Editing Zelkyr Amerwing (section)

== Background ==
Two hundred years ago, Zelkyr was born in [[Fissival]] and admitted to the Dracanae Scholarium at a young age. While deficient in casting most spells, he was exceptional in craftsmanship. He was expelled at the age of 14 for pranks and unruly conduct, but was able to enroll in Wistram, where he became popular for crafting innovative Golems. At one point, he encountered Perril Chandler, having dueled and lost to him. He eventually became known for crafting battle-suitable Golems.

When Lizardfolk armies from Baleros invaded Izril in the Naga Incursions, Zelkyr joined a Fissival army. During this time, he was able to achieve Sentient-class and created Cognita. Zelkyr's Golems were the only thing preventing the Fissival army from being overrun by Lizardfolk. During the war, Zelkyr met Perril Chandler again, and became actual friends with him. Together, they were able to drive off the Nagas from Izril using a combined force of Golems and undead. After the Naga Incursions, Fissival eventually welcomed back Zelkyr, desiring his increasingly-powerful Golems. He became one of the best [Golem Artificers] in the world, though not without scandal, as he frequently went behind the back of the Walled Cities' laws and was alleged to be connected to criminal elements. However, he was considered too important to fall under normal jurisdiction. 

At the height of his power, Zelkyr was well-renown in the world, famous for having managed to damage the renowned walls of one of the [[Walled Cities]]. He was even more famous, though, for his capability of animating Golems.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/11/wistram-days-pt-3/ Wistram Days (Pt. 3)]</ref> In total, he created three [[Truestone Golems]], the most powerful kind of Golems.<ref name="7.14T">[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/03/24/7-14-t/ Chapter 7.14 T]</ref>

For creating "thinking Golems", he was proclaimed an Archmage,<ref name="7.14T" /> but Zelkyr was interested in giving Golems "true sentience". He achieved this during one of his experiments, when he managed to create [[Cognita]], who became his greatest creation. This creation of ''true sentience'' appears to have been an accident though,<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/10/21/3-25/ Chapter 3.25]</ref> as there are no reports of him succeeding in recreating such a golem again, making Cognita the only Golem in Wistram with ''true sentience''. Zelkyr appointed Cognita to oversee Wistram, to both help the students, and protect the school from danger. Throughout her time fulfilling this role, Cognita has single-handedly killed more mages than any known person, including two [Archmages].

He once visited [[Illivere]] to prove his mastery of Golems over theirs, and issued them a challenge. They answered with a 40-foot tall Golem armed with a mounted ballistae and protected by multiple magic shields and an armor of an advanced alloy, named Zimedoan. He reduced it to rubble. He also visited the [[Oracle of Elbe]]. He is still remembered with respect in Illivere.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/10/04/interlude-experiments-in-golems/ Interlude - Experiments in Golems]</ref>

When Perill Chandler was sent to Rhir by King Redoris, Zelkyr followed him. Despite being backed by armies of multiple nations, they were threatened by the arrival of the Deathless. Though two of the Deathless were killed and the rest grievously wounded, they managed to kill the second of Zelkyr's Truestone Golems and force the [Archmages] to retreat. 

At some point, with Cognita and an army of Golems at his side, Zelkyr gained the full control of Wistram. Together with his creations, he explored the higher floors of the academy, which was earlier too dangerous for him to do so. He was able to claim the whole area as his own, only allowing those he trusted access to it. To prevent anyone else from entering, he had his Golems guard the door, forcing anyone to fight them if they desired long-lost knowledge. The [Archmages] refused to tolerate that and challenged them, though none succeeded. After witnessing the destruction of one of his Truestone Golems, Zelkyr would roam the higher floors for months, seeking greater power, taking only Cognita's sister with him. Eventually, Zelkyr failed to return and was declared deceased, though his Golems still continue to follow his tasks. 

Though no longer active in the world, Zelkyr's influence persists, especially in Wistram. Even two centuries later, Cognita follow his rules, preventing others from accessing the higher floors. As generations of Mages failed to defeat the four Golems and Cognita, Wistram lost its true craft and magic. The quality of Wistram Mages have diminished over the years, as the knowledge formerly taught in first year greatly surpassed the knowledge taught in three years currently in the academy. Outside of Wistram, Zelkyr's golems went rogue, and the Drakes buried them away.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/10/15/9-60/ Chapter 9.60]</ref>