¶ Zezz Vezreck
Species: Thri-kreen
Class: Rogue
Subclass: Thief
Age: 6
Physical Description:
Zezz is a Thri-kreen, an insectoid humanoid with a striking and alien appearance. Standing at just over six feet tall, their lean and wiry frame is covered in a chitinous exoskeleton that shimmers faintly in hues of muted green and sandy beige, blending seamlessly into their surroundings. Their segmented body is built for agility and stealth, with long, spindly limbs that allow for rapid and precise movements.
Zezz's head is distinctly insect-like, featuring large, multifaceted eyes that shimmer with an iridescent sheen, reflecting light in a kaleidoscope of colors. These eyes give them a wide field of vision, perfect for spotting dangers in the No Name Plains. Two long, sensitive antennae protrude from their head, twitching and swiveling constantly to detect subtle changes in the environment. Their mandibles click softly when they speak telepathically or when they're deep in thought.
Zezz’s hands end in three dexterous claws, perfectly adapted for handling tools, weapons, or setting traps. Their legs are similarly spindly but powerful, ending in clawed feet that grip uneven terrain with ease, allowing them to scale vertical surfaces or cling to ceilings when needed.
Their carapace is adorned with subtle engravings and markings, etched in Thri-kreen patterns to signify their status as a hunter. These markings, made with precision and care, give an air of ritualistic pride and tradition. Zezz carries a variety of weapons and tools strapped to their body, including daggers, crossbows, and small pouches containing poisons and trap components. A dark cloak drapes over their shoulders, blending into their natural coloration and adding an extra layer of concealment.
Overall, Zezz's appearance exudes an aura of quiet menace and precision, a predator perfectly adapted to survive in the harshest environments. Their movements are fluid and deliberate, betraying their calm and calculating nature even in the most dangerous situations
Background: Criminal
Vezreck is a Muffleball enthusiast that assumed the identity of Talbot “Tally” Treetoes after Tally and his parents were killed in a freak accident. Zezz's people understand little of this marvelous game. Zezz has made it his mission to teach them. Masquerading as Tally, the Mascot for the Bearded Gnomes, has allowed Zezz access to the game, coaches, players and facilities so they can continue to learn everything they can about this fascinating game.
Zezz hails from a puckered region deep within the bowels of the No Name Plains. The Thri-kreen do not mingle with the "Vaesh" of the Muffleball Republic much so little is known of their seemingly alien culture.
Acquired Bonuses:
- Zezz has proficiency and advantage on all Muffleball related history checks
Darkness Scale:
47 of 100 Goodness / Darkness
¶ Zezz as Talbot “Tally” Treetoes:
Race: Elf
Class: Rogue
Background: Entertainer
Muffle-ball superfan and mascot of The Bearded Gnomes. Tally is a young energetic elf that has been the "man in the suit" as the Bearded Gnome Mascot for the past 3 years. He has an insatiable curiosity for the game and often peppers players, coaches and support staff with endless questions. He is a good lad and most people placate him ever since he lost his parents when a rope bridge collapsed last year. They fell to the forest floor, never to be seen again, their bodies likely devoured by the acidic waters below. Tally himself was thought lost for a couple days until he climbed back up from the forest floor. Apparently, he was lucky enough to fall into the crook of a large branch and lay unconscious for a time. Injured, he regained his strength by drinking tree sap and eating bugs before climbing back to the lower levels of the city. The tragedy has made him more solitary than he was before but Muffle-ball seems to be the one thing that distracts him.
¶ THRIKREEN CULTURE
Lifespan: 40 years
Language: Telepathy, however, they do also use mandible chitters, antennae twitches and head cocking to communicate emotions that aren’t adequately expressed through their buzzing telepathic “voices”.
¶ Thrikreen Values:
Thrikreen society prizes contribution to the community above all else. Everyone is required to contribute. Those that contribute less than they consume are considered a burden and ironically, may be killed and eaten to provide some value to the community while simultaneously reducing the burden on community. Many Thrikreen, as they age or if they are injured will submit to this fate voluntarily. These deaths and the resulting feasts are honored affairs and those eaten are spoken of as honored patriots.
¶ Thrikreen Societal Structure:
Thrikreen society is a matriarchy. A single Hive Queen rules her hive. Due to their short lifespans Hive Queens are changed frequently. Once a female Thrikreen is 3 years old, an adult by Thrikreen standards, she will leave the hive on a pilgrimage to gather knowledge, resources or influence to serve the Hive. Thrikreen society is separated into ranks. All Thrikreen start as drones and through their contribution to community can earn higher ranks.
¶ Thrikreen Language:
Ka'Zzirak – Hive Queen (The supreme leader and mother of a hive)
Kek’Zzirak Tzaa-Vel – A clutch adding its strength to the hive (A phrase used when new hatchlings join the hive)
Kizzact – Abomination (Something that violates the natural order, deeply offensive to the Thri-kreen)
Tzaa – I will be (Used in declarations of identity and intent)
Tzaa-Vel – Strength Flows (A phrase denoting the reinforcement of the hive, often used ceremoniously)
Tz'Reck – Hive Maiden (A female hunter of exception renown undergoing the trials to become a Hive Queen)
Vaesh – Non-hunters / Outsiders (A general term for non-Thri-kreen, often used dismissively)
Vel'ket – Then it shall be! (A phrase of certainty, often used to affirm one's fate)
Vezreck – Aspiring Hive Maiden (A hunter proving their worth to become a Tz'Reck)
Vrik’ta – Drone (A worker or expendable member of the hive, often lacking autonomy)
Zzir’taan – Sanctuary away from the Hive (A refuge for Thri-kreen outside of the hive structure)
Zzirak – Hive (The collective structure and society of the Thri-kreen)
Zzirak-Vel – Hive Strength (A term for collective might, often used in reference to warriors)
¶ Thrikreen Ranks:
- Vrik'Ta or Drone (50%): Bottom rung. Basically, indentured workers. These Thrikreen have no specialized skill and toil away performing manual labor, trading their time to maintain a balance between their contribution to community and their consumption.
- Chak'Ta or Soldier (30%): Male or Female Thrikreen. Often physically gifted but lacking in achievement or critical skills necessary to be considered a Hunter.
- Vz'Reck or Hunter (15%): Male or Female Thrikreen. Physically gifted with distinguished achievements and/or critical skills. Highly valued contributor. Hunters are often sent away on a pilgrimage to gather knowledge, resources or influence to serve the Hive. Part of this pilgrimage includes information by encoding their thoughts and delivering them back to the Hive.
- Krex'Ta or Consort (4%): The highest rank a male Thrikreen can attain. They are viewed as having valuable qualities that benefit the community and should be passed along to the coming egg clutches. Their contributions are not only physical / genetic. They also may be advisors, military leaders, artisans, engineers or other highly skilled / critical occupations. These are selected from the population of Male Hunters at the sole discretion of the Hive Maidens and Hive Queen.
- Tz'Reck or Hive Maiden (1%): Female Hunters that have provided extraordinary value to the Hive by increasing the influence, resources or standing of the Hive. These Thrikreen are selected at the sole discretion of the Hive Queen and are granted a Magic Item known as the Hive Maiden’s Circlet.
- Ka'Zzirak or Hive Queen (1 ea): One per hive, no more, no less. The smartest, most cunning and often the most efficient of the Hive Maidens.
¶ SPOILERS:
¶
¶ The Origin of Zezz
¶ The Birth and Mandate of Zezz Vezreck
Among the jagged rocky spires of the No Name Plains, where wind howled through narrow ravines and shadows stretched long beneath towering stone monoliths, the hive of Zzirak thrived. This was a land of harsh beauty, its dangers manifold but its rewards vast for those strong enough to claim them. Deep within the labyrinthine tunnels of the hive, Zezz hatched.
The hatching chamber was dimly lit by bioluminescent fungi growing along the walls. Dozens of eggs quivered and cracked, releasing younglings covered in sticky membrane. Among them was Zezz, her small frame glinting faintly with a rare blue sheen. The Tz'Recks—hive maidens who nurtured and evaluated the young—buzzed with intrigue as they watched her movements. Though smaller than many of her clutchmates, her instincts were sharp. With precise strikes and quick reactions, Zezz carved out her place among the swarm, ensuring she was fed and noticed.
¶ The Rise of a Vezreck
As Zezz grew, her unique talents became undeniable. Her antennae twitched with acute sensitivity, and her compound eyes captured details others missed. She learned to navigate the treacherous spires of the No Name Plains, where predators lurked in the shadows and prey was scarce. Her movements were silent, her strikes deadly.
When the time came for roles to be assigned, Zezz was named a Vezreck, a title reserved for female hunters with the potential to ascend to the rank of Tz'Reck, a hive maiden. It was an honor and a burden, for the expectations placed on a Vezreck were immense. They were not only hunters but also prospective leaders, tasked with proving their worth through trials of strength, cunning, and loyalty to the hive.
¶ The Hunter’s Trials
Zezz’s greatest test came during the Hunter’s Trials, a rite of passage that would determine whether she was worthy of her title. She was sent alone into the No Name Plains with nothing but her instincts. Her task: to return with proof of her strength and resourcefulness.
The plains were an unforgiving expanse of jagged rocks and narrow passes. Zezz tracked elusive prey through winding ravines, drinking from dew-soaked moss and evading predators that roamed the high cliffs. After days of solitude, she encountered a Kizzact, a twisted creature born of the corrupted magic seeping into the land. It was an abomination—massive, malformed, and dripping with venom.
Zezz knew she could not fight it head-on. She spent three days stalking the Kizzact, observing its habits and weaknesses. When the moment came, she set a trap, luring it into a narrow pass where its bulk worked against it. With precise strikes to its vulnerable joints, she brought the beast down, severing its venomous mandibles as trophies.
Returning to the hive with her prize, she was met with approval from the Ka'Zzirak, the Hive Queen. The queen’s iridescent form loomed over her as she presented the mandibles, her antennae twitching with acknowledgment.
¶ The Queen’s Mandate
“You have proven yourself, Vezreck,” the queen’s voice resonated, carrying the weight of authority. “But our survival depends not only on strength but on knowledge. The Vaesh, the outsiders, are chaotic and weak, but their world holds secrets we can use.”
Zezz tilted her head, her mandibles clicking softly. She had heard of the Vaesh but had never ventured into their realm. The idea of leaving the hive, of severing her connection to the Zzirak, was both alien and unsettling.
“You will go to their lands,” the queen continued. “Learn their ways, their weaknesses, and their strengths. Return with what will serve the hive. But remember: you are not one of them. You are Vezreck. You are ours.”
The words were final. The queen’s gaze bore into Zezz, imprinting the command deep into her consciousness. To disobey was unthinkable; to fail was unacceptable.
¶ Among the Vaesh
Zezz departed the hive and journeyed south, her path taking her through treacherous terrain. The No Name Plains gave way to the chaotic sprawl of the Vaesh city known as Pythagoras. Its towering structures and teeming crowds were unlike anything she had seen before. To Zezz, the Vaesh were strange creatures—soft, loud, and disorganized. Yet she could see their strengths: their ability to build, to adapt, and to bond in ways that defied her understanding.
For months, she moved through the shadows, observing their behaviors and learning their language. Her focus eventually fell on Talbot “Tally” Treetoes, an elf who worked at the Muffleball Training Facility. Tally’s position offered access to resources and information Zezz deemed valuable for the hive.
In a calculated move, Zezz orchestrated Tally’s death, ensuring it appeared as an accident. She assumed his identity, using her mimicry and her sharp mind to blend into the Vaesh world. The trauma of Tally’s supposed ordeal served as a convenient explanation for any oddities in her behavior, allowing her to navigate the complexities of her new role.
¶ The Evolving Hunter
As Zezz spent time among the Vaesh, her perception began to shift. Though she still viewed them as chaotic and weak, she could not deny their resilience and ingenuity. The group she traveled with—Ronnie, Tidus, Boulderbeard, and later Torkin—proved to be more than just tools for her mission. They were unpredictable, flawed, and yet fiercely loyal to one another.
For a hunter like Zezz, who had always valued efficiency and precision, their willingness to risk themselves for each other was baffling. And yet, it stirred something within her—a curiosity, perhaps even a yearning to understand.
Still, the queen’s words lingered in her mind: You are not one of them. You are Vezreck. You are ours.
Zezz’s journey was far from over. The line between duty to the hive and her growing connection to the Vaesh was growing thin. Whether she would rise as a true Vezreck or forge a new path entirely remained uncertain.
¶ BACKGROUND
Zezz Vezreck is a calculating and ruthless Thri-kreen hunter who thrives in the shadows, driven by a deep sense of purpose rooted in their alien culture. They embody the ideals of precision, pragmatism, and survival, and their actions are often guided by an unyielding adherence to their people’s hunting code. To Zezz, the world is divided into hunters and "Vaesh"—a term they use disdainfully for non-hunters or beings they perceive as weak, naïve, or incapable of surviving without external aid.
Zezz's journey has brought them to the city of Pythagoras, where they meticulously scouted and stalked their prey to infiltrate the Bearded Gnomes Muffleball organization. Their target, Talbot “Tally” Treetoes, was carefully selected for his combination of access and insignificance—a perfect candidate to impersonate without drawing suspicion. Zezz’s cold, logical approach to their mission led them to orchestrate the deaths of Tally and his family, collapsing a rope bridge to eliminate them all with plausible deniability. To Zezz, this was not a crime but a necessity to fulfill their objective and maintain their cover.
Using the flesh and memories of Tally, Zezz seamlessly assumed his identity, emerging from the Toxicant Wastes as a survivor of the fabricated tragedy. Their detached view of the “Vaesh” allows them to easily dismiss changes in Tally’s demeanor as being attributed to trauma, understanding that the fragile minds of non-Thri-kreen would accept such explanations without question. Zezz now occupies Tally’s life with a mix of surgical precision and clinical detachment, maintaining a nest in Tally’s late parents’ home while weaving themselves deeper into the fabric of the Muffleball world.
Despite their alien ruthlessness, Zezz demonstrates a profound ability to observe and adapt to their surroundings, using their telepathic abilities and access to Tally’s surface memories to blend into social situations. They maintain connections, such as with Ronnie “Slippery Fingers” McMullen, leveraging these relationships to gather information, protect their cover, and further their goals.
Zezz’s alien perspective often makes them a mystery to those around them. Their Thri-kreen culture instills a deep respect for the hunt, treating it as both a survival mechanism and a spiritual pursuit. Their interactions with others are often pragmatic and distant, though they have moments of begrudging respect for individuals who demonstrate strength, resourcefulness, or value in the context of the hunt. For Zezz, survival is paramount, and any emotional attachments or moral hesitations are weaknesses to be exploited—or eradicated.
Zezz's dual existence as both an alien predator and a convincing mimic of a fragile “Vaesh” makes them a dangerous. Their capacity for cold calculation, coupled with their growing ties to the party, creates an ongoing tension between their Thri-kreen nature and the potential for change influenced by their new companions.
¶ Zezz's Dead Drops via Encoded Thoughts:
- Target identified - It took Zezz months of stalking the city of Pythagoras to learn of the Muffleball Training Facility and find a suitable candidate. Talbot “Tally” Treetoes was a well-liked member of the Bearded Gnomes organization that had all the necessary accesses for Zezz to learn but was insignificant enough to be overlooked or dismissed by most. Tally lived with his parents. His father was a cobbler of very fine shoes. His mother was a doting housewife and mom. They exhibited strong familial bonds that would be difficult to emulate once Zezz stole Tally’s flesh, so Zezz was forced to kill them all. He orchestrated a rope bridge collapse killing all three.
- Access Acquired - Zezz allowed a few days of Tally being missing before emerging from the Toxicant Wastes wearing Tally’s flesh. The “Vaesh” (Thrikreen word for non-hunters but applicable to nearly all non-Thrikreen) would reason that any change in Tally’s demeanor was a result of trauma from his ordeal. Vaesh have fragile minds and often blame hardship and other external factors for their weakness.
- Network Expanding - Zezz has masqueraded as Tally since the end of the previous Muffleball Season. He has access to some of Tally’s surface memories and currently has a nest in Tally’s parent’s home. He frequently visits Ronnie “Slippery Fingers” McMullen and has received an invitation to Doug “Big Muff” Lomax's residence.
- Data Acquired - Images of Big Muff's Muffleball Statistics
- Adversary Identified - Supercut of images of the bald men with the thought that they are not what they seem. Inhuman.
¶ Current Goal:
Learn everything there is to know about Muffleball, how to have a new team formed and how to win a championship. Develop a practical and achievable plan to bring to the Hive Queen which should grant her station as a Hive Maiden.
¶ Ancillary Goals:
- Find a suitable location to lay her clutch of eggs.
- Identify “The Adversary” (bald men influencing the games)
¶ Greatest Desire:
To one day become a Queen for her very own hive. A hive that is accepted as an ally to the Muffleball republic. To one day have Thrikreen team participate in the games, win the championship and rule the Muffleball Republic which spreads Thrikreen influence and standing far beyond what any Hive Queen before her has ever accomplished to become the greatest Hive Queen to ever live.
¶ Greatest Fear:
- Snakes, a natural predator to the mantis.
- To be cast down to the rank of drone and to work the tunnels. Zezz has an active mind, and the monotony of tunnel work would be endless torture.