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= Keeper of the Light = Upon a pale horse he rides, this spark of ancient suns. Ezalor, Keeper of the Light, rides forth from the shattered Primordial harmony to bring the gift of life and light throughout the many corners of the vast universe, while remaining one step ahead from the ancient forces of chaos and darkness. A force of the universe that has grown sentient in the dawn of time, he embodies and identifies himself as the weak nuclear force, a fundamental force that is unique among the others with its transformative capabilities on the subatomic level (compared to the other forces which are attractive and repulsive) as well as the ability to manipulate magic and its very essence.

Biography
Before time even began to flow, the fundamental laws of the universe were all bound together by the great Primordial harmony in the far and upstream Fundamental Plane made by the One we know as. At the dawn of the universe, these inanimate forces gained the gift of sentience and expression through unexplained means. With the capacity to feel and think, the spark of ancient suns came to be known as Ezalor, the Keeper of the Light, and the four Fundamentals were born. Soon after, the Primordial harmony was broken (either by Ezalor with his ability to disrupt harmony or Elder Titan who caused the Schism ) and the sentient Fundamentals were set loose into the many planes of the fragmented world left behind by their creator.

Ezalor frequently mentions that he is on a quest, but the goal of this quest and why he partakes in it is currently unknown. He also claims to originate from a place known as Light's Keep where he also returns to when he dies before riding out once more.

The Spark of Suns
Ezalor created and took on the mantle of the one who brought light to every corner of the universe and keeping darkness and chaos at bay with his powers over light and order, but abandoned this role soon after (likely due to the doggedly chasing after him) leaving it to be taken up by anyone who wishes to continue his work.

But it was under this mantle that Ezalor was in his prime, and he was in his prime when he was still the spark of ancient suns. Wielding a radiant staff, he channeled his powers to create the very first sun in the universe, a sentient and conscious beacon of light that can reproduce through supernova, resulting in an endless cycle of birth and rebirth. The first sun was the primogenitor of every sun and star in the universe, including the likes of and

Although he could give life to conscious stars, he can create lifeforms as well. In the earliest days following his exodus from the Fundamental Plane, Ezalor channeled his power to create a winged horse that inherited his gift, allowing it to aid his work in sparking suns to life.

His work soon came to an end when the Chaos Knight set his sights upon him and chased after his fugitive brother who was said to have defied the first covenant when he escaped the Fundamental Plane. Ezalor was forced to abandon his work in response to the pressing danger at hand and left the mantle with no one around to give it to, until it was taken up by his grandchildren aeons later.

Keeper of the Northlight
Aeons later, Ezalor assumed a cunning disguise in the form of a doddering old man, a true outward embodiment of the fundamental force that is his identity. He has been observed appearing in different guises: a fortune teller, a wizard, and even a sage, but there are none so well documented as his guise of the Keeper of the Northlight.

Legends from the remote frigid villages of the Wailing Mountains speak of a hooded old man who travels in the cold Northern wastes, appearing only to those who have lost their way and when evil or darkness makes its presence known in those lands. Upon a grey stag he rides, bearing the light of the famous North Star that has helped countless travelers to find their way, while banishing evil and darkness when he finds them.

Personality and Mannerisms

 * Ezalor is prone to forgetfulness, but this behavior affects him deeper than what we observe from his physical guise. He is not forgetful because he takes on the form of an old man, but because it's actually an outward expression of the force that he embodies: the weak nuclear force, which is best known for mediating the process of radioactive decay.
 * Decay may be associated with forgetfulness in the elderly, because their capacity for making and retrieving memories often deteriorates (or decays) with age.
 * Hence, Ezalor did not choose to take on the form of an old man, but his guise is a result of him creating a form that bests represents what he truly embodies.
 * Explanations aside, his forgetfulness often gets him into trouble with his kin and even himself.
 * Ezalor is a benevolent and noble being. Even after abandoning his mantle, he still does his best to beat back evil whenever it is found while still helping those who need his gift of light, no matter what form he takes. His voicelines and the way he speaks them has an air of heroism and nobility.
 * Some of Ezalor's voicelines when he meets with allied female heroes show that he is quite flirtatious with females, regardless of their race or species. It's unknown if this is just a gag on him being a perverted old man or an actual aspect of his personality, as none of the women that he directs these lines to acknowledge this and he doesn't even display this behavior in Dota Underlords.

Family
Ezalor is one of the few heroes in Dota 2 that has children of his own. All the stars and suns in the universe are his children, including Phoenix, Dawnbreaker, and her creators, the Children of Light, who are all descendants of the Keeper's first sun. Dawnbreaker is humbled by the presence of her great grandfather but she is also saddened that he did not do anything to save the Children of Light nor did he know about the fates that they chose. She is even furious at him for abandoning his descendants.

The Solar Goddess, a divine figure whom worships, is a dilution of a greater lineage of star progeny (as in the stars and suns themselves) which includes the Dawnbreaker and her creators, the Children of Light. This would imply that the Solar Goddess is also a very distant descendant of Ezalor and his first sun.

Since is the lover of Dawnbreaker, Ezalor would be his great grandfather-in-law. Mars seems to be deeply concerned about how he treated the Children of Light and why he abandoned them.

Ezalor is the younger brother and antithesis to the Chaos Knight, who has been hunting him down ever since the exodus of the Fundamentals from their progenitor realm. Chaos Knight claims that he seeks to destroy all order and creation as well snuff out the Light from every plane of existence but he belies an ulterior motive where he truly seeks to reunite his siblings back into the Fundamental plane.

Like all Fundamentals, they are the children of the Elder Titan. That includes the two omnipresent forces and.

Rivalry
Besides the Chaos Knight, Ezalor has been in some in-fighting with the children of the Schism. Enigma is hostile towards Ezalor, as he embodies the very force that causes a star to collapse on itself and die, turning it into a black hole. In Dota Underlords, Enigma also plans to replace him with, for reasons unknown.

Embodiment
Ezalor is a Fundamental, a fundamental law of the universe that has gained sentient expression at the dawn of the universe's creation. It is currently unknown how Ezalor and his Fundamental brothers managed to become sentient beings, and it's even more mysterious if they got their sentience by themselves or someone/something else. He originates from a higher plane of existence known as the Fundamental Plane where they were once united as one force   in/by the great Primordial harmony, which was either disrupted by Ezalor or shattered by his creator, allowing him to separate from the other ancient forces that he was once bound with.

Like all Fundamentals and their creator, Ezalor is an omnipresent force that exists in all planes at once, allowing him to call upon other versions or aspects of himself to assist each other. Like his brother Chaos Knight who uses it to summon phantasms from other worlds, or Enigma who uses it to summon aspects of himself from other dimensions, Ezalor can utilize this omnipresence to summon a separate spirit to channel his abilities for him.

The Weak Force
Ezalor embodies the weak nuclear force, in contrast to his brother who embodies the strong nuclear force. The weak force is best known for being responsible for several kinds of radioactive decay, one of which is responsible for the nuclear fusion between subatomic particles that causes stars and suns to burn. With this power, Ezalor has sparked the heat of countless stars, lighting up every corner of the universe and gifting the sun's radiance to the distant worlds that find comfort from its rays, while allowing them to go and multiply via supernova to further extend the cycle of life. He also used his force to make sentient lifeforms, such as winged horses that inherit his powers, which means that the weak force can be used to create life as well.

is a rather straightforward ability. Ezalor simply channels a burst of light from his radiant staff and releases it at the right moment to unleash a large wave of light. The internal glow of his staff is said to fill the souls of the innocent with tranquility while relieving them of their pain (likely flowery language that explains Illuminate's healing ability) but the wicked cannot bear the weight of this light.

Ezalor's is a good example of the weak nuclear force being integrated into his gameplay and his lore. By disrupting the so-called "Primordial harmony", Ezalor can cause those with poor constitution to uncontrollably drain their own magical energy. It is unknown if operates under the same lore of the ability that it has replaced (besides being similar in terms of gameplay) since the spell was released without a lore description.

is one of Ezalor's most vague abilities. Lorewise, the skill is said to be Ezalor bestowing his "harmony" (likely referring to the Primordial harmony that's frequently mentioned in Ezalor's lore ) upon others to restore their magical energy. Ezalor mentions chakra, kundalini, and the serpent of illumination when using this ability, but it's not yet known how these concepts relate to his powers.

Just like his first spell, is also a straightforward ability. It is simply a short blast of intense light that may threaten to blind those who look directly towards it.

is an interesting ability, as not only does Ezalor call upon the wisp Ignus Fatuus to aid him, but its lore description states that Ezalor has an uncanny influence over many powerful creatures that are always willing to help him even if he doesn't seem to be familiar with them. Basically, Ezalor can call upon creatures such as wisps to aid him and they will always answer his call, even if he forgets who they are. As for the capabilities of this wisp in the lore, it is currently unknown if we do not take gameplay mechanics into the question.

is yet another one of Ezalor's vague abilities, due to its obscure description. It can be speculated that this ability works similarly to Io's (lorewise) for the two following reasons:
 * These abilities are almost similar to each other in gameplay. Lorewise, Io's ability uses its omnipresence over space and the Seven Planes as well as its ability to teleport to use Relocate, allowing Io to relocate anyone to any point in space while still being with them at their destination, since it is omnipresent.
 * Like Io, Ezalor is omnipresent as he is a Fundamental, who exists across all planes at once. Since they share this trait and possess similar teleportation or planeshifting skills, it may be assumed that Recall is simply Ezalor's version of Relocate that may or may not have any differences.

Lastly is what happens when Ezalor sheds his mortal guise, allowing him to reveal the power that he truly embodies.

Friendships and rivalries
Allies meeting Keeper of the Light Enemies killing Keeper of the Light Enemies dying to Keeper of the Light Others
 * vo_arc_warden_arcwar_ally_02.mp3  The aid of a Fundamental is most welcome.
 * vo_centaur_cent_ally_08.mp3  Keeper, what a strange beast you are.
 * vo_centaur_cent_ally_09.mp3  Keeper, let us run together.
 * vo_chaos_knight_chaknight_ally_01.mp3  Ride with me, brother.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_81.mp3  Wow, you're old.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_82.mp3  Keeper of the light... That job sounds... Boring.
 * vo_elder_titan_elder_ally_05.mp3  Great age has dissolved the differences between us, Keeper.
 * vo_enigma_enig_ally_01.mp3  Come, Ezalor. We have endless work to do.
 * vo_enigma_enig_ally_02.mp3  We Fundamentals shall win this day.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_ally_85.mp3  I kind of wanted to sleep in today, gramps.
 * vo_wisp_ally.mp3  Boop
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_ally_10.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_ally_10.mp3   I like your mount.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_146.mp3  What kind of example are you setting for the youngsters, Ezalor?
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_147.mp3  Long have I admired your steed, Ezalor.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_79.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_79.mp3   You gotta show me how to do that light trick, Ezalor.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_80.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_80.mp3   Keeper, I was thinking next Thursday would be a good day for my 'fundamental ascension' ceremony, that work for you?
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_85.mp3  You make me laugh, old man. Perhaps you're not as senile as you appear to be.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_86.mp3  Chaos Knight was asking about you. It seems he is quite taken with you.
 * vo_phantom_lancer_plance_ally_05.mp3  You keep the light. We will protect it.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_87.mp3  Feel like some flap-jacks, Ezalor?
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_88.mp3  Going my way pilgrim?
 * vo_rubick_rubick_ally_07.mp3  Illuminate my path, Keeper.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_ally_30.mp3  Before I even knew myself, I felt your headlong flight.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_ally_31.mp3  I've enjoyed watching your journey, Ezalor.
 * vo_arc_warden_arcwar_rival_07.mp3 The last of your light is cast.
 * vo_bristleback_bristle_rival_14.mp3 Die, geezer! And that horse you rode in on!
 * vo_bristleback_bristle_rival_12.mp3 Lights out for you, geezer.
 * vo_chaos_knight_chaknight_rival_15.mp3 My antithesis rides no more.
 * vo_chaos_knight_chaknight_rival_16.mp3 The Light is lost from this plane.
 * vo_chaos_knight_chaknight_rival_17.mp3 Aha, come back, and I shall kill you again.
 * vo_chaos_knight_chaknight_rival_18.mp3 I'll see you purged from every plane.
 * vo_chaos_knight_chaknight_rival_19.mp3 Your light is snuffed out.
 * vo_chaos_knight_chaknight_rival_20.mp3 The light goes out from your eyes.
 * vo_chaos_knight_chaknight_rival_21.mp3 Long have I hunted you, Ezalor.
 * vo_chaos_knight_chaknight_rival_22.mp3 The universe has no place for a rogue Fundamental.
 * vo_earth_spirit_earthspi_rival_42.mp3 I enlighten you.
 * vo_elder_titan_elder_rival_14.mp3 That which I divided, returns to Unity.
 * vo_elder_titan_elder_rival_15.mp3 So dies the spark of ancient suns.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_02.mp3 Though you spark suns to shine, you cannot escape me.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_03.mp3 Ezalor, the weak and infirm.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_04.mp3 Your weakness was your undoing.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_05.mp3 Ezalor, your decay is now complete.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_06.mp3 So dies the spark of endless suns.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_07.mp3 You forget yourself, Ezalor.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_08.mp3 Flux you and the horse you rode in on.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_09.mp3 What you bring to life, I shall bring to death.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_13.mp3 So ends another Fundamental.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_16.mp3 A Fundamental dies.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_17.mp3 So dies a Fundamental of the universe.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_rival_53.mp3  I take extra pleasure in destroying an original.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_rival_85.mp3  Hey old-timer. The sun sets on everybody. Whether they like it or not.
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_rival_25.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_rival_25.mp3  Never trust a wizard.
 * vo_lina_lina_rival_17.mp3 Got a light?
 * vo_lina_lina_rival_18.mp3 Old.
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_74.mp3  Your brilliance ends in darkness, old man. Just like all the rest...
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_75.mp3  All who came before me must perish!
 * vo_mirana_mir_rival_10.mp3 Sagan has been eyeing your mount all day.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_79.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_79.mp3   Ezalor, you should have used that horse to run.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_80.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_80.mp3   You've had a good run, Old Man. But it's my time now.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_83.mp3  This is where negligence leads, old man.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_84.mp3  So do I keep the light now? Is that how it works?
 * Phoenix_bird_emote_bad.mp3 Chirp!
 * vo_rubick_rubick_rival_16.mp3 No light lasts forever.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_88.mp3  You rode in the wrong rodeo, Ezalor.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_89.mp3  Turns out you're a one-horse talent.
 * vo_spectre_spec_redux_rival_08.mp3 You ride no more.
 * vo_visage_visa_rival_02.mp3 You shall not pass!
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_rival_51.mp3  It brings me no pleasure to extinguish the first light.
 * vo_kunkka_kunk_death_06.mp3 Not the horse latitudes.
 * vo_oracle_orac_prophecies_043.mp3  Ponies! I see ponies! A terrible vision indeed.
 * vo_oracle_orac_prophecies_044.mp3  Trampled falls the hero beneath ethereal hooves.
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_duelhero_22.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_duelhero_22.mp3  Defend your beard!
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_duelhero_28.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_duelhero_28.mp3  I will tear you from your saddle!

Biography
When the world was barely brightened by the gifts of, it existed during a period when morning never came to pass and days were known as nights. In this perpetual state of umbra, creatures of darkness reigned unchallenged over the world. Soon after, the first among the prey of these beasts grew to worship their masters, forging armor and regalia to honor their magnificence. Balanar was one of the few among these masters who were gifted regalia by his prey, signifying that he was a very powerful figure among the creatures of darkness.

But soon these great creatures did not reign unmatched, nor did they have any impunity. They found themselves in conflict with the armies of the Children of Light, who took up the Keeper's mantle in bringing light to every corner of the universe, while having their own goal to purge the cosmos of all creatures of primordial night. One of their heralds, Valora the, came into conflict with these creatures as well.

On the dawn of the First Day, all the night creatures perished. Balanar survived this onslaught due to the sheer amount of darkness residing in his heart that allowed him to sustain himself through daylight (but in a weakened state) leaving him the sole survivor of the event. He now plays the role of the Night Terror, the Boogeyman, punishing those who ignore the tales and warnings of their communities with death, stalking the unwitting and unwary, and striking fear into generations of families and societies with his mere existence.

Fetters of Ra'hul
At some point in time, definitely after the eradication of his kin, Balanar was captured and bound by the Order of Ra'hul with cursed chains that were said to bring his ancient power to heel. Although the Order was initially successful, their prisoner escaped when nighttime fell, restoring the Night Stalker back to full power and allowing him to break free, possibly slaughtering the Order in the process.

Personality and Mannerisms

 * Balanar is a malevolent creature. He seems to relish the role of the Night Terror or Boogeyman that was bestowed upon him by many fearful populaces, even though the Night Stalker simply slays others for their sustenance.
 * Fitting for someone with immense power, Balanar is a lordly being. Before the First Day extinguished his kin, the creatures that he preyed on grew to worship him and fashioned regalia that symbolized his magnificence. He also dislikes others who claim to have more authority or favor over the night or the moon.

Physiology
Balanar is a Strength hero, a powerful embodiment of overwhelming force and great durability. A beast of the night, he relies on his claws and teeth to tear at his enemies. He has a pair of membranous wings that he usually unfolds during nighttime to fly untethered from the ground, allowing him to catch up to his prey should they choose to escape from him.

Powers
Although he is physically powerful, Balanar is no ordinary beast who merely relies on bodily weapons. He possesses a myriad of ancient powers revolving around fear and shadow to cripple his opponents and bring them to heel. This ancient power makes him an eldritch creature, although not as eldritch as the likes of a faerie dragon.

Lore-wise, Balanar's is a surprisingly powerful skill, if not an actual magic spell. The skill involves Balanar creating a vortex that pulls his enemies into the time period when the primordial darkness was still unlit by the First Day. Its description implies that Void may very well be a time travel ability or a form of temporal banishment.

allows Balanar to transmit a vision of his unhinged maw into the minds of his victims, horrifying those he deigns to use this ability on.

is not an actual ability that Balanar has in the lore. It is more of a translation of Balanar being at his strongest during nighttime into a gameplay mechanic.

His ultimate,, allows him to summon darkness to turn day into night or extend the duration of nighttime, at least according to its effects in gameplay.

Besides his gameplay abilities (that somewhat have a connection to the lore) and passive skills, Balanar has some other powers found in his lore. He has the ability to call upon the souls of his perished brethren from the void by using himself as their spiritual focus into the material plane, allowing them to haunt the living.

Friendships and rivalries
Allies meeting Night Stalker
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_121.mp3  We're going to own the night.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_122.mp3  We'll hunt them all down.
 * vo_dawnbreaker_valora_ally_131.mp3  I'm surprised you haven't slithered away to whatever hole you hide in when day breaks.
 * vo_keeper_of_the_light_keep_ally_02.mp3  Well, Night Stalker, the daytime's not as bad as all that, is it?
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_72.mp3  I've followed some of your work, Night Stalker. I'm expecting big things!
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_117.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_117.mp3   I guess you're not useless half the time, Night Stalker. That's pretty good.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_118.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_118.mp3   Do we really have to wait til night to start fighting?
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_125.mp3  Cruelty for the sake of it... I do not approve.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_126.mp3  I did not want to say anything in front of the others, but your breath could use a bit of peppermint... Or something.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_130.mp3  You don't have a kind bone in your body. But that don't mean we can't put something sweet in there.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_ally_38.mp3  Your tastes are timeless, Night Stalker... I expect you'll never change.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_ally_38.mp3  Your tastes are timeless, Night Stalker... I expect you'll never change.

Enemies killing Night Stalker
 * vo_axe_axe_rival_21.mp3 I said good night stalker!
 * vo_bane_bane_rival_01.mp3 I've forgotten more nightmares than you'll ever inspire.
 * vo_bane_bane_rival_02.mp3 In your dreams, Night Stalker!
 * vo_bane_bane_rival_03.mp3 Night Stalker, I remember when you were scared of the dark. Ha aha ha!
 * vo_batrider_bat_rival_16.mp3 Night Stalker, why have wings if you're not gonna fly.
 * vo_broodmother_broo_rival_05.mp3 Night Stalker, that's a face even a mother couldn't love.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_121.mp3  The night is my dominion.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_122.mp3  No one hunts me.
 * vo_dawnbreaker_valora_rival_131.mp3  You lasted longer than most, vermin. But daylight comes.
 * vo_ember_spirit_embr_rival_08.mp3 Night fades before dawn.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_rival_74.mp3  I take little pleasure in killing such a beautiful creature.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_rival_127.mp3  My uncle used to tell me bedtime stories about you. Those were some great adventures. Real happy to have killed you.
 * vo_keeper_of_the_light_keep_rival_07.mp3 Night Stalker, welcome to daylight.
 * vo_keeper_of_the_light_keep_rival_08.mp3 Night Stalker, I bring you into the light.
 * vo_keeper_of_the_light_keep_rival_09.mp3 You were as old as the first day, but I am as old as the first light.
 * vo_keeper_of_the_light_keep_rival_10.mp3 Here's light in your eye. Eh heh heh heh.
 * vo_luna_luna_rival_05.mp3 The moon does play favorites, Night Stalker.
 * vo_luna_luna_rival_06.mp3 The moon turns against the Night Stalker.
 * vo_luna_luna_rival_07.mp3 Having a bad night, Stalker?
 * vo_lycan_lycan_rival_17.mp3 The day has eyes. Night, ears. The wolf, teeth.
 * vo_lycan_lycan_rival_28.mp3 Even you should fear the full moon.
 * vo_lycan_lycan_rival_29.mp3 The night needs nobility, not a beastly fairy tale.
 * vo_lycan_lycan_rival_30.mp3 Behold the night's new ruler!
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_98.mp3  Aren't you beautiful? I'll mount your head above the mantle!
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_174.mp3  Fly-by-night, indeed!
 * vo_mirana_mir_rival_15.mp3 Your nights are at an end.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_117.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_117.mp3   I've heard a lot of stories about you. Oh, I guess this is the last one.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_118.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_118.mp3   Mistake me for easy prey, Night Stalker? You're a fairy tale. And I'm a legend.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_123.mp3  Some days I love my job more than others. This is one of those days.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_124.mp3  Day or night. It makes no difference to me!
 * vo_queenofpain_pain_rival_01.mp3 Night Stalker, you aren't the only thing that goes bump in the night.
 * vo_queenofpain_pain_rival_02.mp3 Night Stalker, you're only a little pain.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_130.mp3  Rooster's crowin!
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_131.mp3  Guess it's high noon after all.
 * vo_terrorblade_terr_rival_24.mp3 vo_terrorblade_terr_morph_rival_24.mp3  vo_terrorblade_terr_shards_rival_24.mp3  I stalk all hours, not just the night.
 * vo_ursa_ursa_rival_19.mp3 Cubs! Rest in tranquility: the Night Stalker is no more.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_rival_73.mp3  You must learn to respect your elders.
 * vo_winter_wyvern_winwyv_rival_18.mp3 You only wear your wings when none can see them!

Others
 * vo_oracle_orac_prophecies_063.mp3  Beware the dark that spreads its wings and falls at any hour.

Biography
In the dungeons of Devarque, there was a vengeful wizard imprisoned within its walls and bars. This unnamed wizard shared a cell with a gibbering Oglodi named N'aix, a thief cursed by the Vile Council with longevity, so that its long life in captivity may be as punishing as possible. Such was the longevity that was placed on him, that he could live for many generations of the nobles of Devarque, thus succumbing from old age will never be an escape from the torment that he will receive for the rest of his life.

The thief's mind was broken from the countless cruelties that the nobles of Devarque and their descendants had visited upon him, each method being different from the previous one. But even though his broken mind could not understand why he was being punished, nor could he even fathom the meaning of punishment, the methods of torture were still different from the last, maintained by the wicked creativity of Devarque's nobles and progeny.

Finding a great opportunity for his escape plan, the wizard set his schemes to action. He would weave a spell of Infestation: a spell that will cast the wizard's life-force into a victim's body, allowing him to control N'aix against his own will. After compelling him to attack the guards and set a commotion, he would return to his body and creep out unnoticed. Casting his life-force on the creature, he found his mind caught in a vortex of intense madness that swept away his plans and shattered his will, leaving his consciousness trapped within the creature, or whatever was left of his former identity.

Although the spell failed and even backfired, it did not go to waste at all. The botched spell infused N'aix with the life-force of the wizard and he was jolted back to consciousness from his state of insanity and madness. In the first moments of his reawakening, he managed to comprehend a voice in his head that could only think one thought: To escape.

Thus the Lifestealer was born, a mingling of two wicked minds inhabiting a single vessel. Heeding the thought of escape, Lifestealer cast his mind into the dungeon guards and soldiers, compelling them to break open the locks and cut down their companions, leaving a trail of chaos and bodies for him to feast on. At end of this trail, Lifestealer escaped from the dungeons of Devarque, free to continue its thievery once more: not of gold and possessions, but of the sweet life-force that flows within every living creature.

He wears his broken shackles in plain sight as a reminder that none should hope to contain him, a sick irony that is belied by his physical form: a prison of tortured flesh containing a disembodied consciousness that he only knows as the Master, whom he only pretends to obey.

Vile Augmentations
N'aix once sought an enchanter who could craft a set of vile augmentations to strengthen his twisted body. But his feats and reputation have reached the ears of many people far and wide, and the task of finding an enchanter that would even offer their services to one so evil and insane as N'aix would prove difficult to complete. He finally found a disgraced enchanter's apprentice who had an interest in the darker arts of augmentation. N'aix gave him a commission to craft a set of augmentations for his body, including a set of claw blades and a skeletal backpiece that when opened, revealed a pulsing blob of flesh.

The enchanter's apprentice got to work and managed to forge the requested augmentations and attached them onto N'aix's body, further strengthening his form and twisting his silhouette into something unrecognizable from his previous self. The last piece was a monstrous looking muzzle that was secretly attached with a controlling agent that would allow him to control the Lifestealer after performing a ritual. Attaching the muzzle onto the maw of the Lifestealer then performing the ritual, he realized too late that the controlling agent never bound itself to the muzzle during the ritual–not at all.

Personality and Mannerisms

 * Even though his past identity and memories have been destroyed, N'aix still retains several aspects of himself when he was still an ordinary thief. He dislikes the concepts of imprisonment, purchase, and control;  and is confused when something is given to him freely.
 * The one thought that the wizard gave to N'aix after being trapped in his mind indicates his dislike of control. "To escape" might not mean that the wizard is telling N'aix to escape, but the wizard himself actually wants to escape N'aix's mind. This plea fell on deaf ears (or minds in this context) as he only pretends to obey him.
 * Despite disliking control and being controlled, he seems to be a hypocrite in that regard. His lack of hesitation on using mind control (e.g. ) is an indicator of this.
 * N'aix's newfound powers over the life-force of others have given him a malicious and sadistic personality as a side effect.
 * Already an insane creature himself, N'aix finds nothing disgusting in the awful things that he does to satisfy his wicked needs and desires.

Physiology
Although his broken body would say otherwise, N'aix is a Strength hero, an embodiment of overwhelming force and great durability. He relies on his blood soaked claws to dig into the opponent's flesh and release their essence to him, but he also has a disfigured set of jaws lined with wicked teeth. It should be noted that his longevity might have preserved him in his current state, his skin color remained pristine even after many generations that should have turned him into a rotting, discolored corpse.

With the help of an enchanter's apprentice, N'aix acquired a set of bodily augmentations to further strengthen his form. His augmentations include a skeletal backpiece that opens to reveal a fleshy blob, a pair of metallic claws, and a muzzle that appears to have twisted his visage into a canine-like creature with a long tongue. Without taking the cosmetic's spell effects into consideration, the effects of these augmentations, to what extent do they augment his form and powers, and any new powers that he gained from these items are unknown.

Powers
N'aix got his powers when the wizard inadvertently trapped himself within his mind. Thanks to this chance encounter, he can now control the life-force of others to his liking by wielding the wizard's magics to a greater extent than its original caster.

It's unknown if actually gives N'aix spell immunity or any protection from magic without considering gameplay mechanics, since its lore does not state that anywhere at all. At best, it is simply a state of frenzy and bloodlust that N'aix undergoes during battle, suddenly making him vicious and relentless against his opponents.

is a translation of N'aix's carnivorous appetite and sustenance from life-force into a passive ability. It may be possible that N'aix can leech one's life-force with every strike that he lands on his victim. His ability to deal a percentage of his victim's max health is a gameplay mechanic, however.

Unfortunately, has no written lore to even speculate its capabilities outside of gameplay.

is quite a gruesome ability with some form of ludonarrative dissonance. N'aix rends the flesh from his opponent, which causes them to bleed profusely. The scent of blood then attracts scavengers to finish off the bleeding victim as they share in the victim's life-force, just like how the ability allows his allies to steal life with any attacks and any spells that they inflict on his victim. Lorewise, this wouldn't make any sense as not every hero allied with N'aix is comfortable with stealing his victim's life-force in a rather gruesome method, not to mention that spells being able to steal life-force from a simple wound makes no sense. It may simply be set aside as gameplay mechanics.

is heavily implied to be Infestation, the same spell that the wizard cast on N'aix to control him. But since the wizard has been trapped and absorbed into N'aix's being, he now wields this magic to his own ends. By casting his life-force into an unfortunate victim, he can infest their body and wait inside before bursting in a gory explosion. He may even choose to control his victim from within. In N'aix's biography, he also uses this ability to cast his mind into the dungeon's inhabitants to control them against their will.

Friendships and rivalries
Allies meeting Lifestealer
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_91.mp3  Look I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life. But moisturize.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_92.mp3  Please don't murder me.
 * vo_dawnbreaker_valora_ally_099.mp3  This is one of those cases where it's really hard to tell if this is a person or someone's pet...
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_ally_95.mp3  Get back to me when you learn something 'telligible.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_61.mp3  Do you even know why we fight, creature?
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_62.mp3  Stick with me and you'll go as far as one of your ill fortune can get.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_89.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_89.mp3   Lifestealer, is that a family name? Or more of an occupation, like haberdasher?
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_90.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_90.mp3   So, you were in prison a long time. Got any good stories?
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_95.mp3  Poor creature. I do not envy what you have become.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_96.mp3  Blink twice if you prefer that I put you out of your misery...
 * vo_slark_slark_ally_08.mp3  Throw off your shackles, friend.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_97.mp3  Where do they dig these guys up?
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_98.mp3  I don't know what your problem is Lifestealer but... Cookie?
 * vo_undying_undying_ally_03.mp3  Take for us, Lifestealer.
 * vo_skeleton_king_wraith_ally_07.mp3  Lifestealer, if you ever feel like serving a different master, let me know.

Enemies killing Lifestealer
 * vo_bloodseeker_blod_rival_01.mp3 Heh, Your blood was a prisoner begging me to set it free.
 * vo_bristleback_bristle_rival_50.mp3 The Oglodi, they don't die easy, I will give em that.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_91.mp3  I'm not ending up like you!
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_92.mp3  Stay away from me!
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_rival_58.mp3  The mindless are of no use to me.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_rival_95.mp3  Did you see that bloke? There's no way he's not thanking me. And if he's not, he should be.
 * vo_kunkka_kunk_rival_34.mp3 My mast, your master.
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_80.mp3  Hard to bite down with a spear in your gullet!
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_81.mp3  You should thank me, creature. This death brings honor to one I suspect has none!
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_89.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_89.mp3   You were safer in that dungeon, Lifestealer.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_90.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_90.mp3   Your name's 'Lifestealer'? Hohoho! Man, this joke writes itself.
 * vo_omniknight_omni_rival_05.mp3 Lifestealer, I will find what did this to you.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_93.mp3  Why is it always my responsibility to dispatch the grotesques?
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_94.mp3  I did not steal your life. But I certainly did take it.
 * vo_pudge_pud_rival_14.mp3 That's what you get, taking a bite out of my turf.
 * vo_queenofpain_pain_taunt_04.mp3 You can look but don't touch. Come to think of it, don't look either.
 * vo_slark_slark_rival_07.mp3 Oh look, another shackle-dragger.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_98.mp3  Eat lizard chips, toothy! I got plenty to spare.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_99.mp3  I stole one back for the good guys. Well, good-ish.
 * vo_spectre_spec_redux_rival_07.mp3 Your life is stolen.
 * vo_tiny_tiny_rival_01.mp3 I think you bit off more than you can chew, Lifestealer.
 * vo_tiny_tiny_rival_02.mp3 My life is too big to be stolen.
 * vo_undying_undying_rival_12.mp3 vo_undying_undying_big_rival_12.mp3  You steal, we consume.
 * vo_visage_visa_rival_16.mp3 I will unmake your master's work, Lifestealer.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_rival_56.mp3  Your tormented existence comes to a merciful end.

Others
 * vo_oracle_orac_prophecies_049.mp3  Learn to be your own life's master, lest ye be ruled by evil servitude.

Biography
Born from the flesh of a mother Eldwurm and an unknown father, the dragon freak Jakiro hatches from a single egg with two heads, one burning with the rage of the fiery Pyrexae lineage and another freezing with the guile of the icy Pyrexae lineage. Shunned and sometimes hunted by his race for being an anomaly among the wise but fearsome Pyrexae, Jakiro relies on his duality of powers and traits to destroy all manner of beings and creatures who dare to project any hostility towards him.

Jakiro, the Protector
Among the Mer folk, there are tales of a "twin headed demon" that killed a raiding party (save for two survivors) consisting of the finest Slithereen warriors in the waters surrounding the cliffs of Grosche. Their warnings speak of the demon that protected the bluffs of Grosche. When the party of raiders encroached upon the dragon's territory at night, Jakiro's fire head attacked the party, but they managed to find safety within their own element of the sea. However, his frost head froze the invaders atop the waves that should have protected them. The two remaining survivors could only watch as Jakiro's fiery head incinerated the oblivious raiders.

Jakiro once descended into the underground caverns of the Riverwarren to protect its inhabitants during a time of great need. Since that day, his appearance and deeds are always commemorated in the Day of the Pyres where stories and celebrations of their protector are told and held, respectively. As the children grow up, their dreams of the dragon's return fade with time, but one day Jakiro will return to help the people of the caverns once more.

Personality and Mannerisms

 * Jakiro's duality grants him the traits of both Pyrexae heritages. His icy head inherits their wisdom and guile, while his fiery head inherits their rage and ferocity.
 * A trait natural to most fictional dragons, Jakiro is a very territorial creature.
 * Because of this, Jakiro is one of the more noble and protective dragons, something that is quite uncommon in fantasy works. He protects the cliffs of Grosche from invaders and once came to the aid of the people in Riverwarren, who still celebrate his deeds in his absence.

Family
According to Jakiro, is his cousin. However, Auroth seems to have an animosity towards him, and expresses regret that she didn't kill them before they have hatched. Steve Jaros, the writer of the card game Artifact, confirmed that Auroth is indeed his mother.