History
Avizandum was born in Xadia at an unknown point and became an Archdragon of the Sky after mastering his arcanum. He eventually met Zubeia, who became his beloved mate and eventual queen. He also became friends with Rex Igneous, an Archdragon of the Earth, though their friendship soured into rivalry due to disagreements regarding how to treat the war between Xadia and humanity.[1]
300 years before the present, after the previous Dragon Queen, Luna Tenebris, met a mysterious end, Avizandum fought Domina Profundis and Rex Igneous to become the next in line as the monarch of Xadia, as the previous queen had no suitable successor of her own. When Queen Aditi, the wise and trusted leader of the Sunfire Elves, approached the Archdragons to take the decision into her own, peaceful hands, Avizandum allowed her judgement to be final. Before they could hear her decision, however, Aditi mysteriously vanished. After a young human girl revealed that the treacherous Startouch Elf Aaravos had caused every great crisis the world had suffered through for a thousand years, Avizandum and Zubeia collaborated with the elves and the other Archdragons to lock the Archmage away into a magical prison after tricking him into letting his guard down. An enchanted looking glass was then created for Avizandum to keep watch on Aaravos.[2]
In the following three centuries, Avizandum assumed his responsibility as the new King of the Dragons by jealously guarding the Border between the Human Kingdoms and Xadia from dawn until dusk.[3] He could spot any human incursion from the sky, and once he had seen them, it was already too late.[4] He enjoyed reveling in his victories and would leave the battered remains of human armies in his wake as tribute to his triumphs.[5] Throughout his reign, Avizandum had been recognized by the inhabitants of Xadia as a venerable and immensely powerful leader. He managed to maintain prosperity in Xadia by dragging a great thunderstorm across half of the continent to end a drought in the Far Reaches, destroying a Shadow-Eater that was haunting the southern Moonshadow Elf tribes after he forced it into daylight,[5] and abolishing the Order of the Blood Moon after he had most of its members killed.[6] However, despite his noble deeds, some of Avizandum's decisions were questioned by several inhabitants of Xadia,[7] while humans grew to fear and hate him for his actions at the Border.[5] Humans also chose to call Avizandum "Thunder" since they never knew his real name and because his voice shook the earth and the sky when he spoke.[4]
One day, Avizandum noticed that a Magma Titan had been killed within Xadia and its heart had been stolen by a human expedition led by King Harrow. Infuriated by the acts of trespass and murder, Avizandum soared towards the humans and prepared to annihilate them. However, Annika and Neha, the queens of Duren, decided to stay behind to distract the Archdragon. Avizandum attempted to blast the queens with his lightning, though they managed to constantly evade the attacks. The mage Viren then entered the fray, and Avizandum saw him as an easier target. As the Dragon King rushed towards him, Viren swiftly cast "Aspiro Frigis" and encased Avizandum's head in ice. Annika and Neha saw this as an opportunity and charged in, but Avizandum effortlessly broke out of the ice and swiped his tail onto the queens, killing them. With the two queens dealt with, Avizandum prepared to finish off Viren, but the latter was rescued by Queen Sarai on horseback. The queen and the mage dodged every blast of lightning fired by Avizandum as they raced towards the entrance of the Breach. Not willing to let the intruders escape, Avizandum channeled all of his powers and unleashed a lightning bolt that struck right next to the humans, sending them flying off their horse. Believing that he had succeeded, Avizandum flew away from the area. Viren survived the attack, but Sarai was mortally wounded and passed away in Viren's arms.[8]
During their reign, Avizandum and Zubeia became parents to an unhatched egg.[9]
Death
Four moons before the birth of Azymondias, Viren convinced Harrow to take vengeance against Avizandum for the deaths of Annika, Neha, and Sarai, through the use of an unspeakable dark magic spell he discovered, with its ingredients being Sarai's dying breath, the horn of a unicorn, and the blood of someone who loved Sarai (Harrow himself), filled with hatred toward Avizandum. Imbuing the spell into Sarai's spear, Viren and Harrow ventured to the Border. Upon arriving, they discovered that Avizandum was not guarding it, so they traveled to his lair at the Storm Spire. Avizandum confronted them when they arrived, and, not wanting the day of his son's birth to be the same day he would take a life, he gave them the chance to leave with their lives. Harrow, bitterly reminding Avizandum that he never gave Sarai that choice, refused the offer and charged at the dragon.
Before Avizandum could strike Harrow, Viren used his magic to immobilize the Dragon King long enough for Harrow to get within striking distance. Just after Viren's spell broke, Harrow launched Sarai's spear, embedding it into Avizandum's chest. Almost at once, the spell began to infect Avizandum, turning him into stone. Avizandum tried in vain to fly back up to the Storm Spire, but the spell spread to his right wing and caused it to shatter. When he tried to crawl, the spell reached his front left leg and caused it to snap under his massive weight. As he succumbed to the spell, the dragon could only look upon the spire helplessly and with tears in his eyes, realizing he would never see his family again. His petrified and broken body remains near the Storm Spire, as a reminder of the events of that day.[10]
First Saga
Avizandum's petrified body continued to remain near the Storm Spire long after his death.[10]
Second Saga
Aaravos gave his staff to Ziard's restless spirit so he could resurrect Avizandum as part of the plan of creating an Eternal Night.[11] The resurrected Avizandum then flew to Lux Aurea to help Aaravos battle and kill Rex Igneous. Avizandum then attacked Zubeia, who refused to fight her beloved mate and begged him to remember his true self before Domina Profundis came to her aid.[12] When Ezran and Zym arrived with the Nova Blade, Zubeia continued in pleading to Avizandum by reminding him of his love for their son. Avizandum managed to remember who he was and started lifting Aaravos to the sky with Zubeia's help. Avizandum then clamped his jaws around Aaravos, causing an explosion that killed him, Zubeia, and Domina Profundis. After Aaravos was defeated, Team Zym created a monument in the Valley of the Graves to honor Avizandum's courage and sacrifice.[13]
Book One - Moon
Echoes of Thunder
Avizandum appears in a flashback as Aaravos recounts the Dragon King's duty of guarding the Border from incursions until humans used unspeakable dark magic to kill him.
Book Two - Sky
Heart of a Titan
Avizandum appears in a flashback where he chases down King Harrow's expedition party after they harvested the heart of a Magma Titan they slew. In the ensuing skirmish, Avizandum killed Queens Annika and Neha with a swipe of his tail and fired a lightning bolt at Queen Sarai and Viren. Viren managed to survive the attack while Queen Sarai succumbed to her wounds.
Book Three - Sun
Thunderfall
Avizandum appears in a flashback when Viren enlightens Aaravos about how the mighty dragon had been slain. When Avizandum is nowhere to be found at the Border, Viren and Harrow ride towards the Storm Spire, where the Dragon King descends to face his enemies. Avizandum claims that it is a special day on which he will spare the lives of the humans. However, they do not accept his ultimatum to leave or die, and instead strike their opponent with Viren's staff, followed by a spear, which has been previously enchanted with dark magic. The weapon penetrates Avizandum's chest, where the magic begins to petrify him. Avizandum attempts to escape to the Storm Spire, breaking his right wing and left front leg in the process before he succumbs to the rapidly growing stone curse. He sheds one last tear as the stone engulfs his entire body.
In the present day, Team Zym reunite near the petrified body of Avizandum. Callum expresses to Rayla his hatred towards Avizandum for killing his mother Sarai as well as regret and sadness for his stepfather Harrow gaining revenge due to Avizandum being Zym's father.
Hearts of Cinder
Team Zym leaves Avizandum's petrified body behind as they begin their climb of the Storm Spire.
Dragonguard
Viren and his army approaches Avizandum's petrified body as they set sight on the Storm Spire.
The Final Battle
Viren and his army ride past Avizandum's petrified body as they prepare to lay siege on the Storm Spire.
All Storms End
Azymondias and Zubeia approach and comfort each other in front of Avizandum's petrified body during a raging storm as she reminisces the Dragon King's legacy as a leader, a mate, and a father.
Book Four - Earth
Through the Looking Glass
Avizandum was mentioned by Zubeia and appears in a flashback when he fought Rex Igneous and Domina Profundis to become the new King of the Dragons in the wake of Luna Tenebris's mysterious death until the interference of Queen Aditi, as well as when he collaborated with the elves and the other Archdragons to deceive and imprison Aaravos before keeping a vigilant watch on the Startouch Elf through the enchanted looking glass.
Book Five - Ocean
Archmage Akiyu
Avizandum appears in a flashback when Akiyu tells Team Zym about her role in imprisoning Aaravos.
Infantis Sanguine
Zubeia has a fever dream where she visits Avizandum's petrified body despite her infection and asks for his help. The deceased Dragon King resurrects himself and Zubeia embraces her beloved mate. When he notices her festering wound, Zubeia dismisses it as a mere scratch before she roars and collapses in pain. Despite Avizandum's suggestion to find help, Zubeia is unable to and asks if she will reunite with him should she choose to succumb to the infection. Avizandum declines her gesture and encourages her to find strength and life for Azymondias before he returns to his petrified form.
Book Seven - Dark
The Titan and the King
Ziard stands before Avizandum's petrified body and uses Aaravos's staff to resurrect the fallen Archdragon. Ziard refers to Avizandum as "Your Majesty" as the Dragon King opens his eyes and roars back to life.
Dying Light
The resurrected Avizandum flew to Lux Aurea to help Aaravos in battling Rex Igneous. Rex is appalled to see that his former friend and rival had been reduced into Aaravos's puppet. Avizandum silently listens to Rex Igneous's taunt of not talking back before firing black lightning to counter the latter's cloud of volcanic ash. As the two Archdragons trade blows and grapple with each other, Rex attempts to make Avizandum remember about being the mightiest Archdragons and the King of Xadia. The horrified Zubeia then arrives and attempts to stop the fighting, which allows Avizandum to kill the distracted Rex Igneous by sinking his teeth into the latter's hide. As Avizandum prowls towards Zubeia, the Dragon Queen asks her beloved mate to hear her voice. She begs Avizandum to remember his true self and dodges his attacks since she does not want to fight him. Domina Profundis then arrives and fires a torrent of water that briefly knocks Avizandum and Aaravos to the ground. Avizandum is about to attack Zubeia and Domina when Aaravos gestures him to stand down. Avizandum stands with Aaravos as the latter taunts Zubeia, Domina Profundis, and their allies as arrogant fools since such confrontation reminds him of the time when he was imprisoned. The Startouch Elf encourages the Archdragons to kill him and destroy themselves in the process, even though they will merely be sending him back to the heavens, and he will return when his stars align with Xadia in seven years and nineteen days. Callum offered an alternative by using dark magic and the relic staff to imprison Aaravos in one of Viren's enchanted coins before allowing Runaan to kill him so the Startouch Elf would not possess his body.
Nova
Avizandum continues to stand his ground with Aaravos as Callum prepared to cast the dark magic spell and as Zym and Ezran arrive with the Nova Blade. Zubeia tells Avizandum to look upon Zym and begs him to not let their son sacrifice himself to destroy Aaravos. Avizandum fires black lightning at Zubeia, only for the latter to use her wings to shield herself before reminding him on how he gave everything to protect Zym on the day he died and that his love for their son still lives inside him. Avizandum manages to break free from Aaravos's control, and Zubeia helps him tackle the Startouch Elf before lifting him into the sky to sacrifice themselves. Avizandum's body start to slowly disintegrate after Zubeia destroyed Aaravos's staff and ended the Eternal Night. Aaravos starts mocking Avizandum and Zubeia on how their sacrifices will only provide temporary peace and mean nothing when he returns to a world without Archdragons. Avizandum has had enough of Aaravos's ridicule and clamps his teeth into the Startouch Elf's neck. The destruction of Aaravos's physical body results in an explosion that kills both Avizandum and Zubeia.References
- ↑ Book Four, Chapter 8: "Rex Igneous"
- ↑ Book Four, Chapter 4: "Through the Looking Glass"
- ↑ Book Two, Chapter 5: "Breaking the Seal"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Book One, Chapter 1: "Echoes of Thunder"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 All Storms End
- ↑ Book Five, Chapter 5: "Archmage Akiyu"
- ↑ Book One: Moon (Novel)
- ↑ Book Two, Chapter 6: "Heart of a Titan"
- ↑ Bloodmoon Huntress (Novel)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Book Three, Chapter 6: "Thunderfall"
- ↑ Book Seven, Chapter 7: "The Titan and the King"
- ↑ Book Seven, Chapter 8: "Dying Light"
- ↑ Book Seven, Chapter 9: "Nova"