·Half a lifetime ago, before he became Zexion, a bright and promising but reserved scholar was the youngest of six apprentices researching under an idealistic Tevinter Magister, known as Ansem the Wise. His studies were considered radically progressive even among the Imperium, devoted to eradicating the potential for darkness to overtake the human heart by tempering it with exposure. However, led by an enigmatic, amnesiac new addition to their cohort, the apprentices soon became entangled in experimentation that far overstepped their well-intended master's ethical boundaries. Precocious and infatuated, the boy who would become Zexion set himself tirelessly to their forbidden project, eager to be included in his peerage. Xehanort published their findings under their master's name, and when Ansem found out he was furious and ordered them to cease and desist.

· However, using themselves as test subjects had left the apprentices fundamentally changed- their hearts became blighted and lost when they were cut away, and along with them the tie between spirit and body damaged. What remained of them was something no longer human, conscious primarily in the fade, and so after Xehanort unseated their master, they fled Tevinter into wandering exile on the fringes of Thedas, fearing they would be mistaken for abominations.

· In time they found other anomalies of similar condition, and formed a cult Organization. During the mage rebellion they recruited desperate blood mages to their number, but also collected displaced tranquil into their growing followers, and became known by some inhabitants of these corners of civilization as 'Dusks' or 'Nobodies'. As their ranks swelled, internal power struggles became evident, with some newer members of the Organization plotting to overthrow the six founders. After two of his colleagues were killed during an attempted coup at their second headquarters, Zexion narrowly evaded being cornered like a rat and fled, hoping that by his illusions, he would be presumed dead.

·A talented deciever, burned by his loyalties and seeking a place of stable security to lick his wounds, Zexion's decided to try and insinuate himself into one of the recently restabilized circle towers in Southern Thedas as a penitant apostate mage, hoping that reform has softened their structure, and that in the wake of the mage/templar conflict he'll be sheltered with open arms if he comes willingly, with the right sponsor.

· Zexion prefers evasive tactics to combat whenever possible, and has a great deal of unexplored magical potential that hasn't been developed to its fullest, outside of using blood magic to generate illusions. He greedily hoards written errata, and is something of a fermentation and pickling hobbyist!