Keeper of the Light/Lore

Upon a pale horse he rides, this spark of ancient suns. Ezalor, the 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 transmutative 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.
 * Among other heroes, he has a reputation of being a funny old man to them.
 * 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!