In the last Age of First Shem, during the Eschatonic Wars, Thessendra Zesth was born to a vesar queen, one of nine queens of the ophidian tribes. A member of the rattlesnake tribe, she was a venomous and powerful serpentwoman, and her devotion was to the snake-nations. She lead her tribe in war against the other tribes, facing them one by one and making them subject to her rule, carving out an empire in the Age of Destruction, when most were crumbling.

She lead the empire against the forces of Hope and crushed many foes, until she was one day captured by agents of the dwindling Truth church. Taken prisoner, she was put to the question, about her forces, her allegiances, her beliefs. In the process of being question, she started to question her own beliefs, the Inquisitors scouring her soul for truths, and finding little belief truly there.

She was eventually drained of information and given to the Templars to keep under lock and key. During her time in her cell, she began to pray, first to Venair for strength, then to any who would listen. One night, she dreamt of a krait serpent wrapped around a shimmering, reflective key, speaking two things at once: one truth, one lie. She knew not which was which, but when she awoke, she began speaking the same.

The guards heard and took her before the High Priest, who had a dozen scribes take down her words. Amongst them were prophecies about the end of the world, about her own future, and about the possible death of his Goddess. Upon hearing this, he ordered her released and sent back to her people.

She left, gibbering, into the jungles. She eventually reached her empire, but there, the cobra tribe had taken control. She was taken, bound, and sent to the new empress. She was demeaned, tortured, and left for dead, still speaking truth and falsehood, until an old crocan found her lying by the river. He took her in and listened to her words, healing and soothing her, and helping her to health, easing her possession and talking her back to reality. Knowing her true identity, he brought her to his tribe, truth-worshipping crocans who controlled a small portion of the river, and she spoke to their chieftain, giving him all she knew of the empress's city.

Leading the small force of crocans, Zesth snuck back into her city and lead her small, elite force into the palace, where she found the empress and crushed her throat. She took the ritual headdress and went out to her people, speaking truth and falsehood at once, telling half of them that they were the chosen people, and the other half that they were outcast. Riding a wave of victory, she marched her armies against the forces of Terror on the way to the Mountain, where she faced the 13 Trials and came down the Champion of Truth.

In the wars, she lead the empire of Ophidius, now the empire of Vesaritus, against Terror, becoming a beacon on the continent of Taggarus for the forces of Hope. When the world ended, she chose to enter the Promised Land, and dwell with the Messiahs, but she found herself after the Godless Age needed amongst the people, and she helped the Champion of Peace during his own age. Now, she leads her Imperial Guard in the planes against the forces of Terror.

Prowess 25 True shot 31

Athleticism 25 Climbing 31

Strength 25

Awareness 22 Tongue 28

Will Power 25 Truth Faith 31/31 Command 31

Rogue 22 Fast Talk 28 Read People 31

Venom 20

Morag Lore 16

Echo Lore 14

Gift Lore 19

Commerce 22

Leadership 22

Politics 25

Poisons 22

Prophesy 22

She appears to be a 5'9" serpentwoman with black and white stripes and scaly skin, wearing a set of orange and magenta robes and an imperial headdress, carrying a ceremonial staff.