Zandik and Dottore

The theory that the Trainee Dastur Zandik is Dottore before being expelled from the Academy has now become very popular on the Internet. However, the fandom is divided into two camps: some believe that this is the real story of the Harbinger, while others are looking for arguments against this statement. In this article, we have collected all the information about Zandik, pointed out the main misconceptions in his history, and also analyzed the main theses of the theory.

Zandik's Legacy

Zandik had the status of a dastur trainee and was included in the Investigation Team investigating the core of chaos of the Ruin Guard. They worked on article: "Theory and Practice: Enhancing the Safety of the Chaos Core in Unstable Conditions Using the Khaenri’ah Ruin Golem of Devantaka Mountain as an Example." From Zandik's notes, becomes clear that the researcher is very impressed with the ancient mechanisms. He decides, in secret from the group, study the principle of operation and manufacturing technology of these machines. "...Fiddling with these components almost caused a delay in my work. These exquisite mechanical parts have a unique and ingenious style, which is not likely to be found in the handcrafted artifacts under the rule of Archons. I am going to take them apart, and record the size and shape one by one..."
Investigation Team member Dastur Sohreh describes Zandik as young and handsome man. But also adds that he is rigid. One day they discussed the local flora and fauna, and had a picnic. In his note, Dastur shares that it was a very pleasant conversation.
There are no more notes about what caused the subsequent occasion. From the interim notes and the report of the Investigation Team, the following picture emerges: The Ruin Guard was activated and began to attack the Team, some of the scientists were injured, and Sohre was killed.
The report says: "Thank goodness, Zandik reacted quickly. Otherwise, the whole team would be in serious trouble."
However, due to Zandik's desire to continue his research, he was excluded from the Team and the sage struck his name from the authors of the article. Sokhreh buried.
After a while, Zandik digs up Sokhreh's body to find out the cause of his(her) death. After dissection, he makes a conclusion: " fatal injury is the wound on the throat... fractured hyoid bone...Mechanical asphyxia... unable to ascertain the cause of death" In other words, Dastur died of asphyxiation, not of the Ruin Guard. Further, again, there is no data on how the incidents developed. However, already on the bulletin board, from a snippet of phrases, one gets the impression that Zandik was accused of murder and expelled. In fragments says about the spread of Elezar. This is where the canonical information of Zandik's story - ends.

Notice

Sokhreh's gender unknown in the Chinese version. In Chinese, feels a more neutral description of a colleague. And it also turns out that Zandik and Sokhreh were in different study areas of the academy. If we turn to the title of the article, this is an interdisciplinary work that needs specialists in biologists, chemistry and mechanics. Turning to the classification of scientists at the Academy, you can find out that Sokhreh from Amurta Darshan (from Ragged Attendance Record), and Zandik - definitely not a trainee of biological Darshan. Considering this, can also be concluded that Sokhreh had a higher academic status.

Zandik didn't kill Sokhreh. In Ragged Attendance Record says Sokhreh was attacked by a tiger, and he in critical condition. Also, the cause of Sokhreh's deth is suffocation (perhaps someone strangled Sokhreh). Why did Zandik autopsy the corpse to find out the cause of death? In other words, Zandik was accused of murder and he tried to prove his innocence (by autopsying Sokhreh's corpse).

There are notes in Ruin Golem dating from two different eras: the epoch when the golem was controlled by people from Kaenri'ah - ancient notes and the story about the "Schwanenritter" that Zandik researched and described; When the Academy started studying the golem, NPC Jazari says that the last study on this mechanism was published 10 years ago. Potentially, it could be the article “Theory and Practice: Enhancing the Safety of the Chaos Core in Unstable Conditions Using the Khaenri’ah Ruin Golem of Devantaka Mountain as an Example”, because after it Academy closed this research.

Zandik - Dottore: Pro et Contra

Thesis 1. Zandik is a heretic - Dottore

Zendiks (arab. Zendik - heretic) is a medieval Arab sect, whose representatives did not believe in one God. It is generally accepted that Dottore is called a heretic, so the name Zandik is very symbolic.

In the Pale Flame set, the description of the Plume in English translations uses the word "heresy". While Chinese says «邪魔外道», referring to the Buddhist expression, which translates as "Evil is alien to Truth." Hieroglyph of heresy «异端» completely different. However, in Chinese in the phrase "Following a trail of rumors of heresy" the hieroglyph for heresy is also used. Thus, the situation is debatable. On the one hand, no one called Dottore a heretic, on the other hand, Pedrolino invited the doctor after rumors of "heresy".

Thesis 2. Zendik is an Arabic word, so Dottore from Sumeru

The Pale Flame Artifact Set says the following:

"Will you treat me like the Academia did? Will you call me a monster, a madman?"
"Or will you treat me as my hometown did, and chase me away with pitchforks and clubs...?"

The Academy and "hometown" are separated. And this may indicate that Dottore is from another region. Also in the phrase "邪魔外道" (as Dottore was called at the Academy) there is a Hieroglyph "外", which can symbolically refer to a foreigner, since it is placed next to these phrases: 外域 (Foreign countries), 外宾 (Foreign guests), 外商 (Foreign business).

Thesis 3. Dottore's and Zandik's passion for machines

In the Quest of the Legends of Tartaglia, it is indicated that Dottore has research lab, in one of which there were Ruin Guards. Tartaglia also adds: "He loves tinkering with old things, it's a... personal passion of his." However, after reading the description of the plume from "Pale Flame" and "A Time of Insight" from the Deepwood Memorie (there are phrases from the  mad scientist), one gets the impression that Dottore is attracted precisely by the opportunity to know this world and divine. In Sands, he even introduces such a philosophical concept as "void".
At the same time, Zandik was researching the Ruin Guardians, describing other historical events and epochs. Sokhreh also says that Zandik is rather old-fashioned. He is attracted to history, the science of the past, and not to the present. Thus, Dottore and Zandik have one object of study, but a different visions.
The process of knowing one's own being cannot be in the past, it exists now, while the study of history is based on historical sources.

This theory has a twofold position. Tthe incorrect facts that have spread in the fandom have confused everyone even more. Just how mad Zandik - another question. Considering the situation in which he dug up and dissected the corpse, one can attribute it to panic and an attempt to find confirmation of his innocence. However, Dottore's ideas frightened the members of the Academy - this is a fact, and his reflections on human nature became the last straw, after which the label "mad scientist" stuck on him. The theory is interesting, which is why it has become quite popular in the fandom. Nevertheless, the existing “buts” can cast doubt on everything. Therefore, now you should pay more attention to the details of the lore, and also wait for a new update. We don't know anything about Dottore, and the Academy is full of madmen.