Ghengaal, Burning Brazier, Brother of the Pure Flame

[red october]

///////////// Originally posted as a bio with templates above..

First Name: Ghengaal
Last Name: (none)

Appearance:
A grey wall of muscle, wearing a red martial arts outfit and a black mask. Burning, yellow eyes observe you and the action going on around. He is quick , but his combat prowess lies in observing and anticipating his opponent’s moves, rather than in blinding speed. He breathes deeply and deliberately.

Race: Grey Orc
Age: 30
Height 6’4”
Weight: 280 lbs
Eyes: Yellow
Hair: Shaved
Facial Hair Style: none.

Personality Profile:
Ghengaal was raised among humans in a cloistered environment. He is used to being treated with disdain (even by a few of the brothers in his order), approaching “gentler folk” hesitantly and simply leaving when spoken to harshly. Upon seeing others in trouble, he will often swoop in and heal, hoping to win (if not acceptance), a modicum of tolerance. He is utterly in awe of Fire Genasi, treating all such “Pure Ones” he has met with reverence and respect.

General Health: Equine.
Deity: Kossuth
Initial Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Profession: Brother of the Pure Flame
Base Class & Proposed Development: Monk/Cleric/Sacred Fist
Habits/Hobbies: Training, meditation, travel. He often stops and sniffs the air for no apparent reason. Enjoys occasional music and comedy at the White Mask Theater.
Languages: Common, some Orcish (accented).
Weapon of Choice: Fist, Foot, Fire.

Background:
Never knowing his parents, Ghengaal was brought up as the only slave of a wise and open-minded Kossuthian monk named White Tiger in the Lapendrar Tharch of Thay. Ghengaal was treated kindly by his master while he was a pup. He would do chores while his master was out doing business for the clerics who run the Tharch, then train with his master during the evenings. They shared a modest, structured, disciplined life. Ghengaal showed great promise, especially in harnessing his inner flame and focusing it outward – he could light a candle with a wave of his hand, and even use his chi to heal minor bumps and scrapes.
When it came to the attention of the other Kossuthians that White Tiger was training his slave (an orcish slave no less), he was faced with an ultimatum : surrender his slave to be immolated, or banishment. White Tiger’s response was thus: if a slave could not be trained, then he would simply declare Ghengaal “free”, then continue to train him. Banishment was the answer to such uncharacteristic insolence. White Tiger was reassigned to a small Kossuthian temple far North, near the Spine of the World. He and his then ten-year-old student set out on a ship bound for Icewind Dale, never to return.
For nearly twenty years, Ghengaal continued to train with White Tiger in the small enclave of warmth in the bitter cold of the northern wilds. The cloistered life spared Ghengaal from much of the hatred and prejudice he may have known out in the world, but that is not to say that he was universally liked by his order brothers. Eventually time came that Ghengaal grew restless. White Tiger said to him “Ghengaal, in here your flame will be stifled. Set out into the world; let it spread. Let it roar.” He bade Ghengaal to accompany and protect a local barbarian tribesman Vico Senset, loyal to Kossuth, on his impending journey south.

And so, the pair set off south and eventually found themselves bumming around Baldur’s Gate.

Goals: To advance his fighting skills and to purify himself through Kossuth’s flame.
Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts: Although Vico is somewhat of a rash, wicked and violent fellow, Ghengaal heeds his master's wishes to guard and follow the barbarian and laughs off his burning rage as “a different interpretation of Kossuth’s flame within”. Vico's beguiling wit also often leaves Ghengaal either laughing or tongue-tied. He has also fallen in with a pair of powerful Fire Genasi (Kenina and Hexilios Sera) who he reveres and trusts implicitly, but whose true goals are unknown. He would follow any of these three into all sorts of problems out of utter devotion to Kossuth, his Pure children and Master White Tiger’s wishes.

[red october]

/////// Originally posted under "Church of Kossuth" in Guilds & Factions

Thirteenth Firewalk.


"Lay out a long, narrow fire, Vico. Get it nice and hot, and let it burn down to coals. The time has come. I will be meditating," The orcish monk said to his companion as they stood over the smoldering remains of a beholder.

After picking through the loot, Vico Senset, Firedrake, laid out a long pyre, thirteen paces long, near the coast off the Lion's Way, outside of the beholder's cave. He set it ablaze and stoked the flames. He looked to his companion, the orc Ghengaal, who was preparing himself to once again undertake the rite. Vico spoke up, "Do you really have to do this every time? I mean, it's just you and me out here..."

The orc opened his eyes. "It matters. Kossuth requires little of you but your obedience. My progress requires significantly more... hardship. But it purifies me, Vico. It tests me, and it rewards me." The orc in loose crimson robes bounced back up on to his feet. "Let me feed the pyre," he said with a smile as he tossed a fireball into the blaze. The Aasimar warrior shielded himself from the blast.

"You really need to give me more warning when you're going to let one of those go," protested Vico.

They sat together, tending the fire and discussing the mysteries of the fire within, until the sun was low in the sky, and the long pyre calmed to a band of red hot coals.

Vico stood at one end, the red light from the coals shimmering off his armour and lighting his pale face and hair in an unholy glow. He wiped the sweat from his brow and adjusted his eyepatch. He looked across the long bed of coals at Ghengaal, focused in the serene glow, breathing deeply.

Vico began the ritual, "In the absence of our Eternal Flame White Tiger, I Vico Senset, Firedrake, do call upon the Firelord to cast his light upon this ritual, the thirteenth firewalk of your Burning Brazier and Brother of the Pure Flame, Ghengaal." The embers flashed a sudden, intense red as a gust blew in off the coast.

Ghengaal removed his mask and cast it aside. He took the first three steps. The sweat from his feet hissed upon the coals. "Those fit to succeed will do so." He spoke calmly. He took two more steps, and now the pain began to set in. "Fire and purity are one and the same," he spoke again, his voice calm and clear. He walked a few more steps, "Progress means pain," he spoke through clenched teeth. He walked forward again, slowly, deliberately. "Your flame tempers us, forges us, hardens us."

"Smells like pork chops," Vico chuckled to himself with a smirk.

Ghengaal paced forward, consumed by the ritual, ignoring his companion's remark. "Reforge all life to its essential form, renew us in your light and scald those whose fire does not burn bright." At this point, Ghengaal's hands and feet burst into flame. He held his hands out, burning palms up, as he completed the final steps of the firewalk. Vico stepped out of the way, as his companion let out a triumphant, primal orcish howl and cast six fireballs straight up into the air above them.

Vico looked up with a wicked smile as he watched the display. "We'd better go before trouble shows up. They definitely saw that from Candlekeep."