DISCLAMER:
This back story is more in line with a rating of M for Mature only! While none explicit I will be touching on subjects some players may not be comfortable with. That being said this is "My Story"
This back story is more in line with a rating of M for Mature only! While none explicit I will be touching on subjects some players may not be comfortable with. That being said this is "My Story"
Middle Name: Dah
Last Name: Kogan
Appearance:
Race:Half Orc
Age: 20
Height 6'7''
Weight: 275lbs
Eyes: Red
Hair: Dark Red
Facial Hair Style: Full Beard
Personality Profile:
General Health: Well built, heavily scared
Deity: Herne
Initial Alignment: Chaotic Evil/Neutral
Profession: Hunter, Warrior, Guard
Base Class & Proposed Development:Hunter((Secrect))
Habits/Hobbies: Hunting, Battles, Collecting other knickknacks
Languages: Fluent in: Orc, Damaran, Yypyak. Understands: Common.
Weapon of Choice: Anything to kill the prey. Favors Longbow.
Likes: The wild, to Hunt, Battle, Survival, Reptiles
Dislikes: 99.9% of Elves, Dwarves, Half-Elves, Agronak.
Fears: Eisoptrophobia- Seeing oneself in a Mirror.
Born 7 Eleint, 1331 DR.
Year of the Leaping Dolphin
Born under the Sign of the Spear
and with Disseminating Selûne under the sign of the Spear
Those born under the sign of the Spear are practical, capable, and steadfast in adversity, cautious, logical, and efficient. They have good business sense but prefer to assist rather than lead. In relationships, they are supportive, protective, and possessive.
Eleint 07, 1331
Temperature:
Low: 50
High: 70
Effective Temperature: -
Winds: From tropics at 20 mph.
With a Windchill of 5
Precipitation: Heavy rain
Relative Humidity:
Morning: Moderate
Evening: High
Dawn is at 5:54
Number of daylight hours: 12.2
Selûne: 3rd Qtr
Visibility reduced due to rain (-4 on listening and ranged attacks, exposed flames extinguished).
http://www.realmshelps.net/charbuild/bday.shtml forgotten realms "Zodiac"
http://www.realmshelps.net/faerun/weather.shtml Forgotten realms "Weather"
Background:
Birth: The Savage Day
In the woods near the moors of Thar faint screams are heard over the roaring claps of thunder, as the rain beat down on the trees, a crack of a whip snaps once as female screams. The air fills with silence before the cry of a child is heard. Walking out of a cave a young-looking Agronak is seen holding a Half-Orc infant. Gogran, the tribe Chief, follows holding a blooded ax in one hand and a mass of hair in the other. Lifting the tangled mass high in the air orcish warcries fill the night with a clap of thunder illuminating the dismembered head.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!
Age 8: Fight, or Die.
The young half-orc of the tribe, Thar was often looked down upon. He was tossed aside, had his food stolen, and even beaten by the other orcs for simply being a half-breed. Finally fed up with his treatment he took a stand, knowing that strength would often bring respect, stepping into the ring he was ready for the fight he would have to face. Many of the orcs would snarl at him as he entered for a half-breed to take part was unheard of. This was a battle for Orcs to take the claim at their Ranks within the Tribe. Gogran, with an amused grin, allows Thar to continue. Wanting to see if he would make a name for himself, or die as a failure.
As night falls the drums beat in a fury as the air fills with grunts and warcries of the tribe. Stepping from the hut, a rather large brute of an Orc, towers over Thar in the torch-lit arena. The Orc, whose face painted with the print of the tribal shaman favor, takes one look at Thar, not even of age at this point, and snarls with anger as he turns to Gogran and the guttural orcish language shouts.
"You bring me a child and expect me to fight? Coward! I challenged you!"
Gogran chuckles lightly and replies.
"If this is no challenge for you then end it quickly. If you do so then you will have your match, consider this your warm-up, and never question my word again!"
With a grunt the brute nods and turns to face Thar seeing now the determination in his eyes for the first time. The drums grow louder as Gogran stands from his chair and in a commanding Shout!
Begin!
The brute grabs at the mace and charges thinking to end it with a single blow. However Thar, using his small size and speed manages to roll out of the brute's swing only to have his other hand knock him back with a firm back fist to the side of the head. Thar makes a quick recovery rolling over his back and launching himself back to his feet, he charges at the gloating brute, with a fast and hard hit to the side, the brute growls and swings his arm back pushing Thar away. He turns on his heels and swings the mace once more striking Thar and forcing him to the edge of the ring, blood pours from his wound on his head as the Brute walks over and puts his foot on Thar's skull.
"You want me to Kill this one Gogran, I will end this filthy half breed as easily as I will end you!"
The Brute begins to push Thar's face into the ground ready to end the fight, Thar reaches out and grabs a broken handle to a tool or weapon and shoves it deep in the Brute's side. With a roar, the Brute stumbles back pulling the handle out as Thar charges at the brute bringing him down in surprise. Thar punches at the Brute's wounded side and face in a flurry of blows, finally grabbing the mace to follow up on his assault. When the Brute begins to stop Thar drops the mace, placing his hand on the Brute's head and with a sharp twist.
SNAP
It is over. Thar brings himself to his feet, breathing heavily with his blood dripping from his head, stands to face the Chief. Gogran nods once with a wicked grin and then retires to his tent, the orcs howl with delight as the drums roar up again. His task done, Thar retreats back to the tiny cave.
Age 10: Lost in the Woods./Yak-Kak
As Thar grew older his battle was starting to become forgotten. Again the tribe began to treat him poorly, only now they expected more from him, they sent him out to hunt and fish. Often leaving for days with a small group of Orcs, he quickly learned how to pick out Scents of creatures. One day he wanders off from the pack, after the smell of a large boar, one he has never smelled before only to learn that it was a mistake to go alone.
He sees the mammoth of a beast treading not far from him. The creature must have been 9 feet long and weighing 1,700 pounds. Large ivory, jagged tusks jutting from its lower jaw with massive spine grow out of its thick grey pelt. It digs at the ground with its thick fur-covered hooves, turning its head to a sound of a branch snapping, the boar looks straight at Thar, its eyes filled with fire as it lowers his head with a snort.
It charges forth, without even needing to think Thar flees for his life darting around a small tree. The dire boar simply smashes through it and continues after Thar.
The sound of rushing water starts to fill the air as Thar runs to it without thinking and comes to a halt as he looks down the side of a waterfall. The crashing of branches is heard behind him, only one thing goes through Thar's head.
Jump!
Finally waking up to a throbbing pain in his chest, as he looks down at the large gash across his chest. Slowly he crawls away from the water's edge and leans against a tree. With a bit of luck, he finds a few healing herbs to clean out the wound and stop the bleed. Using the tree for support Thar lifts himself back to his feet and stumbles his way up the riverbank of Stojanow River.
As the night begins to set in he finds a cave along the riverside and collapses, as he drifts quickly to sleep. Waking up to a sharp pain in his side he opens his eyes to find a Kobold poking him with a short sword. Thar's eyes snap open with new life as he fights to survive, quickly grabbing the Kobold around his neck choking it as it claws at Thar's arm for its life it says one thing.
"Gnub, ro rohbg."
Thar's eyes widen as the Kobold speaks Orc and drops him to the ground again as he begins coughing up some blood.
"Me Yak-kak, Me helps you, you no-kill."
Yak-Kak brings over a little water to Thar then speaks to him once more.
"Me was Shaman, me can heal you. What is name?"
When Thar opens his mouth to speak, his speech broken and jumbled, closing his mouth as he fails to speak, Yak-Kak tilts his head before turning to a pile of fish.
"Fall steal your speech, you no speak no more, that shame."
"A. . . Har. . . Thar. . ."
Thar says weakly to the Kobold, I am Thar.
With a slight grin.
"Ain't much, but better than none, yes?" Yak-Kak hands Thar a raw fish.
"Eat you need strength, me prep healing herbs."
Over the next few seasons Yak-Kak tells Thar all about his Tribe and home, how it was mostly destroyed everyone in his tribe ran, all because of Kho' Grako, Orc for Grey Swine. As Thar began to walk around again he knew that he had to find his tribe soon before the frost sets in too deep. Yak-Kak tried to reason with Thar not to go until the frost had gone but simply refused with the shake of his head, giving Yak-Kak a nod of thanks he sets off into woods once more with nothing more than a few clothes he has and a bone dagger. With a final shout, Yak-Kak calls back to Thar.
"Don't forget me, Me need your help one day!!"
Age 11-12: Kho' Grako. Returning home.
Weeks pass by as the frost set in, the trees turn white with heavy snow. Crouching low, looking for any tracks for some sort of food, the cold, icy winds bite at Thar's exposed flesh. Using his wooden spear to help him stand he continues on, his body thinning from lack of food. A faint scent begins to linger in the air, somewhat familiar to him, wondering what it might be he follows. The thrill of the hunt kicks in once more, he forgets his hunger, his pain, everything clears from his head but to track the prey. He is easily able to keep the normal running pace of the Orcs as he hunts the beast down.
Thar follows the smell for miles, the sun high in the sky, it casts an eerie light through the snow-covered trees as he starts to close in on the source of the scent. Following the large prints left in the snow, he stalks his prey, pushing aside the leaves of a tree he sees the beast in a small clearing. Its Kho' Grako, the large dire boar that had chased him off a cliff that fateful day. Call it fate, call it luck, call it whatever you want but Thar knew this was how he was going to survive this winter. Slowly backing away he moves around Kho' Grako, to an area with two thick trees rather close together. Picking up a large rock Thar snorts once before throwing the rock at Kho' Grako.
Snarl
The beast turns eyes filled with fury, anger, and even pain. It makes a mad dash at Thar ready to plow through him with its tusks. Dropping low Thar readies to leap, and just as the beast begins to close in, he jumps. Grabbing a branch with one hand as the boar wedges itself between the two trees, Thar lets go and falls spear first right into the beast. Letting out a loud roar it whips and thrashes about trying to throw Thar from its back but there is no way Thar is going to let it get away. Pulling forth the bone dagger he thrusts in deep into the boar's neck holding on as he twists it about under its flesh, blood staining the snow red.
Finally, Kho' Grako manages to throw him off and get loose, turning on Thar in a hellish fury driving forth once more set to kill. Fight or flight kicking in the beast charges faster than Thar could even think to jump. Instead, bracing himself, and grabs the boar by the tusks sliding back in the snow straining every muscle in his body. He manages to keep his feet under himself, as he lets out a war cry filling with rage giving the boar's head a sharp twist forcing it on its side. Kho' Grako slides knocking Thar over as it falls until finally stopping against a tree. Quickly Thar grabs his spear forcing it through its heart.
The beast now dead, Thar rises to his feet only to fall over once more from fatigue. Looking at the beast's eyes he feels like he is looking at himself, a Wild creature lost in the woods. Filled with rage and anger for those that have hurt him. After about an hour's rest, the cold begins to nip at him once more realizing that the sun will be setting soon. Thar knows he won't last the night without some kinda warmth, using his dagger he begins to skin the giant Boar as well as taking a large amount of the meat. Finding a cave he sets up a camp with logs for a fire, tonight he will sleep warm with a full belly.
The next month or so became much easier, it seemed that with the death of Kho' Grako more animals have returned to the woods. The season begins to change as the forest begins to green again with the smells of the forest and fire. Wait. . . Fire!? Orcs! the smell of orcs flood the forest and they are closing in fast. Looking for a place to hide Thar makes for a broken tree with a thick hollow log, but just as he gets close to the tree an orc jumps out sword in hand. Another from the left with an ax, from the right a bow, behind him, a large brute with war-mace.
They smell the air for a moment something about Thar is familiar to them, slowly they gather around and overwhelm him easily taking his spear, bound, they take him away. Walking into the camp they drag him to the chief's tent and force him to his knees, the large orc enters the tent for a moment returning with Agronak. A shocked look comes over both of their faces, but that only lasts for a moment as another orc walks out, the new Chief Bross.
"Who this once be? You know this one Shaman?" Bross waves a hand to Thar.
"Yes this is the Gogran's lost half-breed son, the one we thought betrayed us." Agronak uses the end of his staff to lift Thar's head by his chin to look him in the eyes.
"I see, then he will be of use to us, take him away, break him, and mark him. Make sure he can never betray us." Bross turns and returns to his tent.
"Yes, Bross." He looks to the two holding Thar,
"Take him to the caves and see to it he is made comfortable" He says with a wicked smile.
Age 13-15: Escaping the Darkness.
For the next two or so years Thar was keep chained to a cave wall locked away, whipped, and beaten daily. They would only unchain him when they release a wild boar in Thar's cell, he had to fight and kill a boar just to have food for the day. After a while Agronak was able to create a magical rune to scribe into Thar's flesh, this would soon fuse into his blood and become a part of him, almost no way to remove it. This rune has about a 100-foot range on it, and when Bross or Agronak active the rune it forces a Dominate Monster spell-like power on Thar.
Every week during the Battle for rank anyone that challenged Bross would first have to fight Thar. If he ever refused or tried to hold back, Agronak would force Thar into a frenzy making him fight, afterward taking him back to the cave to be lashed again. This continued until he just turned 15.
Thar used his time while unchained to work out and chip away the stone around his chains, it is clear he has worked at them from day one. In the middle of a moonless night, he used his brute strength to break the chains from the walls. Using the little bits of cloth he had with an old boars skull he makes a shoulder pad and rams the door down crushing the skull against the door. The Orc on guard runs in at the sound of the steel crashing to the ground, quickly grabs the orc's head, Thar ends it with a twist from behind, snapping his neck in an instant. Grabbing the hand-ax and small shield he makes for the woods, rushing through steams and covering his tracks the best he can.
The night seems quiet, almost as if none knew he was gone, or at least didn't care. Not wanting to take any chances of being caught again Thar runs for almost 3 days without stopping until he finally drops next to a stream, drinking some water before he climbs a tree and slowly nods off to sleep from exhaustion.
Thar wakes, eyes snap open, as the sun is already setting, hopping out of the tree ready to move and leave this place. He takes one more drink for the stream, filling up a waterskin, Thar stands up only to have an arrow pierce his shoulder just over his heart. In a roar of pain, he darts for the trees, branches lashing him as he runs. Finding a place to hide for a moment he grabs the arrow with a firm grip and pushes the arrow through the wound, if he had pulled it out the arrow would have torn his wound open. Managing to find some herbs, chewing them up, he uses them to clean the wound and slow the bleed.
THUNK
An arrow strikes into the trunk of the tree near his head, ducking down he dashes to where the arrow came from. Sniffing the air he smells the orc chasing him. Just one? That's strange, normally they would send a pack to take care of him. Jump out from behind a tree he swings the hand ax only to have it crash, spark flying off the orc's sword. Thar gets kicked back into a tree, dipping aside as the blade follows into the tree, charging forward slamming the orc into the tree, and following up with an elbow to the head stunning him. Finally, Thar brings the ax down only to have it break against the orc's sword as a knife plunges into his side. They both snarl to one another pulling away, the orc trusts forward in a flurry of quick back-handed dagger strikes.
Another kick to the chest knocking Thar back, the orc throws the dagger at his head. Just barely able to dodge it with only a nip at the earlobe, in return, Thar roars charging ahead he dropkicks the orc back as it trips over a log and falls banging its head on a large rock knocking him out. Thar leaps onto the chest of the orc and in a wail of pain, he begins to beat the orc before finally decapitating it with its own sword.
Returning to the river Thar leaves the head of the orc on a sharpened branch as a warning to all who would follow him. Making his way into the woods bleeding, beaten, and broken. What hope is left?
Age 16: Seeking truth, My home.
Night has come and gone, wandering aimlessly about the wood as the sun begins to rise over the trees. A soft, warming light falls between the branches on Thar's blood-stained face, dropping to his knees he washes his face in a small creek. The babbling of the water lightly crashing over the rocks, the smell of herbs, berries, and pine hovers in the air all around him. He leans back against a tree, holding his wound, taking in the sounds and smells of the forest.
A soft, faint humming is heard as a woman walks over to the brook, then a crash as a basket hits the ground. The woman stands at the water's edge with a look of fear on her face as spots the injured half-orc, opening his eyes looking at her standing there before finally giving a snort as his eyes drift shut once again. To exhausted to move from blood loss, as his hand drops from his bleeding wound. The two seem frozen in time for a moment, no words, no movement. The woman slowly walks over, her voice is soothing and calm.
"It will be okay, please, please let me help you." She kneels down beside him. Thar eyes her a moment before simply nodding.
"My name is Evannie, whats yours?" She runs her hands over his many scars and wounds.
"A har Thar." He speaks in broken, guttural orc. Evannie smiles at Thar pressing her hand to his wound her hand starts to glow with healing magic as his wound slowly heals.
"Arthur, that's a nice name. How did this happen to you, Arthur?" She keeps her focus on healing him as she speaks.
"A har Thar." He says trying to correct her. She finishes healing the wound and moves to sit on a large rock next to him. Finally, Thar takes a good look at her for the first time, she is a beautiful young woman with short red hair and gentle blue-ish green eyes. A light top with a short, knee-length red skirt. On her back is a small short sword that looks as if it has never even been removed from the sheath. Her boots are lightly covered in mud and dirt on her knees and cuffs show she has been working in the dirt somewhere nearby. Looking over to the basket on the floor, a large amount of healing herbs and berries, likely from a farm or grove.
"I guess you don't talk much, that's okay I don't normally like to talk to people myself." She smiles and continues to ramble.
"I used to come here a lot when I was little, it was a great place to escape to, so very quiet, peaceful. I used to come here when I was sad, my mother grew her herbs and berries here. She used to take me with her humming her lullaby." She pauses for a moment tilting her head down, a tear runs down her cheek. With a sorrowful smile, she continues.
"I don't remember my mother very well, my father said she died when I was very young. He didn't want to tell me how she died for some reason, and I found out why when I overheard members of the village talking about it." She turns looking up thru the trees.
"She was kidnapped, for 10 months, my father searched for her almost none stop, until they found her left outside the village, or at least her head." She starts to tear up.
"After that, they spotted me hiding nearby and stopped talking about it. My father still won't tell me the truth but, I have a few ideas of what happened." She stands up and walks to the basket, pulling out some flowers, setting them down next to an odd-shaped stone marked with some runes or writing. Turning back at Thar she holds out some bread and berries.
"I have to go, but there's a cave nearby, you can stay there. I will come back often to check on your wounds, we can talk and share some food okay?" She gives him a warm smile, he simply nods in return.
Over the next 2-6 weeks or so Evannie comes back every day with bread, berries, and some meat every once in a while. She would talk and tell him stories of her childhood, sometimes crying or laughing over her memories. She talked about her mother and how she loved the peacefulness of this place. She tells Thar she thinks her mother was killed by orcs when she was four years old. Every day she would always bring flowers and set them next to the Stone, sometimes she would kneel and pray before it, holding an amulet of her mother's. Evannie and Thar seem to quickly bond with each other. She would poke and play fight with Thar, though he would never "throw" a punch at her. He would act as if he was hurt and fall over. She would often laugh the day away or sing and hum songs for Thar, other days she would just vent her stress or grief.
Then Evannie stopped coming for a while, Thar growing worried as to why, when she returned it seems orcs have been in the woods around her home. It has become hard for her to get out of her town as most of the villagers are afraid, and for good reason. Later that day Thar stops dead in his tracks, something has drifted in with the wind. A smell he knew far too well, the orcs are coming again. He knew what would happen if they saw Evannie. He quickly grabs her and starts running.
"Arthur what is it?!" She struggles to keep up with him, but Thar only stops to turn and pointing to himself, he snarls loudly and points off back the way they came. Her eyes widen as she begins to realize that it was orcs, sniffing the air he can tell they are catching up faster than she can run, moving off to a small cave shape of roots big enough for Evannie only. He points to the roots looking at her, she doesn't move. He pushes her to the roots and points at the ground as if saying to "Stay" with a firm grunt.
Evannie shakes her head "Please don't go hide with me Arthur!" Shaking his head Thar taps on his nose as if saying they can smell us. He starts to turn away to run but she grabs him, giving him a hug she tells him.
"Come back okay, you have to come back." She hands him her mother's amulet. "See you have to come back, to return my mother's amulet okay." Tears roll down her face, Thar simply nods in return pushing her back to the small cave of roots. He moves away a bit and stands waiting for the orcs. When they come into view they roar seeing Thar, he snarls back motioning them to come for him before he turns on his heels and runs for it, the orcs don't even question it and take chase.
Fleeing he tries to make a circle and break for the water, in hopes to have them lose his scent. Just as he rounds a tree closing in on the water he gets whacked right in the face, stumbling back he swings at his attacker with his fist. Only this time another club hits him from behind, dropping to his hands and knees he looks up at the warrior. The Orc simply grins as Agronak steps out.
"You have given us enough trouble! Come along, it's time we leave, the war has destroyed our home so now we move." Looking at the other orcs Agronak snarls at them. "Chain him and have him pull the supplies!" Agronak actives the blood rune forcing Thar to not resist as he gets Dragged away.
Age: 16-18 The Long Road to the Sword Coast.
The Kogan Tribe continued to move from place to place until they finally made it to, the Sword Coast. now the next chapter shall be written in blood or tears. Let's find out.
Goals:
Find the Orcs a real home.
Reestablish the Kogan clan.
Gain the formal Title of War chief
Have the Kogan clan become the elite Guard for Uruk Lurra
Establish Trade partners with other monster races.
Survive.
Updated:
Take charge over the Orc clan, regardless of being a half-orc.
Defeat Bak, and claim his hat!
Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
Yak-Kak is a Kobold the DMs can use for a Plot hook for Thar
This was the toughest part of my Back story, I was debating on having Thar be forced to Kill Evannie or let her live for a plot twist later, If it wasn't clear enough, Evannie is Thar's Half-sister though none of them have pieced it together Yet. ///PLOT TWIST///
Birth: The Savage Day
In the woods near the moors of Thar faint screams are heard over the roaring claps of thunder, as the rain beat down on the trees, a crack of a whip snaps once as female screams. The air fills with silence before the cry of a child is heard. Walking out of a cave a young-looking Agronak is seen holding a Half-Orc infant. Gogran, the tribe Chief, follows holding a blooded ax in one hand and a mass of hair in the other. Lifting the tangled mass high in the air orcish warcries fill the night with a clap of thunder illuminating the dismembered head.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!
Age 8: Fight, or Die.
Hidden: show
//As night falls the drums beat in a fury as the air fills with grunts and warcries of the tribe. Stepping from the hut, a rather large brute of an Orc, towers over Thar in the torch-lit arena. The Orc, whose face painted with the print of the tribal shaman favor, takes one look at Thar, not even of age at this point, and snarls with anger as he turns to Gogran and the guttural orcish language shouts.
"You bring me a child and expect me to fight? Coward! I challenged you!"
Gogran chuckles lightly and replies.
"If this is no challenge for you then end it quickly. If you do so then you will have your match, consider this your warm-up, and never question my word again!"
With a grunt the brute nods and turns to face Thar seeing now the determination in his eyes for the first time. The drums grow louder as Gogran stands from his chair and in a commanding Shout!
Begin!
The brute grabs at the mace and charges thinking to end it with a single blow. However Thar, using his small size and speed manages to roll out of the brute's swing only to have his other hand knock him back with a firm back fist to the side of the head. Thar makes a quick recovery rolling over his back and launching himself back to his feet, he charges at the gloating brute, with a fast and hard hit to the side, the brute growls and swings his arm back pushing Thar away. He turns on his heels and swings the mace once more striking Thar and forcing him to the edge of the ring, blood pours from his wound on his head as the Brute walks over and puts his foot on Thar's skull.
"You want me to Kill this one Gogran, I will end this filthy half breed as easily as I will end you!"
The Brute begins to push Thar's face into the ground ready to end the fight, Thar reaches out and grabs a broken handle to a tool or weapon and shoves it deep in the Brute's side. With a roar, the Brute stumbles back pulling the handle out as Thar charges at the brute bringing him down in surprise. Thar punches at the Brute's wounded side and face in a flurry of blows, finally grabbing the mace to follow up on his assault. When the Brute begins to stop Thar drops the mace, placing his hand on the Brute's head and with a sharp twist.
SNAP
It is over. Thar brings himself to his feet, breathing heavily with his blood dripping from his head, stands to face the Chief. Gogran nods once with a wicked grin and then retires to his tent, the orcs howl with delight as the drums roar up again. His task done, Thar retreats back to the tiny cave.
Age 10: Lost in the Woods./Yak-Kak
As Thar grew older his battle was starting to become forgotten. Again the tribe began to treat him poorly, only now they expected more from him, they sent him out to hunt and fish. Often leaving for days with a small group of Orcs, he quickly learned how to pick out Scents of creatures. One day he wanders off from the pack, after the smell of a large boar, one he has never smelled before only to learn that it was a mistake to go alone.
He sees the mammoth of a beast treading not far from him. The creature must have been 9 feet long and weighing 1,700 pounds. Large ivory, jagged tusks jutting from its lower jaw with massive spine grow out of its thick grey pelt. It digs at the ground with its thick fur-covered hooves, turning its head to a sound of a branch snapping, the boar looks straight at Thar, its eyes filled with fire as it lowers his head with a snort.
It charges forth, without even needing to think Thar flees for his life darting around a small tree. The dire boar simply smashes through it and continues after Thar.
The sound of rushing water starts to fill the air as Thar runs to it without thinking and comes to a halt as he looks down the side of a waterfall. The crashing of branches is heard behind him, only one thing goes through Thar's head.
Jump!
Finally waking up to a throbbing pain in his chest, as he looks down at the large gash across his chest. Slowly he crawls away from the water's edge and leans against a tree. With a bit of luck, he finds a few healing herbs to clean out the wound and stop the bleed. Using the tree for support Thar lifts himself back to his feet and stumbles his way up the riverbank of Stojanow River.
As the night begins to set in he finds a cave along the riverside and collapses, as he drifts quickly to sleep. Waking up to a sharp pain in his side he opens his eyes to find a Kobold poking him with a short sword. Thar's eyes snap open with new life as he fights to survive, quickly grabbing the Kobold around his neck choking it as it claws at Thar's arm for its life it says one thing.
"Gnub, ro rohbg."
Thar's eyes widen as the Kobold speaks Orc and drops him to the ground again as he begins coughing up some blood.
"Me Yak-kak, Me helps you, you no-kill."
Yak-Kak brings over a little water to Thar then speaks to him once more.
"Me was Shaman, me can heal you. What is name?"
When Thar opens his mouth to speak, his speech broken and jumbled, closing his mouth as he fails to speak, Yak-Kak tilts his head before turning to a pile of fish.
"Fall steal your speech, you no speak no more, that shame."
"A. . . Har. . . Thar. . ."
Thar says weakly to the Kobold, I am Thar.
With a slight grin.
"Ain't much, but better than none, yes?" Yak-Kak hands Thar a raw fish.
"Eat you need strength, me prep healing herbs."
Over the next few seasons Yak-Kak tells Thar all about his Tribe and home, how it was mostly destroyed everyone in his tribe ran, all because of Kho' Grako, Orc for Grey Swine. As Thar began to walk around again he knew that he had to find his tribe soon before the frost sets in too deep. Yak-Kak tried to reason with Thar not to go until the frost had gone but simply refused with the shake of his head, giving Yak-Kak a nod of thanks he sets off into woods once more with nothing more than a few clothes he has and a bone dagger. With a final shout, Yak-Kak calls back to Thar.
"Don't forget me, Me need your help one day!!"
Age 11-12: Kho' Grako. Returning home.
Weeks pass by as the frost set in, the trees turn white with heavy snow. Crouching low, looking for any tracks for some sort of food, the cold, icy winds bite at Thar's exposed flesh. Using his wooden spear to help him stand he continues on, his body thinning from lack of food. A faint scent begins to linger in the air, somewhat familiar to him, wondering what it might be he follows. The thrill of the hunt kicks in once more, he forgets his hunger, his pain, everything clears from his head but to track the prey. He is easily able to keep the normal running pace of the Orcs as he hunts the beast down.
Thar follows the smell for miles, the sun high in the sky, it casts an eerie light through the snow-covered trees as he starts to close in on the source of the scent. Following the large prints left in the snow, he stalks his prey, pushing aside the leaves of a tree he sees the beast in a small clearing. Its Kho' Grako, the large dire boar that had chased him off a cliff that fateful day. Call it fate, call it luck, call it whatever you want but Thar knew this was how he was going to survive this winter. Slowly backing away he moves around Kho' Grako, to an area with two thick trees rather close together. Picking up a large rock Thar snorts once before throwing the rock at Kho' Grako.
Snarl
The beast turns eyes filled with fury, anger, and even pain. It makes a mad dash at Thar ready to plow through him with its tusks. Dropping low Thar readies to leap, and just as the beast begins to close in, he jumps. Grabbing a branch with one hand as the boar wedges itself between the two trees, Thar lets go and falls spear first right into the beast. Letting out a loud roar it whips and thrashes about trying to throw Thar from its back but there is no way Thar is going to let it get away. Pulling forth the bone dagger he thrusts in deep into the boar's neck holding on as he twists it about under its flesh, blood staining the snow red.
Finally, Kho' Grako manages to throw him off and get loose, turning on Thar in a hellish fury driving forth once more set to kill. Fight or flight kicking in the beast charges faster than Thar could even think to jump. Instead, bracing himself, and grabs the boar by the tusks sliding back in the snow straining every muscle in his body. He manages to keep his feet under himself, as he lets out a war cry filling with rage giving the boar's head a sharp twist forcing it on its side. Kho' Grako slides knocking Thar over as it falls until finally stopping against a tree. Quickly Thar grabs his spear forcing it through its heart.
The beast now dead, Thar rises to his feet only to fall over once more from fatigue. Looking at the beast's eyes he feels like he is looking at himself, a Wild creature lost in the woods. Filled with rage and anger for those that have hurt him. After about an hour's rest, the cold begins to nip at him once more realizing that the sun will be setting soon. Thar knows he won't last the night without some kinda warmth, using his dagger he begins to skin the giant Boar as well as taking a large amount of the meat. Finding a cave he sets up a camp with logs for a fire, tonight he will sleep warm with a full belly.
The next month or so became much easier, it seemed that with the death of Kho' Grako more animals have returned to the woods. The season begins to change as the forest begins to green again with the smells of the forest and fire. Wait. . . Fire!? Orcs! the smell of orcs flood the forest and they are closing in fast. Looking for a place to hide Thar makes for a broken tree with a thick hollow log, but just as he gets close to the tree an orc jumps out sword in hand. Another from the left with an ax, from the right a bow, behind him, a large brute with war-mace.
They smell the air for a moment something about Thar is familiar to them, slowly they gather around and overwhelm him easily taking his spear, bound, they take him away. Walking into the camp they drag him to the chief's tent and force him to his knees, the large orc enters the tent for a moment returning with Agronak. A shocked look comes over both of their faces, but that only lasts for a moment as another orc walks out, the new Chief Bross.
"Who this once be? You know this one Shaman?" Bross waves a hand to Thar.
"Yes this is the Gogran's lost half-breed son, the one we thought betrayed us." Agronak uses the end of his staff to lift Thar's head by his chin to look him in the eyes.
"I see, then he will be of use to us, take him away, break him, and mark him. Make sure he can never betray us." Bross turns and returns to his tent.
"Yes, Bross." He looks to the two holding Thar,
"Take him to the caves and see to it he is made comfortable" He says with a wicked smile.
Age 13-15: Escaping the Darkness.
For the next two or so years Thar was keep chained to a cave wall locked away, whipped, and beaten daily. They would only unchain him when they release a wild boar in Thar's cell, he had to fight and kill a boar just to have food for the day. After a while Agronak was able to create a magical rune to scribe into Thar's flesh, this would soon fuse into his blood and become a part of him, almost no way to remove it. This rune has about a 100-foot range on it, and when Bross or Agronak active the rune it forces a Dominate Monster spell-like power on Thar.
Every week during the Battle for rank anyone that challenged Bross would first have to fight Thar. If he ever refused or tried to hold back, Agronak would force Thar into a frenzy making him fight, afterward taking him back to the cave to be lashed again. This continued until he just turned 15.
Thar used his time while unchained to work out and chip away the stone around his chains, it is clear he has worked at them from day one. In the middle of a moonless night, he used his brute strength to break the chains from the walls. Using the little bits of cloth he had with an old boars skull he makes a shoulder pad and rams the door down crushing the skull against the door. The Orc on guard runs in at the sound of the steel crashing to the ground, quickly grabs the orc's head, Thar ends it with a twist from behind, snapping his neck in an instant. Grabbing the hand-ax and small shield he makes for the woods, rushing through steams and covering his tracks the best he can.
The night seems quiet, almost as if none knew he was gone, or at least didn't care. Not wanting to take any chances of being caught again Thar runs for almost 3 days without stopping until he finally drops next to a stream, drinking some water before he climbs a tree and slowly nods off to sleep from exhaustion.
Thar wakes, eyes snap open, as the sun is already setting, hopping out of the tree ready to move and leave this place. He takes one more drink for the stream, filling up a waterskin, Thar stands up only to have an arrow pierce his shoulder just over his heart. In a roar of pain, he darts for the trees, branches lashing him as he runs. Finding a place to hide for a moment he grabs the arrow with a firm grip and pushes the arrow through the wound, if he had pulled it out the arrow would have torn his wound open. Managing to find some herbs, chewing them up, he uses them to clean the wound and slow the bleed.
THUNK
An arrow strikes into the trunk of the tree near his head, ducking down he dashes to where the arrow came from. Sniffing the air he smells the orc chasing him. Just one? That's strange, normally they would send a pack to take care of him. Jump out from behind a tree he swings the hand ax only to have it crash, spark flying off the orc's sword. Thar gets kicked back into a tree, dipping aside as the blade follows into the tree, charging forward slamming the orc into the tree, and following up with an elbow to the head stunning him. Finally, Thar brings the ax down only to have it break against the orc's sword as a knife plunges into his side. They both snarl to one another pulling away, the orc trusts forward in a flurry of quick back-handed dagger strikes.
Another kick to the chest knocking Thar back, the orc throws the dagger at his head. Just barely able to dodge it with only a nip at the earlobe, in return, Thar roars charging ahead he dropkicks the orc back as it trips over a log and falls banging its head on a large rock knocking him out. Thar leaps onto the chest of the orc and in a wail of pain, he begins to beat the orc before finally decapitating it with its own sword.
Returning to the river Thar leaves the head of the orc on a sharpened branch as a warning to all who would follow him. Making his way into the woods bleeding, beaten, and broken. What hope is left?
Age 16: Seeking truth, My home.
Night has come and gone, wandering aimlessly about the wood as the sun begins to rise over the trees. A soft, warming light falls between the branches on Thar's blood-stained face, dropping to his knees he washes his face in a small creek. The babbling of the water lightly crashing over the rocks, the smell of herbs, berries, and pine hovers in the air all around him. He leans back against a tree, holding his wound, taking in the sounds and smells of the forest.
A soft, faint humming is heard as a woman walks over to the brook, then a crash as a basket hits the ground. The woman stands at the water's edge with a look of fear on her face as spots the injured half-orc, opening his eyes looking at her standing there before finally giving a snort as his eyes drift shut once again. To exhausted to move from blood loss, as his hand drops from his bleeding wound. The two seem frozen in time for a moment, no words, no movement. The woman slowly walks over, her voice is soothing and calm.
"It will be okay, please, please let me help you." She kneels down beside him. Thar eyes her a moment before simply nodding.
"My name is Evannie, whats yours?" She runs her hands over his many scars and wounds.
"A har Thar." He speaks in broken, guttural orc. Evannie smiles at Thar pressing her hand to his wound her hand starts to glow with healing magic as his wound slowly heals.
"Arthur, that's a nice name. How did this happen to you, Arthur?" She keeps her focus on healing him as she speaks.
"A har Thar." He says trying to correct her. She finishes healing the wound and moves to sit on a large rock next to him. Finally, Thar takes a good look at her for the first time, she is a beautiful young woman with short red hair and gentle blue-ish green eyes. A light top with a short, knee-length red skirt. On her back is a small short sword that looks as if it has never even been removed from the sheath. Her boots are lightly covered in mud and dirt on her knees and cuffs show she has been working in the dirt somewhere nearby. Looking over to the basket on the floor, a large amount of healing herbs and berries, likely from a farm or grove.
Hidden: show
"I used to come here a lot when I was little, it was a great place to escape to, so very quiet, peaceful. I used to come here when I was sad, my mother grew her herbs and berries here. She used to take me with her humming her lullaby." She pauses for a moment tilting her head down, a tear runs down her cheek. With a sorrowful smile, she continues.
"I don't remember my mother very well, my father said she died when I was very young. He didn't want to tell me how she died for some reason, and I found out why when I overheard members of the village talking about it." She turns looking up thru the trees.
"She was kidnapped, for 10 months, my father searched for her almost none stop, until they found her left outside the village, or at least her head." She starts to tear up.
"After that, they spotted me hiding nearby and stopped talking about it. My father still won't tell me the truth but, I have a few ideas of what happened." She stands up and walks to the basket, pulling out some flowers, setting them down next to an odd-shaped stone marked with some runes or writing. Turning back at Thar she holds out some bread and berries.
"I have to go, but there's a cave nearby, you can stay there. I will come back often to check on your wounds, we can talk and share some food okay?" She gives him a warm smile, he simply nods in return.
Over the next 2-6 weeks or so Evannie comes back every day with bread, berries, and some meat every once in a while. She would talk and tell him stories of her childhood, sometimes crying or laughing over her memories. She talked about her mother and how she loved the peacefulness of this place. She tells Thar she thinks her mother was killed by orcs when she was four years old. Every day she would always bring flowers and set them next to the Stone, sometimes she would kneel and pray before it, holding an amulet of her mother's. Evannie and Thar seem to quickly bond with each other. She would poke and play fight with Thar, though he would never "throw" a punch at her. He would act as if he was hurt and fall over. She would often laugh the day away or sing and hum songs for Thar, other days she would just vent her stress or grief.
Then Evannie stopped coming for a while, Thar growing worried as to why, when she returned it seems orcs have been in the woods around her home. It has become hard for her to get out of her town as most of the villagers are afraid, and for good reason. Later that day Thar stops dead in his tracks, something has drifted in with the wind. A smell he knew far too well, the orcs are coming again. He knew what would happen if they saw Evannie. He quickly grabs her and starts running.
"Arthur what is it?!" She struggles to keep up with him, but Thar only stops to turn and pointing to himself, he snarls loudly and points off back the way they came. Her eyes widen as she begins to realize that it was orcs, sniffing the air he can tell they are catching up faster than she can run, moving off to a small cave shape of roots big enough for Evannie only. He points to the roots looking at her, she doesn't move. He pushes her to the roots and points at the ground as if saying to "Stay" with a firm grunt.
Evannie shakes her head "Please don't go hide with me Arthur!" Shaking his head Thar taps on his nose as if saying they can smell us. He starts to turn away to run but she grabs him, giving him a hug she tells him.
"Come back okay, you have to come back." She hands him her mother's amulet. "See you have to come back, to return my mother's amulet okay." Tears roll down her face, Thar simply nods in return pushing her back to the small cave of roots. He moves away a bit and stands waiting for the orcs. When they come into view they roar seeing Thar, he snarls back motioning them to come for him before he turns on his heels and runs for it, the orcs don't even question it and take chase.
Fleeing he tries to make a circle and break for the water, in hopes to have them lose his scent. Just as he rounds a tree closing in on the water he gets whacked right in the face, stumbling back he swings at his attacker with his fist. Only this time another club hits him from behind, dropping to his hands and knees he looks up at the warrior. The Orc simply grins as Agronak steps out.
"You have given us enough trouble! Come along, it's time we leave, the war has destroyed our home so now we move." Looking at the other orcs Agronak snarls at them. "Chain him and have him pull the supplies!" Agronak actives the blood rune forcing Thar to not resist as he gets Dragged away.
Age: 16-18 The Long Road to the Sword Coast.
The Kogan Tribe continued to move from place to place until they finally made it to, the Sword Coast. now the next chapter shall be written in blood or tears. Let's find out.
Goals:
Reestablish the Kogan clan.
Gain the formal Title of War chief
Have the Kogan clan become the elite Guard for Uruk Lurra
Establish Trade partners with other monster races.
Survive.
Updated:
Defeat Bak, and claim his hat!
Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
Yak-Kak is a Kobold the DMs can use for a Plot hook for Thar
This was the toughest part of my Back story, I was debating on having Thar be forced to Kill Evannie or let her live for a plot twist later, If it wasn't clear enough, Evannie is Thar's Half-sister though none of them have pieced it together Yet. ///PLOT TWIST///
