus had performed using fey creatures through the centuries, Zathuda listened (being Hexed by Orym as a precaution), but when he was asked about it he simply stated that the high figures of his court where aware of some of Da'leth's old activities, but were still willing to work with him in order to achieve their own goal. The Sorrowlord wanted the emissary to tell Sammanar that the plan was still in motion, and that they would kill Ludinus when the moment was right, and explained to Bells Hells that he had been preparing to betray him for a long time, making sure to be underestimated so that the wizard wasn't too cautious around him. Zathuda called Gloamglut and as the dragon came down, he asked Fearne what was her opinion about killing the gods, causing disappointment among the present Unseelie fey when she said she didn't want to do it; the Sorrowlord, however, assured them that his daughter would learn, since he knew she had a hunger inside wanting to be unleashed. After giving Laudna a vague answer about their next step in their plan before returning to the moon, he got ready to fly away with Gloamglut and the emissary, Cashadoor, but allowed Fearne to approach to pet the dragon, telling her where it liked to be scratched. His daughter then got closer and told him she did want to learn, like he had said, but in that moment Imogen attacked him with Psychic Lance.

A second battle started, but Athion stayed incapacitated after being hit by a second Psychic Lance, after which he was attacked by the Nightmare King, and by Laudna, whose Disintegrate spell damaged the Sorrowlord's right leg. Imogen moved him to the ground with Telekinesis, knocking him unconscious, but as she and Braius were trying to move him outside, the temple collapsed on top of them, with the Unseelie captain surviving only because the minotaur protected him with his own body. However, shortly after the Shrine of Gilded Gifts was reconstructed by the Arch Heart's power, and Braius stabilized Zathuda while Ashton took his sword.

"Looming" (3x108)[]

Zathuda stayed unconscious for a while, but when he woke up and found out that Bells Hells were distracted trying to trick Cashadoor into believing Ludinus had attacked him, he used his powers to teleport out of the temple and try to run away; he, however, was knocked unconscious again by Chetney's chisel. Gloamglut appeared and grabbed the body of his rider, but shortly after he was attacked by Orym, the Sorrowlord succumbed to his wounds, and his dragon started screaming, noticing the lost of their blood bond.

Fearne with Zathuda as art - Pyromeekorai

Fan art of Fearne with Zathuda's tapestry, by Pyromeekorai.[art 7]}

Later, in the Ligament Manor, the Fatestitcher used her Loom to tear apart the mortal and spiritual remains of Athion and create with them a sentient tapestry with his face, so that Bells Hells could interrogate him at their leisure. After hanging up at the tiki bar, Fearne started talking to him, telling him that he had not seen her as family but as a pawn in his plans, and he replied that he would have been willing to do anything to get her to her goal; he declared that Fearne was everything he had aspired to be, and encouraged her to continue taking whatever she wanted at any price, because from him she had inherited the curse of ambition, and that was part of his legacy. When asked about Gloamglut, he explained that to properly bond with him Fearne would need to go through a blood ritual, but that if she left it free, the dragon would probably leave without attacking them. Bells Hells asked him about the plans of the Ruby Vanguard and the defenses of the Red Center, and the Sorrowlord shared what he could, and warned them about the Ruidian forces defending the place and the Exaltants going missing; he also confirmed that Ludinus Da'leth's most obvious weakness was his hubris, and expressed his wish that Fearne would be the last thing the archmage saw as his dreams were taken from him. When Braius approached the tapestry he made a joke about his long face (Athion tried to spit at him, but he had no saliva), and then asked about any potential siblings of Fearne, so Zathuda confirmed he had put all his hopes in one single child, even though he had had the opportunity of sire more of them; when his daughter asked him if he had loved Birdie, he said that he wasn't sure, and Ashton declared he didn't know what love was. Shortly after Birdie herself and her husband Ollie walked down the stairs, so Morri made the tapestry invisible; later, before going to bed, Ashton returned to the tiki bar and used sauce to draw a smile where they thought the invisible tapestry was.

Relationships[]

Sehanine[]

The Sorrowlord seems to despise the Moonweaver, wishing her gone. Even in the early days of his conspirations with Ludinus, he was already making promises of taking the moon from the goddess.

Gloamglut[]

He underwent a blood ritual in the past to bond with his draconic mount, considering it a good companion he is fond of, and he can understand the sounds it makes.[32] Moreover, Athion knows where Gloamglut likes to be petted and scratched.[33]

Yu Suffiad[]

Yu Suffiad works for Zathuda with the dual goal of recovering the Moontide Crown and dealing with Oleander and Birdie Calloway. The Sorrowlord wasn't afraid of threatening the changeling whenever they behaved too confidently.

Otohan Thull[]

Zathuda works with Otohan Thull in connection with the construction of the Malleus Key within the Fey Realm. Their relationship seems tense, and Zathuda accused Otohan of showing a lack of respect.[34]

Fearne Calloway[]

Birdie Calloway revealed that Zathuda is Fearne's biological father. He organized her conception and birth so that she would be a Ruidusborn,[35] and when she was taken away, he tried to retrieve her several times, sending agents that never came back.[36]

When Fearne shared her knowledge of Zathuda with the Nightmare King, he told her that her father was likely disappointed because she wasn't an Exaltant.[37] When she met the Sorrowlord in a mission that same day, the druid (while hiding with her friends) heard him call her "Fearne Zathuda", and express the mix of hate and pride he felt for her.[38] When they met again in Exandria, barely a day after, Athion explained he was interested in his daughter reaching her full potential because then she could bring prestige and honor to the family lineage; the Sorrowlord was willing to make her suffer in order to awaken that potential.[39]

Character information[]

Notable items[]

  • Blue and black ocarina/whistle to summon Gloamglut[40]

Former items[]

Abilities[]

As a powerful fey, the Sorrowlord is capable of sensing things mortals cannot, like the scent of Otohan Thull's ruin upon his daughter (who was part of the battle in which the fighter died), or the presence of the spark of Rau'shan inside of her.[42]

Athion has the ability to turn invisible, and since both he and his mount were using the same ability in the same place at the same time it is not clear if the Sorrowlord was casting a spell on himself or if he was benefiting from the dragon's camouflage ability.[43]

  • Multiattack: Zathuda can attack three times using Duskhunger[44]. Each attack does between 15-16 slashing damage and 5-8 additional fire damage.[45]
  • Immune to Fear[46]
  • Magic resistance[47]
  • Hit points: between 231-245[48]
  • The ability to teleport short distances, either the Fey Step trait (used by eladrin and other powerful fey) or the Misty Step spell[49]

Appearances and mentions[]

Quotations[]

  • (to Otohan) "Sammanar sits at the end of their patience. I would have you remind Ludinus of our arrangement and the expediency with which we can remove his place in it. ... Your continuous lack of respect is noted, human."[50]
  • (to Fearne) "You are your mother's daughter."
  • Ira Wendagoth: (during combat) It's been a while, Athion.
    Athion: Fuck![51]
  • Athion: (as a tapestry, to Fearne) Burn what thou wilt, and take what thy wishes from the ash. What you bear is the curse of ambition.
    Fearne: Well, that doesn't sound that bad.[52]

Trivia[]

  • His name could be a variation of atheon, which derives from the Ancient Greek átheos (godless).
  • The "Lightless Flame" referenced in one of his titles most probably refers to his weapon Dusk Hunger, the Blade of the Black Flame.
  • According to Nana Morri, Fearne Calloway is his only biological child,[53] which Athion himself confirmed, even implying that she was his only living relative.[54]
  • He disliked telepathic communication.[55]
  • It is possible that the sugar glider he used to guide Fearne to him was a familiar. If that is the case, the hawk Bells Hells saw in "Unseelie Interrupted" (3x106) was probably that same familiar.
  • When Zathuda spoke about the primordial power Fearne had, he called it ancient, suggesting he was younger than titans or the spark of Rau'shan.[56]
  • The frame which now holds the mortal remains and consciousness of Zathuda is hexagonal.[57]

References[]

  1. The cast started referring to him as an archfey, but Matt didn't confirm it.
  2. See "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) at 0:45:43.
  3. See "Looming" (3x108) at 1:15:32.
  4. See "Looming" (3x108) from 1:22:16 through 1:24:11.
  5. See "Looming" (3x108) at 1:15:02.  When Chetney attacks with his chisel a 19 just hits.
  6. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 2:37:44.  When Laudna casts Disintegrate Matt mentions that Zathuda only has a +1 to Dexterity.
  7. See "The Fey Key" (3x47) from 1:50:28 through 1:52:36.
  8. See "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) at 1:27:41.
  9. See "Looming" (3x108) at 2:35:12.
  10. See "Mission Improbable" (3x90) at 1:06:40.
  11. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 2:40:42.
  12. See "Looming" (3x108) from 2:35:31 through 2:37:35.
  13. See "Looming" (3x108) at 2:39:20.
  14. See "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) at 1:26:29.
  15. See "Divisive Portents" (3x89) at 2:40:53.
  16. See "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94) at 1:39:04.
  17. See "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94) at 0:41:20.
  18. See "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) at 1:27:57.
  19. See "Looming" (3x108) at 2:40:34.
  20. See "4-Sided Dive: Swordgate" (4SDx24) at 0:07:35.
  21. See "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) from 0:41:27 through 0:50:16.
  22. See "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) at 1:23:28.
  23. See "Divisive Portents" (3x89) at 2:40:53.
  24. See "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94) at 0:41:44.
  25. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 1:59:45.
  26. See "Hidden Truths" (3x26) at 0:25:28.
  27. See "The Fey Key" (3x47) from 1:50:15 through 1:56:06.
  28. See "The Fey Key" (3x47) at 4:08:25.
  29. See "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48) at 2:08:55.
  30. See "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48) at 1:07:33.
  31. See "True Heroism" (3x91) at 0:42:42.
  32. See "True Heroism" (3x91) at 0:28:08.
  33. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 2:11:03.
  34. See "The Fey Key" (3x47) at 1:53:18.
  35. See "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) at 0:44:07.
  36. See "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) at 1:23:28.
  37. See "Divisive Portents" (3x89) at 2:43:37.
  38. See "True Heroism" (3x91) from 0:42:02 through 0:44:31.
  39. See "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94) from 0:41:26 through 0:50:20.
  40. See "The Fey Key" (3x47) at 1:54:00.
  41. See "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94) at 0:49:58.
  42. See "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94) from 0:39:40 through 0:41:07.
  43. See "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94) at 0:52:17.
  44. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 0:41:37.
  45. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 0:42:47.
  46. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 0:59:37.
  47. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 0:56:11.
  48. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 2:51:16.  When Imogen pulled him off Gloamglut, knocking him out, he had taken 245 damage.
  49. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 0:41:20.
  50. See "The Fey Key" (3x47) at 1:52:46.
  51. See "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107) at 0:52:13.
  52. See "Looming" (3x108) at 2:44:48.
  53. See "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79) at 1:26:52.
  54. See "True Heroism" (3x91) at 0:42:17.
  55. See "Mission Improbable" (3x90) at 1:08:54.
  56. See "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94) at 0:40:45.
  57. See "A Test of Fate" (3x109) at 0:10:57.

Art:

  1. Fan art of Sorrowlord Zathuda, by Nillumina (source). Used with permission.
  2. Concept art of Zathuda's miniature, by Tyler Walpole (source). Used with permission.
  3. Fan art of a disappointed Sorrowlord Zathuda, by Micaerys. Work contributed to the Critical Role Wiki by the artist.
  4. Fan art of Zathuda riding Gloamglut, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
  5. Fan art of Morri facing Gloamglut, by Sam Rusk (source). Used with permission.
  6. Fan art of Fearne as a cockatiel, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
  7. Fan art of Fearne with Zathuda's tapestry, by Pyromeekorai (source). Used with permission.
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