The Eating Woods · Character
Cadavros
- Major
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 1
Cadavros is a major character in The Eating Woods, first appearing in Anathema (Book 1).
Which book are you on?
Everything after it stays hidden.
- Gender
- male
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 1
- Books
- 2
Cadavros first appears as a monstrous, antlered beast whose bark-like hide and black veins mark him as a corrupted forest entity, but by the second book he is revealed to be the human mage Alastor Calzareth, who now conceals his identity beneath a hooded cloak while serving as King Jeret’s high mage. Across the series he shifts from a lurking woodland predator to a calculating court manipulator who wields both ancient curses and political influence. His blood-magic bond with Prince Dorjan, once a safeguard that spared his life, becomes a weaponized plague-link that threatens entire realms. Ultimately, Cadavros evolves from a shadowy extortionist into an active architect of contagion, intent on spreading the black pestilence through the Umbravale.
Description
A hunched, beastlike humanoid with long branching antlers and backward-curling horns, black beady eyes in deep sockets, and a noseless face with gnarled lips. His hardened, rough tessellated skin has deep bark-like grooves and black pulsing veins; his long arms end in bony, branchlike fingers, and he stands on cloven hooves. Raw flesh is visible across parts of his bark-like skin.
Connections
Friends & mentorsRivals
- KJ
King Jerethigh mage
Rises to serve as Jeret’s high mage, providing counsel, elixirs, and examinations that further his hidden agenda.
- PD
Prince DorjanOther
Initially linked by a mutual-death blood pact that spares Cadavros’s life; evolves into a plague-bound partnership in which Dorjan’s death would unleash a catastrophic contagion.
Maevyth Bronwickenemy
Recognized by Maevyth as the source of spreading sickness; their enmity escalates as she vows to prevent the plague from crossing into Aethyria.
Zevander RydainnEnemy
Begins as Zevander’s captor and ritual tormentor; later becomes his would-be recruiter and manipulator of his destructive power, only to be rejected when Zevander chooses opposition over allegiance.
- LA
Lord and Lady RydainnEnemy
Extorts the couple with threats against their sons in book one; later negotiates protection from the Solassions in exchange for samples of Zevander’s magic.
Story so far
BOOK 1Anathema
- Curses and enslaves Zevander Rydainn through the sablefyre ritual.
- Extorts Lord and Lady Rydainn by threatening their sons.
- Performs the Emberforge ritual on Branimir, destroying his blood magic.
- Binds Prince Dorjan to himself via blood magic, ensuring mutual death.
- Accepts a village boy’s sacrifice from Elowen in exchange for passage.
BOOK 2Eldritch
- Reveals he is Alastor Calzareth, brother to Melisara/Melantha.
- Infects Zevander with an ancient curse and manipulates his flame.
- Forces Zevander to relive traumatic memories and unleashes his corrupted state.
- Binds himself and Dorjan to the black pestilence, threatening a deadly plague.
- Serves as King Jeret’s high mage, supplying protective elixirs and examining Zevander’s palm.
Quotes
We all begin with good intentions, don’t we? Even the darkest of souls.
Book 2 · Eldritch The world made her a monster.
Book 2 · Eldritch
Key events
- Book 1
Ch. 2The Emberforge RitualLady Rydainn is forced to surrender her infant son Zevander to Cadavros, who brands him with sablefyre and casts him into the flame. The child survives with a cursed mark and altered eyes. - Book 2
Ch. 70The Dead Vein IgnitionCadavros uses Zevander's sablefyre to ignite the dead vein in Caligorya, drawing the Gods' Glyph and beginning his plan to destroy the Umbravale. - Book 2
Ch. 73The Griefcoffer RevelationCadavros forces Zevander to confront memories of Theron's torture and death, revealing Zevander's self-harm is rooted in guilt. - Book 2
Ch. 75Cadavros's RevelationCadavros reveals he infected Zevander with an ancient curse during the Emberforge ritual and can manipulate his flame. - Book 2
Ch. 77The Rotting Tree ConfrontationMaevyth enters the colossal Rotting Tree to rescue Zevander, confronting the wrathavor/Moros and Cadavros. - Book 2
Ch. 82Ravezio's DeathCadavros rips Ravezio's scales from his body; Zevander grants him a merciful death at his request. - Book 2
Ch. 83Zevander's Fall into NethyriaZevander is overwhelmed by creatures and falls into the bottomless chasm while fighting Cadavros.
Gallery
Book 1: Anathema
Appearances
Next stop
Meet Cadavros in Bookworm
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