Got my post up. We could possibly have other uses for the Skytalon NPC I created. (: Let me know if everything looks good.
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Kamnar walked through what seemed to be an endless tunnel. The walls were built of painted stones, haphazardly stacked, with light escaping from spaces between them. He approached one of the larger spaces, lining up his eye with it; as he peeked through, a white light blinded him, and he was suddenly standing in a barren desert. He looked down at his feet. A black orc’s quickly paling body lied there lifelessly, a puddle of crimson rushing from his gaping mouth. Without warning, three figures emerged on the horizon and sprinted at him, all of them black orcs in tattered clothes. There was no way he could explain the situation to them, and no way to restrain them without bloodshed. He felt something begin to materialize in his hands; he looked down to see his steel claymore, the familiar orichalcum motifs tracing its hilt. He knew it was his only means of defending himself. His blade sliced effortlessly through the mother’s shoulder; she fell down, sinking into the dirt without a trace. The father rushed at him, his eyes pouring red down his cheeks as he Berserked, and Kamnar had to force his claymore past the orc’s fist and into his stomach. He, too, sunk quickly in the ground like a stone in water. Finally, the older brother raced toward him with an iron dagger gripped in his fists; Kamnar tried desperately to push him back with the hilt of his sword, but as the black orc narrowly missed stabbing his throat, he was forced to slice open his chest. His beady pupils bored into him in disbelief as he sank slowly, so slowly, downward…
*****
Kamnar’s eyes opened abruptly. He found himself lying in a scratchy stack of hay. Sitting up, he looked around at his dimly lit cell and realized that he had been dreaming. But his dream was his reality, the nightmare that has haunted him ever since that mission with Durak Bol-gar. At once, a flood of memories from the past twenty-four hours came rushing in his mind.
Kamnar reflected on being forced out of his armor by that lanista’s cronies and into chains and rags, then onto a tiny wooden cart. He remembered trying to explain his innocence to the lanista, to no avail; the guards threatened to cut off his tongue if he didn’t stay quiet. Since the black orc tribe in which he was arrested was so close to the port of Lok’Faire, the trip was short; it had only been a few minutes when Kamnar was again guided from the cart and onto a shabby barge. He was appalled to discover himself surrounded by prisoners, of all different races and ages. A sickly, brightly colored Skytalon approached him, two nubs on his back ‒ which used to be magnificent wings, Kamnar was sure ‒ freshly scarred from being clipped.
“This won’t be a long trip for you,” he said in common speech, coughing and scratching at his rainbow feathers. “The captain said this was our last stop before we arrive at our destination.”
“Where are we going, exactly?” Kamnar asked him, relieved to see someone who wanted neither to kill him nor flee from him.
“Who knows?” he responded casually, sniffling and rubbing at his beak. “I’ve been on this ship for three days. They’ve barely told us anything.” Clearly embarrassed of his condition, he waved with a taloned claw and slumped away to a metal bench, which other passengers quickly vacated.
They sailed in agony on the rough waters for what felt like an eternity, some vomiting in the corners of the rusty barge from seasickness, but they eventually arrived at the Ludus. All of them were guided into a small chamber, where they were each forcibly weighed and measured. They had barely finished this humiliating task when Kamnar was pulled out of line by an orc guard. The guard spat on the ground at his feet.
“<You’re an honorless coward,>” he growled at him in Blackspeech. Evidently, word of Kamnar’s alleged deeds had already spread. “<Unlucky for you, I get to decide your opponent in the trial battle.>”
The orc and two other guards shoved Kamnar into a doorway adjacent to the measuring chamber; it was an open, high-walled dirt pit. One of the guards tossed him a rusty iron longsword and ordered him to defend himself before slamming the door shut. Kamnar caught it and gripped it in both of his fists, preparing himself mentally for whatever was to come. A large metal gate opened slowly on the other side of the pit; he had to squint in its direction, as the room was dimly lit, small torches lining its walls. To his horror, out came an enormous black boar, foam spilling out of its fanged mouth, its eyes a milky white with thick crust lining its lids.
Kamnar barely had time to raise his sword before the boar shot out of its cage, charging blindly in his direction, its nostrils flaring. He flung himself out of its path, swinging his sword at its hindquarters and creating a deep gash. It squealed gruffly, turning itself around, but didn’t appear to know where exactly he was. It seemed only able to react to the sound of his feet; Kamnar stood stock still, watching it frantically sniff the air. He began to slowly tiptoe around the beast, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. The boar was circling itself in a rage, clouds of dust rising from its hooves. And, in a flash, Kamnar raised his sword and brought it down onto the boar’s head, stabbing straight through its muzzle and pinning it to the ground. The beast howled and squeaked desperately, blood squirting from its nostrils and mouth, blind eyes bulging, until it finally fell silent.
Exhausted, panting, Kamnar stood over the dead boar and briefly saw in it the corpse of the black orc peasant. He was then relieved of his sword, grabbed by the shoulders, and again led in chains into a murky cell, where he was given a bowl of gruel and a mug of dirty water. He ate and drank breathlessly before passing out into an uneasy slumber.
*****
Kamnar was abruptly pulled from his memories by the clang of his cage door being unlocked and opened. Dragged into the light of morning, he squinted around, the salty wind embracing him. He was used to the cold, being from the mountainous Hel-brok'thar, so the chills crawling over his body were for entirely different reasons. He found himself placed amongst a line of other Arena prisoners, diverse as they were but all dressed in the same rags as he was. He received a few nervous glances, one of which was from the same multicolored Skytalon who welcomed him aboard the barge. The beastman’s cough seemed to have gotten worse; the human prisoner next to him leaned away in disgust.
The sound of thunderous hooves and squeaky wheels alerted Kamnar and the other slaves to the arrival of a fancily-decorated wooden carriage; armed guards stepped out of the back, followed by a sleazy, peg-legged human dressed in aristocratic clothing. The human announced himself as a lanista, informing them of their destiny to fight in the Arena for the enjoyment of onlookers and gamblers. Kamnar’s eyes widened with horror. Working in fields or mines would have been one thing, but the Arena? A feeling of dread rose in his stomach. Would he again have to kill innocents to save his own life? As a wave of shock spread along the line of slaves, the lanista continued to explain his motives, pacing to and fro in front of them. Despite interruptions from an aggressive Thunderhoof and a platinum-haired elf, he eventually finished with the offering of a bargain: win double the denari he paid for them and he will let them walk as free men.
The blond elf who previously confronted the lanista stepped forward and suggested that they all team up to win their freedom. Another elf, this one female, spoke up in favor of the lanista’s bargain, saying that it would be easier to win individual Arena battles than to fight the city guards.
Kamnar deliberated each argument carefully, weighing his options. On one hand, he loathed to kill other people in the Arena, people who are forced to battle him and are probably as guiltless as he is; the black orc family he murdered still casted a long, heavy shadow upon him. On the other hand, he doubted the effectiveness of battling royal authority, as even if they managed to escape, Kamnar would still have to live as a wanted man; but if he won enough Arena battles, he would be cleared of the charges against him and be free to bring Durak to justice.
After substantial consideration, Kamnar made his decision. Stepping out of the line of future fighters, he spoke in a deep, yet firm tone.
“This one is right,” he said, motioning to the female Canopy Strider. “Even if we fought as a unit, we wouldn’t stand a chance against the royal guards. We’re more likely to survive fighting each other in the Arena than fighting trained soldiers outside of it. Furthermore, we’ll be legally free after we pay off our prices. I’m taking the lanista’s offer.”
*****
Kamnar’s eyes opened abruptly. He found himself lying in a scratchy stack of hay. Sitting up, he looked around at his dimly lit cell and realized that he had been dreaming. But his dream was his reality, the nightmare that has haunted him ever since that mission with Durak Bol-gar. At once, a flood of memories from the past twenty-four hours came rushing in his mind.
Kamnar reflected on being forced out of his armor by that lanista’s cronies and into chains and rags, then onto a tiny wooden cart. He remembered trying to explain his innocence to the lanista, to no avail; the guards threatened to cut off his tongue if he didn’t stay quiet. Since the black orc tribe in which he was arrested was so close to the port of Lok’Faire, the trip was short; it had only been a few minutes when Kamnar was again guided from the cart and onto a shabby barge. He was appalled to discover himself surrounded by prisoners, of all different races and ages. A sickly, brightly colored Skytalon approached him, two nubs on his back ‒ which used to be magnificent wings, Kamnar was sure ‒ freshly scarred from being clipped.
“This won’t be a long trip for you,” he said in common speech, coughing and scratching at his rainbow feathers. “The captain said this was our last stop before we arrive at our destination.”
“Where are we going, exactly?” Kamnar asked him, relieved to see someone who wanted neither to kill him nor flee from him.
“Who knows?” he responded casually, sniffling and rubbing at his beak. “I’ve been on this ship for three days. They’ve barely told us anything.” Clearly embarrassed of his condition, he waved with a taloned claw and slumped away to a metal bench, which other passengers quickly vacated.
They sailed in agony on the rough waters for what felt like an eternity, some vomiting in the corners of the rusty barge from seasickness, but they eventually arrived at the Ludus. All of them were guided into a small chamber, where they were each forcibly weighed and measured. They had barely finished this humiliating task when Kamnar was pulled out of line by an orc guard. The guard spat on the ground at his feet.
“<You’re an honorless coward,>” he growled at him in Blackspeech. Evidently, word of Kamnar’s alleged deeds had already spread. “<Unlucky for you, I get to decide your opponent in the trial battle.>”
The orc and two other guards shoved Kamnar into a doorway adjacent to the measuring chamber; it was an open, high-walled dirt pit. One of the guards tossed him a rusty iron longsword and ordered him to defend himself before slamming the door shut. Kamnar caught it and gripped it in both of his fists, preparing himself mentally for whatever was to come. A large metal gate opened slowly on the other side of the pit; he had to squint in its direction, as the room was dimly lit, small torches lining its walls. To his horror, out came an enormous black boar, foam spilling out of its fanged mouth, its eyes a milky white with thick crust lining its lids.
Kamnar barely had time to raise his sword before the boar shot out of its cage, charging blindly in his direction, its nostrils flaring. He flung himself out of its path, swinging his sword at its hindquarters and creating a deep gash. It squealed gruffly, turning itself around, but didn’t appear to know where exactly he was. It seemed only able to react to the sound of his feet; Kamnar stood stock still, watching it frantically sniff the air. He began to slowly tiptoe around the beast, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. The boar was circling itself in a rage, clouds of dust rising from its hooves. And, in a flash, Kamnar raised his sword and brought it down onto the boar’s head, stabbing straight through its muzzle and pinning it to the ground. The beast howled and squeaked desperately, blood squirting from its nostrils and mouth, blind eyes bulging, until it finally fell silent.
Exhausted, panting, Kamnar stood over the dead boar and briefly saw in it the corpse of the black orc peasant. He was then relieved of his sword, grabbed by the shoulders, and again led in chains into a murky cell, where he was given a bowl of gruel and a mug of dirty water. He ate and drank breathlessly before passing out into an uneasy slumber.
*****
Kamnar was abruptly pulled from his memories by the clang of his cage door being unlocked and opened. Dragged into the light of morning, he squinted around, the salty wind embracing him. He was used to the cold, being from the mountainous Hel-brok'thar, so the chills crawling over his body were for entirely different reasons. He found himself placed amongst a line of other Arena prisoners, diverse as they were but all dressed in the same rags as he was. He received a few nervous glances, one of which was from the same multicolored Skytalon who welcomed him aboard the barge. The beastman’s cough seemed to have gotten worse; the human prisoner next to him leaned away in disgust.
The sound of thunderous hooves and squeaky wheels alerted Kamnar and the other slaves to the arrival of a fancily-decorated wooden carriage; armed guards stepped out of the back, followed by a sleazy, peg-legged human dressed in aristocratic clothing. The human announced himself as a lanista, informing them of their destiny to fight in the Arena for the enjoyment of onlookers and gamblers. Kamnar’s eyes widened with horror. Working in fields or mines would have been one thing, but the Arena? A feeling of dread rose in his stomach. Would he again have to kill innocents to save his own life? As a wave of shock spread along the line of slaves, the lanista continued to explain his motives, pacing to and fro in front of them. Despite interruptions from an aggressive Thunderhoof and a platinum-haired elf, he eventually finished with the offering of a bargain: win double the denari he paid for them and he will let them walk as free men.
The blond elf who previously confronted the lanista stepped forward and suggested that they all team up to win their freedom. Another elf, this one female, spoke up in favor of the lanista’s bargain, saying that it would be easier to win individual Arena battles than to fight the city guards.
Kamnar deliberated each argument carefully, weighing his options. On one hand, he loathed to kill other people in the Arena, people who are forced to battle him and are probably as guiltless as he is; the black orc family he murdered still casted a long, heavy shadow upon him. On the other hand, he doubted the effectiveness of battling royal authority, as even if they managed to escape, Kamnar would still have to live as a wanted man; but if he won enough Arena battles, he would be cleared of the charges against him and be free to bring Durak to justice.
After substantial consideration, Kamnar made his decision. Stepping out of the line of future fighters, he spoke in a deep, yet firm tone.
“This one is right,” he said, motioning to the female Canopy Strider. “Even if we fought as a unit, we wouldn’t stand a chance against the royal guards. We’re more likely to survive fighting each other in the Arena than fighting trained soldiers outside of it. Furthermore, we’ll be legally free after we pay off our prices. I’m taking the lanista’s offer.”
Nice intro post, Harbinger! I should have mine up by Sunday.
Edited my character sheet with a sketch of Kamnar I've been working on. I'll see if I can color it eventually, but this will do for now. (:
@Harbringer I agree. We should definitely feel out everyone's relationships before the action begins.
Appearance
Gaunt-faced, strong-jawed, and heavily-browed, Kamnar’s appearance is fairly typical of Orcs of the Blacktusk tribe. His dark brown hair reaches his shoulders, partially braided with traditional painted beads adorning them. He has eyes as black as coal; looking in them is like staring into the void. His tusks are rather small for his kind – more resembling fangs than tusks, really – carved with angular forms and marks. His skin is the familiar dark, grayish olive of the green Orcs. He is tall even for an Orc at 6’8”, and his thick, impressive musculature coupled with his height make for an intimidating individual.
Name
Kamnar Murug-kah, previously Kamnar Murug-gar (as per traditional Blacktusk naming, Kamnar is his given name and Murug is his family name; the -kah attached is an honorific denoting dishonored Orcs, such as ex-paladins, deserters, and traitors. The -gar honorific denotes an esteemed religious rank)
Gender
Male
Age
29
Personality
Anger and ferocity is respected as honorable passion among the Orcs; the most successful warriors and Chiefs are also the most aggressive in disposition. Thus, Kamnar’s calm, thoughtful demeanor and calculating mind is highly unusual for Orcish kind, and certainly played a major part in his current shameful position. His quick thinking and inclination to logic make him not only a strong fighter but a capable strategist. However, he prefers reasonable discussion to unnecessary bloodshed. Despite his passive nature, it would be a mistake to call Kamnar a pacifist; he is still a trained Orcish knight, and will use force if he deems it prudent. He is also not without his pride, and won’t stand idly by if someone mocks his race or culture. As an ex-paladin, he is accustomed to talking to many different races for diplomatic and ministry reasons, and has seen that people of all walks of life fear the same fears and dream the same dreams; because of this, Kamnar does not suffer from the racial prejudices common of his kind.
Previous Profession
Kamnar was a paladin, serving Pra’Flakor and the Blacktusks. His work was mainly based around teaching his religion and the customs of his tribe, but he was also tasked with knightly duties, such as guarding and escorting the elites and higher-class religious ministers.
History
Kamnar can best be described as an outlier of all Orcs. He didn’t share the same energetic bloodlust and tenuous fury of his peers, and so leant on one of many popular religions of the Blacktusks, that which worshiped the river god, Pra’Flakor. Pra’Flakor is a rarity among their pantheon, being one of the few deities not centered on war or blacksmithing. His family lived in Hel-brok'thar, where he was born and raised. His parents and six brothers were all renowned warriors of the tribe who brought honor to the Murug name. Though at first skeptical of his chosen path, they were pleasantly surprised to see him rise through the ranks so quickly and at such a young age, and were especially proud of his extraordinary skills in battle. Kamnar became a paladin at 20 and was dressed with a multitude of honors and accolades by 25; at 26, he became the youngest of the Lok’krith, or Ten Warriors, which was the group of paladins with the highest possible ranking among Blacktusks.
One day, the Lok’krith were on a diplomatic mission to a small tribe of black Orcs on the outskirts of Arkreides. One of the oldest of the paladins, Durak Bol-gar, who had become jealous and suspicious of Kamnar’s quick promotion, secretly met up with a Lanista, and arranged to have Kamnar enslaved as an Arena fighter – in exchange, the Lanista would help Durak disgrace Kamnar.
The Lanista and his slave warriors kidnapped a peasant black Orc in the tribe and murdered him in the middle of the desert. Durak tricked Kamnar into finding the corpse; he had barely discovered it before being “caught red-handed” by the black Orc’s family, and was immediately attacked. Kamnar had no choice but to defend himself – to this day he still shudders at the memory – and he slaughtered them all. So far away from his home of Hel-brok'thar, his family and friends were forced to trust the Lok’krith’s word that Kamnar had single-handedly killed this black Orc family in a blind rage. Framed for a murder he didn’t commit and forced to obliterate innocents, Kamnar was disgraced and shamed, removed from his status as paladin, and had all of his honorable decorations withdrawn. The Lok’krith, a smug Durak among them, told him that he should be grateful they chose to have him sold into slavery for the rest of his life rather than executed. The Lanista took the yoke-bound Kamnar and his weapons and armor, and brought him aboard a crowded boat destined to the Arena…
Preferred Arms
Kamnar is skilled in a variety of weapons, but is especially trained in the claymore, or two-handed sword. He is accustomed to heavy armor; as a paladin, he wore the best steel armor forged in Hel-brok'thar, with the customary white loincloth over his armor adorned with the Pra’Flakor insignia, denoting his paladin status. His barbute-style helmet was also decorated with long, white plumes, which only the most esteemed warriors were allowed to wear. After he lost his rank as paladin, he was forced to dye his loincloth and plumes black, announcing his shameful exoneration for all to see.
@Harbringer Thanks! I was afraid I had gone a bit overboard with the lore, but I'm so glad you like it. Also, I'd love to work with you on world-building as we go, specifically concerning Hel-brok'thar and other Orcish tribes. (:
Appearance
Gaunt-faced, strong-jawed, and heavily-browed, Kamnar’s appearance is fairly typical of Orcs of the Blacktusk tribe. His dark brown hair reaches his shoulders, partially braided with traditional painted beads adorning them. He has eyes as black as coal; looking in them is like staring into the void. His tusks are rather small for his kind – more resembling fangs than tusks, really – carved with angular forms and marks. His skin is the familiar dark, grayish olive of the green Orcs. He is tall even for an Orc at 6’8”, and his thick, impressive musculature coupled with his height make for an intimidating individual.
Name
Kamnar Murug-kah, previously Kamnar Murug-gar (as per traditional Blacktusk naming, Kamnar is his given name and Murug is his family name; the -kah attached is an honorific denoting dishonored Orcs, such as ex-paladins, deserters, and traitors. The -gar honorific denotes an esteemed religious rank)
Gender
Male
Age
29
Personality
Anger and ferocity is respected as honorable passion among the Orcs; the most successful warriors and Chiefs are also the most aggressive in disposition. Thus, Kamnar’s calm, thoughtful demeanor and calculating mind is highly unusual for Orcish kind, and certainly played a major part in his current shameful position. His quick thinking and inclination to logic make him not only a strong fighter but a capable strategist. However, he prefers reasonable discussion to unnecessary bloodshed. Despite his passive nature, it would be a mistake to call Kamnar a pacifist; he is still a trained Orcish knight, and will use force if he deems it prudent. He is also not without his pride, and won’t stand idly by if someone mocks his race or culture. As an ex-paladin, he is accustomed to talking to many different races for diplomatic and ministry reasons, and has seen that people of all walks of life fear the same fears and dream the same dreams; because of this, Kamnar does not suffer from the racial prejudices common of his kind.
Previous Profession
Kamnar was a paladin, serving Pra’Flakor and the Blacktusks. His work was mainly based around teaching his religion and the customs of his tribe, but he was also tasked with knightly duties, such as guarding and escorting the elites and higher-class religious ministers.
History
Kamnar can best be described as an outlier of all Orcs. He didn’t share the same energetic bloodlust and tenuous fury of his peers, and so leant on one of many popular religions of the Blacktusks, that which worshiped the river god, Pra’Flakor. Pra’Flakor is a rarity among their pantheon, being one of the few deities not centered on war or blacksmithing. His family lived in Hel-brok'thar, where he was born and raised. His parents and six brothers were all renowned warriors of the tribe who brought honor to the Murug name. Though at first skeptical of his chosen path, they were pleasantly surprised to see him rise through the ranks so quickly and at such a young age, and were especially proud of his extraordinary skills in battle. Kamnar became a paladin at 20 and was dressed with a multitude of honors and accolades by 25; at 26, he became the youngest of the Lok’krith, or Ten Warriors, which was the group of paladins with the highest possible ranking among Blacktusks.
One day, the Lok’krith were on a diplomatic mission to a small tribe of black Orcs on the outskirts of Arkreides. One of the oldest of the paladins, Durak Bol-gar, who had become jealous and suspicious of Kamnar’s quick promotion, secretly met up with a Lanista, and arranged to have Kamnar enslaved as an Arena fighter – in exchange, the Lanista would help Durak disgrace Kamnar.
The Lanista and his slave warriors kidnapped a peasant black Orc in the tribe and murdered him in the middle of the desert. Durak tricked Kamnar into finding the corpse; he had barely discovered it before being “caught red-handed” by the black Orc’s family, and was immediately attacked. Kamnar had no choice but to defend himself – to this day he still shudders at the memory – and he slaughtered them all. So far away from his home of Hel-brok'thar, his family and friends were forced to trust the Lok’krith’s word that Kamnar had single-handedly killed this black Orc family in a blind rage. Framed for a murder he didn’t commit and forced to obliterate innocents, Kamnar was disgraced and shamed, removed from his status as paladin, and had all of his honorable decorations withdrawn. The Lok’krith, a smug Durak among them, told him that he should be grateful they chose to have him sold into slavery for the rest of his life rather than executed. The Lanista took the yoke-bound Kamnar and his weapons and armor, and brought him aboard a crowded boat destined to the Arena…
Preferred Arms
Kamnar is skilled in a variety of weapons, but is especially trained in the claymore, or two-handed sword. He is accustomed to heavy armor; as a paladin, he wore the best steel armor forged in Hel-brok'thar, with the customary white loincloth over his armor adorned with the Pra’Flakor insignia, denoting his paladin status. His barbute-style helmet was also decorated with long, white plumes, which only the most esteemed warriors were allowed to wear. After he lost his rank as paladin, he was forced to dye his loincloth and plumes black, announcing his shameful exoneration for all to see.
***
By the way, I do intend to provide a picture of Kamnar; I personally paint (or at least sketch) all of my roleplay characters, so it may be a spell before it’s completed, but it will happen!
Gaunt-faced, strong-jawed, and heavily-browed, Kamnar’s appearance is fairly typical of Orcs of the Blacktusk tribe. His dark brown hair reaches his shoulders, partially braided with traditional painted beads adorning them. He has eyes as black as coal; looking in them is like staring into the void. His tusks are rather small for his kind – more resembling fangs than tusks, really – carved with angular forms and marks. His skin is the familiar dark, grayish olive of the green Orcs. He is tall even for an Orc at 6’8”, and his thick, impressive musculature coupled with his height make for an intimidating individual.
Name
Kamnar Murug-kah, previously Kamnar Murug-gar (as per traditional Blacktusk naming, Kamnar is his given name and Murug is his family name; the -kah attached is an honorific denoting dishonored Orcs, such as ex-paladins, deserters, and traitors. The -gar honorific denotes an esteemed religious rank)
Gender
Male
Age
29
Personality
Anger and ferocity is respected as honorable passion among the Orcs; the most successful warriors and Chiefs are also the most aggressive in disposition. Thus, Kamnar’s calm, thoughtful demeanor and calculating mind is highly unusual for Orcish kind, and certainly played a major part in his current shameful position. His quick thinking and inclination to logic make him not only a strong fighter but a capable strategist. However, he prefers reasonable discussion to unnecessary bloodshed. Despite his passive nature, it would be a mistake to call Kamnar a pacifist; he is still a trained Orcish knight, and will use force if he deems it prudent. He is also not without his pride, and won’t stand idly by if someone mocks his race or culture. As an ex-paladin, he is accustomed to talking to many different races for diplomatic and ministry reasons, and has seen that people of all walks of life fear the same fears and dream the same dreams; because of this, Kamnar does not suffer from the racial prejudices common of his kind.
Previous Profession
Kamnar was a paladin, serving Pra’Flakor and the Blacktusks. His work was mainly based around teaching his religion and the customs of his tribe, but he was also tasked with knightly duties, such as guarding and escorting the elites and higher-class religious ministers.
History
Kamnar can best be described as an outlier of all Orcs. He didn’t share the same energetic bloodlust and tenuous fury of his peers, and so leant on one of many popular religions of the Blacktusks, that which worshiped the river god, Pra’Flakor. Pra’Flakor is a rarity among their pantheon, being one of the few deities not centered on war or blacksmithing. His family lived in Hel-brok'thar, where he was born and raised. His parents and six brothers were all renowned warriors of the tribe who brought honor to the Murug name. Though at first skeptical of his chosen path, they were pleasantly surprised to see him rise through the ranks so quickly and at such a young age, and were especially proud of his extraordinary skills in battle. Kamnar became a paladin at 20 and was dressed with a multitude of honors and accolades by 25; at 26, he became the youngest of the Lok’krith, or Ten Warriors, which was the group of paladins with the highest possible ranking among Blacktusks.
One day, the Lok’krith were on a diplomatic mission to a small tribe of black Orcs on the outskirts of Arkreides. One of the oldest of the paladins, Durak Bol-gar, who had become jealous and suspicious of Kamnar’s quick promotion, secretly met up with a Lanista, and arranged to have Kamnar enslaved as an Arena fighter – in exchange, the Lanista would help Durak disgrace Kamnar.
The Lanista and his slave warriors kidnapped a peasant black Orc in the tribe and murdered him in the middle of the desert. Durak tricked Kamnar into finding the corpse; he had barely discovered it before being “caught red-handed” by the black Orc’s family, and was immediately attacked. Kamnar had no choice but to defend himself – to this day he still shudders at the memory – and he slaughtered them all. So far away from his home of Hel-brok'thar, his family and friends were forced to trust the Lok’krith’s word that Kamnar had single-handedly killed this black Orc family in a blind rage. Framed for a murder he didn’t commit and forced to obliterate innocents, Kamnar was disgraced and shamed, removed from his status as paladin, and had all of his honorable decorations withdrawn. The Lok’krith, a smug Durak among them, told him that he should be grateful they chose to have him sold into slavery for the rest of his life rather than executed. The Lanista took the yoke-bound Kamnar and his weapons and armor, and brought him aboard a crowded boat destined to the Arena…
Preferred Arms
Kamnar is skilled in a variety of weapons, but is especially trained in the claymore, or two-handed sword. He is accustomed to heavy armor; as a paladin, he wore the best steel armor forged in Hel-brok'thar, with the customary white loincloth over his armor adorned with the Pra’Flakor insignia, denoting his paladin status. His barbute-style helmet was also decorated with long, white plumes, which only the most esteemed warriors were allowed to wear. After he lost his rank as paladin, he was forced to dye his loincloth and plumes black, announcing his shameful exoneration for all to see.
***
By the way, I do intend to provide a picture of Kamnar; I personally paint (or at least sketch) all of my roleplay characters, so it may be a spell before it’s completed, but it will happen!
I should have my sheet up by tomorrow night.
That sounds doable; thanks for the specification! I was thinking of him (or her, haven't decided yet) having a sort of "falling out" with his religion, which ends in him losing his paladin status and subsequently joining the arena. Unless it is required that all players be forced into it?
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