Makarov Zendai


 * "'Skyrim! My empire! The Legion tried to destroy me, but I ground them to dust. Now the Grandmaster hides in fear, as my fleet rips through the provinces. I am the wrath of the dragon's fire. I am your Apostle of Order!'"
 * "―Makarov makes his public address"

Makarov Amit Zendai was a Blade Sentinel who joined the Covenant, participating directly in the schemes of the Order of the Black Worm, initially by designation, then by choice, and then by acceptance of his fate, redeeming himself. He assumed the mantle of Apostle of Jyggalag, and waged a destructive war against the Cyrodiilic Empire and the Order of the Blades during the era of the Covenant Wars. A Redguard male, Zendai was apprenticed to the respected Blade Master Dalacard Rethwode, and in his days as a student he came across forbidden knowledge of the magic of the Daedra known as Jyggalag, which was foretold. Extremely confident in his own abilities and naturally quick to anger, even if in an orderly manner, Zendai was filled with a burning curiosity regarding the Daedra, and soon went on his own quest to find out as much as he could.

Serving as a conscient thrall for the Court of the Volkihar Clan, he displayed incredible potential in magicka  since early childhood, but was also difficult to control, causing Harkon to enslave him as he did to his mother, fearing that he could one day challenge him. With the outbreak of the Covenant Wars, the Order of the Blades conducted a black operation to avoid a potential alliance between the Volkihar and the Covenant. In order to protect his slaver, Makarov fled in a skiff toward East, and ended up stranded in Yasammidan, where, due to a prophecy given by the Beldama Wyrd that a key point in the war would appear there, the Blades were also stationed. Dalacard Rethwode, then Vicar of the Order, brought him to face justice before the Council of the Blades, and it was determined that, due to his potential with magic, he would have to undergo a secretive training. Due to the nature of his training, he was subjected to intense mental and physical torture that further broke his innocence, turning him into a sadistic person with no empathy for others. Many times did Dalacard question the methods used to train him, but he was constanty overruled by the Council, which had faith that the prophecy of the Beldama Witches would only come true if Makarov was, indeed, a creature of darkness. This caused Makarov, at times, to blame his master for his suffering and develop an orderly hatred for him and the Order of the Blades.

Training

 * "'It's not because your fate is sealed with darkness that you have to fulfill it so early. There is no night without a day that precedes it. Find solace in your training, Makarov, for it will be much easier than your task.'"
 * "―Dalacard Rethwode to Makarov Zendai"

A Redguard male, Makarov was found by the Order of the Blades in Yasammidan, as the Beldama Wyrd had prophesied a key element to the war would be found there. Interpreted as this key element and recognized as an extremely promising talent by Grandmaster Quintus Petreia, Makarov apprenticed under the venerable Breton Blade Knight Dalacard Rethwode, training alongside his first apprentice, Alea Lasharel. On Bruma, Makarov honed his skills with the dai-katana by frequently taking on Lasharel in training duels. From the beginning, Makarov harbored a deep, burning desire to overcome the dark training the Blades had chosen to put him through, and pushed himself extremely hard to achieve his goals. Possessed of great ability but not a Blade Knight yet, Makarov regardless had great pride in his own skill and believed himself ready to fulfill his destiny and infiltrate the Covenant, causing their demise. On one occasion, Makarov snuck into Rethwode's chambers and saw the Master's texts, which contained a wealth of information about the Covenant—it was in his records that Makarov first heard the name of Elvyria Asteria, the fallen Scarlet Witch of Anvil turned to the side of the Covenant who ruled in Bor Roman's court in Dawnstar. Rethwode soon discovered Makarov with the secret informations, and rebuked the young apprentice for his curiosity. As Makarov was nearing the end of his dai-katana training, Rethwode instead sent Makarov to summon Lasharel for another round of training duels.