TV-Series
Description
Hermes, also widely known by his title Silver Mask, is a central figure whose quest for the throne of Pars drives much of the conflict in the story. He is a man in his twenties with dark brown hair, usually slicked back, and green eyes. The defining feature of his appearance is the silver mask he constantly wears, which conceals severe burn scars covering the right side of his face. His typical attire consists of a black cloak worn over a black long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and knee-high boots, giving him an imposing and somber presence.
His background is rooted in tragedy and royal conspiracy. Hermes is the son of Osroes (also spelled Osiris), the former king of Pars who died under mysterious circumstances sixteen years before the main events of the story. Hermes firmly believes that his uncle, Andragoras III, the current king, assassinated his father and usurped the throne. During the coup, Hermes was left to die in a fire that ravaged his home, which caused the disfiguring burns on his face and instilled in him a deep, psychological trauma: a phobia of fire. He managed to survive this assassination attempt and went into hiding, eventually resurfacing as a key figure in the Lusitanian army to orchestrate his revenge and reclaim his birthright.
Silver Mask possesses a complex and often ruthless personality. He is driven by an immense, undying hatred for Andragoras and derives satisfaction from seeing him suffer. His single-minded ambition to be the successor to the Parsian throne is his primary motivation. He is depicted as cruel and pragmatic, willing to eliminate anyone who stands in his way, including innocent people, to achieve his goals. He has a short temper and becomes enraged when his legitimacy is questioned or when others, such as the talented warriors Daryun and Narsus, choose to follow Arslan instead of him. Despite his cruelty, he is not without nuance. He is shown to have a compassionate and gentle side, most notably in his interactions with Princess Irina of Maryam, a blind princess he befriended during his exile. He is also a man of high ambition who can suppress his anger when the situation demands it, a trait noted by his allies and enemies alike.
His role in the story is that of the primary antagonist who directly opposes Arslan, Andragoras's son. To gain the power needed for his war against Pars, Hermes allied himself with the invading army of Lusitania, rising to the rank of high commander. He is the mastermind behind the crushing defeat of the Parsian forces at the Battle of Atropatene, where he employed a treacherous fog to lure the enemy into a deadly trap. He personally captured King Andragoras on the battlefield, imprisoning him rather than killing him immediately to prolong his revenge. Afterward, he successfully led the Lusitanian forces to capture the Parsian capital, Ecbatana, and briefly sat on the throne, though his rule was tenuous as he struggled to manage the occupying forces and win the loyalty of the people.
His key relationships are defined by his quest for the throne. His primary adversary is Arslan, whom he views as an illegitimate pretender and a "miserable pup born to a wretched usurper". He bears a vicious hatred for King Andragoras, whom he blames for his father's death and his own suffering. On his side, he commands fierce loyalty from several followers. The late General Kharlan betrayed Pars specifically to help Hermes reclaim the throne. Others, like the warrior Xandes and the Marzban Sam, serve him with absolute dedication. He also maintains a working relationship with the sorcerer Arzhang, whose magic he uses to create the fog on the battlefield. His relationship with Princess Irina is a notable exception to his otherwise ruthless character, as he treats her with kindness and makes a promise to take her with him once he seizes power.
Throughout the narrative, Hermes shows little positive development, instead remaining steadfast in his vengeful path. His obsession with the throne as his divine right blinds him to the suffering he causes, and he dismisses criticism from strategists like Narsus, who calls him out for collaborating with invaders to destroy his own country for personal ambition. His deep-seated trauma, his pyrophobia, is a recurring weakness that can be exploited in battle, as seen when Arslan uses a torch to fend him off. His fear of fire is a constant reminder of the childhood betrayal that shaped him into the man he became.
In terms of abilities, Silver Mask is an exceptionally skilled swordsman, considered one of the most formidable warriors in the series. His combat prowess is immense; he is capable of effortlessly killing veteran Parsian generals like Lord Vahriz with a single strike and holding his own in fights against elite fighters such as Daryun and Narsus. Beyond his martial skill, he demonstrates strategic acumen as a military commander, having orchestrated the plan that led to Pars's defeat at Atropatene and the capture of its capital. He is also noted for his ability to inspire and secure the firm loyalty of his followers, a crucial trait that allows him to command a faction even as he allies with his country's invaders.
His background is rooted in tragedy and royal conspiracy. Hermes is the son of Osroes (also spelled Osiris), the former king of Pars who died under mysterious circumstances sixteen years before the main events of the story. Hermes firmly believes that his uncle, Andragoras III, the current king, assassinated his father and usurped the throne. During the coup, Hermes was left to die in a fire that ravaged his home, which caused the disfiguring burns on his face and instilled in him a deep, psychological trauma: a phobia of fire. He managed to survive this assassination attempt and went into hiding, eventually resurfacing as a key figure in the Lusitanian army to orchestrate his revenge and reclaim his birthright.
Silver Mask possesses a complex and often ruthless personality. He is driven by an immense, undying hatred for Andragoras and derives satisfaction from seeing him suffer. His single-minded ambition to be the successor to the Parsian throne is his primary motivation. He is depicted as cruel and pragmatic, willing to eliminate anyone who stands in his way, including innocent people, to achieve his goals. He has a short temper and becomes enraged when his legitimacy is questioned or when others, such as the talented warriors Daryun and Narsus, choose to follow Arslan instead of him. Despite his cruelty, he is not without nuance. He is shown to have a compassionate and gentle side, most notably in his interactions with Princess Irina of Maryam, a blind princess he befriended during his exile. He is also a man of high ambition who can suppress his anger when the situation demands it, a trait noted by his allies and enemies alike.
His role in the story is that of the primary antagonist who directly opposes Arslan, Andragoras's son. To gain the power needed for his war against Pars, Hermes allied himself with the invading army of Lusitania, rising to the rank of high commander. He is the mastermind behind the crushing defeat of the Parsian forces at the Battle of Atropatene, where he employed a treacherous fog to lure the enemy into a deadly trap. He personally captured King Andragoras on the battlefield, imprisoning him rather than killing him immediately to prolong his revenge. Afterward, he successfully led the Lusitanian forces to capture the Parsian capital, Ecbatana, and briefly sat on the throne, though his rule was tenuous as he struggled to manage the occupying forces and win the loyalty of the people.
His key relationships are defined by his quest for the throne. His primary adversary is Arslan, whom he views as an illegitimate pretender and a "miserable pup born to a wretched usurper". He bears a vicious hatred for King Andragoras, whom he blames for his father's death and his own suffering. On his side, he commands fierce loyalty from several followers. The late General Kharlan betrayed Pars specifically to help Hermes reclaim the throne. Others, like the warrior Xandes and the Marzban Sam, serve him with absolute dedication. He also maintains a working relationship with the sorcerer Arzhang, whose magic he uses to create the fog on the battlefield. His relationship with Princess Irina is a notable exception to his otherwise ruthless character, as he treats her with kindness and makes a promise to take her with him once he seizes power.
Throughout the narrative, Hermes shows little positive development, instead remaining steadfast in his vengeful path. His obsession with the throne as his divine right blinds him to the suffering he causes, and he dismisses criticism from strategists like Narsus, who calls him out for collaborating with invaders to destroy his own country for personal ambition. His deep-seated trauma, his pyrophobia, is a recurring weakness that can be exploited in battle, as seen when Arslan uses a torch to fend him off. His fear of fire is a constant reminder of the childhood betrayal that shaped him into the man he became.
In terms of abilities, Silver Mask is an exceptionally skilled swordsman, considered one of the most formidable warriors in the series. His combat prowess is immense; he is capable of effortlessly killing veteran Parsian generals like Lord Vahriz with a single strike and holding his own in fights against elite fighters such as Daryun and Narsus. Beyond his martial skill, he demonstrates strategic acumen as a military commander, having orchestrated the plan that led to Pars's defeat at Atropatene and the capture of its capital. He is also noted for his ability to inspire and secure the firm loyalty of his followers, a crucial trait that allows him to command a faction even as he allies with his country's invaders.