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Regarding this @Mag Lev, I'll fill a full sheet if it's necessary but I feel like explaining every little tidbit of a character's life and personality leaves nothing to the imagination, and therefore kills a lot of suspense/tension when other players are dealing with him.

Let me know how lenient you are or aren't on this point.

@Mag Lev

The Gorgas

Appearance

Height: 9-18 ft
Weight: 805-1,234 lbs
Physical Description:

The Gorgas are a massive race of humanoid reptiles closely resembling that of their draconic ancestors. It is debatable whether to consider them true dragons, regardless they have many similar traits. Gorgas are hulking figures and are easily mistaken for monsters. They have two feet and four arms, with the second pair being modified wings. They have a medium-length and flexible neck as well as a saurian, draconic head that varies with its shape and features such as a narrow or wide snout, a variety or lack of horns, frills, etc. Their scales are large and diamond shape or plate shape, and have a variety of scale colors such as blue, black, green, and red. However the scales on their chest and underneath their tail and arms are pale-white and soft. Additionally, they will often have a keratin barbed tail as a sort of biological spear. Their doesn't appear to be any sexual dimorphism between males and females.

The Gorgas, like their ancestors, have a natural affinity to fire. They cannot be burned by any degree of heat and can breath jets of flames from their mouth. Despite their size their wings are strong enough to support sustained flight. Their scales, except for the paler sections, are almost as durable as iron making their hide hard to damage. And as expected these creatures are savagely strong, the average adult could easily lift a boulder or bend a weakened iron blade with its jaws and teeth. Lastly, The Gorgas are age-wise immortal, as while they still age past maturity their has never been a recorded case of a Gorgas dying naturally. They also take a long time to mature, a Gorgas will not grow from adolescence into adult-hood until around a century, one of the many factors for the reason of their low population. While the average size is around 9 ft for adults, the eldest of Gorgas have been able to grow slowly and up to 18 ft.

History and Culture

History: The Gorgas have roamed mostly between the Cour-Rath and Jain territories, favoring the extreme heat temperatures as ideal to their cold-blooded ectotherm nature. They are to this day far more primitive then other races, living in nomadic tribes based upon family factions. The few that have settled areas have claimed volcanic peaks as their home. While they have been mostly reclusive, in modern times the Gorgas race is at the threat of near-extinction due to numerous factors of their past. Family feuds were strong between ties, leading them to engage in warfare with their own kind in brutal and tribal battles. Feuds often occurred over ill-manners, territorial behavior, and other primeval aggression. What would start for a minor insult between two tribes could easily turn into generations of warfare. A disease nicknamed Dragonsbane, a virus that only infects Gorgas and possibly other dragon related creatures has become widespread a few hundred years ago. This virus infects through contact, especially when blood is spilled, a common issue for the battle-loving Gorgas. The disease slowly drains their vitality and even their ability to breathe flames, until they eventually die of hypothermia-like symptoms and fatigue. Infected individuals will have much paler coloration in the scales and have difficulty in shedding their skin, as well as having glossy white eyes and having a weaker or non-existing fire breath. The disease usually kills a Gorgas between 2 to 5 years, and their is no known cure or treatment, especially due to their primitive understandings. Lastly, it is difficult for the Gorgas to grow into adulthood due to how long it takes, and they do not reproduce often despite their indefinitely long lifespans.
Origins: It is uncertain of where they came from exactly, but they are without a doubt related to dragons in one way or another, if they are not actual dragons themselves. Their existence as been around even at the earliest known times of the kingdom's recorded history. The Gorgas do not record much of their history, so they themselves do not have a clear answer either.
Culture: The Gorgas culture largely reflects that of a honorable warrior with family ties and equal respect. It is in their very nature, their instinct, to fight. However they despise violence without warrant, as well as any other dishonorable acts. The ideal Gorgas is one of true honor and courtesy that could rival a knight's code. Including but not limiting to, respecting other warriors, respect to the dead, respecting of family members as well as complete loyalty, fair duels and fights to settle disputes, etc. They do not fear death, but do not wish to fail their family name under any circumstances. While the Gorgas also enjoy precious metals and relics, they ostracize those that are greedy over it. Such treasures should be earned through honorable combat or a reward for their valiance, not from thievery or other similar circumstances. While there are plenty of Gorgas that have disobeyed and dissented from their family tribes, most still retain these Morales with valiance.
Their religion is that of a dragon god, Kilgarrah, who they claim is their creator. Aside from paying homage through sacrifices of meats and metal, they are not religiously fervent.
Aside from their monstrous appearance, the Gorgas are also viewed as monsters due to their cannibalistic tendencies. The Gorgas love the flesh of racial creatures, be it humans, orcs, or their own kin. Many Gorgas that defeat another in combat will often 'honor' their fallen foe by consuming the corpse, and making an effigy of whatever is left of that corpse, usually bone, to honor them.
Like their draconic ancestors, The Gorgas seldom interact with other races. In the few instances that have, they have either reacted as savage hunters and warriors for the chance of tasting their flesh, or instead peaceful attempts of interaction and whatever diplomacy a small individual Gorgas Tribe could provide, with little success.

[profile]

• Practically a monster, he is absurdly strong and durable, extremely dangerous in close range combat.
• Fire based attacks and other factors based upon high temperatures are directly ineffective against him aside from side factors like explosive force that could result from such an attack.

• His exposed chest is an easy weak
• point past his natural armor, being cold blooded cold environments hinder him greatly and can be potentially fatal.
• Long range combat can be a bit of a struggle as all he can do is attempt to close the distance or defend himself.
• Being cold-blooded, cold environments and attacks similar to that affect are especially effective against him.
• He is not a good talker, both with a heavy accent of what would be described as a demon trying to speak like a human, and his poor understanding of the english language.

• He has an acquired taste for flesh, particularly racial flesh such as elves, orcs, humans, and other Gorgas. He hides this tendency as he is self conscience of how the others will see it as taboo, and it is almost more of an addiction.
• Prolongued combat can drive him into less of a civil warrior and more of a savage beast, especially when wounded or provoked enough.

• Loss, he cannot stand loosing another loved one, should he make one again. Another reason for his reluctant communication. He cannot stand the emotional pain that comes with loss, such things can drive him mad and scar him deep, naturally fearing such a fate and would sooner die then to experience it again.
• Illness. Experiencing his own tribe being wiped out by the Dragonsbane Virus, seeing anyone remotely ill stricken can cause him great worry and dismay. He does not like the idea of dying at anytime other then in combat, especially a slow and painful demise that could make someone so weak and helpless all the while. Part of the reason why he now interacts with the rest of the world as a mercenary is in hopes of finding a cure to the virus that threatens him.
• Winter. The season itself brings out the cold conditions that cold-blooded creatures such as Jackal despise. Cold elements and enviorments discourage him emotionally as well as weakening his vitality overall. Like diseases, he is terrified of the thought of dying in the cold, alone and frozen. Should he ever get caught in such an environment, he will go to extremes just to keep warm.

• Extreme temperatures
• Hunting
• Nature
• Soothing Music
• Treasures of any value
• Fighting
• Shed season
• Nightfall (and dark environments)

• Other Gorgas
• Cold conditions
• Deceit
• Weakness
• Cowardice
• Unholy Abominations

• Skill: Close quarters combat; His natural weaponry and durability (Claws, speared tail, fire breath, etc) combined with his brutish strength can easily overpower even monstrous foes. More over, his combat style varies between his moods. In a more calm demeanor he can be quiet skillful with his sword, but in a further enraged state he will forego traditional swordplay for brutish swings and similar tactics, making him hard to predict.
• Skill: Hunting; His natural vision (eyes that can glow in the dark) and the strength of his smell from his forked tongue makes him an excellent tracker, and his experience as a younger since a hatchling has given him a talent to stealth in various natural environments despite his monstrous size.
• Skill: Hand Crafting Equipment: With the right materials he can makeshift primitive tools and wares such as tents or stone spears. If having access to metal and molten liquids he can even hand craft various metal weaponry of his design, albeit not as structured or good as more traditional and advanced techniques.
• Skill: Bravery: Even with his fears, he is not afraid of death itself, and in combat such fears would usually only make him fight more aggressively then flee. While this in of itself may result in victory or loss, it is difficult to intimidate him.
• Skill: Wise with Age: Being so old, he has much experience with the natural world and both its wonders and horrors, he a sound mind despite going into a few enraged states here and there, aside from angering him there are few other things that can taint his conscience. Rarely does he act brashly outside of fighting tactics.
• Skill: Protector: Fearing loss, he will be sure that he will be injured before an ally. Sooner he die then someone he is assisting. Allies that are near him should expect him to be a giant shield.

• Item: Armored Loin Cloth
• Item: Ankle Wrappings
• Item: Wrist Gauntlets
• Item: Dormun, his 8ft long hand-made iron greatsword
• Item: A wrist-shield that is the shape of a narrow rectangle made of iron
• Item: A small chest he straps to his back that holds his personal collection of rare treasures.

• Item:Dormun his 8ft long hand-made iron greatsword. Its great weight and size make it nearly impossible to wield for most, Jackal uses it in a combation of both a sort of heavy club or a slashing tool.
• Item: Shield Two narrow rectangular shields he equips to both wrist guards.

• Item: Gold Currently has a small heap of a 100 copper coins
• Item: An assortment of various raw meats stored with salt preservation, some of it has human origin.
• Item: A handcrafted jug of water made of clay and plant fiber.

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• Skill: Horseback Riding
• Skill: Falcon Taming His pet falcon, Hjörrveðr, often hunts for their family's food.
• Skill: Swimming A hobby and an exercise, Úða swims with his armor in the water out by the longboats.
• Skill: Warrior In order to survive as a Huskarl, one needs to have the capability to fight.

• Item: Single-handed battle-axe
• Item: Steel Round Shield
• Item: Seax A small knife.

• Item: Gambeson
• Item: Byrnie
• Item: Shirt of leather lamellar

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@Mag Lev Should firebreathing be considered a skill or magic ability since its a racial trait?

@Mag LevHello! I just saw this and am very keen on hopping in. I'm going to assume that players have a degree of free reign in terms of their backstory and the places they come from. Say my character lived in one of the minuscule towns on the map, do I have the freedom to create the history, culture, demographic, etc. of that town?