Phoenix was drawn to magic by one question he could never let go of: why should death be the end of usefulness? He became a scholar of arcane magic, focusing especially on necromancy, the nature of souls, and the forces that allow life and death to be manipulated.

He is not interested in raising enormous hordes of mindless corpses. Phoenix believes a small number of carefully controlled undead servants are far more valuable than an army. His goal is to perfect the creation of powerful, reliable undead guardians that can protect him while he studies and fights from a distance.

Phoenix is quiet, observant, and intensely curious. He tends to approach dangerous or disturbing subjects like a researcher rather than a fanatic. He values knowledge, preparation, and control, and he is willing to travel wherever unusual magic, ancient ruins, or forbidden discoveries might advance his understanding.

He carries a letter from a deceased colleague containing a question he has never been able to answer. That unresolved mystery is one of the reasons he continues his studies and travels.