Ardashir is a man in his late fifties, once handsome and impeccably dressed, now worn down by exile. His hair has gone silver, his eyes carry permanent suspicion, and his smile no longer reaches them. He still dresses well—old habits—but his clothes are travel‑stained and repaired. He speaks with the smooth, practiced charm of a man who once dined with lords, but his voice carries a bitter edge.
Ardashir was The Sahjattra Concern's most successful envoy to Ishgard. He understood the Holy See's politics, knew which nobles to flatter, and kept trade flowing even during the early stirrings of the Dragonsong War. The Concern rewarded him with a lavish lifestyle and considerable autonomy.
However, as the Garlean threat grew, the Concern saw an opportunity to expand into more profitable, illegal markets. Ardashir was ordered to use his diplomatic privileges to smuggle large quantities of Dewprism—a Hannish‑made alchemical drug that suppresses will—into Ishgard. The drug was distributed through the Brume's criminal networks, with profits flowing back to Radz-At-Han.
The operation was eventually discovered by Temple Knight investigators. Facing a catastrophic diplomatic crisis, The Sahjattra Concern disavowed Ardashir, publicly blamed him for the entire scheme, and cooperated with Ishgardian authorities in his arrest. He was tried in absentia in Radz-At-Han, sentenced to permanent exile, and stripped of all titles and assets.