Dark Mage Zak
The tyrant Zak was known as the leader of the Dark Heroes, the head of the Ebon Alliance, and the ruler of the Order of Darkness.
Origin #
In 316, a young Corgathian man named Zak entered the Shadowkeep dreamscape, passing its trials and becoming a shadowmancer initiate.
He climbed the ranks of the shadowmancers quickly, conquering trial after trial while seeming to refuse to leave the dreamscape for days on end. At first it seemed like he was just an incredibly ambitious student of the darkness, but soon enough his true motives were revealed.
In 331 DHT, Zak had become a formidable shadowmancer, but his eyes became set upon the prospective might of Umbramancy. Zak approached the Shadeking to begin the dangerous trial required to earn such magical power. During the trial, Zak revealed that he had acquired a demonic artifact that allowed him to bind the Shadeking himself to his own will. With absolute power over the Shadowkeep, a swift and unrelenting attack on the lesser shadowmancers followed. Evil shadowmancers who allied themselves with Zak entered from the waking world, and the Shade Knights bound the other shadowmancers to the plane. This prevented the shadowmancers from being able to leave--their true, physical bodies lying dormant in a coma in the waking world.
Shadowmancers could not avoid entering the fortress through a dream forever--Zak and his followers lay ready, like vicious predators ready to pounce upon them when they entered.
This drastic action was performed to ensure that none could touch the source of Zak's power, granting him exclusive and ultimate power over an entire arcane path.
A Pact Beyond Darkness #
Zak's ambition was what led him to becoming the usurper umbramancer. As he was undergoing his training as a shadowmancer, he met a seer who went by the name of Al'Khasm. Al'Khasm befriended Zak, and encouraged him by telling him he had what it took to become truly great. He encouraged the young Zak to train hard to become an umbramancer.
Over many years of friendship, Al'Khasm eventually presented Zak with a gift--a demonic amulet that would help him become the greatest umbramancer to ever live. With his newfound power, Al'Khasm swore that Zak would be able to become a king--not just of Legere, but also of the Shadowkeep itself. In exchange for giving Zak the artifact, Al'Khasm requested one thing--that when Zak rose to power, he would pledge loyalty to Al'Khasm. Zak, seeing the seer as a true friend, eagerly accepted the gift along with its terms.
The artifact allowed Zak to bind the Shadeking to his service as if the king himself was a summoned shadow.
After becoming the most powerful umbramancer to walk Legere, Zak began to carry out the will of Al'Khasm by gathering the Dark Heroes and forming the Ebon Alliance.