Dornkirk is the primary antagonist and the emperor of the Zaibach Empire, a highly advanced military nation on the world of Gaea. His background is unique, as he was not originally a resident of Gaea. In his youth on Earth, he was a scientist named Isaac who became obsessed with the concept of destiny, believing it to be an unseen force that governs human behavior. He dedicated his life to researching how to control this force but died without finding an answer. On his deathbed, he was mysteriously transported to the world of Gaea. There, he encountered the destitute and war-torn land of Zaibach. Using his scientific knowledge, he taught its people advanced technology, transforming the nation into the most powerful and technologically sophisticated empire on the planet. In gratitude, the people declared him their emperor, and he adopted the name Dornkirk.

Dornkirk is an elderly figure with a white-grayish beard and mustache, and his physical age belies his extended lifespan, having lived for what is said to be the equivalent of two hundred Earth years. His personality is defined by a cold, ruthless, and single-minded dedication to his grand ambition. He believes war to be an inherent part of human nature and is willing to sacrifice others to achieve what he sees as a greater good. He shows little regard for individual lives when they obstruct his plans, as seen when he ordered the death of Leon Schezar to obtain a crucial journal. Despite his detached and aloof demeanor, he is driven by a desire to reshape the world to escape the cycle of conflict and suffering.

At the core of Dornkirk's motivation is the goal of creating a "zone of absolute fortune," an ideal future where everyone’s wishes can come true and people can effectively create their own heaven. He learned of this ancient power through legends of the Draconians and the lost civilization of Atlantis, whose secrets he relentlessly pursues. To achieve this, he built the Destiny Prognostication Engine, a massive machine that allows him to see and chart possible futures, enabling him to manipulate events toward his desired outcome.

In the story, Dornkirk serves as the unseen mastermind behind the Zaibach Empire's military campaigns. He gives orders to his subordinates, most notably his right-hand man and Strategos, Folken Fanel, the long-lost older brother of the protagonist Van Fanel. He also commands the hot-headed Dragon Slayer unit leader, Dilandau Albatou. Dornkirk’s primary role is to be the architect of a grand scheme to control fate, which puts him into direct conflict with the leads: Van, the pilot of the mystical guymelef Escaflowne, and Hitomi Kanzaki, a girl from Earth with the power to foresee the future. Their abilities create unpredictable "shadows" in his prognostications, making them obstacles he seeks to capture or eliminate.

Throughout the series, Dornkirk shows little direct character development in the traditional sense, as his resolve and methods remain constant. However, his backstory as a scientist from Earth provides a tragic dimension; he is a man who sought to bring order to chaos but ultimately became a tyrant. Key developments involve his plans progressing as the Destiny Prognostication Engine nears full power. In the final confrontation, his death is unusual. Folken attempts to kill him, but the act triggers the Engine's activation instead of stopping it. Dornkirk physically perishes, but his spirit briefly lingers to witness the outcome of his life's work as the Zone of Absolute Fortune is created, only to prove deeply flawed and destructive.

As a scientist, Dornkirk's most notable ability is his genius-level intellect, which he used to create all of Zaibach's advanced technology, from its war machines to its medical science, which he also used to extend his own life. His greatest creation is the Destiny Prognostication Engine, a device that allows him to calculate and influence the path of destiny itself, making him a villain who wields the power of foresight and science in his quest for a perfect world.