Zevran Arainai, born in 9:04 Dragon, is a well-known figure in Thedas, infamous as a former Antivan Crow and a companion to the Warden during the Fifth Blight. His life is one marked by hardship, betrayal, love, and the struggle for freedom.

Early Life and Entry into the Crows
Zevran was born to a Dalish elven mother, who was captured and enslaved in Antiva. His mother died when he was still a child, leaving Zevran an orphan. He was sold to a brothel, where he spent his early years learning the harsh realities of life. However, Zevran's beauty and agility caught the eye of the Antivan Crows, a notorious guild of assassins. Recognizing his potential, the Crows bought him from the brothel and began his training.

From a young age, Zevran excelled in the deadly arts of the Crows. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of the most skilled and ruthless assassins in the guild. The Crows were all he knew—his family, his life, and his purpose.

The Eighth Talon House and Maika
As a teenager, Zevran was placed in the Eighth Talon House, one of the many specialized training houses within the Crows. It was here that he met Maika, another young recruit who, like Zevran, had been shaped by the brutal life of the Crows. Despite the cold and merciless environment, Zevran and Maika formed a deep bond. They were drawn to each other not just by physical attraction but by a shared sense of longing for something more than the life of an assassin.

Their relationship blossomed in secret, as such attachments were forbidden by the Crows. The fear of punishment or death hung over them, but their love for each other grew stronger. Eventually, Maika became pregnant with Zevran's child. The thought of their child being raised by the Crows, trained to be another tool of death, was unbearable for both of them. They knew they had to do something to ensure their child would have a chance at a different life.

Escape from the Crows
Zevran and Maika devised a daring plan to escape the Crows. With Zevran's skills and knowledge of the guild's operations, they managed to evade their overseers and make a run for it. It was a dangerous gamble, but Zevran was determined to save Maika and their unborn child from the life he had been forced into.

They traveled under the cover of night, moving from safe house to safe house, always one step ahead of the Crows who were hunting them. Zevran used every trick he knew to throw off their pursuers, and Maika relied on his guidance and protection. Eventually, Zevran helped Maika find refuge far away from Antiva, in a place where the Crows' influence was weak and where she could raise their child in safety.

Return to the Crows
Knowing that the Crows would never stop searching for him if they believed he had gone rogue, Zevran made the heart-wrenching decision to return to the guild. He concocted a story, convincing the Crows that Maika had died during their escape attempt and that he had barely survived. He took on the shame of failure, but it was a small price to pay to keep his child safe. The Crows accepted his story, but Zevran's standing within the guild was never quite the same.

The Fifth Blight and the Grey Wardens
Years later, Zevran was hired by a powerful noble to assassinate the Grey Warden known as the Hero of Ferelden. This mission would prove to be a turning point in his life. Instead of succeeding, Zevran was captured by the Warden and, surprisingly, spared. The Warden offered him a chance to fight against the Blight, an opportunity for redemption that Zevran couldn't resist.

Over time, Zevran grew close to the Warden and their companions, forming bonds he had never thought possible. He proved himself to be a loyal and valuable ally, fighting bravely against the darkspawn and the forces of the Archdemon. For the first time, Zevran felt a sense of belonging that wasn't tied to death and betrayal.

Life After the Blight
After the Blight was defeated, Zevran's path was uncertain. He was no longer bound to the Crows, but their reach was long, and his past actions could not be easily forgotten. Yet, the experience of fighting alongside the Warden had changed him. He was no longer the ruthless assassin he had once been, and the idea of living a life free from the Crows' influence became more than just a distant dream.

With the Crows still after him, Zevran spent the following years moving from place to place, always watching his back but living life on his own terms. He kept tabs on Maika and their child from afar, ensuring that they remained safe and unknown to the Crows.

Legacy
Zevran Arainai's story is one of survival, love, and the search for freedom. Despite the darkness of his past, he found moments of light and humanity that guided him towards a different future. His actions in helping Maika escape and sparing his child from the life of a Crow were perhaps his greatest acts of love and defiance.

To this day, Zevran remains a figure of mystery and intrigue in Thedas, known as much for his lethal skills as for his complex and often conflicted heart. Whether he continues his life as an adventurer, or finally finds a place to call home, Zevran's legacy is one of resilience and the enduring hope for a better life.