User:Joshmaul/Zaranastrasz

"'Look at all those stiff-looking humans...all prancing around in finery like they think they're gods. Are all humans this conceited, my lord, or just the nobility?' 'The human you guide is hardly conceited, Zaran...he has some potential. He will be of great service in the near future.' 'That would explain why you haven't eaten him yet.'"
 * -Zaranastrasz and Korialstrasz

Zaranastrasz is a red dragon tasked by the Dragonqueen Alexstrasza to watch over Saavedro of Stratholme - "a human who has done many deeds for the dragonflights, and will do many more", as Alexstrasza herself put it.

Biography
Zaranastrasz is one of the many sons of Alexstrasza with her prime consort, Tyranastrasz, born as part of a small clutch of eggs laid three thousand years before the First War. Considered to be something of a scholar, Zaranastrasz - like Korialstrasz, the future prime consort - became a mage, adopting the name Zaran in his humanoid form. He was trained in Dalaran by Korialstrasz (naturally, under the guise of Krasus), and grew powerful in his calling.

Eleven years before the opening of the Dark Portal, Zaran was called to Grim Batol by Alexstrasza. A "child with a great destiny ahead of him" had been born in northern Lordaeron, and Alexstrasza tasked Zaran with watching over and guiding him. While not gifted with knowledge of the future like Nozdormu, the Dragonqueen had an empathic gift of foresight. She knew a great conflict was coming, and that the child, Saavedro, would have a place in it. Watching from the shadows and in constant communication with Krasus, Zaranastrasz was amused at the type of people Saavedro dealt with in his calling as a priest, but as he witnessed Saavedro's humility, his generosity and ultimately his pain at the loss of his homeland, he grew to respect this man he had never met but seemed to have known all his life. It was as a result of the duty Alexstrasza assigned him, much like Krasus' charade in Dalaran, that allowed him to avoid being captured by the Horde when the Dragonmaw clan unearthed the Demon Soul.

Nearly five decades after Zaran received his instructions - by which time Alexstrasza and the red dragonflight had been freed by the actions of Krasus and his apprentice, Rhonin - Saavedro had become a powerful paladin in the service of the Alliance. As part of a force led by King Varian Wrynn, Saavedro slew Onyxia, daughter of Deathwing and the manipulator attempting to undermine Stormwind, bringing her head back as a trophy. Weeks earlier, he also participated in Chromie's efforts to restore the timelines surrounding the plagued towns of Andorhal and Darrowshire. These actions earned him the notice of the other dragonflights, particularly that of the bronze dragonflight. In their service, Saavedro would also journey through time to ensure that events happened (relatively) unchanged, so that the timeline remained intact. The infinite dragonflight had attempted to target him both in the past and the future, and he was able to fight them off and preserve his place in existence.

Once Saavedro reached Northrend and met Alexstrasza in person, Zaran revealed himself as an agent of the Dragonqueen assigned to aid him - though he did not mention that he had done so incognito for Saavedro's entire life. The paladin was gratified and humbled that Alexstrasza had deemed him worthy enough to send one of her children to guide him. Zaran served as Saavedro's messenger to Alexstrasza and vice versa, in the event that Saavedro himself could not journey to Wyrmrest Temple (which he did several times, particularly in the events leading up to the Battle of Angrathar the Wrath Gate). When Saavedro joined his friend Ilmater in the fight against Malygos, Zaran was sent by Alexstrasza as part of the reinforcements when Malygos destroyed the Eye of Eternity's central platform, and bore him from the Eye upon Malygos' death.

The Grand Deception
Saavedro's apparent death following the war against the Lich King released Zaran from his obligation - or so it was thought. But Zaran, inexplicably, kept to his charge; the paladin had in fact been spirited away shortly after his apparent "death" by agents of the Wyrmrest Accord, who had determined that the paladin still had a role to play. Knowing also that the Corruptor would return, Alexstrasza - the only one other than Zaran himself to be privy to the secret - charged her child with maintaining Saavedro's anonymity. After the Shattering, Zaran told Saavedro that once the final battle began against Deathwing, he could reveal himself to his former allies again.

Saavedro, for his part, was displeased that he was forced to lie to his comrades, but knew that the dragonflights had their reasons. The only person who suspected the Wyrmrest Accord may have had a hand in Saavedro's "resurrection" was Artimus Devaneaux, who confided to a paladin in the Pia Presidium that he believed Alexstrasza may have somehow been involved with the mysterious circumstances surrounding his old comrade.