Zerxus Ilerez

 is a human paladin and the First Knight of Avalir. He is played by Luis Carazo.

Appearance
Zerxus is a six foot tall, muscular, broad-shouldered man. He has tan, brown skin; dark and wavy hair; and he wears a beard. He has amber-colored eyes described as "troubled".

Personality
Zerxus is a serious and dutiful person who largely keeps to himself. He is uncomfortable with crowds, and is still grieving the loss of his husband, Evandrin. He is emotionally withdrawn and, to Cerrit Agrupnin, the thought that Zerxus would easily openly share something that is bothering him is laughable, even if to his friends; any openness is forced by deep, unmanageable distress.

Sam Riegel, who plays another character in Exandria Unlimited: Calamity, believed that Zerxus is the party's moral center.

Background
Zerxus is originally from Cathmoíra and was previously married to Evandrin, who died before the events of Exandria Unlimited: Calamity. Together they had a son, Elias Ilerez. As of, Zerxus had not seen Elias for seven years, when Elias was about to turn seven.

Zerxus's oath is not to a deity, but rather to the people of Avalir.

Zerxus had a vivid dream in which he was badly injured in the streets of Avalir, his mouth full of blood. He saw a massive, horned red figure fall in front of him, begging for help, and a sun-like figure standing over it. He also saw Elias fishing in a pool of stars. and shortly before Zerxus woke up, the huge red figure, whom he had saved, asked him “if you look down and see the stars, what will you see if you look up?” Zerxus then woke up alone in his quarters in the Tower of the First Knight. He wrote down this dream, having had similar ones before.

Later, Zerxus attended the party at the Palazzo Por'co and told his friends about his dream. He realized the bow Cerrit had brought had powerful divine energy from a solar, and tried to help Purvan Suul, after other leaders declined to listen.

Relationships
Zerxus has a son, Elias, whom he has not seen in some time. Elias lives with Nydas's brother's family, and their letter to Nydas indicated that Elias was upset with his father.

Notable items
Belt of Storm Giant Strength

Paladin abilities

 * Divine Sense
 * Lay on Hands
 * Spellcasting
 * Divine Smite
 * Fighting Style
 * Divine Health
 * Sacred Oath
 * Extra Attack
 * Aura of Protection
 * Aura of Courage
 * Improved Divine Smite
 * Cleansing Touch

Appearances and mentions

 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity

Trivia

 * Brennan Lee Mulligan, Dungeon Master for Calamity, said that if Zerxus was a cheese he would be pepperjack.