Dargaaz the Enlightened

Slightly taller and heavier than the average mercana, Dargazz is a strong and fit athlete.

Dargazz has high and sharp cheekbones, gaunt cheeks, and a narrow mouth. Their wide almond eyes, with sparkling gold irises and silver sclera, are considered their most attractive feature. His long, straight nose points down over his thin lips, aligning with his sharp chin.

Like most upper-class Mercana, they favor tailored robes in bright colors and fur trims. Dargazz only uses the fur of sentient warriors who have been defeated in battle, as they consider these to be earned pelts and more acceptable than dumb animals that do not choose to fight and die.

Their signature colors are purple and gold, and they wear jewels and other accessories in this scheme. They favor a head chain made of gold with amethyst, tourmaline, and tanzanite stones set across the forehead. They have various sets of matching rings, earrings, and bracelets for this chain.

Born in the Bral creche, Dargaaz was identified early for aptitude with arcane engineering. Their initial training focused on weapon system design and they were responsible for several incremental improvements in arc cannon efficiency. While presenting their research they demonstrated talent in administration and quickly moved to leadership roles.

Dargaaz is currently in the masculine stage and is prepared to father a new generation.

After completing their initial education in the Brallin Creche, Dargaaz matriculated at the Mageniero Institute of Higher Education.

Their studies focused on weapons technology. They were good at design work, but much better at getting diverse groups to work together for technical goals. They scored good but not stellar marks in their first years at the Institute when the curriculum focused on foundational knowledge. They were on track to become an adequate artificer, likely working for a military contractor.

The MIHE senior curriculum focused on projects rather than testing, which allowed Dargaaz to leverage the abilities of his fellow students. Their assigned groups consistently outperformed the average, and when groups were allowed to self-select for their projects, they were always at the top of the class. They graduated with top honors and were heavily recruited across several industries.

Dargaaz passed on several offers that would have put them on the partnership track at a major guild, instead joining Magitech, which at the time was a small society that made low-quality spelljammer helms. They had investigated the company and found several improvements they could implement that would immediately turn its fortunes around. They convinced two of the most talented students in their graduating class to join them, and within two years had become the senior magister for power systems, reporting directly to the Society Master.

They entered their feminine period to attend the creche and provide genetic material where they met the Guildmeister at Seylon Armaments. While undergoing the treatments, Dargazz proposed a strategic partnership to tune their generators and cannons for increased synergy. This earned them a seat on the Guild Council for Seylon.

Upon the retirement of the previous Society Master, Dargaaz took over the role and began to expand the reach of Magitech. They joined several other Councils as they formed various strategic partnerships, determining ways to bind them to Magitech's products. When Magitech was an integral part of more than 60% of weapons systems, Dargaaz began hostile takeovers of the weapons companies.

Their initial triumph was leading Magitech from a fading concern into the largest guild in Mercana-affiliated territory. Identifying a generator design that failed due to an unusual coupling method and insufficient knowledge in the society to fix the problem, they brought a team on board that created a new coupler and methods to fine-tune them to specific applications. The improved coupler immediately improved the society's fortunes, and they cemented their position as the most important magister in the society.

The next major milestone was earning a seat on the Council of Guilds, replacing Seylon Armaments on the 11-member council when Magitech absorbed their assets. Dargaaz took the title, the Enlightened, at this time and initiated their Doctrine of Enlightenment, which they claimed would bring about a new golden age of the Mercana and the multiverse. The other council members whose guilds were intimately tied into Magitech fell into line behind them, following the doctrine and supporting Dargaaz as the prime member of the council.

Their latest triumph is in the creation of the Great Weapon . This is the culmination of the various partnerships, melding all of the products into a cohesive whole that can focus overwhelming magical force in single blows. They have promised that this will be the final requirement to bring about the ultimate peace and prosperity of the Mercana.

When Dargaaz was completing the foundational series at MIHE, they were in a mana transfer class and required to build a simulated transfer generator and present it to the class. The professor connected the simulator to a system of hidden nozzles, and when Dargaaz's design had several fundamental errors and failed, he was doused in caustic slime that required a long and painful cleansing to fully remove.

Dargaaz presents themself as an urbane, spiritual leader and often speaks in lofty, philosophical terms, quoting ancient texts and interversal sages, and offering cryptic guidance to those who listen. Their rhetoric is designed to evoke a sense of higher purpose, while their actions often reveal a much more pragmatic, if not cynical, worldview. Despite the rhetoric, they are an astute businessman who thrives on manipulation, playing both sides of any situation to maximize their corporate interests.

Dargaaz has a vast network of loyal followers, many of whom see them as a guru or messiah-like figure. However, behind closed doors, their personality can be ruthless, exhibiting a cold pragmatism when it comes to achieving their goals. They're not above using deception, coercion, or even assassination to eliminate rivals or enforce compliance.