Reserving my place, as per the Int Check. Name: Ahrazan of the Ohlgars Nickname/Alias: Ahrazan the Unyielding, Chosen of the Ohlgars Race: Human - Khazag [i]The Khazags are an ethnic subgroup of humans, native to the neutral territories, although they can be found with lesser commonality in the borders of Physt and Russovia. They are tall and powerfully built, ranging from seven to eight feet in height on average. Like giants, Khazags tend to dwell in more remote territories in tribal communities, unconstrained by the laws and norms of more "civilized" society. However, many do intermingle with other races and cities, plying their wares and exploring the known world. Some are recruited by local garrisons as shock troops, thanks to their resilient bodies and muscular frames. Others eke out their existence as marauders, raiding and plundering as they see fit. It is not uncommon to see Khazags living among orcs for this reason. Unlike orcs and giants, Khazags are exempt from any reputation for being dimwitted; in fact, they are just as intelligent as any other human, with the addition of a savage cunning born out of their less hospitable lifestyle. Indeed, if a Khazag is crafty enough and achieves a social standing with common humans through some feat of arms or intellect, he or she may rise as a local political leader. As such, this is uncommon simply due to the more solitary lives of Khazag tribes.[/i] Gender: Male Age: 36 Appearance: [img=http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/AbsolutCharlie/WHFB/tumblr_mhyrcwLENZ1s3yjd9o1_1280_zps20e0f46a.jpg] Birthplace: The Runecarved Deadlands - The "core of the expanse" is home to the Ohlgars. Alignment/Affiliation: Chaotic Neutral / The Ohlgars (& the demon Melekeshar by extension), Himself Rank/Occupation: Champion of the Ohlgar tribe ========================================= Weapons/Items: -Name of Weapon: Axes of Conflagration Description: Melekeshar, the demon patron of the Ohlgar tribe, granted Ahrazan with a pair of enchanted war axes. When drawn, their edges burn with an eldritch fire, increasing their destructiveness tenfold and enabling Ahrazan to damage magic beings or objects that would otherwise not yield to mundane weapons. There is a caveat, however - the weapons are imbued with a near-sentience that constantly rage against the wielder. Man and weapon are locked in a contest of will, and should the blades prove stronger, their flames will immolate the warrior that holds them. Ahrazan is but one man in a long line of champions that have wielded these axes, many of which could not withstand their fury. -Name of Item: Helm of Dispelling Description: Ahrazan's helm is enchanted with a passive dispel aura, protecting him from external sources of magic, offensive and otherwise. While this makes him resilient against damaging spells, it also prevents him from enjoying the benefits of magic that would strengthen or heal him. The helm does not grant the wearer total immunity, but greatly diminishes the effectiveness of spells. It is said that spellcasters become nauseous under the gaze of its wearer, and being around the helm induces feelings of apprehension. A magic practitioner is unable to don the helm - attempting to do so would cost both one's body and mind. -Name of Item: Sanguine Armor Description: Forged by exiled dwarf smiths, the armor donned by Ahrazan is ornate and finely detailed, bedecked with the skulls and bones of his most worthy opponents. It is highly protective and its mass betrays the ease of movement it enables the wearer. Rumors abound that it is impossible to remove once put on, and Ahrazan certainly encourages this tale - he is never seen without it. In truth, the armor is a second skin, as much an extension of his own body as his flesh. This is entirely Melekeshar's doing - in fusing the armor with Ahrazan's body, he sought to mould him into an ultimate warrior. It cannot be totally 'removed,' per say, but it can be temporarily banished if Ahrazan wishes the functions of his mundane body. As a twisted biological component of his system, the armor will heal itself of any damage over time, and much to the horror of his enemies, spurts blood when struck. This causes Ahrazan no pain, unless the armor is pierced far enough to reach his true skin. Generic Items: -Ahrazan carries several ordinary daggers on his person for simple tasks. Pouches of obscure talismans and tribal remedies hang from his belt, in part to remind him of his life before ascending to Melekeshar's favor. He carries a horn for drinking and cloth rags to wash himself. Material wealth is of no use to him anymore, owning no gold coins or gems. He eats what he can catch, cooked by the fire of his axes. Such needs are almost beyond him - in making him his champion, Melekeshar eliminated Ahrazan's need for rest and food, to better direct his attention on feats of arms. The real reason he sates his palate from time to time is out of recollection of natural life. Ahrazan remembers being a simple man, and although he would deny it, a dwindling part of him buried within his soul decries what he has become. ========================================= Personality: Ahrazan is a great warrior of this age, and with his prowess comes pride. He is loathe to back down from a challenge of arms, headstrong in his conviction that he can best any who would oppose him. Indeed, if his countless victories are a testament to his hubris, there is little to suggest he is wrong. Honor is a defining concept in Ahrazan's ideology, and detests mindless violence, contrary to what a common onlooker would believe. The weak, young, old, and feeble are unable to fight for themselves, and attract no ill attention from him. Rather, brigands and marauders who would slaughter and rape draw his ire. There have been cases where Ahrazan has inadvertently saved minor cities from bandit incursions, throwing himself at cowardly men who would oppress the less-able. Against a fair foe, he shows no restraint, however, fighting with the intensity of a volcanic eruption. To war is his purpose, and he does so without complaint, reveling in the clash of metal on metal. That is not to say he is entirely cold-blooded. He is still a man at his core, and the full range of human emotion is within his being. History: Fate decreed that Ahrazan was to be born among the Ohlgar tribe of Khazags, which claimed the territory at the center of the Runecarved Deadlands. The Deadlands are a hostile place, home to the living dead and innumerable monsters that stalk the crags. It is a common consensus that no sane folk would dare to tread the Deadlands if avoidable, let alone live there. However, the Ohlgars have eked out a secure existence for themselves, spanning centuries. If asked, the elders would remark that it was Melekeshar, their ancient demon-patron, who taught them mastery of the runes and guided them past the shambling horrors. As an entity of war, Melekeshar finds the Deadlands a fitting realm; the armies of undead clash against one another, embodying the plight of mortals doomed to wage conflict upon another for all of time. Yet it is not his own power that sustains the living dead; even he is unaware of the Deadlands' true nature. For now, he enjoys the patronage of the Ohlgars, bestowing his gifts on those who particularly impress him. Ahrazan was to be one such individual. From a mewling babe to a youth, he dreamed of a warrior's life, recounting the sagas told by the tribal elders of ages past. His ambition was both an amusement and hope of the tribe; for some years' time, the Ohlgars had not achieved any great successes fit to be passed in story and song. It was a period of stagnant existence, and Melekeshar too, could feel their longing in his bones. Just nineteen, Ahrazan petitioned the elders to declare a raiding season, vowing to lead them to glory. He was almost dismissed before Melekeshar intervened, admiring the boy's initiative. Much to the astonishment of the elders, the demon permitted his wish, accommodating the tribe's warriors with weaponry and supplies. Melekeshar bid Ahrazan return with the head of Orfang Gristleneck, an orc warlord whose territory was coming dangerously close to encroaching on his own. The warband departed, leaving the Deadlands for many weeks. On its return, the tribe was shocked to see Ahrazan at its head, holding the orc lord's head aloft for them to see. Melekeshar, pleased with the boy, enlisted him on many more occasions, tasking the Ohlgars with defeating goblin tribes, undead legions, rival Khazags and beasts the size of houses. With each successive victory, Ahrazan grew in his patron's eyes, until he decided on a new path for the champion. He saw both the skill and fury with which Ahrazan fought, and estimating his potential, appeared to him alone after his 27th summer. In his hands, he presented the Ohlgar with a pair of impossibly elaborate war axes, promising to grant the warrior who wielded them with extraordinary power, the likes of which had never been seen among the tribe. As Ahrazan's hands closed around their hafts, he felt an explosion of inhumane wrath flood through his body. The weapons shrieked, burning with unnatural flame, which seemed to slowly flow down the hilts to Ahrazan's fists. Melekeshar watched with a wry smile, and before the flames licked at his champions fingers, he probed the mortal's mind, filling his head with images and sensations of unspeakable crimes against the innocent, heinous deeds that should not have been the art of normal men. So offensive were the sights that Ahrazan himself felt his own rage - born out of an abhorrence for such dishonorable acts - lash out against the weapons in his hands. To the demon's pleasure, Ahrazan's anger began to surpass that of the axes, and soon only their blades were immolated, held in check by their new master. When at last, Melekeshar sheathed the weapons in his champion's belt, he explained that the Axes of Conflagration were invigorated by the vengeful anger of mortal men, and that such anger needed to be held in check, lest it overtake the soul - literally, in this case. Melekeshar had given him a helping hand to halt the weapons, in the visions that spurned Ahrazan's fury, but for each subsequent drawing of the blades, the warrior would have to control them by his own will alone. The demon patron then pointed him southwards, to the neutral territories. Ahrazan was to be champion, both of Melekeshar and the Ohlgars. To fulfil his duty, he would roam the known world as he saw fit, the only condition being to seek out the strongest of mortals and best them. To forge him into a living weapon, Melekeshar stripped him of the need to eat and sleep and fused his body in living armor, forged by a cadre of master dwarves, exiled from their homelands for their collaboration with demonkin. Before Ahrazan left, the demon leaned close, reminding him that when the words of a challenge were ushered, his eyes would be upon him until either combatant fell. At age 36, Ahrazan has wandered for many seasons, and left a trail of glory in his wake. Every few years he returns to his tribe, recounting his greatest victories and paying tribute to Melekeshar. The demon, having pride in his work, tallies the champion's deeds closely - whether the skulls taken in his name serve to amuse him, or are part of some greater purpose cannot be known for certain, and many would argue that it is best not to reflect on questions whose answers are not for mortals to know. ========================================= Strengths: -Strategy -Martial prowess -Bodily strength & resilience -Magical resilience -Determination -Honorable -No need for typical bodily nourishment/care Weaknesses: -No magical ability -No ranged focus -Pride -Quick to confrontation -Cold, uncompromising ========================================= Name: Melekeshar Race: Spirit-esque entity Gender: Appears as male Age: Immutable Age Appearance: Varies on physical form Elemental Affinity: Fire Alignment/Affiliation: Shifts between flavors of Neutral Rank/Occupation: Patron spirit of the Ohlgar tribe, Multifaceted spirit of martial power, honor, glory, etc. ========================================= Appearance: Melekeshar's physical appearance may change at will, from a mortal warrior, to a demonic hound, to a knight's destrier. Just about anything he wishes he can replicate, although most often, his forms are representative of war. The Ohlgars favor this particular form; an armored demon with hoofed feet, wings and a horned, dog-like face: [img=http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/AbsolutCharlie/WHFB/Bloodthirster_charging_zps7c1c0ff5.jpg] Personality: Melekeshar was birthed when mankind was still young; when that race of beings first felt the call of war in their hearts. He has lived among men since their dawning, and his knowledge is vast, primeval and beyond the comprehension of most mortals. However, there are other entities which embody the same concepts as he, for the consciousness of the living has inadvertently spawned a great many spirits at different points in time. Also, it is important to note that he was created out of human consciousness - and has no inherent interest in other races, although can recount their history. Melekeshar in particular takes great interest in the plights of man, and Ahrazan is by no means the first to enjoy his company. As the spawn of a mortal concept, Melekeshar is far from a god, per say. However, he is powerful in his own right. As he is not a mere living being, he innately lacks the concept of morality as humans know it, acting much beyond the thought process of mortals. Such is evident when he tasked Ahrazan as his champion, to seek and defeat other esteemed souls. He acts on his own whims, yet his whims are constrained, only due to his embodiment of particular concepts (a few of these being martial power, honor, glory, etc. as named above). Therefore, he can be expected to act honorably and so on. History: As recounted above. Melekeshar's history would span from the earliest years of the world on; much too great to cover in detail!