Capitol City Prison — Fifth Ring
Zane Grey is a former high-ranking member of the Lodgesworn order who is currently incarcerated within the highest-security sector of the Capitol City prison. Once revered as a legendary master hunter, his sudden and shocking fall to Discord completely fractured his family and left him a condemned pariah in the eyes of both the Lodge and civilian society. He is the father of Aspirant Beatrice Grey, who secretly visits his cell in defiance of those who wish to erase his legacy.
Zane is currently held in a spartan stone cell on the Fifth Ring, an environment where the prison's heavy enchantments make drawing Chaos feel like moving through thick molasses. He wears a stiff, baggy, pure-white inmate's uniform. Physically, he appears increasingly fragile and gaunt, with gray hair steadily invading his natural brown hair, though his face still retains the structural ghost of his former sharp strength. He recently sports a prominent bruise on his temple from getting into various prison brawls.
Receives her tightly rationed one-hour visits with dry humor and fierce protectiveness. Pleads with her constantly to abandon her investigations and live a normal life.
Thorne has weaponized Zane's crimes to permanently persecute Beatrice and enforce isolationist protocols. His hatred for the Grey name is personal and unrelenting.
Hated Zane back in their youth when Zane courted Beatrice's mother at Agriant Academy.
Zane’s legacy is defined by what is widely considered the worst and most scandalous fall to Discord in the history of the Bastionic Lodge. Following his conviction, the high council executed an absolute structural purge of his existence, violently striking the name "Grey" from every historical ledger, painting, and tapestry within Temple Bastion. Among civilian populations, his reputation is deeply monstrous, with conservative families bitterly branding him as the "Gray Demon".
Zane shares a long-standing history with Capitol City's elite; back in his youth, he frequently visited Agriant Academy to court Beatrice's mother, earning the persistent hatred of a young teacher who has since risen to become Principal Steadman.
Before his imprisonment, Zane was an elite hunter whose martial exploits inspired the Lodge's Artificers. His original weapons—a pair of dark Heartmetal daggers—are currently carried illegally by his daughter.
Zane has formally confessed to falling to Discord and executing the murder of his wife, maintaining this absolute claim even when pressured. However, his behavior during visits features a panicked cycle of defensive retractions and shifting gazes, leading Beatrice to believe his confession is an engineered cover story.
Despite his past, Zane fiercely commands Beatrice to abandon her aspirations within the Lodge. He advocates that she should suppress her abilities, use them purely in secret, or apply her Draw to mundane civilian pursuits like marathons or construction to build a legacy separate from his cage.